Best Hair Care Products

Ooo, please let this product work on my hair!

Hair care among women is very important. Once upon a time, hair was all about style. Women wanted to adorn themselves with nice clothes, shoes, a purse, some exotic perfume topped off with a perfectly coiffed hairstyle or wig. That was back in the day before women entered the workplace, ran for office, became physically fit and so on to name a few. A hair style was an easy accessible affordable luxury that many turned to spruce up or change their image. 

Fast forward to today and hair means something totally different. One thing is for certain and two things for sure, a hair style is no longer about sprucing up. "I am not my hair," a song that many women from all over the world chant, say or simply sing along with the talented singer India Arie. She brought that sentiment to light for many. Women no longer associate femininity with size, skin tone, nails, attire, money, marital status, children or not and of course hair. 

As a matter of fact, a hairstyle is the last thing on most women minds. Regardless the race or texture, women feel they sincerely so much more than a selection between male and female. We can go on for days about the advancement of women and their growth. Now, hair care? That is another thing. Sometime during the turn of the millennium, women became fed up with hair styles and moved over to hair care. No one can exactly pinpoint what catapulted this paradigm shift from hairstyle to hair care. But it did. In my opinion, the internet is solely responsible for the end of hair styling and the beginning of hair care. I also feel that cocky, under trained and under educated hairstylists promoted the choice for many to ditch the hairstyle and the hairstylist who came with it.

The internet opened the world up to individuals who were fed up with incompetent, late and hairstylists with attitudes. Versus being controlled by the images they saw on the little screen, viewers of the internet could do something with the screen that television would never allow: INTERACTION!

While the internet can expose people to concepts from all over with the click of a button and without leaving their chair. In all its glory, it still can't do something humans can do; touch. I obviously like the internet too. If I did not, I would not be a blogger.  The paradigm shift became very visible back in the late 90's when I was a social worker. As a cosmetologist with a degree in social science, I admit I have a bad habit of merging the two together. I do something I call, "social cosmetology." I study the behaviors of people who consume and use hair care products and styling tools...lol

Though there is no such thing as "social cosmetologist," there is something very obvious in the behaviors of both customers and cosmetologists. That one behavior is purchasing. Mintel, a very reputable marketing firm reported "in 2012 hair care sales reached a whopping 864 million.They also reported by 2017 that number will have jumped exponentially to "761 million." 

Yeah, I know we have read those reports hundreds of time. People worldwide want to know, how? How are consumers and professionals spending that kind of money? Well as a "social cosmetologist," I can sum it up for you very quick and simple; purchasing the wrong products.

What if customers were to go back to the store to return all the wrong products they purchased for their hair?  They would get a refund. Those milions and millions of dollars in slaes would quickly be reduced in half. 

I just love the way the economist and researchers throw those million and billion dollar figures around. They report that as if consumers are frivelous in their spending. In reality, most people who purchase hair care products are purchasing them because they are buying what they need. They are buying what they are told will work best and what looks on their hair. Some of their purchasing choices are also make via print and media.  

Again, because things get lost in translation, print and video gives way to what things seem to be versus what things are. Caring for and styling Afro, wavy, curly or combination textured hair has some rules. Rule number one, no heavy products on the hair. Heavy products leave hair feeling stiff, pasty, dull, waxen, sullen, brittle and lack luster. All those guarantee to coat hair, promote hair disorders, scaly scalps, smelly hair, pasty scalps and hair damage. 

Because there is a popular mindset and mode of Operandi that promotes infrequent shampooing, spongy moist hair and shiny hair; people with textured hair flock to these claims like paper clips to magnets. Afro, wavy, curly, kinky and combination textured hair is not meant to feel and look moist, super shellacked and spongy. 

Products that coat hair seem to really be doings something great to hair. They are not. Initially, hair will feel great. However, after using heavy products, over a period of time your scalp and hair will become compromised. I can see how many users do not want to let these products go. But, what they don't tell you at the hair salon is those products can no be rinsed away with water or shampooed out with regular shampoo.

The Wrong Stuff

Coating hair is not the name of the game. Coating your hair will only make hair care more expensive and hair styling more difficult. Coating your hair with heavy products will dull and alter your natural hair color. Using heavy products that coat hair will also defintely alter your texture. Infrequent shampooing regimens such as bi-weekly, monthly and the likes are sure to promote thinning and damage. Infrequent shampooing also promotes build up of yeast that naturally comes from the scalp during the scalps ability to cleanse itself. Using heavy products promotes balding and thinning by clogging the follicle (the little tiny hole that hair grows out of), thus making it difficult for hair actually grow out and it makes the hair grow in thinner. You may not notice just how damaged your hair is until 6 months to 10 years down the line. Depending on how long you have have been using the products. In my experience as a cosmetologist, I find nothing more sad than to see the look on a person's face who is upset about their hair that is severely thinned and damaged. They almost always know the products were the culprit. 

