Healthy Textures

Daily Discussion - Other Women and Hair?

Have you ever asked another women about her hair and got the cold shoulder? Have you tried to share advice and been written off as crazy or obsessed?

What is it about women and hair? Why don't we share advice and tips? Why is it always a secret?

Why is it when we talk about make-up, fashion and business, we are open and ready to learn..but when it comes to hair, the conversation is cut short?

Spotlight on... Cold Water Rinses!!

Are you looking for ways to add more shine to your hair? Try a cold water rinse!

Thirty seconds under cold running water will help seal the cuticles on the hair shaft, trapping moisture into the hair and creating that beautiful hair commercial shine.

It also constricts the opening of the sebaceous glands to help moderate sebum production.

It's the perfect addition to the Deep Conditioning/No Trimming Challenge starting September 1st. Join the over 280 challengers here!

Daily Discussion - Other People's Hands and Your Hair!

Do you let other people touch your hair? Or, do you politely tell them not to?

Does it depend on how well you know that person or do you just cringe at the thought of anyone touching your hair?

Important Article on Flat Iron Use!

Straight hair enthusiasts urged to give their hair a break by limiting use and avoiding improper application of popular hair device

    CHICAGO, July 30 /PRNewswire/ -- While hairstyles come and go,
pin-straight hair favored by A-list celebrities and emulated by scores of
loyal fans from coast to coast appears to have real staying power. That's
why the use of flat irons, which are used to straighten hair, has increased
in popularity in recent years. Now, dermatologists warn that some flat
irons can damage hair and cause hair breakage which could put a crimp in
this coveted hairstyle.

    At the American Academy of Dermatology's Summer Academy Meeting 2008 in
Chicago, dermatologist Paradi Mirmirani, MD, FAAD, assistant clinical
professor of dermatology, University of California, San Francisco,
presented evidence that when ceramic flat irons are used improperly or too
frequently, hair breakage can occur.

Daily Discussion - Purchase Preference?

Where do you like to buy your hair products?

Do you prefer to order them online, shop at chain store like Sallys or buy from your neighborhood beauty supply store?

Is it more for convenience, customer service or overall ambiance?

Spotlight on....Jilbere Shower Comb

I love this comb! It hangs nicely in the my shower and is perfect for distributing conditioner or detangling hair, especially under running water.

After using this, I can step out of the shower well conditioned and tangle free. Perfect for natural divas and women with thick hair that is usually hard to detangle. I also recommended for any of the ladies on the DC/NT challenge :)

Daily Discussion - Certain Ingredients and Your Hair?

Are there some product ingredients your hair doesn't seem to like?

For example, does your scalp or hair seem to disagree with mineral oil, protein, or even a certain oil or natural ingredient?

When and how did you figure it out?

Paula Begoun on Parabens!

Parabens seem to be a common ingredient in many drugstore and salon quality products. For the past few years, it have been suggested that this ingredient could cause breast cancer.

Here is what Paula Begoun, best selling author of Don't Go Shopping for Hair Products without Me, says about the commonly used ingredient.

"Parabens are a group of preservatives, including butylparaben, propylparaben, methylparaben, and ethylparaben, that are the most widely used group of preservatives in cosmetics. It is estimated that more than 90% of all cosmetic products contain some form of paraben. Parabens are believed to cause less irritation than some preservatives. There is research showing that in animal models (and in vitro) parabens can have weak estrogenic activity. Whether that poses any health risk for humans who are using cosmetics is unknown. The technical findings of the study, which involved both oral administration and injection into rat skin, did show evidence of a weak estrogen effect on cells in a way that could be problematic for binding to receptor sites that may cause proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The study concluded that “future work will need to address the extent to which parabens can accumulate in hormonally sensitive tissues and also the extent to which their weak oestrogenic activity can add to the more general environmental oestrogen problem” (Source: Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, January 2002, pages 49–60).

Daily Discussion - Hair Care and Friends?

How have your friends reacted to your hair journey so far?

Have they become interested in healthy hair too or do they seem a bit skeptical?

Do you find them incorporating some of your tips and techniques or do they resist your advice and suggestions?

DC/NT Challenge – When to Use Protein and Moisture Based Deep Conditioners

So, if you have joined the DC/NT Challenge, you might be wondering when to use a moisturizing conditioner and when to use a protein based conditioner.

A good rule of thumb is to start by analyzing your own hair. If your hair feels relatively healthy and your aren’t experiencing any significant breakage, thinning or dryness, then try to incorporate both moisture and protein into your regimen. This will help ensure that your hair remains strong yet moisturized and soft.

There are a couple ways to incorporate protein and moisture into your regimen.

• Alternate between deep conditioning with a light protein based conditioner (like Aubrey GPB) and moisture based deep conditioner (like Kenra Moisturizing Conditioner) each week. Apply the conditioner to wet hair, cover with a plastic cap or hot wet towel and sit under a hooded dryer.
• Shampoo with a strengthening shampoo (like Aphogee Shampoo for Damaged hair – only lather once with this product) and deep condition with a moisturizing conditioner (like Keracare Humecto) and/or vice versa.
• Pre-poo with a protein based conditioner and deep condition with a moisturizing conditioner and/or vice versa.

These are some of the methods I use to ensure my hair gets an equal amount of moisture and protein each week.