Once upon a time I struggled with air drying because of the massive amount of tangles I had to endure. I'm one of those people who rarely combs my hair during the week so you can only imagine the number of shed hairs I have to deal with once a week on wash day. Couple the shed hairs with curly new growth and you have the perfect recipe for tangles.
In my quest for glorious hair, I've often sat back and thought about the washing process in general. I know that wash day should be the one time of the week were I'm nourishing and replenishing the health back into my hair. But for some reason, I could never become comfortable with loosing a lot of hair in the process. Well not too long ago, I heard about a method of washing the hair in braids section by section. The idea never caught on with me because I figured that because I wasn't scrubbing the hair and over manipulating, there was no need to go the extra step.
This week, however, I bought into the idea that I need to try something different if I want to experience different results. So here's what I did:
-A day or two prior to washing I pre-pooed with one of my fav conditioners. My schedule that day prevented me from washing. Actually, I didn't get to wash until two days later. The morning of the actual wash, I re-applied a bit more conditioner and some Alma oil and proceed to create four large braids.
-Next I stepped into the shower and took one braid loose so I can apply Keracare Dry Itchy Scalp shampoo liberally to my scalp. Then came the Hair One conditioning shampoo down the length of the hair. This product is so moisturizing that I am able to begin detangling with ease. My large tooth comb glided through my hair with the help of the hair one and the flowing water. Afterwards I applied a really moisturizing conditioner to that section and did two strand twist. (If you don't have a moisturizing shampoo, I recommend you start detangling while rinsing out your conditioner)
-I repeated this process (wash,detangle,condition) section by section making sure to keep re-twist each section once I've applied the shampoo and conditioner. By keeping each section separate, I found that I had more control of the entire process. I wasn't dealing with an entire head of hair at once, I could focus on one manageable section at a time.
-Finally, I took the sections individually, rinsed out the moisturizing conditioner, detangled again, and applied a heavier fortifiyng conditioner. I re-twisted once again, put on a plastic cap and went on about my business.
By the time I did my final rinse, you could imagine my glee when I washed the conditioner out of perfectly detangled hair. I rinsed each section separately. I also opted not to retwist after the final rinse. The results were amazing! I normally air dry in a pony tail and end up loosing a ton of hair trying to work the tangles through. This time was a totally different experience. I had no worries once I stepped out of that shower.
This method does take a little bit more time than normal to execute but believe me, the results are well worth it. I can only imagine how easy rollersetting will be going forward. Today I'm going about my day as normal but I've got a bit of a swagger. My confidence is sky high because my hair feels good, looks, good, and will only get better.
February 27, 2009
2/27/2009
February 23, 2009
Great news for Keracare Humecto lovers!
Dr. Ali Syed, who is certified hair magician for Avlon products, made an exciting announcement on his blog recently about some changes to Keracare's beloved Humecto Conditioner. For those of you who aren't aware (like I wasn't), apparently the Humecto you and I buy in the 8oz and 16 oz sizes are formulated differently from the 5lb size your stylist would normally use. The 5lb bucket of Humecto was comprised of a richer, thicker formula that most of us new nothing about.
Well times have changed ladies and now everyone of us now has the opportunity to enjoy the delicious benefits of this thicker, richer formula. I've always been a fan of Humecto so I am completely smitten by the news. I can only imagine how much more moisturizing this new formula will be. I can't wait to try it!
BTW, If you're picking up a bottle make sure it has the yellow label that says "Now Richer & Thicker" on it so you know are buying the new formula. Dr. Ali has a picture of the bottle on his blog.
Well times have changed ladies and now everyone of us now has the opportunity to enjoy the delicious benefits of this thicker, richer formula. I've always been a fan of Humecto so I am completely smitten by the news. I can only imagine how much more moisturizing this new formula will be. I can't wait to try it!
BTW, If you're picking up a bottle make sure it has the yellow label that says "Now Richer & Thicker" on it so you know are buying the new formula. Dr. Ali has a picture of the bottle on his blog.
February 18, 2009
Hair One Video Review!
You all should know by now that I have taken a large sip of L'Oreal Hair Fixer's kool-aid and I'm not looking back. Since completing my six week experiment, I decided officially that I would continue using the Hair Fixer in my weekly routine. One of the issues with the Hair Fixer is that it requires me to opt out of the deep conditioning step. One of the ways I combated this issue was to start using my regular deep conditioners during the pre-poo instead of just using the cheap stuff.
