The Heat is On!!! Thermal styling

Putting heat in your natural hair has got to be one of the most controversial topics in most of the hair blogs out there. Should you or shouldn't you?!?! Many naturals frown on the act of even thinking about doing a blow out or flat iron, but I say, as long as one takes extra precautions (deep conditioner, gentle manipulation, heat protection product, etc.) before, during, and after straightening, I don't see a problem with it, periodically. I mean we pride ourselves in having the versatility of curly hair so why not explore all options?? I'm just saying.....
Some naturals use heat often, while others use it a couple of times a year for hair maintenance like trims and length check,  but and this is a BIG BUT, I do know using heat on natural hair is a sure way of losing your natural curl, especially after a prolonged period of time.
When I first went natural, I put heat in my hair maybe once a year for a trim and to see my length. Once I started cosmetology school, I was putting heat in my hair more frequently and subsequently damaged my hair. I ended up having straight strands of hair even after shampooing and air drying. I've heard some naturals say that there curl pattern is looser after putting heat on it or that their texture is changing. I don't mean to burst your bubble, but all that is happening is heat damage to your hair. When using heat, it pulls the moisture out of your hair and damages the cuticle in the process. Which is why using a heat protectant is important. So instead of cooking your hair, you cook the product, therefore protecting your hair.
Once you experience heat damage, there is no repairing it. Even though you may see a commercial for a product that claims to "repair" damaged hair, it's only putting a band aid on it. Once you shampoo the product out, your hair is still damaged. Cutting your hair will be the only way to get rid of it.
In the end, the question of whether or not to put heat in your hair is totally up to you. If you are totally in love with your curly texture, then heat is not for you. On the hand, if you have natural hair, but want the effects of having a relaxer, then heat on baby! Just remember to use your moisturizers and protectors.

Not so Relaxed...

So you've made the conscious decision to go natural, now what??
It's time to transition. What does transition mean? Transitioning is when you decide to no longer alter your new growth with relaxers or chemicals, you will have to transition from relaxed or straight hair to natural. For some the whole idea of transitioning isn't easy, but for others the decision was made for them when relaxers caused there hair to shed and fall out. The transitioning period is probably the most frustrating part of being natural. I've seen women have doubts or lose patience and say they were going back to the "creamy crack". They find that as their natural hair is growing, they can't treat their hair as if they still have a relaxer. So, their whole mind set has to change. Also, having to deal with two different textures during the transition can be enough to make you relapse. 
Now that you're in the transitioning period, how long does it last?
That's totally up to you. I transitioned for maybe 4 or 5 months and got all my relaxer cut out. Doing this is called The Big Chop or BC in the natural hair world. This is ultimately the easiest way to go instead of fighting with the two different textures. Now depending on how much new growth you have a BC could result in either shaving your head or sporting a twa (teeny weeny afro).
The other way to go is to gradually grow the relaxer out and cut a little at a time. This method requires a little bit more work than the BC, but some women don't want to take such a big step. In this case you can choose protective hair styles such as weaves, wigs or braids. If you choose to go this route, make sure you are cutting the relaxer a little at a time, because having two different textures will do more harm than good. You've got the new hair and the relaxed hair fighting against each and the line where they meet is the weakest part of your hair, which is where it will break. However, it is possible to minimize breakage by learning proper combing techniques and with product. I know women who have transitioned for a whole year with great results.
Transitioning doesn't have to be hard. All you need is a little patience and persistence. I know you may go through doubts, frustration and even fear, but hang in there. You'll soon experience excitement once you see those beautiful  coils and curls.  

Grow your hair NATURALLY

It's very easy to fall into the trap of advertisements for products that promise to increase the rate of your hair growth, but sometimes these products aren't the best route to take. Protein, which is essentially what hair is made of, is a natural vitamin found not only in supplements but also in the food we consume.
So, if you have a diet that is low in protein then this can create irregular hair growth or even stunt growth all together. That being said, when you choose to eat a high in protein diet, then your hair will both grow at a faster rate and just be healthier overall.
Some foods to consider when boosting up your protein intake are lean meats, fish, poultry, dairy products, soy, nuts and grains. If you eat just one of these a day, you can help build your protein levels and therefore promoting the growth of your hair.
You'll find there are many protein hair treatments products on the market, which claim to boost your hair growth and overall appearance. While these products do have their advantages, it's still best to to start with natural protein through your diet and combine it with the products.
With your hair being protein based, IT'S ONLY NATURAL that through putting the proper amounts in your diet and through supplement intake, it just may be all you need to see a dramatic increase in hair growth.

FOOD For Thought

Before you go running to your nearest beauty supply store for expensive or even "cheap" hair care products, take a step back and look in your kitchen. Hey, if it's good enough to go in the body, then it's good enough to go on the body, right?! Here are a few foods that you should have right in your kitchen that will work wonders on your hair.

Eggs: Packed full of protein and great for strengthening and adding shine to the hair. You can either whip up an egg and add it to your shampoo or just whip up one or two eggs and put it directly on your dry hair. Cover with a towel or plastic cap, let it sit for 15 minutes then wash it out. Be careful not to rinse the egg out with really hot water or it will cook the egg, giving all new meaning to egg head...

