Hi all

My daughter has natural hair and I am struggling keeping it moisturized.  She has very dry scalp and hair no matter what product I use.

I am getting off the hair crack (3rd try) after watching Chris Rock’s Good Hair.  I have and am struggling as I’ve always had long hair and having short hair and styling it is freaking me out.

I met someone in a shop who suggested this site so I am giving it another go.  My hair is severely damaged after braiding it so I have no other choice now and ther is no going back. 

I need to set an example for my daughter and want to get back the thick long hair that I had as a child.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated because I feel so lost…

Picture of what my hair was… below see further posts for how it became :(

It sounds like you have afro hair. If that is the case I would strongly reccomend you buy the science of black hair from amazon. It is the most comprehensive book out there about black hair case and maintenance.  It will tell you everything you need to know.  I would reccomend using castor oil for hair growth on the broken parts.

Thank you for your reply.  I’ve been watching various youtube videos and have some new techniques etc to try.  I am quite excited!! There is hope Just awaiting my products to arrive.

Can I just ask, how does one find out hair type?  I notice alot of people stating it in their signatures.

I just found it will post the link here so I can find it easily…  Still unsure as to what category my daughter falls into though…

http://www.britishcurlies.co.uk/articles/categories/category/curl_types/

FYI just a few inspirational youtubers I found   Great ideas, tips, product reviews and general advice etc.

http://www.youtube.com/user/HairCrush?feature=watch

http://www.youtube.com/user/beuniquehaircare?feature=watch

http://www.youtube.com/user/FusionofCultures?feature=watch

http://www.youtube.com/user/Naptural85

http://www.facebook.com/SheabutterCottage

Hi, welcome to British Curlies

I wouldn’t worry at all about hair types, what matters most is getting the protein and moisture balance right. I find that moisturising regularly, being gentle with my delicate strands, and simple low maintenance hairstyles have allowed my hair to retain more length (and health, of course!) than ever before.

Good luck on your hair journey and keep posting!

Also, I love Naptural85 and FusionofCultures

I prefer the categorisation system on naturallycurly.com. However, there are many variations within one hair type and the same product can affect the same hair type in different ways. it can be good to know a rough idea to help identify useful bloggers to follow and have a general idea of what products to use. It helped streamline my research.

http://www.naturallycurly.com/hair-types

Most people within the same hair type often have hair with similar characteristics, but don’t get to caught up in it!

Thanks ladies.

Since posting, I’ve been on youtube, facebook and I am amazed at how many ladies are on the natural hair journey.  My first 2 attempts I gave up due to lack of products, my hair being so thick and unmanageable but now I am so ready!  The support and end result is so worth it!  I am loving the styles, the healthy hair, everything!

I’ve been to sheabutter.com (or is it co.uk?) and BeUnique Hair Care.  I’ve bought myself bentonite clay, unrefined shea, hibiscus powder, Amla, Shakaikai, jojoba oil, monoi de tahiti oil, african black soap and Mango twist and moisture custard.

Last weekend 19 May 2012, my first attempt using various tips from youtube.  I used the african black soap [made into a shampoo - dig me making my own (”,)].  I made my own conditioner using yogurt, honey, jojoba oil, moinoi de tahiti.  Moisturized with my shea butter mixture [whipped with the oils mentioned].  I was surprised with my daughters curls! So much more defined and lasted much longer.  My hair was managable and soft, not dry and brittle as normal. Pic of hair after wash week 1

I did a nettle decoction and used it daily as a leave in.  Result our hair was more moisture and had a shine to it.

This weekend 27 May 2012.  My daughter spent the weekend in the pool, the sun was hot so I decided to try out the bentonite clay mixture.  Mixed with the oils, honey and hibiscus powder, left for an hour.  Rinsed and used BeUniques moisture custard and mango twist.  Today my daughters hair was so glossy, her curls WOW! She loves it, I love it, everyone comments on it! So happy.  She even said her scalp isn’t itchy anymore.  I’ve noticed that it isn’t dry and flaky anymore! Bonus!

My hair is so badly damaged that it will take time, but already I am seeing improvements ie moisture retention and softness so I am happy!

I’ve opted for twist outs until I am more confident in styling techniques.  Last week Sunday was new moon so I cut off a good chunk of relaxed ends then.

Why new moon you may ask?  Well growing up in the caribbean, my mom, grandmom and other relatives always trimmed our hair with the moon.  New moon for growth, full moon for thickness.  So I thought I’d keep tradition since my hair has always been long and thick until recent years.

