A:  You’re definitely on the road to more luster and shine, using a glaze color.

Glaze hair colors  also known as a shine gloss for your strands, has become one of the least harmful ways to boost your hair’s natural shine.

Unlike other damaging hair colors, glazes tend to be ammonia-free, so there’s no need to worry about hair breakage caused by over-processing.

Products that help give shines like oils, sprays, and greases leave your hair with product buildup and no movement or body.

We recommend using a simple clear-colored glaze since it can be used on all shades of natural, color-treated, or highlighted hair. Our favorite is JOHN FRIEDA’S Luminous Glaze Clear Shine Gloss, 6.5oz, $9, available at drug stores and mass retailers.

This affordable DIY gel-creme formula will give your hair vibrancy and shine while saving you a trip to the beauty salon.  Simply shampoo, condition, and apply glaze for 3 minutes, then rinse.

JOHN FRIEDA recommends using the glaze a minimum of three times a week.  However, we realize that most Juicy girls only shampoo their strands weekly or bi-weekly, so instead use this product as a weekly shine-surge treatment;  in which once a week  you would apply Clear Shine Luminous Glaze on dry, unwashed hair for 20 minutes, then rinse.

Believe us, you will be amazed at how healthy, shiny, and vibrant your strands look after just one use!

A: Believe it or not, it’s very common to experience tangling and matting at the back of your nape, because this part of the hair constantly rubs against your clothing and is a result of the curliest strands spiraling around each other.  Often times this section is neglected when it comes to daily brushing or combing.

While, it’s more common for women with curlier wave patterns to experience tangling more than those with straight hair  don’t get it “twisted” -  straight hair can be just as prone to excess knots, tangles, and matting if not properly cared for.

And although we’re not quite sure what type of hair texture your rocking, Juicy still has a few helpful tips to make your detangling process less frustrating:

Tip #1: NEVER Detangle Hair When It’s Dry: Trying to comb through knots while your hair is bone dry will only result in frizz and breakage.  Instead detangle your hair while in the shower so that your hair is completely saturated with water.  However, if your not a shower girl, opt for a spray bottle and damp your hair with water as needed while you detangle.

Tip #2: Always Use Conditioner When Detangling: Preferably one made specifically for detangling purposes because they help to smooth, soften, and detangle medium to coarse hair while preventing moisture loss.  We recommend using PAUL MITCHELL The Detangler, 10 oz, $13, available at Target. 

Tip #3: Invest In A Detangling Comb: Regular combs aren’t going to cut it when knots are involved, which is why we strongly suggest using a styling tool that’s specifically made for detangling. Try OUIDAD Double Detangler Comb, $24, ouidad.com.  Designed with double rows of teeth, this  comb will eliminate difficult knots without ripping or tugging your strands.

Tip 4: Wear Sleek Styles Vs. Curls or Waves: To avoid the possibility of your mane knotting and matting, simply wear straight styles.  We love curly styles as much as the next girl, but as mentioned earlier, curly strands are more likely to coil around each other and create tangling.  So instead opt for sleek styles like blow-outs, roller wraps, or doobies.

Tip 5: Prep Your Hair At Night Before Bed: Sleeping with a silk or satin hair scarf, bonnet, and pillow case is a must.  Most of us toss and turn in our sleep creating friction that results in tangles. So before you get your zz’s, be sure to prep your mane by wrapping or braiding your strands before hitting the sheets.

There it is ladies, 5 Juicy tips to get you through your next detangling session.  Remember the most important tip tr when taking on any challenging task involving your crown is to have patience!

A: Knots, tangles, and split ends are any natural Juicy girls nightmare.

No matter how much we moisturize, condition, and care for our hair some minimal damage is inevitable. Which is why to lessen the damage, trimming is extremely important to the maintenance of your hair.

Trimming prevents split ends from making the hair feel knotty and tangled, as well preventing the split traveling higher into the hair shaft and causing serious breakage.

After making the decision to trim, grab your sharpest pair of hair cutting scissors or shears. Using  household scissors, or scissors that are dull can result in hair becoming blunt and split ends raising.

The next thing to remember is to make sure your hair is stretched.  Whether wet or dry, hair needs to be stretched before trimming. Wet hair is easier to show heat damage, however if your hair is extremely course or curly dry may be the better option.

Comb out hair, get rid of shed hair, and detangle for the most optimal trim.

Once the hair is stretched, section hair. Grab your hair cutting scissors and begin trimming straight across on a small section. Ends that are limp, shedding and thin should be cut. Use your own discretion when deciding how on much hair you’d like to remove, but a good rule of thumb is cut up to an inch, and more seek out professional if you need to cut more.