This method worked well for me and I was pretty satisfied until I stumbled across an advertisement in this month's Hype Hair magazine for a new product by the name of Hair One.
Here are the main highlights of this fabulous product:
·Sulfate Free
·An all natural approach to hair care
·No damaging detergents or harsh chemicals
·Formulated with an elixir of natural herbs and oils
·Cleans with an astringent and antibacterial properties
Introducing Hair One ... a salon quality product that provides a new all natural approach to hair care and hair detox that leaves hair cleansed, conditioned and in optimum shape. This conditioner has no damaging detergents or harsh chemicals. It's made with an elixir of natural herbs and oils that clean with astringent and antibacterial properties through a luxurious, penetrating cream without the stripping of detergents. Hair is left with remarkable shine, moisture, manageability and polish. With continued use, Hair One Cleanser Conditioner will stimulate the scalp, promoting better blood circulation, allowing for healthier hair growth and prevention of hair loss. Available in four formulations. Normal Hair: Designed for normal problem free hair. Color Treated: Prevents premature fading of color. Dry, Damaged: Repairs damage from chemical treatments. Dry Scalp: Helps heal scalp damage while restoring suppleness and manageability.
Lucky for me, I just happen to be at a Wal-Mart shopping plaza with a Sally's location just a few steps way. It took me only a few seconds before I entered the store in search of my newest find. As soon as I walked in, the friendly associate made herself available for my assistance. I provided her a description of the product to which she responded with a puzzled look and proceeded to rattle of a list of product brands that had nothing to do with what I was seeking. Just as I decided to give up on my search, I caught a glimpse of the Hair One display from the corner of my eye.
It felt like I levitated to the eye catching display the store set up. As soon as I got within arm's reach, I realized that I would have a decision to make. As it turns out, Hair One comes in four varieties, Cucumber, Jojoba, Tea Tree, and Olive Oil. "One could never go wrong with Olive Oil," I thought as I grabbed the bottle and walked over to the register.
When I searched online for reviews of this product, the general consensus was that Hair One is comparable to Wen with regards to performance but much lighter on the pocket book. Since I've never use Wen I can't make an accurate comparison. What I can do is let you know how pleasurable the experience was for me. I love the fact that this product feels like its actually capable of cleansing. When you rub the conditioning cleanser into the scalp there is a little bit of foaming action going on. Unlike the feeling of just doing a co-wash, you actually feel as if you are washing your hair with conditioner. I rollerset my hair after the wash and still experienced bouncy healthy looking curls. My hair did not feel as if I had a ton of build-up even though I loaded it up with heavy conditioners and alma oil during the pre-poo step.
Another benefit I'm noticing is that I haven't felt the need to re-moisturize my hair throughout the day as much as I normally do. It's now been several days since I've washed with Hair One. Even now as I touch my hair, it feels nice, healthy, and moisturized. Folks, I think this may be the answer to those of you who may hesitant to use the Hair Fixer for fear of going without conditioner. This product will also work well for those of you who suffer from dry hair but don't want to incur unnecessary build up.
In celebration of my new find, I've decided to make my very first video review.
Enjoy!
This method worked well for me and I was pretty satisfied until I stumbled across an advertisement in this month's Hype Hair magazine for a new product by the name of Hair One.
Here are the main highlights of this fabulous product:
·Sulfate Free
·An all natural approach to hair care
·No damaging detergents or harsh chemicals
·Formulated with an elixir of natural herbs and oils
·Cleans with an astringent and antibacterial properties
Introducing Hair One ... a salon quality product that provides a new all natural approach to hair care and hair detox that leaves hair cleansed, conditioned and in optimum shape. This conditioner has no damaging detergents or harsh chemicals. It's made with an elixir of natural herbs and oils that clean with astringent and antibacterial properties through a luxurious, penetrating cream without the stripping of detergents. Hair is left with remarkable shine, moisture, manageability and polish. With continued use, Hair One Cleanser Conditioner will stimulate the scalp, promoting better blood circulation, allowing for healthier hair growth and prevention of hair loss. Available in four formulations. Normal Hair: Designed for normal problem free hair. Color Treated: Prevents premature fading of color. Dry, Damaged: Repairs damage from chemical treatments. Dry Scalp: Helps heal scalp damage while restoring suppleness and manageability.
Lucky for me, I just happen to be at a Wal-Mart shopping plaza with a Sally's location just a few steps way. It took me only a few seconds before I entered the store in search of my newest find. As soon as I walked in, the friendly associate made herself available for my assistance. I provided her a description of the product to which she responded with a puzzled look and proceeded to rattle of a list of product brands that had nothing to do with what I was seeking. Just as I decided to give up on my search, I caught a glimpse of the Hair One display from the corner of my eye.
It felt like I levitated to the eye catching display the store set up. As soon as I got within arm's reach, I realized that I would have a decision to make. As it turns out, Hair One comes in four varieties, Cucumber, Jojoba, Tea Tree, and Olive Oil. "One could never go wrong with Olive Oil," I thought as I grabbed the bottle and walked over to the register.
When I searched online for reviews of this product, the general consensus was that Hair One is comparable to Wen with regards to performance but much lighter on the pocket book. Since I've never use Wen I can't make an accurate comparison. What I can do is let you know how pleasurable the experience was for me. I love the fact that this product feels like its actually capable of cleansing. When you rub the conditioning cleanser into the scalp there is a little bit of foaming action going on. Unlike the feeling of just doing a co-wash, you actually feel as if you are washing your hair with conditioner. I rollerset my hair after the wash and still experienced bouncy healthy looking curls. My hair did not feel as if I had a ton of build-up even though I loaded it up with heavy conditioners and alma oil during the pre-poo step.
Another benefit I'm noticing is that I haven't felt the need to re-moisturize my hair throughout the day as much as I normally do. It's now been several days since I've washed with Hair One. Even now as I touch my hair, it feels nice, healthy, and moisturized. Folks, I think this may be the answer to those of you who may hesitant to use the Hair Fixer for fear of going without conditioner. This product will also work well for those of you who suffer from dry hair but don't want to incur unnecessary build up.
In celebration of my new find, I've decided to make my very first video review.
Enjoy!
February 6, 2009
"Are you packin?" Five healthy hair must haves for your purse.
Beautiful hair doesn't just happen on wash days, your hair constantly requires maintenance throughout the day to ensure it remains fabulous around the clock. It's what we do on a daily basis that adds up to healthy beautiful hair.
I've seen some youtube videos in which well-known makeup divas invite us to view what they always have with them in their designer purses. I figured that while having a small bottle of perfume and three types of lip gloss is a good idea, we should also have an arsenal of healthy hair items within arms reach at all times.
Here are my top five healthy hair purse supplies we should all have in our handbag.
Wide tooth combThink of the wide tooth comb as the cornerstone of every woman who seeks to maintain healthy hair. Ultimately, you should not be combing your hair much throughout the day but if you get caught in some crazy windstorm and the need arises, you shouldn't have to look far for a hair-friendly comb. Any wide tooth comb is not the answer, you need to carry your trusty comb. The one that loves your hair as much as you do.
Baby BrushFor those of you who have sworn off combing/brushing for fear of over manipulating, the baby brush may be your answer. Baby brushes do a fabulous job of smoothing the hair and creating a polished finished look. The bristles of a baby brush are super-soft and non-threatening. Its purpose is not to detangle like normal brushes. It merely helps promote smoothness and shine by gently taming flyaways and other hindrances to pretty hair. Best of all, you can pick up a baby brush for a couple of dollars at Wal-Mart or Sally's. Next time you're in one of these stores, use the baby brush on the palm of your hand and feel the difference.
Moisturizer
Ever since reading Wanakee's pamphlet on healthy hair, I've become extremely weary of the damaging effects of exposing our hair to the air throughout the day. There have been times when I've worn my hair in a style where half my hair was pinned up and the remaining half was worn loose. At the end of the day, the loose(exposed) felt hair dry while the hair that was pinned up remained moist and supple. That's when I knew that exposed hair required additional moisturizing throughout the course of day. We all have moisturizing product our hair responds well to. Once you've identified that product, buy a small travel size container so you can create a portable version of it. Now that you have the travel size version of your fave moisturizer, use it and use it often.
