Natural Hair Care Afro Hair: Back to Basics
EbonyHairBeauty.Com Specializing in Hair Extensions, Weaves, Hair Replacement and Natural Hair.
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Welcome to our Afro Hair Care: Back to Basics. We will start with natural hair care basics. When you wash your hair, use lukewarm water. A hot shower is always enjoyable. But when you get to your hair, turn down the heat. Rinsing with cool water is good for stimulating the circulation in your scalp and to close the cuticles after you’re done with conditioning. After your shower, try to use a towel to get most of the water out. Blot the hair not pulling or wring as wet hair is very fragile and vulnerable to breakage. Too much stress on wet hair can strip it of elasticity. I recommend the use of a microfiber towel; it absorbs a lot of water without damaging your hair and cuts down your drying time.
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How to Care for Curly Hair Air drying is the best thing for hair. So on your days off, let your hair dry naturally. When you have to get to work, pull out the blow dryer and set it on cool setting or wash your hair the day before. Try to stop drying when the hair is just damp. Tip: When picking out a brush, pick a natural-bristle brush. The nylon-bristle brush is hard on hair and will cause split ends. Boar bristles, for example, are great. When using a comb use a wide tooth comb. Do not try to detangle/comb your hair with a rat tail comb! This is a sure recipe for disaster! If your hair is long, start at the bottom in sections and work your way up. This should help with the knots and snarls. If you do get knots, try using a conditioner; don’t force your comb in. When working with knots gently pull them apart with your fingers first, then use a comb. The number of strands of hair in your comb should then dramatically reduce. Just as with natural skin care, natural hair care has the same enemy: Sun and Wind. Too much of each, and your hair will become damaged and dry out. So when out in the sun or the wind, wear a hat.
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Home Remedy for Dry Hair Dry hair tends to be thin and rough. It tends to tangle, damage, break and get split ends. We suggest a few remedies you can try at home for managing dry hair. The primary aim is to replenish the oil and the moisture in the hair. That is why the emphasis is on the conditioning aspect of hair care. Strong cleansing routines and massaging of the scalp promote dryness and flakiness of the scalp. The use of strong-action shampoo is prohibited for dry hair. Often a generous oil application and massage is recommended before washing the hair. Frequent shampooing is harmful for dry hair. You just end up removing all the good natural oils your hair strands so badly need. For the moisture-dry hair, a moisturizer application is required. Home remedy for dry hair: The Gentle Cleanser 1. Beat an egg in a cup of skimmed milk. When the foam becomes consistent, rub it into the scalp. Leave it on for 5 minutes. Rinse the hair thoroughly with water. Carry out this routine twice a week. 2. Take a cup of coconut milk and add two tablespoons of gram flour or one teaspoon of shikakai (we will discuss this amazing powder later on). Apply on your scalp and hair and massage gently. Rinse it out after five minutes. Follow this recipe at least once a week. Another dry hair home remedy: The Protein Conditioner Beat one tablespoon of castor oil, one tablespoon of glycerine, a teaspoon of cider vinegar and a teaspoon of protein, plus a tablespoon of mild herbal shampoo. Apply it on scalp and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse with clear water. A Special Massage Oil/Toner Get a bottle of castor oil or coconut oil. Add a teaspoon of lavender essential oil in it. Heat a little and massage it gently in your scalp at night. Rinse or shampoo it out in the morning. Follow this routine at least twice a week. Other tips on home based treatment of dry hair 1. First assess whether your scalp and hair are moisture dry or oil-dry. 2. Condition your hair as often as you wash it. 3. Never comb, brush or massage vigorously if the hair is extremely dry. Before any kind of routine care is followed, be familiar with the needs of your scalp and hair.
