Natural Hair Diary

Back to School.......

2011-06-11T06:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies,

I know I have been M.I.A for a while, but I have been getting ready to head back to school. I finally enrolled in a Cosmetology program. I am so excited about returning to school to do something that I love to do. I have been doing hair since I was 15yrs old, so instead of continuing to bootleg, I am just gonna go get licensed. Getting licensed as a Cosmetologist is extremely beneficial to me. As some of you may know, I am a military wife, and we travel a lot. Being a licensed cosmetologist will enable me to make money everywhere that we may go.

So during the next 10 months I will try my best to keep you guys posted on how school is going and I will also share with you any information that I feel could be help to you. Thank you so much for your patience, love and support. Enjoy your weekend. God Bless!

Who knew?????

2011-04-24T15:57:00.000-07:00

Happy Resurrection Sunday people,

I have really been having a great time in the Lord this week. His grace is truly AMAZING!
Well ladies I just wanted to stop by and share a quick testimony. As some of you may know I am an Army wife. I am also a stay-at-home mom. I love being able to take care of my husband, children and home. I truly brings me joy. Well because I am a stay-at-home mom we only live off the income of my hubby! And sometimes our budget gets really tight considering that we have bills and we all know things come up. We talked about me going back to work, but my hubby just do not want me to work. And if I go back to work, daycare will be another bill added to our list. Well for the past few months I have had some ladies who have been consistently wanting me to do their natural hair. At first I was not charging anyone. And then a thought came over me to charge people when i do their hair. And every since I started charging, it seems like I have been getting more and more customers. This is so exciting to me because God knows that my family can use this extra income. Deut 8:18 "But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today." So I will continue to do hair out of my home, for profit! Thank You Lord for being so faithful!
So ladies I wanted to share that with you, and encourage you all to continue to trust and wait God. He really does makes way out of no way. Thanks for your support God bless!

Current Product Staples!

2011-04-07T05:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday Ladies,

I pray you all are enjoying every precious god-given day so far. Well I am ever so excited because tonight i will be going to see one of my all time favoite female ministers....... Mrs.Joyce Meyers! Yaaaaaaay! I so love her! I have seen everyone from Creflo Dollar to Jesse Duplantis and have not seen her yet. It will be such and honor to sit under her teachings for a night.
Well ladies I wanted to come by and share with you what my current hair products are. I would share with you my current regimen,but guess what, I don't have one. I have been doing my best to keep my hair in protective styles. So it really does depend on what kind of style it is and how long i want it to last.
So I am currently using every day My Homemade daily moisturizing spritz. The ingredients are.........
*Purified water
*Aloe Juice
*Coconut oil
*Carol's Daughter Khoret Amen Hair Oil (olive oil infused with essential oils of ylang-ylang, cedarwood, patchouli, and bay leaf)
*Lime Juice
*Vitamin E
*Glycerin
*Essential oils- peppermint, tea tree, lemon, and thyme

My hair as well as my daughter's hair love this stuff!

And as I mentioned earlier I have been keeping my hair in protective styles. And most of the time its some kind of twists style or updo. So when i twist my hair i do so by using my Homemade hair butter which consists of.........
*Mango Butter
*Shea Butter
*Avocado Butter
*Glycerin
*Vitamin E

This stuff is great! It keeps my hair soft, supple and moisturized. And it also has great holding abilities.

Other products I may use occasionally are.......
*IC Fantasia Aloe vera gel for puffs
*Hawiaan Silky All Natural Moisturizer for tiwst outs
*Herbal Essences Hello Hydrations Shampoo and Conditioner

You know sometimes I tend to feel like I'm not using enough products, but then i think hey, this is what works for my hair. As long as my hair is moisturized and growing i dont need to use a whole lot of different products. And guess what I dont spend a whole lot of money either. I buy all of my all natural products in bulk, so that i only have to purchase them once, maybe twice a year. The only thing i have to buy monthly is Conditioner.

So there you have it. This is everything that i am currently using in my hair. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. Thank you for your support and God bless!

OMG! Feature: Mrs. Eliza

2011-04-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone,

I am sooooo happy because I just did my friends' BC! I now present to you a newly natural beauty Mrs. Eliza!

1.How long have you been natural? 20mins

2.What or who inspired you to go natural? My friend Maria Bess and also my daughter's natural hair. I love her fro.

3.What are your favorite natural hair styles? Twists updo

4.What are your favorite natural hair products? Water and olive oil

5.Why do you love being a natural? I love the freedom of not having to worry about what to do with my hair. It's short and manageable.

6.What words would you use to inspire other naturals or women who are thinking about becoming a natural? Its a great thing to do. If you like having your own hair and like being able to say that it is your you should definitely go natural. I love it!

Isn't she beautiful! Liberated and goregeous! I've know Eliza for about a year now and she not only beautiful on the outside she is also beautiful on the inside. A growing woman of God! I'm so proud of her!

Thanks ladies for your support! God bless you and yours!

Feature: Natural Beauty, Mrs Jenohn!

2011-03-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday,

I pray you all had a glorious week! I know I have! I have been basking in the presence of the Lord all week and I am feeling great! Well ladies its time for another feature!

Meet Mrs. Jenohn!

1.How long have you been natural?
I have been natural on and off since, I got married in 1997. I did a BC in Dec 09’ and made my 1 yr in Dec 10’ and 3 months now.

2.What or who inspired you to go natural?
It really wasn’t a person. It was just the barber who was doing my hair would give me a texturizer and then cut and shape me up. I loved the way my hair looked and it was low maintenance. I then wanted to see what my own hair looked like without texturizer, if I had a curl to it, then I stopped texturizing.

3.What are your favorite natural hair styles?
Right now, I definitely love kinky twist braids, Senegalese braids, and I also like having my hair braided into different styles. My hair is also long enough to plait and two-strand twist, probably could roller-set, haven’t tried that one. I recently had my first experience with a weave. I wore it for 5 weeks. I just took out today and my hair has really grown. It was a sew-in and a great experience.

4.What are your favorite natural hair products?
This is definitely tuff but, my staples have always been Carols Daughter. I use it on my hair and my kids. I like making my own Shea butter with Castor, Avocado, Grape seed oil. I enjoy using Crème of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Packets. They are great; I just add my own oil. I have practically tried mostly everything. That probably sounds bad, but you have to find what works for you.
5.What do I love about being natural?
For me, I love being different that what is considered the norm. I love the versatility; it’s kinky, coiled and glorious. It’s pretty, thick, and beautiful. I have so many options to try. Plus, I have two kids with naturally curly hair and I am teaching them to love theirs as well.

6.What words would you use to inspire other naturals or women who are thinking about becoming natural?
It’s a process. This doesn’t happen overnight. It’s not a fad. You have to be secure and honest with yourself. If you are doing it for the wrong reasons, you could be biting off more than you can chew. We all have our reasons, just be happy and take pride that you have made the best decision of your life and no matter what anyone says “You love it”.

Simply Lovely and so beautiful! Thanks Jenohn for allowing me to share your Natural Hair Experience! May God continue to bless and enrich your life with His goodness!

Thanks for your support Ladies! God bless you and yours!

Feature: Miss Chantea

2011-03-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I pray you all had a marvelous week! Well once again it is my pleasure to introduce to another beautiful natural!

Meet Miss Chantea!!!!!!!

1.How long have you been natural?
My last relaxer was April 2009- 1 month before my college graduation. I transitioned for 15 months (the whole time from perm to natural)
I will be natural for 2 years in May of this year 2011

2.What or who inspired you to go natural?
I was tired of relaxers. I remembered how long my hair was before I started using relaxers, and how healthy it was. I missed it and felt that my hair was boring, weak, and falling out with (chemically altered) straight hair. It was "too normal" "too comfortable" "too safe." I didn't feel like it was me AT ALL. I needed liberation, and I got it.
I always admired the hairstyles of naturals such as Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott, and other natural women.

3.What are your favorite natural hair styles?

I love bantu-knot-outs, fro-hawks (curly), braids, braid-outs, and twist-outs. Also the straw curl. I love it all!

4.What are your favorite natural hair products?
Aloe-Vera Juice and Aloe Vera Gel
Olive Oil
Organics "Olive Oil - products
Twist & Locks Honey Wax (Super) I love this product!
honey
Shea Butter
lime/lemon juice
and water.

5.Why do you love being a natural?
Everything! My hair is healthy and soft and MINE! I can actually style my hair without damaging my scalp or my hair.
It's so liberating...I'm in Love!

6.What words would you use to inspire other naturals or women who are thinking about becoming a natural?

Develop a closeness with your hair. Research all you can about styles and products! If you transition all the way (like I did) treat your hair as if it is already fully natural.
Sometimes the best thing to do for your hair is to leave it alone - *Protective Styles* (I chose to transition all the way to try different styles, and to test products - It was my personal time-table for educating myself ).

Oh and give your hair a name! My hair's name is Lega*C - meaning - returning to the essence of the roots that God gave me. Inspiring other women of color to embrace their nationality and the gift that God placed upon their crown.

Also when it comes down to it all - it's YOUR hair. You have to remember that. Make sure you are happy and Please do NOT base your decision making on what other people (friends/family) think - It will drive you CRAZY! It will be emotional at first but Be CERTAIN of YOURSELF.
You will probably receive negative comments from people you love but stay with it. If the people you love isn't used to natural hair - you will get criticized and probably receive remarks that questions your decision making and way of thinking such as "You must be going through a phase?" "You should really think it over", "Is everything ok? Are you stressed out?" and my favorite one is when they assume peer pressure or relationship pressure, as if I don't have a mind of my own. I actually had to prove to MYSELF (assuring myself) and to friends that I was born a natural and I will embrace it. And now I'm receiving more compliments about my hair and more support from the previous criticizers. In fact, people (family and friends who are not natural) are asking me (a natural) how to take care of their hair, and what products to use! (I immediately tell them to stop using relaxers, but that's not the answer they want to hear) My support system has increased tremendously and now even though there is still a little residue from the previous negative remarks, the outcome is so worth it.
Walk proud in your naturalness. I am truly a proud and confident black woman and hopefully I have encouraged you to be bold and beautiful and NATURAL!

God Bless!

Chantea

I Just love her! I think I met Chantea a lil over a year ago on naturalsunshine.ning.com. And she is such a beautiful sweet person. Natural Diva! I love it!

Thanks for you support! God Bless!

Feature: Miss Feleicia!

2011-03-03T16:06:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I do apologize for my absence, I was under the weather for a while fighting off a really bad cold. But thank God that I am whole, healed, and well in Jesus' name! Well ladies I am happy to introduce a new feature to you! I am honored and priviledged to feature her because she has been one of my good friends for years. She is truly an amazing woman and I love her sooooo much! I present to you Royalty in the flesh............. Miss Feleicia!

FELEICIA: I have been natural for 4 yrs. I have always had a desire to be natural for years, but never did because of family opinion. They thought i was going through a mid-life crisis. But when i did, it was a wrap. I received so many compliments from family when i did go natural. My favorite style is a new style that last more then a week, lol. My favorite hair products are organix shampoo and condition and mrs. Jessies buttercreme. I love natural hair because i look great like a original nubian queen. Plus, i love the idea of no chemicals. I would inspire any women to go natural to see a true beauty, its amazing.

Absolutely Goregeous! Feleicia I love you girl! Thanks for everything!

Well ladies until next time! Thanks for you support! God bless you and yours!

Need Transitioning Styles

2011-02-01T10:59:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I pray everyone's week is going great thus far. If you are in an area where those blizzards are please be safe. I am praying for you all!
Well ladies I have a friend who is intrested in going natural. I have been educating her on ways to care for natural hair and giving her reasons why relaxers are not good. Well I told her that I would help her transition. And I have been styling her hair in ways that will make her transition an easy and simple one. But since I didnt go through the transition process I'm in need of some transitioning hair styles. I know braids are a good way to transition but her hair is so damages from chemicals that the last set of braids she got while in Jersey broke a lot of her hair off. Especially in the back. So do any of you ladies know of any styles that is good for transitioning?

Thanks! And thanks for your support! God bless!

My Power and Authority!!!!

2011-01-30T13:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday everyone,

I know my blog are mostly about natural hair care, and my blog was created solely for that purpose, but I feel like this really needs to be said. I just had another baby. She is 3months old. And the devil has been trying to cause tension in my marriage every since she has been here. My husband and I have somewhat similar styles of raising children. I believe that when a baby cries, something is wrong, and there is something that can be done to soothe a crying baby. Well some people believes differently. And because my husband and I have different opinions about this subject it always result in some sort of conflict when my daughter is crying and I want to console her. And there are times when she just wants mommy. Us women know that babies love thier mommies. Simply because we can nurture them, and touch them like no one else can. Well when my daughter is screaming to the top of her lungs (which she rarely does) I want to know whats wrong. And if my husband has her and I ask him whats wrong, he snaps and then I snap and then the rest is history. But I just want to say "SATAN!!!!!!! You have no place in my marriage and you got to go! Luke 10:19 says " Behold I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions and [physical and mental stregnth and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you"(amp)........
My God has given me the power and the authority to make sure my marriage stays solid! If He said it he meant it! Numbers 23:19 says "God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man the He should repent!" And He said i win in the end! I was born to win! So guess what I'm gonna keep communicating with my husband, I'm gonna keep encouraging him, and we are gonna continue to compromise even in this situation. Because guess what??? WE WIN! HALLELUJAH! You know sometimes we gotta encourage ourselves in the Lord! Life can get you down! But when you know Who He is and Who's you are, you dont have anything to stress about! OOOHHHHHHHH yall I just can from church and I done got myself happy all over again! Our praise is the weapon we use to fight of the devil and his evil plans. So I'm finna praise God some mo, and and stomp all over the devils ugly head. I bet he wont stick his face in this marriage again!!!!!!!

Well I gotta go! Thanks for you support! I love you and God bless!

Up~Do with Twists

2011-01-28T09:01:00.000-08:00

TGIF Everyone,

I wanted to quickly come by and show you all the style i did last night!

Quick easy and cute!

Thanks for your support, God Bless!

Feature: DatFunkyFro

2011-01-27T06:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Thursday Everyone,

I am so excited to present to you our very first Curly~n~Natural feature of the month. DatFunkyFro! Isn't she beautiful!

1.How long have you been natural?
This is my second natural hair journey.I did the Bc on March 2010 and before that I transitioned for 6 months. The first one only lasted about one year.

2.What or who inspired you to go natural?
The love of my kinky, curly hair made me go natural. At the time, I didnt know so many women were also natural.

3.What is your favorite natural hair style?
I have two. A bun and a frowhawk. Though I dont really rock these, I love them and can't wait to reach the length that will easily permit me to wear them.

4.What is your favorite natural hair product?
Three things my hair loves are : coconut oil, shea butter and black soap

5.Why do you love being natural?
I love being natural because I am being myself 100 percent. I love being natural because I feel so at ease rocking my God given hair. Most of all, I love being natural because I can wear an afro today, or a twist out tomorrow etc. The versatility of natural hair is just simply amazing!

6. What words would you use to inspire and encourage other naturals or someone who is thinking about going natural?
I would say : "Be confident! I cannot stress this enough. When going natural, do not expect encouragement from others to build your confidence because that encouragement might just not be there. Confidence is the first key to wearing natural hair. The second key is knowledge! Arm yourself with knowledge to know how to maintain your hair! Stand tall and wear your ‘fro with total self-assurance."

*My sis DatFunkyFro also has an awesome blog, datfunkyfro.blogspot.com

And again ladies thanks for your support! If you would like to be featured, answer the above questions in your own words and email them to me @ marianbess@gmail.com. Dont forget to attach some pictures of your beautiful selves! God bless you!

My Husband Loves my Natural Hair!!!!

2011-01-23T19:42:00.000-08:00

Hello beautiful naturals,

I pray everyone's week is going great so far! If not I pray it gets better for you!

Yall my husband loves my natural hair. He always compliments me and tell me how nice my hair looks. Even though I was already natural when we met, he completely stands behind the decision that I made. He loves to touch it and then tell me how soft it is. And yes he is the only person that can run his fingers through or play in my hair. I never put heat to my hair, but everytime i mention flat ironing my hair just to see how it looks straight, he always say "dont straighten it", "i like it just like that". God knows I love that man! How I appreciate him!

