Tasha Swearingen

Gemstone Blowouts

Move over shine serum, our curls get their shine from fine gemstones. Introduced in Chicago by the Sine Qua Non salons, a gemstone blowout takes bits of real pearls, tourmaline, Brazilian green malachite, and sapphire powders to smooth the hair and turn even the most stubborn frizz into long-lasting shine. With all of the stones this blowout infuses into your hair, you’re bound to shimmer, especially in sunlight.

Sine Qua Non operates only in Chicago and is the only salon we know of giving gemstone blowouts at this time, but there are plenty of blowout bars that will give you and your locks special treatment. Check out Mosaic Hair Studios, Fekkai, Blowout Boutique, Fluff* Bar (enjoy cocktails on the side!), or WiP Downtown. 

Braid Bars

We’ve all seen the gorgeously intricate braids on YouTube and Pinterest, but recreating the looks in our own hair can be a totally different story. You could commit a day to learning the latest braid trend, but if you have a special event to attend (or you’re short on time and patience) then leave it to the professionals at a braid bar!

 John Barrett Salon in Bergdorf Goodman in New York City has a dedicated braid bar, as does the the Nine Zero One salon in West Hollywood. Check out The Braid Bar for more locations. You can browse through books of celebrity braids, or bring in your own Pinspiration.

What will it be, a fishtail, a waterfall, or maybe the ever-popular halo braid?

Organic Masque Bar

Forget whipping up your own organic hair masques in the kitchen, the stylists at The Broot can do all of that for you, and more! The salon prides itself in using raw, organic ingredients like bananas, avocados, eggs, oil, honey, and mayo. While, yes, you could do this at home, the benefit here is that you don’t have to buy ingredients you may not have, mix them up or deal with the mess and cleanup afterward.

We love a good masque, but what really caught our attention about this salon is the special boost it offers. You see, it’s not on the menu, but The Broot can also add in a boost of bull testicle broth for a mere $7 extra. Simply ask for the “animal style” version of any hair masque you’d like, and you’ll have yourself a custom-made concoction. To answer the question of why someone would want this, the protein in these animal parts is supposed to help repair dry, damaged hair, giving it more strength.  Who would’ve thought cow testicles would have benefits for our hair?

While we don’t know of anyone else using bull testicles, there are other organic hair salons out there, such as Calissi Organic Hair Salon, HUSH Organic Hair, Le Salon, Wellspring Salon, or Everlastings.

Bang Bar

If you’re eager for some change but just aren’t brave enough for a totally new ‘do, try doing something different with just your bangs! To add to our repertoire of “bars,” Butterfly Studio in NYC offers a bang bar to the city’s hipsters.

Snipping your bangs can actually do something dramatic without touching the rest of your hair, so it’s a comfortable way to do something edgy! Kattia, the salon owner, also offers bang consults before you get near the shears.

Clients who visit the bang bar will meet with a stylist, try on a few different clip-on bang styles and find the one that works for them. They can either have the stylist cut their actual bangs to resemble the chosen clip-on piece or simply purchase the noncommittal bang piece ($30) and the stylist will style their hair with the bangs clipped in.

Lash Salons

When you think of a hair salon, your thoughts typically go to the hair on top of our heads. But there is a whole slew of salons that dedicate themselves solely to the hair on your eyes! The Lash Lounge, located throughout Texas, offers semi-permanent eyelash extensions (in increments of 45, 60, and 75 lashes at a time), permanent makeup, lash and eyebrow tints, and eyebrow threading.

Try one of the other lash salons across the nation, such as The Salon de Lash, LASH, or LASHDIP.

Child-Friendly Salons

Seriously, could there ever be a more kid-friendly salon out there? Snip-its is so jazzed up, you can practically hear it screaming an invite for the loud echoes of kids to come fill the interior. Not only can kids have their hair trimmed here, but they can also host a party with themes like “Glamour Party,” “Rock Star Party,” and “Spa Party.” In addition to offering styling for both boys and girls, this salon sells its own organic lice prevention and treatment products. These products use all-natural ingredients such as rosemary, tea tree oil, cinnamon, peppermint, sage, lemongrass, and more. To see if you’re lucky enough to have one of these snazzy salons near you, check out the locations.

If only we could take a time machine backwards about 20 years!

