Donna's Blog

Have you ever tried sweet potatoes for your natural hair? Sweet potatoes have a rich source of iron, copper, and beta-carotene which are all amazing for your hair. Beta-carotene aids cell growth, it also prevents hair thinning, and can even help to reduce the dullness of your hair.  In today's blog post we are sharing some of the amazing benefits of sweet potatoes. Sweet Potatoes Are Iron-Rich Iron is vital in making red blood cells for your body. These cells carry oxygen throughout your body. When you are deficient or lack iron it can cause: hair loss tiredness and lack of energy shortness of breath  Sweet Potatoes Have Copper In Them Copper is a great force against hair loss.  Sweet Potatoes Are High In Beta-Carotene Beta-carotene is found in plants and fruits like your favorite carrots and oranges. This is converted into vitamin A inside your body. Vitamin A is vital and necessary to help with cell renewal and growth.  A deficiency in Vitamin A can lead to an unhealthy scalp which can cause dandruff and dry hair which can lead to breakage. Sweet Potatoes Contain Vitamin C Vitamin C is great for collagen production and helps to improve your immune system. A poor immune system can lead to hair loss. Did you know sweet potatoes had all of these healthy hair benefits?

 Cooler weather can lead to closing up the cuticle layer of our hair, preventing moisture. So to combat this, consider changing your hair care regimen for the fall. In this post, we will provide the best tips and tricks for the best fall-healthy hair care routine. 

Our hair needs proper nutrition for stronger hair. Oiling your scalp can provide nourishment to your hair. We have a few tips and some do's and don'ts to help you on your healthy hair journey.

Transitioning back to your natural hair can be an emotional journey. Transitioning can be overwhelming, but you can AND WILL get through the process. Here are some of the emotional stages you may face when transitioning back to your natural state. 1. Fear Going natural can be a very scary and nerve wrecking idea. You may be afraid to see your natural texture, because you may not remember what your curl pattern looks like. Fear of the unknown may try to hold you back, but don’t let it. You may also be afraid of what other people  will think of your natural hair. You have built up the courage and confidence to go natural and now you’re feeling hesitant. Don’t worry, just take it day by day a day and go with the flow. It’s perfectly normal to be scared and unsure, just don’t let fear hold you back. 2. Frustration Since you’re dealing with different textures, hair patterns, or just going through an awkward period, you may experience frustration. Your hair isn’t adapting to certain styles, and the products that you are trying aren’t working how you want them to. Styling your hair can be a very frustrating process during your transition, but stay consistent and keep trying different techniques. Your hair has to take the time to learn and train itself new techniques. Before you know it you will be able to perfect a twist-out with your eyes closed. 3. Experimenting Going natural is an on-going adventure. Try different products and techniques to see what works best for you. It’s ideal to try various products, so that you know what works for your hair and what doesn’t. But don’t go overboard. Experiment with new products every other month so you don’t confuse your hair left and right. My tip is if something works, stick with it before trying out something new. Trial and error is super important during your transition. 4. Confusion Constantly researching different blogs, hair products, and videos can be overwhelming. Blogs are so helpful and offer a huge amount of amazing advice, but too much information may confuse and overwhelm you. Take your time and do your research. Try finding a hair influencer that has similar hair textures and patterns as yours, and see what techniques and products worked for them.  5. Confidence When going back to your natural state, confidence is your best friend. No matter what anyone may say about your hair, wear it with confidence. Some people may say My mom used to always tell me that I needed to perm my hair, because it was “unruly.” Just ignore the people that will feed you negative thoughts or push you to go back to styles that damaged your hair. Proudly say with confidence, “This is the way my hair grows out of my scalp and it's beautiful!” 6. Acceptance You may have gone into this thinking that your hair would look just like a certain YouTuber or Influencer that you follow, and may be disappointed that your hair doesn’t turn out like theirs. You should know that everyone’s hair is different and has different textures, but everyone has a crown, and all crowns are unique and beautiful. If you begin your journey with this in mind, it will help make your transition to natural a lot smoother. Therefore it will hopefully help you reach the stage of acceptance. You may have two totally different curl patterns in your hair, so accept and embrace your hair and keep going. What were your emotional experiences transitioning to natural?

