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Oprah Winfrey Shows Off Her Natural Hair
Oprah Winfrey is going au naturel … or at least her hair is.
While she’s always got a perfectly done-up ‘do while out in public, she’s gracing the September Issue of O, The Oprah Magazine with her hair “in its natural state” for the first time.
In the mag, Winfrey opens up about her follicles … and says she almost chopped them all off!
“I wanted to wear it close-cropped a la Camille Cosby but her husband Bill convinced me otherwise. ‘Don’t do it,’ he said. ‘You’ve got the wrong head shape and you’ll disappoint yourself.’ I took his advice,” she says.
In The Makeover Issue, O also says the only beauty changes that really work are “those in which something inside the receiver clicks, aligning with that which is being received. The only way to real transformation is through the mind.”
The latest issue of O hit the newsstands on August 7.
Source: toofab.com
10 Hair Tools Every Natural Should Have
Whether relaxed bone straight, 137% natural, transitioning, texturized, kinky, curly, colored or cut, there are some supplies every woman should have in her haircare arsenal. The great news? None of the tools cost over 3 bucks (if you do it the right way). Oh, now you’re excited! Read on…
10. Tattered Rags
Whether they be old towels you bleached to kingdom come that one time on accident, or old faded t-shirts from an ex, having cloths you don’t care about are beneficial to any regimen. From drying hair post-shampoo, to protecting your sink/floor during a messy henna treatment, these tattered rags come in super handy — because you don’t care if they get dirty or discolored.
9. Plastic Caps/Grocery Bags
Clear plastic caps are great for protecting a style in the shower, and holding in moisture for a deep or overnight conditioning. They are usually no more than $2 a pack, and hold up pretty well. Cool bonus: recycle your plastic grocery bags! They work just the same as plastic caps, if not better. Just pile your hair in, use the handles to tie the bag closed, and ta-da!
8. Butterfly Clamps/Clips
These clips are a lifesaver when its time to detangle, separate, or style hair. They’re cheap (around $2 bucks for a 12 pack at Sally’s), easy to use, and easy to clean.
7. Banana Clip
Super throwback, right? I have recently fallen in love with this hair blast from the past all over again. The banana clip has officially replaced my scrunchie for buns, ponytails, and other styles. They are easy to use, secure hair well without tension, and are incredibly versatile. Cop yours at Wal-Mart for $3 for a 3-pack.
6. Applicator Bottle
Sure, you could use it for its original intended purpose; mixing and applying hair color. It’s also a great tool for moisturizing your scalp. If you tend to get heavy handed with the oils like me, a narrow tipped applicator bottle will become your saving grace. It allows for precise application of oils to your scalp or hair, which is a bonus while rocking a straightened style (bye bye greasies). Just remember: the harder you squeeze the bottle, the more your product comes out!
5. Spray Bottle
Cue the soul glow! Nah, I’m kidding. Sometimes, products come in packages that are more of a pain than purposeful (like Infusium 23 Repair & Renew Leave-In). Or maybe you want to moisten your hair with water, without dunking your head in the sink. Or maybe you think a certain product is too thick, and you need a way to water it down and disseminate it evenly throughout your hair. All of the above and more are great uses for the spray bottle. Grab yours at Sally’s or Target (in the travel sized bottle section) for a few pennies over $1.
4. Bobby Pins
You can never, ever, EVER have too many bobby pins. Large, small, colored or not, these little fellas are a life saver. From faux hawk sculpting, to bun securing or just keeping my growing out bangs in place, bobby pins add dimension and variety to any style. I am known to have bobby pin stashes in my house, car, work bag, gym bag, and purse if I am carrying one (I hate purses… especially big ones. All they do is allow you to carry around unnecessary junk. Tell me I’m lying!). But the point is, bobby pins are incredibly useful and multifaceted.
3. Wide Tooth Comb
Once your hair reaches an inch long, a wide tooth comb becomes somewhat of a staple in your arsenal. I know, most short hair ladies use rat tail or fine tooth combs. I’m not knocking you if you do but, how much of your hair ends up in the sink? At least use a wide tooth comb to prep your hair for whatever you’re doing…before reaching for that denman or rat tail comb. Right now, I’m rolling with my Target special aka Conair wide tooth comb that hit me for around $3.
2. Satin Scarf/Bonnet
Do I really need to explain why sleeping on anything less than satin is a bad idea? Didn’t think so.
And theeeee most important tool of all……… Drumroll, please!
1. A Hair Journal
Huh? What? How is this #1? Let me explain. If you’re anything like me, you can’t remember what you wore to work yesterday….let alone what combination of products and procedures you used on your hair last week. So keep a journal. Put an app like colornote on your phone, keep a literal journal, or heck, keep a blog! This blog is just as much for me as it is y’all. The point is for you to record what products your hair loved, hated, and everything inbetween. No need in making the same mistake twice, or forgetting how to do that dope style from two Mondays ago.
