PH balancers for moisture retention and better hair growth

Keeping the hair in the proper pH balance is an essential part to maintaining healthy hair. Hair is acidic with an average pH around 3.7. Most shampoos have a pH between 7 and 9. The wash process should always consist of cleansing and conditioning. Conditioners help to restore the pH to the hair, after cleansing. 

But conditioning is not enough!

On top of  conditioning, the Coily Queens Regimen uses pH balancers.  Each wash process is completed by applying a pH balancer to the hair. The program has two pH balancers: ACV rinses and Aloe Vera spritz.

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

After rinsing DC from hair, pour all over hair, leave on for 3 minutes, and rinse with cool water.

Pure Aloe Vera Leaf

ALOE SPRITZER: Apply to hair after you rinse out your deep conditioner. Leave on hair, then add your leave in conditioner or moisturizer

Both of these are done at the end of your shampoo process. Both have great benefits. I recommend using them both. Simply alternating each wash routine. Both of these treatments are cheap. But ACV is the cheapest of the duo.

ACV Rinse

Is a rinse out treatment

Use once a week only

Helps the hair cuticle to lay flatter, so hair holds moisture longer and has more shine.

Helps growth by removing bacteria and fungus.

Be sure the pH is a 4.

Aloe Vera Spritzer

A leave in treatment

Use daily if desired

Helps hair cuticle to lay flatter, thus creating smooth twist outs, shine and hair holds moisture longer. 

See how to increase hair growth with aloe Vera leaf HERE

The Coily Queen shampoo method for hydration

The Coily Queens Regimen is a lifestyle program for growing coily hair long and healthy. The regimen has a specific way of cleansing and conditioning. This is to ensure that your hair receives proper hydration. 

Shampoo day is more than just cleansing the hair of germs. It is also the way to hydrate the hair. Properly hydrated hair creates the best twist outs, braid outs and wet sets. Hydrated hair also helps you retain the most length. If your hair root is alive, this regimen will reap you mid back length, waist length and up to hip length hair. 

This process should be used in combination with the rest of the Coily Queens program, in order to achieve long, healthy hair. 

Products needed

A non sulphate shampoo

Organic apple cider vinegar

Deep conditioner

A natural leave in conditioner

Step one: Allow medium temp water to run over hair for 1 to 3 minutes. With hair under water massage your scalp, then smooth fingers over your hair in a downward motion. Saturate hair well.

Shampoo hair is big twists, if  you have excessive tangles

JOIN THE BEST HAIR GROWTH CHALLENGE AVAILABLE. SIGN UP NOW!

Step two:  Apply shampoo to hair and cleanse. Cleanse hair in sections. Hold the ends of each section as you massage the scalp with the other hand. Rinse lather again and rinse. 

IF YOU NEED TO DO ANY TYPE OF TREATMENT INSERT IT AT THIS STEP

Step three: Deep condition or condition hair. Sit under a heating cap, hooded dryer or steamer. Rinse out conditioner with cool or room temp water. (Do not towel dry or remove water)

Step four:  Fully saturate hair with all of ACV rinse.  Let it sit on hair for 3 minutes, then rinse with cool water. (Do not towel dry or remove water)

Sign up HERE

ACV can be used once a week
You can substitute ACV with the aloe Vera spritz, if desired. 

Step five:  With hair still soaking wet apply your natural leave in conditioner. Follow with the rest of your style products, oil scalp and sealant

CQ recommended sealants

Jojoba oil

Kuza hemp grease

Avocado oil

Shea Butter

Do not do this

Your natural hair journey may be filled with a few errors, but these should not be one of them. 

UNNECESSARY MISTAKES LOTS OF NATURALS MAKE

1.  Purchasing a product, then asking the purpose of the product.  You want to know the benefits of any product before you invest in it. Without knowing the benefits how do you know if it is necessary for your hair regimen?  Lots of naturals purchase apple cider vinegar, without knowing its benefits. 

2. Not following the directions on the products you buy. A product comes with instructions so that you get the complete benefits from the product. Following the product instructions ensures you reap the full benefits.  At least once a week I will see someone ask how to use the aphogee 2 step treatment, they have recently purchased. The treatment comes with instructions. Always best to follow the manufacturers instructions first. 

