Connect with us: (720)645-1642 Book An Appointment

Self-Care

Category Archives

13 Tips For Taming Frizz In Curly Hair

People with curly hair often complain about frizz. “My hair is a frizz ball!” “I look like a poodle!” “My hair is out of control!” “Hey I am over here behind my frizz!” “Help!” I hear these complaints and more nearly every week.

The first thing I usually tell my frizz-stricken clients is to take a deep breath, relax and know that curly hair will always have some frizz. It is ok. I love how in her book, The Curly Girl Handbook, Loraine Massey affectionately refers to frizz as a halo. It’s simply part of the deal that when you have been blessed with curly hair, then you will have some frizz too.

But frizz still seems to be the arch-nemesis of many a curly haired soul, and since I love my curly peeps, I am writing this blog to offer some help. There are steps you can take to minimize the amount of frizz in your hair.

Here are 10 tips for taming frizz:

1. Use a sulfate-free shampoo – Sulfates, such as sodium laurel sulfate, are harsh detergents that remove all the dirt from your hair, but they also strip your hair of its natural and beneficial oils. This dries out your hair and causes it to be more frizzy. I like Innersense Pure Harmony Hairbath, Ouidad Nourishing Oil Shampoo and DevaCurl Delight Low Poo.

2. Hydrate with conditioner – Applying a good hydrating conditioner to your hair after cleansing is a must. For medium to coarse curly hair, I prefer Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner, Ouidad Curl Quencher Conditioner and DevaCurl One Condition.

3. For 2C, 3A-3C and 4A-4C curls, use a leave-in conditioner for extra moisture. I like Innersense Quiet Calm Curl Control Cream, Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave In Conditioner and DevaCurl Decadence Leave-In Conditioner.

4. Apply a curl defining product when your hair is wet. After rinsing out your conditioner ring your hair out gently with your hands, flip your head upside down and apply your styling products, including your leave in conditioner, when your hair is dripping wet. If you like using gel, my favorite is the DevaCurl Light Defining Gel.

5. Use a microfiber towel or a t-shirt to ring out your hair. After you have scrunched in your favorite curl styler, then flip your head upright, create your part (I like zig zag parts for volume) and then use a microfiber towel or a t-shirt to squeeze out the excess moisture from your hair. Do not use a terrycloth towel which could rough up the cuticle of your hair and cause frizz.

6. When drying your hair with a diffuser, set the air speed on low and use either cool air or low heat.

7. Finish your styling with a few drops of essential oil to seal in the moisture, add shine and control frizz. I like Natulique Argan Oil and Innersense Harmonic Healing Oil.

8. Add a spray shine such as Natulique Ultra Shine Finisher with rose petal oil for extra hydration and shine. Curly hair absorbs more light than straight hair and so the more shine the better.

9. Be conscious of how you sleep on your hair. For the best chance of achieving frizz-free second and third day curls, place your hair in a “pineapple” on the top of your head. Either wear a bonnet made of silk or satin or sleep on a pillowcase made of silk or satin. In the morning, let your hair down, spritz with a curl revitalizer, scrunch and shape your curls with your fingers and you are good to go. My favorite curl revitalizers are DevaCurl Mist-er Right and Ouidad Botanical Boost.

10. Treat your curls to a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment as often as you can. Deep conditioning once a week would be great, but once a month is definitely better than never. A deep condition mask will infuse your curls with moisture and keep frizz to a minimum.

11. Once you have completed styling your hair, try not to touch it after that. If you are running your fingers through your hair, twirling it, or flipping it around, etc. you are breaking up your curls and creating frizz. I know its hard, but I am just saying.

12. Don’t put your purse strap on your hair. Also, if you are wearing a scarf, try to avoid wool because your hair will rub on it and get frizzy.

13. Don’t stress out if you have some frizz. Like I said earlier, having some frizz is a fact of life for curly girls. If you are stressed out, I can almost guarantee that your hair will get frizzier because you will be obsessing about it, touching it and making your problem worse. Also, frizz creates volume, and big hair is in. Try to celebrate your curly halo! You are a divine being my friend.

Are Hairstylists Essential Workers?

