Having your hair look its best requires constant effort – and that’s even more so the case if you have Type 4 hair. This type of hair is characterised by very tightly coiled strands with a unique texture and comes with a distinct set of challenges that you don’t have to face with other types.

In this article, you’ll learn about the different aspects of caring for Type 4 hair, whether it be what products to use, styling tips, and how to protect it!




Understanding Type 4 Hair: The Basics

First things first: how do we actually define Type 4 hair? It’s already been established that tight curls and coils make up this hair type, but there are also three different subcategories:

Type 4A

4A hair types are characterised by a more bouncy texture and a definite ‘S’ pattern to the strands.

Type 4B

4B types feature Z-shaped curls with more angular definition and are generally tighter and less voluminous.

Type 4C

When it comes to 4C types, you’re looking at the tightest coils possible with barely any visible curl.

Even though there’s quite a bit of variation between these three subcategories, they all share the same characteristics and are cared for in more or less the same way.

Essential Care

Next, it’s time to consider the key steps you need to take to look after this hair type. Type 4 hair is naturally drier and at a greater risk of breakages and shrinkage. This is because the tight structure makes it more difficult for your body’s natural scalp oils to travel down to the strands to condition them. For this reason, you need to take care to add that conditioning back in with the products you choose.

Here are the main elements you should be thinking about:

When it comes to hair care, the humble hairdryer is our trusty companion. However, it's important to use it correctly to avoid causing damage to your hair. In this post, I will explore some of the most common hairdryer mistakes and provide you with tips on how to avoid them. By steering clear of these pitfalls, you'll be well on your way to avoiding damage and achieving healthier, more beautiful hair.

1. Skipping The Heat Protectant

Heading off to an adventure? Whether you’re trekking through ancient ruins, lounging on a pristine beach, or venturing into bustling markets, these fabulous hairdos will keep you looking effortlessly chic, so you can focus on what truly matters: discovering the world and having a blast!

If you are experiencing hair loss, you are not alone. We all want beautiful hair, but millions suffer from hair loss yearly. There are many ways to treat hair loss, but if you want a more natural approach, read on. 

If you are looking for a new hair styler there is a brand you may not have heard of but are getting a name for themselves in the US - José Eber hairstyling products. José Eber hairstyling products are used by celebrities in the US to straighten, curl and style their hair and are now available in the UK, being stocked in luxury stores such as Harrods and Selfridges. So let's look at some of the hair styling products from the José Eber brand, and read on to see how you can win one too.

José Eber, the man behind the brand, was born and raised in France but immigrated to Los Angeles. He opened his Beverly Hills flagship salon and the rest, as they say, is history. He now had a number of salons visited by socialites and celebs in the US and in luxury hotels around the world and has been featured on CNN news network, Good Morning America and The Today Show.

His range of hair styler products includes the José Eber clipless curling tong, José Eber HST air styler, and the José Eber HST wet/dry flat iron amongst others. Let's look further at the products available. Win a José Eber HST Infrared Wet/Dry Flat Iron

Some hair loss is normal, but when hair loss becomes troublesome then it can really affect your self-esteem. There are many reasons for hair loss, let's have a look at some of these and what you can do about this condition. This is an ad.

What's normal?

Every day they say we lose between 50 and 100 hairs on average. The condition of your hair can affect hair loss and if it is dry and over-processed it may break easier. However, if you think that hair loss is becoming a real problem then there are some things you can do.

Causes of hair loss

According to the NHS website article on hair loss, there are a number of causes to this common condition. These can include illness, stress, cancer treatment, weight loss and Vitamin D deficiency and iron deficiency. If your hair loss is bothering you, your first port of call should be to see your GP. They can examine you and check your health, with a combination of blood tests, and a physical examination.  If you are embarrassed about your baldness you can get an online appointment with a doctor through an online pharmacy. This is straightforward to do and can save you time getting a GP appointment locally.

What can a blood test show?

A blood test can show the level of vitamins and minerals in your blood. This is important as it can show your overall health level, as well as deficiencies. Vitamin D and iron have both been linked to hair loss for example. It can also show your hormone levels. Hormone levels and hair loss are linked to male pattern baldness, baldness in women and baldness related to menopause, where the pattern is thinness across the scalp, not a receding hairline as in men.

Do you need treatment?

Some hair loss doesn't need treatment and hair will grow back without intervention. Some hair loss will be a natural process of getting older as well.  If you do need treatment there are several treatments available appropriate to your condition. No treatment, however, is 100 per cent effective. 

Types of treatments available for hair loss

Hair transplants can be a solution but it is a major intervention. When someone has a hair transplant, they have existing hair cells moved to the thinning patches on their head. It's important to find a surgeon who is qualified and experienced in carrying out this type of surgery as it can be a big operation and expensive too. If you are going to have a hair transplant be sure to understand any possible complications of the procedure in full.

There are many synthetic and real hair wigs and hairpieces available today that are more natural-looking than in the past and that can cover hair loss. This is a real instant but temporary alternative to hair loss but does have cost implications, with real hair wigs being much more expensive than synthetic wigs. 

Some hair loss can be caused by stress. Alopecia can be triggered by stress so looking at your health and well-being and trying to reduce stress can help with hair loss. Ways to reduce stress include changing your life so the stressful thing that caused it is reduced, exercising to relieve stress and meditation, and counselling and psychotherapy. Support groups for hair loss can help your emotional well-being as well.

Conclusion

There are many reasons for hair loss but there are solutions out there that can help. Hair loss can really affect your self-esteem so be sure to seek out help if this is the case.

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If hair loss has been bothering you for some time, you may have been looking into remedies or solutions to your problem. Some people decide to just let it happen, others decide on a temporary solution such as a wig or a toupee but there are other more permanent solutions.



One such solution is to have a hair transplant. You have probably heard about them before because of certain celebrities such as Wayne Rooney and George Sampson. As with all processes such as this, there are plenty of things you need to consider before committing to something so big.

What is a hair transplant?

A hair transplant is a procedure to move hair to an area of your head which is bald or the hair is extremely thin.

Who can have one?

Not everyone will be suitable for one so it is important to know whether you are beforehand. Such cosmetic surgery is suitable for people with permanent baldness which is the type that runs in families. Other hair loss causes such as alopecia are not suitable for this type of surgery/

Can you afford it?

The surgery isn’t available on the NHS as it is cosmetic surgery so it is vital you work out if you can afford it before you commit to the process - you don’t want to end up in debt! A hair transplant can cost anywhere from £1,000 all the way up to £30,000. It all depends on the type of hair loss and the clinic you are using.

What should you be thinking about?

Once you know you want the surgery, you must check that your clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission and avoid any that aren’t listed. You will also want to ensure you are having your surgery done by a surgeon who is not only qualified but experienced in carrying out such a surgery. It is pretty obvious that they should be registered with the GMC but when people are desperate for a solution, it can be tempting to bypass certain things.

What does it involve?

You will usually have the surgery under local anaesthetic and sedation and they usually take a day but you don’t tend to stay in overnight. You will be told how to care for it and have to be very careful for 2 weeks after. However, you should be able to return to work within a matter of days.

If you have ever considered a hair transplant then I hope this post has been helpful for you. Who knew there was so much to think about?

*Collaborative post

What uses do wigs have?

Hair loss doesn’t just happen to men - and whilst it can be upsetting and humiliating for both men and women, women often tend to take it harder as there can be more stigma attached to female hair loss.

Do you already have hair extensions or are you planning to buy them? Well, it is important to know how to take care of your hair extensions to prolong their life, after all, they can be expensive to buy and have fitted.