OilSealing the moisture in your hair is key. That is why you should also have a little bit of oil in a spill proof travel size bottle. Please remember to look for the a bottle that avoids spills if you plan on carrying oil in your bag. Oil is a quick way to add shine and suppleness to the hair very quickly. I also recommend you use a tiny bit of oil whenever you plan on combing or brushing. This will help avoid any possible friction and allow the comb/brush to glide through the hair with the greatest of ease. I sometimes even mix my oil and moisturizer in one bottle and create a quick healthy hair blend. Because you may be touching up the hair several times a day, you should think of using a lighter textured oil like jojoba instead of a thicker oil like castor so your hair doesn't feel too weighed down.
The key is to remember to use the products throughout the day. Remaining consistent my be hard at first but if you use it at certain times of the day like whenever you use the restroom, you begin to develop a habit that will soon turn into a routine for you. I can't tell you how many hair compliments I get when I faithfully moisturize/oil my hair throughout the day. I've even had to break out my miniature bottle of oil on several occasions to show people who've stopped me to ask about my hair routine.
Hair PinsYour purse should always contain some sort of hair tool that helps you maintain a cute style even when you change your mind about the hairstyle you are wearing. For me the answer comes in the form of hair pins. If I feel that my hair has been down too long or beginning to feel dry, I can just grab a couple of hair pins and create a loose bun or put my hair in an upsweep. You can also substitute hair pins for a large clip but just make sure no damage can ever come of your hair from using the hair clip. Hair pins are so convenient and I don't have to worry about matching them with my outfit like other hair accessories. They are a definite must have at all times.
Honorable Mention: Satin Scarf Photo courtesy of modestworld.com
Even though I completed my top five list, I still want to mention another option that can also benefit your daytime hair....a satin/silk scarf. Sure maybe you can't wear a satin scarf around your head to work, but have you considered using one the moment you get in your car for your commute home. Often times we don't break out the satin scarf until just before bed meanwhile the air is slowly but surely sucking your hair's moisture with every passing second. If you were to tweak your routine to tying up your hair after work, you can protect your hair's moisture levels for up to an additional 30 hours a week! Go and find cute scarfs that you would want to wear in public. If you stick to your 10 year old scarf that you wear to bed every night you wont be motivated and your hair won't benefit.
Think about how healthy your hair will look and feel if you make sure you're packin' everything you need to take care of your hair throughout the day. I can almost guarantee you that if you are consistent with the periodic moisturizing and tying up your hair well before bedtime that you will radically improve the look and feel of your tresses.
February 5, 2009
Creating an easy to maintain style even at 11 months post relaxer
Ever since I watched my first episode of MTVs Daddy's Girls starting Vanessa and Angela Simmons, I became immediately enamoured with the hairstyle of one of the friends of the Simmons girls, Alycia. I just love the easy, no hassle feel of this look. I'm not so much in love with the length as much as I'm diggin' the soft waves that cascade down ever so effortlessly.
Take a look at this style in living color.
I've spent the last several days trying to figure out how to execute this fabulous style. I asked myself a series of questions like "should I use flexirods or do two strand twists?" How do I maintain the softness and movement that Alycia has? Well I still don't have the answer to how to best recreate this look but, please believe me, I do plan on trying and trying until I've created a suitable replica. Once I do have the answer, I'll share with all of you. In the mean time, I came across a couple of updated youtube videos featuring LHCF all-star, Sylver.
She just posted a two-part video series on how she maintains her 11 month post-relaxer style with braidouts. Kudos to Sylver 'cause I don't know if I could ever possibly handle two texture types for so long. She does a wonderful job of managing all that fabulous hair of hers. Best of all, her finished product looks something like the style that Alycia rocks on the show.
Thanks for sharing Sylver
February 1, 2009
The Japanese Secret to strong beautiful hair
Spending your hard earned dollars on hair vitamins is one option to healthy hair but for the most impact possible, proper nutrition is the answer. Since most of us aren’t normally eating a diet rich in fruit and veggies, I believe that we should get the most bang for the buck by going for the most nutrient dense foods out there.
I’ve already posted once before about the awesome powers of super greens like spirullina and chlorella. Today I want to talk about another power food, seaweed! Sure, you can fill your belly with pre-packed vitamins but why bother when if you can get loads of hair intensive nutrients found in nature’s sea miracle.
For the last couple of days, I’ve spent several hours reading the countless accounts of people who’ve stopped a complete stranger in public to ask the person about the secret to her lovely hair. Time after time, the reason for the healthiness and length of the locks were attributed to eating seaweed on a consistent basis. After reading about so many beautiful hair sightings being attributed to seaweed consumption, I knew that seaweed had to become a staple in my diet.
