Training Day

Last week,  I was riding with my cousin who was telling me about the rigors of training her dog. She told me that she had to solicit the help of a dog trainer. In addition, she was telling me how smart the dog had become as he has figured out that the treats are the secret to his training; so to the point that he now brings her the treat so she can give him a command!

Now if, only hair would train as easy as dogs. The other day I was in the salon servicing a new customer. I asked her what goals did she have for her hair. She responded that she wanted it grow longer, be healthy and to "train" it. Huh, train hair? I have not heard that phrase since 1977. I was not aware that people were still under the notion that hair could be trained. So, I told my new customer that her goal to train her hair would make for a great blog topic!

First things first, hair can not be trained. Yeah, I know. Another myth debunked. I am not quite sure how these things are coming to fruition into the minds of many as it relates to hair care and hair styling, but plenty of misinformation is spreading fast. She went onto to tell me that she was under the belief that hair could be trained via:

• Brushing hair in the desired direction
• Combing hair in the desired direction
• Flat Ironing
• Rolling 
• Wrapping 

In this kipufi (brief) blog, I will briefly explain why the above-mentioned techniques can not train hair. Drum roll, please. 

Brushing hair will not train hair. However, brushing hair will tame hair. Brushing hair has many benefits; again, training is not one of them. Brush hair promotes hair growth by way of stimulating the scalp to increase blood flow. Blood flow and the oxygen in it are what nourishes hair. Nourished hair is strong. Brushing hair will save you plenty of money on buying hair care products that claim to strengthen hair and make it shine. Most hair care products work on hair externally. It is the internal workings of hair care by way of nutrition that makes hair truly strong and shiny. So brushing hair does that. Brushing hair promotes growth, shine and smoothness.

Combing hair in any direction will not train hair. Combing hair is about two things. First and foremost, combing hair is another way to clean hair.  Second, combing hair will groom and style it. When hair is combed properly, the benefits are exfoliating, de-thatching, detangling and redistribution. What does that mean? 

When hair is combed properly with the right comb, the teeth of the comb will exfoliate and slough off dead and dry skin cells from the scalp.  As the comb loosens the fibrin (flakes) and debris from the scalp, it makes washing hair more effective. Though de-thatching is most commonly associated with lawn care. The concept of using a rake to remove the build of grass and organic matter by way of de-thatching; is synonymous to using a comb to remove flakes and hair that has shed. The concept of removing a build up of stuff with a rake-like tool is the same. Combing hair detangles it. If longer hair is the goal, detangling is the secret to getting there. Tangled hair prevents natural and added oils from getting to the ends of hair. When longer hair is desired, it is the ends of the hair that are directly responsible for the length. Detangling hair is

Combing your hair

 essential to hair being manageable, tangle free and minimizes the breakage on the ends. When hair is combed properly with the right comb, long, strong healthy hair is often the result, not trained hair. Lastly, when hair is combed frequently, you will have the opportunity to redistribute the oils throughout your hair from your regrowth at the scalp to the ends. When hair is only combed once per day, the more snapping and breaking of hair fibers you will see in your sink, on the floor, and in your comb. If you have any degree of texture in your hair, the longer you go without combing your hair, you will see and physically feel your hair reverting back in the scalp area. When hair reverts back as a result of not combing it. And then you add in sweating, scratching, the wind blowing and the likes, hair will become matted and difficult to comb. When hair is difficult to comb, the length of the hair is compromised from the tug of trying to detangle it. No more tears. So comb your hair frequently to redistribute oils, promote the health and achieve length on your hair.

But, by no power vested in your arm and hand will you be able to train your hair with a comb.

Flat ironing  is safe.

Flat ironing hair will not result in trained hair. Frequent flat ironing on any temperature will eventually break the bonds that are responsible for the curl, wave, kink or Afro texture within the hair strands. The result is overprocessed hair that results in loss of hair texture or pattern. While your hair will not be trained from flat ironing it frequently, it can be damaged. Hair is an excellent conductor of heat. So, to permanently break the bonds that give hair textured and patterns will take plenty of heat and aggressive hair styling. Be careful when using heat. Use heat responsibly with a thermal protectant with the right amount of heat and your hair will be fine for a very long time.

Rolling hair will not result in trained hair. Rolling hair will result in curled hair. Aside from protection, adornment is considered to be the chief purpose of hair. Rather long, short or bald; hair is all about adorning oneself. Adorning for most humans and other animals for that matter is innate. For whatever reason, looking good is just as important as breathing. So, rolling hair is all about the hair style. If the hair is rolled the same way; then the varying styles associated with that rolled pattern will yield the desired look. However, by no stretch of the imagination is hair trained when it is rolled.

