Old School Product: Pine Tar

Way back in the day, African Americans didn't have aisles of hair products to choose from, let alone stores dedicated to stocking every beauty supply product known to mankind. They had to use whatever they could get their hands on. Some worked, others didn't. But the ones that worked, those secrets were passed down through the generations with each new generation changing and improving upon the recipe.

One such product is pine tar, also known as peasant tar. Now imagine what that first generation to even try this stuff were thinking. It wasn't packed into a portable plastic container for easy carry. It wasn't blended with other ingredients to form a grease-like solution for easy application. The stuff that was used back then was pure. No chemicals added for preservation purposes. And I'm sure the smell was 100 times stronger than the products made today.

So why are we talking about this? Well, I know that the beauty industry goes through trends. Before it was olive oil. Today it is argan oil. Tomorrow, who knows. I'd hate to see a product that has served the needs of so many people just be swept aside because it isn't what is currently trending.

If you've never used pine tar before, you must heed this warning: you will stink like a campfire. And unless campfires were the places where all the young teenagers hung out, there had to have been benefits that far outweighed the smell.

Pine tar as used today works wonders as a skin treatment for eczema and itchy, flaking skin caused by dandruff or psoriasis. Applying this to your scalp will not only do the same, but will bring your scalp into a healthy state. And a healthy scalp begets healthy hair.

Have a blessed week and a wonderful MLK Day!

Do Use Hair Color Protein Filler

Most people begin the process of following through on their New Year's resolutions in the middle of January. They've had time to think it through and are now ready to make it happen. Most resolutions fall into the category of changing one's image whether it be for health reasons or emotional ones. So if you want advice on losing weight or quitting smoking, you've come to the wrong place.

Today we are going to bring out the new you of 2014 with a new hair color. But you've got the kind of hair that takes the color really well but fades quickly. If you've been following along since last year, you know that we've just described hair with high porosity.

High porosity hair has its cuticles wide open allowing anything including hair color to be quickly absorbed. So the color looks great the first couple days. But with the cuticles remaining open like that, the color has a hard time holding onto the hair shaft. So it literally falls out of the hair and we see that as fading.

So if we are going to get that new color for 2014, what is a high porosity girl suppose to do? Welcome your new best friend, protein filler.

Protein filler is exactly what its name implies: it fills in holes with protein. So those gaping holes high porosity hair has, can now be filled in. It doesn't fix the porosity permanently. But it equalizes it enough so that whatever is inside the hair shaft won't just keep falling off like those little bed jumping monkeys.

Protein filler comes in a neutral color as well as red, blue, and yellow. I'd stick with neutral unless you've got a good sense for how the color wheel works when dealing with hair color. Make sure to shampoo your hair before putting the protein filler in. Let the protein do its magic for about 10-20 minutes. DO NOT RINSE OUT. And put the hair color as directed.

If you've got any left over, make sure to dilute it and use it as a protein treatment in a few weeks.

Please let me know your success stories (and failure stories too) in the comments down below.

Have a blessed weekend!

Do Use Quick Weave Glue Protection

Today, we begin our series on the Do's of hair care. And what better way to start than the correct way to protect our hair while wearing weave. The two most popular ways to wear weave are: quick weaves and sew-ins.

For a quick weave, we will be wearing the weave by using hair bonding glue. There are many brands to choose from starting with the $1 generic brands. If you are not having any success with using the cheap brands, you should see if your local beauty supply store carries a better brand.

Do not apply the bonding glue directly to your own hair.

Depending on the style and cut of the weave, you will need to decide if you will have a partial quick weave or a full quick weave. A partial means that some of your hair, usually the front and/or top will be showing. This is done to cover up the wefts of the last layer of weave. For a full quick weave, you will be supplied a closure to serve the same purpose, or you will need to make your own closure.

Do not apply the bonding glue directly to your own hair.

To lay the tracks down smoothly and evenly, you will need to wrap and flatten your hair down. You can use styling gel, styling lotion, or foam wrap. Once you've got a flat surface to apply the weave and bonding glue...

Do not apply the bonding glue directly to your own hair.

At this point in the process, many of my customers will throw on a stocking cap as the single barrier between their hair and the bonding glue. What they don't realize (until they are ready to take the weave out) is the bonding glue will seep through the wig cap and bond directly to their own hair. You can upgrade from the $1 stocking wig cap to something that provides more protection like a dome cap. Or...

You can apply a liquid cap that creates an invisible, protective layer across your hair. The bonding glue will be applied to the layer and not your own hair.

The three most popular brands are: Morning Glory's Gro-Protect Solution, Salon Pro 30 Sec's Weave Wonder Wrap, and Robert's Diamond Bond Protective Shield. By applying these to your wrapped hair, you can be sure that none of the bonding glue will be applied directly to your own hair. Win!

For added protection, but not necessary, you can still wear the stocking cap before actually applying the glue and weave. Please let me know which of these three brands you like the best.

Have a blessed week!