The Science of Black Hair: A Comprehensive Guide to Textured Hair Care

Since I was a little girl, I always wanted full, long, thick, silky, shiny, and even straight hair. Since I was 10, I started to be obsessed with black hair care and hair. I researched for the past 10 years on how to grow and take care of black hair. I used gimmicky super growth hair products such as "Doo Gro". It didn't cause a miracle growth for my hair. Every time I searched and collected hair care advices from Sophisticate's Black Hair Styles and Care Guide magazine, various sources from the internet, and I was sub scripted to various "hair care" enthusiasts/gurus on YouTube. Since I bought this book, I de subscripted from over 60 "hair care" enthusiasts/gurus on YouTube. Less few months ago, I bought the Ultra Black Hair Growth 2 2000 edition by Cathy Howse. I like her book, but it wasn't technical enough for me. I recommend you buy and read Ultra Black Hair Growth 2 book first (for a basic concept), then the Science of Black Hair book. The days of searching for adequate black hair care information are over, thanks to Mrs. Davis-Sivasothy. Most of the black hair info I got from these women in magazines, Youtube, or the internet; they were either were over the top & extra with their hair care regimen; they used overly expensive hair care products or secretive with their hair care regimen; they promoted (gimmicky) expensive hair care products (that they made or sponsored by the company), want you pay hundreds of dollars per month to join their hair care thread, or just misleading. Mrs. Davis-Sivasothy addressed 95% of my questions. Thank you, Mrs. Davis-Sivasothy. By the way, I haven't tried the methods or products she recommended yet. My other 5% answers I'm currently searching for great (humidity resistant) alternatives to relaxers. Do blow dryers with diffusers doing what they claim, like reducing the chance of frizz in curly hair? (This info don't have anything, nor I expect this information from Mrs. Davis-Sivasothy)THE PROS:She breaks down all the ingredients that you need to know, identify, and look for in hair products. She addressed what to look for in shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, humectants, proteins, and oils. She breaks down a hair care regimen for everyone and their lifestyles. Whether you a natural, relaxed, texturized, transitioning, colored, or the sew in weave wearer. She covered a hair care regimen for all. She covered a hair care regimen for people who wear cornrows, twists, plaits, braids, locs, and other hair styles. She addressed a hair care regimen for people who exercises, and how to prevent the hair from sweating out if straighten. She addressed a hair care regimen for children and women with gray hair. She mainly focused on the balance of moisture/protein hair care regimen. Both of the moisture hair care regimen and protein regimen is broken down separately. They are listed in their basic of shampoos, conditioners, and moisturizers. You can use either (hair care) regimen depend on your hair porosity. She listed hair friendly gels and other styling products. She addressed protective hair styles. She listed all the product brands that fit every income budget. She addressed what to looked for in combs, hair tools, ceramic flat iron, ponytail holders, towels, and head scarves. She breaks down, how to detangle hair methods. She teaches you, how to stretch a relaxer. She teaches you how to apply a chemical treatment such as relaxer and how to texlax properly. (I find out I was relaxing my hair wrong) She addressed the differences in a salon relaxer and at home relaxer. She breaks down the differences of relaxed, texlaxed, and texturized hair. (Search on Google to see how a texlaxed hair looks like). She addressed a hair care regimen for young children and graying hair. She addressed the rumors regard to mineral oil and petroleum jelly. I LIKED THAT HER BOOK WAS VERY OPEN MINDED & NOT DEGRADING AFRO-TEXTURED HAIR IN ALL NATURAL & CHEMICAL TREATED FORMS.THE CONS:The L.O.I.S's hair typing system wasn't in color. I wish she provided full colored head shots photo examples of each distinctive curl pattern and hair textured types. The "L" and "I " descriptions were confusing. She didn't address "Scab hair" or provide photo examples. She didn't address the claims of color preserving hair care products. Do lace wigs or wigs have negative effect on hair? What are the effects of adhesives or glues that are for lace wigs, wigs, or hair weaves? What is consider normal, coarse, dull, oily, and fine on hair labels? She didn't address the rest of what ingredients to avoid in hair care internet rumors (think propylene glycol). Remember the YouTube's videos or hair articles like, "What 10 ingredients to avoid in hair care?" She didn't address can you color over previous colored hair without damage.All over, I recommend her book, and IT IS A MUST HAVE. I SUGGESTED MY FRIENDS & MY SISTER TO READ IT. IT IS VERY INFORMATIVE. GOOD JOB Mrs. Davis-Sivasothy! You put my journey for searching black hair care to rest.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------(You can skip the part below of the review)This book is the only print media (IMO) demonstrates realistic examples of authentic afro-textured hair and bi-racial textured hair compared to other Medias and magazines.HERE SOME NOTES REGARD TO HAIR TEXTURES FROM ME ON SCIENCE OF BLACK HAIR BOOKIf you read the L.O.I.S's hair typing system. Remember the curl pattern size can range from small to extra large.If you are biracial, multiracial, have wavy hair, or curly hair. You might follow under the hair descriptions such as Thready, Spongy, or Silky.If your hair is afro textured hair, you might follow under the hair descriptions such as Wiry or Cottony.Remember each person with Thready, Spongy, or Silky. Hair luster (shine) content varies from non to high shine (think Arjuni's hair weaves). Like a Caucasian woman (like with British, Scottish, or Irish background) with straight, wavy, or curly hair, the hair might not be shiny. Hispanics, Latin, Eastern European descendant, Middle Eastern, Native American, or Asian with straight, wavy, or curly hair; might have hair that either low shine to mid shine or luster. An East Indian with straight hair might have hair that has mid shine to high shine. A mixed (with black) person with wavy or curly hair hair varies from no shine to high shine/luster.Texlaxed and Texturized hair do not look alike. S-Curl perm is a texturizer.Examples of Natural Afro Textured Hair (without hair extensions)pg. 114, pg. 145 in Figure 47, pg. 147 on Figure 49, pg. 148 on Figure 51, pg. 149 on Figure 54, pg. 150 on Figure 56., page 151 on Figure 57, pg. 153, pg. 180 on Figure 65 (Colored locs)Examples of Natural or Transitioning Afro Textured Hair (without Hair Extensions)pg. 155 on Figure 58 and Figure 59.Examples of Salon Relaxed Afro Textured Hair (with hair extensions)pg. 11, and pg. 143 on Figure 46. And pg. 205.Examples of Salon Relaxed Afro Textured Hair (without hair extensions)pg. 148 on Figure 50.and Figure 52. pg. 150 Figure 55. pg. 166 Figure 62.Examples of Flat Ironed (non Chemical Treated) Afro Textured Hair (without hair extensions)pg. 13Examples of Natural Bi-Racial Textured Hair or Curly Hair (without hair extensions)pg. 49 on Figure 17 and pg. 232 on Figure 75.Examples of Salon Relaxed or Straightened Bi-Racial Textured Hair or Curly Hair (without hair extensions)pg. 194 on Figure 69 and pg. 205How I know because my mother has curly hair and she relaxes it. Her hair looks similar to this texture when straighten.P.S In black hair care ads, most of the models have natural wavy or curly hair. They are usually biracial, multiracial, Caribbean, or South American heritage. They are usually are photo shop, airbrush, bronze (spray tan), or tan in ads to appear more ethnic looking. Their hair is straightened with flat iron and glossing products are used to enhance shine. Digital enhancement are use to enhance hair shine. This advertisement is common in infomercials, Mizani's ads, Profectiv's ads, and Keracare's ads. On relaxer and other hair care ads they use black models with hair wigs, hair weaves, and partial sew ins. The woman on Creme of Nature's Normal Relaxer box, has a kinky straight lace wig that been ceramic flat ironed. How I know? When you part lace wigs, the part looks way thinner in width compared to a normal part on a real scalp. The hairs on the roots of the scalp hair on lace wigs looks narrow than the real scalp. The part on real scalp is wider than the lace closure part, but real part is narrower than an invisible part. On natural hair ads, most of the women have a texturizer or wearing a wig. On hair care ads aim at curly hair. These are not the women natural hair, but they receive a PROFESSIONAL CURLY PERM OR WIG. In HAIR COLOR AD COMMERCIALS, THEY USE WIGS & DIGITAL ENHANCEMENT TO CHANGE THE COLOR OF THE HAIR. ON TEXTURIZER OR S-CURL ADS, THE MEN HAVE A MIXED RACE likes Trinidadian (who have darker skin or who looks more ethnic). They have natural wavy or curly hair; most of the time those are not texturizers or S-Curls. Here is the marketing game on hair advertisements. I HOPE THIS HELPS! How I know? I had been paying attention to ads since 2006. I'm going to college for merchandising, business, and marketing. I'm currently trying to receive my associate of arts degree.

