1. A Healthy Hair Eating Plan Your hair is made completely from protein.

So you should eat a protein rich diet, full of B Vitamins and other hair-strengthening nutrients. Eat more fish. It has lot of healthy proteins and essential fatty acids and natural oils necessary for your hair. Besides, drink a protein supplement or shake daily. If you do this, not only will your hair become longer but youll also shed flab, but only if you avoid junk food. Given below is a mixture of essential oils, which would help hair growth and stop hair fall: 1. Thyme oil - 2 drops 2. Atlas cedar wood oil - 2 drops 3. Lavender oil -3 drops 4. Rosemary oil -3 drops 5. Jojoba oil - teaspoon 6. Grape seed oil - 3 teaspoons Add the above essential oils in a jar and mix it thoroughly. Apply the oil in your scalp and massage with your finger tips every night and cover your head with a warm towel for some minutes. The above remedy helps people with thinning hair and excessive hair fall as it promotes new hair growth. While washing your hair rub the scalp gently. Warning: If a person is suffering from high blood pressure, it is advised not to use rosemary oil. Vitamins are essential for proper hair growth. For healthy sebum in the scalp we require vitamin A. Graying and loss of hair is arrested with the intake of Vitamin B6 and B12. Keratin is produced by Biotin and hair follicles are kept healthy by inositol. Panthothenic acid and Para-amino benzoic acids are also beneficial. These vitamins are present in fruits such as lemon, pineapple and strawberry and in vegetables such as potato. Nowadays there are products containing the required vitamins and nutrients that can be applied externally like oils and shampoos; or there are tablets that can be taken internally to enhance hair growth. However oils and shampoos do not have a lasting effect. Tablets are more reliable. Maximum hair length is a combination of a couple of factors; the rate at which hair grows and the rate at which it falls out or breaks off. The rate at which hair grows is determined partly by genetics. Hair goes through various stages in its life cycle. If its breaking off as fast or faster than its growing, it will never get any longer. Hair breaking off is also

partially determined by genetics. The more brittle hair is, the more likely it is to break off. Even barring the hair breaking off, it will only reach a certain length. Once hair reaches a certain point in time (not length) in its life cycle, it is shed. There is a maximum length any person can grow his or hair to. That (theoretically) would be equal to the growth rate times the length of time in the growth part of the life cycle. The growth phase can be (on average) from 2-6 years. For example, if the growth rate were 6 inches per year and the growth part of the life cycle were 3 years, the maximum length your hair could possibly get to would be 18 inches. After the growth phase, the hair goes through a shorter transitional phase (a few weeks, then goes into a shedding or resting phase (also a few weeks). The hair is shed and the cycle begins again. To get your hair to its maximum length, you need to minimize breakage. This involves proper nutrition to make strong hair. And it requires proper maintenance so you dont weaken the hair after its been developed. And, you need to maximize the growth rate during the growth phase. Nutrition and products that help with scalp health can help you maximize the rate of growth. Shea Butter Oil- has the wonderful properties of Shea Butter, but in a much lighter, liquid form. We began our company selling nothing but Shea Butter products. That was before Shea Butter was as popular as it is now. Its still a key ingredient in many of our hair and skin care products.

Emu Oil- unbelievably good for scalp health. Improves circulation, reduces inflammation and has natural antiseptic properties. All help promote hair growth.

Jojoba Oil- the closest thing to natural sebum itself. Jojoba oil is technically a wax, not an oil. It can actually make oily skin less oily and dry skin more oily, In other words, it helps bring skin into balance. In the case of biracial hair care, we are generally seeking to add oil to the scalp.

Castor Oil- nice all natural plant oil that helps humectify (draw moisture to) the hair and scalp.

Sleeping Please remove tight bands from hair before sleeping. Using a satin pillowcase or a satin sleep cap will reduce friction with the pillow and help retain moisture in the hair. Cotton pillow cases against the hair can absorb moisture from the hair leaving it dry. Also, the friction (if you move a lot) can actually lead to breaking. Using a soft, smooth cap or a satin pillow case avoids these problems. 1. Use a moisturizing conditioner after every shampoo. 2. Keep your ends moisturized daily. 3. Avoid using heat for daily styling. 4. Never brush your hair. 5. Don't over-relax your hair. 6. Massage your scalp daily. 7. Deep condition at least once a month. 8. Trim your ends every 6-8 weeks. 9. Take a multi-vitamin with minerals daily. 10. Wrap your hair with a satin scarf or sleep on a satin pillow case. 11. Always wear a hat in the sun. 12. Exercise 30 minutes at least 3 times a week. 13. Eat ten raw almonds a day. 14. Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. 15. Eat fresh fruits and raw vegetables daily. 16. Never use rubber bands on your hair. 17. Wear your hair up whenever possible. 18. Avoid bleach, hair dyes with mettalic salts and henna. .

