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Cleansing Type 4 Hair

August 13, 2013 By Renee Price

Hello Lovelies!

For those of you ladies with type 4 hair, cleansing is perhaps the simplest part of your hair care regimen. If I had to think of one word to describe how I feel about hair cleansing for your type 4 ladies, it would have to be, “jealous!” Yes, jealous! I say this because you ladies on average don’t have to cleanse your hair nearly as often as any other hair types. Why? Well, type 4 hair tends to be the driest of all hair types; simply because the oils from the scalp rarely, if ever, travel down the hair strands. This also means that type 4 hair doesn’t get as dirty as often as other hair types, so washing your hair every week just isn’t necessary. Additionally, washing your hair often could cause more harm than good for type four hair.

Type four hair is the most fragile hair type. Because hair in general is most fragile while it is wet, frequently wetting type 4 hair places highly textured strands at a significant risk of breakage and damage. So my word of advice, only, and I mean only wash your hair when it’s absolutely dirty.

Don’t be Afraid of Shampoo

cleansing type 4 hair

Unlike other hair types, I think shampoo should be the main cleanser type 4 ladies use. Type 4 ladies probably benefit the least from most than any other hair type from conditioner washing. Now don’t get me wrong, if you have short type 4 hair, co-washing is fine and actually a great way to keep your hair moist as it grows longer. However, as you retain more length to your type 4 hair, the benefits are sort of negligible.

If you have type 4 hair, chances are you’ll be using heavier hair products to keep your hair moist and manageable in between washes. Those products can cause buildup that only shampoo can remove, and adding co-washing on top of heavy products can add more buildup to the hair. It’s okay to use shampoo as your main cleanser if you have type 4 hair because you won’t be shampooing as often as other hair types. However, I would recommend that you dilute your shampoos with water, or use natural or DIY homemade shampoos to mitigate the drying effect on your hair.

Mechanics of Hair Cleansing for Type 4 Hair

Unlike other hair types that can wash their hair while it’s lose and free, for many type 4 ladies, this spells for tangles, matting and an all around disaster. Prior to washing highly textured hair, I’d recommend pre-pooing with oil and lightly detangling the hair to prevent tangling during washing. Additionally, if you have enough length, braid or twist your hair into sections before washing, and cleanse your hair while it’s in braids. Don’t worry about the length of your hair, the run off from the water and cleanser as your rinse your scalp is more than enough to cleans the strands of your hair.

Cleansing Type 3 Hair

August 6, 2013 By Renee Price

Hello Lovelies,

If you have type 3 curly hair, you’ve probably heard that you don’t need to wash it often, and while technically that is true, you may benefit from washing it more frequently, especially during the dry, cold weather months.

Curly Hair Needs Moisture

Type 3 hair tends to be dry and frizzy, and this usually stems from a lack of moisture. In order for your curly hair to thrive and grow long, it needs moisture. Washing your hair at least once a week will provide the majority of the moisture that your hair needs to prevent dryness. However, washing your hair frequently with the wrong products can cause more harm than good for your curls.

Additionally, I would recommend that you only wash your hair when it feels dirty. How will you know it’s dirty? Well it may begin to look dull, exhibit a lack of shine or just generally feel dry. You may also notice some buildup or your hair may begin to feel oily, it truly depends on the thickness of your hair. You may have to experiment with this step and go through some trial and error before you arrive at the proper frequency for cleansing your hair.

Limit Shampoo Usage

In my opinion, no other hair type benefit’s the most from letting go or mitigating the use of shampoo. Of course, this practice is more commonly known as co-washing. Co-washing will work very well to cleanse your scalp and give your type 3 hair the moisture it needs. Now, if you plan to co-wash frequently, it is important that you use conditioners that are made for co-washing. This means that the conditioner will not leave behind residue or buildup that can only be removed with the use of a clarifying shampoo.

