Category Archives: Beauty Change

Beauty, Beauty Change, black hair, HairBlues POV

Can Black (Kinky) Hair Be Beautiful?

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Sometimes at HairBlues I like to take a “time-out” to focus on a particular topic: today’s pause is to consider (again) “what is considered Beauty”?  In other posts I have discussed “Bald” as a beauty statement, and “how to deal with making your hair loss beautiful”.  We’ve focused on weaves and wigs as beauty statements. In this post the focus is  on African-American (Kinky Hair), and where we are as women who wear this hairstyle as a fashion and beauty statement.

Everywhere I go these days I see beautiful  natural (kinky) hairstyles worn by both  young and mature black women.  As a baby boomer, I am only a little jealous that many of those styles had not been thought of when I first strutted my Afro hairstyle :).  But, after more than 40 years since black women freed themselves from the stigma of having “bad” hair, and James Brown (the Godfather of soul) made it clear that being Black was something to be proud of (which included natural, unprocessed or straightened hair worn by black women) this discussion is still going on – that is to say – black hair not traditionally combed is not necessarily considered a thing of beauty on black women.

What a wonderful thing that black women have progressed even further to feeling comfortable with “wash & wearing” their hair without combing it out.  I remember when I first did that over 30 years ago how mortified my Mom (rest her soul) was that I was going outside without “picking” my hair out.

Nowadays it warms my heart every time I see a young woman who has the freedom and courage to wear her “natural” hair.  But, is there a price she is going to pay for doing that? Apparently, the answer is YES – for some black women. However, an article by Demetria L. Lucas, “Why Does My Natural Hair Get No Love”, published on The Root (http://www.theroot.com),  suggests that oftentimes our conclusions about “not getting any love for natural hair” may need self-reflection, as well as self-reliance.

At Hairblues we agree:  Beauty after all is not only in the eye of the beholder, but in the heart and mind of the “Beheld”.

See you at the next post!

Beauty Change, Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy Hair: Caring for & Repairing

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This post is in response to an inquiry about how to care for “natural (kinky)  hair” after chemotherapy treatment… After searching for “chemo hair remedies’ on the Internet, there did not seem to be a website, which had ‘distinguished‘ natural (kinky) hair from any other types of hair after chemotherapy.  As I thought about Chemotherapy, and why people must go through this formidable health challenge, I concluded that Cancer does not  ‘distinguish‘ whose body it chooses to visit.  It is an unexpected, intense, and distressing experience that has a sudden and powerful effect on somebody’s emotions and physical well-being. Having said that,  I want to share with you “natural” remedies for your new growth.  I urge those of you out there who have had chemotherapy to share your ideas by making comments at the end of this post.

Getting your hair ready for Chemotherapy is probably one of the most difficult challenges a person can be confronted with.  I have heard that spiritual guidance and sheer will are some of the options those who have to deal with this test choose to help them.  Of course,  family and friends are some of the other support systems one relies on. But how do you get your hair ready for this ordeal?  The Mayo Clinic website had suggestings for pre/after-treatments, which are listed below. Don’t forget to click the link provided at the end for more details.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group based in Rochester, Minnesota, specializing in treating difficult cases (tertiary care). Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments.via Mayo Clinic – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Before (Chemotherapy) treatment
Be gentle to your hair. Get in the habit of being kind to your hair. Don’t bleach, color or perm your hair — this can weaken it. Air-dry your hair as much as possible and avoid heating devices such as curling irons and hot rollers. Strengthening your hair now might make it more likely to stay in your head a little longer during treatment.

During treatment
Baby your remaining hair. Continue your gentle hair strategies throughout your chemotherapy treatment. Use a soft brush. Wash your hair only as often as necessary. Consider using a gentle shampoo.

After treatment
Continue gentle hair care. Your new hair growth will be especially fragile and vulnerable to the damage caused by styling products and heating devices. Hold off on coloring or bleaching your new hair until it grows stronger. Processing could damage your new hair and irritate your sensitive scalp.
Be patient. It’s likely that your hair will come back slowly and that it might not look normal right away. But growth takes time, and it also takes time to repair the damage caused by your cancer treatment.  via Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment

Maintaining a routine for your hair after chemotherapy:

Step 1 –Wash hair gently. The AHLC advises restricting shampooing to twice a week. Use a shampoo formulated for damaged or dry hair, followed up with a conditioner formulated for thin or fine hair. Massage your scalp gently while you’re in the shower to loosen up dead skin cells.

Step 2 – Avoid towel drying your hair. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, vigorous rubbing can damage healthy hair, as the hair is more vulnerable when it’s wet. Simply wrap a towel around your hair and let it absorb the water.