If you don’t have a Snip-its near you, check out Monkey Dooz (a full-service salon, spa, and party place ONLY for kids!), get retro at Groovy Cuts, or bring your diva to Sweet & Sassy!

MORE: 7 Worst Curly Haircut Mistakes

Dry Bars

Forget the wet bar – dry bars are where the vibe is! Dry Bar is one of the few hair salons out there that DOESN’T do cuts or colors. Instead, their philosophy is to excel in one field, and to be the best in the biz. They focus on blowouts, scalp massages, and shampoos. And if you’d rather not venture out into the weather or can’t be bothered to leave the house, they’ll come to you. Yes, they do in-home appointments! Check out Dry Bar in CA, AZ, GA, NYC, TX, MD, or DC

Ponytail Bar

If you’ve been following hair trends the past several years, you’ve noticed how ponytails have evolved. A few years ago, we started seeing puffy tops/teased hair preceding the pony at the top of the head. Then we started seeing side ponytails make a comeback, only this time they went diagonal and sometimes rested on the shoulder. Today, we’re seeing messier ponytails, side ponytails, and sexy knots on the top, as well as chic updos.

We should have guessed that NYC would be the first to grab on to this ponytail trend and start specializing in it! John Barrett Salon in NYC offers many things traditional salons offer, with one special addition: the ponytail bar.

But the perfect ponytail does not come cheap, the starting price is $50 for a ponytail, and upwards of $100 if you want a shampoo, blow dry, or extensions.

Nolan Vincent and Maxine Salon have ponytail bar offerings as well.

Hair Loss

When your hair naturally falls from the root, you are experiencing hair loss. Some amount of hair loss normal and to be expected.

In fact, while you may not be aware of it, you’re likely losing up to 100 strands each day. The “100 strands” theory is based on the assumption that we have approximately 100, 000 hairs on our scalp and lose around 1% of them daily.

Additionally, the rate at which you’re losing hair can vary based on gender, diet and genetics.

Hair Breakage

Curly hair is especially prone to breakage. You may experience breakage when combing, detangling, or styling your curls. Breakage is most noticeable when brushing or combing your hair, removing a hair band, or in the shower.

Is it loss or breakage?

If you look closely at a strand of your hair, hair that has been lost through the natural process of shedding will still have the root attached. Hairs that have suffered from breakage will be in shorter sections, and will not include the root.

Prevention

One way to decrease both hair loss and breakage is to take extra care in the detangling process. Be gentle with your curls, use a wide toothed comb, and determine the method which works best for you. For some this will involve coating your strands with a high slippage conditioner and combing in the shower, for others this may be finger detangling after your shower.

Alternatively, focusing on the overall health of your hair can prevent excessive breakage. Give your hair weekly deep conditioning treatments to help strengthen your strands.

MORE: Deep Treats for Every Curl Type

Solutions

If you missed the boat on prevention, there are several techniques that can help remedy the situation.

You can start by using a conditioning shampoo, such as Kinky Curly’s Come Clean, which gets amazing reviews from curlies of all hair types. You’d use this in addition to your regular conditioning routine.

Also be sure to trim your split ends at least monthly. Split ends travel right up your hair shaft and if you don’t tackle them at the ends of your hair, they’ll cause your hair to split and break several inches from the tips.

Finally, make sure you’re giving your hair a deep condition at least once a month. Your hair will soak up this soothing treatment and will thank you by staying in place!

MORE: How to Trim Your Own Hair at Home 

Hot Oils

Porosity is one element of your hair type, and the products that work for your hair will vary based on your texture as well as the porosity (fine, thick, coarse, etc.). For instance, some curlies with medium-textured, low porosity hair find that they need to stay away from deep conditioning treatments that are heavy on the protein. On the other hand, curlies with fine low porosity hair report doing well with hot oil treatments.

Hot oil treatments tend to be loaded with protein and make a great choice for deep conditioning fine hair that is low in porosity. Some good oils for low porosity hair include:

• grapeseed oil
• jojoba oil
• argan oil

MORE: 6 New Hair Oils For Your Curls

Bring on the Heat!

Yes, really! Most of what you’ll read here on NaturallyCurly.com will tell you to stay away from the heat as it can damage your hair. That’s true for flat irons and curling irons, but it’s not the same for the times when you need to deep condition. Heat causes the cuticles of your hair to open up, which allows your deep conditioner to penetrate the cuticles of your hair.

