Frequently Asked Questions
Q-1. I am in the process of transitioning to my natural hair. What would you recommend?
Ans: If you are within the first 4 months of your transition or have less than 2 inches of new growth we do
not recommend making any unnecessary changes.
For those who are further into transitioning there are a few options for you to minimize breakage and to make it a little easier.
It is important to keep both hair textures as similar as possible. You can achieve this through your styling technique.
If you want to wear your hair curly then we would recommend styling options such as braid or twist outs and Bantu knots. For this we
would recommend the Califia Moisturizing Spray or Coconut Curl Spray followed with the Califia Styling Pudding or the Coconut Curl
Pudding.
If you would like to keep your hair in more protective styles such as a weave or braids (we recommend using human hair for
single/loose braids) we would recommend using the Coconut Curl Spray for moisture and the Hair Nourishment Oil for hair growth and
inhibiting bacteria growth on the scalp.
If you would prefer to keep both textures straight and will be using heat activated styles we would recommend the Healing Hair
Kit.
If you are experiencing excessive hair shedding and are not ready to cut the chemically treated hair off we would recommend using the
Protein Hair Strengthener followed with the Olive Moisture Mask.
Eventually, you will get to a point in your transition when you will experience noticeable hair shed. We do recommend cutting off
the chemically treated hair at that point to keep your natural hair healthy, however, it is a personal decision.
Q-2. I am experiencing thinning around my hairline and in the crown of my head. What would
you recommend?
Ans: There are many reasons why we experience hair loss such as a scarred or damaged scalp from chemical burns, weaves
or braids, hormones, poor health or medications, prolonged usage of products that clog the pores of the scalp, such as mineral oil and
petroleum.
It is important to identify the root cause for your hair loss so that it can be treated properly.
The products we would recommend to help with restoring growth and fullness are the Honey Comb Rejuvenator and the Hair Nourishment
Oil along with one minute scalp massages daily. It is important to drink plenty of water and keep the scalp clean and clear.
When doing the Honey Comb Rejuvenator treatment you may apply your conditioner or deep conditioner (Olive moisture mask or Intense
Moisture Therapy) on top and give yourself two treatments at one time.
Q-3. My hair won’t grow.
Ans: Natural hair can be fragile due to its lack of ability to retain moisture. African American hair is
naturally porous. Which causes our hair to break faster than it grows giving the illusion of it not growing.
Water is the best moisturizer for natural African American hair, that being said it is important to wet (not shampoo) your hair
daily. Because African American hair is porous, water quickly enters and escapes the hair shaft causing the shrinkage, if this is a
problem for you we would recommend wetting your hair followed by product usage and braiding or twisting a couple of hours before
bedtime. Be sure to wrap your hair with a silk/satin scarf or use a silk/satin pillowcase.
If you are worried that you have hard water then you can use the sprays such as Vitamin Reign, Califia Moisturizing Spray or the
Coconut Curl Spray for moisture, however, water is best.
It is important to wash your hair at least once a week and twice a week for optimal results.
A clean healthy scalp is key to hair growth.
To keep the hair moisturized we recommend using a moisturizer (water-based products: sprays, lotions and leave-ins) followed by a
moisture sealant (oil-based products: oil, balms and butters).
You can groom your hair by finger combing, a wide tooth comb or a wig/paddle brush to minimize breakage. Apply a little oil to the
ends of the hair prior to grooming to help assist the grooming utensils to pull through the hair without breakage.
Q-4. What should I use if I have Alopecia?
Ans: You can find this answer on our blog named "Hair & Health". You can get to our blog by selecting
"Hair & Health" at the top of the website page next to "Customer Log-In". You may also use the link below.
Alopecia and Hair Loss
Q-5. Why doesn’t the shampoo suds up?
Ans: Natural shampoos do not contain Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates which is the main ingredients for
suds. Prolonged exposure to SLS has proven to cause damage to the scalp and hair resulting in dryness and hair loss.
If you use products containing silicone oil (cones) it may take a second washing to completely remove these oils from your hair
and scalp. If you do not wash your hair as frequently it may also need a second wash to remove dirt and build-up.
Q-6. How often should I shampoo?
Ans: It is important to wash your hair at least once a week or twice a week for optimal results. A clean
healthy scalp is key to hair growth.
Q-7. What do you recommend for relaxed or flat ironed hair? What is my hair type?
Ans: You can find this answer on our blog named "Hair & Health". You can get to our blog by selecting "Hair & Health"
at the top of the website page next to "Customer Log-In". You may also use the link below.
Product information, recommendations and hair typing
Q-8. What order should I use the products in my kit?
Ans: If you have purchased the Healing Hair Kit we would recommend using the Shampoo followed by the
Protein Hair Strengthener (if you have not had a protein treatment in the past 4 weeks), then the Olive Moisture Mask. That combination
would be your first complete protein treatment. You then can follow with the Moku Hair Serum or Moku Leave-In for heat protection
from the blow dryer or flat iron.
The Califia Care Kit and Coconut Curl Kit are designed for you to try the product line for an economical price. This way you would
be able to find the right product combination for your hair care needs. Remember to start with a moisturizer (water-based product) then
follow with a moisture sealant (an oil-based product).
