The Hair Debate

The beauty and cosmetology industry is a vast and ever-evolving world, where professionals work diligently to enhance the appearance and well-being of their clients. Whether it's hairstylists, nail technicians, estheticians, or makeup artists, these experts are an integral part of our lives. However, there is a pressing concern within this industry – the rising number of individuals who choose to operate without a license, putting not only their careers but also the safety and health of their clients at risk.

A cosmetology license is more than just a piece of paper; it is a symbol of expertise, training, and a commitment to maintaining high standards of professionalism and safety. To become a licensed cosmetologist, one must undergo a comprehensive training program, which includes learning about various techniques, safety protocols, and health standards. Obtaining a license ensures that a professional has acquired the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their services safely and effectively.

When individuals choose to operate without a license, they circumvent these critical training programs and safety standards. This is where the risks begin.

Join us as Morale Ocain and Ashlee Patterson discuss this important issue in the beauty industry.

The allure of sleek, straight hair is undeniable, and for many, hair relaxers have been a go-to solution to achieve this desired look. However, a critical point often overlooked is that relaxers are not meant for the inexperienced hands of consumers. They are potent chemical treatments that can transform your hair, for better or worse, and should be handled with care, precision, and expertise by professionals.

In the latest episode of The Hair Debate podcast, our host, Morale Ocain, sits down with our remarkable guest, Tiara Peterson, a master cosmetologist, to address the pressing issue of relaxers being readily available for consumers to use at home. This episode challenges some common myths about DIY relaxers and emphasizes the importance of getting a chemical treatment like relaxers only from professionals.

The conversation kicks off with a thought-provoking discussion about a recent "Hair Relaxer Lawsuit." Tiara Peterson reflects on the lawsuit, sharing her initial confusion and how it added fuel to the fire of her long-held belief that relaxers have been misused. "When I saw the lawsuit, I didn't know how to take it because I already feel that relaxers are misused. That gave it so much of a bad name," she says. The lawsuit exposed the grim reality that many consumers are not fully educated on the proper use of relaxers. This lawsuit only added to the negative perception, highlighting the importance of responsible usage.

As Morale and Tiara explore the world of hair relaxers, they make one thing abundantly clear: Relaxers are potent chemicals that should never have landed on the consumer's countertop. Tiara passionately advocates for leaving relaxer applications to the capable hands of professionals, emphasizing that consumers are often inadequately educated about the proper usage of these chemicals.

The episode delves deeper into the misconceptions surrounding relaxers, particularly the misunderstanding that they are "hair strengtheners." In reality, these chemicals do not fortify your hair but rather alter its structure. This revelation will have you reconsidering any impulse to reach for a relaxer kit at your local store.

The discussion also sheds light on the timing of relaxer applications, a crucial factor often misunderstood by DIY enthusiasts. Tiara passionately highlights that there's an art to this process that professionals have mastered through education and experience, an art that is too frequently overlooked in the DIY world.

In the midst of this enlightening conversation, a unanimous declaration is made: Relaxers should never be in the hands of consumers; they are tools meant for professionals. They are potent, transformative, and potentially risky if not handled with care and expertise.

This episode of The Hair Debate is a must-listen for anyone who has ever considered a DIY relaxer kit. Morale Ocain and Tiara Peterson's informative and engaging dialogue serves as a compelling reminder that some things are best left to the experts, especially when it comes to your hair's health and beauty. Tune in now to educate yourself on the vital subject of relaxers, and remember, when it comes to your hair, trust the pros.

“When you help another woman, when you lift another woman up then you are leading beauty” - Latanya A. Like Morale Ocain, the founder of The Hair Debate, sits with Latanya A. Like, the ambassador of Mixed Chicks on THD Podcast to discuss about Mixed Chicks and her inspiring mission to empower women.

In this episode, host Morale Ocain interviews Demond Crump, CEO of Reign Premium Sanitary Napkin, to discuss the safety of feminine products. As a male CEO of a feminine product company, Demond shares how he became comfortable creating such a product and the story behind it. He talks about the love a husband and father has for the women in his life, and how it inspired him to create a product that ensures their safety during their menstrual cycle or for women who experience leakage.

