Hair Grow Tips that Work...

Black hair is very sensitive compared to other races but very rich at the same time. The richness is stripped away when we engage in excessive chemical processing such as relaxing, using heat tools and over washing. These processes strip the hair of its natural oils and nutrients and result in hair thinning, hair loss and sculp dryness – and I am testimony to this as I have personally experienced all of the above mentioned.

Today there are certain steps that you can take in accelerating hair growth in a natural and healthy way and I will be sharing them with you, but please note that if you do decide to go the hair vitamins route – results are visible after an average of 3months daily use of the recommended combination.

VITAMINS
There are 4 types of vitamins that are essential for healthy hair, they contain essential nutrients that help your hair stay healthy and attain maximum growth. These vitamins are effective when they are used together daily and are available at Dischem and other pharmacies:

 •Revite Super B Injection (R53.00 @ Dischem) – For overall hair health
 •VitaForce Biotin (R64.95 @ Dischem) – Makes hair grow faster
 •Extra Strength Silica (R135.95 @ Dischem) – Makes hair grow stronger
 •MSM (R59.95 for the Dischem Gold) – Makes hair growth period last longer and shedding period   shorter

SCULP STIMULATION
You may be familiar with this term, sculp stimulations is something that is greatly overlooked when it comes to hair growth but it plays a big role in accelerating growth and healthy hair. There are various methods in which this can be done as well as tools, but the simplest and cost effective means is done with just the use of your hands. By massaging your scalp for atleast 5 minutes a day you allow more blood to go to the roots of your hair, delivering nutrients and oxygen where it is needed. This will also cause the follicles to produce hair more quickly.

DOs & Dont's
 1.Wash hair only once a week & do not use very hot water when rinsing
 2.Cut the ends of your hair once a month when it is damaged to allow your hair to grow more  strongly
 3.Every morning, stimulate circulation in your scalp
 4.Do not use rubber bands or metal clips on the hair.
 5.Air dry hair whenever possible
 6.Avoid chemical processes.
 7.Use miconzole nitrate (yes, vaginal yeast infection cream like monistat) for thinning edges and bald spots

Daily Facial Skin Care Tips for Sisters..

So this winter is extremely cold, I love it for my winter wardrobe but dread it for my poor skin which tends to get very dry (ashy) and for some reason this year I seem to be getting pimples as well. My facial routine is very basic and is something I adopted from my early varsity days, and it works as I have never had acne problems or maybe its just good genes you might say. I use the Johnsons facial care range - their facial wash and facial moisturiser are my daily saviours and then i use their toner once a week - sometimes once every second month depending on how lazy I feel (taking advantage of the genes bit)..

Anyways, the pimples I have been getting have made me search for basic ethnic skin care guidelines just to confirm if I am or have been on the right route for the past 10 or so years. I came across some simple guidelines that helped me improve my skin regimen, and may also help you should you not be too sure on whether or not you are doing the right thing...some people are lucky enough to have skin that blossoms with just using water, green sunlight bar soap and vaseline but for most of us this ought to assist in getting that flawless skin:

• Adopt a daily facial skin care regimen for healthy ethnic skin: Cleanse, Tone, and Moisturize
• Exfoliate your skin weekly to keep it fresh looking - prevents old skin cell build up
• Keep your hands out of your face, you dont want to transfer germs from your hands to your face as this can cause skin irritation
• Avoid harsh chemicals.  If you can't pronounce it, you probably shouldn't use it
• Always remove your make up before going to bed

Oil Rinsing..a praised technique for moisturising ethnic hair

I recently came across an article about OIL RINSING, and curiosity led me into doing a bit of research on this technique which receives great praise from those that have used it. After all the reading i did, I cocluded that it would be a good one to share and introduce to those of you who might not be familiar with this treatment..

Oil Rinsing is basically washing your hair with oil before you apply your conditioner, here are some simple steps on how to do this simple process:

Start by shampooing your hair, or just rinse your hair (if not using shampoo) but make sure it gets soaked.
•    Coat your wet hair with about a handful (about ½ cup or so) of your favourite oil like olive, castor etc
•    Rinse the oil off with hot water
•    Proceed to apply conditioner to your strands liberally
•    Rinse with cool water while detangling. This should be quick and painless!
•    Apply your leave in conditioner and seal (seal refers to sealing in moisture by using oil or a serum after a wash)

Note: It works best if you are keeping your hair natural, or in the case of relaxed hair if you wont be flat ironing or blow drying your hair after the wash but letting it air dry...


credits: Alma's Blog