I am new to the hair care world and have only been on my "healthy hair journey" for the past 3 months or so. In that time, I have scoured the forums, you tube, and hair blogs/websites in search of the best methods to care for my hair and reach new lengths. This book has been essential to my journey! It breaks down everything you need to know and more importantly, explains why you should do certain things with you hair. Much of the information contained in the book I have learned in my internet travels, but the book expanded on certain points, educated me on the reasons for doing certain things (and not doing other things), and helped to organize all of the information that's out there so that I can use it. I will admit that when I first started my HHJ, I often felt overwhelmed with all the information that's out there. However, this book helped me to make sense of things.The best things about the book are:-The lists of types of products you will need to care for your hair. Yes, it seems a bit ridiculous at first to need at least 3 different shampoos. But each of the shampoos do different key things. When you read the book, you understand why you need 3 shampoos and up to 3 different protein conditioners plus at least 1 moisturizing deep conditioner. I will say that I don't feel the list is exhaustive in terms of specific products, but its a good starting point. It's also refreshing that she doesn't cater to one specific line of products and even includes so called "white" products on the list.-Information on self-relaxing is awesome! I will even venture to say that you should not self- relax or allow someone else to relax your hair without having read this book. Honestly, this book has made me question the methods of so called "stylists" who have done may hair in the past. I not only feel more confident with caring for my hair, but distrustful of allowing others to handle my hair. This, to me, is how it should be.-I am currently 10 months into my hair stretch, so the information on reducing manipulation while shampooing/conditioning and detangling is literally a life saver. Or should I say, hair saver!This book is not without faults. I gave it 5 stars because, honestly, no other book does what this book does! In future editions, maybe some of my concerns will be addressed.-Really, this book should have included a chapter for natural hair alone. I can see why naturals may have a difficult time gleaning relevant information from this book. Naturals have different hair needs, including less protein (unless they are heat training), which I don't feel was adequately explained in this book.-Which brings me to my next point, this book seriously lacked information on heat training hair. In fact, it does lean towards a minimal heat orientation (which makes sense if you are relaxed). However, I know of and have watched you tube videos on naturals who have successfully grown their hair while heat training. Probably because heat training eliminates much breakage due to tangles that naturals face. But without compromising hair with chemicals as in relaxers, hair is able to withstand much more heat. Information on successfully heat training hair would make this book more comprehensive.-Because I am more into a natural way of doing things, it would have been nice to see a chapter on creating your own hair products where possible. I am not an "all natural all the time" type of person, but it would be nice to incorporate some natural self made products where possible.- Again, I feel the list of products could have listed more products, especially for heavy protein treatments and hair friendly gellies.-The Neutrogena triple moisture hair mask was listed as both a light protein and a moisturizing deep conditioner. Since I use this product faithfully (I always used it as a moisturizing deep conditioner and supplemented protein using Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor), I did a little research by looking up every ingredient in the conditioner. None could be considered protein.Overall, if you're serious about black hair care, whether relaxed, natural, or heat trained, this is definitely the book for you. If you are fully natural or heat trained you may need to add other sources to your repertoire in addition to this book, but this is definitely a good starting place because when it comes down to it, our hair is all similar and has the same basic needs.Word to the wise, the AMAZON edition of this book does not include color photos, which may have enhanced my overall reading/learning experience as it features pictures of the hair cuticle and the scalp that you really need to see in color.