19. Don't relax and dye your hair on the same day. 20. Always use a protective oil before blow drying or pressing. 26. Wet set rather than blow dry hair. 27. Only use wide-tooth combs. HOT OIL HAIR TREATMENTS Most people are curious about the benefits of using essential oils as a part of routine hair care. The fact is that a good hair oil; Works as an excellent hair conditioner, giving you soft, shiny healthy hairs. Penetrates the hair shaft making the hair more flexible and silky. Also prevents split ends to some extent because mostly split ends are caused by dryness. Promotes hair growth A properly done oil treatment has stress relieving and health promoting effects. Read more on Hot Oil Treatments. Natural Hair Care Recipes Homemade Shampoos Egg Shampoo 1 whole egg 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar cup of plain water Mix all of these thoroughly with the help of a folk until the mixture is somewhat frothy. Wet your hairs, apply your homemade product and massage gently into your hair and scalp. Leave this for five minutes and than rinse well with warm water. This will give you gorgeous hair with long lasting shine and softness. Read more recipes on Natural Shampoos Homemade Conditioners Egg and Yogurt This is well known throughout the world and equally effective for all hair types. 1 Whole egg 1/2 cup fresh yogurt Fresh Juice of one lemon 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon essential oil of your choice like olive oil, coconut oil and so forth.

Mix these well in a bowl and apply on you hairs as well as scalp. Put a shower cap or simply wrap your hairs in a towel. Let it work for 30 minutes or if possible for one hour. Otherwise 30 minutes will be sufficient. Now rinse and shampoo and be ready for a silky shiny hair day. read more on natural hair conditioners according to your Hair Type. Hair Packs Avocado Pack Ingredients; 1 small jar of mayonnaise olive oil 1 tablespoon 1/2 avocado Peel and pit avocado. Take half avocado and mash well with mayonnaise and oil till it has a creamy consistency. Apply to your hairs and work through hairs to ends. Cover with a shower cap. You may use a warm towel if your hairs are really damaged. This will help in deep conditioning. Let your hair treated for 20 minutes. Be ready for shiny healthy hairs. Read more on Natural hair packs. Hair Rinses Apple cider vinegar is well known for it's role in acne and skin care. It is also important for it's use in natural hair care. Take about half cup of apple cider vinegar and mix well in about one quart of water. Use as a final rinse after routine shampoo. This will give bounce to hairs making them shiny and black. For more on Natural hair rinses. HAIR TIPS Start with your diet, increase the intake of fresh fruits and green vegetables, drink plenty of water and cut short spicy or junk foods. If hairs are in a really bad condition start taking some good multi vitamin for a month or two. You may find some spices to be good for hair. These include turmeric, black pepper and cumin. If you have not been using them, start now, but be careful an excess may be harmful for rest of your body. Always use good quality hair brushes and wide toothed combs. Bad hair brushes may damage hairs and promote split ends. Do not use hair brush on wet hair to de tangle them. Always use a wide tuuthed comb preferably of natural bruises in wet hairs. This will minimize the hair damage. Always brush your hair before going to bed. This is because hair grow more rapidly at nights tha day times. By brushing you increase the blood supply to scalp thus promoting growth process.

Cut short the use of styling products, blow dryer, hair dyes and so on. Their excessive use may damage the original shine of hairs Avoid stress, stress or anxiety may lead to hair loss. Always use a shampoo and conditioner according to your hair type. Avoid sleeping in hair accessories such as barrettes, scrunches, head bands, etc. This can lead to hair damage.

1. Drink Recommended Daily Amount Of Water Coffee, tea, sugar drinks or beer does not count in your daily water count. Water means exactly that - water. Carbonated and caffeinated drinks may actually speed up dehydration which means that the body is not functioning at optimal levels. Not only can dehydration make you feel drained and exhausted, it can be a hidden factor in hair growth stoppage, dry strands or tresses that break off. Adjust your daily levels according to the seasons of the year (hot weather may require more daily water consumption) and the amount of stress in your life. When pressed for exact formulas, most experts can not give a simple answer to how much water humans should drink every day. A general rule of thumb is for women to drink between 2 and 2.6 liters of water a day. For men the rule of thumb is 2.8 to 3.5 liters. There are many exceptions to this general rule of thumb which are tied back to age, lifestyle, weight and climate. In essence, experts advise that you replace all the water that you excrete every day. 2. Drink Green Tea As always, experts disagree with the merits of green tea and whether or not it does conclusively help hair health and encourage growth. Experts who believe in the hair health benefits of green tea point to the fact that certain compounds found in green tea cause the relaxation of blood vessels, helping overall cardiovascular activity through increased circulation. Of course increased circulation will naturally help nourish hair roots and scalp tissues. 3. Take A Brisk Walk Several Times A Week Experts have discovered that walking at a quick pace for just 15 minutes will help to raise your normal heart rate which improves circulation to your entire body, including to your scalp and hair follicles. It also helps shake out the cobwebs and aids in a feeling of alertness and energy. The ideal time to take a walk is about one hour after a meal. This allows your body to digest and puts less overall strain on your system. Of course it is important to always consult with your personal physician before beginning any new exercise routine that would be strenuous in any way.

