Rating: 
Summary: I was disappointed...
Review: Cathy Howse is a talented black woman who wrote this book for black woman who are trying to grow their hair, but she is also a woman trying to feed her family. I was disappointed with the books instructions and the extremely narrow and limited list of products that she suggested or didn't suggest. She doesn't really explain the types of conditioners and shampoos (there are other products out there besides her own, which she pushes shamlessly).
There are a wide variey of products that have been put on the market since the writing of her first book and this book, and I felt she should have listed some of them.
Basically it's trial and error YOU have to find what works for YOU, whether it's her products or not. Also her website criticizes other authors for doing the same thing she did: writing a book about their experiences and what worked for them. She endorses no-lye relaxers and doesn't take into consideration that it does not matter if it's lye or not it a chemical that alters your hair and needs to be applied by someone who knows what they are doing be it yourself or a licensed cosmotologist.
She seems the need to be in control which is why she says that marcel irons and pressing combs should be banned and you should only use electric appliances (which can be heat controlled).
Once again if YOU know what YOU'RE doing or are going to a hairdresser who's knows what their doing marcel irons should not be a problem.
And what is her problem with brushing! Yeah you'll go bald if you brush you hair everyday with a hard military brush! I use a 100% natural bore bristle brush which is very soft. I use it once a week and I don't rake it through my hair! The book had some good points, but overall save your money because you'll have to figure out what works for you anyway. As for me I'm going natural!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book on Hair Care
Review: Cathy Howse wrote this book when there were no hair care books or forums dealing with hair care to be found. This book is excellent because it reminds us of something very important: having common sense when dealing with your hair.
Cathy Howse also has a website dedicated to hair care, www.ubhpublications.com. Cathy is not a hair stylist, may have criticised her for this, but I think this book HAD to be written by someone who was not in the industry. She does; however, have several awards to her credit, proving this book is effective.
Cathy talks about not trimming your ends. Let's get something straight once and for all. Cathy NEVER said you shouldn't trim your ends under any circimstances. She says that you do not need to trim your ends to make your hair grow. Cathy trims her hair to even out her length and she says you should trim your hair if it is damaged. She also shows her ends untrimmed to prove that whether or not your hair has split ends, your hair will grow.
Concerning her products, yes, she does talk about her products quite a bit. SHe says that her products are the only products that have all the elements you need in a conditioner. At the time, that was very true. If you want alternatives, there are products that do a great job at conditioning the hair. She really does not force the reader to buy her products. Since this is her book and her products, I think she is certainly entitled to mention them. You will find that there are many people who do this.
Cathy's criticism of the critics and hairstylists was, I felt, appropriate. She challenges the industry's myths and she does so tastefully. She supports her critique with many examples to the contrary.
Concerning her advice, I think it was effective. There were some alterations I had to make because I have natural hair and I find that natural hair has slightly different care requirements, but overall her advice was excellent for the beginner. I find that as a natural hair wearer, it is essential for me to keep my hair braided or in and "updo" of some sort. Wearing my hair "out" leaves it prone to dryness and breakage. I also did not like the "Dew"--it was just as effective as putting water on my hair, which is not what my hair needs.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book - the leader of it's kind.
Review: Cathy's book is informative. Who cares that she may seem rude - she knows her stuff! I picked up the book two years ago. I waited to write a review because I wanted to try it out myself.
I also have read Shamboosie's book, Lisa Akbari's book and No Lye!. Shamboosie's book is a basic advertisement for Nexxus and Dudley products. Lisa's book didn't really contain any new information - plus it was questionable if she actually addressed the black hair type that most of us share. Out of them all, I liked Cathy's book. Shamboosie just had regular looking people in his book, besides one token person with long hair. Cathy has actual photos of people who have used her method - and it's more than one person (...)
Cathy's book makes sense - the more you condition, moisturize and give your hair gentle care the better it grows. For instance, my hair was in a short style with tapered sides and edges two years ago. Now, my hair is to my shoulders and it's very shiny and healthy. It has never been this long before without breaking off. Try her method with good products. I'm not necessarily an advocate for her products - although you can try them. I've tried a gang of them and thrown them out. However, I do keep the following stock: Cathy's daily creme moisturizer - it is truly the best moisturizer that I have found that doesn't tend to be drying, dulling, weighty or greasy. I also use AVEDA anti-humectant pomade - it smells good and gives huge shine. For conditioner, I use Aubrey Organics GPB (found at the VitaminShoppe and other stores - it makes your hair soft but has protein to strength your hair. Cathy has a conditioner but this one seems to give the same effect while keeping the hair soft.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent !!