Are there any tools you can’t live without?
Source: blackgirllonghair.com
5 Hair Care Mistakes Most Naturals Make
1. Joining Bandwagons– What’s a bandwagon? It’s going out and trying techniques and new hair tools just because others are doing it. Every month there is a new bandwagon; co-washing, no-poo, baggying, Tangle Teezer, and others are all bandwagons. While these techniques can be beneficial; if what you’re doing isn’t broken don’t try to fix it. Try only following techniques that solve a problem you currently have with your hair.
2.Hair Typing– Yes, it’s nice to feel like you’re a part of a group but honestly, hair typing is purely aesthetic. Yes your curls can look like someone elses but, it takes more than knowing your hair type to really figure out what your hair likes and doesn’t like. You can learn a lot from people who don’t have the same hair type as you do.
3. Throwing Away Products That Work– Don’t go and throwaway that “tried and true” leave-in just because, you’ve now learned about mineral oil. Trust me, when you’re having a bad hair day, you’re going to be looking for that tried and true product. Again, if it isn’t broken don’t fix it.
4. Black People, Black Hair, Black Products– Please, kick this notion to the curb. You may have more in common hairwise with someone who is not the same color as you and actually learn some great tips from other curlies. Lots of natural hair ladies use Dove, Suave, Loreal, Aussie Moist, Garnier Fructis, with muchsuccess and these aren’t marketed for “black hair”. Just find products that solve the problems you’re facing with your hair.
5. Natural Is Easy As 1-2-3– No, natural hair doesn’t have to be difficult but, we all have our days. Don’t go natural thinking that you won’t have any bad hair days or even months! Natural hair has it’s learning curves.
By keeping the 5 tips above in mind while on your journey it will save you a lot of frustration, there’s is nothing like experiencing excessive breakage or slit ends and having no idea where they came from and how to stop them. If you keep your regimen consistent, you will get consistent results.
Are you guilty of any of the above?
4 Major Causes Of Hair Breakage
Healthy hair is important to women regardless of hair type or texture. Do you know any woman who wants to walk around with bald spots or hair that is falling out and/or shedding excessively? Chances are you don’t. If not taken seriously, breakage can cause lasting affects on your hair’s health.
1. Hairstyles – If there is tightness or tension on your scalp from any style chances are you will suffer from severe breakage. Although hair is comprised of protein, keratin to be exact – it is fragile especially around the nape and crown. If there is tugging, pulling, pressure, tightness this can lead to bald patches.
From my own personal experience I can tell you that the way you choose to style your hair is important in preventing and/or minimizing breakage. Recently, I wore synthetic extensions styled in braids for two months. At the time, I had them done I was wincing in pain at the tightness of the braids on my scalp. I suffered major breakage at the crown of my head as a result.
2. Styling Tools – Excessive use of heat related tools like blow dryers, flat irons, curling irons, hot rollers, etc will weaken your hair’s cuticle. Limit the frequency of usage and minimize the length of time the heat is in contact with your hair. If you are using heating tools excessively make sure to deep condition your hair on a weekly basis.
3. Manipulating Wet Hair – If your hair is wet try to minimize its manipulation. Wet hair is more susceptible to breakage than dry hair. Use a detangler to reduce tangles and knots. Also, use a wide tooth comb to section and detangle. If a brush must be used, make sure to start at the ends and work your way up while holding your hair taut at the base.
4. Styling Products – The excessive use of chemical processes like coloring, straightening, and bleaching will dry your hair out if not maintained properly which will in turn cause, brittle, vulnerable hair susceptible to breakage. Limit the use of these products and be sure to condition accordingly when necessary.
Of course there are other factors that also contribute to hair breakage – such as illness and/or nutrition. However, these four factors are controllable by you. If you are able to minimize these causes you will be doing you and your hair a great service.
What was the culprit?
What are you doing to remedy things?
Infused “Spa” Water
For years, top spas from around the world have touted the amazing health benefits of healthy hydration and strived to create healthier more delicious and aesthetically appealing fruit, herb and floral infused waters to pamper their guests. These naturally infused vitamin waters not only replenish and enhance relaxation but are also beautiful and refreshing!
So do you want to give your home spa the finishing touch? Want to calm yourself in a sip? Or maybe you just need a more interesting way to get the recommended 8 glasses a day. Whatever your motive, infused “spa” water is perfect for this purpose. It’s healthy, tasty, inexpensive, and refreshing too. Try some, your body will thank you!
Infused “Spa” Water FAQ
What size containers do you use?
