Product of the Month...October

This month's product is one that I haven't tried personally, but plan to in the very near future. I have heard nothing but good things about it and the reviews online give it high praises as well. This month's feature is called Shea Moisture Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie...what a mouthful.


Shea Moisture Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie



This is said to be a great product that helps in defining your curl and it also smells heavenly. Here is what the product advertises:

Nutrient rich vegetable butters condition hair, restoring moisture, body and shine. Enhances curls, minimizes frizz and provides curl control. For thick, curly hair. Sulfate-free and color-safe.

• Coconut oil: Hydrates and protects hair from heat and chemical damage
• Silk protein: Reduces breakage, strengthens hair, adds smoothness and silkiness
• Neem oil: An age-old ayurvedic oil that strengthens hair and provides brilliant shine
• No parabens, phthalates, paraffin, gluten, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance, animal testing, PABA, synthetic color, DEA, or animal ingredients

The price is around $9 and can be found at Walgreens or Target
Ingredients Deionized Water , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut) , Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil , Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado) , Vegetable Glycerin , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract , Silk Protein , Ammonium Salt , Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil (Neem) , Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil (Carrot) , Sorbitol Esters , Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B-5) , Caprylyl Glycol , Essential Oil Blend , Lonicera Caprifolium Flower and Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle and Japanese Honeysuckle) , Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

The ingredients alone should make you want to run out and try it. I may do a second review once I've actually experienced it for myself.

Here are a few reviews from other users, from www.naturallycurly.com:

• Flirty girl
• Type 4a

Oct 25, 2011

I LOVE this product! It keeps my curls soft and moisturized. I'm excited to try some of their other products!

• smithm2153
• Type 3c

Oct 25, 2011

very nice product...I have 3c 4a hair and I use it at night after a co wash or just for extra moisture before I wrap my hair with a satin scarf at night...it leaves my hair soft and manageable for the next day. Also great for protective styles...

• ruthwill88
• Type 3c

Oct 21, 2011

Right now, I love this product and can't find any faults with it. I'm currently transitioning from relaxed to natural hair and I feel that this gives my hair perfect amount of moisture and of course I'm in love with the scent, as is everyone else who tries it. I legit have had to hide it from my mom, sister and even my brother!

• Aneris
• Type 3c

Oct 20, 2011

This is an awesome product! It's perfect for defining and moisturizing curls!

• curlysyd
• Type 3c

Oct 16, 2011

i really like this especially with the raw shea masque over it!! :)

• swansinapril
• Type 3b

Oct 15, 2011

Oh my goodness, this is where it's at. Never fails to make my hair look perfect. I will never be without it again.

Conditioning and Strengthening, is it one and the same???

There is a great misunderstanding in the natural world about what conditioning and strengthening the hair really means. Many people believe they mean the same thing. AAH, WRONG ANSWER! They are both very different and I'm going to tell you why...

Hair Conditioning
I have said on numerous occasions that hair needs moisture, especially our delicate curls. Conditioning is the way moisture is put into the hair and should be a very important part of your healthy hair regimen.

Rinse out Conditioners-There is so many you have to choose from when it comes to the type of conditioner to use and rinse out after shampooing your hair. Make sure you read labels to determine what is right for your hair type. It's wise to leave the conditioner in your a hair for a few minutes to allow it to penetrate and add the moisture. Putting a plastic cap on your head and leaving the conditioner on the hair for up to 30 minutes, making it a deep conditioner, is a excellent way to get the moisture sealed into your hair.

Leave in Conditioners-In addition to using a rinse out conditioner, I recommend using a leave in conditioner before styling your hair, for added moisture. Leave in conditioners allow the hair to soak up moisture on a continuous basis and should be used daily.


Hair Strengthening
When strengthening the hair, you are really creating healthy hair. Using strengthening products will help to nourish hair roots, prevent breakage and hair loss, and will improve circulation. Remember these products only work temporarily, so you have to use it regularly to maintain the hair strength.

