Hair Tool for Naturals: {Part 1} Care for Your Natural Hair: A Better Way {Updated February 12, 2011}

{Updated February 12, 2011}

Is there such a way of caring for natural hair “the right way", well I'd say yes.


Let discuss a few hair care tips and tools every natural should invest in: You can add or enhance these tips in your own Natural Hair Care Regimen

HAIR TOOLS  

Bone Comb Also Called: Bakelite, Resin, Or Seamless Comb

Are made of resin; this type of combs are said to be very beneficial to hair:

1. Anti Static 
2. De-tangles
3. Helps prevent split ends
4. Seamless- combs prevent breakages and split ends to hair

REMINDER

Bone Combs (Resin Combs) can crack (develop small chips) over time: 

Cause by friction, heat, or shock to the comb, using a cracked comb can cause hair snags or can pull hair out.

Resin is not plastic; they are not as flexible as plastic combs are more fragile.

Please be sure if you buy a Bone Comb to inspect your comb on a monthly basis to make sure your comb does not have any chips, cracks, or hairline fractures.

WHERE TO BUY BONE COMBS? 

Be-aware there are beauty supply stores and some manufacturers are making plastic combs of the same color and calling them "bone" combs. 

Fake Bone combs is low priced: $1.00-$3.00 there cheap and have seams

 Whats are "Seams": Seams are the line running through the teeth of the comb, this plastic line causes damage to hair all combs have seams unless it is created without this manufacturer detail.

Bone Combs are seamless and provide better protection against breakage and split ends then regular combs.

 When buying bone combs online contacting the seller is always a good idea

Ask the seller if the bone comb they are selling are 100% Organic Resin, make sure to specify which comb you are referring to and want to buy

Links to Website Selling Bone Combs are Below:

EBay Bone Combs

HairSense Bone Combs (also known as bakelite combs)

Honey Fig 100% Organic Resin Combs

Wide Tooth Comb (Shower Combs)

You can buy a wide tooth (or a shower comb) at your local Beauty Supply Store, Drugstore, or Supermarket.

Wide tooth combs (in my opinion) is a good way to ensure less breakage  
(when it comes to combing natural hair)

• Less Stress on Natural Hair

• Less Headache (Literally)

• No Broken Comb handles (Ha ha ha). No really just last week I broke my comb handle, no I wasnt using the correct comb: I shoulda used my shower comb (also called a wide tooth comb).


Brush (Boar Brush)

Honestly I tried to ban my boar brush hard bristle brushes causes split ends and damage to the hair.
 I couldn't throw mines away, I purchase a softer brush instead my boar brush slicks my hard to tame areas: nape, foreline etc

Get a boar brush (you'll need it to create cute sleek styles with your natural tresses), just don’t abuse your hair, be gentle when brushing with a boar brush (any hard bristle brush). A couple of strokes is all it takes: if not, and theres still a few stray hair standing: Put Down The Brush and  Keep it Moving: Don't over do it with the brushing!

This professional salon type Boar Brush is used for styling hair with heat and distributing oils through-out hair, not for regular hair styling.

A small hand size boar brush is a perfect to hair in your Hair Tools          I have a boar brush like these there easier to hold and just right for regular hair brushing

Elastic Scrunchies (No Metal ) "Ouchless" Hair Scrunchies

Yea I know everyone says "buy the NO METAL ouch-less scrunchies", there popular and for good reason:

The no metal scrunchies may prevent less stress on the hair and these come in handy when it's time to de-tangle your hair.

I can't tell how many times my hair has snag, snap, and been pulled out by metal secured scrunchies: I also think these ouch-less last longer than the metal ones too.

