How To Maintain Your Short Hairstyle

Short hairstyles get a lot of backlash due to the fact that they are thought to be high maintenance.  Many women think that if they cut their hair short, they have to always keep it done for it to look right as they can no longer opt for the typical "bad hair day" styles like the ponytail and bun.  Well I somewhat disagree with that.  Although it is true that

How To Have Relaxed AND Healthy Hair

It's a known fact that most women that get relaxers have been trained to believe that they need to get their relaxer touch-ups every six to eight weeks.  The truth is, you should get your relaxer when you have at LEAST two inches of new growth.  I have seen very few women whose hair grows so rapidly that they have two inches in six weeks.  Normal hair growth is 1/2 inch per month.  That means it takes the average, healthy haired person four months or sixteen weeks to get two inches.  I know some of you ladies are thinking I'm out of my mind right now for even thinking of suggesting that you go sixteen weeks before getting your relaxers, but the truth is that

Read This To Find Out Why Your Hair Is So Dry!

                                       

I hear a lot of women say the number one problem with their hair is dryness.  There are several reasons why hair tends to become dry, and knowing exactly the cause for your particular situation will help you find a solution that much faster! One of the reasons why Silk Hydration by L. Jones sells so well is because so many women are looking for something to moisturize their hair. However, when tackling the issue of dry hair, you want get to the root of the problem in order to stop it permanently. The first thing I ask when a person tells me that have dry hair is are they drinking enough water? (Read here for info on how water plays a major part in hydrating your hair).  If you are getting enough water daily, here are some additional reasons why your hair may be dry.

1. Making the water too hot when shampooing-  When the water you use to shampoo your hair is too hot, the cuticle of the hair is raised more, allowing all of the moisture to come out, causing the hair to look dry.  Instead, use warm water, and rinse the conditioner with cool water to trap the moisture inside the hair shaft.

2. Shampooing too frequently-  Excessive shampooing also washes away all of the natural oils and moisture out of the hair.  Only shampoo once per week (preferably with Silk Hydration products) or when you notice excessive product build up on the hair.

3. Excessive use of styling tools- Excessively using curling irons and flat irons can not only dry the hair out, it can also burn the hair out! Limit your use of these tools to once per week or less and always use the lowest setting for your hair type.

4. Improperly using harsh chemicals (relaxers and hair color)- When receiving these services it is very important to properly moisturize the hair to offset the drying effect they have on the hair.  Failing to do this always results in dry and frizzy hair.  And remember, always let only your trusted professionally licensed stylist to perform any chemical service on your hair!

Why Relaxers Are Not Bad For Your Hair

When I ask my natural clients what made them want to go natural they all tell me the exact same thing which is because they wanted healthy hair.  So that leaves you to wonder, are relaxers bad for your hair?  Take it from me, someone who has had a relaxer since I was very young, relaxers are NOT bad for your hair.  They can, however, be damaging and do extensive harm to your hair if they are used incorrectly. So, when your hair is properly being cared for and it is done correctly, a relaxer is not going to make it unhealthy.

healthy relaxed hair

A lot of women don't realize that relaxers contain very harsh chemicals, mainly sodium hydroxide, in them.  This is why it says on just about (and I say "just about" because I can admit that I have not looked at every relaxer kit to know for sure) every relaxer package "for professional use only".  We hairstylists have actually been trained on how to correctly apply them which is why I always tell women to never do their relaxers at home.  Also, lots of women who tell me the relaxers damaged their hair also admit to me that they did their own relaxers.  This is not a coincidence.  When done correctly a relaxer should never burn unless you have a scalp condition and should not damage your hair.