Wrapping hair will not train hair.  Wrapping  hair in a circular pattern around the hair is identical to rolling hair. The exception here is your head. When you wrap your hair, your head is the "roller!" Surprising, isn't it? So, when you wrap something long in a circular pattern, the result is almost always smooth and straight with a slight curvature. When wrapped properly, the result is less work to restyling your hair. However, trained hair will not be the result. 

As you can see the misnomer of trained hair is not possible in the world of hair styling. Hair grows every day all day for 6-7 years straight, non-stop. So how can something that is always growing be trained? It can be tamed, compromised and altered; but never trained.

Hair styling is a part of hair care. Have fun with your hair as you take care of it. If something sounds too good to be true, it typically is. So while training your dog to sit and giving him or her treats for behaving; hair might behave, but it can not be trained. Hair is rarely that cooperative, no matter how expensive or unique the treat is!

Now sit Uboo. Good dog.

The Problem With Hair Care

Albert Einstein's formula for relativity was a result of his constant pondering of what makes things move. In my constant wondering why do so many women turn their hair care and hair style over to the hair stylist or salon, I too developed a formula. I took those thoughts and answers and used them to develop a formula to help. It is my belief that licensed hair stylists should do more than just shampoo and style hair. Therefore, I will join the elite number of licensed hair stylists who care and use my formula to help women nation and world wide learn how to care for and do their own hair. It is my mission to teach the masses how to care for and style their hair themselves continues.

"When one is in chains we are all bound."

There are three simple steps to my mission. The first step is to expose the methods that contribute to the madness hair stylist and salon slavery. The second step is to reveal the formula and the third step is to spread the word.

The method to the madness in hair styling starts with the trouble of no hair care. Make no mistake, it is the overt removal of and disdain for hair care that is often times promoted UNKNOWINGLY by licensed cosmetologists or is passed from generation to generation through family members and/ who both more than likely misinformed. For licensed cosmetologists, the scenario of not being properly educated, trained and tested in hair care further perpetuates this madness. Because hair styling is the primary focus and income earner for most licensed cosmetologists and salon owners, hair care and how to use the salon visit to teach rarely gets addressed. 

The power of marketing!

There is an unspoken contract between customers, licensed cosmetologists and hair care product manufacturers that is dropped off on an impromptu's notice in the salon and in certain CEU (continuing education units) classes by unscrupulous, untrained and unlicensed sales reps that add momentum to the madness that is surely spiraling out of control. The unspoken contract often starts with the solicitation to sell hair care products and education to the stylists as she styles the hair while the customer sits in the chair. The unspoken contract is also where segregation, race, hair textures and hair types are clumped together for the soul purpose of duping salon customers (old, new and potential) and consumers of hair styling products alike that what and who they see as well as hear in the advertisements are true. This statement is easily proven as fact when during this day and time there remains an "ethnic" hair care aisle in the varying stores that sell hair styling products. There remains "ethnic" in the marketing and commercialism in hair styling products. In addition, very few licensed cosmetologists, cosmetology students, cosmetology educators and hair care product manufacturers are bold enough to hold accountable the blatant removal and exclusion of textured hair mannequins in the schooling, education, training and stated tested licensing process. Sheer madness I say; sheer madness.

The unspoken contractual method all hurt and enable the consumer and the licensed cosmetologists. Yet the manufacturers of the multi-billion dollar hair styling/beauty industry become richer by the bulks, threads, needles, bottles, jars, tubes, cords and more. So, it is the method to the madness that hurts hair care.

Einstein's Theory

Now, on to the second step of my mission, sharing my formula. The formula to caring for your hair is simple and easy to use. Einstein's formula of relativity is E = mc2. Ladosha's formula to hair care is mhc2 = E. In Einstein’s relativity formula E=mc2, energy is pertinent; energy is the equivalent of what makes the mass and the speed of light (c) times acutally MOVE!  

In the formula for hair care (mhc2 = E) it is the ability to manage your hair care (at least 2 times per day) that actually takes energy (and time)! In addition, proper knowledge and instructions on which products to use for your specific hair texture and hair type is key to my manage hair care (mhc2 =E) formula.

I have always been concerned with women turning their hair care and hair style over to a hair stylist who don't even wake up with them in the morning, or after a work out and the likes to help when hair styling matters most. So waiting to return to the salon is not always the best option for many. Please keep in mind that the "waiting to return to the salon for two weeks" is another method to the madness. Dirty hair is where the money is. They even create hair styles as well as formulate hair care products and marketing campaigns specifically for consumers who do not shampoo their hair frequently. Hence, "ethnic."

