BUY LACE FRONT WIGS TODAY

You buy lace front wigs from: http://krownkouture.co.uk/1.html

DARE TO BE SHORT. IS SHORT THE NEW LONG?

Some are going bald others are going for short hair cuts, either way I love it. It does not suit all women though! I will not be going bald anytime soon but I have opted for a short A lined bob weave. For me at the moment short is the new long!

TYRA BANKS LETS HER HAIR OUT

To me this proves that just because a young lady chooses to wear hair extension this does not mean that she has no hair. In fact it could mean that she is trying to protect or maintain her healthy head of hair. Take a look and I hope it inspires you to grow your hair long...

http://www.tyrabanks.com/view/story_01ABOUT_FACE

PRODUCT REVIEW

This is a really lovely product, it contains a whole host of natural oils and creams and none of the bad ingredients I mentioned in anoher post.

Henna is very good for your hair so you could make a DIY treatment for your self with that product as a base.

THICK HAIR

I was talking to a friend last night and we spoke about products that are good for hair thickening. The best natural product that I know is castor oil!

As with all oils it is best to use it as a sealant i.e. to moisturise you hair first then to put on the oil after wards to seal in the moisture. After moisturising I wrap my hair with a silk scarf to lock the moisture in. When I do this regularly I get really positive results.

Remember the most common cause of hair breakage is dry, un-moisturised hair.

WHAT IS "GOOD HAIR"? CHRIS ROCK ATTEMPTS TO FIND OUT

AVOID LANOLIN, PETROLATUM AND MINERAL OIL

The key to finding hair products that will help your hair to grow and to be adequately moisturised is not to look at the products cover but to look at the ingredients. Unfortunately the majority of black hair care products contain lanolin, petrolatum and mineral oil which are all derived from crude oil. They are not moisturisers but lubricants. They can not penetrate the hair shaft to feed the hair with much needed minerals.

The problem with lanolin, petrolatum, and mineral oil is that they clog pores, preventing your scalp from breathing and taking in moisture. You should never grease your scalp with them (grease is not good for afro hair). The problem is that they are hard to wash out and therefore tend to leave a buildup. Vaseline or Dax grease for example will not promote hair growth. They can be use on the hair shaft after a moisturiser has been applied to SEAL moisture.

Theses ingredients stifle rather than promote hair growth. When you buy products look at the ingredients to see if these products are included. Ingredients are named in the order that correlates with the amount in the product. If petrolatum for example is in the first three then this will be the largest ingredient.

These ingredients are included not because they will help your hair but because they are CHEAP!!!

For example the ingredients for

• organic root stimulator jojoba oil:
  
  Petrolatum , Soybean Oil Glycine Soja , Lanolin, Isopropyl Myristate , Coconut Oil Cocos Nucifera , Jojoba Oil Simmondsia Chinensis , Castor Oil Ricinus Communis, Paraffin, Cyclomethicone , Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E , Fragrance Parfum, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, D'Limonene, Linalool, BHT

• Pink hair lotion, oil moisturiser
  Deionized Water (Aqua), Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Isopropyl Myristate, Lanolin, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Vera Oil (Aloe Barbadensis), Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis), PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Panthenol (Provitamin B5),

Other popular brands that contain these ingredients are: Motions, Patene Relaxed and Natural.

Definition of Mineral oil from Dermalogica:

A greasy petroleum by-product. Inert and stable, and very basic to formulate with. Leaves a heavy after-feel an the skin, and has no skin benefits


Definition of Lanolin from Dermalogica:

A lubricant derived from sheep wool fat. Causes allergic reactions and is comedogenic. Recent studies, reported in January 1989, in the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times show it to be often contaminated with dangerous pesticides.

http://www.ultrablackhair.com/HairTips/moisturizersA.html

TIPS FOR LOOKING AFTER YOUR HAIR DURING A WEAVE

You can use a weave to help grow your natural hair. Follow these simple rules to ensure that your hair does not break.

• When braiding you hair for a full sew in weave make sure that the braids are not too tight as this will cause traction. Aim for secure rather than tight.
• Before you braid you hair for a full weave wash you hair with a good shampoo e.g. Kera Kare Humecto and use a deep conditioner. This will ensure that you hair is in the best shape before the weave is attached.
• When the hair is being sewn on to your hair, make sure it is done securely rather than too tightly. This will avoid breakage.
• Get you stylist to sew around your braids rather than through them. This will reduce the friction between the thread and you hair.
• Finally moisturise your hair daily by using a braid sheen spray. Lift up each hair weft and spay you braids so that they remain moist. The golden rule for avoiding hair breakage is to keep your hair moist.

Happy weaving

MY FAVORITE HAIR PRODUCTS

Check out my post about growing hair long to see how I use them. I think the ingedients in these are good for hair growth and help to stop breakage. Mango butter is very good for the ends of your hair and helps to stop split ends from forming.

SYNTHETIC LACE FRONT WIGS: DO THEY LOOK GOOD?

Well take a look for your self. I think they look fairly good if applied properly. They are a good way to try these wigs before moving on to the human hair full wigs!

Please note: Synthetic hair will not last as long as the human hair wigs. The wigs will only be "lace fronts" i.e. will have 2" of lace at the front and machine wefts at the back. Human hair wigs will tend to have lace and hand tied hair throughout the unit. Finally the lace on synthetic units are usually inferior to the human hair wigs that tend to have Swiss lace.

I LOVE ROXY'S OUTFIT

At the 2009 BET Awards pre-show part Roxy stole the spotlight with these curls and that dress. I love a sparkling mini. I need to do some reserch on who the designer !!! I also loved beyonces dress, also very hot.