Taking care of hair extensions is just like taking care of your natural hair! You need to frequently shampoo, condition and apply serums to your hair. You should treat your hair extensions with utmost care just like you do for your natural hair. If you take care of your hair extensions, you extend their shelf life and maintain the quality of your hair extensions. 

I wash and dry my hair every day, so it's important to me to have a really great hair dryer. When looking for a hair dryer it's also important to buy a brand I know and trust, so I was looking forward to reviewing the Lee Stafford Blow Dry & Go Hair Kit which was gifted to me for an honest review.

Lee Stafford is an award-winning celebrity hairdresser and personality. You may have seen him on the TV show Celebrity Scissorhands or on Secret Millionaire. He also has a great range of hair products under the Lee Stafford range at Boots.


The Blow Dry & Go Hair Kit comprises a 2200 watt hair dryer, a blow dry concentrator nozzle, a tail comb, a vent brush, some clips for sectioning your hair, hair grips and hair bands. All this comes in a handy carry case for keeping everything in one place, perfect if you are travelling around.

What I love about this hair dryer set is that it's unashamedly pink and girly. OK, maybe not for everyone but the hot pink colour is very cool. 

The quality of the hair dryer is good, the buttons make a satisfying click, it is not too big or small and it is easy to carry around. The hair dryer has three heat settings and two power settings with a handy cool button to set your hair whilst blow drying. When drying my hair I use a round brush to dry under the ends and always blast my hair with some cold air so a cool button is essential to me.



What is extra special about this hairdryer is that it has a keratin infused grill to impart shine, which is a great touch. I think my hair is looking lovely and shiny below as you can see and no shine sprays were added.




With a two year warranty and priced at £29.99 I think the Lee Stafford Blow Dry And Go Hair Kit is great value. 

Today on my blog you can win your very own Lee Stafford Blow Dry And Go Hair Kit. Entry is via the Gleam application below. While you are here don't forget to check out my other competitions too, including win SkinYoga body products. Good luck!

Let me know what do you look for in a hair dryer? Would you consider buying this one?



Win a Lee Stafford Blow Dry & Go Kit #2

There are few things that can affect your self-esteem as much as your hair. Adverts bombard us with models that have shiny, thick, healthy-looking hair but what if you don't have 'perfect' hair? 



Most of us at some point in our lives have a hair problem, maybe your hair has become greasy or dry and damaged, maybe you are starting to get the odd grey hair and not sure whether to leave it and accept it or colour your hair. Maybe you are noticing hair loss and not sure what to do. In this article, I will look at different hair problems and possible solutions.

Age, hormones and genetics play a big part if your hair condition and if you have greasy hair then all these factors may come into play. You can however, do something about it.

Firstly use a shampoo that is specially formulated for greasy hair, a simple solution that does not add any extra moisturisers. Massage it right into the roots. If you use conditioner, use a lightweight formula just on the ends, you don't want any extra oil on the roots on the hair. Avoid shine sprays as they add extra conditioning treatments.

A dry shampoo can be used in-between shampoos, to help keep the grease at bay. As most are powders they help absorb the grease. Brushing your hair too often can also stimulate oil production so just stick to detangling the ends and avoid brushing from the roots and always brush with a clean brush (make sure you clean and wash the brush regularly).

Avoid touching your hair too often too as that transfers oils from your fingers to your hair.

Dry Hair




If you have dry hair then the same things can affect your hair as those with greasy hair, namely age, hormones and genetics. Dry hair can also be caused by the use of styling implements such as straightening irons, hairdryers and heated rollers.

If you have dry hair don't wash your hair every day if you can help it and use a shampoo designed for dry hair when you do. Use a conditioner every time you wash your hair to add extra moisturiser and when using a heated appliance on your hair use a styling product designed to protect your hair from the heat. If you can avoid using heated appliances then do.

If you bleach or colour your hair try and cut down on how often you do this as it can dry hair out. Using a treatment mask can help improve the moisture in your hair too. 

If your hair has become damaged although conditioning treatments especially those with Argan oil can help, the only real way forward is to have it cut and take greater care of your hair in the future.

