Mixed Afro/ Asian Hair Is Thirsty N Dry! Help!

E.,

Remember when reading these advices that most are for adult hair...baby hair is very fragile and how you "treat" it now will largely play a role in how it will be as adult hair…

Have you actually taken her to an African American hair dresser and asked their advice?? My cousin has a blended family and her two girls have very different hair and very African American! She took her three year old to the solon and got some great advice and information on what the needs are for her type of hair.

I would try a hair mask by matrix. I forget the name exactly. I think it is in a purple bottle and sold at salons and beauty stores. It worked for my hair.

There is an awesome product out there called Arbonne. There shampoo and conditioner has been known to help dry hair; it's self-adjusting. I have dry procesed/colored hair and it has helped my hair become shiney and silky. It's a botanically based product and has no mineral oils in it, no animal products and no animal by products in it.

If you would like more information, I can tell you about it.

R.

Well search no more! I'm a natural hair care special in Historic Old Sacramento @ The International Beauty Palace (135 L Street). Now to my tips:
Trim/Cut
It's best to trim ends every other month. Anything more frequent will leave the hair in shock. Cut dry not wet if of African-American culture

Dry Hair
This is very common! Overwashing can cuase this and lack of a weekly leave-in oil treatment. Depending on the hair's thickness nightly treatments work well.

I recommend that you come in for a visit and brief consultation. I'm great with children ages 1-12! Call for advice anytime... Ms. Rae ###-###-####

I swear by Fruit of the Earth's 100% Aloe Vera Gel. You can find it in the antibiotic or first-aid section. Some stores have it in the lotion and hair product isle as well. Usually used for sunburns, etc., but it says on the back that it can be used as a shaving gel, on blemishes and as a hair gel. Works good for me for mixed-texured hair. I find that it doesn't need other products mixed with it. Just apply on damp hair and finger through.

Hi E.,
How often are you washing her hair? I would only wash maybe once a week and condition it daily. Only use shampoos that are creamy. Redkin makes a great line called All Soft that is wonderful. It isn't tear-free but they have a regular shampoo & conditioner plus a heavy cream used for deep conditioning. The problem I've seen with keeping fragile hair braided or in a ponytail is the breakage. Also, try keeping her hair shorter with frequent trims. Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
L.

Hi I am a African American mom ......This should help. First most types of black hair need to have some type of oil added to it especially if it is kinky or curly. This sounds like the case with you. Second, you are probably washing it to often. If her hair is as dry as described, every 2 weeks is fine. This probably sounds "gross" for all other straight haire types, but quite normal for black hair types. When you wash it more often you are stripping out all the oils and thus get the straw texture and breakage. There is no reason her hair should not be growing alot other than it is starving.

Also you can to to the store and by 'Organic root stimulator Olive oil. It is a green jar or bottle in the Ethnic Hair section of most drug stores (that have this kind of section. It is a light oil but works well. Apply this to her hair every day. How to apply: Part her hair and apply to roots and massage out to the tips. Since her hair seems to DRINK up the oil, you should apply liberaly. You should do this daily. You may have to experienment with the amount. But if her hair feels like straw, shortly after, you did not use enough. I hope this helps!

I would call a salon that specializes in African American hair. Make the appt. and buy the products. I imagine that with proper care it will be gorgeous!

Hi E.,

look at the products that you have already tried using, if they have Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate do not use them, this is a foaming agent (is strong enough to de-grease a car engine). You want to be sure to use something gentler that doesn't strip the skin & hairs natural oils.
I would suggest that you also do an oil treatment on her hair. There is an oil called Jojoba oil, it is really close to the oil that our body naturally produces and is great for our hair, skin, nails etc. I use it on both my children 6 mos & 19 mos. (my daughter has sensitive skin, so this helps to moisturize her skin).

I would love to talk to you about some different products that you could try. give me a call ###-###-####
I am a rep for a Naturally-based Spa Quality skin & body care line. I use all of this on myself, husband & children as do much of my family & friends.

My daughter is AA, hispanic and Native American. We use Frizz-Ease, the Downplay line. The hairstylist I take her to says she has the best conditioned hair she's ever seen. She only washes her hair once or twice a week. I only put in the leave in products after actually washing it unless it's particularly dry or she's been swimming in a clorinated pool. My daughter rinses her hair nightly though so it's easier to comb and braid. We do lots of braiding - french braids, pony tail braids, pony tail braided into lots of little braids, pig tails braids, etc. She sleeps with her hair braided too so it doesn't get tangled. She rarely goes with her hair down because it tangles too easily. When she does wear it down then we make sure her hair is conditioned and leave in product put in it. Don't brush it with a regular brush either, only comb it when it's wet. Brushing can just add to the frizz. I get my daughter's hair trimmed with the other kids, about every 6 weeks.

My daughter is Italian/Irish with some African-American heritage as well, with red curly hair that frizzes out like crazy. We use Frizz-Ease products and once a week, I put warm olive oil on her hair, put a bath cap on it, and leave it in for about an hour. We rinse it with lukewarm (never hot) water.

Also I love the Dove anti-frizz cream. Good for use throughout the day on all those flyaways!