Hair Products 101

Book Review:  Hair Products 101 by Chicoro

For more information visit:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hair-products-101-chicoro/1104335797?ean=9780982068922&itm=2&usri=chicoro

This book is an excellent sequel to the highly acclaimed Grow It.

Chicoro is a natural hair guru who is very knowledgeable about the needs of black women who have stopped using relaxers and weaves.  She has tremendous expertise which she share with women who want to embrace their afro textured hair who are hungry for knowledge.

In the online communities the talk is often tied to what products are best to use on natural, afro textured hair including whether its best to use organic purist products and what to use to dry hair or to repair breakage.

This is an important because everyone's hair is unique and what works well for one person may not work for another.

The first step of the Hair Products 101 Process is Understanding the Human Hair Fibre.

This chapter is devoted to the scientific structure of afro textured hair and the characteristics of both healthy and damaged hair.

One question which is constantly debated on the forums is whether you should detangle the hair when it's wet or dry.

According to the book?  If your hair is very curly and you are using a brush or comb, it is better to detangle when wet.  But if your natural hair is quite straight, it is better to detangle when it is dry. (p.23)

Step two in the four-step process is Understanding Your Own Hair. In this chapter Chicoro challenges the reader to be reflective and self-inspecting of the hair and scalp and the products currently used, but also broader areas of life, since stress can have a detrimental impact on hair.

Step three is devoted to Understanding Product Formulation, which is probably the most significant.

Chicoro does not just focus on the most common ingredients used in hair products, but also gives a scientific explanation of what the ingredients do to the hair.

Chicoro explains that shampoos that contain sodium laurel sulphate (SLS) lift the cuticles and degrade or remove protein from the hair.

Step four: Putting It All Together is about connecting all three steps in an analytical way to use as a template for determining the selection of hair products.

This book helps you decide what you should purchase and not based on what may work well for others.

The book is straightforward! At the end of the book there are some useful case studies on how to use the four-step process. There are also sections within the book to write notes.

Hair Products 101 is a very useful reference book that you will want to dip into every now and again, especially to read over some of the scientific and biological explanations of the hair structure and how different ingredients work.

It contains valuable information.