Thank you for answering so quickly!! I just have one quick question.. How can you wear a bun without using a rubberband? Do you need special hair toys?
To whom much is given, much is expected.
www.fotki.com/princess121
Hi Princess! No rubber bands at all! They are a big culprit to breakage. Protective styles are styles that you wear to keep your ends protected from the elements and rubbing on your clothes. Styles such as buns, up-do's, braids, bantu knots are all considered protective hair styles. Cmesweet may have a few website addresses where you can view a few.
http://public.fotki.com/Honeydoo
pw: bombay
Princess1
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Joined: April 25 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 72
-silk/satin scarf or pillowcase for bed...cotton sucks the moisture from hair
-if you must use heat, use it in the lowest setting possible to straighten hair, and use heat spraringly
-avoid hair styles that pull at the hair to avoid thinning
-when using protein treatments/conditioners, its good to follow with a moisturizing conditioner to keep the hair from becoming brittle from too much protein
-trim as needed (I no longer believe in trimming every 8 weeks, because I was trimming off all my new growth, and I didn't have any split ends)!
-moisturize as much as possible to protect the hair from the elements
Type: 3c, Relaxed
Current Length: Lower Back (Close to Waist)
Goal: Classic Length
Try the search feature on this board if you are looking for information on a specific word, phrase or item. It may well have been discussed in the past.
-Happy Hair Days
Kim
FiestyFem
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Joined: April 01 2005
Location: United States
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Points: 3
I'm new here,I just joined today,and I'm so glad I did because I'm on a mission!My hair is shoulder length right now,but sometime in the near future,I'd like to have thick,long bra-strap length hair,or maybe longer.But there are many factors that have contributed to my length.I recently got it cut(which has been the 4th time I've had it chopped off since 7th grade.I'm a highschool junior.)Anywho,the reason for this length I think is because of inconsistency.
All throughout elementary school,my mother used heat on my tresses EVERYDAY.There was not a morning that passed when she didn't do it.The ironic thing about it is that she went to school for cosmetology,so I thought she knew better,obviously not.But then when I entered middle school,my hair started to improve,grow,thicker and thicker.This was a result of me getting my hair done at a popular salon in a near mall.My hair was beautiful!I had no complaints.Then upon entering junior high,I had to get it cut,and I threw a fit!But then I had to realize that after all the stress my hair had went through,that was the smartest thing to do.My hair was once again,healthy.Then I enter highschool in the 9th grade,and I had to get it cut again!Same process.Now I'm in the 11th grade,and I recently had my hair cut,and through this process my mother really angered me!She had relaxed my hair,then instead of using a WIDE tooth comb,she used a small one,and combed from the top to the bottom which is a no no!My hair had grown so much,and then I look at this comb,and there were just clumps of hair.I wanted to .All of this occured because of lack of knowledge.Not trimming consistently when my hair needs it,not washing it when it needed to be washed,and using the wrong products for my hair all contributed to my damaged crown and glory.
Some tips that I've learned are:
Love your hair,be patient,and try not to be rough with it.
Drink plenty of water!Drink it until you get sick of it.I know this is annoying but eventually your hair will thank you.
Moisture,Moisture,and more Moisture.As women of color,our hair tends to be drier,so using the correct poos/conditioners will definitely benefit the hair.
NEVER clog your precious pores up with grease,oil,or any other pomades.
Use wide tooth combs instead of the small tooth ones,and NEVER brush hair while it's wet.
Comb from the bottom up.
Never sleep without a satin/silk pillow case or scarf.
And most importantly TRIM!I don't care how long your hair is.Eventually your hair will just split up the hair shaft and you'll be back to round one.
Conditioning my hair during my shower also helped me. Before I go in the
shower I would put a moisturizer on my hair paying special attention to the
ends and hairline. My shower cap acts like a heating cap because of the steam
from the shower. I found this to be a quick and easy way of getting a little extra
from my moisturizer.
Hey you guys. I am new to this site. I have been searching for a good place to purchase wigs via the internet if possible. I have had microbraids in my hair for approximately 8 months now, and I am ready to take them out. I need something to do with my hair post-braids though. I am wanting to wear some stylish, cute wigs. I have been unsuccessful in my quest. I am only 24, and want a younger-person's wig. Does anyone have any suggestions or helpful tips for me. They will be greatly appreciated.
Here's a few things I learned from a book called The Black Woman's Guide to Beautiful Hair.
