Choosing an “au naturel” look does not require much effort these days – there are many natural black hairstyles that you can wear. Another good thing about going back-to-basics as far as your naturally kinky black hair is concerned is that the more ‘natural’ its state as a hairstyle is, the healthier your hair gets.

Moreover, there are a good number of products that can help maintain the lush volume of your locks, so it does pay to wear natural black hairstyles rather than trying to tame your hair. New, advanced formula shampoos, conditioners and light styling aids allow you to “wash and go” with very little styling, drying or combing needed.

Why It Pays to Go for Natural Black Hairstyles

Over the years, more and more women are going the natural route. When you have coarse, thick or kinky locks, your tendency as a teen would be to spend hours in a stylist’s salon or in your own room using a straightening iron so that you can tame your locks a bit. Or, you might have also tried sporting one of the many braided or cornrow designs – the pressure of which will eventually take its toll on your hair.

So why does it pay to go for natural black hairstyles? There’s a certain amount of freedom allowing your long or short locks to just be on its naturalized state.

Need more convincing? Here are a few other benefits:

* You don’t have to suffer from the damaging effects of constant heat application
* If you don’t have time to go to the salon, your hair will become dry and brittle if its previous style was not properly maintained by a professional stylist – in other words, making a time-consuming effort in styling and products requires time-consuming and expensive maintenance
* Your scalp will be free of the pressure that usually tight braids or cornrows. Traction Alopecia (hair loss) is not uncommon in African American women who consistently wear tight braids.
* When you constantly style and use harsh chemicals, you might feel as if your hair is not growing long or fast – and in fact, this may be true. This is because of the drying elements that your hair strands are being subject to, as well as the chemicals applied to your hair. Once all of these factors are eliminated, you will find that your hair will grow longer, quicker.

Tips on Maintaining Natural Hair

Now that you already have an idea about the benefits of going “au naturel”, what are the things that you should do to maintain a natural black hairstyle? Basically, you need to have the right products and tools for maintenance. A wide toothed comb, a good clarifying shampoo, a moisturizing cream conditioner and a leave-in conditioner are the things that you need for the daily regimen. We also recommend a weekly use of a deep moisturizing shampoo.

Also, a once-a-month application of hot oil or deep conditioning treatment is also necessary to keep your hair from getting brittle and dry.

True enough, nothing beats the feeling of going au naturel. So if you’ve always worn your kinky hair in a chemically straightened or braided hairstyle, isn’t it time you gave yourself an easy, low-maintenance option?

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The first thing most Black women do wrong when it comes to taking care of their hair is that they do not moisturize often enough or use the right products to moisturize with. Black hair is naturally the driest kind of hair there is because the curl pattern makes it difficult for sebum to nourish the entire hair strand. Therefore, we must add extra moisture. The best moisturizers for black hair list water or glycerin as the first ingredient. For example, I personally use Nexxus Headress Weightless Leave-in Conditioner. In general, hair grease products that contain petroleum or mineral oil as the first ingredient should be avoided because they do not moisturize, but instead merely coat the hair strands and block the pores of the scalp, causing buildup and attracting dirt.

The subject of dirt brings me to the next thing that black women are doing wrong when caring for their hair–they do not wash their hair often enough. A lot of black women I know (and I used to be one of them), will only wash their hair once a month because they believe the myth that water dries their hair out even more and that frequent washing causes damage. This isnt true. Water is the best moisturizer of all moisturizers, but when you simply let the hair dry without putting anything onto the hair to keep the moisture in, all the moisture evaporates into the air, leaving your hair even drier than it was before you washed it. You must add a moisturizer, followed by an oil (I use Olive Oil mostly, but there are hundreds of oils you can use!) before drying your hair to keep moisture in and avoid dryness. I wash my hair about once a week. Some black women wash their hair every day or every other day and it is long, healthy and strong. By the way, air drying is best for black hair because of the third and final topic I will discuss.

