Toia B.closeAuthor: Toia B.Name: Toia Barry Email: tobnatural@gmail.com Site: About:
Toia B. is a wife, mom and natural hair enthusiast. This online platform has become a resource for positive images of women with textured hair and useful hair care advice. Since going back to natural in the Fall of 2009, Toia’s aim has been to inspire and share what she has learned to help others embrace their natural beauty.
I’ve come across many a natural who is scared to death of coming anywhere near a heat styling tool for fear of heat damage. Then there are those who don’t particularly care too much and say heat styling is just fine. Who’s “right”? Well, you can do with it whatever you like, really. It is, after all, YOUR hair! But there is a need for caution. Check out the short video clip below to see why… The misconception about naturally curly/coily/kinky hair is that it can take a beating and still somehow maintain its health. Excessive heat, however, can cause dryness which leads to breakage and can also permanently straighten your hair. Some actually don’t mind this alteration as they may be trying to “heat train” their tresses (that’s a topic for another post, girls!). However, if you actually want to wear your curls again and you’re heat styling too…
Toia B.closeAuthor: Toia B.Name: Toia Barry Email: tobnatural@gmail.com Site: About:
Toia B. is a wife, mom and natural hair enthusiast. This online platform has become a resource for positive images of women with textured hair and useful hair care advice. Since going back to natural in the Fall of 2009, Toia’s aim has been to inspire and share what she has learned to help others embrace their natural beauty.
My go-to for super big hair, guaranteed to give me bounce and volume all in one style is the dual method braid-out on a blow-out. Woooop! The Process Starting with freshly washed hair which was divided into about eight sections, I applied my favorite leave-in conditioner, Karen’s Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia. I then added a little more than a quarter-size amount of grapeseed oil to each section just before grabbing the blow dryer. No need to slather a ton of oil onto your hair. This not only seals in the moisture but also acts as a heat protectant. I divide each section in half to make the job a little easier and to keep from over-drying by applying heat for too long. The smaller sections will usually be dry after only a few passes. My goal is just to dry and stretch the hair, not make it bone straight. I always set my dryer on…
This question comes to us from @phemonawoman on Instagram. Our resident natural hair care professional Simeko Watkins-Hartley answers… When you wash and condition, should you blow dry and style or let it air dry then style? Answer: It all depends on the style/look you are trying to achieve, as well as the condition of your hair. As we all may know by now, natural hair tends to be dry so the less heat we use on our hair the better. However, blow-drying the hair on a low/medium temperature, once in a while, to accomplish a style/look should not cause any major damage to the hair if it is relatively healthy. When the hair is blown out it appears to be longer and less frizzy. So when styling the hair in a set style (rod, roller, bantu knots, twist/braid out, etc.), blowing it out prior, will aid in achieving a more smoother, elongated…
Hello curlies! Onto the fourth aspect of care that aids in healthy hair growth… Cool it With The Heat! Maybe you’re one of those naturals who has totally sworn off heat-styling. Great! But if you, like me, enjoy the occasional blow-out or even straightening for a change in your look, take precautions. Too much heat can lead to dry hair which leads to breakage and split ends. You can even permanently alter the texture of the hair if you’re not careful! So be sure to use a low-medium heat setting in order to prevent those strands from over-drying, resembling a bushel of straw rather than hair. Rule of thumb, with regards to blow dryers in particular: if it’s too hot on your skin, it’s too hot for your hair! Make use of a heat protectant to be on the safe side. I prefer to go the natural route by using grapeseed or avocado oils (due…
