What do split ends look like?

I've always wondered this myself. Today I ran across this picture. Hopefully this will help someone. I never knew that hair splits took on so many shapes. Whenever I take these twist down I will check out my ends.

Stuff I want to try: Color Showers Cellophane Black

What it is: A Dominican Product for coloring hair

The professional tones of the Olive Oil Plus line are the only semi-permanent colors made with natural proteins and Virgin Olive Oil. These tones contain natural ingredients that provide volume, shine and softness to your hair and total coverage of grey hair if present. They do not contain peroxide or ammonia. (description taken from Round Brush Hair website)

Where can you buy this at? Round Brush Hair

Price: $19.99

Benefits: It's 100% natural and safe for your hair.

Baking Soda Shampoo (A natural way to cleanse your scalp)

Baking Soda is a natural clarifier for your scalp and hair. It is cheaper than purchasing a clarifying shampoo and better than using a SLS harsh ingredient that's found in most shampoos. It seems as though most people take about 4 cups of warm water and a tablespoon of Baking Soda and mix it together. I would suggest using a spray bottle or an old shampoo bottle and spraying on the roots and massage it in and rinse. Results: I haven't used it yet but alot of people claims it makes their hair soft. Tomorrow (Monday) is wash day for me. So since I still have 6 days left until my "no shampoo challenge" is over I will use the baking soda to cleanse my scalp.

MTG... I'm jumping back on this bandwagon!

After reading LadyZ's hair album yesterday, I decided it was time to pull out my old bottle of MTG and at least use it once or twice a week. I stopped using it because the smell was really getting on my nerves. Well it wasn't the smell, but these men at my work place smell every darn thing so I had to stop. I will continue to use my Boundless Tresses but I will use the MTG at least once or twice a week.

In case some of yall are late as to what the hype about the MTG is:

It a growth aid that some of us users on the forums are using. It's actually for horses but rumored to originally be made for humans that had a scalp or hair condition but now its advertised more to horses. LOL! Yeah I know its crazy but this stuff really works. I know from experience. But be careful when using because it runs. It smells bad because it has sulfur in it but if you add a couple drops of peppermint oil you will mask the smell a lil. Try it!

She is BALD b/c of Optimum Relaxer! (1996)

Court case against Carson/Lloreal:

...From my posting below ya'll know I am reading Cathy's book on relaxer and thinning edges. Tho I don't have a problem with either yet this link Jejora82 sent me is rather disturbing. I damn near passed out. I wanted to cry. I felt sorry for this lady and I think it confirmed my decision about wanting to not use relaxers anymore. As much as I hate to say it I rather burn the strand of my hair with a flat iron instead of getting chemically burned from the scalp.

Read below or click on this link: Optimum Relaxer

Copied and Pasted:

Court case against Carson/Lloreal The Optimum relaxer caused Isabella Broekhuizen to go bald and forced her to brake off her US modelling carrier. Now she is back home in Maastricht, the Netherlands fighting for justice.

Isabella broekhuizen was diagnosed with chemical burning caused by sodium hydroxide, the main ingredient in lye relaxers. She sues because her aspiring modeling career is over, her bald and burnt scalp still hurts and she has to wear hair-prostheses for the rest of her life. Here is her story.

Isabella this is quite a story. How old were you when you first started to use relaxers and what were your reasons to straighten your hair?I was 12 years when I started to use relaxers. I straightened my hair because I thought it improved my looks.

So you were quite familiar with the process when you used the Optimum relaxer. So what went wrong that day? Was this the first time that you relaxed your hair yourself?No it wasn't the first time I relaxed my hair myself. So I think it was the brand. Optimum was probably too strong.What exactly did you? Can you explain what happened?I used the relaxer same as usual. What do you mean ‵the same as usual. Can you be a little more specific? I used the relaxer the same way everybody does. I added it to my roots, close to my scalp to make it as straight as possible, from roots to ends. Then I wanted to let it sit for a couple of minutes like the directions said. According to the box I could have left it on for 13 to 18 minutes but it started to burn immediately. I thought the relaxer wouldn't straighten my hair if I rinsed it out instantly so I left it on for 4 minutes. After that I could not take it anymore and rinsed it out.Did you neutralize? No. There was no neutralizer in the box. I suppose any other brand includes a neutralizer in a home use kit. The Optimum instructions said rinse with warm water and condition afterwards. When did this all happen? How long is this ago? In 1996.

When did you realize you were loosing your hair and how did long did it take to loose all of your strands? I realized I was losing hair after a couple of months and within a year I was completely bald.I suppose you go crazy when you see that you are loosing lots of hair. What did you think was causing you loosing your hair and what did you try to do against it?I realized it was caused by the relaxer and I did go to hospital. They gave me a heavy dose of vitamin A. You went to 3 different doctors. What did they say? What was causing the itching and what caused you to go bald?About 60 doctors examined me in total. Each on of them diagnosed me with chemical burning caused by sodium hydroxide. This ingredient also caused itching. It was a main ingredient in the Optimum relaxer and as I understand now in lye relaxers in general.