I have also had a good clear out of all our old shampoo and conditioners that dried out our hair. [Treseme, Lusters, Motions, Kids Organics Soft Hold, Kids Organics Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner, Dax, Sofn’Free and Pretty Shea Shampoo and Conditioner, Organics, Mizani and many many more]

I have been trying and changing so much and they all seem to be drying out our hair so it felt good to get rid! 

I will be trying some new natural products in the future.  But for the moment, I like being in the kitchen mixing stuff.  Because my daughters hair is so long and thick, it uses ALOT of products and the natural products I have seen or the 2 that I have bought so far; the cost will add up in the long run.

As I learn what additives are good or harmful to my hair I will change as needed.  But for now, I am strengthening and treating our hair.  My 6 year old just loves the pampering

I am on a quest and learning something daily.

Also thought I’d share my full hair story…

I’ve always had long thick hair.  My hair was relaxed at age 12.  It was still cared for by my grand mom and mom.  I took over about age 14.  I loved my hair.  I used Dark & Lovely products, mainly the hair mayonnaise; which I added 1 egg and mayonnaise to deep condition.  My hair was like a weave.  I remember my great aunts pulling it and going through it looking for tracks whenever I visited!  I loved that, it always had people guessing.

When I am stressed my hair tends to show me even if I don’t think I am stressed.  It breaks… One side always worse than the other.  Whenever this happens, I just braid it for a month or 2 while treating with leave in conditioner and then trim and back to relaxer and my normal routine.

I watched Chris Rocks ‘Good Hair’ in 2010, after that I decided to go natural. I was shocked by the long term damage relaxer could do and noticed that my hair was getting thinner… I thought to myself, I need to go back to my roots.  I need to show my daughter that she can wear her natural hair, without needing to turn to relaxer.  2 unsuccessful attempts later and lack of ‘natural products’ I went back to the ‘hair crack’.

However, during the relaxer free period I noticed that my hair grew a lot more in the 3months time. Even when I was pregnant my hair grew ALOT in the 9months that it was chemical free.  In Jan 2012 I decided I can do this (just pretend I am pregnant and WOULD NOT relax)!  Having done tons of research and finding that lots of women were taking the natural hair journey; I decided to stop the relaxer and rather than doing a bc, transition.

I thought braiding would be the easiest way to treat and grow out.  As this proved successful previously.  BUT when I took the braids out it was knotted very bad (maybe the persons technique Ghana braids idk but in my history of braids this NEVER happened before).  I then put it down to maybe not combing out before shampooing…  Went back and had my hair weaved.  When I took that out this time it was knotted worse than the first.

This resulted in massive hair loss and a lot of tears for my precious hair :( I was not at all happy. Anyone that knows me know that me and hairdressers are no friends, because every time I go to them I come out fuming! So for the past 12+ years, I do my hair myself, or a friend does it.

Since I didn’t want to journey 200miles to do my hair and my hair was knotting so badly when I went to that particular hairdresser I thought… I’m done, I’m going back to the creamy crack. I didn’t want to leave the house because my once long and beautiful hair was butchered… SO… Because my hair disaster was causing me so much trauma and stress my loving hubby bought me an £80 Indian Remy lace front. I am not a wig/weave person as I always had good length hair.  I was VERY reluctant SO it took ages for me to decide on which I wanted… FINALLY I tried 1 and agreed that’s the 1 I want but when I got home it was not the 1 I tried AND they did not want to take it back…

I cried some more, because my hair was mashed up, dry and half natural half relaxer and I had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA how to style… Hair crack was calling me… Relax it, cut it short to salvage whats left and go from there. But then I said NO!  I thought of my grandmom who lost all her hair due to cancer and how she coped… I said: I am strong I can do this.

I did more research, read up on whats damaging, what helps the hair etc, watched a series of youtube videos, made my notes, reached out to a few of these natural queens and here I am I am ready for the journey.. My hair is pretty mashed up now BUT my new growth is ok. So I will transition and treat and hope for the best.

I am pretty EXCITED as I can see immediate changes to my daughter’s hair and she is happy to rock her hair out with her natural curls rather than cainrow styles.

Getting ready to do a deep condition using placenta today.  Also found a shampoo that is good price and is natural! WOW! Its called At One with Nature.  Got the shampoo yesterday.  Also bought various oils [Avocado, Castor, Almond, Palm, Coconut and some others I can’t remember and some henna for a henna treatment at some point.  So looking forward to doing some prepoo concoctions etc.  Although I need to get some mango butter and more shea butter.

This is week three and already I can see the difference in our hair! I mean from then to know the changes are drastic!! Getting even more excited.

