Unraveling the Knots

Can taking a break from social media help with hair loss? 

Not exactly...but the connection is worth exploring. In this episode of UTK, we look at how social media can shape stress, sleep and hair care habits or practices. We discuss stress-related shedding, why late-night scrolling may affect your hair health, and how online hair advice can push us to do too much.

Tune in for healthier hair habits without letting the algorithm run your routine.

Send us Fan Mail

Send your questions about Afro-textured/coily hair to [email protected].

Inspired by ancestral wisdom, backed by science. Get softer hair at ÈYÍ DÁRA Naturals.

Follow us on instagram @utkpodcast

What's a healthy hair routine must have and what is simply extra? 

In this episode of UTK, we rethink natural hair care beyond wash day. We talk cleansing, scalp care, conditioning, moisture, detangling, styling, protective-style maintenance, takedown, night care and trimming. We also question growth oils, treatments, trends, and other steps we often assume everyone needs. If your goal is healthier hair, less breakage, better length retention, or a simpler routine, this conversation will help you focus on what has a purpose and let go of what does not.

Send us Fan Mail

Send your questions about Afro-textured/coily hair to [email protected].

Inspired by ancestral wisdom, backed by science. Get softer hair at ÈYÍ DÁRA Naturals.

Follow us on instagram @utkpodcast

Hair in your hands can be unsettling. But is it normal shedding, breakage or something that deserves closer attention?

In this episode of Unraveling the Knots, we unpack the difference between shedding, breakage and hair loss, the clues each can leave behind, and what you should pay attention to before assuming the worst.

We also talk about length retention, scalp changes, styling tension and why reaching for another “growth” product may not always be the right first move.

Before wash-day panic begins, let’s look at what the hair may actually be telling you.

Send us Fan Mail

Send your questions about Afro-textured/coily hair to [email protected].

Inspired by ancestral wisdom, backed by science. Get softer hair at ÈYÍ DÁRA Naturals.

Follow us on instagram @utkpodcast

Hair oils have been part of textured hair care for generations...but are they doing everything we think they are?

In this episode of Unraveling the Knots, we unpack what oils can and cannot do for hair. From moisture and sealing to breakage, scalp care and hair-growth claims, this conversation separates useful oil practices from expectations that may be asking one bottle to do far too much.

We also explore how to respect ancestral hair knowledge while questioning modern marketing claims, why shiny hair can still feel dry, and how to use oils with a clearer purpose.

If oil is your answer to dryness, growth, protective styling and almost every hair emergency, this episode may change the way you use it.

Send us Fan Mail

Send your questions about Afro-textured/coily hair to [email protected].

Inspired by ancestral wisdom, backed by science. Get softer hair at ÈYÍ DÁRA Naturals.

Follow us on instagram @utkpodcast

Are Black-owned hair care brands being held to a different standard?

In this episode of the UTK Podcast, hair coach and educator Rahma Suleiman, also known as The 4C Hijabi, joins the conversation about criticism, accountability and the realities facing Black-owned hair care brands.

We explore what intentional and unintentional targeting can look like, why Black-owned and Black-marketed are not interchangeable, the pressures smaller founders face, and where consumers and professionals should draw the line between legitimate criticism and unfair generalization.

Send us Fan Mail

Send your questions about Afro-textured/coily hair to [email protected].

Inspired by ancestral wisdom, backed by science. Get softer hair at ÈYÍ DÁRA Naturals.

Follow us on instagram @utkpodcast

You have probably heard that protective styles help your hair grow. But have you ever stopped to ask whether your hair actually feels protected?

In this episode of the UTK Podcast, Ganiyat shares her first experience wearing flat twists and why the experience challenged everything she believed about protective styling. What started as trying a new hairstyle quickly became a lesson in comfort, scalp health and listening to what her hair was communicating.

Together, we compare flat twists and cornrows through both personal experience and trichology research. We discuss how tension affects the scalp, why protective styles should not be painful, the benefits and limitations of flat twists and cornrows style, warning signs of traction alopecia, and how to choose the best option for your own hair goals.

Whether you wear cornrows every month, have never tried flat twists, or simply want healthier styling habits, this episode will help you think differently about protective styling.

Send us Fan Mail

Send your questions about Afro-textured/coily hair to [email protected].

Inspired by ancestral wisdom, backed by science. Get softer hair at ÈYÍ DÁRA Naturals.

Follow us on instagram @utkpodcast

In this episode of the UTK Podcast, we sit down with Nathan Puksta, Founder and CEO of Filament Sciences, for one of our most thought-provoking conversations yet.

For years, Black customers have bought products promising to help them reach their hair goals...only to discover those claims were never properly tested on people with Afro-textured hair.

Together, we explore why "clean beauty" is not enough, what meaningful clinical testing should look like and why textured hair deserves stronger research.

Whether you're choosing your next conditioner, building a hair care brand, or simply tired of guessing which products actually work, this episode will help you ask better questions and become a more informed customer.

Follow Nathan on Instagram: @nathaninthelab

Check out filament sciences: www.filamentsciences.com

Send us Fan Mail

Send your questions about Afro-textured/coily hair to [email protected].

Inspired by ancestral wisdom, backed by science. Get softer hair at ÈYÍ DÁRA Naturals.

Follow us on instagram @utkpodcast

At the start of each year, many of us set ambitious hair goals. Then life happens.

In this episode of the UTK Podcast, Ganiyat shares an honest mid-year review of her natural hair journey, celebrating progress, admitting setbacks, and reflecting on the lessons learned along the way.

From inconsistent deep conditioning and changing salon boundaries to surprising protective style decisions and learning to adapt hair goals to real life, this episode reminds us that healthy hair is built through consistency, flexibility, and self-compassion...not perfection.

If you've ever skipped wash day, adjusted your routine, questioned a hair decision, or wondered whether you're still on track with your healthy hair journey, this conversation is for you.

Listen for practical beauty and lifestyle tips, honest reflections, and encouragement to reset your goals without giving up on them.

Send us Fan Mail

Send your questions about Afro-textured/coily hair to [email protected].

Inspired by ancestral wisdom, backed by science. Get softer hair at ÈYÍ DÁRA Naturals.

Follow us on instagram @utkpodcast

For the first time on the UTK Podcast beauty community, we talk hair with a male guest.

In this special 90th episode, we sit down with Nigerian screenwriter and director, Emmanuel 'Story Priest' Adejo  to explore hair, identity, masculinity and creativity. From navigating stereotypes to finding confidence in self-expression, Emmanuel shares thoughtful reflections on growing natural hair, building a creative career, and staying true to yourself in spaces that expect conformity.

Tune in for a refreshing and deeply human conversation.

Send us Fan Mail

Send your questions about Afro-textured/coily hair to [email protected].

Inspired by ancestral wisdom, backed by science. Get softer hair at ÈYÍ DÁRA Naturals.

Follow us on instagram @utkpodcast

From rubber bands and metal clips to fabric-covered elastics and slick buns, this episode explores how everyday accessories affects hair. We breakdown the mechanical and biological cost of tight, rough, or poorly chosen accessories, including breakage and hair loss.

Tune in to learn how to choose better, style smarter, and protect your hair goals without losing your personality.

Listen now and rethink your hair accessories.

Download your free copy of the UTK-Podcast Hair Accessory Guide for hair accessory tips to support your hair goals.

References

Bolduc, C., & Shapiro, J. (2001). "Management of hair loss." The Lancet, Vol. 357, Issue 9253, pp. 321-322. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(00)03630-1/fulltext

Draelos, Z. D. (2010). "Essentials of Hair Care often neglected: Hair Cleansing." Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Vol. 9, Issue 4, pp. 312-315. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14732165

Khumalo, N. P., et al. (2007). "Traction alopecia is caused by hair care practices." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Vol. 57, Issue 2, pp. 221-230. https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(07)00583-1/fulltext

Miteva, M., & Tosti, A. (2013). "Traction Alopecia." Dermatologic Clinics, Vol. 31, Issue 1, pp. 107-117. https://www.derm.theclinics.com/article/S0733-8635(12)00101-3/fulltext

Swift, J. A. (1991). "The mechanics of fracture of human hair." Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Vol. 42, pp. 1-18. https://library.scconline.org/v042n01/

Send us Fan Mail

Send your questions about Afro-textured/coily hair to [email protected].

Inspired by ancestral wisdom, backed by science. Get softer hair at ÈYÍ DÁRA Naturals.

Follow us on instagram @utkpodcast