Let’s talk curly hair terms today. If you’ve been in the curly hair community long enough, and that’s to say at all, you’ve seen all sorts of terms floating around about different styling techniques and ways to handle your way. We’re here to help you figure those out!
Unlike typical diffusing, which is when a diffuser is used on a hair dryer and it’s kept at the same heat intensity throughout the entire drying time, Pixie diffusing is a slightly different method. With Pixie diffusing, the hair is still very wet and the product is added, then the diffuser is used immediately. You’ve flipped your head over, diffusing on high heat in a section and then turning the hair dryer off. It’s a slower way of diffusing since the hair is still very wet when it starts, but it does cut down on frizz and really locks in the product. This method is generally best suited for the beginnings of every type- 2 a, 2b, 3 a, 3c, etc…
This is the method we use at the salon! Fun name right?! This is the typical standard method of drying, which is also considerably more efficient. It’s a cute name for air drying 50%-80% of the hair, then diffusing the last bit to eliminate frizz and define the curls. This method works for just about everyone, which is why we use it.
This is exactly what it sounds like! You’re refreshing the curls in between washes. There are different methods, with the most popular spraying a light leaveleave-initioner and reshaping the curls. We recommend the Raw Curls Anti-Frizz spray for this! You spray a generous amount of product on the hair, enough to moisten it and then shape away! You want those curls to look fabulous.
Another way that people refresh their curls is by getting them wet and conditioning, then adding a gel or some shape holding product. We do consider this more of a co-wash personally, but nothing is one size fits all! What works for one person’s curls aren’t necessarily going to work for your best friend’s curls.
Don’t you just love these names for things?! Raking and shaking is when you take the product, such as gel, and you’re using your whole hand to apply it from root to tip. You’re really working, ‘raking’, the product in to get that coverage, cut back on frizz and shape the curl.
No, you aren’t eating pineapple for this one. ;) This is a simple method of putting your hair on the top of your head when you sleep, so called pineappling because of the shape. It’s to preserve your curls while you sleep so they don’t get mussed from the pillow or tossing and turning.
We love this way of drying & styling your curls! Using a thin towel, like our fun Raw Curls flour sack, you apply the product to your wet curls, then ‘plop’ them into the towel. It’s to absorb the excess water without damaging the curls, like traditional towels do.
So now that you know these fun terms for curly hair, go plop, pineapple and rake and shake to your heart’s content! Make sure to tell us your favorite method in our Curly Girls Facebook Group!
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Ok good, now that we’re in agreement...Hey Curly Girl!
Let’s talk curl pattern. Have you ever done your hair and then realized you have curls going all sorts of ways around your head and it’s super frustrating? Been there, done that and totally understand the irritation.
There are a few things you can do to try and combat that issue.
First, make sure you’re spending adequate time distributing product into your hair. You really need to work it in evenly from root to tip and plop your curls afterward to get all of the excess moisture out. No one wants frizzy curls!
If that doesn’t work, you can manually set the errant curls that are driving you nutty. Gently twist it the way you’d like it to go and bobby pin it into place to allow it to set. After a few minutes, you can take the pins out and make sure you finish with a setting spray to lock it into place.
Now that you’ve got those curls fixed, go enjoy a fabulous hair day!
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What are your favorite tips and tricks for keeping your gorgeous mane protected and looking glossy? Let us know!
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Now imagine you’re about to buy a brand new Louis Vuitton. Some people say you’re paying for a name, but true Louis lovers know you’re also paying for impeccable quality. The stitching is superb, the leather (or other material) is top notch and if something happens, it can be repaired.
Many times you’re paying for more than a name. You’re paying for the workmanship and ingredients, the quality, that goes hand in hand with that name.
With hair products, not only are you not just paying ‘for a name’, but you’re paying for ingredients that can affect you. Sure you can buy that $.99 bottle of shampoo and conditioner, that $1.50 bottle of gel...but what are putting on your hair? What is that doing to your hair and skin?
These are what’s in Suave Essentials Conditioner.
