Earlier this month, we had you submit questions to celebrity hair stylist Ursula Stephen. Ursula read your questions and comments and has responded with your much needed answers and advice…
Q: I want finger waves sooo bad but I’m afraid they are not quite back in style, are they?
A: Girl get your finger waves! Don’t worry about whats not in style, do you!. Its not always about what’s in, its about what looks good on you. And by the way I love finger waves – have you seen the Maroon 5 video featuring Rihanna, wink wink. hahaha
Q: I’ve been getting sew in’s (my natural hair braided) and have noticed growth with my hair when I get it redone every couple months. Is having my hair braided helping or hurting my hair?
A: Weaves do not MAKE your grow. They simply create an illusion. Hair growth comes from within, you can achieve this by eating healthy, taking vitamins (GNC makes a good one). Biotin is also a great hair growth supplement. Keeping up with your trims and conditioning treatments is how is you maintain healthy hair… baby your hair, its your beauty!
Q: Blessings. I’ve been a loc wearer for over 6 years, what do your recommend for conditioning? Currently, I’m just using natural Almond Oil for shine, but I always find that the winter weather can be very harsh on my locs. Also, do you have any tips for curling your locs?
A: You can set your hair with the old school jheri curl rods to create large soft curls. They may be a little tight when first get them done, however they will drop day by day and look beautiful.
Q: Are there any over the counter treatments for Alopecia? Or is it best to seek treatment from a dermatologist??
A: The only over the counter treatment for hair loss is Rogaine. However this requires a lifetime commitment, and research on your end. I would suggest going to dermatologist first and getting his professional medical opinion.
Q: Hi, I’m in the process of going natural and wanted to know what products are best when it comes to everyday use and when I straighten my hair. It’s still pretty humid out so every time I straighten my hair it frizzes up immediately.
A: Get used to it. Frizziness is a characteristic of natural hair. Because it does not have any type of chemical in it to control it. Try frizz ease – its an old school product that works. If that doesn’t work, just go with flow and rock your natural locks – cant fight nature!!
Q: What’s the best thing to combat split ends and breaking. Also do you recommend that permanent blowdry for relaxed hair?
A: Regular trims are truly the best way to prevent split ends. wearing your hair up, especially during winter months is also a good way. When the hair strands rub on certain fabrics they split therefore causing the “split ends”.
Q: Hi, my hair has been breaking off bad from the blow dryer, flat irons etc… what treatments would you suggest?
A: Right now your hair is traumatized!! You need moisture!! Constant heat from the blow dryer and flat irons fries the hair, causing it to become dry and lifeless. Mizani has a great moisturizing conditioner. Then follow with a leave in conditioner, and a daily moisturizing cream. Be patient, use the conditioner every 2 weeks until you see a difference. Also, lay off the harsh heat-try rollersets. Put more time into maintaining it with out depending on your flat iron.
Q: When I wrap my hair it never seems to come out how it was before??? any wrapping tips??
A: Wrapping you hair is only a method to keep your hair tame while you sleep. You still have to put time into it the next day to get it back into the style you wear. Try switching your wrap direction about every two days or so, this creates more versatility in your hair’s movement. Pin curling at night is also a great alternative to wrapping.
Q: What relaxed products do you recommend for children? I have a beautiful little girl…
A: In my opinion, girls under the age of sixteen should not have a relaxer or chemicals of any kind in there hair. Their hair is just not ready to withstand the harsh effects of chemicals. Its like comparing baby teeth to adult teeth – there is none.
Q: I wear glued in extensions. In the beginning I loved it and it made me feel great! Ive been wearing them for a few years now and slowly but surely its taken its toll on my real hair. Im starting to bald and my hair is broken off so badly. I desperately want to stop wearing extensions and restore my real hair (which was great before the extensions!) but my hair is so badly damaged I cant just stop! Please help me!! Are there any other options is getting my real hair back? Please Help..thanks.
