Ghanima Abdullah, Licensed Cosmetologist

When you’re not a professional, the chances of ruining your hair when trying to layer your tresses are really high. If you don’t want to end up with a bad layered haircut, our advice will be to book an appointment with a good hairstylist that knows how to trim your hair gradually. What Is a …

We’ve all done it: you buy hair dye, promptly forget about it, and it sits on a shelf for months until you finally stumble across it while looking for band-aids, and decide to color your hair right that minute because it’s cocktail-o’clock and it seems like a good idea. You never stop to question, “Does …

Curl activator is one of the best ways to moisturize relaxed hair, but there’s a specific way to use it. But wait, isn’t a curl activator for Jheri curls? Though it was created for use on Jheri curls but has since taken on a whole new role. Read on to see how and why you …

Can You Transform Relaxed Hair Into Natural Hair? No. Relaxers are permanent treatments, so you can’t turn relaxed hair back to natural hair without cutting it. However, you can experiment with the texture of your relaxed hair so that they look more natural. Or you can start transitioning back to natural hair with your new …

You’ve probably seen videos of people putting a few strands of hair into a glass of water for a minute to see if it sinks (high porosity) or floats (low porosity). No doubt, you’ve heard a lot about hair porosity. But is relaxed hair porosity the same as virgin hair porosity? We’ll answer that question …

If your hair poofs right out as soon as there is a hint of humidity, or when it’s hot, or in the sun, or whenever it feels like it, there’s probably a reason for it somewhere. There are a few reasons why your relaxed hair can get puffy. Some women with relaxed hair use a …

If you’re used to washing your hair every day, it might seem odd to hear that you should wait to wash your hair after you get a perm. How long is the wait? What shampoo should you use? What if your hair still smells like chemicals? As a cosmetologist with a professional license, I’ll answer …

So you just left the salon, and your stylist gave you a whole care routine for your perm. You know not to wash it for the next few days, but what should you do before going to sleep? If you have a feeling you’ll wake up to frizz if you go to sleep as-is, you’re …

There are many misconceptions about using natural oils for hair. The internet abounds with them. Oils are hydrating, unless they’re not. They are emollient, unless they can’t be. They grow hair, or perhaps they stunt hair growth. You can find all these claims for natural hair oils. But how do various natural oils benefit your …

A perm is a way to have bouncy curls daily without using heat tools. The two main types of perms are regular perms, the cold one, and those that are hot – digital perms. If you’re thinking about getting a perm, both are perfect solutions if you have straight hair and want to add volume …

A perm makes styling your hair much easier, but that doesn’t mean when you leave the salon, there’s nothing else to do. Perms have different maintenance routines than straight hair; taking care of your perm will help keep your curls luscious. After all, you don’t want dry hair and dreaded frizz. So we’ve gathered a …

Perms are gaining popularity, but what if you grabbed a home kit and a willing friend, but now you have a head full of frizz? Or you went to a stylist but instead of beach waves, you got spirals? If you have a bad perm, you might just be wanting to grab a pair of …

If you’re thinking about getting a perm, you’ve probably heard the terms tight perm and loose perm. But, what’s the difference between tight perm and loose perm? How do stylists use these terms vs the clients who talk about them? Tight perms and loose perms have to do more with your individual style and the …

Have you ever tried to remove slime from your kid’s hair? I’m sure you’ve had that experience at least once. Slime gets everywhere! From the kitchen sink to the car seat, to the couch, to the floor, to the dog, to your kid’s hair, and yours. So what can you do about it? There are …

Many people damage their hair every day just by combing it roughly. But that doesn’t mean that every time the damage gets too much you just cut it off. You’ll never get long lengths that way. In this article, we’ll talk about the rate of hair growth, why it’s impossible to grow your hair long …

Finger coils are a kind of curl you make by twirling your hair around your fingers. The result? Tightly-packed curls that are full of bounce. Finger coils can be worn anywhere. They are professional enough for the office and fun enough for the beach, too. Are you ready to create this voluminous style? Let’s get …

Worried about the safety of hair care products during your pregnancy? Hair products like bleach and hair dyes actually pose more risk to pregnant salon professionals, as they are exposed to the chemicals from hair products daily. Still, being aware of the risk of some products can also give regular consumers an idea of whether …