If you have a dryer you can set at low to medium and sit under, you’re at an advantage. Simply apply your deep conditioner, cover your head with a shower cap, and then sit under the dryer for about 25 minutes. You can also cover it with a shower cap and have your curlfriend hold the dryer for you. If your bestie has low porosity hair as well, take turns holding the dryer for each other.

If you don’t have a dryer to sit under, don’t despair! All you need to do is apply your deep conditioner, cover it with a shower cap, and then wrap it with a towel to use your body heat.

MORE: How to Dry Low and High Porosity Hair

Head Into the Kitchen

If you’ve been at NaturallyCurly.com for more than 10 minutes, you’ve probably figured out by now that we’re big fans of getting double use out of what we have in the kitchen! Deep conditioning low porosity hair is no exception.

If your hair responds well to protein, whip two eggs with 3 tablespoons of coconut milk, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of honey, and a few pumps of your favorite conditioner. Feel free to add essential oils for a nice fragrance. Apply a generous amount to your wet hair, let it set for about 20-30 minutes, then shampoo out the mixture.

If you don’t have all of these ingredients on hand (or simply don’t feel up to “cooking” for your hair), try adding some honey and coconut oil to whatever good conditioner you already have. Cover with a heating cap or shower cap wrapped in a towel (remember, you need heat!) and leave it on for about 30 minutes before shampooing.

Get Herbal

Herbs and spices aren’t just for cooking! Many ayurvedic hair treatments rely on herbs and powders such as henna, amla, and indigo. Some low porosity girls find that while their hair won’t hold onto conditioners, it will happily accept powders and herbs!

MORE: Creating an Ayurvedic Hair Regimen

Water it Down

The next time you buy conditioner, make sure it has “water” as the first or second ingredient. Low porosity curlies often find that water-based products, such as Oyin Handmade’s Juice & Berries, work best for deep conditioning (as a bonus benefit, it smells amazing too).

If your favorite conditioner doesn’t contain water as the top two ingredients but you love it overall, just dilute it by adding some water to it. Pour excess into a separate container if you need to make room for the water.

By adding the excess to a small container, you can even make a travel bottle of deep conditioner for yourself!

MORE: Top 10 Ingredients of Natural Hair Products

Set Your Goal

Before you can determine whether or not a product is working, you will first need to figure out what you would like to achieve with it. Is your hair in desperate need of protein? Are you hoping to boost your growth?  Do you want to decrease breakage? Determining what you need your new products to do is the first step in figuring out if they’re working for you.

Choosing Wisely

Once you’ve decided on a goal, choose your products wisely. This will save you money, time and frustration. If what your products you’re using are effective, then you will feel less compelled to buy every product you come across. Visit the CurlTalk forums, where it is highly likely that someone else has already researched products for the same reason you are.

One of the most useful features on CurlMart is the reviews! We’ve read numerous times from readers that these reviews have helped prevent wasted money. The reviewers include their hairtype along with their review, so find the ones with the same type as you and see what they’re saying!

MORE: You Know You’re a Product Junkie If…

Measuring Growth

After you’ve chosen your products and have given them a try, it is time to see if they’re helping you reach your goals. If you were hoping to improve your hair growth, measure the length of your hair with a tape measure or by marking a piece of string before you start using your product, to give you a baseline for measurements. Then, measure your growth again every few weeks.

You can also use a hair growth chart to do this. After two to three months, if you are unsatisfied with your progress, it might be time to move onto something else.

MORE: The Curly Mistake You’re Probably Making: Give Products Time

Measure Your Protein

In order to measure whether your hair is getting enough protein, give yourself a strand test. Gently pull on a strand of hair. If it bounces back nicely, your protein levels are likely sufficient. If it breaks off easily, then your hair is lacking protein.

If increasing protein is your goal, conduct this test before and after using a new product regularly.

Trial One New Product

Been online shopping? Did a big box of new products just arrive? It can be tempting to revamp your entire routine at once, but if you truly want to measure the effectiveness of one product, this is not the way. Keep the rest of your regimen consistent and simply compare and contrast your hair with the addition of one new product.Were you shedding a lot of hair before trying your new product? How’s the hair loss going several weeks later? If you were aiming to add some life and bounce to your barely-there curls, how does your hair look several weeks later? 

