Step Your Moisture Game Up

Here's a friendly reminder to keep your beautiful, natural kinks and curls MOISTURIZED AT ALL TIMES. In order to achieve considerable growth, you are really gonna have to step your "moisture game" up, for real! Peep how shiny and supple this strand of hair is. That's the result of non-stop, daily "moisturization" :). Don't get caught slippin either or else it'll cost ya those extra inches of dead ends you'll be forced to chop off when it comes time for your next trim!

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The "Slow-Growth" Blues!

While you're growing out your hair, once in a while you're destined to hit a dry spell. It's those couple of months, weeks, days, or any sustained period of time where your hair says "to hell with you" and just WILL. NOT. GROW! And while the truth is that your hair really IS growing, it can still be frustrating and it's easy to get discouraged. Here are some tips to help you stay motivated and to shake those "slow-growth" blues!

• 1.) DOCUMENT- Take progress pics to remind you how far your hair has really come.
• 2.) DON'T TRIP!- Just chill out and restrain yourself from the urge to measure your hair everyday. That doesn't encourage growth, only insanity!
• 3.) OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND- Wear a protective style and keep it in for a while. When you let your hair down, you'll be sure to see improvement.
• 4.) PUT HEALTH FIRST- Focus on healthy hair before length. The only thing worse than hair full of split ends is long hair full of split ends. (HOT MESS!)
• 5.) LOVE YOUR HAIR- Accept your hair for the length it is and for what it is right here, right now (It'll make your hair journey all the more sweeter).
  

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10 Ways to Help Grow Relaxed Hair

I want to take some time out to show my relaxed sistas some love! A fellow LLL reader recently wrote:
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I was curious to inquire, especially due to your experience, if you would kindly share any hair care tips for those of us who have yet to cross over to going natural and still maintain a relaxed style.

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Even though I've been natural for 8 years now, I rocked a relaxer for the remainder of my life so I can definitely relate. I just LOVE talking hair PERIOD and am always glad to help a sista out and lend advice whenever I can. I actually had very long hair when I was relaxed as well, just never waist length. However I am POSITIVE that you can achieve the very same results in terms of growth, length, and health. No really, You can! Cross my heart! Here are some helpful tips that worked for me.

• 1.)NO double dipping! During touch-ups, ONLY relax roots! Don't re-relax already relaxed hair! That will give you thin, fried, see-thru ends faster than you can say "bald spot"! Not a good look!
• 2.)PLEASE see a trusted professional to apply your relaxer if you don't know what the heck you're doing.
• 3.)Keep it HEAT-FREE! Eliminate heating tools with the use of rollers, wraps, and wet sets. Most of my hair growth (w/ a relaxer) is attributed to this one thing alone.
• 4.)Oil ends religiously.
• 5.)Use similar precautions as you do with Natural Hair to promote growth and eliminate damage.
• 6.)Use a wide tooth comb.
• 7.)Sleep w/ a silk scarf.
• 8.)Hide your ends! It's the oldest, most fragile part of your hair.
• 9.)Wear protective styles that don't require constant or daily combing (was also EXTREMELY important in achieving my hair growth)
• 10.)Put hair up in hot summer months (to protect from heat and dry air).
• 11.)Keep hair off of your shoulders during coldest winter months (friction against sweaters and indoor heating causes dryness and breakage too) .
  

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Protective Styling

Have you ever wondered why someone who has been natural for less time than you has achieved considerably MORE hair growth than you? The difference is often protective styling. Protective styling is simply wearing your hair "up" in a style that doesn't expose the fragile ends of your hair, and doesn't require daily manipulation. This includes styles like braids, twists, weaves, wigs, and buns (with each style having its own pros and cons ofcourse).

This pic shows the protective style (a bun) I used to rock before I cut my hair. I'm rocking the hell out of those waves, huh? Can you believe this lady at my job asked me if I put all of those waves in my hair one by one with a curling iron? She was dead serious! LOL! Anyhoo, people also used to ask why I never wore my hair down. I tried to explain that if I didn't wear my hair up to protect it, I wouldn't have all that hair to begin with. Protective styling does take commitment. It can often be monotonous and quite frankly a pain in the tooshy. But no pain, no gain, Toots! Believe me, it can be the difference between waist length hair or still having a teeny weeny afro even 5 years after you're big chop-a-roo. Are you routinely wearing protective styles that promote growth?

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Naughty Little Knot Balls!

I thought I'd take a little time out to vent about those friggin teeny tiny little knot balls that are so common in natural hair. They're irritating. They're annoying as all hell. And they're EVERYWHERE! Yes, somehow, someWAY they manage to invade your entire head of hair, just sitting there chillin on the ends of almost every strand. All you kinky-curly chicks know exactly what I'm talking about.

