Haircare Tutorials
How to Avoid Green Hair!
Summer, Swimming & Hair Tip... How to Avoid Green Hair! Summer is here!!!!! The humidity, heat, and swimming are in full swing. I LOVE the summer and the humidity… I know that sounds a little crazy, but I do. My hair changes a little and it’s kind of fun to mix things up. We always try to get to a beach in the summer – there is something calming to me about the ocean. It makes me feel so small and the rhythm of the waves crashing is so calming to me. I love the smell of the salt water and the smell of rain (it always seems to have a shower or two). After being in the ocean, we love to end the day in a pool. I cherish the squeals of kids playing “Marco, Polo”! No matter if you’re swimming in a pool or surfing & boogie boarding in the ocean, you need to take care of your hair! Two products I like to keep close are the Detox Shampoo for after swimming and the Leave-in Conditioner before and during swimming. You don’t need to use the Detox Shampoo after every swim, just wait until after you finish your trip or if you are an avid swimmer you may need to use it more frequently. People often ask me how to use the product, so here’s what I do: DETOX SHAMPOO 1. In a warm shower, I massage my scalp first to activate the sebaceous glands (that’s the small gland in the skin which secretes a lubricating oily matter (sebum) into the hair follicles to lubricate the skin and hair). 2. Then I use about a nickel size portion of the Detox Shampoo, and massage it into my scalp and hair. 3. Let it sit a couple of minutes, then RINSE thoroughly! 4. Then RINSE AGAIN! Now you need to REALLY CONDITION, and leave it in a little longer for best results. 5. Repeat when you get out of the water and again before you get back into the water. LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER 1. Get an empty spray bottle and put 1 part Leave-in Conditioner to 1 part water 2. Mix 3. Soak hair generously with the concoction 4. Go SWIMMING and Have FUN!!! 5. Repeat when you get out of the water and again before you get back into the water. So run out and get your Detox Shampoo and Leave-In Conditioner today and chase away that green hair! MopTop Detox Shampoo The secret to healthy hair is a healthy scalp, and the products you use everyday can take a toll. MopTop's Detox Shampoo is formulated with rich, cleansing coconut, restoring natural balance to the scalp by removing chlorine, product residue, and oil buildup. BUY NOW MopTop Leave-In Conditioner Take on tangles and fend off frizz with MopTop’s Leave-in Conditioner. For hair in need of hydration, this leave-in conditioner coats hair strands with nourishing aloe and honey, while vitamin B5 and keratin help soften and strengthen brittle locks. BUY NOW
Learn more
How to Apply Mongongo Oil: Moisturize, Seal, Finish
How to Apply Mongongo Oil: Moisturize, Seal, Finish We’ve spent a lot of time talking about the health of hair this summer. We strive for clarified, but not stripped. Clean, but not dried out. Conditioned, but not weighed down. It’s all about striking the right balance for each individual texture. To round out the series, we need to talk about sealing the deal (or at least the cuticle) of the hair for best results. We’ve discussed letting your natural oils do more – but sometimes they need a little extra help. Enter Mongongo Oil! Mongongo Oil is one of our newest and most versatile products, acting as both styler and finisher while adding moisture, smoothing fly-aways and frizzies. It can also be used as a sealer after styling. The key ingredients are Mongongo and Abyssinian Oils, which are so chock-full of Vitamin E that this product just feeds the hair. A little bit goes a long way – literally. A few drops are all you need to work through each section of hair. We recommend starting at the ends of the hair and working your way up. Hair types that most benefit from Mongongo Oil – Straight, Wavy-Loose, Curly, and Kinky-Coily. Mongongo Oil can be used in a number of ways: Apply between cleansing and styling Cocktail with your favorite MopTop styler Use as a finishing agent to smooth ends, add a nice healthy sheen and eliminate frizz Use to scrunch out any “crunch” created by excess product (see “how-to” in Kelly’s video) Tips for Applying Mongongo Oil Tip1 Do not apply the Mongongo Oil to the roots – it will weigh them down and make the hair look unclean, especially for thinner and finer textures. Tip 2 This product does not have thermal protection and should not be used for flat ironing. It is ideal for cocktailing with leave-ins, custards, or gels to hydrate, regenerate, and restructure hair. Tip 3 Scrunch only after the product has set. A little goes a long way! Indulge your locks with MopTop’s Mongongo Oil, a versatile styler and finishing elixir rich in natural oils. For ultimate strength and shine, Mongongo Oil feeds your hair with a blend of natural oils, including vitamin E oil, abyssinian oil, and sunflower seed oil. Buy Now
Learn more
How to Deal with Hair Breakage by Washing Less
