How to Style Nappy Hair

Ok did I say Nappy? Well really there is Nappy
and then there is NAPPY!!!happyandnappy

But for the most part our hair is manageable to the point of making it presentable.

As African Americans our genetic makeup can have an effect on the type of hair we develop. When we are babies we are born with soft, straight or sometimes curly hair. Over time and with exposure to harsh chemicals and heat, our hair may become dryer, and more brittle. The term "nappy" has usually been addressed with negative connotations but really all it means is tightly coiled hair. This is hair of strength, hair to be proud of. There are so many things you can do with our hair which can make other people jealous. The fantastic, unique and creative designs that "nappy hair" can produce are amazing. The styling techniques are endless from braids, to dreads, to twists, afros and so much more. Learn how to style nappy hair using the following techniques.

Hard, Nappy, Kinky, Woolly, whatever you want to call it, our tightly coiled hair is wonderful.

Even in today's society, african american people are still facing challenges in the workplace on what is "acceptable" as a hairstyle. Companies are introducing policies on what they consider tolerable and what is considered extreme.

It was hard at first breaking the cycle of imitating European Society. The long silky flowing hair that splashed over the covers of all magazines, the dolls we were given to play with, the beautiful models on the runway tossing their hair from side to side. I had to learn to love what the creator had given me and learn to love myself, just the way I am.

My hair has been natural since 2000 and I couldn't be happier. At first it was hard trying to comb out my dry, tough, hair and very time consuming.

I felt like

some days. As time went by it became easier and easier and I found new methods to cope with some of the challenges I was facing.

I love wearing my hair natural but it is so difficult to find the products that I want here in Vancouver, BC. The products are limited and if you do find what you want it is usually very expensive. I usually source out my hair products at the Sallys Beauty Supply store in Bellingham Washington which is about 1 hr away from home or I buy my products on amazon and have them sent to my USA postal box which is right at the Canadian and American border crossing 45 minutes from home.

Let me ask you a question...

In your daily routine, what do you pay the most attention to?

Your hair?Nails?Skin?Teeth?

You should be giving great care to all these areas and when it comes to your hair you need to treat it just as well as you would anything else you take with great care. That means stop brushing it with a coarse brush, combing with a fine tooth comb, and fighting with your hair pulling it out strand by strand. Your hair does grow about 1/2 inch a month but you probably don't notice because you are busy breaking it off by drying it out with heat, harsh chemicals, or pulling it out in strands with your hair brush or comb.

Be gentle with your hair, love it and care for it.

If you braid your hair don't make it too tight. You may end up suffering from thinning and breaking hair resulting in traction alopecia.

Comb it with a wide tooth comb when it is wet or well moisturized. Pay attention to the ends of your hair shaft and give it good moisture. Give your scalp a nice massage regularly. Eat healthy foods and exercise daily.

You will be amazed what will happen when you treat yourself well from the inside out and give your hair a chance. I never thought my hair would grow but with the right care you will see the results very quickly.

Many household products contain lye, the chemical sodium hydroxide. Lye is a caustic, alkaline chemical.Lye is used in products such as drain cleaner, laundry detergent,soap and pool chemicals. Many people who receive chemical relaxer treatment usually suffer from one of the following:

Hair Breakage

Hair Thinning

Scalp Irritation

Lack of Hair Growth

Scalp burns

Blindness

Lung Irritation

Nowadays you can find relaxers labeled as "no-lye" conditioners. The lye is replaced with a chemical called Guanidine Hydroxide. This label can be misleading to some consumers. There are still strong chemicals applied to change the molecular structure of your hair.

Check here for more information on toxic products

Find out how toxic the products you ingest, put on your hair, face, and brush your teeth with, really are. See example below.

Are You Going To Watch Chris Rock's Movie "Good Hair"? What are your thoughts about the movie?

Tip#1-Use a good shampoo and conditioner. Try a hydrating shampoo. Avoid shampoos that contain harsh ingredients such as those with alcohol. Use a deep conditioner at least once a month. Washing your hair every week or 10 days should suffice. Anything less will make your hair dry and brittle.

Tip#2-Comb your hair while it is still moist.Use an Afro Pick or a large plastic comb. I found that saved me lots of time.

Tip#3-Cover your hair with a silk scarf at night and cover your head with a shower cap when you take a bath or shower.

Tip#4-Stop using grease. Grease clogs your pores and stunts hair growth. Avoid products that contain mineral oil or petroleum. Coconut oil or shea butter is great for moisturizing the scalp.