Excessive heat is another huge reason black women have damaged hair. Blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons and hot combs make the dryness in our hair worse and causes breakage and damage. The less heat and manipulation you put your hair through, the better it will look! There are many alternatives to using heat on your hair like rollers, wrapping, and air drying.

By following these and other Black hair care techniques, my hair is now almost arm pit length–the longest (and healthiest) it has ever been in my life!

For more tips about Black hair care and to keep up to date on my own personal hair growth progress visit my blog. You can find the link below.

Black Hair-Care E-book

While a lot of black men prefer to wear their hair short, there are men who love having long hair. This is really dependent on their personalities and their openness in wearing long hair. The most common styles for black men with long hair are dreadlocks, cornrows, and afros. Dreadlocks consist of thick strands twisted or braided. Cornrows, on the other hand, consist of a braided style which keeps the braids close to the scalp. Cornrows are similar to a small French braid. An afro hairstyle is a popular hairstyle for men since it brings about the natural style of a black man’s hair. This style allows the hair to stand out like a puff on a person’s head.

It doesn’t matter if your hair is long or short whatever style you choose, that is your preference. Examine your look in the mirror and ask yourself if your choice of style is suited to you. Just remember that the best hair style is that which suits your facial shape and your hair care needs. You should know these factors first before you choose your hairstyle.

The Joycescape Network http://joycescape.com/ provides tips and information not only for women but also for men.

The good thing about having such tools – flat irons, curling irons, straighteners – at your disposal is that no matter which type of occasion it is that you are attending – or even if you’re just gearing to spend a day out with friends – you will get to say no to bad hair days.

Here, we will take a look at one of the most popular African American designs worn by Hollywood celebs: Sedu black hairstyles.

What Exactly is a Sedu Hairstyle?

As indicated in their website, Sedu means to seduce, turn on the object of your desire and to bring out the seductive goddess in you. Basically, sporting Sedu black hairstyles mean that you will be using one of the many Sedu design products which can be purchased through their site.

Perhaps the most popular product that they have is their flat irons – although they have a line of dryers and styling products as well. So what is it about Sedu black hairstyles which make them a must-style to wear?

If you have wavy, frizzy or curly black hair, you can tame your locks into a sleek, smooth and silky-looking style which is straightened with the help of an “appliance”. What makes flat irons a “must-have” is you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars getting your hair chemically straightened in a salon. You can do it right in the comfort of your own home whne used with the right shampoos, conditioners and oil treatments.

Get Glamorously Straight & Wavy Results

Let’s now check out the some of the glamorously straight-look and wavy designs you can get with a quality flat iron, a little creativity and the right products:

Sedu Short Hairstyles

Celebrities like Halle Berry and Naomi Campbell are usually seen sporting short Sedu black hairstyles. If you have an extremely short hair in a pixie cut, you can use a Sedu styling flat iron to come up with an ultra-glam look.

After straightening, you can use a hair mousse or oil (Emu, Jojoba or Argan) to add moisture and volume and scrunch your hair up any which way to give it that tousled, yet still glamorous look. Or, you can use a styling product which adds sheen to your locks and style your short hair in a super-short, straight and sleek ‘do.

Sedu Long Hairstyles

Beyonce, Tyra Banks and Halle Berry when she’s wearing her hair long can also be seen sporting long Sedu black hairstyles. This is suitable for women with black hair reaching past their shoulders – or even those who have a short, straight bob. All you need to do is straighten your curly hair using a flat iron to get that long, sleek, straight and silky feel and appearance.

With a few minutes of preparation, you can turn your curly hair into a super silky and straight style – all with the help of Sedu black hairstyles ideas.

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The first thing most Black women do wrong when it comes to taking care of their hair is that they do not moisturize often enough or use the right products to moisturize with. Black hair is naturally the driest kind of hair there is because the curl pattern makes it difficult for sebum to nourish the entire hair strand. Therefore, we must add extra moisture. The best moisturizers for black hair list water or glycerin as the first ingredient. For example, I personally use Nexxus Headress Weightless Leave-in Conditioner. In general, hair grease products that contain petroleum or mineral oil as the first ingredient should be avoided because they do not moisturize, but instead merely coat the hair strands and block the pores of the scalp, causing buildup and attracting dirt.

