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Shea butter is an ivory coloured fat extracted from the nuts of the shea tree. It is used widely in cosmetics as a moisturizer and sometimes used in the chocolate industry as a substitute for cocoa butter.

The use of shea butter has increased in popularity in the last few years with the increase in demand for more natural products for black curly hair types. Although its popularity in the west has only increased in recent years, in some parts of Africa it has been used for hundreds of years!

The best shea butter to use is the unrefined kind as all its healing properties are still intact. The refining process apart from adding different chemicals to the shea butter raises the temperature to about 400 degrees F which makes it lose some of its healing properties. Unrefined shea butter comes in blocks or can be bought already packed in jars. It is odourless if 100% pure or can be bought ready fragranced with essential oils.

Using it on the hair can be in a variety of ways.

o You can apply it straight to damp hair. It tends to be a bit hard in its natural state but will readily melt and be absorbed when it comes in contact with the skin or hair.

o You can also make shea butter easier to apply. Place the shea butter in a double boiler and melt it on a low heat. Add a natural oil to the shea butter e.g. extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil and stir until thoroughly mixed. The natural oil should make up about ¼ the volume of the shea butter. Pour the mixture back into a jar. Due to the addition of the olive oil, the shea butter will remain relatively soft when completely cooled and set and is easier to apply to the hair.

o Another way of using shea butter is to whip it with a few other natural ingredients and essential oils to make a homemade butter. A simple recipe is below.

Shea butter crème

1. 4 tablespoons shea butter

2. 2 tablespoon cocoa butter

3. 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

4. A few drops of your favourite essential oil for fragrance

Melt the shea butter and cocoa butter in a double boiler over a low heat until melted and add the olive oil. Pour the oils into a bowl and at this point, add a few drops of the essential oil for fragrance. Put your bowl over another bowl filled with ice to allow the oils to set faster. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is light and fluffy (you may want to use an electric hand whisk for this. Spoon into a jar and enjoy!

This recipe makes an excellent hair moisturizer and sealer for both natural and relaxed black hair. It also makes a wonderful body butter!

For more black hair care articles please visit blackhairinformation.com BlackHairInformation.com

Visit the website and chat to others in our free community to learn how to grow your hair long: blackhairinformation.com blackhairinformation.com

There's a very big difference between good short hair and bad short hair. Bad short hair makes you look unconcerned about how you look, lazy, and generally unfeminine. These are the mop-heads you see walking down the street that cut their hair short simply because they're too busy or disinterested to care for their look. Good short hair is totally different: it allows you to change your image in a split-second. One day you're looking absolutely delightful with those girlish curls bouncing around the place you made with a curling iron, and the next day you're business-savvy with that straight, executive look with a few swipes of a flat iron. So just what determines whether short hair is good or bad for you?

It's really simple: hairstyle.

Unlike long hair, hairstyles for short-hair don't need tons of maintenance and meticulous care. With long hair, you're forced to spend a lot of time and money if you don't want to look like some crazy ghost that pops out of your TV screen when you watch a cursed video. With short hair styles, a little love and care is enough to make you look good and feel good.

So what do you need for you, yourself, to give your own short hair the loving' and styling' it deserves?

Professional Advice - Stylists are called professionals for a reason, and amateurs are called so because they end up destroying instead of styling hair. They can provide you with a catalogue of styles to choose from, and will best help you visualize the looks on you. And if you've got the time, they're going to give you the best possible fix-up you can get for the versatility your short hair offers.

It's all you - Interview your stylist to get some tips for the style that suits different aspects of you: your face, your body, and most importantly, your personality; ask how a curling iron works too! Jet-straight hair won't exactly work for girls with thin facial features. Likewise, a peppy, curly look isn't the best choice for the CEO who's going to head a meeting with other executives about a corporate merger.

Accessorize - a given for every woman. Accessories will make or break the look you're trying to get. However, accessories have double the effect for women with short hair. When you've got short hair, be very selective of your accessories, especially with jewelry adorning your upper body. Necklaces, earrings, amulets and hair ornaments stand out much better when your hair is short, and have two possible effects. They'll either complement your hairstyle or make you look more divine, or will clash with your hairstyle and make you look like a circus freak.