How to Deal with Hair Breakage: Wash Less, Let Your Natural Oils Do More There are so many variables that affect the health of our hair and one of the biggest offenders is hair breakage. Breakage can be caused by over-stripping the hair by frequent shampooing or clarifying too often. DEFINITION: CLARIFYING HAIR Using a specially-formulated shampoo that removes all the build-up (e.g., product build-up, styling residue, chlorine, oils, shea butter, etc.) from the hair. Go Sulfate-Free Breakage can also occur if your shampoo contains sulfates, which are harsh detergents that create lots of lather, but strip the hair. Our shampoos are sulfate-free for a gentler clean. We also choose honey as one of our workhorse ingredients because it not only moisturizes really well, but it also helps keep the hair cleaner longer, which can reduce the frequency of using a lathering shampoo. Shampoo Without Stripping! Once again, we need to start with texture. Those with MORE-TEXTURED hair need to shampoo less often, and instead co-wash on 2nd and 3rd days to rehydrate, refresh, and reactivate the style or curl pattern of the hair. Those with LESS-TEXTURED hair need to shampoo more often than their more-textured friends, because the natural oils of the head will be more apparent, especially around the roots and especially after sleep. The result is flattened, weighed down hair that looks unclean. However, regardless of texture, clarifying should only be done once every 4-6 weeks. To clarify more often can over-strip the hair of the GOOD STUFF our body naturally produces to keep our hair healthy, and the result is breakage. HAIRCARE TIP Reduce frequency of shampooing and clarifying to avoid breakage AND frizz. We want our hair to be clean, but squeaky clean is a phrase we want to reserve for our kitchen floors, not our hair. If hair squeaks, it’s over-stripped, on it’s way to damaged, and prone to breakage. The only remedy for hair breakage is cutting it off, and for most of us that is not an option we want to entertain. Texture Tips for Healthier Hair For LESS Texture: Tip One Shampoo every other day to keep hair clean, but not dried out. Tip Two On Day 2, spray dry shampoo at the roots to create lift and volume, and pull the hair away from the scalp. Tip Three Blow dry hair upside down to create additional volume, and then style as usual. Tip Four Clarify once every 4-6 weeks to remove build-up, then resume regular routine. For MORE Texture: Tip One Shampoo every 3rd-4th day. Tip Two On Days 2-3, wet hair in shower and massage the scalp to activate the sebaceous glands. Tip Three Use co-wash shampoo to cleanse and refresh hair, and then style as usual. Tip Four Clarify once every 4-6 weeks to remove build-up, then resume regular routine. Give dry, damaged hair the bounceback it needs with MopTop’s Gentle Shampoo. Every hair type and texture can benefit from this light cleanser, reducing frizz and restoring lustrous shine to straight, wavy, or curly hair. Buy Now This co-wash conditioner uses honey to balance hair’s natural oils, controlling oil buildup and hydrating hair on no-shampoo days. Formulated with aloe extract and sea botanicals, this cleansing hair conditioner increases moisture and manageability without weighing hair down. Buy Now The secret to healthy hair is a healthy scalp, and the products you use everyday can take a toll. MopTop's Detox Shampoo is formulated with rich, cleansing coconut, restoring natural balance to the scalp by removing chlorine, product residue, and oil buildup. Buy Now
Learn more
How to Manage Your Under-Conditioned Hair
How to Manage Your Under-Conditioned Here: Re-Hydrate for Healthier Results There are so many variables that affect the health of our hair and one of the biggest offenders is UNDER-Conditioning the hair. DEFINITION: UNDER-CONDITIONING Not using an adequate amount of conditioner, or not conditioning often enough for your texture. Conditioning is one of the best things we can do for our hair, but we have to strike the right balance. This is a case where a little bit more IS more in terms of healthy, more manageable hair. If you under-condition your hair, two things can happen: Frizz (caused by friction and/or lack of moisture) Too much volume Every texture is different and will determine the amount of conditioner that should be used on a daily basis, as well as how often a deep conditioning should be done. How to Condition with MopTop Daily Conditioning Choosing a Daily Conditioner Fine Hair The finer your hair, the lighter your conditioner should be and the less you should use (e.g., dime-to nickel size portion) Textured Hair The thicker your hair, the richer your conditioners should be and the more you should use (e.g. quarter-to-half-dollar portion) Hydration Choose a conditioner that contains hydrating ingredients, like aloe, sea botanicals and honey. Conditioning Your Hair 1 Apply enough conditioner to coat your hair. This amount will vary depending on hair type and texture. 2 Do not apply conditioner to roots, as this can make hair limp and weighed down. Start with the ends and work your way up! 3 Allow conditioner to permeate hair layers (3-5 minutes for normal hair, 4-6 minutes for colored or chemically treated hair) 4 Rinse out conditioner from hair and enjoy your smooth, hydrated locks! 2nd or 3rd Day Conditioning 1 Skip the shampoo! Instead, mix equal parts leave-in conditioner and water in a spray bottle. 2 Spritz conditioner mixture throughout hair layers to give your hair an extra injection of moisture. 