Many people believe that Black hair does not grow, or cannot grow long. This is not true. Black hair is chemically the same as other types of hair, but it has a unique physical structure that requires gentle hair care techniques for proper growth.

To grow your hair you need to do two things:

-Use products that moisturize your hair.

-Use hair care techniques that encourage hair growth.

If you do both of these things, your hair will grow.

Here are six tips for taking care of black hair:

1. When taking care of your hair always remember the following: Be gentle and take your time. Pamper your hair and treat it with care.

2. Use hair care products made specifically for Black hair. Black hair is drier and more delicate than other types of hair, and it needs lots of moisture to stay healthy. Northwest Scents shampoo is designed to cleanse your hair without stripping it of moisture. Northwest Scents hair oil applied daily helps to keep hair soft.

3. Condition, condition, condition. Condition your hair after washing it to help seal in moisture. One of the best conditioners you can use is Northwest Scents Hair Conditioner. Our conditioners are designed for African American and highly textured hair.

4. Avoid brushing your hair. Use a wide toothed comb, or your fingers, to work with your hair. Brushes can destroy Black hair by shearing it out of the scalp.

5. Avoid sleeping in hair accessories such as curlers, barrettes, scrunchies, head bands, etc. Wearing these kinds of accessories when sleeping puts unnecessary stress on the hair and can lead to hair damage.

6. Work with your hair to try and find a hairstyle that doesn't put tension on your scalp. Many Black women suffer from traction alopecia from wearing tight braids, extensions, hair pieces, hair rubbers, and wigs. If worn frequently, these will pull the hair out and cause the hairline to recede. One style that is easy to do with medium length natural Black hair is to wet the hair, gently comb it, smooth it back and gather it into a scrunchie. Just be sure to take the scrunchie out at night. Another style for natural Black hair that is short in length is to wear a soft fabric headband around the head. Match the headband fabric to the color of your outfit for a nice look.

©2006, The Franklin and Franklin Company

Northwest Scents is a line of products made for black, African, and Highly Textured Hair. Our products are made by hand and formulated to be moisturizing to black and African hair which is often dry. We have created a luxurious selection of hair oils, conditioners, and shampoos which we are excited to offer to you! To visit our ebay store click here

Twelve Steps For Growing Black Hair presents a natural method for growing Black Hair. In this book I discuss the twelve steps that have helped me to grow longer, healthier hair naturally, without chemicals. The book discusses how to wash, condition, and style natural Black hair to prevent breakage and encourage growth. Also discussed are thermal pressing, hair care tools, and tips for choosing hair care products.

Here is the table of contents for this book:

Introduction
My Story
The Steps
Step 1. Understand What You Have: A look at what makes Black hair unique
Step 2. Learn How To Tell When You Are Breaking Off Your Hair
Step 3. Use The Right Hair Care Products: What to look for in the products you use on your hair.
Step 4. Use The Right Hair Care Tools: Information about hair tools and which ones to avoid, which ones to use, and which to use carefully.
Step 5. Wash Your Hair Properly: How to wash your hair to prevent or reduce breakage.
Step 6. Detangle and Condition Your Hair Properly: How to detangle and condition your hair to reduce breakage.
Step 7. Chemical Free Straightening: A look at thermal pressing and how to do it without damaging your hair. This section also looks at mechanical straightening
Step 8. Styling For Growth: When it comes to styling, simple is better. This section contains advice on styling your hair to prevent breakage.
Step 9. Daily Maintenance - Combing and Sleeping In Your Hair
Step 10. Taking Vitamins For Your Hair
Step 11. Accepting What You Have
Step 12. When You Find What Works For You, Stick With It!!!

To order visit http://www.lulu.com/content/321694

One of the most challenging aspects of dealing with our black hair is combating its natural dryness. Black hair tends to be dry because of its physical structure. Dry hair is brittle hair, and when hair is brittle it breaks easily. However there are several steps that you can take to deal with dry hair.

One of the most important things you can do to deal with dry hair is to be sure you always wash your hair with a gentle shampoo. Avoid shampoos made with the chemicals sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, and ammonium laureth sulfate. These detergents are some of the most commonly used cleansers in shampoos. However these ingredients strip the hair of natural oils and leave the hair feeling dry and harder to manage. A gentle moisturizing shampoo, such as Northwest Scents shampoos, will cleanse your hair without stripping it of natural oils. Always condition after washing to soften your hair and help make it more manageable.

Another important step to take in dealing with dry hair is to seal in moisture after washing with a natural hair oil or a natural pomade. A natural hair oil or pomade applied to the hair after washing will help seal moisture in the hair shaft which in turn will help the hair retain more moisture in between washings.

A third step you can take to deal with dry hair is to limit your use of heated appliances such as pressing combs, flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers, etc. These tools are fine to use in moderation, but if they are used too much (like every day or every other day) or at too high a level of heat, they will contribute to hair dryness by causing the moisture in your hair to evaporate, leaving you with dry, brittle hair. When using heated appliances, use a thermal protectant on your hair (such as a natural hair oil) to protect your hair from the heat.

©2007, The Franklin and Franklin Company