Hair Loss




Everyone gets hair loss as it's a natural part of your hair renewing itself but when hair loss becomes a problem it can really affect your self-esteem.

Hair loss can be a particular problem in pregnancy and the menopause and both men and women can get male or female pattern baldness, where testosterone combines with dihydrotestosterone and hair is not replaced when it falls out naturally.

Oral contraception, as well as HRT,  can also affect hair loss. 

Alopecia areata also known as spot baldness is a medical condition and there are two types - scarring alopecia, where there is fibrosis, inflammation, and loss of hair follicles, and nonscarring alopecia which can be reversible. Steroid injections can help although it's sometimes possible to use a steroid cream, gel or ointment. Scarring alopecia can be permanent, unfortunately.

Often hair loss is temporary but if your hair has not grown back even though your hormones have adjusted themselves it may be time to consult your GP. There may be medications you can take but they don't always work for everyone.

When hair loss is permanent there are ways to mimic your real hair, in simple terms a wig or hairpiece can be used but modern revolutionary treatments such as Advanced Tricho Pigmentation Treatment or ATP are another option. ATP is a specialised process where small amounts of pigment are applied to the scalp or brow to replicate real hair. ATP can help create the illusion of thicker hair or disguise a receding hairline.

Grey Hair

If you have grey hair there are two schools of thought - colour it or embrace it.

If you are going to colour it for the first time I would advise going to a salon and getting advice on what colour suits your skin tone. You may have had very dark hair when you were younger but if you went back to this colour it may look harsh as you get older. Instead of all-over colour, you may want to go for low lights or highlights. Having your hair coloured professionally for the first time will give the best look, and you can pick up tips on how to do it yourself in the future. 

Tell me have you ever had problem hair? If you did how did you resolve it?

Now the nights are getting darker, the weather is changing too. Outside it is getting colder and many households have started to put the heating on. At this time of year the cold, wind, rain and centrally heated buildings can play havoc with your hair. Here are some tips on how to protect your hair in the Autumn and Winter.

Winter Hair Care

Tangled Hair

Windy days can mean windswept hair styles. To keep hair looking good, think about tieing long hair back or protect hair under a hat. However if you go for the latter option you then have the flat hair problem.

A light conditioner that won't weigh your hair down will help detangle long hair. Consider a leave-in conditioner like Uniq 1 to carry on nourishing dry and split ends. This product smells divine, and leaves your hair silky smooth whilst protecting and detangling too.

If you have greasy hair don't use conditioner all over as your hair only needs extra conditioning on the ends.

Split Ends

Whatever a hair care product promises to do, it cannot mend split ends. Look after your hair, get regular trims and use conditioners as appropriate. This will help improve your hair's condition.

It is also important to never use a brush on wet hair as this can break the hair. Use a wide tooth comb and comb gently from roots to ends.

If you are using heated stylers use a protective product to minimise the damage such as a thermal hair protector. These will protect your hair from hot hair stylers, heated rollers, and straightening irons.

Allow your hair to dry naturally when possible. You could even consider a traditional method of styling your hair with non heated rollers and styles such as plaits and buns.

Flat Hair


Use shampoo, conditioners and styling products designed to add volume and body to your hair, and use a hairspray to prevent your hair style dropping.

Blow drying wet hair upside down will add volume. A product I have recently found is the TIGI Bed Head Superstar Blow Dry Lotion. Smelling of oranges, the liquid feels amazing on your hair, a small amount goes a long way and adds volume and softness without stickiness. It is great for blow drying your hair and protecting it

When hair is partially dry turn upright to finish styling and concentrate on getting height at the roots with a barrel brush.

When it's cold out, there is nothing more comforting that wearing a warm hat. This though can give you the 'flat hair' look. Keep some styling spray or dry shampoo in your bag to refresh your look when needed and give that boost to your hair.

Dry Hair