Growing Hair

"I see the bad moon rising," a popular song from back in the 60's that was sung by Credence Clearwater Revival. It is also the first song that comes to my mind whenever I hear anything about the moon and whenever I see the moon rising. 

Anthony Morrocco is the Master Hair Shaman who
developed this Lunar Chart to aid in hair care and
hair growth.

The moon is mystic and magical. It pretty much captures you whenever you look at it. It does some amazing things. For example, it changes colors, it makes the waves rise and fall. It helps the crops grow, it acts as an indicator for becoming pregnant and it even helps your hair grow. Yep, that moon is bad; bad to the bone. 

In spite of its splendor and beauty, many people underestimate the moon. Many do not understand the moon and its influence on the human body. Since the beginning of time, mankind has used the moon to their advantage to do things that are humanly impossible. How does the moon, that is way up in the sky, have the ability to impact and influence what is going on in the ground, in the water and in our bodies?

Simple, it is the gravitational to and fro pull from the moon that shifts, moves, lifts, lowers and stirs what truly makes the world go round; life force. The moon has mystical powers to help what we put into the ground to feed the masses of people worldwide, possible to grow. In humans, the moon is responsible for increased blood flow, decreased blood flow and hormonal activity; all of which are directly related to our physical and mental health. 

"Hmmm," ye say? Yes, the moon is really bad, a b-b-b bad to the bone! It is amazing how it works. It is interesting how we can utilize the force of the moon to aid in improving or maintaining our physical health. The human body is 75% water. The theory is, just as the moon's gravitational pull affects the water here on earth, it also affects the water inside humans. 

Another theory behind the moon and it's effect on humans is how when women menstruate. In theory, the menstrual cycle in reproductive-age women lasts about 28 days, which is similar to the length of a lunar phase (29 days and change). In a  2011 study in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica tracked the menstrual cycles of 826 women. The study showed how nearly 30% of the women started their menstruation near the time of the full moon. 

Going back in time. It was during some time in 1930, a prominent doctor named, John Billings developed the "Rhythm Method." This was a form of natural birth control for those whose religion forbid them to take any form of synthetic or manmade birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancy. The concept around the "Rhythm Method" was directly related to when a woman ovulates, her body temperature and the moon. While it very intricate, many women incorporated this practice into their scope of "fertility awareness." In brief, the "Rhythm Method" suggests that up to 12 days before a woman menstruates, ovaries begin to ovulate as she becomes more fertile, her body temperature rises as she becomes physically ready (or horny...lol) for relations with the intent to conceive. If she does not want to become pregnant, then she should refrain from sexual activity during this time. 

Keep in mind, the theory about the concept of the moon and it's effect on the human body is just that a theory. However, it is a theory that many, including, myself believe because I personally experience them and I witness the theory in live action during my line of work daily. 

If you want to grow your hair, adjust your hair care to be in sync with the moon for optimal results. In theory, as the moon waxes or becomes full, there is an increase in blood flow and hormonal activity. Blood flow is responsible for nourishing your hair. The hormonal activity of testosterone is directly responsible for growing your hair. So cut your hair when the moon is waxing because increased blood flow and hormonal activity will grow the hair back faster.

Hormonal Activity

In the instance of not wanting to promote hair growth as a result of shaving, waxing, hair coloring and the likes, perform these grooming activities during the waning of the moon. It is during the waning of the moon when blood flow and hormonal activity slows. Therefore, shaving, waxing and having your hair colored during the waning phase of the moon would result in longer lasting results because in theory the hair is growing slower.

So, rather you want to maintain your mental health, become pregnant or grow your hair; the waxing (growing full) and waning (becoming small) of the moon might be where you want to turn your attention to achieve them all. 

Growing your hair and having it healthy does not have to be difficult or expensive. While this is a theory, you have to admit, it does give you something to think about. The practice of infrequent shampooing and never cutting your hair will not give you the result of strong hair. Of course, your hair will grow rather you cut it under a full moon or not. The concept behind lunar hair care is optimal RESULTS. If you want to see the results of hair care, then incorporate lunar hair care into your scope of hair care for improved results. 