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Natural Ingredients for natural hair care Shea Butter Kukui Oil Olive Oil Coconut Oil Almond Oil Shikakai Powder Jojoba Oil Glycerine
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Shea Butter
It contains several natural anti-inflammatory agents and minor sunscreen agents. Clinical studies have shown that this product transforms the skin in as little as 4-6 weeks, into a softer, smoother, and better looking skin. Special benefits for the skin are itching, sunburns, small skin wounds and wrinkles. I make my own body and hair butter based on Organic Shea and Jojoba butter. Trust me, I am a believer!!! 100% Pure & Natural Shea Butter is an all-natural vitamin A cream. Shea Butter has shown to be a superb moisturizer, with exceptional healing properties for the skin. Vitamin A is important for improving a number of skin conditions, including blemishes, eczema, and dermatitis. The moisturizers in Shea Butter are the same moisturizers produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. Please note: ALL SHEA BUTTERS ARE NOT EQUALLY EFFECTIVE. Only highest quality can offer the benefits mentioned. 10 skin care tips of the 21 reasons to use Shea Butter From the Shea Butter Institute: 
Dry skin Skin cracks Tough or rough skin Sun burn Cold weather Frost bites Insect bites Healthy skin Skin rash Blemishes and wrinkles.
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Kukui Oil Kukui Nut Oil has been widely used in Hawaii, Polynesian islands and Indonesia, however it has only just recently become known to the rest of the world. The oil is cold pressed from the Kukui seeds to produce a light non greasy oil that has numerous skin benefits including being beneficial for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. The Kukui Tree is Hawaii’s official state tree, and Kukui means ‘enlightenment' in Hawaiian. Itis valued for its rejuvenating and soothing effects upon the skin, without leaving a greasy or oily film. Kukui Nut Oil is invaluable providing moisture and nourishment to dry, mature, and sun damaged skin. Traditionally, babies in Hawaii were anointed with Kukui Nut Oil to protect their skin from the sun, salt and other elements. In addition, it was used on skin irritations, wounds, and burns. Benefits of Kukui oil Kukui oil is known to help skin conditions such as Psoriasis and Eczema. It is rich in EFA’s which makes it especially beneficial and nourishing for the skin, it is high in linoleic and linolenic acids which are essential fatty acids, vital for the metabolism of healthy skin. Kukui Oil is a fabulous moisturiser, and quickly penetrates the skin leaving a silky-smooth non-greasy feeling. It is often used for dry or damaged skin, immediately relieving symptoms because of its quick absorption into the skin. It can leave even the roughest and driest skin feeling smooth, soft and hydrated. Kukui Oil contains Vitamins A, C, E and F, providing anti-oxidants that help to protect from the skin. Kukui nut Oil is good for anti-aging, revitalising and especially restoring sun damaged skin. This unique oil is able to penetrate into the deepest skin layers, while creating a protective shield that locks in moisture. It is a hugely popular natural sun relief oil and perfect to take on sun drenched holidays as an after sun oil to replenish and soothe the skin Kukui oil is prefect for those with sensitive skin, aging skin helps in preventing wrinkles when included in your daily beauty regime. It’s high content of antioxidants are beneficial for fine lines and crow’s feet, while gently massaged in daily as a moisturiser.. It is also beneficial for the burns – including: sunburn, windburn, radiation burns, and heat induced burns. This wonderful oil can also be used as for an oil treatment on dry hair and scalp, or add a few drops to your bath water for a luxurious treat.
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Olive Oil Homemade hair Masks Another cause of dry hair could be due to your diet. In order to have healthy skin, hair and nails, you need plenty of good, fatty acids which you can get from foods such as oily fish including salmon and tuna, and flaxseed oil is also good. You can add flaxseed oil to your diet by adding two tablespoons a day to foods such as potatoes or even popcorn! Many people do not like the sound of flaxseed oil but it actually has a nutty, buttery flavour so most people do not actually mind it once they have tried it. Shampoo There are quite a few different homemade hair masks you can create, all with their own unique fragrance, so there should be one to suit you. The most nourishing one has to be the Olive Oil hair mask. The Olive Oil hair mask is created by using 5 tablespoons of olive oil with two eggs. Mix them both together and apply them to the hair, wrapping the hair in a plastic wrap or a shower cap. Allow it to stand for 15 minutes before thoroughly rinsing it off. If you want soft, shiny hair, a good homemade remedy to use is to mix chamomile flowers, comfrey root, elder flowers and nettle, with boiling water. It is best to use one tablespoon of the herbs and enough boiling water, then leave them to stand for half an hour. After it has been left to stand, add 1/4 cup cider vinegar and mix them well. Shampoo the hair as normal, and then pour the mixture you have created, over the hair repeatedly. The vinegar in the mixture helps to seal the hair cuticles. You can also create similar remedies for all different hair types; you just have to use different herbs. Remedy for Really Damaged Hair A good homemade remedy for really damaged hair includes mashing a ripe banana with a few drops of almond oil. Apply the mixture to the hair, massaging it in, and then rinse with soda water and shampoo and condition as usual. This adds a little extra protection and helps to seal the hair and prevent any breakage. How to Beat Split ends, damaged hair and Hair falling out If your dry hair problem is quite severe, you may notice that parts of it are splitting and falling out. Many people find in this situation, Indian Gooseberry really helps. If you rub it into the scalp regularly it can produce excellent results and it really does help to stop the hair from falling out. Garlic also works wonders in stopping hair shed. But beware of the smell‌ If you suffer from split ends, a good remedy includes oiling your hair twice a week with coconut oil mixed with fresh lime juice.
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Overall, there are many different home remedies you can try and most of them do not take long to make. They are natural and so they are gentle on your hair, and your hair will really appreciate the lack of chemicals! If you are unsure of where to find homemade remedies for your dry, damaged hair, you should be able to find some books, or there are hundreds of remedies to be found online.
Coconut Oil Treatments I was talking with a Sister tonight about using coconut oil to help prevent breakage. A few people have told me they started to do the treatments and one Sister’s hair has improved greatly and even grew! “Slumdog” Secret for Shiny Hair So what’s Frieda Pinto’s secret for keeping her hair shiny, smooth and gorgeous as she runs through the dry, dusty streets of “Slumdog Millionaire”? Turns out it’s an age-old secret: a once-a-week coconut oil hair treatment.
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How to get rid of dandruff Dandruff blocks the pores on the scalp and obstructs the whole supply of natural oil to the hair, by causing hair to become dull, lacklustre and even brittle in most severe cases. Apply some hot olive oil or sesame oil on the scalp at bed time. Now an hour prior to the bathing rub lime juice mixed with the cosmetic vinegar on the scalp. Pantry Olive Oil Olive oil also makes a great hair tonic. It makes the hair follicles shine and traps the moisture inside. Olive oil is found to work wonders on dry-haired women. Olive oil is found to smooth the palms. Is Olive Oil Good for Hair Growth? Olive oil is used for cooking purposes all over the world because of the various health benefits that it possesses. However, not many people know that there is a link between olive oil and hair growth. While it is said to be good for treating several skin ailments, olive oil is said to be the best cure for hair loss. There are several benefits of using olive oil for hair growth which are as follows:
One of the best advantages of using olive oil as hair is that it helps in preventing as well as curing hair loss. Most people have hair loss because of the presence of a hormone called DTH which leads the hair follicle shaft to decrease. Applying olive oil to hair prevents the production of DTH hormones on the scalp, thus getting rid of the problem of hair loss. The presence of antioxidants in olive oil makes it an appropriate hair oil that promotes overall scalp health. The chemical damage that is caused due to the excessive use of chemical based hair products can be treated with the help of olive oil, thus giving room for the growth of healthy hair. Apart from the fact that olive oil is an effective treatment for hair loss, it also acts as a natural conditioner for the hair. In other words, applying olive oil on hair makes it shiny and soft. The anti-fungal and antibacterial property of olive oil is a great way of getting rid of the problem of dandruff and head lice. Moreover, massaging your hair with a mixture of olive oil and lavender oil is very relaxing and acts as a great stress buster. Olive Oil Hair Treatment The best way of using olive oil for hair growth is by simply massaging your hair with it. Take half a cup of olive oil and mix some other type of oil with it, preferably coconut, sesame or castor oil. Pour some oil on your hair and massage gently with your fingertips on the scalp, gently moving downwards to the tips of the hair. Once this is done, cover your hair with a shower cap or maybe a warm towel. After 30 minutes, wash your hair with a good shampoo and conditioner. Apart from the regular olive oil treatment, there are several other ways in which you can apply olive oil on your hair. There are several olive oil hair treatment recipes that you can make easily at home. Here are some of them:
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One way is to make a paste by mixing olive oil with cinnamon and honey. First, you have to heat the olive oil and then add some honey and a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to it. Stir well to make a paste and then apply it to your hair. Leave it on your hair for fifteen minutes and then rinse it off with a shampoo. You can also make a conditioner with olive oil. Take ½ a cup of olive oil in a bowl and combine it with an egg yolk and some drops of lemon juice. Mix well and apply it on your hair. Allow the conditioner to remain on your hair for 15 minutes and then, rinse it off.
As you now know the benefits of using olive oil for hair growth, I hope that you will start using olive oil on a regular basis. One thing you have to remember is there are different types of olive oil available in the market including extra virgin, virgin, pure and extra light. Among these types of olive oil, it is always best to choose extra virgin or virgin oil for hair treatment as the other two are made through chemical process and contain chemicals in it. Hence, apply extra virgin or virgin olive oil on your hair and you will surely be rewarded with long, soft and healthy hair.
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Almond Oil Along with other essential oils, almond oil can be used as an effective natural treatment for hair loss, as well as for improving hair quality and making it look great. This oil is received by cold pressure from sweet almond seeds. It is one of essential oils that are the most commonly used in cosmetics, especially for skin care. For improving skin health, almond oil is usually combined with jojoba oil, and this combination is considered to be one of the greatest natural remedies for face care: in particular, it can be used for makeup removal, for improving the quality of eyelashes and for other purposes. For many years, people have been using almond oil for hair loss prevention, mainly as an ingredient of various hair masks and natural hair care treatments. If your hair is thinning and going brittle, you can use scalp massages with a combination of almond oil and jojoba oil. This remedy has amazing
nourishing and moisturizing
effects and it can be used for all
skin types. Remember that you
need to use only 2-3 drops of
each essential oil, and it is
important not to overdose the
oils for such massages. You
should do this procedure
regularly before washing your
hair.
If your hair is too dry, you can combine almond oils with sandalwood, ylangylang or orange essential oil. For oily hair, a combination of almond oil with lemon, bergamot or cedar wood essential oil will help. You can apply the oil mixture by using the following technique: place several drops of the mixture on your wooden comb and comb your hair gently for 5-10 minutes, then wash the oils off with your usual shampoo. Another way to benefit from almond oil for hair loss is to add it to your shampoos or hair conditioners. It is also possible to apply almond oil directly to your scalp. All you need to do is to warm up the oil a little and then rub it into your scalp with gentle movement. After that, you should
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cover your hair up with a towel or a piece of cloth and keep the oil on your scalp for at least 1 hour, but to reap the best results, you can keep the oil on your scalp overnight. In the morning, wash the oil off with your usual shampoo and use your usual conditioner. After an almond oil treatment, your hair will have a unique and very pleasant aroma.
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Shikakai powder Shikakai a.k.a The Fruit for the Hair, is actually a nut and the powder comes from de-shelled shikakai nuts.