This book was so insightful. It’s easy to digest as well, although i’d appreciate it if it had been slightly more concise. The images on the kindle version are too small but that’s probably because the book is old. The content can still be understood well despite the images. Recommend for those with little knowledge about hair and to those who want a refresher or resource to refer back to.

He estado buscando libros que se enfocaran a explicar mi tipo de cabello exclusivamente y finalmente lo he encontrado! Estoy muy contenta, de poder comprender con mayor profundidad.

I love how the Information comes with pictures, we can actually relate and the story telling way.

I received the book a week ago....I'm still reading it but I'm learning A LOT. I would highly recommend this book to every black male and female who never got the opportunity to learn how to best maintain and grow black healthy hair. I'm glad I bought the book.If you can find the coloured version of the book, I would recommend buying that version. There are pictures and diagrams that aren't clear in the black and white version. Also, some the captions under the illustrations refer to different colours, which we can't decipher when everything is black.

Ce livre comprends tous ce qu'il faut savoir pour bien entretenir ses cheveux, l'auteure explique les différents ingrédients capillaires et la manière dont ils agissent sur nos cheveux, afin que le lecteur soit apte à faire les meilleurs choix en fonction de sa tête :), elle entre vraiment dans la science du cheveux sans que ce soit rébarbatif, concrètement pour mes cheveux il y a eu un avant et un après ce bouquin.Ce que j'ai vraiment apprécié c'est qu'elle traite la plupart des problèmes capillaires en en indiquant les causes et en y apportant les moyens d'y remédier, l'auteure traite de manière complète le cheveux afro dans tous ses états (naturel, défrisé, locs),Ce que regrette c'est que le livre ne soit disponible qu'en Anglais, je penses que toutes les personnes souhaitant prendre soin de cheveux afro devraient avoir accès ce livre