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No matter what your hair texture, you can benefit from these African American hair care tips. Natural hair or relaxed hair needs special treatment and gentle handling to achieve optimal health. I hope these are helpful to you.

Watch the Heat

* Make sure your hair has been freshly washed and conditioned before using a heated styling tool. Do not redo your hair mid-week if it frizzes up. This can cause damage due the build up of styling products and dirt on your hair
* Take a break from the heat! Retain more of your hair length by styling your hair with heat free styles like braid outs, French rolls, and buns.

Proper Bed Time Care

* Do not go to bed without wrapping your hair or pinning it up. Remember to wear a scarf to maintain your hairstyle and keep your hairline smooth.
* Always detangle your hair before bedtime. Remember to use a wide-tooth comb. This will make it even easier to style your hair in the morning.
* Use an oil or serum on your hair ends at night. Do this before rolling your hair or wrapping it in the scarf. Your hair will retain moisture and it will help you to hold a better curl.

Regular Maintenance

* Don't go longer than a week without washing your hair. A common myth among African American women is not to wash your hair too much because it will lead to dryness. Far from the truth. Water will keep your hair moisturized and clean. Having a clean scalp and hair will promote hair growth. And it smells much better!
* Depending upon the health of your hair, you should get your ends trimmed every 2-6 months. Start with this tip immediately. It's a good start to your healthy hair journey.
* Deep conditioning should be done at least every other week using the heat of a hooded dryer. The heat will help the conditioning penetrate. Use a protein deep conditioner once a month to strengthen your hair.

This list of African American hair care tips should help you get started on your journey to healthier and longer hair.

A lot of women are having to deal with big thighs, buttocks and ugly cellulite nowadays. These affect their confidence in attracting men and hence, resort to expensive treatments and products to conceal these body shortcomings.

If you feel upset with your body when you look at the mirror, it's time to do something about it. Most women tend to have problems with their waistline, thigh, and stomach. Very often, they can't wait to have a flat belly and a slim waistline to make their feel more feminine. But as we all know, to lose those weight takes a lot of determination and effort before it can happened, not forgetting the amount of time you need to get to there in the first place.

That's why I always advocate to fellow women to wear clothes that fit your own body shape. You just have to learn how to dress to boost your own confidence.

Here are some tips I would like to share with you on how you can hide those ugly cellulite and wide waistline.

Tip 1: Wear clothes that can hide your belly and waistline. Choose the right colours for your clothes. White colour clothes tend to show your expanding waistline whereas black tend to blend into the shade and make your big thighs seems likes obvious.

Tip 2: Wear fitted underwear. This helps to flatten your belly and makes your waistline look slimmer. But remember to pull it above your belly otherwise you will look awful as if you have two bellies.

Tip 3: Size up your panty hose. Cut the first of the leg part and use the control top partially over your underwear so that your belly looks flatter and this will makes your waistline look thinner as well.

Tip 4: Wear heels with skirt. If you are short and have round buttocks and wide hips, then wear something short like skirt with heels. Doing this thing helps carry the weight of the body and brings extra attention in areas like the thigh and the calf. Do not wear skirts that are above the knees

Tip 5: Never wear spandex that is white or something that too light as it tends to magnifies areas where cellulite are present because cellulite waggles.

It may be a dumb question, it takes so long to straighten the thick curly hairstyle with some frizz control and a flat iron. I was wondering if we can get a relaxer for this kind of hair?

First, there are several different ways to straighten hair. The relaxers have 'Lye' and they are mostly too strong for the hair although they can be used if applied by a skilled stylist. Most straightening products are basically 'perms' or permanent waves which are combed into the hair and they will straighten the hair. It's depending on the course of different hair.

Thio (Thioglycolate) relaxer. It is actually a texturizer and it is designed for curly or wavy hair. There are several good products out there: Rusk Radical Anti-curl, Redken Vertical, L'oreal X-tenso, Matrix Opti-smooth. They are all professional treatments. Do some research to find out if there are any reputable salons in your area that offer the service.

Stay away from Lye (sodium hydroxide) relaxers, or calcium hydroxide relaxes. They are not really designed for this kind of hair type and won't produce the results which you are looking for.