A: That’s where you went wrong lady, never wear extensions for that amount of time. You went from wearing extensions because you WANTED to, to wearing them because you HAVE to. Just let it go, its time for a new look. It time to invest in hair care.
Q: I have a relaxer & my hair seems pretty healthy, but my scalp is very dry! I’ve tried different oils & scalp treatments, but my hair looses it’s luscious body afterward. How do I combat this problem without my hair falling flat?!
A: Mint shampoos are great for for dry scalp. They open up the follicle, allowing the scalp to breathe. Paul Mitchell makes a great one called Tea Tree shampoo. Follow with detangling conditioner.
Q: I have natural curly hair but it tends to get really frizzy i think this is down to my years of straightening, how can i get my tight smooth curls back?
A: Because you’ve been straightening for so long your hair is now trained to be straight. Now you have to reverse it. A series of deep conditioning (steam) treatments are recommended. And curl enhancing products, which should be applied while hair is wet in a scrunching motion. Be patient, as long as it took to loose the curl is about the same amount of time it will take to get it back.
Thanks to all the readers who submitted questions, and keep checking back for more with Ursula on Concreteloop!
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DISCLAIMER: Ursula Stephen is a respected and professional hairstylist, however, you are taking her tips at your own risk. Please make sure to consult other professional hairstyles before doing something drastic.
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#50, I’m in the gym 6 days a week, too, and I keep my hair intact by just keeping it wrapped while I work out. On the other hand, I don’t sweat in my head, so that probably helps, too. The braids and the sew-ins are taking a toll on your hair, thus the beating. If I were you, I would try seeing if wrapping my natural hair would work. #24, The Olive Oil line is great!!! I only use Olive Oil and Tea Tree Oil on my hair. As for the person that asked about hair color, get it done professionally. Don’t buy that stuff from the store!
I have a comment concerning Ursula’s advicie to not put any type of chemical product in a child’s hair before the age of 16. I consulted with both my 10 year old’s pediatrician, and several professional stylists with regard to relaxing my daughter’s hair. I was told that it’s absolutely okay to relax a child’s hair after the age of 6 – it was stated that the core texture of the hair has formed by this time.
The key, as with any chemical product in anyone’s hair, is to keep it conditioned, moisturized and trimmed – well taken care of. The product that was recommended (and which I actually use in my hair because most professional strength products cause serious scalp burns) is “Just For Me” – I use the regular relaxer kit (professionally applied) for both of our heads.
My daughter wore braids most of the time from about 7 months to 10 years, and her hair was severely damaged. In a little over a year, her relaxed hair has grown tremendously, and is very healthy, except for about a quarter-inch of damage on the ends remaining from the braids. She does take a GNC multi-vitamin (as do I), and we use a deep conditioning treatment (Triple Silk Deep Penetrating Conditioner by Perfect Results) at least twice a month.
So for all those moms out there, consult your daughter’s doctor, several professional stylists, and then decide whether a relaxer is the way to go for her. It definitely was for my daughter.
For #37… lemon juice and honey is also a great astringent for dry skin…. and if you want to make a scrub out of it, add some sugar… your skin will glow like crazy!
For #48… i have several styles for you… for starters, find someone who can do flat twists. have them start from the back and twist them to the front at an angle… wear them like that for a couple of days and loosen the ends…
For #59… sulfur does make your hair grow… LIKE CRAZY!!! but, an application after a relaxer is very dangerous…. sulfur and lye do not mix!
Can you recoommend a good professional or over the counter product that is good for thining temples and just your hairline in general. I’ve been chemical free for 3 years and my hair is very healthy except for the right side temple. It is very thin I think it came from me wearing micros alot when I was younger.
I would like to know what flat irons you recommend. I am transitioning and my hair is a NIGHTMARE. I can’t BC because I just hate the shape of my head and my natural hair is only about 4-5 inches. I’ve been ponytailing, but I see some thinning around my hairline because my hair is so fine and course…it’s shoulder-length. I have heard about that Maxi-glide, how do you feel about it? I’ve heard tourmaline is the best for a sleek, smooth, shiny look. I want to purchase a quality iron that actually works and will last, so please help.