It feels good when the people that you love stand behind the decisions you make. And every natural sistah knows the feelings you get when you are deciding to go natural. An emotional rollercoaster. Deciding wether or not to go natural can cause a headache and all other kinda ailments. (HAHAHAHAHA I said ailments like i'm 92yrs old) And it is such a beautiful thing when your peeps can still look you in the face and say "you're beautiful", baldheaded and all.
So ladies rock your fades, locs, TWA"s, Afros and all your naturalness, because you are beautiful. And if your fam is supporting you, please let them know that you appreciate them and how much their support means to you!

And if you feel like know one is supporting you, guess what, I AM! Stay inspired, confident and encouraged!

Thanks for your support, God bless!

Why is being "Nappy" such a problem for some women????

2011-01-23T19:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday ladies,

I pray you all have a blessed and safe week. Ok I live in El Paso, Tx, I've been here for almost a year and I have not seen or met not 1 natural yet. And to make thing worse even though El Paso is predominantly mexican, I live on an army base where I come in contact with many many beautiful women of color, and i have yet to meet a natural. Many people compliment me on my hair everyday, and I always say "Thank You" and then proceed to ask them have they ever considered going natural. And the first thing that comes out of their mouth is "my hair is too nappy to go natural"! I am so tired of hearing that foolishness! So I always respond with I'm happy to be nappy! Nappy is beautiful! And then they get this expression on their face that says "Whateva"! I know it takes a strong and confident woman to go natural and stay natural, and many women just dont have the guts, but when will the time come when being "Nappy" wont be a problem???

I absolutely love all of my sistahs and i just want the wool to be pulled from over thier eyes. I understand the phrase "to eash his own" but chemically relaxing your hair is toxic, and if you want to achieve a straight hair look there are other alternatives such as flat ironing and hot combing. And even too much of that will start to cause damage.

I love being natural! It is one of the best decisions i ever made in my life. Being natural allows my inner disposition to shine far more brighter than my outer appearance could ever be. It allows me to express my individuality and be the unique person that i am. It allows me to be creative and have fun with my hair, while maintaining it's health and growth.
So to all the women out there who has a problem with accepting every kink, coil, and curl that God gave you, i dare you to stand up and have have faith in the fact that God made NO mistakes when he created you! Even the fibers on your head!

Well ladies thank for your support! Enjoy your week and God bless you and yours!

The Huetiful Hair Steamer!

2011-01-23T14:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday ladies,

I pray all is well with you and yours! Well i've been hearing a lot about The Huetiful Hair steamer and I really want to try it out.

The Huetiful Hair Steamer is specifically designed for the unique needs of wavy, curly and kink-curly hair. Hair with natural curl patterns require more moisture and hydration than hair without a curl pattern. But products never seem to provide the nourishment; especially when curly hair is weathered by heat styling, the environment (humidity, cold weather, extreme heat, dry air), and chemical or color treatments.

The Huetiful Hair Steamer helps overcome the variables that lead to dry hair. It does this by restoring moisture 5x better than deep conditioners alone. The Huetiful Hair Steamer achieves these great results by opening up the cuticles of your hair to allow the conditioner or hair treatment to be pulled deeply inside the hair shaft. While the hair cuticles are open, the Huetiful Hair Steamer bathes your hair with warm mist to replenish lost moisture.

So I am going to order the hair steamer within the next week or so. Once I recieve it and actually take the time to use it. I will post before and after pics so you can see the results. Thanks for your support, God bless!

Looking for Naturals!!!!!

2011-01-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday Lovelies,

I pray everyone had a blessed and inspiring week. Well i wanted to quickly come by to ask you ladies if any one of your would like to be featured on my blog this year. I'm looking to do some things different this year and the first is featuring other beautiful naturals like yourselves. I would only ask you some questions and post your answers and a pic of all your goregeousness!

Questions..........

1.How long have you been natural?
2.What or who inspired you to go natural?
3.What are your favorite natural hair styles?
4.What are your favorite natural hair products?
5.Why do you love being a natural?
6.What words would you use to inspire other naturals or women who are thinking about becoming a natural?

So if you are interested please email your answers to me at marianbess@gmail.com and please don't forget to attach some pictures. I love you natural ladies! Thanks for your support, God bless!

New style w/ twists

2011-01-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Humpday people,

I pray everyone is enjoying their week. Well i wanted to share with you all a new style that I did with twists.

Here are the steps........

1. divide hair in 4 parts
2. using the 2 parts in the front create a "V" style bang and seperate it
3. Now using the 2 parts thats left over in the front (which should be the sides) pull up into a pony tail.
4. now start your twists. I started with my bang first, then the ponytail, then the back.
5.Once all of your twists are complete loosely pull your bang back to where your ponytail starts and secure it with a couple bobby pins. (please make sure your bobby pins have rubber tips on the end)

There you have it. The 5 steps to this beautiful style. Thanks for your support. God bless!

Conditioner Confusion!!!!!!

2011-01-16T19:05:00.001-08:00

Hello beautiful people,

I have a question????? I am having conditioner issues and I really could use your help! Ok before moving to el paso, I was using Elasta QP moisturing creme conditioner, great stuff by the way, and now since we live this city i have a hard time finding it. The one one place that i did find it, rarely has it. So now I've been using Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. It's an ok product but I'm not in love with it like i was in love with my Elasta conditioner. So this is where I need your help. Could you please tell my what condioner you use, and what is does for your hair????? There are some conditioners that i am most def gonna try in the near future, like Taliah Wajiid's Protective mist condish, and probably a Carol's Daughter condish. But ladies i would like to hear from you!!!

Thanks for your support! God bless!

PrincessIsm Inc. Fundraising Campaign!

2011-01-11T07:51:00.000-08:00

Hello Lovely Naturals,

I wanted to come by really quick and let you know that If you were interested in donating to the cause of my Program PrincessIsm Inc. you can do so by visiting giveplanet.com/princessism. Thank you so much for your support! God bless!

Hair length update!

2011-01-10T18:14:00.000-08:00

Hello lovely naturals,

I checked the length of my hair, and no i did not reach the goal that i set for myself! I blame it on pregnancy! I can honestly say that i did not take care of my hair the way that i planned too in the beginning of 2010. But I am gonna try again! Since I will not be having anymore babies, taking good care of my hair will not be a problem.

Well i measured the length of my hair and it's a little over 11 1/2inches long. I'm proud of the progress that my hair has made. I really neglected it this past year and it still is long and healthy.

Thanks for your support! God bless!

PrincessIsm Inc.

2011-01-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to quickly come by and share with you a project that I have been working on and I would really like your support. For a couple years now I have been putting together a business proposal for an all girls club and after school program. Finally it is completed! This year is the launching of PrincessIsm Inc.

Definition: PrincessIsm- The Act of being a Princess

PrincessIsm Inc. is a non-profit, Christian-based girls club and after school program, designed to empower and educate young ladies to live whole, balanced, healthy, virtuous lives. PI endeavors to motivate the ladies to embrace their God-given beauty, talents, and abilities, while assisting them in overcoming the difficult circumstances of life. We provide academic tutoring, life skills and character building training and also the support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement, and constructive examples needed to encourage healthy lifestyles. With love, in a safe and nurturing environment we will help each and every young lady reach their highest potential, as they live as the princess they were created to be.

I will be starting a new fundraising Campaign in a few days and I would love your support. You can also find us on Facebook. Thank you so much for your support, God bless you and yours!

Holiday Hair-do!

2011-01-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I pray you all had a blessed and safe Christmas and New year! I really enjoyed being able to go back home to Florida for the holidays, but I must admit I was ready to get back to my house in El Paso! Well I wanna share a few pics of my Holiday Hair-do. I knew I did not want to be doing my hair everyday so I put in some twist and styled them differently just about everyday. I absolutely love twists. They have very low maintenance, and they are just too cute! They are also a very good protective hairstyle.

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-15T10:59:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

My Family and I are on our way to Florida for the Holidays and I wanted to wish everyone of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year! Be safe and remember there is no Christmas without Christ! He is the reason for the season! So be thankful no only for the gifts, friends and family, but for the gift on love and the price that He paid that we may live again! God Bless! Thanks for your support!

Your Hair's PH Balance: Acidic or Alkaline?

2010-12-10T11:05:00.000-08:00

Hello Lovely Naturals,

This blog was inspired by both Dr. Don Colbert and Kim Love from luvnaturals.com. About two years ago I was introduced to having healthy PH levels by reading Dr. Don Colbert's book "The Seven Pillars of Health", and recently I came across Kim Love and her vlog about your hairs PH Balance. So I decided to share with you all what I've learn thus far. So lets get started.......

The pH scale was first developed in 1909 by the scientist Soren Peder Lauritz Sorensen. The system allows us to compare our body chemistry to the chemical makeup of our environment. pH is a medical term that describes the balance of your system and it refers to the condition of metabolic changes. It technically stands for “potential for hydrogen ion concentration.” Your body’s natural pH balance can be affected by the types of food you eat. For example, a woman’s body should maintain a pH balance that averages to 6.5 (but no more than 7.5). Drinking purified water will neutralize your pH balance.
Just like your body and skin, your hair’s pH balance is affected by numerous factors, particularly the products you use. Understanding your hair’s pH level is important for proper hair care. If you want to learn how to restore your hair’s natural pH level, its really quite a simple process once you understand your hair. The natural oil that our hair secretes is a natural oil called sebum. Sebum maintains the moisture and balance in our hair. The hairs natural pH balance is between 4.5 and 5.5 scale. But what is most important is that we understand how to measure our hair’s level of Alkaline or Acid. The scale is from 0 (strongly Acidic) to 14 (Strongly Alkaline). Having a level of 7 represents neutrality.

Because your hair is primarily protein, it tends to be very strong. Chemical processes, however can weaken your hair causing it to break off.

By nature, curly hair cuticles tend to remain in an open state, as the spiral pattern of a curl makes it extremely difficult for the cuticles to lie flat. Since these open cuticles are what cause frizzy hair, it is particularly important for curly heads to be aware of the pH levels of the products they use.

Your hair consists of three parts. The outmost layer is the cuticle and inside of that is the cortex. The medulla is the central, most internal portion of the hair shaft that contains excess cells and air. When your hair is damaged, the scales on the cuticle stand out and break off. This exposes the cortex which makes your hair feel harder. The cortex is what gives your hair its strength and its elasticity.

Melanin is on the inner section of your cortex. Melanin is what gives you your original hair color. That is why when coloring your hair, the hair colorant must penetrate the cortex in order to change the color of your hair.

Hair colorants are usually more alkaline. Alkaline means that the product has a pH level of 7 or over and it is a non-acidic product. The cuticle opens up when an alkaline substance is applied to it. This is what allows hair colorant to penetrate the cortex. There, it reacts with the hairs pigmentation to produce the color change.

Most shampoos are also made to be neutral or at times, slightly acidic. The high pH will allow the shampoo to easily clear off any oils or dirt that have formed on the hair and scalp. Neutral shampoos may be recommended for people who have sensitive scalps. In the same manner, hair conditioner is acidic or carries a high pH, because it causes the keratin on the hair strand surface to be flattened out instead of bristly, thus causing hair to be smooth and soft.

So, now that we know that alkalis will open the cuticle, and acids will flatten it, we can decide on which types of products we want or do not want to use on our hair. Naturally, we’ll not want to do anything that causes damage, so we’ll avoid the extremes one way or another.

Well there you ave it! A little of what I know about Hair PH Levels! Want to learn more???? I recommend Dr. Colberts "The seven Pillars of Health". That book as well as his others are Amazing! Thanks for your support! God Bless!

UPDATE: Homemade Leave-In Condish/Daily Moisturizer

2010-12-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday Beautiful people,

OK really quick I just wanna give a quick update on my recent Homemade Leave-In Condish/Daily Moisturizer. It's only been 2days since I started using this new concoction, but I've notice that my scalp loves it! I have a very itchy scalp, and since I've been using this new product my scalp is no longer itchy as bad as it was. And when it does starts to itch i just spray my two-strand twists and scalp down and my scalp instantly feels refreshed and no longer itches! I must say I am happy that my research and determination to only use natural products pays off!
Thanks for your Support! God Bless you and yours!

Homemade Leave-In Conditioner/Daily Moisturizer

2010-12-08T08:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday everyone,

I hope everyone is enjoying their week! My week has been going well. I'm exhausted considering I have a newborn at home, but that come with the territory. Anyway today I am gonna share with you how I make my Homemade Leave-In Conditioner/Daily Moisturizer.

I was paying $13.97 plus tax for Bee Mine Juicy Daily Moisturizing Spritz. I would have to buy two, one for me and one for my daughter. That is just too expensive! I always wanted to make my own, but i never took the time to put research any ingredients that would work together and compliment each other. So last night I finally concocted my own.

First you need a spray bottle that can hold at least 2cups of liquid. And here are the rest of the ingredients.........

>1 cup purified water
>1/2 cup Aloe Juice- a natural conditioner, great for hair loss, great for dry and itchy scalps.
>1Tbsp Coconut Oil (melted)- provides natural nutrition, great for adding shine, great anti-dandruff benefit, the oils and proteins in coconut oil work well to help keep hair from losing protein, which is one of the major contributors to hair breakage and hair loss
>Water from 1 can of Coconut Milk (Do Not shake can)-great for rehydrating hair, Contains organic compounds possessing growth promoting properties
>10 small squirts of Lime Juice- removes hair odors, naturally cleanses the hair and scalp, prevents dandruff
>5 vitamin E Capsules- promotes growth, decreases sun damage, It contains valuable antioxidants that help to keep the immune system up and improves circulation to all parts of the body, including the scalp.
>2Tbsp Vegetable Glycerin- It has strong humectant properties, meaning it is able to retain moisture, great for dry flaky scalps
>20drps Tea Tree Essential Oil- one of the most versatile essential oils for hair growth when it comes to hair treatments. This oil moisturizes the hair and minimizes oil production of the scalp, preventing greasy looking hair and leaving the scalp clean and dandruff-free. A few drops of tea tree oil can be added to olive oil for a mild but effective weekly treatment to deal with dandruff problems.
>20drps Thyme Essential Oil- promotes healthy scalps, gives a natural shine, prevents hair loss

Now I concocted this formula to fit my hair type and scalp. I took a look at my hair and scalp and came up with a list of things that I fight against, such as dryness and dandruff. And then came up with a list of ingredients that will help me continue to fight against these hair enemies. Please do your research before experimenting with essential oils. You could read my blog "Essential and Carrier Oils" as a start. Maybe next time I will add some Peppermint Oil. This Spritz will now take the place of the Bee Mine spray, and I will me using it daily and as a bedtime moisturizing treatment. I expect this spritz to stimulate my scalp and strengthen my tresses, leaving my hair soft, manageable and smooth, with a natural shine. I will be sure to keep you updated.
Thanks for your support! God Bless you and yours!

Naturally Jazmyne!

2010-12-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

Hello beautiful people,

Happy Monday! I pray everyone enjoyed their weekend, I know I did! Well today I have a confession to make. In October 2009 I cut my daughter's locs off. Simply because when I cut mine off in August she wanted hers cut off as well, so I did. Anyway since that time I have been keeping her hair in braids and kinky twist. I can only recall letting her wear her TWA maybe once for about a week. I feel really bad! As a mom it's my duty to teach my daughter to embrace her true beauty, and she knows that God made no mistakes when creating her, but I had to get real and be honest with myself about why I constantly keep her hair in braids and kinky twists. The reason why is because.............
1. Her hair has very tight coils and curls, so it absorbs moisture very easily and quickly (lazy) and
2. I don't want her to have to experience being teased or picked on about her hair

Being confident in your beauty is a part of being truly beautiful. And as her mom I can take the extra effort that is takes to keep her hair moisturized and manageable. So when we come back from Christmas Vacation in January, the kinky twists are coming out and I am gonna start teaching her how to properly care for her hair. She hates getting her hair braided anyway! That should have been a sign! And because her hair is always in braids and twists, it isn't growing as fast as it should! Simply because I never let it rest and breath!

Every since she was a baby my mom always talked about how "nappy" my daughter's hair is. But we "Naturals" are happy to be nappy! And I can remember when Jaz was about 2 or 3 my mom relaxed her hair. I was so upset with her. My mom has been a big influence on me not wanting her to be teased about her hair. But things has to change! And they will change!

So not only will I be blogging and vlogging about my hair but also my daughter's. Honesty truly does set you free! Thanks for your support! God bless you and yours!

"Natural Beauty" To Me............