Curly Hair Cleansing Through the Seasons

No other hair textures are more affected by the changing of the seasons than curlier hair textures. Because the natural oils produced by the scalp rarely travel down the strands of curly hair textures, curly hair is naturally dry, no matter the time of year. When you throw dry, cold weather into the equation, curly hair can feel like a desert during the winter months. To combat dryness during the winter, you may need to wash your hair more frequently. Simply washing your hair one more day each week or every other week will work well at keeping your hair moist during the cold weather months.

Cleansing Type 2 Hair

August 3, 2013 By Renee Price

Hello lovelies!

Similar to type 1 hair, if you have wavy hair, you don’t have to wash it everyday. The natural oils that your scalp produces can travel quite a ways down the length of your, so wavy hair still tends to be quite moisturized on it’s own. However, type 2 hair is still susceptible to dryness, especially the ends of the hair. Additionally, unlike type 1 hair, type 2 wavy hair is prone to product buildup and frizz. So lovelies, certain products are an absolute no-no when it comes to cleansing wavy hair, especially if you plan to cleanse your hair more than once a week.

Detangle Your Hair

Always begin each cleansing session by detangling your hair. Hair that is prone to frizzing up is also prone to tangles. Washing your hair without detangling can lead to even more tangles and a complete mess when you wash your hair. Use a wide tooth comb to gently detangle your waves prior to washing, or simply detangle your hair with your hands before cleansing your waves.

Be Mindful of Your Shampoo and Keep Usage to a Minimum

cleansing type 2 wavy hair Like most people, wavy haired girls are accustomed to using shampoo to cleanse their hair and scalp. However, the harsh detergents that are in most shampoos can wreck havoc on wavy hair if used too often. Now because wavy hair girls tend to use heavier hair products than someone with type 1 hair, wavy hair ladies have to use shampoo at some time to prevent product buildup. However, you don’t have to use shampoo as often as you think. It’s okay to only shampoo your hair once or maybe twice a month to remove oils and products from your hair. A clarifying shampoo is the best type of shampoo to use for product buildup. However, I only recommend that you use a natural clarifying shampoo to preserve as much moisture in your hair as possible.

Co-Washing Wavy Hair

You wavy hair gals will benefit greatly from conditioner washes or co-washes. Co-washing simply means washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. Co-washing type 2 wavy hair keeps the hair moisturized and prevents dryness that often begets frizz. How often you co-wash your hair depends on the products you use and your lifestyle. For instance, if you workout frequently, you may want to co-wash after each workout to remove sweat from your scalp and hair and to keep your waves refreshed. If you use styling products such as gel or products that contain alcohol (which I don’t recommend for you wavy hair or curly hair ladies) you may need to co-wash a few times a week as well to keep your hair moist. As a bare minimum, I’d say co-washing two to three times a week is sufficient for most curly hair girls.

Hair Rinses

In between wash days, if you need to refresh your hair and scalp. You can simply rinse your hair with a stream of warm water under a strong shower head. Or you could try a DIY hair rinse to give your hair a quick boost if you’re short on time.

Cleansing Type 1 Hair

July 29, 2013 By Renee Price

Hello Lovelies

Contrary to popular belief, if you have naturally straight hair, you don’t necessarily have to wash it everyday, and if you want to grow your hair to longer lengths, washing your hair every other day or every few days may be beneficial to your long hair journey. There are two primary reasons for this:

1. Not washing your hair as frequently allows the natural oils, or sebum, that your scalp produces to sit on the hair longer. This provides more natural moisture and nutrients for the length of your hair.

2. Washing your hair with commercial shampoos that contain harsh sulfates and detergents can strip your hair of it’s natural oils and cause extreme dryness and brittleness overtime and delay your long hair goals.

cleansing type 1 hair If you must wash your hair everyday, avoid commercial shampoos that contain any of these harmful ingredients or skip shampoo all together! Co-washing is a great alternative to shampooing your hair, but you straight hair gals have to be careful not to overdo it. I say this because straighter hair is already naturally oily, and you don’t need any additional build-up that can only be removed with commercial shampoos, which I just suggested you avoid. The most you need anyway to cleanse your scalp is warm water. Also, if you only want to cleanse your scalp, consider a dry shampoo or a natural scalp cleansing method.

