Hair By Nietsha

Biotin?????? YES BIOTIN...

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:10:00 +0000

The amount of natural hair information available online is incredible, but what really works for your hair is what matters most.

To set your hair up for massive success, you must focus on doing things for your hair that actually work, and do not spend precious time worrying about things that you cannot control.

Do you take vitamin B7 for hair growth? What about coenzyme R or vitamin H?

These are just different names for a very common vitamin that many naturals take for hair growth called Biotin.

The real question is does taking biotin for hair growth really work?

Let's dive a little deeper.

What is Biotin?

There are many names for biotin, including Coenzyme R, Vitamin B7, and Vitamin H.

In simple terms, biotin is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin that is often found in foods in small amounts.

Why do people take biotin?

Over the years, biotin supplements have been used to treat numerous conditions, but most naturals who take it have one common goal. There is a common belief that taking a biotin supplement will improve your ability to grow long hair.

According to clinical references, researchers haven't come to an agreement on the benefits of taking additional biotin as an oral supplement. There is anecdotal evidence that suggests biotin may have additional benefits. However, I have not found any supporting scientific evidence that verifies the perception that biotin improves hair growth potential.

Did you know?

The average person doesn't need a Biotin supplement. You receive biotin naturally in everyday foods like whole-grain cereals, whole wheat bread, eggs, dairy products, salmon and chicken to name a few.

Our bodies can recycle the biotin that the body already has and genuine biotin deficiencies are very rare.

How much biotin should you take?

The Institute of Medicine has set parameters defining an adequate intake of biotin. If you eat a healthy hair diet, you should receive an adequate amount of biotin naturally without requiring supplements.

If you decide to take biotin, the "appropriate" dose needed depends on many factors and should really be prescribed by a medical doctor.

I've seen many women discuss taking very high levels of biotin. These high levels of biotin may prove to be safe eventually; however, researchers haven't been able to determine if consuming high dosages of biotin over an extended period of time will pose health risks.

I encourage you to focus on your eating habits and stay away from ingesting supplements that may or may not pose a health risk in the future. If you must utilize a biotin supplement, I suggest that you speak with your medical doctor prior to starting a biotin regimen.

I'm not trying to scare you, but I do want you to be careful. Take care.

NATURAL HAIR PICS LOL... GOOD PROGRESS!

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:05:00 +0000

PICS FROM LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS SEEING NIETSHA ON THE EVERY 3 WK BASIS....

NOW I FIND EVEN MORE STYLES @ OVER

2 YEARS NATURAL... THANKS TO THE VERSATILITY OF NIETSHA'S BRAIN...LOL BUT IM VERY HAPPY WITH IT.. CANT WAIT FOR YOU TO BRING YOUR BUT BACK TO BUFF AND GIVE ME THE NEWS ON THE NATURALAXER...

THATS THE 2012 ME...................... LOVE YOU NIETSHA. THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE! AND FREE PRODUCTS........LOL

Im at 4 years part 1

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:05:00 +0000

My 4th year natural anniversary is coming up may 2nd 2007 is when i made my committment, or should i say when nietsha made me make my committment lol .. i will be posting my before and after pics for my part 2 of this blog look for them May 2nd.. thanks again nietsha for the inspiration, and taking me away from the motions relaxer...lol love ya ...pics soon to come!

How To Wash and Deep Condition Micro Braids Without Slippage

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Micro braids or ‘micros’ are one of the most gorgeous of braids. Resembling free flowing hair they can be worn in a variety of styles from curly, wet and wavy or dead straight. Human hair braids can be curled and straightened with ease and synthetic hair will remain as straight or as curly as when it was bought.

Micro braids can be worn safely for 2-3 months at a time as long as the braids around the hairline are redone every 3 weeks or so. This prevents any thinning of the edges associated with wearing braided styles for extended periods of time.

Possibilities are endless with these marvellous little braids but how do you wash them? Any sign of moisture and the braids start slipping out of your hair particularly with human hair braids. Many will avoid washing their braids for weeks on end to avoid the braids falling out but this is detrimental to the health of your hair which requires regular moisture.

There is an easy way to avoid the hassle of slipping braids while keeping your hair squeaky clean and conditioned. Here’s how:

Braid the micros in sections. About 6 large braids for your head or alternatively just do about 4-5 cornrows going back. The braids or cornrows have to be relatively firm but not tight so they are not tugging on your scalp. Secure the ends with a hair band. These large braids/cornrows will produce a cute curly set once they are dry.

