Moisturizing Low Porosity Hair Using the Baggy Method
There is probably one word that we keep hearing as naturals; in fact we could probably start a petition to have it be our official ‘natural’ word, “moisture”. If you don’t already, you should learn how to love this word, because you will hear it a lot, and besides you should know by now that moisture is key to growing hair. But many of us struggle with retaining moisture and frequently ask ‘how or where can I get moisture’, ‘what products can I use to acquire moisture’, or ‘what’s the secret ingredient for moisture’.
Today we are going deep into the Baggy Method, which is a highly recommended moisture infusion method for low porosity hair. Low porosity simply means that your hair struggles to absorb any moisture, even from water-based products, products just sit on the hair and does not saturate or penetrate into the hair shaft, it’s hair that is prone to dryness. Although it struggles to absorb water and let water into the cuticle, this hair type retains water the longest once water gets through. High porosity hair has cuticles that are open that let water in and out easily, it is also prone to dryness. Normal porosity hair has cuticles that are open just enough to let water in and keep in for a certain period.
The Baggy method, which may not work for all, but is worth the experiment, is one-way to maintaining luscious and hydrated low porosity coils. It combines extremely simple steps and is only a plus to your already existing hair regimen. Okay, so it’s similar to deep conditioning and doesn’t require any extra effort, but it does deliver the much-needed nutrients your hair needs. It is advised that you add this method as part of your washday routine. Start on the day you wash your hair as your hair will be clean.
For best results, do it twice a week for 4 weeks at a time. Or do it daily for a week and you will see a different in the moisture content of your low porosity hair.
There are two ways to go about it, depending on what is suffering the most. 1. Ends or 2. All-over. If you spot that your ends are splitting, dry or brittle, then the emphasis should be on your ends. However, your whole head could benefit from it.
Dos:
- Use Apple Cider Vinegar, mixed with water to clarify and to remove any product build-up.
- Apply and rinse out conditioner like our Black Pearl Hydrating Conditioner. Or Amina Deep Penetrating Moisturising Conditioner
Side note: you can do this method on damp hair, however, you are likely to sweat and your hair might not dry. If your hair is not fully dry by the end of the method, you have probably lost some moisture.
- After leaving your hair to dry naturally but damp, section hair, and apply EITHER a dab of the Afrobotanics Nehanda Leave-In Conditioner or Black Pearl Hair Juice
- Seal the moisturizer in with a blend of oils (Afrobotanics Mukaya Oil Blend).
- You can do a braid out, twist out or whichever protective style to your liking. You can also tie the ends together, using hair ties (but not too tightly).
- Apply a plastic cap
- Apply head scarf for security
- Leave products on hair for 3-4 hours, or over night. But not longer than this because it is important that your hair gets to breathe!
- Undo protective style and style your hair as your like.
If this method is not a success with you, don’t worry; we will be posting about other methods that can help your hair retain moisture and ultimate growth, just stay tuned!
Have you tried the Baggy Method? If so, please let us know how did it go in the comments section below.
Lately protective hairstyles trends are just booming, and even when you already have a protective style you just can’t wait to have the next one done.
Protective styles are a great way to shield your hair from damage, especially the ends. A protective style is a style that keeps you from touching your hair daily and keeps the ends of your hair tucked away. The ends are the oldest parts of our hair therefore constantly manipulating hair without giving it a break can cause hair ends and the rest of your hair to weaken.
Damage to our hair can happen easily, by combing and styling it daily, we compromise our hair. So if you want healthier and longer hair, you have to put your hair in a protective style for 1 week to 6 weeks depending on the style.
Protective styles are necessary and applicable to those who wear their hair natural and those that relax their hair.
