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!

Nappy Hair

Stereotype. 

Is it me, but do you ever reflect back on those pivotal moments when you had those "A-ha Moments" in learning that were very fascinating? I still have them to this very day. When I was in the 6th grade, I was full of excitement to learn how to use different words to express myself. 

In reminiscing, nothing quite tickled my fancy that I can recall, like learning the word, "stereotype." Now, if my memory serves me correct, which it doesn't as I age, I recall thinking the word stereotype meant some kind of stereo. I just knew my guess could not be wrong. After all, I knew what a stereo was and I knew what type meant; so how could I have went wrong on that word? Boy, was I wrong. 

Since learning what stereotype meant, I've come to realize that it is just as real at 48 years old as it was at 11 years old. If it has been a while since you've read the definition of stereotype, let me refresh you. As defined in Websters, "stereotype is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing."

Being a hairstylist, stereotyping, unfortunately, is very commonplace. For example, it is not uncommon for a hairstylist to assume that a person is black if they have brown skin with textured hair. I highly recommend licensed hairstylists to do a thorough consultation. A consultation gives the professional  a chance to get to know the customer first before they even touch their hair. It is the consultation that reduces the likelihood of stereotyping. 

Artificial hair.

In no place do I see stereotyping like I see it in the hair industry. Stereotyping has moved from the eyes to the thoughts, to the pages and now to the computer screens worldwide. Words and images of "natural hair" being predominantly associated with women of color regardless the location. As a matter of fact, stereotyping is also changing the meaning of words. Stereotyping promotes the ignorance that "natural hair' is textured hair for Black girls and women. Funny, what about boys and men?

Yep, it's that bad. I was in the salon the other day and my new guest asked, "What is your take on natural hair? I notice in all that I read about you, you shy away from that word." I responded, "Well...if it grows from your head, it's natural." She was like, "Oh." I told her that I was not trying to be funny or not sensitive. I told her that I was being professional. In being professional, it is in one's best interest to avoid stereotyping. I doubt any customer I serve would find me credible if I asked if they had "natural" hair as I touch it or implied it wasn't natural because it was chemically altered. To me, that would not be professional. To me, that would be stereotyping.

For the record, a wig or weave in any fashion is the only hair that is not natural. It is sewn onto some sort of netting, weft or is attached to the natural fibers growing from your scalp in many ways from gluing, to sewing, to clipping them in, fusing and the likes.  Seriously, not much of hair styling can take place without some hair. Except In the many cases of people who can not grow hair, is on medication that causes them to lose their hair or for those who simply shave it off because they don't want any hair; then no hair it is. They may opt for a wig in the many ways they can be made. 

Natural hair! 

Natural hair is hair that grows from the scalp in the varying textures of curly, kinky, wavy, straight and Afro. Everybody of the same race or within the same family does not have the same hair. Natural hair is not a black thing. Textured hair is most certainly not a black thing. Natural hair that is chemically altered via straighteners, texturizers or hair color REMAINS natural. Just because it is altered does not mean that it is not natural. It means your hair is altered. Promoting altered hair as anything but natural is like saying, "If you wear makeup, earrings or put clothes on; you are not natural." 

For the record, hair is a pliable resilient fiber that you can safely do many things to alter it. Hair's chief purpose is adornment because adorning yourself is innate. The unknown desire to be cute or alter your appearance (hair included) is natural as scratching an itch! To be exact, they still have not found any scientific or biological reason why we have hair. Aside from the obvious theory of protection, research has not yielded anything profound about why we have hair.

If it grows from your scalp, it's natural.

Rather a person wants to braid, twist, loc, color, relax, perm, wave or weave their hair; it is still natural. Texture and race have nothing to do with determining whose hair is natural. Again, if it grows from the scalp or skin; it is natural. 

The deliberate act of excluding others who do not look like you is along the lines of discrimination, racism, classism, sexism. When you clump people together and assume they are all the same and share your sentiments is stereotyping. I professionally and deliberately do not do business with any hair company, styling tool manufacturer and hair stylists who overtly or indirectly incorporate stereotyping in their scope of service for financial gain. When it is at the expense of uninformed people, it makes my skin cringe. 

Natural Hair

As much as I am a fan of social networking, I do not like it when I see people stereotyping the phrase, "natural hair." Then they have the audacity to take it to another level by indirectly cyberbullying and using overt racism by promoting that "natural hair" is a black thing. That type of behavior is exclusive. Natural hair is inclusive. Most humans are designed to grow natural hair. Therefore, promoting it as exclusive to one race or textured hair group of people is not true. Exclusion is mean spirited. It scares people and it confuses people. 

This "natural hair" movement in some ways is not moving.  The "natural hair" movement has an element of rhetoric that misinforms, divides and hurts. It is rhetoric that takes advantage of people who want to belong. It misleads those who are looking for solutions to hair styling challenges. It is also rhetoric that has an element of a clique that only a certain photo filtered shades of brown with made up faces and innuendos of being "black enough" is natural. That is wrong on every level and you know it. 

If you cut us open, humans are
pretty much wired the same!

Stereotyping happens to me often. I once participated in a "natural hair" event and was questioned the "naturalness" of my race and hair because my hair was artificially colored blonde. My hair is still blonde. Regardless if my hair is artificially colored or not; I am a woman of color and my hair is still natural. Challenging a person's authenticity of naturalness based on the color of their skin or if their hair is chemically altered or artificially enhanced is preposterous.  Suggesting that girls and women must somehow be validated as "natural" by images that rarely looks like them when they wake up and get on with their day is uberly unrealistic. That challenge and suggestion give way to a belief that "natural" is carefree and automatic. Natural is never carefree and automatic. Natural requires time, creativity, care, attention, and patience. 

In conclusion, as a licensed hair stylist, I know for certain that "natural hair" really does grow from the scalp of all who can grow hair. I know that "natural hair" is not a black thing. It is a biological thing.