2010-12-04T12:35:00.000-08:00

Hello people,

Today my heart is heavy and weighed down by what "Natural Beauty" is to me. Because today's society preach that beauty is everything, we often times get caught up physically, emotionally, and lets not forget, financially in trying to be more beautiful. And even though I absolutely love my hair, my hair isn't my beauty! I feel like listening to India Aire's "I am not my hair"! LoL! So today i just want point out some things that beauty isn't and what beauty is to me! (Please keep in mind that these are my thoughts and feelings only) So lets get started........

What Natural Beauty Is Not.........
1.What color your skin is
2.What kind of clothes you wear
3.What kind of car you drive
4.What kind of home you live in
5.How your hair looks (curly, kinky, straight, or wavy)
6.How much money you make
7.Who your friends are
8.How much you weigh
9.How pointy or snouty your nose is
10.How plump or thin your lips are

Just to name a few................
People fail to realize that you can look "The Bomb.com" on the outside and still be bottom of my shoe ugly! I ain't gone start naming names! LOL! Now...........

What Natural Beauty Is To Me............

Being Naturally beautiful is being a woman or young woman who is.......
1.Precious- Excessively refined and valued for uncommonness
2.Honest and Truthful at all times
3.Reliable and Dependable
4.Useful,Helpful and Serviceable
5.Has a fixed determination, is zealous and ardent about making a difference in her family, community, nation and world. She lives her life dedicated to giving and doing good
6.She is foresighted; She is alert to adopt new strategies and alter the course whenever she sees potential dangers or pitfalls
7.She is careful and preserving in carrying out her tasks and duties quietly and steadily
8.She has temperance
9.She is energized and vigorous
10.She operates in insight and understanding; she is able to discern quickly the truth from lies, and good from evil
11.She work hard at the tasks she endeavors to complete
12.She is economical
13.She is confident and shuns arrogance
14.She is always poised, prepared and ready for action
15.She pays attention to the cares and well being of herself and others
16.She is gracious, kind, and loving
17.She has faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
18.She eats right, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly
19.She cares about her appearance but understands that appearance isn't everything
20.She ain't no punk either! Never being easily deceived or taken advantage of
21.She lives a stress free and drama free life

And I could go on and on! The ultimate "Natural Beauty" to me is the Proverbs 31 woman. Simply Beautiful! (Side Note: If you are not there yet, don't worry! I'm not all the way there yet either but I'm constantly working towards being that woman!)

Natural Beauty radiates from the inside out, not the other way around.Being beautiful is a lifestyle! And because we are naturally beautiful it's only right to pamper that beauty with all natural and organic foods and products. We women must continue to teach our daughters, neices, and other young females what true natural beauty is and that it is Not as seen on TV! Well I must admit I feel much better now that I have got that out! Thanks for your support! God Bless you and yours!

The Amazing Oil of Coconut!

2010-12-03T12:38:00.000-08:00

Hello Beautiful,

Today I am gonna talk about the amazing oil of the coconut!This wonderful oil can be used and is beneficial in so many ways; from diaper rash to hair care. So lets get started!

Coconut oil has been used by the natives of Kerala in India and is now widely used all over the world for its medicinal value. Coconut oil has received negative reviews because of the high level of saturated fat. But not all saturated fats are bad for you. In fact, the fatty acids in coconut oil have antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties and hence are used in a lot of skin care products to treat dry, itchy skin and used as hair tonic for healthy and shiny hair. The benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid.

The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia. As a result of these various health benefits of coconut oil, though its exact mechanism of action was unknown, it has been extensively used in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicinal system. The Coconut Research Center has compiled various references on scientific research done on coconut oil.

Composition of Coconut Oil: Coconut oil consists of more than ninety percent of saturated fats, with traces of few unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Virgin Coconut Oil is no different from this. Let us have a bit detailed study of this.

The Saturated Fatty Acids: Most of them are Medium Chain Triglycerides, which are supposed to assimilate well. Lauric Acid is the chief contributor, with more than forty percent of the share, followed by Capric Acid, Caprylic Acid, Myristic Acid and Palmitic.
*The Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Linoleic Acid.
*The Monounsaturated Fatty Acids: Oleic Acid.
*The Poly-phenols: Gallic Acid, which is phenolic acid. These poly-phenols are supposed to be responsible for the fragrance and the taste of Coconut Oil and Virgin Coconut Oil is rich in these poly-phenols.
*Certain derivatives of fatty acid like Betaines, Ethanolamide, Ethoxylates, Fatty Esters, Fatty Polysorbates, Monoglycerides and Polyol Esters.
*Fatty Chlorides, Fatty Alcohol Sulphate and Fatty Alcohol Ether Sulphate, all of which are derivatives of Fatty Alcohols.
*Vitamin-E and Vitamin K and minerals such as Iron.

Coconut oil is used as a natural conditioner for hair. The molecular structure of coconut oil makes it easier to penetrate through the hair shaft and works beautifully with the natural hair proteins. Coconut oil is also used to treat conditions like dry scalp or fungal conditions like seborrheic dermatitis that cause itchy flakes. Coconut oil nourishes the scalp and promotes hair growth, is great for hair which has become dry, dull and frizzy, and regular use of this amazing oil gives every coil, kink, and curl a shiny appearance. Massaging the scalp regularly with coconut oil makes the scalp free of dandruff, lice and lice eggs.

Lauric acid in coconut oil acts as an antimicrobial agent and protects the hair from microbial action on the scalp and hair roots. The lauric acid helps to arrest hair fall and hair loss. Coconut oil is also rich in vitamin E. All of us are aware of the importance of Vitamin E for skin and hair care. This vitamin keeps the scalp healthy and hair rejuvenated. The regular or the organic coconut oil for hair has high moisture retaining capacity, as it does not break down easily nor does it evaporate, which makes it very stable. Since it does evaporate, moisture is retained in the hair and leaves the hair soft and silky. This also prevents hair breakage. Research point to the fact, that coconut oil is a better conditioner than the synthetic conditioners available in the market
Ordinary shampoo formulation results in protein loss during washing. Coconut oil can minimize protein loss, as it contains the medium-chain triglycerides that can pass through the cell membrane and waterproof the scalp and hair.

Using coconut oil externally has it benefits. But remember that healthy hair is the result of a healthy body. Cooking with coconut oil is an easy way to get the benefits of the oil. The coconut oil can be consumed as it is or can be taken in capsule form. Coconut oil in the diet promotes normal thyroid gland activity and proper blood circulation, which helps the follicle cells receive sufficient oxygen for growth.

As you can see, the oil of the coconut is truly amazing........ That is why i will continue to use it faithfully in every area of my life that i can! Thanks for your support! God bless you and yours!

Water for Hair Growth!

2010-12-03T10:24:00.000-08:00

Hello Lovely Naturals,

I'm back! I truly missed you all so much! And now since the little misses has joined us and I'm back to feeling much like my old self again, I figured I would start back learning and blogging again about maintaining and properly caring for my natural tress! By the way my hair has grew tremendously since my last growth update, I will be checking the length soon, and getting those results posted.

One thing that I constantly did during my pregnancy was drink plenty of water. So I decided to blog about water and it's benefit on natural hair. So here we go......

Water is the single most importatnat nutrient for our bodies. It is involved in every function of our bodies. You can live five to seven weeks without food, but the average adult can last no more than five days without water. Some people water their lawns and houseplants more than they do their own bodies! You are valuable; take care of yourself and properly hydrate your body.
Many people never drink water. Some don't like the taste of water, or they were never taught the importance of drinking it. A lack of water often results in frequent headaches, back pain, arthritis, skin problems, digestion problems, HAIR problems, and other ailments. When our body becomes dehydrated it begins to ration the small amout of water that we do have in our bodies. Think of a sprinkler system whose pressure is turned to low to reach all the grass on your lawn. Some parts stay green, but other parts begin to brown and die. When you live in a drought condition, your body smartly manages the water you give it, keeping the vital organs well watered with nutrients. "The strating five" organs are:
1.Brain
2.Heart
3.Lungs
4.Liver
5.Kidneys
The body keeps these organs well hydrated with water, lest you suffer serious consequences. But as a result, nonvital organs and areas of the body suffer. In the body's ranking system, body parts like the GI tract, joints, skin, hair, etc... are less important, and so symptoms of dehydration usually show up there first.

Coffee, tea, sugar drinks or beer does not count in your daily water count. Water means exactly that - water. Carbonated and caffeinated drinks may actually speed up dehydration which means that the body is not functioning at optimal levels. Not only can dehydration make you feel drained and exhausted, it can be a hidden factor in hair growth stoppage, dry strands or tresses that break off.

Adjust your daily levels according to the seasons of the year (hot weather may require more daily water consumption) and the amount of stress in your life.

When pressed for exact formulas, most experts can not give a simple answer to how much water humans should drink every day. Dr. Don Colbert (My Favorite Dr & Nutritionist) recommends taking your body weight and dividing it by two, whatever your answer is, thats how many ounces of water you should try to drink daily.

So as we see from the little info that i provided, water is vitally important to the well being of our bodies. So drink up! We should also increase our intake of salads, veggies, and fruits since they all contain a high percentage of water! Thanks for your support! As a side note, remember there is no Christmas without Christ! He Is the reason for the season! God bless you and yours!

She's Here!!!!

2010-11-23T17:28:00.000-08:00

Hello Lovely Naturals,

I just wanted to stop by and let you all know that Miss Nikari Danielle Bess has arrived! Born Tuesday 11/16/2010, 7lbs 5oz, 20in long! My husband and I are honored that God chose us to help Him guide her into her destiny! She is destined for greatness!

Returning Soon!

2010-10-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

Hello Lovely Naturals! I wanted to let you all know the I have 6wks of pregnancy left and will be returning to my blog possibly at the beginning of the year! I pray your Napptural journey has been a successful and joyous one! God bless you beautiful ladies! Enjoy your weekend!

Mineral Oil UUUUGGGHHHH!

2010-03-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday Lovely Naturals! Okay today I am going to talk about Mineral Oil! Mineral oil is a byproduct of the distillation of crude oil to produce gasoline and other products made from petroleum. Also known as white petroleum, mineral oil has been widely used in skin-care products and in heavy machinery applications. Scented, mineral oil is popularly known as baby oil. It's also used to swab and clean ears safely and is recommended to trap insects that might enter the ear canal. Mineral oil is available in three grades and is refined according to its use. It is even used in heavy equipment to prevent parts from sticking together.

Identification

Mineral oil, also called petroleum oil, is found in light or heavy types. There are three categories of mineral oil: aromatic hydrocarbons, paraffinic oils and naphthenic oils based on cycloalkanes. Because mineral oil is made in large quantities and is readily available, it is generally cheap and can be purchased at drug stores.

Features

Mineral oil is clear, with no visible color and no obvious scent. It is heavy and viscous and is prized for coating objects. There was a time when mineral oil was used to keep individual candies in a package from sticking to one another. Today mineral oil is still used to moisturize the skin, but it can cause breakouts and is not considered necessarily good for sensitive skin.

Benefits

Mineral oil is known for not absorbing water. It has been used as a brake fluid for cars, bicycles and airplanes. As a very cheap material, the cost benefit is great because mineral oil is very plentiful. Mineral oil is also used to clean kitchen, utility and ceremonial knives and swords. Traditionally, a small amount of clove oil was added to mineral oil so that it would not be accidentally eaten. Mineral oil can be used on skin that has been exposed to poison oak as a way to capture the plant oils that can cause skin irritation.

Effects

Mineral oil as a paraffinic oil has been taken internally as a laxative. This is especially true for children as they are becoming toilet trained. Adults can also use this remedy. It's an effective laxative because it prevents the stool from absorbing too much water. In the 1950s, many people used a version of mineral oil as suntan oil, but it does not provide any protection from the burning rays of the sun. Few dermatologists today are likely to advise any patient to use baby oil, made from mineral oil, as a suntan lotion. Mineral oil can be used to help remove temporary tattoos by aborbing inks and sweeping them from the surface of the skin.

Warning

If you have sensitive skin, do not use mineral oil regularly. Many people find that using mineral oil on the face, for example, causes breakouts because it blocks pores. It is generally too heavy of an oil to use on the face. If you or your child has constipation, consult with your doctor before using mineral oil as a laxative. As with all laxatives, they can be habit-forming. Instead, ask your physician for ways to restore regularity without relying on mineral oil.

The Dangers of Mineral Oil in Hair & Skin Products

Today many people still use harmful and toxic Mineral Oil in hair products, pharmaceutical drug products, female vaginal sanitary products, baby care products, auto industry supplies, and even foodstuffs. Yes, even so-called foods!

Mineral oil should never be used on the hair and skin. Never! Why? Mineral oil clogs the pores and suffocates the skin, which is a breathing organ. Your hair and skin are alive and you must treat them as such. Many unconscious consumers are using petroleum or crude oil on their hair, both men and women. Many American females are using petroleum on their bodies as well, from lipstick to make-up remover (Vaseline).

Natural Alternative to Mineral Oil

Always remember that ideally, you should be able to eat or consume everything you put on your body. This means that what you put on your body (for hygiene or beauty purposes) should be edible. You should be able to eat it. Using this premise, Mineral Oil is out! It is not edible! It is not a food.

Replace Mineral Oil with natural oils that are derived from foods, i.e. jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, hazelnut oil, to name a few. These oils are far better and salubrious for you than Mineral Oil. They are good for hair care and skin care.

Thanks for your support! God Bless you and yours!

Product Review

2010-02-22T10:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday Naturals! I did do the product review and I was actually trying to post the video on my blog but some error kept popping up so I just decided to write out my results.
OK...... I sectioned off my hair and on one side added the Hello Hydrations and on the other the Elasta QP Creme Conditioner. The Hello Hydrations DID work fairly well, i just did not like the thick consistency of it. It felt like i was rubbing a thick and great smelling pudding in my hair. It weighed my hair down simply because the product is so thick.And it didn't leave my hair as soft as I would have liked it to. So on a scale of 1-10 I would rate it a 7.5.

Thanks for the support! God bless!

UpComing Product Review!

2010-02-20T15:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday lovely naturals! Today I'm going to do a product review and I'll post the results tomorrow! I've been hearing a lot about Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner! I swear by EQ Elasta's creme conditioner, but I decided to give it a try, just to see what all the hype is about! So as i do the review I'm looking for it's moisturizing and it's detangling ability. So stay tuned!!!!!!

Thanks for your support! God bless!

My Dilemma!

2010-02-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Thurday everyone! Ok...... I have a dilemma! I really want to straighten my hair for valentines day, but I really don't want to put a lot of heat to it. I have some flat irons that can straighten your hair when its wet but those things get really hot! So whats a girl to do! Any suggestions????? If I decide to do it to any of you lovely naturals know of a excellent heat protectant?

Thanks for your help, and support! God bless!

Quick Hair length update!

2010-02-09T12:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday again Ladies! I wanted to come and give a quick length update for the month of January. Sorry it's late, but hey, I have a life. I pretty sure you lovely ladies understand that! Well........ Can I have a drum roll please????????

My hair is 6.02 inches long! Yay! It's not a inch but It's well over 3 quarters! I'm so excited. But as i was checking my length I noticed that my hair is longer in certain areas of my head, so I'll be sure to measure the same part everytime I measure!

Thanks for the support! Blessings!

Ft Bliss! Yay! We made it!

2010-02-09T11:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday Lovely Naturals! I'm BAAAAAAAAAAACK! I'm so excited! We finally made it to el paso! I drove 11hrs to get here! I was too excited to be tired! Lol! Well we are here and I have brought natural beauty to FT. Bliss!
Ok as you know I got a sew-in weave put in on Feb 1rst, it was cute and all but straight hair just isn't me! Because i'm so in love with every kink, coil, and curl on my head I had to take that sew-in out! It didn't even last a week! So now I'm rocking a puff! I've had so many compliments on my hair every since i took the weave out! Even mexicans are complimenting me! They can barely speak english, so they say your hair is really nice! I think thats hilarious!
I found out that the sew-in did not do my hair any justice. My hair was extra dry, and it took a couple days for my curls to start poppin again, so I don't think i'll be sewing- in any more hair no time soon.
So my natural beauties now that I'm back I will start back blogging as normal! We don't have internet in our home yet, so i'll be using the free wifi connection at the PX until we get it! I love you ladies, and thank you so much for the support! God bless you and yours!

I'm Soooo Busy!

2010-02-04T06:59:00.001-08:00

Happy Thursday everyone! I came by really quick to apologize, I havent had time to blog because my husband and I are moving to Texas and I've been so busy preparing for the move. But i should be back on schedule with my blogging within the next week or so! Thank you so much for your support! God bless!

My Apologies!