Get the right stuff - When you're confident enough to tinker with your hair, get a good set of hair-care tools: brushes, combs, curling irons, and flat irons are some of the basics tools for your hair. Creams and gels, in all their dizzying numbers, will help you manage your hairstyle, make it look better, and keep your hair strong and healthy. For hair-care products and tools, the brand-name counts: Karmin, FHI and Corioliss are some top-tier brand names to consider.

Just because you've got short hair, doesn't mean you can let it run wild. Whether you're deciding between a flat iron and a curling iron, the ruby necklace and the pearl necklace, Cream X and Gel Y, your short hair is going to shine if you're willing to give yourself enough love to shine. So start loving it, and your hair's going to love you right back!

Kristy is a professional hair stylist and writer for myhairstylingtools.com My Hair Styling Tools, a leading supplier of Curling Irons.

Growing curly hair usually requires extra time compared to growing other types of tresses because it takes time for curly hair to reach considerable length. If you are trying to grow curly hair longer, you have to keep in mind some things concerned with the growth of your locks. Patience is the key to growing longer hair as hair requires tenderness in order to stay healthy while growing. Only after you have enabled your tresses to stay healthy can you expect it to get longer.

Before you start growing curly hair, here is what you should know about hair growth. Hair is renewable only at its roots. Once it comes out of the scalp, it is nothing but dead protein and is susceptible to all kinds of environmental hazards. On average, people have about 100 000 strands of hair on their head which undergo everyday wear and tear. Think about it. Your mane is constantly exposed to brushing, drying, styling, washing, chemical processing and what not. Even the most resilient of fabrics wouldn't stand that for a long time. Even with the best care, your locks tend to get old as it grows longer. This is why it is necessary to constantly refresh it.

So, what should be done for successful growing curly hair? One thing that will help your hair is a healthy diet. Drink plenty of water on a daily basis and reduce the amount of fried and fatty foods in your diet. This goes especially for people whose hair type is oily. As for the hair care habits, get a wooden brush unless you have one already. Brush your hair gently three times a day, this will improve scalp blood circulation and enhance hair growth.

You will want to make use of biotin and prenatal pills. Biotin has been shown by numerous studies to help with growing hair. there are many natural sources of biotin but the best source include brewers yeast, oats, peas, brown and wild rice and walnuts

You can also find biotin in some shampoos but the best way to use it is to take it internally, so get some biotin pills form your health food store

Use a herbal oil to condition your mane. A good one like Mira oil will go a long way to help promote new follicle growth. It will also make sure your locks have the right balance of moisture it needs

It is obvious that once you are properly informed about hair growth and you turn to proper care of your tresses, growing curly hair can be nothing but an enjoyable activity.

Discover the simple ways to help with grow-long-hair-fast.com/grow%20long%20hair/If-You-Think-That-Growing-Curly-Hair-Equals-To-Impossible.htm growing curly hair by using ancient secret oil proven to promote grow-long-hair-fast.com/product.html faster hair growth

Back in the "good old days" of hair straightening women tried all sorts of different things; including taking a good old clothing iron to their hair to get that straight hair look. Of course intense heat and steam weren't the best thing for anyone's hair and this normally resulted in hair damage that was hard to fix.

This is no longer the case in this more modern area of hair care. There are products and hair styling tools available today that are able to straighten even the curliest hair without the damage of yesteryears offerings.

If your hair is extremely curly getting it straight will take some time and effort. It's not really something you can do if you're in a hurry but as you get better at it it will take less time. Here are the steps to follow to make the process work the best.

The first step is to shampoo and condition your hair with a deep conditioner to protect against dryness and damage. Use a towel to dry your hair then apply a straightening gel which will prepare your hair for the process. Before firing up the hair dryer let your hair partially air dry.

When you're ready to start blow drying pin up the top portions of your hair to the top of your head. Using a flat paddle or round brush dry one section of your hair at a time by pulling a small section out straight and drying it. Work it section by section until your hair is totally dry. Now your hair is prepped for the final straightening process.