Examples of stylish and trendy protective styles:
- Box braid (can last for 4 – 6 weeks)
- Wigs (protective style under the wig)
- Cornrows
- Bantu Knots
- Crotchet Braids
- Weaves
- Twists with own hair
- Pigtails that tuck away the ends
- Up-dos like buns
However, it’s imperative that we follow the right regimen before we put our hair into a protective style. When our hair is ‘protected’ it is not easy to get the much-needed moisture to the hair and could end up drying out. Dry hair is susceptible to split ends and breakage, defeating the whole purpose of putting our hair in a protective style. That’s why we have put together this guide of what you can do before a protective style in order to ensure your hair emerges healthier and longer after the protective style.
- Pre-Poo
Wet your hair. Apply the AfroBotanics Amina Deep Penetrating Conditioner/Black Pearl Hydrating Conditioner before you shampoo your hair, cover with a plastic shower cap and leave for 20 -30 minutes. An alternative is to apply the Mukaya 5-in-1 Oil Blend, cover with a plastic shower cap and leave for 20 – 30 minutes before shampooing. These methods infuse extra moisture before you strip some moisture from your hair by shampooing, leaving it less dryer.
- Cleanse Hair
Wash your hair using the Black Pearl Sulfate – Free Shampoo to remove all product build up and dirt. Leaving you with a head of fresh hair that is ready to absorb moisture.
- Deep Condition
Deep Conditioning is one of the most efficient ways to get the most out of your conditioner. It is extremely hydrating and leaves your hair softer, shinier and with added elasticity, making your hair less prone to breakage. Rinse out.
- Moisturize
The L.O.C Method will leave you with the most satisfying results. What is this? Apply our Nehanda Leave-In Conditioner to damp hair to moisturize hair, followed by the Mukaya 5-in-1 Oil Blend to seal in the moisture while providing your hair with nutrients. End this method off with our Asantewaa African Triple Butter to ensure that your hair is protected and does not lose any moisture. Then detangle or comb hair and partition braid hair in twists or pondos until it dries or overnight.
If you have HIGH POROSITY HAIR, that is hair that loses moisture quickly, then consider doing this step twice before braiding, so do the first L.O.C. two days before going to braid, and then L.O.C. again the night before you go braid.
- Stretch
Stretch your hair without any heat by braiding it or doing twists the night before you have your hair braided. Doing braid out is the most successful method to stretch our hair. It will make it simpler for you when you comb-out your hair before the protective style. Your hair needs to be stretched to ensure that it all gets tucked in, which is essential to it being protected.
NB: Don’t forget to hydrate your hair during the protective style using our AfroBotanics Modjadji Braid Spray or Black Pearl Hair Juice. This will you’re your hair moisturized and nourished and will also minimize breakage when unbraiding and keep your style looking fresher and desirable for longer. Also remember to apply our Asantewaa African Triple Butter to your scalp every few days to maintain a healthy and clean scalp.
What are your current favorite and most successful protective styles? Drop us a picture in the comments section below, to give others some ideas.
Dandruff is a common medical complaint especially amongst women. It may very well be a symptom of another underlying health concern, which is why it is important to get a proper diagnosis
There are a number of possible causes for a scaly scalp. Contrary to the stigma, dandruff is not caused by poor hygiene. Although less frequent washing of hair can cause or worsen scaling. In most instances, dandruff is caused by dry hair and dry scalp, leading to excessive shedding.
Majority of women at some point in their lives will experience some form of itching or scaling of the scalp. There are many reasons for this and these may include; dandruff or irritation from hair care products, less frequent washing of hair while frequently applying oils to hair. It has been reported that black women wash their hair almost every two weeks compared to Caucasian/Asian women who tend to wash their hair every other day, this may be due to fear and the inconvenience of disrupting their hairstyles like weaves, braids or plats. This form of practice certainly needs to be reviewed if one is suffering from dandruff or scaly scalp.
