Ghanaian Emprezz

Relaxed hair care seems to be one complicated journey but when you get the hang of it, you'll be so relieved. Why does relaxed hair get thin easily? A case in point is my own struggles with thin relaxed hair. The few lessons I've kept in my pocket this time around are : 1. Trim regularly. Have a schedule to get rid of the thin ends. I plan to trim every touch up. That's approximately every 12 weeks. I've learnt from so many setbacks that I'm bent on getting it right this time. 2. Longer stretches. A major problem I've had for the past two years and not going beyond 6 weeks. That thinned my hair out like crazy. This time, regardless of the short length, I'm surely going for nothing below 12 weeks. The ultimate stretching is 16 weeks so 12 weeks is a good starting point. There are some who advised starting off gradually with 8 weeks but that's what set me back. You get comfortable with the 8 weeks and moving beyond that it's a challenge. Therefor

When moisturizing and sealing, one major setback has to do with the type of product you use. In growing your hair, moisture based products don't necessarily pertain to your deep conditioner only. Your shampoo can be moisturizing, your leave in as well as moisturizer can all be moisture based. Over reliance on protein products has been a huge factor in the breakage we usually see. So, here are my 3 hacks for moisturizing and sealing to ensure your hair stays moisturized for longer periods as well as reduce manipulation of the hair. 1. You can moisturize at night but be sure to cover or protect your hair with a satin cap or silk bonnet. This will allow ample time for the products to penetrate the strands, you will have the patience to apply the products and also ensure that you save time in the morning. 2. Avoid liquid moisturizers in the morning if you don't want damp hair. To be safe, use a very small size spray bottle to apply the water component of your moisturizing a

I vividly recall the days of vegetable stew or fried rice. But using carrots is  not limited to internal use; it can also be used for external purposes specifically in hair care. Benefits Using carrots and honey increases hair sheen reduces dry scalp minimizes hair loss preserves natural elasticity prevent split ends Hot Oil Treatment: Ingredients: 2 Carrots 2 Tbsp Honey 1 Tbsp Olive Oil 1 tsp Vitamin E Oil Juice your carrots in a juicer or blend the carrots in as little water as possible. Strain the carrots. Warm up the honey olive oil and vitamin e oil in a saucepan. Add this mixture to the carrot juice. Apply mixture to damp hair, coating it completely from root to ends. Cover with a plastic cap and leave in your hair for at least an hour or as long as you have the time (overnight will yield great results.) Wash the mixture from the hair, preferably with a sulfate free shampoo and then rinse well.   Deep Conditioner Ingredients 1 large

As for this issue of dry natural hair,  the one advice I'll give you is trial and error with products and techniques. You don't sleep with a satin cap to protect the hair at night.  The hair is exposed to the sun which ultimately will suck up the moisture in your hair.  Your deep conditioner or wash routine isn't effective so you may need to switch things up.  Your hair spritz isn't working or you aren't diligent with it.  Find heavy butters to seal your hair. Coconut oil is known to penetrate the strands thus it won't seal in the moisture.  Lastly,  you may not be drinking enough water or hydrate the hair.  How do you combat dry natural hair?

These tips for natural hair can be applied to relaxed hair too.  Make sure your hair is sectioned to make applying the deep conditioner easier and faster.  You can add natural oils to the deep conditioner for added slip as well as enhancing the moisturizing  impact.  You don't  have to do DIY deep conditioners.  Store bought ones are equally effective if not more effective.  Deep conditioning with heat increases the effectiveness of the products.  Use the product as directed. Sometimes,  going off the instructions means no result. 

Whatever I share here is from my personal experience with my natural hair. You may have to tweak it to suite your hair needs. Section the hair into small parts.  Use two mirrors to check the parting at the back and front.  Be sure to use your fingera to check for knots.  Section the two parts to twist.  Apply twist and loc gel or gel or even sheabutter depending on the one that gives you a maximum hold.  Start twisting from the back and work your way up.  Don't borrow hair from another section to twisting. Stick to the tow sections and swirl the ends around your finger tips when you are done.  You may have to practice this for a while so don't worry if your first attempt doesn't produce bomb twists.  Allow the hair to dry before lying on it to avoid smushing the back.

You are so worried about your hair not growing yet there are some practices that are undermining your efforts. You comb it daily and that causes a lot of breakage. Use your fingers in styling. If the hair is short, use a wide tooth comb.  You don't deep condition often which leads to dry,  brittle natural hair. Try to deep condition at least once a month to provide moisture in your hair.  Your hair needs moisture especially in this part of the world where the weather is mostly dry. Have a hair spritz to use during the day to ensure moisture retention.   The hair products aren't working for you and you are reluctant to change them. These products may cause more damage so if it's not working,  either swap with another person or give it out.   You focus on growth and not retention and therefore don't know why you aren't getting the long hair you want. Pay attention to how you protect your hair and what you use in protecting it. Keep the ends from the shoul

Let's do away with the cornrows and braids preparation and installation  and focus on how you comb the hair after take down.  Many ladies have trial and error with products and techniques to find what works for them. The basic step is finger detangling first to remove knots and tangles.  Some continue to finger detangle with the comb under running water. Experiment and see which one reduced breakage for you.  If you don't wish to wash,  just finger detangling and the oil will get the job done. Warm oil such as coconut or olive oils make detangling quite stress free. Leave your hair in sections too after removing the knots and tangles.  Finger detangling first  Apply a lot of oils and f in Nigeria detangle again Use a product with slip and wash in sections. You can use a conditioner Don't shampoo hair that hasn't been detangled.  Keep the hair in sections and use a wide tooth comb to detangle. You can then still use your fingers or move to a medium tooth