Women who experience damage to their hair due to relaxers do so because of one or more of the following reasons:

• Doing it themselves- I know it is very tempting to do your own relaxer, especially when you really don't have the money to get it professionally done and you see that you can buy one in the store for $5. Believe me, I totally get it as I have been in that situation myself before. But, as tempting as it may seem, this is a big no-no.  You many not see the damage to your hair after the first or maybe even the second time you do it yourself, but believe me you are damaging your hair.  You can't see what you are doing and 9 times out of 10 you are overlapping.
• Getting them too often- I've had some women tell me that they get their relaxers every FOUR weeks!  And their hairstylist is actually doing it!! Hearing this makes me cringe.  You should only be getting your relaxers done if you have at least two inches of new growth.  Unless you are taking some kind of super-vitamin that you are hiding from the rest of the world, your hair is not growing out two inches in four weeks.  Just because you see a little wave or ripple of new growth doesn't mean its time.  I have actually had a client stop coming to me because I wouldn't give her a relaxer when she wanted one.  But guess what? She will never be able to say I was the stylist that made her hair come out or wasn't taking care of it!
• Brush or scratch the scalp right before a relaxer- Never brush or scratch your scalp before you receive a relaxer, especially around your edges.  It irritates your scalp and leads to scalp burn.
• Overlapping- Overlapping is relaxing hair that has already been relaxed.  Overlapping always leads to damage and breakage over a period of time.  If your relaxed hair used to be thick and you notice your hair is now very thin and somewhat brittle, overlapping is probably the reason why. It is highly unadvisable to relax hair that has been relaxed and you never relax hair down to the very ends.

So, the next time you see that $5 box relaxer, don't be tempted. If it hurts you financially to get your hair professionally done, stick to only getting your relaxer professionally done and you can handle the shampoo sets yourself.  Besides you should only be getting your relaxers done every 12-16 weeks anyway which is about every four months.  Also remember that it takes way more money to fix a problem or get your hair back healthy than it does to prevent it.

The Best Way To Stop Your Hair From Thinning

The majority of all women experience some type of thinning.  It is perfectly normal to shed approximately 100-150 hairs daily.  That is just part of the growing process.  However, excessive and abnormal hair loss is known as alopecia. It occurs when something goes wrong in the body like disease, hormone imbalance, trauma, genetic condition,  or taking certain kinds of medication. The most effective way to stop your hair from thinning is to find out the cause first so you can know what type of action to take to get your hair back on the right track.

Androgenetic/Androgenic Alopecia-  This type of alopecia is largely hereditary but can also stem from or be made worse by hormones, pregnancy, and menopause. If your hair is starting to thin in a certain area of your hair, check to see if any of your other female relatives, like your mother or grandmother, have the same problem. If they do, chances are this is the type of alopecia you have.  Products like Nioxin shampoo for thinning, and Rogaine foam will help hair continue to grow and thicken in these areas.

Alopecia Areata-  This type of alopecia occurs when a person's immune system attacks the roots of the follicle.  This results in severe shedding in patches.  One of the main causes for this type of thinning is severe stress.  Although it is often easier said than done, removing the stress factor will allow this hair to grow back.

Traction Alopecia-  This is caused by severe trauma to the hair follicles.  Tight hairstyles caused from braids, tight ponytails, and especially weaves will cause traction alopecia.  Discontinuing use of these hairstyles immediately after noticing thinning will greatly enhance the chances of regrowth.  However, continuing to subject your hair to these styles can result in permanent balding in the affected areas.

Telogen Effluvium-  This occurs due to some type of trauma, or traumatic experience to the body.  This can include illness, stress, childbirth, or malnutrition due to crash diets.  Birth control pills and thyroid medications are also associated with temporary alopecia.  Often, once the trauma is over or has been removed, regrowth will occur.

Although thinning and balding are very common, often getting to the root of what is causing it can help stop it!

BONUS! Check out the video for this blog post.

Kids & Relaxers.. Should You Relax Your Daughter's Hair?

Should you relax your daughter's hair?