2010-01-29T06:25:00.001-08:00

Happy Thursday everyone! I wanna apologize because I didn't do my update like I said I would but i will do it tomorrow I promise I will so stay tuned......
Thanks for your support, have a great day!

I Couldn't Do It!

2010-01-26T07:34:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday everyone! Well people I gave up and went ahead and took my kinky twists out last night. I just couldn't take it any more! My hair felt like it was incarcerated, and besides my hair was starting to loc in the twists, and I was only 4days shy of 4wks.
Today I am going to clarify my hair, do a protien treatment, deep condition,do a length check, trim my ends and I'll be back tomorrow with my update. However I will be doing a video update on YouTube, and I'll be posting a update on my fotki page as well.

Thanks for your support! Have a great day!

A Natural Hair Fruit Salad!

2010-01-25T12:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday beautiful people! Today I've pointed out a few fruit that is great for hair growth. So let's get started.......

1.Bananas
Banana is rich in potassium, natural oils, carbohydrates and vitamins that helps in softening the hair and protects the hair's natural elasticity preventing split ends and breakage. Bananas when used for hair has a number of benefits such as it creates manageability, shine, growth and controls dandruff. These are simply the best for hair and the scalp. Bananas enhance the strength, endurance and shine of the hair and can be referred to as the banana food. Bananas are full of vitamins and is a number one ingredient for strengthening and volumizing the hair. It helps in repairing dry and sun-damaged hair.

2.Coconut
Coconut oil enhances shine and gives an incredible glossy softness to the hair. It has anti-fungal and anti-microbial qualities that help combat dandruff and bacterial scalp infections.Coconut oil is even believed to slow hair loss by revitalizing and exfoliating dead skin tissue from the scalp. Unlike coconut oil, coconut milk contains proteins, which strengthen hair and can help to minimize breakage. It also has properties which protect hair and scalp from UV rays.

3.Avocado
Avocado oil is excellent for the hair because the oil is rich in proteins, amino acids, and vitamins A,D,and E. The oil also acts as a humectant which means that it adds moisture to the hair. Not only can raw avocados be mashed and applied to the hair, avocado oil is also a great deep conditioning treatment. But one of the creamiest, richest by-products of this fruit is avocado butter. Avocado butter will leave your hair soft, shiny, untangled and rehydrated.

4.Cucumber
Cucumber has an impressive amount of water (about 96%) that is naturally distilled, which makes it superior to ordinary water. Its skin contains a high percentage of vitamin A, so should not be peeled off. The cucumber contains alkaline-forming minerals and is an excellent source of vitamin C and A (anti-oxidants), folate, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, silica, sulfur, and lesser amounts of vitamin B complex, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and chlorine. The silicon and sulfur content in cucumber juice makes it especially helpful in promoting hair growth. Cucumber has alomost all the benefits of aloe vera except that aloe vera is much better for hair than cucumber.

5.Lemon
Massage some lemon juice onto hair and leave it for a while before rinsing. Again, do not do this before going in the sun. This treatment is especially good for greasy hair as it will regulate the sebaceous glands which produce oil and make the hair shine and prevent dandruff.

6.Amla
Amla is used in many hair tonics. It enriches hair growth and hair pigmentation. It strengthens roots of hair , maintains color and luster. Eating fresh fruit or applying its paste on hair roots improves hair growth and color.It contains many minerals and vitamins like Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Carotene and Vitamin B Complex. Amla is also a powerful antioxidant agent. Many health problems are conduced by oxidative damage (when body cells use oxygen they produce by-products that can cause damage). Antioxidant agents prevent and repair such damages.

7.Peach
For that peachy looking skin and glowing hair have a lot of peaches. Peaches are alkaline fruits and help to give the skin and hair a healthy glow. People who suffer from brittle nails will also find that having alkaline fruits helps make their nails stronger.

A high consumption of fruits and veggies is necessary when trying to grow long healthy hair! So eat up! Thanks for your Support! May God Bless you and yours!

6 More days!

2010-01-24T08:54:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday everyone! I pray you all made it to the House of God today!
You know I have 6 days until I can take these kinky twists out of my hair and I'm so happy! I'm so proud of myself, because this is the first time in my 27yrs of life, that i kept braids in my hair for this long! Yay!

My twist upkeep has mainly been spraying my hair with a water/aloe mix every other day, and then spraying a braid oil that i made in my hair on the days i do not use the water/aloe mix. I clarified my hair once with a ACV Rinse. On the 30th or 31st I'll be doing my growth update! I'm so excited about that!

We are moving to El Paso in 2wks, I need to find another protective hairstyle! Does anyone have any suggestions? I was thinking about sewing some hair in, but i don't know. I really don't want to rebraid it because I'm gonna be looking for a house and a job and i dont want to be out doing that with my roots looking a mess! My sis-in law suggested a wig but me and wigs really don't get along! But i'm sure i'll find something! Well I thank you for your support! Have a great day!

Beer! Who Knew?

2010-01-23T08:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday! Today's blog is gonna be real short sweet and simple! Enjoy!

Beer Adds body and shine to dull lifeless hair!

How is Beer Good for Hair?
Beer is made from malt and hops, which contain proteins that are thought to repair hair damaged by chemical processing, sun, chlorine and pollution, and add body to limp strands. The sugars in the beer are believed to make hair shiny by tightening the hair cuticles.
Prep:
You will want the beer to be flat before putting it on your hair. Open a 12-ounce bottle or can of beer and let it sit out for an hour or two before you plan to shower. You will want to clarify your hair before using the beer rinse.

Lather, Rinse, Add Beer
After clarifying and rinsing your hair, pour the entire beer over your hair, making sure to coat the strands from scalp to tips. Gently massage the beer into your hair and let it soak in for at least two minutes. Rinse your hair completely with cool water. You can then use your regular conditioner to neutralize any traces of beer scent. Style as usual!

Beer! Who knew it could have such an amazing affect on our kinks, coils, and curls?
In my opinion it's not good for drinking but it's a great hair product!
Thanks for your support! God bless you and yours!

My Homemade Hair and Body butter!

2010-01-22T08:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday Everyone! OK...... Today I am going to share with you how I make my homemade Hair and body butter! I haven't gave it a name yet! Maybe I should, but anyway......

You will need........

2oz Pure Refined Avocado Butter
4oz Raw Pressed Mango Butter
8oz Raw Shae Butter
5 Vitamin E Capsules
2Tbs Almond Oil
1Tbs Vegetable Glycerin
3drps Lemon Essential Oil for fragrance

Directions: Slightly Soften butters in Microwave(Do Not Melt the Butters). Beat the butters together with a hand mixer for about 5 minutes on low speed, slowly add the vitamin E, Almond oil, and Glycerin, beat mix for another 5minutes or so. Last add lemon oil and beat another 5minutes or so. Your products should be smooth, creamy and very light! Note: In the Picture above I placed my mix in a old 8oz butter container. And remember a little goes a long way!

I make a lot of homemade products maybe one day I'll start selling them, but until then I'll just share my Recipes. If you decide to try it, let me know what you think! Thanks for the support! God bless you and yours!

Essential and Carrier Oils

2010-01-20T17:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Thursday everyone! This blog is dedicated to my girl Chantae over at naturalsunshine.ning.com. Ok........

What you should know before purchasing essential oils:

- Not all essential oils are created equal. Most of the essential oils on the market are what is called "perfume quality" or "fourth & fifth quality" oils. This includes oils found in health food stores. Perfume Oils”, “Fragrant Oils” or any "Aromatherapy Oils" that do not call themselves “Essential Oils” often are not pure at best and most are either cut/stretched and adulterated with added ingredients, or they are synthetic.

- Perfume Oils" and "Fragrant Oils" are almost always artificial. They may smell nice, but they do not have the natural and therapeutic properties of a natural, pure essential oil. Pure unadulterated essential oil is very hard to come by & can be very expensive.

- Do not use essential oils directly on the scalp! Always dilute with a carrier oil and/or with distilled water.

How long will essential oils last? Unfortunately essential oils do not have date stamps when sold, so it is impossible to tell how old they are when you buy them. Most people believe it's about two years.

How/where to store essential oils? Essential oils should be purchased and stored in dark-colored glass bottles such as cobalt blue or amber with have tight seal and with droppers. The dark glass protects the essential oils from the light but you need to store them away from direct sunlight and away from any heat source, preferably in a cool and dark cabinet. Your oils can evaporate so always keep the cap screwed on tight. Also, be cautioned that essential oils can harm some varnished wood surfaces and some plastics.

4 levels of therapeutic oils

PURE - This means the oil was not diluted with a lesser quality essential oil. "Pure" does not mean it has no chemicals added to it. In the U.S., all you need is 5% of essential oil in the bottle in order to label it "100% pure."

NATURAL - This means the oil was not adulterated with vegetable oils, propylene glycol, SD Alcohol 40 or other chemicals.

COMPLETE - This means the oil was distilled at low heat & low pressure so that all the therapeutic properties are there. Essential oils are often redistilled to make a small amount of oil go farther. They can make more profit that way. The problem is, when you redistill the oil you lose the therapeutic properties. It's like using a tea bag over & over again.

GENUINE or GRADE A - These are the cream of the crop and quite rare. These oils are made never has chemicals put on it.

.

Dilution of Essential Oils

Normal Dilution by 2.5%
You’ll need (x) ml carrier oil/2 = total drops of essential oil. Example - (Essential) 5 drops Sandalwood, 3 drops essential oil, 2 drops orange in 20ml carrier oil.

Low Dilution by 1%
You’ll need (x) mil carrier oil/4 = total drops of essential oil
Example - 3 drops essential oil per 20 ml carrier oil.

Extremely low Dilution by 0.5% (very sensitive scalps)
Example - 1 drop essential oil per 10ml of carrier oil.

Conversions:

5ml = 1 teaspoon
30ml = 1 fluid oz
1ml = 20 drops of essential oil
600ml = 1 pint

Few useful Essential Oils for Hair Growth
Essential oils contained in plants are really their life force and are the fragrant constituents found in plants. In plants, these oils are ingredients of hormonal growth and reproduction. Many essential oils have a very beneficial effect on hair growth. Studies suggest that one or more of the essential oils are biologically able to promote hair growth. Essential oils for hair growth are excellent for cleansing, nourishing, and strengthening the hair follicle and shaft. These essential oils for hair growth stimulate the hair follicles to grow faster than the hair would normally. Here is the list of some essential oils for hair growth you can use them depending on your specific need.

Jojoba Essential Oil
Jojoba essential oil can be used with any hair and skin type. The healing qualities of jojoba oil are beneficial for extremely damaged or breaking hair. This truly is one of the best essential oils for hair loss due to breakage. Apply the oil to towel dry hair and leave on for at least half an hour. A very small amount applied to the skin of the face will help prevent hair dye stains when dye is applied.

Burdock Essential Oil
Burdock essential oil is good for the scalp and encourages hair growth. It is also good for the skin, scalp and hair cell renewal, and stimulates blood flow to the root of the hair. It helps with the problem of hair loss.

Rosemary and Clary Sage essential oils
Rosemary encourages hair growth. These two herbs when used together externally prove extremely beneficial to anyone wanting to grow their hair. For best results, take a pan of water and boil rosemary, sage, peach leaf, nettle and burdock. Strain the loose herbs from the liquid and wash your hair with this liquid everyday. Clary sage when combined with jojoba and applied to the roots of your hair can cause your hair to grow.

Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil is one of the most versatile essential oils for hair growth when it comes to hair treatments. This oil moisturizes the hair and minimizes oil production of the scalp, preventing greasy looking hair and leaving the scalp clean and dandruff-free. A few drops of tea tree oil can be added to olive oil for a mild but effective weekly treatment to deal with dandruff problems.

Basil and Peppermint Essential oils
Basil helps circulation of blood and works well in combination with fenugreek and ivy burdock herbs. Basil helps in growth of oily hair. Peppermint helps to stimulate blood flow to the root of your hair and so give it good nourishment and grow well. It helps in growth of dry hair. It is good for your hair if it grows slowly or if it is thinning.

Citrus Essential Oils
Oily hair will get a great benefit from regular treatments with either lemon or grapefruit essential oils. These oils condition the hair and clean the scalp. Warm or cold oil can be applied to the hair.

Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is used to treat a variety of conditions including alopecia (hair loss). It has been shown to promote the growth of hair and increase the rate of wound healing. In a study it was found that people suffering from alopecia who massaged their scalps with lavender and other essential oils daily for 7 months experienced significant hair re-growth. Thus lavender or a combination of lavender and other essential oils were responsible for the beneficial effects.

Olive Oil
Olive oil can be combined with other nice smelling essential oils and is especially beneficial for dry hair. Olive oil helps in growth of dry hair. The hair is nourished and will regain its elasticity after a treatment with this oil. Apply to wet or dry hair. Olive oil can also be used as a hot oil treatment.

Bay Essential Oil
This essential oil helps in growing your hair. If you have dull and lifeless hair, it will restore it with life and shine. Add six drops of bay and lavender essential oil to four ounces of warm carrier oil. Massage the mixture into the scalp and allow it to absorb for 20 minutes. Then clarify or co-wash with one of your fav products, to which you've added three drops of bay essential oil. If you're plagued with dandruff problems or if you have aches and pains, use this oil for pain relief.

There is an essential oil available for nearly every hair or scalp problem. But remember that the essential oils are too concentrated and shouldn't be used directly on the skin or hair. So it's best to use them in combination with carrier oils like almond, soybean and sesame, chosen in accordance with the effect you're looking for. Choose the appropriate essential oil and team it up with carrier oil and soon, you'll find you have long, lustrous hair.

Here's a quick list of some carrier oils:

Almond oil
Aloe vera oil
Apricot kernel oil
Avocado oil
Calendula oil
Evening primrose oil
Grape seed oil
Hazelnut oil
Jojoba oil
Macadamia oil
Rosehip oil
Sesame oil
Walnut oil
Wheatgerm oil

Chantae, I hope I answered your question. There are many many other essential oils that's great for our hair. Please please do your research or consult your physician before trying knew products. Thanks for your support! Have a blessed one!

My Tips on Growing Healthy Hair!

2010-01-20T09:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday beautiful people! Growing long, beautiful and healthy hair is not an extremely difficult process. It does not require a multitude of salon hair products or handfuls of expensive vitamins. What it does take is "know how", dedication, and a lot of patience.

A lot of women focus on having only long hair, but your hair will not grow long if it isn't healthy. Below I have listed some tips on growing healthy hair.

1. The first step to growing long, beautiful hair is you must cut off every inch that is severely damaged. There is absolutely no way to repair damaged hair, you *must* start out with healthy hair to have healthy hair. If your hair is not very damaged up the entire shaft, you may start with a very healthy trim.

2. Always trim your ends often. Damage to your hair will move up from the ends and the only way to stop the damage in its tracks is to remove it as soon as it happens. Use good tools to trim your hair, using anything else can actually encourage more splitting down the road! It's important the shears you use are very sharp, made specifically for cutting hair, and used for nothing else. If your hair begins to show damage, it is important to trim it more often! Damaged hair doesn't grow, it breaks and if you let it go, damage will only increase with time.

3. Avoid using any heated appliances whenever possible. No blow drying, no curling irons, no hot rollers, and especially no flat irons or crimpers! If you absolutely must blow dry do so minimally. It is best to let your hair air dry. Only straighten or press out your hair on special occassions like your birthday, hair nappiversary or your wedding anniversary. Heat severely damages hair!

4. Don't use any harsh chemicals on your hair. Definitely no relaxers and no peroxide! Stay Natural! If you must color, use non peroxide color or 100% natural henna (henna comes in a full range of colors, and continuous use will inevitably cause damage.)

5. Avoid chlorine and saltwater. If you go swimming in either, clarify your hair as soon as possible after exposure. If you swim very often, invest in a good swimming cap (and to be really kind to your hair, apply deep conditioner and take advantage of the body heat that will be generated while you're wearing it).

6. Be careful of what kind of hair jewelry you use and be sure to use only hair-safe accessories. Never use metal barrettes and absolutely NEVER use rubberbands, they will tear your hair when you try to remove them. Avoid anything that has sharp or rough edges, such as plastic combs with rough seams or hair claws with metal hinges.

7. Never put your hair in any kind of style that will put undue stress on the roots or edges... no extremely tiny braids, no extremely tight puffs or ponytails. Pulling hair tight repeatedly commonly results in thinning sides, and edges.

8. Be gentle with your hair when it is wet. Don't rub your hair vigorously with a towel, gently squeeze the towel down the length of your hair.

