<![CDATA[TressBuzz - Regimen Building & Product Talk]]>

<![CDATA[TressBuzz - Regimen Building & Product Talk]]>Fri, 24 May 2013 09:38:54 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[COMBATING FRIZZ]]>Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:46:19 GMThttp://www.tressbuzz.com/6/post/2012/10/october-01st-2012.html

Copyright MMXII, DE Taylor. All Rights Reserved.
We've all experienced it. Hair puffed up like a tumbleweed, frizzed out beyond recognition and totally unmanageable. Besides hair's natural texture, there are two main components of frizz: excess absorption of moisture combined with a raised cuticle. If you combat each of these elements, you can go a long way toward winning the war on frizz! For excess moisture, you want to think along the lines of blocking that moisture and keeping it out of the strand so that it doesn't swell up. For hair care products, look for items that say "anti frizz" or "anti humidity." You can purchase moisture blockers or just make sure that you are using products that are not water soluble such as oils and silicones. Avocado and coconut oils are humidity resistant and make great humidity blockers. Raised cuticles can give the hair that rough, puffy look and cause the strands to stick together in unruly positions. Getting the cuticles to lie down is a matter of ph balance and smoothing. Always smooth the hair in a downward direction and avoid upward strokes. Make sure your products' ph is on the (low) slightly acidic side of neutral as this will cause cuticles to retract and lay down. An easy way to do this is with an apple cider vinegar rinse as your final rinse after shampooing and conditioning. Rinsing with cool water will also cause the cuticles to retract and smooth down. Beer and carbonated water both have low ph and can be used as a final rinse if you're not too keen on the smell of vinegar. Keeping the hair smoothed down with a silk scarf is another wonderful old school trick to avoid frizzing up in weather or between destinations. Avoid brushing out the hair or using fine-toothed combs to groom the hair, as these can lend a frizzy appearance. Stick to wide tooth combs or finger combing. Always finish ends with a dab of oil or moisturizer. With the right tools and tricks, frizz can be controlled or even eliminated!

]]><![CDATA[setbacks]]>Mon, 02 Jul 2012 22:55:07 GMThttp://www.tressbuzz.com/6/post/2012/07/setbacks.html

Copyright MMXII, DE Taylor. All Rights Reserved.
Face it. We all have setbacks. You can be the most dilligent person on the planet and still find that you have breakage or are shedding like a beast. The fact that we all will have a setback or two at some point during our journey does not mean we should give up or throw in the towel. Setbacks should be looked at as an opportunity to examine your methods and determine where you can make adjustments or tweaks. Indeed, setbacks are a learning opportunity. There are times when you will find that you may have excessive shedding or breakage or visit a stylist who delivers more than a "trim." Or you might discover that wet detangling is causing you more harm than good or that heat usage means you can't get past shoulder-length. Products can also cause setbacks. You might find yourself in protein overload because you were co-washing with protein too often, or moisture overload because you avoided protein for far too long. The trick to dealing with these setbacks is in realizing that it can be a one-time occurrence if you take your lesson from it, redouble your efforts and move on stronger than ever. One great trick when a product doesn't work or that salon visit goes all wrong is to jot it down in a little notebook or calendar. These notes can serve as reminders about what not to do again. Throwing your hands up in defeat and giving up on consistent care is exactly the wrong thing to do. Once you have honed in on the problem, your efforts should go toward finding solutions - whether it be reading blogs or watching how-to videos. A setback means it's time to do your research! Find out what others who have your problem are doing to solve it and cautiously take steps in that direction, making sure to take note of progress and little failures. If you're growing out your hair, the name of the game is consistency over time. So the next time you face a setback simply pull up those bootstraps and soldier on.