Thio, will produce soft shiny hair, that will be much easier to straighten, but you will still be able to wear your hair curly or wavy if you want to. The waves or curls will just be looser, smoother and shinier.

Do you want know more tips about hairstyle or haircut ideas? We offer the popular haircut pictures, celebrity hairstyle and useful haircut tips. Please check the haircut information and write your review.

I've been reading around the forums on hair straighteners and doing some really heavy research on some popular brand hair straighteners.

For the people with thick, straight, shoulder-length hair, this type of hair would easily be hurt during the straightening. They would become really frizzy and coarse. Then the hair is a little difficult to straighten, and always have to use high heat.

I've read the reviews on some cheapo hair straighteners (Conair, Remington, Hot Tools) and even some not-so-cheap ones (Chi, Corioliss, Wigo, HAI). The Chi worked OK for the hair, but it wasn't as amazing as people claimed it to be: it totally dried out the hair, and didn't even get or keep it that straight. The Conair ones worked better than that! Besides the point, it always broke within 7 months because of the cord (which I've heard is a very common issue).

I've also narrowed it down to either the Solia or Sedu hair straightener to purchase. They both seem to have their pros & cons, especially after I've read thousands of reviews on the web. The reason why I am not spring for the Sedu, despite the rave reviews, is concern about the heat - the hair is a tad difficult to straighten, and I'm afraid the Sedu might only work on thinner hair; not on thick hair.The reason why I am not go for the Solia is the plate system (Dynamic Alignment System). After reading SO many reviews, I found that some people have said the systems creates a big gap, the plates don't exactly meet, it's ineffective, and it snags your hair at the ends.

Read the reviews before you choose a hair straightener is a good habit. For this, you could knew the brand like the palm of your hand and kept your hair from the damage by using a improper hair straightener.

Recently I've been thinking some advice for hair curlers, since my friend Kelly wants to create very soft curls at the bottom of her hair, similar to Jessica Simpson or Lindsay Lohan do their hair (her hair almost down to her tail-bone). She told me that she went to the hair salon before and the hairstylist said a 2 inch barrel wouldn't hold a curl in her hair, but she wants medium to large soft curls, not small ringlets.

She asked me that could this styles be achieved with curlers instead of a curling iron and what the size of the barrel should her goes with?

It depends on how straight the hair is and how well it holds curl. The curly hairstyle of Jessica Simpson or Lindsayin Lohan are layered, so if hers isn't, it will look a little different but still beautiful. For example, my sister's hair is straight as a board.

I like using sponge rollers on her hair (it doesn't hold heat curling much at all unless I use a ton of hairspray). I put them in while her hair is damp and she sleeps on them and I take them out the next morning. The curl lasts all day.

Another, she could achieve the style with hair rollers. It will actually be easier to do than with a curling iron. Large curls are tricky to achieve with one. She could either use hot rollers or velcro rollers and just apply some heat with her blow dryer. The rollers would have to be large because her hair is so long. Or medium and just roll them up half way up. Apply a heat protectant first like Redken heat glide. Just a tiny bit on the ends. Make sure it really rubbed between the hands before applying. It will protect the hair ends and add tons of shine.

Before taking out the rollers, lightly spray hair with a light hold hair spray (hold the bottle several inches away and just mist the hair with it). Let it set. Then remove the rollers and do not brush. Finger style and shape the curls with your hands. Lightly spray again if necessary. She can get the velcro rollers at Target. They have a pack that contains about 3 different sizes. It will take some practice to achieve perfection but it will happen.

Electrolysis By Experts

If you're looking for thorough, permanent hair removal, then professional electrolysis is most certainly the way to go. While the price of treatment will vary based on factors such as your age, the amount of hair you're looking to have removed, and the sophistication of the equipment being used, you can count on a professional hair removal session to cost about $70 an hour. Electrologists are usually highly qualified and certified to use the most advanced equipment in order to provide permanent results. In order to remove unwanted hair from a small area, such as one's upper lip, chin, or underarms, it may take only a few one-hour sessions a month for up to three or four months to get smooth, permanent results. You can expect smaller areas such as these to cost about $1500, whereas larger areas of the body that typically include thick, dense hair may take a much longer length of treatment time and cost an outrageous amount of money.
Is Self Treatment Safe And Affordable?