10.Never comb or brush dry hair! This causes breakage! Use a denman brush, k-cutter or wide tooth comb when your hair is wet.

12.Detangle Hair with a really good conditioner. This helps the knots to easily slip out!

13. Do Not use sulfate shampoos to wash your hair. I can't stress this enough. These shampoos will dry your hair out leaving it brittle and prone to breakage. Co-Wash! And if you have to use a shampoo try using a sulfate free shampoo such as Elasta QP creme conditioning shampoo. Clarifying your hair with a ACV Rinse is a great way to clean, detox and remove build-up from your hair.

14. Rinse your hair in as cold water as you can stand. This will make your cuticles lay flat and less likely to snag and break.

15. Become familiar with the ingredients in your styling products. Once you know what affects your hair positively or detrimentally, you will be able to effectively choose products and ingredients that is best for your hair type.

16. Deep condition your hair regularly. Hot oil treatments using pure jojoba oil are a good alternative for very dry hair or for extra conditioning.

17. Lessen the friction on your hair whenever possible. Sleep with a satin bonnet everynight! Satin pillow cases are great also.

18. Faithfully seal in your moisture. First apply a water based product, such as a aloe/water mix, or a leave-in conditioner. This is because water is easily soaked up by our hair. Then apply a oil based product such as castor oil, almond oil, shae butter or whatever works for you. This will help seal the water based product into the strands of your hair. And then add a cream based product such as Elasta QP recovery oil moisturizer. This help seal in the other 2 products. This is a must for us sistahs! Our kinks, curls and coils could very well easily break if our moisture levels isn't right.Also drinking plenty of water helps to keep our hair moisturized as well.

19. Be sure to maintain healthy eating habits! Be sure to consume plenty of living foods. This is our source to the many needed vitamins and minerals.

20. Find natural alternatives to store bought products! The benefits are amazing!

OK ladies there you have it, some of my tips to growing healthy hair! Embrace your natural beauty! Thanks for your support! God bless you and yours!

What's your Type?

2010-01-19T14:47:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday Everyone! My Husband got his new orders in today and we're moving to El pASO, TX. We are so excited. Surely Goodness and mercy shall follow us all the way to EL Paso! Anyway.... There is a simple system to define hair types and to encourage healthy hair as well as a healthy mindset. The system is called LOIS, which takes away the need for a strict hierarchical hair system that separates good hair from bad hair.

Before you begin, please keep in mind that a healthy, undamaged, virgin hair strand, meaning one that is not processed, relaxed or colored, is needed. Examine Your Hair Strand: Select a single strand of the most common type of hair on your head. Aim for 70%, so if you have different textures, use the most common texture on your head. The hair should be freshly washed without products applied to it and rinsed in cold water. Or, gently rinse a single hair with a little dish detergent and rinse in cold water. Allow the hair to dry on a bit of paper towel so that you can look at the pattern without touching it.

Find Your Pattern:

L - If the hair has all bends, right angles and folds with little to no curve then you are daughter L.

O - If the strand is rolled up into the shape of one or several zeros like a spiral, then you are daughter O.

I - If the hair lies mostly flat with no distinctive curve or bend you are daughter I.

S - If the strand looks like a wavy line with hills and valleys then you are daughter S.

You may have a combination of the LOIS letters, possibly with one dominant. If you cannot see one letter over the others, then combine the letters. Example: LO or IL or OS..

Find Your Strand size:
A strand of frayed thread is about the thickness of a medium sized strand of human hair. If your strand is larger than this, then your hair is thick. If your strand is smaller than this, hair is thin, or fine..

Find Your Texture:
Shine is a sharp reflection of light while Sheen is a dull reflection of light.

Thready - Hair as a low sheen, with high shine if the hair is held taut (as in a braid), with low frizz. Wets easily but water dries out quickly.

Wiry - Hair has a sparkly sheen, with low shine and low frizz. Water beads up or bounces off the hair strands. Hair never seems to get fully wet.

Cottony - Hair has a low sheen, a high shine if the hair is held taunt and has high frizz. Absorbs water quickly but does not get thoroughly wet very fast.

Spongy - Hair has a high sheen with low shine with a compacted looking frizz. Absorbs water before it gets thoroughly wet.

Silky - Hair has low sheen, a very high shine, with a lot or low frizz. Easily wets in water.

Knowing your hair type helps you better understand your hair! When you better understand your hair then you can begin to treat it the way it loves and wants to be treated!

Thanks for your support! Have a great day!

Scalp Conditions and Natural Ways to Treat Them!

2010-01-18T13:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday and MLK Jr. Day! I use to suffer from extremely bad dandruff and I know a lot of other people who suffer from other scalp conditions. So today I wanna share with a few common scalp conditions and also some natural ways to treat them. Here we go.........

*Eczema is a non-infectious skin condition which may be aggravated by allergens such as animal dander, certain foods and additives in soaps, perfumes or body washes. An eczema outbreak is usually recognized by red, inflamed skin that is rough and itchy. Often the eczema rash may eventually lead to bloody, oozing sores which eventually scab over to thickened, dark skin, particularly in my black sistahs and brothers. In some cases, the eczema rash can be found on the backs of knees and the insides of the elbows.

*Dandruff affects the scalp and causes flakes of skin to appear - it is a common condition. Our skin cells are forever renewing themselves. When the skin cells on our scalp are renewed the old ones are pushed to the surface and out of the scalp. For a person with dandruff the renewal is faster, meaning more dead skin is shed, making the dandruff more noticeable. Dandruff can also occur if the scalp is frequently exposed to extreme temperatures. Dandruff is also known as scurf - its medical term is Pityriasis capitis.

*Seborrheic dermatitis
This is a skin condition in which the skin becomes inflamed or flaky. Seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp is a severe form of dandruff. When it affects the scalp most people refer to it as dandruff. When babies have it, it is referred to as cradle cap. Seborrheic dermatitis causes larger, greasier flakes than most other types of dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis affects not only the scalp, but the skin in other parts of the body too. The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown. Most experts do know, though, that it is not caused by poor hygiene.

*Alopecia areata is a hair-loss condition which usually affects the scalp. It can, however, sometimes affect other areas of the body. Hair loss tends to be rather rapid and often involves one side of the head more than the other. Current evidence suggests that alopecia areata is caused by an abnormality in the immune system. This particular abnormality leads to autoimmunity. As a result, the immune system attacks particular tissues of the body. In alopecia areata, for unknown reasons, the body's own immune system attacks the hair follicles and disrupts normal hair formation. Biopsies of affected skin show immune cells inside of the hair follicles where they are not normally present. What causes this is unknown.

*Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation. Most persons with psoriasis have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales.Persons with psoriasis have irritated patches of skin. The redness is most often seen on the elbows, knees, and trunk, but can appear anywhere on the body. For example, there may be flaky patches on the scalp.

Now that I've listed a few of the most common scalp conditions, I want to list some natural ways to treat these conditions. Note: Most of the resources listed can be used on various scalp conditions, and are very versatile and can be combined with other oils. I recommend first speaking to your physician and then adding about 10drops of the oil/oils of your choice into either warm distilled water or a carrier oil of your choice such as Grapeseed, Olive, Hemp Seed, or Almond Oil and gently massage into your scalp 3-4 times a week.

So Here we go.......

*Burdock root oil - traditional herbal hair oil.
Burdock (Arctium Lappa) has been a favorite medicinal herb for centuries and was taken for many ailments. Burdock root oil extract, also called Bur oil, was popular in Europe as a scalp treatment applied to combat hair loss, improve hair strength, shine and body. It also used as an herbal remedy to get rid of dandruff and scalp itching, promote healing of skin and scalp conditions. Modern studies indicate that Burdock root oil extract is rich in phytosterols and essential fatty acid, nutrients required for healthy scalp and natural hair growth.
In case of severe itching and flaking, start with ointment Balmflower; continue with Bur oil when conditions improve.

*Coconut oil
The small molecular structure of coconut oil allows for easy absorption through the skin, giving it a soft, smooth texture. It makes an ideal ointment for the relief of dry, rough and wrinkled skin. Psoriasis and eczema suffers often see great improvements in these distressing conditions. Antiseptic fatty acids in coconut oil help to prevent fungal and bacterial infections in the skin when it is consumed and to some extent, when it is applied directly to the skin. The only way to gain entry into the body other than through the natural openings, such as the nose and mouth, is by penetrating the skin. When the skin's defenses break down, infections can result.The medium chain fatty acids in the sebum provide the protective layer on the skin that kills harmful germs. Coconut oil is nature's richest source of medium chain fatty acids. When coconut oil is put on the skin it doesn't have any immediate antimicrobial action. However, when bacteria which are always present on the skin turn these triglycerides into free fatty acids, just as it does with sebum, the result is an increase in the number of antimicrobial fatty acids on the skin and protection from infection. The free fatty acids also help to contribute to the acid environment on the skin which repels disease causing germs.

*Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia)
Extracted from the leaves of the tea tree and have a long used by the indigenous people of Australia for its cleansing and purifying properties. Great for treating dry scalp, mild dandruff, head lice and regulating the sebaceous glands.(This is what I used to treat my Dandruff condition)

*Basil (Ocimum Basilicum)
Basil is a low-growing herb that thrives in warm and tropical climates. Recently, research have been exploring the health benefits of basil and found it to have great anti-oxidant properties as well as anti-bacterial properties. Great for controlling stress, oily hair and promotes hair growth.

*Chamomile (Chamaemelum Nobile)
Chamomile is a mild soothing oil that is popular in a lot of herbal preparations and general tea consumption. It has antiseptic effects and can calm rashes, dry and irritated skin. It's really good for reducing the symptoms of eczema, psoriasis and other dandruff problems. It also aids in skin regeneration too.

*Myrrh (Commiphora Species)
A great oil that helps alleviate skin ailments as well as detoxifying qualities to the body. This oil can aid in expelling mucus and phlegm too. Great for dry hair, dandruff and regulating oil glands production.

*Peppermint (Mentha Piperita)
This refreshing essential oil provides cooling and antiseptic effects to your body. It helps reduce redness, itchiness and irritation. Great for itchy dandruff problems and cooling the scalp's inflammation.

*Neem (Azadirachta Indica)
Neem oil is extracted from a tree back and works wonders as a fungicide and insecticide. If you have head lice you might want to use this oil. Studies also show its potential to treat Scalp Psoriasis and Seborrheic Dermatitis without the side effects. Helps reduce scalp inflammation and itching too.

*Lavender oil
Lavender oil has been shown to increase hair growth in clinical trials where 70 % of people who massaged it into their scalps 3 times a week had a significant increase in hair regrowth. You can massage this remedy into your scalp or spray is on your scalp with a spray bottle.
Mix these oils in one cup of warm purified distilled water, Almond, Olive, or Grapeseed oil, which ever one you prefer:

Half a teaspoon of Margosa oil (very powerful anti itching oil)
Half a teaspoon of Teatree or Melaleuca oil (for a sensational tingle and bacteria blaster)
15 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil (heals & soothes plus has mild antiseptic properties)
15 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil (soothing, mildly antibiotic and very calming plus it helps your hair grow back thicker and stronger).

There you have it! God knew exactly what He was doing in Genesis 2:29 when he gave us every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree in which the fruit of the tree yeilds seeds. It's all by God's design we have natural resources available to help heal us from different conditions. I am grateful! Thank You God for always having us on your mind!

Thank you for your support! Have a great day!

New Products!

2010-01-17T09:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday and Sunday everyone! I'm combining the two days simply because I've been cleaning all weekendend and I just didn't have time to write the post. Anyway I just want to share with you some new products that I purchased on Friday.

*Hemp Seed Oil- Stimulates hair growth.

*Cedarwood oil- A fungicide that helps fight dandruff, eczema etc...... It relieves and soothes a dry and itchy scalp.

*Almond oil- Nourishes hair, soothes cuticles, and makes hair long, healthy and strong.

*Thyme oil- Promotes hair growth.

*Lemon oil- Helps relieve dandruff, and adds lustre and shine.

*Rosemary infused Grapeseed oil- Stimulates hair growth.

All of these essential oils are very versatile and can be added to other oils. I made a braid spray by adding these ingredients with olive, tea tree, and jojoba oils. When using essential oils you only need a little and alot of carrier oils such as olive and grapeseed. Always do your research before using new products.

Thanks for your support! Have a great day!

"Cones"

2010-01-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday lovely nappturals! One of the first things a Diva determined to have longhair learns is that she is using cones. "Huh What? What are cones?" might be one of the first questions asked.
Cone is short for silicone - not to be confused with silicon!
Silicone refers to a group of chemicals which are very commonly used in beauty products, be it your face cream or your hair conditioner. They are hydrophobic, are used as sealants and to provide slip. Those of you who have tried a drugstore face cream (usually with silicones) and an organic cream in comparison know the difference.

Silicones come in different types and their names reflect the different chemical structures they can have. In the ingredient list, one can identify silicones usually rather easily. They are called "Amodimethicone", "Dimethicone", etc. and now you can see why they are often abbreviated with "cone". But a "Cyclopenthasiloxane" or a "Dimethiconol" can be a cone too. Those are the cones most commonly used and if a product doesn't contain one of them, it is likely that it doesn't contain any cones at all. There is also a claim that says that there are "water soluble" and "non water soluble" cones but again, since I don't have reliable sources yet, I won't talk about that now.
Different cones have different qualities.

The second thing an aspirant longhair learns is that cones are evil.
Is it?

To understand the thing with the cones, one has to know what cones are designed for and what they do.
Cones are widely popular and can be found in a very large selection of hair care products. They have many different purposes. In shampoos, they help provide slip, so it gets easier to massage the shampoo in. In conditioners, they help with detangling the hair, keeping static down and preventing breakage by smoothing down the surface of the hair which also provides shine.
It is also said that cones are able to glue split ends (temporarily!) back together.

Sounds good, doesn't it? Where's the catch?
The problem with silicones is the fact that they aren't water soluble. It varies a bit from cone to cone, but as far as I know, removing cones from the hair is not an easy task. Cones require a strong sulfate shampoo for removal. But as you surely know, when you want to grow your hair long, it is recommended that you stop using shampoo on the length of your hair. Therefore the silicones don't get removed anymore, since only water or conditioner aren't strong enough. If you now keep applying cones to the hair, you'll inevitably get "build-up". The cones build up on the hair and will lock out moisture by clogging the hair shaft. The hair will dry out, gets tangly and dull - just what you didn't want!

The speed in which the cones will build up on the hair varies greatly from person to person and from the products used (amount of silicones in them / type of silicone - -remember, the higher an ingredient stands on the ingredient list, the more of it it contains).

The direct opponent of the silicones are (vegetable) oils. Oils can build up on the hair too, but 1) you'll notice that right away (because your hair is greasy ) and 2) oils are very easy to remove. Depending on the kind of oil (lighter oils are easier, heavier oils are harder to remove) all it takes is a good Co-Wash and the build up is gone.

Even though cons offer a couple of benefits such as detangling and shine, cones also......
1) Is likely to build up on the hair
2) Cannot be removed without Sulfate Cleansers
3) Clog the hair shaft
4) Lock moisture out of hair.

So in my opinion cones are bad! The benefits that they offer can easily be found in All natural and cones free products. But don't let me stop you from finding out what works for you and your hair. Maybe you prefer oils, cones or both find what works for you.
Here is a list od cones that you are most likely able to find in most skin and hair products.

Amodimethicone- Trimethylsilylamodimethicone- A non-curable amine silicone fluid for hair care products and decorative cosmetics. Provides water resistance.

Amodimethicone (&) C11-15 Pareth-7 (&) Laureth-9 (&) Glycerin (&) Trideceth-12-
An amine functional micro-emulsion for clear, aqueous-based hair products.

Amodimethicone (&) Trideceth-12 (&) Cetrimonium Chloride- Cationic emulsion for hair conditioning.

Behenoxy Dimethicone

Bisamino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl PG-Propyl Dimethicone- Provides excellent hair conditioning without build-up. Ideal for use in products designed to treat colour, perm, sun and heat-damaged hair.

Bis-Phenylpropyl Dimethicone- A colourless silicone fluid with high RI, low viscosity and volatility, shine enhancement and luxurious feel.

C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone- Superior compatibility with both silicones and organics. Can be used as a thickening agent which gives a unique silky skin feel.

Cetearyl Methicone- A soft, waxy material; excellent lubricity and spreadability.

Cetyl Dimethicone- Occlusive film forming for skin conditioners.

