For work today, I decided to do something a little different. Usually I just put my hair in a ponytail and call it a day, but honestly, that gets boring after a while. I decided to attempt the faux bob, a protective style that mimics a short bob. I learned it years ago from a member on a forum I belong to, but never did it. How do you get this look? Here's the step-by-step:

• 1. Moisturize the hair.
• 2. Hold the hair as if you were going to do a low ponytail and fold the ends under.
• 3. Secure with a bobby pin.

This look is easy to do and looks even better if you have layers. Try it today and let me know how it came out! Click the picture for a better view.

The woman you see in the picture is the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award! Dorothy Dandridge was a beautiful singer and actress. Her movie, Carmen Jones, grossed an estimated $750,000 back in the fifties. She died in 1965 due to a supposed drug overdose, but her role in putting African American actresses in the spotlight lives on.

Today is officially one of the busiest shopping days of the year! I won't be able to shop today since I have some family business to attend to, so I want to hear from you!

• What will (or did) you buy today?
• What was the total of the item(s)?
• How crazy did it get?

Make sure you're careful, I've seen people get trampled while trying to get into a store! And remember that Cyber Monday, the busiest online shopping day, is just three days away!

Twist Out 101

Dry Twist Out 101

Featured products: Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue and Miss Jessie's Curly Buttercreme

Product Name: Silk Elements Luxury Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner
Price Range: $4.99-$7.99 (Liter size)
Company: Silk Elements
Catch Phrase: Silk Elements Luxury Moisturizing Shampoo is a rich, creamy deep moisturizing formula that helps to rehydrate, repair and revive dry, damaged hair while gently cleansing. Perfect for hair that has been damaged by over-processing or bleaching. Also a great product to minimizing damaged caused by daily heat styling. Stop split ends and revive dry, brittle hair with essential oils and moisturizers. Silk Elements Luxury Moisturizing Conditioner will add shine, body and lots of moisture to thirsty tresses and fortify your hair with silk proteins. For a silky, smooth shine, Luxury Moisturizing Conditioner is the perfect conditioning treatment.

What I Say: As I've said before in previous product reviews, shampoos don't agree with my hair. BUT this one did! I was so surprised at how my hair felt after just using the shampoo. No dry, stripped feeling at all. I then used the conditioner. WOW. I left it on for about five minutes, rinsed, and instantly felt a difference. I didn't even have to detangle with a comb; my fingers were good enough.

Product Tip: Follow with their heat protectant spray. It's really good!
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (5/5)

Rihanna at the American Music Awards.

Breakage was the top selection in last month's poll, so why not talk about it first? I will discuss all the causes of breakage, the effects of it, and how to possibly curb it. Enjoy!

What Causes It?
Breakage is caused by a weakened hair structure. Basically, when your hair strands are weak, they break. What weakens your hair structure is a different story. Weakened hair structure is caused by:

• Excessive heat usage
• Excessive combing/brushing
• Excessive use of chemicals
• The Elements (UV rays, wind, sea water, etc.)
• Lack of moisture
• Lack of protein
• Worn/aged hair
  

What Are The Effects?
Now that you know what the causes are, let's dig a little bit into the effects. A weakened hair structure can cause a multitude of problems. Here are some common effects of a weakened hair structure:

• Split Ends
• Split Hair
• Dry/brittle hair
• Scab hair
  

Any Possible Treatments, Belle?
We've discussed the causes and effects, now on to the treatments. A weakened hair structure can be treated by any of the following:

• Light reconstructor (can be used every three to four weeks)
• Heavy protein treatment (use every 2-3 months or as needed and follow with a moisturizing conditioner!)
• Moisturizing treatment (use once a week)
• Seamless combs
• Keeping brushing to a minimum
• Keeping heat usage to a minimum
• Protecting the hair at night with a satin/silk scarf
• Moisturizing at least three times a week
• Applying a layer of oil before shampooing or relaxing
  

That's pretty much it! I do hope this helps someone. The best piece of advice I can give is to keep your regimen simple. Washing once or twice a week should be enough. And one last thing, a little breakage is normal. Remember that the hair becomes old and breaks off in time.

A great video tutorial on doing pin curls and bantu knots. See more videos like this at The Coarse Hair Diaries.

I usually try to post everyday, but my thoughts have been pretty much static. I need some time to grieve over a death, so I'll be back tomorrow afternoon. Thank you to all who read this blog!