Shampooing:
Start by rinsing your scalp, making small openings or parts in your hair, so the water can rinse through. Focus on the crown, nape, behind your ears, and your hairline. Never dump shampoo onto your head. Instead pour it into your hands, and rub them together, spreading the shampoo down your fingers. Make small parts and openings in your hair and apply the shampoo to your scalp. Then slide or rubb your fingers through the hair alloiwing the shampoo to move tward the strand ends. Never massage on top of your hair, slide your fingers from under your hair directly on your scalp. This will prevent matting, tangles, and damage to the hair shaft. Use the pads of your fingers to massage your scalp
Conditioning:
Towl-dry your hair before applying conditioner, to allow the conditioner to attact to the hair surface. Make openings and parts in your hair, then apply conditioner with your fingers so that you can place the conditioner on the hair closest to your scalp. Next, apply the conditioner to the ends of your hair. Then apply to the entire strand. If the hair has tangles, apply extra conditioner directly to the tangled areas, then use your forfinger and thumb to massage the tangles away. Do Not Comb conditioner through, this will cause too much strain on your strangs. Allow the conditioner to work first. Depenging on the condition of your hair, you can now rinse the conditioner out throughlt, or deep condition.
Deep Conditioning:
In order to have true deep reconditioning of damaged strands you must have maximum penetration of your conditiooner into the cuticle layers of your hair strands. To achieve this it is recommended that you use a deep penetrating, protein-and-moisture rich conditioner in order to stabilize the hair strands. Use the conditioning method above, instead of rinsing cover your head in a thin plastic cap (i think seran wrap works just as good) and sit under a warm dryer for fifteen minutes (set the dryer to medium). Come out from the dryer, remove the plastic cap, and carefully apply more conditioner to the hairline, the ends, and to any short, weak spots as well as any weak or thinning areas. Cover with the cap as before and sit back under the dryer for ten more minutes. Come out and again apply the conditoner to any weak spots (hairline, thinning spots ect.) Cover with the cap and sit back under the dryer for another 10 minutes. For a total of 35 minutes. Finally rinse your hair in lukewarm water for ateleast sixty seconds.
Leave in Conditioner:
A leave-in will add elasticity to your strands by placing a positive buildup on the hairshaft. After you rinse the conditioner, towl-blott in a squeezing motion to remoce excess water. Spray on the leave-in taking care to get inside any new-growth and the hairclosest to the scalp and the ends. If there are any tangles use your thumb and forefinger to massage the leave in directly into the tangled area. Next, finger comb through your hair. Do Not comb before tangles are removed, and comb from the bottom up.
Thers is so much more information in this book. but I thought I would just share this stuff.
Find a good shampoo, a good conditioner, a good deep conditioner, a good leave-in and a good moisturizer(find out whether you hair likes oil or butters).
Shampoo and Deep Condition Weekly.
Condition washes are great for naturals.
Baggie Method- I moisturize at nite and put the thin, plastic cap over my entire head. You can also put a baggie over your ponytail and then cover it with a phony pony or phony bun.
Drink lots of water and take vitamins at least a good hair, skin and nails one as well as a good multivitamin at a minimum.
I only use heat when i deep condition.
that's about it- hope this helps someone out.
Me and you, your cousin and your momma too rollin on da strip on bow's
vickyd
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Joined: February 27 2005
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Great info everybody -- actually some of this advice is not just good for loving our hair and the various forms it comes in, but also loving ourselves.
"And this too shall pass."
cmesweet
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I guess i should add, at the time i got my angel bob cut with a relaxer, i had all kind of people upset with me. People at church that had never spoken to me my whole life saying crap. But we have to remember at the end it was my hair, just like it is YOUR hair. Only u know your hair most and i rather cut it to let it grow back healthy than to try to hold on to unhealthy hair, that was asking to get off my head.
Point of the story, its about making yourself happy, your hair is yours, you own it, u can't please everyone. So you have to back yourself up.
* Be happy with what you have now, you can be your own support system.
Thats a very good point Cmesweet. I know what you mean by getting remarks about your hair. I haven't been natural since I was little but I've always admired those who did have natural hair. I wish some people would see the beauty in all types. (We need to put an end to the term 'good hair' in A-A societies because I think it really puts a negative label to hair that isn't straight, shiny, and bouncy. All hair is good. it's a part of us.)
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Hi cmesweet!!!
.But then when I entered middle school,my hair started to improve,grow,thicker and thicker.This was a result of me getting my hair done at a popular salon in a near mall.My hair was beautiful!I had no complaints.Then upon entering junior high,I had to get it cut,and I threw a fit!But then I had to realize that after all the stress my hair had went through,that was the smartest thing to do.My hair was once again,healthy.Then I enter highschool in the 9th grade,and I had to get it cut again!Same process.Now I'm in the 11th grade,and I recently had my hair cut,and through this process my mother really angered me!She had relaxed my hair,then instead of using a WIDE tooth comb,she used a small one,and combed from the top to the bottom which is a no no!My hair had grown so much,and then I look at this comb,and there were just clumps of hair.I wanted to 
.All of this occured because of lack of knowledge.Not trimming consistently when my hair needs it,not washing it when it needed to be washed,and using the wrong products for my hair all contributed to my damaged crown and glory.