Cetyl PEG/PPG-15/15 Butyl Ether Dimethicone- A silicone emulsifier for use in the preparation of water-in-oil emulsions. Also offers good emulsification of paraffin oils and vegetable triglycerides.

Cyclomethicone (&) PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone- For formulating water-in-oil emulsions, particularly water-in-silicone emulsions. Excellent aesthetics.

Cyclopentasiloxane- Cyclomethicone D5- Provides improved efficacy in antiperspirants and wet combing in hair conditioners.

Cyclopentasiloxane (&) C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer- Provides a unique feeling during rub-in followed by a soft powdery feel for an extended period. Ideal for cream to powder formulations.

Cyclopentasiloxane (&) Cyclohexasiloxane- Available in three different proportions offering low viscosity, a relatively high volatility and a cyclic structure.

Cyclopentasiloxane (&) Dimethicone- The basis for hair serums. Conditioning without build up.

Cyclopentasiloxane (&) Dimethicone/Vinyldimethicone Crosspolymer- An elastomer dispersion resulting in a smooth, highly viscous gel with a unique silky feel on application.

Cyclopentasiloxane (&) Dimethiconol- Provides a smooth, velvety feel without greasiness. Useful for skincare and hair conditioning.

Cyclopentasiloxane (&) Trimethylsiloxysilicate- Silicone resin blended with Cyclopentasiloxane. Provides water resistance.

Cyclotetrasiloxane- Cyclomethicone D4- A volatile silicone for improving skin feel in applications such as anti-perspirants.

DEA PG-Propyl PEG/PPG-18/21 Dimethicone- Enhances the performance of shampoos and conditioners with improved gloss, manageability and moisturizing properties.

Diisostearoyl Trimethylolpropane Siloxy Silicate- Highly substantive to skin, has good lubricity and spreadability. Compatible with organic oils and waxes.

Dimethicone Copolyol

Dimethicone (&) Laureth-4 (&) Laureth-23- Non-ionic silicone emulsion for 2-in-1 shampoos.

Dimethicone (&) Trimethylsiloxysilicate- Water resistant, non-tacky film, ideal for sun screens.

Dimethicone (from 1 to 1,000,000 cs)- The original silicone 'oil'. A complete range is available from the highly mobile 1-20 cs, the popular 50-500 cs and the heavier 1,000-1,000,000 cs.

Dimethiconol (&) Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulphonate- An anionic emulsion for leave-in hair products. Disperses well in aqueous preparations and gives the hair good texture.

Diphenyl Dimethicone- A heat-resistant silicone with good film-forming properties. Used as a skin conditioning and anti foaming agent.

Disiloxane- Volatile replacement for ethanol in APs and aerosols.

Hydrolyzed wheat protein/hydroxypropyl polysiloxane and cystine/silicone co-polymers- A combination of protein and silicones that posses a complex polymeric structure which cross-links on drying to form a conditioning and protective network providing protection against blow drying and heating. They also protect the hair against environmental pollutants as well as mechanical damage and can aid temporary repair of split ends.

Lauryl Methicone Copolyol

PCA Dimethicone- Functional over a broad pH range and offers excellent smoothing, conditioning and emolliency properties in many different applications.

PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone- Previously referred to as Dimethicone Copolyol. A very versatile, water soluble polyether modified silicone for use in skin and hair products.

PEG-12 Dimethicone- Previously referred to as Dimethicone Copolyol. A very versatile, water soluble polyether modified silicone for use in skin and hair products.

Phenyl Trimethicone- A very popular high gloss silicone for spray-on hair products. Also provides emolliency and water repellency in skin care products.

Polysilicone-18 Cetyl Phosphate- Color-retaining conditioner for hair products. Also offers thermal protection and a slick, soft after-feel. Excellent solubility and compatibility with most surfactants.

Silicone Resin Spheres (2, 5 & 6 micron)- Fine, white spherical particles give slip and lubricity in pressed and loose powders.

Simethicone- A mixture of Dimethicone and hydrated silica, used as an antifoaming agent. Available in two grades.

Stearoxy Dimethicone

Stearyl Dimethicone

Trimethylsiloxysilicate- A solid silicone resin for decorative cosmetics. Provides water resistance.

Trisiloxane- Anti foaming and skin conditioning agent

Thanks for your support! Have a Blessed One!

Natural Hair Shrinkage and Stretching

2010-01-14T07:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Thursday Good People. Today I gonna talk about Shrinkage and ways to stretch Natural Hair. So......Here we go!
The curls in tightly coiled, otherwise known as kinky hair can shrink up to 80% of it's actual length. Meaning that hair that's actually shoulder length when in full shrink mode can look as short as a TWA. Shrikage is despised by a lot of natural Divas, and I can understand why. But their are styles that calls for shrinkage sometimes, and their are times styles call for longer hair.

*Here are a few techniques to stretch out the curls so they can loosen up and retain their length.

*Banding
Banding is a technique that uses rubber bands or elastic hair bands (preferably) to stretch out the curls in natural hair.A section of wet hair is combed and then a hair band is placed around it in order to make a small pony tail. Next, the section is banded a few more times down the length of the ponytail to keep stretched out curls secured in place. This is repeated around the whole head and then the hair is either air-dried or dried under a hooded dryer.

*Twisting
Thin twists help to stretch out the roots, but the ends of the hair still shrinks a lot. Thicker twists usually stretch out the length of the hair, but they leave the roots un-stretched and looking a bit puffy.So whenever I make twists, I know that once my hair dries it will still look much shorter than it is, especially if I've made smaller ones.So if you want to stretch the curls further, Iwait until your hair dries, and then simply wet and then re-twist your hair again. It's a bit time consuming because your hair won't be fully stretched until after a few more times of re-wetting and re-twisting. But it is a sure way of loosening curls.

*Braiding Braids create the same stretching effect the twists do, but because three sections of hair are used for a braid, rather than two, the hair is more tightly wound so the curls won't stretch as much as they would with twists.

*Pinning and Ponytails
Putting your hair into a ponytail and the pinning to loose ends down is a great way to stretch you hair also

*Bantu Knots
The knots are created by making a square shaped part, then the roots are held while the remaining length of hair is wrapped around it. Once the hair is dry the knots are taken down.

*Heat
Another technique for stretching out tightly wound natural hair is to use heat by way of blow-drying, hot combing or flat-ironing the hair. These tools can be used to get the hair stick-straight if you're so inclined - although blow-drying can be used to just loosen up the curl. But if you choose the option for stretching out you curls I suggest you use a really good heat protectant or else you may end up damaging your hair!

But Do Know...That shrinkage is always going to happen with curly hair - whether it's loosely or tightly curled. I suggest we learn to work with our shrinkage intead spending time and money fighting against it! Love and embrace your shrinkage!

Thanks for your support! God Bless!

Herbs and Natural Hair

2010-01-13T09:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday! I hope your week has been a blessed one so far! Well today I am talking about Herbs and Natural Hair. I've been doing some reseaxh on this because soon I want to be able to use only "All Natural" products on my hair, skin, etc.... Some of the best alternatives to prescription hair growth treatments are herbal supplements. Herbal supplements have very minimal side effects and improve health as well as stimulate hair growth. Whether you use herbs to improve circulation, halt the process of hair loss, or block the DHT(Dihydrotestosterone, which causes hair loss) hormone, herbs are highly effective.

*Here are the top five herbs recommended to help stimulate hair growth.

1.Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto has been used for thousands of years and has been shown to be an effective remedy in the fight against hair growth problems. Saw Palmetto helps block the hormone DHT, therefore slowing down the rate of hair loss. Saw Palmetto may be in capsule form, added to herbal hair loss formulas, or applied in oil. Whichever method you prefer, Saw Palmetto is a valuable herb in the fight against premature balding.

2.Horsetail
Horsetail helps improve circulation and blood flow. This stimulates the hair follicles and is necessary for promoting hair growth. High in Silica, Horsetail strengthens weak hair and increases its vitality. Horsetail is often added to herbal preparations that fight pattern baldness.

3.Rosemary
Rosemary will help unclog follicles and promote hair growth. Rosemary may be added to oil and massaged in the scalp. Rosemary is also a powerful antioxidant and helps fight free radicals. It is also frequently added to herbal hair remedies.

4.Siberian Ginseng
Ginseng is a wonderful herb that has many benefits. One of these is that it increases stimulation and improves circulation. This has helped those who are suffering from hair loss or weak and damaged hair. Ginseng will also remove any toxins that may be clogging your hair follicles, slowing down or stalling new hair growth. You can choose to apply Ginseng through a hair and scalp oil. You may also take Ginseng in capsule form daily. Ginseng and Saw Palmetto are the most common herbs recommended for herbal hair growth treatments.

5.Nettle
Nettle is rich in vitamins and minerals. It is also great for promoting blood circulation and helps stimulate hair growth. Nettle has also been shown to block BPH and therefore has been highly useful in the fight against hair loss.

As you can see herbs are very beneficial to our Hair. There are many many other herbs great for natural hair. Such as Algae Extracts, Marigolds, Sage, Chamomile, and Aloe. Please research any herb and speak with your physician before trying herbal remedies of your hair, especially women who are pregnant.

Thank You for your support! God Bless!

My Apologies!

2010-01-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday! I came to apologize, I was sooooooo busy today I had no time for blogging! But I will return tomorrow! Thanks for your support, God Bless!

I am so Missing My Hiar!

2010-01-11T10:43:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday! AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!! I am missing my hair so much. I am trying my best not to take these kinky twists out because my hair needs a rest. But I just miss it so much. I miss co-washing it, sealing in my moisture, and styling it! January 30th need to get here fast! I don't know how much more of this I can take!

Our Hair's Make-up and How It Grows

2010-01-10T09:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday! Today I gonna talk about the make-up of natural hair and how it grows. I've been doing a lot of research on this and found a few intresting points thats worth sharing! so here we go..............

Our hair is actually protein matter called keratin. And news is- what we see on our head, the jungle of protein that we so passionately care about, is actually `dead’. The living part of the hair s below the surface of the scalp, called follicle, which supplies these dead cells to keep our mane flowing. Our hair grows from follicles within the skin. The part of the hair inside the follicle (below the skin's surface) is known as the hair root, while the portion you see protruding from the head is the hair shaft. At the base of the hair root is the hair bulb where nutrients are received and new cells are formed.At the base of the follicle is a cluster of living cells called the papilla, which eventually forms hair. Next to the follicle is the sebaceous gland that actually keeps the hair shiny and looking vibrant. Excessive sebum activity can make hair very oily while lack of sebum activity can make it dry and lifeless. The arrector pili, a tiny muscle anchored to the follicle, respond to stimulus (fear or cold) causing them to contract and make the hair stand up straight.

The hair follicle is fed by blood circulated around it, which is why a healthy body makes great looking hair. Anemia or a fall in blood count can affect the hair. In fact one can go to the extent of saying that an unhealthy body is first reflected in unhealthy hair.

Taking nutrients from the dermal papilla, the hair bulb generates new hair cells. As these cells move up through the hair root, they mature through a process called keratinization, fill with fibrous protein and lose their nucleus. When the cell loses its nucleus it is no longer alive. By the time the hair emerges from the skin it is merely fiber made of keratinized proteins.

The fibrous protein emerging from the hair follicle as the hair shaft has a specific construction. It forms a strand with three layers: an outer covering of overlapping keratin scales called the cuticle, a middle layer of keratinized protein fibers called the cortex, and usually, a central 'core' of round cells called the medulla. A medulla is almost always found in coarse hair, and often is absent from naturally blonde hair and very fine hair.

In fact, our hair is approximately 91 percent protein, and is made up of long chains of amino acids. These chains are found within the fibers of the cortex of the hair. The amino acids of these chains are made up of the elements carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur (are also the building blocks of the skin and nails) and are joined together by peptide bonds. Long chains of these peptide bonds are called polypeptide chains.

*There are three stages of hair growth: Catagen, Telogen, and Anagen.

Catagen - The catagen phase is a transitional stage and 3% of all hairs are in this phase at any time. This phase lasts for about 2-3 weeks. During this time growth stops and the outer root sheath shrinks and attaches to the root of the hair. This is the formation of what is known as a club hair.

Telogen - Telogen is the resting phase and accounts for 10-15% of all hairs. This phase lasts for about 100 days for hairs on the scalp and much longer for hairs on the eyebrow, eyelash, arm and leg. During this phase the hair follicle is completely at rest and the club hair is completely formed. Pulling out a hair in this phase will reveal a solid, hard, dry, white material at the root. About 25-100 telogen hairs are shed normally each day.

Anagen - Anagen is the active phase of the hair. The cells in the root of the hair are dividing rapidly. A new hair is formed and pushes the club hair up the follicle and eventually out. During this phase the hair grows about 1 cm every 28 days. Scalp hair stays in this active phase of growth for 2-6 years. Some people have difficulty growing their hair beyond a certain length because they have a short active phase of growth. On the other hand, people with very long hair have a long active phase of growth. The hair on the arms, legs, eyelashes, and eyebrows have a very short active growth phase of about 30-45 days explaining why they are so much shorter than scalp hair.

*Hair Shape: The amount of natural curl a hair has is determined by it's cross-sectional shape. Hair that is most similar to a circle is straight and hair that is flattened and elliptical is curly or kinky. The more circular the shaft is, the straighter it is. The more elliptical the shaft is, the curlier or kinkier the hair. The cross-sectional shape also determines the amount of shine the hair has. Straighter hair is shinier because sebum from the sebaceous gland can travel down the hair more easily. The kinkier the hair, the more difficulty the sebum has traveling down the hair, therefore the more dry or dull the hair looks.

Ok I think I'll stop here. I just wanted to give a quick look at the biology of natural hair! Thanks for your support! Have a blessed one!

Stress and Natural Hair

2010-01-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday everyone! You know what, I am so missing my hair today! I put kinky twists in my hair at the beginning of the month, and I just miss rubbing my fingers through my hair! But I will not be taking these twists out until January 30Th. This is my protective style for the month.
To keep my hair moisturized with the twists, I put 4oz of water, 3oz of Aloe Vera juice, 1tsp Shae Butter, 1tsp Coconut oil, 1tsp Honey, 2tsp Olive oil, 2tsp Castor oil, 10 Vitamin E capsules, and 2tsp Tea Tree oil into a spray bottle and shook it really well. No the oil and water did not mix, I have to shake it really well before each use. This spray has really kept my hair moisturized and itch free!
Anyway......... Today I wanna talk about stress and the effects of it on our Natural Hair. I was just thinking soon my husband and our family will be moving to a new city, and state, and I'll be going back to work, and we have kids. So being a wife, a mother, a friend, a daughter, trying to build a business, and working can get really stressful at times. So let's just take a quick look at the affects of stress on our hair..................

The Oxford dictionary defines stress as "a demand upon physical or mental energy.' However, stress, as most people see it, is an above average demand of our energy. This demand is usually very hard to deal with. Stress puts demands on people to perform well above their capacity. This demand is very difficult to maintain without some form of relief. Despite the negative perception, stress is an everyday occurrence that affects most people at some point in their life. Following are other definitions of stress:
-- Stress is supposedly a recent phenomenon and is everywhere we turn to.
-- Stress does not feel good and cannot be experienced in pleasant situations.
-- Stress can be achieved when our problems go out of control.
-- Stress and change are related.

Stress can sometimes lead to hair loss. The human body has ways of alerting us of problems such as stress. If handled properly, stress can be managed and not lead to hair loss or other appearance related problems.
The condition of a person's hair can tell you a lot about stress levels in their lives. Happiness and serenity in a person's life will be reflected by healthy looking, shiny hair. However, those with dry, lifeless, poor hair are likely encountering a depressing situation and are struggling to adapt. When the body and our health is negatively affected (trauma, emotional stress, major illness) your hair no longer has priority for your health maintenance. It's as if your body is saying, "I've got bigger problems to worry about and take care of, I don't need to worry about hair growth right now."
Your body's built-in self healing "process" considers your other problems so important, that it concentrates on the problem and ignores your hair. "... a sudden or stressful event can cause the hair follicles to prematurely stop growing and enter into a resting phase." This is referred to as Telogen Effluvium.
Telogen Effluvium is characterized by sudden, diffuse hair loss caused by an interruption in the normal hair growth cycle. This interruption is often the result of trauma, such as chemotherapy, childbirth, major surgery, severe stress, and severe chronic illness. This trauma causes large numbers of hair follicles to enter a stage of telogen, or rest, simultaneously.
The telogen phase can last 6 to 12 weeks (and much longer if left untreated) and affects women much more then men.
The good news is that stress related hair loss (telogen effluvium) is temporary. In fact, due to the nature of the hair growth cycle, by the time you hair starts to shed heavily, your stress related problem may have already been resolved.
"The odd thing about this condition is that you’re usually over the stressful event before the hair loss even starts."
However, for many people, a major stressful event can be more lasting. At times like these, these tips for handling stress are helpful:
*Exercise. Just 20 minutes a day can produce enough endorphins to reduce stress levels.
*Write in a journal. Writing your thoughts and feeling down in a journal can help in expressing the frustrations you are keeping inside.
*Get a massage. Massage therapy can relax muscles, ease muscle spasms, increase blood flow to skin and muscles, and relieve mental and emotional stress.
*Realistic expectations. A lot of stress is caused by disappointment in ourselves and/or others. When we or others can't live up to expectations you may have, disappointment and stress can set in. If you feel this applies to you, adjust your expectations. Don’t expect everyone to be like you or behave to your code of “shoulds and oughts." And don't say yes to demands that you know will be difficult to live up to. Don’t let ego and social pressure force you into being/doing something your not.
*Trust in God to help you make the right decisions in every area of your life! He is the ultimate stress reliever!