Also, as I’ve read before I work out alot and it’s so humid here. Are there any hairtyles you can recommend because rollersets do not last very long for me?
Can you recommend a low, mid, and high grade human weaving hair brand?
Hi Ursula,
I’m 15 and had my hair relaxed as a child, it was and has always been a little long (like past my shoulders, not mid though) but after a bad relaxer treatment my hair seems to be slowly getting shorter. After I relax my hair I always trim it, at the hairdressers but it seems like there was no growth at all.My mum says having extensions (not glued in) will help it to grow but I have been doing that for a while with no results. I just want my hair to grow to mid-shoulder do you have any recommendations for treatment? I was wondering if I should cut it short then try to let grow again?
For everyone that had questions about natural hair, or going natural. . . check out http://www.nappturality.com/forum The members there have so much knowledge, but talking of straight hair of any kind is not allowed (relaxed, pressed, flat ironed, etc.)
To Ebony (i think that’s who said she wanted to go natural but didn’t know how to do it), you can either transition or just do the BC (Big Chop). Transitioning would be slowly growing the perm out. Most people cut the permed hair off little by little as the new growth grows in. You would have to do styles to mask the 2 different textures until you cut all the permed hair out. Braidouts strawsets & rollersets are some good options.
Or you can just do the BC & cut all the permed hair off at once. That is more traumatic, especially if you’ve never worn your hair short before, but it’s also the best way to get used to your natural texture. You can learn what your hair likes as it grows back.
Please check out the website I mentioned for more advice & suggestions
For everyone that had questions about natural hair, or going natural. . . check out NAPPTURALITY.COM/FORUM The members there have so much knowledge, but talking of straight hair of any kind is not allowed (relaxed, pressed, flat ironed, etc.)
To Ebony (i think that’s who said she wanted to go natural but didn’t know how to do it), you can either transition or just do the BC (Big Chop). Transitioning would be slowly growing the perm out. Most people cut the permed hair off little by little as the new growth grows in. You would have to do styles to mask the 2 different textures until you cut all the permed hair out. Braidouts strawsets & rollersets are some good options.
Or you can just do the BC & cut all the permed hair off at once. That is more traumatic, especially if you’ve never worn your hair short before, but it’s also the best way to get used to your natural texture. You can learn what your hair likes as it grows back.
Please check out the website I mentioned for more advice & suggestions
Sorry by extensions I meant braids but with synthetic hair, over in the UK we call single plait and braids w/ synthetic hair, extensions
love you much ursula girl
Gnc vitamins are the bomb
I wish I had a before and after pic for yall
Within a 6 month period I went from having a bob to being
Able to wear a decent ponytail!
Thanks in advance ursula
Hey ladies!
This comment is for those of you choosing to wear your hair natural. I personally recommend trying Miss Jessies products. I cannot say that it will work for everyone. They do have step by step methods for achieveing different styles that may be of interest to you. Once again, it doesn’t promise results. I have been using it for a year or so and it has truly promoted my hair growth.Hopefully it will be of help to you…
Myspace.com/sweetpsalm
Check out my music
Hello Ursula!
I have a haircut similar to Rihanna’s & i’m still learning how to maintain it & style it on my own. I wanted to ask, do you relax her, or is there something else you use to keep it looking smooth, moisturized, and shiny? And also, is there a particular kind of curling and/or flat iron that you use? I’ve tried & tested alot of different sizes of each & I never seem to get the EXACT results that I want.
Thank You!
#61,
Though I don’t normally go around preaching to others about their hair, I do have a minor problem with you promoting perms for young kids. My mother started me on perms when I was 10 or 11. My hair never grew past my the bottom of my neck. I went natural about 5 years ago and my hair is past my shoulder blades. Perms/relaxers rely heavily on chemicals. Anything that can literally burn sores in your head, should not be recommended for children ( kiddie perms or not, they all have lye). I know it is your child and all, but like I said, I just don’t think that is the route to go. I think a lot of black parents just get fed up and take the easy way. We live in a time where there are soooo many products for natural hair, that it is not even an excuse to say why you can’t handle your child’ s hair. Adults have the choice to do whatever they want, kids don’t.