Ladosha's formula on hair care.

Now this is where "the problem with hair care gets sticky." My experience has been, that for the most part it appears to be that there is a high number of women with textured (curly, kinky, wavy and Afro) who have a belief system as well as an earnest sentiment where they correlate the price and time spent in a salon on hair style with hair care. That truly concerns. It motivated my developing this formula. Removing, ignoring, not addressing and not making the time to teach the customer what to do with their hair in between salon visits is directly related to unwanted hair damage and hair loss. It promotes their false belief and sentiment. While it is difficult for a large number of women to fathom that they are being deliberately or unknowingly removed from the equation of hair care; it is true. To address this task (TIME/ENERGY) due to their daily activities (careers, family, children, church and other commitments) many women spend very little time. In addition, very little or none of their energy is spent on hair care. Therefore, I must reiterate the importance of YOU making the time and energy to learn your hair yourself. It is vital to longevity of having it on YOUR head. 

Make it your business to turn every salon visit as a "teachable moment" versus immersing yourself into your electronic device, gossiping, complaining, eating and the likes. Instead, utilize every visit to to include YOU into the formula of learning how to care for and do your own hair. Do not fret if you are a novice to doing your own hair. Any professional licensed cosmetologist would be glad to help you. If not, come see us at The Reverence Design Team Hair Salon in Cleveland Heights, Ohio!

Licensed hair stylist should be teaching every customer
how to care for and style their hair in between
salon visits.

2015 represents a new year. For many the new year brings about a new attitude. Check yours and your hair stylist's attitude toward hair care. See if you two are working on the same equation when it comes to your hair. And in that equation, E=mhc2 we know that you are the vital part of that (E)energy. Managing Hair Care (MHC) 2 times per day is what it will honestly take to keep your hair on your head. It will also give you the ability to style and re-style your hair.

In closing, do not allow anyone or anything to remove you from that equation.

The Best Way to Healthy Hair

Healthy hair!

I love my job. It is one that I describe as up front and personal with humans and their whimsical journey through life. So what makes me use a word like "whimsical?" It's the funny naive things that customers say and do as it relates to hair care and hair styling that makes it so whimsical!

For example, I find it funny that many customers really think they have bad hair or no hair. I also find it funny how they will spend more money for products when they already have a supply underneath their bathroom sinks! Lastly, I find it even more funny, when they say they can not do their own hair; when most have never even tried or have been taught. This is where I am at my best!

I love showing people how hair care and hair styling does not have to be costly, intimidating or time consuming. To make hair care easy to digest, I will define hair care as "the act of making time to care for hair via cleansing, stimulating, nourishing and styling." Many people thinks hair care means to either tie it down, pull it into a ponytail, comb it back smooth or simply wash-n-wear and let it go. For the most part, that is the just of it for the sake of time and skill. However, as it relates to the "healthy" part of hair; well there is more. 

More? That is correct, but not a whole lot more. The operative word in this blog is "healthy." To make hair care healthy hair, you have "to do" the act. The acts of getting healthy hair is to actually clean it by way of using the correct shampoo for your hair texture (wavy, kinky, curly, straight and Afro) and type (fine, medium or coarse). Next, you have to use the balls of your fingers with some good old fashioned elbow grease to stimulate your scalp by way of massaging it as you shampoo or massage it. You can also provide stimulation by combing, brushing your hair. Yes, you add certain essential oils to promote blood flow. Blood flow is responsible for nourishing your hair to make it healthy. The last part of healthy hair is creating a style that flows with your image and one that will not promote breakage.  Whew, that wasn't so bad!

Amka, Latin for friend is excellent for all hair types and
is outstanding for color treated hair! 

Keep in mind; styling tools, hair care supplies and hair stylists makes hair look and feel healthy. But the true health of the hair starts with you do the act of caring for it from the inside out as you simultaneously do your part at home to protect your hair care investment.

Rid yourself of those misconceptions in hair care that you either have to pay someone or buy expensive stuff. That is an option for the masses.  For those, like me, who deliberately looks for practical solutions in a busy world; get involved in your hair care and hair styling at home. Wait a while before you re-book another salon appointment, shop online or go into the supply store buying everything hair you see. Please spend some time with your hair. Just as your mechanic gives you tips to extend the life of your car and the doctor gives you tips to maintain your health; your hair stylist can show you few hair care do's and don'ts to preserve and improve the health of your hair. 

In my professional opinion on the best way to healthy hair, is to look in the mirror because the best way to healthy hair is you!

Get involved!