Products-You'll find a lot of strengthening products in the form of creams, oils and some specifically formulated for curls. One of the best ways for hair strengthening is by deep conditioning, which will also moisturize. Putting a plastic cap on your head and letting the conditioner sit for up to 30 minutes either under a hooded dryer or not will put lost proteins back into your hair. I really recommend trying to do a deep conditioner at least every 2 weeks, but if you just don't have time then you may opt for strengthening shampoos and conditioners. Try using a strengthening conditioner in place of your normal conditioner and you will see a difference. If you just want to add a little strength as a finishing touch, find either a cream or a spray that is designed to strengthen wet or dry hair. 



Spiral Solutions Strength and Shine Leave-In Protein Spray



Diet-What you eat plays a great role in the strengthening of your hair. Just like your body, your hair needs a balanced, nutritious diet to stay healthy. You need a rainbow of fruits and vegetables that are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, whole grains for minerals, nuts and seeds for minerals and vitamins, and lean protein for iron.

The strength of your curls comes mostly from within and depends on a your diet and overall health. Your curls also need a lot of conditioning to maintain moisture and help tame frizz. So, LOVE YOUR HAIR by eating right, using a leave in conditioner daily and deep conditioning regularly.

Taste the Rainbow...Coloring Natural Hair

There has been a long time question as to whether or not color is good for natural hair? My answer is, any hair that is chemically altered in any way is not good, but proper care will make it okay. Make sense?? Plus, if you are afraid of chemicals you can always use a rinse, which just deposits hair on top of the hair strands. With that being said, let's talk about your options.
There are three main types of color--permanent, semi or demi, and temporary.

Permanent hair coloring products consist of two components that are packaged separately and mixed together...hydrogen peroxide and an ammonia dye solution.
As soon as the ammonia dye solution and the hydrogen peroxide solution are mixed together, they are applied to the hair. The ammonia in the mixture (less than 1% concentration) causes the hair to swell and the cuticle scales to separate a little. After this happens, the dye is able to penetrate the cuticle before they have fully reacted with each other and with the hydrogen peroxide. This is why even when brown hair coloring is first applied it looks whitish. This is also why you have to wait a half hour or more for the color to develop. Long story short...the hair cuticle is lifted and the proteins that give us our natural hair color are altered. Sound pretty damaging? Permanent coloring definitely has an effect on the moisture protein balance because there is a chemical reaction that is taking place inside the strand weakening the cuticle layer causing the hair to be more porous. The more porous the quicker your hair absorbs moisture. If it’s too porous the hair doesn’t retain any moisture and remains dry to the touch.  This is always a risk with permanent coloring hair. 

Semi permanent hair color is good for first-time dyers or for people who aren't looking to make a drastic change. Semi permanent dye has no ammonia and no developer, so no color is deposited inside the hair shaft. Instead, it coats the hair, which is why it's often referred to as a "stain" or "wash." Semi permanent is good for changing or enhancing tones but not for changing colors. It generally washes out in 6 to 12 shampoos. While

Demi permanent hair color is good for people who want more of a change but do not want to damage their hair or do anything drastic. It contains no ammonia but does have a small amount of peroxide, which opens the hair cuticle slightly so that some color will sit in it. Demi permanent does a better job of darkening hair than semi permanent does, but it doesn't lighten hair. Demi permanent hair color will fade and typically lasts 12 to 24 shampoos.

The third type of coloring is temporary. Temporary hair colors are applied in the form of rinses, gels, mousses, and sprays. They coat the surface of the hair and usually wash out within two or three shampoos. Temporary hair color is typically brighter and more vibrant than semi-permanent and permanent hair color. It is most often used to color hair for special occasions like Halloween or costume party.

There is also a "natural" hair color that a lot of naturals swear by and that's Henna. Henna is a plant native to subtropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia. You may know it as a way of doing body art. Natural henna is said to make your hair knockout glossy and give it a rich red tint. If the package claims to color hair blond or black, it is not natural henna.  Compound hennas, which make the other color claims, have additives, they also contain metallic salts and chemical lighteners that can wreck your hair. So unless you're going any color besides true red, be sure to read the box carefully. Body Art Quality Henna is what you’re looking for. Henna is also said to provide a deep conditioning treatment. Some say it “loosens up the curl.” Everyone’s experience will be different. 