Found this and thought I’d share

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/opinion/black-women-and-natural-hair.html?_r=1&smid=tu-share

Growning up in Trinidad I loved molasses.  At times when cleansing, I was given with aloes.  In those days my hair was thick, natural, long and healthy.  In my natural oils hunt yesterday I found some and bought it, to introduce the taste to my daughter (and use it alongside fresh aloes for a cleanse)!! But then I got to thinking if it worked back then surely it would work now So I used my trusty google and it confirmed the use of molasses in the hair!  I found this… SO excited I had to share:

http://www.bvhairtalk.com/2008/11/03/the-healthy-hair-benefits-of-molasses/

Will share the results when I try it.

Found this other useful article:

http://www.africurl.com/stopblackhairbreakage.htm

OK! So I ditched my placenta deep condition for a molasses concoction deep condition!  Loving the results.  Also saw lots of positive feedback on the molasses in hair.  AND found a cayenne pepper video as well.  Cayenne pepper has healing properties according to my research.  I use it to cook with so will see what it does to my hair

Pictures of my molasses mixture, my daughters hair wet after it was rinsed and her hair air dried.

Not been on for a while because its been so hectic! Plus I’ve been perfecting our hair routine! I am so happy… I did my BC (for myself)! Will be heading to the salon on Monday to even it off as I still have some straight bits left!... I’ve perfected my ‘hair lotion’ which I use for sealing… AND it works so well I am seeing my curl pattern *shock*  I thought I had 4c hair but now I am not so sure.

My daughter is loving her curls, we get comments everywhere and she is loving the extra attention. 

I previously said At One With Nature was ok to use on my hair. But I have since researched all the ingrients on there, and while its got lots of natural goodness, it has ALS which I am trying to avoid… SO my shampoo when I do use it is now the African Black soap, melted and modified.  I’ve found once I do a pre-poo it doesn’t strip the hair leaving it dry.  SO I will be sticking with that.

I am confident in my decoctions, infusions and mixtures and my BeUnique stuff is finished :( since my daughters hair is so THICK! I will now be using MY homemade stuff.  My mom and few friends will be sampling as they love how it works so far so YAY me!

I’ve gone from crying because of my hair disaster to a happy bunny looking forward to hair health and growth and mixing stuff

Pics of my curl pattern my hair lotion and my diy bc

Hi curlyhairmich

The results of my lotion was lovely.  Shine & soft feeling!! I’m not taking out twists til 2moro but I’ve took 1 out for my friend to see… My daughters hair is silky and glossy as well.

Now 2 friend, my mom and sister wants some

Daughters twist out   I’m so chuffed with the result

So I’ve had another BC or should I say a redo of my bc.  Went to the hairdressers to have my hair levelled out…

Have had a product overhall again after further research.  So I have discarded the Palm oil and jasmine scented oil (never used), I have swapped rtc coconut oil as the one I had wasn’t food grade… I am sticking to grape seed oil, extra virigin olive oil, jojoba oil and jbco.

I have been researching porosity as I find that my hair when wet is soft and nice, but dry, its dry and hard, no matter how I moisturise.  Its a set back as I am having to find ways of keeping my hair soft…

I have been experimenting with bentonite clay and have made some soap bars for my hair… So no need for shampoo’s. 

Work in progress… But still in enjoying the journey and the change in life style based on the information gained…

Still learning about my hair but I will get there..

@Lela7,

I also think the naturally curly.com is a good system. i like their picture analogy. i think what would also be good is if the showed each type at different hair lenghts too as it would help. I thought i agree with you when you say there are still variations within each hair type. No 2 heads look the same and it makes it confusing especially on youtube- there seems to be too much debating.  i thought i was more a 4a but not a a “classic” 4a ( IMO people like napptural85/tastirebone/aliciajamesmusic/MissVCharles).  i know ive got different types going on so its hard for me to type myself, however
by the Naturallycurly.com system, my hair is probably “3c”, but if there was ever a “3d” that would be me lol!. i really like all types of hair all are beautiful when treated and styled nicely. its not important really. As long as my hair aint dry like the desert and dropping like dead leaves on a tree - im happy!

lela7 - 18 May 2012 01:33 PM

I prefer the categorisation system on naturallycurly.com. However, there are many variations within one hair type and the same product can affect the same hair type in different ways. it can be good to know a rough idea to help identify useful bloggers to follow and have a general idea of what products to use. It helped streamline my research.

http://www.naturallycurly.com/hair-types

Most people within the same hair type often have hair with similar characteristics, but don’t get to caught up in it!