This book was made to help you style, thicken, grow, and maintain a healthy head of long beautiful hair!
In today's society, we are experiencing a hair extension epidemic. People all over the planet of every race and age are wearing other people’s hair in their heads because they feel that they can’t grow their own!
If you want to grow your own hair long, then searching online for hair growth tips can be challenging as well. It seems everyone has the answer to growing your hair long but no one has put it together in a way that shows you step by step instructions. It is also hard to find out exactly how to care for your individual hair type. This book is designed to do just that with tried and true procedures that are SURE to get you the results you want!
You will learn everything you need to know to grow your hair long, whether it is curly or straight, relaxed or natural. You will also learn how to grow and style different hair types from 4a to 4c hair which can be described as "frizzy 'fro" to "kinky curls," 3a to 3c type hair might be dubbed "curly 'fro" to "fuzzy ringlets, and " type 2c to 1 can be called "wavy waters" to "horse tail straight."
Regardless of what you might have heard all your life, anyone can have long hair! Your ethnic background is not the deciding factor. All you need to do is to take proper care of your hair and body.
Here's to your health and beauty! Enjoy and Good luck!
PART ONE
Basic Care
For Any Hair Type and Most Hair Styles
If your goal is to have hair that is healthy, shiny, long, and strong, then this guide will show you how to do just that. Please read it carefully and completely before you begin this hair care regimen. Start by reading the following list. If you do not already own the items, then buy or borrow them. Keep them in a place where you always know where they are.
These items are key to maintaining your healthy hair. Take good care of them. You are important and so is your hair.
Items to purchase:
1. An effective liquid hair or multivitamin/mineral supplement to take daily. (Your doctor's approval is suggested)
2. One pair of razor sharp styling scissors with its own protective sleeve.
3. A smooth-coated long and wide tooth comb. No seams.
4. A smooth-coated fine tooth comb. No seams.
5. One hand-held mirror.
6. Castor oil or jojoba oil or olive oil or vegetable oil. Either one is good. The first three are better.
7. Bobby pins.
8. Shampoo.
9. Leave-in conditioner.
10. Aloe Vera gel (obtain this from health food store).
11. Baby's hair brush.
12. Silky/satiny bonnet or scarf (optional).
13. Silky/satiny pillow case.
14. Pack of plastic bonnets.
15. One large easy-to-read calendar. Can be bought inexpensively or sometimes given away from small local businesses or restaurants.
16. 15 to 20 Magnetic curlers. (optional)
17. 10 to 15 Sponge curlers with satiny wraps. (optional)
18. Hair clips. (optional)
19. Oil sheen spray.
20. Hood hair dryer. (optional)
21. Curling iron. (optional)
22. Flat iron. (optional)
23. Blow dryer. (optional)
24. Setting lotion or setting mousse.
The Steps
Step One:
Make a hair care schedule (see calendar drawing) by marking your calendar that fits into your school/work schedule. For example, you may have a 9 to 5 Monday through Friday. Each week, have one shampoo day and two conditioning days. (For individuals with very oily hair, shampoo more often, but never two days in a row.) For example Sunday evening from 7:30pm to 9:30pm you will reserve this time for shampoo and conditioning of your hair. Tuesday of the same week, at the same time, you will reserve the 7:30pm to 9:30pm for conditioning only. No shampoo. Then reserve another day for only conditioning again in this same week. How about Friday morning? Maybe about six o'clock a.m. that morning so you will have time to style your hair to look good for your work or school day. This may require some hair dryer time. At least an hour.
The following Sunday evening, the routine starts all over again for the week so you'll shampoo again. Mark these times on your calendar as far ahead as possible so you can tell whether or not you have previous obligations that might throw you off schedule for a period of time. You'll know then that you'll need to adjust your hair care schedule accordingly.
Step Two:
Take cover! Starting tonight, use the satiny scarf or bonnet to cover your hair while you sleep on the satiny pillowcase. This is to protect your hair from dry air, snagging, and friction. If you can't bear the thought of a hair bonnet to sleep in then just sleep on the satin pillowcase. Just make sure you use one every night.
During the day at work school or where ever, make sure you wear your hair in a protective style. Meaning, protect it from snagging and friction. If your hair is long enough, wear it up! A pony tail, or bun is cute all the time. If that is not your preference or if it is still too short, then keep it very moisturized and make sure it doesn't snag on anything during the course of the day. Listed in this guide are hairstyle suggestions for all hair types and lengths.
**Shampoo/Conditioning Care Instructions**
Step Three:
Hot oil massage. Warm a half ounce jojoba oil, or castor oil, or olive oil in the microwave for about 30 seconds. These three oils are found to be very beneficial for hair growth but if you only have regular veggie oil and nothing else, that will do fine. Coat your scalp with the warm oil by parting your hair into small sections and applying it onto all of your scalp. Whatever is left over, smooth it onto the ends of your hair.
Bend forward at the waist to massage your scalp gently with fingertips only. Never use your fingernails when massaging your scalp. Rub your entire scalp for one minute or when it starts to feel warm.
Step Four:
Detangle if necessary. When you are finished massaging, carefully comb to detangle your hair starting from the ends to the scalp. You might want to use your fingers first, then the comb. After detangling, place the plastic bonnet over your head and prepare your shower water to a comfortable temperature. Try to always use your bathroom shower to shampoo and condition your hair. If you have absolutely no access to a shower, then use the vegetable spray attachment at your kitchen sink. Rinsing is much easier for you when water is sprayed onto your hair.
