African-american Natural Hair Care

STORMIEYES73 · 01-19-2005, 03:07 AM

Hi Cysters,
How do you take care of your natural African-American hair? I started growing out the relaxer Feb. 2004. Until Jan 2, 2005, I let a friend put a texturizer in my hair. Ended up with a thick, greasy half-afro. Eeewww

I was less than 6 weeks from a year of no-relaxed hair. I regret that rash decision. I was having a darn the- flat-iron/ electric hot-comb drama- day on my very, very, thick, coarse hair. I want to grow this thick hair to a long, healthy, natural mane. It's too long for a cute, short afro--- kinda, almost jaw-length. I want to sport shoulder-length double strand twists with the option of flat-ironing it straight. I'm currently wearing cornrow braids.
My hairstylist said she could definitely flat-iron or press my hair with enough time, but her expression said "Lord, please no, that girl's hair is thick". Her prices and scheduling has become a hassle. There isn't any natural hairstylists in my immediate area. Can any African-American sisters tell me what hair products work for their natural hair? I need help!!!
Thanking you in advance,
Linda S.

AdoreMsK · 01-21-2005, 12:36 AM

Hi Stormyeyes,
I have been transitioning since March 1st 2003. I started because this PCOS seem to thin my hair out like crazy. I've chopped permed hair about every 2 months and so far so good. What I wanted to tell you about caring for your natural locks is...condition, condition, condition! I use leave in conditioners to wet my hair and style it. I primarly wear buns and I'm lovin the waves however, I'm putting strain around my edges because of this so I'm looking into other alternatives. I use Elasta QP Mango Butter to moiturize, along with extra virgin olive oil (yes what you buy in the grocery store) Instead of washing my hair with shampoo all the time I do Conditioner washes. I use conditioner just like shampoo and works wonders. Make sure to do deep conditioners also where you have heat on your head. If you don't have a hair dryer dome you can get a heating cap. I got one from www.microhaircap.com I also like to to braid/twist outs. which is twisting or wide corn rows going back before bed. Then in the morning you just take them out and finger comb. Add a little sheen to it and it make for a nice hair style. Let me give you some of the links that have inspired and taught me. Oh one more..Washing your hair. I put my hair in 4 sections and wash each section individually. I don't get tangles at all by using this method. if you have any questions email me a iadoremsk@aol.com

Here are the links I want you to check out.

http://cottonnappy.tripod.com
www.nappturality.com
www.motowngirl.com
This one you need to become a member, but the ladies on their are a wealth of information.

www.ezboard.com the room is beautifulblackhaircare61290

I hope this helps you out some. It's a challenge that's for sure, but I won't go back. I though of getting a wave neuvou (sp?) but I just don't want to go back to chemicals. I'll press, braid, gel instead. Because of this PCOS and my thinning hair, I feel like I have a head full..lol.

STORMIEYES73 · 01-21-2005, 06:59 PM

AdoreMsk,
Thank you for the speedy response. I'll check out the links. Last night, I began to think (desparately) that a wig would help. I hate wearing anything on my head-- scarves, hats, caps, headwrap, weaves, braid extensions. I always take off a headwrap at night, either awake or asleep. My college dormmate would start laughing because I would be sleeping, sit up & take off the headwrap, & then continue sleeping like a baby. I was always wondering why my headwrap would be at the bottom of bed atop the folded quilt. But today, I've decided to go wig shopping this weekend. I'm back in the job hunt & a bad hair day just won't work. Wig shopping, me? Oh my, what an adventure this shall be, while I relearn my hair's textures and quirks and grow long, healthy hair.
Praying for long, thick, healthy hair,
Linda S.

ZphisticatedLady · 01-23-2005, 02:18 PM

Hey Sis,

I don't have natural hair, except naturally nappy when the perm grows out..lol

But check out this link, I found some good information here:

http://www.blackhairmedia.com

They have a link called Natural Hair Care and the discussion boards are great! Ask if they can recommend someone in your area.

Lemme know how your transition goes? I'm not brave enough to grow out my perm..lol...but this PCOS is thinning out my hair and I'm gonna have to find something to do with it. I think I am going to put my hair in a straw set and see how that turns out..wish my luck.

VanillaSkyy · 01-23-2005, 08:02 PM

This message board is very good also:

Long Hair Care Forum

STORMIEYES73 · 01-27-2005, 01:34 AM

Ladies,
Thank you, thank you for the many informative websites and advice for natural hair health. I read until my vision blurred. Today, I broke down and purchased my very 1st wig. It's a curly half-wig called Zury. It's cute and will look great on a job interview. But... yes, that ugly word, but I'm having major issues with front and back comb attachments and my "precious" :o

very thick hair. Too short to be a style, not long enough to pull back into a decent ponytail. It's thick and uncooperative to my needs. I want to cry. And I'm not a public cryer(sp?), I keep the crying dormant inside until it explodes like a volcano.
What's the solution? Should I shampoo, spritz setting lotion, apply gel like I'm auditioning for a 1950's revival movie, then fit the wig???? Please forgive my wig-ignorance. I'm having a moment. I'll do better tomorrow. I promise.

Bad hair day in Dallas,
Linda S.