]]><![CDATA[PRODUCT OVERLOAD]]>Sun, 01 Apr 2012 21:36:22 GMThttp://www.tressbuzz.com/6/post/2012/04/product-overload.html

Hair feeling gunky, weighed down, not flowy? Well, you just might be a victim of product overload. We’ve all seen the girl walking around with so much gel in her curls that she looks like a grease monkey. Or the chica with so much helmet hairspray it looks like she could suit up for the Steelers. These are the more obvious forms of product overload and should clearly be avoided, but did you know that the more subtle forms of overload can cause your hair to have serious problems and setbacks? Overuse of styling products can essentially glue the hair down and lead to snapping, knotting and breakage. Overuse of moisturizers can lead to stretchy hair. Stretched hair is compromised and is prone to break at some point down the line. Overuse of silicones can block moisture from entering the hair shaft – leading to a state of chronic dryness. Many silicones are not water soluble and must be broken down with harsh detergents. Overuse of oils can cause the hair to have a limp, greasy appearance. Oils are also not water soluble and must be clarified away to correct the problem. When applying products of any kind remember to keep a light hand. You can always add more but it is a bear to try and work with gunked up hair if you’ve added to much product. Hair should move and be soft and touchable. You can best achieve that by having clean hair and maintaining a sparing hand. Always remember to clarify at least monthly or bi-monthly. Removing buildup is essential so that strands are free to accept the nutrients and proteins in your leave-ins. The bottom line is that super-glued hair is not a good look! Cut down on product overload so that your hair can flow freely.

]]><![CDATA[WINNING THE BATTLE AGAINST DRY HAIR]]>Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:27:32 GMThttp://www.tressbuzz.com/6/post/2012/03/winning-the-battle-against-dry-hair.html

We've all had those days where we look like we've been standing in the Santa Ana winds all week or are bush dwellers from the Serengeti. Chronic dryness can be a bear to tackle but there are some things you can do to combat it.

★ Put down the heat tools and blowdryers. The water component in hair is literally boiled away when using these tools. If you must use a blowdryer use it on the cool setting only.

★ Select low ph products. These lay down the cuticle which locks in moisture.

★ Incorporate a humectant such as glycerin. Humectants draw moisture from the air, keeping strands continously moisturized.

★ Do fewer relaxers, colorings and other chemical treatments. These rob hair of moisture.

★ Incorporate products with essential fatty acids. These fortify natural oils and lipids that may be lacking in dry hair.

★ Use a water-based moisturizer, rosewater, or plain water sealed with oil. Remember: oil is not moisture it is a lubricant. Water is moisture. Make sure that water is one of the top ingredients in the moisturizer you select.

★ Drink water! This cannot be emphasized enough. Hair begins on the inside so make sure your diet contains plenty of water, fruits and veggies and fish high in omega-3's.

★ Take an omega-3 supplement daily or eat a tablespoon of safflower oil to boost lubrication internally.

]]><![CDATA[EMERGENCY MOISTURE]]>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:27:24 GMThttp://www.tressbuzz.com/6/post/2012/02/emergency-moisture.html

Copyright MMXII, DE Taylor. All Rights Reserved.
Ever feel that your hair is so dry it's going to fall right off your head? Or did you do a chemical service or process that left your strands as parched as the Sahara Desert? Well there are emergency measures that you can take to restore the moisture balance to the hair. Try any one of these emergency fixes:

1. Drench damp hair in moisturizing conditioner and apply saran wrap. Cover with a dorag and winter hat overnight. Rinse thoroughly in the morning.

2. Apply coconut oil liberally to damp strands. Tie a plastic grocery bag over the hair like a miniature greenhouse. Leave for several hours then shampoo and condition as normal.

3. On a daily basis, when you are working at the computer or watching TV, put a plastic conditioner cap over your hair and let it incubate for several hours.

4. Add coconut oil to your favorite deep conditioner and apply to the hair for several hours. Co-wash out with a moisturizing conditioner.

5. Make a mixture of 1 cup rose water, 1 tbsp. glycerin, and 2 tbsp. moisturizing conditioner. Spritz hair nightly and seal with coconut oil.

6. Saturate hair in moisturizing deep conditoner then apply tin foil. Cover the foil with a hot towel and leave on for several hours. Rinse thoroughly.