Honey: Chocked full of vitamins, honey is an excellent hair moisturizer. Try mixing equal parts honey and olive oil. Rub in your hair, put on a plastic cap and let it sit for 30 minutes before shampooing your hair.

Olive Oil: As I said with the honey, olive oil is also good for conditioning the hair. It's improves the strength and elasticity of the hair. Warm some olive oil in the microwave, about 20 seconds, and massage into your damp hair and scalp. Put a plastic cap on your head for 30 minutes and shampoo and condition as normal.

Apple Cider Vinegar: It has a tart smell, but it will go away as the hair dries. Once again packed full of nutrients apple cider vinegar helps to balance the pH of your hair and scalp and helps in removing product buildup. Mix 1 tablespoon of ACV with a cup of warm water and pour it onto the hair after shampooing. You can either rinse it out or leave the vinegar rinse on your hair for extra conditioning. As I said the smell will go away once your hair dries.  

Mayonnaise: This is probably the most popular "home remedy" hair treatment. It restores moisture and shine to dead hair. It contains eggs, oil and vinegar which are all excellent for you hair. Make sure you use real mayo and not salad dressing...it's not the same thing. Apply to every strand of hair, cover with a plastic cap and relax for about an hour. Wash and condition as normal.
Now these are just a select few of many other foods you can use to treat your hair. Plain yogurt, molasses, and cornstarch are some others. You can also mix and match them to make a good hair cocktail. Experiment and see what works best for your hair.

TWIST and shout!

Twists are a versatile and popular way of maintaining your natual coils. They are relatively simple to maintain and are a good way to let you hair rest from all the wear and tear of everyday styling. As always, be sure to keep hair moisturized and wrap it up at night.  Here are a few styles that I have done. 
 




Two strand twists can be either worn down or in an updo style. You can also gently unravel them from the ends up for a twist out style.





Flat twists updos are both simple and stylish




Kinky twists are the longest lasting twists style

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KNOT today!

One thing newbies to the natural hair world complain about is being able to detangle their hair without pulling their brains out. It's not the traumatic experience people make it out to be.
Remember that you are not relaxed anymore, so the ability to comb your hair from root to ends is now null and void. You can forget about using a fine tooth comb of any kind, you'll be asking for trouble.
With the hair being in a natural state, knots will become apart of the equation of curly hair growth. With that being said, you may need to change your daily regimen.
Shampoos can sometimes do more harm than good when shampooing the hair. It's capable of creating more knots when you emulsify it through your hair. So try just shampooing the scalp and then pulling the shampoo through your hair.
When detangling natural hair, gently start at the ends using a wide tooth comb and your fingers. Make sure the hair is wet and with conditioner. It makes it easier for the comb to glide through the hair and use your fingers to gently pull the hair apart.
When pulling the hair into a style, it prevents friction and knot creation. Wearing the hair up means the hair is in a fixed state and not forming knots with all the other spiral strands. If you like to wear your hair out, be sure to keep the hair properly moisturized. It will make it easier to finger comb out loose  knots before they form into tight ones.  
Lastly, remember to wrap up your hair at night. Hair that's free during the night is going to be knotted and tangled by morning.

It's not true...hair myths

There are a lot of misconceptions about hair, especially natural hair. Let's see if I can clear some of these up.

1. Natural hair is very strong. This couldn't be more false. Natural hair may look rough and tough, but it is actually very fragile and the curlier the hair, the weaker it is. Each curl and bend serves as a breaking point because the shafts are weak. People assume that natural hair is thick, when most likely the strands are fine and wiry. This being said, natural hair needs to be cared for gently.
2. There's no way I can go natural, I won't be able to get a comb through it. Once you go natural, you have to change your entire mind set. You can't treat your hair as if you still have a relaxer. One thing you shouldn't do is comb your hair dry. Only wet and with conditioner in it, which serves as an excellent detangler. Don't fight with your hair, embrace your natural texture and work with it.
3. Most black women can't grow long hair. Really?? Why would we get exempt from the norm? For all relaxed women, how often do you get your roots touched up? About every 6 to 8 weeks, right? That's because you have new growth. No, it's not the relaxer that causes your hair to grow. ALL hair grows approximately a 1/2 inch per month, depending on the individual. With natural hair, you have to consider the shrinkage factor, looks can be deceiving. Also, remember the fragility of natural hair and it being prone to breakage and with all the blow drying, flat ironing/curling, hair color and chemicals, the hair is bound to suffer and break making it seem as if the hair isn't growing.
4. Products are made for either black hair or white hair. You would think that wouldn't you? Guess what, shampoo is shampoo and conditioner is conditioner. Just because there are products that focus on one ethnicity more than the other doesn't mean it's "made" just for them. Truth is the focus is all about the Benjamins baby! The companies just want your money and they know who is going to buy it. You would be surprised of the number of "black" hair product companies owned by white folks.
5. Trimming your hair will make it grow. Well, trimming your hair is definitely a must in hair maintenance, but your hair is going to grow whether you trim it or not. Regular hair trims is a way of getting rid of split ends or preventing them from splitting, which causes the hair to break. In doing this you will be able to see better hair growth.