Underlying skin and hair conditions that can cause a scaly scalp:
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis:An inflammatory condition of the skin that also affects the scalp. When occurring on the scalp it is called Seborrhoeic Capitis.Seborrhoeic capitis presents with a range of symptoms from a mild flaky scalp to a thick greasy yellowish scale that may cover the whole scalp. It is important to note that, the use of hair care extensions has been directly associated with Seborrhoeic dermatitis.
- Psoriasis: A common condition that causes a dry thick silvery adherent scale especially along hairline and above ears. Psoriasis can be severe and affect whole scalp, often flakes will be seen on the shoulders, neck and on clothes
- Tinea capitis (scalp ringworm): Localized areas of scale to the affected patch. Commonly seen in children but tinea capitis can very well occur in adults
- Eczema: Dry itchy white scale, affecting the entire scalp, patient can have isolated scalp eczema or other lesions of eczema elsewhere in the body.
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- Irritant contact dermatitis: Recurrent use of hair products may cause inflammation or irritability to the scalp leading to dandruff. Chemical relaxers, hair dyes, heat dryers can cause an irritant contact dermatitis of the scalp leading to eczematous reactions, chemical burns, dryness and severe scaling. Also the use of hair extension (weaves, artificial extensions) has been shown to have a direct relationship with an itchy and scaling scalp.
6.Malassezia infection: Closely linked to Seborrhoeic Dermatitis, Another cause of dandruff lies in the naturally occurring yeast microbes (Malassezia) that form part of the scalp. Due to an overproduction of sebum, they flourish and overpopulate. This leads to irritation, as mentioned above, which also causes flaking and shedding of yellow scabs or white flakes of skin.
It is therefore very important to address any excessive scaling of the scalp with urgency. Without addressing the underlying cause, the condition may persist and grow in severity. Underlying conditions if they are left untreated can cause significant disease, scarring of the scalp and eventually hair loss.
It is therefore very important to get a diagnosis for your scale.
What are the symptoms of dandruff?
- Dandruff commonly present with itching and dryness of the scalp. Those battling dandruff will be aware of white flakes of skin on the scalp, in the hair, and on the shoulders.
- There may thickened areas of the scalp and hair
- If other areas of the body are affected especially the nose, the eyebrows, the hairline, the ears, and the center of the chest or back showing excessive shedding of skin. Think of conditions like Seborrhoeic Dermatitis, Psoriasis or Eczema.
- In babies, most commonly newborns, dandruff is common and presents as a scaly yellow flaking on the scalp or cradle cap (seborrhoeic capitis)and is generally harmless, self-correcting in the first year of life without treatment.
How dandruff is treated
While it is important to keep to a good washing routine, beware of drying out the scalp with excessive washing as this will lead to further irritation and exacerbate the problem.
Wash the hair regularly once a week for African hair (black hair), twice a week for Caucasian or Asian hair.
Typical therapy includes medicated shampoos containing:
- Coal tar – to slow the regeneration and shedding of skin cells. (Don’t go overboard with coal tar can be irritating and stain hair – not advised for blonde hair)
- Selenium sulphide and zinc pyrithione – to reduce fungal growth and slow down cell turnover to reduce build-up and shedding.
- Salicylic acid – (scalp scrubs) exfoliates dead skin cells before they build up and shed.
- Ketoconazole or Ciclopirox olamine – an antifungal treatment to reduce the growth of malassezia.
You may need to experiment with a few until you find one that works for you.
Using a conditioner after shampooing can help relieve dryness
Should symptoms continue after using anti-dandruff shampoos, make sure to consult a qualified dermatologist.
Belief Systems represent an invisible operating system, like our computers have an operating system that wires them. Belief systems, like computer operating systems, are invisible and are operating systems, and they shape how we relate to one another, it shapes how we relate to the world, how we respond to experiences, it defines the assumptions, the expectations and the perceptions that we have that are mostly not expressed but shape our relationships to a large extent. Belief systems are responsible for how we show up in the world.
