#bedtimehairregimen

[angelislovely]

8 Great Tips that Grow Your LOC'S

 Loc’s, Dreadlocks, Dreads … call them what you like; they are a beautiful way to rock your natural crown.  For those of you who are thinking of wearing your hair in loc’s or currently have them, here are 8 great tips of how to care and grow healthy long loc’s and have a healthy Loc Life. With all hair, you have to adopt a healthy hair regimen and be consistent with it to see your hair reach and maintain optimum length and health. People think with Loc that routines and hair maintenance isn’t a factor because it is “matted hair”. Wrong it needs the same type of care, if not more to have healthy beautiful Loc’s. 1. MASSAGE YOUR SCALP Not only is it very relaxing, but it also stimulates hair growth. I also love to massage my scalp because helps strengthen the scalp. I notice I am not nearly as tendered headed. If you don’t wear a lot of Loc styles you know what I mean. You’d be surprised how the simple act of gently massaging your hair at night for about 5 minutes, will really help you achieve the beautiful loc’s you desire and have your hair growing down your back. 2. CONDITIONER'S I never use conditioners in my loc’s. Though conditioners are great for people with normal and or natural hair.  It can be the worst thing for people with loc’s. There are so many chemicals found in conditioners, one of the most harmful ingredients for people that have loc’s or wanting to grow locs with harmful chemicals. Most detanglers are acidifies and have low pH's 2.5 to 3.5. They close the cuticle of the hair, which cause tangles. Some "shield" the hair shaft with polymers (polymers are strings of "like" molecules- a chain). Some detangler’s are instant, some take 1-5 minutes to work. Loc’s are created from tangled hair so for people with locks or most importantly starting locks, conditioners will not only slow down the 'locking' process but it can also prevent it. 3. DON'T TOUCH UP TOO MUCH Everyone loves the fresh look of a retwist, but if done too often it can start to create breakage and thinning at the root. Absentminded, repetitive twisting pulls your hair follicles and can cause the loc to fall out over time.   Only twist when it is time for your touch up and be sure to give your hair plenty of time. Don't retwist or interlock too tight- it shouldn't hurt. If it does that can cause loc’s to thin.         4.MOISTURIZE YOUR  LOC'S Keep those loc’s moisturized by occasionally spraying with water mixed with essential oils like peppermint, Lavender, lemongrass, coconut oil and olive oil.  Moisturize properly. You may find that your loc’s don't require as much moisture as your loose hair did, but don't test your luck- you should still moisturize regularly. Dry hair breaks easily, and the last thing you want is brittle loc’s! Use a light leave-in moisturizer, or water sealed in with oils. 5. WASH YOUR LOC’S REGULARLY It is time to debunk that myth that loc’s don’t need regular washing. In fact, it’s the opposite – it will actually help them grow faster. When you first create your loc’s, wait a few weeks, some people have to wait months before washing them. After this, you can wash them once a week or once every other week. Don’t over-wash. While loc’s are more prone to odors and buildup than loose hair, over-washing can dry out your scalp and lead to flaking, itchiness, breakage, and thinning and dry brittle locks. I recommend once every 1-2 weeks, and don’t wash starter loc’s until they have some time to mature. 6. PRACTICE NIGHT CARE Just like with any other hairstyle, sleeping with a night scarf (a silk wrap to avoid breakage) is so important. Loc’s tend to shed a lot, and protecting your edges and your scalp is crucial.  A silk night cap helps keep the moisture in your hair and scalp, as well as protect your hair from pillow friction. Make a practice of never going to sleep without protectin...

[angelislovely]