Second Opinion

Sometimes, we don’t see things that others see–or we do see things we want to see that others just aren’t seeing (dreaming, perhaps!). Try asking those you see on a daily basis what their opinion is. Even better, ask people you only see every few months if they can tell a difference. You can also take photographs of your hair pre-product and post-product.

Don’t Forget

Regardless of how you decide to measure a product’s effectiveness, remember that products take time to produce a noticeable difference. In addition, keep in mind that sometimes it takes a combination of products or regimens to get your desired results. If you’re serious about testing your products, remember to set realistic goals, make smart purchases, and measure your results.

Oils

Plenty of hair care products out there contain synthetic oils, such as mineral oil, that seem to help with your hair while doing nothing for growth. That is, they make your hair feel soft by coating the hair follicles, but they don’t actually do anything but sit there–holding in dirt and other toxins. Since they’re not natural, our bodies don’t absorb them and put them to use.

Natural oils, on the other hand, are an excellent way to boost hair growth as our bodies react with the herbal fusion. For instance, rosemary oil can prevent hair loss, strengthen the hair follicles, and even prevent premature grays. Just massage some into your scalp and let your body do the rest!

MORE: 7 Hair Oils You Haven’t Tried Yet

Oils to Try

Coconut oil, a natural antioxidant, is another great booster. Not only does it prevent hair loss; it also slows down premature graying. You can massage coconut oil on your scalp at night and let it work its charm while you get your beauty sleep!

For hundreds of years, Native Americans have benefitted from jojoba oil. Jojoba oil has many benefits for your skin, but it also helps stimulate hair growth. Since it has properties similar to your natural oils, it’s an excellent choice for all curly hair types!

MORE: 3 Oils That Will Transform Your Hair

Love Potion #9

Cipriana, of Urban Bush Babes, recommends a mixture she calls “Love Potion #9”–it’s that good.

What you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup jojoba oil
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3 drops of rosemary oil

What to do:

Coconut oil is thick (like Crisco), but you can melt it so that you can mix in the other oils. Bring 2 to 3 cups of water to boil, then pour all ingredients into a separate glass bowl slightly bigger (in diameter) than the pot of boiling water. When the water reaches a low boil, put the glass bowl on top of the pot and gently stir until you completely liquefy the mixture. Transfer the mixture into a plastic container with a lid, then freeze it so it will harden. Massage the mixture into your strands and you’ll be amazed at the results!

Foods

Since part of growing your hair involves preventing hair loss, you’ll also want to focus on things you can do to stop shedding so much. If you’re not up to incorporating a new hair care regimen into your life, try eating your way to healthier hair!

Lentils are a budget-friendly source of iron, which gives your hair follicles the oxygen they need. As with any live thing, this increase in oxygen stimulates growth. Tomatoes, rich in antioxidants, help maintain collagen levels in your hair. Maintaining the protein from collagen will support healthy hair growth. If you’re a seaside curly, try some oysters the next time you’re in the mood for seafood. Since oysters are high in zinc–a mineral you need in order to prevent hair loss–they’re a tasty way to keep flaking and shedding in check!

Smoothies

If smoothies are more your style, try this recipe from the book “How I Stopped Growing Bald and Started Growing Hair.” Originally published in the 1970s, this book contains a recipe for a shake that we’re told works wonders for hair growth and luster.

What you’ll need:

• ¾ cup milk
• 1 egg (raw)
• 1 tbsp raw wheat germ oil
• 2 tbsp raw wheat germ
• fruit of your choice (for added flavor)

Blend all ingredients in a blender. Drink this mixture daily for breakfast, followed by two hours with nothing else to eat or drink. Once you start seeing results, you can cut your intake down to multiple times a week instead of daily.

What to Avoid

There are also minor things you can do that will have a big impact on the overall health of your hair. Stay away from hair bands that are very tight as these can cause your hair to break easily.

In addition, while some curlies find that detangling while wet and/or saturated with conditioner works well, others find that they end up pulling out more hair this way. Definitely avoid using a brush on wet hair as wet hair is the most vulnerable.

The real key to hair growth is simply TIME, but you can do some things to speed up the process.

Have you found any products that work for you?

