2010 Healthy Scalp ♥ Hair Challenge!

Now that you've had a chance to make or break your new year's resolutions, it's time to take on a real challenge--promoting a healthier scalp to grow healthier hair!

IT'S TIME!!! WILL YOU JOIN ME?

How many years have gone by before you decided to do something about your hair? Or have you not made that decision yet? Well I personally got fed up with not being able to realize the kind of growth and the kind of hair that I wanted. I've perfected styling in twists, weaves, roller sets, etc... even found great products and various regimens for my hair. But after 10 years of being natural and having gone through many "chops" to my length and high heat damage from stylists, I decided to scale back and instead focus on an issue I had been dodging for quite some time--the health of my scalp.

SO WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE SCALP... ?

I have always had issues with my scalp and have proceeded to ignore them. I would get a "break" from the problem by resorting to wigs, weaves, extensions of all sorts, etc. In essence, I was hiding the problem, or hiding from the problem. I was recently reading "The Black Woman's Guide to Beautiful Hair" and was inspired to make some changes in how I treat my scalp. I have actually been damaging my scalp tissue by scratching it when itchy, causing lacerations to the scalp that will flake and/or get dry and itchy while it's healing. I would then scratch again because it was itchy, thus never letting it heal. I was also scrubbing my scalp with my finger nails because... well... it simply felt really good, even though I know that I'm supposed to use the pads of my fingers. The scalp has a top layer (the surface) and a bottom layer (where the hair grows) that need to be treated with care. I now believe that all of these unhealthy scalp habits have affected my hair growth or the health of my new growth in one way or another.

WILL THIS REALLY WORK...?

Yes! And there are tons of other resources that will prove it. I personally wanted to make this challenge public last December but instead wanted to try it out for myself, specifically the 1st part of the challenge. I decided to fully take on the below rules and found that they worked well for me! My scalp is able to "breathe" and is a lot more moisturized... less dry scalp as a result and less desire to want to scratch my scalp. I've also experienced noticeable growth as well :-)

This challenge is for MOST types of hair, such as relaxed, permed, or naturally curly or coily. Even if you're still under a weave, you can benefit from this regimen. This challenge will help you get on the right track with your hair for 2010 and have you growing at least 4"-6" of hair by next January, if you follow these 'simple' rules (with scalp care being the biggest one). Send your starting picture(s) so that I can post them on Feb. 1st! If you're reading this past this date, don't worry! Just join the challenge whenever you're ready, and hopefully that's soon :-) Just snap a photo backing a mirror, or have someone take a picture of the back of your head showing where your hair ends. RSVP for the event and follow updates for the event throughout the year (see more info below under "Join The Challenge"). I will plan to post progress pictures every 1st of the month. I will also be interviewing some amazing women who have grown their hair to unbelievable lengths!

PART I: SCALP CARE

Refrain from scratching your scalp when it's ichy with your
finger nails, brush or comb bristles, shampoo brushes, letter openers... basically any sharp object.
Wash your hair every 3-4 days, as needed at the sight of any
build up, or once every 7 days at the most.
Use only ph balanced shampoos that are between 4.5-5.5 in ph.
Rinse your hair immediately after sweating after a workout.
Use only the pads of your fingers to scrub your scalp when washing your hair.
Use a direct stream of water such as a massage shower head or a hand held shower sprayer on your scalp and hair to rid of excess dry
scalp and debris before washing.
Perform regular scalp massages for at least 5 minutes daily.
Apply oil or a water soluble cream moisturizer to your scalp and/or hair when needed.
Throw out any hair products in your cabinet that contains alcohol, petroleum, petrolatum, or mineral oil. These do not help with your scalp's health.
Put your scalp and your hair first and make time to do these things your scalp will benefit from.