After you shampoo and condition your hair, you should only be using 1-2 products to style your hair. It does not matter if you are twisting, braiding, adding hair, rolling hair, curling hair, straightening hair, pressing hair, locking or wrapping hair. Because your scalp makes it's on oil, you should not be putting anything on your scalp. Products for your scalp should be prescribed or biodegradable. Lastly, you should never apply any kind of essential oil to your scalp or body without using some kind of carrier oil.

Oooh, pick me!

So as you can see, coveting, holding on, clinging to and swearing by heavy products does nothing for the scalp and hair texture. In the beginning things will appear to be making progress. However, as the days and years go on with continued use: thinning, limp, damaged, dull and broken hair is almost always the results. In addition, your money continues to go into a pool of millions that only inflates the pockets of the people, the companies who make them. They go under you bathroom sink to sit and be kicked to the curb like "Woody" in The Toy Story hoping to be selected as the number one hair care product in your life again. 

Be wise. Seek a consultation about your hair. Understand that advertisement, videos, magazine articles and other forms of marketing are just that. Marketing. They are trying to sell you something. And what they are trying to sell you is the thought you have in your head about your hair that was put there by someone else who doesn't even know your hair. They are selling the dream of care free natural hair. NEVER readers. That will never happen. For there is no such thing as CARE FREE hair. 

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You know your hair. And you know you should not be putting all that heavy stuff on your hair.

Ye Ol' Ends Trimmed

So there you stand in the mirror. Your hair is curled. You have rolled, set and curled your hair to your hearts content; yet every time you attempt to comb that hair into a style; the curls along with the style simply flops. What is a girl to do? Hmm, you think to yourself. Perhaps it is time for a hair cut. Off you go into the wild blue yonder of the hair salon. You sit in the chair. You have one simple request. “I would like to have my ends trimmed. You know, just  a little. I am growing my hair out and I don’t want a lot cut off.” That is simple enough, right? Wrong. You leave the salon angry once again. You say to yourself, “I just don’t understand why every time I go to a salon to have my ends trimmed I end up with a haircut that I absolutely hate and did not ask for?”

To all my readers out there in blog world, as a licensed professional this is the second area (next to hair coloring) that I, too, remain just as perplexed as you as to why that simple request is often times not met. In order to get to the end of this concern, I will dispel the top three myths in hair cutting, I will offer solutions and cut it off from there (no pun intended)!

The top three myths about cutting hair are (drum roll please): Number 1, getting your ends trimmed is cheaper than a hair cut. Number 2, cutting your hair makes it grow. And number 3, everybody should get their hair cut every 4 weeks.

A little snip cost the same as a big chop!

If any of those myths seem familiar, then read on. Dispelling Myth Number 1, having your ends trimmed takes the same ingenuity to having a precision or designer hair cut. The difference between ends trimmed and a haircut are the words. When a hairstylist or barber goes to cut hair; in the famous words of who I call the hair guru extraordinaire, Philip Pelusi, “it’s not how much we take off; but how much we leave on that counts.” I would not expect to pay less because less hair is cut off. As a matter of fact; it is a common experience for many that when a “free” ends trimmed is in the advertisement, “buyer beware.” Also, it is not uncommon for many salons, hair stylists and barbers to include a gratis shape up, that is not in lieu of your regular "paid for" hair cut service. Most professionals charge the same regardless how much they take off. As in purchasing any salon service or thing, you get what you pay for. Seek out a professional who informs of their prices up front or in writing (a website is great as well).  In most cases, “free” anything in the beauty and barber business translates into “new” stylist/barber, beginner, a new technique or unfortunately someone who is licensed and just may not know what they are doing. Lastly, do not be afraid to ask your stylist/barber about recent hair cutting training or certificates. Professionals proudly boast and display their advanced training or/and certificates.

Myth Number 2, cutting your hair makes it grow. That myth, biologically, anatomically and scientifically typing (lol) does not jive. Hair growth starts with two things. Blood supply and hormones; not shears. Hair grows every single second of the day (unless you have a hair disorder that’s diagnosed informing you that your hair will not grow). In 30 days most people have about ¼ inch of hair. As your hair grows longer it is actually older. The ends of the hair are the oldest. As you keep them shaped they are less likely to tear, break and snap; so the result IS longer hair. So the hair cut is not making your hair grow. The hair cut is keeping your ends from tearing and breaking. And as your hair grows; the length stays.....bam!