For those who are not able or inclined to pay for professional electrolysis treatment, a wide array of self-applied hair removal products is also available on the market today. These smaller, less-effective devices can start around $30 and can range into hundreds of dollars if they include blended treatments and applicators. It should be noted that the use of these products require an individual to be dedicated to faithfully using them over a long period of time, and often times permanent hair removal is never fully achieved. Self-application requires weekly maintenance and mistakes may require professional fixing down the line. As a result, although professional electrolysis may seem too expensive at first, its proven value often makes it more cost-effective than using self-applied electrolysis that may not give the results you are looking for.

If you are seeking permanent laser hair removal in Florida, you are fortunate in that there are a wide selection of clinics that offer these treatments - and also that these clinics are stringently policed and monitored for your safety.

Laser removal treatment - Safe and Effective?
The laser streams that are used in removal treatment are very powerful; in the right hands this technology is perfectly safe as well as effective; however without the correct training and experience no-one should be allowed loose with these lasers! This is why the Florida Electrolysis Council requires all clinics and practitioners that offer cosmetic laser treatment to be comprehensively trained and to operate under a current license.

Rules for Electrologists in Florida
Professionals trained to perform reduction of undesirable hair with laser therapy are called "Electrologists" in this state. These are the rules that Electrologists must adhere to:

1. Must have taken an approved 30-hour course covering light-based hair reduction techniques.

2. Must be certified by a national certification organization approved by the Florida Electrolysis Council and the Board of Medicine, the Society of Clinical and Medical Hair Removal (SCMHR).

3. Must only employ the specific light-based hair treatment equipment on which they have trained.

4. Must always be under the control of a trained, licensed physician.

Laser Removal Technology
Permanent laser removal equipment varies greatly; this technology has been around for a long time, but recent ground-breaking research mean that the most modern facilities can give you much more effective treatment than some of the older clinics that only have outmoded light-based hair treatment equipment.

How Lasers Work
Hair growth reduction or even permanent removal is now feasible for most skin and hair combinations. Laser hair reduction therapy works by targeting root cells under the skin. It is possible for the laser streams to hone in on the hair root cells because of the coloring these cells contain, which makes them darker than the surrounding tissues. However, this does mean that the efficacy of laser treatment is dependent on the difference in color between the root cells and the skin. In other words, it is most effective if you have very fair skin and very dark hair - where there is a strong difference between the darkness of the root cells and the paleness of the surrounding skin tissues.

Most individuals recognize the fact that your hair is "dead" or at least not living however this is not entirely true. The follicle that produces your hair is part of your skin which is the biggest organ of your body, therefore it is directly affected by your lifestyle, your habits and your diet.

Consumers are constantly looking for the next great hair product that promises to fix all their hair woos without realizing that building a healthy foundation is extremely important. Experimenting with different products is perfectly fine however many of us over look the fact that our hair health is determined by our over all health.

In order for our body to function properly we must provide it with specific nutritional factors. For instance in order for our bones to stay healthy and strong we must take in a minimum amount of calcium and vitamin D. This premise is the same if we expect our body to produce strong healthy hair, there are certain requirements that must be met that has nothing to do with the type or brand of hair products we choose to use.

1. Ribolflavin also known as Vitamin B2 is essential to the body and must be consumed on daily basis as it is water soluble meaning that it is not stored in the body. The functions of Vitamin B2 are numerous and include energy metabolism, red blood cell production, enzyme reactions, vision, health of skin (including hair and nails), and functions as an antioxidant. This vitamin can be found in dairy products, whole grains, eggs, nuts, meat, fortified cereals and dark green vegetables.

2. Biotin or Vitamin B5 is also a water soluble vitamin which must be ingested on a daily basis. It is important for the synthesis of fat, glycogen, and amino acids, enzyme reactions, healthy hair and nails and DNA replication. This vitamin can be found in liver, yeast, nuts, egg yolks, soybeans, cauliflower and mushrooms.

3. Deficiencies of Folic acid (Vitamin B9) can lead to hair loss. This water soluble vitamin can be found in foods such as citrus fruits, fortified cereals, nuts, legumes, and dark leafy vegetables.