Are you against the use of relaxers?No, I'm not against the use of relaxers but I think its very important to inform people about the hazards of using them. I really wasn't aware that relaxers were so hazardous that one could get injured for live. No one ever told me that they were hurt by the use of a relaxer? All I heard was ''it burns a little but it will be over before you know it. So I truly never saw any harm in relaxing my hair. And even now when I try to warn people, they don't listen. They act like nobody has ever has a problem with relaxers and that something like this won't happen to them. That's why I think the product needs a more explicit warning, especially for home using. A warning like those on the cigarette boxes. It explicitly says that cigarettes can cause long cancer etc. Relaxers need a warning like that. It should be clear what the implications can be. Because believe me. If only I had known, I would have been very alert and way more careful.

Cathy Howse says...

It is mission critical to keep the relaxer off your scalp. I just recieved her latest book in the mail and I am sitting here at work trying to sneak and read it but these people keep coming in and out of my office so I figured I would act like I was working by typing in my blog. Sneaky aren't I! But umm yes back on topic I think many of us have forgot to not apply the relaxer to the scalp. Many make the mistake of smoothing the relaxer and letting it touch the scalp. From what I can remember this is how I have always been getting my perms. Yes it is totally wrong. I am surprise I am not bald headed. Speaking of bald-headed Cathy says on the back cover of her book: "If you knew your next relaxer could render you bald headed would you still chemically relax your hair?" That kinda struck a nerve with me because I hate to say it but I would. But only because I am not fully educated on the whole relaxer thing. Today I definitely will be looking up some stuff on relaxers. I think this is kinda of my clue that I should try not to perm my hair. If I look at it I really have no reason to perm it. I keep braids or twists in my hair because I am in Afghanistan and I get them redone every 4 months so what's the point right?

I think my problem and many others is that we are so used of the hair that's laid without a strand outta place. Ladies, yall know what I am talking about. But if we cherish our hair and want to see it thrive then maybe we can leave the perm alone until it does. Umm... I dunno. I guess after I finish reading this book my decision will be made.

Now on the flip side I am thinking that our hair can still be healthy if we just take care of it and apply the perm like we are SUPPOSED to. Am I just making an excuse? LOL! I will keep ya'll updated as I read the book.

Castor Oil in Conditioner / Washing hair with Vinegar

Last night I decided I needed to cleanse my scalp because it felt dirty so I mixed half water and half of regular vinegar in a plastic bottle and poured it on my scalp and let it sit in my hair for 5 minutes. After letting it sit I let water run through my hair while I massage my roots. Man ole man my roots felt SOFT! I was loving it! I will definitely be using vinegar periodically after I complete my personal no shampoo for a month challenge. I was kinda skeptical about using plain vinegar because I have heard so much about people only using "apple cider vinegar" instead of the regular stuff. Being brave I decided to try it and I was happy with the results. Oh yeah my scalp felt clean to. It wasn't that squeaky clean neither. Some people say that when you wash your hair squeaky clean that means you have washed your moisture out of your hair. So I try not to do that. Okay before I get too far off topic let me write about this Castor oil in conditioners.
The first time I washed with a certain brand of V05 Conditioner I forgot I added a couple of drops of Castor oil in it. I remember raving on how soft my roots felt. Well i tried it with the AO conditioner I used last night and Man ole Man was my hair super soft. LOL! My twists even felt lighter. So next time you wash with conditioner add a lil Castor oil to it. This is also known to thicken the hair.

The Importance of Neutralizer After Perming Hair

This was taken from a post on LHCF:

The importance of a neutralizer cannot be stressed enough. It is needed to stop the processing of the relaxer. It should be left in the hair for a minimum of 5 minutes. It takes at least that long for the active ingredients of the neutralizer to penetrate all three layers of the hair shaft and bring the pH of the hair down to normal. If the neutralizing shampoo is rinsed from the hair too soon, the neutralizing action may stop while the pH of the relaxer is still in a high alkaline state. This can cause breakage and shedding because some of the relaxer’s active ingredients are still in the inner-hair causing rapid deterioration. If your hair was in good condition prior to relaxing, and then starts to break or shed after the relaxer treatment, this is probably due to improper neutralizing. For more click on this link: LHCF PH Levels
...ummm very interesting. I wonder how long have I been keeping my neutralizer in.

Did you know?