Step 3 – Let your hair air dry. The heat from a blow dryer can damage new hair growth, says the AHLC–and it can damage healthy hair as well. The AAD advises limiting use of blow dyers and other heated styling tools in general. If you eventually start to use a blow dryer again, wait until your hair is barely damp to use it. via How To Grow Hair Back After Chemotherapy | LIVESTRONG.COM.

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Gentle Products – The two websites listed below have natural products that might be gentle for your scalp and hair type after chemotherapy. Just click the link provided.

http://www.justnaturalskincare.com/hair-black/-ALL-black-hair.html

http://www.wenhaircare.com/whyitsunique.php

Glossary:
AHLC – American Hair Loss Council
AAD – American Academy of Dermatology

I hope this is helpful 🙂

Beauty Change, Hair Loss Tips, HairBlues POV, In the Know

Disguising Your True Beauty

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How many disguises have you created since you learned that you would be counted among the innumerable women undergoing hair loss? HairBlues has written about it before, and although hair loss by itself is not a life threatening process, it does indeed bring high concern, and anxiety to many.  The stories at the Women’s Hair Loss Project blog brings us further understanding of what it can be like to find yourself in this predicament. At the same time, there are also uplifting stories from women who have managed to get married, have productive lives, and moved on with this challenge in hand.  We hope you will too.

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At HairBlues we feel compassion for those many women who have not found their comfort level yet.  We can only hope they discover that with, or without, their disguises in reality their true beauty is within them.  Surely, others really looking for true beauty will find it in them too.

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The American Hair Loss Association has given some guidelines for attacking hair loss proactively.  Make sure to visit the blog when the opportunity is right for you.

♦ Oral Contraceptives are a common cause of hair loss for many women today. Women who use oral contraceptives need to be sure they are taking a low androgen index pill. Read More…via American Hair Loss Association – Womens Hair Loss.

♦ Women are in a “Catch-22” position when it comes to drug treatments for androgenetic alopecia. While many drugs may work to some degree for some women, doctors are reluctant to prescribe them, and drug companies aren’t exactly falling over themselves to test existing or new drugs specifically for their ability to prevent and treat female pattern baldness. via American Hair Loss Association – Women’s Hair Loss / Treatment.

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I hope this is helpful !

Beauty Change, lace wigs, wigs

Working Your Look with Wigs!

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Some women are so creative when it comes to re-inventing their look.  It’s magical when they put on a wig and enter a room, exuding confidence.  No fear of being different; no fear of being in the room. Rather they work the room!  Poise! Beauty from within!   Be one of these women too with a lace type wig!  Below are descriptions of the various kinds of lace wigs and what some people think about them.

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What Are Lace Wigs?

  • A Lace front wig is a wig that looks like the hair is growing out of your head.
  •  A full lace wig is one that can be parted anywhere on the head and the hair looks like it’s growing out of your scalp.
  • A lace wig is a mesh base cap wig , the mesh will have the same skin tone as your skin and when applied against your skin it will disappear. It is undetectable and the only true system where you can have an exposed hair line.
  •  A full lace wig cannot be parted anywhere unless (it) is freestyle. There is other materials such as mono o poly that also looks as if the hair is growing out of your head. via What is a lace front wig.

♣  For more information on why women like lace wigs  and where to find them click the link:  Nowadays, more and more women like to wear cheap lace front wigs to make them different. …Lace front wigs can help…. via The Reasons Why Women Like Lace Front Wigs? | Latest Lace Wigs Trends and News at Wighomes.com.

♣ And don’t forget to check out the Women’s Hair Loss Project to see what they have to say about wigs: I think what  is pretty fantastic about Milano wigs is their partline, sharp and distinct, they look amazingly real.via Search: lace front wigs | Women’s Hair Loss Project.

I hope this is helpful !

Beauty Change, HairBlues POV

Challenging Ageism & Ego: A Perspective

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Beauty.

When I find myself obsessing about hair loss, I remember that as we age, we are challenged in the process, and by the process itself.  Losing one’s hair is one of several challenges.  But, let’s concede that hair loss, on its own, is not a life threatening challenge.  Cancer.  Heart Disease, Diabetes.  The need for Bone Marrow. Mastectomy.  These are just a few challenges that can intrude into one’s life.  I would bet that you never thought of hair loss in a positive way!

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Well, today think again. Step up to the challenge to move forward by thinking in a  positive way.  See  yourself differently.  Reinvent.  Be grateful that all you have to do is make a beauty change. Or, think of yourself as  a beauty change.

Let’s get busy being grateful!