If you are between washes, or you are trying to extend your washes and you need to refresh your hair, simply apply a light moisturizing conditioner. You only need to apply about a dime size amount throughout the length of your hair, apply a quarter size amount for longer lengths. Then gently comb through your hair with a wide tooth comb and allow to air dry. Dry shampoos are also a great way to refresh your hair in between wash days.

The Ultimate Guide to Hair Types and Textures

July 27, 2013 By Renee Price

determine your hair type and texture
Hello Lovelies!

I’m sure it’s easily apparent, but human hair has different types and comes in all sorts of textures and patterns. Hair type refers to the amount of curl and thickness in the individual hair strand for a single head of hair. Hair types range from categories 1 to 4, and within each category, the amount of curl to the individual hair strands is notated with a letter ranging from a to c.

Finding your hair type may be fairly easy or a bit more challenging. The reason being is because some people can have different types of hair on their head at one time. As a result, there have been some controversies regarding hair type and even questions as to whether hair typing is important. I say it is important. Although hair typing can be confusing, knowing your hair type can help you determine what is naturally healthy for your hair, the practices that will help your hair thrive, and the practices that may harm your hair‘s health.

Type 1 Hair

type 1 hair
Type one hair is classified as hair that has no curl pattern and is naturally straight. Type one hair tends to be shiny and oily due to the hair strand’s lack of curl. Since the hair strand is completely straight, natural oils that come from the scalp can reach all the way down the hair shaft. Within the Type 1 category, there are Type 1a, Type 1b and Type 1c hair categories.

Type 1a hair is completely flat and has little to no body. It is officially known as the hair type that will not hold a curl. The hair is just completely straight from the root to the tip. Many Asian women fall into this category, but otherwise, this hair type is very rare. In fact, it’s so rare, Jennifer Aniston is not a type 1a, I just used a picture of her with bone straight hair to demonstrate what type 1a hair looks like.

Type 1b hair has more body than type one hair and is not completely flat. Most straight haired women fall into the type 1b category. Type 1b hair is most distinguishable from type 1a hair because it will hold a curl. Type 1b hair has sporadic bends here and there, and the ends of the hair tend to curl under slightly, unlike type 1a hair where the ends are completely straight.

Type 1c hair is generally straight, has body, and a few areas of not so much waves but slight bends. Type 1c hair has that perfectly tousled look when it dries on its own. This look is natural and achieved without the use of heat tools. The individual strands tend to be thick and coarse.

Type 2 Hair

Type 2 hair is classified as hair that is naturally wavy and forms an “S” shape. Type 2 hair is not as oily as type 1 hair due to the texture pattern of the individual hair strand, but type 2 hair isn’t dry either.Within the Type 2 category, there are Type 2a, Type 2b and Type 2c hair categories.

Type 2a hair has several loose, natural, beachy waves all over the head, unlike Type 1c hair that features a few slight bends. Type 2a hair isn’t as frizzy as the other two type 2 hair categories, so it can easily be weighed down when you apply too much product.

Type 2b hair features waves that are clearly defined and more tightly drawn, but the hair still sticks closely to the head and doesn’t poof or bounce up. Type 2b hair is when the frizz starts to kick in. Many ladies who fall into this category have to use gel based products to keep the frizz away.

Type 2c hair consists of waves that are tightly drawn, so much so that they start to whirl around itself and form loose spiral curls. Type 2c hair is the frizziest of all the type 2 categories and the hair bounces up slightly and poofs away from the face.

Type 3 Hair

Type three hair is classified as hair that is naturally curly and shaped like an “S.” Type three hair forms ringlets that are naturally defined without the use of manipulation or hair-styling products. Type 3 hair tends to be dry due to the hair’s texture. The natural oils found in the scalp aren’t heavy enough to reach past all of the curves and bends along the S shape of the hair strand, so unlike Type 1 and in some instances Type 2 hair, these natural oils don’t reach the ends of Type 3 hair. Within the Type 3 category, there are Type 3a, Type 3b and Type 3c hair types.