Belief Systems represent an invisible operating system
Secondly, belief systems are either dysfunctional or they add value. And thirdly, belief systems develop to become strongholds in our lives primarily because they are passed down to us, we inherit belief systems from previous generations and we own them without questioning them and examining their relevance to our own lives, we just take them on and carry on with life without really understanding their relationship to how we engage with each other and engage with the world.
An example I can share is that I grew up in apartheid South Africa. I came from a home where my mother left her marriage in 1960s when women didn’t do that, women in the 1960s just didn’t leave their marriages. This had a huge impact on me, ‘what kind of a woman has so much courage to leave her marriage because it wasn’t working for her?’ I grew up realizing that I am not what society defines me to be, I am not less than, I am not unequal to someone else and that is how I came to live fearlessly in a in a male-dominated world.
My first career was in a car manufacturing company, which was completely male-dominated. I was one of the first women to work in that industry and over the last 30 years that has been my experience, living in a man’s world to demonstrate to myself that I am just as equal and I am just as capable.
And the reason I am able to stand is because I don’t compare myself to what they are able to do or what someone else is able to do. I compare myself to what I am able to do, because I truly believe that each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made, so that’s the premise from which I live my life. That if we are all fearfully and wonderfully made, we each must have something really special to contribute to the world, and I can’t contribute that if my life is shaped by some belief system that someone passed on to me and conditioned me with.
I can only contribute to the world to the best of my ability if I step outside of that box, because all that it (someone else’s belief systems) offers is a box that is actually quite small. But if I step outside of that box and really explore, that is really when I can show up in the true measure of my potential and it’s when I can make a contribution to the world that can only be made by me. So the contribution that I have made to the world, no one who is sitting here or anywhere else in the world can make. In the same way I cannot make any of the contributions that all of you have made or that you are depriving us of, because if you are not making your contribution you are depriving the world of that contribution that can only be achieved by you.
…the contribution that I have made to the world, no one who is sitting here or anywhere else in the world can make.
Our Amina Deep Penetrating Moisturising Conditioner is the best deep conditioner for deeply moisturising, hydrating and softening the kinkiest, moist coily of 4c/z hair! It rewards your coils like no other. It is a thick, creamy conditioner, formulated with concentrated natural oils and natural conditioning agents that are extremely beneficial and responsive to kinky dry hair.
Why Deep Condition?
All hair types require deep conditioning or treatments or masks. But for African hair, deep conditioning or treating your hair is the most important thing you can do. It is a must to deep condition African hair, whether natural or relaxed, once a week. African hair is naturally dry and brittle and needs extra attention and assistance to thrive. Deep condition makes sure hair gets the moisture boost, nourishment and strengthening it needs to be soft and smooth. Deep conditioning is a process where a concentrated conditioner or treatment is applied to the hair and left on the hair for a period ranging from 20mins to 60mins. This is to ensure that the product gets into the hair. Most other products are applied and sit on the hair, not penetrate it. The length of time, plus heat ensure that deep conditioning happens.
How To Deep Condition Using Amina Deep Penetrating Moisturising Conditioner
There are several ways to deeply condition hair, but what is common amongst these methods is the stimulation heat. Heat encourages the hair cuticle to open up allowing the conditioner to PENETRATE each hair, ensuring silkier and hydrated hair strands.
Step 1: Cleanse Hair
The best way to use the Deep Penetrating Conditioner to deep condition is after you have washed your hair with a shampoo. Clarify your hair only when necessary or once a month, using raw and unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar (mixed with water) or a clarifying shampoo. Washing removes product build up allowing for easier penetration of the conditioner into your hair.
Step 2: Apply Conditioner Generously
After washing and rinsing shampoo, apply a very generous amount of conditioner to dripping wet hair. Do not dry your hair after rinsing off your shampoo.
Note: For that extra WOW FACTOR, simply add a small amount of our AfroBotanics Mukaya African Oil Blend to your conditioner in your hand before applying to wet, it is a blend of Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, Marula Oil and Baobab Oil.
