Ultra Black Hair Growth II 2000 Edition
by Cathy Howse
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Book Reviews of Ultra Black Hair Growth II 2000 Edition
Book Review: After the Bible no other book has influenced my life the way this one has!
Summary: 5 Stars
I first ordered this book in March 2006. I was tired of growing my hair and having continuous setbacks. I googled "hair growth without trimmming" and Cathy Howse's site was the first one to come up. I read what she had to say and tried her regimen. After 4 weeks I noticed a huge difference in the appearance of my hair.
After 7 months, I noticed a huge difference in the length of my hair. I had gained a little over three inches.
I have used her conditioner on and off, and as long as I stick to her regimen my hair continues to thrive, even without her products. I have basically had to unlearn everything I was taught regarding "black" hair. I am so thankful to Cathy, that I hand out her brochures whenever I get the chance.
Now here it is, 3 and a half years later, and even though I have had 3 major hair cuts due to heat damage, I still have more hair than I have ever had in my life! I have learned that I can't stray away from Cathy's guidelines, I pay by chopping inches of my hair off if I do. I have a love/hate relationship with blowdryers, and have recently banned them from my hair permanently. My ends get thin and damaged even if I only use a blowdryer a handful of times. Cathy warns against using direct heat in her book and goes into detail about what is happening to our hair when we use heat appliances too frequently.
All I know is that I shudder to think of what state my hair would be in if I was still
>relaxing every 4 weeks
>washing once a month
> greasing my scalp (haven't had ANY dandruff for 3+ years since I STOPPED greasing my scalp)
>blow drying my hair
>flat ironing or curling daily, sometimes twice a day if I was going somewhere after work!!!
>trimming every 3-5 weeks because (I thought) my hair would stop growing if I didn't
>parting my hair in 4 sections, and brushing it 100 strokes for growth every night before bed
I was KILLING my hair and working against it, instead of for it. I would have NO hair line left and my hair would be thin, weak, over processed and a general MESS if I hadn't stumbled across Cathy Howse's site. My eyes are filing with tears as I type this. I never in my wildest dreams would've thought my hair could get this long. I was always told that only mixed girls and everyone else BUT Black women could grow their hair to great lengths. Well, Cathy said otherwise and she definitely got my attention! I am so glad that I gave her a chance, and that I found her site before I discovered the many lies and scams that are out there. Cathy is the real deal and I thank God for her. I will continue to tell every black woman I come into contact with about Cathy! This lady is a God send! As far as I am concerned this book is well worth the 10 bucks. Her products, but not needed ! Her simple, clear cut regimen stands alone!
Book Review: Great book that dispelled a lot of myths about black hair care
Summary: 4 Stars
This book gives some great tips on how to manage black hair. The first best piece of info I received is about the damage of the hair dryer. I didn't realize how much I was damaging my hair until I put on a plastic cap and tried to use a blow dryer to heat condition the hair underneath. The dryer MELTED the plastic cap! I had the dryer arms length away and the plastic still scrunched and wilted! I usually use my heat cap but forgot it and tried the dryer. I was frying my hair!
The next best piece of info I received was to re-condition after a protein treatment. I never understood why protein conditioners & treatments (although it's supposed to make my hair stronger) seemed to cause my hair to be brittle and hard. She also stressed the frequency of washing black hair and moisturize, moisturize, MOISTURIZE! I have seen a big improvement in my hair with that simple step (grease/oil is NOT moisturizer).
I gave the book only four stars because:
1. This book is for relaxed hair - I do not use a relaxer - I only use a ceramic flat iron to straighten my hair. Some of the hair care tips are relevant to those who relax their hair. For example the author recommends air-drying the hair, you cannot simply air dry afro-textured hair (non-relaxed) if you plan on straightening it!!!! Instead of using my dryer with a comb attached, I simply use the "warm" setting on my dryer and only GENTLY dry & pick out the ends of my hair so it doesn't drawl back up when it's dry. I do it with the dryer arms length away & not directly on my hair so I don't use excessive heat, then I let the rest of my hair air dry.
2. She only recommends her products, which I have not tried - I only use CHI products because they compliment the use of ceramic styling the best with my hair. Also, her moisturizer (hair dew) is not recommended for natural hair because it can revert the hair. She recommends a cream/lotion moisturizer for natural hair so, I use CHI deep brilliance Reflect & Lusters Pink Oil Moisturizer (Lusters has greatly improved their formula, it smells good & you can choose light, medium, or heavy moisturizer).
3. The authors online resources should be improved. The website is not up to par (questions & answers). Also some of her answers to people's questions can seem rash - but I think it's just not proper use of "email etiquette".