Shampoo thoroughly concentrating on the scalp and massaging in and around the braids. You will feel the braids go softer but don’t worry; they will not slip out as they are confined to the large braid/cornrow. Do not rub the braids too much to avoid frizzes.

To deep condition, instead of using a creamy deep conditioner, use a liquid one. Use any liquid conditioner of your choice which you should water down a bit before applying to the hair. Cover with a plastic cap and deep condition as usual.

Rinse the conditioner from the hair thoroughly with warm water. Do not rub the braids, just let the water pressure from the shower head wash the conditioner out gently. You may then follow on with an apple cider vinegar rinse which is 1 part apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water streamed through the hair which will remove any remaining conditioner residue. This prevents any product build up which would make it difficult to remove your braids when the time comes. Lastly rinse hair for about a minute in cold water to close the hair shaft keeping all the moisture in.

After towel blotting the braids, apply a generous amount of leave in conditioner and seal with your favourite light oil or silicone based heat protection serum. You can also leave this step until after the hair is dry and out of the large braids/cornrows to condition every strand.

If you are planning to wear the braids curly either let them air dry or sit under a hooded dryer until completely dry then undo the large braids/cornrows to release your curly micros. If you wish to wear the micros straight, just sit with a towel on your head for about 20 minutes or until the braids are slightly dry then undo the large braids/cornrows. They will be slightly crinkly. Let your hair fall in the style you will be wearing it then re-wet the hair with a spray bottle. The weight of the water will make the strands dry straight. Do not manipulate the braids when they are wet to avoid any slipping. Air dry or sit under a hooded dryer until 100% dry then flat iron ends in large sections to get them super straight (Only for human hair braids). Avoid the flat iron coming into contact with your own hair to protect it.

Tips:

1. Tie a scarf around your head before going under the dryer or air drying to get rid of any frizzes.

2. Do not manipulate the braids when wet or they will slip out.

3. Do not use a creamy conditioner as it will be very difficult to rinse out of the braids and may cause build up.

4. Get the edges plus the partition of your micros redone every 3 weeks to avoid breakage and to keep the style looking fresh.

5. Slick down the little hairs around your front hairline with alcohol free gel for a sleek finish to your style.

Follow these instructions and you won’t have to compromise the health of your hair for your style. Your micro braids will be clean and fresh weekly and your hair will also be in the best of health.

The Silk Wrap Treatment

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:05:00 +0000

Get silky locks without flat ironing or just refresh an old press

Silk wrapping your hair is a relatively new technique of wrapping your hair while dry with a bit of moisturizer and shine spray and sitting under a hooded dryer. The purpose of this treatment is to give relaxed hair the ‘flat ironed and silky’ look without the heat trauma involved. For natural hair that has been pressed, the treatment will serve the same purpose with the added benefit of reducing the volume of the hair for a ‘flatter’ look.

Silk wrapping on relaxed hair can be done straight after roller setting to smooth the hair out. For natural hair that has been lightly pressed so that it is at the ‘kinky straight’ stage, a silk wrap will not give the relaxer straight look but will reduce the bulk of the hair for a flatter look while giving your hair a silky smooth feel. For natural hair that has been straightened smooth, a silk wrap can be used after a week or so to refresh the press to allow it to last longer.

Here’s how to do a silk wrap:

• Start on dry hair. If relaxed, you should have roller set first or if natural, follow you usual process of straightening your hair.

• Take a dime sized amount of your moisturizer (preferably something light) and rub your hands. Apply to your hair concentrating on the ends and use a comb to smooth through your strands.

• Brush your hair into a smooth wrap trying not to use any pins as they will create creases in the finished look. If desired, spray your hair lightly with an oil sheen spray.

• Apply the saran wrap (cling film) over the hair quite firmly ensuring you cover the top of your head as well.

• Sit under a moderate to hot dryer for 10-20 minutes

• Remove the saran wrap and comb out the wrap.

• Silky smooth locks are yours!

If done correctly natural hair will not revert with the silk wrap treatment but instead the hair will be smoother.

Back To Basics ??? Home-made Protein Treatment

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:20:00 +0000

We already know how important protein is for black hair but just in case you’ve been living in a cave and didn’t know, im telling you it is... VERY VERY IMPORTANT

Not all of us however are in a position to purchase Aphogee two step protein treatment, Nexuss Emergencee or other protein treatments. If you are unable to find a suitable one or you are just after a more natural solution, there is a simple recipe that you can use to strengthen your tresses with ingredients you probably already have or can pick up easily at most supermarkets.