Step 3: Activate Conditioner Using Heat
Methods to Activate Heat:
- Heat Cap: the heat cap is an all-time favourite as it requires the least admin, and at R600.00 max, is worth the purchase. After applying the Deep Penetrating Conditioner put on a shower cap, and on top of the shower cap use a headscarf to protect the shower cap from melting from the heat of the heat cap. Put the heat on the highest level, bringing it down as time passes. Sit for 20 minutes, cool-off and rinse off the conditioner.
Hooded Dryer: So there are two kinds. There’s the one which we are familiar with and have probably used a few times, the one available at the salons – more professional. Then there’s the smaller portable one with a hair bonnet that needs you to connect your blow dryer to it. However they work similarly. After applying the Deep Penetrating Conditioner, put on shower cap and sit under the professional dryer, or connect your blow dryer to the end of the hair bonnet hooded dryer for 20 – 25 minutes. Cool-off then rinse off the conditioner.
- Body Heat and Microwavable Heat Caps: The most affordable and also effective method. After applying the Deep Penetrating Conditioner. Apply a plastic cap and go about doing your usual in-house daily routines. Try and get in contact with the sun as much as possible, ensure that your head heats up. The aim is to trap the natural heat that you produce in the cap, so you can wear a beanie or headscarf too. For assistance use a microwavable cloth or a microwavable heat cap that you heat up in the microwave as instructed. You can heat it up as many times as you like. This method takes between 40 – 60 minutes. You can also heat up the conditioner for 20 seconds in the microwave before putting on your hair to get that heat going.
Step 4: Detangle
Detangle or comb hair after the heating process, whilst there is still a lot of conditioner in hair. It is important to always detangle hair to prevent knots and tangling, these will later cause hair breakage.
Step 5: Let Hair Cool Down/Off
After deep conditioning let your hair cool off before you wash off the conditioner. This is to ensure that your cuticles close before you wash. The heat opens your cutiles to let in the conditioner and moisture, to ensure the moisture and the good stuff from the conditioner stays in, the cuticle must be closed first. Letting your hair cool down closes to cuticle trapping the moisture in it before washing.
Step 6: Before Moisturising
After rinsing off the conditioner, leave hair to air-dry for a while before applying any product. This allows for excess water to evaporate and only the water your hair needs to remain. Moisturise and seal only damp hair hair. Apply your leave-conditioner or moisturizer or oil to damp hair. If you moisturise hair whilst it is too wet, your hair may get dry because the products would have evaporated with the excess water that still remained in your hair.
The Nzinga Repairing & Strengthening Treatment is a powerful protein hair mask for protein deep conditioning. It repairs, strengthens and protects hair from heat damage, colour damage and daily wear and tear. It should used at least once a month but more times if you have damage or to prevent damage.
These are the main ingredients and what they do for the hair:
- hydrolysed keratin – a natural and main protein and building block in hair that repairs and strengthens hair
- hydrolysed collagen – a natural protein found in the body to strengthen hair from inside out
- ceramides – naturally occurring lipids found in our hair to prevent damage to hair
- hydrolysed wheat protein – increases flexibility and elasticity of hair by holding water inside hair for moisturised and conditioned hair
- pro-vitamin B5 – part of B vitamins, prevents loss of moisture and conditions hair
- vitamin E – promotes hair growth and reduces inflammation of scalp, repairs hair follicles and reduces hair dryness
- coconut oil, castor oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, olive oil, avocado oil for healthy, nourished strong hair
- Steamer: highly effective and worth the once off purchase of about R1200.00. We love the steamer because it really opens up the hair cuticles allowing for maximum moisture penetration. After applying the Deep Penetrating Conditioner, sit under the steamer for approximately 20-25 minutes, do not cover hair. Ensure to have a towel, as water will drop from the steamer. Cool-off then rinse off the conditioner.