Step Five:
Make a shampoo/water solution. Mix warm two parts warm water to one part shampoo. Remove the plastic bonnet and pour this solution onto hair and lather only at the scalp and use your fingertips. Allow warm water to flow onto your head then begin to rub your scalp using your fingertips. Once a frothy lather is achieved, gently smooth the lather down the length of your hair. Do not pile your hair on your head while washing it. That will only cause unnecessary tangling and friction. Rinse for about five minutes. Unless your hair is unusually dirty, no need to repeat a shampoo. Ever.
Step Six:
Rinse your hair and scalp with warm water for about two minutes.
Step Seven:
Towel blot; don't rub, your hair. Then apply a liberal amount of the conditioner and allow it to penetrate your hair. In other words, put in lots of it! Use the same plastic bonnet to cover your head and take 20 to 30 minutes to walk on a treadmill, or read, or anything you want to do to pass the time.
Step Eight:
Detangle again if necessary. After the 20 to 30 minutes are over, drape a large towel about your shoulders and use your fingers first then your wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair slowly and easily. If you followed the above-mentioned shampoo method, it should not be very tangled at all.
Start combing from the ends of your hair working your way up to the roots. If you feel a snag, stop, apply more conditioner to that area and try combing again; ends first. Again, take this slow and easy. Continue this combing until all hair is detangled.
Rinse hair thoroughly and towel blot again. Again, do not rub your hair. Never rub your hair with a towel.
Apply a leave-in conditioner at the ends or tips of your hair. Do not rinse. Wrap a towel around your head and shoulders and if you haven't already done so, mark your calendar three or four days in advance for conditioning.
Style your hair as you would normally or follow the styling suggestions later mentioned in this guide.
**Conditioning**
Step Nine:
For the conditioning care of your hair, you would use almost the same instructions as you used for the Shampoo/Conditioning Care Instructions, except you'll skip the oil treatment. You may, however, use an oil treatment twice in one week if you feel it necessary. I would discourage a hot oil treatment for a second time, though. One hot oil treatment per week is plenty. Two or three might prove to be too much.
However; some people have naturally oily scalp and hair and some have naturally dry scalp and hair. Use the hot oil treatment at your own discretion and for your hair type for this conditioning step.
Also remember, shampooing is for once a week. Conditioning is to be done an average of twice per week. Gently rub in the conditioner as you would a shampoo. Remember no shampoo this time. After you have applied a generous amount of conditioner, place the plastic bonnet on your head and leave on for 20 to 30 minutes.
After time's up, slowly and gently detangle your hair.
Rinse thoroughly making sure most of the conditioner is out of your hair. Rinse for a long time; about five minutes. Wrap up with a towel to blot all the moisture then mark your calendar for your next conditioning day.
Step Ten:
Dust your hair ends with your razor sharp scissors. Do this every six weeks. Dusting literally means cutting such a small amount of hair that they literally produce small pieces of stubble that looks like dust. Gather a small section of your hair and twist all the way down to the ends. Take your sharp scissors and dust or lightly clip any frayed ends. Take another section and repeat, then another until the entire head of hair has been clipped a very little at the ends. If, while cutting you recognize what looks like small clumps of hair, you're probably cutting off too much. The clipped ends should literally look like dust, hence the term "dusting." This process may take a few minutes. Have someone else do it for you, if necessary. Shouldn't be necessary though. Mark the calendar for the next dusting date.
The Wrap Method
Wrapping your hair is the best way to not only maintain a straightened hair style, but also smooth hair when you don't want to use extra heat. It is a staple in many low-heat hair care/styling methods.
How to do it:
Step One:
Start with your hair parted how you would like it to be parted when you take down your wrap.
Step Two: Brush or comb your hair straight down until it is just about evenly distributed all around your head. You'll look a little like "Cousin Itt" when you're done.
Step Three:
Begin by brushing your hair around one side of your head going in the opposite direction of the side your part is on.
Step Four:
Put hair clips in to secure any falling hair.
Step Five:
Continue brushing hair around the head until all of the hair is wrapped around the head like a BIG curler. Secure any final loose pieces with more hair clips. FINALLY, cover hair with a silk scarf to protect it from any moisture or from being unwrapped while sleeping or any other activity.
**Detangling Really Badly Damaged, Dry, And Tangled Kinks**
Step One:
Apply a thick leave-in conditioner throughout hair using your hands. Rub in lots of it.
Step Two: Put a plastic cap on your head and leave on from two hours to two days. Step Three: Drape shoulders with a towel and slowly begin detangling with your fingers from tips to root. If you hit a snag, apply more conditioner to that area and begin again.
Step Four: Section hair in four sections and fasten each section.
Step Five: Remove one back section and begin working once again to detangle using fingers Refasten that section and begin another section until all four sections are detangled with fingers. Step Six: Remove one back section and take a wide-tooth smooth coated comb and begin detangling from tip to root until the entire section is detangled. Refasten that section and begin again with another section using the comb to detangle. Repeat this process until entire head is detangled. Step Seven: You are now ready to handle your hair as usual.
PART TWO
Individual Hair Type
What's Your Number?
This section deals with your particular hair type. Each type is measured by numbers. See below. What's your hair type? What is your number?
The following chart is not exact science. It is simply a general guide to help you determine your particular hair type.
Knowing your hair type is crucial when it comes to styling the hair in a way that leaves you with minimal damage and great results. In this section is a list of styling options for a straight look, a curled look, and a natural hair texture look for every hair type. The methods mentioned are proven to give the least heat damage and lessen the amount of stress on your hair for whatever hair type you have.
