5 Things To Do Before A Relaxer

As many of you know, I have relaxed hair.  However, I get asked all of the time if I am natural because my hair looks healthy.  Well, the reason why I can enjoy the benefits and perks of having healthy relaxed hair is because I take careful steps to take care of it to make sure there is no damage.  I believe that if you choose to have relaxed hair it can, and should, be healthy.  There is no reason why you have to have natural hair in order to have healthy hair! So, here are a 5 things to do before you get your relaxer touch ups.

healthy relaxed hair

1. Do not scratch-

Get Moving Monday | 3 Ways To Protect Your Hair While Working Out

In today's work out class, I saw a few other black girls in the class who had no idea what to do with their hair during their workout.  Exercising is so good for the body but can often wreak havoc on the hair.  Many of my clients struggle with their hair during work out, especially if they are relaxed and are in the final weeks of their stretch.  Trust me, I know it can get hard!  I fortunately do not have the problem of sweating in my head so my hair does not suffer when I go hard in the gym.  For other women though, I realize it can be a challenge so I would like to share a few tips on what to do with your hair while you work out.  Here are three ways to protect your hair while working out.

1.  Wrap your hair- 

full wrap- to protect hair while working out

This is what I do.  Remember I do not sweat in my scalp while working out so I wrap my hair good and tight.  If you work out in the evening, you can actually leave your hair wrapped up until the next day when you are ready to go to work.  If you sweat mildly in your scalp and workout in the evening you can still do this option because by the time the next day rolls around your hair will be dry.

2.  Pull up in ponytail or bun-  

for added protection, tuck the ends of the hair under and secure with pin

be sure edges are as flat as possible

This option of for those that sweat profusely in the scalp.  Brush your hair into a ponytail as neat as you can get it.  If your hair is long pull the ponytail up high enough for the hair not to touch your neck.  Then put a cotton bandana around your edges to keep them laying flat.  That way when you get home, you can simply blow dry the roots since the ends will still be dry.  After that you can wrap or roll the hair up and style as usual.  Limit your heat usage to once per week or less.

3.  Comb hair straight down-  

ponytail with full wrap for more coverage

This is for those of your with short hair.  You can comb your hair straight down, apply your wrap cap (the one that has the velcro closure) and enjoy your work out.  If you do not have a problem with sweating in your scalp you can put on a full scarf, but the velcro wrap cap has breathable holes for those of you that need the extra air to go to your scalp while still laying your hair flat.

The goal in dealing with your hair while working out is to keep your edges and roots as flat as possible.  Using your scarves and wrap caps is an excellent way to do that.  Be sure to shampoo your hair once per week to keep your hair as clean as possible as well.  Of course you do not want to pick a cute hairstyle over your healthy but I believe with these simple tips you can do both!

What Is A Brazilian Blowout?

What is a Brazilian Blowout?

Lately I have been getting many requests for Brazilian Blowouts as well as many questions about them so today I am going to go over the entire process of a Brazilian Blowout from beginning to end.  I hope to also answer many of your questions that some of you have had about them.  Many people have said they thought it was for Caucasian hair only but that is not the case.  Brazilian Blowouts are for women with curly hair who temporarily want to have it straight.  No matter what your race is, if that description fits you, then you would be a good candidate for a Brazilian Blowout.  Now, let's go over the steps.

Step 1: Shampoo the hair- The hair is shampooed with a clarifying shampoo to remove all traces of oil, dirt, and residue from the hair.

natural hair while being shampooed

4 Ways To Avoid Your Hair Becoming Matted After Taking Down Braids & Sew-Ins

We all love braids right? The versatility, ease, and the comfort makes us so lazy with our real hair.  So, when it is time to take them down that laziness can sometimes carry over.  I have seen some women simply take the braids down then try to shampoo their hair without properly detangling only to end up with a mess on their hands afterwards.  I have seen first hand what exactly can and will happen if this happens.  The hair becomes severely matted and is extremely hard to detangle.  You all know how I love helping you prevent headaches verses helping you get rid of one, so allow me to share four ways to help avoid your hair becoming matted when taking your hair down.

• First you must actually take down each and every braid.  This includes hair that was braided for a sew in as well.  Some women just take most

5 Ways To Prevent Your Edges From Thinning

A lot of times women ask me how to fix their thinning edges.  Today I would like to focus on prevention.  Many of the times the problems that some women face when it comes to their edges could have been prevented, and those are the things I will focus on.  Of course their are other factors that we have no control over that also cause our edges to thin but we will discuss that in another post altogether.  Let's jump right in.  Below are my top 5 ways to prevent your edges from thinning.

