For the kids: Should I relax or give my child braids?

This seems to be a very tough question for many hard working mothers. I alaways hear, " I dont have the time to do her hair every morning, can I relax it or put it in braids?" Well, thanks to Chris Rock movie " Good Hair" it helped alot of women defer from putting chemicals in their children's hair. But, yet they still dont know how to take care of it. And some still choose to put the relaxer in it anyways.

As a child develops up until they reach pubirty, the hair is still weak. Which makes it very easy to damage their scalp. It doesn't matter if it is a kiddie perm or regular strength relaxer, the chemical is the same. What people dont understand is that what you put on your scalp goes into your bloodstream. So I am telling you that when you give your child a relaxer you are allowing this chemical to flow in your childs bloodstream. and because your child has not fully develope that means her immune system is not strong enough to fight off dangerous and harmful foregin objects in her body. Which can lead to long-term health problems. Or as she becomes an adult she can devlope Alopecia in the scalp. Kids should not be allowed to get relaxers until 18 when they are fully develped.

Now your wondering well, "If I can't give her a relaxer than can I give her braids?" Sorry this is not an option either. Let me clear something up, it is ok to braid her hair but not weave braids. Braids are cute and they help you to not do her hair often. But they too are harmful to the scalp. Weave is very dry and is stronger than hair from the scalp, due to the chemical process they perform on the weave. It makes it last longer but it also pulls the hair when braiding and most mothers leave braids in their children hair for months thinking only about what works for them. Kids are very active and are wild sleepers so these styles are not made for a childs lifestyle. Kids dont pay attention to their scalp. They more than likely will not tell you if their scalp is too tight, dry or if one of there braids fell out. Though the hair is put up in braids and looks the best. It is in the most fragile state. And if one continues to wear braids, all that pulling on the hair will eventually damage the root and also will create Alopecia into adulthood.

Now, I know you feel like you are running out of options but if you know me and my blog you know what I am going to say. Natural Styles are the best way! It is very easy and very cute! Doing twist or leaving it curly is absolutely the best way to care for your childs hair. You letting her hair rest and continue to grow longer and stronger. Give's your child's hair a fighting chance to be healthy. They can still be active and even sleep wild. The key is to start while they are young by just doing simple twist as they get older the easier and easier it will become to style it. Now, if your child is already in the relaxer phase you transition her out by two strand twist with rods. Here are some other great ideas!

two strand twist into ponytail

let her locs flow free

two strand flat twist

two strand ponytail

flat twist and curls

The Products that I Love!

These are products that I recommend to use for Natural hair. All these products are 100% professional and are highly recommended from top stylist.

EVERYDAY™ SHAMPOO

Botanicals: Mango • Rosemary • Olive Moisture infusing paraben/ sulfate free shampoo

•Daily shampoo for all hair types

•Helps improve elasticity

•Refreshing cleansing shampoo

•Moisturizes parched hair

EVERYDAY™ CONDITIONER

Botanicals: Mango • Rosemary Moisture infusing paraben/ sulfate free conditioner.

•Daily conditioner for all hair types
•Helps improve elasticity

•Daily nourishing formula

•Formulated with protein

FREHAIR.  Mastey Paris

Frehair instantly eliminates tangles. Its lightweight texturizing system controls flyaway hair and eliminates static. Smoothes and softens to leaves hair manageable, shiny and ready for easy combing, brushing and styling. Vitamins A, B5 & C, lipids, rice protein and minerals provide comprehensive replenishment for proper nutrient and moisture balance. With Anti-Oxidants to maximize the life of hair color.

WHITESANDS STUCK UP

Stuck-Up’s holding power is second to none with the indiviual determining volume control. Yet, thermal intelligence is what makes Stuck-Up so unique.

NAIROBI

This superb conditioning and moisturizing lotion is specially formulated to provide style support for full-bodied looks achieved by roller or wrap setting. P.H. balance.

KERACARE Edge Tamer

lays down wavy hair along hairlines to give edges a silky-smooth touchable texture. This super-holding gel can quickly tame any tapered area without the fear of sudden reversion. May be used on relaxed or natural hair. Non-Greasy Flake-Free Colorless.