HAIR TYPE: 1 - 2c
HAIR TYPE: 1 - 2c / For a straight look:
A standard blow-out will suffice because your hair is already so straight on its own. The key to obtaining a perfectly smooth style with this hair type is maintenance.
First, I'll show you how to obtain a perfect blow-out at home. What you'll need is:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Leave-in Conditioner
- Heat Protectant
- Shine serum
- Wide tooth comb
- Round brush
- Hair clips
- Blow dryer Step One: Wash your hair and deep condition for 10 minutes. Rinse the conditioner with cold water to ensure a closed smooth cuticle. Step Two: Detangle hair gently using the wide tooth comb starting up from the ends of the hair. Apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner on your hair. If you are prone to having an oily scalp, apply the leave-in conditioner onto the ENDS of your hair ONLY. The point of the leave-in is to maintain moisture and elasticity while blow drying. Step Three: Use an oil-free heat protectant all over your hair to protect it from unnecessary heat damage. Step Four: Use clips to section off the entire head in sections that are no wider than the width of the round brush you intend to use. By sectioning your hair, it will be much easier to manage. Step Five: Dry your hair one section at a time, starting from the back. Use your fingers to start. Rake your fingers through the roots of your hair section and pull the hair taught. Dry the roots fully using the blow dryer on high speed and medium heat. Be careful not to burn your fingers with the hot blow dryer air in the process. Step Six: Once the roots of your section are dry, it's time to use the round brush. Pull the brush through your hair as you blow dry starting from your ends, making sure the nozzle of the blow dryer is pointed downward onto your hair section. As you dry, use the brush to pull hair section in front of your face. It will make it much easier to hold the brush and your hair will be very taut, which is necessary for a good blow out. Step Seven: When you're done blow drying the hair, blast it with the "Cool" button on the blow dryer to set the style. Repeat Step Five , Step Six, and Step Seven on each section of hair until your entire head is done. Step Eight: Smooth down any fuzzies or fly-aways by using a putting a small amount of shine serum in your hand, rubbing your palms together, and lightly smooth your hands over them. If you're prone to having an oily scalp, do not use any shine serum. Maintaining the style:
The problem with doing a blow out is that it can be very damaging to your hair because of the high heat. However, you can wrap your hair at night using our wrap method and your hair will stay smooth much longer, reducing the amount of heat used on your hair day to day. The Wrap Method can be found in the Basic Care section of this book.
HAIR TYPE: 1- 2c / For a Curled look:
If you want curly hair WITHOUT the heat damage, sponge curlers are your best friend. You can get them from virtually any beauty store and they're very easy to use. What you'll need is:
- Sponge curlers
- Wide tooth comb
- Shine Serum
- Setting Lotion or Mousse Step One: Detangle your hair from the ends to your scalp. Step Two: Open the curler. Take a one inch section of hair and spray the end with one short sprits of setting lotion. Wrap hair snuggly around the curler. The tighter you wrap the hair around the curler, the smaller and more defined your curls will be. Repeat this step all over your head. Step Three: Wrap hair with a scarf to keep curlers from possibly falling out.
Keep the curlers in your hair anywhere from one hour to overnight. The longer you leave the curlers in your hair, the longer the curl will last. Step Four: Remove the curlers and run your fingers through your hair. Step Five: Apply a small amount of shine serum to smooth down any flyaway's, especially on the ends of the hair. If your scalp is oily, apply the serum to your ends only.
HAIR TYPE: 1 - 2c: For a natural look: If you want to bring out the natural wave in your hair, try a sea salt spray. Sea salt defines the natural curl in wave in your hair. What you'll need is:
- Wide tooth comb.
- Clean empty spray bottle
- Two tablespoons of Sea Salt
- One cup of warm water. Step One: Detangle hair. Step Two: Pour the sea salt and warm water into your spray bottle and shake until all of the salt has been dissolved. Step Three: Spray the salt water mixture onto your hair until it's damp. Step Four: Braid all of the hair into three or four large braids and let dry. Step Five: Undo all of the braids and finger comb your hair.
HAIR TYPE: 3a - 3c
HAIR TYPE: 3a - 3c / For a Straight Look:
For this hair type, you should use magnetic curlers in a roller set to obtain a straight hair look with an optional flat ironing after if your hair isn't smooth enough. How to use magnetic curlers
What you'll need is:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Setting lotion spray or setting mousse
- Clean spray bottle filled with plain water
- Wide tooth comb
- Fine toothed comb
- Set of magnetic curlers
- Hair clips
- Hair dryer with a hood that you can sit under OR a hair drying bonnet
- Flat iron (optional) Step One: Wash and condition hair. Step Two: Detangle hair with wide tooth comb while it's still wet and saturate it with setting lotion spray or setting mousse. It's important for hair to stay wet while rolling the hair so it will cling to the curler. Step Three: Section hair into sections no wider than the width of the curlers you're using and about one inch thick. Step Four: Take a section of hair, starting from the top, and gently run the fine tooth comb through it to ensure even spacing of the hairs. Wrap the ends of the hair section around the curler and begin to roll the hair onto the curler tautly and away from the face until the curler is touching the scalp. Step Five: While holding the curler with one hand, use your other hand to open a hair clip and slide one side of the clip in between the scalp and curler and the other side of the clip into the opening of the curler. Close the clip. It should be securing the curler to your scalp and hair. Step Six: Do this with every section of hair until all of your hair is in curlers. Do not be discouraged if they do not look perfect the first time. Any mistakes can be fixed later on. Step Seven: Set your dryer on high heat. If your hair is medium length or longer, sit under a hooded dryer or wear a hair drying bonnet for at least 45 minutes. If your hair is shorter, opt for 20 to 30 minutes instead. Step Eight: Once hair is COMPLETELY dry. Remove the curlers. Your hair should be full, curled, and bouncy. Step Nine: Feel the roots of your hair and examine the ends of your hair. If the hair is completely straight from root to end, use our wrap method to maintain smoothness and straighten the curl made by the curlers, but other than that you don't have to do anything else to your hair. Step Ten: If your hair isn't smooth at the roots or in the rest of your hair, use a flat iron only on those spots to smooth them out. Step Eleven: Once hair is totally straightened and smooth with no detection of a natural texture, use our wrap method to straighten out the curl made by the curler initially. Maintaining the style: Wrap your hair at night using our wrap method and your hair will stay smooth much longer, reducing the amount of heat used on your hair day to day. The Wrap Method can be found in the Basic Care section of this book.