20-year-old Dominican model, Arlenis Sosa, in the upcoming December issue of Vogue.

Simplicity. Keeping your regimen as simple as possible can help you grow your hair to its longest lengths. I know that some readers are reading through some of the old blog posts and have become overwhelmed by different products but it's true... A simple regimen can yield great results.

An example of a simple regimen would be shampooing with a moisturizing shampoo, conditioning with a moisturizing conditioner, and deep conditioning with a moisturizing conditioner weekly (and a light reconstructor/moisturizing conditioner mix bi-weekly or as needed). As I said before, it's only an example.

If you're just starting out, it could be a great regimen and you can modify it along the way. Oh, by the way, daily moisturizing isn't a must. You should know when your hair needs to be moisturized.

Also, a good diet of protein and vitamins wouldn't hurt. As I mentioned earlier this month, protein shakes are great for hair since hair is dead protein.

Malinda Williams at the 6th Annual New Yorkers For Children Wrap to Rap Event at Empire.

Shedding
41 (16%)

Breakage
77 (31%)

Split Ends
26 (10%)

Split Hair (Middle)
14 (5%)

Length Retention
58 (23%)

Taming New Growth
15 (6%)

Other
15 (6%)

TOTAL VOTES: 246

As you know, we have monthly polls here at TCHD and these are the results from the recent poll. We asked, "What's your number one hair issue?" and this is what you guys chose. Later on this week, you will see posts on each topic. So, stay tuned!

The team at Miss Jessie’s (www.missjessies.com) would like to give a big THANK YOU to all of its loyal clientele by offering its annual “buy one get one free” BOGO promotion! Buy any Miss Jessie’s product and get one of equal or lesser value on the house! This deal is valid from November 21st-December 31st and can be redeemed at www.missjessies.com.

Whether you decide to keep both products for yourself or gift one to a curly haired friend, you can never have too much Miss Jessie’s! Be sure to try out the newest additions to the Miss Jessie’s line as well as treat yourself to the favorite classics!

Even though your hair might be healthy, uneven ends can cause stress and even tangling! Why? The hair tends to "catch" on itself because of the various lengths. Longer strands will take the biggest hits. A blunt cut can help tremendously since the hair is one length. Less stress, tangles, and more uniform hair growth.

Spending a day at the salon can leave your hair looking amazing, but can have you wondering, “Where can I get the flat iron she used?”

The Process

Straightening your hair is a very easy process. Simply put, all you need to do is slide the heated plates from root to tip until hair is sleek and shiny. In more technological terms, what is really happening is that the heat is breaking down the hydrogen bonds in your hair, which cause curl. Once you get the hair wet again, they re-form. You can turn curly hair straight and make straight hair even straighter. Check out some of Misikko's styling videos to make sure you are doing the process right!

Straighten like the Pros

Now that you’ve learned how the process works, the next step is to figure out which straightener to purchase. Salons obviously know which products to pick. They only use the best products and appliances on their clients. When choosing one to buy for home use, professional flat irons are the way to go. Salon quality may mean shelling out a little more money, but it will show in your final hairstyle. Read on and we’ll help you learn about some of the best flat irons the professionals use so that you never need to stress about a bad hair day again.

What to Buy

One of the most well known lines of hair appliances is the CHI brand. The CHI hair straightener and their other products are so popular because of the technology that they use. The name evokes this as well – Catonic Hydration Interlink. Their straighteners use Far Infra Red, which heats the hair from the inside out and penetrates deeper for better results. CHI has a wide variety of flat irons to choose from. They have ceramic irons to provide the most consistent heat, ionic irons to seal in moisture, and far infrared irons to reduce static and frizz. These are all offered in a variety of sizes as well.

The BaByliss flat iron is another great choice to smooth out your unruly locks. Their straighteners have advanced ceramics for a high-shine finish and easy to read temperature lights so that you can achieve your desired settings in a flash. They are also working on a more curved design for easier straightening and curling. Their Pro Micro Straightener is a great option for short hair. Their half-inch ceramic plates get close to the root.