Promotes hair growth Strengthens hair roots Shikakai powder has a 2 year shelf like and most boxes will have the manufacturer’s date stamped on it (it is NOT an expiration date in most cases)
In Ayurvedic medicine, Shikakai is thought to strengthen the hair roots. Here is how I mix up the powders: Most times I will do what is called a pre-poo overnight with coconut oil, not every single time but usually. Then the next day when I am ready to do the rinse, I mix 1 heaping tablespoon of Shikakai powder with 2 heaping tablespoons of Amla powder in about 8oz. of hot water. Stir the mixture until it looks like dark chocolate milk. Next, add cold water to cool it off. I usually let my mix sit for about half an hour just while I get my things together for my shower, detangle my hair, and just kill time to let it really cool down. Usage: If I prepare the mixture as described above I usually cover the top of plastic cup with a knee high just to catch any clumps of the mixture. Once I get into in the shower, I let the water run over my hair completely saturating it. Finally, I step out of the water (but remain in the shower) and carefully pour the mixture over my hair (AVOID GETTING ANY IN YOUR EYES!) I do not try to comb or touch my hair until I have fully rinsed out the Shikakai Amla rinse. Finally, I use a cheap conditioner to co-wash my hair and I'm all done. Important things to remember: Keep it out of your eyes, otherwise it will burn like hell and make your eyes red for a while, trust me I know! Also, even though Shikakai powder has cleansing properties it is important to shampoo your hair every few weeks. So if you use the rinses, every third week or every fourth week, use the Shikakai Shampoo Bar or another regular shampoo. Here are some simple recipes for mixing your natural hair products. Please visit www.forums.longhaircommunity.com and www.longhaircareforum.com as you will find a wealth of information, along with techniques and various recipes. You can even ask questions on their forum! Please remember when using any new hair product it is always recommended that you do hair strand tests first! We also encourage you to add orange blossom water, rose water or essential oils to your pastes and mud, to leave your hair smelling great! Important: Please keep in mind that everyone has their own unique hair texture. Herbal treatments can be drying for some, and it is recommended that you add hair oil to your
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recipe, or deep condition your hair afterwards. We recommend that everyone keep an open mind when using henna and natural herbs on their hair, and use the recipe that works best for you! Shikakai, also known as acacia concinna Mixing shikakai for promoting hair growth and deep cleansing: -For best results, add at least 1 tbsp of shikakai powder to 25 grams of your henna or cassia powder mixture. OR -Mix powder (desired quantity) with warm to hot water. Let it cool. -Apply shikakai paste or mixed herbal blended paste, by sections starting from the back and moving forward. -Wrap your hair and allow to sit for 1-6 hours. -Rinse or wash paste out. How to store your powder: fridge or cool dark place. How to store your shikakai and paste: freezer
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is one of the more common ingredients in hair care products and with good reason. This natural oil is considered by many to be the most compatible due to its similarity to the scalp’s sebum and its ability to work with all hair types. It has many therapeutic properties including its ability to protect moisture loss, protect hair health and improve the condition of damaged hair. Jojoba oil is derived from the seeds of a perennial shrub that is found in north western Mexico and the south western United States. Although it is commonly known as oil, the extract from the jojoba is technically a liquid wax. It is golden in appearance and has a slight nutty odour plus it is hypoallergenic, non-irritating and non- comedogenic. It also contains vitamin E and has antibacterial and antioxidant properties as well. Generally easy to find, jojoba oil can be purchased in many health food stores and is also commonly available online through a number of different retailers. Adding jojoba oil to your hair routine is a simple process that will provide numerous rewards. Just mix a few drops into your favourite conditioner and apply as usual. When you rinse it out the beneficial properties of the oil will be retained in the hair. You can also put a few drops on your palm and work it through the ends of your hair prior to blow drying for added conditioning. If you hair is frizzy or
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dull then the addition of a small amount of jojoba oil will smooth out the cuticle and make your hair shiny and healthy looking. It has also been said that by massaging some jojoba oil into the scalp that you will promote thick, lustrous hair. How to use jojoba oil for hair 1 - Mix together a combination of 50 percent jojoba oil and 50 percent over-the-counter hot oil treatment to make a pre-shampoo, deep conditioner. Apply to hair, one inch below your scalp and work down. You can leave the mixture in for 15 minutes or wrap your hair on top of your head in a towel for an hour. 2 - Add about 2 tsp. of jojoba oil to your regular shampoo to enhance moisture. 3 - Use as a daily conditioner by adding a few drops into your regular conditioner. You also can place a few drops in your hand, rub hands together and run your hands and fingers through your hair before conditioning. 4 - Put a few drops of jojoba oil into your hands, rub them together and work the oil into the ends of your hair before blow drying. This method helps keep split ends and frizzing in check. 5 - Rub a few drops into your palms, rub your hands together and smooth the jojoba oil over dry hair to keep frizzing down and to add shine. 6 - Apply a few drops of jojoba oil to hair tangles to help work them out without hair breakage or damage.