HAIR TYPE: 3a - 3c / For a Curled look:
If you want curly hair WITHOUT the heat damage, sponge curlers are your best friend. You can get them from virtually any beauty store and they're very easy to use. What you'll need is:
- Previously straightened hair
- Sponge curlers
- Wide tooth comb
- Shine serum
Before starting, hair should be straightened. Use our straightening method mentioned above for your hair type. Step One: Detangle your hair from the ends to your scalp. Step Two: Open the curler. Take a one inch section of hair and wrap it snugly around the curler. The tighter you wrap the hair around the curler, the smaller and more defined your curls will be. Repeat this step all over your head. Step Three: Wrap hair with a scarf to keep curlers from possibly falling out.
Keep the curlers in your hair anywhere from 1 hour to overnight. The longer you leave the curlers in your hair, the longer the curl will last. Step Four: Remove the curlers and run your fingers through your hair. Step Five: Apply a small amount of shine serum to smooth down any flyaway's, especially on the ends of the hair. If your scalp is oily, only apply the serum to your ends.
HAIR TYPE: 3a - 3c / For a natural look
It's very easy to bring out your natural curl.
What you'll need is:
- Damp hair
- Wide tooth comb
- Leave-in conditioner Step One: Dampen your hair to bring out your natural curl pattern. Step Two: Saturate your hair with leave-in conditioner. Step Three: Detangle hair with wide tooth comb. Take very small pieces of hair, no bigger than 1/4th of an inch and twirl it around your finger. This defines your curl. Do this all over your head and let it air dry.
Your hair's natural texture should be well defined and shiny.
If you would like a more defined curl pattern for this type of hair, you have a few options. Two methods are mentioned here: The twist-out and the braid-out. 1. Twist Out: Hair is two-strand twisted in a dampened state and left to dry. When twists dry, they are taken apart to create a smooth S shaped curl in hair that is very manageable. 2. Braid Out: Hair is put in small braids while it's damp and left to dry. When the braids dry, they are taken apart to create a smooth wave in hair that is very manageable.
Both styles are very similar but one style may look better than the other depending on your hair texture. Experiment with both. Vary twist or braid size to determine what works best for your hair type.
Twist Out: What you'll need is:
- Damp hair
- Hair clips
- Wide-toothed comb
- Leave-in conditioner
- Shine serum or hair oil Step One: Dampen your hair to bring out your natural curl pattern. Step Two: Saturate your hair with leave-in conditioner. Step Three: Section your hair in rows that stretch across the diameter of your head. Part hair how you would like it to be parted when the twists are taken apart. The width of the rows is up to you. Step Four: Start by taking a piece of hair from the back row that is no bigger than 1/2 of an inch . Clip the rest of the hair in the row out of your way. To twist the hair, take the 1/2-inch piece of hair and split evenly into two strands. Take the two strands and repeatedly twist them around each other until they are intertwined from root to tip. Continue taking 1/2 inch pieces from the rows you've sectioned off and twisting them until your entire head of hair is in twists. Step Five: Let the hair dry. If you're in a rush you can sit under a hooded hair dryer or blow it dry with your handheld hair dryer. Step Six: Once the twists are COMPLETELY dry, gently take apart each twist. When the twists are no longer in your hair, take shine serum or hair oil and gently run fingers through the untwisted hair to break up the sections and blend the hair together.
Braid Out:
What you'll need is:
- Damp hair
- Hair clips
- Wide-toothed comb
- Leave-in conditioner
- Shine serum or hair oil Step One: Dampen your hair to bring out your natural curl pattern. Step Two: Saturate your hair with leave-in conditioner. Step Three: Section your hair in rows that stretch across the diameter of your head. Part hair how you would like your hair to be parted when the braids are taken apart. Determining the width of the rows is up to you. Step Four: Start by taking a piece of hair from the back row that's no bigger than 1/2 of an inch . Clip up the rest of the hair in the row so it's out of your way. Take the 1/2-inch piece of hair and braid the length of it. Continue taking 1/2 inch pieces from the rows you've sectioned off and braiding them until your entire head of hair is in braids. Step Five: Let the hair dry. If you're in a rush you can sit under a hooded hair dryer or blow it dry with your handheld hair dryer. Step Six: Once the braids are COMPLETELY dry, gently take them apart. When the braids are no longer in your hair, take shine serum or hair oil and gently run fingers through the unbraided hair to break up the sections and blend the hair together.
