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Why You Should Have Eucalyptus Oil in Your Bathroom Cabinet 0

This may be the multi-purpose essential oil for you! Eucalyptus oil offers various benefits thanks to its antiseptic properties.

Learn more about its benefits and uses in this article.

Mar 30, 2021
Reni Oshodi
Tags: aromatherapy benefits asthma australia Bronchitis carrier oil COPD covid essential oils eucalyptus eucalyptus oil hair and skincare health health and beauty natural remedies natural remedies for respiratory conditions Sinus sinusitis steaming for easy breathing

Harmattan is Here! 5 Tips on How to Care for your Hair, Skin and Body 0

Five essential tips to help with your overall self care during dry season also known as harmattan.

Feb 28, 2021
Reni Oshodi
Tags: beauty dry season dryness hair and skincare hair care tips haircare harmattan health health and beauty health and wellness healthy diet healthy hair healthy living LOC method skincare skincare for dry skin skincare tips west africa

Self-care and Mental Health 0

Self care is very important, and mental health is often neglected in people’s self care routine. Taking care of your mental health is equally as important as taking care of your skin & hair. A self care routine excluding mental health is incomplete.

Why is My Hair not Growing? 0

There is an unhealthy obsession with the length of hair within the natural hair community. The actual health of the hair is sacrificed for length amongst a lot of people with natural hair, most especially type 4 hair. Type 4 hair is kinky and very dry and ranges from type 4a (loosest kinks) - 4c (kinkiest).

One of the major reasons why length is such an important factor for a lot of people with natural hair is that they do not see their hair as “good hair” unless it is long. For decades western standard of beauty has determined how everybody sees themselves and this has affected the natural hair community negatively. This has been most detrimental to people with 4c hair. Even within that sect of the natural hair community people only praise 4c hair that is long.

So why is my hair not growing?

Hair grows about 6 inches a year. Some people may grow more than 6 inches and some less. The issue remains the same, which is the ability to retain the length that has been gained. Focusing too much on the length may result in very damaged and unhealthy hair because if your hair is healthy and taken care of properly, retention of length will not be a problem. There needs to be more emphasis on the overall health of the scalp and hair. If hair is not growing properly this may be a sign that the hair is very unhealthy and in need of attention.

Causes of stunted growth:

Health

Stunted hair growth may be a sign of an illness or less healthy habits. Eating properly, drinking a lot of water and vitamins (to help with immunity and overall wellbeing) can impact the health and growth of hair.

Length Retention

Retention of length may be difficult to achieve as a result of lack of moisture in the hair and scalp. A good method to keep the hair moisturised is the LOC method. We mentioned this method prior in our Hair, Skin, Wellness: My COVID 19 Lockdown Routine and Tips. Dry hair makes it very hard for hair to grow and for length to be retained as the hair breaks off due to dryness.

Scalp Conditions

Scalp issues like dermatitis/eczema or psoriasis should be considered when dealing with the length of your hair because it’s a condition that can affect the overall health of your hair. Eczema makes the scalp very dry and scaly. The natural oils of the scalp that are meant to travel from the roots of the hair, do not travel far enough causing breakage of the hair. The scales produced from eczema/dermatitis also clog up the scalp causing build up. Managing these condition will make a major difference to the health, appearance and growth of the hair.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can cause a lot of hair breakage due to postpartum hair loss. It can make it hard for one to retain length even though necessary steps to care for the hair are being taken. This is something that has to “runs its course”.

Hairstyles

Certain hairstyles should not be installed for too long for example; box braids and weaves should not be kept in for too long, as the hair can knot and tangle. Anything more than 8 weeks can be very detrimental to the health of the hair. If you do choose to keep your hair for longer ensure the hair is taken down with patience. Also make sure the hair is heavily moisturised before combing out the loosened hair.

In addition, ensure the hair is not tight upon installation. Tight hairstyles can cause a lot of breakage and hair loss.

Irregular Wash Days

Stretching out wash days can lead to yeast build up in the scalp which will affect the hair’s ability to retain length and also affect the appearance of the hair & scalp. Ideally, wash days should not be stretched out more than a month though this is very subjective as hair and scalp needs are different for everyone. Note that the longer your wash days are stretched there will be more yeast build up which will clog up the scalp not allowing it to breathe. A clean scalp allows the hair to grow properly.

Overall, focus should be placed more on the overall health of the hair because healthy hair will allow growth and length retention. When there is no emphasis on the overall health of the hair in a hair care regime, it can make way for long straggly hair, uneven hair, fairy knots and split ends. Please make sure to trim hair regularly to get rid of uneven and split ends. It is better to have healthy short hair than dull hair, that is long. Healthy hair is beautiful no matter the length.

