ESSENCE.com Unlocks the Secrets to Growing Healthy Hair

lol since when can a relaxer be stripped?

Posted at 5:26PM on January 14th 2009 by Jay

I am having a very hard time locating a stylist who is knowledgable in perfevtly styling the hair has well has hair care. Many in of the stylist in the LA area or in it for the money and only camouflaging hair imperfectionist. Please help me find someone I can build a steady comfortable relationship with.

Posted at 5:07PM on January 14th 2009 by Trouble Stylist

The information Eugene provided are the building blocks of good hair care (clean scalp and hair, moisturize, deep condition, protect your ends from harsh exposure, trim when needed, protein to reinforce the hair). However, this is information readily found. The stylist can give you a fierce cut or relaxer but YOU have to maintain it everyday in order to see growth and retention. Some cheaper brands out there that are great are non-sulfate shampoos like Giovanni (Target), ORS Replenishing Paks (Sally's), Neutrogena Triple Moisture Masque (CVS, Target), Pantene Relaxed and Natural Hair Masque (Taget, CVS), Bioinfusion Masque (Walgreens). Look at the ingredients look for aloe vera, jojoba oil, coconut oil, castor oil, rosemary, lavender, olive oil, butters, etc. Avoid products with petroleum, mineral oil, or lanolin listed in the top 4 ingredients or better yet avoid using them at all. They are cheap filler and by-products. They block moisture from penetrating the hair shaft.

Posted at 4:31PM on January 14th 2009 by long hair lover

I also agree that black stylists can really do a job to your hair, especially with relaxers. Many of them want to charge a crazy amount and only end up frying your head to death or trying to cut all of your hair off. So many can not even give you a decent hair cut; I will give white stylist some credit, they don't know anything about our hair, but they can certainly cut some hair. The best hair cuts I have ever had were from white stylists, especially men, because they know exactly what style you want and don't try to cut all of your hair off. One stylist that I went to actually had the nerve to put me under the dryer with perm on my head, saying that "my head was cold and the heat would make the perm take better." Needless to say, me being young and dumb, I believe her, thinking "well she said she has over 12 years experience doing hair and has her license, but till this day I have a spot in the back of my head that has been thin ever since.

Posted at 2:56PM on January 14th 2009 by Anita

I agree with a lot of the ideas that the stylist had about taking proper care of your hair, but as for using products like Pantene, I don't think that's a good idea for our hair. I get so tired of hearing these stylists acting as if Pantene is just the best thing for black hair, but we are forgetting that it is still a shampoo that was made first and foremost for white people. Many of the ingredients do not agree with black hair and will actually strip a perm as well if used repeatedly. It is best to stick to products that are made by us, be we are the only ones who really know our hair.

Posted at 2:44PM on January 14th 2009 by Anita

Hi Eugene, I am Brazilian and mixed raced and although my hair generally grows fast, it never grows below shoulder length. How can I get my hair to grow longer after I had a haircut? And what are the best relaxers to use and how do you know when to wash out the relaxer to keep the hair's bounce when you're doing it at home?

Posted at 1:41PM on January 14th 2009 by nadia

I have been doing my own hair for 15 years. I relax every 12 weeks, rarely get trims and air-dry my hair and it grows fast and is healthy. I used the Caruso steam curlers (the steam doe not damage the hair) onece a week. My hair has grown past my bra hook if I don't have it cut for a shorter style sometimes. I. I always use Olive Oil Shampoo and the Matrix Smoothing Conditioner and Frederic Fekkai Smoothing cream after conditioning and my hair is strong and healthy and long, and I'm 60 years old. I have saved a ton of money doing this myself.

Posted at 11:31AM on January 14th 2009 by Saundra W.

Black hair stylists have been my problem--overrelaxing, mixing chemicals to make more money!! i just had my LONG THICK beautiful healthy natural hair fall out to the roots in March '08 by a greedy $$ hair stylist. now i'm in braids and i quit AGAIN!! no more relaxers,or black stylists! i'm going natural again. and i did it myself before and i'll do it again--this time for good--au natural baby!!

Posted at 11:25AM on January 14th 2009 by HAIRY

WOW, WHAT A TRANSFORMATION! HEALTHY HAIR REALLY DOES START WITH THE SCALPT. IF YOU KEEP THAT IN ORDER, EVERTHING ELSE WILL FALL INTO PLACE.

Posted at 11:09AM on January 14th 2009 by WWW.BLACKHAIRANDSKINCARE.COM

anyone who works out on a regular and can suggest how to minimize the salt damage from sweat would be appreciated. i work out five days a week due to the job (army) and i wash my hair about 2x a week but have limited time and sometimes put jane carter wrap solution to help set it and might curl it before i head to work. i wrap religiously every night but i have very very dry hair. i would like to quit using a relaxer because my natural hair responds to heat very well and straightens good but of course heat can not be the best option. any advice on satin rollers, or this supposed flat iron with teeth? any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Posted at 10:57AM on January 14th 2009 by vonne