It is also best to avoid walking at the hottest times of the day. And yes, don't forget your sunscreen, regardless of the time of year that you walk, which is why many people have become devoted mall walkers. 4. Get Enough Sleep Many people are sleep deprived. As a result of daily stresses and strains studies have found that humans are getting less and less sleep. For the body to function at optimal capability, which includes having the necessary energy to nourish and grow hair, humans need enough sleep. Unfortunately there is no pat answer for how much sleep is enough. Again, it depends on the individual. Most sleep experts recommend an average of 6-8 hours for active adults. Depending on age, health conditions and other factors you may need more than 8 or be able to survive on a little less. As a result of more sleep deprived people, cat naps are becoming more popular. A great way to get a daily energy boost is to schedule a 20 minute cat nap. Be sure not to sleep longer than 20 minutes though or else you will more tired than before you napped. Studies have shown that 20 minutes is the very best amount of time for getting maximum benefit. So set an alarm for exactly 20 minutes and catch some mid-day Zzzs. 5. Eat Energy Snacks When hunger hits between meals, eat to nourish your hair roots. Reach for one handful of unsalted natural cashews or a few almonds. Almonds are loaded with magnesium which is an essential mineral for growing healthy strands. Other good hair healthy snacks include yogurt, hard boiled eggs and tofu which all have great nutrients to help hair grow. 6. Indulge In Daily Aromatherapy Many studies have been done on the effects of aromatherapy when used in daily or regular scalp massages for both healthy hair and scalp as well as overall health. Studies have found that there is a direct link between the use of aromatherapy and hair growth. A study performed by the Archives of Dermatology in 1998 by Scottish researchers found that aromatherapy can promote new hair growth. Patients who massaged various aromatherapy oils on their scalps every day enjoyed significant and measurable improvement in their hair growth. 7. Laughter Is The Best Medicine Attitude is everything. Studies have shown that chronic negative moods can impact the human body and cause all human systems to slow down or become sluggish. This includes the circulatory system which feeds the roots of the hair, helping it to grow and remain properly nourished. When life gets you down rent a funny movie or read a humorous book. Take a break and have some fun to light your mood.

8. Eat Power Foods Extreme diets that eliminate major food groups can be detrimental to healthy hair and can actually cause a slow down in new hair production. Diets that are too low in calories or completely eliminate either proteins or carbs can stimulate a form of alopecia that causes hair loss. Always eat a balanced food plan that incorporates healthy amounts of proteins and carbs. Don't forget to take either your daily vitamins or your hair growth vitamins like HairTopia vitamins. I have seen positive results from incorporating vitamins daily. Not only with my hair, but my overall health. I take MSM, Skin-Hair-Nail vitamins, Flaxseed, Biotin, vitamin C and Fish Oil Concentrate, vitamin B5. One would have to eat an abundance of food to gain the necessary daily requirement. Especially now, most everything is fertilized. I make my own. I take a daily multi, biotin,msm,vit c, flaxseed oil, fish oil, b-complex cod liver oil. I plan to add a daily protien shake. Grow hair grow. I would recommend that you try Mikal Clay Products and the hair vitamin called Vitastrand. This vitamin actually does work. You would take two vitamins before you go to bed. These vitamins are good for your hair, skin, and nails. You definitely get all the nutrients that your hair, skin, and nails need that you may not be getting from what you eat. There is nothing that you can put on your hair to make it grow. Hair growth has to start from the inside and Vitastrand is a great start. Mikal Clay has a whole line of products that consist of an excellent shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, moisturizer, and scalp stimulant. He also has a protector shine spray that adds shine and also protects against heat and sun damage. The vitamin definitely works. I have been taking it for almost two years and my hair is longer and healthier. The products can be found at http://www.mikalclay.com/. Just check it out. Daily I try to take:
o o o o o

Hair, Skin, & Nails (twice) Multi-Vitamin (twice) Fish Oil (twice) Calcium (once) Vitamin C [Ester C] (twice, if not more)

Natural ingrediants such as plant oils are a blessing to our hair. Plant oils contain beneficial nutrients found in the fruit. Another benefit of plant oils is the added shine and managebility of your hair immediatly after use. Oils such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, and almond oil are just some in a long list of plant oils that work well with relaxed hair. Most products on the market contain these ingrediants, but along with the plant oils, most commercial products also contain other additives which may end up causing build up. Build up promotes dryness, breakage, and other undesirable side effects. I recommend that you invest in purchasing plant oils in pure form (no other ingrediants added) and making the oils a staple in your routine. I'll share the ways you can use these oils in the most beneficial manner later on in this web page.

Healthy hair can not be achieved if you do not have health eminating from within. Think of your personal health as the foundation necessary to create healthy hair. Without a strong foundation, your hair will lack the strenght and health it needs to help withstand the damaging process of relaxing. Hair that does not get enough of what it needs nutrionally has an unfair advantage and will not fair well to destructive actions such as blow drying and flat ironing. In your quest for healthy hair, you must start with your nutrition. Ample amounts of water, fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean meats must make up the majority of what you consume. The more of these you add to your diet, the less room you have to supply your diet with junk foods which add no value to the health of your hair. Along with healthier eating habits, you should include nutritional supplements in your daily habits.

Your hair will benefit from practically all additional sources of nutrition. Supplements such as fish oil, biotin, a good B vitamin complex, and super green foods such as spirulina are excellent support for healthy hair. Consistently taking a nutriotional supplement will positively impact you hair's strength as it grows in from the scalp. Remember that just the simple act of relaxing alone is turture on your hair. You must first start with hair that is as healthy as possible if you want to give your hair a fighting chance against the damaging effects of relaxing.