A good regimen to follow to promote growth and see the results within a year is to incorporate these steps:

Picture your hair like this as you shampoo and style it.
Don't look at those images on social media and YouTube;
they will trick you...lol

• Pre-clean your scalp with Decca Plus' Scalp Therapy or 2 oz of EVO (extra virgin olive oil) infused with 5 drops of peppermint oil.
• Apply the night before and massage vigorously to detox the follicle (the tiny hole your hair grows from).  
• Shampoo hair every 3-4 days fine less dense heads of hair
• Shampoo hair every 4-6 days medium to medium dense heads of hair
• Shampoo hair every 5-7 days medium to thick dense heads of hair
• REPEAT and lather hair at least 2-3 times
• Apply conditioner to ENDS of hair first. Do not apply conditioner to scalp area first. Doing so will clog follicle and prevent hair from growing from it.
• Comb conditioner through.
• Apply Extreme Daily Protein Treatment by Philip Pelusi. It is one of the best protein treaments that does NOT coat the hair. Instead, the molecules are tiny enough to be absorbed to the cortex (where the strenght of the hair is) to revitalize weak hair and rebuild the cuticle (outer layer of hair). 
• Let it stay on the hair for at least 3 minutes.
• Rinse hair thoroughly in warm water.
• Apply a leave in conditioner.
• Apply favorite water soluble styling agent.
• Style your hair to your desire.

Remember to refer to Anthony Morrocco's lunar hair chart to schedule your hair cuts quarterly. 

Now you too will be singing, "I see the bad moon rising" as you care for your hair!

Why They Don't Talk to You at the Hair Salon

As a salon owner, people are always shocked when I tell them that I never went to the salon before owning one. Their eyes pop, their jaws drop and some even laugh. Many have said, "You mean to tell me you own a salon, work as a hair stylist and never went to one in your life? Wow!" 

When I was a little girl growing up, my mother cared for and style my hair. My sister and I never had the privilege of going to the hair salon. My mother simply could not afford it. In addition, she was warned that hair stylists were not to fond of tender headed little girls with hair twice the size of Chaka Khan's. So, I grew up never going to a hair salon, never looking inside one, and never knowing what a hair stylist looked like. 


Then my prom came around.  So naturally, my mother thought my prom would be thee reason for me to finally go the hair salon. A guy friend recommended his sister to style my hair for my special occasion. My sister was not to fond of my first salon visit because I had no relaxer in my hair. "Hmph, forget her. I'm going to the salon to get my hair popped," was my immediate thought.

My dreamy prom hair doo!

So with my money in hand, my pictures of my hairstyle and my happy walk; I caught the number 10 bus across town to go to my first salon appointment. I was so excited about my new "prom doo." Pump waves were in at the time. I had my eyes sat on the then popular R&B singer, Angela Winbush's ocean pump waves with spiral curls in the back. Yes, the epitome of the 1980's big hair! 

The bus stop was actually in front of the hair salon. My first impression was not good. Instead of opening a glass or fancy door, I opened a screen door. Immediately, I knew something wasn't right. The screen door squeaked. Upon entering the door, I could feel a wave of heat that was hotter than the scene in Total Recall. But, I did not care. After all, I was getting my hair done. The place was small and cramped. My hair stylist did not greet me. Her "shampoo girl" simply said, "Hi, come on and follow me to the shampoo bowl." I mentioned, that I had an appointment with, let's just say her name was Ms. Hairstylist. She replied, "I know, I'm gonna shampoo you for her." 

So, I sat at the shampoo bowl. She draped me in a black cape and took my ponytail down. She was thin built, but had obviously very strong arms, she had nail art on her acrylic nails and she wore a black apron. Before I knew it, she reached over and began rinsing my hair with very cold water. The water was sprinkling and splattering in my face. I was not liking this experience. I mean everybody knows you don't shampoo hair in cold water. As she moved about rinsing my hair, I became even more uncomfortable. Why? She wreaked of marijuana. So, I held my breath as much as I could. As she rinsed my hair, she said, "Girl yo hair is thick. When was the last time you had a touch-up?" I asked, "What's that?" She replied, "You know a relaxer?" I replied, "Oh, I don't have a relaxer." She yelled over to Ms. Hairstylist, "Girl, this girl ain't got no relaxer in her hair!" And just as if I had the Ebola virus, Ms. Hairstylist, two other hair stylists and a customer came over to the shampoo bowl, quickly examined my wet hair as I laid back into the bowl. She then sat me up and snatched my cape off and balled it up. I was very nervous. Before I could ask what was the problem. The shampoo assistant quickly placed a plastic cap on my head and said, "Girl, you betta go get you a relaxer because ain't nobody gone be pressing yo hair. I don't even think hair salons really have straightening combs any more. And yo hair is too thick to be blow drying it." So, I sat up looking very dumbfounded. My hair was big. My straight hair had turned back into Chaka Khan gone wild. The water dripped from my wet hair onto my face, down my cheeks and back of my neck. She walked me to the door and said, "We don't do press and curls here. And you can't do pump waves on an Afro!."  I stood in the doorway wondering, "Why didn't she just ask me?" I then heard a lady under the dryer say, "Dag, you could give her a towel so she won't be on the bus getting people wet." And with that, she opened the screen door and tossed me a towel. I stood in the doorway feeling all out of sorts. There was nothing I could do. I knew they were not gonna let me back in. After all, they made it abundantly clear, they were not going to do my kind of hair. It never occurred to me get irate, go back in and demand that they do something to my hair. Though I had never visited a hair salon, I made the obvious conclusion. The reason she never did a consultation or even talked to me was because she did not know how. She did not care. Her goal was one thing and one thing only; to shampoo my hair. How sad.

