Deep Conditioning Your Weave

As we end the month of December and the year of 2013, we can reflect on all the knowledge we have learned, the scientific jargon to go with it, and "see" how the health of each hair cuticle contributes to the overall health and shine of the hair on our head.

With that in mind, let us tackle another popular question that my customers have when buying weave at their local beauty supply store: Will deep conditioning my weave have any affect?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is depends. It depends on the material used for the weave. So for both our sakes, let's only focus on 100% virgin human hair weave.

We know that applying a deep conditioner can penetrate the hair cuticle. This penetration is done by increasing the pH level which forces the hair cuticle to open up. This allows the moisturizers and conditioners to enter the hair shaft and do its magic. To make this task more effective and efficient, we can apply heat to help the cuticles stay open.

Before you get a sew-in, make sure to deep condition the weave. Begin by washing it in warm water. Apply a deep conditioner to the weave from roots to ends. And then place the hair inside a plastic cap or bag. After 10-20 minutes, rinse off any excess conditioner and air dry.

To deep condition sewn-in weave, you again want to wash the weave and braids with warm water. If there is product build-up on the braids, use a clarifying shampoo. Apply the deep conditioner and place a plastic cap over your head with all the weave inside. If you have a hooded dryer, use that otherwise, the body heat trapped by the plastic cap will be sufficient. Rinse and air dry.

Be sure to deep condition your weave every week or two. It will keep that just-got-my-hair-done look lasting a long, long time.

Have a blessed week and a Happy New Year!

-Aly

Color Contacts

Most beauty supply stores can supply all your hair care needs: products, weaves, wigs, and more. Some have a great selection of makeup and skin products while others carry every piece of accessory known to mankind. Leggings, socks, shirts, and shoes can be found sprinkled around the stores. So what else is there left to buy?

“The Eyes are the window to your soul”

— William Shakespeare

To have your hair done with matching outfit and accessories, but forget a detail like your eyes is a major sin. Eye shadow, eye liner, eye lashes are the most common items purchased for this purpose. But there is one item that can be a hit or miss at your local beauty supply store: color contacts.

All contact lenses sold in the US must be approved by the FDA and purchased with a prescription from a licensed optometrist. The reason is simple. You don't want to put some foreign object in your eye that will blind you for the rest of your life.

Contact lenses should be soft and flexible so they conform to the curvature of your cornea. If they are too hard, it can scratch the surface of your eye as it moves around. This invites bacteria and increases the likelihood of infection and blindness. If they are too small or too large, it can cause irritation as it tries to find the right spot but never does. It may also pop out of your eye in which case you will have to clean them before popping them back in your eye... right?

People who do not wear contacts on a daily basis will not know how to properly care for them. They will not use a case or solution. This also invites bacterial infection the next time they put the contacts on.

Colored contacts usually have no strength so customers don't feel they need to get a prescription from an eye doctor. They don't have a problem buying them from a store that doesn't require a prescription. But if you truly believe your eyes are the window to your soul, then take care of those windows with the same loving care that made those windows.

Have a blessed weekend!

-Aly

Natural Product: Apple Cider Vinegar

Today we are going to look at a much touted natural product: apple cider vinegar, or ACV. It is often mentioned as a great home-remedy hair conditioner especially when followed after a baking soda shampoo-substitute wash. But to better understand why ACV is a must-have natural product, we need to review the pH scale from last weekend's post.

We learned that human hair has a pH of 4.5-5.5 while going into depth on the science behind bleach bath. When we apply any chemicals that are alkaline, such as relaxers and hair colors, we force open the hair cuticles allowing the chemicals to enter the hair cortex. By applying anything acidic, we can do the exact opposite: tightly re-close the hair cuticles. This gives us two benefits: the first is trapping any moisture and conditioners inside the hair for strength and the second is creating a smooth outer surface so light can bounce off and give a brilliant shine.

ACV has a pH of 2.9-3.1 which will bring your hair down to a normal level whenever it is exposed to an alkaline state, such as shampooing. We recommend the Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with a pH of 3.075.

To make your own ACV rinse, just add 1-2 tablespoons of ACV to 1 cup of water. Each hair has a different pH level so experiment to find what works best for you.

Be sure to drink some of it (diluted with water) as it will do wonders for the inside of your body too!

Have a blessed week and Merry Christmas to all!

-Aly