Maintanance The way you care for your hair will either make or break your chances of having a healthy head of hair. You must think of your hair care routine as extremely critical and must be scrutinezed carefully. Your goal should be to eliminate any harmful activities and or products from your hair routine and replace them with beneficial, health and growth promoting ones. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of restoring the health of relaxed hair is the miminal use of heat. Heat is usually a staple in the routine of women who prefer to wear their hair in straight styles. Continous use of heat when styling is a short term fix which will produce long term problems. Relaxed hair is no match for the constant use of curling irons, blow dryers, and flat irons. Drying is one of the most obvious outcomes of using heat as a primary styling tool. Breakage is only to be expected when the hair is dry and brittle from excessive heat styling. So what are your alternatives to using direct heat? Rollerseting is a popular alternative to curing the hair with direct heat. When you rollerset, you have the ability to include healthy leave in products to the hair before drying. You can also select the level of heat you choose to submit your hair to during the process. You can air dry (no heat) or you can sit under a dryer under the highest setting and pretty much still get the same results. Actually the no heat/low heat/cool air results are healthier than the highest setting but both are preferred over putting a hot piece of metal directly to the hair shaft. Think about the amount of damage it causes when heat is used on the hair consistently. Relaxers Women who relax often tend to undergo the chemical process at the first sign of new growth. This action is extremely harmful to the health of both the hair and scalp. Relaxing the hair every 4-6 six, is a sure way to overprocess the hair by overlapping the chemical on hair that has previously been relaxed. Your hair and scalp will surely benefit if you are able to stretch the amount of time between relaxers. Try relaxing every two, three, four months or longer if you are able. As you do, you allow an ample amount of time for the new growth to appear. That hair will be stronger and healthier than the rest of the hair because it has yet to undergo the chemical process. If you allow at least an inch of hair to grow before you relax, you are minimizing the chance of having the relaxer cover the same area twice. Every time you relax, you will be sure to only relax the virgin hair. The result will be naturally stronger hair than if you were to overlap the relaxer. Another key piece of advice would be to avoid purchasing box relaxers commonly found in your local drugstore. These relaxers are extremely harsh on the scalp and contain ingrediants that tend to dry out the hair. I remember buying a "box" relaxer years ago when the cashier told me about the damage it is doing to my hair. She recommended instead that I use a professional relaxer. I researched her allegations and was converted to spending a little more for salon quality relaxers. Back then, I had to search far and wide to find such relaxers at retail locations, now one can easily find professional relaxers on sale at various websites online. Some beauty supply stores carry professional products tucked

away from the other product lines usually where someone has to hand it to you personally. Stretching your relaxer will not be easy especially if you are not proned to going any longer than 6 weeks between relaxers. You must go into the process by remembering that the longer you go without a relaxer, the better the health of your hair will be. Keep this in mind when you are tempted to relax at the first sign of new growth. During the stretching phase, you will have to get creative with your hair. At times the new growth will be so evident that you won't be able to easily wear your hair straight as you normally do. It is then that you sport styles such as braids, or braid outs (wearing your hair wavy by braiding overnight and wearing loose the next day). Flexi rods are also a great help when you are battling new growth. Flexi rods are excellent curing tools because they require no heat and can be used to create curls that are tightly coiled or loose soft waves. Best of all, when you are wearing beautiful curls, no one is focusing on your new growth. Most of all, avoid the urge to use heat as a tool to combat your new growth. You will not do your hair any favors if you institute the direct heat of a flat iron during your last few weeks of stretching. The Science of Healthy Hair Your hair care routine should be scientific with regards to the steps. Instead of looking at your entire routine in a holistic way, you should instead seek to break down each step and scrutinize your results along the way. Perhaps your hair problems occur while you shampoo. Does your hair end up tangled after the wash thereby ruining the rest of your routine? Is your conditioner the right fit for your hair's needs? Are you using too much protein when your hair is thirsting for additional moisture? These and other questions are best answered when you begin to scrutinize every step of the process. As with any undertaking, you should establish your intended result for every aspect of your hair care routine. If your results are not realized as expected, ask yourself where you can improve next time. Keep working on that step with complete focus until you are comfortable with your results. Then you move onto the next step and perfect that one as well. Only washing hair every 2 weeks Washing the hair every two weeks is not enough and dirty hair can become damaged hair. Your hair needs to be exposed to water more often and conditioned often. Waiting every 2 weeks causes the hair to become dirty and dry and the scalp becomes itchy. You should wash your hair at least once a week as a minimum. I usually wash my hair every 3 or 4 days, but I never push it passed a week before washing and conditioning it. Water is moisture and our hair thrives on that. Sleeping without a satin bonnet or scarf Sleeping without the use of a satin scarf or bonnet is damaging to your hair because the hair becomes tangled and the cotton sheets and pillow case you sleep on absorbs the moisture from your hair causing it to be dry and making the hair prone to breakage. Always sleep with a satin bonnet or scarf or purchase a satin pillow case.

How to Grow Long Hair Below is your basic guide to growing longer stronger hair. Following this procedure will allow you to grow up to 6 inches of hair in 12 months. Just think, 6 inches of longer, stronger, beautiful hair in 1 year! My hair growing formula will help you achieve whatever length you desire. Whether its 12 inches or 24 inches of hair you can achieve this easily with patience and persistence.