After being forced to shutdown for seven weeks because of Covid-19, I began to wonder what an “essential worker” was. Apparently, the government had decided that I and my staff were not essential. It seems, however, that our clients felt differently.
I was grateful when we were allowed to return to work and see our curly clients again. I was surprised, however, by how desperate many of them were to see us. I heard story after story of how they had tried to cut and color their own hair during the lockdown. Some had taken their household scissors and began snipping curls here and there. Only a little bit of fixing was needed for these people. Others had attempted to give themselves a complete haircut, and this usually required more work to correct.
One of my clients who had tried cutting her own hair said she thought she looked like a “homeless poodle”. “Please help me reenter the human race,” she begged.
Another woman tried to give herself a Deva Cut, but her hair ended up looking like an inspiring design for a skateboard park.
One woman convinced her husband to cut her wavy hair into an A-Line bob. Needless to say, it did not turn out as she had hoped. Her hair looked like a bumpy ski slope.
Some of my clients asked me to send them hair color and then they enlisted their roommate or significant other to apply the color for them. These people were usually satisfied with the results. Others experimented with coloring their hair using seemingly innocent products such as henna or box color that they had purchased in a supermarket. Fixing these color disasters usually took more than one appointment.
Our pandemic era meaning of “essential work” refers to work that’s needed to meet basic human needs and safety during the shelter in place order. In my conversations with my clients, I was amazed by the suffering that many of them had experienced when they were unhappy with how their hair looked. It occurred to me that being happy with one’s appearance is a basic human need. The amount of gratitude and relief that my clients expressed after I had done their hair again was humbling. It made me realize that we hairstylists are providing a valuable service and are in fact satisfying basic human needs. Hairstylists, it seems to me, are essential workers.

Don’t Do These 9 Things To Your Curly Hair

Due to Covid-19, we have all been spending more time at home lately. For some curly girls and guys, this has meant too much time looking in the mirror and fixating on their hair. Ever since Devana Salon reopened for business after the pandemic shutdown, I have seen a steady stream of self-inflicted hair disasters. I have been amazed by the diversity of ways that my clients have managed to destroy their hair. Although usually I am able to fix the problem and my clients and I can laugh about it afterwards, there are times when the damage will take longer to repair.
Here is a list of 9 things to avoid doing to your curly hair during a pandemic, no matter how bored you are:
Do not color your hair using henna hair color.
Henna hair color may seem harmless since it is made from botanical ingredients, but it is very hard to change your hair to a lighter hair color if you have put henna in your hair. Highlights are nearly impossible to add to hair that has been colored with henna. My recommendation is to only use henna hair color if you intend to stay with that hair color for a long time. If you are the type of person who likes to change your hair color often, do not use henna.

2. Don’t cut straight across bangs
Cutting straight across bangs on curly hair may appear easy, but it actually requires skill to achieve a desirable look. I have had clients come to me with bangs that they cut that sprung up to their hairline and made them look like a two year old. Some have cut their bangs so wide that they look like they have receding hairlines. Some curlies have cut a shelf into the sides of their hair when trying to create face framing.

3. Do not give yourself highlights using bleach and a cap with holes in it
This method of highlighting should be left to Cosmetology school students and their mannequin heads. It is virtually impossible to place highlights in the most flattering places around your face and throughout your hair when you are pulling your curls through a cap. Unless you want to look like a cross between a zebra and leopard don’t highlight your hair this way.

4. Do not ask your spouse to cut your hair into A-line bob
It is a brave and foolish spouse who will attempt to give you a drastically different haircut than the one you already have. Although, the blame really falls on you for asking him or her to cut your hair in the first place. Unless you want to look like a Christmas tree that is falling to one side, do not ask anyone but a talented hairstylist to give you an A-line bob. It takes practice to make this haircut look good!

5. Don’t try to give yourself sun-kissed highlights by putting lemon juice in your hair.
Although the combination of lemon juice and sunshine will speed up the lightening process, it will also dry your hair out, and it could damage your hair and leave it feeling like straw. It might also turn it orange and make your hair looking splotchy. Not a good look!