The subject of dirt brings me to the next thing that black women are doing wrong when caring for their hair–they do not wash their hair often enough. A lot of black women I know (and I used to be one of them), will only wash their hair once a month because they believe the myth that water dries their hair out even more and that frequent washing causes damage. This isnt true. Water is the best moisturizer of all moisturizers, but when you simply let the hair dry without putting anything onto the hair to keep the moisture in, all the moisture evaporates into the air, leaving your hair even drier than it was before you washed it. You must add a moisturizer, followed by an oil (I use Olive Oil mostly, but there are hundreds of oils you can use!) before drying your hair to keep moisture in and avoid dryness. I wash my hair about once a week. Some black women wash their hair every day or every other day and it is long, healthy and strong. By the way, air drying is best for black hair because of the third and final topic I will discuss.

Excessive heat is another huge reason black women have damaged hair. Blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons and hot combs make the dryness in our hair worse and causes breakage and damage. The less heat and manipulation you put your hair through, the better it will look! There are many alternatives to using heat on your hair like rollers, wrapping, and air drying.

By following these and other Black hair care techniques, my hair is now almost arm pit length–the longest (and healthiest) it has ever been in my life!

For more tips about Black hair care and to keep up to date on my own personal hair growth progress visit my blog. You can find the link below.

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Black hair can be problematic but making it shiny and gleaming with health is not rocket science – here are some helpful tips: First of all you need a hydrating shampoo, black hair tends to be very dry and it needs moisturizing, hot oil treatments are also good to give your hair a shine. You should do this once or twice a week to keep your hair looking healthy.

Once you have your hair in tip top condition you can start looking at style. The bob is back this season and plenty of women are jumping on the short black hairstyle bandwagon. A short bob looks great on black hair, to make it ultra stylish have a short bob with the last couple of inches razor cut, leaving you with wispy ends. Use a small amount of styling wax to fix it into position.

If you are still not sure whether you should follow the trend and bob your hair then try one of the virtual salons online. Most of them don’t charge for this virtual makeover service. All you need to do is upload a copy of your favorite picture of yourself. Once you have done that then you can fit the hairstyles round your face – and literally try them on for size to see whether the trend is for you.

Short is the buzz at the moment, short bobs and short crops! 2007 is going to see a lot of celebrities getting their locks shorn. Be out front with the trend and go for a short black hairstyle to say hello to spring.

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First and foremost, you should have all your chemical services done by a professional! Any relaxers, colors, highlights, perms, and rinses should be done in a salon. A chemical service that goes bad is the single most damage you can do to your hair in one sitting. Not only does a professional know how to prepare your hair for a chemical service and correctly apply it, but he or she knows how to counter any damage that a chemical can do (or has done).

Avoid using hot styling tools as much as possible. When you use these tools, (blow-dryers, hot irons, and pressing combs) the heat that comes off of them, comes into direct contact with every strand of hair.
You want to avoid this as much as possible. If this is already a part of your hair routine, it may be hard to go simply quit, but there are ways you can use these tools and minimize damage to your hair.

For those of you that have grown up following a different routine, this last piece of information I share with you, may just blow your mind!

If you are serious about growing your hair at a much faster rate…wash it more often. You should wash your hair between 2-3 times a week, depending upon how active you are and the texture of your hair. The more active you are, then three times a week is better for you, the less active you are, the closer to two times a week.

The key here is you MUST use products of a professional caliber. Just this one tip alone is worth its weight in gold. Those that have used this information have seen amazing results.

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For black men, vitamins and moisturizers is key to healthy hair. Lack of vitamins can cause slow growing, dull hair and hair that is easily broken or damaged and can sometimes cause thinning. Whether you have healthy or unhealthy hair, keeping a daily hair care regimen will let you get the best look with your hair and also keep your hair healthy and on your head instead of going bald.