Now these are what’s in Raw Hair
Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract*, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Glycerin*, Butyrospermum Parkii, (Shea) Butter*, Olea Europa (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil*, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Calophyllum inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil*, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil*, Passiflora Edulis, (Passion Fruit) Seed Oil, Oriza Sativa (Rice Bran) Oil, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Pulp Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract*, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract*, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract*, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract*, Centella Asiatica Extract*, Panthenol, Maltooligosyl Glucoside/Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Potassium Sorbate, Citrus Grandis (Pink Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi (White Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Silk Protein, Starch Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride Argania spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Butyrospernum Parkii (Shea) Oil, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Sodium Alginate, Gellan Gum, Sorbitan Monoleate, Polysorbate 20, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Citric Acid, Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract
It’s a lot more ingredients, but the quality is there. These ingredients are 70% organic and as close to natural as possible. We use natural oils as opposed to harsh chemicals the majority of us can’t pronounce to protect and nourish your hair.
Now, don’t you want to have hair that’s full of bounce and shine because you’re treating it the best on the market?
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The Why
There’s been an upswing in curl education in the last few years, which is great for everyone with curls. It also means we’re realizing how awful the products we were and may still be using. The majority of products on the market are awful for curls. They’re full of sulfates, silicones and other harsh ingredients that strip the cuticle. Because is it damaging the curl, it’s reducing shine and roughening up the texture of the hair, causing frizz.
The How
First, you have to get a shampoo that is going to clear out that buildup so you can ‘reset’ your hair so to say. Wash like you normally do and follow up with your favorite curl friendly conditioner and styling products.
How often
How often you clarify your hair depends on the hair itself. Are your curls looking frizzy and lackluster? Do you have hard water? If yes, then it sounds like it’s time for a clarifying wash! You’ll figure out what works for you- some people clarify once a month, while others only do it when the seasons change.
Now go clarify those curls and let us see your gorgeous hair in our Curly Girl Group on Facebook!
]]>We always advise going to someone who is well versed in curly hair, not only for the cut but for the color. Of course, using our products afterward to ensure that your hair is in the best possible condition too!
]]>Every curly haired woman has frizz. The problem is, nobody really understands where it comes from, how you get it, or how to manage it properly. Today we’re going to talk about the science behind frizz and how to fix it.
Almost every woman in the world experiences frizz at some point. Frizz is a reaction of damage to the hair that causes the cuticle to stand up. The damage can come from straightening hair, curling hair, perming hair, swimming in a pool, etc. All these things damage the hair and cause frizz.
Hair is supposed to look like snakeskin, a series of overlapping platelets that lay very smoothly on each other. Healthy hair feels very smooth, soft, and sleek because the platelets are laying flat. Unfortunately, when there is damage, the little platelets start to stand up and cause your hair to feel rough. Once enough of them are standing up, your hair strands will start to get stuck on each other like velcro.
Now let's get into the science behind it. Whenever your hair is exposed to the atmosphere, there's a chemical reaction that creates a charge. We've developed our products to have the opposite charge. So just like a magnet, our product goes right to those damaged sites and ignores the healthy part of your hair so you don't get build up.
We've essentially made a microcapsule. It's about 1/100th the size of your hair shaft. So there are literally millions of charges in each bottle of hairspray, shampoo, and conditioner we have. Now imagine you have a split end. Our little technology gets in there and as your hair dries, it will literally bring your hair back together and seal it up. It eliminates that gap that gives you frizz, your platelets sit down, everything becomes softer, smoother, shinier. It's much easier to detangle your hair because the hair is no longer getting stuck on each other.
We recommend that as you step out of your shower, you spray the product generously on your hair. You can then use your fingers to comb through your strands and distribute the spray evenly. At that point, you can let it dry naturally or wrap with our micro-fiber towel or diffuse whichever you prefer. As it's drying it will start to release the technology that allows it to repair.
In just a few applications you are going to love it. The ladies that were involved in our test panels for several months reported that their hair grew longer because there was no need to cut off their split ends.
There are lots of women who spend a lot of money on bottles and bottles of cheap shampoos and conditioners and their frizz gets worse. And that has a lot to do with the science of negatively and positively charged ions.