HAIR TYPE: 4a - 4c
HAIR TYPE: 4a - 4c / For a Straight Look without chemicals; without relaxers:
For this hair type, you should use the Dominican Blow - Out method to obtain a straight hair look. A Dominican Blow-Out is a hair styling method that includes magnetic curlers, a blow out with a blow dryer, and a flat iron at the end. How to use the Dominican Blow Out method:
What you'll need is:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Setting lotion spray or setting mousse
- Clean spray bottle filled with plain water
- Wide tooth comb
- Fine toothed comb
- Set of magnetic curlers
- Hair clips
- Hair dryer with a hood that you can sit under OR a hair drying bonnet
- Heat Protectant
- Shine serum
- Round brush
- Hair clips
- Flat iron Step One: Wash and condition hair. Step Two: Detangle hair with wide tooth comb while it's still wet and saturate it with setting lotion spray or setting mousse. It's important for hair to stay wet while rolling the hair so it will cling to the curler. Step Three: Section hair into sections no wider than the width of the curlers you're using and about one inch thick. Step Four: Take a section of hair, starting from the top, and gently run the fine tooth comb through it to ensure even spacing of the hairs. Wrap the ends of the hair section around the curler and begin to roll the hair on the curler tautly and away from the face until the curler is touching the scalp. Step Five: While holding the curler with one hand , use your other hand to open a hair clip and slide one side of the clip in between the scalp and curler and the other side of the clip into the opening of the curler. Close the clip. It should be securing the curler to your scalp and hair. Step Six: Do this with every section of hair until all of your hair is in curlers. Do not be discouraged if they do not look perfect the first time. Any mistakes can be fixed later on. Step Seven: Set your dryer on high heat. If your hair is medium length or longer, sit under a hooded dryer or wear a hair drying bonnet for at least 45 minutes. If your hair is shorter, opt for 20 to 30 minutes instead. Step Eight: Once hair is COMPLETELY dry. Remove the curlers. Your hair should be full, curled, and bouncy. Step Nine: Use an oil-free heat protectant all over your hair to protect it from unnecessary heat damage. Step Ten: Section hair off using a clip on each piece of hair that was once in a curler. You should now have sections of hair with clips in them instead of magnetic curlers. Step Eleven: Take one section starting from the back of your head and apply shine serum to it. Step Twelve: Take that same section and pull the round brush through your hair with one hand as you blow dry with the other starting from your ends, making sure the nozzle of the blow dryer is pointed downward onto your hair section. As you dry, use the brush to pull the hair section toward the front of your face. It will make it much easier to hold the brush and your hair will be very taut, which is necessary for a good blow out. Try to straighten the hair as much as possible using only the blow dryer and round brush. Step Thirteen: Blow dry every section as straight as you can make it until your entire head of hair has been blow dried. Step Fourteen: Section all hair once more into hair sections no wider than the length of the heating plate on your flat iron and 1/2 inch thick. Step Fifteen: Take one section run the fine tooth comb through it to evenly space the hairs. Run the flat iron at high heat over the section until it is completely straight and smooth. Step Sixteen: Continue flat ironing each section until all the hair on your head has been flat ironed straight. Step Seventeen: Use The Wrap Method and leave the hair wrapped for at least 15 minutes to set the style. Maintaining the style:
The problem with doing a blow out is that it can be very damaging to your hair because of the high heat. However, You can wrap your hair at night using our wrap method and your hair will stay smooth much longer, reducing the amount of heat used on your hair day to day. The Wrap Method can be found in the Basic Care section of this book.
HAIR TYPE: 4a - 4c: For a Curled look:
If you want curly hair WITHOUT the heat damage, sponge curlers are your best friend. You can get them from virtually any beauty store and they're very easy to use. What you'll need is:
- Previously straightened hair
- Sponge curlers
- Wide tooth comb
- Shine serum
Before starting, hair should be straightened. Use our straightening method mentioned above for your hair type. Step One: Detangle your hair from the ends to your scalp. Step Two: Open the curler. Take a one inch section of hair and wrap it snuggly around the curler. The tighter you wrap the hair around the curler, the smaller and more defined your curls will be. Repeat this step all over your head. Step Three: Wrap hair with a scarf to keep curlers from possibly falling out.
Keep the curlers in your hair anywhere from one hour to overnight. The longer you leave the curlers in your hair, the longer the curl will last. Step Four: Remove the curlers and run your fingers through your hair. Step Five: Apply a small amount of shine serum to smooth down any flyaway's, especially on the ends of the hair. If your scalp is oily, only apply the serum to your ends.
HAIR TYPE: 4a - 4c: For a natural look.
It's very easy to bring out your natural curl pattern. For this type of hair, you have a few options. Two are mentioned in this guide: the twist-out and the braid-out: 1. Twist Out: Hair is two-strand twisted in a dampened state and left to dry. When twists dry, they are taken apart to create a smooth S shaped curl in hair that is very manageable. 2. Braid Out: Hair is put in small braids while it's damp and left to dry. When the braids dry, they are taken apart to create a smooth wave in hair that is very manageable.
Both styles are very similar but one style may look better than the other depending on your hair texture. Experiment with both. Vary twist or braid size to determine what works best for your hair type.