British company GHD is another brand with a great reputation for hair products. The GHD flat iron is offered in a variety of styles to match specific types of hair. Try the IV Mini Styler for shorter hair or the IV Salon Styler for thicker hair. You can also choose one of their options such as the IV Styler, which is great for all styles of hair. Choose the right one for you and start styling. One of the best features of this brand is that their appliances come with a “sleep mode”. You’ll never have to feel that pang of worry if you forget to turn off your straightener because they automatically turn off after 30 minutes if left unattended. The bonus with buying GHD flat irons is that you receive complimentary hair products with your purchase.

Another option that professionals use is the Magic Ionic flat iron. Their hair appliances have technology that works to rebuild, strengthen and protect hair from the elements. With their Ping, MegaTouch and Miracle Digital Iron lines, you have a vast selection of flat irons to choose from. As well as being reliable, their look is also attractive. Their CRYSTAL Digital Iron even has jewels built in to add a little extra sparkle.

Frizzy hair getting you down? The MAXIglide flat iron is the perfect choice for unruly hair. Its detangling pins allow you to straighten and of course, detangle, all in one and leave hair shiny and smooth. Their MaxiGlide MP is a great option for normal hair and the MaxiGlide XP is perfect for more difficult hair. It has a built in Steam Burst System that allows a burst of steam to help smooth away the frizz.

Let's face it, tangles are a pain. Trying to remove them can be even worse! If not done correctly, removal of tangles can often lead to even more tangling and/or breakage. To properly remove tangles, gently massage the tangle in a up and down motion with your thumb and middle finger. When the tangle has become looser, carefully pull each strand up and out of the tangle. The key to this technique is to be very gentle. If you're too rough with your hair, the tangle will become tighter and this method most likely won't work.

The nape area is probably the most hardest to grow when it comes to growing healthier hair. The hair is finer than the rest of the hair, which means it's more susceptible to damage. Overprocessing, tight ponytails, tight scarves, "chemical run" from relaxers, and neutralizing improperly are the most common causes for nape damage.

01. Relax the nape every other relaxer OR every 4-6 months for better growth
02. Massage daily with Aloe vera juice (Aloe vera is said to heal damaged follicles)
03. Braid the area in horizontal braid weekly or every other week
04. Moisturize and seal nape separately every day
05. Make sure use an oil or petroleum/-latum on that area when relaxing

I honestly do hope this helps and feel free to post a comment if you have any questions about the nape area. By the way, Kinky-Curly has a great product called Transitioners Tonic with Aloe vera, MSM, and other helpful things to help repair damaged follicles which is primarily the reason for slower growth.

Hey, lovelies! My mother and I have always had a somewhat estranged relationship at times, but we've become a lot closer since her pregnancy. She's always asking what she should use in her hair, what temperature the flat iron should be, and even to wrap her hair. I could go on! Anyway, I always wanted to know from you...

• Do you help your mother (or mother figure) with her hair?
• Has her hair improved since you started helping?
  

My mother's hair has improved tenfold since I started helping her out. She actually started doing at-home relaxers instead of going to the salon.

The major advantage of lithium hydroxide (No-Lye No-Mix relaxers) over sodium or potassium hydroxide is that it is slightly less irritating to the scalp than sodium or potassium hydroxide.

However, lithium hydroxide is not as effective in straightening excessively curly hair and in order to achieve acceptable level of straightening, more lithium hydroxide has to be added to the cream relaxer formula.

-- Dr. Ali Syed on No-Lye No-Mix Relaxers

A still from Keri Hilson's upcoming video, "Turn Me On." Very funky.

Photo credit: The YBF

Previous Recipe: Sulfur Growth Aid, Cayenne Pepper Stimulant, The 2Bossay Growth Aid, Moe's Growth Oil, Moisturizing Spritz

Rosewater (or Rose Water) is renowned for its moisturizing properties and scent. It is also softening and soothing so naturally, it's good for your hair. Here is a recipe I found:

Homemade Rosewater

• Rose Petals
• Distilled Water
• Enamel Pot (any size)

Fill the bottom of an enamel pot with the rose petals a few inches deep. Pour distilled water over the petals until they are just covered. Turn on heat for the water to be steaming hot, but do not boil. Let the water steam until the petals have lost their color, the water has taken on the color of the rose petals and you see rose oil skimming the surface. This will take approximately 60 minutes. Strain the water and squeeze out the liquid from the rose petals, this is your rosewater.

If you didn't know or forgot, the hair is dead protein. The body releases protein this way, so make sure to add more protein to your diet. GNC has great protein shakes!

