Hair Advice for Our Newbies

Ok when I was younger a stylist burned my hair with a hotcomb, it had to get cut.  My mom hot combed my hair so much that it started to break off and turn read at the ends, my ends were split almost up to my roots. I didn't know how to take care of my natural hair (in highschool at this time) So i went and got a hair cut, an angled bob and a perm.  I changed to like 5 different stylists and eventually I learned how to do my own hair.  I started wearing buns and keeping my hair moisturized, and lots of braids and ponytails. I would only go to the hair dresser for special styles, but she never made them look like the book so I started doing that too.

When I got to college, hard water made my hair break off what was once down my back was now at my shoulders. It took me a year to find a shampoo and conditioner that made my hair feel great.  I contineud to wear cornrows every week and a half or pontytails because my hair grew:), didn't use heat, sometimes i wet my hair and scrunched it....

College, I tried to transition before but I did not have the support. I would get a perm once every 6 months and trim at least 1 time a month. I decided 2 years later from the last transition that I will transition again, I didn't like the history our people went thru with the relax and so I started growing it out. After 4 months of working with 2 textures I just cut it off. I had about 2 inches but ended up with 1 cause I had to cut the scab hair. I have now been natural for 10 months, I have to deal with negative people cause they can't see the beauty in everyone especially their own people, but that is THEIR PROBLEM NOT MINE. My friends really are supportive, my sister say sly remarks, but o well.

I learned...

*eat right and your body through healthy hair and skin will show it.

* Less heat is better for the hair, especially direct heat.

*comb from ends to roots

* comb when wet, newgrowth or natural hair.  (I always combed my relaxed hair only when wet and styled when wet too).

*try to stay away from clothes that clings to hair, especially velcro or snap ons, other attachmes aren't good.

*some of the best products are right in your kitchen!

* Be happy with what you have now, you can be your own support system.

I thought it would be nice to have a thread for all the new members that come here in search for hair tips. We can pass on the hair advice we received that has helped us achieve (and to continue to achieve) healthier hair.

My learning process was slow, but once I saw results, I was hooked and thristy to learn more. My hair benefitted from it. First, let me tell you what my hair was like, BEFORE I began taking good care of it:

As a child my hair was always healthy and shiny and even through high school, even though I used 'grease' on my scalp, washed my hair every two weeks, and never really moisturized it. (I thought moisture was oiling my hair) But I started to hot comb it when it was relaxed and curl it on occasion. The salons I went to were not very informative on hair care and just went when my hair began to look bad only to repeat the same destructive process. Then two years ago it was starting to feel like straw and coming out in clumps. (If you could have seen pictures, you would cry for me.) Then I decided to do some research and take care of my hair better. I had to make the brave decision to cut my hair even. I went to the salon and balled like a baby because my hair was sooo damaged it had to be cut up to 1 inch in the back and up to my ear in the front so I had a bob. I had never had my hair shorter than shoulder length so it was quite a shock. But this hair dresser helped me out alot and gave me good info to start with. I got alot of compliments about the cut too. So this is the hair advice I live on now:

1. I try to avoid products with mineral oil and petroleum. If I can't fully avoid it, Ill find a product that has this as one of the last ingredients.

2. I keep my ends protected at all times. When I do wear my hair out, I make sure I'm wearing a hair friendly top and I keep it well moisturized.

3. Moisture, Moisture, Moisture!!! Different from hair oil and mandatory for healthy hair. I moisturize my hair a couple times a day.

4. No Hot Comb on relaxed hair. A big NO NO!! I learned this the hard way. (My mom still does it!)

5. Make sure to use protein in your hair once in a while. While moisture is good, you also need to strengthen your hair. A good protein treatment or protein conditioner is good to use once a month or every 2 weeks. (Some use it more but remember to use a moisturizing conditioner afterwards. Protein has the tendency to make your hair hard.)

6. Drink more water, less of the sweet stuff. I never was a soda drinker (or 'pop'depending on where you are from), but water is tons better for not only your hair but your whole body. Adding more fresh fruits and veggies helps too, not too mention beans, eggs, and whole grains.

7. Exercise. It gets the blood circulating all over. And you might as well look as good as your hair!!

8. Trim your hair on a as-needed basis. Some trim every 8 weeks like clockwork, but if my ends are still in tact, I keep them protected and hold off until they do need them.

9.Less heat, more washing. I've found that if I rollerset my hair and sit under a dryer, I have less breakage. But if you can avoid heat all together your hair will thank you for it. I also wash 2 times a week now and my scalp feels alot better.

10. Comb from the ends to the roots for less breakage.

These are a few tips that were passed on to me when I first started getting my hair together. I hope it helps all of you the way it has helped me. Sorry this is so long but I wanted to share all of this with everyone. Happy Hair!!!