Correcting your chronically dry hair

Are you tired of dealing with dry, brittle hair? 

Does your hair not retain moisture for at least 3 days? 

Do you have to keep a water bottle on standby, to keep your hair from becoming hard and knotted? 

Does your hair not style well? 

Does it snap and pop when it is dry? 

If one or more of these issues applies to your hair, you have severely dehydrated hair. Dehydrated hair does not hold a style well, retain length well and feels hard all the time. The Coily Queens Regimen is your solution to hydrated, soft, fast growing, easy styling hair. The Coily Queens Regimen is a lifestyle for your hair. Created to help you grow your hair to long lengths. 

Long healthy hair can be yours on the CQR

Before you begin the regimen here are 4 steps to correcting your chronically dry hair

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STEP 1: Product overhaul 

• Only cleanse with a non sulfate shampoo or clay wash
• Stop using any products which contain harsh ingredients
• Purchase products which are as close to natural as you can get
• Use natural cold pressed unrefined oils
• No co washing
• No harsh gels, only botanical gels
• Coily Queen approved brands: Camille Rose, Shea Moisture, Alikay Naturals, Mielle Organics, TGIN, Luv Naturals, Jane Carter Solutions.

STEP 2:  Jump start your hydration by choosing plan A or B

Plan A)   If your issue is  hard, brittle hair, then complete the 3 day intensive moisture treatment.  Steps HERE

Plan B)  If your hair issue is dry hair with excessive tangles and knots,  then complete the 
18 day moisture and lubrication treatment. HERE


STEP 3:  THE DRY HAIR CHECKLIST
Go over the tips on the dry hair checklist and adjust your regimen to fit the list. Read more details about the dry hair checklist HERE.

STEP 4: You are ready to begin the Coily Queens Regimen HERE

What to expect on the CQR

Elimination of single strand knots

No more excessive tangles

Better hair growth

Better styling hair

Faster wash regimens

GET STARTED ON THE CQR PROGRAM TODAY

HERE

Botanical gels a healthier alternative for your wash and goes

Gels are used for defining curls, holding them in place or smoothing down the hair. Commonly used for the wash and go, buns, updos and sometimes a twist out.  You will use gel anytime you want more hold. 

What you apply to the hair strands, will eventually seep into the hair follicles.  Any product which sits on the hair, should be filled with good ingredients. When a gel is filled with a lot of alcohols, proteins, dyes and harsh ingredients. They cause your hair strands to dry out quick, and break. They clog your hair follicles and retard your hair growth. They also lead to major scalp irritations. 

There are many gels which work awesome on coily hair. But the popular ones are filled with lots of bad dyes and ingredients. 

A botanical gel is not harsh like regular gels. They are filled with plant extracts which give the hair hold, without making it crunchy and drying it out. Always expect to pay more for a botanical gel. Consider it the same as buying fresh vegetables versus fast food. 

The most popular gel used by naturals is the eco styler gel. It is cheap and it works for most. However compare the ingredients on your jar of eco styler gel to the ingredients I have listed below for a few botanical gels. 

BIG DIFFERENCE HUH? 
I KNOW?
THE PROOF IS ON THE JAR.

Here are my top pics for botanical gels and custards. 

Kinky Curly Curling Custard (KCCC)
Ingredients:  Water, horsetail, chamomile, nettle and marshmellow, organic aloe vera juice, agave nectar extract, pectin, citric acid, vitamin E, potassium sorbate, natural fragrance.

• Firm, hold no crunch
• Hold lasts up to 3 days.
• Mixes well with most products
• No flaking
• Not sticky, if you do not overuse
• A little goes a long way.
• Lasts a long time. 

Curly Magic curl stimulator
Ingredients:  Aloe Vera, marshmellow root, chamomile, nettle  and horsetail extract, agave nectar extract, Vitamin E, citric acid, Potassium Sorbate, natural fragrance. 

• Aloe Vera based 
• Long lasting definition 
• Firm hold

Order here!