Pin curling or roller setting your coif is much less damaging than frequent heat styling and will allow you to wear your hair loose and free without a lot of manipulation and handling. Apply a quarter-size amount of Pantene Pro-V Smooth & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum throughout the hair to tame your locks.

To pin curl your hair, wrap your hair around your fingers (like a roller) and roll up the hair. Slide your fingers out and secure with a bobby pin.

As I've mentioned before, hard water can wreak havoc on the hair causing damage. Reduce damage by applying a layer of natural oil to the hair before shampooing. This will keep the detergents from the shampoo and the hard water from stripping the hair as much. Try using an oil like Coconut, Jojoba, or even Castor. Hot Six Oil is what I'm currently using.

Product Name: Elasta QP DPR-11 Conditioner
Price Range: $2.99-$3.99
Company: Elasta QP (http://elastaqp.com/)
Catch Phrase: Contains 11 conditioning botanicals including Peach Blossom Oil and Vitamin E. Penetrates inner hair fibers to surge nutrients to moisture depleted hair. Perfect hair repair treatment when combined with Elasta QP Protein Supplement.

What I Say: My hair was a little bit on the dry side so I decided today was the day I would try it out. I slapped on a huge dollop of it and put a plastic cap on to do a dry deep conditioning treatment. The conditioner is thicker than most conditioners, so I used a bit more of it than I do with other conditioners. After about twenty minutes, I started rinsing and could immediately feel the difference. My hair was soft, tangle-free, and shiny (due to the cold rinse). It smells good and does its job. Is it better than my precious Jane Carter Solution Nutrient Replenishing? Not necessarily, but it's a close second.

Product Tip: Follow with a cold rinse to seal in all that moisture!
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (5/5)

Color-treated hair and sulfate-based shampoos don't mix! Shampoos high in sulfates can actually strip the color right out of your hair and eventually cause damage. So, be careful with that chelating shampoo!

Sanaa Lathan at an event in West Hollywood earlier this week.

WE CHOSE A WINNER! CONGRATS TABITHA!

The Coarse Hair Diary's "TCHD Gives Back To YOU" Contest is officially over. Congratulations to Tabitha. She was chosen at random with the correct answer to the following questions:

Giveaway Question
A. What should you ALWAYS do before using a heated appliance?

Always use a heat protectant.

B. Why?

The humidity resistant sprays help prevent damage from heat.

Product Features:
1. Ultra hard, mirror smooth titanium plate surfaces
2. Negative Ions and Infrared Heat (removes static) for Silky Shiny Hair.
3. Ion field technology (seals in natural oils)
4. Micro-porous technology (locks in moisture)
5. Won't damage hair like other straighteners.
6. Straight-Curl-Flip-Style
7. Unparalleled Infrared heat for deep, long lasting straightness.
8. Micro Chip Temperature Control Infrared Heat, Flash Quick Heating.
9. Variable temperature settings for all hair types. The maximum temperature is 200°C (410°F), and the minimum temperature is 80°C (176°F).
10. Tangle-free 3 meter, 360° swivel cord.

Edges slowly receding? Shedding becoming more excessive? These herbs and supplements might be the key to your hair loss issues!

Saw Palmetto
It is believed that it may block an enzyme (5-alpha-reductase) from allowing testosterone from being converted to another hormone, dihydrotestosterone (or DHT).

Garlic Supplement
Although I never spoke about this before, garlic supplements are very good for those of us that shed a little more hair than most. And yes, you can buy odorless garlic pills.

Iron
As a person with anemia, I cannot stress enough the importance of taking iron daily. Low iron levels can lead to an increase in shedding which can result in thinner hair.

Onion Juice
There have been numerous studies that have proven that onion juice helps hair regrow. How is this possible? Onion juice has a high sulfuric acid content and as we all know, sulfur helps tremendously in hair regrowth.

I will add more later on in the day. I need to catch up on some Z's for the time being.

In my last product review, I reviewed The Jane Carter Solution Travel Kit. If you read the review, you would've seen my thoughts on the Nourish & Shine. My thoughts still stand. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT! It works great as a sealant and the smell-- WOW! It smells great and it's all natural, baby. It's a little bit pricey ($22 for a 4 ounce jar), but I don't mind. This product is definitely worth a try. In case you're wondering what the heck is in it, here are the ingredients as listed by the company: Shea butter, Kokum butter, Illippe butter, Mango butter, Vitamins A, D, & E, pear and grapefruit essential oils. Check out the official website at http://www.janecartersolution.com for more info on their products!