 Many clients ask me what should they do with their daughter's hair, should they relax it or not? I definitely don't think any child under the age of 6 should get a relaxer, PERIOD.  At that age, the child's hair texture is still changing.  Allow it to fully mature before even considering giving her a relaxer.  Even so called "kiddie relaxers" have the same chemical as adult relaxers, they are just a milder version.  As an alternative, stick with styles that last for a week or more, like braids or twists.  This will allow you to not have to style it as often. You do, however, still need to take great care of your child's hair just as you would your own. It still needs to shampooed and conditioned weekly (preferably with Silk Hydration by L. Jones products), and ends still need to be trimmed every 10-12 weeks.  Also, make sure your child is getting the proper nutrition and drinking plenty of water so the hair won't look dry. I know its hard for us to do this sometimes, especially when you have a picky eater like myself.  For extra shine, stick with light oils, no grease.

9-year old with relaxed hair

Healthy relaxed hair

For children 6 and up, I still do not recommend relaxers, except in extreme cases.  By extreme cases, I mean if the child's hair is very thick, coarse, and past the shoulders in length.  Only in these cases will I even consider giving a child a

How To Choose The Best Products For Your Hair

Just like clothing, shampoos and conditioners are not one size fits all.  It is important to customize your shampoo and conditioner to your specific hair type in order for your hair to be in its healthiest state.  Here are some tips on what types of shampoo/conditioners to use based on the type of hair you have.

Dry hair-  If your hair seems to always be dry, you should use a moisturizing or hydrating shampoo and conditioner.  These types of shampoos and conditioners add the needed moisture to the hair, minimizing the use for extra products like oil, sheen, and grease. Additionally, the hair produces its own oils, so adding even more product on top of what is produced naturally leads to product build up.  This is when the hair is so lifeless and limp, and often feels greasy to the touch. Product build up leads to more frequent shampoos, which doesn't benefit dry hair due to the moisture that's needed is being continuously shampooed out of the hair. Recommendation: Silk Hydration by L. Jones Extreme Moisture

Oily hair-  If your hair is very oily, try using a clarifying or deep cleansing shampoo.  Clarifying shampoos get rid of all the excessive oil and any product build up on the hair.  After shampooing with this type of shampoo often gives the hair that squeaky clean feeling.  For oily hair, it would also be beneficial to skip the creme based conditioner and opt for a leave-in, since oily hair produces lots of oil on its own.  Recommendation: Silk Hydration by L. Jones Extreme Clean

Dandruff-  If your hair has dandruff in it very often, a dandruff shampoo needs to be used on the hair.  Use this shampoo weekly, and also use the conditioner associated with it. For the shampoo to treat your dandruff effectively, shampoo the hair once, working up a good lather and rinse.  On the second shampoo, work up another good lather, let sit for 10 min., then rinse.  Proceed with conditioner.  Do this routine once per week and you should notice a drastic change if not total elimination of the dandruff.  If no changes are seen at all, see a dermatologist.  

Remember to always customize your shampoo for your type of hair in order to keep it healthy! Be sure to check out the products at Silk Hydration for your hair care needs.

How Often Is Too Often To Get A Relaxer?

Once upon a time, going natural was thought of as just a fad or something that would eventually go away. And for many women that was the case. Some wanted to try it out and simply preferred their relaxer instead of their natural locks. If you were to ask any woman why they decided to go natural in the first place they would probably tell you that they wanted their hair to be healthier. But is natural hair really healthier than relaxed hair? Why do so many women with relaxed hair experience damage? With so many women ditching the "creamy crack", a.k.a relaxers, altogether, it leaves a lot of women questioning if they should just decrease the frequency of when they should get relaxer touch-ups (also known as relaxer stretching) done.  

I was taught to give relaxers only when there

Can You Color The Same Day Relax Your Hair?

Have you ever wondered if you could color your hair the same day you get a relaxer? The answer depends on the type of color you want. If you want permanent color, the answer is NO NO NO! I have seen first hand where someone colored their hair then went to their stylist asking for a relaxer but didn't tell the stylist they just got permanent color and their hair fell out! No one ever wants to be in this person's shoes, so stay away from permanent color and relaxers at the same time. If you want permanent color, wait at least two weeks before or after your relaxer service and after you receive your color be sure to treat your hair twice a month with a moisturizing treatment and protein treatment. In between the treatments, use great hair products (like Silk Hydration), that are sulfate and paraben free and gentle on your color treated hair.