Sep 06, 2020
Reni Oshodi
Tags: 4c hair beauty black hair dermatitis eczema hair care tips hair growth haircare health health and beauty healthy hair healthy hair products kinky hair length natural hair retention vitamins wash days

A Guide to Wellness on a Vegan/Plant Based Diet 0

A guide on how to source the vital nutrients and vitamins needed in a vegan and plant based diet with information on the importance of these nutrients and vitamins to your overall wellness.

Aug 08, 2020
Reni Oshodi
Tags: hair and skincare haircare health health and beauty healthy diet healthy hair healthy living iron minerals nutrients Omega 3 fatty acids plant based diet protein vegan vitamin B12 vitamins wellness zinc

How to Regrow Your Edges Back Naturally - Tips for Repairing Your Thinning Hairline 0

A lot of women will and have experienced thinning of the hair especially around the hairline. The edges of the hair are the most fragile and sensitive part of your head. They need the most attention and care as it is very easy for your edges to get damaged.

You may be wondering why you have been losing hair around your hairline. This could be caused by a number of things such as; scalp dermatitis/eczema, cancer, thyroid disease, postpartum hair loss, stress, hereditary and so much more. Firstly, it’s important to figure out if the reason your edges are thinning are due to health related issues before you look at other causes.

If you do not suffer from any health related issues and do not have any scalp condition then you should continue reading as some of the reasons may be the cause of your thinning edges:

1. Wigs
A lot of wig wearers will be shocked by this as this is how a lot of people are able to protect their natural hair under. However the way you wear your wigs can have a massive impact on your edges. If you are a wig wearer you should try and stay away from glue as much as possible as this will rip out your edges especially if you do not take it off properly. It may even cause an allergic reaction, which a lot of people have complained about. You can use alternatives like Wig Fix; which is a soft hypoallergenic silicone headband that offers safer security for your wigs. You should also take breaks from wearing wigs as the wig hairline/band and the weight/length will be causing distress and rubbing on your hairline.

2. Gels
If you notice your hair thinning around your hairline, you should definitely take a break from gels too. Gels can clog up your scalp by not allowing it to breathe.

3. Tight Hairstyles
This is the most obvious reason for thinning hair. Tight hairstyles can cause a lot of tension on your scalp pulling out hair follicles. It can also lead to alopecia areata which can cause permanent hair loss. So take a break on the high ponytails and try not to consistently braid your hair.

4. Heat
You should be very careful about the amount of heat you apply on your hair but most especially on your edges. The heat from straighteners and blow dryers can cause serious damage as it will dry out the hair causing it to break. It is okay if your edges do not blow dry straight. If you do not want to completely stop using heat on your hair you can at least reduce the temperature so as to not cause any lasting damage. You should also use the cooling feature on your blow dryer after applying heat.

Now that you have read through and figured out what may be causing your hair loss, you are probably wondering what you need to do to prevent more hair loss/damage and restore your hair. Don’t worry we have curated some extra tips to aid in your journey to thicker, fuller edges and hair. We have even listed some of our products that will be very helpful for your hair below;

Tips:

Make sure your hair is always moisturised. You can do the LOC method (Liquid, Oil and Cream) and make sure you are not neglecting your hairline too, as your edges will really benefit from this. You can use water or any water based product like Riza Hydrating Mist, and any carrier oil of your choice (olive oil or coconut oil) and seal in the moisture with our Moisturizing Avocado and Coconut Hair Butter. You can twist or braid your hair after. This will ensure that the hair is protected.

In addition ensure you are doing a deep condition regularly. Try to go for deep conditioners that are free of parabens, parfum, silicone and alcohol.

Massage your hairline and the rest of your scalp regularly with some oils. This will help stimulate blood circulation which is essential for hair growth. You can use castor oil or any essential oils of your choice like; peppermint, lavender, rosemary and tea tree oil, which are very good for stimulating hair growth. Make sure to dilute these oils with any carrier oil. You can even mix it in with some castor oil.

Treat your hair once in a while as this can boost the strength of your hair and scalp. It can also help with keeping the hair moisturised. The hot oil treatment is very effective for this. It also increases blood flow to your scalp which will help with hair growth. You can contact Riza Beauty to get your hands on the bespoke hot oil treatment by sending us a mail or you can book a consultation on the website.

A healthy diet that contains proteins, minerals and vitamins will aid with strengthening and hair growth.

Sleep with a silk or satin scarf/bonnet or pillow case. This is very important as cotton can dry out the hair and the silk and satin will protect the hair and keep the moisture in.

Just leave your hair alone! Too much manipulation can cause a lot of pulling on the scalp and breakage of the hair. Try not to comb too harshly and be very careful of the type of brushes you use around the perimeter of your hair.

Lastly, you should formulate a hair care routine that works for you with the incorporation of the aforementioned tips. This will allow you to be consistent as nothing will work if you are not consistent. Hair growth is a working progress and takes time so remember to be patient and not to be too hard on yourself. You can document the process to keep track of how far you have come with your hair growth/restoration journey.