*Now I havent tried this yet myself but I just thought I would share. This was posted on a hair forum*

For thicker and healthier hair, steep 1/2 cup rosemary leaves in 1 cup water. Add the infusion to 1/2 bottle of your favorite shampoo and wash once a day. Rosemary promotes thicker, healthier hair by unclogging pores and hair follicles, and also adds great shine. Rosemary tea, drank once per day, promotes better circulation and also aids in better hair growth.

Deep Condition Once a Week!

Why is it important to deep condition at least once a week? When you deep condition you apply conditioner to the hair and wash it out. Some of the helpful ingredients remain but when you deep condition the conditioner is able to penetrate your hair strand and follicle and really condition. The heat from sitting under the dryer helps the conditioner to penetrate. You can either choose to do a protein deep condition or a moisture deep condition. If you are doing a protein deep condition please follow it with a moisturizing product or else your hair will be very dry.

My favorite moisture deep conditioner is the ORS deep Replenishing pack. (See picture right) It leaves the hair so soft. Make sure you apply a shower cap on your head before sitting under the dryer. I would rec commend you sit under the dryer for 30-45 minutes. And yes to the ladies with micro braids or twist..we can deep condition while in those styles. But beware of slippage. Good luck!

STOP Mistaking Grease 4 Moisture!

Would you put grease on a plant to make it grow?

No you wouldn't. Now what makes a plant grow? Yes to all of those that answered water and not Blue Magic Hair Grease or any other kind of grease.

Okay girls stop using that darn grease. You are doing nothing but clogging your hair follicle. When you put grease on your scalp its like placing saran wrap over your entire scalp and expect it to breathe. No, No you just suffocated your hair. Are y'all understanding? This is another reason why most woman care not to use products with petroleum in it. Grease first ingredient most of the time is petroleum.

You ever wonder why you can grease the hell out of your hair one day and the next day it looks dull? Yup, exactly grease is not moisture. Your hair needs moisture. So I would recommend you go to the store right now and get you a moisturizing product to use. Water also works. Just make sure you are locking that moisture in with some carrier oil such as jojoba. You don't believe me? I dare you to try it and notice the difference in your hair.

The Unbraider! Need help removing those braids?

The Unbraider

If you are like me you hate to sit up there all day and night taking out micro braids. I absolutely hate trying to cut or unravel those knots while trying not to cut my hair. Damn those braiders! Why do they sit up there and knot it like 50 times. To me one little knot is all it takes! If you really want your braids not to unravel then I am sure you will take care of it. Some people think that just because you have braids you don't have to do anything to your hair! And the funny part is they wonder why they hair falls out or matts once they wash it after taking the braids down. But that's off topic. Back to the knots... my life would be so much easier if there was another method instead of those knots. Don't y'all even think about telling me about glue. That's insanity there. Believe me. I am writing from experience. When I was "not educated" when it came to my hair I let this young lady put krazy glue on the supposedly part where my hair ended in the micros. HAH! Well I wore those suckas for almost 5 or 6 months and that krazy glue was still HOLDING! On top of that I guess she was blind because she had some of the glue attached to my real hair. (I'm off topic again!)

Okay the reason I posted this is to let you all know about this big azz comb that helps to unbraid you hair. I tried it and I don't think it works to great on micros but I can see where it would be beneficial to those of you who wear cornrows or bigger braids. It's called the "Unbraider." It has a tip at the top of the comb especially for taking out those knots. Here is some info I copied and pasted from the site:
What are the Benefits of the UnBraider?
The UnBraider is a hand held tool that will allow you to take down your braids 8 times faster.
The UnBraider is engineered and designed to take down Micro Individuals, and Corn Rolls.
The UnBraider is engineered and designed to minimize hair breakage and loss.
The UnBraider is designed to both take down braids while at the s ame time comb out unbraided hair. This is the 2 in 1 process.

..Now dont go blaming me if you dont like this. :) All I am saying is, it kinda worked for me. :)

Also I highly recommend their comb out conditioner. It made my braids allot easier to comb. It made my hair melt. I am not sure what the ingredients are so beware!

Review: Lacio Lacio and Salerm Dominican Leave in Conditioner

Dominican Products

According to some ladies these are some "What's HOT!" products on the market right now. I got mine in the mail yesterday and decided to try it on my twist. I didn't want to overdo it so I used the Lacio Lacio first since that one gets the most raves. Here's how I applied it:

Even though it says to put on wet hair I decided not to. I was to lazy to wash my twist. Instead I sprayed some S curl on my ends applied the Lacio Lacio, Boundless Tresses on the scalp and sealed my ends with Castor oil. Last night I decided to baggy. Results: The Lacio made my twist very soft. Its a keeper.

This morning I applied the Salerm 21 to my ends. It's kind of two creamy. I thought I was going to have to sit up there and rub it in my twist forever but it dissolved right in. I think I would prefer to use this one on my real hair without the twist.