Semi-permanent colors and rinses are perfectly fine to get on the same day as your relaxer. They do not contain any lifting agents like peroxide and ammonia, making them very safe on the hair.  Semi permanent colors are great for covering gray, adding depth, and giving the hair a shine.  They will not, however, make your hair lighter. They only deposit color, they don't lift it meaning they only make your hair darker, not lighter.  If you want your hair to be lighter, permanent color is required.

So remember, permanent color and relaxers DO NOT MIX!

Eat These Foods If You Want Your Hair To Grow!

Even though using great hair products on your hair, like Silk Hydration by L. Jones (i.e. shampoos, conditioners, etc) on the hair aids in hair growth and having healthy hair, sometimes it alone is not enough.  Nutrition plays a vital role in hair growth. Our bodies are nourished from the inside out so eating the proper foods is essential and beneficial for our entire bodies, including our hair and scalp. Today I would like to go over some nutrients that can help your hair grow longer.  Here are the top nutrients and the foods they are found in that promote healthy hair and growth.

Protein & Iron- Protein is necessary for all cell growth, including hair. Our har is made up of amino acids. Once protein is eaten, our bodies break it down to amino acids which are carried throughout our bodies. At that point our bodies can select which amino acids they need for the construction of new cells, body tissue, etc. Our bodies do not make these amino acids so we have to consume them. Every cell in our body needs protein to survive. When we don't get enough, our bodies, including our hair, become deficient. Foods that are high in protein content include seafoods like salmon, shrimp, and tuna, beef, and eggs to name a few.

Iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen to all cells, including the hair follicles. Not having enough iron in can result in hair loss. Iron can be found in supplements if not enough is consumed through the body. Iron rich foods that contain protein are

3 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Get Permanent Color

Before you get permanent color, ask yourself 3 questions!

With a season change among us, a lot of women get the urge to color their hair.  And there is nothing wrong with that, color can be a wonderful thing!  It can also be your worst nightmare...  Before you decide to color, here are a few questions your should ask yourself.

healthy, permanently colored hair

1. Is your hair healthy enough for color?  If your hair is already damaged and/or weak, the thought of color should not even cross your mind.  It will only make a bad situation worse. Do not even consider permanent color if your hair is not ready. First, focus on getting your hair back healthy (these products will help). As an alternative, you can add some extensions and color those. Otherwise, stay away!

healthy, color treated hair

2. Are you ready/able to pay all of the costs associated with getting color?  The initial cost of the color service itself is not the only cost you should think about.  If you don't want to start seeing excessive shedding and breakage due to the effects of color, you also need to continue to see your stylist 1-2 times per month for reconstructive and moisturizing treatments.  This will guarantee your hair stays healthy, so these services are crucial.  If this is not something you want to commit to, you may not be ready for color just yet. Remember, the cost of repairing damaged hair always costs more than the initial maintenance.

healthy hair with permanent color

3. Who will perform your color service?  If your answer to this question is anyone other than a licensed professional stylist, you may want to think twice before you get color.  It is very important that only professional products are used on your hair, especially when dealing with chemicals, and most professional products require a license to be purchased. Also, you want someone who has been properly taught and trained on all things pertaining to color.  Think about it, would you allow anyone but a doctor to perform surgery on you, or anyone but a dentist to do dental work in your mouth? Of course not!  If you are trying to cut corners by having your friend, sister, cousin, etc. to do your color, you may not be ready yet!

Remember, it ALWAYS costs you more to fix something you messed up trying to do on your own than to have it done correctly the first time.

Happy coloring, do it right! Your hair will thank you!! 

Hair Benefits of Drinking Water

Is your hair extremely dry?? Chances are your skin is also. If this describes you, you may need to increase your water consumption.  The body benefits from drinking water in MANY ways, from losing weight to curing headaches, but for the purpose of this article we'll stick to the hair benefits.

In general, our bodies are mostly water, containing up to 75%! Over 2/3 of our body is water. Here are a few organs and bodily fluids and the corresponding percentages that contain water.