Damage & Breakage

I have a confession. I have not been good to my hair this week. Stress got in the way. I wore my hair in a bun or in two flat twists all week long. Not bad styles at all but I've been very neglectful. I.e. not detangling and moisturizing properly. I need to go back to hair bootcamp. This can't be life. I took down my bun and finally combed my hair and I had some serious breakage. A deep conditioner and my personal oil treatment are in order.

Can I Touch It?

"Can I touch it?" is the most popular question, in my most humble opinion, when it comes to natural hair. I even ask to touch other people's hair. Although, I never ask to touch someones weave. That could be hazardous depending on its condition. I digress. Touching is a learning experience. Through touching someones hair you can find out about its condition and texture. It also satisfies the curiosity of the toucher. And they are very curious. When I let others touch my hair they usually respond with, "It's so soft." Well gee thanks! My 'fro might be the first and last one that someone touches in their lifetime. It feels good knowing that I dispel myths on a semi-daily basis (on good hair days).

Ever so often someone touches my hair without permission. They try to rake their fingers through it, as if it were straight. Upon failure, and subsequent backlash, they might comment that my hair is nappy or that I need a perm. I can't blame them either, that might not be something that they are used to. These people have a lot to learn about hair and I'd be willing to teach if they have an open mind. They should know that raking fingers through a twist-out isn't going to make it look better --it's quite a nightmare.

My brother told me that I'm obsessed with my hair. Maybe I am, but others are pretty interested too.  My natural hair cannot be judged by Euro-centric standards. That's why I take the time to teach people about natural hair.



Ciao

Split End Binding?

Undoubtedly One of my most hated hair problems is split ends. Some of my strands even have triple and quadruple splits. It saddens me that, up until now, I believed that the only way to rid my head of these legged creatures is to cut them off. Cutting is liberating in its own way --but now I am trying to grow my hair to APL, so I am not very fond of cutting my hair so frequently. Options please... While in Target, I was browsing the Nexxus line (one that I've never tried, mainly because of ingredients and price) the product that jumped off the shelf was the Nexxus ProMend Split End Binding Overnight Treatment Creme (17.49) and the Nexxus ProMend Split End Binding Targeted Leave-In Treatment Creme (11.79)

What's in It?

Water, Phenyltrimethicone, Dimethicone, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Polyquaternium 37, Polyquaternium 28, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Aspartic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Fragrance (Parfum), PPG 1 Trideceth 6, Glyceryl Stearate, PVM/MA Copolymer, Dimethiconol, DMDM Hydantoin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylcinnamal, Butylphenyl Methlyproprional, Limonene, Coumarin, Linalool, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut), Keratin Amino Acid, Jasminum Sambac (Jasmine) Flower Extract

If you are like me then you don't like to buy products with ingredient names that you need an M.S. in Chemistry to pronounce. Like what on earth is PVM/MA? Ethyl and Butyl Esters of PVM/MA Copolymer dry to form a thin coating on the skin, hair, or nails. They also help hair hold its style by inhibiting the hair’s ability to absorb moisture. Inhibiting my ability to hold moisture? Is dryness not one of the major causes for split ends? Another thing I do not like is that this product contains alcohol. I know all about the adverse effects of alcohol. Alcohol dries my hair up --a lot like a raisin. Once, I mistakenly sprayed my hair with my Bath and Body Works Vanilla Sugar body spray instead of my Carol's Daughter leave in black vanilla conditioner --worst hair day EVER. So, yes I know all about dryness.