You may have sworn off mini twists but every so often you see someone else wearing the style and suddenly you want them again. In truth, mini twists can be a great low manipulation style if you treat your hair appropriately when putting them in and taking them out.

In my case, I was itching for a style change up and instead of that bleach blonde color I was eyeing I figured I would try something new-ish and less strand altering!

Here are some of my tips for healthy mini twists:

1.    Stretch the hair prior to twisting either by doing a blow out or banding. Stretching will help to reduce tangles and snags during the twisting session. Stretching also helps with parting to ensure that the lines are straight on your head when twisting. This helps to avoid borrowing hair from different sections because parts are not defined.

2.   Shampoo the hair even in twists. There are various methods that can be used when shampooing twists to ensure that they are not disturbed, such as putting a stocking cap over your hair to shampoo. I like to wash my hair in twists as normal, but adding the product to my palm and smoothing it through in a downward motion. Remember to rinse throughly!

3. Deep conditioning is also possible with mini twists – Combine water and Aloe Vera Juice in a spray bottle, and spray all over the hair for moisture. Add your conditioner of choice or pure oil (I use coconut oil) ensuring that every section is coated thoroughly. Sit under a steamer if you have one or just cover with a plastic cap for an hour or two. Rinse as normal, (I like to leave a little product in after my rinse especially if I use just oil.)

4. Styling - This is my favorite part! – Mini Twists styles are so versatile because you have a ton of options especially with hang time from having the hair stretched. Twists offer texture which makes the look of the style different from what your hair would typically look like without them.

There are some seriously creative styling techniques used by some of the ladies on YouTube and like me you will have fun trying them out. Accessorize your twists for variety (perm rod styling also helps to mix things up).

Here are some styles that I have done with my mini twists.

5. Halo Hair - this might not be typical of everyone else but I experience a lot of halo hair when I twist, (random hairs just finding themselves out of the twists). Ensure that halo hairs do not get snagged or wrap around twists which can lead to breakage. If  halo hair is excessive it might be time to remove the twists!

5. Night Time Routine -  Moisturize twists at night with your favorite leave in conditioner and seal with oil.

With these tips you should enjoy having mini twists while keeping your hair healthy!

I’ve heard it said that with boar bristle brushes, you either love em or hate em. If you are one of those who hate them, then you are using it wrong. First things first, a boar bristle brush is as it sounds made from the hair of a wild boar/hog. There are synthetic versions too but since the plastic used for the bristles are not absorbent, they won’t have the superior ability to spread your hair’s natural oils as effectively as the authentic tool.

They come in all price ranges from suspiciously cheap to outrageously expensive but you should be able to get a pretty good one online or at  you local BSS without breaking the bank. An easy way to tell if you have a good boar bristle brush is to run the palm of your hand over the bristles quite firmly to see if you lose any fibres. If you do, then it’s not worth your money!

The most important thing to remember about a boar bristle brush is that it is NOT a detangling tool. Whether you are relaxed or natural, whether your hair is it’s natural curly state, or straightened, trying to use this brush to detangle black hair will always end in breakage. A boar bristle brush should only be used during the styling process or to work product into your ends (in certain situations) but not much else.  Once you understand those limitations however the brush may just end up being a firm favorite in your healthy hair journey.

Styling

First and foremost you should never use the brush from root to tip. People with naturally straight hair may benefit from using the brush this way but African American hair is way too fragile for this kind of manipulation. You should think of the brush as a tool to help you smooth your hair and to get a polished neat look to your styles. Think, smoothing ponytails if your hair is being worn straight or working in gel into your edges and hair when you are slicking it into a puff or bun.

There is minimal risk of breakage when using the brush to slick your edges and any natural headed sister will tell you that no other brush can lay your edges down like a boar bristle brush!

Working Product Into Your Ends

Unfortunately this does not apply if your hair is being worn in it’s natural state. You may already know that when your hair is dry and in it’s natural state, you have no business manipulating it! If you are wearing your hair straight on the other hand, you will find this brush indispensable during your nightly grooming process.

After applying your water based moisturizer (I use S Curl) and smoothing it with your fingers over the bottom couple of inches of your hair, a couple of  light swipes with the boar bristle brush will ensure complete coverage of each strand. Repeat the process with a couple of drops of your favorite oil to seal (I favor coconut or castor oil) and your dry ends will be restored to shiny smooth sleekness.

The pictures below show how effective a boar bristle brush is at distributing product through the hair strands.

Since my commitment to weekly deep treatments whether in the form of an after shampoo deep conditioning treatment, steaming or a 1-2 hour pre poo I have been on the hunt for new and interesting natural ingredients to experiment with depending on what my hair needs… that is Protein or Moisture. Recently I came across a few articles on the benefit of molasses on hair and thought it was rather interesting.

The only thing I knew about molasses is that it is actually made from my beloved Sugar Cane, as far as its benefits in hair care, I knew nothing! In my research the claims are that molasses darkens the hair and defines its natural color, it adds softness and sheen and the most common benefit I have seen is that is strengthens weak and thinning hair.

What’s in it?

Molasses contains dense nutrients including iron calcium, manganese, copper, magnesium and potassium. Because of the nutritional value the claim is that molasses will actually help to improve hair growth. I would be willing to bet that taking it as a supplement would also be just as beneficial!