Salerm Ingredients :

AQUA (WATER), PROPYLENE GLYCOL, CETYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN, CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, SERICA (SILK), PANTHENOL, PARFUM (FARGRANCE), AMODIMETHICONE, SODIUM METHYLPARABEN, CITRIC ACID, TRIDECETH-12, DISODIUM EDTA, C.I.19140 (FD&C YELLOW N'5).

Lacio Lacio Ingredients:

WATER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, HYDROLIZED SILK, DIMETHICONE COPOLYOL, CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, PANTHENOL, DMDM HYDANTOIN, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, FRAGRANCE, COLORANT FREE.

Cathy Howse New Book...Whoa...

Whoa I thought she gave up on writing because people were bashing her left and right. I read her second book. I will say that the chick is kinda cocky but she puts out some good knowledge. It is often things we disagree with that we don't normally hear. One of the things I learned from this book is that our hair needs to be moisturized daily! Many people have claimed that after following here methods they were able to get 6 inches in a year. Its all about consistency and deep conditioning weekly. If you out there Cathy...girl thanks and keep doing it and growing another 6 inches in a year! This book is available on her website: Thinning Edges or on Amazon for $19.99

So you got a "Fresh set of Braids".... Are they pulling?

Are they too tight? Are they pulling those edges girl? But they look good right?

Yes we are all guilty of it so don't feel bad.

We all want those micros that won't slip because we just paid $200.00 to get them done. Some of us like myself have to keep them in for 3 1/2 to 4 months so we endure the pain of the stylist using her knuckles and fingertips to catch our hair. Its amazing the whole strand of hair don't just give up and come out. Yeah they look nice in the beginning but I don't know about you but its a painful experience for my head and scalp after she is finished. I hardly sleep that night because if I lay on my head it hurts. If I reposition the hair it hurts. I'm just S.O.L! Spraying oil sheen on it helps for like 5 minutes and its back to the pain. Did you know that oil sheen has alcohol in it? So its just drying your hair out and if your scalp is dry and there pain do you actually think your scalp is going to be relieved? Okay enough of my preaching...

How can you ease the pain? Get you a carrier oil such as jojoba (my favorite) or some Castor oil and apply it to the roots whenever you feel your scalp hurting. If it hurts to rub it in the scalp get a nozzle tip bottle and use it. Try to massage it in your scalp without messing up the braids. This definitely works for me. When I got these twist this time around it felt like my head was on FIRE! I didn't have any jojoba oil so I used some other kind and it worked. Man was I happy! Also when you start getting those little bumps try using some Castor oil or 100% pure Aloe Vera at the first sign. Believe me it HELPS. You can purchase the Aloe Vera and Jojoba oil at www.drugstore.com

*Also ladies remember the most important thing is just because there is something to help ease the pain we should at all cost avoid getting them put in to tight. If you get them put in too tight and you do not take care of your hair it can lead to serious problems down the road that sometimes are not always reversible. But if this has already happened to you don't feel bad just pick yourself back up and educate yourself on it! HTH's!*

Review: Gold N Hot Heat Cap (How I Deep Condition)

See that picture to the left of this text? That is what I was using to deep condition my hair instead of a regular dryer.

...Yeah right HOT! It gets warm and that's about all and they have the nerve to have temperature settings. I had it on the hottest temp and it STILL was warm. It did not even cover the hair on my nape area. I guess you can say I have a big head or its the size of these twists. I am in the desert right now so I do not have the luxury to use my salon dryer at home. After the frustration from using this thing today I decided to give it up and purchase another one under the same brand. It is the Gold and Hot Ionic Soft Bonnet Dryer. (See picture below) I have used this one before and it works. Maybe there is a difference between a heating cap and a darn dryer.

Review: Silicon Mix

Silicon Mix (Dominican Product)

This product is available at BLUEBEEZ. They give you a 2% discount on all purchases and they have all sizes available. I never ordered from them so I do not know about shipping.

I was in heaven when I went to this site....until I found out they do not ship APO! In no way am I affiliated with this site. I am just trying to pass the word on how to save a buck.

Now on to business with my review of this product!

First I turned on my heating cap and let it sit while I applied this product to the roots and ends of my twist. After I finished I placed a shower cap on my head and sat under the heating cap for about 50 minutes. I was going to do it for an hour but I was getting sleepy.

Next I went to the shower and let the water rinse the product out. (I didn't use my hair net) I noticed my hair felt kinda hard.

After the product was rinsed out I co washed with Suave Vanilla and Honey. After I finished my shower I applied some Giovanni Leave in to the ends of my hair, sprayed the ends with infusium 23 leave in and sprayed my whole head except my scalp with S Curl. After all of that I sealed with Castor oil. I decided not to use the Boundless Tresses because I wanted to see if the Silicon Mix actually softened my hair because it was still feeling hard.