4. Deficiencies in Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) can lead to scurvy, this has not been a concern for many years but cases are becoming more common. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, and red peppers.

5. Iodine is necessary in making thyroid hormones, and symptoms of an under active thyroid can often be seen in hair health. Hair may be dry, brittle, limp, or in some cases thinning. It should be noted however these symptoms may also indicate an over active thyroid. Iodine can be found in salt, seafood, and sea vegetables such as kelp. This is becoming a greater issue because the use of salt has greatly decreased in an effort to combat high blood pressure.

6. Iron deficiencies can also cause hair loss therefore ensure that you are getting enough in your diet. Iron can be found in many fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish and fortified breads and cereals.

Most women would like to have long care, but there is a very important issue to know when it comes to long hair care. One of them is there is so much more hair to worry about and it needs to use the specific types of products that are going to help in the hair care regime. This is because having shiny hair is a symbol of healthy hair because the layers of the cuticle lie flat and reflect light.

There are several different parts of long hair care. The first one is shampooing. There are many different types of shampoos which you can choose from, but for long hair care it is best to use one that is going to focus on taking care of split ends. The shampoo should not be too drying but the hair must not be feeling oily or greasy at the same time.

The ingredients that are included in the shampoo formula is definitely going to have a great impact on how well it works on the hair especially for long hair care. That is why it is so important for you to read the label on the shampoo. Generally the best shampoos are the ones that are all natural and which contain no chemicals or byproducts, because all the ingredients mentioned earlier, they will be gentler and more nourishing on the hair.

Find a right conditioner for long hair care is a must for you. However, it is again depend largely on the type of hair that the conditioner is going to be used for. Having long hair doesn't mean that a person has long hair, they do not have a certain hair category, this is not true at all. It doesn't matter whether you have long or short hair, they are still going to be categorized as fine, medium, and thick hair types, and you will know which type of hair do you have easily.

What you have to do is to tie your hair back into a ponytail, and look at the size of the ponytail. If the ponytail is small, it shows the finer the hair, and the bigger the ponytail is the thicker the hair is.

It is important to choose a rich, moisturizing conditioner, especially if your hair easily gets dry or you have used a lot of product on it. In long hair care regime, using a volumizing conditioner is perfect if the hair is limp and fine because this will give body and volume to the hair. Replacing the brand of conditioner every month or so is a good idea, as hair can become immune to a particular formula's effects and as a result buildup will occur.

If you live in Florida and are struggling with an unwanted hair problem, you may have considered modreas a solution. There are many factors involved in deciding where to have modern techniques of hair removal performed, and the most important of them is that the provider you choose is professionally trained and certified, capable of performing the task you need in a comfortable clean setting.

You can find providers of removal services in Florida easily enough by performing an Internet search or looking through your area Yellow Pages. If you have friends or family who has themselves undergone removal in your state, you can ask for their recommendations.

Do On Site Research

But the key to having successful hair cleaning is to personally visit the spas and salons, or dermatologists, you are considering for your procedure. You will get a much more accurate idea of the quality of services they offer when you see their facilities for yourself and inquire about their credentials and experience. Having a good experience with your modern procedure of removal begins with the research you do in advance.

You should look for a facility offering modern techniques of hair removal in Florida which can provide a range of hair removing procedures, and will perform the one best suited to your skin type and hair density. The practitioner who will be performing your electrolysis should do an initial consultation with you during which your skin type and hair coarseness will be determined, and then give you an estimate as to how many hair treatments you will need, and their total cost.

When you visit salons and spas before having your electrolysis in Florida, check them for cleanliness and ask to see the credentials or licenses of the staff. You want to verify that the practitioner performing your electrolysis has received the necessary training to make your hair treatment as smooth and comfortable as possible.

Ask Questions

While treatment is a cosmetic procedure, the idea of undergoing it can still be somewhat frightening for some people. So you should not be afraid to ask the facilities which you are considering for your electrolysis and prior to making your final choice. The thoroughness with which they respond to your questions will be a good indication of the effort they will make to give you the best possible results from your latest of removal procedures.