Demond's prayer was always to be in a necessity field, and that's why he believes his prayer was answered through sanitary pads. He learned that women, young girls, and even women in menopause use pantyliners or pads every day, and he realized that creating a better solution for women to stay comfortable and dry during their menstrual cycle or leakage was necessary. He goes on to explain that when he first told his wife about his invention, she laughed and discouraged him from getting involved with such a product. However, when he showed her and his daughter the demonstration of the prototype, they were blown away by its uniqueness and the difference it made in a woman's life. His wife customized the product, and that's how the Premium Reign Pad came to life.

Demond explains that Reign Premium Sanitary Napkin is different from other sanitary products because of the material used in the top layer, which is super soft and modeled after women's underwear. He explains that the absorbency system is super absorbent and unique because it sucks away any type of fluid or liquid away from the body, making the top layer of the pad stay dry. He also introduces the Nobel Prize-winning material "Graphene," which is a natural bacteria killer and relaxes the uterus. Demond believes that other companies knew about the material's existence but didn't want to put it on the market because they still made money when young girls were cramping or having yeast infections.

In conclusion, this podcast is informative, inspiring, and eye-opening. Demond Crump shares his passion for creating a product that ensures women's safety during their menstrual cycle or for women who experience leakage. He explains the uniqueness of his product and how it stands out from other sanitary products. Demond's story is a reminder that anyone can create something great and make a difference in people's lives.

Here are some additional resources related to Reign Premium Sanitary Napkins and hair care:

Welcome to Rooted, The Hair Experience. Our guest today is Dr. Calvin Ellison, a Holistic Health expert who will share his views on the importance of the food we eat and its impact on our health. Dr. Ellison believes that good health or bad health starts from the inside, and the food we put in our bodies must match the chemical makeup of our insides. As he says, "we are products of what we put in," and we must ask ourselves if what we eat will nourish us or cause problems.

Morale Ocain, the host of Rooted, shared her own experience with a client who was having hair issues due to the water she used to wash her hair. Dr. Ellison explained that Holistic Health is more than just food and exercise; it's a composite of all the choices we make. Our body is like a vehicle that needs water, gas, and oil to function properly. If we put something in our body that doesn't match its chemical makeup, we will have a chemical clash that can lead to illnesses like cancer and diabetes.

Dr. Ellison reminds us that God did not design any crop to destroy us, but to nourish us. Unfortunately, most crops today are grown using chemicals that even insects can't eat. No wonder we are experiencing a high number of cancers and other disorders. It's time to start talking to our food and asking it, "if I let you into my body, what are you going to do for me?" Join us as we learn more about the importance of Holistic Health from Dr. Calvin Ellison on Rooted, The Hair Experience.

Resources:

Life after trauma can be extremely challenging and scary especially when you are still holding on to the past.

Today I sit down with the one and only Dr. A’Cire to talk about Masking Trauma. Using Lot’s wife as an analogy who was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back to see the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Dr. A’Cire emphasized the importance of letting go of the past and setting yourself up for transformation.

Dr. A'Cire (Known as The Real A'Cire www.therealacire.com) is a Certified Transformational Life Coach and serial entrepreneur. She is the owner of TRA Renewed Mind Coaching and Consulting, LLC. 

This episode also gives a sneak peek into Dr. A’Cire personal experience with masking trauma. 

Resources:

We live in a world full of people pretending to be something they're not. 

Today I sit down with the one and only Dr. A’Cire to talk about Masking Trauma. Starting from the most basic level of understanding, Dr. A’Cire explains the meaning of masking and we went ahead to uncover how people, especially women today are using hairpieces, wigs, and cosmetics to camouflage pain, trauma, and lack of self-esteem. 

Dr. A'Cire (Known as The Real A'Cire www.therealacire.com) is a Certified Transformational Life Coach and serial entrepreneur. She is the owner of TRA Renewed Mind Coaching and Consulting, LLC. 

This episode also gives a sneak peek into Dr. A’Cire personal experience with masking trauma. 

Conversation Snapshots: 

• Understanding Masking
• Sneak peek into Dr. A’Cire personal experience with masking trauma.
• Protection: why people, especially children protect their abusers. Disguise/internal stress of masking trauma; pretending to Be Happy Isn't Making You Better: internal stress of masking trauma. Stages of Trauma/Grief. 

Resources:

Hey loves, it’s good to be back with another episode!

