Common Hair Questions

QUESTION: How do you keep your hair moisturized, while protective styling with braids and weaves???


 Answer: Before you receive any braid service you should prep your hair, by moisturizing and strengthening it before the braid application. This includes braids and sew in weaves. As you get your hair braided, coat each piece of your hair with a good quality shea butter. The waxy texture of the shea butter will keep your real hair from drying out under the braids. The shea butter will stay on your hair even through shampooing, mainly because the shampoo is unable to reach all of your real hair because the extensions lay on top of it. At least 3 times a week you want to spray your braids with a conditioning braid spray, this can be store brought or you can make one using your favorite leave in conditioner. Daily apply a natural oil to your scalp, this keeps your scalp lubricated. Remember to not over do it with the oil application. You can use extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil or coconut oil. Massage oil into scalp daily, start with 1/2 tablespoon, pour onto a flat dish or bowl, dip your fingers in and apply it to your scalp. Do not apply oil using an applicator bottle, because most of the time you use to much. Measure it out so you can see how much you are using. Spread the oil with your fingertips throughout the scalp. The more you spread the oil the less you will need. Read here for more details on how to take care of your hair while in braids or weaves, learn the Braid, Retain and Grow Method.

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QUESTION:  How does one elongate a style while keeping it moisture & reduce shrinkage?

Answer: Having a good hair care regimen that keeps your hair  hydrated will ensure that 9 times out of 10 your styles come out right. Well moisturized hydrated hair styles the best. Always rinse your deep conditioner out with cold water, this ensures that your hair cuticle is lays flat.  When your hair cuticles lay flat, that traps in moisture and you do not have to apply additional moisturizer daily. Your twist outs and other loose styles automatically hang longer when you are not adding a water based product to your hair daily.

Day one of your twist out, use a "water based" leave in conditioner.  Day two if you need more conditioning apply a "non-water based" conditioner to your hair. This will condition and lubricate your hair without causing more shrinkage because there is no water in the product. To add more elongation to your twist out re-twist hair in medium to large sections then use hair bands to add elongation to the roots of your twists. You can use any type of band that does not cause breakage and is easy to remove.
 
Applying all of these changes to your style will give you 25% more elongation. How long the affects last largely depends on the weather. 
Non water based conditioner stylers
  • Unrefined raw shea butter
  • unrefined mango butter
  • Green Magic growth creme
Green Magic growth creme by Liquid Gold. The green magic is amazing it strengthens your hair and keeps it moisturized.
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Below is a letter I received:
Good morning ,or Good afternoon Miss Vee would like to ask you a question on hair care I have a thinning, short area on my crown top of my head my mom said it is my nerve area when I was wearing perm, that area has always been itchy, dry irritable am in my 30s I've been away from the perm at least 12 started with a big chop in 2000 the area is still here much bigger( also there was no lost of hair or thinning while having a perm ) Thanks in advance!

 My response:
You could have some scar tissues under your scalp from previous relaxers. This happens to some black women as they age. When we stop relaxing we do not stop the effects it has on our health. I have two recommendations: 1. See a dermatologist asap and tell them everything and request a biopsy before they start treatment.2. Try a sulfur based product to treat the area for 5 to 8 weeks. You can choose MTG sulfur mix by shapelys or liquid gold sulfur growth oil. Both of these must be ordered off the internet. 
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Tracey Smith asks: I have been natural for 4 years. My hair is very thick, and I have recently started to use a straightening comb to make it straight and manageable. I am wondering if you recommend any additional treatments and conditioners so that I don't cause any heat damage.
My answer:
I recommend the use of a silicone based heat protectant and increased deep conditioning BEFORE you press your hair. Heat damage comes from using heat to high or using heat on hair that is not properly hydrated. So condition, condition, condition days or weeks before you use harsh heat.
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Question:  It seems after I wash, deep condition, leave in and put a cream and oil in my hair, my hair dries out the next day. Slow growth as well. My daughters hair grew but mine is taking a long time and its been 2 years.
Answer:   
1.  Check the PH of your cleanser, it should be b/n 4.5 and 5.5. Anything over 5.5 you should stop using for now.
2.  What type of leave in conditioner are you using? Be sure it is a good one. The ones with the least amount of ingredients are usually the best ones. Here is a list of suggested leave in conditioners.
3. Do a ACV rinse. After you rinse out your deep conditioner, pour a apple cider vinegar rinse over your hair and leave for 3 minutes then rinse with cold water. While your hair is still soaking wet apply your leave in conditioner. Then using a cotton t-shirt or a mono fiber towel lightly blot your hair. Then proceed with your style. You may need to add some more leave in when you style your hair, because some may drip off with the water and blotting.
4. Follow your leave in conditioner with coconut oil, avocado oil or castor oil. 
5. Concerning your slow hair growth. Once you take the steps to get your hair hydrated and retaining moisture, you will then retain more length. So your hair will grow longer. Dry hair breaks off, most moisturized hair does not. How to grow your hair longer and stronger.

