Are you tired of having to weave your hair or wear wigs? Are you tired of dry, brittle, and fragile hair? If so, you've come to the right place!

As an African American woman, I want to encourage other African American women that they can have long, beautiful flowing hair, just as most Caucasians, Hispanics, and Asians do.

About Me:

As a child, my hair was very healthy, strong, and full of volume, even though it had been relaxed. At age 16, my hair started breaking uncontrollably. It was very noticeable. During that time, I had not been "keeping my hair up".

As a child, I got my hair washed once every two weeks. As I got older, however, I was responsible for caring for my hair, and because I did not have much time on my hands, my hair was neglected as a result.

Although there is nothing wrong with wearing weave, it does get pricey. For this reason, I began extensively researching and reading everything I could about hair growth and various products. Provided with so much information, I began to change my routine and take better care of my hair by quitting my bad habits. It was not long after (about a year) when I saw tremendous improvements in the quality and texture of my hair. Just as people had noticed the breakage, the same people started commenting on how much better my hair appeared to be.

True or False:

1. "Trimming your ends won't make your hair grow." (False) ---> Explanation: Although some experts claim that hair is considered dead once it grows from the scalp, trimming ends will prevent breakage that can otherwise travel up the hair strand. This in turn causes the hair to prematurely fall out from the scalp and prevent growth.
2. "Washing your hair too often can be harmful because it rids itself of natural oil and moisture." (Depends)--> Explanation: In my opinion, I believe that you should wash your hair every week or every other week, depending on the texture of your own hair. So, this varies from person to person. I wash my hair once every 2 weeks.
3. "Every day you should moisturize your hair and scalp." (Depends) --> Explanation: Again, this claim is subjective because depending on your hair texture, you either need to moisturize daily, or once or twice a week. People with thicker, courser hair usually have dryer hair, compared to those with thinner, relaxed hair. Because my hair is relaxed, moisturizing it every day is unneccessary and actually makes it appear volumelss and stringy.

Hair Facts:

1. Hair grows about 1/2 inch per month. On average, however, hair should grow at a rate of about 6 inches per year.
2. Generally, hair may be reasonably maintained by keeping it clean, establishing a balance of moisture, good circulation of the scalp, and proper nutrition. Believe it or not, a person's diet can greatly affect hair growth!
3. One hair strand lasts for about 2-6 years and on average, a person may shed 60-100 hairs per day.
4. Hair breakage among African American women is so common because of our "curl pattern". This tight pattern results in excessive dryness.
5. Dying/coloring hair that has been relaxed is a common cause of breakage.

The following should be avoided:

• overheated appliances
• leaving relaxers on hair for too long
• going too long without moisturizing hair
• going too long without washing hair
• permanent hair color- may be damaging because it penetrates the cortex (the second and most important layer of the hair). This layer is responsible for the hair's strength, elasticity and color.
• too much hair spray- Many hairsprays contain alcohol, which causes the hair to dry out. Hairspray should be used in moderation and applied only after it has already been styled.
• pressing hair with a hot iron if you already perm or relax your hair
• braiding hair too tight, especially around the edges
• and keeping hair braided for more than a month at a time

Instant conditioners vs. Deep conditioners:

Instant conditioners- These are rinsed out almost immediately after being applied to the hair and are known for giving the hair temporary shine and making it easier to comb through. These type of conditioners only coat the hair and are not a permanent fix.

Deep conditioners are the best to use. They actually penetrate the hair and not just coat it. Thus, they act as permanent solutions to dry, fragile hair. These kind of conditioners usually require you to sit under a hairdryer for about 15-20 mins with a plastic cap.

In her book, "Ultra Black Hair Growth II", Cathy Howse outlines 6 "requirements" for growing out hair:

1. Consistent washing (every other week)
2. Consistent moisturizing of hair (daily)
3. Use conditioners containing protein, moisturizer, scalp stimulant
4. good blood circulation throughout scalp
5. careful use of appliances (use blow dryers, curling irons in moderation so as not to overheat hair)
6. limit use of hairbrushes (especially around edges)

Some of the products I use can be ordered from Amazon. Just click the links on this hub if you wish to order the following products:

Mane n' tail shampoo and conditioner

Olive oil proudcts

tea tree oil products

Biofusion shampoo and conditioner