Deep Cleansing is the Secret to Free Flowing Hair

Yes! Regardless to your hair type, Deep cleanse your hair at least once a week.

If you wear shades or eyeglasses- do you know how dirty the lenses can get in the course of a day? Imagine your hair attracting as much residue or debris?

There are clarifying shampoos and deep cleansing shampoos. If you have a relaxer without heavy gels or grease buildup, then I recommend a deep cleansing shampoo such as Paul Mitchell Shampoo one or Design Essentials Organic Cleanse.

If you have a relaxer and HEAVY grease or sticky gels, then I recommend clarifying shampoo such as Pureology Purify, Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two or Rusk Clarify.

If you are color-treated or no chemicals at all, then choose clarifying shampoos for oily scalps. Careful, you do not need a clarifying shampoo every day! There are some daily shampoos and daily conditioners that are light.

Try to go for a clean scalp and clean strands without stripping excessive amounts of natural oil/shine.

If you have an extremely oily scalp, then clarify as much as possible. There are only a small population with extremely oily scalps. You will know your level of oil production by how fast your hair gets weighed down naturally.

If within 24 hours of a shampoo, your typically straight hair is weighed down again; then you probably have an oily scalp. This particular hair situation may need clarifying shampoo or a volume shampoo. Talk to your stylist about a good regimen for you.

After you clarify or deep cleanse, an appropriate moisture shampoo is needed and/or appropriate conditioner.

Relaxed hair definitely needs a moisture shampoo and a moisture conditioner layered with a little reconstructor after deep cleansing. (Careful, do not overdose on the protein.) Great reconstructors that also moisturize include: Paul Brown Hawaii Resurrect and KeraCare Intensive Restorative Masque. Paul Brown Hawaii Resurrect should have an instant moisture conditioner followed behind it just to make sure the hair is balanced. However, KeraCare Intensive Restorative Masque does not need a followup conditioner.

In summary, everyone needs two types of shampoos and one conditioner at a mininum.
Others may need more.

Humidity Resistant Products for Natural Hair

I have discovered more products to assist with avoiding reversion of naturally curly hair without the weight. I wish that I had discovered these products three or four months ago.

1) Alfaparf Divine Cream - put on wet hair
2) Kimble Silk Treatment Leave-in spray or Paul Brown Hawaii Treat Elite Leave-in spray
3) Fresh Look Blow-drying Cream - put on wet hair
4) Pureology Smoothing Elixir - put on wet hair
Then Thoroughly blow-dry with a Denman Brush followed by a aluminum barrel round brush if more straightness is desired.
5) Mizani Thermasmooth Anti-Humidity Spritz -- spray on after throughly blow-drying hair, then you will be flat-iron ready!
6) Joico Humdity Blocker as a finishing aerosol throughout.

Want to hold more curls? Include Essations regular Styling spray prior to flat ironing.

Want to experience the results before buying all the components? You can schedule with me to have the service completed. Please mention this blog for a complimentary treatment service to be added to the regular thermal service.

Flat Iron Testing

Pictured: A Babybliss Tourmaline flat iron that was burning out hair!

A good way of testing flat irons is clamp the flat iron on a piece of white toilet paper. Hold it steady for about 35 to 55 seconds. Release the toilet paper. If a Brown imprint is left on the toilet paper, then that flat iron is NOT good for your hair. The toilet paper should not turn colors if it is a good flat iron. My favorite brands are Paul Mitchell and FHI Heat!

I tried my flat test with one of the Babybliss flat irons that I was suspecting was causing damage and sure enough, the toilet paper was "toasted" in 35 seconds. Yes, as you can see from the picture: pecan brown. There are different Babybliss irons out there but I would test before using another flat iron.