Dear BHI,
I am a newbie natural and I love my naps. My stylist says that I need a relaxer for her to do my hair! What do I do?
Sincerely, No Lye Please
Dear No Lye Please,
Simple answer: get to know your natural hair AND change hair dressers. There are so many YouTube videos and natural hair websites that can give you the tools and tips to care for your own hair you really do not have to put up with any unnecessary demands from anyone.
But if you do want to get your pampered, check online to see where natural hair salons are near you, you can even look at reviews and get references for really great stylists. If your stylist can’t/won’t do your natural hair, that’s her right, and you have a right to simply move on.
Sincerely, BHI
Dear BHI,
My hair is bra strap length but my shrinkage is just past my neck! I want to show off my hard work without using heat. What can I do?
Sincerely, Shrinkage Is Real
Dear Shrinkage Is Real,
There are many ways to elongate your hair, but you must be willing to put the work in. There are numerous heat-less stretching techniques you can try including, two strand twists, flat braids (cornrows), banding, threading, roller sets, and bunning.
Depending on the style and texture you are going for, these stretching techniques will give you what you needed to show off your BSL. Check out this post and this one for more help with heatless stretching.
Sincerely, BHI
Dear BHI,
I just can’t seem to find the right products for my hair! Some products are too light, others make my hair stringy, and the rest dry my hair out. I’m spending way too much money on products that don’t work! Help!!!!
Sincerely, Hurting Pockets For Hair Products
Dear Hurting Pockets For Hair Products,
First things first, stop buying products. When you purchase so many products and use them on your hair, you are subjecting your hair to product buildup and you will have no idea which product worked when your hair came out just right. All you need is a shampoo/conditioner for washing, deep conditioner*, a leave in, an oil for sealing and maybe a styler.
Make it simple on yourself. Any of those products you purchased are bound to work. You just need to give the products you have a chance for your hair to respond to them. As for the extra products you may not use, you can swap with out with your friends or have a girl’s day spa. But whatever you do, don’t buy more products. If you need help with being a product junkie, check out this post or this one.
Sincerely, BHI
Dear BHI,
I don’t get the hair charts and types! I’ve been natural for 3 years now and anything I read or watch talks about 3b or 4a/b. I’m so confused with hair typing!
Sincerely, 4A/B…Or Maybe 4A1/4 and 4B3/4???
Dear 4A/B…Or Maybe 4A1/4 and 4B3/4???,
It can get confusing when you are trying to learn more about your hair with types and textures and how to care for it. I’ll give you two answers: 1. What you can do is wet your hair completely with water and check one strand of your curls.
Get your hair chart out and check to see which matches your curl pattern. Do this on the top, middle, and bottom. Your hair can actually be 4 A/B, if that’s what you see
2. Don’t put too much stress on the hair charts and curl patterns. Just use the products and routines that work for your hair and continue on with your hair journey. If ever you want to forget about hair charts though, check out this post.
Sincerely, BHI
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Ebony Clark says
can you keep hair healthy without trimming it and if yes how? #naturalhair #questions
BlackHairInformation.com says
It is almost impossible to avoid trimming. The ends of your hair are the oldest portions, the environment alone will affect them, so the best way to keep your hair healthy is ensuring that you get rid of unhealthy ends. Ebony Clark
Envymeremy says
I would like to connect with you for info on my two hair line brands..
Siyem says
My hair won’t grow beyond 1″ past my shoulders. In addition to taking the proper amount of supplements, daily proper care, trims, exercise, drinking water, etc. my hair still won’t grow past a certain length. When I comb or brush my hair there is hardly any hair on my brush or comb (or the floor) and when I wash my hair there is hardly any fallen hairs. I wear protective styles daily and my hair isn’t rubbing against my clothes. I’ve visited several dermatologists, etc. and they all have told me that my nutritional intake is, “fine” “perfect”, etc. and then they try and sell me some of their (cortisone) products or injections. My family has a large variety of hair growth (very long, long, medium and short). I seem to have fallen into the medium-short category (in that order). Also, I massage my scalp at least 3-4 times per week and I use essential oils. I keep my hair and scalp clean, etc. No matter what I do (or have done) my hair always remains the same length or appears to be shorter. Also I have a major problem with shrinkage, except for when I moisturize my hair. I have 4 sisters. Their hair growth is as follows: (very long) (long/nearly mid-back length) (APL) (Neck length/only because she hates long hair and keeps cutting it). My hair gets to one length and never goes beyond that point. Any suggestions outside of what I’m already doing? I really would like to break “the barrier” and have a lot more length by this summer. Thanks in advance!
Shaniqua L Leach says
How often are you trimming your hair? Have you ever measured your hair to find out what your monthly growth rate is? You may be cutting your hair too much. Also, how often are you moisturizing? I only ask because you say your hair has high shrinkage except for when it is moisturized, which leads me to think you may not be moisturizing consistently enough for your hair.
Siyem says
It varies, sometimes I trim my hair between 6-8 weeks and sometimes I’ve trimmed it at both shorter and longer intervals and there has been no difference in the growth pattern. I never trim more than a 1/4″ of my hair as it doesn’t need any more than that to be trimmed. So I am hardly cutting it too much. I moisturize my hair every day (sometimes twice per day) and my hair loves it! Also, I drink at least half my weight in water each day. BTW I have measured my hair on a monthly basis and it’s always the same length. I have also had my sister measure it and she gets the same reading. One of my cousins had the same issue so we thought it was just hereditary. For the past 6 months she’s been using a hair supplement and her hair growth actually increased so I’m going to get the name of it and try it to see if it will work for me. Thanks for your questions.
Kim says
Look at one your hair strands, if you cannot SEE split ends, there’s NO reason to trim it. 6-8 weeks is too frequent and completely unnecessary. The 1/2 inch/month growth rate is an average for all races. African hair grows at lower than average rate, then caucasians at average and asians at above average. It’s possible that your trims are out-pacing your growth if it grows at 1/4 inch/month and then you trim off the same amount within 2 months.You may also be underestimating the amount you trim off. I trim my high shrinkage and very coily hair when wet and what I thought was 1/4 inch turned out to be more than 1/2 inch.
Shedding is normal, shrinkage is normal and even some breakage is normal. The only 2 reasons your hair is not retaining length is because of trimming AND/OR breakage. Bottom line, measure with a measuring tape, lay off the scissors for 6 months and if there is no change, and your hair is not breaking off, then…I’ve got nothing. Good luck.
Siyem says
“It varies, sometimes I trim my hair between 6-8 weeks and sometimes I’ve trimmed it at both shorter and longer intervals and there has been no difference….” Let me add that I’ve gone 6 months and even a whole year without trimming my ends, while still taking proper care of my hair. There is no breakage. I’m aware that shedding is normal, but that doesn’t have any thing to do with my length. For my hair, the shedding only (partially) lessens the thickness. Since my initial posting I have gone to see a Trichologist who (after several tests) said that my lack of hair growth has to do with nutritional needs, as opposed to moisturizing or trims. Thanks to all for your opinions. The best choice for me was to see a professional.
Lisa says
How do you know what type of hair you have. I have medium shoulder length hair that is thin, fine and straight. It’s hard to curl and flops quickly. My hair has no chemicals so any type of air will cause it to flop. I’m limited , to how I can style my hair because my hair is so thin. When I wash my hair I have shrinkage but it’s still straight.
Donna Williams says
how to deal with shrinkage on 4c hair that’s natural doing was n go.