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Beauty Change, Hair Care, Hair Loss Tips, In the Know

ReCreating Your Look . . .

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Occasionally you may want to ‘recreate‘ your look.  Weaves give you a way to change your ‘outward personality‘, and maybe, the attitude that goes with it! 🙂 In addition, weaves  give you an opportunity to take care of your ‘natural hair’ when it needs some time to repair or refresh from the experiments  you put it through.  🙂

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  HairBlues tries to find the best solutions and suggestions at the various websites, which cover the topics featured on this page.   Check out the tips found for protecting your hair underneath your weave. There were any number of  sites that provided many and fascinating suggestions on what to do during this beauty transition period.  Some of the suggestions I liked are listed below.  As always, for the detailed information provided by each site, click on the link at the end of each topic.

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Del Sandeen  Black Hair Guide had four (4) main suggestions:

(1) Shampoo and Condition, (2) Apply Oils to Your Scalp, (3) Don’t Neglect the Weave (4) Remove it After Six to Eight Weeks.

Read the details why at this link – Take Care of Your Hair Under the Weave.

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Taking Care of Your Hair: Weave Edition

Ladies, we all view our hair as precious. But if you’ve noticed that your hair is damaged, you have two options. 1. To cut it or 2. To save it. A lot of ladies are able to save the damaged hair through weaves or wigs, but remember if you choose this option you MUST take care of your hair underneath it all. via Hair De La Crème: Taking Care of Your Hair: Weave Edition.

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I hope this is helpful 🙂

Beauty Change, Hair Loss Tips

Using Vinegar for Healthy Locks

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Like the Seasons… … … … … We Change

Each of us is having a personal experience with our Locks. At times it’s exasperating, let alone, scary. 😦   For those of you struggling to handle your hair loss, I urge you not to give up. Use this as a time of beauty exploration. Treat yourself to a new look. Experiment. Use a new shampoo, or new hair gel, or new hair comb :).  Change is good!  We are the seasons of the universe.  That’s a beautiful thing.

recreate_yourself

How many of you knew that Vinegar can be used to help you with various hair issues?  Do you know that Vinegar has been used to treat hair loss? Below are some of the things I learned about Vinegar use for your hair and what it can do:

  • Restore shine
  • Clean and improve scalp health
  • Reduce dandruff

Check out for yourself what I found at other websites, and what they had to say about Vinegar. Just click on the link at the end of the summary.

Mix up other natural beauty products with vinegar for healthy hair. Use 1 ounce of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 egg for your next shampoo. Put the ingredients in the blender and then use as a shampoo. Rinse it with a complimentary mixture made from herbs and vinegar. Use 1/4 cup fresh lavender (or other herb you favor) with a quart of boiling water poured over it. When the mixture cools, strain out the lavender and add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Use a cup as a final rinse. Store it in the refrigerator in a closed container.via Is Vinegar Good for Your Hair? | eHow.com.

Vinegar for Hair

Most naturalistas are well versed in the benefits of ACV on natural hair, but if you’re not – allow me to fill you in. Vinegar is a great clarifier, and it makes for clean, shiny hair. This simple recipe from Natural Review lets you know what to do, and this vintage BGLH post breaks down exactly why. I usually just rinse my hair at the end with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (Braggs is a popular brand for that), and also using vinegar on my scalp once a month has helped me deal with flakes in the past.via The Beauty Benefits of Vinegar for Hair and Skin | Afrobella.

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HairBlues  Suggestion:

If you don’t want to mix up a potion all on your own, below is a link to an already prepared product I used. The directions were easy to follow. It left my scalp feeling refreshed, and my hair squeaky clean.  The instructions on the bottle recommend that you use it twice a month.  If you have concerns that your hair will smell like vinegar after giving yourself a treatment,  use a nice smelling conditioner of your choice. 🙂

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Our organic apple cider vinegar rinse slows hair loss and promotes new growth by dissolving excess DHT, unblocking hair follicles and stimulating scalp circulation. The acids and enzymes in this treatment may kill the pathogens associated with Alopecia hair loss. via Natural Herbal Hair Rinse for Hair Loss Remedy,Vinegar Hair Loss.

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I hope this is helpful.  🙂


Bald Head Care, Beauty Change

Un-Lock Your Look with Simply Beautiful Heads

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canstockphoto8521311

I am truly mystified about how it came to be that men who are bald are considered attractive, powerful, virile, etc.   I wondered as I was about to post this week’s suggestions on caring for heads that are bald, whether bald women are considered to be  attractive by the same population who think bald men are attractive.

When I see women who have decided to ‘Un-Lock’  their look by being bald, what comes across to me is that beauty comes in various styles.

