I went to your website, and your hair is beautiful. I just moved to 
Wisconsin about 54 miles away from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  I was just wondering if you knew of any salons close to a town called Watertown, Wisconsin?  I was getting my hair done in Colorado when we were living there.  I was getting the care free curl,and I need to see if you knew of anybody.  Also is there anything else better than the care free curl?  Thanks for your help. 

Carla
 

Thanks for writing.  Unfortunately, I don't know of a salon in your area to recommend.  

As for Care Free Curl it is an ammonium thioglycolate formula which is acid based.  If you are happy with it, you should stick to products with the same ingredients. (Curly perms) I would suggest you use a deep penetrating conditioner such as the African Wonders Recovery Treatment followed by the Hydrolyzer Moisturizing Reconstructor at least once a month to strengthen your hair.  Also you may want to try our Hair Reformer instead of Curl Activator for a non-drip way to make your curls stay put.  Here is a link to our Online Store.

Also our Hair Wonders Kit has great products to keep your hair moisturized. 

Wishing you the best,

Adj
 

I have to admit, I was impressed with your article; however, I am convinced that there is absolutely no help for my hair. My goal is to have wash and wear hair. This never occurs because my hair is thin and kinky. So I have resorted to just using gel to make waves and relaxing. By the way, relaxers  never make my hair completly straight. I am convinced that I have the worst hair on the planet. I have tried to let my hair grow natural, and well, I  ended up with hair so kinky, that I could not even get a comb through it. I hate to spend so much time thinking about my hair, it is such a superficial issue. In fact, I have completly given up on my hair ever growing long, and ever being manageable.

A beautiful head of hair would be nice, but hair isn't everything.

Thanks
Have a great week.
P.S I think your hair is absolutely beautiful

Take care
 

Thanks for writing.  Well, if you lived in LA I would offer you a free hair consultation.  You see, I don't believe your hair is helpless.  I sounds like you are a little hair-challenged but with the right products and a good hairstylist that can change.  Can you send me a photo of your hair?  I want to see what it looks like close up.

Do you go to a salon?  When you see a woman with hair that looks healthy find out who her stylist is.  I have had to fire sooo many hairstylist because they were ruining my hair.  The right hair cut will help give your hair shape and body.  Since it is both thin and kinky you will need a good cut.  You shouldn't relax it all the way straight anyway that will only make it look thinner.

Try the Hair Wonders Kit to make your hair more manageable.  

If you have questions about any of the products just call our office toll free(1888-284-HAIR) and we'll be glad to help you sort it out.

Stay beautiful,

Adj
 

Sorry but we don't have samples.  We do have some very reasonable prices on our products though.  As for your hair, thick hair is the best.  You will be able to wear many styles.  Have your parents or guardian check out our website or call our office toll free (1-888-284-HAIR) for advice on products for your hair.

Stay beautiful.

Adj
 

Thank you for writing.  We are happy to ship to Sydney.  Just send an email to sales@africanwonders.com and tell us which products you want to order and send your address.  Our shipping department will calculate the cost to ship and we will send you a quote.  You can pay by credit card or send an international money order.

Stay Beautiful,

Adj
 

My name is Megan and I am very impressed with your hair story because it is very similar to mine. As a girl people said that I had a "good grade" of hair. Both of my parents are black but we have Indian on my moms side about a few generations back. When I was small my hair was very thick and was a cross between curly and nappy. The hot comb and pressing creme was a savior but as soon as the wind hit my hair then it would draw up and frizz.

 My mom never had any one put a relaxer in my hair until I was 18 years old. So as a teenager I would just press my hair and wear it in an afro "puff". But this was a major no no because by my early teenage years my hair had literally broke off by about three inches. My current hair dresser tells me this was probably because of wearing it in a pony tail puff so much and not taking proper care of my ends which caused the serious breakage. 

During my senior year, my mom noticed that her co-workers hair had been "did" very well and inquired as to who her stylists was. She told us that her cousin did her hair and that she would hook us up. So by the age of 18 my mom finally let a professional relax my hair and she did an excellent job!
 My stylist is from Pennsylvania and in general the ideas about black hair differ from the North and the South. She told us that she was shocked that Stylists down in Florida were so quick to load a persons scalp with the petroleum based "hair grease". This is not a good thing because it is very hot in Fl and if your client happens to be a person that sweats a lot then the grease will run down their face and break them out in addition to blocking the hair follicle and piling on extra dirt and oil. 

But anyway, she applied a MIZANI  relaxer  to my hair and I looked like an "Indian". My hair turned out to be super straight and glossy. To the untrained eye it looked like I was wearing a weave because my hair was so straight and people made fun of me saying that I had "white girl" hair and that I was "lucky" for my hair to have permed that way because I was 18 and had waited so long to get a chemical relaxer. 

Fortunately my stylists helped clear up many misconceptions that African Americans have about their own hair. I like how Mizani has allowed me to wear my hair "out" without the frizz but now after two years I am starting to experience breakage. 