We must simplify our lives, and make them less complicated. A lot of us need to learn how to say the word NO! Stop trying to be Superwoman! Let go and Let God! If you can't do it, Just say No! A stress free life benefits not only us, but also those around us. Our family, friends, and our jobs. So less change some things. In 2010 less attempt to live a STRESS FREE LIFE!

Thanks for your Support! Have a great day!

Products that I use!

2010-01-08T09:12:00.000-08:00

Happy TGIF! Today I'm gonna share a quick list of products that I use, and some products that did no justice for my hair.

So Here we go........

*CONDITIONERS
1. Elasta QP Intense Fortifying Hair Conditioner- This is what I use for my Co-Washes. It's light and filled with vitamins and plant extracts. This product is a great detangler and it leaves my hair soft, manageable, and moisturized every time. I hear V05 and Suave works great for co-washing also.
2.Elasta QP Feels Like Silk Leave-In H2 leave in moisture sealing conditioner- Whew........ That's a long name. Anyway I love this stuff! This is my leave in conditioner. This is one of the first products that I spray on my hair everyday. It's great for keeping my hair detangled, smooth, soft, and moisturized.
3. ApHogee Pro vitamin Leave-In conditioner- This is my back up Leave in. Since everyone is starting to get hooked on the Elasta H2, sometimes the stores tend to run out of my favorite product so when they do, I get the ApHogee. Now this product works fairly well in my hair. It does a great job at moisturizing my hair, but it doesn't leave it as soft and silky as I would like. But it does a good job!
4. My Homemade Tropical Avocado Deep Conditioner- This all natural homemade conditioner leaves my hair soft, silky, manageable, and ultra-moisturized. (Will post recipe @ the bottom)

*SHAMPOOS
1. Elasta QP Creme Conditioning Shampoo- I rarely, rarely Shampoo my hair but when I feel I have to have Shampoo I use this one. It's a Sulfur/Sulfate free, lightweight shampoo and it leaves my hair feeling very moisturized and clean.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse- This is what I use to Clarify my hair once monthly. I simply take 1cup of vinegar and 3cups of water mix them together pour them in my hair while I'm gently rubbing and massaging my hair. Then I rinse! This is a great natural way to get the hair clean and product free without stripping and drying out the hair.
*I can also recommend using Dr. Bronners 18-in-1 Castille soap. It's all natural and it's Sulfate/Sulfur free!

*MOISTURIZERS
1. Shae Butter- This is a great all natural Whole Body Moisturizer. Great for the skin, nails, and hair. It does not clog the hair shaft allowing the hair to stay moisturized.
2.Tea Tree Oil- I used to suffer from bad dandruff, I thought I would never be able to stop using shampoos (i.e Head and Shoulders) because of it. But let me tell you, if you have bad dandruff treat your scalp to some Tea Tree Oil every day. This stuff is good at fighting dry, itchy, flaky scalps. It is a Fungus Fighter and a great Preservative.
3.Elasta QP Recovery anti-breakage oil moisturizer-This is the product I use in the last step of sealing the moisture in my hair. It's lightweight, and gives my hair a marvelous shine. It's rich in vitamins and natural oils.
4. Coconut Oil- This oil is OK in small amounts. It's only good for the hair, not the scalp, and if you use too much it will began to clog the hair shaft and prevent moisture from getting in. But it a great hair moisturizer. It doesn't weigh you hair down and it gives a great shine to your hair.
5.Castor Oil- This is a great moisturizer for the hair and scalp. It's great for growing the hair and is also for great for thinning hair. It also helps to hide damaged hair, helps with frizzy hair, it adds a natural shine, and it's help prevent damage and breakage! Great Stuff!
6.Jojoba Oil- This stuff is great at moisturizing, conditioning, and controlling brittleness, breakage, and split ends.
7. Glycerin- This product in it's pure natural state is an excellent moisturizer for smooth, soft skin and hair.
*Please note that I do Not use all of these products every day. It depends on what effect I want for the style I'm doing. Because a lot of these oils are versatile I sometimes make my own mixture by combining some of the oils.

*Gels
1. Gueye's Herbal Extra-Hold styling gel- This product is alcohol free, and encourages hair growth. It does not flake, or make your hair feel hard and crunchy.
2. Eco Styler styling gel- When I need more of a hard and controlled hold I use this product. It does not flake, but I do feel the need to rinse my hair everyday after use.

*MISC
1. Aloe Vera Juice- I like to put half water, half Aloe Juice in a spray bottle and spray it on my hair first everyday. Aloe is great for promoting hair growth, and an excellent treatment for hair loss.
2. My Homemade Protein Treatment- Because our hair is made up of proteins, our hair needs proteins. So once monthly I give my hair something it loves and needs Protein! This treatment leaves my hair soft and strong! I love it! (Will post recipe @ Bottom)
3. Vitamin E Capsules-Vitamin E is an antioxidant that encourages blood flow in the scalp area. For that reason more oxygen is supplied to the hair cells. I don't like to take the capsules orally, so I extract the oil out and put into one of my oils.
4. Biotin- This B-complex vitamin metabolizes fatty acids which are valuable growth components in the body including hair.

*Some Products that did not work for me or my hair!
1. Pantene Pro V Relaxed and Natural Shampoo, Conditioner, and Oil Moisturizer- These Products are rich in sulfur/sulfate, cones, and synthetic products. They left my hair feeling great when I first started using the products and then all of a sudden I was battling dryness, brittleness, frizz, and build-up.
2.Palmers Olive Oil Shampoo and Conditioner- Unlike Pantene Pro V, this product claims to be an Organic product. NOT! This product is also rich in Sulfate/Sulfur, Cones, and other synthetic ingredients. The same as with Pantene, the beginning results were great, but after a month I was back to fighting dry, weak, brittle hair!
3. Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion- The cones in the product left my hair hard and crunchy once it was dry. Also when rinsing I could tell there was product in my hair, it felt slimy and slippery! Not good!
4.Mixed Chicks Leave-in Conditioner- OK it's my fault I'm out of $20.00 for buying this product. I did Not read the ingredients before I bought it! Anyway I put this product on my hair right after I got out of the shower, OK my hair was curly, and soft at first but after my hair dried it was so hard and crispy I was scared. So I ran to check the ingredients and guess what, Amodimethicone is the third ingredient on the list. I was so upset at myself for not reading the ingredients before I purchased it! I sure did learn my lesson.

*Recipes
I'm not suggesting you use the recipes to my homemade hair products, I recommend you find whats right for you and your hair. But if you do try these recipes and they work for you then please feel free to continue to use them. I just showing you what works for me ;)

*Tropical Avocado Deep Conditioner
1 Soft Avocado
1 Soft Banana
1/2 can of Coconut Milk
2tsp Honey
1tsp Coconut Oil
1tsp Tea Tree Oil (Preservative)
-Combine all ingredients and blend until you reach a smooth and creamy consistency. Apply evenly to hair in sections(detangling hair prior to making conditioner saves a lot of time). Put a shower cap on and let conditioner sit in hair for 30-60minutes. Rinse well.

*Protein Treatment
1cup Plain Organic Yogurt
1cup Real Mayo (Salad Dressing will dry you hair out)
2 Eggs
2tsp Olive oil
-Blend until you've reached a smooth and creamy consistency. Apply to hair in sections(detangling hair prior to making this treatment saves a lot of time). Put a shower cap on and let treatment sit in hair for 30-60minutes. Rinse well.

OK you have the run down on what works and doesn't works for my hair! Now go out and find out what works for yours! Thanks for your support! May God richly bless you and yours!

Some DO's and DONT's for Natural Hair!

2010-01-07T07:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Thursday Blessed People! Okay today I just want to share SOME (there are many) Do's and Dont's for natural hair. So................ Here we go!

* If you have any tips or suggestions please feel free to comment :)

#1. DO wash your hair in sections. This keeps your hair from Tangling.

#2. DO ONLY comb your hair when it's wet. Combing dry hair causes breakage.

#3. DO keep your hair moisturized. Seal in moisture by first adding a water based product, such as a leave in conditioner, then add a oil based product, such as shea butter, coconut or castor oil, then add a cream based product. I use Elasta QP Recovery Moisturizer which is absolutely wonderful.

#4. DO Use a denman brush or a k-cutter comb to detangle your hair. Start at ENDS then work our way up to the roots. Starting at your roots will cause breakage.

#5. DO Detangle your hair only in the shower w/ conditioner in your hair.

#6. DO cover your hair before bed with a satin scarf or bonnet. This keeps your hair from drying out during the night. Satin Pillowcases are great also.

#7.DO big plaits or twists and moisturize before bed. This will make your hair more manageable in the morning.

#8. DO Co-Wash! Co-Washing is basically conditioner washing. Most shampoos contain sulfur or sulfate (Read my blog "No Poo Thank You" for my info) which dries out the hair! Co-washing is a way to get the hair clean without using shampoos! ACV (apple cider vinger) Rinses is a great great way to clarify hair without the use of shampoos, but if you must use shampoo, try to find a sulfur-free shampoo, and use olive oil as a pre-poo (add to hair, and massage before shampooing.) I can recommend Elasta QP creme conditioning shampoo.

#9. DO Know that most of the products you used before going natural will not work on your natural hair. (I.E i used Motions hair products before going natural and they made my hair look fabulous. Now Motions does absolutely nothing for my hair!)

#10.DO NOT allow you or someone else to lift your hair (bleach it) to put color in it. Bleaching your hair severely damages it.

#11. DO NOT use products that contain petroleum or mineral oil. It only coats your hair and does not moisturize. Please stay away from those products.

#12. DO love your shrinkage!

#13. DO trim your hair at least once every 1-2 months.

#14. DO protective styles. Such as braids just to give your hair a break.

#15. DO not overuse heat. (use heat protectants when using heat)

#16. DO read the labels on products. Get to know your products and their ingredients. cosmeticsdatabase.com in a great place to start finding out what ingredients are good for your hair and which are not. Do not be decieved, do your research before trying new products.

#17. DO NOT let hataz get you down! Love your hair! Stay Natural!

#18. DO NOT towel dry your hair if you want you curls and coils to pop! Shake the water out or squeeze the water out!

#19. Do stay connected to the Natural Hair care community! Youtube, LHCF, Mowtown girl, Nappturality, MyNHCG.com all those sites are great!

#20. DO know that diet and exercise is key to growing healthy hair!

#21. Do regularly Deep Condition your hair! (I will share my Deep Conditioner on tomorrow)

#22. Do regularly do Protien Treatments. Our hair is basicly made up of protien, and when it lacks protien our hair tends to become very weak and prone to breakage. Lets keep our hair strong by giving it what it needs! Protien! (Will share my Protien treatment on tomorrow also.)

#23. Do not use products that contain Cones!!!! (i.e Silicone, Amodimethicone,Behenoxy Dimethicone, Bisamino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl PG-Propyl Dimethicone, Bis-Phenylpropyl Dimethicone, C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane (&) Dimethicone, Lauryl Methicone CopolyolPCA Dimethicon, Phenyl Trimethicone, etc....... There are many more.....) Theses igredients makes natural hair feel great when its wet, but once it dries it leaves the hair hard, stiff and crunchy. Cones cannot be removed by shampoo, therefore causing build-up and locking moisture out of the hair. Stay Away from the Cones! (Will do a blog on cones at a later date)

#24. Do love God, your self and others! You are beautiful! As my Best Friend says, "Love the skin that God has placed you in". Know that there is greatness inside of you!

Shea Butter and Natural Hair!

2010-01-05T23:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday everyone, I pray all is well with you and yours. Well today I want to talk about a natural resource/product that I use on my hair and skin. This stuff is amazing and the great part is that its "All Natural"! I am talking about Shea Butter! Yes good ol' Shea Butter! It works miracles for my hair and skin and I'm absolutely positive it will do the same for you!

*So........What is Shea Butter?
Shea Butter is only found in the tropics of Africa. It is extracted from the nuts of the Shea-Karite tree which begins to bear fruit after about 15 years; and can take up to 30 years to bear a quality crop of nuts with a high content of irremovable fatty acid. It is this irremovable fatty acid that gives Shea Butter its unique healing properties and makes it far superior to cocoa butter and other vegetable butters. Traditionally, Shea Butter was extracted by people who picked the nuts, cracked them, grilled them and pounded them. They were boiled in water for hours until the Shea Butter rose to the surface. It was then scooped into gourds and left to cool and set. Shea Butter is solid at room temperature although it quickly liquefies right around body temperature. This Shea Butter is called unrefined Shea Butter or raw Shea Butter. Since Shea Butter is an all natural product, it can vary widely in quality, appearance and smell depending on where it is produced from and how it is refined or extracted. Most Shea Butter comes from West Africa. Although a more soft and smoother variety from East Africa is beginning to appear on the market.

*How can Shea Butter benefit me? Shea Butter can provide relief from everything from just dry skin to many minor dermatological diseases (if you have a serious skin condition, you should see a doctor). It has been clinically shown to provide benefits.

-Here are some of the benefits of Shea Butter for the skin:
Daily skin moisturizer (face and body)
Dry skin relief
Dry scalp
Skin rash- including diaper rash
Skin peeling, after tanning
Blemishes and wrinkles
Itching skin due to dryness
Sunburn
Shaving cream to reduce razor irritation
Small skin wounds
Skin cracks
Soften tough skin on feet (especially heels)
Stretch mark prevention during pregnancy
Minor burns
Eczema
Sun and wind protection
Even skin tone
Reduce blemishes and scarring
Eliminating scalp irritation from dryness or chemical processing
Preventing bumps after shaving
Reducing acne (especially in combination with African Black Soap)
Absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue
Helps restore elasticity to skin
Restores luster to hair

*How does Shea Butter benefit my hair?
Shea Butter provides moisture to dry or damaged hair from the roots to the very tips, repairing and protecting against weather damage, dryness and brittleness. It also absorbs quickly and completely into the scalp to rehydrate without clogging pores. It is particularly beneficial for processed and heat-treated hair. It is an excellent treatment for dry scalp. It restores luster to damaged hair.

So there you have it, The 411 on one of the worlds greatest natural moisturizers! God is good! Thank Jesus for the Shea-Karite Tree and all the fruit(nuts) that it bear!

No Poo Thank you!

2010-01-03T21:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday Good People! Part of my natural hair regimen is NO-POO(No shampooing)!

I know you may be thinking how can I not wash my hair. Well technically I'll still be cleaning my hair I just won't be using shampoo. I'll be clarifying with a ACV(apple cider vinegar) Rinse. I will discuss that on a later date. But I do want to share with you why I won't be using Shampoos.

Both Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and it's cousin Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are commonly used in products that we expect to "foam up." Both chemicals are very effective foaming agents, chemically known as surfactants.

SLS and SLES are esters of Sulphuric acid- SLS is know as "Sulphuric acid monododecyl ester sodium salt," however there are more than 150 different names by which it is known. In fact SLES in commonly contaminated with dioxane, a commonly known carcinogen.

Although SLES is somewhat less irritating the SLS, it cannot be metabolised by the liver and it's effects are therefore much longer lasting.

*So why is a dangerous chemical like sodium lauryl sulfate used in our soaps and shampoos?