Step One: Shampooing Step Two: Conditioning Step Three: Moisturizing Step Four: Relaxing Step Five: Maintaining your mane

Step One: Shampooing Selecting A Shampoo When selecting a shampoo look for one that is made for dry, damaged, chemically treated hair. The shampoo should not be a "conditioning" shampoo either because the added conditioner will lessen the cleansing effect. The shampoo shouldn't lather up a lot either because shampoos with this much soap are very harsh. There are some recommendations for shampoos to try on the Product Guide page. Shampooing Relaxed Hair When shampooing the hair wet the hair completely as if you were rinsing it out. Next apply the shampoo and gentle massage the scalp with your finger tips for about 3-5 minutes. Rub the shampoo gentle through your hair and rinse all traces of shampoo. One lathering should be sufficient unless you had major buildup which in this case you can shampoo twice. Do not wash your hair until it is "squeaky" clean because this will strip the oil from your hair and make it dry and brittle. Step Two: Conditioning Choosing a Conditioner When selecting a conditioner you should choose one that contains protein to help repair and strengthen hair, oil to help soften, lubricate and seal in moisture, and a stimulate such as tea tree oil that will stimulate the scalp. There are some great recommendations for conditioners located on the Product Guide page. Weekly Conditioning After you have shampooed your hair and rinsed it apply an ample amount of conditioner to your hair from root to tip paying close attention to your ends. Place a plastic cap over your hair and sit under a warm dome dryer for a minimum of 20 minutes to allow the conditioner to penetrate the hair shaft. Next rinse the hair until it is free from all traces of conditioner with lukewarm water. Then towel blot the hair gently.

Back to Top Step Three: Moisturizing Choosing a Moisturizer A good moisturizer should not contain protein because although protein is good for your hair it will dry your hair out and cause breakage when left in the hair. The moisturizer should contain a humecant such as glycerin or sobitol which helps attract moisture to our already dry hair. The moisturizers first ingredient should be water and it should also contain some type of oil to seal in the moisture. DO NOT use a moisturizer that contains mineral oil, petroleum, or parafinium liquidum!This ingredient actually inhibits the absorption of moisture in our hair. There a some great recommendations for a moisturizer located on the Product Guide page. Moisturizing After a Shampoo After conditioning your hair and towel blotting it apply the moisturizer to your hair while the hair is still damp paying close attention the ends. Comb the moisturizer through your hair with a wide tooth comb for even distribution. Moisturizing Daily Daily moisturizing is essential for optimum hair growth. Our hair is naturally dry so to prevent hair breakage moisture must be constantly applied. You should moisturize your hair daily paying close attention to your hair ends. DO NOT apply the moisturizer to your scalp because the scalp does not need to be moisturized or oiled. Your scalp produces enough natural oil(sebum) which is sufficient. Your hair needs the moisture not your scalp. Moisturize your hair at least twice a day. Back to Top Step Four: Relaxing Choosing a Relaxer There are thousands of relaxers on the market today for African American women to choose from. I recommend that you use a no-lye relaxer, but there are only two no-lye relaxers on the market that I will recommend. Both of these relaxers are listed on the Product Guide page. Relaxing the Hair If you do not know how to relax your hair I strongly advise for you to seek out a trained hair stylist to relax your hair properly. Make sure she uses a neutralizing shampoo immediately after relaxer and then conditions your hair for 20-30 minutes. Do not let the hair stylist clip your ends or dry your hair with a blow dryer. If she/he does anything that you don't agree with SPEAK UP! It's your hair and it's your job to protect it.

If you relax your own hair be sure to follow the instructions exactly and avoid overlapping of the relaxer on your hair. It is difficult to relax the back of your own head so I strong advise using protective cream,a relaxer/dye brush, and a mirror or going to a professional. Back to Top Step Five: Maintaining your mane These next couple of tips will help you maintain your hair to avoid breakage and reach your hairs maximum growth potential: 1. Sleep on a satin pillow case or wear a satin bonnet or scarf at night. 2. Comb your hair with a wide tooth comb beginning at the ends and working your way up to the roots. 3. DO NOT grease or oil your scalp. 4. Do not wear your hair in a ponytail all the time. This causes breakage from the tension. 5. Do not get your ends clipped for a whole year Step1 African American Hair Growth Golden Rule #1: Keep Your Hair Moisturized. African American hair needs moisture and deep conditioning, especially when the hair is exposed to chemical relaxers, stressful styles, and heat appliances, like blow dryers and flat irons. You must deep condition Black hair, at least once per week for it to thrive. A conditioner is nothing more than a cream that is applied to the hair to smooth the cuticle, soften the hair, add sheen, and restore moisture. Although conditioning your hair cannot make it grow---it can reduce shedding and breakage. As a result, your hair will actually become longer. Step2 African American Hair Growth Golden Rule #2: Find the Right Conditioner Instant or Leave In Conditioners are great for African American hair, because they coat and give the hair body and shine rapidly. However, they often contain silicones, which make the hair look shiny, but also seal the cuticles and coat the strand so much that additional moisture is unable to penetrate the hair strand. Thats why I recommend that you use hair lotion or leave in conditioners. Try to choose an all natural hair lotion that has EFAs and natural oils, such Beauty 4 Ashes GodHead hair care products (wwwdiscoverb4acom).. If you cannot find an all natural hair lotion then definitely try Carols Daugther (wwwcarolsdaughtercom). Step3 African American Hair Growth Golden Rule #3: Deep Condition Your Hair. Deep Penetrating Conditioners: A conditioner that is absorbed into the hair shaft to improve the health and appearance. Usually made from keratin and amino acids. Beauty 4 Ashes GodHead Silky Smooth is an excellent conditioner for African American Hair. It contains amino acids and essential fatty acids, two necessary components for healthy, longer African American hair. It also has almond, jojoba, coconut, olive, shea, and a host of other hair shaft penetrating moisture rich oils, which contain protein and vitamins to