Tip#5-Steam Treat your hair with a good conditioning cap. A heat cap is good for deep conditioning your hair and restoring damaged hair.

There are so many ways you can style hair in its natural state but the most common styles without the use of a relaxer are:

Braids

Afro

Twists

Wigs

Dreadlocks.

Each style can give you a unique look and assist in managing and maintaining your natural hair. Nappy hair styles can be beautiful, because we are beautiful.

What Are Your Thoughts On Natural Hair

Sorry for the delay in answering your questions.

Congratulations Jae on going natural. That is fantastic! Braiding your hair is a great way to keep your hair manageable and maintenance free for a longer period of time. There are many great braided styles and twists that look fabulous. Two strand twists, cornrows, and twist outs look very nice for natural hairstyles.

Terri-I know styling natural hair can be a challenge at times but it is well worth the patience. Many people have their own personal preference to specific hair products that serve them well but just be aware of some of the chemicals that these products contain which can be harmful to your health. Check out this cosmetic database in regards to the chemicals in products (includes commercial grade hair mayonnaise). A natural conditioner you might like to try is a coconut oil deep conditioning. After you shampoo your hair, while it is still damp apply a few table spoons of coconut oil to the hair and shaft, then wrap your hair in a moist towel or plastic cap and leave on for about 20 minutes then rinse. Coconut oil softens and strengthens the hair along with conditioning the scalp, preventing dandruff.

Lin I am glad to hear at your age you can appreciate the beauty of natural hair. Just be aware that all types of heat remove moisture from your hair and cause breakage. If you must straighten your hair with a hair straightening or heated appliance look for products that provide heat protection to minimize damage.

losein thenapps normal hair growth is about 4-6 inches a year unless you are suffering from illness or taking medication. The issue is that hair that lacks moisture will result in breakage so that hair growth is sometimes less noticeable. To help promote hair growth you can supplement your diet with Vitamins such as Biotin, B12, B3, Vitamin C and E which help increase blood circulation and stimulate hair growth. A good multi-vitamin can provide enough nutrients. When you are shampooing your hair, take the time to do a good scalp massage which will also increase blood flow to the scalp. Try to eliminate hair products with carcinogenic ingredients and harmful irritants. You can see a list of ingredients and what affect they might have on your health at The Cure For All Diseases. Combing your hair with a wide-toothed comb while it is still moist will make it much easier to work with. Hair twists are a bit easier to do yourself or you can try braiding your hair in big plats while it is still moist iand letting it out after it dries for a nice wavy style.

Millepat, how wonderful to hear that you have had natural hair for so long. A good product for dry flaky scalp is a good apple cider vinegar rinse which is 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with 2 cups of water rinsed through hair after shampooing then a deep condition with coconut oil. Avoid hair products with harmful chemicals. Research the ingredients in your shampoo and conditioner.

Shenae-I encourage you to research all the chemicals that are going to seep into your hair. It is not good for you and you might want to explore your options further before making that final decision.

Some hair products have a lot of ingredients in them. Some of these products are not good for your hair and can clog your pores. Some terrific natural ingredients that can give you just as good a result as commercial products are Aloe and Flax Seeds. You can make a great gel for twists out of brown or golden flax seeds and a touch of Aloe Vera Gel

Your hair will keep its style and shine for many days.

I love Henna. Henna is a natural dye from a flowering plant which is commonly known for its use as a temporary body art. Henna has many other uses such as to dye hair, fabrics, and skin. I love how henna has conditioned my hair. It is so soft, silky and healthy. If you find your hair to be tough to work with, look for a good natural henna. My twists last so much longer and my hair is so manageable, the effects are just wonderful. Please do your research before applying henna to your hair. Some people have allergic reactions to henna and it does not do well with chemically treated hair.

The things I did not like about applying henna is that it is messy!! Protect your bathroom and clothes when applying it because it gets everywhere. The other thing is that the powder is really grainy. You will notice when you wash it out that is very gritty and you will need quite a bit of conditioner to wash it out.

I needed at least 100 grams to get full coverage of the color. The box of henna that I purchased was only 60 grams and it didn't seem to make a difference. I tried a few weeks later with 2 boxes of henna and that worked perfectly. I left the henna on overnight. You have to wrap your head really well with plastic wrap and then put on a shower cap and even a scarf to keep the henna from getting all over your sheets and pillows.

I am sure once you try it you will love the way your hair feels. You have to let me know the results you achieved with it.

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