Regular Towels, Microfiber Towels or T-shirts: Which is best for drying your hair

Hello ladies

I decided to write this post after making a hair care related purchase which turned out to be bad for my hair.  The purchase I made was a microfibre towel and in this post I will discuss why we should not use a regular towel to dry our hair, safer alternatives and I will share  loads of microscopic images to back up the facts in this post.

 

Using Regular Towels on Hair

Prior to my hair journey, I always used a regular towel to soak up water from my hair on my wash days and I was surprised to learn that it could be causing damage. How???? The fibres of regular towels are large and rough and will catch or latch on to hair fibres when the towel is rubbed on it.  This results in high levels of friction and damage to the cuticle layer of hair.  Over many months of repeated use, a regular towel will result in frizzy and roughened hair fibres which will be more prone to tangles.  Remember, tangles = breakage.

The image below is of some hair strands that had been wiped on a regular cotton towel.  You will see that the towel fibres are engulfing the hair fibres.

Towel 2

 

Towel

The fibres of the towels are tangling with the hair strands and you can see why the hair fibres would be pulled and tugged and sustain damage in the process of being dried with a regular towel.

An absorbent but much smoother fabric would be much less damaging to hair.

 

Using Microfibre Towels on Hair

Microfibre towels have much smaller and smoother fibres than regular towels.  Despite this they are also more absorbent than standard towels.  This is because of the structure/make-up of the fabric means it has a large surface area that soaks up water very well.  Using a micro fibre towel to remove excess water from hair will result in much less friction and much smoother hair than using a regular towel.

You can see the images below taken of some hair that had been wiped on a microfibre towel, (the same type we use at Hairitage to be specific 😊)  The fibres are not engulfing the hair stands and this shows why it will be less likely to catch and latch on the hair.

good microfibre towel

 

good microfibre 2

So, a good quality Micro fibre towel will result in less damage and less breakage. I can attest to how well the micro fibre towels we use at Hairitage glide on our clients’ hair without causing damage and breakage.  This is what led to me wanting to buy one for my personal use.
The moment I touched the microfibre towel I ordered I knew it was a fail.  I literally said “what the heck is this” when I touched it. Looking at it the fibres were larger than the ones we use at the salon and it did not feel smooth to the touch.  I decided I would still try it out and as suspected, I could feel the microfibre towel catching and dragging my hair.  I could actually hear some of my hair strands pop and break.

 

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The good microfibre towel is on he left, the “not so good” one is on the right. You can see how much smoother and softer the good quality micro fibre towel looks

You can see in the images below how the fibres of the poor quality microfibre towel intertwine and wrap around the hair fibres.  Hopefully, you can see why it will lead to frizzy hair which will be more prone to tangles.

Bad micro fibre 1

Bad micro fibre 2

 

 

The thing is, I have a point of reference to compare to and know that this is NOT how a good microfibre towel should feel like.
The situation got me thinking; what if I was a newbie to healthy hair care, I would have carried on using the towel believing that was how all micro fibre towels felt.  This takes me to the second aspect of this blog post.  Listen to your hair, just because something is labelled and marketed as good does not mean it is right for your hair. The product may not be of good quality or have bad ingredients…or the product may be great quality but may just not be compatible with your hair.

When trying out new products or hair care tools, always be guided by how your hair responds to it after one or a few uses.

 

Using Cotton T-shirt’s on Hair

We get told all the time that sleeping on a cotton pillow cases is damaging to hair and we should always wear a satin scarf or bonnet to bed or sleep on a satin pillow case.  So, it seems contradictory to ask ladies to use a cotton t-shirt to dry their hair.  The cotton used to make bedsheets and pillow cases are rough in comparison to those used to make t-shirts.  Good quality cotton t-shirts are soft and smooth, reducing the risk of damaging levels of friction.  They are also very absorbent.  Cotton t-shirts  gets the job done without causing damage to hair.

I’ve used cotton t-shirts to dry my hair from day one of my hair journey and have never experienced catching and popping or breakage when using it.    Looking at the image below of some hair stands wiped on a cotton t-shirt, you can see the fibres are not tangled or intertwined with the hair.
Cotton T-Shirt

 

 

So it seems my cotton t-shirts are here to stay.  And if you purchase a micro-fibre towel, make sure it a good quality one.  If you choose to use a t-shirt, make sure it feels smooth, does not have any embellishments or decorations that may snag your hair.
Please note that whatever you use to dry your hair, if you handle your hair roughly it will cause damage so go easy ladies.

I hope you have found this post helpful and insightful.