reduce breakage and splitting in African American Hair. You can find it at wwwdiscoverb4acom. Make sure your thoroughly rinse your hair after using a deep penetrating conditioner. Step4 African American Hair Growth Golden Rule #4: Shampoo Your Hair Regularly. As an African American you must protect against dry hair, but you also have to protect against an unhealthy, clogged, and dirty scalp. You need to wash your hair at least once per week. However, you cannot do this with cheap shampoos or high priced shampoos that contain the same harmful ingredients as the low priced, disguised under better brand labels. As an African American , it is best to use all natural hair care products that contain natural oils. If you purchase quality products like Aubrey organics or Beauty 4 Ashes Super Hair Growth Products, then your scalp can be healthy and your hair will not be dry. Just remember, dirty scalp equals short hair. Remember, that after shampooing and rinsing your hair, gently ring your hair to remove excess water. Towel blot your hair dry, and use a quality hair lotion before applying heat. Do not rub the towel up and down your hair. This will result in breakage and splitting. If using a deep penetrating conditioner, just gently remove the excess water from your hair. Step5 African American Hair Growth Golden Rule #5: Style Your Hair from Home Section your hair into even parts. Apply Olive or Jojoba oil directly to the scalp. Then follow with a hair lotion or leave-in conditioner, and style. Everyday you need to treat your hair just as well as you did the moment you walked out of the salon. Step6 African American Hair Growth Golden Rule #6: Pay close attention to the ends of your hair, African American or Curly Hair needs a lot of moisture at the ends. When conditioning your hair, or even applying protein treatments or hair lotion, make sure you target those hair ends. Tips & Warnings

Remember that to grow long and healthy Black hair, you have to condition it. Do not neglect this. Black hair that is not conditioned often is dull, brittle, and damaged. Do not purchase cheap products with hair stripping ingredients, such as sulfates, alcohols, glycols, and silicones (any ingredient ending in the word cone). This eliminates about 96% of black hair care products available on the market. The best conditioning products on the market for African American and Curly Textured Hair are made by Beauty 4 Ashes , Carols Daughter, Aubrey Organics, and Ojon. Preferably, use Beauty 4 Ashes or Aubrey Organics, as they are all natural.

How to Grow Longer Hair

Long hair usually takes hard work, determination, and much nourishment and patience, but the end results will make it all worth it.

[ edit ] Steps 1. 2. 3. Take your vitamins. You might want to include Biotin and B-Complexes, as well as Hair, Skin, & Nails Vitamins. Eat nutritious food. Do not overload on the fried foods and sweets, because you know the expression; "You are what you eat." A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, grains, and especially lean protein will help you grow a healthy head of hair. As far as trims go... Contrary to popular belief, cutting your hair does NOT make it grow faster. However, you should dust (getting less than 1/4" trimmed) or trim when you feel your ends need it. You also may be one of the people whose hair grows unevenly, the right or left side growing faster, and trims might be necessary to even it out. Wash hair effectively. CO WASHING. Wet your hair with warm water. Saturate hair with conditioner, finger comb it through to ensure it's spread evenly, and leave in for a minimum of 3 minutes. Rinse out with warm water and finish with a cold water rinse, for added natural shine. CO washing everyday will help grow your hair the fastest, you should most likely combine CO Washing with weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly shampoos and occasionally a claryifying shampoo. SHAMPOOING. To shampoo, you should wet hair with warm water. Dilute a capful of shampoo with about a cup of water and wait a minute. Then dump it on your hair, and massage gently into your hair, focusing on your scalp. Wash out completely with warm water and finish up with a conditioner. CLARIFYING. Some people may choose to clarify their hair. Clarifying basically removes product build-up, because if the hair shaft become too coated it will snap, AKA breakage! You may choose to clarify by rinsing hair with Apple Cider Vinegar or you can buy a clarifying shampoo. Moisture is key.LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER. When you are done washing your hair, while it's still damp, spray a leave-in conditioner in your hair and comb it through with a wide-tooth comb. This will give you extra moisture and extra protection throughout the day. OILS. Using oils like Parachute Coconut Oil and Castor Oil will help keep your hair moisturized. You can apply them to your hair at night, wrap it up in a silk scarf, and rinse out in the morning, or you could use a little oil in place of a leave-in conditioner to seal moisture in your hair. DEEP CONDITIONING. Once a week, once every two weeks, monthly, whenever you feel your hair needs a little extra moisture, use a deep conditioner or cholesterol treatment. Using heat from a hooded dryer or applying these products warm/hot can help them penetrate more into the hair follice, giving you a long-lasting softness in your hair. HOT OIL TREATMENTS. They are not necessary, but for those with dry or coarse hair, a hot oil treatment is another way to give your hair a moisture boost. You can use Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, or a combination. CirculationImproving the blood flow to your scalp will increase the amount of growth you get. There are two ways to do this...SCALP MASSAGES. Massage scalp for 5-15 minutes daily.CARDIO EXERCISES. Whether you choose to run, jog, play soccer, football, etc., do cardio at least a few times a week to get the blood flowing.