Review: First some background info. I am a 31 year old wife & mother of two boys who has worn braids or weaves ( or braid weaves :)) since I was 14 years old with a few fake ponytails in between. My mother relaxed my hair when I was 5 years old (her own hair is in very bad shape and she wears wigs) and by the time I was 9 I had my first experience but not my last with hair loss. By the time I was 12 my hair fell out again as a relaxer was applied over a jerri curl. Thank the Lord that my scalp was not damaged and it does grow. It just does not stay. Once it hits about 7-8 inches the ends become very dry, weaken and begin to split and break down to the new growth.It just seemed safer to keep my own hair covered and wear other people's hair. Now, I'm sick of it and want to learn how to take care of my own relaxed hair as I plan to have a daughter and do not want her to suffer as I have ( I'd never relax her head until she's a teen if she wanted to, of course). My goal is 12 inches to my now 7 inches by January 2007 with trims every six months to keep the length even not the misguided belief trimming helps it to grow. My hair grows even when I've had it in braids or weaves for months without ever seeing a scissor's blades. I almost didn't buy this book based on those who said that it read like an cheap advertisement for her products. I am so glad I used my better judgement and purchased her book along with her conditioner and creme moisturizer from her website. A question for those put off a bit by her letting us know about her products... did you at least try them ? I understand if you tried them & they didn't work and now you have a legitimate issue with the products. I amm also grateful that I do not have to sit in my kitchen trying to mix up hair care products. One reviewer put the ingredients in her conditioner in her review. My hats off to you if you have the time, but personally I will not be traveling all the way back to the city (I live in upstate NY )or searching the web to find all those ingredients when I can click my computer's mouse, order everything at once and the UPS man drops them on my front door. My hair has never been so healthy within the 5 weeks I have been using her methods ( washing Wednesday and Saturday, deep conditioning 2x weekly with her conditioner, using her creme moisturizer daily,air-drying, etc. ) as my hair was super dry and brittle but not anymore. I got compliments from the first day of using them. When you need to use products she doesn't manufacture herself she tells you what and where to buy them( on her website) . Let's be logical. What is the issue that she uses a few lines to tell about the products she developed out of her own frustation and need so we do not have to waste our hard earned money on trail and error in the beauty supply stores? As a good businesswoman she is providing solutions to problems. A book disseminates information and this is all she is doing with her information as well as her products. It is still your choice to purchase her products or not. If we knew what to do and what to buy then there would be no need for the book but there is a true need. Personally, I have been able to get rid of no less than 7 bottles of products that were doing my hair more harm than good. Some also are taken aback by her disposition. I personally like her straight-forwardness.
Although she does tell of what may seem like somewhat minor things that have happened to her or her associates I think she is trying to make a point that those we traditionally trust to take care of our hair sometimes are just as ignorant, are worried more about losing money if a client should become less dependent on them for hair care, or are sometimes just plain deceitful. Overall, I think she is trying to empower us to take more responsibility for our hair care and how to do it correctly. I also do not agree with everything in her book such as taking in more protein will results in more body weight. I think that depends. I drink a whey protein shake Monday -Friday for breakfast the past 7 years and it has help improved my hair, skin and nails as well as my weight. I also would not take extra iron as I think I get enough in my meat-based diet.I also think extra iron should be taken by those with a true diagnosed deficiency. In spite of this, her plan is super simple and that is what we need.We just need to be committed to her suggestions. I'll update this review in a year to see if my six inches of hair growth have stayed on my head. But, with her very gentle methods and very little heat, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't. CLEAN HAIR with REAL MOISTURE, ladies, with the RIGHT PRODUCTS to maintain it is the key. Blessings
Rating:
Summary: Very Informative Book