If your hair has been previously dyed or bleached with regular drugstore or salon dye, the remaining chemicals and pigment molecules from your last dye job can interfere with the henna, causing uneven color and even weird pigment results, like green hair. If you've been dyeing your hair with anything other than henna, you'll need to do a couple of strand tests to make sure.

Henna comes in a powder form and must be mixed with an acidic liquid to form a paste. Also, unlike chemical dyes, henna can be messy, and it may take a long time to dye your hair. Some people leave it on as long as 24 hours and wrap their hair in plastic wrap to keep in the heat and speed up the dyeing process.

I'll do a whole post concerning Henna in the near future...

Now that you have decided on the type of  hair color that is best for you, how do you take care of it? You need to understand that every time you apply permanent and semi-permanent hair color, you subject your hair to a chemical process and we all know chemicals are damaging to the hair cuticle. 
 Use a shampoo and conditioner specially formulated for color-treated hair. These products have extra moisturizing ingredients to hydrate brittle strands and make color brighter. The harsher shampoos can strip the color from your hair, making it look dull and faded.  Deep condition your hair often. My hair is color treated and I deep condition every week, rinsing with the coldest water that I can stand. While hot water raises the cuticle, releasing the color from your strands, cold water will seal the cuticle, closing the color in.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Find something that works for you and keeps your hair from drying out, like a good daily leave in conditioner. Dryness will lead to breakage.

Stretch out the time you re-apply your coloring, if you re-apply too soon you may suffer from over-processing.

When you do your retouch, start your application at the root. If you feel that your ends are dull apply the color from the root down during the last few minutes of the process.

Trim your hair up to 1/2 inch every 6-8 weeks, to avoid splits and breakage.

Implement protective styling to protect the ends of your hair from damage.

Hair dye is only as damaging as you make it out to be, maintaining healthy color treated hair is all in the care you provide. Keep in mind that most women with kinky or tightly coiled hair suffer from dry hair and hair dying can add on to this issue if the proper measures are not taken.

With all that being said Happy Coloring and LOVE YOUR HAIR!!!!

Aloe Vera...Nature's Moisturizer

As a child, I remember my mother having an Aloe Vera plant in our kitchen window seal. She would break off a piece and rub the juice from it onto my skin if I had a burn or cut. I always thought that was its only purpose. How pleasantly surprised I was when I discovered Aloe Vera has many different benefits, including hair care. 

I first heard of incorporating Aloe Vera into hair products through the infamous Kimmytube videos on Youtube. After further research here are the benefits I found for Aloe Vera in hair.

• Detangles
• Moisturizes
• Activates Fresh Growth
• Heals and Soothes Damaged Scalp from Scratches, Burns, Dandruff, etc.
• Reduces Dandruff, Itchy, Scaly Scalp and Seborrheic Dermatitis
• Balances pH Level (Porosity) of Hair
• Tames Oily Hair
• Defines Curl
• May Serve as Holding Gel
• Prevents Excessive Hair Loss
• Enhances Cellular Rejuvenation
• Contains Natural Building Enzyme for Proteins
• Anti-Inflammatory

Who knew!??!

Aloe Vera  helps promote new hair growth for some people. You can use either gel or juice. The gel can be applied directly to the scalp, as external use of Aloe Vera has no side effects. If you don't own a plant, you can easily purchase gel or juice at a local supermarket or health food store. I recommend purchasing the product pure with no added preservatives. You'll have to refrigerate it once opened along with any product you use it in to keep it from spoiling.

I personally use the whole leaf juice and I incorporate it into my leave in conditioner. My hair loves it!! My hair is softer and more moisturized after using it. Of course you'll need to seal the moisture in with a butter of your choice...Shea, coconut, olive oil, etc. I'm probably going to start using it in other products as well to see if I can achieve greater effects. I've read that you can also use it by itself.

Mix and match and experiment. Find what works for you and YOUR hair.