Type 3a hair features loose Shirley temple curls that are often silky in texture. The curls are easily defined on their own without the use of much product or manual manipulation.

Type 3b hair consists of curls that are more spiraled and springy than type 3a curls. Many half-Black women fall into this category. The hair is still moderately defined on it’s own, but it’s extremely frizzy without the use of styling aids, such as gel and hair creams.

Type 3c curls are more tightly drawn and coily than Type 3b curls, and are often highly textured. The individual hair strands are closely packed together, this is also known as clumping. It takes a bit of manual manipulation to get the curls evenly defined, but they’re still moderately defined on their own, but not as smooth as 3b curls.

Type 4 Hair

Type 4 hair is classified as hair that is coily and tightly curled without the defined and discernible ringlets formed by Type 3 hair. Another main difference between Type 4 hair and Type 3 hair is that Type 4 hair typically keeps the same shape whether it is wet or dry, where as Type 3 hair can be completely straight or wavy when wet. Type 4 hair tends to be extremely dry due to the shape of the individual hair strand. The natural oils produced by the scalp tend to get no further than a inch or two down the hair shaft due to the highly textured pattern of the hair. Within the Type 4 category, there are Type 4a, Type 4b and Type 4c hair types.

Type 4 a hair is coily and forms tight, perfectly cylindrical curls. These curls tend to be about the width of a pencil and quite springy in nature. Unlike the other category 4 hair types, 4a hair falls down, and 4a hair has a clearly defined curl pattern.

Type 4 b hair takes on a tight, crimpy pattern, more so than cylindrical curls. Distinguishing between Type 4b hair and Type 4c hair can be quite confusing, but just remember that Type 4b hair is still clearly defined. The roots of 4b hair may not be as defined, but the ends of 4b hair have a clear curl pattern.

Type 4c hair consists of a “Z” shaped , zigzag pattern and tends to show little to no defined sections of hair. The texture of the individual hair strand ranges greatly, from thin/fine to wiry and coarse. 4c hair is known to shrink by more than half of it’s length, which I think is pretty amazing!

Relaxed Hair

Relaxed hair deserves its own hair type because relaxing the hair changes the natural curl pattern of the hair. The curl pattern of relaxed hair ranges anywhere from Type 1 to Type 3 hair when dry in regards to texture; meaning relaxed hair can still be curly, the curl pattern is just looser than the original texture. However, the hair will not take on the oilier nature of Type 1 hair and will still reflect the drier nature of curlier hair types.

How to determine your hair type

Hair type is best determined when your hair is squeaky clean and completely free of hair products. To do this you need to wash your hair with a gentle clarifying shampoo. After washing your hair, allow it to naturally air dry because drying your hair with a blow dryer temporarily changes it’s curl pattern. Also, don’t dry your hair with a towel because doing so could make certain hair types frizzy and make determining your true hair type even harder.

When the hair has air dried, take a look at multiple sections of your hair and determine your hair type based on the above descriptions and pictures. Keep in mind that you may have more than one hair type. For instance, it is not uncommon for some African American women to have a majority 3b hair type with sections of 4a type hair.

If you’re confused about your hair type, upload join our forum and upload a photo of your clean, air-dried hair and one of our members will be more than happy to help you out!

The Truth About Long Hair – This Site’s Big Fat Confession

July 17, 2013 By Renee Price

Hello Lovelies!

So, I have something to tell you, and it’s the hard, absolute truth. There’s no other way around it, so here it is:

There is no way that you can scientifically make your hair grow faster!

Yes, lovelies, it just isn’t possible, and if anyone tells you that it is, run fast! I know most of you have arrived here for tips to grow your hair faster, but the truth is there is nothing out there that has been proven to accelerate hair growth faster than the average rate. That means, there is no way your hair will grow 2 inches in one month. Granted some people, by some freak of nature, have grown two inches in one month, I can guarantee you it isn’t the norm, and most likely no one has ever consistently grown their hair 2 inches every month.