All Ways Natural Instant Oil Moisturizer Leave-In Conditioner

made with 100% natural herbs and oils, is a daily leave-in hair treatment that protects, moisturizes and conditions instantly. Our All Ways Natural Instant Oil Moisturizer is enriched with Vitamin E and Extracts of Aloe Vera to strengthen and protect dull, dry hair. This exclusive formula will turn dry, lifeless hair into soft, shiny, manageable hair, as nature intended. Regular use of All Ways Natural Instant Oil Moisturizer helps protect during blow drying, hot curling or combing. Beautiful, shiny, healthy looking hair is yours...Naturally.

MOROCCANOIL Treatment

Moroccanoil Treatment’s really versatile, nourishing and residue-free formula can be used as a conditioning, styling and finishing tool. It blends perfectly with other products and even speeds up drying time. This treatment for hair completely transforms and repairs as its formula transports lost proteins for strength; fatty acids, omega-3 oils and vitamins for shine; and antioxidants for protection. It absorbs instantly to fill gaps in hair created by heat, styling and environmental damage.

Transitioning Tips 101

Hello Readers, I apologize for not updating in such a long time. I have been doing a lot of research and product knowledge classes.


A lot of my clients are continuously asking me the same questions. "How can I go natural without cutting my hair?", "What are the best products to use, while transitioning?".
So, that is the topic for my post. ''The Big Transition"




If you want to keep your length while transitioning, it is possible but difficult. There are many ways to go bout this but one thing that is very important is that you You must understand that when you straighten your hair you stretch out your curl. Therefore setting back your natural goal. What I always recommend my clients is to start treating your hair as if it is already curly. Which means start doing the natural styles. Like I said it will be a difficult path but you can achieve your goal. Here are my tips on achieving your goal.


Natural Styles
1.  When doing natural styles use rods at the ends of your hair. Because the relaxed hair is still straight you need to use the rods to make it curly. Try the smallest rods so that they may be tight and last longer.


2. Make sure to clip your ends exactly every 6 weeks. When you are going through the transition your natural hair will get tangled with your relaxed hair. To prevent that clip at least 1 cm of hair every 6 weeks.


3. Hair should be conditioned under the dryer/ under cap with hot towel for 10 mins. every two weeks. Your hair will be very dry during this time. So this is a very important rule.


4. One of the easiest ways of styling while transitioning is doing rod sets. Why? Because its a curly style and when you sweat it will not be that noticeable when your hair starts to revert.Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut oil. Just a quarter size every two to three days. It will keep your hair soft and easier to manage. Stay away from greasy products, they coat the hair and does not allow moisture to penetrate.


5. Drink lots and lots of water. There will be a point where your hair will feel very dry, that is okay and normal. Just stay hydrated.


6. The steamer will become your best friend. I usually give my clients a steamer every 8 weeks. This is basically a facial for your hair. It helps the conditioner penetrate into the scalp and cuticle.leaving hair soft and more manageable. Ask your stylist to add this to your regimen.


7. Always, Always use a silk scarf and or silk pillow case. Cotton pillowcases and scarfs are too harsh and will lift your cuticle and remove the natural oils from your hair. Silk is softer and will not rough up your hair. In addition will give you a longer lasting style.


8. Use all natural products that do not contain Mineral Oil or  a high content of Alcohol.


I hope that these tips help you with your transition. Always remember that this will be  a long journey but very rewarding!
Any questions just ask!

Time For Product Knowledge

Shopping for that perfect product to treat your hair, can be very tough. All products promise to give you the BEST benefits e.g: Shine, Moisture, Repair Split ends, Max. Hair Growth etc. But lets really be honest, those products are just false advertising. When it really boils down to finding the right products, you have to read the ingredients on the back label. But who really understands what those long scientific words really mean? Most can hardly pronounce any of them. And I don't believe that is fair to the consumer.


So, that's where this post will help you next time your in the store, trying to search for products. I am going to build a product key for you, that you may study or take with you to the store.

First, I want to let you know about reading product labels, is that the first ingredient listed is what the product consist most of and the last is the least. And that is something very important to remember. What do you want your product to consist most of?