Healthy hair has a neutral charge. When there's a chemical reaction that causes damage, the hair then there is a negative charge. Traditional conditioners use what's called a quat to condition your hair. This is a very effective material but it’s made to be used on healthy hair because remember, damaged hair has a negative charge.
And what do we remember from science class in high school? Positive and negative attract. That's why magnets work. But when you have a powerful positive quat in a conditioner that gets into one of those spots, instead of bringing it back together, it's so powerful it actually it makes it worse.
Curly Girls tend to buy a lot of these cheaper brands and, after a short period of time, notice that the frizz gets worse. The truth is you can't overcome the science of what's pushing the hair apart. At best, they're not improving anything and at worst, they're causing more damage.
Try our Anti-Frizz Spray for yourself and get your hair healed!
]]>Probably the most important thing that I see curly girls skip over, is taking a look at the 7-14 day forecast of the city they’re travelling to. Most curly girls have a routine set up where they live. They know what their holy grails are, their refreshing, cleansing and conditioning routine. They know all that well.
It’s important to take into account the city that they're travelling to, might have a totally different barometric pressure, temperature and humidity so their routine and holy grails may not work there. Then you'll have real problems, especially if you're there for more than a couple of days. So take a look at the weather and pack accordingly.
If you're flying, put together a kit of travel sized hair products. Now, you're probably thinking, I’ve already packed full-size bottles in my luggage, why do I need to put together a travel kit?
You never know what delays you may have, either the way there or back, and having that travel kit is going to make a real difference.
Our starter kits are TSA friendly and has everything you need to style or refresh your curls along the way.
This one may get a whole lot of pushback but it is a very good key. If you're still using heat tools, this would be a really good time to consider giving them up. A good reason why is that you have to pack them; a blow dryer, straightener, curling iron. Ditch your heat tools, leave them at home, and maybe by the time you get back, you might not even want them.
This tip may seem simplistic however a lot of people don't do it. If you're going to somebody's house or staying at a hotel, you can lay saran wrap across the counters in the bathroom. If you have any shedding while styling your hair, this makes the clean up super easy. Once you’re done, you can just ball it up and throw it away.
So there are some good travel tips that'll make traveling a whole lot easier with curly hair.
All of our starter kits come with a travel pouch so head over to Raw Hair Organics to purchase yours before your next flight.
(https://www.rawhairorganics.com/collections/starter-packs)
]]>Here are 7 tips to help you detangle with ease.
A smaller comb would pull out more hair than we’d like and a brush would disturb your curl pattern. Using a wide tooth comb will allow you to remove any knots and tangles without putting to much of a strain on your hair.
Starting from the bottom and working your way up is the most gentle way to detangle your hair. If you start at the top of your hair, tangles start to form at the ends of your hair.
The water will help the comb slip through your curls and separate the strands. So instead of washing your hair during the shower and getting out to detangle, also detangle under the water then put your hair in chunky twist to dry.
This doesn’t directly relate to the detangling process but sleeping on satin or silk vs cotton can prevent your hair becoming matted throughout the night.
Although it is more time consuming, detangling your hair with your fingers is actually a very gentle way to get through the tangles.
If your last style caused a section of your hair to tangle against itself, add some conditioner to give it some slip before using a wide tooth comb to
Take your Denman brush, take out the rubber piece that holds the bristles and pop out every other row to give it more of a wide tooth comb feel. You would have to purchase a brush that can pop out the bristles area because not every brush can.
]]>There are different steps that you have to go through on washday no matter the hair type. Curly hair also “reacts” differently when it is wet vs when it’s dry. One big problem with rushing through your washing and styling is that it can cause your hair to have some breakage. So while it is important to take your time and be careful with your curls, there are ways to make this healthy hair wash day to process a little easier and less time-consuming.
Tip #1
Lengthen the time between wash days. If your hair and scalp don’t experience huge amounts of build-up, you can stretch out the days between your washes up to two weeks. If you have been washing your hair weekly but are now considering a bigger gap, start with 10 days. If you notice your hair is suffering, go back to your weekly washes. Health comes first.
Tip #2
When your hair is dry, keep it in a stretched state. This can be done by braiding or twisting your hair (while damp or wet) and allowing it to air dry before unraveling your curls. When your hair is stretched, it prevents knotting, therefore saving you time on your next wash.