The styling tool you'll need for this step is a hair straightening flat iron; preferably a ceramic plated ionic tourmaline type that provides even heat which prevents hair damage. These come in different widths but for the first timer a 1.5 inch model will work well. It gives you better control then larger models and works more hair area then smaller sizes.

A good flat iron will also have multiple temperature settings allowing you to customize the heat needed for your particular hair type. The thicker, coarser, and curlier your hair the higher the temperature will need to be. Of course this doesn't mean crank it up to its highest setting because you can seriously damage your hair if the heat is too high. Experiment and start with a lower setting and work your way up until you get the results you are looking for.

Remember the most important part to successfully straightening your hair is good preparation. This will give you that smooth, frizz-free hair you desire.

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You can use all the happinesslifetime.com hair care products in the world in a bid to achieve that perfect shine, but if you aren't taking care of yourself internally, it will all be in vain.

Eating plenty of omega-3 will ensure you see great results. You can find omega-3 in tasty fish, such as salmon and tuna steaks. Not only will omega-3 give you great looking hair, it will also give your skin a fantastic glow. Celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez swear by it for their over-all healthy look.

Iron is also essential for maintaining shiny hair. You can find iron in leafy greens, such as spinach. The important thing to remember when eating these greens is to not over cook them, doing so will only suck all of the nutrients out of them, which defeats the purpose of eating them for great looking hair. You may also want to try using spinach in a shake or juice, a great way to maximise your intake.

Water is also essential for keeping your locks looking luscious. It is recommended that we drink 6-8 tall glasses of water a day. Water will also keep your skin clear, meaning you are looking healthy all over.

Of course shiny hair is a sign of good health, and if you aren't actually healthy it is difficult to look like it. One big part of staying healthy is not smoking, smoking reduces your production of collagen III which is needed for great skin and hair. Exercise and cutting back on alcohol will also help you maintain a healthy image.

So stay on top of your nutrition and health and you should see amazing results.

L J McKeever writes articles giving tips on great hair care. Her website wide hair straightener [widehairstraightener.co.uk/] features a blog that provides many more great hair care articles, as well as offers on wide hair straighteners and other related products.

We all want to have shiny, healthy hair, but when it comes to good and bad hair wash routines, what are the facts and what are the myths? Here are the top five hair washing beliefs, along with an explanation for each one, telling you whether they are a fact or a myth.

1) Your hair will start to clean itself if you leave it unwashed for long enough: MYTH

Many people believe, misguidedly, that if you leave your hair for a very long time it will start to clean itself. Hair does not magically clean itself and if you leave it unclean for too long, your scalp could become itchy and irritated, and your hair could become lank and greasy.

The best way to wash is using good quality salon products such as Kerastase, ghd and Tigi. You can buy these from beauty salons but also from some supermarkets. If salon products are out of your price range, the next best thing is to buy another kind of high quality product.

2) If you wash every day the natural nutrients will be stripped out: MYTH

If you use good quality products, washing your hair every day will not strip out nutrients. In fact, your shampoo will help to invigorate the scalp and give you shiny, healthy hair.

Again, it is always best to choose salon hair products. These tend to go a lot further so you can use less and still get an excellent result - great news if you are washing every day, as you will have to replenish your shampoo stores less often.

3) You need to change your shampoo regularly or your hair will become accustomed to it and it will stop working so well: MYTH

This is a commonly held belief which is actually a myth. As long as you are using a high quality shampoo, chosen to complement your hair type and suited to your scalp, you should end up with good results every day and there won't be a need to swap your products around.

4) If your hair is greasy, you shouldn't use conditioner: MYTH

Everyone will benefit from using a conditioner, unless your cut is extremely short. If the hair is greasy, you can massage the conditioner into the tips and the body of the hair and not into the scalp in order to get the best results. Conditioner is a good way to produce untangled, soft and shiny hair, and salon products will protect and strengthen, as well.