It feels wrong calling this a recipe with so few ingredients but what you will need is:

1 packet unflavoured gelatin (about 10g)

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 cup mayonnaise or conditioner

Gelatin I hear you ask? Absolutely. If you look at the ingredients on Aphogee Two Step Protein Treatment, you will notice that the second ingredient is Hydrolyzed Animal Protein so vegetarians look away now! Wikipedia has this to say about gelatin:

Hydrolysed protein is fabulous for hair because the protein has been broken down and the molecules are able penetrate all layers of the hair better to repair damage and make the hair stronger.

To make and use the protein treatment:

Shampoo your hair with a clarifying shampoo to get rid of build up. Your hair must be clean to absorb maximum protein.

Dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water and mix with your mayonnaise/conditioner until well combined.

Apply to wet hair combing through to ensure all strands coated.

Sit under a dryer for 20 minutes to half an hour with your head uncovered

Rinse the treatment thoroughly with warm water and follow up with a moisturising conditioner.

This treatment is suitable for both relaxed and natural hair. Bear in mind however that this is a ‘hard’ protein treatment and as such you should only use it once ever six weeks or so depending on your hair’s moisture-protein balance.

Tips To Get An Outrageously Natural Looking Weave ??? Part 2

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday I posted the first part in this series of posts on how to get a natural looking weave. Now I’m no weave queen myself in that I don’t wear them month in month out but when I do, I want my own mother to ask me for the umpteenth time ‘Is that your hair?’ and I enjoy being stopped by a complete stranger at the supermarket telling me that my hair is beautiful and how did I grow it so long only to have them drool when I tell them it’s a weave.

Here are some more tips to getting an outrageously natural looking weave.

Match your color - Pretty self explanatory, if your hair is natural black, don’t wear a jet black weave or if you have highlights like I do, then find a weave with a color to closely match your leave our hair. Many of us who have black African American hair can have trouble finding the exact shade as ours. Most weaves are made from the hair of Indian donors who tend to have much darker locks to African Americans. The simple solution is to apply a black semi-permanent rinse to your leave out hair. Semi permanent color lasts 6-20 washes depending on the brand so it should have faded sufficiently by the time you are ready to take down the weave. You can always clarify and deep condition with heat to get rid of any remaining color residue.

Wear Believable textures - I know you like the feel of silky smooth high lustre shinier-than-a-mirror hair but does it match your leave out hair? If not then leave it on the shelf. The same goes for curly textured weaves, if you cannot convincingly match the wave pattern of the weave with little effort then forget it. There are many companies out there that can create custom textures of hair. They start with good quality virgin hair and are able to recreate African American hair exactly. From 4a kinky locks to relaxed hair textures or kinky straight weaves to match blow dried African American hair there’s no end to the possibilities and you will be able to find that perfect weave to match your own texture.

Tone down the volume - This is the single most important tip and can be the dealbreaker that gives you away even when everything else is right. Many ladies get pretty decent looking sew ins but sometimes, something that you cannot quite put your finger on makes it look unnatural. If you don’t want your weave to look ‘off’ then stick with 2 packs of hair or less (about 200 grams) . Curly weaves tend to have more volume so you may find that you only need 150 grams or a pack and a half of hair. I’ve seen some ladies walk around with three women’s hair on their head and it’s not a good look. Less is more!

Use quality hair - This is where a lot of ladies differ but I will say this, the differece between brand name beauty supply store hair and genuine virgin hair is like the difference between a smooth burgundy wine and the cheap plonk labelled ’table wine’ at the bottom shelf of the supermarket. They are both wines but they ain’t in the same league! I will also say that the only times I ever get compliments from random strangers on my hair is when I wear my virgin Indian or Chinese hair. Good quality hair moves naturally, doesn’t tangle and looks ‘right’ somehow. Not to mention that good quality virgin hair can be worn again and again (mine lasts 2 years at a minimum) so you will be saving money in the long run.

Although I believe that wearing your own hair majority of the time is the best way to promote healthy hair habits, I am partial to a good sew in every now and again and with these tips, I’m sure you will be well your way to an outrageously natural looking weave!

Tips To Get An Outrageously Natural Looking Weave ??? Part 1

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Bad weaves annoy me. It may sound harsh but in the fast world we live in with computers having almost as much processing power as the human brain and being able to chat to your friend in China while seated on the loo in Philadelphia there is just no excuse for a bad weave. A good weave like a fine wine should only get better with age.

