If you had to start your hair journey all over again, looking back what would you have done different?
I wish I knew how to properly take care of relaxed hair earlier, but that’s pretty much it. If I didn’t make mistakes along the way I wouldn’t have learned. Though, it would have been nice if some of the consequence periods were shorter and I could have learned my lessons quickly.
You are going on a beach vacation, what do you take for your hair?
For the beach, a source of fresh water to damp my hair before hitting the salt water, and a leave-in or oil with Shea butter* ingredients to coat my hair. For after swimming I’d need a clarifying shampoo and one of my better deep conditioners. I’d probably only wash half of the conditioner out to serve as a leave-in. Whether I do a protein treatment and/or ph corrector depends on how my hair was feeling that week.
You practice what is called Japanese Straightening, what exactly is that and what are the benefits of it?
Japanese straightening is like a curly perm, but instead of shaping your hair into curls it’s straightened. Instead of harsh sodium hydroxide it uses ammonium thioglycolate which has a ph of 8-9.
Japanese straightening is also a healthier alternative to a relaxer because the disulfide bonds are not permanently broken like with relaxed hair. This lost protein structure is the reason why the health balance of relaxed hair has to more stable and is usually unhealthier when compared to a natural. This isn’t the case with Japanese straightening.
What do you think is the main cause of damage for women who choose to relax their hair?
One cause is not knowing that when you relax you’re suppose to fix the damage you just made in the hair strand. Many girls that relax their hair and do not know about hair care have malnourished hair.
Another cause it not being able to keep your hair’s health balance in check. Health balancing meaning primarily the moisture and protein balance, also porosity and elasticity. Relaxed heads have to be better at this than naturals because the balance has to be more precise or you will have breakage.
Sometimes in a healthy hair regimen it’s the little things that really make the difference in your hair, what small things do you do throughout your week to take care of your hair?
The little things… At home I always keep it tied, usually in a bun or a single braid. I wash my hair combs after every wash, clean hair, clean tools!
When I moisturize I tend to focus more on the hairline, roots, and ends. Before applying conditioner in the shower I squeeze out at much water as I can to make room in the strands. Sometimes when I wash the shampoo barely touches my hair, only my scalp gets shampooed.
What’s in your spray bottle?
Right now Herbal Essence Hello Hydration, a random V05 conditioner, aloe vera gel*, my last bit of jojoba oil*, grape seed oil, and water.
I follow Kimmaytube’s leave-in recipe, I just cut the amount of oils* for my straightened/ relaxed hair.
Barbara Jack says
Requests more pix of those of us who are transitioning with short hair!
Kimberly Louise Morris says
Beautiful hair
Ama Barton says
Beautiful
Ama Barton says
Absolutely stunning
Tammie Faulkner Taylor says
Thank you for posting this. I know plenty of relaxed heads that have no issue growing a head full of HEALTHY hair.
Sophia Dan-braimah says
hmmmmmmm this is encouraging, now am sure of keeping my relaxed hair. the reason i have been at bra length for a long time is cos i never moisturize, deep condition, steam or protein treatment. if i start all these i will definitely see improvement and stretch my relaxers. now am certain keeping relaxed hair. thank you BlackHairInformation.com
BlackHairInformation.com says
You are welcome!
Kerimah Rogers says
Thanks for the advice for those of us who still relax their hair.
Ronnie Natasha Renee says
I’ve had relaxed hair all my life and it always grew and had length.
Abbi says
I love reading her interviews. Always insightful, she really knows her stuff.
Vangie Ferguson says
Thanks for The advice
Shalea Caruth says
i love that hair can someone do my hair like that
Hayley says
I loved this interview very much. She sounds like a smart lady. Seems like she knows the topic of hair topic well. Before this article I hadn’t even heard of Yahya. Yahya has a new fan now. The information she gave will be useful to me and my own natural hair. The information she gave out is useful period regardless of if you’re relaxed,natural,etc. I will most definitely be using yahya’s hair routine. I’ll just omit whatever is unfitting for my own natural hair.
Karlina Ottley says
GHE it works…..you tube has it as the baggy method