5) If you rinse with cold water your hair will be shinier: TRUE

This is the one commonly held belief that is actually true. Cold water does help to create shinier hair, because it helps close the cuticle layer of the strand after washing and therefore boosts the effect of conditioner. If you rinse in cold water after washing, your hair will appear more lustrous and shiny.

ShopRush stocks all your favourite brands of shoprush.co.uk salon hair products and styling products, from shoprush.co.uk/brands/Ghd/13825 ghd to Tigi, to bring you all the tools you need, at fantastic prices.

Long hair cuts require special brushing techniques, while with short hair, you can be a little less particular. If you have delicate hair that breaks easily, this is even more important. Many people, including my stylists, say that it doesn't matter how you wash or brush your hair - it's all the same. Out of experience, and from leading resources, I can say this just isn't true!

My hair, which is currently 37" long, requires tender care - just like all long hair. Since there is already an amount of stress on the hair follicles (from the weight alone), it doesn't take much for your hair strands to either break or get pulled out. So treat it with care! If we brush our hair vigorously, it is definitely not showing love and care to our long tresses! You'll end up with frizz and breakage very easily that way.

Some tips that I've found useful when brushing:

- Avoid brushing your hair while it's still wet! At the very least, your hair could be damp - but not when it's wet. If you brush too soon, you're bound to lose more healthy and mature hairs this way. Give your hair a rest before trying to straighten it all out. As it dries, you have less of a chance of losing unnecessary hair.

- Before using your faithful brush, use a wide-toothed comb and begin combing from the ends of your hair to your crown. Starting at the bottom releases the tangles and knots a lot easier and allows them to come out on their own - with only a bit of our assistance. Sometimes we need to let our hair work out its own issues!

- Choose a brush that's suitable to your hair type. Many experts highly recommend a brush that has boar bristles. These types of brushes are known to be gentler on your hair than a regular brush would. It does tend to leave my hair with static, but I can fix that easily by following the brush with my other hand along my hair.

- Now we can brush! Using the same method as what I mentioned with the comb - start brushing from the ends of your hair, up - you could now smooth out your hair with the brush.

See how much more gentle that is? Your hair will be saying, "thank you!"

What's the difference between warm and cold water for rinsing your hair? And what's the big deal?

Warm water causes your pores to enlarge, while cool water causes them to shrink. This is why so many people advise you to rinse your hair with cool water before getting out of the shower. I have found - from personal experience - that this is quite true. If I rinse my hair with warm water before leaving the shower, I end up losing more hair because my pores are still enlarged when I go to brush. Rinsing with cool water seems to significantly decrease the chance of losing too much hair. Since the pores contract, it seems to take hold of the hair follicle better - and it takes more effort to lose those strands of hair you often find gathering on your brush!

Try out these tips and tricks that I've learned over the years, and your hair will thank you for it! You will really feel a difference and your hair will feel healthier - not to mention, you'll feel better about yourself as well!

Megan Valdivia has had long hair (37" long) for 4 years. For more articles by this author, visit longhaircuts.weebly.com longhaircuts.weebly.com/ and to receive her FREE Top Ten Pros and Cons Special Report for Long Hair, visit longhaircuts.weebly.com/signuptop10.html longhaircuts.weebly.com/signuptop10.html

Is dry hair related to omega-3 fatty acids deficiency? The short answer is maybe, maybe not. Scientists do not concern themselves much with dry hair, except as a symptom of other conditions. Hair care professionals typically recommend a good multi-vitamin, non-drying shampoos and leave-on conditioners to correct problems with dry or brittle hair.

There is little scientific evidence suggesting that dry hair is related to omega-3 fatty acids deficiency. However, researchers in Japan have conducted studies concerning fatty acids found in fish oil and hair loss related to chemotherapy administered to cancer patients. These studies concluded that there was some benefit. Other studies concerning increased consumption of fish oil and hair loss reduction in patients receiving chemotherapy have been positive, as well.

There are numerous health benefits associated with increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly to the heart and brain. Scientific studies have confirmed again and again that essential fatty acids may prevent certain types of heart disease and cancer. Fatty acids have proven effective in relieving symptoms of depression and other neurological conditions. It is believed that they can improve memory and possibly IQ. The best known sources of omega-3 fatty acids are fish oil.

