Tip of The Week: Wash Day Detangling

13 weeks post relaxer

To help reduce tangling on wash day, I wash my hair in braids. Normally, I do 8 braids total. However, during this long stretch (and with skipping wash day last week), I needed more control of my roots while detangling to minimize breakage.

Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave...

When we decide to skip wash day at 12 weeks post relaxer.

The past two weeks have been extra busy with the book tasks and my first riding show. So I decided to skip wash day last week in part because I was simply exhausted. My relaxer appointment is on Saturday, so I must wash my hair today.

I've been wearing my hair in a low bun (for riding) and haven't detangled my hair in far too long. The combination of loose shed hair and my thick roots are a formula for disaster. Fortunately, I've been able to avoid a setback by doing the following:

Tip of the Week: Swimming

Jamaica, 2011

Now that the weather is warming up, we will all be hitting the beach and pool soon. Whether your hair is natural or relaxed, you can enjoy the water without worrying about your hair. Here are some tips for minimizing any potential damage from swimming:

Preserving my Style Under my Hat

One reservation that most of us have about wearing a hat during the winter is the threat to our hair style. No one wants to remove their hat and reveal helmet hair. 

Style Tip: Bantu Knot Out

Hubby and I are on vacation this week and I plan to wear a Bantu knot out during the week. Here's a tip for a natural looking style:

My Inadvertent "Bangs"

It occurred to me at my last relaxer that the front pieces of my hair were significantly shorter than the rest of my hair. I wasn't sure why, but then I realized the cause this past week.

Previously, on Kibibi Hair...

Here is what we were blogging about this time last year...

1. How I Flat Iron (Video)
2. Roller Set Tutorial (Video)
3. The Missing Link
4. Having the Hair Blues

Product Organization Tip

Before

When I travel with my hair products, I always put a plastic seal under the cap to prevent spills and just put them in a large ziplock bag. But eventually the products all topple over, and I end up having to "fish" for what I need.

Previously, on Kibibi Hair...

Here are three of the most popular posts from this time last year...

1. Splitting with Split Ends

2. Hair S.O.S. - "I did my relaxer and now my hair is breaking!"

3. Steam + Hair = Healthier Hair

Natural Detangler: Aloe Vera Juice

A few days ago, I read a tip about spraying aloe vera juice on dry hair to help make wash day uneventful. The tipster said that the aloe vera juice melted her new growth and allowed her to detangle her hair without any problems. After my setback with using Mane and Tail detangler, I all but gave up on the idea of using a detangler on dry hair. I have used aloe vera juice in my spray bottle mix for when I wear my wig and need to moisturize my real hair.  So I know that my hair likes aloe vera juice. I just never thought to use it on my dry hair to detangle.

Follow Up: Taming 10 Weeks of New Growth

The scarf method was a bust because it slipped off at some point in the night. So my edges were not tamed by any stretch of the imagination. I didn't tie the scarf tightly because it would give me a headache. Yet, I'm a crazy sleeper, so the scarf didn't stand a chance of staying on. I did cover it with my bonnet, and I hoped the bonnet would help. It didn't.

As for the bantu knots, they came out so-so. The knots didn't set well because my hair was so dirty and weighted down. However, my roots were nice and soft from the Sta-Sof-Fro.

This is not the best picture but I was running late and didn't have time to retake it. 

A Gentle Way to Dry Curls

 By: MsNastassja

Up until recently, I had either let my hair air dry with a regular towel on my shoulders to catch drips, or used a t-shirt to attempt to dry it. Regular terry cloth towels rough up the hair cuticle and aren't a good idea. I just bought a microfiber towel at Bed Bath and Beyond, made by Aquis. This thing is magical and I was pleasantly surprised by how dry it got my hair without messing with the curl pattern.

How do you cut down on drying time? 

Hair SOS: Mommy Edition

Satin covered roller with my mom's hair

My mom's hair has been on a whirlwind journey the past couple of years. It went from being very thick and long to short and thin because of hormonal changes due to menopause (she doesn't mind me sharing that). It is amazing just how much your hormones affect your hair. Now that her hormones are balanced again, her hair has made a complete turn around for the better. She cut her hair to shoulder length and has a low manipulation regimen, which works for her.

A few months ago, she told me that her ends were getting thinner. She suspected that because her hair was getting longer, her ends would naturally get thinner. I disagreed with her rationale and suggested that something she was doing was causing her ends to thin. I talked about that in my thread here. While in Jamaica, I assessed her ends and noticed a slight thinness. Then I looked at the products she used. Lo and behold, I found the culprit.

Wash Day Update

In my January Hair Update, I talked about how the plastic bands I used to secure my braids on wash day were breaking my hair.  I got some great suggestions and your input was appreciated. I decided to try out the mini scrunchies and I really like them.  I only have to wrap them twice around my braids, they stay put and they don't appear to cut into my hair.

What's interesting is that I noticed that when I would wash with the plastic bands, there would be a hair caught in the hair drain guard. But now, there is no hair caught in the hair guard.  The plastic bands were cutting into my hair as I washed, but I didn't realize anything was wrong.  Although I never had this problem with the black mini rubber bands, I decided to stick with the mini scrunchies.

Reader Mail: Tips for Growing Out Nape Hair?

Bottom 1" of nape (1/2010)

Bottom 2" of nape (1/2010)

A reader asked:
"I'm having trouble getting my nape to grow out. Years of wearing ponytails has taken it's toll. What should I do?"