When it comes to hair products, I’ve never really been a product junkie.  I buy what my hair needs and only try new items occasionally.  However, there is an item I have become addicted to buying and I get giddy with excited whenever I get my hands on a new one.  Why??? Because the benefits it has for hair are amazing and I’ve had great results with every single one Ive tried so far.  Any idea what I am talking about?  Find out in my next post. 😊

X

Lade

Learn | Change | Grow

Hair Update : 6 Months Post Relaxer Rant

 

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Hi ladies,

Its been a little while since my last hair update.  Somehow, I’ve found myself at 6 months post relaxer again despite saying over and over that stretching this long probably isn’t the best for my hair.  Unfortunately, my schedule meant I kept pushing it further and further back.  However going forward, I am determined to reduce the length of my stretch to 4 months…..okay maybe 5 months

I wanted to share pictures of my hair at this stage, to show that, its not easy and its not pretty.  It’s the usual things I complain about, the tangles and matting, the fact that wash day becomes a major chore, constantly fighting dryness and because I have so much volume at my roots, my ends look rather thin and damaged in comparison.
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I took the pictures in this post about a week after washing.  I was supposed to put it in box braids (with no extensions) day or two after washing but couldn’t because life happened.  I had moisturised and detangled my hair about an hour before taking the pictures and I could already feel it beginning to clump and matt a little which you can see  in one of the pictures below.

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When I have a lot of new growth, my hair tends to matt quite badly if I wear it loose for a few days.  And when I say loose, I mean in a bun or faux bob style, I wouldn’t dare wear it down  or completely loose because I know I’d probably end up with locked hair and a trip to the barbers. I have to be very thorough and gentle when detangling, which with so much new growth, can be ridiculously time consuming, frustrating and frankly, it is not practical for my lifestyle and work load.

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You can see that my hair is beginning to clump and matt/tangle in this picture

Hair with a lot of new growth is very fragile and must be treated with extreme care to avoid breakage.  Also, day to day manipulation should be avoided when deep into a stretch. And this is WHY I need wigs to help me get through my stretches.  I simply refuse to spend so much time on my hair daily.  When my hair is in box braids under my wigs, I can focus on moisturising and sealing and because my hair is confined within the box braids, it no longer tangles.  However, I still spend good time and care detangling when I eventually undo the box braids to wash my hair.  I don’t enjoy wash days at all when I am deep into my stretch, but I suppose I only wash once in two weeks so it’s not too bad.

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So yes, this post is a major rant or vent of how much I don’t like stretching excessively.   Sorry 😊 How long was your longest stretch?  Were you able to manage it well and avoid breakage?  Share your tops for getting through your relaxer stretches.

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My next post will be an educative one about drying your hair.  Micro fibre versus towels versus t shirts and how to use them correctly.  Its going to be a good post.

See you soon

x

Lade

Learn | Change | Grow

Motions versus Motions – A review of the new formula of Motions Moisture Plus

Hey ladies,

I’am smiling as I type this because of all the ladies who have visited and met me at the salon who have asked, “haba, why have you stopped blogging?”
If you are reading this, you know I said I’d be back. Ladies, the reality is that I am pulled in so many directions and sometimes it becomes a lil difficult to do it all.  I will always blog, it may not be as often as I’d like but this is home.  So sooner or later I’ll always be back.  Mushiness over ……. and on with today’s blog post which is a product review/comparison of the old and new formula of Motions Moisture Plus Conditioner.

First thing first, Aussie Moist is my current go to moisture conditioner as I discussed in this post.  I often advise ladies in locations where some of their fave brands may be hard to find, to have a back up product in case they aren’t able to find/buy their staple products.  I have two back up moisture conditioners I use to deep condition my hair, Herbal Essence Hello Hydration and Motions Moisture Plus.
The old version of Motions Moisture Plus seemed to work quite well for my hair but I was never happy with the ingredients and tried many alternatives with better ingredients but none kept my hair as happy ( smoother, easier to detangle, softer) as the motions.  All that changed when I tried and fell in love with Aussie Moist.  So why am I talking about Motions?  Because the stash of Aussie Moist I brought back from the UK is finished and I haven’t had the time to go hunting for some here in Lagos.  I walked into my beauty supply store and picked up a bottle of the new motions instead……… and I am very happy with it to say the least.

In this review I will discuss the ingredients, consistency and the effects the new fomula had on my hair in comparison to the old one.

 

Ingredients
The thing that irked me the most about the old formula was the high quantity of mineral oil it contained.  Mineral oil isn’t a high quality ingredient.  It add no real value to conditioners and does not enrichen a conditioner the way many natural botanical oils do.
The new motions Moisture plus contains no mineral oil and such a rich mix of natural ingredients which are listed very high up the list ( meaning there are high quantities of them in the conditioner).  Some of the botanical oils and butters contained in the new formula includes Soybean oil, shea butter, argan oil, olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, etc. Although it is a moisture conditioner, it also contains a small amount of hydrolyzed proteins which helps hair fibres retain moisture ingredients for longer.
I am not saying this new formula has a perfect list on ingredients, but it certainly has a much better quality of ingredients that are beneficial to hair.