Light brown, dark blond, copper, rust, brassy locks- bronze hair runs the gamut. It’s usually added as highlights, but you can have it all over if you wish. If you think of a golden lion’s mane, you can visualize how bronze looks on some people – like tarnished gold. But there are no absolute rules …

Keratin treatments first became available in the early 2000s, and while they’re still around some twenty years later, they’re old technology in the hair world. There have been many improvements to this class of hair treatments. Some use keratin, others make use of other proteins. Some are straightening and some are just smoothing.  Almost all …

Do you love braided hairstyles like us? Many girls get confused between the two gorgeous braid types: French braids and Dutch braids. Let’s explore these two to understand the differences! There are numerous types of braids that girls practice and love to make for different occasions. Some braids have formal texture and suit formal occasions, …

It seems every year, a new scalp massager for hair growth comes out on the market. There are literally dozens, but what do they do, and what’s the best way to use scalp massagers to see hair growth? Many people wonder if they even work! They do. So let’s get to it. How to Use …

Maybe you were on your phone the whole time or asleep with a stylist you trusted. When you finally look in the mirror, things are not at all how you expected them to turn out. How should you handle the stylist who ruined your hair? Take a deep breath or two. Drink some water first. …

I had a roommate in the 90s who did a blowout every day. It was voluminous, with a little height in the front, and perfect for the times. Every day I watched her create this style, and it came out just like Cindy Crawford. I can tell you, it’s way easier than it looks. So …

Hair texture can change from straight to curly, smooth to frizzy, wiry to fine, and vice versa for all. But, what causes hair texture change, and when do they happen? There are four main reasons why your hair texture might change. Age Hormonal differences Medications Malnutrition Let’s see why this happens.   Aging Can Cause …

Tipping in a salon can be hard to figure out because it’s not always clear how much you should give. How much should you tip your hairstylist, and does that include the person who washed or highlighted your hair? Should you also tip the owner? And why do you tip at all? We aim to …

Ready for a brand new color but also considering a keratin treatment to smooth your hair? Keratin smoothes the hair, so wouldn’t that mean color would take better on top of a keratin treatment? Should you do the keratin treatment followed by a hair color treatment or vice-versa? As both are chemical processes, you’re right …

Your hair might be the object of jealousy for those with thin hair, but if they only knew! Sometimes thick hair can feel heavy on your head and be difficult to style. If you choose to thin out your hair, it may or may not mean a change in appearance, depending on the method. How …

There are so many different gorgeous hairstyles that it can be difficult to choose just one perfect style. Many women like to change their hairstyle regularly because they love to try out new looks. Women with straight hair often desire curls, whereas women with really curly hair might want to try waves for a change. …

So you neglected your hair for a while, or maybe you wore a protective style like extension braids for too long and now you have to deal with matted hair. It’s easy to grab a pair of scissors, but you really don’t want to do that, right? Instead, let’s follow a process to get rid …

Did you know that in the past, people ironed straight hair to get it totally flat? Isn’t it good to live in modern times? If you need some ideas on how to provide texture and volume to straight hair, or your hair is flat at the roots and hanging around as you come from the …

You’ve always known you had finer hair on some parts of your head and thicker, coarser curls in other areas. But maybe you didn’t realize you actually have multi-textured curly hair until you looked closer and actually tried to discover your curl type. Well, welcome to the club! Almost all people with curly hair have …

Red hair gives you spunk with a heavy dose of class at the same time. It’s a Hollywood dream color. But if you dye your hair this color, it doesn’t like to stick. And if you had red hair as a youth, it fades to brown as you gain years. You’ll be lucky to have …

The sun, sea, pool, pollution, wind, chemicals… Our hair will cry for help many times! On a daily basis, all of those will leave their mark, making your hair dry, dull, rough and frizzy, and easily tangled. That means it’s time to moisturize it, to give back the water it lost and make your hair …

What is Brazilian Blowout? The Brazilian Blowout is a popular hair straightening process that has become a go-to for women with frizzy or textured hair. The process used in the Brazilian Blowout involves a protein-rich solution that is used to coat the hair strands to straighten it without damaging it. The Blowout Process In this …

