I’d like to receive recommendations of your products for African-American hair (non-chemically-treated). I have thick, somewhat coarse hair and normally wear it straight (flat ironed or pressed), yet at times wear it naturally curly. I have some breakage. My hair endures a lot of heat with the flat ironing and curling iron. I’m sure the Philip B Rejuvenating Oil is a good product to use. However, I’d like to receive additional recommendations to minimize breakage, improve the overall condition of my hair, intensify my curl pattern/enhance curls and control and minimize the frizz when wearing it naturally curly.
It sounds like you’re not shampooing more than once a week due to all the intense styling - and understandably so. Here’s my prescription: Every week, use the Peppermint & Avocado shampoo to lift away any styling product residue or debris - that will give you a good, clean starting point. From there, I’d use the Russian Amber or African Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner - and if you have time, a Katira Masque would be so protective. It actually imparts into the hair for up to a month, so when you iron it out, you truly get a Hollywood finish: soft, shiny, bouncy dream hair.
If you’re wearing your hair straight, you’ll want it to look clean and fresh, so use Anti-Frizz 57 on the ends. If you’re wearing your hair curly and need to bind it together, the Lovin’ Leave-in Conditioner would be fantastic.
I come from such a racial mix, it’s insane - my ancestors are from at least 14 different countries. Therefore, I have frizzy, thick and curly hair. But my main concern is breakage. As far back as I can remember, I’ve had a lot of breakage, all in the front. I’m almost positive there isn’t a piece of unbroken hair on my head!!! I’m at a loss and sick of looking at this wild mane.
Katira Masque is incredible on hair like yours: It makes coarse, curly hair manageable and moisturized. I’d start with a dollop of Russian Amber - smush it into dry hair and lather it up in the shower, adding water gradually. Follow with a Katira Masque (comb it through and let it dry to a hard finish.) Rinse and use a little bit of African Shea Butter Classic Formula Conditioner - it’s particularly good for silkening and slip. And since curly, ethnic hair tends to be fragile, getting the right pH balance is really important, so finish with the pH Restorative Detangling Mist. If you want an alternate shampoo, I’d recommend the African Shea Butter Shampoo - it combines 3 different types of moisture and offers a way to cleanse your hair without stripping it.
My hair nearly reaches the bottom of my back. A day after I shampoo, I find that it’s oily at the top but dry from the mid-section down and the ends break. I have virgin hair and am wondering what products you would suggest and what care regimen I should adopt. I came to the site to order the Shea Butter and Peppermint & Avocado shampoos which I use alternately. I don’t use a conditioner or a rinse as they weigh my hair down, leaving it flat and lifeless.
This is easy. Step 1: Invest in a really good, natural bristle brush and use it before you shampoo. Make sure to brush from the scalp out to bring your natural oils to the rest of the hair shaft. (Even if you have an oily scalp, its conditioning effects usually don’t penetrate beyond the first five inches of hair without help.) And a bonus: Proper brushing helps to normalize the scalp. Step 2: To nourish the lower half of your hair, use my Four Step Hair & Scalp Facial Treatment Kit. The light plant and flower oils will condition the ends from the inside out without added weight; they’ll also soften the natural oils from your scalp. From there, the Peppermint & Avocado Shampoo washes away any excess oil to leave your hair and scalp squeaky clean, and the conditioner and pH Restorative Detangling Mist in the kit help ensure that your hair has the same level of moisturization from top to bottom. Step 3: On a regular basis, the Peppermint & Avocado Shampoo or Scent of Santa Fe would be ideal for soothing and normalizing an oily scalp. (If you have any flakiness, you can integrate Anti-Flake into your regimen too.) Finally, a Katira Masque once a week would be wonderful to keep your roots and midshaft healthy, and to give your hair natural volume and bounce.
In a word - thank you. I tried your products by sheer chance (the ladies at Blumercury happened to throw a sample in my bag) and the result was literally a miracle.
The top of my hair has not grown past the tops of my ears in 2 years. Not kidding. I’ve had this “bangs helmet” for ages and it’s as bad as it sounds. The main cause is breakage from several very bad highlight jobs. I even abandoned highlights for six months with no improvement.
Anyway, I’ve used your products for two months now and my hair has FINALLY crept below the top of my ears. It’s amazing. I use the White Truffle combo, along with the occasional Peppermint Avocado and now Katira. Love it.
I can’t thank you enough for the impact your products and website advice are having. BTW, do you have a hair color line or are you thinking about one?
I don’t have a hair color line coming out yet, but I’m so glad that you’re finding a way out of your predicament. On occasion, I come across cases like yours, usually caused by overlapping bleach in the highlighting process. First, ask your colorist to be extra careful when retouching your roots. Secondly, you should definitely integrate my Four Step Hair & Scalp Facial Treatment into your regimen, and always do a rejuvenating oil treatment two days before you color. Hair takes color so much better if it’s oiled in advance: Once the caustic chemicals ht your hair, that builty-in moisture will protect it from burning.
I relax my hair and it’s thin and dry from over-processing. Which line do you recommend for my hair type and why?
All together now: Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo. It’s an amazing rejuvenator for fried, overworked hair. Alternatively, a Four-Step Hair & Scalp Treatment would do wonders for you, too. Use it once a week and on the morning of your next salon appointment: Women all over the world have told me that they’ve gotten better results and far less breakage when they apply my Rejuvenating Oil (part of the Four-Step treatment) right before they have their hair relaxed.
I ordered a bunch of your products: shampoo, cream rinse, the toning mist, lovin’ leave-in, and the rejuvenating oil. I learned about your products in a magazine that I read about a week after my stylist RUINED my hair with a HORRIBLE body wave. I received your products just yesterday, immediately put them to use, and now — just one day later — my hair finally feels healthy again.
I just wanted to say thank you, SO MUCH!
Rachel
Dear Rachel,
Thanks for your wonderful email. I get the nicest letters from women around the world, and I’m so glad that you found success with my products. I take great pride in making them! Definitely try my Katira masque, which is coming out this Monday. I’m looking forward to you having more great hair days!
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