HAIRCARE Q&A

Haircare

with Nathaniel Jaye

Hey hey hey!! Back like I never left; did you miss me? Of course, you did. So much has been going on but it’s so good to be slowly getting back to normal. I thought this would be a great time to do some Q &A. I get all these amazing questions in my DM that I often times don’t get an opportunity to respond to; no, I am not ignoring you , life just gets in the way. So, we thought it would be a great opportunity to do so now. So let’s jump right into it.

How often should I be washing my hair?

Ideally in a normal world I would say weekly; however, life gets busy and every week is not always conducive. So, every two weeks Is just fine; especially if you are relaxed. Now as for my natural sisters and brothers shampooing your natural tresses every week can be a full day’s work. I suggest co-washing in between shampoos; at least with this you are able to rehydrate your curls and freshen your style up without stripping it of its oils. Moreover, I know a lot of you work out and sweat a lot in your hair; if you need to shampoo it more often that is totally fine. Just be sure to use the proper shampoo and conditioner that will keep your hair moisturized and not dry out.

For someone who wears braids a lot; how long is a safe duration to keep them in?

In My professional opinion two months is max; but always give your scalp and hair a break in between. Wearing braids back to back may cause much damage to your scalp over time. Be sure you are deep conditioning once the braids have been removed. Even while you have the braids in you can some astringent and cotton balls to clean your scalp from the oils, dirt and sweat build up.

I have natural hair, but it is not curly. How can I get the natural hairstyles without my hair just looking nappy?

I think it’s so important that when going natural you know your curl pattern and what your hair can and can not do. Its A LOT of trial and error. I always suggest going to a natural hairstylist; whom is proficient in natural hair so that they may give you some ideas about how to care for it at home. I have come to realize that many women are using products wrong. Either they are overusing it or under using it. Normally the denser the hair the more product you need. Another mistake is that some women are not allowing their hair to fully dry; which causes the style to not take and it leaves it looking very frizzy and dry. Be sure that the products you are using do not have alcohol in them; alcohol does tend to dry the hair out a lot. Take your time and know that sometimes it will take a couple products for your hair to really respond in a positive way, pay attention to the ingredients that are in said products. Some products have a lot of fillers in them and less of the essentials oils your seeking.

I am getting married and I want to hire a hairstylist for myself and my bridal party of six,. does everyone need their own hairstylist? How many should I hire?

Typically, the bride hires one hairstylist and that hairstylist may bring an assistant to help. In Some cases, the bride may hire her personal hairstylist to do her hair only and maybe contract another hairstylist to do the wedding party. Hiring six hairstylists can be a bit essessive and costly. Another option is that you can have the bridesmaids get their hair done by their own hairstylist the day before. Ultimately Its your wedding and you make the choices on how you want things to flow.

So my question is more on safety. What should I be looking for when I book my appointments? Other than is everyone wearing a mask.

You should be looking to see how many clients are being serviced at the same time, are they social distancing like they should. Look for signs that have the salons safety protocol. Watch to see if they are properly sanitizing and disinfecting not only their stations and chairs but their tools as well. All of these things are so important to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to keep the salon safe from any other harms viruses and/or bacteria. Another great thing to lookout for do they have hand sanitizer stations set up in multiple areas in the salon. Bathrooms are a huge breeding ground for viruses; pay attention to how clean the bathrooms are, and do they have the proper antibacterial handwashing soap.

As someone with natural hair, I have always wondered about Keratin treatments. What exactly is that and can I say my hair is natural after getting the treatment?

I personally have never done one; and I have heard many good and bad stories about the process and the aftermath. According to “The Cut” A keratin treatment is a chemical process that smooths and shines frizzy hair. Results can last up to six months. There are many different versions of the treatment that go by different names (Brazilian Blowout, Cezanne, Goldwell Kerasilk) and your hairstylist can customize a blend of the formula to suit your needs. Some versions of the treat release formaldehyde when heated, but many newer versions are formaldehyde-free. No matter the formaldehyde content, on a basic level, keratin treatments dive into the hair follicle and inject porous areas with keratin, an essential hair protein. I strongly suggest doing your research and find a hairstylist whom is proficient in this process.

I have been perming my hair for the last ten years. Should I be worried about getting brain cancer?

Although I am not a doctor and I can’t provide you with the numbers; there have been many studies done on both black and white women. Based on the research by “Medscape.com” A study of 4,285 women found a significant increase in breast cancer risk in black women who used dark shades of hair dye and in white women who used chemical hair relaxers. The risk of breast cancer was 51% higher in black women who reported using dark hair dye, compared with those who did not, and was 74% higher in white women who reported using chemical relaxers. Risk was more than doubled in whites who used both relaxers and hair dyes. I am sure more research will be conducted in the coming years; however, like anything else using relaxers is a risk and there is always a possibly that too much use of a chemical can have some adverse effects on the body.

Do you recommend a glue in weave or sew in?

I do both and I love having options; both glue and sew in weaves have been given a bad name. Most of the time its due to user error and ladies leaving them in way too long. I have also come to realize that glue has latex in it and if you have a latex allergy then glue in weaves are NOT for you. Sew ins can be very beneficial as a protective style; but one must be mindful that getting sew ins back to back can have a negative effect on your hairline and the health of your scalp. Know when to take a break and let your scalp breath.

GREAT questions; please Keep them coming ! as always following me on social media IG @ Hairbynathaniel_jaye. Love connecting with my readers. Until then be BOLD, be unique and be Fabulous.