Towels can actually cause split ends! How? By towel drying of course. Towel drying the hair causes a lot of friction which can lead to split ends. Make sure that you only blot excess water out. The hair will dry just fine without towel drying. If need be, use a t-shirt or microfiber towel to blot the water out. Both absorb more water, lessening drying time.

Gabrielle Union at a gospel soul celebration at Jubilee Christian Church.

Photo credit: The YBF

Looking for a conditioner/moisturizer with great detangling abilities?

Behentrimonium Methosulfate is renowned for its superior detangling ability. It is an exceptionally mild conditioning agent, detangler, and hair thickener all in one without causing build-up on the hair. It is more effective and more mild than it's commonly used cheaper cousin, behentrimonium chloride. Don't be alarmed, Behentrimonium Methosulfate is not a sulfate.

Here are a few products that contain this detangling ingredient:

Silk Elements MegaSilk Moisturizing Treatment
Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner (both Behentrimonium Chloride & Methosulfate)
Wave Nouveau Finishing Lotion
Miss Key 10 in 1 Super Conditioner
Silken Child Deep Conditioning Treatment
Elasta QP Mango Butter


♥ Sunshyne

Brought to you by: Hairlicious Inc.

Product Name: Jane Carter Solution "Come Fly With Me" Travel Kit
Price Range: $22.00
Company: The Jane Carter Solution (http://janecartersolution.com/)
Catch Phrase: The Travel Kit is all you need to take care of your hair when you hit the road for business or pleasure. You will find five of our best selling styling and hair care products in 2 ounce sizes in its own travel bag. The travel kit includes: Moisture Nourishing Shampoo, Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner, Revitalizing Leave In Conditioner, Condition & Sculpt, Wrap & Roll, and Nourish & Shine. It retails for $22. So, tell those agents at the gate "Ha Ha", you're not getting my products its the perfect size to carry on the plane.

What I Say: Out of the six products, I only used the shampoo, conditioner, leave-in, and hair butter. The conditioner is ASTOUNDING! My fingers glided through my hair without any effort. I think I might've found a new deep conditioner... Anyway, I spritzed the leave-in and air dried. After air drying, I flat ironed my hair and added some more leave-in. My hair was soft and tangle-free. I decided to use the hair butter (a.k.a Nourish & Shine) to seal my hair with and it was a great choice. My hair was soft, shiny, and smelled great! I haven't been this happy with a product line in a long time. However, the shampoo wasn't the greatest. But that's probably because I didn't clarify first. Either way, shampoos hardly ever agree with my hair.

Now, as for the other two, my mother used the Wrap & Roll and the Condition & Sculpt. Her hair looks bouncy and has a nice sheen right now. So, I'm pretty sure I won't be able to use them anytime soon.

Product Tip: Revitalizing Leave In Conditioner plus Nourish & Shine butter equals incredibly soft hair.
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (5/5)

Shampoos can be very drying sometimes which may lead to hair damage in the long run. Make sure when you buy your shampoo that you look for: gentle detergents (NO AMMONIUM SULFATES), antistatic agents (like Sodium PCA), and conditioning agents (like Silk Amino Acids). Do this and your hair will thank you.

I honestly can't get enough of the Obamas! I realized that very few people know that the Obama girls are all NATURAL! Yup, they get their hair straightened for important events, but when they are just relaxing and hanging out, it's back to luscious curls. Sasha and Malia... TCHD loves you! Click the images for a better view!

I am not a fan of petroleum. Matter of fact, I tend to stray from products that include it. But some of my favorites products have Mineral oil or petroleum in it. For example, KeraCare Humecto and ApHogee Keratin Two Minute Reconstructor both have Mineral oil. So that lead me to wondering...

Is Petroleum/Mineral oil based products THAT bad?

I decided to go to an expert. Not just any expert, the president of Avlon (KeraCare, Affirm, Fiberguard, MoisturColor, and Ferm), Dr. Ali Syed! Here is what the doc had to say to my question:

Belle Cheveux,

In my opinion, Petrolatum/vaseline forms an occulsive layer on the surface of the hair or skin. This layer is not impermeable. Moisture can still get in and out to a certain degree.