Do we ever think of silk,  any more than a soft shiny fabric that looks fabulous? Perhaps. It has more benefits than even I have ever imagined. I will share a few but there is so much more as well as so much more history surrounding this elegant fabric. Silk  is a natural  protein   fiber , some forms of which can be  woven  into  textiles . The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of  fibroin  and is produced by certain insect larvae. 1. A Youthful, Glowing Complexion The tightly-woven, smooth fibers of silk help keep moisture close to the skin, says Jennifer Peterson, MD, a dermatologist at the Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center in Houston. “When you wake up after sleeping on a silk pillowcase”, your face will be better hydrated so much more than if you slept on cotton. This is a great beauty tip for those with  dry, flaky skin . As a bonus, she says, hydrated, plump skin cells show fewer fine lines (wrinkles!) and more luminosity than dehydrated skin cells. 2. A Good Night’s Sleep According to the National Center for Sleep Disorders Research at the National Institutes of Health, 30 to 40 percent of Americans have  problems while sleeping . And experts say that bedding may be at least partly to blame in some of these cases. Sheets that irritate your skin, bunch up, or invite dust mites in will interfere with a good night’s rest. Silk, with all its aforementioned benefits, is the fabric that will dress your bed for the sweetest possible slumber. “There’s also pretty good studies showing that what we call ‘sleep wrinkles’ form on the side of your face on while you sleep which apparently causes more wrinkles in the future, ” Jeffrey Spiegel, MD, a facial plastic surgeon and professor at Boston University. One way to prevent them? Use a silk pillowcase, which is gentler and less likely than cotton to resist the face and cause wrinkles. Talk about beauty sleep! 3. A Break From Allergies “People are very rarely allergic to silk,” says Neal B. Schultz, MD, a New York City dermatologist. This is because silk is free of any potentially irritating added chemicals and contains natural substances that ward off various  environmental allergens  (and resulting skin conditions), including dust mites, mold, and fungus, he explains. 4. Healthy, Shiny Hair “Silky smooth” isn’t just an expression. Beauty experts claim that the luxurious fabric can help keep your hair soft, moisturized, and free of pesky tangles. “Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase will cause hair to bunch, knot, and get stat-icky,” says New York City salon owner John Corbett, who recently founded the nonprofit Hair2Help for cancer patients and their caregivers. “On a soft silk pillowcase, however, hair will slide, which is much less damaging.” Silk may also help  preserve your style  while you sleep, he adds. Decades ago, women slept on satin pillowcases or wrapped their heads in toilet paper to preserve their teased and tortured hairstyles. The modern-day equivalent is to sleep on — or in — silk. “One of my favorite beauty tips for women is to wrap a silk scarf around your head when you sleep,” Corbett says. “The oils won’t increase as much in your hair, and you’ll be able to hold on to your blowout for an extra day or two.” I have been wrapping my hair in silk scarves since I was 12. I think that’s when I started flat ironing my hair. My wrap (flat ironed hair) would be gorgeous until I got it wet or sweated it out. I was able that have my hair fabulously blowing in the wind. My hair even became more hydrated by doing so. I even wear scarves in my Loc and I notice the same effect. It's magical. It's obvious how the hair lays down and retains moi...

[angelislovely]

8 Great Tips that Grow Your LOC'S

 Loc’s, Dreadlocks, Dreads … call them what you like; they are a beautiful way to rock your natural crown.  For those of you who are thinking of wearing your hair in loc’s or currently have them, here are 8 great tips of how to care and grow healthy long loc’s and have a healthy Loc Life. With all hair, you have to adopt a healthy hair regimen and be consistent with it to see your hair reach and maintain optimum length and health. People think with Loc that routines and hair maintenance isn’t a factor because it is “matted hair”. Wrong it needs the same type of care, if not more to have healthy beautiful Loc’s. 1. MASSAGE YOUR SCALP Not only is it very relaxing, but it also stimulates hair growth. I also love to massage my scalp because helps strengthen the scalp. I notice I am not nearly as tendered headed. If you don’t wear a lot of Loc styles you know what I mean. You’d be surprised how the simple act of gently massaging your hair at night for about 5 minutes, will really help you achieve the beautiful loc’s you desire and have your hair growing down your back. 2. CONDITIONER'S I never use conditioners in my loc’s. Though conditioners are great for people with normal and or natural hair.  It can be the worst thing for people with loc’s. There are so many chemicals found in conditioners, one of the most harmful ingredients for people that have loc’s or wanting to grow locs with harmful chemicals. Most detanglers are acidifies and have low pH's 2.5 to 3.5. They close the cuticle of the hair, which cause tangles. Some "shield" the hair shaft with polymers (polymers are strings of "like" molecules- a chain). Some detangler’s are instant, some take 1-5 minutes to work. Loc’s are created from tangled hair so for people with locks or most importantly starting locks, conditioners will not only slow down the 'locking' process but it can also prevent it. 3. DON'T TOUCH UP TOO MUCH Everyone loves the fresh look of a retwist, but if done too often it can start to create breakage and thinning at the root. Absentminded, repetitive twisting pulls your hair follicles and can cause the loc to fall out over time.   Only twist when it is time for your touch up and be sure to give your hair plenty of time. Don't retwist or interlock too tight- it shouldn't hurt. If it does that can cause loc’s to thin.         4.MOISTURIZE YOUR  LOC'S Keep those loc’s moisturized by occasionally spraying with water mixed with essential oils like peppermint, Lavender, lemongrass, coconut oil and olive oil.  Moisturize properly. You may find that your loc’s don't require as much moisture as your loose hair did, but don't test your luck- you should still moisturize regularly. Dry hair breaks easily, and the last thing you want is brittle loc’s! Use a light leave-in moisturizer, or water sealed in with oils. 5. WASH YOUR LOC’S REGULARLY It is time to debunk that myth that loc’s don’t need regular washing. In fact, it’s the opposite – it will actually help them grow faster. When you first create your loc’s, wait a few weeks, some people have to wait months before washing them. After this, you can wash them once a week or once every other week. Don’t over-wash. While loc’s are more prone to odors and buildup than loose hair, over-washing can dry out your scalp and lead to flaking, itchiness, breakage, and thinning and dry brittle locks. I recommend once every 1-2 weeks, and don’t wash starter loc’s until they have some time to mature. 6. PRACTICE NIGHT CARE Just like with any other hairstyle, sleeping with a night scarf (a silk wrap to avoid breakage) is so important. Loc’s tend to shed a lot, and protecting your edges and your scalp is crucial.  A silk night cap helps keep the moisture in your hair and scalp, as well as protect your hair from pillow friction. Make a practice of never going to sleep without protectin...