As always...LOVE YOUR HAIR!!

Product of the month..September

I've decided to feature one product every month. I can't say that I've personally tried all of the products, but I will research and post reviews as well as what the product is advertised to do for your hair. I'm going to start the feature with one of my staples and all time favorites. Taliah Waajid's The Great Detangler


The Great Detangler

I have always heard such good things about Taliah Waajid and her line of hair care products, so when I came upon this product at my local beauty supply store, I said,' what the hey'. I was currently looking for a good leave-in conditioner for the infamous Kimmaytube leave-in conditioner concoction that was less expensive than the Knot Today conditioner she used. I must say, The Great Detangler is probably one of the best detangling products that I have personally used. It provides great "slippage" for my hair, so my comb glides right through. It also leaves my hair feeling soft and moisturized. Here is what the product advertises:

This product eliminates tangles on contact. Softens hair, defines curl pattern and stops breakage while combing. Rich with moisturizers, protein and conditioners, this product coats and protects hair while softening.

• For curly, coily and wavy hair textures
• Leave-in conditioner
• Light formula, no build-up
• No animal testing

Use on wet or dry hair. Separate a section of hair. Apply a liberal amount of The Great Detangler. Use fingers to work the product through the hair to loosen the tangles. Use a medium to large tooth comb. Start at the ends of the hair. Comb through up to the scalp and through tangles. Style as desired. For best results, use the complete line of Black Earth products..

The price is around $8

The ingredients: Deionized Water (Aqua) , Vitamin E , Olive Oil , Silk Protein , Cocoa Butter Oil Extract Cetrimonium Bromide , Ceteareth-20 , Vegetable Glycerin , Mineral Oil , Glycerol , D&C Yellow #5 , Fragrance , DMDM Hydantoin , Detanglers , Balsam , Aloe Vera

The whole mineral oil thing kind of turned me off at first, but it's so far down on the "food chain" of ingredients that I decided it can't be all that much.

Overall, I love it and will probably keep using it as it continues working for my hair.

Naturally Divona says

So, I hadn't used this product yet, but this morning my hair was super dry and matted from a week old twistout. I honestly did not feel like washing my hair, so I sprayed it with water, sectioned my hair into 4 sections and applied the product one section at a time and detangled with my Denman brush.

Let me say that this was the easiest detangling session I have ever had. The product offered a lot of slip, but not so much that the product showed in my hair. The brush literally slid through my hair and untangled so easily (much better than the Suave Conditioner I usually use).

Even right now as I run my fingers through my hair, it is still untangled and VERY moisturized.





Star Struck...Celebrities with natural hair



Jill Scott



The epitome of a natural woman



Today I thought I'd have a little fun and post several celebrities that have no problems rocking there natural tresses. Starting with my all time favorite!!!!



Girlfriend...Tracee Ellis Ross





It's a "Different World" with Cree Summer's natural

 

There's nothing false about Rachel True's natural curls



There's no accusing her of trying to look like her sister
Solange Knowles

  

 

India Arie knows that she is not her hair



India Arie

           





















Chrisette Michele had an Epiphany that natural hair was just better



Kim Coles may be Living Single, but
she isn't alone when it comes to natural hair