6. Do not color your hair red or black using box dye that you buy at the grocery store.
This is a guaranteed way to mess up your hair because red and black are very difficult to remove from your hair. My experience with box dyes are that they can make your hair feel dry and brittle, especially after repeated applications. Unless you want to remain red or black for a long time, and you don’t mind having straw like hair, then do not put these colors on your hair.

7. Do not shave your head.
Unless you are shaving your hair for charity, doing it to support a sick friend, or are facing the prospect of loosing your hair due to chemotherapy, I highly recommend keeping your hair on your head. I feel compassion for those who have lost their hair because we look best with hair on our heads. That is one of the reasons we have it there.

8. Don’t bleach your entire head and expect it to look good.
Bleaching all of your hair can go wrong in so many ways. If you are lucky enough to still have hair on your head after you have saturated it in bleach, there is a good chance it will be damaged, broken, blotchy and possibly orange. None of these are good looks. Do yourself a favor and put down the bleach and walk away.

9. Do not try to add volume to your hair by cutting 1” layers at the crown.
Unless you want to look like a tropical bird doing a mating dance, do not cut your hair 1” long at the top of your head. This is only a good idea if your hair is already very short and it is best to let a professional hairstylist do this for you.

What Your Curly Hair Style Says About You

Now that hair salons have been allowed to reopen in Colorado, I am impressed more than ever by the importance of having a good hairstylist, one that understands you and the look that you want to present to the rest of society. Many of my curly haired clients have told me that one of their most pressing goals, after the Covid-19 stay-at-home order was lifted, was to get a haircut. This made me wonder why our hair is so important.
It is obvious that our relationship with our hair is extremely intimate and complex. As anyone who’s gotten a really good, or bad, haircut knows, hair is so much more than just a look. It can be a reflection and reinforcement of who you are. Your hairstyle is intensely personal and, at the same time, totally public. Sometimes your hair speaks for you, even before you say a thing. It becomes a statement of who you are, and a sign of your identity.
This is why we spend so much time perfecting how our hair should look. We constantly search for the most suitable haircut, color, and texture. We are using our hair to speak, and trying, through our hairstyle, to express key aspects of our soul and to communicate some of the deepest truths about who we are.
Hair has played an important role in people’s confidence and self-image for as long as their have been hair growing people on Earth. As long ago as the Greek and Roman empires, detailed wigs were symbols of wealth and stature in society. Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile, was famous for her thick, black hair. The Bible’s Samson had long hair that symbolized divine power. I imagine that even Cavemen and Cavewomen helped each other wash and style their hair.
Hair symbolizes physical strength and virility. It is a symbol of instinct, of female seduction and physical attraction. It is no wonder, that the appearance of our hair is so important to us.
If you want to change your identity, a trip to the salon could go a long way to doing just that. A new hairstyle signals that you have changed. So what messages are you sending with your current hairstyle? Here are some thoughts about what your hair is quietly, or loudly, saying to the rest of the world.

Bouncy Curls: You celebrate uniqueness

Curly hair is often associated with a fun-loving, warm hearted and outgoing personality. If you have curly hair you are perceived as being courageous, outspoken, and spontaneous. You are probably someone who likes to challenge perceptions and norms. You celebrate your uniqueness and value your roots. Unkempt bouncy curls give you a playful vibe. Your curliness helps the rest of society loosen up and connect to our essential nature.

Red hair: You blaze with passion

You blaze with passion and excitement. Your personality traits include leadership, love, passion, insight, dynamism, intuition, and expressiveness. You are a catalyst for change and you heat up the world around you.

High Ponytail: You are full of energy

The high ponytail suggests that you’re energetic and sporty. You bring life into a room. This look makes you look younger and emits a goal-oriented aura. You like to cut to the chase by saying what you need and how you want it accomplished. You are straightforward and a dynamic person to work with. You make it fun to get things done and you keep the rest of us from getting too complacent.

Loose Beach Waves: You embody confidence

If you wear your hair in beachy waves that’s summer-ready all year round, you are probably perceived as confident and a freedom lover with high energy. You inspire people to let loose and dance both physically and mentally.

Natural gray: You are wise and free

Many women who choose to allow their hair to be naturally gray project a level of security with their appearances. They are showing off their wisdom and their freedom from societal pressure to conform. Women who grow out their gray hair are embracing their inner Wild Woman and are not afraid in revealing this significant side of themselves. They are a blessing to our society.

