Category: breakage

Here’s Why You Have Dry Hair in Colorado

Posted on by Michelle

woman with side view of curly hair

Back in 2009 I did the big chop.  I transitioned for nine months before finally cutting off all of my relaxed ends.  I was left with a teeny fro and started experimenting with all sorts of hair products.  At that time there were only a few online resources like blogs and hair forums.  There were Youtube videos but not anything like the hair tutorials we have today.

Everyone talked about what worked for their natural hair and I found it odd that a lot of those things didn’t work for me.  I finally realized that people who lived in other climates had different hair issues than what I faced here in Colorado.

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Can Hair Vitamins Really Grow Your Hair?

Posted on by Michelle

Naturally Curly Hair side view

Long before I started a healthy hair journey, it always seemed like my hair stayed at or above my shoulders.  Out of frustration I decided to search online for a solution.  I was met with several ads for hair growth vitamins.  At the time, it made sense to me that maybe I was lacking nutrition in my diet.  I thought I needed a supplement to help my hair grow.  I quickly ordered a bottle from some company I don’t even remember and waited for them to arrive.

If I knew then what I know now, I might never have even placed the order.  My hair at the time was relaxed (chemically straightened) and color treated.  Both of which were damaging chemical processes.  Combine that with the fact that I used heat daily and you’ve got a trifecta of unhealthy hair practices happening all at once.  After I had zero result from taking the hair growth vitamins I was back to the web to find a solution to why my hair wasn’t growing.

 

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Recovering from Psoriasis: My Hair Journey Setback

Posted on by Michelle

Sideview of woman with natural hair
There has been a lot of trial and error throughout my natural hair journey.  I’m currently recovering from psoriasis which I’ve been battling for the past six months.  It left me with unbearably dry itchy skin and my scalp was out of control.  My hair ended up suffering as well since I was forced to cleanse my scalp more often.  This wasn’t my first experience with the condition but this time it came with a vengeance.     

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an auto immune disease that results in inflammation of the skin.  The skin cells rapidly form new skin in patches which have a dry, flakey appearance.  It not only effects my skin but my scalp as well.    A few years ago I wrote a post about how I cleared up my psoriasis with diet and supplements. The condition never truly went away but I was successful at keeping the flare-ups under control.  It turns out that my best chance at healthier skin was to follow some of my own advice.  

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In Review: Satin Lined Military Cap from Natural Born Hats LLC

Posted on by Michelle

Recently I was contacted by a company called Natural Born Hats LLC.  When I saw that they

curlyincolorado.com satin lined hat review
Finally a satin lined cap that’s stylish
and fits over my natural hair

offered satin lined hats at affordable prices, I jumped at the chance to do a review.  Why is a satin lining so important you ask?  Well, for starters, it can help minimize frizz and matting that can occur when wearing a hat without the added lining.  The smooth satin is what comes in contact with your hair which means less friction which in turn minimizes breakage.  That’s music to my ears because I’m always concerned about how my hair will fare when wearing a typical hat.  With this I have no worries.

About Natural Born Hats LLC

If you head over to the website, you’ll find the story detailing the relationship between the two friends who started the company.  They were both on a hair journey and using satin bonnets and scarves, as we all do, to protect their hair at night.  They, like me, wanted another option that was stylish for wearing out but still had the protective satin inside.

curlyincolorado.com satin lined hat review
Satin lining inside



curlyincolorado.com satin lined hat review
Military Cap Style 

What I like about their hats is the sound construction and the variety of styles that are available.  I was sent a Military inspired cap but they also carry sun hats, fedoras and lots of fun knit beanies.  The Military caps are produced using a cotton blend.  This is a plus because I’m planning to wear mine when I go on my walks this summer.  The other hats are constructed using materials such as straw plaiting, flax and polyester.  Each comes with a polyester satin lining. The knit beanies are polyester throughout which makes them machine washable but no dryer.  I like that because I’m planning on getting one for my very active 12 year old son.

I know my new hat will get a lot of use this summer.  I’m favoring braid outs lately which means my braids are sometimes not completely dry in the morning.  Now I can just throw on my satin lined cap and head out the door knowing my braids are still protected.  I’ve tried this before with other hats but was having trouble getting all of the braids to fit.  It even has room enough when my natural hair is in full swang.

curlyincolorado.com satin lined hat review
A hat that fits over my braids YAY!

If you’re interested in a comfy satin lined hat for yourself, be sure to head over to Natural Born Hats LLC and use Coupon Code:  CURLYCO25 for an extra 25% off

NOTE:  The code will be active for the next 2 weeks and must be entered using all caps.

Fighting Hair Breakage with Olive Oil and Coconut Oil

Posted on by Michelle

curlyincolorado.com fight hair breakage olive oil coconut oilIf you follow my Instagram page, @mitchellzee, then you already know that I have been experiencing some breakage lately.  I have already taken steps to help strengthen my hair with protein.  For this I went back to my trusty Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor but I also picked up some Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in.  Both products claim to help strengthen damaged hair so I figured they may be what my hair needs right now.

When I started examining my hair regimen over the past couple of months though I noticed that I had been shampooing more often.  Now, I’m not afraid to cleanse my hair with shampoo because I’ll sometimes use an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse afterwards to help restore my hair’s pH level.  Recently though I was skipping this step altogether.   I also started using a cheapie Suave shampoo with sulfates and silicones instead of my staple, Elasta QP’s Creme Conditioning shampoo.  I like using shampoo once per week because my scalp does not feel as clean with other products.  That’s why I decided I should start using oils to give my hair extra moisture and protection from the drying effects of the shampoo.

First, I used the Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor in the shower for a few minutes after cleansing my hair with Suave’s Almond Shea Butter shampoo.   The Aphogee products are protein based so I used this to help with breakage and split end prevention.  I hadn’t used it in a while but I remembered having the best results on clean hair.  After that I did a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment using coconut oil and Tresemme Naturals conditioner.  I sat under the dryer with a plastic cap for about thirty minutes.  Aftwerwards, my hair felt like buttah!  It was so much easier to detangle than before so this was definitely a winner.  

curlyincolorado.com fight hair breakage olive oil coconut oil
I’m using Olive and Coconut
Oils for moisture and conditioning

The following week I tried a pre-shampoo (pre-poo) treatment with olive oil.  This was just to ensure that my shampoo wouldn’t strip my hair during the washing process.  I also applied the oil to my scalp and massaged it in thouroughly to treat any dryness or flaking.  After using shampoo and conditioner I used the olive oil again with the Cantu Shea Butter leave-in and put my hair into plaits.  The resulting braid out was fab-u-lous!

My hair this week is feeling much more pliable and moisturized than before.  Right now I’m looking for a new shampoo that is not as drying.  Otherwise, I will continue to use the coconut and olive oils consistently over the next few months.   I really want to start retaining more of my length this year.  I can see that the oils will play a big part in helping me achieve my goals.