Here are my tips to getting an outrageously natural looking weave.

Leave some of your own hair out – Now I know some of you favor a full weave with a cute blunt bang or gorgeous swoop bang and I’ve seen some really good work but when natural is at the top of your wishlist, nothing says natural like your own hairline and scalp. I’ve always had excellent weave radar in that I can tell it’s a weave from 20 meters away and with the sudden popularity of lace wigs, I have fine tuned my dish to include them too! Even when I can see the lace wig or frontal ‘scalp’, and I’ve seen some very well done applications, it doesn’t compare to your real scalp. So leaving that little bit of hair to cover the tracks is a definite yes, I often leave out a horseshoe section at the top for the part and a little on the sides. If you want to wear your hair in a ponytail then leave half and inch around the perimeter as well.

Start with a flat base - If you go to a stylist to have your weave installed then this shouldn’t be an issue but for the self installers among us, don’t underestimate the importance of having your cornrows as flat as possible. Even thick natural hair can be braided in such a way as to hide any lumps and bumps that will undermine the finished product.

Wear believable lengths – A good rule of thumb is to never wear a weave that’s more than 4 inches longer than your own hair. I know a lot of you will not agree with me on this but hear me out. However good your weave is, sometimes you get that ‘separation’ of hair between the tracks and your leave out, this would not be a problem unless you own hair is 2 inches in length while the weave is 18 inches, it just doesn’t look , well, believable. An extreme example I know but if your hair is say, 7 inches long, you can get one pack at 10 inches and another pack at 12 inches. The idea is to have the longest weave (12 inch in this case) at the bottom to give you the length and the shorter weave at the top closer to your leave out hair. You end up with natural looking layers that you can have a good stylist refine with a bit of snipping to give a more seamless look. As your hair grows, you can then increase the lengths of your weaves to match. I have only just started wearing 18 inch weaves because my hair is now 14 inches long!

Put away the hair products – All you need to care for a weave is a good natural shampoo and a good conditioner. Maybe a bit of heat protection spray if you wish to use a flat iron. Nothing more. Greasy weaves weighed down with product does not scream natural to anybody!

I don’t know about you but I only want people knowing I’m wearing a weave when I tell them that I am! In the next article I will give you possibly the single most important tip on getting a natural looking weave.

How To Straighten Thick Natural Black Hair Without Heat Damage

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

When thinking of straightening your natural black hair you must first understand that straight hair is just another hairstyle. People with naturally straight hair will always want to add curls and people with curls will always want to straighten their hair occasionally. It’s human nature! Learning to care for your hair in its natural state should make up the bulk of your hairstyles with straightening only being one of them. This mindset will greatly improve the overall health of your hair!

Now that you have made the decision to straighten your hair, you must be prepared. Any styling that involves applying heat to the hair can be damaging but it’s not all doom and gloom! There are certain ways you can arm yourself against heat damage and give you the sleek style you want for that special event whilst not compromising your lovely kinks and curls.

Here’s how:

•First things first, pick the best straightener for your needs, a tourmaline ionic one would be the best but a ceramic one will do just as well.

• Before attempting any straightening, the hair should be completely clean and freshly deep conditioned. Deep conditioning gives hair that added bit of moisture so that it doesn’t dry out completely during the heat styling process.

• Apply a leave in conditioner as well as a good heat protectant and comb through the length of the hair to evenly distribute the products. A silicone serum heat protectant is ideal because silicone redirects heat away from your hair.

• Black people have a variety of hair textures which can be straightened in different ways depending on the thickness and the degree of curl. Loosely curled or coiled hair can be straightened and smoothed out with just a roller set on large rollers (Read the article ‘How to cheat at roller setting’). Thicker hair will require a bit more attention and heat.

• It is important to ‘pre – stretch’ the hair before straightening as this gives the best results. For the sleekest results it is best to blow dry the damp hair in sections as straight as you can get it on a medium temperature. There is no need to use high heat as this can be damaging to the hair and never blow dry when the hair is dripping wet. You can also pre-stretch the hair by air drying it in large braids or twists but the final results will not be as smooth and you may end up losing more hair to breakage when you come to flat iron the air dried hair.

• Now that the hair is dry and stretched, you can move on to flat ironing or pressing. At this stage you can apply a little more heat protection serum. You must always use a temperature controlled appliance for this part of the straightening. This is why stove heated pressing combs and irons are not recommended as the temperatures can get quite high and literally burn the hair!