Mielle Organics Honey and Ginger styling gel
Ingredients:  Water, Glycerin, honey, aloe Vera, acrylates polymer, coconut oil, babassu oil, shea butter, maltodextrin/VP polymer, marshmellow extract, Pectin, parfum, Carbomer, Xanthan gum, Dehydroacetic acid, Benzyl alcohol

• Great definition
• Frizz reduction
• 70% organic ingredients

Obia Curl enhancing custard
Ingredients:  Water, Olive oil, grape seed oil, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed wheat protein, egetable glycerin, Gluconolacton and Sodium Benzoate, Xantham gum, Fragrance. 

• PH balanced
• non alchohol
• nourishing oils
• Non drying
• Does not leave hair crunchy. 

Compare the above ingredients with that of cheaper gels such as eco styler gel.

Clarifying your hair

Clarifying the hair involves using a stronger than normal cleanser to remove product build up from your hair.

Order here!

5 REASONS TO CLARIFY:

1.  If you do not wash your hair on a weekly basis

2.  If you use gels on a regular basis

3.  If you use petroleum or silicones, on a regular basis

4.  Clarifying before your protein treatments helps to ensure that the protein adheres to your strands better. 

5.  If your hair was styling good then it begins to not style as well, doing a deep cleansing could help to revive your hair. 

PLEASE NOTE!

Deep cleansers and clarifyers have a higher PH than your regular shampoos. 

Clarifyers cleanse the hair deeply. This includes stripping the hair of its natural oils.

For this reason extra care should be taken to deep condition well after using a clarifying deep cleanser.

Here are my tops pick for clarifying deep cleansers. 

Shea Moisture black soap shampoo

Jane Carters Hydrating Invigorating shampoo

As I am clarifying conditioner

ORDER HERE

Natural choices:

Moroccan red clay *(PH 8)

Bentonite clay *(PH 8-9)

Black soap *(PH 9)

Castile soap *(PH 11)

*the PH is an estimate it depends on how your natural product is created

Conditioning Afro Coily Hair

Shampoo removes, bacteria, dirt and product build up from the hair. Shampoos also remove your natural sebum coating. Therefore you should always follow every shampoo with some type of conditioner to help re-balance your hair.

Conditioners replace moisture removed during cleansing.  Conditioners also add strength, softness, shine  and elasticity to the hair. 

TYPES OF CONDITIONERS:

Product recommendations

Regular conditioning (aka rinse out conditioners or creme rinses)
These are products formulated to apply to the hair and leave on for 2 to 10 minutes, then rinse off. No heat is needed for this type of conditioning. How long you keep the conditioner own will vary per the product. These conditioners are not formulated to be left on the hair, unless the bottle specifies such. It is very important not to use a rinse out conditioner as a leave in. 

Who should use regular conditoner? 

•  Those with healthy hair 
•  No problems with breakage or moisture
•  Those who shampoo  frequently
•  Those who are short on time

Deep conditioning
Usually a moisturizing conditioner you leave on the hair, cover with a plastic cap for 10 to 20 minutes. This will vary depending on the deep conditioner brand you use. Deep conditioners come in the forms of masques or creams. 

When to deep conditon

•  Extra dry hair
•  Hair that is breaking
•  Before heat straightening

Hair treatments
These come in the form of a liquid, cream or lotion. They will address a specific hair need. Treatments usually add strength to the hair in the form of proteins. Some of them can be used alone while others need to be followed up with a moisturizing conditioning treatment

When to do a treatment

• When you have scalp issues
• To add strength to the hair
• Before or after any type of chemical treatment
• Dehydrated hair

Leave in conditioning 
The leave in conditioner is your most important hair product. Afro curly hair requires continuous conditioning. A leave in comes in the form of liquid, cream or lotion. Creamy leave ins are the most moisturizing and the most popular. These are conditioners formulated with ingredients that can be elft on the hair. A leave in conditioner and a moisturizer provide the same function. A good leave in conditioner will also be a great style product for your hair. So it gives you moisture and hold for your style all day. 

When to use a leave in conditioner or moisturizer

• After each shampoo session
• Twice a week for healthy hair
• Daily for damaged or dehydrated hair

How to create better twist outs

The twist out is probably the most popular style for naturals.  No matter your curl pattern, the hunt for the perfect twist out is always on. Some people get lucky the first time they create their twist out. But for most naturals it takes several attempts in order to get a desired twist out style. To perfect it takes even longer. But it does not have to be all trial and error. Here are some very helpful tips to help your achieve your best twist out. 