Also the layer of petrolatum keeps vanishing with the wear and tear of the everyday living style.

For example, this layer of petrolatum will rub off with our pillow covers, etc.

Petrolatum in my opinion is good to use in weathers such as winter when we have lots of dry heat indoor and our body (skin and scalp) needs the moisturization. Petrolatum is able to keep the skin, scalp and hair supple and soft.

Petrolatum cannot clog the pores as it is completely washable with shampoo detergents.

I was satisfied with my answer. But I must asked, what do you think about it? Do you think these ingredients are that bad if you know how to take care of your hair?

With far more than the 270 electoral votes needed, Barack Obama has become the FIRST African American to be elected as President. In January 2009, he will become the 44th President. It's been a long coming, but we knew... Change would come. Not only will we have an African American for President, but we will also have an African American woman as First Lady. She is the epitome of class and elegance. I am loving her right now, so here are some photos of the future First Lady:

Angelina Jolie may not have coarse hair, but her hair is FABULOUS! She's featured in the December 2008 issue of Harper's Bazaar U.K. I've become a big fan of hers ever since she became focused on helping the world. She's honestly a beautiful woman with a big heart.

Scab Hair is the hair directly underneath the scalp that has been affected by the harsh chemicals. Even though the hair is new growth, it isn't "trained" to behave in it's natural state. The hair is still sort of straight, very dry and brittle. It usually takes somewhere around 6 months to completely grow out. Not everyone experiences scab hair. The longer a person was relaxed, the more likely they will be affected. (MotownGirl.com)

Now that you know what it is, let's talk solutions. The best thing you can do to resolve the issue is to use Aloe vera. Aloe vera is very soothing and can penetrate the scalp to heal the follicle, thereby minimizing and preventing scab hair. You can also use rosewater on your scalp. Rosewater is packed with moisturizing properties that also have soothing effects on the scalp.

Follicle shape plays a big role in determining the hair's texture. As new hair grows in through a damaged follicle the result can be dry, rough hair also known as scab hair.

We all desire longer, stronger, and healthier hair. But how many of us actually get to the hair length we desire? I will give you the best tips I can to help you on your hair journey.

Get a hair cut!
If you're new to the hair care game, I suggest getting a trim to clip off those damaged ends so that you can have a fresh start. Holding on to hair with split ends is just asking for trouble!

Shampoo once (or twice) a week.
It is essential that you shampoo at least once a week with a moisturizing shampoo. Shampooing less can actually make the hair drier and more prone to breakage.

Condition your hair.
After shampooing, it's important to put some moisture back in those tresses.

Deep condition after EVERY wash!
No matter your hair type, deep conditioning is a MUST! No ifs, ands, or buts. If possible, always do so with a plastic cap and under a dryer for 15-20 minutes. Why? This allows the deep conditioner to penetrate the inner layers of the hair strand. If you rather not sit under a dryer, you can DC without heat for 45-60 minutes or overnight. You can use either a moisturizing conditioner or moisturizing and protein conditioner mixed together.

Always use a leave-in.
Doing so will reduce breakage, moisturize the hair, and of course reduce tangles. Another thing, if you air dry, it helps a bunch!

Reduce heat usage.
Excessive use of heat causes damage. Plain and simple. But if you MUST use heat, keep it to a minimum. Once a month should suffice. Also, make sure your hot tools are ionic! And always, always, always USE A HEAT PROTECTANT!

Clarify/chelate once a month.
Products buildup on the hair after a while so these special types of shampoos eliminate the residue which means your products will in turn keep working. Unlike clarifying shampoos which only rid the hair of surface buildup, chelating shampoos go deeper and remove nearly ALL the buildup.

Use a Reconstructor once a month.
Reconstructors are designed to temporarily fill in the gaps in the hair shaft. They also realign and seal the cuticle while restoring elasticity to the hair.

Detangle the RIGHT way.
From ends to roots. Make sure you do so in sections to minimize breakage. And make sure you use a wide-toothed comb only.

Moisturize AND seal daily or every other day.
Moisturizing the hair keeps it nice and soft which means more manageable hair. Sealing, which is just rubbing a little bit of natural oil (Coconut, Jojoba, or Olive) on the hair after moisturizing, keeps the moisture in place.