Every woman should know how to cut split ends as it’s an issue most of us have to deal with. There are many causes for split ends, including heat, chemicals such as dyes and treatments, and over-washing, among others. That’s why it’s important to know how to cut and get rid of the split ends …

As much as its popularity, Bigen hair dye has some side effects. Bigen hair dye has been a hard-hitter within the home hair coloring industry for a number of years and its appeal, for some, still continues despite some side effects. Bigen produces two types of dye: the permanent powder type or the semi-permanent color, …

You have beautiful long hair and everyone is envious but all you dream about is a shorter mane? This situation catches many women unawares. You should be happy with your beautiful and voluminous tresses, right? Not at all. Each woman wants to be different and even the best and the most fantastic hairstyle can make …

Curly hair is definitely on the rise again, steadily gaining popularity within the past decade. The internet has allowed other women with curly hair to share the methods and regimens that they use when wearing their hair in its natural state. This surge of information has driven a host of women from all backgrounds to …

It used to be the case that the choice of hairstyles was limited for women with African-textured hair; however, that is not the case anymore. There are now hundreds of great hairstyles to choose from. Many draws on traditional cultural hairstyles from all over the globe. Currently, there is some debate going on whether Senegalese …

Highlights and lowlights can bring life to dull hair colors but often they are misunderstood. Knowing the real differences between highlights and lowlights, and which one is right for you can go a long way. Of course, you can always get one flat hair color. But where’s the fun in that? When you mix different …

We are all used to keeping our hair clean. That’s why many women don’t even think about whether they should wash their hair before dying. Meanwhile, this is a very serious matter, which shouldn’t be overlooked. If you decided to wash your hair before the dying session you can end up with unfortunate results. Even …

Think of it as “stretch,” not straighten. Because without heat, honestly, you’ll have stretched your hair, and that’s good for other purposes besides swinging it in the wind. You can have a banging ‘fro, an effortless bun and your detangling process can be forever smooth. Those are the benefits of stretched hair, and below are …

The beauty industry is one of the only in which old technology persists, like the curling iron. It’s fine in its place, but isn’t there an easier way? Enter the curling wand. But what is it and does it make better curls than a curling iron? And if so, does it make them easier? Let’s …

Ever worried that your plucked hair won’t grow back again? Taking tweezers to your eyebrows is common, but lots of people pluck out follicles along their hairline and other parts of their scalp, as well. Sometimes it’s deliberate, sometimes it’s an accident—over-plucking, anyone?—and at other times, there aren’t even tweezers involved. You can lose a …

Changing up your look is made easier once you know what to look for. Tapers and fades are two of the most popular haircut choices among men, especially those who are looking for an edgier look. Since they’re cut fairly similar it’s easy to get drawn into the taper vs fade confusion, but here are …

When gray hair begins to attack your beautiful mane, you start thinking about which color to choose to hide the aging process. Many women get upset and feel old and useless when they see the first gray hairs on their heads. While men are less sensitive about the matter, most of them wish the problem …

Bleaching hair or what most professionals would prefer to label as the lightening of hair is a delicate process. Who doesn’t love a platinum blonde? Those locks are eye-catching, but the process of getting there is not a simple one. If doing it at home, it requires a lot of planning and research before taking …

A perm is a great way to give your hair volume and bounce. If you have naturally fine, straight hair you should consider asking your stylist for a perm. Although there are some great methods available for temporarily curling your hair, a perm is a great way to make a permanent change. Chemical treatments are …

If you color hair often you know that the transfer of hair color to the skin is a common challenge, no matter how crafty you are with donning those gloves. Hair dye tends to get on everything from your clothes to the countertop. What do you do when it gets on your ears, forehead, neck, …

Many hair dyeing professionals love bleach bath for helping to alter the color of bleached or dyed hair, without damaging its health. You can make your hair lighter in a simple and easy way, without making it dry or brittle. You only need a regular shampoo and simple hair dyeing products. This technique can make …

We all want beautiful curls and usually, don’t have enough time to make them. At the same time, using curling irons and wands can be damaging to your tresses. Is there a worry and a heat-free way to make amazing curls in just 5 minutes? There is. In fact, there are a few of them. …

