Protein - Why Our Hair Needs It, And The Right Way to use it.

Hello Everyone!!!

No excuses for my loooong absence yet again so I shall just go straight to the point of today's post!

I will be switching things up a little bit in my posts from now on - using incidents from the salon as a backdrop for addressing what I see as issues people still struggle with, don't understand and are doing wrongly.

SCENRARIO
A lady came into the salon and was being attended to by one of the stylists. I was in the back doing other things and the stylists came to up to me visibly confused and wanted to clarify somethings with me. She said her client had asked for a 'dry protein treatment' and when she tried to explain to her that she had no idea what a 'dry protein treatment' was but what we have are different strengths of protein:
Light
Medium
Heavy/Reconstructors

the client was adamant and said she had done it in the salon before and that was what she wanted. I went over to the client to speak with her and try and explain things. I explained that I have never heard of a dry protein but there are different strengths of protein to which she said she had one she used but couldn't find it to buy so we should use ours.

So I asked the stylist to wash her hair so we can determine what exactly the hair needs. Client shakes her head emphatically - nope she doesn't wash her hair before using the protein treatment. She will apply the treatment to unwashed hair, then shampoo the hair, then do a moisturising deep conditioning treatment.

I'm like - so how will we know exactly what the hair needs if we don't assess it free of product? She goes 'okay my hair is breaking so I need a treatment'

I could see I was getting no where so I asked the stylist to do what she requested to satisfy her.

My Weird Online Bullying Experience.

It's funny how some things happen and you literally laugh it off but later you realise that it actually was not cool in anyway and even though you let it slide, how about people who are more vulnerable to such negative behaviour?

Such was my experience over a 3 week period last month - I had posted a video on Instagram showing me with Henna in my hair and initially the comments were questions about henna and its benefits etc. The video then got featured on the Naturalista Channel and thus got more views from men and women alike the world over and that's when the nastiness started.

I had people saying I looked 'nasty' or 'ewwwww' 'yuck' or  I should go take a bath; or I had poop in my hair, or my favourite 'wash your nappy hair, thanks' lolllllll Like seriously!!!

It now got to the point where I had other people championing my cause so for instance in response to
the 'wash your nappy hair thanks' message, someone said 'kill yourself. thanks. To which he replied 'at least my hair will be clean when I die'

Hair Not Retaining Length? A Few Tips To Help.

Source: Thirstyroots.com

I have spoken about this a few times in the past but it always helps to re iterate.

The most recurring complaint I get when I speak to naturals is 'My hair is not growing'!!! or 'My hair has stopped growing'! And I always say, barring any medical conditions or medication that may truly be stopping your hair from growing; hair is ALWAYS growing. HOWEVER, if your hair is breaking off at the ends at the same (or faster) rate at which it is growing, then it is only logical that it remains at the same length and feeds your belief that your hair is not growing or has stopped growing.

The ends are the oldest and most fragile part of the hair and so need the most (and gentlest) attention. If you treat them right, they don't break off and sabotage your length retention goals. If also you invest a ton of money in hair growth products or vitamins, you will be wasting that money because hair grows from the roots but breaks off at the ends. So if you're increasing your growth at the roots but you neglect the ends, you'll still end up at the same place you started!

My Spice TV Interview!

I got the honor of being interviewed by Spice TV for a program called 'Hair And Beauty With..' This actually happened sometime in January but I only just got a copy of the video.

Essentially it was me talking about how I started the salon, my positive and negative experiences so far, any advice I had for people who wanted to start their own natural hair business and my review on a few products stocked in the salon.

It's our One Year Blogger -versary!!!

                            

I almost can't believe it!! Not only has it been one year since the Salon opened for business ( we celebrated with lots of cake - one yummy red velvet cake and one absolutely sinful triple layered chocolate cake) it's also now 1 year since my first blog post!!

I've always loved writing and from time to time, I'd either write for my own pleasure, as a cathartic measure when I was going through personal issues or just for the general entertainment of my family and friends.

When I started really getting into my hair journey, I would post pictures on my Facebook page and someone said ' I see a hair blog in your future' and I thought - 'why ever not?' And so here we are!

Our Red Velvet Celebration Cake at the Salon

My first blog post really says it all about my deep desire for healthy long hair ( click here to read) and from the many talks I've had with ladies and young adults; this is a desire that most have nurtured but because of the myth that a lot of us bought into i.e. 'Black hair doesn't grow' plus many years of misinformation about caring for our hair which had been passed down through generations; most of us had just given up on that dream or were caught up in a cycle of hope, determination, frustration, resignation and then hope would spring up again only to go through that darned cycle.

I was in the latter category and thank goodness I finally found the resources that enabled me begin to give life to my dreams.