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Combing. If you have curly or afro-textured hair, only comb your hair when you are in the shower with conditioner in your hair. Conditioner will give your hair "slip" and make detangling a much less painful situation. Whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, or afro-textured, wide-tooth combs are usually the best way to go, because they do not have plastic-capped bristles that will rip through your hair. Remember to be gentle when combing your hair! 8. Minimum to no heat. Keep heat styling (blow drying, straightening, curling irons, etc) to a minimum will prevent heat damage to your hair, allowing you to retain more length. If you are going to heat style, do not do it more than once every two weeks. I myself only heat style once every three months. 9. Stretching chemical treatments This includes "curly perms", texlaxing, and relaxing. If you stretch them out more, for example if you stretch your relaxer to once every three or four months instead of once a month, it will be very beneficial to your hair, and you can either wear your hair up or blowdry the roots straight (for relaxers) once in a while if you want to wear it down. This is another thing that will help with length retention. 10. Protect your hair. PROTECTIVE STYLING. Wearing your hair in cornrows, French braids, rope braids, braids, buns, ponytails, etc. will help avoid it brushing against harsh fabrics, will keep it protected from environmental damages, therefore helping you retain more length. Now of course occasionally you can wear your hair down and show off what you've worked so hard for! NIGHT TIME. You might want to invest in a silk pillowcase, silk scarf, or both so when you toss and turn at night you don't flop around ripping your hair out and rubbing it against harsh fabrics and cause breakage.

How to Take Care of Relaxed African Hair

In this wikiHow we'll show you how to take care of your relaxed African hair. With proper care and gentle treatment you can have full, beautiful and healthy hair. Own an Internet Business $250K + Income, Legitimate & Honest Must Qualify. $2K Startup Capital www.HomeBizVI.com [ edit ] Steps 1. Relax your hair every 8 to 9 weeks depending on your hair's needs. Do not relax your hair every time new growth appears, since relaxing too often causes damage to the hair. For one week following your relaxer, use a reconstructor instead of your regular conditioner when you wash your hair. Aphogee makes an excellent reconstructor and shampoo. After a week return to your regular Moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, Creme of Nature,is a good one to use.

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Wash and condition your hair every 4 to 5 or 7 days. Try to use shampoo and conditioner designed for dry hair. Ultra Black Hair, Creme of Nature, and Tresseme for damaged hair are excellent conditioners. Using a moisturizing deep conditioner once per week is ideal, try Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Pak. Rarely if ever use a blow dryer to dry your hair. Instead, to prevent damage, air dry the hair, separating it with your fingers as it dries. Or you can allow it to dry undisturbed then comb with a large tooth comb (this will keep the volume down). 3. Cowashing is an excellent alternative to the wash/condition. Cowashing is washing your hair with (preferably) a moisturizing conditioner, eliminating the shampoo step which can be very drying when done relatively frequently. Many with relaxed hair cowash daily. 4. It is best to avoid using heat to dry your hair, however, if you prefer heat, then avoid hand held dryers. Use a hood dryer instead. The hair should be completely dry before you use a curling or flat iron on it. 5. When using a curling iron to style your hair, do not allow the barrel cover to clamp down on your hair. Hold the barrel cover slightly open and allow the hair to move over the curling iron barrel without the tugging and pulling caused by pressure from the barrel cover. Whenever the barrel cover clamps down on your hair it creates a weak point at which breakage is inevitable. 6. A regular ceramic Curling iron works well and is easy to find. You can also invest in heat appliances utilising tourmaline, ionic technology having temperature controls. Relaxed hair can be easily styled at 300 degrees or less. Try to use heat protective products (serums or creams, not oils) prior to any and all heat styling. Ultra Black Hair lotion creme and Chi Silk Infusion are good products for this. 7. Never use hair oil on relaxed hair as a moisturizer as oil does NOT moisturize the hair but rather functions as a sealant. If your hair is well conditioned you won't need any oil at all. If you do prefer some oil, choose a lightweight oil (such as jojoba, coconut, almond, or olive oil) rub a small amount in the palms and spread lightly through the hair, focusing on the ends of the hair. If you choose to use oil, it is best to wash it off within a few days. 8. Use as little heat as possible with your hair as heat can only do more damage to relaxed hair. It's ok to style your hair with a curling iron occasionally, however a rollerset is the best method. If you use rollers at night be sure to tie them down to keep them from moving as you sleep. If the rollers are allowed to move as you sleep, it will weaken the roots and the hair will fall out from the roots. 9. Alternate between cold and heated styling. If you use a curling iron one day, set your hair with rollers the next day. This will help to minimize heat damage. 10. Water based moisturizers are best for all hair types. Ultra Black Hair Lotion Creme is an excellent moisturizer as well as S-curl activator. You can also try Dudley's PCA Moisture Retainer or ORS Carrot Oil creme. Avoid moisturizers with petrolatum and mineral oil unless you wash/condition and/or cowash regularly. 11. Drink plenty of water daily and check your hair's moisture level every day. 12. Applying a moisturizing conditioner to dry hair for 30 minutes to an hour and following with a warm/cool water rinse can help maintain the hair's moisture balance and make it more pliable.

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Take a multi-vitamin, Biotin, Omega-3 Oil, and other supplements as needed. Get plenty of rest, exercise and alleviate stress .