Throwing Light On Some Common “Hair Growth Aids”

Will Vitamins Make My Hair Grow Faster?

Nope. Not if your diet already gives you all of the vitamins and minerals you need. If you are not getting all of your vitamins and minerals from your food, then yes, vitamins will make your hair grow faster than it has in the past, but not faster than the average growth rate. If vitamins and minerals appear to make your hair grow faster, that just means your body was starving for nutrition in the past.

So don’t load up on excess amounts of vitamins that claim to grow your hair faster. There is proof that too much vitamin E can slow your hair growth and too much vitamin A can actually make you lose your hair. Yikes!

Will Monistat Make My Hair Grow Faster?

I’ve been hearing about some women using Monistat as a growth aid. Will it make your hair grow faster? Umm, no. There has been no scientific study proving that miconazole nitrate, the active ingredient in Monistant (yes the yeast infection cream), can make your hair grow faster. I think some women have reached the conclusion that Monistat will make their hair grow because it has the same active ingredient as MSM, another common “growth aid.” MSM is next.

So I’m Guessing MSM doesn’t Increase Hair Growth Either?

You betcha it doesn’t. Yes, there are studies that have shown that horses and sheep that are treated with topical MSM experience increased hair growth, but guess what ladies…You are a human! There is no peer reviewed study on humans that shows that MSM works to grow our hair at a faster rate than normal.

What About Natural Oils and Supplements Like Garlic?

Certain natural oils like emu oil and supplements like garlic can treat alopecia-related hair loss and induce regrowth in previously damaged follicles. However, the new hair in previous damaged follicles will still grow at the average rate of hair growth. Many people who experience regrowth after periods of damage and hair loss mistakenly think their hair is going into some super growth mode, but it’s not. It’s just growing again because you’re treating it with tender love and care.

So why am I even here?

You’re here to learn how to care for and preserve your hair. You’re here to un-learn the bad hair habits of your past and learn new habits that are conducive to growing long hair. I always tell you ladies that growing long hair takes patience and discipline. This is precisely why; it takes time to grow long hair. Time is going to pass whether you grow long hair or not. So ladies, we have to get out of the fantasy mode of thinking that we have to grow 5 inches of hair in two months and do what we know is necessary to have long, healthy hair.

How Fast Does Hair Grow?

November 19, 2011 By Renee Price

Hello lovelies!

How fast does hair grow? This is a question that is likely to cross your mind if you are desperate for longer hair. Well, for some the answer may be not fast enough, for others it may seem as if their hair doesn’t grow at all. However, the truth is, as long as you’re alive, your hair is always growing! In fact, hair has a specific rate at which it grows.

Can You Really Grow Hair Faster?

Growth Rates

While our hair may seem like it grows when it wants to, human hair actually has a specific rate at which it grows, this is called a growth rate. According to the U.S Center for Disease Control (CDC), scalp hair grows at an average rate of 0.50 inches (1.25 cm) per month, or one-eighth of an inch every week. This means the average person grows 6 inches of hair per year. Of course stress, diet and certain illnesses can slow or stop the rate of your hair growth, but under normal circumstances, your hair is always growing. Primarily, genetics determines natural growth rates, which differs from person to person, and in some cases, no two people within the same family will have the same growth rate. Here is a bit of science for you all about how hair grows.

Growth Cycles

Hair grows in a series of phases, also known as cycles, the first being the Anagen phase. The Anagen phase is the period in which your hair actively grows. At any given time, 90 percent or more of your hair is in the Anagen phase, meaning 90 percent or more of your hair is always growing. This phase varies in length anywhere from 2 years all the way up to 8 years. Every hair on your head will not grow at the same pace, nor will they have the same Anagen phase. Factors such as ethnicity and age affects the length of this phase or the terminal or longest length your hair can reach. This is the most important stage in the hair growth cycle in regards to making your hair grow faster.

Lengthening the anagen phase, or the amount your hair grows in your set anagen phase, is the key to obtain longer hair at a faster rate (not necessarily increase the growth rate). There are a couple of things that supposedly increase the anagen phase of the growth cycle.

