Natural Hair

 

Essence De Terra Bella Product Review

 

5 year Natural Hair Anniversary

 

Kinky Curly Hair Products

 

3 Week Twists to Twist Out

 

Natural Hair 4 yr Anniversary

Flax Seed Gel Wash n Go

How I Finger Detangle

8/3/11 I made a few more videos both for the girls and myself... they include cornrowing and co washing... take a look

3/25/11 I just posted a new video of my daughters' natural hair journey!  Take a look!

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3/9/11

It has been a while since I last posted on this page.  I have made a few changes to my haircare regimen as I have changed my diet and exercise.  The changes are as follows:

~ I am now using Natural/Organic hair products on my hair!!!!!!!!!!!
~ I am currently using Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner ( i only co wash for now but i may incorporate their shampoo in the near future)
~ I co-wash my hair at least once a week...Friday or Saturday is usually my wash day.
~ I moisturize my scalp every other day with these oils (jojoba & extra virgin olive oil).  I mix them together in my applicator bottle with a small tip on the end... i squeeze this oil onto my scalp and massage with my fingertips
~ I apply my mixture of 100% raw shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil and extra virgin olive oil to my hair and ends every 3 days or so. 
~ I try to keep my hair in twists while at home throughout the week and during my workouts. I only untwist on the weekends or if i have some where special to go. 
~ I try my best to sleep in a satin bonnet at night
~ I DO NOT USE HEAT!!!!!!!!
~ I trim my ends as needed while in twists (usually every 6 months)
~ I mostly wear twist outs, buns and puffs and finger comb my hair instead of excessively using a brush or comb.  This eliminates shedding and breakage.

I LOOOOOVE this youtubers video on whipped shea butter.  Take a look... i do this in a similar fashion with my butters!

The benefits of natural/organic oils:


~ Jojoba Oil: Jojoba oil is the oil of choice for many people suffering from a variety of hair woes. This is a excellent oil for adding moisture to the hair. 

The reason that Jojoba is such a great choice as a hair conditioner and moisturizer is that the molecular structure of Jojoba is very similar to the natural oil that is produced by the sebaceous glands in the scalp.  This natural scalp oil is known as "sebum".

It is a well-known fact that sebum is required for proper moisturizing of beautiful and healthy hair.  Hair that has a good moisture basis tends to be more resistant to daily damage, tangles, dryness and split ends.

Jojoba oil comes from the jojoba plant which grows spontaneously in the northwestern parts of Mexico, as well as Arizona and California. 

I plan to make more videos of the product I use and show how I apply them.  I hope these tips are helpful for you.

~ Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is the unrefined oil that comes from the first pressing of the olive, extracted without using heat or chemicals. It is considered the best as it is the least processed and contains the most nutrients. It also has the most delicate flavor.
Extra virgin oil is rich in high levels of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and Vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which is good for hair growth. Antioxidants are beneficial as they slow the ageing process. Both mono-unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E are good for moisturizing, protecting and nourishing hair. Olive oil makes hair grow stronger. Olive oil has emollient properties, due to which olive oil for hair loss, is often recommended. Olive oil for hair care is great, for another reason. It helps in battling dandruff, which can be one of the reasons for hair loss.

~ Some tips for using olive oil for skin or hair:
Olive Oil for Hair and SkinHere are some of the ways of using olive oil, for beautiful lustrous, shiny hair and smooth skin.

• For smoother and softer skin, apply olive oil liberally on your hands and feet. Cover your hands and feet with hand gloves and socks after doing that. Wash it after an hour.
• If your lips are chapped, apply extra virgin oil to them.
• To get lustrous, shiny, long hair apply olive oil to your hair and scalp. Then cover your head with a shower cap. If you are in a hurry you can wash your hair after 30 to 45 minutes. If you are not in a hurry, then olive oil for hair overnight, is the best option.

~ Unrefined Coconut Oil:

• Moisture Retaining Capacity: Coconut Oil has high moisture retaining capacity, since it is not broken down easily nor evaporated, being very stable. It does not let moisture escape thus keeping hair moistened and soft. This prevents breakage of hair. Coconut Oil is a far better conditioner for hair than any synthetic one available in the market.
• Anti-Dandruff: The various fatty acids present in Coconut Oil serve as very good anti dandruff agents and are way better than any anti dandruff shampoo. A regular application can help you get rid of dandruffs for ever.
• Styling: Coconut oil can be good styling oil for hair too, as it melts on heating and then condenses on cooling. So when you apply it on your hair, it thins and spreads evenly due to heat of the scalp. Soon afterwards, as the hair comes in contact with air, the oil on hair condenses on cooling and thus works as a styling gel or cream.

~ Raw Unrefined Shea Butter:
Why use shea butter for hair care?As it is full of minerals, vitamins, moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties, shea butter's benefits for hair are many. Its anti-inflammatory properties heal damaged scalp and help clear any infections. It works well against dandruff too. It can do wonders for hair that has been damaged by excessive coloring and blow-drying. It also helps to de-stress hair that has been affected for too long by pollution. Damaged and brittle hair can be conditioned and revitalized by its moisturizing properties. It soothes and softens dry hair. As shea butter is light and non-greasy, it can also be applied as a leave-in for hair. This will help to shield hair by locking or concealing the moisture in. Besides being great for dry hair, it helps to nourish normal hair and it's non-greasy, easy spread property helps to control excess moisture in oily hair. Using shea butter for hair growth is not unknown, due to its rejuvenating minerals and vitamins.

How do you use shea butter for hair?Shea butter is the mainstay for many cosmetic products, either as one of the ingredients or as the main one. People, good in making essential oils can make whipped shea butter, a natural moisturizer to suit individual hair and scalp requirement, using a dose of shea butter and some natural oils. For those who want to use shea butter without too many combinations, make sure you get the raw or unrefined one. For a dry scalp, massage a coin sized amount of shea butter on scalp and in damp hair, after shampooing it. It is recommended to do it on a clean scalp. Wrap hair with a warm towel for 15 minutes. Remove towel, hand comb first, and then style as desired. This treatment will revitalize hair. For normal to greasy hair, take one part melted shea butter and mix it with a quarter part of extra virgin olive oil and stir thoroughly. Pour the content into a jar, and massage in scalp and hair, at least six hours before shampooing hair. One can add 5ml of shea butter into a 50ml shampoo bottle, to get its moisturizing goodness every time you shampoo hair.

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Just posted this one today 2/5/11.... It shows how i maintained my 5 day twist out and a few quick and easy styles as well.  Enjoy!

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Well, i finally got around to posting a new hair video on you tube.  It's a video showing how i do my dry twist/updo.  Take a look!!!

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Natural Hair Care is one of the other things i am most passionate about.  Here's a little history about my natural hair journey... After having 2 daughters and a son i dedicated most of my time researching hairstyles, products, tips, forums and websites in search of information that would help me learn to care for their hair.  I began to get more creative with their styles and i grew to looooove the versatility!!  When my oldest daughter was 3 i began to wonder what my natural texture actually looked like (since i'd had some type of chemical in my hair since the age of 6 or so).  Soooo, after years and years (30 to be exact) of hair abuse (heat, dye, perms and such) i was finally fed up with the condition of my hair!   After pondering the idea and consulting with my husband I decided to take the plunge! I stopped perming/relaxing my hair and began my 15 month transition to natural hair.  Here are 2 videos of my natural hair journey covering the past 3 years.

Stay tuned for more pics, products, tips and etc... concerning my natural hair and my daughters' hair too :)