Massage your scalp DAILY!
I can't stress the importance of scalp massages. Scalp massaging increases the hair growth by 5%. When you massage your scalp, you're allowing blood to flow to the scalp which promotes hair growth.

Keep your hair protected at night.
Before bed, make sure you tie your up with a SATIN OR SILK scarf. Cotton scarves suck the moisture right out of your hair.

Wear protective styles!
This isn't mandatory, but it does help. Keeping your up and away from your clothes keeps your hair from rubbing against them, which means less breakage. You can rock ponytails, buns, braids, sew-ins, etc.

Avoid hair things that DAMAGE your hair.
Fine-toothed combs, ponytail holders with metal bands, rubberbands, the list goes on. Just stick with a wide-toothed comb and metal-free ponytail holders.

Relax only YOUR NEW GROWTH.
Do not for any reason relax your whole hair (unless it's a virgin relaxer). Make sure you also keep your already processed hair protected with petroleum jelly or a natural oil.

Take your vitamins.
If your diet isn't so healthy, I recommend you take vitamins like Iron, B-complex, Biotin, or MSM. These vitamins are great for hair growth. You can always buy a multivitamin or a supplement designed for hair.

Drink WATER!
Make sure you drink at least 48-64 ounces worth of water daily. By doing so, you are removing toxins from your body which means healthier hair AND scalp. Not to mention healthier skin all over.

Take pictures!
Keeping track of your hair allows you to see how much it has improved.

... I will keep adding more tips when I can.

The Knowles at an event in Tokyo, Japan.

Can't stand air drying your hair? Try using an ionic blow dryer! Instead of frying your hair, these specially designed blow dryers use the power of ions to cut down drying time, reduce frizz, and reduce damage. The following two are blow dryers that I found at Sally's. They're cheap, but just as good as the more expensive ones you see at salons.

GVP Pro Low EMF Turbo Hair Dryer ($69.99)

• Low EMF (Electric Magnetic Field)
• Infrared heat
• Negative ions break water molecules to dry hair faster
• Ceramic maintains even temperature
• Cold Shot Button
• 2 Speeds
• Quiet Speed Motor
• Ergonomically designed
• Lightweight
• Includes Diffuser & Concentrator

The GVP PRO Low EMF Profeesional Hair Dryer has ceramic, ionic technology to generate negative ions that dry your hair faster than a traditional hair dryer. Turbo power produces 1400 Watts of far infrared heat that gently dries hair from the inside out while reducing frizz and static electricity. Hair is dried faster and softer.

Hot Shot Tools Professional Hair Dryer ($59.99)

• 1875 Watts produces a powerful airflow
• Lightweight professional DC motor
• Lightweight - 14.47 ounces
• Variable ion dial adjust ionic output
• 2 speeds/4 heat settings
• Cool Shot to set the style
• Power boost for increased airflow
• Removable lint filter cleanse easily, preserves motor life
• hanging ring and cord guard
• 8 ft. power cord
• ProGuard ALCI safety plug
• One year warranty
• Includes: Finger Diffuser, Concentrator, Straigtening pik attachments

Create soft, shiny, beautiful hair with the new Hot Shot Tools Ionic Professional Hair Dryer. This newly designed and engineered hair dryer features a lightweight professional DC motor. 1875 watts of power produces a powerful airflow that provides super-quiet performance. A variable ion dial adjusts ionic output levels for all types and textures of hair. Direct Ion Technology with Tourmaline dries hair faster, increases your hair's softness and shine while helping to reduce frizz.

I was going out last night and was not feeling my hair at all. I decided to do the following with my hair:

01. Shampooed with Suave Daily Clarifying
02. Conditioned with ApHogee 2 Minute Reconstructor
03. Conditioned with SunSilk Anti-Poof Conditioner
04. Used SunSilk Captivating Curls De-Frizz as a leave-in
05. Spritzed hair with Wave Nouveau Finishing Lotion diluted with distilled water
06. Used Fantasia IC Heat Protector and dried hair hanging doing under a hair dryer.
07. Blow dried hair on medium heat.
08. Flat ironed hair with GVP Ceramic Flat Iron (only TWO passes w/ the iron!)

There you have it! Simple. By the way, the temperature for my iron wasn't too high. Matter of fact, it was in the middle. My hair looks so sleek and shiny right now; LOVE IT!