GROW YOU HAIR LONG- AFRO HAIR SPECIAL

I have heard so many times over the years: "black hair grows slower than other nationalities, black people can not have hair as long as other nationalities". Well these are all myths, mere urban legends. The truth is that ALL human hair grows on average 1/2 and inch a month so that in a year 6 inches of growth can be achieved.

If you looking in the mirror at 3" of broken hair you may find this hard to believe. You need to realise that if you have short hair it is most likely because you have problems RETAINING your hair growth. In other words your hair is breaking at a faster than it is growing.

In order to see the benefits of your hair growth you need to stop this cycle and to do so you need to develop a healthy hair regime. Below is a routine that I use. Please us it for inspiration. I can not make any guarantees but I am sure that you will notice a positive change in you hair if you usually struggle.


Day to day regime ideas:

• 
  Within a seven day cycle little or no heat should be used. If heat is used then a protective hair serum is a must.
• 
  Hair should be washed at least ONCE a week.
  Why? Because water is a moisturiser and washing your hair is the best time to put either moisture or protein in your hair. Healthy hair will have a balance of moisture and protein.
• 
  Try this technique: use a hydrating shampoo e.g. Cream of nature, Kera Kare and wash the hair (do not manipulate the hair too much, in fact washing your hair in large plaits or canerows could be less damaging to your hair).
• 
  For the first wash use the shampoo, then rinse(use warm not hot water). For the second wash use a conditioner e.g. Kera Kare humecto, Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner , Dove Intense Moisture.

• For the remainder of the washes alternate between the shampoo and then the conditioner
  You will feel you hair become soft as you go along.
  
• 
  Once you have finished washing your hair you can either leave the conditioner on for 15mins then rinse or use a protein treatment.
• 
  Protein treatments should be used at least once every two weeks. Good brands are Nexuss Keraphix, Aphogee 2minuite Reconstructor. Protein treatments are especially important for colour treated hair, relaxed and extra dry/weak hair!
• 
  If your hair is really suffering then use Aphogee Treatment for Damaged Hair, once a month.
• 
  After washing allow your hair to dry naturally.

CELEBRITY INSPIRATION FOR GREAT HAIR

IS REMY/VIRGIN HAIR REALY WORTH IT?

I have noticed that the price of non-remy hair brands had increased. A pack of 14" Sensationnel Premium Now will set you back about £21 now days. However remy hair will burn an even bigger hole in your pockets with prices for 14" ranging from £40-80 and in some cases even higher. Does remy or virgin hair merit these prices? If you are like me, you will want to know if this hair is truly any better that the £5 synthetic hair or the £20 non-remy hair.

True remy hair is hair that has the cuticles aligned and in tact so that the hairs natural lustre and sheen remains. The hair will not tangle and has a longer life span than non-remy hair. Non-remy hair gets exposed to harsh chemicals that remove the cuticle and therefore causes matting and shedding in the hair weft. Becuse of these differences remy can be re-used.

I say "true remy" because there are a lot of brands out there that are called remy but are actually only about 50% remy or not remy at all. I have bought some of these brands that are sold in the hair shops and wasted my money. I think true 100% remy hair is worth the extra money because it has a better feel to it, lasts longer, can be colored and re-used. In the long run you will find that it may work out cheaper than buying non-remy hair each time you get a new install of weave.

Now virgin remy hair is even better because the hair has never ever received any chemical treatments. Remy hair may arrive coloured or texturised to create a curly or yaki texture. Virgin hair will come with the hairs natural colour and texture (see photo above). Virgin hair will last even longer than remy hair and will give you all the benefits described above. I recently started to wear virgin hair and I love it!!! For me the extra price is justified. As with lace wigs, virgin hair will not be for every one or for ever. There are times when I wear synthetic hair or non-remy human hair for budget reasons. But when I can, I have to get me some virgin hair. There is nothing better. I always loved Megan Good's hair and she wears Indian virgin hair (see photo above)! Its has a bounce and a natural look that can not be achieved from the average hair brands sold in hair shops.

If would like to know more about this type of hair email: info@krownkouture.com

HOW TO PUT A LACE WIG ON

Please see the links below for guidence on how to attach a lace front wig:

TO LOVE OR NOT TO LOVE THE LACE FRONT WIGS

Lace front wigs are one of the latest crazes in the hair extension industry. These wigs were being worn by the likes of Beyonce, Tyra Banks and Nicole Kidman while we were still in the dark ages wearing the traditional weave. Now however, these wigs can be bought on the internet and in beauty shops. Prices tend to range anything from £100-1000 and beyond.

The defining feature of these wigs is the "hair line" it creates. Individual hairs are hand tied onto a fine Swiss mesh (lace) to create the illusion that the hair is actually growing out of your scalp. The wigs usually have to be glued by applying specialist glue or tape to the circumference of your head. If this is done correctly then the results can be truly amazing. However if done wrong, you could end up looking like an android from out of space.

When I first saw a lace front I just had to have one! Now four lace fronts down, I see myself wondering is all the hype really worth it???

Well my answer is that the lace wig is not for every one and is not for ever. You have to be a person who will be committed to ensuring that the wig is applied correctly to look realistic. I enjoy my wigs more when I wear them for two or three months with a months break in between. Wearing the wigs also gives my hair a chance to grow. I moisturise my own hair regularly and have reaped the benefits. The wigs can be very fun, You can try a variety of hair textures, colours and lengths and no one will notice that it is not your natural hair. This is why I, and many women love them!