Shirley Gordon Answers Your Hair Questions
By Shirley Gordon, AOL BlackVoices Columnist
Dec. 21, 2004
Q: I went natural about two or three years ago. I haven’t been taking care of it however. About a year ago, I cut it short. Three months later, it grew and I put a texturizer in it. As the months went on, I continued to sporadically put texturizer in my hair. Recently, my mom, who usually does my hair, put two boxes of texturizer in my hair just like a relaxer. So now it’s straight in the front and coarse in the back. Should I cut it short again and just start from the beginning, or should I get braids and two-stranded twists until it grows out?
Shirley: It sounds like you need to cut it off and start over. You probably over-processed the front of your hair by texturizing it too much. Try to stay away from boxed texturizers. They tend to be harsh on the hair. I suggest you cut the texturizer out of your hair, and stay away from chemicals for a little while, or until your hair gets healthy and longer. At the time, I would seek out professional help.
Q: I’m concerned about my hair. I used to dye it for about three years, but then stopped because it was breaking off my hair. I have just grown the color out. But now it doesn’t seem to grow beyond a certain length no matter what I do. Should I get braids? How can I grow my hair back the way it used to before I started dyeing it?
Shirley: I don’t think the problem was completely the color. Hair care plays a big part in healthy hair. You have to ask yourself, "Did I do everything right when my hair was colored? Did I do it myself? Did I condition it well? Am I stressed? Am I healthy?" You have to take some of these issues into consideration. You may not be able to grow it past where it is now. I recommend you stay out of braids and keep it conditioned well with a good conditioner such as Wella LIFETEX Leave-in Conditioner or Tigi Catwalk Oatmeal and Honey Conditioner.
Q: I have a scalp condition associated with keloids on my scalp. I have had surgery to remove it, but it came back. So now I wear wigs to cover my scar. However, while wearing wigs, my natural hair fell out a bit. Right now I don’t have enough for anyone to catch and braid. Help!
Shirley: There really isn’t anything I can tell you about this situation without seeing it. I can only say that you probably need to wear wigs until you find someone in your area that specializes in hair replacement. That is just one of my many specialities, but I’m in Maryland. If you are ever close, please come and see me. I can help you with your situation.
Q: How often can I color my natural hair?
Shirley: You should color it no more than once every six weeks. If you have silver hair, then do a semi-permanent color in between.
Q: I just cut my hair into a very low afro. I wanted to know what type of oil I should use so that it is not so dry. The only products that I use are Pink Lotion and Sport & Wave. Any suggestions on a shampoo and conditioner I should use so that my hair looks and feels healthy?
Shirley: Say goodbye to Pink Lotion and Sport & Wave. I suggest that you use a good shampoo and conditioner, such as Tigi Catwalk Oatmeal and Honey Shampoo and conditioner or the Wella LIFETEX line. Phytospecific Vital Force is also a great shampoo and conditioner. You’ll see a big difference in just weeks.