In the morning I woke up and applied the Giovanni Leave in to my ends and went to work. I didn't want to put anything on my scalp since my roots were still damp and remember I wanted to see how soft this stuff made my hair feel.

Time now: It's 12:30 noon in Afghan. I have been touching my roots ALL day. I am amazed at how my roots feel moisturized. My hair hasn't felt this good in a while. I cant believe it because in the shower it felt kinda dry. I was wondering if the product was just "coating" my hair. But the more I think about it when I touch my scalp and look at my hands they are not greasy. So I guess its not coating. I posted a thread on LHCF about coating so I will see what the others say.

Overall if this product is not "coating" my hair. I give it a 10 ++++++! Could this possible be another staple of mine? We will see!

Keeping Twist from unraveling when washing....

How do I keep my twist from unraveling when washing?

I place the hair in a "big hole" hair net similar to the one in the picture. I like to do this when I want to massage the conditioner in the roots. Sometimes I apply the conditioner to my hair before I put it in the net to make sure I get those ends. This can be also a good method for when you shampoo.

I use this as a preventative measurement. The constant running of the water on the twists can be too heavy on the ends causing the twists to stretch and become out of shape. That is where the hair net comes in place. It helps to keep the shape of the twists.

Does Shampoo harm your hair?

Well I will let you be the judge.... so read on.....

I did a poll to see how many woman are not using Shampoo and only Co'washing. Out of 143 Voters here are the results:

108/75.52% Woman said yes they ARE using Shampoo

9/6.29% Woman said no they ARE NOT using Shampoo

26/18.18% Woman said SOMETIMES they use Shampoo

...I am currently doing a personal challenge of my own for a month which involves no use of shampoo. I read a article the other day that caught my attention. (See below) So far my hair has been liking it and it feels thicker but I am not sure should I give all the credit to that or the Boundless Tresses.

Shampoo Kills Your Hair (The Effects of SLS)

Nearly all shampoos cause hair loss. It is believed the ingredients in shampoo kill hair growth. My initial reaction was disgust — eeeughh But, to my surprise, countless people have reported the shedding of hair had reduced after giving shampoo the elbow. Some even sprouted fresh hair. This was enough to entice me off my well shampooed high horse and give grunge a go.

Is Shampoo Such a Bad Boy?
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is the ingredient in shampoo that has been singled out as the offending culprit. If you use shampoo then you’re drenching your head in SLS – it’s found in over 95 percent of commercial shampoos. SLS is a potent de-greaser, acting as a surfactant, binding to the dirt and gunk on your hair and scalp. After rinsing your hair, the grime is dragged down the plug hole by the SLS. SLS takes no prisoners, dirt is zapped away and your hair is left bright and bouncy. Yet even after rinsing SLS residue may have taken up camp in and on your scalp. Exposure itself may be enough to cause problems. SLS is also commonly found in detergents used for cleaning garage floors and engines. Some grungers cry foul: “if it is used for industrial cleaning what the **** is it doing to my hair?” But this argument is flawed. Many substances are used both industrially and by humans. Baking soda is used for high strength cleaning, yet we happily munch on cakes baked with it. The only side effect, a satisfied and bigger belly. One grunge theory warns we are laid bare to the effects of SLS just after a follicle has shed its hair. That those empty and open follicles die when exposed to the acidic nature of SLS for long enough, or in enough quantity. As part of the normal hair cycle the average person sheds over one hundred hairs every day. That’s ample opportunity to expose empty follicles to an SLS attack. When a follicle is dead you can say au revoir to that hair for good. Yet, there is no solid proof.

Common sense dictates, at the very least, if you are going to use SLS based shampoo, rinse thoroughly. Use less, rather than more shampoo. And whatever you do, don’t snooze in the bath tub just after you lathered your hair. On the other hand, SLS has been used in shampoo for over fifty years by millions of people, millions of times, repeatedly. So why isn’t everyone bald? There is a glut of possible reasons. Some people may be more sensitive to SLS than others, perhaps some sort of mild allergic reaction. It’s possible people with male pattern baldness may be more susceptible to the alleged evils of SLS. Some people may use less shampoo and so are less exposed, or maybe they rinse their hair more thoroughly, so there is less residue. Hair length could be a factor. The more hair you have the more dilute the residue will be on your hair and scalp, a possible reason why women don’t bald as much as men. There a hundreds of possibilities, alas nothing concrete.

Read more at: http://www.hairlossbuddy.com/20/sodium-lauryl-sulfate/

The difference between human and synthetic hair?