Q-9. What’s the difference between each product line?
Ans: You can find this answer on our blog named "Hair & Health". You can get to our blog by
selecting "Hair & Health" at the top of the website page next to "Customer Log-In". You may also use the link
below.
Product information and recommendations
Q-10. What would you recommend for frizz or dryness?
Ans: Frizz for natural hair is a sign of lack of moisture. If you only use oil on your hair you may have
experienced frizz. This is because oil is not a moisturizer it is a moisture sealant which we usually recommend using after wetting or
applying a water-based product. Remember, water is a wonderful moisturizer for natural hair. Because our natural hair is naturally
porous water/moisture passes in and out of the hair shaft quickly. So the trick is to slow down the evaporation of water/moisture
from the hair cortex. This can be accomplished by using a water-based product (hair lotions, leave-ins, sprays) followed by an oil-based
product (balms, butters, oil, or heavy creams).
You may also want to start a deep conditioning schedule of every two weeks to keep hair moisturized.
Product build-up or any kind of build-up may also cause frizz or dryness. This is because build-up can block moisture from
penetrating the hair shaft. It may also clog the pores of the scalp causing slow hair growth. It is important to keep the hair and
scalp clean which allows easy penetration of product, resulting in better moisture and hair growth.
Co washing (washing your hair with conditioner) is fine as long as you are shampooing your hair by the end of the week. Imagine
trying to wash your hands with lotion. It doesn’t work to get them clean and neither will conditioner for your hair and scalp. This
is why we usually do not recommend co washing as a method of cleaning the hair or scalp.
Q-11. What do you recommend for Locs?
Ans: We recommend keeping the scalp healthy and clean. You can accomplish this with a natural eucalyptus
shampoo (you may find one at your nearest Natural Food Store or food co-op). This will help keep bacteria from growing on the scalp.
The Herbal Tea Rinse is a good clarifying conditioner that is light and will not cause build up on your locs. We recommend using a very
light moisturizer and an oil to minimize environmental build up. The Hair Nourishment Oil is great for keeping bacteria from growing
on the scalp and to maintain a healthy scalp. The Moku Oil is to help lock in moisture and give the locs a nice shine. The Califia or
Coconut Spray are great light moisturizers for daily use.
We do not recommend our products for new Locs because our products soften the hair. This can reverse the locking process. We
recommend our products to those that have had Locs for a 1 year or longer.
Q-12. Can I use the products if I have a texturizer?
Ans: Yes, the products we recommend for texturizers would be a light moisturizer such as, Coconut milk or
Coconut spray, a sealant such as the Coconut or Califia pudding, for thicker hair use the Califia pudding. Then finish with the Moku
oil to give a nice shine and softness.
Q-13. How do you minimize shrinkage?
Ans: There a few ways to help with minimizing shrinkage, we know that water is our best moisturizer; we
also know our hair shrinks when it gets wet. Depending on the type of hair you have depends on the type of shrinkage you will have.
For type 2 and 3 hair a moisturizer (water-based product) and the califia pudding will help to elongate the curl pattern and keep the
hair soft and manageable all day. For type 4 hair it will take a little more manipulation to help elongate the curl pattern and
minimize the shrinkage. Wetting your hair at night and applying a moisturizer, then with the Califia Cream or Califia Pudding doing
twist or braid outs will help with elongating the curl pattern. You can also put the twists into Bantu knots or use rod or rollers to
help give a longer curl pattern. Then in the morning you undo the twist or braids and use the Moku Oil or Butter to finish the style;
giving the hair shine and softness. If you feel you have pulled too hard, loosening the curl pattern when taking out the twists or
braids, apply a small amount of moisturizer in your hands and crunch the curls to help bring the style back.
Q-14. Do you have skin care products?
We currently do not carry a skin care line.
Q-15. What do you recommend for eczema?
Ans: For eczema on the scalp we would recommend the Hair Nourishment Oil or the Scalp Conditioner, you only need one of the two
products.
For eczema on the skin we recommend using Tamanu Oil or Emu Oil twice daily.
You should see result within a week. If you have an allergy to certain foods this can be the reason for your eczema flare-up. Try
using a Probiotic supplement with at least 4 Billions active organisms in the ingredients. Take 2 caps once daily. Also a good Omega
3 (fish oil or flaxseed oil) supplement 3000mg daily could help remedy your eczema flare-up.
Consult your doctor before making any dietary changes.
Q-16. What do you recommend for my gray hair?
Ans: Gray hair can sometime have a different texture from the rest of your hair. This is because the color
of hair (melanin) is what helps give hair texture. When the hair starts to age a lack of pigmentation or melanin can occur, causing the
hair to become coarser and sometimes lose its curl pattern. This can also occur when the natural color of hair has been chemically
lifted.
There have been studies that show taking Pantothenic Acid supplements can restore some color to graying hair, however, we would
recommend monthly protein treatments (Protein Hair Strengthener) to help protect the hair from further loss of protein followed with
deep conditioning (Olive Moisture Mask). This should also give the hair more strength and elasticity.
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