what happened with black hair?!

Great thread! Sorry I'm late to the discussion. Here's what I know. Washing your hair everyday will not change your hair texture or make it grow faster. It doesn't hurt to wash your hair every day as long as the shampoo is gentle. The trick is finding one. Hair texture determines your regimen. Curly/frizzy/kinky/nappy hair texture seems to not do well with daily shampoos. This is why the Conditioner Only regimen is followed by many w/this hair type. Unfortunately, old wives tales and myths caused many blacks to develop unhygienic hair cleansing regimens. All hair should be washed at least ONCE A WEEK. Especially if you're using oily/greasy hair products like pomades, gels. After awhile they build up on the hair, but more importantly the scalp and the hair follicles get CLOGGED. This promotes unhealthy hair growth and breakage. So when blacks complain, my hair won't grow, what they're really complaining about is that they can't see the growth because it breaks off and sheds. So for healthy hair a good cleansing regimen is a must. Also our very polluted environment really makes it necessary because the air is - in a word - FILTHY. And we need to rid our hair and scalp of pollutants.

But we shouldn't be too harsh on blacks in generations past, because shampoos were awful, loaded with alcohol and very drying. Even Caucasian hair suffered and if you look at pictures of older white women, many are bald or their hair is very thin. So much for daily washing being the be all and end all. Today, we are so lucky because there are a lot of MILD shampoos out there. But you have to find them.

Don't be fooled by those no-tear baby shampoos. They are some of the worst shampoos. And please don't use them on your baby/children. Black kids definitely benefit from daily conditioner rinses, w/shampooing at least once a week. A great shampoo is Kids' Organics Shea Butter moisturizing shampoo. First of all, kids and babies don't need a lot of product. A pea size amount of shampoo is all you need. Forget lather. A lot of lather generally means a lot of SLS and that's harsh. A tiny amount of shampoo and a lot of rinsing followed by a good conditioner and your child will have healthy hair growth. I'm focusing on kids because good hair care starts young and too many black parents literally mess up their kids hair, especially girls. Too tight braids, braids left in too long, poor cleansing routine, and no-lye kids relaxers before they're 13 years old, puts your kids hair at risk.

So many young mothers hate their daughters 'nappy' hair and are lazy about grooming it. They either slap the kids hair in braids for too long, or give them a relaxer. Giving them a relaxer is silly, because after a couple of shampoos, they wind up slapping the hair in a ponytail or worse braiding it too tight. Relaxed hair requires even more work to keep it from breaking and those no-lye relaxers cause calcium build-up. The result is a lot of little African American girls running around with dull, damaged hair. I don't know why I'm the only one that thinks they'd look way better with their own natural hair texture.

Especially because there a wealth of GREAT PRODUCTS out there will enhance the natural texure. When you're under the age of 12, your hair has a baby softness to it and relaxers just kill the hair shaft. If you want your daughter to have straight hair on special occasions, press it or flat iron it. Otherwise, choose from the many gels, straightning balms, pomades, texturizing lotions/gels and keep the hair fresh by condition washing and shampooing once a week. Culuture's 7 Day Relaxer is a bet, along with Lottabody's Tress Tranzitions Blow Drying lotion. Follow the instructions and after blow drying flat iron the hair and the hair will be straight. Of course it will revert if water or too much humidity hits it, but it will work for a special occasion and the hairdo isn't meant to last forever, anyway. Young hair especially needs to be kept clean. Just use a gentle shampoo and a good moisturizing conditioner. There are many to choose from.

It's good that discussions like this are taking place. If we learn the accurate information and use it especially on the kids, the next generation will, indeed, have beautiful hair.    

Edited by SanGita

I agree with Supersugar also.

I only wash my hair once a week, but that's only because I don't have much time with my infant son with me.

Also, the length matters. When my hair was very short, I would wash every day and only condition once a week, and that was even while using a drying hair gel. Now that it's longer, washing that often would dry out my hair, the hair gel would dry it out even more, and I have to condition every time I wash.

I believe that both canbe true depending on who you are. For me, frequent washing keeps my hair soft and manageable,especially in the last few weeks of stretching my relaxer. I know because since it's been colder, I have gone down to washing once a week and my hair is so dry at the end. It doesn't absorb the moisturizer as much and it winds up dry. I was sick with bronchitis and sinusitis a few weeks ago and couldn't wash my hair for 2 1/2 weeks until I was better and my hair suffered greatly. But, I believe there are those who can go 2 weeks and their hair does just fine or better. We don't all fit neatly into one little category which is why this board is so fun and interesting! As for the myth, I say the only way to know if it's true for you is to try it or go against it. Then, you will know what is true for yourself!!

The thing to remember about any hair care regimen for any race is that "one size does NOT fit all."  It's one thing to speak about a regimen and say "This works for me."  It's a wholly different matter to say "This will work for you."  I think that the only regimen that has universally worked for growing hair is drinking more water.

I think that the best thing you can do for yourself as far as hair care goes, is to take all advice with a grain of salt.  Be willing to try it, but be willing to accept that it may not be right for you.

I my self have always since I was a little girl been interested in how to obtain and acheive long healthy hair. A couple years back I started my search in how to do that and have gotten excellent advise. I am very pleased to see that others also are into taking care of their hair. For me the freq washes dry my hair out. I have tried all types of different shampoos and conditioner. My hair does well with one weekly wash.

Oprah washed her hair everyday and her hair is beautiful however she does have Andre doing it. I don't know.

sistaslick, i just ordered an 8 oz. supply of the rosemary oil and i will start using it as soon as it comes. yay!!! can i use it now on my braided hair under the weave or should i wait until i take it out?

lol! yeah that is funny. i guess saying 'wash my hair' sounds too rough for hair. i couldnt imagine putting my hair through what my clothes goes through. im really looking forward to taking my hair down to start a good regimen and begin washing more. i also work out a lot and i hate having a sweaty,itchy head. i just wish i hadnt wasted my money on prenatal pills to assist in my hair growth. i still dont know if they will work.

thanks sistaslick,and again i love your hair

Edited by taggi

When I was growing up it was every 2 weeks to shampoo your hair. Not because of some myth, but because there was five girls in my family and my mother couldn't do everyones hair on Saturdays. That would cut into my watching Soul Train and miss the Soul Train line

I never knew where that myth came from and I am thinking it was an old wives tale or something like that. Now that I am older, I shampoo my hair twice a week. Because I work out a lot.  Oh and btw, my mother always said "You WASH clothes and Shampoo hair."  (thought you get a kick out of that, because I always say, "wash my hair."

I have to agree with Sistaslick- i am totally natural- i have been cowashing for 2.5 years now since my stylist reccommended it after she did the bc. I love it and my hair has thrived. Now lately i have been washing more but i use a couple of different methods- i do pre-shampoo treatments overnite with either glycerin or castor oil and a thin plastic cap. In the a.m. i either C-W-C ( condition-wash(shampoo)- condition) or W-C-DC (wash(shampoo)-condition- deep condition ( with heavy condition under thin plastic cap w/heat under soft bonnet dryer for 45-60 mins) . I always spritz my hair after any water  with a mixture of glycerin/water/liquid aloe vera/eo (essential oil). I use to have a really dry scalp and really dry hair. I still have that but everything is now thriving and manageable- my hair is always soft and moisturized and i am experiencing a growth spurt currently. I also add liquid aloe vera and glycerin to my conditioners that i use for co washes. I do have a couple of shampoos on hand that are 100% natural and i am a pj that loves dominican conditioners as well. I also have several essential/natural oils that i use to oil my scalp at nite. Hope some this helps.