The skinny on maintaining a healthy scalp: 5 easy tips

#1 Cleansing- Wash hair on a regular basis. Alternate between clarifying and moisturizing shampoos. Natural hair tends to be dryer than straight hair so using one type of shampoo maybe drying or over moisturizing. To keep a balance alternate as often as possible. 

Clarifying shampoos gives your hair a fresh start by removing deposits (hard water, cremes, hairspray, gels, chlorine, etc) and restoring shine. 

Moisturizing shampoos gently cleanse the hair while replenishing hydration.  

#2 Conditioning- After your wash, avoid applying conditioners and cremes to your scalp. Conditioners/cremes are only made for the hair shaft and can clog the hair follicles which results in stunted growth. 

#3 Nutrition- What you put in your body is just as important as what you put on it.  Anti-oxidant rich foods like fresh fruit and green vegetables help to keep your body and scalp healthy. Products such as fish, nuts, , milk, peas and beans promote hair growth. 

#4 Massage- One of my favorite things to do. Massaging the scalp with your finger tips stimulates blood flow, nourishes your hair and relaxes your muscles. 

#5 Avoid Heat- The same way sunlight can burn your skin so can excessive heat from hair dryers. Hold blow dryers a good distance away from hair/scalp. If you experience any discomfort from drying your hair then the dryer is too close to your hair/scalp. 

What's more important? What's IN our Head or On our Head?

If something is bad for a sewage system you have to think of what it is doing to the rest of your body~ Comment about relaxer from "In Our Heads About Hair"~ No wonder sales of relaxer kits declined by 36% last year. 

I am really excited to see the premiere of "In Our Heads About Hair". A lot of people may think that we are obsessed about our hair and can't get enough of talking about it, reading about it or listening to videos about it but honestly hair is a women's glory. We see the obsession with hair in all cultures and somewhat trace it to the fact that hair is a major feature that makes a woman more appealing. White culture- Golden Blonde hair is sought after because everyone knows that blondes have more fun (just kidding- had to throw that cliche in there). Indian culture many sacrifice the hair as an offering to God because of its sacredness---which is then used in black/western culture to make black women look more culturally acceptable. In Asian culture the straighter the better. 

The issue of hair in african american and black culture is very complex. Why? Because unlike other races, we have been wearing our hair in a way that is unnatural to us. I frequent Yahoo! Answers, and a user posted " What is all this talk about going natural? What are they doing? Not combing their hair or using any chemicals?" The thought of "going natural" was foreign to this individual because they'd never heard of such a thing where hair wasn't worn in its natural state.  

For years the beauty industry has defined what being a beautiful woman is and every aspect seemed to be the opposite of black women. Skinny, white skin, and straight hair which is everything that the average black woman is not. I am very proud of productions like "Good Hair", "Dark Girls" and "In Our Heads About Hair" because it sheds light on who we are and our beauty. Being a dark skin girl, with a little junk in the trunk and less than straight hair my reflection is anything but the status quo. Am I not  beautiful because I don't look like Angelina Jolie or Audrey Hepburn? Many in Hollywood and in the land of everything superficial may tend to agree…a women is truly beautiful when she is confident enough to show the world her unadulterated self. 

"In Our Heads About Hair" premieres February 20th, 2012 at the BAMcinematel New Voices in Black Cinema film festival in Brooklyn, New York. 

Watch Video Here

At the end of the day, what should really matter is what is IN our head rather than ON our head.