• Set your flat iron on a medium temperature (around 315°F/157°C) and beginning from the back in small sections, begin to flat iron or press the hair. Raise or lower the temperature of the appliance slightly as needed and only pass over each section twice. Use the lowest temperature at which you are able to get good results. You want the hair to be straight but left with a bit of body and bounce.

• You will find the ‘comb-chase method’ particularly useful for straightening natural hair leaving you with sleek straight hair from root to tip. What you do is take a small section of hair and run a fine tooth comb or brush down the section using one hand while ‘chasing’ with the flat iron held in the other hand. Be warned, this requires an ability to use both hands at once! Otherwise pick a straightener like the instyler which has polishing brushes as part of it’s design which makes things much easier.

• Straighten the rest of the hair in this manner then apply a small amount of an anti humectant pomade to keep your hair from reverting before your next wash day. A good one is Aveda Brilliant Anti-Humectant.

• To get your hair super flat wrap it around your head (using your head as 1 big roller) applying bobby pins where necessary to hold the hair in place. Cover your hair in saran wrap (cling film) and sit under a hooded dryer for 10-15 minutes. This is called silk wrapping. Alternatively, wrap your hair overnight in a silk scarf to remove some of the volume.

To save the style at night, you can wrap your hair again or tie it into a loose ponytail or pin it up and cover with a satin scarf or bonnet. Be sure to moisturize your ends daily with a good moisturizer to keep them healthy until your next wash.

Quick tip – If you like the extra sleek (relaxer straight) look then all you have to to is add a bit of coconut oil before flat ironing instead of serum. Remember, your final results have less to do with the temperature of the heat you use than your technique, styling tools and products and this goes for even the kinkiest of hair types!

So What If Natural Hair IS A Trend!

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:05:00 +0000

A popular YouTube personality, who has been chronicling her very successful relaxed healthy hair journey for about three years online, recently announced her decision to transition. So needless to say, her announcement sparked a lot of discussion and interesting reactions among the online hair community. One comment I see repeatedly from both naturals and relaxed women alike is the question of whether or not natural hair is a trend.

Some relaxed women feel people are going natural just because it is trendy, some people wonder if natural hair will still be this popular in ten or more years, and some state they feel pressure to transition just because it is so trendy right now. I can’t count the number of naturals who state with an air of superiority that they were natural before it became a trend. I’m thinking to myself: So?! Does that make you MORE natural or MORE committed? I don’t get it.

My question is – why do we speak of a “natural hair trend” as if that is a negative thing? Haven’t all hairstyles been trends? Nobody questioned whether the afro was a trend in the ‘70s, the jherri curl of the ‘80s, or the mushroom and asymmetrical cuts of the ‘90s. When they came on the scene strong and we jumped on the bandwagon, whether we had the style or just appreciated the look, we never felt the need to defend that AFROS OR JHERRI CURLS ARE HERE TO STAY! There were no t-shirts that read: Its not a movement or a trend, the juice will live on forever! When one trend faded and a new one emerged, it was accepted as a natural part of the beauty industry – that is what looks do, they change!

So if I decide to transition from my healthy relaxed hair to my lovely kinky virgin hair solely because I want to join in on what’s hot right now, why is that a problem? Do I have to have a deep philosophical reason? Do I have to have had a bad experience with or a negative view of relaxers? Must I feel that natural hair is more beautiful? Or can I just decide that I want a change and want to be trendy? And if I state that as my reason, why would I (most likely) receive a bunch of criticism for that being my main reason?

Why do relaxed women feel disappointment when another online hair vlogger or blogger decides to transition and act as if someone has died? I can understand wanting to see women with healthy, long relaxed hair because it serves as inspiration and lets you know that it is possible – but if a woman has achieved that and decides to change, why do some relaxed women go into mourning? And vice versa regarding the feelings of natural women when long time naturals decide to relax? I shudder to think what the reaction would be amongst the natural hair community if one of the big YouTube personalities pops up with freshly relaxed hair. Honestly, I may fear for her safety! (funny, but a tiny bit true!)

Natural hair may or may not be a trend. In my opinion, it really doesn’t matter – it is beautiful to see. I just appreciate that more women are deciding to rock their natural textures. However, if in a decade, natural hair is not as popular, that would be okay with me too. Because just like with any “trend” once a new one emerges, there are always some women who stick to the old one. There are women who still get “curls” and some who have worn an afro since the 70s. So even if it is a trend, the presence of natural hair will never fade completely away regardless of whether or not it is as popular as it is right now. And that, ladies, is a wonderful thing, trend or not.