Lengthening the Anagen Phase

If you want to grow longer hair, longer than what even your genetics determines you can grow, the anagen phase is the phase in the hair growth cycle that you absolutely need to target. Now, it may seem impossible to lengthen something that’s already genetically predetermined, but once again, science proves to us that it is possible.

There are 3 scientifically proven ways that we know of thus far that can lengthen the anagen phase and allow humans to grow longer hair than what was previously thought possible. I wrote about those three hair growth methods in another article. You can check it out here!

The second phase of hair growth, the Catagen phase, is a two week transitional phase in which the hair follicle renews itself. During this phase, the hair loses it’s blood supply and doesn’t grow. In fact, the hair follicle shrinks to about 16 percent of it’s original length during this growth phase.

The last growth phase, the telogen phase, is a one to four month resting phase where the hair lays dormant. At any given moment, about 10 percent of your hair is at rest in this phase. When the telogen phase is complete, a new growing strand pushes the telogen strand out of the follicle and the anagen phase starts again for that particular follicle.

How Fast Does Hair Grow By Ethnicity

Ultimately, scientists claim certain factors such as ethnicity, age and other factors determines how fast your hair grows. I found a study that purports that Asian hair has the fastest growth rate, with an average growth rate of 6.3 inches per year. The study found that Caucasian hair has the second fastest growth rate, with an average growth rate of 5 inches per year. African hair had the slowest growth rate with an average growth rate of 4.3 inches per year.

The difference in growth rates is supposedly attributed to the difference in the shape and thickness of individual hair strands. If you take a cross section of a strand of Asian hair, the hair strand will have a round, cylindrical shape. If you take a cross section of a Caucasian hair strand, the hair strand will have a flatter, more oval shape. If you take a cross section of a African hair strand, the hair strand will have a flatter, more oval shape than any other hair type.

While the studies results appear valid, I think growth rates for all ethnicities tend to be fairly the same, in contrast to this study. Here is why:

1. The study only followed about 30 women, and the study only followed these women for one point in time during the year as opposed to multiple times during the year.

2. All hair types have the same number of cuticle layers, hair protein complex and hair strength, which are all things that factor into how our hair grows.

3. The study doesn’t say what condition the women’s hair was in at the time of the study; this would greatly affect how much length each woman retained. When trying to grow long hair, it is the condition of your hair and how much growth you retain that matters most, not necessarily how fast your hair grows.

As a whole, Asian women, especially women who follow Indian hair care practices, traditionally have more hair practices that are conducive to growing long hair. Caucasian women and African women typically have hair practices that aren’t as conducive to growing longer hair (we tend to dye, relax, style and just outright abuse our hair more than other women), hence the assumed shorter growth rates in the study. The truth is there is a standard growth rate, but it’s how you handle and care for your hair that greatly affects how much length you retain; certain hair practices can cause damage to the hair and give the appearance of a slower growth rate when in fact the hair may be breaking as a result of damage.

Retention More Important than Growth Rate

No matter how fast your hair grows, if you don’t retain much of your hair growth, your hair won’t reach longer lengths. So exactly what is retention? Retention is simply preserving as much hair that grows out of your scalp and keeping it as healthy as possible.

For instance, if your hair grows a 0.5 inches per month, but you are trimming 0.25 inches from your hair each month, or if you get a 1 inch hair cut three times a year, within a years time you will only retain 3 inches of hair. However, if your hair grows at a rate of 0.4 inches a month (a hypothetical figure) and you adopt healthy hair care practices, and you preserve each inch of hair, within a years time you will retain 4.8 inches of hair.

The ends of the hair are the most important portion of the hair to retain. That is because the ends of the hair are the oldest part of the hair, so they are typically more exposed to damage. Several things can bring about damage to the hair, from everyday wear and tear to styling the hair with flat irons. The bottom line is that the ends of the hair will eventually become weathered, but with healthy hair care practices it is possible to give the ends of your hair the utmost care and maximize how much hair you retain.

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