3. Rotating back and forth between your real hair and fake hair. Doing this early in your natural hair journey will only keep your hair dehydrated. Spend your first year as a natural getting to know your hair. Consistently working a healthy hair care regimen. Get your hair to a healthy hydrated state, then you can do hair extensions. 

Braid Retain and Grow method

When your hair is healthy enough for extensions, be sure to follow a regimen for extensions, such as Braid, Retain and Grow by Vee. Following this regimen will help your grow more hair and eliminate breakage from your extensions. 

Apple cider vinegar for your hair

Organic apple cider vinegar, aka ACV, is an excellent health and beauty aide. Be sure to purchase organic. ACV is a very important item to always keep in stock.  

1. Apple cider vinegar contains potassium. Potassium is great for preventing hair loss.

2.  It is anti bacteria and anti fungal.It prevents fungus from taking residence on your scalp.  It contains acetic acid, which kills off fungus and bacteria. Scalp fungus is a top cause of hair loss. You may or may not have symptoms. Read more about fungus HERE. 

3.  The low PH of ACV causes the hair cuticle to lay flatter. This enables the hair to retain moisture for longer periods.  When the hair cuticle lays flat your hair will have more vibrancy and shine. 

4. Because ACV makes the hair cuticle lay flatter, you will notice that detangling is a lot easier. You should also notice a reduction in single strand knots. 


5.  When the ACV hits the scalp it stimulate better blood circulation. This increases your hair growth. 

HOW TO BENEFIT FROM ACV

Organic ACV rinse
Mix 1/4 cup of organic ACV with 2 cups of filtered water. This creates a final rinse to use on your hair. On shampoo day after you rinse out your deep conditioner, pour this rinse over your hair.  Use it all and let it sit on hair 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse out with cool water. With soaking wet hair, apply your leave in conditioner.  

Upgrade your shampoo
Add one tablespoon to 1/4 cup of your shampoo. The ACV lowers the PH of the shampoo and helps the shampoo to work better. With this combination you will notice an immediate difference in the vibrancy of your hair and less tangles. 

Anti bacterial growth braid spray
1 tablespoon of organic ACV
7 ounces of water
1 tsp tea tree oil
1 tsp of lavender oil
Use as a braid spray, to keep bacteria from accumulating on your scalp when wearing braids. 

Cleansing your hair with black soap

If commercial shampoos are giving your hair a hard time, you can easily make your own natural shampoo. Pure Black soap makes a great natural shampoo base. Black soap is made from a combination of coco pod ashes, plantain skin ashes, palm oil, tea tree oil or shea butter. Makers use a different combinations of those ingredients. 

Purchase original black soap HERE

It is soft, melts faster than traditional soap and is brownish in color.    

Black soap is great for deep cleansing of your hair and body. Great at removing product buildup and dandruff. Although it is all natural, it is not a mild cleanser. I would recommend using it nor more than once per week in the place of your commercial shampoos.  

PLUS: COCONUT MILK
ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

For these recipes I used liquid blacks soap, for convenience. You can purchase original black soap and shave off pieces and make your own liquid black soap, if you prefer. 

THREE NATURAL BLACK SOAP SHAMPOOS

Each maker creates their black soap in a different way. Just because it says "black soap" does not mean it is pure. Read your labels. 

Great deal on whole black soap or liquid black soap>>> HERE

Must have hair and skin products.

These are products which I always keep in my cabinets. Each one has multiple benefits and uses. These are products I can always count on to deliver results.

ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

• Mix 1tbsp + honey + 6 ounces of warm water, take at the first sign of a cold, 3 times a day. 
• Mix 1/4 cup + 2 cups of filtered water, pour over hair after you have washed and deep conditioned your hair. Gives you shines and locks in moisture.
• One tablespoon + 1/2 cup of filtered water, use as a facial astringent after cleansing. Reduces shine, heals bumps and clears up dark spots faster.

PURE ALOE VERA LEAF GEL

• Apply directly to area for burns, inflamed, chapped or irritated skin. 
• Add 3 to 7 drops of pure tea tree oil to 1/2 cup of aloe vera gel, apply to scalp and massage in. This mix increases hair growth by healing the scalp of bacteria.
• Smooth over face after cleansing. Improves skin texture and tone. Helps makeup go on better. Soothes irritated skin.