@#75
My daughter’s hair texture does not lend itself to going natural – it’s very soft and “fuzzy” – it frizzes easily. My daughter also is a very active 10 year old that plays soccer on 2 different teams, with either practice or a game 6 of the 7 days of the week. Soccer is an outdoor sport, and games don’t get cancelled if it rains (only if there is lightning). I felt relaxing – as opposed to washing, blow drying and pressing her hair every single day – was a better alternative for her. I think all of the heat and wear and tear on her her hair on a daily basis that “remaining natural” require was a way worse choice than a relaxer – FOR HER. As stated, braids (her own, not extensions) also was not a healthy choice for her hair.
I don’t promote relaxing for every child, but I felt it was the best option for MY child. I only suggested that parents do the research and make the right choices for their child, just as I did.
I wish I could do hair!
Ursula’s hair is probably fly all day everyday.
Ridiculous mannnn!!
I recently cut my hair off this summer similar to the Rhianna look so to get my hair growing back I got my hair braided up. Is this the best way to go or should I try something else to get my hair back good and healthy?
THANK YOU! I have another question… when will she return?
cAN YOU HAVE A CELEB STYLIST FEATURE ON YOUR SITE NEXT TIME??? SUGGESTION…MIA QUINN CELEB STYLIST.
here’s a question for ursala…..i currently have locs in my hair for about 6 years and i am in desperate need for a change…i really like the short funky hairstyles like rihanna or chrissette michelle.. or yours….but i don’t want to put a perm in my hair… is it possible to rock those kinda cropped styles without getting a perm and still have it look fresh ?
sorry not a perm a relaxer!!
@57 My V-O-T-E matters
I can tell you this….if you are feeling a crazy scratch in your scalp, hair begins to fall out (you can see the root tip), and it also breaks easily…..see a dermatologist ASAP! Cortisone shots are the only answer. I also began to experience this problem. I have thick heavy hair. Out of now where, my scalp (crown area) was always itching, my hair used to literally fall out as I brush, shake, whatever. I was literally falling to the floor because I couldn’t understand. The first thing someone is going to tell you is it’s stress. No it’s not. I tried everything: shampoos, conditioners, vitamins, to no avail. Nothing stopped it. I started wearing braids and then went to weaves…my hair would grow like crazy…got past my shoulders and all…but w/in a couple weeks of taking my weave out, it would rapidly start falling out again.
Finally I took it upon myself to see a dermatologist. After several tests were run on me, I started to recieve cortisone shots. It helped relieve the problem but it’s not a cure. I still from time to time wear a weave but I’m just thankful that I became educated as to what was causing my problem and that there is help.
I see so many black women that are balding and their hair is falling out and I want to cry because we all know our hair is our crown. So many women don’t know that they HAVE to see a dermatologist. When I tell some women about it they begin telling me how that’s exactly what they’re experiencing. So please ladies, see a dermatologist pronto. I hope my story helps.
Many Blessings….I’d like to know what products I could use to help with DANDRUFF? Also, is there a product to help out with dry no shine hair?
what are the best products for natural hair so that my curls stay defined.
Hello Ursula,
I seem to cant win with my hair. Although it grows thick and fast, my scalp is extremeIy sensitive.. It is relaxed and frizzes like crazy!!! I only relax my hair every two months and find hard to maintain after 6 weeks. What products help maintain frizz on thick relaxed hair?
I also work out and perspire a lot through my scalp. I have purchased an ion hair dryer to wash and roller set my hair every other week, and to keep from going to the salon every week. Although I know salon results are hard to achieve from home, I’ve seen others do real well on their own. I wash and condition using Biolage products and set it with magnetic rollers. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks!