Customer Reviews

Healthy Black Hair: Step-by-Step Instructions for Growing Longer, Stronger Hair

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this book after reading about it online because my hair has always ben short and dry and breaked off alot. But now I understand alot of what i had been doing wrong! I used too much heat and only washed my hair every 2 weeks. She is right, i definetly see a difference in my hair since I started washing it regularly. I also used the protein treatment and my breakage has stopped almost completely.

I read this book in one day it was really easy to read even though it includes alot of information. I am on my second perm cycle and have bought alot of the products mentioned in the book. I like that she included products that are inexpensive. I bought a low cost shampoo but a great conditioner like she suggests. I dont know if the vitamins are working yet, but I feel better anyway! Thank you Nicole this book has changed the way I do my hair. No more heat!!!

I purchased this book during late spring 2005 when I was dying to find an easier way to deal with this thick stuff on my head. :-) I loved the chapter on giving your hair an extended break for maximum hair growth....I followed her suggestions & got my hair done in African Curly Twists; as opposed to braids. I wore my hair that way from June 1 2005 until September 29th (I got it redone mid July) & my hair practically grew like weeds....@ least 2 1/2 to 3 inches in some places! I love her suggestions on extra conditioning (more than once a week) & massaging with essential oils. Now I have even more thick, healthy feeling stuff on my head & I'm lovin' it! Get the book. :-)

I knew Ihad made a mistake in ordering this book when I read in the forward that it was for women who relexed their hair. This book is for those women who want to keep fighting with the damage that relaxing the hair can bring in order to have long, healthy looking hair. It can be done. I wore a relaxer for years and when I got serious about taking good care of my hair, it grew to about nipple length (pardon my French) from top of shoulder length in about a year and a half. But that process was expensive and kept me from working out (for a healthy body) for fear of screwing up my hair's progress and shampoo cycle. In September 2005, I decided to transition my hair and opt for a more natural course of care...Plus I really needed to do some heavy working out and my relxed hair was holding me back.

So, if you're looking a book on natural hair products and/or natural hair care for afro-textured (wavy, curly, kinky, thick, medium, fine, short, long or anywhere in between) this book is not for you. For my beauties out there still on the relaxed and un-natural train, from what I have read so far, you may reep value from this read.

Just be on the look out. This author is really into chemical hair products and recommends using petroleum-based hair pomades, protein hair gels, silicone-based, and mineral oil based products.

I purchased this book for my trendy 14-yr old daughter. She received the book on a Friday and read it over the weekend. It has been two weeks since she started following the instructions, and she insists that her hair feels healthier. It even feels stronger. If this book could captivate a technology-crazed teenager, it is worth the read.

I really enjoyed this book. I've read many hair care books, however I recommend this book if you want a no nonsense approach to growing long hair. I enjoy the regimens that she sets in place for healthy, stressed, and damaged hair. She seems to have really researched hair thoroughly. Unlike Cathy Howse book she does not offer her own products (she doesn't make her own). Cathy seems to be too militant and indifferent and her hair isn't all that long. Unlike other books, Ms. Smith explained the hair stages, and structures very well. She even gives suggestions on good products to use. Yoga is against my religious beliefs, therefore I did not read that portion of the book. Overall, I think this is a great solution to the problems associated with African American hair, and I highly recommened it.

if you have relaxed hair! Its a must read for you. I purchased this book after deciding that I was tired of wearing my short 'Halle Berry style'. I'd worn it for over 10 years and was sick to death of it. I'd never really allowed my hair to grow past my chin. However, it was around last year when I decided to really get my hair in order. I'd been relaxing it at home and that is a NO NO for me! I was relaxing too often and that was causing breakage. Overall I have pretty healthy hair. I left the coloring alone years ago and I've always used high quality products on my hair, however, I was not using those products correctly or effectively. For instance, I didn't know the difference between a protein shampoo or moisturizing shampoo. So sometimes I'd use a protein shampoo and conditioner together and end up with very dry hair...NO WONDER!
Now, I know that our hair needs MOISTURE, MOISTURE, MOISTURE.
I started getting my hair healthy by getting a weave put in for a year! Yes, I had one put in last July and vowed to keep it in for a year (Of course, My hair was cornrowed beneath and it was taken down and redone every 6-8 weeks and I washed between and I also kept my cornrows moisturized). When I started my hair was ear length. I found a great stylist that cares about hair and listened to me. Each time I went and she took my hair down it was just longer and longer. I had a huge, huge, huge afro. I was amazed by the growth in such a short period. My hair just needed a break! Now I am happy to report that my hair is below shoulder length! I kept it natural the entire time I wore the weave. I just let the relaxer grow out and had the ends snipped each time I had it taken down. So my relaxer was a virgin one and it looks beautiful. It's as long as the weave was!
This book has helped me to keep my hair healthy. I read the book in one day and find it very simple to follow. I think the author did a great job with this book. I am using Mizani Products. I am also using Emergencee by Nexxus (Protein treatment). The greatest advice she gave was to get the protein treatment the week after getting your relaxer. It's so easy to follow. Also, I don't use ANY heat now. I will use for special occassions only. I wear protective styles updos 3-4 days per week to protect my ends and I keep my ends oiled day and night (I use Mizanis H20 night treatment for this). My hair is beautiful. I can't tell you how many compliments I receive on it. People can't believe the length and it's growing each day. I also plan to take the recommended breaks twice a year with weaves. Get this book. You don't have to follow it to a 'T' but do follow the general steps in this book and see what works for you.

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me quality information in a simple fashion regarding how to take care of my ethnic hair. Plus I enjoyed her straight forward approach. If you're looking for a step-by-step approach, this book is a must buy for you.

I bought this book not really knowing what to expect but knowing I needed to do something quick as my hair was stressed and borderlined damaged. It was prayers answered!!! This book gives details on how hair grows and what to do if your hair is not growing to desired lengths. The author recommends several products to use which takes out all the guest work. Most important she takes a holistic approach to hair growth and is not trying to sell her own products or bash hair professionals. I love this book and if I could I would have given it 10 STARS!!!!

I really enjoyed this book. I lot of what the author says is common sense (stop using heat, wash the hair twice weekly, protect with satin scarf at night) at least to me but it just took someone to organize the info and write it down. I lot of folks (who have natural hair) have given this book a bad review but I don't understand why. She clearly states in the forward/introduction that this book is for those that chemically relax their hair and for those that would like to continue to do so!
She doesn't go on any unnecessary rants about professional stylist trying to sabotoge your hair growth efforts nor is the book a vehicle to sell a specific line of haircare products.
The chapters are organized in a clear and consise manner. There is a chapter on scalp problems and a chapter on determining the status of your hair whether its healthy, stressed, or damaged. She also gives precise instructions on how to maintain you hair at home while getting major stuff such as relaxers and color in the salon. She also talks about taking care of your hair form the inside out thru the use of vitamins and exercise. And if you have hair problems due to thyroid disease, that is talked about as well. The only thing that I find lacking in the book is the fact that there are no pictures of the no-heat hairstyles she describes. Other than that, this book is very cool and infomative! I recommend it highly!

1. Remove all damaged hair, either gradually or all at once.
2. Clip your ends only when split. More frequently is unnecessary and contrary to popular opinion will only make your hair shorter not longer.
3. Drink a high protein supplement. This is the key to accelerating your hair's growth rate exponentially! Hair growth rate can be retarded if one does not get the required daily amount of protein from your diet.
4. Wash and deep-condition your hair every week. The longer you wait to wash your hair, the more you will lose via breaking and shedding.
5. Minimize the use of curling irons, flat irons and hand-held blow dryers. Too much heat damages hair already weakened by relaxers.
6. Always sleep with a satin cap. This will prevent tangles, knots and damage while sleeping.
7. Do not use no-lye relaxers. They do more damage to your hair than regular relaxers by robbing it of moisture.
8. Do not dye (permanent / rinse) or put highlights in your hair. These only weaken and damage your hair leading to excessive breakage.
9. Use the appropriate shampoo and detangling conditioner for your hair type. The right shampoo and conditioner can spell the difference between limp, dry hair and shiny, voluminous hair.
10. No weaves, extensions or braids. The damage to your hair caused by these hairstyles far outweighs any growth benefits you may reap. If you invest the time, money and patience to care your own hair, you will see the rewards.
11. Always be gentle with your hair. No tugging, over-combing or over-brushing.
12. Ensure that your hair is not being chemically over-processed/damaged by your hairdresser. Use a texturizer or mild relaxer regardless of your hair texture to loosen the curl. Straight hair can then be achieved by a roller set. I am tired of seeing black women who naturally have beautiful, thick hair with thin, over-processed, weak hair.