Hairstyles for women of color

Black Hairstyles
Black hairstyles have come a long way since hot irons and jerry curls.  Beautiful black men and women have plastered the covers of magazines with trendy, sleek and sophisticated natural black hairstyles.  From kinky curls, locks and braids to relaxed sleek and straight styles, (only to mention a few) the looks are limitless.  The versatility of black hair allows for a range of looks and styles to suit every one`s tastes.  With celebrities like Beyonce, Halle Berry, and Gabrielle Union setting the stage for trendy looks, access to the right products and tools is crucial in attaining the up-to-date black hair styles that are making heads turn.
As we all know, black hair can be very, very dry.  Having a great hydrating conditioner or lotion is key to giving your beautiful strands and that perfect black hairstyle, some tender loving care and shine.  Finding the perfect style for your age, face and lifestyle can work wonders, not only for your looks, but your social life as well.  Keep in mind your personal hair needs, your lifestyle demands and your expense account.  With the wide range of great black hair products available, there is little need to spend exorbitant amounts of money on your hair.  Although, there are ranges in product quality, choose what your hair needs, not what is the trend.
Needless to say, not all of us are blessed with natural black hair that makes us look like top models, but thanks to the popularity and affordability of wigs and weaves,

Women's Black Hairstyles
Not so far behind us, African American women were best known for having the tightest braids, neatest dreads or nicest weaves, but thanks to amazing hair products, one no longer has to do a double take and wonder if ‘her hair is real’.   For many black women, the question of what to do with their hair is common but today, some of the hippest, trendiest and most beautiful hair styles belong to those of women of color.   Black hair styles for women range from updos to letting the hair fall loosely in all its natural glory.  If ones hair is an extremely curly type 4, a picked out mini afro is neat, classy and timeless. African American hairstyles such as buns, ponytails, updo’s or anything else that puts a strain on the front or nape of the hairline should not be kept in the same style for more than 7 days.  Even a full head of thick hair can become thinned if pulled too tightly.  The more weaves, braids and cornrows one puts in her hair, the more damage will be caused.  A temporary style with a wig or weave is always a cute look but at the end of the day, one might want to sport natural black hairstyles instead and show they really love their roots.     

Mataining healthy hair while colored

Permanent hair colors are the harshest for hair, and pose the most potential health risk .Whenever possible, choose temporary, semi-permanent, demi-permanent, and natural dyes.

Glossary of Dye Types

• Permanent hair colors change the natural pigment found within your hair.
• Demi-permanent color enriches color, adds shine, and blends gray. With its lower levels of hydrogen peroxide and artificial color molecules, this service has less structural impact on your hair than permanent color, and it gradually fades over a period of four to six weeks.
• Semi-permanent color stains your hair shaft and covers gray but fades after six to eight shampoos.

Consider a natural color service or one that uses lower levels of hydrogen peroxide or developers, along with colors that have a lower dye lot.
 
Natural and Herbal Color Rinses
Certified organic henna and plant materials can also color your hair, but with a more gentle and natural approach, since they contain no synthetic chemicals, preservatives, or harsh oxidizing chemicals, such as ammonia. These pure vegetable products do not alter the structure or natural color of your hair and actually condition your hair while imparting color and sheen. No matter what you have heard, these products have come a long way.
You can create a wide variety of plant pigment color rinses yourself. These concoctions do not create radical hair color change, but instead accentuate your hair’s natural tone and shine. If your hair is less than 15 percent gray, some plants will disguise the gray. In these cases, the product actually stains your hair, although very subtly. Cumulative usage creates longer-lasting, slightly more intense results. You can repeat the application as often as desired, depending on the color level you prefer.
 
If You Do Color …
Remember this advice for keeping colored hair as healthy as possible:

• Protect and condition your hair and scalp regularly.
• Don’t stray far from your natural level and tone. Dramatic color changes require more upkeep, since outgrowth becomes very obvious very soon. (This also applies to texture services.)
• Follow your stylist’s recommendations for home-care regimen.
• Color-enhancing shampoos do work, helping you hold on to your desired color between salon or at-home color treatments, so do try them out.
• Be especially vigilant about protecting chemically treated and naturally colored hair from the sun.
• The less you chemically process your hair, the more healthy it remains

