So about a week ago, I finally took out my weave and what can I say after 4.5 months of not relaxing my hair!!! I was rough and tough with my afro puffs hey!….. so I decided to pull out my afro power look for the week till I could get it done – yep I was all scarf wearing combined with my huge gold hoops and I have to say that after a series of incidents where my comb got stuck as I tried to comb my hair and a few too many “ how are you doing my sister?” greetings from brothers on the road (why oh why?) I was mighty relieved to go and get my hair relaxed and treated with my hairdresser extraordinaire Dupe Oyeleke…..
Now for those of you who don’t know Dupe I will let you in on a little secret – the first time I saw/met her she had ridiculously long flowing locks down her back and I remember that while I was being introduced I was literally itching to put my fingers in there and check to see if it was a weave as I thought surely NO!! It’s not possible! She has since chopped off her locks into a hot short crop ( I know sacrilege!!) and is now (a) such a good friend and (b) an amazing hairdresser to boot – she styled my hair for my wedding last year and it was fab, fab, fab. Dupe used to work as a top stylist for a high end salon but is now a Trainer and Assessor for NVQ hairdressing students as well as being a Field Educator for Avlon.
Anyway while Dupe was taming my tresses into submission I decided to pick her brain and expert knowledge on hair, products, tips etc
Q – A number of black girls think their hair doesn’t grow or can’t grow past a certain length – what are your thoughts?
A – It’s a myth that afro hair doesn’t grow. As long as your body is healthy and functioning properly – your hair has to grow. If you think about the fact that after 6-10 weeks most girls are back to touch up their roots for a hair relaxer it means their hair is growing.
However if your hair is in bad condition it won’t grow. This is because weak, damaged hair will break easily and is prone to split ends. I see a lot of girls walking around with scraggly thin ends determined to keep the length on the hair – buts its so no worth it, first it looks bad and will only get worse. The best solution for this is to get your hair regularly trimmed every 8-12 weeks otherwise the split will keep travelling up the hair shaft and to have regular salon based treatments to repair the damage
Q – What would you recommend for girls who relax their hair?
A – Never try and relax your hair yourself or get a friend to do it. Your hair should always be professionally relaxed
Professional relaxers are always better than store bought ones – this is due to the conditioning ingredients that are added to it
Ideally before you relax your hair you should have a consultation with your stylist to discuss your hair type, concerns and aims for your hair
Treat your body well with the right nutrition, diet and exercise. It all affects the condition of your hair
Q – Are there any particular products you would recommend?
A – Everyone is unique so what works for one person wouldn’t necessary work for someone else so its difficult to just recommend products without seeing the persons hair.
Ideally I would recommend that you stick to salon brands as they have usually put more research into the products and they are designed to work as follow on products from your salon treatment. Additionally it also means you can speak to an expert to get recommendations on what to use for your hair type and you will also be able to try the products before you buy them.
I would never rule out any kind of brand or say it’s only meant for European hair or afro hair. It’s really all about what works for you. Personally some of the brands I like are Mizani, Keracare, Paul Mitchell and L’Oreal.
Q – So what essential tips and products do you need to have in your bathroom cabinet?
A- As an absolute basic you need a good shampoo and conditioner. Your hair care starts from the moment you wash it and not from when you are styling. What you use to wash and condition your hair will impact how your hair looks when you come to style it. Always use something that adds moisture to afro hair as afro hair is quite dry.
Try to have a treatment at least once a month. If you get it done in a salon it is usually protein based, try not to do a protein treatment at home as if it’s not handled correctly it can actually damage your hair. For home treatments you can use your usual conditioner or a more intense one and either sit under a dryer for 30 minutes or if you don’t have one put on a shower cap or use cling film and wrap you hair in a warm towel.
Always apply products to your hair when wet /towel dried as everything you put on dry hair doesn’t actually do anything to your hair – instead it just sits on top
Use more moisturising based products rather than oil based products as they can weigh your hair down
When combing Afro hair, always comb from the ends working your way up to the root in order to reduce the risk of breakage
Always use a wide-toothed comb to detangle, preferably with a conditioner
Wash your hair at least once a week this helps remove product build up, lets your hair breath and eliminates dry and itchy scalp
When you go to sleep always wrap your hair in a silk or satin scarf – this helps your hair retain moisture.
Q – What is your take on using hair straighteners?
A – Straighteners are not necessarily evil as some people seem to think. You simply need to ensure you don’t overuse them and use heat protectors. Keracare’s silken sheen acts as a great heat protector. I would suggest that you only use it to style your hair every other week as it is a lot of heat to apply on a regular basis.
If your relaxer has done the job it’s meant to do then you should be able achieve straight hair by just blow-drying it with a brush. Mizani’s strengthening serum and Keracare’s blow-dry lotion are quite good to use for this as they act as a moisturiser and will leave a nice sheen afterwards.
Allow your hair to dry partially, then use a bristle brush which with your blow-dryer it will help you achieve a much smoother look.
Q – What cost saving tips would you advise for girls who can’t afford to go to the salon regularly but want to keep their hair in good condition?
A – Go to a reputable salon for a thorough consultation – even if you can’t use the salon afterwards. The consultation is usually free and they will educate you on what to use for your hair
Go into hairdressing schools and colleges as they offer the same treatments as salons for much cheaper prices. Alan D School of Hairdressing is a good one to go to however most schools will always provide this service so you can find one more local to you. You need to remember that students will be doing your hair however they are always supervised.