For an individual serving use a 28 oz ball or mason jar. Try to drink two of mason jars a day to make sure you are properly hydrated. Using measurable containers helps to regulate how much water you are drinking, plus they are cheap and convenient. Want to make a batch for the whole family? Go ahead, knock yourself out and make a pitcher full.
How long should I infuse the water?
Each water recipe is different, but a good rule of thumb is to infuse for at least four hours to get the most flavor. The best way is to infuse waters overnight in the refridgerator.
Can I leave the infused “spa” water out overnight?
Absolutely. Would you be worried if you left a lemon or some raspberries out overnight at room temperature? Probably not. Fruit immersed in water will not change its chemical structure or cause bacteria to grow.
Is it important to use organic fruit and herbs?
If you are infusing fruit with the rind on, such as lemon slices, you should use organic fruit. Otherwise, you could potentially be drinking pesticides – gross! If you don’t have access to organic produce, simply cut the rinds off.
Is there any nutritional value to infused waters?
Yup. Nutrients leak out of the fruit into the water. You don’t get as many vitamins as you would if you were drinking fruit juice, but you don’t get the extra calories or fructose either.
How To Make Infused “Spa” Water
1. Decide what type of spa water you want- here are the main types, but feel free to improvise.
- Lemon Water: Pure, fresh water with crisp lemon slices and maybe a dash of sugar. Best as a healthy alternative to lemonade, or to relax and perk up after a hard day.
- Orange and Lime Water: Clean, mineral enhanced water with a few small slices of lime and orange alternating. Best for spa treatments.
- Cucumber Water: Clean, pure water with 3-6, depending on pitcher size, large cucumber slices. Best after working out. Also, if you’re a kid, a less embarrassing way to get your vegetables.
- Peach Water: Just plain yummy! Peach slices in clean water. Also good in seltzer, these are good for parties (spa night, anyone?)
2. Gather your ingredients.
3. Fill a pitcher with cool water, and add a few ice cubes if desired.
4. Slice chosen fruit(s) into desired size- this varies depending on the size of the container you are using. Be careful not to put in too many or too large slices- this will cause the water to be overpowering, and make it seem pulpy and more like juice. Which you don’t want. Spa water should hint at the taste of said fruit, not completely give it.
5. Put the slices into the container(s), shake a little, and wait a few hours or overnight for the taste to set in.
6. Pour a little into a glass and sample it. There should be little to no pulp, just a hint of flavor, and you should feel refreshed
Source(s):
Ways To Promote Hair Growth
Drink plenty of water. The daily recommended amount is 8 glasses of water.
Eat Healthy. You will provide your hair with the proper nutrients it needs to grow and look its best.
Avoid Heat. Heat adds stress to your hair. If you have to use heat always apply a heat protectant to minimize damage.
Keep your hair clean. Shampoo your hair regulary to keep from clogging your pores.
Protect your ends. Oil or moisturize your ends daily to keep them from breaking as your hair grows.
Do not braid your hair too tight. This can cause alopecia which is the leading cause of hair loss amongst African American women!
Try different methods of hair extensions. Any hair extension or weave method that requires glue & heat is extremely damaging to our hair. This would also include glued-in hair extensions. Sewn in weaves are more expensive, but is perhaps a better way to go because hair is normally cornrowed and protected as extensions are sewn into them.
Avoid spritz. Any style that will “freeze” the hair into place is very damaging to black hair. Anything that makes the hair hard and 
crunchy should be left alone.
Avoid rubbing hair. When drying hair, do NOT vigorously rub the hair with a towel to dry it. Always remember that our hair needs to be handled with extreme care. Gently pat the hair dry.
Do Not Grease/Oil your scalp. This can clog the pores of the scalp. These clogged pores suffocate the hair follicles and lead to unnecessary hair loss (i.e. oil folliculitis). Oils should be applied directly to hair only, not to the scalp.
Combing Methods. Be patient and gentle with your hair when combing. Use a wide tooth comb to gently detangle hair before combing. This can prevent breakage.
Use satin night scarves. Be sure to rotate the position of the scarf when wrapping hair at night so that the point where the knot is tied does not always rest in the same place. The top (forehead) area is ideal since most people tend to sleep on their backs or sides.
Let’s Talk Skin: Raw Honey and Brown Sugar Scrub
by Dominique Goosby Harris – All Things O’Natural
Oooo la la..this is going to be a royal treat for your skin. The Raw Honey and Brown Sugar Scrub. Not only is it a tasty facial scrub for your face, it is excellent to use on your lips and those rough areas on your body, such as elbows, knees and feet. For a wonderful scrub that you can use once or twice per week, here is all that you need to do:
Honey and Brown Sugar Facial Scrub:
What You’ll Need:
- Raw honey: The use of raw honey gently exfoliates the skin and stimulates circulation without causing irritation and dryness. Raw honey is a humectantwhich has the quality of attracting and retaining moisture, so it balances the skin moisture to give a soft glowing complexion. Another one of the amazing raw honey benefits for skin is its protection against sunburns.
