More Than Just Hair

     My hair says a lot about me and since i have started my processed hair strike i have learned a lot about myself that i didn't understand myself. The only reason i so desperately wanted to process my hair was because i wanted to be like my sisters and so many of my family members who have processed their hair. I was  trying to live up to false expectations, maybe not so much false but unrealistic expectations. Everyone in my family has beautiful hair despite the measures then went to get it, whether it be relaxed or not. Having beautiful hair is more of a mental reality. If you can wake up everyday thinking my hair is beautiful  don't make anyone tell you that its not. So many days i find myself saying "my hair is beautiful but its not me", I had to make a change and i did by going on my hair strike. Every time i think of how my hair was and what it was before my strike i think that my strike has more and more of a purpose. My hair is helping me find and love me for me, and I'm fine with that. :) 

Processed Hair Strike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, so i decided to take a processed hair strike.Basically what it is , is no longer processing hair meaning im going from rlaxed hair to natural. i have had a relaxer since i was about 11 years old, intially it was to keep my hair straight because i have insanely curly hair. Now i want my curly hair back, so i know most people decide to do the big chop well, im not most people im not saying their is anything wrong with that im just saying its not for everyone; especially if your a highschool student. Anyways i havent relaxed my hair since March of this year and hoping by Januaray  of next year i will be all natural again which makes me happy :). So sometime in janurary i will be posting a video on this bolg showing you my journey and my protective styles. :)

Damaged Hair

Many people damage their hair, some don't even know that they are damaging their hair. If you have ever chemically processed your hair, colored it, of put heat to it frequently your hair is most likely horridly damaged. however; damaged hair can be treated. Honestly, nobody is going to stop chemically processing their hair,coloring it , or stop using their flat irons.When you begin to notice or even care about what your doing to your hair these tips may help. :) 


Know your poison

• Is your hair heat damaged, chemically damaged, or BOTH. Your hair is classified as being heat damaged if you flat iron or curl your hair with heat hence the reason for calling it HEAT damage. your hair is classified as chemically damaged if you color , perm, relax, or texturize your hair.putting chemicals in your hair is bad all in itself  but the continuous use of chemically altering your hair is just damaging it worse each time. If you haven't noticed most commercial you see for hair coloring or haircare almost always say ; their product leaves your hair LOOKING and FEELING healthy, bout they rarely say that your hair IS healthy after using their product.

Change your hair products 

• Look for harmful ingredients , chances are almost every product you are using is contributing your damage. So check all the products you are using to help stop the damage. Being that this world is less than perfect your are not going to find products that are completely good for your hair. You will not be able to find some magical hair product with no harmful chemicals so don't stress. Also it is a bad idea for you to stress because the more you stress the less hair you will have :) 

Moisturize moisturize moisturize  

•  Obviously if your hair is damaged your hair needs so intense moisturizing!! I advise you to deep condition your hair every week without fail!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Hair :) the video

How often should you wash your hair ????

The question of how often you should wash your hair seems like a silly question, but depending on your hair type depends how often you should wash it. The one thing all people have in common are that we all have sebaceous glands, these glands are attached to each hair follicle. Sebaceous glands are responsible for secreting sebum, the natural oils that moisturize and waterproof your skin and hair. Deep in the skin's dermal layer, specializedsecretory cells that absorb fats from the body enter the sebaceous gland and disintegrate. At this point, these cells become sebum. The sebum is expressed into the lumen (shaft) of the hair follicle, where it's excreted up to the skin's outer layer, the stratum corneum. In other words, your body burps excreted fats and cellular debris onto your skin. So the original question of how often you should wash your hair will be split in to sections seen below. 

Straight Hair

• every other day 

Curly 

• Once a week depending on the build up of grease in your hair. 

Somewhere in between

• if your hair is not curly or straight you shout wash your hair every other day. 

Chemically  Processed hair 

• If you have a relaxed ,texturized, etc... the proteins in your hair is stripped so you need to enrich your hair with proteins, your hair needs to be washed and deep conditioned at least twice a week depending on when your hair was last touched up. 
• If your hair is relaxed and colored wash your hair every week and deep condition it. 

Hair :)

2 braids and a bow :) top view of the 2 braids and a bow :)

These are pictures of hair that Ive done so check it out :)

Shampoo ingredients to avoid

 I have found that there are many things in shampoos to avoid. I know that avoiding all of them is almost impossible but it doesn't hurt to stay away from them and try hair shampoos that are better for your hair. Some common ingredients  in hair shampoos such as  Suave, Dove, VO5, and Pert Plus contain the very harmful ingredients and I would suggest staying away from them. Also another shampoo that has a lot of harmful ingredients is Pantene. However he is a list of good shampoos that are affordable and semi-good for your hair and contain less harmful ingredients. L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Shampoo, and Garnier Fructis Fortifying Shampoo, also a shampoo found at Ulta that is also good is Back To Basics Citrus Clarifying Sage Shampoo.


BAD INGREDIENTS TO LOOK FOR 

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
  Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
  Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
  Ammonium Xylene Sulfonate
  TEA Lauryl Sulfate
  Sulfur (in dandruff shampoos)
  Selenium Sulfide (in dandruff shampoos)

Bad but less common 

• Magnesium Sulfate
  Sodium Thiosulfate
  Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
  Alkyl Sodium Sulfate
  Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate
  TEA-Dodecylbenzene
  Sodium C12-15 Alkyl Sulfate
  Sodium Dodecyl Sulfonate

hoping that this was helpful see you later  :) 

and dont forget to check out the YouTube channel :)