How Not to Stress Your Edges: 7 Tips to a Healthier Hairline

If you are struggling with thinning edges there’s help. But first we have to find the cause of the problem. Many times the culprit is how we handle our hair other times the issue can be health related such as alopecia. So here are a few tips to handling your edges correctly. The key is to always be gentle with your edges since that area is more fragile than any other.

Don’t Braid the Edges to Tight
When getting extensions hold down the roots in order to prevent your edges from coming out. This will help alleviate some of the tension on your roots.

Allow Some Time Between Braiding
If you love to braid your hair that’s fine (extensions or natural). Ensure that you’re not doing it back to back to back. Leave some time in between so that your hair can actually rest. Take this time to deep condition and treat your hair. Let your hair loose sometimes get to know your hair :).

Leave Your Edges Out
When getting extensions (weave or braids), leave a small amount of your edges out. You can always use a little bit of gel, hair polisher or a silk scarf to smooth it down.

Try Using Looser Headbands and Bonnets
Sometimes the headbands and bonnets that we use to accessorize may be too tight. It looks cute once the style is done but it’s not so cute when your hairline is gone. Opt for looser bands. And if you’re like me and can’t stand the tension this will also help to prevent headaches.

Try Not to Brush Edges Excessively
I’m guilty of this  sometimes. I love the sleek look of my edges whether or not my hair is in a ponytail. Try using a softer bristle brush or a silk or satin scarf to achieve this sleek look.

Stimulate the Scalp
Rejuvenate your hair follicles by stimulating blood circulation. This will help your edges to grow back. Gently massage the affected areas at least twice daily using the pad of your fingertips.

Incorporate Oils in your Hair Regimen
Oils such as Vitamin E, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Coconut just to name a few have tremendous benefits which aid in blood circulation resulting in hair growth. When massaging your hair line try using one of the oils listed above.

Remember hair does not grow overnight so you have to be patient and consistent with your routine. Try using some of these tips and you should be on your way to reviving or improving your edges.

Happy Growing!

How To Go From Relaxed To Natural | Big Chop vs Long Term Transitioning

When considering embarking upon a natural hair journey hopeful naturals have to ask themselves a very important question: “To Transition or To Big Chop?” Personally, I’ve never struggled with that question. It was a no brainer for me. But for other hopeful naturals the decision is not always that easy.

“Do you have to shave off all your head to become natural?” The answer to that question is “Of course not”. But do you have to “Big Chop” in order to become a natural? The answer to that question is “Yes”.  At some point during your transition you have to relieve your hair of the relaxer in order to fully embrace and experience the joys of being called a natural.

In order to go natural one of the first things you have to do is make a conscious decision to return natural and then STOP relaxing your hair. This means no touch ups. Throw out the relaxer kits.

There are basically only two ways to return natural: 1) the big chop 2) transition. There is no magic product that will take you form relaxed to natural overnight. So forget about it. LoL!

What is the BIG CHOP (BC)?
To BC is the fastest transition ever. It simply means cutting off your relaxer once you have gained minimal new growth. You can also BC after several months of transitioning and have gained a decent few inches in new growth.

Pros of doing a BIG CHOP

Not having to deal with two textures
This can be one of the most frustrating things ever. It may even tempt you to get a relaxer, completely defeating the purpose of your decision to go natural. One texture is so much easier to deal with.

Products work better
This ties into the point above. When dealing with only one hair texture, you get a better understanding of how products work for your hair type.

Instant gratification
When you BC your journey starts immediately. You don’t have to wait for your hair to grow out or install weaves or braids. The deal is sealed and you get to watch your lovely locks grow from the root up.

Accessorize
If you love makeup and accessories it’s time to bring out the makeup kit and jewelry box. Long hair can sometimes detract from the accessories. Once you big chop your accessories will stand out more and will accentuate your natural beauty.

 

Cons of Doing the Big Chop

Dislike Short Hair
Ok so you love your long hair and can’t bear to part with it. The big chop is definitely not for you.

Limited Style Options
When it comes to styling your options will definitely be limited and you will be left with a teeny weeny afro (TWA).  And that in between stage where your hair has gain some length but still too short to pull in a pony tail can be just as stressful as the enemy line of demarcation because you will have no idea what to do with your hair. This would be a great time to get creative. Another option would be to wig or weave it up until your hair grows out.