Unconventional hairstyle: You are full of surprises

If your hairstyle is a unique cut and color, you are probably an artist who loves stepping out of the box. Getting a unique haircut says that you’re fun to be with and that you are rebellious. Your hairstyle shows off your creative personality and carefree spirit. Your expressiveness makes the world a far more interesting and exciting place.

The virtues and properties of a person are said to be concentrated in his or her hair. So to all you curly haired people, I welcome you back to Devana Salon, where our mission is “to inspire and embrace natural hair, beauty and spirit”. We look forward to helping you present your unique soul to yourself and to the world.

Be well, be free, and be beautifully curly.

Where Devana Salon Stands On The Current DevaCurl Crisis

At Devana Salon, our number one concern is the health and integrity of our clients’ curly hair. With this in mind, we offer three product lines that we have found to be excellent for the care and styling of naturally curly hair: Innersense, Natulique and DevaCurl.

Over the past few months, a growing number of social media influencers have been claiming that DevaCurl products have caused damage to their curls and even hair loss. A group of these people have gotten together to file a lawsuit against DevaCurl. This has obviously become an enormous public relations problem for DevaCurl. As we, at Devana Salon, hear from both sides on this issue, we are trying to decide what is best for our clients. We are finding that many of our clients want to continue using DevaCurl since they have had good experiences with the products and other people want to switch to Innersense or Natulique products.

My history with using DevaCurl goes back 14 years and I have always had positive results with DevaCurl products. The vast majority of my clients have liked using DevaCurl so it made sense to keep using the products. A small percentage of my clients, maybe 1 in 100, has claimed that their scalp itches after using DevaCurl products. Although I don’t know why this happens, it is possible that they are allergic to one or more of the ingredients.

In order to provide a wider selection of product choices for our clients, I decided to bring in Innersense and Natulique. Natulique is an excellent botanical line from Denmark that has a high percentage of certified organic ingredients. Innersense is a wonderful botanical line from California that contains no parabens, sulfates or silicones and has a rare perfect score on the Think Dirty website, which rates the healthiness and potential harmfulness of products based on their ingredients.

The question remains, what should we do about DevaCurl while this current debate is being resolved. I asked our regional DevaCurl representative what DevaCurl has to say about the accusations and this is what she sent to me:

“We (DevaCurl) take our customer feedback seriously, always seek to provide a positive experience for our community, and have rigorous processes in place to insure that every one of our products meet strict internal quality assurance standards and regulatory requirements before they reach the market. Unfortunately, the key source of current concerns is hearsay and false rumors online. A thorough internal review of relevant products was conducted and as such, they do not cause hair loss or damage, have not undergone any major reformulations, and independent expert tests prove that there are no safety concerns with our products. The curly community can continue to count on DevaCurl to deliver fantastic products that help them love their curls. If any of your clients are experiencing issues, please reach out to us and we would be happy to look into it further.”

I, personally, believe that DevaCurl products are safe, but I am open to hearing all sides of the story. Hopefully, a clear and definitive resolution will soon be reached. In the meantime, we at Devana Salon will continue to serve our curly haired clients in the best way possible and keep striving to be the best curly hair salon in Denver.

The Best Type of Diffusers For Drying Curly Hair

One of the most useful tools for drying and styling naturally curly hair is a diffuser. Diffusers fit on the end of a blowdryer and diffuse the air coming out so that your curls can dry evenly while maintaining curl definition. Using a blowdryer without a diffuser will cause your curls to break up and become frizzy. Diffusers come in various shapes and sizes. In this blog, I will describe my favorite types of diffusers and give some pointers in how to use them.

First I will give you a brief description of how to prepare your hair to be diffused. Before diffusing, cleanse and condition your curls. If you don’t want to use a cleanser, you can just use a conditioner. After detangling with your fingers when you have conditioner in your hair, gently squeeze out the excess moisture with your hands. Then flip your head upside down and apply your favorite styling product, scrunching upward to accentuate your curls or apply the product smoothing downward to elongate your curls. After you have the curl defining product in your hair, flip your head upright and create the part the way you like it. I often prefer a zig-zag part because it helps with root lift and forms an attractive head shape. Next, gently squeeze out the excess moisture with a microfiber towel.