My hair should be down to my back but it goes through these stages of what you described as negative hair growth. It will grow but then my stylists will have to cut the damaged part. Also, my hair is very thin and this is genetic but Im not sure how to get the thinning areas to grow like the healthy parts of my hair. And this may seem a little strange but if you were to part my hair down the middle then you would see that the hair on the right side of my head grows faster that than the hair on the left side. Do you know what is the cause of this imbalance? 

I am now in college in Miami fl and my stylists is in Tampa. The distance is about a four hour drive so instead of getting a touch up every 4-6 weeks I can make it for 8-10. She congratulates me for this because I am able to take care of my hair without having to see her as recommended. I wash, condition, and curl my hair with a curling iron. I use to blow dry but she told me that was bad for the hair because I dont do it properly and now I use a hooded dryer. 

The big problem is that I haven't found another stylist in the Miami Dade area who can duplicate her work. I understand that I look  like an Indian when my hair is professionally did because of the professional products and instruments that are used(she uses a professional curling iron whereas I will use the ceramic ones that are sold at Walmart). I would like for this cycle of going home back and forth to get my hair done to end because it is becoming time consuming. 

Miami is one of the hair capitals of the world so I know it shouldnt be too hard to find a good stylist who knows how to deal with Mizani. And I have gone to some stylists and have had some heart and hair breaking experiences. So If you know of anyone in South Florida who is skilled in your products or Mizani please, please let me know. 

Today I was searching the web for salons in Miami and I came across this site and read your story. I am excited to say that I will be ordering one of your kits! I really believe from the photos that we have the same texture hair! Once again if you or any one you know  is familiar with mizani and can refer me to someone in the Miami/ ft Lauderdale area I would greatly appreciate it. 

Thank you and god bless. I have also enclosed a photo of my self when my hair is relaxed and when people think I am an Indian or just have an excellent weave.

Megan  Tampa, Fl

Wow.  Thanks for sharing your story.  It is great to know I'm not the only one that has hair drama.

As for your questions, first of all your hair may grow faster on one side because of the way you sleep. One side of your body is also slightly larger.  It may have something to do with the right handed or left brained thing.  I don't know exactly why but it is the norm.

Wearing your hair in the Afro puff probably caused beakage because your hair was dry.  Even when we wear our hair natural we need to keep it moisturized especially the ends.  I rub PSB Pure Shea Butter into my ends and it keeps them from becoming brittle and splitting. 

It is great that you have a hair stylist that you can trust.  Mizani is a sodium hydroxide relaxer.   It is better to have chemical relaxers applied by competent professionals.  All chemical relaxers erode the cuticle of your hair and leave your hair thinner.  If the relaxer overlaps each touch up, your hair will become thinner and thinner over time.   The Recovery Treatment and Hydrolzer will help stengthen your hair. 

To stimulate your scalp and encourage your hair to grow in the thin areas, try the Pre Treat Shampoo followed by the Hydrolyzer conditioner.  Also put the EHO Essential Hair Oil on your finger tips and massage your scalp daily.  It will bring the blood flow to your follicles and promote healthy hair growth. Put a little of the oil on your hair to keep it moisturized and lusturous. Sorry, I don't know any hairstylist in the Miami area. The best way to find a stylist is to ask Black women with long, healthy relaxed hair for a recommendation. 

Thanks for the picture.  You are a cutie. 

Keep taking care of your hair.

Adj

--Adj
 

I also failed to mention that when I wear braids...synthetic or human extensions and sythetic "pony". Is this a factor?
 

Now, I got it.  No lye relaxers are made from calcium hydroxide which technically are categorized in the lime family not lye family but they are just  as harsh and sometimes more so.  If your hair tends to be dry they will make your hair brittle and frizzy.  If the relaxer was too strong for your hair then it 
could very well be overprocessed which will cause breakage.  To immediately stop the breakage use the RECOVERY TREATMENT followed by the HYDROLYZER to put back moisture. 

As for wearing braids, they are great for natural hair.  However when you braid relaxed hair it can put a strain on the already weakened hair making it break. 

Also sometimes we leave our braids in way to long.  (I'm guilty of this)  It is important to keep your braided hair moisturized--natural or relaxed. Use the PRE TREAT Shampoo followed by the HYDROLYZER moisturizing conditioner directly on your braids.  Your scalp will feel great and the conditioner will put moisture in your hair.  You can use the HAIR REFORMER on your braids to smooth them down and refresh them.  Also the EHO ESSENTIAL HAIR OIL will take away the scalp itch, stimulate hair growth, soften brittle hair and moisturize your hair and scalp. 

Now, the pony attachments are great but if you are pulling your hair back tightly it is causing stress on the relaxed hair.  Again, condition and keep it  moisturized daily.  To grow hair out you have to baby it.  Try not to pull it  too tight and apply the EHO to your hair daily to keep it from becoming dry.

This too will pass.

Wishing you the best.
Adj