Review: I am so glad that somebody finally decided to do some research on black hair!! You would think a book like this would have came out a long time ago (I mean if we know how to fly to the moon, surely we should know how to grow black hair). I've tried so many products to try to get my hair to grow, but they all failed. I thought my hair didn't grow, so I wore braid for about seven months just to see what would happen. My hair grew about 3 and 1/2 inches, so I knew it could grow. Afer reading this book, I discovered why I wasn't getting the length I wanted without wearing braids. Also, the methods she has for caring for our black hair is very practical. Many myths about our hair are clarified in this book. I've read some of the reviews already, and there was a lot of critism about how Ms. Howse is using the book to advertise her products. If you think about it, how else is she supposed to advertise her products for a low price. The book is still in its beginning stages and advertising by book is a more efficient way of marketing. I believe this is very smart of Ms. Howse. This is not to mention that her products really works. If you choose not to get any of her products, you must get the conditioner. Yes I know it's more expensive than most conditioners, but you get what you pay for. We as black women spend $30, $40, and $50 for hair doos that last for a few days, and in many cases is not helping the condition of our hair. I've been using the conditioner for a couple of weeks, and I see a dramatic chnge in my hair. It's stronger and more healthy looking. When I comb my hair, I only have 3 or 4 strands of hair on the comb after I'm finished styling. Before I used the conditioner, I had so much hair on my comb and on the back of my shirt after I was finished styling my hair. And I thought that was normal! Its not! I would encourage any black women who wants to grow her hair and not wear braids to do so, to read this book. Additionally, the author has long hair, and follows her own advice she has in her book. She must be doing something right if she has all that hair! Isn't it interesting to see how so many black hairdressers tell us how to grow hair, and most of them don't even have long hair? How would they even know how to grow hair if they don't have it. I will write another review next year to tell you if my hair grew six inches longer.
Good luck!
Rating:
Summary: CATHY BOOK IS GREAT
Review: I bought Cathy's book in November and I think her book has a lot of good information in it to help black women keep their hair healthy. In the book she explains how electronics like hot curlers are not always good to use because it can cause hair breakage. The one thing I learned from reading Cathy book is that everyone should keep their hair clean by washing their hair 3 times a week and to deep condition your hair atleast once a week. I have been using this method for 5 months now and I have seen results. I bought her conditioner and its very good. It keeps my hair from breaking and its made my hair healthy and longer. I get compliments on my hair everywhere I go and I inform people/friends on how to keep their hair healthy like mine.
If anyone has read Cathy's book and do not think its a great book then i suggest you buy cathy's conditioner.I think its time that we (african american women) take care of our hair.
Rating:
Summary: IT WORKS!
Review: I cut my hair very short several years ago and after becoming tired of the style, I began searching for information on growing my hair back as quickly as possible. I stumbled upon Cathy's book and after reading it and following all of the steps she lays out I have not only grown my hair back to the length it was prior to cutting it but my hair is longer, 4" past my shoulders, and more healthy than it has ever been. This book and Cathy's products are a Godsend. The Book is very easy to read and her system is an easy one to follow. What I appreciated most about the book is that it gives good information about caring for our hair that can be used no matter what style you choose to wear your hair in or what products you choose to use. Though Cathy has a line of hair care products that are amazing her book is not focused on selling her products but rather informing the reader about what qualities they should look for when choosing products. There is nothing on the market that comes close to matching hers in quality and effectiveness and I have tried a lot of products and read a lot of books. Many of the principles she sets forth are hard to swallow at first because we have been fed so much misinformation about our hair and how to care for it, but if you would hold your skepticism and give it a try you will be pleased with the results.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference
Review: I purchased Ms. Howse's Book in February of 2004. I wanted to wait to write a review because I wanted to make sure that I applied Ms. Howse's techniques & products in real life, in order to give a true critique of the information in the book. I can honestly tell you that all the information in the book has thoroughly helped me in my quest for long, healthy hair. My hair has never been so long in my life. My hair is usually shoulder length, but I could never get it to grow past that point. Now with the help of Ms. Howse's book and products my hair now reaches my bra strap and is in very good condition. Ms. Howse does promote her products in this book but what self-help book doesn't? She informs her readers of products that actually work without having to go through a lot of trial and error. Therefore, I must insist that those African American women out pondering over whether to purchase this book please give it a chance. If anything this book is a good starting point for healthy hair and a good reference to refer back to when hair care questions occur.
Rating: 
Summary: Good info.
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book and finished in one day. I have since referred to the book many times as I am currently using her system. I hope I see results soon!
Rating:
Summary: Great book for relaxed hair!
Review: I recently bought Cathy's book & I must say it was a good read. While alot of stuff in here seems to be just common sense about hair care, Cathy's frankness and realness makes this book one of the best written black hair care books on the market.
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