BAKING SODA

• Brush teeth daily to whiten
• Mix with your face cleanser to create an exfoliator.
• Use as a laxative

PURE TEA TREE OIL

• Add 3 drops to your shampoo for irritated scalp.
• Mix one tablespoon of aloe vera gel with 3 drops of tea tree oil. Apply to your scalp. Growth, sore scalp, itchy scalp and scabs. 
• Mix 1tablespoon of tea tree oil + 5 ounces of filtered water. Use as a face toner for acne. 

Straightening 4C tightly coily hair

This regimen is an important  key to heat straightening tightly coily hair and reducing your chances of heat damage. 

The following regimen should be done 3 weeks prior to flat ironing. 

Follow these steps for 3 weeks prior to heat straightening your hair. 

Notice you apply the aphogee 2 step treatment day 19, this is 3 days before your flat ironing day.

Be sure what you do on what day. The steps are very specific.

PRODUCTS NEEDED BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

Clarifying or deep cleansing shampoo

Moisturizing non sulfate shampoo

Aphogee 2 step treatment

Moisturizing deep conditoner

Leave in conditioner

Organic Apple cider vinegar

Silicone heat protectant

Anti humectant

Ceramic flat iron

Seamless comb

DAY 22 STEP BY STEP:

Step one) Shampoo hair with a shampoo that has a PH of  6.0-7.0.

Step two) Deep condition with a moisturizing conditioner using heat for 20 minutes.

Step three) Apply a protein spray to your hair strands to protect them from the excessive heat.

Step four) Apply a good leave in conditioner

Step five) Braid hair into large sections and allow your hair to air dry. Do not blow dry this is a good way to get heat damage by applying double heat. Air dry only.

Step six) Apply more leave in conditioner then apply heat protection that contains silicones. Silicones help protect your hair from heat  straightening.  Allow the product to air dry on hair before you flat iron or press your hair.

Step seven)  To reduce the chances of heat damage keep heat tool between 350 and 400 degrees.
Do not do more than 3 passes per section.

Step eight)  The flat iron
Detangle hair with seamless comb
Gently smooth flat iron over small section of hair
Comb through section with seamless comb again. (repeat if needed)
The next pass uses the comb chase method.
Your hair should be straight using this method.
If not then make your section smaller the next time.

After you complete each section smooth your fingers or comb through section to see if hair breaks or falls out. If it does then you are using to high of heat, reduce heat for next heat pass.

Flat iron 2014

Smooth a little grease or anti humectant over each section as you finish it. This will help keep hair from reverting so quickly. Rolling the hair with a large roller will also help.

Use after heat straightening. Helps to prevent reversion  and gives amazing sheen. 

THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT HEAT STRAIGHTENING

Your flat ironed hair should feel soft and not break easily. 
If your hair feels rough or hard, then the products you use are not good enough for your hair.
Search for better products to give you more moisture.
Also examine how healthy your hair is before you heat straighten.
Never heat straighten dehydrated damaged hair.

The top 5 best products for your hair!

1. Best leave in conditioner

Great for all hair types, long lasting,  easily available at most stores. 

2. Best cleanser

CQ CLAY WASH (DIY)
Apply to hair
Cover with a plastic cap
1 to 3 hours
Rinse

  

3. Best sealant

4. Best deep conditioner

5. Best growth oil

Liquid Gold sulfur oil available online only, see link in right hand column to order.

How to reduce heat damage when straightening your Afro hair.

Heat straightening, dehydrated hair is one of the top reasons, naturals get heat damage. Never ever straighten your hair, if you are having frequent dry hair issues. Consistently dry hair is vulnerable to damage. Hydrate and condition your hair 3 weeks prior to flat ironing or pressing your hair. Simply deep conditioning your hair the day before you plan to heat straighten is not enough protection. 

There is always a risk of  heat damage, when you chose to flat iron or press your hair. Your chances increase when you receive a professional flat iron or straightening. Why? Because the higher the heat the more likely the damage. Professional heat tools are more effective but also harsher on the hair. The stylist's job is to get your hair straight and give you a style which will last a week or more. Remember this when you decide to get a professional straightening. 

What about heat protectants? 

You should invest in a silicone based heat protectant. When  using harsh heat on your hair, that is not the time to use natural  heat protectants. You want to use a product that will give you the most protection. Silicones stick to the hair and help to protect the hair during the heat straightening. 