On today’s episode Yasmeen, a client of mine is on set, I have being servicing her and her family for a few years and I must say each person’s hair feels like going to a different country and one time she was sharing her experience about what it feels like growing up in a family where the parents had multiple backgrounds and I thought to share with you guys today.

According to her, she felt different from the rest of the family because there weren’t any striking resemblance with her mom even though they had the same complexion, she had different hair texture from her mom and sister so it was a struggle maintaining her hair as she had to share the same hair product with her mom and sister growing up.

It took her sometime to feel comfortable in her own hair and her experience with relaxers was a sad one.

Her hair journey was an amazing one and I’m so glad to have a client with such a beautiful history.

I had so much fun during this episode and I’m sure you will love it too.

Don’t forget to rate, share and follow us

Happy Listening!!!

Resources:

Today let's welcome Dr. Isafahan Chambers-Harris, a world renowned leader and pioneer in the field of natural haircare products. Combining PhD in Biomedical science, MPH and a passion for healthy hair, Dr. Isafahan is the founder of Alodia Haircare, an innovative haircare line that is poised to take haircare to the next level. She is a Presidential Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Fellow at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. Previously she conducted research on autoimmune disease sarcoidosis at Vanderbilt School of Medicine.

Today's episode is really special and personal as Dr. Isafahan Chambers-Harris talks about her journey to starting Alodia Haircare from the ground up.

Resources:

Today let’s welcome Dr. Isafahan Chambers-Harris, a world renowned leader and pioneer in the field of natural hair care products. Combining PhD in Biomedical science, MPH and a passion for healthy hair, Dr. Isafahan is the founder of Alodia Hair care, an innovative hair care line that is poised to take hair care to the next level. She is a Presidential Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Fellow at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. Previously she conducted research on autoimmune disease sarcoidosis at Vanderbilt School of Medicine.

Dr. Isafahan Chambers-Harris talks about her struggle with relaxers, autoimmune diseases like sarcoidosis and lupus, misconception of natural hair products, curl pattern and what inspired her in starting the hair care line, Alodia.

“Going back to the story of me being a scientist, working on a clerical study and looking at autoimmune diseases that disproportionately affect black women. Seeing these women exposed to toxic chemicals that’s causing their diseases and also the fact I was experiencing damage with my hair and scalp, really inspired me to create products women can trust for themselves and their families; products that is not going to expose them to toxic chemicals that are endocrine disrupting, cancer causing, asthma inducing…” says Dr. Isafahan.

What We Discuss:

• Introduction
• Effect of chemical hair relaxer
• Autoimmune diseases(sarcoidosis and lupus)
• Misconception of natural hair products.
• Curl pattern
• Reason behind Alodia Hair care.

Consumers in America are constantly manipulated. When it comes to buying new hair products, if you’re unaware of your options and the truth behind the labels… the beauty world can be tricky.

To further validate this point, we interviewed Dr. Gaby Longsworth, Ph.D., a scientist, certified hair practitioner, a biotech/pharmaceutical patent attorney and the founder of Absolutely Everything curly. In the interview Dr.Gaby said that she put together a database of over 7500 hair products and noticed similarities between the products and their price manipulation.

One of the things her experiment uncovered was that some brands sell certain hair products too expensive claiming they contain certain ingredients but when you carefully examine the content list you will find those ingredients at the bottom of the list meaning they are only present in tiniest amounts which may make no difference whatsoever.

• Tricky labeling and price manipulation
• Sulfate vs Apple Cider
• Hair has personality. You can’t adopt what someone else is using or doing. You have to learn the personality of your hair.
• First Path In Learning About Your Hair: Mirroring or adopting other people’s hair care routine may or may not work for you. You have to create your own routine by first learning about your hair.
• Having multiple people in the house, with different curl patterns, is it safe to say that we need different hair products? What factors do we look at in determining what products would be effective?
• Ultimate Guides for curly hair products.
• For individuals frustrated with their curl patterns, it's not defined, or elongated, what would you advise them?

Resources:

These days it seems that most products are being marketed with the word “NATURAL” slapped on the label but are these products really safe?

Organic products are not really 100% natural. They include Preservatives, alcohol, petroleum jelly, sulfates, parabens, synthetic colors, or any other chemicals which may not be clearly stated on the packaging.

