The Hair and Makeup Blog

Is your hair ready for a break from chemicals?

Hair Care: Chemicals, Shampoos, Vitamins and Protective Styling

Have you noticed that more women are serious about hair care and protecting their own hair? Increasingly more women are taking hair care supplements and seeking better alternative hair care.  Many are whipping up their own conditioners using all natural ingredients and some are turning to products from the Carol's Daughter line and other hair companies using core natural ingredients. 

Often we have been told that beauty comes at a price.  Well what if the cost was thinning hair?  This does not have to be your situation.  Many women are experiencing tremendous hair growth with sewin hair weaves.  Hair extensions can be a protective styles because of the fact that hair extensions can be colored flat ironed all without the use of damaging chemicals on your own hair.

See what Natural News   Barbara Minton, Natural Health Editor is saying in her Naturalnews.com article: 

Thinning Hair in Women: Warning Sign of Underlying Health Issues      

Hair is probably a woman's most important feature. Signs of thinning hair can take the sail out of almost any woman's day. It may seem vain to pay so much attention to hair, but signs of thinning hair are really the first signals of such conditions as hormonal imbalance, vitamin deficiency, excessive stress or poor nutrition, all symptoms of declining health status. Paying attention to hair can reveal developing conditions before they get out of control. When you have restored your hair to a full head of vibrant healthy strands, chances are the rest of your body will also exhibit vibrant health

Hair products containing toxic chemicals promote hair loss

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is the dominant ingredient in almost all shampoos sold in traditional outlets such as supermarkets, drugstores and discount centers. In addition to having toxic effects on your immune system, SLS has been shown to corrode hair follicles and impede hair growth. It has been blamed for many cases of hair loss. The Material Safety Data Sheet provided by the U.S. government says exposure to SLS can lead to burning, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting. The American College of Toxicology says SLS stays in the body for up to five days and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, brain, and lungs.

Over-treated hair is another cause of hair loss in women. Hair dyes, permanents, and relaxers do serious damage to the hair and scalp whether they contain lye or not. They are made with toxic chemicals that must be detoxified by the liver, and are identified by the immune system as foreign invaders. Thus health of the liver and the immune system are compromised by use of these products. When the liver is busy trying to detoxify an onslaught of foreign chemicals, estrogen metabolism may not be properly completed and breast cancer may be promoted. An immune system busy fighting off an invasion of foreign chemicals may not be able to prevent infection or identify and destroy abberant cells. Damage from dyes and relaxers can only heal when those potions are no longer used on the hair.

Have you noticed that more women are serious about hair care? What protective styles are you using?

Protecting Your Edges and Your Hair Line

Protect Your Edges

Hair care while wearing hair weaves

Hair Weaves can help your hair grow and is often worn as a protective style.  Many women wear human hair extensions to give their hair a break from chemicals and heat.  However, while taking a break from damaging chemicals and heat, many women neglect their hair line or their edges.  

The hair line needs special attention and care  Women must be mindful of their edges when wearing  braids, hair weaves, hair extensions and lace front wigs.  Now some people reading this blog may not understand the concept of edges.  The Edges is your hair line. For a lot of people the hair line is the most fragile or weakest part of the hair.  Yet, many women place a lot of unnecessary stress on their edges when when wearing certain hair styles. 

Here are Six ways you can protect your edges when wearing weaves and hair extensions

1. Avoid glues and adhesives around the hair line
2. Leave your edges out when wearing a sew in weave (this includes hair around the entire hair line)
3. Don't apply daily heat to your edges
4. Stay away from gels containing protein that can be hard and drying.  Consider using the Tancho Tique (Tancho Stick) pomade the perfect gel alternative.
5.  Minimize ponytails and definitely avoid tight ponytails
6. Take a two week break after coming out of weaves and human hair extensions by wearing alternate hair styles.

Remember, you can grow your hair while wearing remy hair extensions with proper hair care and including the Tancho Tique pomade in your hair regiment. 

The Tancho Tique is a staple in my hair care regiment.  The Tancho Tique is a universal hair product and works with taming fly aways  and laying down all hair types.  Great for African American, Multiracial, Hispanic, Asian and European hair texures.Shop Tancho Tique and quality remy hair extensions, Indian hair extensions and reusable human hair extensions.

Check back for more posts on taking care of your own hair while wearing human hair extensions. We love to hear from our readers.  Let us know if you found this article  helpful or if you have any additional tips you would like to share.

Looking for natural hair care shea butter products to combat dryness?

Ashea Shea Butter Pomade, Ashea Shea Butter Wax Stick and Ashea Leave in Conditioner

Last Friday evening Nov 21^st I received my UPS package from the Ashea Professional Hair Care Products Company.  And by Saturday I was all too eager to try my new products.   The Shea Butter pomade has a heavenly sent. I sampled the 100% Shea Butter Pomade, the Leave in Conditioner and the Shea Butter Wax Stick.  After using the Ashea products I will say that the products sell themselves.   The Ashea Shea Butter pomade solves the number one problem with black hair: DRYNESS.  Unlike some other shea pomades the Ashea Shea Butter pomade absorbs into the hair.  It did not weigh down my hair or leave my hair greasy.  I will definitely incorporate the Ashea line in my hair care regiment and would recommend the Shea Butter, Leave in Conditioner and Shea Butter Wax Stick for my natural sisters. 

How I used the Ashea products:

1.    Washed and conditioned my hair

2.    Sprayed the Ashea Leave in conditioner in my hair

3.    Blow dried my hair with my ionic blow dryer

4.    Added Shea Butter Pomade to my hair

5.    Flat ironed my hair with tourmaline flat iron and curling iron

6.    Applied the Shea Butter Wax Stick to my edges

Today I reconnected with Ashea Professional Hair Care Products TM creator Mr. Ron Campbell about his product line for multi textured and African American hair.  Early in our conversation it was obvious to me that Ron is an authority on hair care.  Ron a licensed cosmetologist is very passionate about the Ashea product line and the many benefits for relaxed or natural hair. 

Now, the Ashea Product line is a professional line but the above products that I used are available at select salons but primarily in salons and beauty stores in Baltimore Washington DC metro area.  Products can also be purchased via the Ashea website.

What has been your experience with shea butter products?

Perhaps, you are familiar with the Ashea line, let us know what is your favorite Ashea product?