In order to create more root lift and volume, you can use pin curl clips to lift up the hair around the crown of your head. The clips should be placed in a bricklay pattern with the handles facing up toward the top of your head. If you like the shape of your hair with the clips in place, then you will like the shape when your hair has dried.

Now you are ready to diffuse your hair. Since curly hair tends to be dry, I always recommend using either low heat or cool air and low airspeed.

Bowl Diffuser
The bowl diffuser is shaped like a bowl that attaches to the end of a blowdryer. The hot air comes out of holes on the inside of the bowl. You dry your curls by gently placing them inside the bowl and holding the diffuser still until the hair is dry. I like bowl diffusers for drying the mid shafts and ends of hair. This type of diffuser can also be used to dry the roots by holding the diffuser close to your head.
If you don’t want to use clips to create root lift, you can create some lift and volume by diffusing your hair upside down. Before you flip your upside down though, make sure you apply a product at the roots that will support the lift in your hair. My favorite products for creating root lift are: Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam, DevaCurl Frizz Free Volumizing Foam and Natulique Root Lifter Volume Tonic. Once the roots are dry, flip your head upright and you will have more volume at the roots. Continue diffusing the ends of your hair. Squeeze your hair gently to soften the product. If you want more volume, flip your head over one more time and gently loosen your hair at the roots by rubbing your fingers along your scalp. Then flip your head back upright and position your curls the way you like.

Hood dryer
We use hood dryers in the salon because they mimic air drying while speeding up the drying process. Some of our clients purchase them to use at home. I recommend this because it is a great time saver and allows you to have your hands free while your hair is drying. Although these dryers are bulky, they come with wheels and can be stored out of sight in a closet when not in use. My favorite hood dryer is Venus Plus by Highland.

DevaFuser
The DevaFuser is shaped like a hand with five fingers that fits on the end of a blow dryer. The hot air comes out of holes in the front and back of the hand. This clever design is great for drying your roots because the fingers can be placed underneath your hair and give you some root lift. People with 4A, 4B and 4C always have a hard time drying their roots, and the DevaFuser is great for drying the roots of these curls because it diffuses air at the scalp.
One drawback of the Devafuser, however, is that it takes a long time to dry the mid shafts and ends of your hair since the air is blowing out of the fingers of the diffuser in all directions and is therefore less concentrated than a bowl diffuser. This is why I recommend the Devafuser for drying the roots and a bowl diffuser for drying the ends.

Travel Diffusers
How do you dry your curly hair when you are traveling? The answer is in a travel diffuser. Portable diffusers come in various designs. My favorite is The Curly Co. Collapsible Hair Diffuser. This diffuser is great for travel because it’s telescopic design allows it to fold into a smaller size so it can be easily packed into a suitcase or carry on bag.

New Year’s Resolutions for Your Curls

New year, new you, right? Well, if you’ve struggled with getting your curls to cooperate, are tired of fighting frizz, or if you’ve spent years straightening your curls away, it can be! Just like any other New Year’s Resolution, transitioning into a new lifestyle has some challenges. But, if you’re looking to finally embrace your naturally curly or wavy hair, then these tips are for you!

How to Embrace Your Naturally Curly Hair in 2018

1. Get to know your curl type

The first step to successfully accomplishing any goal is to know what you’re up against. The same is true for your curly hair, and there is more than one type of curly. Naturally Curly has a great curl quiz that can help you determine your curl type. Keep in mind, if you’ve been straightening out your curls for a while, they may need time to bounce back, so your curl type could change.

2. Become a stalker

If you’ve ever snooped on a friend (read: ex) on social media, you’re a step ahead (go you!). For real, though, you’re going to want to start collecting some info in order to take action. So, start with some recon on your curls. Take notice of how your curls behave. Do they frizz out after only half a day? Does your scalp get oily with certain products? This will help you determine what your curls need.

3. Stop washing your hair

No, you don’t need to stop washing your hair forever. But, you really only need to wash your hair when it’s actually dirty or you’re experiencing build-up. Depending on your curl type, lifestyle and which products you use, that could be anywhere from 2-3 days to 2-3 weeks! The curlier it is, the less you’ll need to wash Experiment with your schedule and don’t wash your until it gets dirty – see how long you can go!