Morale Ocain on Tuesday interviewed Dr. Yvonne Abimbola, BSc, MBBS, MRCGP, PGDip Derm (Dist.), to talk about how natural our natural products are.

• A product for everybody is a product for nobody.
• Organic products are not 100% natural.
• Sulfates are not as black as it’s painted.
• Long-term effects of chemicals in hair products that may impact your health.
• Safe tips about seborrheic dermatitis

More and more women of colour are waking up to the dangers of relaxers and choosing instead to embrace their natural hair. Many still do not understand the devastating effects that relaxers can have, not only your hair, but on your health too.  This week we are ‘shining a light’ on adverse effects of relaxer and other chemical hair straightener.     

Please join us as Dr. Yvonne Abimbola, BSc, MBBS, MRCGP, PGDip Derm (Dist.), shares important information on side effects of hair relaxer.

Conversation Snapshot:

• Scalp burn
• Chronic inflammation on the scalp
• Chronic inflammation beneath the scalp: Recurrent use of relaxer can cause chronic inflammation beneath the scalp. It may not be a type of inflammation that can be seen on the surface but rather a type of inflammation that is occurring deep under the scalp. How can this condition be remedied?
• Contact Dermatitis
• How recurrent use of relaxers speeds up the pathway for androgenic alopecia.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in Dermatology.
• BONUS: there’s a new effective treatment for alopecia areata. It’s called Baricitinib oral tablets. In June 2022, the FDA approved Olumiant (baricitinib) for the treatment of adults with severe alopecia areata. Olumiant is a pill that's taken by mouth once a day. More details in the podcast.

Dr. Crystal E Porter openly shares her amazing insights on white and black hair products. We started the conversation with her experience and expertise - from the mission behind Mane Insights, her first career in cosmetic science at Unilever, her corporate career at L’Oréal to her recent black hair matters movement.

Next, we dived deep into the white and black hair products discussion.

Snapshots of our conversation:

• You might have encountered an ethnic hair care section in stores packed with promising hair products tailored towards specific populations. Do you think this is necessary? Are beauty companies formulating certain products for a specific population? Or can a Caucasian use black hair products and vice versa?
• When it comes to developing hair products from a manufacturing standpoint, what criteria do they typically use in developing those products and recipes?
• She also briefly talked about her research method stating some intrinsic factors that influence her research.
• Reflecting on the hair and salon industry as a whole; 5 to10 years from now, do you see more black stylists servicing a white client and vice versa?

Resources:

Dr. Crystal E Porter openly shares her amazing insights on white and black hair products. We start the conversation with her experience and expertise - from the mission behind Mane Insights, her first career in cosmetic science at Unilever, her corporate career at L’Oréal to her recent black hair matters movement.

Next, we dived deep into the white and black hair products discussion.

Snapshots of our conversation:

• You might have encountered an ethnic hair care section in stores packed with promising hair products tailored towards specific populations. Do you think this is necessary? Are beauty companies formulating certain products for a specific population? Or can a caucasian use black hair products and vice versa?
  
• When it comes to developing hair products from a manufacturing standpoint, what criteria do they typically use in developing those products and recipes?
• She also briefly talked about her research method stating some intrinsic factors that influence her research.
• Reflecting on the hair and salon industry as a whole; 5 to10 years from now, do you see more black stylists servicing a white client and vice versa?

Resources:

Our blood can tell us a lot about our health—how well our organs are working, diagnosing diseases and conditions and finding out certain risk factors. But could our blood also indicate what type of foods we should be eating to stay healthy?

Dr. Joy Scott is one of the pacesetters that advocated the benefits of eating for your blood type for decades.

She has been actively involved in this project for over 25 years and has birthed many health supplements as a result of the aforementioned.

In this interview she shares her vast experience and strategies for ingesting the right nutrients into your bloodstream by eating the right food. This is something you wouldn’t like to miss.

Who is Dr. Joy Scott? Dr. Joy Scott is a a Nutritionist, Weight Loss Coach, Superfoodist, and Vegetarian. She has been very successful in helping people, by applying proper food, combining principles, utilizing Super Foods, and detoxifying the body. Fondly known by her clients, She have been featured in newspapers, on television and radio stations, giving lectures and seminars.