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters every black girl has gone through the phase were the hair will not grow past her shoulders. When I relaxed my hair I used http://www.growafrohairlong.com/ and followed her regimen for washing and maintaining hair and my hair grew to bra-strap length. I saw grew (past tense) because I stopped getting relaxers and am now going natural so I've been trimming my hair to get rid of the relaxed ends. The basic regimen was once a week: wash deep condition leave in air dry style (low manipulation) Products I would recommend are: Creme of nature shampoo Pantene Relaxed and Natural Hair Mask (conditioner) Neutroena Triple Moisture (conditioner) Aphogee 2min reconstructor (protein conditioner, to be done every 8wks.) other: -stretch your relaxer longer than the recommended 6wks to avoid over processing and breakage. -keep your hair properly moisturized and up off your shoulders to avoid split ends and breakage. -try not to manipulate the hair to much, try low manipulation hair styles like buns or braids. 5 months ago Sizta 2 Sizta Hair Tips for growing long black healthy hair

When people ask me about my hair and they want tips to growing out their hair, I found that they want my hair, it's length, shine and bounce but they don't want to put the work behind it. So my first tip is Commitment! Commitment - You will need to be committed to your goal! It's going to be work and you will have to do things that you are not accustomed to doing, but trust me ladies if you follow the tips outlined here along with using S2S products your success is inevitable!

Open your Mind - ladies We need to open up our minds to different ideas and methods because let's face it, if what we have been taught and the methods we've been using worked you wouldn't be here trying to find out what you can do to take back control over your hair. Many things that I suggest and recommend may be things you've never heard of before or they may be contrary to things that as black women have been shoved down our throat for years.

Self Relaxing Application - self-relaxing is not something that I'm pushing however, I think you should know that it is an option and something that can be done successfully with a little practice. If you are going to start doing your own relaxers just a few tips to help you get started. Prior to starting make sure you have every thing you need in front of you so that you don't have to waste precious time looking for anything once your relaxer has been applied. Oil your scalp in sections prior to applying your relaxer (this is so important especially for beginners). Remember that you are working against time so having a timer or clock near by is something you should use to make sure you don't over process your hair. Mix your relaxer with some type of oil such as olive oil (this will slow down the processing time of the relaxer and allow you more time to work until your more comfortable self relaxing). If possible have a mirror that can be used to see the back of your head while applying in the back and nape areas. Order your hair tips for the remaining steps

Protective styles - What are they and do they work? Have you ever heard of that term before? I certainly had never heard of the term "protective styles" up until about two and half years ago when I started my research on healthy hair and hair growth in African American women. The definition of a protective style is wearing your hair in any style that hides or protects the ends of your hair from clothing that could catch and rip your ends. In addition it was thought to be necessary to protect the hair ends from the air, which has been said to dry out the hair. So, some examples of protective styles would be braids, crown rows, the bun, weaves, latch hook and a ponytail. So, do they work? Well, lets look at these styles a little more closely and examine if and how we can make them work to our benefit. I personally wore braids, the latch hook and ponytails for the

majority of my life, actually up until about two years ago when I started this journey. And depending on what style I wore and how long I kept it determined how much growth I would get. For the most part I wouldn't wear any style for longer than two and half months unless I was being lazy. So I would on average get anywhere from 1 to 1 1/2 inches of new growth during this period. For the remainder of these steps order your hair tips now Clipping the ends - Although I have discussed end clipping throughout several pages on the site; I wanted to also cover it here under the hair tips section because I would like make sure you understand my stance on this topic. Before we get started let me make it clear that I am not against clipping ends, a good trim is beneficial for a few reason but not the reasons we've been told for so many years. I'm not sure about you but I have heard and read so many things when it comes to clipping our ends. For instance I've read and I've been told by a few of the stylist that I highly respect that we MUST clip our ends in order for our hair to be healthy and for it to grow. I personally let the stylist clip away at my hair for years thinking that one day it would grow because I was keeping them trimmed and free from split ends. What actually happens is that in most cases the stylist are clipping ends every six to eight weeks normally when someone gets their touch up relaxer and we all know that a trim is a cut for most stylist. So if we look at this from a logical point of view we can better understand what is happening. Hair in general regardless if you are black, white, Hispanic and so on; grows on the average of 1/2 inch per month. So for all intense purposes lets say your hair grows on the average, every 4 weeks you get 1/2 inch of new growth. So, at six weeks you go in to get your touch up and by this time you've gain about 3/4 of and inch of new grow and at eight weeks you would have gained 1 inch of new growth. So you go in to get your touch up and your stylist says you need your ends clipped. Well you've only gained 3/4 to 1 inch of new hair so mostly likely depending on your stylist you will walk away with the same length of hair or maybe even shorter. They will use all kind of scare tactics that your hair will not grow or it will split and break off, so on and so forth. So now let's look at it from the S2S point of view. Order see the remainder of clipping your ends

Putting it all together So here you are, equipped with all the necessary tools to ensure you with success in obtaining long healthy hair. You have an actual road map so to speak, a step-by-step guide leading you at every turn. You have access to me to answer your questions, assist and encourage you. In addition, you have the best most effective hair care products available to you that were personally developed by me specifically for us. So what are you going to do? Continue in insanity? Doing what you've always done, wondering why your hair won't gain any length? It's time to get busy! So let's just do a recap of what we have learned.

Order your hair tips see the remainder of these steps

It took me approximately two years to grow my hair to my bra strap and going on three years working towards my waist. I want to encourage you to get started because a year from now you can have 5 - 6 inches added to your length and 10 - 12 in two years. Well, you might be thinking, that seems like such a long time away and you want it now! Well, let me just put it how my husband always tells me when I thinking about doing something but I might be slightly procrastinating. He would tell me that a year, then two years, so on and so forth is going to come and go. The only question is will you have accomplished what you set out to do. So, ladies yes, a year will come and go, but the question is will your hair be 5 - 6 inches longer or will you be at the same length you have been at for years? Please check my Website for updates to the hair glossary and hair tips.