I didn't look this nice with my cap on...lol

So, I crossed the street and hopped on the number 10 bus back home with a plastic bag on my head. Everyone one the bus was looking at me. I said nothing. I got off the bus, crossed the street, walked up the street to my house, opened the door and there stood my sister. "I knew it!" My mother exclaimed, "What the hell happened to your hair?" I replied, "Apparently, they don't do press and curls and I couldn't get pump waves anyway because I don't have a relaxer." My mother was so angry. She said, "Well, why in the hell did they wet your hair? You mean to tell me that heffa, laid you back in that chair and wet your hair without asking you one question before she got started?" "Nope." I replied. 

At the end of the day, my mom finished my hair, I went on to college, became a social worker turned hair stylist. Why? Because they don't talk to you at the hair salon. 

When I was a social worker, I worked with many women and teen parents helping them to develop coping skills to get through the day's stressors to reunify them with their children and become gainfully employed. During that time, many of the women disclosed how much they hated their hair, in spite of routine salon visits. They also disclosed how much money and time they invested into hair style. The other thing I thought was interesting. Many disclosed how they could never duplicate the hair style or how it would not last.

After hearing enough of those sad salon stories from the families I served, my co-workers and reflecting back to my own experience, I just had to do something. 

So I quit my job and opened a hair salon. The salon I opened was exclusively dedicated to teaching those with textured hair how to do it themselves. I have been providing services this way for about 15 years. I have been in demand from day one. 

The demand has become so large that I have re-directed my career to do more. I have held workshops, think tanks, speaking services and training other licensed professionals to make a difference in how people are being serviced at hair salons.

I decided it was time to do something different to help more people with textured hair. As I step from behind the chair again, I decided to collaborate. With the help of my friends and colleagues from other professions, we will address what they don't tell  you at the hair salon about hair care and hair styling. We will discuss why consultations are not taking place. We will discuss why you are being sold the wrong products. We will be on hand to educate and offer solutions.

I have learned from one thing from three salon scenarios. The first lesson is from my first scenario from my one and only salon experiences, the second is from the families I served and the third is from my friends and co-workers. I learned that a beautiful hair style does not start with a picture from a magazine or from your phone. 

A great hair style comes from great hair, great products and a skilled licensed professional. 

Great hair comes from genetics, nutrition, detoxing, exercising, sleep and positive thinking. Great products are a result of matching the product to your hair fabric and hair style goal. A great hair style comes from a licensed professional who knows how to discern your request. He or she can meet the demands of what it takes to style your hair fabric.They conclude their service with information and instructions on how to care for your hair, even if you choose to not come back at all. 

On Saturday, February 27th between 10-3pm, I will be joining Global Hair Care Solutions and the YWCA of Cleveland to host our first annual Hair and Wellness Seminar. The seminar is free. The day starts with a free continental breakfast to network and make new friends. There will be 6 workshops that will teach the connection between hair and the science of hair, nutrition and hair, detoxing and hair, water and hair, positive thinking and hair and what they don't tell you at the hair salon about hair. Participants will receive door prizes and giveaways such as; purses, scarves, Himalayan sea salt, detox tea, and samples of hair care products to name a few. Yvonne Pointer will be the keynote speaker. 



Please register at:


https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-science-of-hair-hair-care-wellness-seminar-registration-21419035913