Black men have different types of hair, dry hair, oily hair, damaged hair and so on. Treating your hair accordingly with the right shampoo and conditioner will help you hair return to its healthy state. While there are few products made for black men’s hair, these products can be very beneficial and there are also natural hair care treatments that can be used by all men.

With the right hair care, you can achieve the hair style you want with ease and without having to worry about the after math. So where can black men find information, tips and advice on hair care?

It’s normal if you’re not sure where to start in hair care for men, that’s why online you can find lots of resources for men on grooming and more specifically hair care. Get the advice and tips you need to start treating your hair right and getting the best look you deserve.

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1. Black Women Can’t Grow Hair: This is just an out and out lie. Do other ethnic groups have a genetic monopoly on long hair? Is there something special, or flawed, about black hair that prevents it from growing? Is there some funky gene tied to melanin that prevents hair growth? No, no, and no. Black women can grow hair. Black women do grow hair. Don’t you have to go for a touch-up on your relaxer or color every 6 to 8 weeks? Then your hair is growing. The question is how to keep it on your head. Black hair has special needs and can’t be treated like straight hair, which leads us straight to our other myth.

2. Only ‘Mixed’ Women Can Grow Hair: Another long-standing lie. There is a reason that mixed women tend to have longer hair. Sometimes, not all of the times, ‘mixed’ women have a looser curl. The looser the curl the more that it retains moisture. The more moisture it retains the less breakage occurs. Also, every bend in a curl is an opportunity for breakage. Looser curls have less bends than tight curls. The hair stays on the head and length is achieved. Tight, kinky curls are very dry. They require extra care and attention to achieve long lengths, but with proper cultivation they can grow just as long as looser curls.

3. Greasing the Scalp: This comes from the dryness of kinky hair. In an effort to give moisture the scalp is often coated with Vaseline or mineral oil. While natural oils are an integral part of a black hair growth regimen, petroleum jelly and mineral oil are not. These products coat the scalp and suffocate the hair follicle. Hair growth slows down and sometimes stops completely.

4. Dirty Hair Grows: This is another myth that arose out of the dryness of kinky hair. In an attempt to prevent the dryness we feel after shampooing, many of us stop washing our hair for 2 to 3 weeks at a time. Again, the scalp must be clear of debris for hair follicles to thrive and produce hair. Dirty hair is just that, dirty. And it doesn’t grow any faster.

5. Relaxed Hair Can’t Grow: Many of us have seen black women with long beautiful dreads and have drawn the conclusion that we must go natural to get length. Relaxed hair is much weaker than natural hair and will break faster. You will get length fast if you go natural. However, if relaxed hair is nurtured and cultivated it will grow just as long, just as fast, as natural hair. All you need to know is how.

These are the top 5 hair growth myths. Black women can grow their hair. We just need to be taught how to care for and nurture our hair.

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1. Braids Will Help Your Hair Grow

When your hair is braided with extensions, it will prevent your ends from rubbing against your clothing, therefore protecting them. Protective styles encourage growth. In fact, women who are seeking to grow their African American hair long, would do well to consider researching black hair braid styles. There are a variety of styles and you can have the look of long hair while you are actually growing yours out.

2. Time Savers

Your upkeep in the morning is drastically cut down. You wake up and go. As long as you wrap your hair up at night you will look as great in the evening as when you wake up. No more rolling your hair up at night or revving up the curling iron in the morning. Braids are true time savers.

3. Cut Down on Salon Time

How long does your usual hairdo last? If you are like most black women, you get your hair done either every week or every other week. And even if you do not get your hair done that frequently, you know someone who does and their African American hair is always looking good.

If you explore black hair braid styles, you can cut down your salon visits to once every two months. Now, it can take up to six to eight hours to have your hair braided, but at least this is a one time expense in time and money and you know to set aside the day.

So, if you have never thought about having your African American hair braided, give it some serious thought. It will help your hair grow, save you time getting ready in the morning and save you some dollars since your hairstyle will last two months.

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