What is Long Term Transitioning?
To long term transition is the process where you wait patiently for your relaxed hair to grow out to a length where you are comfortable enough to trim the relaxer off. This process can be as long or as short as you want it to be.

Pros of Transitioning

You get to keep your long hair
If you love your long hair and can’t bear to part with it, transitioning is definitely for you. You get to keep your relaxed hair for as long as you want. When you’re comfortable enough you can do the big chop.

You can wear your hair straight
 It is still possible to wear your hair straight by flat ironing the new growth but be careful not to do it too often less you heat damage the new growth.

Cons of Transitioning 

Can’t tell your real curl pattern
Because the relaxed ends of your hair weigh down your new growth you won’t be able to tell the real texture and curl pattern of your hair. So until your rid your hair of the relaxed ends there will be some uncertainty.

Breakage at the line of demarcation
 The hair is prone to breakage where the two textures connect which is actually the weakest part of the hair. The hair becomes uneven and you may end up losing more hair than you wanted to and eventually have to end up doing a big chop much sooner than you anticipated.

You might be tempted to relax again
Once there’s new growth there comes a point when the two textures become a bit difficult to manage. At this point it’s easy to get frustrated, give up and revert to the creamy stuff.

Products don’t work the same
The products that work for your relaxed hair may not work for your natural hair and vice versa. This makes choosing hair products difficult and it becomes a lot of work to maintain the two textures.

           

Comments from people who transitioned please. Or tell us why you chose to big chop. Thanks dolls!

Is it really ‘just hair’?

There is a big debate over whether or not hair is ‘just hair’. You may probably realize by now that hair makes up a big part of a person’s identity.

So……..

Is it really just hair when black women have donated over a billion dollars to the hair industry, neglecting their health and bills just so that they can look “fly”???

While we would like to think that it’s “just hair”, it’s more than that due to its past. For centuries black women have been taught that our grade of hair is unacceptable and should be masked. Since then, we’ve been introduced to hot combs, relaxers, weaves, and any other vehicle to tame our mane. Sadly, the European standard of beauty is still praised and it’s harder for young black women to return natural because we are subject to external pressure. The notion of “light skin and long hair” is still very prevalent.

People can wear their hair however they want. I’m not a “Natural Nazi”, however it is stereotypical to think that once someone has return natural they have finally come to grips with reality and found some self-love. While that might be so for some people, I don’t think that it’s fair to all those concerned to be fit into that category, especially those who think “it’s just hair.”

People go natural for different reasons. Some do it for health reasons; some for the convenience of not having to spend a fortune on wigs and weaves. Others do it because the health of their hair has been compromised and also because they just want to experience the natural texture of their hair. Likewise, people wear weaves and wigs for different reasons; some for the convenience of not having to comb or style their hair daily, while others because they have some underlying scalp problem. Then there are women who just like to have fun and experiment with their hair. I will agree that there are some natural hair females who think they are better than females with relaxers. I can assure you I’m not one of them. Whatever our reason for being relaxed or natural, the belief that one hair is more dignified over the other is a matter of public opinion.

I’m all for freedom of choice and I’m not anti-relaxer or anti-weaves but people should use their discretion. Why would you want to perm a 3 year old’s hair?  Why would you want to continue to apply relaxer to a head of hair so thin that you can see what the person is thinking?  Why would you want to continue to glue and sew tracks in your hair and damage your beautiful hair line? I’m not saying that having natural hair will solve these issues but it’s a start.

One day natural hair will be the norm and cease to make headlines and people will embrace it and move on. Given the history of our hair, I don’t believe that natural hair should be downplayed just because it may not tie into your personal experience. Although hair should just be hair, it will never just be hair until a black woman can walk into a boardroom with a massive fro and not be condemned for wearing one.

You don’t need a weave to look good and you don’t need to be natural to feel good. We just need to learn to take care of our hair and teach our children to do the same. Maya Angelo said, “When we know better we should do better.” Let us form a new blueprint for our younger generation. Stop killing the kinks just to embrace society’s concept of beauty and let us accept the hair that God blessed us with.

So what do you think? Do you think that hair is “just hair”?