Cornrows and Twist

So I decided to take a break from extensions for this month and braid my own hair into a protective style.

Check Out Oprah's Natural Hair on O Magazine's September 2012 Cover!

 For the first time ever, Oprah's appearing on the cover of O without blow-drying or straightening her hair. She says that wearing her hair naturally—as she often does on weekends and on vacation—makes her feel unencumbered. But there was a time when she wanted to just cut it all off. "I wanted to wear it close-cropped a la Camille Cosby but her husband Bill convinced me otherwise. 'Don’t do it,' he said. 'You’ve got the wrong head shape and you’ll disappoint yourself.' I took his advice," she says. Although, never one to shy away from a style update, Winfrey is a firm believer that changing your hairstyle can change what we see and feel is possible. "I even notice a change in my dogs when they get their summer cuts: they’re friskier and livelier, feeling more themselves once the weight of the hair is released."

After all the makeovers she’s done in O magazine and on TV, Oprah stands firm that the only makeovers that are maintained and sustained are "those in which something inside the receiver clicks, aligning with that which is being received. The only way to real transformation is through the mind."

Source

The Myth of the Split End

Everyone has heard of a split end. Split ends are defined as hair strands that have broken into two or more parts or pieces, on the very end of the hair. If this is the case, then why I am saying that split ends are a myth? The myth is that splits only occur on the ends of the hair. Splits can and do occur at any point on the hair strand, at any point from the root to tip or end of the hair. Hair is most commonly split on the ends. Or at least that is where most people notice them.

The ends of the hair are the oldest part of your hair, especially if you have or are growing longer hair. We often hear, and I say it myself, that we need to protect and preserve the ends of the hair. What about the rest of the hair strand? Here are some tips to do just that:

Avoid bobby pins that have lost the soft head on the points. These exposed, sharp metal parts can tear the hair strand and weaken it. Weakened hair is more likely to split.

Try to use cotton or nylon to pull back your hair instead of rubber bands. Even coated rubber bands placed too tightly on the hair can flick off the cuticle layer of your hair strands.

Condition your hair. By using a moisturizing conditioner, you help to keep the hair strand moist and pliable. Hair that is moist is less apt to break and split. For most people with afro textured hair, conditioner is placed on the whole head, not just on the ends of the hair. Thus, this will help to keep the entire strand protected.

If your hair is natural, your hair will very likely tend to dryness and thirstily drink up moisture. Water based moisturizing products, placed on the hair for maintenance between washes will also help to keep hair full of moisture. Thus the hair will be less prone to breakage and splits.

Most of us are aware that the ends of our hair are very fragile and that they can split if they are not handled properly. What many people don't know is that splits can occur at any point on the hair strand. Please be mindful of this so that you can preserve your hair strands and the natural structure of the hair, for as long as possible.

By Chicoro, BeautifyBitByBit.com