This post is for those women who have decided to ‘Un-Lock your look’ by simply going bald & beautiful with shaved heads. I wanted to share with you some of the tips I found that may help you when caring for your ‘Lock-less‘  look.  Make sure to click the link at the end to get a full description on bald head care.

Bald Head Care Tips

Protecting Your Scalp

Your scalp is a part of your skin, but just many times more sensitive. Why? If you are shaving your head for the first time, then it’s the first time your scalp will have to face with pollutants and UV rays that your hair used to block off. It will also dry and burn faster compare to your face because your scalp is not used to our harsh environments. So the best way is to moisturize it.

Use a moisturizer daily that can help protect your shaved head from dryness. There is no specific moisturizer but get one that does not contain alcohol. You can use the same moisturizer that you use for your face.

Block It

One of the most harmful elements to your scalp is UV rays exposure, which can damage your delicate scalp. Considering that your scalp will be the most exposed part to UV rays, getting a good sunscreen is essential.

I hope this is helpful.  See you at the next Post 🙂

Beauty Change

Getting More Hair: Volume!

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If you have  read any of the earlier posts, or to visited the Hair Loss Association, you understand that it is essential to visit with a doctor to find out what your hair loss is and “why” it is. For those of you who have not checked with a doctor (dermatologist, hair loss specialist) the sooner you do so, the better equipped you will be able to manage (not stop or cure) your hair loss. You may want to check out the Women Hair Loss Project  for ideas. You can click  Blogs I Like  link  (underneath the  BLOGROLLl) on this page to go there.   For those of you who have already seen a doctor, now you have an opportunity to take more action. And, you probably have been given some guidance on how to proactively handle this issue.

♥ Hair Loss products constitute a  formidable industry, and thankfully so!  This industry provides us with much ability to explore what our likes and dislikes are, what works, and what doesn’t. In addition, it gives us some ways to experiment with ideas that can help our hair look and feel more healthy.

¿What can you do?

♣ Get  excited about your  ‘Beauty Change‘ . One important example we can think about is how we want to change our look to accommodate what is happening to our hair.  Among other information, HairBlues will bring you reports on products I have used. In addition, HairBlues will find products and websites, which offer creative ways to deal with hair loss. On occasion I will give   links, or web addresses in case you want to research the information given here in more detail.

Here  is this week’s review/report 🙂

♥ Volumizer hair products are a way to give your hair more body, and therefore the appearance of more  thickness.  They make the hair shafts look thicker!

♥ Some Volumizer Hair  Products I like ♥

♥ Philip B.  Peppermint & Avocado Clarifying Volumizing Shampoo.   This product has a somewhat higher price, and it has an aromatherapy aspect to it. The peppermint gives a stimulating feeling to your scalp.  I truly enjoy using the product and I like the way it leaves my hair after use.  I usually mix it with a little water instead of pouring it directly on my scalp; however, you can find more information about this Philip B. shampoo at http://www.Amazon.com _  In the Search field – type in Phillip B.

I also use these volumizing sprays.  I recommend spare use to avoid too much build up on your hair.  The prices are in the upper range, but can last over a period of time.  These products can  also be found at:  Amazon.com, Aveda stores, and Hair Rules products can be found at Target stores, or at their respective sites.

♥ Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing Spray.

♥ Hair Rules Volumizing Hair Spray.   Hair Rules has its own website (http://www.hairrules.com); Amazon.com also has this product.

Other products to check out are:

  • Pantene Volumizing Shampoo with Conditioner.  I have used this product, and it did give my hair more thickness.  I would definitely use the shampoo which has a conditioner.  Some people advise that volumizing shampoos can leave your hair dull, depending on the texture and frequency of use.  This product is lower priced, and received rave reviews from Good Housekeeping.  It can be purchased at Amazon.com or various drugstores.
  • Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner. Aveda has its own stores, but these products  can often be found in drugstores as well as  http://www.Amazon.com – In the Search field –Type in Aveda Pure Abundance Shampoo

The products I’ve mentioned are a good start for exploration; however you should remember these are not magic potions that will cure your hair thinning, or hair loss.  They are just a first step in finding ways to change how your hair looks and discovering how to “manage” your changing circumstance.  Stay positive!

In the meanwhile, you will also want to check out what the research done by Good Housekeeping has to say about volumizing  shampoos, and products.  It’s a fairly thorough report.  Just click the link: http://tinyurl.com/6spklyl[Open in new window]

FYI: I have not solicited nor received any of the products I have reviewed here.  I purchased all the products reviewed here, without any coaxing, suggesting, or communication with the producers/manufacturers.  I hope this is helpful 🙂

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