Resources:

Healthy hair starts from the inside out. A healthy body produces healthy hair, and a good scalp detox will allow your follicles to receive better nutrients and minerals. In this interview with Dr. Scott, she talked about scalp detoxification highlighting the importance of getting your scalp properly cleansed and nourished.

Keeping the scalp clean and healthy is an integral part in achieving normal healthy hair growth. If the scalp is not clean then build-up from variety of hair products can clog the hair follicle , resulting in a range of hair issues.

Listen as Dr. Scott explain in details the benefits of scalp detoxification. If you are big on growing healthy, shiny natural hair! This show is for you.

Resources:

Today I sat down with our first time guest, the one and only Antonia Stone to talk about different hair issues affecting men. Antonia Stone is a certified trichologist, practitioner, cosmetologist and barber. Antonia Stone is known for promoting a healthy hair & scalp environment by analyzing treatment & protection for scalp disorders & disease + fades.

Podcast Snapshot:

• Male baldness has become a genuine epidemic in recent times. Antonia Stone started by giving insights on the epidemic of male baldness.
• She also talks about the health benefits of sunlight justifying the reason you shouldn’t wear hats all the time.
• Are you shampooing and conditioning right?  Hair doesn’t grow where blood doesn’t flow; Dehydration halts hair growth, so are you drinking enough water? Stone talks about the  preventative measures of baldness
• Healthy hair depends on certain nutrients. You are what you eat, she says. Antonia Stone highlighted the importance of vitamins and proper diet as it pertains to hair health.
• Why do men neglect hair care and do you see that evolving?
• Brush Bristles and scalp irritation: Hairbrush is a staple in every hair kit, it’s easily the most overlooked component. Stone talks about the importance of choosing a hairbrush based on your hair type and why overly brushing your hair could cause traction alopecia and other scalp irritation.
• Lastly she recommended good moisturizing cream for hair and the best way to apply it.

Resources:

You may be frying your hair thinking you’re strengthening it.

Don’t blame heat for everything. You may be applying heat to a hair that’s already damaged thereby frying it instead of strengthening it.

We all want that consistent curl pattern but things can get in the way. Damaged hair won’t curl! In this episode of the ROOTED podcast, I’ll teach you how to get your curls back by understanding the difference between heat damaged and damaged hair.

I also suggest ways to repair your natural curl pattern after damaging your hair.

There’s no lie in saying that too much heat and straightening hair too frequently will damage your curls! but this doesn’t rule out the benefits of heat to your hair. I’ll also teach you how to use heat to your advantage.

Last but not least, I talked about hair texture, what damaged hair looks like and how to know your hair love language.

Resources:

Our hair volume it’s an area of concern for all of us at some stage or another. When we are in that “In between” stage, we often get frustrated and confused on how to style. In this episode of ROOTED podcast, Morale Ocain gives simple and effective tips and techniques for styling hair when it’s too thick or too thin.

Resources:

From behind the chair to behind the mic; After the interview with Elaine Truesdale last week about “Stylist-Client Relationship”, Morale Ocain linked up with yet another big personality in the beauty Industry, Angela Slade to dive deeper into the subject. This interview is packed with a lot of useful tips on how to maintain a healthy relationship with your stylist.

Topic snapshot:

• Importance of establishing a healthy relationship with your stylist.
• What’s the biggest enemy stopping you from establishing a healthy relationship with your stylist?
• Are you really consuming healthy information about your hair online?
• Effects of using a relaxer or gel you have no education about.
• How we “stylist” feel when you don’t take our advice or do the things we recommend to maintain your hair.
• Why I don’t just service my client, I educate them about hair care.
• The significance of educating your clientele about hair care.

Resources:

In this week’s ROOTED Episode, Morale Ocain gets together with Elaine Truesdale, CEO of Atlanta Natural Hair Care Professionals, to talk about the importance of establishing 

a relationship with your stylist.

Going to the hair salon is an intimate practice. You set aside a time — usually a decent amount of time as well, from one hour to even three — and you take that time out of your usual hustle and bustle. Maybe you leave work early; maybe you make an appointment for a quiet Saturday morning; maybe you take a whole day off for a little self-care. The time set aside is special because you are choosing to create time and space to go and be wholly refreshed, both in appearance and in spirit.