How to Find the Perfect Hairdresser

Hey everyone! I hope you guys are all having fun on Labor Day.
Here it is pooring rain so hard that we are all stuck inside. What a bummer. So since we are all stuck inside I thought ''Why not look up hairstyles?''

So I came across THIS article and I new I just HAD to share it with y'all.

Ejoy!
P.S: Do you have the perfect hairdresser?

Hair Tip # 28: Spice Up Your Conditioner

Do you have a...

• cheap conditioner?
• watery conditioner?
• uneffective conditioner?
• annoying because it won't work conditioner?

Its time to SPICE IT UP! You can add several difference elements to your conditioner in order to make it work better for you. Before you throw it out, try these methods!

To Make Your Regular Conditioner into a better Conditioner:

ADD oils! Your conditioner is most likely lacking the moisturizing properties that a conditioner needs. You can fix this issue by adding oils. Whether it be coconut, jojoba, olive, grape seed, or any other kind of oil, use what works for you!

ADD protein! Your conditioner could also be lacking the protein that you need. Add mayo, or avocado. If you use avocado, it needs to be blended or you will end up with bits left in your hair. You can also use coconut milk for these purposes.

ADD shine! You expect your shampoo to give your hari luster and shine, as it should. Add honey! It will not make your hair sticky :) It is a wonderful additive.

ADD something to make it soft. Remember the banana mask? Add a jar or banana baby food to soften your tresses! It will also add a yummy smell.

**NOTE: Keep in mind that if you add perishable contents to your conditioner, you will want to refrigerate it and mix in small amounts! **

Hair Tip #26: Photograph Your Hair Journey

Keep a personal photo log of your hair growth. You don’t have to show it to anyone. For I while I kept it on my phone for my own reference. Since 2010 I gained confidence to share it all with you! I pray you will all gain confidence to start your own blogs and record your journey to help others.

I have been taking pictures of my hair since 2009 and I am very glad that I did. Because you will find that when you look back there are several elements that you will be able to see:

Growth progress. Whenever I feel like my hair has hit a plateau, I go back and recall how short it used to be. It reminds me that my hair is growing. When I see my hair everyday, I most certainly tend to forget that its growing! Simple truth, but seeing is believing for this one!! It keeps me sane sometimes because while my husband is always telling me how much thicker, healthier and longer my hair is, I rant and tell him its staying the same length. Oh silly Kendra, go back to the pictures would ya?

Health progress. When I look back on old photos I am able to see how much healthier my hair is now. My hair was very dry, dull and brittle, now it is nourished, moist and shiny. It reminds me that I have come a long way. Not just in length, but also in attaining healthy hair. In the picture below, you can see how dry my hair was in the first bun hawk I did. I was still washing with baking soda and moisturizing with products that were drying to my hair. You can tell I am still transitioning by how easily the ends lie down. One of the key elements to hair health is thickness. There is a significant difference from the first picture to the second.

Product progress. Looking back, I am able to see how I have advanced in product knowledge and usage. From baking soda, suave, grease, and mineral oil to organic and becoming more consciences of what I put in my hair! I now know what works and have been able to nail down an effective line of products.

Regimen progress. Going back in time allows me to see how I have developed and polished my regimen. It is much more consistent and I have been able to find what works for me. I am able to nail my styles with consistency. It no longer takes me hours every day to style my hair. Detangling is a breeze. Its amazing to think how far I have come!

Confidence progress. Stepping out of boat on faith and becoming natural is not an easy decision. You face much opposition from many places whether family, friends, or society. However, with time, you learn to love and embrace your hair. You celebrate milestones! You leap for joy and squeal when you reach a certain hair goal. You laugh at past mistakes.

So get to snapping!!

"...as the days turn to months, and months to years, you will see how much you have come to truly love and embrace the glory God has given you."

Hair Tip #25: Tying Up Your Hair at Night

Tying up your hair at night is extremely important! It is hard to keep up with this practice if you have a busy and hectic schedule- but the long run results are well worth the extra 2-3 minutes.

5 Reasons why its worth it to tie up your hair!

1. Reduces breakage on your edges
2. Reduces dry and brittle hair strands
3. Keeps your hair fresh
4. Maintains your style
5. Helps keep your hair moisturized

How should I tie up my hair?

There are various options depending on the style you are wearing, the amount of hair your have and your overall preference.

Silk Scarves





 Large Silk Scarves are widely used method for tying up your hair.

• Pros: It preserves almost any style. In addition you can choose from a variety of colors and sizes.
• Cons: The main disadvantage is that if you are a crazy sleeper or you move around a lot at night- you will have a hard time keeping the scarf on your head all night.



