African hair tends to be naturally dry with minimal oil, which is why it isn't necessary to use shampoo more than once a week. Shampooing your hair several times a week or even every day strips the oil that the hair needs from the hair shaft so that it becomes drier, frizzier and more prone to breaking. African hair does not often get overly oily like Caucasian or Asian hair does when it is not washed for several days. Do not wash tangled hair, as this will make the knots even worse. Always untangle hair and then wash. Because African hair tends to be dry, it's essential to use conditioner every time you shampoo your hair to restore moisture. When you condition, pay attention especially to the ends of your hair, which are the most brittle, and keep the conditioner in your hair for a few minutes before washing it out. After you finish washing your hair, add in a generous amount of leave-in conditioner to the wet hair to continue adding moisture to the hair. Try to find a product that contains coconut oil, shea butter or cocoa butter. If you exercise or build up a sweat regularly, you may feel the need to wash your hair more often than once a week to remove sweat or other buildup. Instead of using shampoo, wash with conditioner in between your weekly washes. Conditioner will gently wash away sweat or other buildup while keeping the healthy oils in your hair. Make sure to use the conditioner on your scalp as well as down your hair shaft. Using a leave-in conditioner or moisturizer on days when you don't wash or condition your hair ensures that your hair stays hydrated and protected from damage. Use a light leave-in moisturizer formulated for African hair at the beginning of the day before styling your hair. Try to find a moisturizer that contains essential oils, which are absorbed into the hair and moisturize. Avoid products containing lanolin or other greasy ingredients that sit on the surface of the hair and weigh it down. Spritz your hair with water, then apply the moisturizer, or find a moisturizer than can be used on dry hair. Use the moisturizer on all of your hair, but pay special attention to the tips of your hair, which are the oldest and driest. In addition to your regular maintenance of your hair, doing a monthly or bimonthly deep conditioning treatment will make a visible difference to your hair, making it more moisturized and less brittle. Use a deep conditioning product according to the label or get it done professionally for the best results. Try to use a product that contains coconut oil, shea butter, or argan oil.

Summary: Shampoo hair once a week. Condition your hair every time you shampoo. Use a leave in conditioner in washed hair. Co-wash your hair between shampoos if physically active. Use a leave-in moisturizer daily. Deep condition your hair once a month.

The hair dryer must be on a cool setting, as warm or hot air may worsen symptoms or burn skin. Blow the air from the dryer between the cast and your skin. Using a wooden spoon or your hand, vibrations to your cast may help relieve an itchy sensation. Vibrations through knocking are safer than sticking objects inside your cast for relief. By massaging the skin nearby the itch, there may be some relief. Be careful when massaging exposed skin near your cast to avoid painful areas. The massage may generate sensations on the skin that redirect your focus away from the itch. Massage also increases circulation in the area of the cast, which will speed up healing. By wrapping a water-tight ice pack around your cast, the cooling sensation may help to provide relief. Considering using an unopened bag of frozen vegetables as a substitute for an ice pack. Just make sure the condensation from the ice pack doesn't leak. Consider using an over-the-counter antihistamine, or a prescription from your physician. Medications by mouth such as Benadryl can be used to reduce itchy feelings if the other options aren't working. This will help calm your body's reaction to a skin irritant.

Summary: Blow cool air in the cast with a hair dryer. Generate vibrations by knocking or tapping your cast. Massage the exposed skin near the cast. Cool down your cast quickly with an ice pack. Discuss medications with your doctor.

Place a large skillet on the stove and set the heat to medium-high. Add the cumin seed, and toast them until they turn fragrant, about 1 minute. You can crush them using a smaller pan, or a flat-bottomed metal or wooden tool. Remove the seeds when you are done, and set them aside. Put the bacon into the same skillet you used to toast the cumin seeds. Cook the bacon over medium-high heat until it turns crispy. Once it is done, set the bacon aside on top of some folded paper towels, but leave the drippings in the skillet. You will be using the bacon and beef drippings to cook the rest of the ingredients. Reduce the heat to medium, then add the chopped onion. Saute it until it turns brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Then, add the toasted cumin seeds, chili powder, paprika, oregano, black pepper, thyme, salt, and minced garlic. Saute for 1 minute more, stirring occasionally. Crumble the bacon first, then add it to the skillet. Add in the rest of the ingredients, and give the chili a stir to mix everything in. Add more water as necessary to keep the chili from drying out. You can also cook this in a slow cooker for 6 to 8 hours. Using a slotted spoon or fork, scoop out the ancho chilies, and puree them in a blender. Add the pureed chilies back into the skillet, and give everything a good stir. You can serve it as is, or you can garnish it with some chopped onions, shredded cheese, or crumbled saltine crackers. This recipe also goes well with tamales or rice.

Summary: Toast the cumin seeds until they turn fragrant. Crush the cumin seeds, then take them out of the skillet and set them aside. Cook the bacon in the skillet until it turns crispy, then set it aside but save the drippings. Brown the beef in the bacon drippings over high heat then set the beef aside and leave the drippings in the pan. Saute the onion in the drippings over medium heat, then add the spices and saute for 1 minute more. Add the bacon, beef, garlic, beef broth, tomatoes, ancho chilies, and water. Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook partially covered for 2 hours. Take out the ancho chilies, puree them in a blender, then stir them back into the chili. Serve the chili.

Dermatologists recommend using gentle cleansers to wash your skin. Gentle cleansers are less likely to cause irritation, which is important because irritated ingrown pimples may seem bigger and more obvious. If you think your ingrown hair is caused by bacteria, however, you will want to use an antibacterial soap. Look for a product that is labeled as "non-comedogenic." Non-comedogenic means that the product will not clog your pores. Products containing benzyl peroxide have antibacterial properties and help heal infected follicles. Apply to infected follicle twice daily. There are some oils that are considered non-comedogenic as well. You can use these oils to cleanse your skin. You can find many of these oils in the beauty section of well-stocked grocery stores and health food stores. Some good choices include: Argan oil Hemp seed oil Sunflower oil Shea butter Safflower oil The toothbrush bristles or washcloth fabric can help to remove dead skin and free the embedded hair. When you are washing your skin, apply a small amount of cleanser or non-comedogenic oil to the toothbrush or washcloth and use gentle circular motions to cleanse your skin. Rinse the area with lukewarm water after washing. Do not scrub your face with a harsh sponge, abrasive cloth, or other tool. Just use a soft cloth or your fingertips to wash your face. Make sure that you only pat dry your skin or you may irritate the ingrown pimple. Avoid using any rubbing motions while toweling off your skin. Just use a gentle patting motion to dry your face.
Summary: Choose a gentle cleanser. Try using a non-comedogenic oil. Wash your skin with a soft bristled toothbrush or a soft washcloth. Dry off your skin with a cotton towel.