Twist Out:
What you'll need is:
- Damp hair
- Hair clips
- Wide-toothed comb
- Leave-in conditioner
- Shine Serum or Hair Oil Step One: Dampen your hair to bring out your natural curl pattern. Step Two: Saturate your hair with leave-in conditioner. Step Three: Section your hair in rows that stretch across the diameter of your head. Part hair how you would like it to be parted when the twists are taken apart. The width of the rows is up to you. Step Four: Start by taking a piece of hair from the back row that is no bigger than 1/2 of an inch . Clip the rest of the hair in the row out of your way. To twist the hair, take the 1/2-inch piece of hair and split evenly into two strands. Take the two strands and repeatedly twist them around each other until they are intertwined from root to tip. Continue taking 1/2 inch pieces from the rows you've sectioned off and twisting them until your entire head of hair is in twists. Step Five: Let the hair dry. If you're in a rush you can sit under a hooded hair dryer or blow it dry with your handheld hair dryer. Step Six: Once the twists are COMPLETELY dry, gently take apart each twist. When the twists are no longer in your hair, take shine serum or hair oil and gently run fingers through the untwisted hair to break up the sections and blend the hair together.
Braid Out:
What you'll need is:
- Damp hair
- Hair clips
- Wide-toothed comb
- Leave-in conditioner
- Shine Serum or Hair Oil Step One: Dampen your hair to bring out your natural curl pattern. Step Two: Saturate your hair with leave-in conditioner. Step Three: Section your hair in rows that stretch across the diameter of your head. Part hair how you would like your hair to be parted when the braids are taken apart. Determining the width of the rows is up to you. Step Four: Start by taking a piece of hair from the back row that's no bigger than 1/2 of an inch . Clip up the rest of the hair in the row so it's out of your way. Take the 1/2-inch piece of hair and braid the length of it. Continue taking 1/2 inch pieces from the rows you've sectioned off and braiding them until your entire head of hair is in braids. Step Five: Let the hair dry. If you're in a rush you can sit under a hooded hair dryer or blow it dry with your handheld hair dryer. Step Six: Once the braids are COMPLETELY dry, gently take them apart. When the braids are no longer in your hair, take shine serum or hair oil and gently run fingers through the unbraided hair to break up the sections and blend the hair together.
Chemically Relaxed Hair
Chemically Relaxed Hair/ For A Straight Look:
This hair can be very fragile because it does contain an unnatural product that has been applied to it. This process has altered its cuticle and can possibly lead to weakening, frizzing, and dryness. This hair needs to be handled with ultimate care. But even though chemically processed, your hair can grow long and strong. For chemically relaxed hair, you should use magnetic curlers in a roller set. To obtain a straight hair look, use a flat iron, but only if your hair isn't smooth enough to suit your taste. How to use magnetic curlers
What you'll need is:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Setting lotion spray or setting mousse
- Clean spray bottle filled with plain water
- Wide tooth comb
- Fine toothed comb
- Set of magnetic curlers
- Hair clips
- Hair dryer with a hood that you can sit under OR a hair drying bonnet
- Flat iron (optional)
Step One: Wash and condition hair. Step Two: Detangle hair with wide tooth comb while it's still wet and saturate it with setting lotion spray or setting mousse. It's important for hair to stay wet while rolling the hair so it will cling to the curler. Step Three: Section hair into sections no wider than the width of the curlers you're using and about one inch thick. Step Four: Take a section of hair, starting from the top, and run the fine tooth comb through it to ensure even spacing of the hairs. Wrap the ends of the hair section around the curler and begin to roll the hair on the curler tautly and away from the face until the curler is touching the scalp. Step Five: While holding the curler with one hand, use your other hand to open a hair clip and slide one side of the clip in between the scalp and curler and the other side of the clip into the opening of the curler. Close the clip. It should be securing the curler to your scalp and hair. Step Six: Do this with every section of hair until all of your hair is in curlers. Do not be discouraged if they do not look perfect the first time. Any mistakes can be fixed later on. Step Seven: Set your dryer on high heat. If your hair is medium length or longer, sit under the dryer or wear your hair drying bonnet, for at least 45 minutes. If your hair is shorter then opt for 20 to 30 minutes. Step Eight: Once hair is COMPLETELY dry. Remove the curlers. Your hair should be full, curled, and bouncy. Step Nine: Feel the roots of your hair and examine the ends of your hair. If the hair is completely straight from root to end, use our wrap method to maintain smoothness and straighten the curl made by the curlers, but other than that you don't have to do anything else to your hair. Step Ten: If your hair isn't smooth at the roots or in the rest of your hair, use a flat iron only on those spots to smooth them out. Step Eleven: Once hair is totally straightened and smooth with no detection of a natural texture, use our wrap method to straighten out the curl initially made by the curler. Maintaining the style:
Wrap your hair at night using our wrap method and your hair will stay smooth much longer, reducing the amount of heat used on your hair day to day. The Wrap Method can be in the Basic Care section of this book.
Chemically Relaxed Hair/ For A Curled Look:
If you want curly hair WITHOUT the heat damage, sponge curlers are your best friend. You can get them from virtually any beauty store and they're very easy to use. What you'll need is:
- Previously straightened hair
- Sponge curlers
- Wide tooth comb
- Shine Serum
Before starting, hair should be straightened. Use our straightening method mentioned above for your hair type. Step One: Detangle your hair from the ends to your scalp. Step Two: Open the curler. Take a one inch section of hair and wrap it snuggly around the curler. The tighter you wrap the hair around the curler, the smaller and more defined your curls will be. Step Three: Wrap hair with a scarf to keep curlers from possibly falling out.
Keep the curlers in your hair anywhere from one hour to overnight. The longer you leave the curlers in your hair, the longer the curl will last. Step Four: Remove the curlers from your hair and run your fingers through it. Step Five: Apply a small amount of shine serum to smooth down any fly always, especially on the ends of the hair. If your scalp is oily, only apply the serum to your ends.
Chemically Relaxed Hair/ For A Natural Hair Look:
It's very easy to bring out your natural curl pattern. For this type of hair, you have two options. 1. Twist Out: Hair is two-strand twisted in a dampened state and left to dry. When twists dry, they are taken apart to create a smooth "S" shaped curl in hair that is very manageable. 2. Braid Out: Hair is put in small braids while it's damp and left to dry. When the braids dry, they are taken apart to create a smooth wave in hair that is very manageable.
Both styles are very similar but one style may look better than the other depending on your hair texture. Experiment with both. Vary twist or braid size to determine what works best for your hair type.
Twist Out:
What you'll need is:
- Damp hair
- Hair clips
- Wide-toothed comb
- Leave-in conditioner
- Shine serum or hair oil Step One: Dampen your hair to bring out your natural curl pattern. Step Two: Saturate your hair with leave-in conditioner. Step Three: Section your hair in rows that stretch across the diameter of your head. Part hair how you would like your hair to be parted when the twists are taken apart. Determining the width of the rows is up to you. Your own personal preference. Step Four: Start by taking a piece of hair from the back row that's no bigger than 1/2 of an inch . Clip the rest of the hair in the row out of your way. To twist the hair, take the 1/2-inch piece of hair and split evenly into two strands. Take the two strands and repeatedly twist them around each other until they are completely intertwined from root to tip. Continue taking 1/2 inch pieces from the rows you've sectioned off and twisting them until your entire head of hair is in twists. Step Five: Let the hair dry. If you're in a rush you can sit under a hooded hair dryer or blow it dry with your handheld hair dryer. Step Six: Once the twists are COMPLETELY dry, gently take them apart. When the twists are no longer in your hair, take shine serum or hair oil and gently run your fingers through the untwisted hair to break up the sections and blend the hair together.
Braid Out:
What you'll need is:
- Damp hair
- Hair clips
- Wide-toothed comb
- Leave-in conditioner
- Shine serum or hair oil Step One: Dampen your hair to bring out your natural curl pattern. Step Two: Saturate your hair with leave-in conditioner. Step Three: Section your hair in rows that stretch across the diameter of your head. Determining the width of the rows in up to you. It's your own personal preference. Part hair how you would like your hair to be parted when the braids are taken apart. Step Four: Start by taking a piece of hair from the back row no bigger than 1/2 of an inch. Clip the rest of the hair in the row out of your way. Take the 1/2-inch piece of hair and braid it. Continue taking 1/2-inch pieces from the rows you've sectioned off and braiding them until your entire head of hair is in braids. Step Five: Let the hair dry. If you're in a rush you can sit under a hooded hair dryer or blow it dry with your handheld hair dryer. Step Six: Once the braids are COMPLETELY dry, gently take them apart. When the braids are no longer in your hair, take shine serum or hair oil and gently run fingers through the unbraided hair to break up the sections and blend the hair together.
PART THREE
The Beginning
Keep It Movin'
There will be no need to do anything else to your hair and scalp if you follow the basic care steps and the minimal damage hair styling options provided. The more you use the steps the longer and stronger your hair will become. It will have shine, body, and bounce!
Some people feel the need to "grease the scalp" with some sort of hair moisturizer or oil. Most people have a favorite that they use all the time. By all means, do whatever makes you feel comfortable.
If you feel you need extra hair moisture or extra shine by using your favorite products or by extra brushing of your hair, then feel free to apply whatever you feel is necessary. Just remember to do so sparingly so your hair will continue to have a bouncy, full-bodied quality. Excess oil can weigh your hair down making it look matted, oily, and at times, stringy. For Professional Use Only
Hair colorings, relaxers, braids, curly perms, etc., all require professional services. I suggest a visit to your favorite professional stylist for any of these processes.
If you simply love your stylist and have an excellent relationship with him or her, then it's even better for you to have them clip your hair for you using your own special scissors. That way you'll know the scissors are super clean and super sharp each time they come in contact with your hair. Products
Any product would work great in thickening and growing hair using this step-by-step regimen; even a bargain baby shampoo and a very inexpensive mayo as a conditioner! Just make sure you rinse really well!
I would not recommend a particular product to use on your hair. As you know, one person's perfect match may very well be another person's poison when it comes to anything that makes contact with the human body. Our hair is different from each other's even though by all appearances, some seem to be exactly alike; they just are not.
There are excellent products on the market right now that can really speed up the process of hair growth. They are specifically designed to grow hair and they work! Do research and find what works best for you if you feel so inclined.
There are also products called "cleansing conditioners" that are NOT shampoo. They clean hair very well and they leave it shiny, conditioned, and full of body and bounce. Some people who use these will never go back to using conventional shampoos again.
If you are happy with the products you are currently using, then, by all means, continue to use them.
Diets, Supplements, Deficiencies, and Stress
At the very beginning of this guide, I suggested a vitamin and mineral supplement for yourself and for your hair. The reason for that is simple: Great hair starts from inside; and if you and your hair are in good health, you will produce faster-growing, silkier, and stronger hair!
One of the main causes of hair loss is inadequate nutrition. Lacking in some B vitamins such as B1, B6, and folic acid can actually cause baldness. Fortunately, that hair can grow back normally after proper intake of these supplements. I would suggest ingesting them from a food source rather than a supplement source, if at all possible.
Protein is also needed for great hair. Women require 60 grams, men 80 to 90, and adolescent boys and girls 80 to 100 grams per day. It can be supplied by milk, yogurt, eggs, cheese, fish, and meat. Inositol, which is found in molasses, yeast, and liver is also important for healthy hair. So is iron and iodine. Iron can be found in black strap molasses. Iodine from kelp tablets.