1. Stop getting them braided up- When you get sew-ins or braids of any kind, leave the edges out.  Why, you ask?  Because the edges are the most fragile of all the hair and tend to break and become damaged faster than the other parts of the hair.  That is why you want to be extra gentle with them.  They are also the thinnest part so any extra tension on them will generally lead to breakage.  I have seen first hand the effects of someone who got braids which she knew were to tight around the edges thinking that it would make the braids last longer that way, and before she knew it, her braids literally started falling out of her head around the edges because they could not handle all of that tension.  This resulted in the entire follicle coming out of the head, braid and all, leaving nothing left but a bald spot! The lesson here?  Leave those edges out when getting braids, sew-ins included if you want to keep that hair on your head!
2. Stop putting too much heat on them-  Another way to prevent damage to your edges is to stop using excessive heat.  Let's say you follow the advice in step number one and leave your edges out on your next sew-in.  Well, you are having trouble blending your edges and/or you just like the look of bone straight hair so you are constantly flat ironing it to make it lay down.  This is a definite no-no! Too much heat can and will cause that hair to come out and/or become very damaged.  Limit heat to once per week only or less and be sure to not have your heating tool up to high either.
3. Tie them down nightly- This is by far the easiest prevention method for taking care of the edges.  Tie them down with a silk scarf nightly to protect them.  The friction caused by your edges rubbing up against your sheets (especially cotton), your couch, the floor, or anything else you may lay your head on can cause your edges to thin.  You can prevent this from happening by tying your edges down each and every single night before you decide to get comfy and cozy.
4. Stop rubbing your hair-  I have seen some of my clients do this without even realizing it.  They will continuously rub the same spot of hair over and over.  Doing this over time can and will cause that hair to become thinner.  Stop rubbing your edges (I know, I know, you are trying to make sure they are laying flat) and you will essentially contribute to the prevention of them thinning out.
5. Massage them-  Yes you read that correctly.  One of the ways hair grows is by circulating the blood flow to the scalp.  If you massage your edges, you are increasing the blood flow to that area which is helping them to grow even more, and preventing them from thinning.

healthy edges

As women we all dread even the thought of having a receding hair line and it is always best to prevent it from happening in the first place rather than trying to fix what has already happened.  I hope these tips help you in your healthy hair journey!

Frequently Asked Questions About Silk Press

hair combed out and detangled

Today I would like to answer your FAQ's about silk presses.  Many of you ask me the same questions which means even more of you are thinking the same thing but just not asking.  So, in an effort to get everyone on the same page about the wonderful world of silk pressing, here it goes.

Question 1:  What is a silk press?  To put it simply, a silk press is basically blow drying and flat ironing the hair to temporarily get it straight.

Question 2:  Why is it called "silk press" then?  Because, unlike a traditional "press and curl"

Relaxed Hair CAN Be Healthy!

One of the most frequently asked questions that (new) clients ask me is if I am natural.  Then when I ask why they have asked me that, they all say because my hair looks so healthy.  Well, I have news for you. Relaxed hair can and should be healthy!  For this reason, I try to educate all of my relaxed clients on how to get and keep their hair healthy while still maintaining a relaxer.  In my opinion, all hair can be good hair as long as is healthy!  The only bad hair is hair that is unhealthy, broken, and damaged.  The secret to having long, healthy, relaxed hair is.......RELAXER STRETCHING!

All of the clients featured in this post have relaxed hair.  I make sure to not only keep their hair healthy as their hairstylist but to also educate them on what to do at home.  To all of you ladies out there that go to a hairstylist regularly, that person should also be telling you all of the do's and don'ts in regards to having a relaxer.  If they give you a relaxer whenever you ask for one without having enough new growth to prevent overlapping, or if they constantly suggest that you need one, that is not a good sign.

On the other hand, if your hairstylist encourages you to get healthy hair habits and you actually see growth in your hair then keep that hairstylist for life!

Although I do a lot of silk presses with natural hair, relaxed hair is near and dear to my heart because I have relaxed hair.  I take pride in having relaxed hair because my hair is healthy and I love the look of surprise on people's face when I tell them that in fact do have relaxed hair.  You definitely do not have to have natural hair to have healthy hair.  That is the reason why so many natural women actually go natural, it is because they have had damage from relaxers in the past.  However, if relaxers are done correctly you can experience the healthiest hair you have ever had.  Whether you choose to be natural or relaxed, your hair can be healthy either way!

Hair Growth Update Three Months Post Relaxer

I have gotten so used to wearing Tia (wig) because of her convenience and because she is so easy to just pull on every day and take off every night.  I actually got a bit spoiled by not having to style my hair but only having to shampoo and condition it and not be concerned with anything else.

However, this week I decided to wear my hair out and let it breathe.  I actually did a video because it is right around my three month period, or my halfway point, in between relaxers.  As many of you know I only get relaxers twice per year (see why here).  This week, I shampooed using

Get Moving Monday | Being Consistent Even When You Do Not Feel Like It

Today is Monday and for me that means starting my morning off with a one hour long work out at spin class.  Since I am getting back into a routine of working out it is getting easier and easier to go, especially since I have a goal that I am trying to reach by the end of next month.  Today was a rough class and even though I have been going for a few weeks and seemed to have caught the rhythm of the class, it was tough to finish today.  I wanted to just give up and leave but I managed to push through.  That is the thing about goals.  Once you put your mind to something, nothing will stop you from achieving it but when you do care you will think of plenty of excuses to stop you.

