Coarse Hair, Long Hair: Tips

Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts

Hair Tip

Now that the temperature is dropping and the air is getting drier, my hair is also more likely to feel dry. So a few days after I wash, I skip the shower cap while showering. My hair drinks up the moisture generated by the shower's steam. I pin my hair up so it doesn't get wet.

This is great if you're wearing a curly style like a braid out, bantu knot set or just wearing your natural hair. However, I wouldn't recommend this if you're wearing a flat ironed style.

Reader Mail: How to find products outside the US?

I received an email today from a reader that is having difficulty finding the products I use in the UK. I want to share my response, because I believe it might be helpful to anyone who is having the same issue whether you live in the US or not.

"My suggestion is that you try to find products that have comparable ingredients in the UK. I strongly believe that any well made product that is tailored to your hair needs (ex. moisturizing, if you need extra moisture; protein, if you need extra strength) will help you retain length. The next time you see a woman with long hair where you live, ask her what products she uses. You don't necessarily need products for type 4 hair in order to get good results. In fact, the majority of products I use are not marketed for women with type 4 hair. But hair is hair. So as long as a product offers what you need, then it may work for you."

If you still have difficulty finding comparable products or you are determined to find an exact product then try the internet.

The internet is a fantastic resource when looking for products. Here are some things I've done in the past when looking for products:

Search for the name of product you want. This will likely find an online store that sells the product. View their shipping info to see if they ship to your country. If it doesn't state whether they do, then ask them.
Search for the ingredients of the product you want. Most products list their ingredients on the manufacturer's website. So copy and paste the first 5 ingredients and run a search to find other products with the same ingredients.
Contact the manufacturer and ask them if they have distributors in your country.

I hope this helps.

Need a bad hair day quick fix?

Throw on a cute hat!

That's simple enough. My husband and I went to a Halloween party on Saturday and this is how I wore my hair.

If you follow me on Facebook then you know that earlier this week, I had a horrible rain-induced bad hair day. I never recovered from that the wretched day. Okay, its not quite that dramatic. Anyway, I didn't get a chance to wash my hair before the party, so I just lightly detangled, moisturized, and wore a hat. I love this hat because its fully lined with satin fabric. I need to get some more fully lined hats, because I love wearing hats in the autumn and winter.

What's your bad hair day quick fix?

Hair before Health?

Absolutely not!

I know for some women, there is a conflict between looking fabulous and getting sufficient exercise. But that doesn't have to be the case. You can maintain your overall health and grow your hair if you plan properly.

Personally, I find the gym boring, so I prefer to take classes (ballet, horseback riding) or play games (tennis) to get my weekly exercise. Here are my suggestions for protective styling while exercising.

For cardio - Wear your hair in a loose high bun and secure with small claw clips. This is how I wear my hair for ballet classes and tennis. I suggest a loose bun because it will allow your scalp to breathe and the sweat to dry faster. Wait until your scalp has dried before you manipulate your hair. This way you don't get sweat running down the length of your hair.

For helmet activities (bicycling, horseback riding, etc.) - Wear a low ponytail and cover your hair with a silk/satin scarf.

My hair in a low ponytail, covered with a scarf to protect it from the helmet.

For swimming - Saturate your hair with water and cover with conditioner or shea butter. After you swim, rinse your hair thoroughly and either do a conditioner-only wash or use a gentle shampoo. Swimmers shampoo can be very harsh, so pay attention to how your hair feels after you use it. You may find that its too drying. Also, if you have the option of a salt-water pool instead of a chlorinated pool, opt for the salt water pool.

I think of my hair as an accessory that enhances my appearance. Hair should never be a hindrance to me living my life. If you have an activity that you haven't tried because of your hair, please share it below and I'll try to suggest ways to protect your hair. Health before hair.

Wedding Day Hairstyle

Hi friends!

This time of year is wedding season. I know someone who has attended as many as 10 weddings so far. One major consideration when it comes to planning a wedding is the hairstyle. Whether you wear your hair up or down, the most important thing is that you are happy with the hairstyle. If nothing else, you want to look like yourself, the best version of yourself, on your big day. No guest should have to think "I can barely recognize her." If you are not comfortable with your hair, it may affect your confidence and that will show in the pictures.

Here are my tips for having a great hair day on your wedding day.

Stay true to your personal style. If you normally wear simple styles, consider an elegant yet simple hairstyle for your wedding day.
Don't make a "radical" change just because its your wedding day. This is not the time to venture out and try a new hair cut or color. You may not have enough time to recover if you decide against it.
Bring pictures of different styles to show your stylist. Words can fail you, but a picture is self explanatory. Confirm with the stylist that they can deliver what you want.
Do a trial run before the big day. This will give you a chance to see how the style will hold up throughout the day and your stylist can make changes if needed (ex. use more hairspray).
Be firm about what you want and don't let anyone bully you out of your heart's desire. This is your one and only wedding day. So get exactly what you want.

I wear my hair down 90% of the time, so naturally I chose to wear my hair down on my wedding day. I rarely wear updos, and I knew I would be self conscious wearing an elaborate updo on my wedding day. I wanted to feel as comfortable in my skin as possible. There were more than enough things to be nervous about - remembering my vows, not tripping down the aisle, and not doing the ugly cry (that last one was a lost cause lol).

Here are some pictures of how I wore my hair on my wedding day. My hair was waist length when straightened, and I wore no weave or extensions in my hair.