You can take in your own products that were recommended for your hair type and the students will be happy to use those
Use those same products at home to maintain your hair afterwards
Well there you go girlies – hope Dupe’s tips help
Xoxo
Now for those of you who don’t know Dupe I will let you in on a little secret – the first time I saw/met her she had ridiculously long flowing locks down her back and I remember that while I was being introduced I was literally itching to put my fingers in there and check to see if it was a weave as I thought surely NO!! It’s not possible! She has since chopped off her locks into a hot short crop ( I know sacrilege!!) and is now (a) such a good friend and (b) an amazing hairdresser to boot – she styled my hair for my wedding last year and it was fab, fab, fab. Dupe used to work as a top stylist for a high end salon but is now a Trainer and Assessor for NVQ hairdressing students as well as being a Field Educator for Avlon.
Anyway while Dupe was taming my tresses into submission I decided to pick her brain and expert knowledge on hair, products, tips etc
Q – A number of black girls think their hair doesn’t grow or can’t grow past a certain length – what are your thoughts?
A – It’s a myth that afro hair doesn’t grow. As long as your body is healthy and functioning properly – your hair has to grow. If you think about the fact that after 6-10 weeks most girls are back to touch up their roots for a hair relaxer it means their hair is growing.
However if your hair is in bad condition it won’t grow. This is because weak, damaged hair will break easily and is prone to split ends. I see a lot of girls walking around with scraggly thin ends determined to keep the length on the hair – buts its so no worth it, first it looks bad and will only get worse. The best solution for this is to get your hair regularly trimmed every 8-12 weeks otherwise the split will keep travelling up the hair shaft and to have regular salon based treatments to repair the damage
Q – What would you recommend for girls who relax their hair?
A – Never try and relax your hair yourself or get a friend to do it. Your hair should always be professionally relaxed
Professional relaxers are always better than store bought ones – this is due to the conditioning ingredients that are added to it
Ideally before you relax your hair you should have a consultation with your stylist to discuss your hair type, concerns and aims for your hair
Treat your body well with the right nutrition, diet and exercise. It all affects the condition of your hair
Q – Are there any particular products you would recommend?
A – Everyone is unique so what works for one person wouldn’t necessary work for someone else so its difficult to just recommend products without seeing the persons hair.
Ideally I would recommend that you stick to salon brands as they have usually put more research into the products and they are designed to work as follow on products from your salon treatment. Additionally it also means you can speak to an expert to get recommendations on what to use for your hair type and you will also be able to try the products before you buy them.
I would never rule out any kind of brand or say it’s only meant for European hair or afro hair. It’s really all about what works for you. Personally some of the brands I like are Mizani, Keracare, Paul Mitchell and L’Oreal.
Q – So what essential tips and products do you need to have in your bathroom cabinet?
A- As an absolute basic you need a good shampoo and conditioner. Your hair care starts from the moment you wash it and not from when you are styling. What you use to wash and condition your hair will impact how your hair looks when you come to style it. Always use something that adds moisture to afro hair as afro hair is quite dry.
Try to have a treatment at least once a month. If you get it done in a salon it is usually protein based, try not to do a protein treatment at home as if it’s not handled correctly it can actually damage your hair. For home treatments you can use your usual conditioner or a more intense one and either sit under a dryer for 30 minutes or if you don’t have one put on a shower cap or use cling film and wrap you hair in a warm towel.
Always apply products to your hair when wet /towel dried as everything you put on dry hair doesn’t actually do anything to your hair – instead it just sits on top
Use more moisturising based products rather than oil based products as they can weigh your hair down
When combing Afro hair, always comb from the ends working your way up to the root in order to reduce the risk of breakage
Always use a wide-toothed comb to detangle, preferably with a conditioner
Wash your hair at least once a week this helps remove product build up, lets your hair breath and eliminates dry and itchy scalp
When you go to sleep always wrap your hair in a silk or satin scarf – this helps your hair retain moisture.
Q – What is your take on using hair straighteners?
A – Straighteners are not necessarily evil as some people seem to think. You simply need to ensure you don’t overuse them and use heat protectors. Keracare’s silken sheen acts as a great heat protector. I would suggest that you only use it to style your hair every other week as it is a lot of heat to apply on a regular basis.
If your relaxer has done the job it’s meant to do then you should be able achieve straight hair by just blow-drying it with a brush. Mizani’s strengthening serum and Keracare’s blow-dry lotion are quite good to use for this as they act as a moisturiser and will leave a nice sheen afterwards.
Allow your hair to dry partially, then use a bristle brush which with your blow-dryer it will help you achieve a much smoother look.
Q – What cost saving tips would you advise for girls who can’t afford to go to the salon regularly but want to keep their hair in good condition?
A – Go to a reputable salon for a thorough consultation – even if you can’t use the salon afterwards. The consultation is usually free and they will educate you on what to use for your hair
Go into hairdressing schools and colleges as they offer the same treatments as salons for much cheaper prices. Alan D School of Hairdressing is a good one to go to however most schools will always provide this service so you can find one more local to you. You need to remember that students will be doing your hair however they are always supervised.
You can take in your own products that were recommended for your hair type and the students will be happy to use those
Use those same products at home to maintain your hair afterwards
Well there you go girlies – hope Dupe’s tips help
Xoxo
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