Silk Press Sunday | Adding Permanent Color Highlights To Natural Hair

Before I begin this post, let me first go ahead and apologize for not taking ANY before pictures.  I have plenty of excuses as to why but the fact of the matter is that I did not even realize that I had not taken any pictures yet until after I had gotten finished.  Anyway, this client has 90% relaxer free hair when she first came in and only a few relaxed ends.  She was ready for a change because she was tired of wearing her hair in a bun/ponytail.  Her hair is extremely thick, so much so that she shampoos it in four separate sections.  So by the time she got finished shampooing she had no desire to even try to attempt to style, hence the ponytail/high bun life.

When she came in, I first began by coloring her hair (foil method) all over the head.

Transformation Thursday | Keratin Treatment For Natural Hair

This young lady used to get a silk press every two weeks.  She always used Silk Hydration products but  even with amazing products, natural hair is still natural hair so in the event that the hair gets wet due to moisture (sweat, rain, water, humidity) it will begin to swell up and revert back.  The only way it will not revert back is if you have something permanent done to it.

This young lady is a pre-teen

Tia- My Newest Wig Creation | Wearing Wigs That Do Not Look Like Wigs

I want you all to meet Tia!  She is the newest addition to my wig family.  I made her with hair from L. Jones Hair Collection using two bundles of Indian straight hair, one eight inch bundle and one ten inch bundle as well as a silk base closure instead of a lace closure.  The silk base closure looks much more realistic but does cost a bit more than your traditional lace closure.

I hand sewed this wig and once done I cut it into its shape.  I have been missing my short bob so this soothes my urge to cut my hair!

I have absolutely no hair out but when I wear it behind my ear I pull my edges out to make it look even more realistic.  Every time I make a wig I say it is the best one that I have made but I really do like this one.  Underneath my hair is somewhat wrapped but my ends are very much protected.  I also still shampoo my hair every week, but the beauty of it is that I do not have to style it!  I also shampoo Tia weekly as well to keep the hair looking fresh.  It is human hair but does not tangle and shed so it is like having the best of both worlds.

excuse my photobomb!

Custom made wigs are the best because they are made to fit your head specifically so it fits like a glove.  And since I use premium quality hair that makes it even better.  A lot of wigs tend to look wiggy because they are basically a one size fits all kind of deal and we all know that all heads are not the same.  Also a lot of wigs do not use good hair so coupled with the fact that it is a generic size just screams wiggy look as the outcome.  If you are willing to spend more money then the benefits of having a custom wig may be well worth it.

Ask Toya Tuesday | Going From Natural Hair Back To Relaxed Hair

Today's question comes from a reader who is interested in going back to their relaxed hair.  She has a few questions about what she should do.  Take a look at her question.  

"Hi Toya (I have) been watching your YouTube channel and it is very helpful. I am currently natural (and) haven't had a perm in 2 to 3 years and I'm missing my wraps. I wanted to know, when I do get my perm how long do I need to wait to put high lights in it?  My hair is fine and thin and also I will be taking my hair out if senegalese. When I do get my perm I'm going to a salon and I want to know for my second perm with her if she does not base my ends to protect my already perm hair what can I do at home before she (re)touches my hair?"

Get Moving Monday | How I Am Getting The Body I Want

For the past few weeks I have found myself back in the gym.  The main reason is because I have a vacation coming up, but the other reason is because I want my body to be in shape.  I do not want to have to work when I am getting ready to go somewhere but instead have the body already.  So, I have wrapped my mind around the fact that my workouts need to be consistent instead of sporadic.

Every Monday I have managed to go to step class first thing in the morning.  But first, I have to drop off the little one at school which is why I had Tia on.  I refused to go up to my kid's school with a scarf on my head!  But as soon as I got to the gym it came right off and the scarf went on.  Keeping my scarf on while working out lays my roots down and keeps my edges laying flat.

The class is one hour long and I have no idea of how many calories I burn but if how much I sweat is any indication then I burned A LOT of calories today.  It burns but feels so good at the same time.

See the extra high gloss?? That is just a little of the sweat that come pouring out of my pores today.  I will not be weighing myself but instead will be going by how my clothes fit.  Once they fit like I want them I will maintain by continuing the class and continuing toning.  What are some of your favorite workout classes??

Mid Week Motivation | How Positive Thoughts Can Change Your Life

This week's mid week motivation will challenge you to change the way you think.  I have found out that the way we think greatly influences what we experience in life.  Our thoughts lead to the words we speak and the words we speak either speak life or death into our lives, situations, and circumstances.  Therefore, if we control our thoughts we can control what we say over our lives.

Even in the salon, when I tell my clients how long I recommend they wait until they get another relaxer the first thing they do is think to themselves that they can not do that.  Then the let it slip out of their mouths and say "sixteen weeks?!? I can't go that long!" It never fails, every one that says that really does not make make it.

Transformation Tuesday | Going From Curly To Straight Hair Temporarily

This is a natural client who has no relaxer and no color in her hair.  Every now and then she gets the urge to have her hair straightened but has no interest in a relaxer.  For temporary straightness she opts for a silk press.

This is her curly hair when taken down from her ponytail puff.  She has a tight curl pattern with coarse, thick hair.