That's So Raven to want to join in on the natural world



Raven-Symone



Tempestt Bledsoe



Another Cosby Kid honing in on natural
Tempestt Bledsoe





Singer Goapele is closer to her dreams with her natural hair



Eryka Badu's natural styles go on and on





The sweetest thing we'll ever know is Lauryn Hill's
natural style



Winter Hair Care

We are in September now, the time of year when the weather begans to cool down. People began preparing their homes, cars and even their wardrobe for the winter months just lerking around the corner. This should also mean a change in your hair care regimen.
During the winter months the air becomes dry and if you don't take some necessary precautions, your hair may pay the price. The harsh cold can cause more dryness in our already moisture deprived natural hair. If you wear winter hats,which are normally made of wool or cotton, it is best to cover your hair with a satin or silk scarf under the hat so that the hat doesn't pull all of the moisture from your hair.
A lot of naturals opt to wear protective styles in the winter months to guard the ends of the hair from the harsh elements. Buns, braid extentions or weaves are good winter styles to consider. They are generally low maintenence, so little to no combing will be necessary, helping you to preserve your hair even more.
It is a good idea to avoid humectants during the winter months too. A humectant is a substance that promotes retention of moisture. Common humectants are honey, glycerin, panthenol, and propylene glycol. These are excellent summer staples, because they draw moisture from the humid air into our hair. During the winter months, however, they may have the opposite effect, potentially drawing out the moisture from your hair into the dry air that winter brings.
Doing weekly deep conditoners is a good way of replinishing lost moisture, also frequent hot oil treatments. Also, don't forget to seal in your water based moisturizers with either shea butter, castor oil or whatever natural oil you choose.
In conclusion, the best way to combat winter damage is to be proactive. If you start out with your hair strong and healthy BEFORE winter strikes, it will be a lot easier to maintain and preserve DURING the winter. Adopt a weekly routine of shampooing with a moisturizing shampoo, a good deep conditioner and good moisturizer that doesn't contain mineral oil or petroleum.  

DREADing the situation

Dread locks have been around for a very long time. People associate them closely with the Jamaican Rastafarian, but believe it or not Ancient Egyptians and Asian emperor's wore them. They have been worn all around the world and throughout time in all hair types.
Being one of the low maintenance styles, it is a popular way of wearing hair in the natural world. It's also a permanent style, once you are fully locked, reversing the do is a task outside of shaving your head. So, you have to get your mind right before making the decision to lock your hair.
Now that you've made the decision, it's time to choose a starter style. This choice will be based on your personal preference and lifestyle. I have blogged on previous posts the how to's on different natural styles that are great for starter locks. Finger coils, two strand twists, comb twists and single braids are probably the most styles used for starters. In some cases, people even free form their hair, where they just let leave the hair alone and let it lock up without any maintenance.With free form dreads, you are liable to have locks of all shapes and sizes.


Dreads created with two strand twist

 

Bob Marley with free form dreads













The process of achieving the the locks that you want is pretty tedious and requires quite a bit of patience. You should expect to go through 5 stages:
Starter
Starter locks is simply the style you choose to begin with. Be sure the sections created are not too small. As the locks grow, if they are too small it is possible for them to break off.

Budding
In this stage, you will notice that your roots are getting puffy and your starter style is getting frizzy. This will be the time to practice re-twisting your new growth. Invest in a good locking gel or even aloe vera gel. Beeswax is also a popular product for maintaining dreads, but it goes back to that whole no no to petroleum thing. As I've said before, read your labels to make sure the product is good for the hair. Also, make sure to keep track of the original section partings when re-twisting to maintain a consistent and uniform size. The length of time for this stage can range from 6 months to a year. Shampooing your hair will be null and void until you get a really good lock going on. Cleansing the scalp with an astringent will be your only hair maintenance at this time.

Teen
Just like a normal teenager, this may be the stage when you are wondering what is going on with your hair. If your hair is short, your teen locks may seem to sprout all over your head and go in any old direction. This is when patience comes into play. If you can persevere through this stage, then you will enjoy the outcome.

Mature
This stage is about 18 months into your locking journey. Your hair should be long enough to lie flat or hang down. You probably won't have to re-twist your new growth as often. By this time you should be enjoying your locks and have a regular shampooing and conditioning routine.

Rooted
This stage is where you have strived to be. Your locks are firmly in place. You can trim your locks to a manageable length if needed. Your hair care routine can be as simple or as complex as you choose, but rooted locks require little more than regular cleansing, conditioning and moisturizing.



Complex style





Simple style



 In general, the thicker and more tightly coiled the hair's natural texture, the quicker your hair will lock. While people with straight or wavy hair can achieve locks, they may need some product help and more time and patience, as the locking process is longer.

Here is a book that may be of interest to anyone contemplating dread locks.

http://www.amazon.com/Nice-Dreads-Inspiration-Colored-Considered/dp/140005169X