12 TIPS FOR BETTER TWIST OUTS

1.  Healthy hair styles the best. Work on the health of your hair first before trying to perfect your twist out. This is very important for new naturals. Trying to create great looking styles on hair that does not retain moisture well, can be very deflating to your natural hair joy. 

Need a good regimen to whip your hair into better shape? 
Start today on the Coily Queens Regimen. 

2. Find a great style product. You want a product to give you hold and moisture, without flaking. Start with a style cream. Here are some winners: As I am double butter cream, SM curl enhancing smoothie, Camille Rose Curlaide, Camille Rose Almond Jai butter, Jane Carter's curling curl cream.

3. For better hold combine a style cream with a gel. Be aware of products conflicting with one another and causing white balls. Mix your two products on the back of your hand, to test and see if they ball up and clump. If it does so, on the back of your hand then that combination is not a good one. Try another combo. Good gels for natural hair especially 4C hair: Kinky curly curling custard, Eco olive oil gel, Miss Jessie's Curly Custard.

4. During cold weather, seal your twist out with coconut oil. It will help your hair hold its shape longer. 


5. Instead of single two strand twists, create small to medium flat twists. You get way more volume per flat twist, than you will with the same size section of a regular two strand twist. Your first night sections should be 2 inches by 3 inch sections, flat twisted. 

6. For a fuller look, end your twists with a bantu knot or use a flexi rod. This gives your twist out more flavor and fullness. 

7. Flat twists also give you more stretch, this gives you more hang time.  

8. Gain more hang time, by not using a water based product after the third day of  your twist out. You will need  moisture for day one and two, but if you have healthy hair your should be able to retwist with a non water based product. Here are some suggestions: As I am double butter cream (has water but it still gives you stretch), Regular shea butter.

9. On day one of your twist out, after you have set your hair, seal your hair with a cold water rinse. This will give you great definition. You can also seal with half aloe vera juice and half filtered water. Put mixture in fridge and let it get really cold. The cold and aloe vera helps to flatten the hair cuticle. The gives you more definition and hold. 

10. For more stretch, reduce your product use in half. Less product equals less shrinkage. 

11. Allow your hair to air dry in large braids at least 75%, then create your two strand twists. This will give you way more hang time. 

12. Afro hair is like memory foam. The more you shape it into a style the better it will form that shape. So do not try a style once or twice then become frustrated. Continue to do that style over and over for a few weeks. Each time your hair will twist better and better. You will also find you can create the style faster. 

The right conditioning product for your hair lifestyle

COILY WET SET aka THE WASH AND GO

Your hair lifestyle is that you rock coily wet sets most of the time.  You love your wash and go but you consistently have an issue with product buildup or white balls ruining your wet set. Always apply a leave in conditioner under your gel or hold product, when doing coily wet sets.  Gels can easily dry the hair out and break it. You want the gel to lay on top of the conditioner to protect your hair from breakage.

To avoid product clumps and white particles, choose a liquid leave in conditioner or a lotion type of leave in. Stay away from creamy leave in conditioners, with your coily wet set. The heavier the products the more likely you are to experience white balls forming and ruining your style. In general creams are much heavier than lotions. 

Lotion leave in conditioners :

Karen's Body Beautiful sweet ambrosia leave in

Avo365 leave in conditioner curly

Mielle avocado moisturizing milk

Liquid leave in conditioners:

Jane Carter revitalizing leave in conditioner

Aphogee pro vitamin leave in conditioner

Alikay Naturals lemongrass leave in

TWIST OUTS, BRAID OUTS

For twist out, braid outs and puffs creamy leave ins are the way to go.  To many naturals overdo it with product application. This leads to white particles and buildup on the hair. Use only a little product per section and spend more time smoothing the product evenly through your hair. A little product truly goes a long way. 

Remember the less product you use the less shrinkage you will have. Try to achieve your twist out or braid out with only a creamy leave in conditioner and oil. A good leave in conditioner will function as both a moisture and hold product. 

Products which condition and set the hair:

Shea Moisture curl enhancing smoothie

Qhemet Biologics amla heavy cream

Jane Carter curl cream

HEAT STRAIGHTENING 

When you press or flat iron your hair, you want as much body as you can achieve. No one wants weighed down straight hair. The less heavy products you use the least likely you will have weighed down hair. You want your hair protected and moisturized without being weighed down. To have more body, use a liquid leave in conditioner under your heat protectant. 