Big Chopping

This curly hair care tip is probably one of the most helpful things you can do to start the New Year off right. This isn’t just for all types of curlies; straighties could benefit from this as well.

Getting the big chop means just what it says — chopping, and chopping BIG. As in, not just trimming an inch or two but chopping ALL of your damaged ends. I know, I know. You’re thinking that if you do that, you’ll get rid of all of the “fabulous” growth you’ve managed to achieve in the past few years. Here’s the thing: if you haven’t been keeping up with regular (every 6-8 weeks) trims, chances are good that you’ve got several inches of dead ends. What’s more, all of that “length” you have is more than likely just scraggly ends just waiting to break off the next time you brush your hair.

You’ve got to get rid of those dead ends. For some of you, this will indeed mean cutting off nearly all of your hair and starting fresh. The good news is that for those of you transitioning, this is almost like an instant transformation — no long, drawn-out process that takes several months to a year. If you get rid of all of your damaged (from heat, relaxers, etc.) hair and only leave yourself with your new growth, you’ll be miles ahead of the game.

In addition, it’ll be in your best interest to make sure you only use a professional curl stylist — someone who specializes in curly hair of all types — for your trims. Otherwise, you may leave the salon with hair more damaged than it was when you went in, with the added “benefit” of a big frizzy mop atop your scalp.

MORE: 10 Tips for Transitioning to Natural Hair

Deep Conditioning

Next to big chopping, deep conditioning is extremely important part of curly hair care. Deep conditioning will literally give your hair back the moisture and nutrients you may have stripped away from it. Even if you’ve been avoiding heat and other harmful hair care products, you’ll still benefit from feeding your hair what it needs.

Deep conditioning involves more than just the quick five-minute conditioning you probably do on a daily basis. It takes using hair care products that are good for your hair and free of sulfates (often known as sodium lauryl suflate and sodium laureth sulfate), formaldehyde (yes, it really is found in hair care products!), and parabens (such as methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl). DevaCurl’s One Conditon is perfect for deep conditioning curly hair. Alternatively, you can make your own deep conditioner.

It also takes time — as much as an hour from start to finish, depending on your hair type and how much hair you have.

After massaging the conditioner into your hair, scalp and focusing heavily on your ends, you’ll need to cover it with a shower cap. You will then need to sit under heat (a hard hat salon-style dryer is great if you’ve got one. If not, consider the Hair Therapy Wrap). When you’re done, remove the shower cap and let the hair cool for a few minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

MORE: Deep Conditioning Treatments Good Enough to Eat

Regular Trims

After you’ve taken the plunge and have done the big chop (and even if you don’t need to do a big chop), you’ve got to keep up with trimmings. Make it a priority to get your regular trims, and you shouldn’t need another big chop again. That alone is probably enough motivation to keep on top of your trimmings.

Plug reminders into your phone, Google calendar, whatever. Just make sure you stay on top of them. While it might seem counter-productive to trim hair you’re trying to grow, if you don’t trim, you’re not actually growing your hair. Sure, you might see hair coming in at the roots, but your split ends are also going up higher, giving you even more wisps and strings at the ends.

What might start out as two inches of split ends will turn into three or four inches of dead ends six months later.

MORE: Tips for Trimming Curly Hair

Defeat the Heat

Applying heat to your hair means you’ll not only risk actually burning your hair or scalp, but you’re also sucking the moisture right out of it. This drying gets you the bone straight hair you’re probably after, but your hair will be so much better off if you leave the heat alone.

Instead, air dry your hair. For some of you curlies, the thought of air-drying your type 3C or 4 hair sounds frightening. However, if you’re worried about frizz, consider doing Bantu knots to tame those tresses. When you twist out (which just means undoing the knots), you may be surprised at how much you like the results.

MORE: How to Dry Curly Hair

Co-Wash

No, this doesn’t mean washing with two shampoos at once. Co-washing means eliminating shampoo altogether — and any extra drying-out that shampoos might be doing to your hair — and washing with conditioner instead.

The same rules about choosing good deep conditioners for curly hair care apply here as well. Once you find one that works well for you, skip the shampoo and apply conditioner to damp hair. Rub it into the scalp to clean your scalp, then finger comb the conditioner through or just leave it be. Let it set on your hair for a few minutes before rinsing with warm water.

MORE: All About the No-Shampoo Method