Let’s get real about natural hair, like, really real. No matter where you are in your natural and healthy hair journey, sometimes it’s best to take a step back, manage your expectations, and understand the, sometimes, harsh reality of what natural hair goes through.  My wash days never come out the same! You should be more concerned if your wash days do come out the same every time. The same way you don’t wear the same clothes or eat the same food every day, your hair won’t always be the same! You could be using the same products and sleep with your hair wrapped up the same way every day, yet your hair doesn’t look the same after you fluff it out. There are so many factors that you may not be aware of that play a part in what your curls will look like that day. Something as small as the weather being two degrees higher or lower each day can drastically affect your hair's appearance. So just imagine what other things can affect your hair on a daily basis.  Why doesn’t my hair look like theirs? It’s tempting to go down the social media wormhole and see people (strangers even) share the best pictures of their natural hair. But guess what…your favorite influencers’ hair doesn't look like that 24/7, and it’s unfair and unhealthy for you to compare yourself to them. So yes, save that picture you have your eyes on, and bring it to the salon for inspiration. However, don't try to replicate it because that’s impossible. Everyone’s hair is different! No one has your exact hair, and that’s your superpower. So learn to love and embrace what you have, even when social media tells you what your hair should look like. It’s okay to break “Natural Hair Code” Did you know it’s okay to break the standard “natural hair rules” once in a while…as long as you continue to practice healthy hair habits as well. Go ahead, book your blowout appointment, but make sure you deep condition before and after to keep your hair hydrated and healthy. Guess what? It's also okay to not sleep in a satin bonnet or wrap once in a while, because let’s be honest, you may be just too tired to even bother. Just don’t be surprised if you have to refresh your hair the next morning or just be totally okay with putting your hair up in a cute messy bun.  Why doesn’t that method or product work for me? Unfortunately, not every product or styling method is going to work for everyone, and that is totally okay and sometimes expected. It would be a perfect world to know that every new product you try is going to magically work for you. Your hair and body does a great job of letting you know which products and methods work for you and what doesn’t work for you. Always make sure to listen to yourself and your crown. Don’t force your hair to use products or methods that doesn’t work for them.  Remember, everyone is different! What are some things you wish someone would’ve been real about with you when it came to natural hair?

Don’t stress, it’s happened to all of us before. We reach for our favorite, most reliable product to get our best results, only to then realize that our hair is a frizzy, less-than-best, mess! So what exactly happened? Why did the product not work this time? Is it really the product, or the hair styling technique didn’t go as planned? While there are a number of possibilities this may have happened, let’s look at the 3 most likely reasons. Reason #1: Your Hair and Scalp are Overdue For a Thorough Cleansing Product build up can be the enemy of a happy wash day! Even when you think your hair is cleansed, there may be unseen build-up that is blocking your hair from receiving moisture, and preventing them from doing their thing! To avoid this possibility, it’s very important to use a cleansing shampoo on a weekly or bi-weekly basis that doesn’t strip your hair of all natural moisture.  For those who live on Co-Washing, this however does not count as a cleansing product. Co-wash (cleansing conditioner) products, while loved by many, can be the main reason for frizzy, dull, lifeless hair – especially if the co-wash contains heavy oils and butters, like castor oil, shea butter, or even coconut oil. You might be able to use a co-wash in between full wash days, but a co-wash should not be the primary cleansing product in your healthy hair routine.  Reason #2- Your Product of Choice is too Heavy Natural hair care has a life and agenda of its own, and you’ve probably tried all kinds of products to control it. This may have led you down the path of using strong gels, thick oils, and heavy creams. These types of products may give you the control and hold that you need for the moment. However they often require you to refresh your hair the next day, force you to sacrifice moisture for definition, or worse- could lead to hair breakage over time. If this applies to you, don’t worry- there are better options. Try using more water-based products that will give you the definition, moisture, and that will also be easy to wash out when the time comes.   Reason #3- It’s Your Health, Not Your Hair Curls can be our crowning glory, but also can be the revealing sign of much deeper issues. If you’re choosing the right products for your hair, protecting it, trimming your ends, and maintaining a healthy cleansing routine, then it’s time to consider what has changed. Ask yourself: Have you recently started any new medications, or experienced a traumatic medical event? Are you keeping yourself hydrated? Are you experiencing higher than normal stress levels? Aside from your hair, do you have any symptoms of a possible health concern? These are very important questions to ask yourself. The human body is simply amazing- when we are sick, it knows where to send vital minerals and nutrients to try to make us better. When experiencing health problems that the body needs to address, your hair is often one of the last places that vital nutrients will go to. So, if you’ve been experiencing unexplained and excessive hair loss, drastic changes in hair texture, or similar concerns, please check with a healthcare professional.  So, do any of the 3 reasons above apply to you? Let us know in the comments below!