How to use molasses as a treatment

• Pre-poo – Massage molasses into the hair cover with a shower cap or something plastic leaving in for 1 hour then shampoo and condition as normal
• Another recipe that I found – 1-2 table spoons of molasses, ¼ cup conditioner (cheapie or deep conditioner), 1-2 tablespoons of honey

Molasses and Grey Hair

I have not found any of my own grey hairs yet but if I do I will be sure to read this post again. The claim is that the addition of molasses to your diet reverses the loss of pigment in the hair shaft so that the new hair grows regains its natural color. The copper in Molasses allows for the production of melanin that gives us the pigmentation in our hair. (Dosage- 2- teaspoons daily)

Disclaimer: Please do your research and check with a professional before adding anything to your diet. Many Internet sources are unverifiable, but interesting to read none the less.

To summarize, the density of the nutrients in molasses benefits overall health which in turn will only lead to healthy skin and hair growth. Molasses would be great for adding moisture and the appearance of luster to dull hair; I probably would mix it with something that penetrates the hair shaft such as olive oil and a conditioner that contains hydrolyzed proteins for best results for my hair.

Have you ever used molasses as a treatment for your hair?

Cleopatra is said to have taken honey baths, and it’s been said that Nero the Roman Emperor’s wife; used honey on her face.  Honey has been used throughout centuries for many uses, even in beauty products.  In modern times, honey is becoming that much more popular in all kinds of beauty and hair care products.  With the labelling of organic and natural product lines, people are appreciating honey’s benefits and thus these natural hair care lines, are gaining popularity.

“Types of Honey” 

Hair Be Silk is one of the few organic/natural hair companies that make honey products.  The Manuka Honey Hair Poo is a pre-shampoo treatment.  Its main ingredient boasts this Carmel like thick Manuka Honey fromNew Zealand, Manuka Honey is a monofloral produced inNew Zealand and parts of Australia. Manuka honey is gathered from bees feeding on manuka, which grows uncultivated throughout New Zealand.

“A Sticky Situation”

 One of the benefits in honey is its ability to retain moisture.  It gives great shine and moisture to the hair shaft and helps keep the hair soft and shiny.  It rinses easily because it dissolves in water, so it can be used without the feeling of being sticky or hard to rinse out.

“Honey & Hair” 

Honey is natural:
Honey is therefore great for sensitive skin, and to protect the skin in exfoliating concoctions.

*Those allergic to bees should refrain from usage or contact a health care physician before use

Key ingredient:
To get the most benefit, make sure your honey is an organic or pure and all-natural Honey such as the Manuka Honey.

Back Bar Usage:
For those of you  want to make a batch and  cannot  order a honey treatment quick enough, you can make a back bar container quickly in your own kitchen by Mixing  1/4 cup honey, 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel. Leave on the hair for 30 minutes, then shampoo and rinse as usual.  It will not have the lil extras that a manufactured natural honey poo will contain, such as the ones made by organic/natural hair care companies, but it will give you an idea  that the benefits honey has for your mane.

“More Honey Recipes”

Homemade Honey Treatment:

1 tablespoon of honey

1 tablespoon of olive oil

Mix honey with Olive Oil. Heat in microwave oven to melt and apply to hair then cover head with a very warm towel for half an hour while taking a warm soothing bath then shampoo

Honey Hair Lightener
Mix 1/4 cup of honey in 1 cup of water and leave for an hour. Then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and teaspoon of fresh lemon juice.  Apply to dry hair. After one hour, shampoo out. The honey generates mild peroxide with the lemon, to gradually lighten hair. Other honey constituents protect hair and skin from damage.

Honey Hair Detangler

Decrease hair tangling by mixing 1 tsp. honey with 2 tbsp. olive oil and a mild shampoo. After rinsing, dry the hair, it should be soft, shiny and tangle free.

So, for all you sweet tooth’s out there, no matter what your honey regime includes, be sure to leave enough honey in the container for your hair…and try not to lick it all off your fingers!  You are now on the road to a healthy shiny mane of hair.

When it comes to hair growth, there are no hard and fast rules but the general rule of thumb is that hair grows faster during the warmer months and slightly slower in cooler weather.  Combine that with the external factors, such as increased moisture loss in cold weather, rougher fabrics rubbing against our hair, and not being able to wear your hair wet – the winter can be quite challenging when it comes to making progress in your healthy hair journey.  Here are a few tips to help you combat winter’s slower growth and maximize your retention for longer lengths:

1. Seal heavy.  Use heavier oils to seal your hair after moisturizing.  Some of my favorites are castor and extra virgin olive, both of which lock in moisture extremely well.  Another technique that many ladies swear by is what I like to call the triple layer method of moisturizing and sealing:  apply water based moisturizer, whipped shea butter (as an example but any butter type product), then an oil (castor since we are trying to seal heavy).

2. Humidify your hair.  Dry air can zap the moisture right out of your hair.  Weekly steam sessions can help increase the effectiveness of your deep conditioning sessions, but also having a humidifier in your home can help combat dryness.  If you do not own a humidifier, not to worry just place a pot of distilled water on the stove and set to a low boil.  It may seem minor, but it can really keep the air “moist” so to speak and help your hair remain moisturized.

3. Silken your clothes.  Wear a silk (or satin) bonnet beneath your winter hats, wrap a silk scarf over wool coat collars, and although they may not be as warm, opt for smooth fabrics when buying fashion scarves.  Rougher fabrics cause breakage, rob hair of its moisture and can cause split ends and breakage.

4. Keep it up.  Even if you are not wearing your hair in a long term protective style (such as a wig, weave or braids) wear your hair in an updo a couple days of the week.  Sometimes I don’t actually wear my hair up that day, but while I am commuting to and from work with my winter coat on, I will use a butterfly clip or bobby pins just to keep my hair off my clothes and car headrest.

5. Apply a clear rinse.  Clear rinses are known to lock in moisture, add a layer of protection to the hair, create a brilliant shine, and help control porosity.  These can be done any time of the year, but are particularly useful during the winter time.