Tip #3
Put your hair in the stretched style (mentioned above) immediately after washing your hair. Once it is dry you can either wear the braids/twist, unravel them and rock the curls, or create a cute updo. Or even better, you can do all three options and leave your hair in a stretched state for your next wash day.
Tip #4
Deep condition overnight. This is the ultimate time saver. You can split your wash day in half. At night you can detangle and wash your hair then apply the deep conditioner to sit overnight. In the morning, rinse the deep conditioner out, style, and you’re done. Split the process over two days and allow yourself time to get other things done.
Curly hair does need a little extra TLC but it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Take these tips, and the tips from last week’s post “Four Steps to Healthy Curly Hair” to simplify your regimen and maintain (or better) the health of your hair.
Got any other time-saving tips to share with the Raw Curly community? Leave us a comment below.
If you’re still looking for the right products to help you with the health of your hair, grab one of our starter packs. We have three kits for you to choose from based on your hair type and styling goals. Check them out here.
https://www.rawhairorganics.com/collections/starter-packs
]]>You have to start reading the labels and this blog will show you where to start.
Healthy hair begins at the scalp. This means that you want to be sure to use products that work well for moisturizing and styling your curls but do not clog your scalp. Yuck. Ingredients like silicones, waxes, and mineral oils cause buildup and disrupt the healthy growth of hair. It’s not that these ingredients stop hair growth completely but with regular use and in combination with other not-so-good products, you wouldn’t be doing anything that actually benefits your hair.
When it is time to wash away that buildup stay away from sulfates. Sulfate is actually a tricky one and a big reason why it’s so important to read the ingredients on the back. When the front of a bottle states that it is sulfate free it means that it is free of the harshest sulfate. Many times curlies buy cleansers because of this claim, never read the back label, and then wonder why it still dries their hair out so badly.
Don’t allow any sulfates to touch your curls.
Want to know more about what you SHOULD look for on these labels? Stay tuned for another Raw Hair Organics blog post.
Check out our shop to look at our organic products your curls will fall in love with.
https://www.rawhairorganics.com/
]]>Here’s a BIG tip to keeping it simple, buying products from the same brand will help you save both time and money. Products of the same brand are created to work well together. Now here are the four types of products you need.
Clean hair is well on its way to being healthy hair. At least once a month you want to be sure to use a clarifying shampoo or cleanser. This will remove any build on your scalp to keep it healthy. Throughout the month, be sure the cleanser you’re using is also moisturizing so that your hair is not drying out quickly and causing breakage. If your scalp gets build-up quickly, you can also use a cowash in-between weekly washes to clean your scalp but not dry out your strands.
There are two important conditioners you need. Each time you use a clarifying shampoo, be sure to deep condition your hair for at least 20 minutes. Depending on the dryness of your hair, this can be done weekly to give your curls back their moisture.
Also, each time you wash or use a co-wash you should also follow up with a leave-in conditioner to retain your moisture.
Hydrating your hair every day is necessary. This does not mean oiling your hair every day because that could cause buildup on your scalp but you need something to refresh your curls each day. All you need is a light moisturizing spritzer that you can spray in the morning and at night to keep your strands moisturized.
A sealant is important to lock in all the moisture you have now put into your hair. When choosing this product, your hair type is very important. If you have fine hair, heavy oil or gel will actually weigh your hair down opposed to those of you with thicker hair, putting a very light oil won’t give you much protection.
Finding that last product is as complicated as it gets. It does not have to be stressful or overwhelming to take care of your natural hair. Take these tips and keep it simple.
We have three different starter packs available for you to choose from. Either of these will help you keep things simple and keep your hair healthy.
(https://www.rawhairorganics.com/collections/starter-packs)
]]>If your hair is more porous (aka, the “scales of the snake” are flared out, away from the core of the hair), it is able to absorb more moisture (and more of other products, too!). If it is less porous (aka, the “scales of the snake” are adhered tightly to the body of the snake, not allowing anything to get into the core), it does not hold and absorb moisture well. A normal level of porosity has “scales” that are slightly flared out, but not too much.