Questions concerning a fish oil supplement and hair benefit are frequently posed to hair care professionals. While there have been no studies that focused specifically on dry hair, hair care professionals and doctors agree that good nutrition improves the appearance of both the hair and the skin. In fact, dry hair can be related to dry skin on the scalp. The oils that normally protect the hair are produced by the scalp. Over washing, blow drying, low quality shampoos and even the weather can all affect the health of the skin, scalp and hair.

Vitamin E has long been recommended to relieve dry skin and as a hair treatment. Some of the best fish oil supplements contain vitamin E, but not all. Consumers must read labels carefully to be sure.

In infants, dietary deficiency of certain fatty acids is characterized by dry, flaky skin. It seems likely that adults with dietary deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids would experience the same symptoms. The bottom line is that dry skin, best-fish-oil-dietary-supplements.com dry hair and even hair loss may be associated with a lack of omega-3s in the diet. Numerous health benefits are believed to be provided by a fish oil supplement and hair benefit may be an added bonus.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a freelance writer. Currently she is writing a series of articles about omega-3 fatty acids. Read more at best-fish-oil-dietary-supplements.com best-fish-oil-dietary-supplements.com To learn more about the best fish oil supplements, please visit the best-fish-oil-dietary-supplements.com Fish Oil Guide at best-fish-oil-dietary-supplements.com best-fish-oil-dietary-supplements.com.

Anyone born with a natural curly hair more often than not thinks that their hair is a good-bad thing to have. At times, you adore your hair, and at others you feel like pulling the strands or do something, anything to make it straight.

Here are some great styling tips for curly hair styles that will make life easier:

Do not wrap your hair up with a towel after washing it. Wring off excess water in the shower and just towel blot your hair gently and avoid rubbing vigorously.
Apply a leave on conditioner sparingly, after you get off the shower. The conditioner will smooth and weigh down your hair to ease the tangles and snarls, and of course it will condition your hair.
Start combing your hair (yes, comb; no brushing wet curls here) with a wide toothed comb. Begin from the tips and work your way up to the top. Remember when your hair is wet, it is weak and brittle, so take care you don't stretch the strands too much as the strands can easily break; be gentle with your hair.
Apply your favorite curly hair styling product. It is advised that you refrain from mixing and matching several brands, so try to settle for a specific hair-care product line. happinesslifetime.com Hair care products of the same brand are meant to work in unison, with conditioner to supplement and enhance the shampoo's function; then on to styling products that boost the conditioner's benefits. Use water soluble products to prevent build up of harmful substances on your hair.
Use gel instead of mousse. This will afford you better control in styling your hair. Mousse tends to render hair lighter, while gel provides manageability. Gel also helps in styling the curls in a way that they retain structure even when dry; and do not have crunchy feel. If you want to get a defined curl, don't just scrunch the gel in; try sectioning you hair, instead. Use clips to section your hair, and focus on one section at a time.

Try not touching your hair or messing with it, and avoid tossing it around while it's still wet or damp. Frizz and fluff are formed by too much motion. It is better to let it dry first before you start manipulating your hair. When the gel has dried, get rid of the crunchy feel by pressing your curls and running OVER - not THROUGH - the hair. The purpose of this is to minimize and control the frizz. A great knack for removing the crunch is through the pony tail and twist technique; here's how you can do it:

Place the palms of your hands on the forehead are and push down on your hair. Continue moving your hands with firm pressure all the way to the back and form a pony tail. After forming the pony tail, pull the whole bunch of hair and wind it in one direction. Hold for a few seconds then let the hair down. You'll find the crunch noticeably minimized.