Synthetic hair
is simply very fine plastic filaments. Synthetic fibers include Kanekalon and Toyokalon. Synthetic hair is less expensive than human hair

The Structure
is very different from human hair. Synthetics are easier to handle, due to their ability to hold the basic curl after washing. Depending on the simplicity of the style, some of them require very little styling. Synthetic hair, just as human hair, comes in weave (weft) and single strands for braids. Most people do not recommend using synthetic hair for weaving because it does not last as long as human hair because it tends to easily tangle and frizz out uncontrollably. However the quality of hair varies greatly, and if well maintained, synthetic hair can look as good as, if not better than human hair. Synthetic hair is much less expensive than human hair.

TIP: Synthetic hair is usually shaped into styles by using the steam from boiling water to set the hair. This is primarily done for synthetic braids however with the huge array of curly and waved braid styles, the steam or boiling water method is almost redundant. Typically when the synthetic hair is shaped its best not to change it too much because, as stated earlier, it will tangle and frizz out.

Texture
Textures of artificial hair vary from bone-straight to super-curly. The exact names of curl patterns vary by brand, and the possibilities of curl patterns with synthetic hair are endless, but some examples of packaged textures include:
Yaki - Bone straight, usually mimicking the straightness of Asian hair.
European - More natural-looking straight hair. May have a tiny amount of wave.
Deep Wave - While generally not a true 'wave', the curl pattern is uniform, can be made to look like spiral curls.
Loose Deep Wave or Romance Wave - Looser version of the deep wave, softer, more romantic curls.
Wet and Wavy , can be packaged as Spanish Wave or Indian Wave - Usually human hair is used, and is either naturally curly or permanently waved to appear so. Characterized as having soft, natural-looking curls that revert back to a curly state when wet.

HUMAN HAIR
Human hair is heavier in weight than synthetic fiber. However, there are different qualities of human hair, depending on where it comes from. High quality European hair is considered the best hair in the world because of its strength and texture. Most human hair used for weaves is derived from the continent of Asia (China, India, and to a very small degree, Southeastern Russia). This type of hair is the rarest of all, and is very expensive. People in the third world grow their hair for sale to specialty buyers who sell it to manufacturers. Lower-quality "human hair" extensions are often diluted with animal and synthetic hair to lower the price. Yak hair can be curled, permed, relaxed, and colored. Human hair is, however, more versatile than synthetic hair because it can be colored, relaxed, or curled with heating appliances just as one would do with his or her own hair. But, many people are allergic to yak hair so suppliers are using human hair treated to mimic the 4a/4b texture.

As the weave wearer would want the hair to match the texture of his/her hair in its present condition (relaxed, curly, or straight), weave hair comes in a variety of textures: yaki (closely resembles relaxed hair texture), silky (resembling very straight Asian hair), European texture hair straight (Europeans do not generally sell their hair, so called "European hair" usually comes from India or China), curly (ranges from tight corkscrew curls to the varying degrees of wavy), and crimped (very small, sharp waves). There are different grades of hair. The highest grade comes from young donors, is gently processed, careful not to damage the cuticles, and of "Remy" designation. Remy means the hair's cuticles are facing the direction in which they grew. Poorly processed hair can also be Remy. Let the buyer beware.
The same maintenance that one would apply to his or her own hair should be applied to the human hair to keep it in good condition.
High quality 100% human hair is more expensive than hair mixed with other materials (synthetic hair is most common).

TIP 2:
What does the term "bulk"mean?Bulk means hair is not on a weft. Unlike weaving hair, human bulk has no weft. Basically, it is loose hair or hair without weft. It does not mean hair is bulky or we sell them in bulk quantity. It is a term used for type of hair, not quality or quantity.

Monistat for hair growth...WTH?

Ladies, its the ingredient(Miconazole nitrate!) in the monistat that works Read down and you will see exactly why.
Here a thread I posted a while back on LHCF:

Yeast and Dandruff...
So I am sitting here at work scratching my head and I see dandruff... I am wondering what really causes dandruff? Most would say dirt. But that answer is not good enough for me so I start surfing the net to see what is dandruff. I was so amazed at my answers so i decided to share. I now see why some of yall have used monistat on your hair. High five to yall!!! here are my findings I copied and pasted from this website: http://www.dr-earles.com/html/dandruff.html

There is a yeast that grows in the scalp, including in the oil glands, which go deeply into the scalp. This yeast causes the condition,dandruff or Seborrheic Dermatitis, the medical name for dandruff.How does yeast cause dandruff?First, understand that every hair on the scalp is surrounded by, or/and is intimately associated with an oil gland. The oil gland usually shares with the hair follicle, the same opening to the scalp. In the healthy state, the oil gland secretes a tiny amount of oil which lubricates the hair and scalp.