Whether you want to trim off your split ends or part ways with heat damaged ends, a trim here or there can be all the difference between healthy hair and a head full of headaches.

A: Say no more! Juicy has a few promising products that will help ease this common problem for all weave wearers.

When adorning a weave, most hair professionals do recommend shampooing your hair and scalp at least every 2 weeks.  However depending on your hair needs and daily lifestyle, you may need to cleanse more frequently.  In this case, we recommend skipping the water and sud routine and opt for a dry shampoo instead.

Try OSCAR BLANDI PRONTO DRY SHAMPOO POWDER,  2.5oz, $21, available at Ulta Beauty or Sephora.  Made with tea tree oil, natural rice, and oat & tapioca Starches this dry shampoo absorbs oil, dirt, and product build-up to effectively cleanse the hair and scalp.  Not to mention the bottle also has a pointed cap, which fits perfectly in-between wefts and hard to reach braid patterns.

Another great way to cleanse in-between your wefts is by using an astringent like SEA BREEZE ASTRINGENT, 12oz, $7, sallybeauty.com.  This alcohol and salicylic acid based product is usually used by hair care professionals as a pre-shampoo or scalp massage treatment, because it gently removes dulling excess oils and lifts dry, flaky cells from the scalp.  For at-home cleansing, simply apply SEA BREEZE liberally to your scalp, work in, rinse then shampoo as usual.  Believe us, the cooling sensation your scalp feels with this cleansing method is beyond refreshing.

Last but not least, when all else fails and you can no fight the ‘weave itch’, you must get your hands on LUXE THERAPY’S revolutionary SCALP SOOTHER, $10, luxetherapy.com.  Favored by Juicy celebs REGINA KING, SHERRI SHEPHERD, and KIM COLES, this patent-pending hair comb is specially designed to slide underneath your weave foundation, allowing you to soothe and massage your scalp without disturbing your braided base, net, or actual extensions.  It’s also a great, yet safe way to stimulate hair growth by promoting blood flow to the scalp while rocking your extensions.

There you have it, these three products will help resolve your scalp and strand needs!  But remember, weaves and extensions “ain’t for everybody.” So if you continue to see scalp irritation or feel that your strands aren’t getting the care they need opt for different styles that better suite your hair needs.

Q:Dear Hair Trauma,

How do I maintain moisture in my hair?

A: It’s actually normal for natural hair to feel dry.

Your hair’s behavior at low or high levels of moisture is very predictable. You cannot change it, but you can work with it by understanding that things like weather contribute to change in texture of your hair. The level of moisture in your hair is dependent on how dry or wet the air is (humidity).

Although it is possible to live with dry hair, it is critical to have moisturized hair when you are manipulating the hair physically. For example: When undoing a braided/twisted style, when combing or detangling hair, or when manipulating the hair in different styles. Relaxed or natural, dry hair is prone to breakage which can create other hair problems if it ever becomes susceptible to it.

Substances that retain and help absorb moisture are called humectants. Honey and vegetable glycerin are natural humectants and have been used widely to aid in sealing in moisture in your hair. When using humectants, it is important to use them in temperatures with warmer temperatures, because in colder months they can steal moisture from your hair, making it drier. .

Misting your tresses with water is also usually helpful, or using products like Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Hair Smoothie,$20 HSN.com, to give your dry, stressed hair the moisture it craves.

A: In the words of MICHAEL JACKSON, “you are not alone.” Tons of Juicy girls are ditching their relaxers and rocking their hair in its natural state.

The first thing you need to know is, just because you decide to transition from chemically processed hair to natural hair doesn’t mean you have to BC (big chop, big cut) over night. Some natural gals take the short road and big chop after weeks or months without a relaxer while others wait years to part ways with their chemically relaxed ends.

Protective styles are extremely helpful when transitioning to natural hair. Because natural hair takes time and needs extra special care, protective styles are a quick fix that, when used properly, can improve hair health and help hair growth. Braids, weaves, and wigs are protective styles many transitioners use.

The next thing you need to remember is MOISTURE! Locking in moisture is an essential part of maintaining healthy hair. Your hair will be in a very vulnerable state while transitioning so the more moisture you use the less likely you are to have dry, unhealthy hair. Deep conditioning and baggying, are two key ways natural girls seal in the most moisture.

Minimal heat styling is essential during one’s transition because too much heat can leave hair limp, lifeless, and damaged which is the last thing someone trying to grow out their hair needs. A good way to combat heat usage is to wear heat free hairstyles like curling rods and bantu knots.

Lastly know before you decide to go natural it’s your personal decision. Friends, family, co-workers, and sometimes significant others may not welcome your new natural look, but stick by it and wear it with confidence.