Ends trimmed, hair cut; same thang!

Myth Number 3, everybody should get their hair cut every 4 weeks. That simply depends on the hair style. My favorite hair guru extraordinaire, Philip Pelusi also teaches, “weight is the enemy of any hair style.” Once your hair grows it becomes heavy and weighted. Now those hairstyles with layers, asymmetrical cuts, tapers and the likes, your hair style will not look nice or style well the minute the hair grows and gets heavy or long. Layers, asymmetrical cuts, tapers, fades and so on do need to be cut between 2-4 weeks. If you want to grow those hair styles out, I suggest you have your hair cut every 2-3 months. this will allow the hair to become weighted and length is achieved. Do not wait too long or else the ends will become frayed and more WILL need to be cut off.

"It's not how much I take off, but how
much I leave on that counts!"

To make sure your hair cuts are worth the investment and to make sure you get miles out of your style, follow the direction of the person who cut it. Do not take matters into your hand by cutting it yourself or jumping from chair to chair looking for the stylist/barber who will do what you say. After all, you are paying for a professional look. Please allow the professional to do their job. Most professionals start with a consultation and from there the magic begins. As for those ends trimmed; only if you want to grow it out or just need a little tightening up for that special occasion. And remember, it’s not how much we take off; but how much we leave on that counts!

But, I Am Still Thirsty

Ahhh, so refreshing!

I can recall growing up as a kid having moments when I absolutely loved water and I recall moments when I absolutely hated water. For example, as a kid I loved water straight from the faucet. You remember when you use to jump on on the kitchen sink and drink it straight from the faucet and your mother came up and smacked you in the back of the head? Oh, or what about when your cousin or grandma would hold the long green water hose and let you drink it until you almost burst and of course, they would spray you with the hose! Now, there were times when I absoluted hated water as a kid? Drum roll please. The top 3 times I hated water as a kid; bath time. I loathed the street lights too because it meant, “come run your water to take a bath.” I did not like water when I had to take it with a pill. “Really mom, what were you thinkin’?” And, the number one time when I absolutely hated water? You guessed it, when we had no Kool Aid!

“My how you’ve grown!” My Aunt Mary would say. Gone are the days of hated water. Today, I can proudly say I love water. Though I never thought I wold live to see the day I’d pay for it; I love it none the less. In my career as a cosemtologist, I seriously can not think of another leading cause to unwanted hair shedding, hair breakage, limp hair and hair that lacks luster other than water.

While it is true that water provides a great source of hydration to our organs; water offers other benefits and aids to our body’s functions. Water has many benefits to our body and overall health. I did some research to highlight a few benefits of water aids in our health which of course improves hair. Shanna Freeman, a contributing writer for the Mayo Clinic’s brochure on water informs us that water can also do the following: reduce the burden on our kidneys, bladder, liver and spleen by flushing out waste. She also writes that water helps dissolve vital minerals and other nutrients; thus making them accessible to our vital organs. Lastly, she writes that water actually carries nutrients and oxygen to cells in our bodies.

In my line of work, I see dehydration in it’s most interesting form. I see it in the skin and hair. I always teach that hair is actually an appendage of your skin in the form of a fiber called hair. With that fact; lack of water is sure to affect the hair. I have saved my customers hundreds of dollars in unnecessary moisture/protein treatments, medications, haircuts, make-up and more just by encouraging them to drink more water. I even offer my clients discounts when I see that they are drinking more water! When you think of drinking water, think of how those tiny molecules in water really do help those other tiny cells go to the right places in your body to do what they need to do  make you and your hair healthy. When you reduce your water intake or replace it with increased consumption of sugary beverages, alcoholic beverages or none at all; you are doing great harm to yourself.

While there are many theories on how much water to drink, I suggest to double what your normally do if you are not a great fan of drinking water. So for example, I have read many reports that suggest drinking half your weight in ounces. Let’s say you weight 210 pounds; then you should be drinking 105 oz of water. That is the equivalent to a little more than a gallon and a half per day. While many may never drink half their weight in ounces; it is very well worth the deliberate practice to drink more water each day.

To get more water in, I suggest you carry a bottle with you, accept offers on a cup of water, take a bottle of water to the gym and put a bottle or cup of water by your night stand at night. Remember the many benefits of water such as improved health, weight management, lubed joints, cleaner organs, clearer skin and my favorite; strong, shed free and shiny hair.

Bottoms up!