3 Scrunch the hair to revive the curl pattern and then don't touch again until 80% dry. 4 Once your hair is 80% dry, scrunch hair again to release the curl pattern for soft, hydrated locks. Deep Conditioning (Every 2-3 Weeks) HAIRCARE TIP: A good deep conditioning not only restores moisture, but also the spring in your curl pattern, which may look as though you've also had a recent trim! 1 After you shampoo, wring out excess water and FLIP ENDS. Apply the deep conditioner to ends and work your way up. 2 Massage into hair and gently comb through. Adjust portion as necessary depending on hair length and thickness. 3 Leave on 3-5 minutes. For more intense conditioning, add a shower cap and dryer heat for 20-30 minutes and let hair cool. 4 Rinse thoroughly with cool water and enjoy your smooth, hydrated locks! For finer hair types and textures, not just any conditioner will do. MopTop’s Light Conditioner is formulated with natural ingredients to gently hydrate thin, straight and wavy hair. Buy Now Give your thick, textured hair the bounceback it needs with MopTop’s Daily Bamboo Conditioner. Formulated with natural, curl-friendly ingredients, including honey, nettle, and silk amino acids, this conditioner works with hair’s natural oils to keep wavy, curly, and kinky-coily hair cleaner for longer. Buy Now Take on tangles and fend off frizz with MopTop’s Leave-in Conditioner. For hair in need of hydration, this leave-in conditioner coats hair strands with nourishing aloe and honey, while vitamin B5 and keratin help soften and strengthen brittle locks. Buy Now
Learn more
Over-Conditioned Hair? Clarify, Clarify, Clarify!
There are so many variables that affect the health of our hair. Over the next few weeks, we’ll touch on a few of the biggest offenders. This week the focus is Over-Conditioned Hair. Conditioning is one of the best things we can do for our hair. For more textured hair, sometimes the drive to ensure the hair is conditioned enough can backfire – the daily conditioner, deep conditioner, oils and butters, and even hard water can cause an extra layer of product residue build-up that becomes impenetrable so that the good stuff can no longer be absorbed into the hair follicle to do its job. When you over-condition your hair, it becomes weighted and limp, looks dirty (even when it’s not), can flatten the hair around the roots, and cause the curl pattern to relax some of its spring. Sometimes too much of a good thing is just that – too much of a good thing. The SOLUTION: clarify. Use a good clarifying shampoo to “detox” once every 4-6 weeks (or more often for extreme build-up) to re-set the hair to its natural state and start off with a clean slate. This allows products, including conditioner, to work better for your hair. It’s also a great idea to clarify right before applying color to your hair – with all the residue removed, a good clarifying treatment will allow your hair to absorb the color better, last longer, and look more vibrant. Get to know your hair to get the best from it – and start off with a good clarifying re-set!
Learn more
Have A Heat Wave Without the Heat Damage
Beat the Heat: Use Heat to Your Advantage There are so many variables that affect the health of our hair. Over the next few weeks, we’ll touch on a few of the biggest offenders. This week the focus is Heat Damage. The reason heat damage is high on the offenders list is largely because it’s cumulative. The damage occurs over time, but repairing the hair can take even longer, so if you use heat on your hair as part of your routine, you need to consider the following. French fries are cooked at 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit. Most flat irons get to 450 Fahrenheit. Healthy undamaged hair burns at about 451 degrees Fahrenheit – that’s why no one makes a hotter flat iron. The temperature at which your hair will burn DECREASES as heat damage INCREASES! That means that your hair becomes more fragile and vulnerable to heat damage the more you apply heat to it. RECOMMENDATION: Figure out the right temperature for your hair if you use a heating element (e.g., flat iron, curling iron, etc.) as part of your styling process. TIPS: 1. Purchase a good heating element that has an adjustable temperature. 2. ALWAYS use a silicone to protect your hair from heat, but remember when using products with silicone to clarify often to remove the build-up and keep hair its healthiest. 3. Start at a low temperature and increase by 10 degrees until it “works”. MORE heat is NOT better. You may test by moving up another 10 degrees, but once you find the right temp, STAY THERE. After the “working” degree is hit for your hair, the only thing you add to your hair with more heat is more heat damage. 4. You can “manage” the damage with deep conditioning treatments and some protein treatments (but here again – proceed with caution, as too much protein can cause breakage). 5. Because heat damage is cumulative, the only real way to eliminate that damage is to cut off the damaged hair. I KNOW, but it had to be said! Naturally, we encourage you to embrace your natural beauty, but we know that sometimes what we’re born with needs coaxing to achieve the desired style, hold, or look you want, and that’s where heat can be really effective. Just remember to use heat conservatively and condition often to help off-set any damage that might accumulate over time. Embrace your natural beauty! Kelly
Learn more
MopTop Tip: How To Apply Curly Hair Custard
The MopTop Curly Hair Custard is one of our highest demand products, so naturally it’s also one of the products we receive the most questions about. The main question is how to apply it.