The yeast that lives in the oil glands and on the scalp in fact actually eats the oil. THIS IS ITS FOOD! (WTF) (SO THAT'S WHERE MY OIL IS GOING!)The oil is therefore, not there to lubricate the hair and scalp. The decrease or absence of oil causes dryness and flaking. Dryness by itself can cause itching. The presence of the yeast in large numbers can also cause considerable inflammation, which is another cause of itching. Thus, a person with dandruff may itch for two different lesions, dryness and inflammation. If itching is severe, subsequent scratching can cause breakage of the skin and with resultant bleeding, and sometimes, infection as well. This inflammation and infection may even cause temporary, patchy hair loss. These episodes may lead to a condition called folliculitis. Chronic folliculitis can cost permanent hair loss....now to all of you who actually read ALL OF THAT..... That stops the myth to those who actually believe dandruff grows the hair!

Now if you are still not convinced about monistat check this article out: Miconazole nitrate hair growth

Gabrielle Union Style...I'm about to Hijack it!

Hey guys I know this is but after seeing these pictures of Gabby on concreteloop.com I had to post them because I am a big fan of her style and I think she is so pretty. I am defintely going to hijack these looks when I return to the states.... ohhhh yeahhh!

Review: Co' washing with Alberto V05 Hydrating Conditioner

Last night I used this as a co wash and all I can say is Yummieee! I am still able to smell this stuff in my hair after it has dried. It smells like a light scent of cotton candy.

May I also mention that I used half of the bottle on my twist last night. Most of it went to the ends though. My roots felt so soft. In a couple of days I am going to try another V05 brand that I have and if it works I am going to claim it as my number one baby instead of suave.

I just did a search for more of this on the Internet but so far I am not lucky. I wish I have have gotten more of this from the dollar store when I was home. Heeeeeeheeee!

Splitting and Split Ends? The angle of the split...what???

Well according to SistaSlick splitting ends are "places on the hair shaft where the cuticle is breaking apart and the cortex is left exposed." Once the cortex becomes exposed it is easier for harsh chemicals to damage your hair. Split ends are the result of low moisture on the ends of the hair. This is why some of the girls on BHM and LHCF prefer a method called "baggying." This is where they moisturize their whole head or ends and lock it in with a oil such as olive, coconut or Castor oil which is a favorite of mine.
A important point she mentioned as also mentioned in Cathy Howse's book is that just because the hair is splitting does not mean it will continue to split up the hair shaft. It depends on the angle of the split. Make sure when cutting split ends to use a good pair of shears, not your regular scissors.

What are split ends? You have definitely saw that girl with those see through ends. Well that's what split ends look like. This is what I am struggling with now. I know that I can not repair them but I am going to try and retain them by moisturizing and sealing it with oil until my hair grows a little longer. The only cure for split ends is to have them trimmed off.

Apple Cider Vinegar: A preventative maintenance against split ends.
When I can get my hands on some I will do acidic rinses using Apple Cider Vinegar and rinse my hair with cool water afterwards to close the cuticle layers and prevent the split ends from starting. But first I will wash and deep condition my hair.

How to tell if you have split ends?
Well I already know this...but what I didn't know is that if your hair does not hold a curl or straighten with heat that is almost a definite sign of split ends. In top condition, the scaly outer shell, or cuticle, of each hair lies flat and smooth along the whole length of the shaft.


Tip: Use Seamless combs for styling and do not brush hair when wet.

Be sure to check out her article, its on point! Click here

ETA: Here is a posting I started on LHCF:

Check out this lady's method of cutting SPLIT ENDS???

For some reason I woke up thinking about split ends. I remember reading Cathy House's book and recalled her saying something about split ends split outwards and not up. I am not sure if this is correct but I tried to do a search for it on the net and read this interesting post on yahoo answers by some beautician. Tell me what ya'll think:

"i'm a hairdresser by trade, the best thing you can do without cutting the length of your hair is to take small sections of your hair and twist in one direction till it looks like a rope. The split ends should spike out of hair rope, take some scissors and trim those dead ends off! Do as often as needed just remember to only cut the split bits off. Yep your right if you dont cut them it will travell higher up the hair shaft, thats why its starting to go frizzy."
Try putting conditioner all over your hair (loadz of it) put cling film round your head and leave on for half an hour. Do as often as needed and you should start to have beautifull healthy hair in no time. Dont forget always use a heat protecting spray on your hair before blowdrying and straightening. Try GHD Styling Spray its FAB! GOOD LUCK"

I think I am liking the twisting hair like a rope method. But what do ya'll think? and in case some of you might want to see the rest of the article here is the link: http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question...AAiqrpM&show=7

So if that is true...then when my stylist twists or braids my hair and clips those stray ends she is actually helping me for once. Umm????

Review: Miss Key 10 En 1 Super Conditioner (Dominican Products)

So last night I decided to use this as a deep conditioner with my twists. I applied it on dry hair because I didnt feel like walking to the shower twice. I made sure to put it on the roots and strands.