 

Consistency of the Product
The old formula was thicker and took some effort before sinking or seeping into my hair.  I noticed that it usually required heat for about 10 minutes via my soft hood drier before my hair began to absorb the product.

The new formula on the other hand is much thinner but it’s not overly watery or too runny.   The first time I applied it to my hair I was shocked because it disappeared, I mean I couldn’t see a thick layer of conditioner sitting on top of my hair fibres, nooooooo, it sank right into my hair fibres with zero heat.   This had me thinking “okay – come through Motions…come through”

 

Effects on My Hair
I was pleased with how my hair felt when I rinsed it out.  My hair definitely felt softer than when I used the old formula.  I however still prefer how soft and perfect the Aussie Moist Makes my hair feel.  So whilst the new Motions Moisture Plus is not my main or go-to conditioner, I am very happy to keep using it as a back-up and don’t have to feel bad about putting a poor quality product in my hair. And most importantly I feel happier about readers trying and using it IF it works on their hair.
My next post is a science based, very educative post about the structure of afro hair fibres in comparison to Caucasian and Asian hair types, the implications of our hair’s shape and why it is a major factor in how we treat our hair if we want it to be healthy.  I am already working on it so see you soon.

X

 

Lade

Protective Style Errors That Cause Breakage and Damage

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Hello Ladies,

This post is a short one but it is long overdue. To all my consultation clients, thank you for keeping me super busy.  I will always find time (somehow) to update Hairducation even though it may not as often as I’d like.  I am making efforts to improve my work-work balance (I don’t have much of a social life right now) .  For now,  my uploading of posts here will be sporadic.  So please do keep checking in for new posts and if you are new to Hairducation, there are loads of posts you can catch -up on.

So on with todays post which is about common mistakes ladies make when protective styling with their natural (relaxed and virgin) hair.  It’s great to see more and more ladies rock their real hair in either its virgin or relaxed state however I have noticed a few mistakes that can lead to thinning, damage and breakage.
The most common errors are…..

 

  • Not hiding the ends
    One of the main aims of a protective style is to hide/tuck your ends so that the moisture in your hair does not evaporate excessively.  It also ensures your ends do not rub against your clothes or upholstery. Whether it is a bun or goddess braids, try to have your ends well hidden or tucked in.
  • Making the style super tight
    I see so many ladies with ponytails, buns, puffs, wigs and cornrows under wigs etc that are super sleek and super tight. I wont lie, it can look really cute when a protective style is hella sleek but there should be a balance between sleekness and safety.
    There is a mistaken view that only braids, weaves or other extensions hair styles cause traction alopecia.  Styles created with your own hair can do that too.  If you can feel your temples  being pulled tightly……. or you feel blood rush to your head when you undo the hair or take off the wig or hair band ………or you cant turn and bend you neck comfortably …….or have had the ponytail “facelife”….it is too tight.
  • Using a lot of gel and hard brushes daily
    A continuation from the hella sleek mistake in the point above is the laid for the gods mistake. Using a lot of gel and hard brushes on your delicate edges on a daily basis will result in thinning of your hairline and damage to the hair fibres.  It is okay to use a natural gel or non drying gel and a soft brush from time to time.
    Some ladies may have a hairline that can tolerate daily stress to their hairline.  Some of us, like myself, certainly do not.
  • Parting or bunning in the same spot
    If you have a go-to protective style that requires a part, try to alternate the pattern of the style so that you are not always parting in the exact same spot over the years. Doing so will result in the hairs in that area being manipulated more often than other areas.  This will often result in small amounts of breakage which over time will make the hairs in those areas shorter.
    If you are a lady who loves buns and ponytails, move the location of your bun or ponytail to avoid causing stress on a particular spot.
  • Using pins and bands that are defective or damaged and snag and tear your hair. I think this one is self-explanatory.

As promised, a short and sweet post. My next few posts will be educatative product reviews and a microcsopic comparison between afro textured hair and Caucasian and Asian hair.

As always, I’ll work hard on making the posts worthwhile so see you soon.

x

Lade

Learn | Change | Grow

 

The Truth About Genetics and Hair Lenght

 

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Ladies!!!

How are you all doing?

I get asked time and time and time again about genetics and hair length.  So many ladies are insistent that long healthy hair is a product of genetics alone.  These ladies also believe that nothing you do in terms of hair care can have any significant effect on the length and thickness of your hair because “this hair thing is only genes” apparently.
The truth is this – Genes are only one of the factors that determines your actual length and thickness.
If you do not take good care of your hair, you will NEVER know what your hairs genetic potential is.  How will you know what your hair is genetically capable of if due to lack of care, your hair in a damaged state permanently.  I use myself as an example just to drive home this point.  Look at the pictures below.