The Test
How do you know what kind of hair you have? The easiest way to test it is to place a strand of your hair into a bowl of water and wait for a few minutes. If the hair sinks, you have porous hair, because the strand absorbed water which made it heavy enough to sink to the bottom.
If your hair floats, then the opposite is true- your hair is not porous and so it repelled rather than absorbed the water, thereby allowing it to float.
If your hair is floating somewhere in between, suspended in the middle of the bowl, then you have hair with normal porosity.
What Does It All Mean?
Ok, so now you know which kind of hair you have, but what does it mean? How should you best take care of your type of hair?
High Porosity Hair
High porosity hair not only absorbs moisture quickly, but it also loses it just as fast, so you need to use products designed to help your hair both receive and hold onto moisture. Products including aloe (aka- almost everything we sell!) are amazing for this kind of hair. Moisturizing serums and oils are also very useful, as high porosity hair has a greater tendency to become frizzy.
Normal Porosity Hair
Hair with normal porosity is the most healthy state that your hair can be in. Able to absorb and hold just the right amount of moisture, this type of hair tends to be the most healthy and shiny. Help keep your hair normal by not subjecting it to harsh chemical products and treatments, such as bleaching, relaxing, and heat.
Low Porosity Hair
Hair with low porosity struggles to absorb moisture, so you need to intentionally select products that are a bit more alkaline (lower PH). This will help open the cuticle (aka, make your hair temporarily more porous), which allows moisturizers and other healthy products to penetrate the strand. It is easier for low porosity hair to get weighed down by excess products (since they tend to sit on top of the hair rather than be absorbed by it), so don’t be heavy-handed when you style!
Conclusion
No matter which type of hair you have, it is important to be careful to select the right kinds of cleansing, conditioning, and styling products. We recommend that you stick to natural organic products, which is why we have spent so much time fine-tuning our formulas to be perfect for your curly hair, using only the highest-quality plants and minerals.
]]>Most people think of aloe as something used on the skin after a sunburn, or as a tasty drink that offers antioxidant benefits, but it actually offers many amazing benefits for the hair as well- especially if your hair is curly!
Dandruff and The Scalp
Because of its soothing properties due to the many vitamins, minerals, and other healthy compounds aloe contains, it offers many benefits to your scalp. Studies have shown that it can reduce the itchiness and discomfort associated with Seborrheic dermatitis (better known by its other names of cradle cap and dandruff).
Hair Follicles
Researchers are finding that aloe is able to increase blood flow to the scalp, and also has the ability to help deliver both oxygen and nutrition to the hair follicles. While no hair products have been proven to accelerate the normal rate of your hair growth (which can vary from person to person), you can slow down your hair growth if you suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Aloe contains over 75 active ingredients, including vitamins A, C, E, B12, amino acids, and zinc, all of which contribute to a healthier head of hair.
Moisturizer
Because aloe is so high in water and contains so many beneficial nutrients, it is an amazing component of many moisturizing products on the market today.
Repairing Damaged Hair
Zinc, which is found in aloe, has been shown to help repair damaged hair. So not only will you get the moisturizing properties of aloe to keep your hair shiny and gorgeous, but you also may be repairing hair damaged by heat, dryness, and all the other pollutants your hair is exposed to on a daily basis.
Hair Loss
Ancient cultures used aloe as a treatment for hair loss, and while modern scientists are still working on linking the efficacy of commercially available hair products to preventing hair loss, they have shown in studies that vitamin B12 (found in aloe!) can prevent hair loss from occurring. Maybe the Sumerians, Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, and many other ancient cultures were on to something?
Premature Greying
Research has linked deficiencies in vitamins B12 and folate to premature greying, and while there haven’t been studies on specific haircare products to prevent this, aloe does contain both B12 and folate, so it may be beneficial.
We have only scratched the surface of the many benefits that aloe can offer, but perhaps now you can understand why we find it to be an important component of our organic cleansers, moisturizers, and styling products for curly hair!
You can test these products out for yourself with our Deluxe 5 Piece Starter Kit (https://www.rawhairorganics.com/collections/starter-packs/products/raw-curls-starter-kit-3-deluxe-5-pack).
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