7. Apply straight mayonnaise liberally to hair and cover with a plastic conditioner cap. Leave on for several hours then shampoo and condition as normal with moisture-based products.

8. Co-wash the hair with a moisturizing conditioner for three days in a row. Allow hair to rest on the fourth and fifth day then repeat.

]]><![CDATA[BRUSHES]]>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:00:25 GMThttp://www.tressbuzz.com/6/post/2012/01/brushes.html

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While I wouldn't go so far as to say we shouldn't use brushes, there are some considerations to be made if you decide to use them. The main problems with brushes are: 1. Jagged bristles. 2. Too many bristles too close together. With many boar's hair or synthetic hair brushes the bristles have a rough pointed tip that can absolutely cut and rip the hair's cuticle. If you run these brushes along your hand it actually feels rough and damaging. As you can imagine this can lead to mid-hair splits and eventually breakage through tearing the hair strands. Although many women use these brushes without any problems, Tressbuzz would rather err on the safe side and say avoid pointy, rough bristles altogether. In other words, better safe than sorry. Many boar and synthetic brushes also have too many bristles packed too closely together or a second short bristle attached to the longer main bristle. These brushes can be a land mine for African American hair. Our hair is already prone to catching on things. Dragging these brushes over strands can cause hairs to get caught between packed bristles and lead to pulling out many strands prematurely. Not good. The hallmarks of a good brush are: smooth rounded bristles with no ridges and no "mini bristles" attached to the main bristle, bristles spaced adequately to allow hair to pass through smoothly, and removable teeth so that you can customize the spacing to your liking. Denman is a good brand that carries these types of brushes. As with any grooming implement, always start at the ends and work your way gently to the roots. If a knot is encountered stop and gently work through it rather than ripping your way through the hair.

]]><![CDATA[THIN HAIR]]>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:12:29 GMThttp://www.tressbuzz.com/6/post/2011/12/thin-hair.html

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Copyright MMXI, DE Taylor. All Rights Reserved.
First off let me say that if you suspect that you might have female pattern baldness or alopecia see a doctor. That said, much of the thinning women experience can definitely be addressed. Topical solutions are fine but most of the problem is the damaging things we do to our hair. Stopping those damaging practices gives each wave of new growth an opportunity to preserve its initial thickness! Once again the number one offender is heat use. Frequent use of super-heated tools not only wears away the diameter of each strand but it also leads to breakage, resulting in a thinned out, see-through appearance. To combat this, halt all heat use or reduce it dramatically. You will see your thickness begin to return as the new growth fills in. Another serious culprit is what I call relaxer abuse which not only damages the hair shaft but the scalp as well, inhibiting growth. These abuses include overlapping onto already relaxed hair, relaxing from root to tip every time, and overprocessing or leaving relaxers on too long. All of these are major no-no's and break down the shaft which leads to breakage/thinning. Only relax new growth! Time the relaxer to the minute - never leave it on past the recommended time. Other damaging practices that lead to thinning and should be avoided are over-manipulation - too much combing, brushing and fussing with the hair; pattern breakage from damaging accessories, clip-ins, braids and weaves; and double processing or using permanent dye on relaxed hair. There are products that can aid the appearance of thickness. Both Cassia and Henna are shown to increase the diameter of the hair strand. A monthly application of either treatment is recommended to begin seeing results. Castor oil has also led to increased thickness for many women. Simply add castor oil to your regular moisturizer. Many women have also reported amazing results with a shampoo called Biotene H-24. One of my readers reported that it worked so well that she had to stop using it! The main thing to remember is to put a halt to all damaging practices and you'll begin to see thin hair as a thing of the past.