 

No one ever looked at my hair and thought “oh this girl’s hair can grow” . I myself never realised that I had the genetics to grow hair longer than shoulder length UNTIL I cared for it correctly. My clients and so many other ladies on social media have shared their healthy hair transformations from damaged and very short to healthy, long and lush.  This should prove that there is more to actual hair length than genes alone.

Yes, there are some ladies who don’t take care of their hair and still have amazing hair.  Those ladies hair would be even more amazing IF they took care of it There are three factors that determine how long, healthy and thick each lady’s hair is. These are: 1) Genetic factors 2) Internal factors 3) External factors.

ALL three play a SIGNIFICANT part in determining what your hair is actually like.

 

Genetic Factors

Genetic factors we are born with will determine –

  • The colour of our hair,
  • The texture and thickness of our hair strands
  • Density (number of strands)
  • How long our hair can grow and the speed of our hair growth

You can have hair that is capable of growing to your bum but only have shoulder length hair in real life. How long your hair is capable of growing is determined by the length of your anagen phase and how fast your hair grows (eg half an inch a month or one inch a month). The anagen phase is the growing phase of hair before and sheds.    The anagen phase on average varies from as short as 2 years to as long as 6 years.
On average, humans of all races grow approximately half an inch a month.  So, if you have two women who both grow the average half an inch a month, the woman whose anagen phase is 6 years  will be capable of growing hair longer than the one whose anagen phase is only 2 years long.   In reality though, both of these women can have hair the same length depending on some other internal and external factors explained below.
There isn’t anything you can do to change the genetics you were born with.  Genetics are factors you cant control.  But please note that based on genetics, on average everyone should be able to grow a minimum of 12 inches.  EVERYONE!!!!  This is because the minimum anagen phase is believed to be approximately 2 years.

 

Same girl. same genes, same health and fitness level, same type of diet. The only thing I changed was how I cared for my hair.

Internal Factors
There are internal factors which can affect our hair’s genetic capabilities.  Some of these factors include

  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Some medical conditions
  • Medications
  • Diet and water intake
  • Stress levels

These factors can affect hair growth and/or thickness by either halting or slowing down hair growth and/or cause excessive shedding and thinning.  Some of these factors are within your control and some are not.  For example you can try to have a good diet and healthy lifestyle.  Having a medical condition or hormonal imbalances are clearly not things you control.

As an example, a woman may have the genetics to grow 20 inches of medium density hair but a hormonal imbalance can mean that in reality she has 10 inches of sparse hair. With internal factors, some of them can be worked on and improved and some may need some treatment or therapy to overcome.

 

 

External Factors
External factors that can influence the state of your hair includes

  • Our hair care and hair styling practices (having a hair regimen, using good products correctly, avoiding excessive manipulation, avoiding aggressive manipulation, wearing styles that are safe for your hair type, etc)
  • Environmental damage – such as damage from UV rays, hard and salt water, cold or humid weather conditions
  • Chemical damage – chemical straightening and colouring processes.

These factors are within your control and this is where having a healthy hair regimen comes into play!!!!  With the right regimen for your hair type, hair needs and lifestyle, you can control the amount of damage your hair sustains. For instance, a woman with natural textured hair can have it chemically coloured but if she does not give it the level of care that her process hair needs or follow correct colouring procedures, she will likely sustain damage and breakage.  This will prevent her hair from reaching its genetic potential.

Another example is of a lady who does not protect her hair correctly in the winter months or one that uses a lot of flat irons which damage hair.  The lady may have genes that make it capable for her to have 22 inches of hair, but her hair care practices will cause damage and breakage which may mean in reality she only has 6 inches of hair.  She would be growing hair capable of getting long but damage and breakage keeps it at a shorter length.

 

A client's progress

A client’s progress

I hope this post helps you understand the balance between genetics and the other factors which determine the hair we have in reality.

Going back to the example of the two ladies above, where one woman has an anagen phase is that is 6 years  and the other has an anagen phase of 2 years.  If both are genetically capable of growing half an inch a month, both of them would grow 6 inches in a year. The woman with the 6 year anagen phase will be capable of growing 36 inches hair and the woman with the 2 year anagen phase will be able to grow 12 inches of hair.  This is described as their terminal length (the maximum length their hair can grow to). Imagine both these ladies currently have hair that is 4 inches long and the one capable of growing 12 inches begins to care for her hair and grows it to 10 inches.  The lady capable of growing 36 inches may begin to admire those 10 inches not realising that her own hair is capable of growing 36 inches IF she took care of hers.  The moral of the story is take care of yourself internally and have a good hair care regimen that works for your hair type and meets your hairs needs.  This will go a long way to helping you maximise your hair growth potential

😊

Happy hair journey

X

Lade

Learn | Change | Grow