The key to growing your curls

If you think your hair grows faster in the summertime, you are right.  The human body has to work harder during the summer months to cool you down.  This is because of faster cell division, which is the result of more efficient blood circulation throughout your body, which leads to faster hair growth.  You hair can grow up to 10 percent faster in the summertime.  The key is to maintain this growth by keeping your hair healthy.  

You can do this by:

1.  Keeping your hair conditioned and out of the sun.  The heat from the sun can wreck havoc on your curls, which leads to breakage and lack luster tresses.

2.  Whenever possible, AIR DRY!  Blow dyers, flat irons and hot rollers can cause split ends, which means more frequent trims.

3. Which leads me to my last point, if your hair is damaged, you MUST GET RID OF IT.  Don't be afraid to trim your split ends, your hair will grow back.  If you don't trim it now, you will have to cut more off later.  Damage only increases in time....it doesn't go away.

Whether your hair is curly or straight, the key to growing long hair is having healthy hair.

Good Product Ingredients for Curliecues

When it comes to shampoos and conditioners, the more natural the ingredients, the better they are for your hair.  Again, you don't have to spend a lot of money on expensive products.  There are a lot of reasonable options out there or you can cook up your own concoction at home.  The important thing to keep in mind is that naturally curly hair craves moisture. Replenishing your hair's natural oils and moisture should be the number one goal of your shampoo and/or conditioner.   Here is a list of ingredients that you should look for in your curliecue hair products.

What's Good:

1.  Water should be the first ingredient.

2.  Panthenol and Glycerin-They help to bind water to your hair, therefore locking in moisture.

3. Olive, Honey, Tea Tree, Rosemary, Jojoba or Almond Oils.

4.  Shea butter and coconut are excellent for intense, deep conditioning.

5.  Peppermint, lavender and castor oils are also great for stimulating hair growth.

6.  Protein is good for strengthening and restructuring your hair.  But be careful, with this one.  Too much protein can be drying, causing damage and breakage to your hair.

What works for you, may not work for another curliecue.  Knowing your own specific hair type  is essential to finding the specific ingredients that will help you achieve your own hair goals.

Product Ingredients that Curliecues should avoid

Natural curliecues should take extra care when it comes to preserving their curls.  So, that is why you need to take your time and read the ingredients on all your hair products.  Everything from shampoos, conditioners to curl defining cremes contain ingredients that could be potentially damaging and drying to your hair.  Some of these ingredients can be found in both expensive and cheap hair products.

Here's a list for you to keep in mind:

 

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
Ammonium Xylene Sulfonate
TEA Lauryl Sulfate
Sulfur (in dandruff shampoos)
Selenium Sulfide (in dandruff shampoos

Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Thiosulfate
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Alkyl Sodium Sulfate
Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate
TEA-Dodecylbenzene
Sodium C12-15 Alkyl Sulfate
Sodium Dodecyl Sulfonate

I know this is a very comprehensive list.  Some of the products I use contain some of these bad ingredients.  Don't be alarmed if you discover the same thing.  Will they leave you bald in the morning?  No, probably not. But why choose something bad when there are so many good products out there to choose from?  In my next post, I'll give you some examples of products that are good for your hair.

Before you take that dip in the pool...

ask yourself:  What am I doing to protect my curls?  The summertime is full of pool parties and relaxing days at the beach.  You already know its imperative to apply sunscreen to your skin before you head out into the sun.  But its just as equally important that you take the same care with your hair.  Remember, your hair is an extension of your skin and it deserves the same amount of protection and attention.  Here are three products that I like:

1. Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil

With your hair in a bun or pony tail and saturated with a LIC, spray some of this liberally all throughout your hair BEFORE you head to the sun,pool or beach. This is a lightweight, water-resistant UV defense mist that forms an invisible screen to help protect hair from sun exposure for up to 16 hours! It helps with color fading, damage and dryness.  Feel free to touch up with a a spritz or two throughout the day. 

2. Aveda Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser 

This color safe formula gently and effectively removes chlorine, salt and product build-up, while helping to maintain moisture balance.  This should be used IMMEDIATELY after your day at the pool or beach.  Chlorine can turn plump and luscious curls into dry and brittle straw.

3.  Aveda Sun Care After-Sun Hair Masque

This intensive and rich cream  helps to restore sun-exposed hair,moisturizes and helps defend against free radicals.  Indulge in this rich treatment.  It will make your curls soft and defined again.

For more information on the ingredients in these products, go to:  www.aveda.com and search for "sun care".

Care for Color Treated Curliecues

Over the weekend, some of my curliecue friends and I were talking about the challenges of having color-treated hair.  One of the nice things about having naturally curly hair is that you can color your hair, without the added stress of chemical relaxers.  When I first colored my hair more than a year ago, my stylist told me I didn't have to worry about breakage because my hair was natural. What she DIDN'T tell me however, is how much I have to moisturize my hair because of the EXCESSIVE DRYNESS.  My natural hair color is dark brown...but I colored my hair several shades lighter which looked like straw when it was dry.  So over time I noticed my hair was becoming a lot harder to detangle.  I also noticed more split ends which meant more frequent trims.  Most hair colors contain ammonia, peroxide and alcohol, which are your hair's worst enemies, natural or not.  However, that doesn't mean you should steer clear of hair color altogether.  You just have to take a few more precautions.

1.  Use a shampoo/conditioner specifically suited to color-treated hair.  It will help you retain your color longer and will give your hair the extra moisture it needs.

2.  Apply a deep conditioner once or twice a month.  Preferably under a heat source.

3.  Always use a wide tooth comb to detangle your hair.  Do it gently and slowly. Don't rush this process as it will lead to snapping and popping of your hair.  Take extra care when combing through the ends.

4.  Whenever possible...air dry your hair.  Excessive blow drying can be hard on your hair   Also, minimize your use of curling irons and hot rollers.  The more heat you use, the more you damage your hair.

5.  Trim your ends every four to six weeks.  Some people can go longer. depending on the density and texture of your hair.  But if you notice split ends...get rid of them.  It only leads to more breakage.

6.  Avoid being a product junkie.  I know that is a hard thing to do, especially when there are so many options to choose from.  But when you load your hair with creams, gels, lotions, and hair sprays, the more you are robbing your hair of its natural shine, movement and moisture.