Liquid leave in conditioner recommendations

Aphogee pro vitamin leave in

Infusion 23 pro vitamin leave in hair treatment

The best conditioning ingredient for 4C hair or dry hair

Does your hair feel hard?

Dry or brittle? Knots?

Does your hair not hold moisture all day?

If any of these are your hair issues, then you should use products high in glycerin.

Pillow soft twist outs!

Glycerin is a super softener and humectant.

Nothing makes your hair as soft as glycerin.

Glycerin is the best softener, conditioner and detangler for coily hair. Look for glycerin in the top 5 ingredients. Glycerin is okay to use all year round, but it does not mix well with flat ironing.  

A leave in conditioner is any product that contains ingredients which can be left on the hair and provides conditioning to your hair. 

It does not have to be labeled as a "leave in" conditioner. 

TOP GLYCERIN BASED HAIR PRODUCTS 

1. Coily Custard, by Miss Jessie's

2. SCURL Curl activator

3. CQR-Super Detangler, Conditioner

If you rather make a completely natural glycerin leave in, her is an awesome recipe.

This can be used as a detangler and a leave in conditioner

4. Cantu curl activator

5. Shea Moisture curl enhancing smoothie

CONS:

When using the Scurl or Cantu curl activator, you might find you need to use more of your hold product. The high glycerin content in these products tend to make the hair so soft, that it does not hold a style well. 

If you intend to heat straighten or roller set your hair do not use the scurl product or the cantu curl activator. A large amount of glycerin does not work well with flat irons. It also does not set the hair very well and can make it gummy when mixed with heat from a flat iron. 

Products every natural queen should invest in

Now that you have awaken to the natural beauty of your coily hair, watch where you spend your money. Invest in black owned products to take care of your black owned hair. 

1. Get your shea butter from a black owned business. Almost every naturals uses pure shea butter. When you invest in your shea butter for your company, mixes or personal use, buy from a black owned company. 

Nikkis Naturals has a wide variety of shea butter for retail and wholesale.
http://www.nikkisnaturalshb.com/

2. Purchase children's books on natural hair. Black children need to see their reflection in books. Inspire them!
Doll and book

3.  A leave in conditioner or moisturizer from a black owned hair company
Here are a few black owned natural hair products:
Shea moisture
Terra veda organics
Taliah Waajid
Alikay naturals
Mielle
Luv naturals

The Fabulous Toni Wig! Order here

4. Natural looking hair extensions from a black owned business. For those who wear wigs or extensions instead of purchasing a silky lacefront, purchase extensions that glorify your natural hair from a black owned business. 
Two of the best companies for Natural Wigs: 
Natural wigs!
Fingercomber.com

5.  At least one good head wrap, bonnet, or hat from a black owned company
Natural Sis bonnets, scarfs, and hats
Slaps (satin lines caps)

Reviving your hair

HAS THE SUMMER HEAT BEEN TOUGH ON YOUR HAIR?

DOES YOUR HAIR NOT STYLE AS WELL AS IT USE TO?

HAS IT BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE YOU HAVE TRIMMED YOUR ENDS?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then it is time for CoilyQueens Hair Rejuvenation Therapy.

TIME TO REVIVE YOUR HAIR!!!

CQ HAIR REJUVENATION THERAPY CONSISTS OF 3 PARTS

Supplies needed:
Clarifying shampoo
Deep conditioner
Protein treatment
Hair cutting shears

1.  CLARIFY: It is very beneficial to clarify the hair of all product. We all need a deep cleanse every now and then. We love showers but every now and then you want to sit in the tub for a nice deep soak and cleanse. Well think of your hair in the same way. Clarifying will remove any hard to remove product. This will enable your deep conditioners and products to work better. Your protein treatments stick to the hair better. You will find that your hair styles better after a deep cleansing. Enhance your cleansers with 1 tablespoon of ACV to the amount of shampoo you plan to use. 

    TOP DEEP CLEANSERS

• As I am clarifyer
• Moptop mavin clarifyer
• Shea Moisture Black Soap Shampoo

DO NOT CLARIFY WITH BAKING SODA EVER!
BAKING SODA IS ABRASIVE AND DAMAGING TO THE HAIR CUTICLE!