REGIMEN TO REDUCE HEAT DAMAGE FROM HEAT STRAIGHTENING

Start this regimen 3 weeks prior to flat ironing or pressing your hair

HYDRATE! (CLEANSING AND CONDITIONING)

WEEK ONE:

Day one

Deep cleanse your hair

Deep condition

ACV rinse

Day five

Cleanse

Deep condition

ACV rinse

WEEK TWO:

Day eight

Cleanse

Deep condition

ACV rinse

Day twelve

Cleanse 

Deep condition

STRENGTHEN (APHOGEE 2 STEP)

WEEK THREE

Day fifteen

Cleanse 

GOOD PROTEIN TREATMENT 
(such as aphogee 2 step)

Deep condition 

ACV rinse

Day nineteen

Cleanse

Deep condition

ACV rinse

PROTECT 
(SILICONE HEAT PROTECTANT)

WEEK FOUR: 

Day 22

Cleanse

Deep condition 

Apply silicone based heat protectant 
(ORS heat protectant serum is good)

YOU ARE NOW READY TO HEAT STRAIGHTEN YOUR HAIR

More heat straightening tips:

Take your time

Untangle your hair well 

Use the comb chase method (seamless comb)

Part in small sections

Use a ceramic flat iron

Keep temp below 410 degrees

Do not skip the silicone protectant

Complete only 1 or 2 heat passes

PLEASE SHARE YOUR FAVE HEAT PROTECTANT BELOW.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HEAT.

Detangling Afro coily hair

Tangles are the number one complaint of those with Afro coily hair. When you first go natural it is not uncommon to spend a whole hour untangling your hair. Having to spend so long on detangling, makes black women, not want to wash or restyle their hair often. However keeping the hair washed on a regular basis is the key to growing your hair to great lengths and creating great styles. This is the reason you want to greatly reduce your detangling time. The healthier your hair is, the easier it is to untangle. It is possible to untangle your hair in less than 15 minutes, even with tight coils and long length. 

Following the CoilyQueens Regimen enables me to untangle my hair in 15 minutes. My shampoo time has been reduced by 70%

1. Never untangle hair when soaking wet
Always untangle hair while damp not while soaking wet.  Although soaking wet hair is soft and very flexible it is weak due to being filled with water. Dampen your hair with conditioner or a light mist of water. Let it sit on hair for 3 minutes, then gently untangle with your fingers. 

2. If you want to retain long lengths untangle hair with your fingers. No combs!
If you keep your hair lubricated with a natural oil daily you will find finger combing really easy to do. The most important thing to know when finger combing is to take small sections. Do not treat it the same nor expect the same results compared to using a comb. In the beginning it will take you twice as long to finger comb compared to using a comb or brush. Soften hair with a conditioner, then untangle in small sections and you will be successful with finger combing. The more you do it the faster it will go!


3. Never detangle with a brush, tangle teaser or any product like it. 
If you watch youtube you will see many naturals show demos  of untangling their hair using the very popular denman brush. Do not adopt this trend! Brushing the hair, weakens the hair cuticle over time. This makes the hair high porosity and susceptible to damage. The problem is that the damage does not happen quickly. It takes awhile for you to see the damage. Even so, know that each time you rake that brush through your hair you are weakening some of your protein bonds. When you rake it through soaking wet hair it is even worst. If you want to retain length, keep the brush out of your regimen. Fingers only!

4. Removing heavy tangles, matted hair and knots!
If you do not consistently follow a healthy hair regimen you can easily find your hair in a situation in which it will knot up and mat badly. You will get massive tangles which overwhelm you. Do not panic and start cutting or ripping out your hair. Remember people have untangled a full head of dread locs, so mostly likely your tangles can be removed with no damage.

Cold pressed castor oil

Solution #1: Mix 1 tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar, with 1 cup of filtered water, plus 2 tablespoons of grape seed oil. Put mix in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray hair down really good, using 3/4 cups of the mixture. Cover with a plastic cap for one hour. Go calm down, get some tea and take some deep breathes. After one hour untanlge hair using very small sections and take your time. Use the remaining 1/4 cup of your mixture to keep hair damp as you untangle it.  

Solution #2: Mix 2 tablespoons of castor oil + 1 tablespoon of coconut oil + 1/4 cup or more of a thick conditioner of your choice. Cover with a -plastic conditioning cap + scarf overnight. If you do not have time for an overnight treatment. do it for 3 hours. If you do the treatment overnight your tangles will melt in the morning.

Untangle hair before you start the shampoo process always.