Results: I LOVED IT! After sitting under the heat cap for almost an hour this product left my hair very moisturized. My roots were very soft.

I will definitely buy more. You can either purchase this product for $6.99 from the Dominican's or for cheap at HAIRJOJO. This seller ships very fast!

This product will be added to my staple list.

Carrier Oils and Essential Oils

10 Drops of Essential oil into the carrier oil is all it takes to get your scalp stimulated.

Next you can run the bottle under hot water and massage on your scalp. That's what I just learned from reading an article.

Some examples of essential oils are Peppermint and Rosemary oil

Some examples of carriers oils are Jojoba, Almond and Olive

... I am off to my room to drop 10 drops of my peppermint oil in my favorite Jojoba oil!

What are Silicones and Great Moisturizing Conditioners...

Heres a link for a great article for picking a moisturizing conditioner. SistaSlick talks about silicone's and everything!
Click here for SistaSlick article

A short list of "Con Free Conditioners"

ConditionerAlberto V05 Blushin' Apple conditioner
Alberto V05 Free Me Freesia conditioner
Alberto V05 Extra Body conditioner
Alberto V05 Kiwi and Lime Squeeze conditioner
Alberto V05 Moisture Milks Strawberries and Cream conditioner
Alberto V05 Peaches & Cream
Alberto V05 Strawberries and Cream
Alberto V05 Sun Kissed Raspberry conditioner
Alberto V05 Tangerine Tickle conditioner
Alberto V05 Tea Therapy Nourishing conditioner

Aloe Desert Herb Revitalizing Conditioner
Aubrey Organics GPB Conditioner
Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing conditioner
Aubrey Organics Island Naturals Replenishing conditioner
Aubrey Organics JojobaAuntie Rhubarb Moisture Bomb
Aussie Conditionernstant Conditioner

Suave Aloe Vera
Suave Juicy Green Apple
Suave Milk and Honey conditioner
Suave Naturals Citrus Smoothie
Suave Naturals Conditioner, Juicy Green Apple
Suave Naturals Conditioner, Tropical Coconut

Hydrating Vitality BlastWeleda Rosemary Phyto Hair Conditioner
White Rain Energizing Citrus
White Rain Extra Body conditioner
White Rain Jasmine conditioner
White Rain Regular conditionerCone-Free Leave

Review: Jojoba oil is officially a "staple product" of mine!

Jojoba is a natural oil derived from a shrub which grows in areas like California and Arizona. The oil is unique because it is the only naturally occuring oil that is not triglyceride. A triglycewhat? Don’t worry about what that means, what is important is because of this it has very similar properties to sebum. What’s more is it actually mixes readily with sebum which forms a substance that “provides exceptional transepidermal respiration and moisture control”.

Jojoba is very easily absorbed into the skin through pores and hair follicles and because of this “the pores and hair follicles can remain open and thus maintain their proper functionality.” When the jojaba oil is absorbed it losens and and dissolves hardened sebum and therefore give room for the hair to grow and also for the follicle to become healthy again. Unlike sebum, jojoba doesn’t clog and harden.
Not only this but it will leave your scalp soft and well conditioned so this might help with dry flakey and itchy scalps.You can buy it over the counter in any good health shop, look for 100% oil, and if possible make sure that is “cold pressed”. And there’s more…Jojoba usually increases the shineyness of the hair too. It’s best applied after a hot bath or shower as the pores will be open. Just massage it into your scalp with your fingertips.

I use the oil every morning on the roots of my twists and it keeps my hair feeling soft all day!

Article from:http://www.hairlossbuddy.com/8/jojoba-sebum/

Review: Co wash'n my twists with "Suave Humectant"

Last night I decided to cowash my hair using Suave Professionals Humanctant Conditoner. I poured about a cup size in my spray bottle and mixed about 6 drops of castor oil in it and mixed it up.I decided to use the spray bottle so I could distrbute the conditioner evenly. I added the castor oil because its rumored that castor oil makes the hair thicker and I defintely need that. My roots feel moisturized. It is a product that I will use again.

Contact Me

You can send a personal email. Email tiffany@oneal.us (<--Do not add .com *******************************************************************

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Growth Check with "Boundless Tresses!"

I started using this growth aid product by one of the members on longhaircareforum.com. It has gotton alot of good reviews so I said why not. One thing I like about this product is the smell is very light and it is not heavy. I decided to add some peppermint oil to help stimulate my scalp. Here are my results from only one week of using it! I washed my hair only once with a net cap so I wouldnt loosen the curl too much.

The twists were put in a little to tight so I know that I could not have had alot of slippage and the hair snaps back when I pull on it so I just know it has to be new growth. So take a look.

Updated on 12 AUG 2007 to add another comparison.