The Northwest Scents Blog

Question: I need u to give me tips on how i can grow my hair VERY LONG and please tell me what to do and what to use.

Answer: Hi. You didn't tell me exactly how you are wearing your hair now, so I will give some general tips which you can use for growing longer hair.

For most people, hair growth comes when they stop doing the things to their hair that are causing breakage. For us as black people, it is not that our hair doesn't grow, the problems we face with our hair are usually due to doing too much to our hair. The things that we do usually cause hair damage, which causes hair breakage. For example:

If you are using chemical treatments of any type (relaxers, texturizers, dyes, etc.) I would recommend that you stop using them. Chemical treatments work by altering the natural structure of your hair. This causes the hair to weaken over time. For some people it happens right away. Others don't see the damage until years later, and by then it is often irreversible. So, if you are wearing chemical treatments, my advice is to stop them.

If you are using synthetic hair, such as braids with extensions, or weaves, I would recommend that you avoid those too. They tend to cause hair damage by adding weight to the hair shaft, which can cause the hair to be pulled out.

If you use heat on your hair, be moderate with it. Don't use your flat iron or pressing comb or curling iron every day. And when you do use a heated styling too, don't turn it up to the highest temperature. Heated styling tools work by temporarily altering the protein bonds in our hair. But if the temperature is too high, the changes become permanent, they weaken the hair, and they cause it to break off.

Do use shampoos and conditioners and oils that are moisturizing and gentle. Avoid sulfates in your shampoos (these are very drying and can cause the hair to become brittle), and avoid mineral oil and petrolatum in your conditioners and hair oils. Mineral oil and petrolatum can actually cause the hair to dry out. They coat the hair shaft (instead of being absorbed into it) and prevent other moisturizers from penetrating the hair shaft, causing dryness.

Be patient with your hair. Learn to love it for what it is. Not everyone can or will have floor length hair. Give your hair time to grow to its maximum length, and nurture it the best that you can.

Question: Is it safe to press colored treated hair? - I was thinking about pressing my hair, but not straight. I just want to loosen up some of my hair, because it feels so thick at the roots. I know too much heat is not good for any type of hair. I was just going to press my hair only after I wash it, like my mom use to do when I was a child. Thanks!!

Answer: I wouldn't recommend pressing hair that has been treated with a permanent color. If what you are looking for is loosening the roots, I would recommend using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, and detangling your hair in the shower when it is wet and saturated with conditioner, and loosely braiding your hair while it dries to keep the roots looser. I've got tips for how to do this at http://nwscents.com/pages/How-To-Detangle-Your-Hair.php

Question: How do i clip the ends of natural hair?

Answer: If your hair is long enough, separate it into a few sections (6 to 10), braid each section (not a cornrow, just a braid from scalp to the ends of the hair), and use high quality hair scissors to clip the ends of each braid.

If you hair is not long enough for braids, separate your hair into sections. Use a plastic comb on a section. With one hand, hold the comb, and insert the comb into the section of hair. Gently pull up the comb until only the ends of the hair are sticking out of the teeth of the comb. With the other comb use high quality hair scissors to clip the ends of the hair. Repeat for each section. You may want to have someone help you with this second method.

Link: http://nwscents.com/catalog.php?category=9

Northwest Scents hair conditioner is a multi-use product that can help you in many ways with your hair. Here are some tips for how to use it.

1. Use as a regular conditioner. Use your bottle of Northwest Scents conditioner the way you regularly use conditioner. Apply a small amount to your hair after you have washed and rinsed it. Let it sit in your hair for several minutes, and then rinse.

2. Use as a deep conditioner. If your hair is extra dry you can use Northwest Scents hair conditioner as a deep conditioner. To do this, wash and rinse your hair. Dry partially (blot out some of the extra water), but don't let your hair dry completely. Apply some conditioner to your hair and work it into your hair from the scalp to the ends of your hair. Put a plastic bonnet (like a shower cap) on your hair and leave it on for 30 minutes. The heat from your head to warm your hair. This will enable the oils and conditioning ingredients in the conditioner to penetrate your hair giving it a deep conditioning treatment.

3. Use as a detangler. If you have a hard time combing through your hair after you wash it, try combing through it in the shower when it is wet and has a lot of Northwest Scents conditioner on it. Use a wide tooth comb, and comb through your hair in small sections from the ends to the roots to detangle it.

4. Use as a hair setting lotion. If you wear your hair in natural styles, like braids or twists, apply some Northwest Scents hair conditioner to your hair before you style it to help set the style.

5. Use as a daily hair moisturizer. If you have dry hair, and you are wearing your hair naturally or relaxed, apply a little bit of Northwest Scents hair conditioner to your hair to help moisturize it in between washes.