Other than those three things this is a great book. If some steps don't apply just use a common-sense approach for your own hair. I've used her steps for about a month now & my hair has grown about 1/2 inch, it's soft, and doesn't break-off. I don't plan on "trimming" it off either. She gives great advise about trimming too. My boyfriend also complimented my hair :-)
Book Review: This is for sister with common sense
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been using Cathy's program since June of 2003. My hair was just at my ear when I started, it is now November and my hair is touching my shoulders and is the healthest my hair has ever been. My story is like most sisters my hair would break off before it would get to the lenth that I want, or it would thin out if it did get to the lenth (rarely), and who wants long see through hair? Out of frustration I wore braids for over a year. But I wanted to wear my own hair, when I found the program and thought I'd give it a shot. My hair was natural when I took the braids down to my horror I had not been protecting my hair I had damage it beyond belif,(I had synthetic hair not natural and it dried out my hair completly) the texture of my hair was that of matted dolls hair, and that's an insult to the dolls hair. The older part of the hair would not take the relaxer, my hairdresser had to apply it 3 times to get any change in texture, the whole time I'm praying that my hair would not melt away. Still my shoulder lenth hair had to be cut to just at my ear. Fortanatly I had Cathy's book and I followed her advice to the letter, amazingly with 3 application of relaxer at 1 sitting NO BREAKAGE!!! only natural hair shedding. I am no longer afraid of relaxers I did not exspect to enjoy the process of growing my hair out , as much as the end result, but I do. I don't understand why some of the reviewers have such a negative mindset on this book, it really seems like their nitpicking at every minute insignificant straw that they can grasp at. Well it's their loss I hope any who is looking at this review will take the time to think for themselves and really look at what these people are griping about...nothing. Also one reviewer who critizes Cathy for promoting her hair conditioner, I wonder did it ever dawn on her that there really isn't another conditioner on the market that was developed for the benifit and needs of BLACK HAIR as describe in the book. Or give credit to someone who did not sit on the sidelines an whine but did something about it. I did take the time to search the market myself and if you want the garbage that companies are promoting to take our money because THEY KNOW we want long hair but they don't want to do anything about it, That is your choice. And why don't the big companies make stuff that actually works for our hair? Because you make more money treating the problem instead of curing it. And that crap that they are selling doesn't even treat it we are just in the dark and desperate for anything that may work. The cure will come from you. Once you have the knowlege no one can ever take it away.Book Review: A Great Resoure for Your Hair Library
Summary: 4 Stars
I consider myself a "Cosmo Girl", who reads and researches everything on beauty in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, online journals, books and black magazines (such as Hair Hype and Sophisticates)(also I am the daughter of a cosmetology instructor), so I can honestly say Cathy book is very accurate and well researched. I like the fact that she adds footnotes, backing her research. The reference to Paula Begoun's reviews is a great addition. I came across Cathy's website, after looking for an alternative to Wanakee. Wanakee does have fabulous hair, but quite frankly her products are greasy and thick. Not to mention, after reading Cathy's book, a lot of Wanakee research does not make sence. . . I am so glad I followed my gut instinct, and did not wack off all my hair after reading the advice from her.
I so glad she dispelled the rumors behind hair oil (greese). I hate that stuff, it resembles lard, and makes your hair heavy and stinky. Not to mention, I hate sitting next to a window on the subway after someone's greasy head has left an imprint on it.
Also, I like the rumors she exsposed to water, like washing the hair drys it out! Or cutting your hair makes it grow (take that Wanakee)!
Finally, using Cathy's principles I can have hair to my waist (my dream). I always wanted long, flowing, barbie doll length hair (oh yeah - before you start talking about me, just remember hair weave is a booming industry, and I see more women in hip-hop videos with weave to their butts, and I always watch black men drooling over women with round rears and hair all down their back, so obvioulsy I am not the only black woman who likes "beyond long hair" - so there)!
I decided to buy Cathy's products, I love her conditioner, the peppermint sensation is soothing and it has just enough oil to make keep it healty (not greasy). I deep condition my hair every 3 days, and I use dew every day.
My only problem is Cathy products are rather pricey $$$, I have tried mixing peppermint oil and mineral oil with Nexxus Humectant Moisturerizing Conditioner, and that seems to work. But bececause I am doing the "1 year hair challenge", I am strickly using her products and I only resort to my Nexxus concoction when in a pinch.
...).
I am currently working on Before and After Pictures of my hair growth, so far in the last 5 months my hair has grown from my bottom of my ear lobes to my collar bone. In about 2 years, I should have waist length hair. E-mail me at ..., if you like to see my website once I am done making it with the pictures of my prgress. Also, if you have a progress pictures to share I would like to see them too!
Book Review: Cathy Reminded Me I CAN Grow My Hair
Summary: 4 Stars
I, like others, received the book and read it in one sitting. It's very conversational and straight-forward. Hair stylists in my area are more concerned with the latest styles, hair additions and pushing product. I was told by several stylists that if I didn't have x amount of another ethnicity, it was pointless to try to grow my hair long and "just work with that the good Lord gave ya."
Cathy reminded me of the reason I wear extensions and add-ons: I want longer hair. She helped me remember that I'm capable of growing my hair long. It was past my bra line 15 years ago.
Four weeks I've followed these methods. My breakage has reduced by 60% - my hair was severely damaged. I have noticeable new growth (1/4 to 1/2"), as well as improvement of the texture of my hair. The book reminded me of the methods I used years ago, as well as educated me. I haven't purchased her products, but I do know what to look for and avoid in others.
I gave the book 4 stars because of "product peppering" - I felt every page had a "buy my product" vibe. Cathy also did a disservice by not including the formula for a stimulating conditioner in this latest edition. Many, many thanks to the person who posted it! People like choices and alternatives. She's proud of and stands by her products and from what I hear, rightfully so - my mom uses her products. I'd just like to hear alternatives.
Speaking of Cathy's website, I love her extensive tips on hair care. Again, the product peppering was a bit much for my taste. I've read comments on how she responds to questions - it can seem harsh. I attribute that to frequent use of exclamation points and misinterpretation of tone. She is straight-forward and doesn't sugar coat. In the written word, it can come across as arrogant and inflammatory. I've received and sent emails between friends where the tone was misconstrued.
Attitude or not, she wouldn't have done years of research and shared her knowledge if she didn't want to make a difference. I personally have known a handful of sistas who had long, luxurious hair. When asked how they grew it, they replied, "oh, I just wash and condition real good." I asked what they used, "oh, it's something my cousin in Atlanta sends me, I forget the name." Mmmm hmmm...
Cathy shared her knowledge and I'm utterly grateful. This book changed my life. I had given up on my hair ever being long again.