I only received a few questions for this week’s edition.  If I don’t remind people, I guess they forget. :o) So I’m just going to answer the few I’ve received.

TOPIC: MAINTAINING MOISTURE IN HAIR

Question #1)  @RaquiGarcia How do you moisturize *daily* after you’ve done a rod set? 

My Answer:  Firstly, adding water to a rod set would ruin the style. So I would not moisturize it with anything until I’m ready to wash or restyle my hair. 

I personally don’t moisturize my hair daily.   A leave in conditioner or styling product can be used to seal moisture (water) in your hair.  In fact, too much water can be a bad thing.  When the hair is wet, the hair strands are in a weakened state, which causes them to break easily. So you want to maintain balance as much as possible.

If your products aren’t helping to hold moisture in your hair for at least 2-3 days, try monitoring their pH balance.  The cuticle layers (which hold moisture in) function like window blinds on the hair.  When they lay flat, moisture (water) is held in longer.

Cooler temperatures cause cuticles to close and heat encourages them to rise. But the cuticle layers are also affected by pH balance. Alkalis cause them to open and acids encourage them to close.

A pH of 7.0 - 4.0 is regarded as safe for the hair, although I’ve seen some products with an acidity of 3.5pH.

Question #2) @CandyThorne what shampoo would you suggest for dry hair I use..  also I mix up these oil to help with hair growth vita E oil,lavender oil,rosemary oil and also castor oil and last aloe juice 

 

My Answer: I suggest a gentle shampoo at or below 7.0pH. Lower (slightly more acidic) is actually better in theory, since it helps to keep the hair cuticles closed, preventing hair from absorbing too much water. 

There is no such thing as a growth oil.  Essential oils like peppermint & tea tree can stimulate the scalp, which may help with circulation or relieve itching, but hair growth is simply cell division under the scalp.  Unless you are using a product with a hormone designed to treat hair loss, your body will produce hair normally.

Now if you’re referring to the use of oils to seal moisture in the hair to help preserve it by preventing breakage caused by dryness, then yes, oils can certainly help.  But keep in mind, oils do not moisturize.  They lubricate and seal (sit on top of) the hair strand.  Failing to wash oily hair may cause your hair to feel brittle and it will look matted as it collects dirt. Make sure to maintain a steady hair care regimen.

TOPIC: CO-WASHING

Question #3 I hear alot about co-washing but I notice you do not have a video on this is that just something to by choice or so not necessary

My Answer:  The longer you are natural (or caring for you hair in any state in general) the more you will see that beyond basic hair/scalp hygiene and preserving the hair strands, detangling and keeping hair moisturized, not much else is necessary when it comes to hair care.

Co-washing is something I rarely do because I have a low manipulation routine. But on the rare occasion I co-wash (rinse hair with a conditioner only) its done in between washes to give my hair a nice splash of water to prepare it for style setting without doing a full shampoo wash session.  

But I never use conditioner as an alternative to washing my hair with shampoo.  I know that conditioners contain cations (and oils, polymers, etc.) that leave something on the hair, while shampoos contain anions, which take things away (dirt, debris, flakes).

Ultimately, you’re going to have to experiment and decide for yourself.  As with everything, someone will swear by it, others will find it useless.