How To Maintain A healthy Curly Weave

1. Cleanse with a sulfate-free shampoo. Just like natural curly hair, curly weave hair tends to be dryer than other textures. To help minimize excessive dryness and damage caused by traditional shampoos, try a sulfate-free formula. Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are the ingredients responsible for creating lots of bubbles and lather, but they also strip the hair of essential oils and can cause damage to the follicle, shortening the lifespan of your weave. A gentle non-sulfate shampoo gets the hair clean while maintaining moisture levels.
2. Detangle gently. To keep your curly weave looking good for longer, regular detangling is necessary. Section the hair into three or four sections and clip it up. Focusing on one section at a time, gently comb the weave with a wide-tooth or shower comb. Start from the bottom and work your way up to the track. A leave-in conditioning detangler may help the comb glide through the weave easier.
3. Avoid blow drying. To prevent frizz and dryness, let your curly weave air dry naturally after washing or wetting. If this is not an option, invest in an ionic hair dryer with an attached diffuser. According to Naturally Curly, diffusers use heat to gently dry hair without the strong force of a typical blow dryer. "You get the benefits of diffused air along with ionic technology, which seals and smooths the cuticle. It helps prevent frizziness while maintaining the curl
4. Condition well. Curly hair tends to require more moisture, and curly weave is no exception to the rule. Keep your weave well hydrated by using thick, moisturizing conditioners every time you shampoo. For deeper hydration, apply a moisturizing hair mask or deep conditioner to the weave at least once a week. To boost absorption, sit under a warm dryer with a shower cap over the head, or wrap the hair in a warm, moist towel for 10 to 20 minutes.
5. Use a silicone product to contain frizz. products containing silicones help reduce friction from combing, reduce static electricity, soften the hair and improve curl retention. They also impart a glossy, healthy-looking sheen to the hair while preventing frizz. Once you've styled your curly weave, apply a small amount of a silicone serum or spray to help extend the style. Look for products containing dimethicone or cyclomethicone.

How To Shampoo Dreadlocks

How To Shampoo Dreadlocks

Shampooing your dreadlocks can take place in the shower if they are extremely long. You will need a few things however keep in mind that there are manufactorer that make wonderful shampoos just for dreadlocks.

• 2 towels
• deep cleansing shampoo
• moisturizing shampoo
• leave in conditioner
• antiseptic (seabreeze)
• Spray moisturizer
• pomade for palm-rolling

Shampoo Dreadlocks Instructions.

If there is a dandruff issue, gently scratch scalp to loosen scaly skin from scalp. Use dandruff shampoo on scalp after completely saturating hair with water and let it sit for 5-10 minute to treat scalp

1. Proceed to shampoo the dreadlocks with deep cleansing shampoo. You will be doing alot of squeezing and shampooing to thoroughly move shampoo thorough out the hair for 5-10 minutes. Depending on hair density.(thickness)
2. Rinse well.
3. Proceed to second shampoo with moisturising shampoo. Hair should really lather up this time and remove any left over dry skin, lint or, perspiration. While shampoo is in your hair pour in antiseptic and continue to shampoo. Let sit for 5-7 minutes to remove all odors and bacteria.
4. Rinse well. I know this feels good but rinse :) If you like use more after rinse and leave in.
5. Wrap hair with towels to absorb all moisture. Squeeze until all water is removed.
6. Use spray bottle for leave in conditioner if liquid form. Rub leave in cream forms in with hands.
7. Spray moisturizers onto hair to prevent excessive breakage and brittle hair.
8. Palm roll with favorite wax or pomade

PREVENTING DAMAGE

Preventing Damage

Damage to the hair is usually caused by heat (irons, blow drying, curlers, heat lamps, etc.), U.V. rays (Sun, lights, tanning beds), mechanical devices (combs, brushes, curling irons, etc.), chemicals (color, perms, relaxers, pool chemicals, the air, etc), or poor diet (specifically -lack of proteins and essential fatty acids).

Here are some ways to prevent or "help" prevent damage to your hair:

1) Use a thermal protector when using heat. 

2) Do not blow dry the hair completely dry. Leave a little moisture in.

3) Use a conditioner with U.V. protectors built in.

4) Use a low or no ammonia hair color.

5) Air oxidize perms instead of using the neutralizer.

6) Never brush wet or damp hair. Use a wide toothed comb.

7) On dry hair use a boars hair brush and start at the ends and work up.

8) Clarify your hair after you swim.

9) Blow dry on the "cool" setting.

10) Eat protein rich foods (chicken, fish, nuts) - Eat foods rich in essential fatty acids (not from animal sources [they contain cholesterol]-only from botanical sources)