Can you use glycerine in winter? Glycerine (glycerine/glycerol - all the same thing) is hygroscopic. This means it draws moisture (water) from its surrounding. It is very good at doing these because it has 3 water attracting groups (known as hydroxyl groups) per molecule (As far as molecules go, this is quite high!). This is the reason why some people say that glycerine is drying which is sort of true but not really. If you expose glycerine to air, it will saturate itself to the point where it does not need any more water. And when you put it in water (which it loves), then it will REALLY saturate itself and will not draw water away from your hair. Therefore, the message is glycerine plus water, is good! While the herbs and essences probably just make the product smell good, the glycerine is the stuff that makes it moisturising. The moisturising conditioners and butters probably just add to the effect of the product. To ‘winterize’ or ‘desert-friendly’ your use of humectants, one simple idea is to use the product before a shower. The mist and steam of the shower will be attracted to the glycerine in the products, and the heat will help it absorb into your cuticle. Then you can use an oil-based sealer to keep that moisture in when you go out into the harsh, harsh world. Glycerine is helpful to many people to combat dry hair and glycerine itself is not drying. So when people say, “glycerine is drying”. That’s sort of a misnomer. Hence why she says,” This is sort of true, but not really”. In a technical way of looking at it think of it like this: Humectants, like glycerin, can work by absorption (where the substance being collected or removed actually penetrates into the
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other substance) or through adsorption (where the substance being collected simply sits on the surface). Curly Nikki, is focused on the ABSORPTION aspect of glycerine in her article. And she’s absolutely correct in it. Now here’s why other people are correct about glycerine being “drying” in a sense: Thought process behind why people opt not to use Glycerine in colder months: Other people are correct as well though because in the Winter months (and sometimes the Fall) when it gets cold the air often becomes drier and there may be little or what feels like no moisture in the air. For instance, in your house when it’s cold like most of us you probably turn your heat on so it can stay warm. Other places like businesses and schools do the same thing. So those places are constantly being heated and that air can often feel dry. You know how your skin can feel dry in the winter especially when you are inside a very well heated building ? Well it’s because of the lack of moisture in the atmosphere you are in. While glycerine does attract water molecules from the air and help with moisturization, it can be a problem if there is little or no moisture in the atmosphere for it to utilize. If glycerine is in your hair in a drier environment. It’s still going to do its primary function: Draw moisture (attract water molecules). Which means it would be taking the moisture from your hair because it has no other place to get those water molecules from if the air in the atmosphere is particularly dry. So basically the thinking is: in the Winter months when things seems to get dry inside an environment, if one is using glycerine in their hair and that glycerine doesn’t have a steady source of water molecules to attract from the atmosphere. It will “turn” or as some people like to say: “It dries my hair out”. Why? Because glycerine will still do its job which is to “draw moisture”, but it just will draw that moisture from your hair instead of the atmosphere by the process of adsorption instead of absorption. The hair will often feel greasy but not moisturized. These people are focused on the ABSORPTION effects of glycerine. And they are absolutely correct to be concerned about it especially in colder months. So technically, Curly Nikki, and the other folks are both correct in the different uses of logic when it comes to glycerine. Now here is the catch to all this: POROSITY. Porosity is basically how easily water and other matter can diffuse back and forth through the cuticle layer and into or out of the cortex of the hair. Humectants, like glycerine can cause a problem for people with hair that has higher porosity if they are used improperly. For instance, If a person has hair with a higher porosity is using a humectant like glycerine constantly and are around areas where their hair does absorb tons of moisture in excess this can lead to the hair becoming “overly saturated” with moisture. If the hair with high porosity becomes “overly saturated” on a regular basis it can lose its normal elasticity. This can be a terrible problem because a lot of breakage can occur to the hair when it’s manipulated by combing, brushing, rubbing, etc.
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So while glycerine is hygroscopic and is great to help with moisture in general, getting the best benefits from using it in the hair depends on a few things. They are: the proper usage of it in general (meaning knowing when and how to use it), the porosity of the hair (meaning how easily water goes in an out of the hair shaft), and the atmosphere/environment in which it’s used (meaning is the air dry; there is a lot of moisture around, etc). (Content sourced from CurlyNikki .Com, The Natural Mane and Oyinhanmade.Com)
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