PART II: HAIR CARE

Invest in better products! If you haven't already, make looking at the ingredients labels your new habit. Water should be listed first in a list of ingredients. Stay clear of a product if the majority of its ingredients sound like chemicals.
Reduce your use of direct heat in the form of flat irons, hot combs, hot curlers, crimpers, and even blow dryers. If you can, commit to completely stopping the use of these tools for a year. These tools weaken and thin out your hair overtime, causing hair to break. Air drying is the best alternative to blow drying, and steam rollers or even air drying on magnetic rollers, in twists, or in braids are better than any direct heat appliance.
"Dust" your ends instead of trimming or cutting them. This means feeling the ends of your hair to clip off only what needs to be clipped off. Use a good sturdy pair of styling scissors/shears which are solely for cutting hair. Using the wrong type of scissors will damage your ends.
Focus on moisturizing your ends with a light oil daily or when needed. Your ends will always be the driest part of your hair.
Deep condition your hair once every week by sitting under a bonnet or hooded dryer for 30 min or covered with a plastic cap for an hour or more.
Consider a protein or a clay mask treatment once a month. (these and more treatments to be posted here soon!)
Opt for more natural protective styling options such as two stranded twists, twist outs, bantu knots, cornrows, individual braids, buns, etc. These styles will keep your hands and styling tools out of your hair.
Always sleep with a silk or satin scarf or pillow case. Cotton scarves suck the moisture from your hair.
Accept your hair for what it is. God would never give you anything that is "too hard to manage." Develop a healthier and more positive attitude about your hair and your hair in turn will work for you!

Other Tips:

Weaves
- If you wear wigs or weaves, refrain from using glue on your scalp. Opt for a well done sew-in or quick weave.
- Resort to full weaves that cover your whole head as opposed to half weaves where you are required to press your exposed hair to match the weave.
- You can use a dry shampoo to manage in between washes, but for this challenge I encourage you not to rely on this method.
- Invest in good quality human hair such as Indian hair or Brazilian hair. This way you will be able to commit to the challenge and wash your hair regularly, as opposed to synthetic hair that will tangle or shed after a couple washes.
- Use weaves as a styling option and not a replacement for your own hair. Take some time out to work with and improve your own hair for this challenge! You have a whole community of women here to support you.
Braided Extensions
- Always braid your hair with ample hair in your parted sections (never small sections). You should never see little tiny white bulbs around your hairline or base of your braids--that means that your hair pulled out of your scalp possibly from braiding too tight... definitely NOT good. Your scalp should not hurt when it's braided.
Relaxed Hair
- Make sure you or your stylist only retouches the natural newgrowth--NOT THE PREVIOUSLY RELAXED HAIR. Also, protect the already relaxed hair by rubbing an oil or protective cream through it. Overlapping your relaxer can cause lots of damage which results in the thinning or breaking of your hair over time. If your stylist disagrees with this, then you need to find a new stylist. There are plenty of good stylists who would love to have your business.
- ALWAYS base your scalp with an oil or protective cream to create a barrier between your scalp and the relaxer cream.
- Stretch your relaxers to reduce the number of times you get a relaxer a year. This reduces stress on your hair and scalp from the chemicals and allows your hair to grow in between relaxers. There is plenty of information online on how to do this. (Also check out my Natural Hairstyles)
Hair Stylists & Hair Care Specialists
- Try your best to find a good one! I know this is difficult for many with natural hair, but there are some good ones out there. Do our research and find someone who can do a good deep condition for you. I've posted a few reviews and will be posting more.
Environment
- Keep yourself surrounded with positive women who will support you on your journey.
- Invest in Black Hair or Natural Hair books & magazines.
- Google pictures of women who have your type of hair and bookmark them as your 'hair inspiration.'
- Join different online hair communities where you can get the support you need for your hair. Even as a blogger myself I still have some that I've been with for many years. Feel free to post any questions you might have. I'd be more than happy to answer your questions :-)

If you follow these tips religiously, I will guarantee that you will experience tremendous growth by January 1st! If you've read this whole post and commit to it, you're definitely ready for the challenge! Now let's get to it!

Depending on your preferred choice of social networking, you have several ways to get involved with this challenge:

On CoilyHair.com

RSVP for the event (to the right of this website).
Email your starting length photo to info @ coilyhair.com by Jan. 31st to guarantee your photo will be included in my first monthly progress posting by Feb. 1st. If you're reading this past this date, don't worry! Just join the challenge whenever you're ready, and hopefully that's soon :-) (read about the challenge)
Check the "2010 Challenge" tab for updates and related postings.

On Facebook:

RSVP for the event.
Upload your starting photo to the event page (recommended by Feb. 1st) to officially join the challenge.
You'll see the event listed under "Events" anytime you log into your Facebook account. Check in for any updates!
If you're not already a fan of CoilyHair.com, become one today :-)