4. Cut out the suds

You’ll probably notice that curly hair shampoo isn’t really shampoo in the traditional sense. That’s because the chemicals that create those suds also happen to strip out your natural oils. Curly and wavy hair is typically drier than straighter hair, so you definitely need to protect the moisture that you do have! Try looking for a no-poo shampoo or try out co-washing, where you skip the shampoo altogether and just ‘wash’ with conditioner. Fair warning, your hair will be greasier at first until your curls stop over-producing those oils your old shampoo has been stripping out.

5. Reward good behavior

Now that you know your curl type and what your curls want from you, you can reward those curls for their good behavior. And what do curls love? Moisture! Look at product lines specifically designed for curly and wavy hair (like DevaCurl and Ouidad). These will be packed with moisture and help your curls find their natural balance. Curly product lines are usually developed cohesively, so you’ll see better results by remaining brand loyal. That said, find the products that work for you and your hair, and you’ll never have to look back.

6. Invest in 1 amazing tool

Learning how to use temperature to harvest your curls will serve you well, especially when setting your curls. Ideally, you should always dry your curls under a cool dryer for an hour (or more), but nobody’s got time for that. Instead, invest in the one tool that will make your curls look ah-maz-ing in 20 mins or less. A diffuser or diffuser attachment on your hairdryer is a miracle worker. You never want to blow hot air at your curls, which is why you don’t want to use the standard hairdryer’s mouthpiece: that just causes frizz.

7. Learn the hacks

Pineapple, Plopping, Satin Sleeping: what do these things have in common? They’re all curly hair hacks that can seriously improve your curls. How you wash, dry, comb, and sleep on your hair definitely impact your curls. That means it’s time to get your study on! Swap your towel for a t-shirt. Sleep on a satin pillow. Pile your hair on top of your head like a pineapple before you go to bed. Don’t brush your curls, finger through them with a wide-toothed comb. And there are so many more!

8. Find a stylist who knows curly hair

We’ve all had bad haircuts, but curlies have had more than their fair share. This is simply because cutting curly hair is completely different from cutting straight hair. For starters, you often cut curly hair dry. Find a stylist who’s received curly hair training, or better yet, specializes in curly hair. These stylists will not only know how to cut your hair based on your curl pattern in style that frames your face, but they’ll also be able to give you tips on curl care and product lines.

Have you made the transition to naturally curly? What was the hardest part? What did you wish you had known?

Devana Salon client with Deva Cut and Pintura Highlighting by Erik Emblen

Tips For Curly Hair Growth

So many of my clients have asked me to help them grow their curly hair longer, that I have decided to write a second blog on the subject. Here are some more tips that you can follow to help you grow your beautiful curls longer and longer and longer if you want.

6 Tips to Grow Your Gorgeously Curly Hair

1. Start with your scalp

Healthy hair growth starts with a healthy scalp. You can do a quick test for suppleness and health of your scalp by pushing firmly but gently on all the sides of your head. Ideally, the skin will slide easily over your skull and you will be able to see the front of your scalp move when you push on the back. If you feel tightness in certain areas, simply address it by performing regular scalp massages. Massaging your scalp with your fingers will help to stimulate blood flow and release the natural oils stored under the surface of your skin. You can add essential oils to your massage by putting a few drops on your scalp first. I like to use Phyto Pollene Scalp Stimulant for this purpose.

2. Stay away from restrictive styles

Avoid hairstyles that tightly bind your curly hair. If you pull your hair too tightly into a ponytail, you may be pulling your hair out along your hair line. If you do this for too long, you can get a receding hairline, and nobody wants that. Give your hair a rest in between hair extensions, braids or ponytails, and use non-snagging tools to hold them in place. Don’t use elastic bands to secure your ponytail. Instead, use a fabric covered band, such as a scrunchy. Elastic bands can cause breakage.