]]><![CDATA[A SIMPLE REGIMEN]]>Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:25:39 GMThttp://www.tressbuzz.com/6/post/2011/11/post-title-click-and-type-to-edit.html

Copyright MMXI, DE Taylor. All Rights Reserved.
One thing I have found from speaking to literally hundreds of ladies about hair care is that many of you simply do not have the time for elaborate regimens. The great news is that in hair care complicated methods are just not necessary to achieve results. The name of the game is consistency. Adopting a simple regimen that you stick with can yield the same results as those regis that treat hair care like a chemistry lab! Once you have stopped all damaging practices and found staple products that work for you, incorporating them into a simple weekly regimen is more than enough to begin seeing amazing results. Here is a simple weekly regimen that most anyone can follow:

★Pick your "hair spa" day. For instance, mine is Sunday. This is the day that you will do your major processes.
★Select your products. You will need an oil, shampoo, moisturizing conditioner, hair moisturizer (should contain water or use water sealed with oil), and moisturizing deep conditioner.
★On your "hair day" do an oil prepoo (saturate the hair in oil and leave that under a plastic cap for 1-2 hours). Shampoo that out then deep condition. This should be done once a week.
★During the week if you need extra moisture do a conditioner-only wash (cowash) midweek.
★Moisturize your hair and seal with oil daily or as needed (do what your hair is telling you).
★Once a month on your "hair day" do a protein treatment by mixing one beaten egg into your oil prepoo (leave in 1 hour under a plastic cap). Shampoo and deep condition as normal.

]]><![CDATA[PROTEIN-FREE CONDITIONERS]]>Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:31:38 GMThttp://www.tressbuzz.com/6/post/2011/10/protein-free-conditioners.html

Copyright MMXI, DE Taylor. All Rights Reserved
Think that formula is protein-free? Think again. Manufacturers have taken to loading hidden proteins into all of their formulas. The question to ask is why? No woman's hair needs continuous protein. Many ladies don't know if they are coming or going when it comes to protein. One look at my HIDDEN PROTEIN LIST has revealed a world of lurking proteins to many a lady. If your hair loves protein you have nothing to worry about. However, if you are protein sensitive like Tressbuzz you know that even the lightest vegetable proteins can turn your strands into a hard, dry mess. Another confusing aspect of this protein phenomenon is that many of the product names specifically reference "moisture." V05 Moisture Milks? Soy Protein. Nexxus Ultimate Moisturizing? Keratin, Wheat AND Soy proteins. Hello Hydration? Coconut milk. Getting the picture? If you are doing everything right but your hair is still hard, brittle and breaking you might very well be protein sensitive. A quick check of your products' labels will tell you everything you need to know. Thankfully there are some TRULY protein-free formulas out there although they are becoming rare. Although I can't list every protein-free formula out there below is a shortlist of excellent protein-free conditioners:
Suave Almond & Shea Butter
Tresemme Naturals Moisturizing
Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner
Suave Naturals
L'Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss
Dove Go Fresh
Pantene Dry to Moisturized
Herbal Essences Self Targeting
Keracare Moisturizing

]]><![CDATA[STRENGTHENING ALTERNATIVES]]>Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:24:17 GMThttp://www.tressbuzz.com/6/post/2011/09/strengthening-alternatives.html

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Copyright MMXI, DE Taylor. All Rights Reserved.
If you are protein-sensitive but your hair is lacking in strength you have other options! Protein is not the only strengthening show in town. Tannins have a similar strengthening effect on hair. Tannins are astringent compounds that bind to proteins, amino acids and alkaloids - helping to regulate growth and deterioration. As with any strengthening treatment, you still have to maintain your moisture balance so follow up any such treatment with a moisturizing deep conditioner. Many teas and plants contain tannins. Black teas are loaded with strengthening tannins. For this treatment steep 1/4 cup organic black tea in 2 cups hot water overnight. Use it as a rinse just before applying a moisturizing deep conditioner. Henna is also loaded with tannins. Try a paste of water and colorless henna, or Cassia Obovata, applied to hair for 1 hour to strengthen. Follow with a moisturizing deep conditioner. Cassia can be obtained at Indian markets or online. Pantene has a product line with Cassia called Nature Fusion.

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