- Brown Sugar: Exfoliating the skin with a brown sugar scrub cleans and tightens pores giving the skin a more even uniform appearance; pores look smaller, skin tone more even. It can also diminish the damage to the skin caused by acne and other skin conditions.Using a brown sugar scrub improves your skin’s ability to retain its natural moisture balance.
- Essential Oil (optional)..I add 2 drops of tea tree oil
- Wash Cloth
Directions:
- Mix 1 TBSP Raw Honey to 1 TBSP of Brown Sugar. Add 2 drops of an essential oil geared towards acne control (peppermint, tea tree, rosemary). Apply the mixture to a clean face in upward circular motions for 3-5 minutes. Take your damp warm wash cloth and gently wipe the mixture off of your face. Repeat until the scrub is completely removed. Follow with a cool water rinse. Tone. Moisturize.
Oh my Goodness, your face is going to faithfully thank you for this one. Your skin is going to feel extremely smooth as the facial removes excess oil and dead skin cells through exfoliation. We all can agree that acne is the ‘devil’ so this scrub works overtime to keep the enemy at bay. And really, who doesn’t want healthy, smooth, hydrated skin?
I try to do this facial scrub at least two times per week. I have combination acne prone skin, so taking care of my skin is an absolute priority in keeping my little acne enemies on lock down. And I must say, this scrub has worked wonders. Give it a try before you spend your money on chemical peels, commercial facial scrubs, etc. And many of the ingredients are right in your kitchen cabinet. Also, use it in the shower as a body scrub, your body will thank you for it.
Dominique Goosby Harris ~ CEO of All Things O’ Natural
Protein Treatments vs. Cholesterol Treatments
QUESTION: What is the difference between using a protein treatment versus a cholesterol treatment as a form of deep conditioner?
ANSWER: GREAT Question! Think of the proteins and cholesterols as different yet necessary rooms in your house of healthy hair practices. The bathroom is different from the kitchen but a house is not complete without both!
PROTEINS
Proteins are the large biological molecules that make up the hair. You get proteins from the foods you eat such as eggs, dairy, and lean meats. When your hair is damaged, it can be fortified (strengthened) by topical protein treatments. Unhealthy hair is typically knicked, broken, and damaged. This damage leaves the hair weak and lackluster. Proteins can fortify damaged hair by filling in the knicks or damaged areas. Think of proteins as you would wall putty. Putty is a superficial fix that goes over the hole to cover and thus fortify the holed area of the wall. Proteins perform a similar function. Protein treatments act as a superficial fix that goes over the hair to cover and thus fortify the knicked/damaged area. To that same point, if your hair is not damaged, such a fix simply sits on top of the knick and creates unnecessary build up. This is why you should avoid protein treatments when they are not necessary.
Try it!: If your hair is broken, damaged, and lackluster, apply a protein treatment to fortify the knicked areas and add shine and luster to your tresses.
CHOLESTEROLS
Cholesterols are fats (lipids) and they help to feed/ strengthen the hair. Fats are jam packed with the nutrients your hair needs. Cholesterol treatments are great TOPICAL treatments for the hair. They are also jam packed with vitamins and nutrients. Cholesterol treaments are only topical in nature. Ingesting/eating additional cholesterol as part of your diet is NEVER a good way to improve the health of the hair (or body)!
Try it!: Try prepooing or deep conditioning with LeKair Cholesterol. You can pick it up in your local WalMart or your local beauty supply store. While there are many brands of cholesterol available, I find LeKair to be thicker and richer than most brands.
Source: Journey 2 My Roots
What Products Do Natural’s Really Like?
This was the question: Let’s say you were going on a two week vacation, and when you get there, you will not be able to buy hair products. Your hair cannot be in a protective style, where your hair is safely tucked away, but your beautiful hair is going to be free. You can only take 3 products (your brush, comb and bobby pins are already packed!)
What 3 products would you take?
You Are Beautiful!
So many times in todays society women are pressured to be something they are not. Whether it’s by coworkers, friends, the media. Sometimes we forget about the things that make us unique and beautiful. We put ourselves down so much that eventually we can’t even think of anything good about ourselves. Sometimes it’s so bad that we get mad at other women who we think are more beautiful and we get angry when women talk about what they like about themselves. But today I’m going to challenge you to think about the things that you think makes you beautiful and feel free to post them in a comment, no holds bar, even if you think your starting to sound vain. Love You Much & Have A Beautiful Day 🙂
I Am Lady Fab 