 

 

Skinny Silk Scarves are great to tie down your edges when you are wearing a style where your hair is pulled back.

• Pros: They work well in combination with a silk bonnet or wave cap because they hold your edges down for a slick look in the morning.
• Cons: They can slide off in the middle of the night and cause headaches if tied too tightly  

Silk Bonnet







Silk Bonnet's are great for almost any style.

• Pros: This is a good option especially if you are a crazy sleeper. It stays on very well. They make several types: one with elastic (like the one in the picture above) and adjustable, tyeable ones.
• Cons: You will find that silk bonnets will preserve your style well, unless it is a hanging style.

Wave Caps

 

Wave Caps  are convenient for pulled back styles such as a low bun.

• Pros: They are an ideal option when you have short hair that doesn't fall past then nape of your neck.
• Cons: They are not recommended for hanging styles such as twists or braids because it leaves a line.

 Silk/Satin Pillow Case

If you do not prefer to tie up your hair, you can always sleep on a silk/satin pillow case.

• Pros: It protects your hair because it prevents breakage and thinning. But if your are wearing a bun, ponytail on top of your hair or something that you will put up anyway, it won't matter! If all else fails and you are exhausted, this is a great fall back on option.
• Cons: However it won't preserve your style too well. You will end up with flat curls. 

So remember to tie up your hair every night!

Hair Tip #24: Making your own leave in conditioner

Hello ladies, I want to explain how you can make a well balanced and beneficial leave in conditioner for your hair. It is very easy to make! I made mine in 1 minute :)

You will need:

• A spray bottle- you can pick them up from Wal-Mart, Target, a local dollar store, etc. They are very inexpensive from the travel section. I believe I paid $0.88 for mine :)
• Purified water - we have a water dispenser so that is what I use. You can pick up a gallon for less than a dollar at your local grocery store.
• Why do you use purified water? What is wrong with tap water? Tap water is very hard and harsh on your hair. There are many chemicals such as chlorine that dry your hair. Besides, we really don’t know what is really in tap water. Yuck! If I could afford to wash my hair with buckets of purified water, you betcha I would! So when it comes to styling my hair, tap water doesn’t touch it. I have written several posts about water, read them here and   here 
• Glycerin - you can pick it up from your local beauty supply. Mine was around $6 for a 12 oz. bottle. I have used it for 4-5 months and I have 1/3 of a bottle left. It lasts because you use it in small amounts.
• Why do you use glycerin? Personally I enjoy the shine and moisture it gives my hair. It helps to absorb water and keep the hair moisturized. There is a very in depth article about glycerin , you can read it here
• Essential oil - the type of oil you choose is up to you. I have been using jojoba oil that I purchased from Trader Joes for $6.99. It is pure jojoba oil. Other oils I like are: olive oil and tee tree oil.
• Why do you use jojoba oil?  Jojoba oil is very close the sebum your hair produces naturally to moisturize your scalp and hair strands. Therefore jojoba oil helps to regulate the production of sebum on your scalp. This is a great benefit because your scalp produces too much sebum, it will clog your pores and if your scalp does not produce enough, you will have a dry and itchy scalp. Jojoba oil is a great cleanser so it helps to get rid of excess build up on your scalp. Especially if you use it to massage your scalp! It is said to add glow and shine to your hair, which is always a plus.
• Aloe Vera Gel - i picked up a bottle from Trader Joes for $2.99. Want to save money? Grow your own aloe vera plant and use the pure gel from the middle of the plant leaf.
• What can Aloe Vera gel do for my hair? It promotes hair growth by helping to maintain the natural pH balance of your hair. It also helps combat frizz! In addition, it has moisturizing properties that will help to prevent split ends.
• A creme based leave in conditioner - I use bioinfusion olive oil leave in conditioner. I purchased it from Walgreens at $11.99 for 2 bottles. Way worth the price! It is lightweight but lets off an amazing smell and gives me great moisture! While you are at it, select one with organic ingredients. Not sure what to avoid? Read the post I wrote about harmful chemicals here! 

 How to make it:

1. Fill the bottle 3/4 of the way with purified water
2. Add about 1/2 oz. of glycerin
3. Add about 1 oz. of aloe vera gel
4. Add about 1 1/2 oz. of leave in conditioner
5. Add about 1/2 oz. of essential oil

Clearly these measurements are estimations based on just mixing. As a general rule you want the majority of the mixture to be in this order:

• Purified water 
• Leave in conditioner
• Aloe Vera gel
• Essential oil and Glycerin

Enjoy!!!

*Note: My inspiration came from Kimmay Love on youtube. She gives great information when it comes to hair! She has an excellent online store for hair products, www.luvnaturals.com