3. Choose the right moisturizer

Everyone’s hair is different and the right moisturizer for your friend might not be the best one for you. Here is a quick test to determine if your your moisturizing products are getting inside your hair where they belong or just sitting on the outside. Wet a section of your hair with water a day or two after you style it. If you see or feel a residue coming off of your hair, then your product is not fully moisturizing your hair, it is just sitting on the surface. When hair is deeply moisturized, it is more elastic and resistant to breakage. Also, your curls will be more defined and shinier!

4. Keep your cuts routine

Get your hair trimmed at least once every twelve weeks to prevent split ends and keep your hair shaped nicely and looking good. Split ends are a sign that the end of your hair is falling apart and disintegrating. If you have split ends, then your hair is actually getting shorter because the split end is traveling up the hair shaft. The only way to stop this is to cut the hair above the split end. If you want your hair to grow longer, you must cut off split ends.

5. Take supplements

The hair care line, Phyto, makes a supplement called Phyto Phanerre, that they claim will help your hair grow about 10% faster.

6. Feed your body

Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet. How many times have you heard this? I said it before and I am saying it again because it is of vital importance. Hair is made up of moisture and protein. If you want your hair to be healthy then you need to feed your body healthy food and water.

Take good care of your beautiful curly hair and it will bless you for as long as you live.

How long is long enough for your curls?

9 Easy Ways to Improve Your Self-Care Routine

Although you wouldn’t know it if you saw me at work, life is about more than just curly hair. The following ideas are some things that you can do to improve your self-care routine that have little to do with your hair.

9 self-care tips that will make your curly hair look and feel better

1. Drink a glass of water when you wake up

Start your day off with a glass of purified water with lemon. Lemon will balance the alkaline levels in your blood, and a full glass of water will help to improve your cognitive performance, attention to detail and stress levels throughout the day. Also, since your hair is 10% water, keeping your body hydrated helps keep your hair hydrated as well.

2. Wash your hands when necessary

If you care about your internal health as much as you do your curl definition and glowing skin, regularly practicing the act of washing your hands before every meal and after using the restroom ought to be a no-brainer. I also keep plenty of mini hand sanitizers around my work and home to ensure that I can sanitize my hands when necessary. Keep in mind that in order to be effective, your sanitizer must be at least 60% alcohol-based.

3. Turn off the television

As radical as this might seem, it is possible to exist without a television. At the very least, give yourself a break from time to time. When you are at the end of your life, you probably won’t look back and wish you had watched more television. A recent study of people in their final days of life found that most dying people don’t regret the things they did, they regret the things they didn’t do. So set some goals for yourself, turn off your tv, get off the couch, and go live your life. I promise that your curly hair will look and feel better when you have stepped out of your comfort zone.

4. Eat plenty of dark chocolate

Is there anyone on Earth who doesn’t like chocolate? Two great things about dark chocolate are it tastes great and it is good for you! How can you beat that? This sweet treat is known to offer multiple health benefits including improving heart function, increasing healthy blood circulation, reducing bad cholesterol levels, and protecting your skin against the sun. While most research states that 100mg does the trick, I aim for consuming more because I am a chocoholic. The higher the percentage of cacao the better, I prefer 90%. Although I am not a nutritional expert, I say that if you haven’t eaten at least one ton of dark chocolate by the time you die, then you haven’t lived.

5. Listen to music

Have a jam session no matter where you are: during the commute on the way to work, at work, while cooking dinner, while taking a bath, when you wake up and before bedtime. When it’s time to get things done, music is my personal key that opens the door of productivity. Experts in neurology agree, saying that, “music stimulates an ancient reward pathway in the brain, encouraging dopamine to flood the striatum—a part of the forebrain activated by addiction, reward, and motivation.” Next time you have to practice more attention to detail, or if you feel the urge to refill your coffee cup, put on a good playlist that will give you the good vibes to uplift and encourage you.

6. Breathe intentionally and mindfully

Four thousand years ago, give or take 1,000 years, the great sage Patanjali, wrote The Yoga Sutras in which he taught, among other things, the importance of mastering your breathing. Most people have no idea that they can breathe differently, and that the way they breathe can affect their well-being. Next time you are faced with a potentially stressful situation that is seemingly out of your control, be aware of just how much power you have over the moment. Conscious breathing helps regulate stress levels and “is a natural tranquilizer for the nervous system,” according to Dr. Benjamin Gonzalez, M.D., who supports the popular 4:7:8 breathing technique created by alternative medicine guru, Dr. Weil.