We hear the term 4C everywhere, but what does 4C hair look like? What is it, and why does it need a different care routine? More importantly, how do you know if you have 4C hair, as opposed to 4A or 4B? You probably actually have a mix, and that’s okay. Let’s define 4C and …

So you have black hair and are ready to get midnight blue locks? You can go about it in several ways, but they chiefly boil down to two methods. You can either use a temporary dye that’s made for dark hair. Yes, it’s temporary and will wash out in one to 12 washes. Or you …

Blow-drying curly hair is a tough task. Frizzy and messy locks just don’t want to settle into a nice and neat hairstyle. Some women spend up to an hour trying to style their hair and eventually end up failing. A diffuser is a savior for many girls with curly locks. It makes the hair look …

Your hair cuticle tells pretty much everything about the health of your hair. Your hair cuticle can make or break the health of your hair, literally. But what is it, and why does it play such an important role to the health of your hair? First, some myth-busters, because hair follicle and hair cuticle are …

Wet hair look has been popular for decades and it doesn’t seem to be going out of style anytime soon. Both men and women are after getting a wet hair look without damaging their hair too much. Be it a stylish undercut, a comb over, a wet beach look or just a spontaneous wet hairstyle, …

When most people color their hair, they lighten it a few shades, go bleach blonde, or at least get highlights. But what if you don’t want to use bleach? What if your hair can’t handle it without getting fried? There are a few ways to lighten your hair further if it’s already light or give …

It’s a mysterious pain. It seems like a headache, or it should be a scalp ache, but your hair just hurts. Surely you’d like to figure out why and what you can do about it. In this post, we’ll talk about the reasons why your hair hurts scientifically to help you understand how to relieve …

At first, it’s just one or two, but then…there’s another one and oh no… another! Before you know it, your beautiful head of dark brown or black hair is falling victim to gray hairs! Don’t worry dear brunette, here are six of the best ways to cover gray on dark hair and one thing not …

Is it worth it to smear this smelly juice on your scalp in hope of fantastic results? Experts say it is. Onion juice helps hair grow again for people who have a non-scarring form of hair loss. It doesn’t matter where the problem is located on your head, and it works well on both men …

Imagine hair that looks like it’s five inches can actually be an entire foot long, or more, depending on the quality of your blowout. Shrinkage is real. If you’ve ever been amazed at the photos of a natural hair blowout before and after, know that the same amazing feat can probably happen to you. It’s …

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the frizzy state of your naturally curly hair? It’s been haunting you all of your life and you cannot figure out what to do to tame your frizzy locks. To establish a real strategy to tame your frizzy hair, you have to first understand what causes the frizz factor for …

If you have soft and wispy hairs that appear along your hairline, baby hairs, it’s time to make a choice. You can style them up or down, blend them into the rest of your hair (if possible) or just get rid of them. There’s no right or wrong; it’s just a matter of personal preference. …

How to care for afro hair differs greatly from caring for relaxed hair or hair that’s otherwise straight. It’s a totally different journey, one that helps you love and understand your natural locks. To help you take the first steps, we discuss how to style the different growth phases, talk about what wash day looks …

If your hair is breaking off, you might see it everywhere: in your brush, on your pillow, and down the drain. What caused all this? Hair damage causes breakage. It’s good to know how hair damage happens, so you can seek alternatives to keep your hair intact. Hair damage happens when the protective layer of …

Do you wish your hair had more shine and brilliance? Shiny hair is a sign of healthy hair, but there are ways to fake it until you get there. To make your hair shiny, we’ve compiled a list of things you can do to help your hair catch the light and give you a star-like …

Is a deep conditioner or hair mask really necessary if you’ve already bought the regular hair conditioner in the same product line? I mean, for real? These things cost! It might seem like all conditioners are about the same. But come take a closer look. We’ll show you how deep conditioners and regular conditioners do …

If a swim cap is supposed to protect your hair, why does water get under it so quickly? Although necessary, a swim cap isn’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to protecting your hair from chlorine. There are other things you can do to keep this corrosive chemical from attaching itself to your hair. …