Silk Scarf

I cant stress this enough: Silk scarves saves strands! Please buy at least one silk scarf, not only does it retains your natural hair moisture, less fly away's (lays your hair down quick), and keeps your hair from rubbing and breaking off:
Satin and Cotton scarves do not have the benefits that a 100% Silk Scarves has:
Buy at least one to cover your hair at night


Types of Silk Scarf
 Now here's the fun part, there are different type of scarf to buy and wear:


The Headband Scarf 
 If your tired of your silky scarf for slipping off especially when you sleep

"Paisley Dream"
"Bohemian Groovy Chick' Easy Tie Scarf





"Flower Child" Easy Tie Scarf

TIP: Type In Headband Scarf GOOGLE image search you'll find websites where you can purchase these pretty and functional head scarfs.

Heres's a shortcut google link to pictures and websites that sell silk scarfs:
 http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1024&bih=573&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1&aq=f&aqi=&oq=&q=Headband%20Scarf%20elastic

Tips on Purchasing a Good Silk Scarf

Seems easy to do (buying a silk scarf) but there's so many types of silk and sizes of scarves
Silk Satin is a good choice

Here's how to spot a Silk Satin Scarf:

Shiny on one side dull on the other: Soft to the touch

Choose the right size scarf

You don't want to be drowning in a head scarf (Maybe You Do) I Don't Know BUT:

(Measurements Are in Inches)

Sizes Breakdown

"21" x 21"  (Small Bandanna Type)


"35x35" (Bigger Shawl size, ends of scarves can be wrap around head once and tied in the front)

Make sure you know whether the scarf measurements are in Inches and or Centimeters:
The wrong sized scarf can be too big or small for your head.

If the seller has the measurements in CM: Centimeters, you can print out a small list of Measurements to take with you while shopping, if your buying online, you can Google Conversions inches to centimeters, to make sure they have the size scarf your looking for.

Mist/Spray Bottle 

Naturals, I'm sure you have an old leave-in conditioner with a spray attachment cap Reuse! Fill that old spray bottle with purified filtered water (distilled bottled water is gentle on hair, rather than tap water with heavy minerals and sediments).

Spritz you hair every now and then keeps your hair well hydrated.
If you don't have a spray bottle pick one up at your local Drugstore, 99 Cents store, Wal-mart: or you can buy a sets of spray bottles containing 2 or up to 12 bottles that comes with the spray nozzle as well.

Moisturizing Conditioner and\or Leave-In's
 

Have a thick conditioner on hand? You can you a good quality moisturizing conditioner as a leave-in for your hair.

Some ladies on hair website suggest using a Leave-In Conditioner made for that exact purpose

I believe a regular conditioner without protein or heavy synthetic ingredients can be perfect for Leave-In Conditioner:

When using regular hair conditioners as a Leave-In's 

Dilute 2-4 ounces of a moisturizing conditioner to a liquid consistency and massage directly into parted hair or put into a spray bottle and spray throughout hair.

Remember to use only small amount (no more than a quarter size) if using straight from the bottle.

When using regular hair conditioners as a Leave-In's it's important to use as little as possible to soften the hair.

REMEMBER: Most conditioners are meant to be used as a 5-30 minute hair treatment and should be washed out of the hair:

Never Use Protein Conditioners as a Leave-In 

Never Use a Deep Conditioner as a Leave-In

Protein Conditioners and Deep Conditioners are not meant to be use on a every day basis or left in your hair.

Terrible results can happen if you put a Deep Conditioner or Protein Conditioner in your hair and leave it in as a Leave-In Conditioner:

• Brittle Hair (Prone to Breakage)
• Product  Build-Up
• Elastic/Stretchy Hair
• Sticky/Gummy Hair

So instead of using ANY conditioner to moisturize your hair, pick a conditioner (leave-in) that has NO protein, heavy synthetics, silicone, or alcohols in the ingredient label. Use a conditioner with moisturizing ingredients

This (link below) talks about How To Choose a Moisturizing Conditioner

Top 4 Ingredients To Look for when Choosing a Moisturizing Conditioner UPDATED! 

Care for Your Natural Hair: A Better Way {Part 2}: 

Coming Soon:

Types of Proteins, Do Natural Hair Need a Protein Conditioner?