First off, if you get a knot on the end of your hair, it's curtains! It's OVA! Now, I'm not talking about clumps of hair, just the knot on one strand. The tiny knot cannot be undone and tends to weaken the strand in that particular spot. Whatever you do, don't try to save it for the sake of length. If you ignore it, It'll either snap by itself or worse, lead to more tiny knots on the same strand. I just choose to call it a wrap and cut the individual strand with a pair of scissors right at the knot.

Now before you get your blood pressure up, let me tell you the good news. All these funky little knots can be avoided! Firstly, wear protective hairstyles to protect your ends from harsh elements and drying air. Wear your hair out too much and your fro will soon become knot-ball heaven. Also, make sure to keep ends trimmed. Finally, Moisture! Moisture! Moisture! is KEY! When I give my hair AMPLE moisture, those naughty little knot balls are no more. It's only when I skip moisturizing, or get lazy and skip oiling my hair that the knots begin to invade again. I just try not to get caught slipping!

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6 Ways to Prevent Your Hair From Getting Straight Up Snatched Bald!

Some of us need to slow our rolls when it comes to all these tight braids, weaves, and wigs. Now, there's absolutely nothing wrong with changing things up from time to time. Even I can appreciate a good sew-in every now and then. But if these styles aren't installed correctly or with caution, your hair can and eventually will experience irreparable damage. To put it point blank, your junk will be straight up snatched back, ripped bald and let's keep it funky.... Is that really the look you're going for? LOL! Just look at Naomi Campbell. Most people think she has it all... money, beauty, fame... The only thing she's missing is her hairline and that right there is a tragedy! This may be God's way of punishing her for beating people over the head with phones. LOL! I don't know. All I know is that THIS IS YOUR FUTURE if you don't take heed when rockin those tight ass wigs and weaves! (Hey, that rhymes! Anyhoo...) Believe me, I've been there! And let me tell you, there is nothing more sobering than to look at yourself in the mirror only to realize that a big patch of your hair is M.I.A. (missing in action). Here are 6 ways to prevent your hair from getting snatched bald:

• 1. Avoid tight braids worn alone or under weaves. This pulls hair at the root! (Tight ain't right, yawl!)
• 2. Do NOT use alot of tiny braids as the base for your sew-ins (no matter how flat it may make your weave lay)
• 3. Wear a wig cap underneath wigs to protect your hairline from friction damage.
• 4. Care for and baby your hair underneath the weave or wig (yes, wigs can snatch you bald, too!)
• 5. Keep your hair oiled and moisturized religiously (MOISTURE MOISTURE MOISTURE is KEY!)
• 6. Just give it a rest once in a while! Your hair will love you for it!

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Hair Tip-a-roo: Combing It Out!

I Never NEVER EVER "dry comb" my hair! Yeah, so, Ummm... did I mention NEVER? This means that I NEVER nebber ebber comb out my hair unless it is thickly coated with conditioner. This allows enough "slip" so that your wide-tooth comb can easily slip, slide, and glide through those beautiful curls and kinks without pulling, tangling, or damaging them. Go ahead and try it! No doubt, this is sure to make your weekly wash-outs a breeze!

This pic (above) was taken during Month 10 of My Natural Hair Journey. Right now I'm on Month 12 and at the end of this month, I'll be celebrating my 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY since the big chop-a-roo! WOOOOOHOOOOO! I took this pic right after a good wash/comb/trim. I still have conditioner in my hair. It hasn't even been a year yet and I have experienced pretty good growth. You can't tell with all the shrinkage, but if you stretch a strand of my hair straight out, it's about 3 times as long as what you see here. The back and sides of my hair have the loosest curl pattern and I have tight curls poppin off on the top and in the front. The curls don't really show as much in this pic because I had just combed them out (although you can kinda see them in the back). I'll have more pics for my 1 year anniversary update. Anyhoo, I just ♥ my natural hair!

Click to read about "My Natural Hair Journey" and "My Big Chop-a-roo"!

Click the picture above to see a larger view!

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Hair Tip-a-Roo: It's A Wrap!

Did you know that you could be damaging your precious locks in your sleep? Many don't realize that the cotton sheets, pillows, and pillowcases that you sleep on every night can quickly wreak havoc on your hair. As you toss and turn, your delicate ends rub against the fabric, therefore drying, splitting, and damaging them. And if you sleep as wild as I do, then it's definitely a wrap! Your hair doesn't stand a chance! You'll be forced to say good-bye to all that glorious growth you worked so hard to retain.