Is there a method or technique for how to grow natural Hair in Ghana? This search term comes up very often so let me address it. Caring for your natural hair in Ghana isn't so much different from those abroad. You can use the same products and techniques under right conditions and achieve similar results. What are the right conditions?  You have to check the weather,  the texture of your hair, the availability of the hair products, the actual steps taken in creating a particular regimen and a lot more. Growing natural hair in Ghana shouldn't be a tedious process. We are blessed to have a ton of products ladies abroad pay huge sums of money to obtain. From sheabutter to coconut oil,  we are in the better position to grow long and healthy natural hair. You don't have to purchase those expensive hair products; stick to what your budget can afford. Use the search button to find a lot of the DIY projects I've done for my hair.

What is Beautifully Bamboo? Beautifully Bamboo  is one of the most unique products that you will ever encounter. The product harnesses the power and medicinal benefits of bamboo. To make the bamboo edible and easily digestible, Beautifully Bamboo has turned the bamboo into tea. By drinking a number of cups per day, you can enjoy benefits like  improved skin tone  and texture,  cardiovascular  support, bone strengths,  improved digestion , and less hair shedding. As the brand explains, Beautifully Bamboo is different because it has silica levels that are higher than almost any other health product on the market. Silica is important for optimal health and when it is consumed through tea, the mineral is easily absorbed into the body and the supplement starts working instantly. In addition, the silica enhances numerous features, such as your hair, nails, and overall health. With a product like Beautifully Bamboo, you can easily improve your health and you certainly do not need to worry abo

Tonics make the hair look glossier, which is viewed by many people as a sign of healthy hair. They help hold the hair in place, making it easier to style. Other benefits include moisturizing dry hair, lubricating a dry scalp, reducing split ends and broken hair, and helping to control dandruff.(Source: https://www.reuzel.com)  One of thr hair tonics I've created helps with my scalp. To restore the PH of your scalp, all you need are : Fresh aloe vera gel or juice. I use the Lily of the desert aloe gel brand. Rose water Jamaican black castor oil or emu oil or jojoba oil  1. Mix all these in a spray bottle and refrigerate it. When it's  a bit cold,  it has a soothing effect too on the scalp. Use the spritz nights for about a week. If you've had a fresh braid or relaxer, this will soothe your scalp. 2. When you take down your extensions, you can also use the tonic 

With the exception of aloepecia areata, other forms of hair loss may be self-inflicted. For a lot of ladies that request for hair growth products, the culprit is balding. Hair loss as a result of braids, weaves, cornrows and wigs is quite rampant in Ghana. We have a long way to go as regards good hair practices but until our hair dressers are fuller on board, you owe it to yourself to give your hair with the most utmost care. When after interactions you realized it's not genetics, I ask the customer to explain their hair routine as well as lifestyle. Usually, I advise they give the oils a try whilst improving on their diets as well as adding supplements. If these fail, then, they could seek medical interventions. Most often, the problem gets resolved. So, why balding? The bathing soap you use is too drying which causes breakage. The right braids have to sleep. Request your stylist not to even braid the edges. Tight braid lead to hair loss. Sleep scarfs, wig caps can also r

I have about two essential oils- tea tree oil and peppermint oil. I use these cautiously as I'm not a fan of tingling sensation from products. 1. For now, I use it in my oil mixes. I recently added a few more drops as I've since added more oils to it.  Do I notice growth with these essential oils? I do. That's the reason why I added them to the oil mix. As for the sealing oil, I'd rather not do that to prevent all week tingling Lol.  2. The other way I wish I could use the essential oils is in my deep conditioner but the issue is I wouldn't want anything getting into my eyes especially with the burning sensation associated with these essential oils.  3. For scalp tonic: Add a few drops of your essential oils to water and spray on your scalp. This soothes the scalp, promotes growth as well thickness. It also helps to heal your scalp!  4. Add to your pre shampoo treatments! A few drops in your prepoo masque, oil or clay treatment also works. Because you'll wash of

Do you know about African Black Soap? Did you know you can use it as a clarifying shampoo? As I move into cheaper but effective natural hair products for my hair, the most immediate need was a clarifying shampoo. Yet I wanted the shampoo to have some moisturizing abilities too in addition to the clarifying. Here's the recipe I used. African black soap aka alata Samina Vegetable glycerin  Coconut oil I used the glycerin for its humectant ability as my honey is finished. I added the back soap to warm water and allowed it to melt. After that, I added a fee tablespoon full of glycerin and a bit of coconut oil. I used this to clean my hair and it was quite a good feeling. I'll venture into some commercial products but not now. With the ORS aloe shampoo and this black soap shampoo, I think I'm set in the shampoo area.

There are tons of posts on the advantages of taking hair vitamins but what if you can't afford them? Tea rinses help stop shedding and that's a great way to retain length. In addition, caffeine is said to aid in hair growth too so you get double benefits. Sulphur powder: I have so many ladies who can testify to the awesome growth they get from the Sulphur powder. Onion juice works well because of the high Sulphur content. Thus if you can't get Sulphur powder ( I have some in the shop though) just blend your onion, mix it into your shampoo and let it sit for two weeks. Use that to wash your hair. Yes,  I've done it before.  Jamaican black castor oil or red pimento oil. These are geared towards hair growth. There are other hair growth oils too ( mane choice oils, Sulphur oil, ). Wild growth oil is also effective.