7. Move your body

I know you probably haven’t heard this before, but exercise is good for you. There has been a lot of discussions lately about sitting being the new smoking. We are meant to be in motion. It feels good to walk, run, stretch, do yoga, play and dance. Sometimes we are so lazy that we think it feels better to sit on our couch for months on end. But it doesn’t really feel good to be stagnant for too long. As a matter of fact, it feels terrible.

8. Sing

“Don’t worry if it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear. Just sing…sing a song.” Singing feels good and lightens your heart. It’s hard to be depressed when you are singing along to one of your favorite songs. So turn up the tunes and belt one out.

9. Meditate

For thousands of years, great sages have taught about the importance of meditation and modern science agrees. Studies have concluded that meditation can benefit us in hundreds of ways. It can help us mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Meditation is an integral part of my daily routine and it is often during meditation that I feel most at peace, centered and balanced. In this hectic world, you can’t get too much of that. If you don’t know how to do it, don’t worry, it is really quite easy. There are lots of tutorials on the internet and many books written on how to meditate. Two of my favorite books are Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn and Seven Masters, One Path by John Selby.

To sum it up, we are complicated beings and good self-care is essential to the enjoyment of life. If you aren’t going to take care of yourself, then who will? It’s up to you to love yourself. The new habits you create in caring for yourself will reward you with greater peace and happiness and maybe even some more love, and who can have too much of that? Peace and love be with you, my curly friends.

What does your self-care routine look like?

Your Curly Hair Looks Great When You Stand Up Straight

Who doesn’t enjoy seeing beautiful people strut on a runway like they are the most important person in the universe? When they have bouncy curly hair, I get an extra kick out of it! Even if they have straight hair, I enjoy it. There is one thing that you can do to make your curly hair look better, and you don’t need to change your hair care routine one bit. All you have to do is stand up straight.

I will be searching for Bengal Tigers in India in a few months. I love the brilliant swagger of the animals. So fearsome and beautiful, moving with complete ownership of the ground. That is what perfect posture does for an animal. It increases performance, thereby making the body stronger and more efficient.

I enjoy seeing magnificent creatures display their beauty. Even though it may be just an act, a good fashion model commands respect just by the way she holds herself and moves her body. People with perfect posture are sexy because they display a command of their personal power. They embody health. Health is beautiful.

I asked my yoga teacher to show me how to stand with good posture. I was amazed to discover how out of alignment I was. Now I practice sitting and standing the way she showed me, and it really makes a difference. I haven’t gotten any more dates yet, but I expect that to happen soon. In the meantime, I am enjoying walking upright and I am feeling good about it.

Here are some other things that excellent posture will do for you:

1. Facilitates breathing

Having good posture puts your body in alignment to function at its best. Good posture naturally enables you to breathe properly. I started appreciating this after I began paying attention to my posture while meditating. I find that I am able to inhale a lot more air when I am sitting up straight. When I have good posture, my breathing during meditation is longer, slower and deeper. This is why yoga, pilates and meditation exercises pay so much attention to getting your posture and sitting positions right.

2. Increases concentration and thinking ability

When you are breathing properly, you improve the function of your brain. Our brains require a lot of oxygen to operate well. More air, more oxygen. More oxygen, more brain food. Our brain regulates all the voluntary and involuntary actions of our body. An oxygenated brain will keep healthy, and it will also keep you from acting like a buffoon, and that is good for everyone.

3. Improve your image

People with good postures look smarter and more attractive. That is because when you align yourself correctly you look healthy, and health looks good.

4. Feel even better about yourself

When you have good posture, it helps to make you feel more self-confident. Try sitting in a bad posture for 30 seconds. Then switch to a good posture for 30 seconds. Did you notice any difference in how you felt? If you didn’t experience a difference, then fluff up your curly hair and try again. Maybe you will notice a difference next time.

5. Avoid health complications

Bad posture can lead to many health complications over time, such as increased risks of back pain, poor blood circulation, and shortness of breath.

It’s better for you and you look better when you stand up straight.

Have you tried changing your posture? What other self-care routines do you have?