Here's a quick fix. Before bed, try wrapping your hair in a silk scarf. You can even switch it up and use a silk pillowcase. So instead of getting snagged, your hair will remain protected. Oh, how I ♥ my silk scarf! I bought mine from a store that used to sell Indian garb and we haven't parted ways since. Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about my precious silk scarf. I'll admit, I have somewhat of an unhealthy attachment to it. Even ask my 10 year-old nephew about "Auntie's scarf" and he'll quickly inform you that "Auntie don't play!" My scarf was sent from hair heaven and there's no telling where I'd be without it!

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Hair Growth: 3 Simple Rules

One of my faithful blog readers wanted me to recommend a shampoo and conditioner that will stimulate the scalp and help the hair grow. Unfortunately, there isn't really a "magic" shampoo or conditioner that can guarantee growth (except for products like "Rogaine", which is usually reserved for those with more serious issues like balding). If hair loss isn't a problem for you but you're just eager to see growth, the process is as easy as 1,2,3! Growing long, strong hair is somewhat of a "lifestyle". It takes commitment and you must be consistent everyday! Hair grows when you consistently:

• Keep it moisturized (with good shampoo, conditioner, water, and oil)


• Reduce wear and tear (no heat, constant combing, or brushing)


• Protect it (wear protective hairstyles and a silk scarf at night)
  

Plain and simple! If you just do these 3 things consistently (and the key word is CONSISTENTLY), I guarantee you will see considerable growth in no time. Give it a try and keep me updated on your results. My email is lovelyladyluxe [at] gmail [dot] com. Happy Growing, Ladies!

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A Hair Tip-a-roo: Less Is More

The concept of "less is more" is key when trying to achieve optimal hair health and ample hair growth. The less you manipulate your hair, the less damage you'll do to it. The less damage you do... wallah!...the more growth you'll retain! It's really that simple! That means excessive combing, brushing, styling, touching, and playing in that hair is an absolute no-no!

I have been able to achieve "great lengths" because I manipulate my hair very little. I wear my hair in a "protective", "heat-free" style (like a bun or cornrows) and I keep it in that style for weeks before I change it up again. The only time I comb is when my hair is being washed (and is coated with tons of conditioner). My hair rarely, if ever, sees a comb again until the next wash day. Oh, and a brush? Don't even get me started... Let's just say, I haven't owned a brush since 2000 and cringe at the mere thought of one coming into contact with my hair. To me, it adds unnecessary damage (I'll make a post soon explaining why). My routine is extreme and you don't necessarily have to take it there. But very small changes can make a world of difference. You'll see!

Just think about it. Have you ever kept box braids in for a month or so and, to your surprise, saw tons of growth after they were removed? Or have you ever wondered why people are able to achieve such length with dread locks? It's the same concept. These styles keep combing, brushing, and heat application to a minimum, which means you can easily see tons of growth!

Just give it a try. Choose a hairstyle that allows you to give your hair a much needed rest. Then challenge yourself to keep it in that style as long as you possibly can (within reason, ofcourse). Now, don't wait till your hair forms one big, tangled dreadlock before you decide to comb it out! I've done that before and believe me, you'll be left begging for somebody, ANYBODY to end your life and put you out of your misery! In other words, it's no fun). With less handling, a little daily care, and alot of love, your hair will soon be rewarded with health and glorious growth!

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The Power of Poo

Some naturals prefer to cut shampoo completely out of their hair regimen (a.k.a "no-poo"). They find poo-ing extremely drying and unnecessary, therefore, eliminating it from their routine. Although I do understand the reasoning for doing so, I currently choose to include it in mine. Because I saturate my hair with so much oil, shampoo is the only way to remove it so that I don't accumulate buildup. Buildup can weigh down the hair, gives it a dull appearance, and makes it look like...well, let's just say, another kind of poo! After a good shampoo, my hair is clean, light, and shiny again! Also, I don't shampoo often so I'm not really concerned about the "drying effect" it can sometimes have.


Since shampoo does tend to dry out hair, it is really important to choose one that isn't so harsh. Here's how you can tell if it is or not. Shampoo your hair and then wash it out. Immediately feel your hair. Your hair should not feel like a big bundle of rough, dry straw. If it does, go get your money back and start looking for a new shampoo ASAP. Like finding a great conditioner, searching for a gentle shampoo can also be a matter of trial and error. But hang in there! Taking the time to find the right one is well worth it.

I currently use V05 Split Ends Shampoo with Panthenol. This shampoo formula, like my favorite V05 conditioner I told you about, has been discontinued, reformulated, and repackaged. I was devastated! The new one does not work for me at all. Lucky for me, though, I found a store that had some of the original formula on clearance. In utter desperation, I bought the whole shelf! So now I have a little more time before I'll have to go 'poo shopping again.

Here's the key to poo-ing:

• find a gentle shampoo
• don't shampoo too often
• focus on poo-ing the scalp to prevent dryness
• as you rinse, let the suds clean the length of the hair
• ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS follow with conditioner

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