u/hearthuestudios

***showing how I made the illustrations for my book. Acrylic markers are my best friend!***

I've always been frustrated by the 'heat is always bad' absolute rule, especially because a diffuser (or a careful blowout) clearly makes my curls look and feel better. This diagram i made just explains the why of it perfectly. It's not just about styling, it's about mechanics.

​I always struggled to understand why air-drying often left my hair with more single-strand knots (ssk's), even with good technique. The top part of the diagram perfectly illustrates the friction points of natural curl patterns. Air-drying lets the natural shape form, but the cuticles might not settle, leading to friction.

​The bottom part with the 'directed airflow' shows how smoothing is achieved. A careful diffuser session is essentially directed airflow. It doesn't mean we should iron our hair, but it validates why a carefully controlled blow-dry with high airflow can smooth the cuticle (microscopic view!) down, reducing friction and susceptibility to tangles.

​Thought this was an excellent visual for this complex topic!

If you want a free copy, just comment 👋 and tell me how you've been natural!

Stop using heavy sealing oils when your hair is actually begging for inside-out moisture. 🛑

​Not all hair oils do the same job. Depending on fatty acid size and structure, oils fall into three distinct zones:

​Penetrating (Cortex Entry): Coconut, Babassu, Palm Kernel, Ucuuba Butter, Rosemary, Olive. These small-molecule oils actually enter the cuticle layer and inner cortex to strengthen protein structure from within.

​Semi-Penetrating (Cuticle Anchoring): Argan, Sweet Almond, Avocado, Safflower, Macadamia, Sesame. These sit partially in and on the cuticle to condition, soften, and smooth the surface.

​Sealing (External Occlusive Shield): Grapeseed, Flaxseed, Castor, Black Castor, Mineral Oil. Large molecules that form a tight barrier to lock in existing hydration and block moisture loss.

​Using a sealing oil on DRY hair simply seals the dryness in. Layering them correctly—water/hydration first, penetrating oil to nourish, sealing oil to lock it down—changes everything.

​Want the full scientific breakdown of how to build a routine that actually retains length?

Check out my book, the Natural Hair Reset: A Focused Guide for Coils, Kinks, and Curls https://a.co/d/07AMgMUS

I’m giving away 5 free copies of "The Natural Hair Reset; a Guide for Coils, Kinks and Curls" ebook to 5 readers in exchange for an honest peer review! If you love diving into practical reads and sharing your feedback, I’d love to send a copy your way.

​How to claim your copy:

​Drop a comment below and send me a DM with your email address.

​Commit to reading and leaving a short, honest peer review once you finish.

​Spots are limited to the first 5 people who reach out. Let’s connect!

(This is an image by @hearthuestudios from the paperback version of my book, which will be available Friday!)

Thats me in yellow. What was I wearing and what was goin on with my hair?! LOL!

Growing up as a little black girl i was so self conscious. It didnt help that I struggled with my hair. I remember one day I had to go to school with my afro out because I didnt know what to do with my hair. I was a lock/key kid cuz i walked myself a mile to school in elementary school by like 4th grade - I would never let my kids do that nowadays. I was sooo embarrassed because I had so much hair and it was thick too, it took over the room when I walked in. My teacher thought It was a great idea to sit me down on her lap in front of the whole class and talk about being accepted or something about hair - i couldn't even hear her - i only heard my heart beating from embarrassment. I know she meant well but I wasn't ready to embrace my natural hair yet.

Fast forward to 7 years ago. I couldn't get my daughters hair to grow evenly and I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. So my research on natural hair began. Ive always been the go to hair person in my family. I got it from my mother who was pretty much the stylist for her family too. But this time was different - I felt like I couldn't help her. Then the stress from having babies and life lifing made my locs fall out and I new I had to do something different. I had to create a routine for both of us that actually worked.

Through years of trial, error, and deep research, I finally cracked the code on moisture retention, healthy growth, and embracing our crowns with confidence.

​That journey is exactly why I wrote The Natural Hair Reset. Whether you're navigating your own natural hair journey or trying to manage your little ones' curls and coils without the daily tears and frustration, this manual is for you frfr. It’s packed with the exact routines, tips, and steps I wish I had when I was sitting in that classroom feeling so overwhelmed. Its the guide i wish I had when I had my first daughter and when her hair kept breaking off. Sometimes we forget that our hair isn't just something to manage; it's a legacy of strength, resilience, and beauty passed down through generations. So we have to care for it like our lives depend on it!

One of the biggest game-changers for me—and a major mistake I was making early on—was not understanding the difference between penetrating oils and sealants.

​I used to load up my daughters' hair with heavy oils thinking I was moisturizing it, but I was actually sealing moisture out, not in.

​Here is the truth:

*​Penetrating oils* (like coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil, babasu oil) actually sink into the hair shaft and help retain protein and moisture from within.

*​Sealants* (like castor oil, jojoba, or heavy butters) sit on top of the strand to create a barrier and trap water inside.

Also, ​If you apply a sealant to completely dry hair without any water or liquid base first, you block hydration from getting in, leading to dry, snapping strands. Once I learned how to use them correctly in the right order, everything changed for us and for the better. Im so grateful for my natural hair journey because we are over here with moisturized curls for days now rather than dry and brittle hair the way it used to be.

​Stop the guesswork and learn the exact steps in my book, The Natural Hair Reset: a Guide for Coils, Curls, and Kinks. Id love for someone to review it and tell me if and how it actually helped you!

https://a.co/d/07AMgMUS

Check out her listing💅✨️

https://hearthuestudios.etsy.com/listing/4547845182

Check out her listing ✨️💅

https://hearthuestudios.etsy.com/listing/4547845182

https://hearthuestudios.etsy.com/listing/4547845182

I know somebody gonna ask for it https://a.co/d/00Xbtj4U

I really love how my art looks on these iphone cases 😍what do you think?

Four Women in Freedom

https://www.redbubble.com/i/iphone-case/Four-Women-Celebrating-Freedom-and-Sisterhood-by-Hearthuestudios/182568972/c4kx?utm\_source=rb-native-app&utm\_campaign=share-product&utm\_medium=android

Sisterhood

https://www.redbubble.com/i/iphone-case/Sisterhood-Bond-and-Friendship-Acrylic-Painting-by-Hearthuestudios/182567786/c4kx?utm\_source=rb-native-app&utm\_campaign=share-product&utm\_medium=android

Woman in Locs

https://www.redbubble.com/i/iphone-case/Elegant-Woman-with-Locs-by-Hearthuestudios/182548496/3bp7?utm\_source=rb-native-app&utm\_campaign=share-product&utm\_medium=android

Starlight Connection

https://www.redbubble.com/i/iphone-case/Starlight-Connection-Under-a-Night-Sky-by-Hearthuestudios/182546870/c4kx?utm\_source=rb-native-app&utm\_campaign=share-product&utm\_medium=android

Rose for You

https://www.redbubble.com/i/iphone-case/Thorny-Rose-For-You-by-Hearthuestudios/182548961/c4kx?utm\_source=rb-native-app&utm\_campaign=share-product&utm\_medium=android

Cloud Chaser, available for sale on Etsy

https://hearthuestudios.etsy.com/listing/4539232219

I was inspired by this picture and wanted a black version with an afro. Now i have a whole story in my head about this charactor. What story do you see? Isnt this a vibe!

https://hearthuestudios.etsy.com/listing/4532098043

I used Ai to put my art in a beautiful location on a wall!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeartHueStudios