Did you miss natural hair blogger Curly Nikki’s live chat discussion earlier today? If you have questions about how to keep your hair moisturized, how to trim your own locks and skip the shop or how to find the right products for your texture, check out her response to some of these questions below. If you don’t see your hair questions represented below, be sure to check out CurlyNikki’s new book,  ‘Better Than Good Hair.’

Kelly: What should you use on edges that are thinning?

CN: I would recommend massaging nightly with castor oil (which has anecdotal evidence of thickening edges)

Lisa: Have you used the Bantu leave in? I want to use products on dry hair so that I get a fuller longer effect…what products work best? Some products leave a residue dandruff look when I try to use them on my dry hair.

CN: No, unfortunately. I love doing dry twist and braid-outs on blown out hair too. The best results (but least moisturizing) are a lightweight mousse like TIGI Totally Baked. LOVE the results, but my hair doesn’t feel as moisturized as when I use a creamy leave-in. For definition and moisture, try Qhemet Moringa Tree or Cocoa Conditioning Ghee.

WhertheresawillDesiree: After suffering a bacterial infection in my scalp, I had it treated and now my hair is extremely thin in that area..what can I do to make it grow!! it’s been several months.

CN: Sorry to hear that, chica. I’d see a dermatologist first. And see if they recommend a topical treatment or multivitamin.

Rhoda: Kids and trimming their natural hair…I am anxious about trimming my daughter’s hair, but don’t trust any local salons. Suggestions…

CN: You can purchase some professional hair scissors (10-50 bucks at Walmart, Target or Sally’s Beauty) and twist her hair up into 8-20 two strand twists. You can snip the very ends of each twist off, so that your results are even. I do this with my own hair and it works great! However, in my opinion, nothing compares to a professional trim. I’d schedule one with a trusted stylist twice a year.

Melissa: Well, after going natural for about a year, I went back to a relaxer. My hair was so thick and course until I felt that nothing was working, and it stayed dry. For some reason I just couldn’t manage it. I want to go back natural though…so what can I use or do to get it beautiful, healthy, and manageable?

CN: I’d highly recommend developing a solid regimen, and incorporating frequent deep treatments with heat. Also, if you find your hair to be too much to work with every other day or even bi-weekly, you can utilize protective styles, with care (paying attention to your edges and keeping your ends moisturized).

Patricia:  I have been wearing my hair natural for over a year. I still about every four months go to the salon, get it trimmed and straightened, but I now prefer the natural hair.

My question is, I completely understand that every hair day is different, and I DO know my hair type (When wet it’s probably close to a 2C and 3a. It can get a little overwhelming (and expensive) trying to find the perfect combination. Any suggestions/videos?

CN: Your hair is lovely (i can see your profile pic!) and I’m happy to hear you’re embracing your natural texture. You’re right in that it’s going to take tons of experimentation to find which product combo will work best for your texture. If I can make one recommendation, it would be looking into AG Fast Food + Recoil. It seems to be a popular product combo among curlies with hair similar to yours. I’ve tried it with success as well! It gives curl definition, moisture and shine with moderate hold. Good luck!

Nicole: I don’t color my hair. Does henna come in any other colors besides red? I’d like the benefits of henna without the color. My hair is a mixture of browns.

CN: Henna stains red and red alone. Any other mixes you see at the store (brown, blonde, etc.) contain other ingredients and I recommend to avoid them. Purchase body art quality henna from a reputable vendor (butters-n-bars) and mix it yourself. For more info on henna, check out this link–

If you want to try a similar plant, check out cassia (turns grays golden… but imparts a clear sheen to dark hair) check out this link

Maria: My hair is naturally curly, because of straightening it so much it won’t curl anymore, what can I do to get it to curl again.

CN: Sadly, if your hair is heat damaged (breakage OR loss of curl) there’s nothing you can do but trim away the damaged bits or grow it out (pretty much the same as transitioning). I experienced heat damage almost 10 years ago (white dot breakage), and I’d trim a little every month to prevent from a drastic chop. I kept my hair balanced (tons of moisture and soft protein treatments) and utilized protective styles to keep manipulation and friction low. I hope that helps. Sorry you’re going through this! Lots of us have been there. For tips on safer heat styling, check out this link-

Anndrea: What products can I use on my daughter so her hair is not so dry.

CN: I love Qhemet and CurlJunkie products on my daughter. They’re mostly natural and don’t cause her sensitive skin to break out. Qhemet is a highly moisturizing line and my daughter’s hair is DRY and the Moringa Tree Conditioning Ghee keeps her hair moisturized for days.

So the time comes where you decided to change your look for whatever reason it may be, but weeks have gone by and your hair is now brittle, dry, or faded. While we’re excited about the idea of a new look, we often forget how to keep it up! With over 75 percent of Americans jumping into the hair dye pool, here are some tips you can use to take care of your colored hair.

Honey (If You Want to Lighten Hair)

So this past summer I got highlights and I gained a new best friend- honey! Lots of people don’t realize that some of toughest hair dilemmas can be found right in the cupboard.  Honey has all the essentials to keep your color bright and keep your highlights vibrant.  To keep color like new, take one cup of honey, two cups of water, one tablespoon of cinnamon and one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and mix well.  Using a brush or a comb apply on damp hair (doesn’t have to be clean) and leave in hair for 30 minutes. For it to hit your strands perfectly, you can either wrap your hair, or just use a shower cap to cover it all. After 30 minutes, wash out the concoction and condition with cool water. Do this every couple of weeks and after the first time, you will definitely see the difference!

Moisturize

This cannot be said enough. After the first week or so, you’re going to have that brittle feeling. While it seems your hair may fall off as you brush it, don’t fret. Try to moisturize your hair as much as possible, (especially since the weather is dropping) because with colored hair you can expect more than just a couple of split ends.  Tricks like oil treatments, color shampoo (Pantene and John Frieda are some of the best), and even massaging the scalp can be all the tools you need to keep your colored hair perfect.  (FYI: For all who have oily skin, try using baby powder on your roots in the front and sides of your head. This helps with too much moisture and makes the hair soft in between washes as well. Others can try at your own risk-but I’m sure it won’t hurt!)

Eat Good

Even though colored hair isn’t something that’s in your body, it still affects it in a way. Eating the right nutrients like nuts, avocado, salads, and even salmon can make your hair just as healthy as your body. Also, drink plenty of water; it helps hydrate your hair. Check out the full list of “The Best Foods for Hair” here.

Mix Up Shampoo..And Conditioner!

In addition to using color shampoo, take the time to mix it up. By using different shampoos you get to see what works for your hair.  If you are on a budget, try travel packs before you invest in the bigger bottles. Sometimes I mix conditioners when I’m doing a deep conditioner at home. It gives hair that perfect clean, (without stripping it of its essential oils of course) with shine and that perfect salon look.

Step Away From The Flat Iron…

This can be tricky since no one likes to do wash and gos as the weather gets cooler, but try to stay away from the excessive heat of flat irons.  You should give yourself at least two to three weeks before straightening newly dyed hair. Also try air drying hair so you can reduce the amount of heat used each time you do your hair.

Choose The Salon Over The Box If Possible

The only reason I say this is because of my own experience. I used to have a family member who always colored my hair. One time I decided to a get a cherry red color but two boxes later, I looked like Ronald McDonald (My senior picture proved it).  After trying to repair my hair, (it took years and a couple of more dyes) I decided to cut it all off and start over. So when I decide to get back into the color game, I went straight to Vidal Sassoon. Sure, it was a lot of money, but you get a great treatment and it also helped me learn about what works for my hair and what doesn’t. Professionals can often do the best work when you’re first getting into the color game. And not everyone is a Beautician. You can mistakenly put too much color one side and look just as silly as I did.

Dear Readers, we at Madame Noire have heard your requests.  We know that a lot of our hair articles are about natural hair, and a few of our relaxed hair readers were feeling neglected.  I feel you; therefore, I’m giving you an article on taking care of relaxed hair.  Not only banking from my own personal experiences of things not to do, but I also got tips from a few hair consultants.

Okay, first, let’s talk about the basics of our hair.  I learned in a health class once that while a strand of Caucasian hair averages about three breakage points per strand, our hair has twice that, averaging about six to nine.  Therefore, our hair has a higher likelihood of breakage, but by taking proper care of it, it doesn’t have to.  You can have long hair, it’s within your grasp, and here are a few easy ways for you  to attain it.

Oh, and just because we’ve honored your request for a relaxed hair article, we did not honor your request for an article that you don’t have to click through all the pages.  But I promise, if you just take the few seconds to click, you might find some information that will help shape your hair care regimen.

Source: swaymag.ca

Are your dogs barking?

We’re talking about your feet, especially now that it’s sandals season.

No, your feet may not be hurting, and you may think you’re looking pretty cute as you strut your stuff on the beach, the boardwalk or even at work.

But neglected feet can rob you of the cute factor big time. Your feet may be barking big time and begging for a little TLC.

This can be true even if you go to your favorite spot to have a regular pedicure or give yourself a pedicure at home every once in a while.

That’s because your feet need some attention in between your pedicures too.

Here are some steps to follow:

Now that you have decided to transition, it is important to treat your “new” tresses with tender care- especially if you are not familiar with your natural curl pattern and texture.

The Wash
Conditioning is your new best friend. Many naturalistas find co-washing strands to be the most effective way to clean their hair and without stripping scalp and strands of essential oils. Co-washing is the no-shampoo method of cleaning hair- just “wash” with a good rinse-out conditioner.

When detangling strands, use fingers to find any knots and gently separate the hair first. Apply a good leave-in conditioner and then use a wide-tooth comb for any further detangling or styling.

Moisturizing
Natural hair is very porous, which is a great thing because it absorbs moisture like a sponge. However on the flip side, you may find yourself taking extra steps to maintain the moisture level. Beware of creams containing petroleum which serves as a barrier on strands and can make it difficult for hair to receive moisture.
Carol’s Daughter Transitioning Movement.com recommends sealing your hair after you moisturize with a layer of oil. If, for any reason, you are anti-oil, Aloe Vera works just as well.

Night Time
I am sure you cannot wait to say good bye to the nightly wrap and satin scarf, but it is important to protect natural and transitioning strands at night- even if you did the BC. Try a satin bonnet or satin pillowcase for fuss free “sleep prep.”
Styling Note: when using colorful scarves or head bands to accessorize your ‘do and conceal transitioning roots, be sure to select fabrics that are satin, smooth, and will not pull on strands like cotton. Otherwise, your maintenance and night time care will go down the drain.