More Styling Tips for Curly Hair Styles to Achieve Curly, Sexy Look

Choose a long-ish hair length. The problem with short curly hair is it is inclined to get poofy. Curls have to have the right length to bring them down, so women with curly hair naturally look best with their locks grown below the shoulders. Take note that below the shoulders means when hair is dry.
Flattering Types of Haircuts. Curly hair looks best with layers cut into it; without the layers, you will look like a Christmas tree.
When you're running late, headbands come in handy and are an excellent choice. A headband can be a real life saver for women who are always on the go and often get short on time. Pull your hair in a band while it's damp - this is a great way to compress hair at the crown, the curls remaining at the tips. You can pull off the headband and you'd delighted with the gorgeous body of your hair.
Explore the utterly sexy looks of loose buns. You can achieve this by simply pulling your hair back place; loop it loosely at the nape and form a bun. Use rubber band as clasp. Make sure you don't have tendrils hanging. We only want loose and disheveled.
And finally, finish off with a gloss spray to enhance shine.

Curly and wavy hair is a blessing and a curse. Like most, if you don't have it, you want it; if you have it, you can't live with it. Hopefully a few styling tips for curly hair will make your life easier and give you the beautiful look you want.

Good Luck!

Visit Healthy Hair Plus online for the latest in top-selling healthyhairplus.com/Curly-Hair-s/613.htm Curly Hair Products - shampoos, conditioners, and styling aids. Keep up the with latest healthyhairplus.com/Curly-Hair-Styles-and-Hairstyles-s/3935.htm Curly Hair Styles, advice, trends and natural ingredients for healthy waves, definition, texture and control.

Think washing frequently does damage your hair? Or you trust repeated brushing is great for your hair? Continue reading to find out the truths and myths behind nice looking hair.

Does washing frequently damage your hair?

Washing frequently does not damage your hair. While some may need to wash it once in three days, some people may in fact need to wash it almost everyday. It's the shampoo and conditioner with strong chemicals that causes the damage. Opt for a shampoo that is safe enough for every day use. In actual fact, the right shampoo will add the needed moisture, And, rest assured you can wash it as often as you need.

Do conditioners help?

Conditioners does work wonders to moisturize your hair and perhaps make it more manageable and tangle free , but it will not help you to fix split ends. Trimming is the best to fix split ends. (Trim it every four to six weeks) And, the myth that oily scalp doesn't need conditioner is false. It is just as prone to tangles as any other hair type. So when it comes to conditioners, just use it after every wash irrespective of your hair type, to keep it shining and smooth.

Is excessive brushing good for the mane?

Rough, excessive and repeated brushing can eventually lead to hair breakage and split ends. Brush it only as much as you really need to, as repeated brushing can prove quite fatal. Also, never brush you tresses when its wet as it will lead to severe breakage. Instead, use a large toothed comb.

Are hair dryers harmful?

Hair dryers dry out hair and harm the shafts when they are used very hot and too close to the mane. As far as possible avoid it. If you must, use them when your hair is moist and avoid too much of hot air from the dryer. Also, avoid excessive use of curling iron, straightening iron or hot rollers as they cause immense damage in the long run.

Is hot water beneficial for the hair?

Never wash your hair with steaming hot water. Hot water damages your scalp by taking away the natural oil. Always use cold or lukewarm water. When you wash it massage your scalp with your fingertips. Messaging helps to stimulate the oil glands to produce better results.

Is it advisable to pull out the strands of grey hair?

This a common myth that pulling out a strand of gray hair will cause some more to grow. The fact is that when your hair starts to turn grey, there is really nothing much you can do about it. It is natural that the roots tend to produce more gray hair no matter what you do. Hence, stick to a good-quality coloring agent and have the roots colored every now and then.

Last but not the least....

If you have to go out in the sun regularly , use products that have sunscreen. Choose mild shampoos or preferably home - made happinesslifetime.com hair care products. Finally, one of the best ways to get healthy, shiny mane is to take a healthy diet. Include a lot of protein rich foods in your diet along with green vegetables and fresh fruits. Never forget to drink lots of water.

Yogitha Ramamoorthy is a freelance fashion designer and a fashion writer. She is a regular contributor to various online magazines and newspapers. Visit her blog yogitharamamoorthy.blogspot.com yogitharamamoorthy.blogspot.com and website fayo.in fayo.in for more free information on fashion, styling and beauty tips.