Learn more
Co-Wash to Increase Moisture, Decrease Shampooing
Co-Wash and Up the Ante with Moisture An old practice that has become a new “trend” due to some recent celebrity endorsements is Co-Washing, which is when you wash your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo, but many of us have been doing it for ages. Benefits of Co-Wash The benefits of Co-Washing your hair are simple:– It reduces the need for daily shampooing, which dries and damages hair– It increases the moisture content in hair, so that hair is healthier Co-Washing is a fabulous way to add a little moisture to your hair and also make it easier to detangle while in the shower. The water and friction created by your fingers massaging your scalp and hair will remove debris from your hair, and there is enough surfactant in the Co-Wash to remove some oil while leaving your hair fresh! Who Should Co-Wash? The ideal candidate for Co-Washing is someone with dryer skin and scalp and/or with more textured hair. The frequency of Co-Washing is totally a function of the oil production of the individual and whatever other products they may use. Our hair is like a thumbprint – everyone’s hair is different and has different needs. Co-Washing works less well for on fine/thin or straight hair textures, or for someone who produces a lot of oil [sebum] naturally. When to return to the traditional shampoo? Basically, when you feel your hair looks dirty and oily, it’s time to use a lathering shampoo. Whether you use traditional shampoo, Co-Wash, or bounce between the two, remember to ALWAYS clarify once a month for a healthy scalp and healthy hair!
Learn more
Second Day Hair: Refresh and Re-Style with MopTop
Rules of Second Day Hair Anyone who knows a lot about hair knows that you SHOULD NOT shampoo every day. Second day hair is hair the day after you’ve last shampooed. Because my hair is so curly and so textured, second- and even third-day hair is not uncommon for me. It allows me to give my hair and scalp a rest without over-shampooing and over-drying and can also be a matter of convenience, adding an extra 30-45 minutes back into my day. Second Day Hair for More Textured Hair What You’ll Need:– Spray water bottle– Water– Product of choice (gel, custard, conditioner) Why water? MopTop products are water-soluble, and the ingredients can be reactivated with a fresh spritz of water, or water mixed with product if you need more control or more moisture. TIP #1: Plan ahead! If you know that you will be going with second-day hair the next day, always use a satin pillowcase the night before – it creates much LESS FRICTION than a regular cotton case.TIP #2: Pineappling or simply putting your hair and clipping it on top of your head while you sleep will reduce friction. Second Day Hair: Frizz Control These two options will give you a little more hold and frizz control: – Approximately one-part water and one-part Curly Hair Custard, OR– Approximately one-part water and one-part Gel Second Day Hair: More Moisture If your hair needs a little extra moisture, try one of these concoctions: – Approximately one-part water and one-part Leave-In Conditioner, OR– Approximately one-part water and one-part Daily Conditioner, OR– Approximately one-part water and one-part Light Conditioner Our product fragrances are fresh and citrusy, which further help to refresh the hair. TIP #3: Start with a small amount of each portion to figure out the right ratio of water:product for your specific hair needs. You may decide that you need two-parts water and one- part product of choice to make a thinner concoction. Play with the ratios to see what works best for you. Second Day Hair: AFTER Exercise I typically work out in the morning before everyone gets up, and depending on the needs of my kids and the day ahead, I may not get to shampoo during my shower routine. While exercising, I think it is important to put my hair up in a ponytail or otherwise contain it to avoid more tangles. I also make sure I plan the intensity of workout based on how much time I have to get ready afterward. After working out (assuming I don’t do a super intense workout), I will use one of several different styles that that allow me to look presentable and either simply “refresh” my hair or, if necessary, do a bun, a half up/half down, or some other style that wears well on Day 2 For more style ideas for textured hair, check out “StrictlyCurls”, by Nicole Siri. She’s one of my favorites! Second Day Hair for LESS Textured Hair Second-day hair can be more challenging for thinner, finer textures or straighter textures. Natural oils show more easily and hair flattens when sleeping, so the strategy here is less product on Day 2 equals more volume. For less-textured second-day hair, try the following:– Sprinkle or spray a VERY SMALL amount of dry shampoo or even baby powder along the roots around the crown– Blow out excess dry shampoo/powder with a hairdryer.– Re-style second-day hair hairbrush and dryer or curling iron.
Learn more