Triggers, something that we all have, one way or another. It’s understandable to have days when your hair can frustrate you— sometimes to the point where it can shift your focus, in a negative way, all throughout the day. If your hair has ever emotionally triggered you, here are a few suggestions on how to stop, prevent or minimize them from being a regular occurrence — for your hair’s sake as well as for your mental health. 1. Get to Know Your Hair Pattern, Texture and Porosity Please take the time to understand what your hair pattern, texture and porosity are. Otherwise you are going to stay frustrated on your healthy hair journey since these three factors play a huge role in how you care for your hair. If you may or may not know what these terms mean, please devote time in your day to do some thorough research; especially since it’s possible to have more than one hair pattern/texture at the same time.  2. Celebrate What You Know Knowledge is power, correct? Know what else? When it comes to gathering insight on what your hair is all about, that is a call for a true celebration! Open up YouTube or social media to search for men and women who have a similar pattern, texture and porosity as yours to see what hair products or styling tricks to experiment with. Then, take a picture, post it on your social media to let other people in on the education and that you are learning how to fall in love with your hair more and more every single day. In all honesty, sometimes, we get more triggered than we should because we focus more on what we don’t like about something rather than what we do, even with our hair. By putting forth the effort to love, praise, and bless your hair — you’ll be amazed how quickly it can put your mind, body and spirit into a much better space. 3. Realize That Envy Is Futile  Moral to the story — be blessed with what you are blessed with. There is beauty and greatness in all hair textures, and there is purpose in why we have the texture that we do. It makes absolutely no sense to wish that your hair was different from what it naturally is. Some of the very things that you may be complaining about, someone somewhere else is wishing that they could experience. Guaranteed. 4. Take “Some Time Off” from Your Locks Something that isn’t discussed enough, is that our relationship with our hair is much like any other kind of relationship — there are good days as well as bad days. There are times when we’re about putting a lot of effort in and then there are times when we just need a break. Whether you are transitioning from damaged hair to natural and healthy hair, you are trying to grow your hair out or you’re just having a moment of disconnect with your hair, go ahead and book an appointment with a stylist to put your hair into a protective style. Soon enough, you’re going to be more than happy to get them out and focus on styling your hair again. So if you need to, take a break — so that you can decompress and your hair can get a bit of rest from styling manipulation as well. A win/win all the way around. 5. Stop Trying to Control What You Can’t A person once said, “If you try to control everything, and then worry about the things you can’t control, you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of frustration and misery.” That being said, a main cause of your hair “emotionally triggering” you, is wanting to control something about it that you simply cannot. So, whether you’re having a bad hair day, or you wishing your hair had a different texture, or wishing your transition period only lasted a day — resolve in your mind to control ONLY what you can control. Accepting this alone is a total gamechanger — and definitely a “hair trigger” deactivator. Let us know how you prevent your hair triggers in the comments!

Let's talk about ways that you can help your hair grow faster. Now remember that your hair is made up of keratin and dead skin cells and while there’s no exact way to make your hair grow faster overnight, we are going to share some steps you can take to keep your hair healthy overall.

Are you someone that drinks a lot of water? Did you know that the most important thing we can do for our body is drink water? In order to achieve hair growth we should drink somewhere between two and three liters of water daily.  Staying hydrated is important for our health. Hydration is also a very important factor that contributes to longer hair. Here are three ways that drinking water can help you improve your hair growth.