2.  TRIM: Trim at least 1/2 inch or more off of your ends. The ends are the oldest part of your hair. Your ends will looks better and grow better if you keep a regular trim schedule. Styling and manipulation leaves the ends frayed and sometimes they split. Regular trims help to combat the manipulation and old ends. 

3.  PROTECT:   If you have not kept up regular protein treatments this is the best time to protein treat the hair. You want to use a good quality protein, that adheres to the hair and makes it stronger. Using protein in the right way will help you grow your hair to waist length and more. CHOOSING THE RIGHT PROTEIN TREATMENT

THE CQ HAIR REJUVENATION THERAPY PROCESS

• First clarify your hair with one of the recommended cleansers. Cleanse using the two lather shampoo process.
• Protein treat your hair according to the product directions
• Deep condition the hair
• Two strand twist the hair in medium sections. Find your thin frayed ends on each twist, trim those with cutting shears for the hair. Take your time this process is really simple.
• Now your hair is deep cleansed, strengthened, conditioned and trimmed. You should notice that your hair styles much better. Your hair has more sheen, softness, strength and life.
• Mark your calendar and repeat again in 4 months. 

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.

The top 7 leave in conditioners for very dry hair

When your hair is dry, brittle, full of knots you need to stop applying cheap ingredients on it. Give your body good clean products to nourish and heal it and not just cover up issues. It is worth it to pay a few dollars more for better ingredients, than to suffer continued setbacks.  

What defines a good quality leave in conditioner or moisturizer?

---Look for products that contain plant extracts, organic butters and oils. You want those listed in the first 7 ingredients. Look for words which are easy to pronounce. Read the label, you do want a few of the ingredients to be certified organic that is a plus. 

ALL LISTED PRODUCTS CAN BE FOUND AT THE BEAUTY SUPPLY STORE, CVS, OR TARGET. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF QHEMET BIOLOGICS, YOU CAN FIND IT AT YOUR LOCAL HEALTHFOOD STORE OR AMAZON.COM 

Great hair begins with great ingredients.

1. Karen's body beautiful sweet ambrosia leave in (thin hair)
First 7 ingredients: Purified water, Jojoba, Avocado and Coconut oils, Vegetable wax, panthenol, Arnica. 

This leave in performs as a styler also. It works great for moderately dry hair. For those who prefer a lotion and not a heavy cream product. Great for thin hair. Nourishing but lightweight.

2. Shea Moisture curl smoothie
First 7 ingredients: Deionized water, shea butter, coconut oil, Macadamia seed oil, mango seed butter,  Avocado, Glycerin.

Full of aloe vera and silk proteins. The smoothie is a popular winner. A thick creamy leave in which a little goes a long way. Great definition and hold, for your twist outs. Great for dry brittle hair and breakage. 

3. Shea Moisture JBCO leave in conditoner
First 7 ingredients: Water, shea butter, coconut oil, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, behentrimonium chloride.

Creamy conditioner and style product. You get hold, definition and strengthening from one product. Awesome for dry hair and breakage. 

4. Shea Moisture style milk
First 7 ingredients: Deionized water, coconut oil, sugar starch, silk protein, essential oil blend, Neem seed oil, Caprylyl Gycol.

Hydrates and protects your hair from breakage. Good for moderately dry hair. Works great to set and condition your twist out styles. 

5. CQ Glorious leave in  (DIY)

6. Qhemet biologics amla heavy cream
First 7 ingredients: Castor oil, Olive oil blend, Distilled Water, Amla extract, Brahmi extract, Aloe Africana, MSM

100% Vegetarian product great for dry brittle hair. Worth the price if  you have very dry hair. Filled with aloe, glycerin, African castor oil, olive oil. This rich cream receives RAVE reviews from the natural community. 

7. Jane Carter curling cream

First 7 ingredients: Water, Shea Butter, Glycerin, Avocado, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Guar Gum.

Great coil definition, firm but soft hold. Awesome shine and great for wash and go hair also. Incredible shine and elongates tight curls.  Works well on extra dry hair and type 4 hair.  YOU MUST TRY THIS ONE!