AdoreMsK · 01-27-2005, 02:15 AM

Hey Stormie,
Your welcome on the info. I to bought one just to give my hair a rest from the styling. Because I have no idea how to put the picture of it on here, I'm going to give the web address. I found it at www.especiallyyours.com it's called the "New Hair" and it's Dee with the left part. It's pretty nice cause you only leave out a square piece of your hair to cover it. It too has these comb/clips that you attach to your hair. What is suggest as an alternate is to put small cornrolls in and the combs will attach to them nicely. I haven't tried it yet, but I am. There is illustrations and intructions on the website. Go check it out! Peace and blessings to you.

ZphisticatedLady · 01-27-2005, 03:44 PM

Hey Stormie,

I agree with AdoreMsK, I get the catalog from www.especiallyyours.com all the time and its free. Just go to the website and request a catalog. Their prices are VERY affordable, like 19 bucks for a wig! and they styles are really cute.

Don't be ashamed of a wig...what works for me is to wrap my hair around my head and then wear the wig, but since you have natural hair, you possibly can wash and then wrap it while it is wet so it will lay flat.

Since I have relaxed hair, I just wrap it after blowdrying. Do you press your hair? Maybe that will work..

Shoot...all this talk about wigs makes me wanna get one!

I'm going to check out the site now

prettygreen13 · 01-27-2005, 04:21 PM

Stormie

I feel your pain with the styling options, but I wanted to make a suggestion for whenever you wanted to get your hair pressed....My stylist had a hard time with my hair the first couple of times (my hair is super thick!) so the final solution was to either set my hair on very large rollers to dry before pressing or to section my hair off in about 6 sections pulled kinda snug with a rubberband, platted to the ends then I'd sit under a heated dryer. These methods somewhat "pre-straighted" my hair to make it a lot easier and less time consuming to press. As for products I love Organic for Kids "Shea Butter" it is very good for detangling after shampoo and good for daily moisturising. You'd probably only find it in those large beauty supply store (usually in the hood) and it's less than $3.00 for about 9 or 10 oz.

FYI: I made the transition....well I more or less went "cold turkey" going natural, did the "big chop" in Dec. 2003!!! I don't plan on going back either and have really been considering getting sisterlocs lately (locking my hair is something I would have not even thought about doing in the past) but I have to save for that, didn't realize it was so expensive!!!

ETA: Oh yeah another style suggestion is the one in my picture below.... my hair was in that in between lentgh phase on this picture so my stylist braided a cute little pattern in the front then to the ends and braided them together going across to making my own hair form sorta a "head band" you really can't see the detail on the photo, but I hope you understand the description.

HTH

AdoreMsK · 01-27-2005, 05:29 PM

Tasha,
I love your hair. Is that your natural texture or do you braid it for an outcome like that.

prettygreen13 · 01-27-2005, 05:37 PM

Thanks Keisha,

I guess you can say that is my natural texture, but I have to style it a particular way to get it to do that: the only time I actually comb thru my hair when I have conditioner on it, but after I rinse that out, I only finger comb it and apply some type of moisturizer while it's still wet and let it air dry. I found that even if I comb it while it's still wet it turns out a different texture more frizzy or fly-a-way.

optima1 · 01-27-2005, 09:02 PM

Sorry you went ahead and texturized. I went natural about a year ago and found the key to management is moisturizing. Pantene Pro V has a new line for African American that works pretty well. I just relaxed my hair again I regret it though. It got to long while it was natural to maintain. But I am going to go back to it.

Tip for wigs: I have about six or seven wigs. I like to pretend I am a chameleon ever changing. Use closed bobby pins on the sides near your ears to anchor the wig that way it won't move around. I LOVE WIGS. I can get up an go in the morning.

Also if you don't want to get your hair pressed at the beauty shop purchase an electric hot comb made by gold and hot. Its a lot easier than using a stove.
NEW ON HERE HOPE IT HELPS.

STORMIEYES73 · 01-28-2005, 03:44 AM

Ladies,
You are a God-send!!! Thank you much.
Optima1, welcome to SC. Keisha, Theresa, Tasha, Optima1, thank you for the helpful tips. I was diagnoised (sp) with carpal tunnel, so I really, really don't like to spend a lot of time in my hair. Tasha, your hair looks great. I wish you had a more detailed photo. Keisha, I hear you, girl. Super thick hair is why my former hair stylist got that "doe in headlights" look when I asked about future hair pressing. She was panicked and silently praying!!! :o Later today, I'm going to shampoo, deep condition, try to cornrow, no successfully cornrow, and then cap it off with my super cute, obviously fake, shiny curly wig upon this beautifully thick hair that God has given me. I'm gonna stop cursing it & speak sweet praises to it. I'm reminding myself that Christmas 2005 will have approximately 6 more inches of natural hair. The total length will be more managable to my likes and abilities. Yeah, a decision made; it's a good day!!!
Blessed with Super Cysters/Sisters,
Linda S.

VanillaSkyy · 01-29-2005, 08:40 AM

Here is one more good site for natural hair care products:

Treasured Locks

STORMIEYES73 · 02-08-2005, 01:55 AM

Ladies, once again, thank you very much. I purchased a side-part wig cut in a blunt bob hairstyle. I have to wash it, b/c the synthentic hair makes my skin itch. Still trying to work with the changes in my natural hair. It's a learning experience. Education never stops! Feeling a little depressed over being unemployed for the 1st time ever. I know God will work out the career path, family path, car path, house and home path, and even this little thing called a "bad hair day".

Behave yourselves,
Linda S.