ACV Rinse Recipe:
1/4 cup of organic apple cider vinegar
2 cups of bottled water or filtered water 
Mix well, apply all to hair, leave on for 3 minutes then rinse with cold or cool water.









22 comments:

  1. I have tried and used the organic apple cider rinse for extreme hair shedding and it really do work. It has stopped my hair from shedding to very little and I will consider it less than normal!!!! It really works and the oil recipes works to. I thank God for you and the wonderful information you share to help so many people! You are God sent! May God continue to bless you in all that you do in Jesus Name Happyhairlady -- Sugarland TX Jan. 29, 2014

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  2. Thank youbfor the great website! Can I do an ACV rinse while wearing a sew-in? My hair is natural.

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  3. Can you follow your leave in with EVOO or you have to use Coconut oil, Avocado oil or castor oil as above. (CCO and AO are very expensive here in my country and Castor Oil causes a lot of build up on my hair (like lints, fuzz and etc. from the environment)).

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    1. Yes you can use EVOO over your leave in conditioner. Double check your castor oil make sure it is pure cold pressed castor oil. Because it should not attract dust or lint easily. Also do not apply a lot a little oil goes a long way.

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  4. Will the tips on this website be helpful for transitioners? I do not know what my hair type is as of yet

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    1. Yes the tips here can be used for transitioners and knowing your hair type as far as curl pattern is not necessary in order to care for your hair.

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  5. hi miss Vee, when are the dates for trimming hair for growth and thickness in April??

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    Replies
    1. Those dates should be up by this evening so check back. Thank you so much for reading my blog.

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  6. :) can I trim on the 7th for growth and on the 10th for thickness, or is any of the dates good for both?

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  7. Hi! I have a question:
    I just got my ph test strips and my tap water is alkaline..it's a 10ph! Now, I've made my shampoo and tested it and it's at a 4.5-5ph. My rinsing conditioner is 7ph.
    The aloe spritz I made for daily moisturizing is also at 4.5-5ph and I've also made an acv rinse at 4.5ph. I had to add acv to the homemade shampoo, aloe spritz and my leave in..is this too much acv for hair and if you had to cut out one product from the above, what would it be?
    Homemade shampoo w/half tsp acv = 4.5-5ph
    Aloe spritz w/1tsp acv = 4.5ph
    acv rinse made with 4tsp acv= 4.5ph
    And lastly, I'm so confused as to how to open the cuticles and then close them. I would think that the simple act of wetting my hair for washing will take it way up, then using the shampoo will bring it back down, then using a conditioner will open it again, then adding acv rinse or leave in will bring it back down to 4.5-5ph.
    I think that if I just washed it, conditioned it, spritz it with the aloe and then add the leave in would be the correct order in which to use all those products. If you were using these products, which ones would you use and how (in what order)?
    I hope this made sense! LOL

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  8. Also, I read on a board where you said that the last thing to touch your hair should be ph balanced. And then, I don't even know at what step to add my oils/butters with all this ph balanced stuff. Can you help?

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  9. My hair is so thin because of wrong cut and hair dye..Can you help me about the right time to make my hair fuller and thicker..With love from Turkey!

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  10. R Williams June 12, 2014 at 1:27AM
    I did not see a posting for cutting hair by the new moon for this month of June. Will you be posting it soon. And I subscribed to your blog to receive the dates and I have not receive any information. Please keep me informed, because you are the best! My hair have improved so much since reading your information and applying it. Please reply.

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  11. Hi Vee! I'm trying to find the directions for your Vee's Sauna Method. Please help. I love your website and thanks so much for all of your wonderful advice!!

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    Replies
    1. http://www.coilyqueensrock.com/2013/04/baggying-101.html

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  12. When following the regimen to correct my hair porosity, do I use any oils?

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  13. Hi Vee! I transitioned for 9 months while simultaneously clipping my heat damaged hair. When I became fully natural my curls were defined and I would often finger coil my hair. Now 6 months later my curls have no definition and it seems as if my hair is straightening! Is there something missing from my regiment? Please help

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  14. My hair grows like crazy but I never see curls is that normal or not and what should I do to get a curl pattern?

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  15. Would the ACV rinse do another cleansing while closing the hair cuticle? I've always use ACV as a clarifier, so I'm very interested.

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  16. I was also wondering do you provide one-on-one guidance/counseling for hair care? If so, how would I go about setting that up?

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    Replies
    1. Yes I do go here for more information and to sign up. http://www.coilyqueensrock.com/2015/09/your-own-personal-hair-growth-coach.html

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