The answer is simple - it is cheap. The sodium lauryl sulfate found in our soaps is exactly the same as you would find it in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines. In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, sodium lauryl sulfate also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect.
Perhaps most worryingly, SLS is also absorbed into the body from skin application. Once it has been absorbed, one of the main effects of sodium lauryl sulfate is to mimic the activity of the hormone Oestrogen. This has many health implications and may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMS and Menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer, where oestrogen levels are known to be involved.

*The Journal of the American College of Toxicology notes that this ingredient has a "degenerative effect on the cell memebranes because of it's protein denaturing properties."

Interestingly, sodium lauryl sulfate "is used around the world in clinical studies as a skin irritant," notes the journal. The publication expressed additional concerns:
Carcinogenic nitrosamines can form in the manufacturing of sodium lauryl sulfate or by its inter-reaction with other nitrogen-bearing ingredients within a formulation utilizing this ingredient.
Other studies have indicated that sodium lauryl sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain from skin contact. This poses the question whether it could be a serious potential health threat from its use in shampoos, cleansers, and toothpastes.
Still other research has indicated sodium lauryl sulfate may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties.
Although sodium lauryl sulfate is not carcinogenic in experimental studies, it has been shown that it causes severe epidermal changes in the area it is applied, indicating a need for tumor-enhancing assays.
Additional studies have found that sodium lauryl sulfate is heavily deposited on the skin surface and in the hair follicles. Damage to the hair follicle could result from such deposition.

I could go on and on about the harmful effects of Sulfate shampoos, but I think I'll stop here. Just know that the effects on long term shampoo use could be detrimental to our health, and if shampoo is a must try using a sulfate-free shampoo. I can recommend Elasta QP conditioning shampoo. Thanks for your support! Have a Blessed Day!

Eating My Way to Healthy Hair

2010-01-03T15:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday everyone! Today I am saying, "Eat your way to beautiful, healthy hair". Just like your body, your hair also needs a balanced diet to stay healthy.

*Diet solution for dry and brittle hair:
If your hair is dry and breaks easily, it is probably a lack of essential fatty acids. By including plenty of good sources of essential fatty acids in your diet you can give your hair back its strength and lustre.
You can find these essential fatty acids in oily fish such as tuna, sardines, trout, salmon, herrings and mackeral. Also in seeds, nuts, olives and avocados. You should try to eat four servings of oily fish a week.
Sprinkling flaxseed oil and pumpkin seeds over your morning cereal is another great way to get these much needed essential fatty acids in your diet.

* Remember: To keep your hair well hydrated, be sure to drink six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day!

*Another nutrient important for hair strength and growth is trace mineral silica. Silica is vital to the strength of hair, and can stop hair breakage, unfortunately many of the foods we eat in the western world lack this mineral. Through food processing and chemical soil treatments, trace minerals are rare in our diets.
When possible, always choose organic produce. Foods that are rich in silica are rice, oats, lettuce, parsnips, asparagus, onion, strawberry, cabbage, cucumber, leek, sunflower seeds, celery, rhubarb, cauliflower and green, leafy vegetables.

*Diet solution for greasy and lanky hair:
A lack of vitamin B in ones diet can lead to oily, greasy hair. To fight off greasy hair, be sure to eat lots of whole grains, nuts, seeds, dairy products, eggs, wheatgrem, legumes and green, leafy vegetables. These are all great sources of B-complex vitamins.
Also steer clear of oily foods where possible.

*Diet solution for hair that is starting to thin and fall out:
Thinning hair or hair loss may be a sign of iron deficiency. Be sure to eat plenty of iron rich foods, such as red meat(optional), eggs, legumes, wholegrain cereals, dried fruits and green, leafy vegetables.

*Since hair is composed mostly of protein, your hair will most likely respond well to the addition of high protein foods such as meats (optional), eggs, cheese, beans, seeds and nuts. These protein-rich foods can help reinforce the hair follicles and prevents the hair from falling out.
There is some evidence suggesting soy protein helps stimulate growth, so switch to soy milk and include some tofu, miso and soy beans in your diet.

*Vitamin E is found in green, leafy vegetables, nuts and grains and can also help hair loss. Hair loss can also be a sign of thyroid dysfunction. To stimulate the thyroid gland, eat foods rich in iodine such as seafood and kelp.

*Also including iron and B vitamins in your diet will help. Stick to a diet rich in antioxidants - fruit, vegetables and tea - to help slow the aging process in general.

*Foods, Vitamins and supplements to help hair growth
Hair is mostly protein, so nutritionists advise those wanting healthy hair to eat well balanced diets that include healthy proteins, along with foods high in vitamin B, C, E, A and K.
Your hair will most likely respond well to the addition of high protein foods such as meats (optional), eggs, cheese, seeds, beans and nuts. Fish has good protein as well as essential fatty acids and natural oils.
Vitamin B - Green vegetables, beans, sunflower seeds, nuts and peas.
Vitamin C - Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, melons and berries.
Vitamin E - Avocados, rice bran, nuts, dark green vegetables, legumes and whole grains.
Vitamin A - Carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, broccoli, cantaloupe and apricots.
Vitamin K - Seafood, dairy, figs, asparagus, broccoli, lettuce, brussel sprouts, cabbage, dark green leafy vegetables, oatmeal, soybeans, wheat, yogurt, egg yolks and liver(Which I do not recommend eating).

*Food is a blessing from God. Exodus 23:25(NKJV) says, "You shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless your bread and water. And I will take the sickness away from the midst of you." God wants us to enjoy our food. Here's a quick look at some foods He made to bless our bodies..........

*Fresh Fruits and Veggies-At least half of what you eat should be living foods, perferably organic fruits and veggies. It is an established fact that the more fruits and veggies you eat, the lower your chance of heart disease, cancer, and many other health problems.

*Good Fats- Yes, there is such a thing as good fats. Our bodies need fat! The good types of fat heal the body and are necessary. We should eat fat every day for the health of our heart, brain, skin, hair and every part of us. Good fat nourishes and strengthens cell membranes. Good fats include..........

>Monosaturated fats- Found in cold-pressed olive oil, organic peanut butter, advocados, olives, macadamia nuts, and especially almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts.

>Omega 3 fats- Found mainly in cold-water fish, some marine mammals, and algae(seaweed).

>Flaxseed oil

To learn more about Good and Bad foods, please visit http://www.drcolbert.com/ for a list of books, and other material on health! Thanks for you support! Have a Blessed day!

The truth about Chemical Hair Relaxers

2010-01-03T06:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday everyone! Today I wanted to share with you a little of what I researched about Chemical Hair Realxers.................

*What You Need to Know About Chemical Hair Relaxers:
Hair breakage, hair thinning, lack of hair growth, scalp irritation, scalp damage, hair loss. These are just some of the complaints from many who experience problems due to the misuse of chemical hair relaxers. In fact, the FDA lists hair straighteners and hair dyes among its top consumer complaint areas. Yet, in so many stores around the country, chemicals are available for everyone to use, without much instruction, a powerful process which transforms the very chemical makeup of the hair strand. Before beginning any hair treatment, especially one that introduces chemicals to our hair, we owe it to ourselves to be well informed. Armed with a better understanding of this process, we will be able to make good decisions with regard to our hair and scalp care.

*Hair Relaxers: Hair Discovers Lye
His name was Garrett Augustus Morgan and he was born the seventh of eleven children of former slaves. He is best known for his invention of the automatic traffic signal and gas mask. But it was around 1910 that he stumbled upon what would become his contribution to the hair care products industry and what would pave the way for several other entrepreneurs and manufacturers over the next hundred years.
While working in a sewing machine repair shop attempting to invent a new lubricating liquid for the machine needle, it is widely believed that Morgan wiped his hands on a wool cloth, returned the next day, found the woolly texture of the cloth had “smoothed out”, and set out to find how the liquid chemical had changed the texture as it had. He experimented on an Airedale dog, known for their curly textured hair, and the effect was successfully duplicated.
Morgan then tried his lubricating liquid invention on himself, called it a “hair refining cream”, and thus patented the first chemical hair straightener. He founded a personal grooming products company which included hair dying ointments, curved-tooth pressing combs, shampoo, hair pressing gloss, and the one that started it all: the “G.A. Morgan's Hair Refiner Cream” (advertised to “Positively Straighten Hair in 15 Minutes”).

*"Lye" or "No Lye": The Truth
Sodium Hydroxide is the strongest type of principal chemical used in some chemical relaxers because it provides the most long lasting and dramatic effects. However, this same sodium hydroxide is found in drain cleaners which well demonstrates the strength of this chemical. It is what is used in products that are referred to as “lye” relaxers. The strength varies from a ph factor of 10 to 14. With higher ph, the faster the straightening solution will take hold, but the more potential the damage.
Guanidine Hydroxide is the other common option of relaxer chemical used today. This is what is referred to as “no-lye” relaxers. This label can be misleading to some consumers. It does not imply that there aren't any strong chemicals used or that the chemicals used are somehow less potentially damaging. Some have mistakenly thought that with “no-lye” relaxers there are less steps and all the worry of chemical hair straightening is removed. Although this type of chemical hair relaxer can be less damaging than its counterpart, the hair and scalp should be in top condition before attempting treatment, and this type also requires special care when applied.

*Things Everyone Needs to Know: The Do's / The Don'ts BEFOREHAND
How can chemicals “relax”, or straighten hair? Well first of all, as assumed, the chemical would need to be potent enough to do so. Both lye and “no lye” relaxers are very strong chemicals that work in the same manner by changing the basic structure of the hair shaft. The chemical penetrates the cortex or cortical layer and loosens the natural curl pattern. This inner layer of the hair shaft is not only what gives curly hair its shape but provides strength and elasticity. Once this process is performed it is irreversible.
This process which produces the desired effect of “straighter” hair at the same time leaves hair weak and extremely susceptible to breaking and further damage. One must keep in mind that relaxers do not help the hair, but actually strip it. So by applying chemicals to the hair, even if it is to achieve a desired effect, is never really to the benefit of your hair health. Due to this it is first strongly recommended that it be applied only under the direction of a haircare professional with a record of success with healthy haircare and chemical straightening, and that the client regularly obtains conditioning treatments before and after the process.

I once heard someone say "When we know better, we do better!" I hope that's true in this case. Thanks for your support! Have a Blessed day!

Natural: Why Me?

2010-01-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday everyone! Today I just want to share with the world why I chose to become natural! I chose to become natural because I needed to find out who I was. I had become a person that was superficial, and imitation. Relaxed, and fake hair, fake nails, fake character! I needed to meet myself and find out what type of person I truly was. The Year I started to go natural is the same year I gave my life to Christ! Without Him, getting to know me would have been impossible! So my Natural Hair Journey has been very spiritual for me. It still is! No, I am not my hair, but I feel when you look at my hair you get a glimpse of who I truly am. Naturally beautiful, strong, powerful, and honest! I am Daughter of the Most High, Yes I am Royalty!

I've started teaching my daughter to embrace who she is at a really young age. She's 7 now and she will quickly tell you that she is beautiful, inside and out, and that God didn't make any mistakes when He made her! So it doesn't matter what the world says about her skin color or hair, she knows that in God's, her mommy's and daddy's eyes she is beautiful. I believe we as parents should make sure that our children never lose sight of who they really are. We should teach our children to embrace their culture at a early age, so that when they're older they won't feel lost and only merely existing! I've been there!

Thanks for your support. Know that there IS greatness inside of you! Have a Blessed day!

Water and Natural Hair

2010-01-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year and Happy Friday everyone! As you know 2010 is here and and I'm looking forwards to ultimate hair growth this year. Since drinking plenty of water is one of the tools i'm using to see this growth, I decided to share with you what I know about water!
So here we go..............

Water is the single most important nutrient for our bodies. It is involved in every one of our bodies functions.

Did you know........?
*Your body is about 70%water
*Your muscles are about 75% water
*Your brain cells are about 85% water
*Your blood is approximately 82% water
*Even your boness are approximately 25%water

When your body lacks the water it needs, it goes into a ration mode. Think of a sprinkler system whose pressure is too low to reach all the grass on your lawn. Some parts stay green and live, but other parts begin to turn brown, whither, and die. When you live in a drought condition your body smartly manages the water you give it, keeping the vital organs (Brain, Heart, Lungs, Kindeys, and Liver) well watered with nutrients. The body robs and takes away water from other areas of the body to keep the main organs healthy. This results in many health issues such as......
*Joint pains and Arthritis
*High Blood Pressure
*Digestive Problems
*Asthma and the list goes on

Guess what....? A lack of water also results in skin problems, and also dry and brittle hair. Water is the best moisturizer for natural hair. Staying hydrated can help your hair not to become dry, limp and brittle. For example when you are dehydrated the strands of your hair do not hold moisture well, making it easy for strands to snap and break off. So start combating dryness with water. Keep a spray bottle with water in it to give your hair a refresher throughout the day, and drink plenty of water.
If you don't know how much water your body needs, take your body weight and divide it by 2. (i.e 140/2=70) The answer is the number of water ounces you need in one day! Thats easy to do! Right? You can easily accomplish this by drinking 2cups of water when you wake up in the morning, and then drink a bottle of water every hour or so that you're awake during the day!

*Note: Hard water is very harmful to your hair! If you have hard water, please invest in a water softner. Your body and hair will thank you in the long run ;)

I just want to update you on my current hair length. My hair is 13cm long. That's approximately 5.11inches. Thanks for the Support! Have a blessed Day!

2010 Hair Goal!

2009-12-31T08:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Thursday everyone! OK, yesterday I told you that I would share my 2010 Hair goal with you, so here it is...........
My Hair goal for 2010 is to grow 1inch of healthy hair every month! Whew........ I know it sound exhausting already, but I am committed to the task at hand. I will attempt to achieve my goal by........
1. Drinking Plenty of Water! Water is key, our Body needs water and so does our hair.
2. Eating a balanced Diet consisting of mostly fresh fruits and veggies. (A quick rant: I was vegetarian for quite a while, and when i moved from Florida to Moreno valley, Ca it was really hard for me to find my normal foods, so i resulted back to eating meat again. But i only ate chicken, turkey, and fish. What a bad mistake!!!!! Eating meat has really took it's toll on me in just 5months. I've gain 25lbs since July, my hair isn't as healthy as it should be, and I just feel miserable. So starting today no more meat for me! Only fish occasionally!)
3.Wearing protective styles. (i.e. Braids, twists, kinky twists)
4. And by following a well thought out and planned hair care regimen, which is as follows........

*Daily- Seal in moisture every night before bed. (Will blog about "How to seal in moisture" @ a later date.)
*Mon, Wed and Fri- Co- wash and De tangle (Those will be the set days unless my hair gets really dirty from something like a accident fall into some dirt or something. lol)
*Every Saturday- Deep Condition with my Homemade Tropical Avocado Deep conditioner. (If you would like the Recipe check out my YouTube page. http://Youtube.com/user/TheMBess)
*Every 4Th Saturday- Clarify hair with a ACV Rinse (apple cider vinegar rinse), Do a protein treatment with my Homemade Protein treatment. (Check out my YouTube page for that recipe as well;), Do a length check, and trim ends if necessary.

I will do product reviews and post them as well. I also will be blogging and updating my YouTube channel and Fotki page regularly with my hair updates. I would love your support on this growth journey!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Beginning of my Natural Hair Diary!

2009-12-30T19:57:00.000-08:00

On 2/10/2010 I will have reached my 5years natural mark. I had locs up until about 4 months ago. On 8/4/2009 I big chopped for the 2nd time. I loved my locs, and i never thought i would get rid of them, and since i cut them off it's been kinda like a new liberation. I'm free to try more styles and strive to have the healthiest hair possible. My hair was literally in bondage.....LOL! But locs are good, I might even go back to them one day.
Since cutting my locks off i have been enjoying getting to know my hair again. I have fallin in love with every kink, coil, and curl. In the beginning I tried a lot of products, so were good and some were bad. (I will do a update on those products later.) I've learned a lot of do's and dont's for natural hair, and i'm looking forward to sharing them with you.
I am dedicating 2010 to ultimate hair growth. I will share my hair goal with you on tomorrow. I will blog everyday (if possible) about my hair process, styles, and products. Anything new that i learn and all the things i know about natural hair, I'm going to blog about it. I feel it's time for sistahs to stop being "lyed" to, and embrace their natural beauty. My best friend always says "Love the skin that God has placed you in" and she is right. We ought to love ourselves in out natural state. If God wanted us to have straight, and silky hair he would have gave it to us. And not only are we more beautiful in our natural state, the chemicals in relaxers and other hair care products are dangerous, and harmful to the human body! So stay tuned sistahs, I am dedicating this year to Natural Hair!