There are many different kinds of vitamin/mineral combinations that we need for health of hair and body and it is almost impossible to get an adequate amount with the average on-the-go diet.
If you have a tendency to lose hair, how about stepping up the program just a little? Try to consume what is very beneficial to hair. Along with the supplements, try your best to follow a diet that is made up of seeds, nuts, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit. They will supply adequate amounts of all the essentials and then some. Each food group should form the main part of each of your three principal meals. They can be supplemented with special foods, however, such as vegetable oils, milk, honey, wheat germ, yeast, and liver. Remember to exercise regularly and drink plenty of water.
Stress is also a main cause for falling hair. Try to have a regular anti-stress program for yourself at least once a week. Everybody knows that exercise is number one for stress relief but the very act of the Shampoo/Conditioning Care can be a great stress reliever in itself, especially if you prepare a relaxed atmosphere. Caring for your hair with softly scented lit candles, soothing music, and a warm cup of herbal tea can work wonders for you and for your hair!
Extras!
Ten Tricks and Tips Tried and True
1) Oils that penetrate the hair shaft:
Coconut Oil
Avocado Oil
Olive Oil
These oils are great for hot oil treatments and “pre-pooing”*
2) Coconut and yogurt cream "relaxer"
Mix:
- 1/4 Coconut Oil
- One cup plain yogurt
One cup of coconut oil and yogurt mixed together is a good product to use to loosen your natural curls. It doesn't matter what type hair you have. This process is HIGHLY recommended for 4a to 4c hair. The more you use this product on your hair, the more "relaxed" it will be.
Apply to curly hair and leave in for 30-45 minutes to loosen curl pattern. The curls won’t completely straighten, but they will become more manageable. This is known as a “natural relaxer” and will last up to three months.
3) Mayonnaise Hair Mask
Mayonnaise is a great conditioner! Apply 1 cup of mayonnaise to dry hair and cover with a plastic cap. Leave it on your hair for 15 minutes before shampooing.
4) Natural Shampoo Alternative
Many people are foregoing the use of stripping shampoos on their hair and are instead opting for a less expensive and less damaging alternative: baking soda and apple cider vinegar.
Dissolve about 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a small amount of water, enough to form a paste. Apply this mixture to your roots only. Let it sit for a minute or two and proceed to gently massage your scalp with small, circular motions to scrub it clean. Rinse your hair. Then take two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed into approximately 12 ounces of water and pour it on only the ends of your hair. Rinse well. And don’t worry, your hair won’t smell like vinegar all day.
5) Pre-pooing:* This simply means applying oil to your hair and scalp before shampooing. Hot oil treatments can be used this way also. Saturate your hair and scalp with olive oil and let it sit for at least 5 minutes before you shampoo for more moisturized locks.
6) Taking 1000 mgs of biotin along with an application of castor oil on your scalp PER day, will thicken your hair and make it grow AT LEAST an inch per month. My advice would be to use the castor oil as a hot oil treatment. If your hair is naturally dry, this might be an excellent tip for you to try.
7) What about my eyebrows and eyelashes? They can also grow and thicken with proper care.
Eyelashes:
Gently massage a small amount of olive oil into your eyelashes every night before bed.
Eyebrows:
Apply a small amount of castor oil to your eyebrows every night before bed.
8) A very gentle mild scalp massage everyday can speed hair growth rate tremendously. Spot massaging is also beneficial. For example, if you only want the back part of your hair to grow more and faster than the front, then massage that area more. Just remember to be very gentle and do not over massage. One minute max.
9) If you have natural hair or hair that is very short FOR NOW (for now because it will grow very fast very soon), then you can use leave-in conditioner and/or the Aloe Vera gel to control it without having to resort to extensive styling methods.
10) Corn rows can help your hair grow because it is basically giving it a "rest" from everyday handling. These braids can help your hair grow and thicken, with little maintenance. The ends of your hair are tucked and protected and if you use oil treatment or almost any moisturizing procedure, while your hair is braided, it will allow for speedy hair growth and moisturized elasticity.
Recommended:
* Try to use only silky/satiny scrunchies, smooth-edged barrettes without sharp points, and bobby pins with rounded tips.
* Use only a baby's hair brush and an Aloe Vera gel and/or leave-in conditioner to smooth and style your edges and to smooth your hair down.
* Sharpen your styling scissors/shears every three to six months.
* Visit a health nutritional store for natural hair care products. Ask the staff on hand for advice and recommendations.
* Use a clarifying shampoo or the baking soda method every three or four months to remove conditioner build-up. Avoid:
* Do not over brush. Ignore the hundred stroke rule.
* Do not use combs with seams.
* Do not use cotton scarves, cotton scrunchies, cotton sheets, or pillowcases.
* Do not clip hair with dull scissors.
* Do not clip hair with dirty scissors.
* Avoid heat styling as much as possible.
* Do not crash diet. It can cause hair loss.
* Avoid caffeine and alcoholic beverages as much as possible.
* Avoid smoking, even second-hand smoke, as much as possible.
********** The Beginning
Shiny and strong; bouncy and long! As promised, this guide has shown you how to incorporate these qualities for your hair. You are now beginning a new health and beauty journey that will allow for many wellness benefits. Only you can really control your health and the health of your hair.
Wishing you all the best in hair health and beauty. You are special. Please take the time to treat yourself in a special way. You deserve it and so does your hair.
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DISCLAIMER: Any and all information in this guide is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