Product Key

Proteins- are needed when hair is weak, used as a strengthener, repair split ends, keep hair smooth

• Hydrolyzed Soy Protien
• Hydrolyzed Wheat Protien
• Hydrolyzed Keratin Protien
• Cocoyl hydrolyzed collagen
• Hydrolyzed silk protein
• Potassium cocoyl hydrolyzed collagen
• TEA-cocoyl hydrolyzed collagen
• TEA-cocoyl hydrolyzed soy protein
• Hydrolyzed oat flour
• Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed rice protein

Amino Acids- are fatty acids, used for moisture, promotes hair growth, helps promote blood circulation

• Lysine
• Methionine
• Glycine
• Arginine
• Glutaminc Acid
• Coconut Fatty Acid
• Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl silk amino acids
• Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed hair keratin
• Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed casein

Oil- are used to seal the cuticle, help reduce damage cause by the sun, provides shine, rich in Vitamin E

• Line Seed
• Wheat Germ Oil
• Sunflower Extract
• PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-60
• PEG-10 castor oil
• PEG-10 coconut oil esters
• PEG-10 glyceryl oleate
• PEG-10 olive glycerides
• Jojoba Oil
• Safflower Oil
• Sweet almond oil
• Coconut Oil
• Olive Oil
• Palm Oil
• Sesame seed Oil
• Mineral oil
• Petrolatum

Vitamins- used to promote hair growth, natural antioxidants, promotes new cells, promote blood circulation

• Vitamin E (Tocopherol acetate)
• Vitamin B
• Vitamin A (Retinol, Retinyl palmitate)
• Vitamin F
• Vitamin H
• Vitamin H1

Moisture- helps hair maintain mouisture rentention, soothes scalp, repairs dry hair, give hair natural shine, needed for color processes

• Water- soluable Shea Butter
• PEG-75 Lanolin
• Dimethiconol Meadowfoamate
• Aloe Vera
• PEG-100 hydrogenated castor oil
• PEG-10 cocamine
• PEG-10 hydrogenated lanolin
• PEG-10 soyamine
• Cetearyl stearate
• Dimethyl Lauramine Isostearate
• Glyceryl Stearate
• Glyceryl cocoate

Also, Laurel Sulfate, Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Sulfate, are made in most shampoo's and some conditioner's they are the same ingredients found in car wash detergent. It is put in there to create bubbles (since we love bubbles) but it makes our scalps itch and gives us allergic reactions. Do Not Purchase a prodcut contaning these ingredients.

The list above of ingredients are for what to look for if you do not find these, then put the product down!
If you found anymore that you are unsure about please ask and I will let you know.

Let's Talk Diversion

Definition of DIVERSION

1: the act or an instance of diverting from a course, activity, or use : deviation <bad weather forced the diversion of several flights>

2: something that diverts or amuses : pastime

3: an attack or feint that draws the attention and force of an enemy from the point of the principal operation

 

 

What I like to do is educate my client's on things that are going on in The Industry. One of the most talked about topics is DIVERSION, Now, Diversion meaning in this case, if I may put it in laymen terms is basically. When you the consumers purchase  products from Walgreens, Target or Beauty Supply stores. As opposed to purchasing the product from the provided professional retailer.

 

I understand one of the reason's is that, you believe you are getting the product for a cheaper value. Which I honestly can't blame you. But in reality you are actually spending more than what you should .  You see the professional products that are sold through salons and professional stores all have one set price (even sales). We will purchase that product for, let's say, $10 and we will make a 50% profit so we charge $20. and that's all across the board. We can't sell it for more than 50%. But when you go to Diverting stores they purchase it for $10 and may charge however much they like. (I myself have seen products being sold for more than 90% the sugg. retail price) and then what they like to do is give you a sale. Which will on be at 10% off making you think you saved money. Hard to believe go look for yourself.

 

Now, I am going to take you a little deeper, into purchasing a professional product from a professional retailer, when doing so you are GARUNTEED to having that product in that bottle. But, from a Diverting store who knows, what's in that bottle. You see, we get our products from the manifacturer itsself , so we know what we have in our products. Diverting stores recieve their products from the black market, on the black market people are able to put anything in those bottles and call it whatever they want. That's why some people have allergic reactions to certain products, or the product was working fine until one day it just stopped working. I have clients that have been using my products for along time and they still continue to deliever the same results. Because its the right product in the bottle. Don't risk your hair being healthy just to save a dollar.

 

And last but not least, We as professionals just like any other field would like the support from our clients and soon to be clients. So when purchasing products through us, it's helping us, it's supporting us. And we need all the support we can get, we work hard to provide and enhance the beauty for people and love what we are doing. But we need your help, When purchasing from us, YOU are keeping Salons and Schools open. So that we may provide YOU with more services. So I feel it's only right to keep the Beauty Dollars within the Beauty Industry. And don't worry Target will not miss your money.