Hair braiding is an old method of maintaining hair used by women. There are many black hair braiding styles used in various countries. English braid, French braid, Dutch braid and fishtail styles are some of the hair braiding styles. These styles can be used on formal occasions like wedding or on casual occasions. With little practice one can become quite good at braiding hair.


You need some necessary things before going for braiding hair. The things needed include a wide-tooth comb and a rubber band or ponytail holder. If you feel that braiding should be done on damp hair then you should have a bottle spray of water.


In the case of dry or fine hair it is better to use some kind of gel or spray on hair before braiding hair as it would be convenient then. The following are the steps to braid hair of a person:


• Braiding hair should start with the use of hair gel or spray on the hair to help it become smooth. The hair should be dried then.


• In the beginning of braiding, hair should be divided among three sections. You should place the the left section between the left index finger and the thumb. The middle finger should be let free and the right section of hair should be placed between the right index finger and the thumb. This will create a braiding pattern.


• The middle section of the right middle finger should be grabbed. The right thumb and the index fingers should be extended so that that portion of hair becomes the middle section.


• You should use the left finger to pull the middle section of hair behind the left section.


• You should extend the left index finger and the thumb to make the left section of hair become the middle section.


• You should shift the portion of hair hooked in the right middle finger so that it sits between the right index finger and the thumb. This process should be repeated and then you should shift the portion of the hair hooked in the left middle finger so it sits between the left index finger and the thumb.


• The process should be continued untill you get the hair braiding of your desire.


To get a tight braiding the middle section of the braid should be pulled along the horizontal lines. The tip of the hair should be tied using a ruber band. Braiding hair needs patience and practice to learn. It takes some time to become good at it. Pulling of hair too harsh should be avoided during braiding as it can result in hair fallout.

You can learn more about how to braid hair like:

Three-strand braided styles using synthetic and human hair extensions

How to build various cornrow looks with synthetic hair extensions

How to construct a micro braid look with human and synthetic hair

How to successfully interlock various braided and non braided hairstyles

How to make killer cornrows for guys

There is also a special section on upkeep and matienence of each hair style

For all this and more on hair braiding click here

Dandruff is due to the excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. Dandruff can happen at any age but is most commonly found in people between the ages of 12 and 80. Dandruff is not an organism like lice; it is just dead skin that accumulates in the scalp. Dandruff is unlikely to be the cause of hair loss. Dandruff is a global phenomenon and many people find that dandruff can cause social or self-esteem problems. Dandruff is an itchy, annoying and persistent skin disorder of the scalp. A dark shirt and dandruff just simply don't go together! There is nothing more embarrassing than to have someone brush white flakes off your new black sweater or denim jacket. In the past ten years dandruff problems in the United States have become more serious and more frequent. In a normal scalp, the process of sloughing off old cells and manufacturing of their replacements is very orderly and complete. In the dandruff scalp, there is mass disorder and often the departing cells are not dead before leaving the scalp.

Dandruff can cause either an overly dry scalp with itchy white flakes that may be waxy or greasy or dandruff can manifest as an oily greasy scalp with scales. Dandruff mostly occurs after puberty, usually between the ages of 20 and 30, and affects males more than females. Dry skin. Simple dry skin — the kind you get in winter when the air is cold and rooms are overheated — is by far the most common cause of itchy, flaking skin. Seborrheic dermatitis. This condition, a frequent cause of dandruff, is marked by red, greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales. Seborrheic dermatitis affects not only your scalp but also other areas rich in oil glands, such as your eyebrows, the sides of your nose and the backs of your ears, your breastbone, your groin area, and sometimes your armpits. Dandruff is the shedding of excessive amounts of dead skin flakes from the scalp.

People who actually have a dry scalp are also dry all over their skin. Some people say their dandruff gets worse when they are stress, anxiety and tension. Dandruff is a chronic condition that can almost always be controlled, but dandruff treatment may take a little patience and persistence. Zinc pyrithione shampoos-These contain the antibacterial and antifungal agent zinc pyrithione, which has been shown to reduce the fungus that causes dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Age-Dandruff usually begins at puberty — about the same time as acne. It's common throughout adolescence and young adulthood and peaks around age 40. Oily hair and scalp. Malassezia feeds on oils in your scalp. For that reason, having excessively oily skin and hair makes you more prone to dandruff. Head & Shoulders anti-dandruff shampoo containing active ingredient Zinc pyrithione. Nizoral Shampoo anti-fungal/anti-dandruff shampoo containing active ingredient Ketoconazole. The antifungal properties of Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Oil) have been reported as useful in the treatment of dandruff.

Dandruff Treatment Tips

1. Washing hair with rubbing alcohol gets rid of the dandruff and leaves hair feeling soft and clean.

2. Head & Shoulders anti-dandruff shampoo containing active ingredient Zinc pyrithione.

3. Nizoral Shampoo anti-fungal/anti-dandruff shampoo containing active ingredient Ketoconazole.

4. Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Oil) have been reported as useful in the treatment of dandruff.

5. Selenium sulfide been reported as the most effective of the tested shampoos at treating dandruff.

6. Oral anti-fungals and oral antibiotics if your scalp becomes infected.

7. Topical corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, keratolytics to remove thick scaly patches.

8. Nizoral Shampoo anti-fungal/anti-dandruff shampoo containing active ingredient Ketoconazole.

9. Tar containing shampoos are also used for treatment of dandruff.

10. Washing hair with rubbing alcohol gets rid of the dandruff and leaves hair feeling soft and clean.

If you've already tried all the above and nothing worked, then try this what have you got to lose!