Firstly, you are not alone.  Regardless of the length of my hair throughout my hair journey, I have always had a "weak spot," usually my nape and temple area. Here are some suggestions to get the nape area back on track:

• If you relax your hair, then relax your nape last so it gets the least amount of processing time,  
• Take care to not over brush your nape,
• If you wear your hair down, you can even do a horizontal braid to your nape only which will protect it from being rubbed against your clothes,  

Hair Tip

Now that the temperature is dropping and the air is getting drier, my hair is also more likely to feel dry.  So a few days after I wash, I skip the shower cap while showering.  My hair drinks up the moisture generated by the shower's steam.  I pin my hair up so it doesn't get wet.

This is great if you're wearing a curly style like a braid out, bantu knot set or just wearing your natural hair.  However, I wouldn't recommend this if you're wearing a flat ironed style.

Reader Mail: How to find products outside the US?

I received an email today from a reader that is having difficulty finding the products I use in the UK.  I want to share my response, because I believe it might be helpful to anyone who is having the same issue whether you live in the US or not. 

"My suggestion is that you try to find products that have comparable ingredients in the UK.  I strongly believe that any well made product that is tailored to your hair needs (ex. moisturizing, if you need extra moisture; protein, if you need extra strength) will help you retain length.  The next time you see a woman with long hair where you live, ask her what products she uses.  You don't necessarily need products for type 4 hair in order to get good results.  In fact, the majority of products I use are not marketed for women with type 4 hair.  But hair is hair.  So as long as a product offers what you need, then it may work for you."

If you still have difficulty finding comparable products or you are determined to find an exact product then try the internet. 

The internet is a fantastic resource when looking for products.  Here are some things I've done in the past when looking for products:

1. Search for the name of product you want.  This will likely find an online store that sells the product.  View their shipping info to see if they ship to your country.  If it doesn't state whether they do, then ask them.
2. Search for the ingredients of the product you want.  Most products list their ingredients on the manufacturer's website.  So copy and paste the first 5 ingredients and run a search to find other products with the same ingredients. 
3. Contact the manufacturer and ask them if they have distributors in your country. 

I hope this helps.

Need a bad hair day quick fix?

Throw on a cute hat!

That's simple enough.  My husband and I went to a Halloween party on Saturday and this is how I wore my hair.

If you follow me on Facebook then you know that earlier this week, I had a horrible rain-induced bad hair day.  I never recovered from that the wretched day.  Okay, its not quite that dramatic.  Anyway, I didn't get a chance to wash my hair before the party, so I just lightly detangled, moisturized, and wore a hat.  I love this hat because its fully lined with satin fabric.  I need to get some more fully lined hats, because I love wearing hats in the autumn and winter.

What's your bad hair day quick fix?

Hair before Health?

Absolutely not!

I know for some women, there is a conflict between looking fabulous and getting sufficient exercise. But that doesn't have to be the case. You can maintain your overall health and grow your hair if you plan properly.

Personally, I find the gym boring, so I prefer to take classes (ballet, horseback riding) or play games (tennis) to get my weekly exercise.  Here are my suggestions for protective styling while exercising.

For cardio - Wear your hair in a loose high bun and secure with small claw clips. This is how I wear my hair for ballet classes and tennis.  I suggest a loose bun because it will allow your scalp to breathe and the sweat to dry faster.  Wait until your scalp has dried before you manipulate your hair.  This way you don't get sweat running down the length of your hair. 

For helmet activities (bicycling, horseback riding, etc.) - Wear a low ponytail and cover your hair with a silk/satin scarf.

 My hair in a low ponytail, covered with a scarf to protect it from the helmet.

For swimming - Saturate your hair with water and cover with conditioner or shea butter.  After you swim, rinse your hair thoroughly and either do a conditioner-only wash or use a gentle shampoo.   Swimmers shampoo can be very harsh, so pay attention to how your hair feels after you use it.  You may find that its too drying.  Also, if you have the option of a salt-water pool instead of a chlorinated pool, opt for the salt water pool. 


I think of my hair as an accessory that enhances my appearance.  Hair should never be a hindrance to me living my life.  If you have an activity that you haven't tried because of your hair, please share it below and I'll try to suggest ways to protect your hair.  Health before hair.

Wedding Day Hairstyle

Hi friends!

This time of year is wedding season.  I know someone who has attended as many as 10 weddings so far.  One major consideration when it comes to planning a wedding is the hairstyle.  Whether you wear your hair up or down, the most important thing is that you are happy with the hairstyle.  If nothing else, you want to look like yourself, the best version of yourself, on your big day.  No guest should have to think "I can barely recognize her."  If you are not comfortable with your hair, it may affect your confidence and that will show in the pictures.  

Here are my tips for having a great hair day on your wedding day.

1. Stay true to your personal style.  If you normally wear simple styles, consider an elegant yet simple hairstyle for your wedding day.   
2. Don't make a "radical" change just because its your wedding day.  This is not the time to venture out and try a new hair cut or color.  You may not have enough time to recover if you decide against it.
3. Bring pictures of different styles to show your stylist.  Words can fail you, but a picture is self explanatory.  Confirm with the stylist that they can deliver what you want.  
4. Do a trial run before the big day.  This will give you a chance to see how the style will hold up throughout the day and your stylist can make changes if needed (ex. use more hairspray).
5. Be firm about what you want and don't let anyone bully you out of your heart's desire. This is your one and only wedding day.  So get exactly what you want.

I wear my hair down 90% of the time, so naturally I chose to wear my hair down on my wedding day.  I rarely wear updos, and I knew I would be self conscious wearing an elaborate updo on my wedding day.  I wanted to feel as comfortable in my skin as possible.  There were more than enough things to be nervous about - remembering my vows, not tripping down the aisle, and not doing the ugly cry (that last one was a lost cause lol).

Here are some pictures of how I wore my hair on my wedding day.  My hair was waist length when straightened, and I wore no weave or extensions in my hair. 

Hairstyle in Ceremony Dress

Hairstyle in Reception Dress