Take a gander at this excerpt from Raw Food Blog
Sea vegetables, providing plenty of proteins, complex carbohydrates, carotenes, and chlorophyll, stimulate and strengthen the skin, hair, and nails. Brittle hair, caused by a shortage of minerals, too much salt or animal food, or excessive use of drugs, can be restored by eating sea vegetables.
Sea vegetables offer tremendous benefits not only for health but for beauty. Kelp, wakame, arame, dulse, and nori are all high-protein vegetables, low in fat. Rich in calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, iodine, and other trace minerals, sea vegetables like alaria and kelp are better calcium sources than milk. Sea vegetables, like land vegetables, are high in potassium.
I normally eat sushi a couple of times a month which is no where near where I want to be so immediately made a bee-line to my local Asian restaurant and loaded up on this wonderful hair delicacy. I decided to stock up on a bunch of yummy nori which is the seaweed sheet used to roll sushi. Nori is extremely low in calories and high in nutrition-it’s the perfect snack. My seaweed binge didn’t stop there, I also picked up some dried wakame to add to soup and stews. I even made a stop at my local vitamin store and purchased some kelp in both tablet in in liquid form for those days when I wouldn't be consuming seaweed in my meals. You all can tell that I am serious about this seaweed stuff. I am extremely fascinated with such potent superfoods because unlike some vitamins, natural foods are already packaged in forms that’s readily absorbed by the body. What more can one ask for?
Not only will my hair benefit from this increased nutrition but I anticipate and equally beneficial result with my skin, nails, and overall health. My goal is to consume seaweed in its natural form at least several times per week. I figure it’s only a matter of time before the benefits of my efforts will manifest itself outwardly. In my opinion, seaweed should be a part of everyone’s diet because of the high amount of minerals, calcium and glyconutrients.
Here's more on the nutritional value of seaweed.
For those of you do it yourself gals like me who don't want to spend a fortune on sushi take-out, here are some video guides on how to make sushi at home at a fraction of the cost.
I really wanted to share this with my readers because I truly feel that there are an unlimited amount of options available to us that can make a major impact to our healthy hair journey. I’m absolutely sold on the idea of seaweed being a key to having strong healthy hair.
I’ve already posted once before about the awesome powers of super greens like spirullina and chlorella. Today I want to talk about another power food, seaweed! Sure, you can fill your belly with pre-packed vitamins but why bother when if you can get loads of hair intensive nutrients found in nature’s sea miracle.
For the last couple of days, I’ve spent several hours reading the countless accounts of people who’ve stopped a complete stranger in public to ask the person about the secret to her lovely hair. Time after time, the reason for the healthiness and length of the locks were attributed to eating seaweed on a consistent basis. After reading about so many beautiful hair sightings being attributed to seaweed consumption, I knew that seaweed had to become a staple in my diet.
Take a gander at this excerpt from Raw Food Blog
Sea vegetables, providing plenty of proteins, complex carbohydrates, carotenes, and chlorophyll, stimulate and strengthen the skin, hair, and nails. Brittle hair, caused by a shortage of minerals, too much salt or animal food, or excessive use of drugs, can be restored by eating sea vegetables.
Sea vegetables offer tremendous benefits not only for health but for beauty. Kelp, wakame, arame, dulse, and nori are all high-protein vegetables, low in fat. Rich in calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, iodine, and other trace minerals, sea vegetables like alaria and kelp are better calcium sources than milk. Sea vegetables, like land vegetables, are high in potassium.
I normally eat sushi a couple of times a month which is no where near where I want to be so immediately made a bee-line to my local Asian restaurant and loaded up on this wonderful hair delicacy. I decided to stock up on a bunch of yummy nori which is the seaweed sheet used to roll sushi. Nori is extremely low in calories and high in nutrition-it’s the perfect snack. My seaweed binge didn’t stop there, I also picked up some dried wakame to add to soup and stews. I even made a stop at my local vitamin store and purchased some kelp in both tablet in in liquid form for those days when I wouldn't be consuming seaweed in my meals. You all can tell that I am serious about this seaweed stuff. I am extremely fascinated with such potent superfoods because unlike some vitamins, natural foods are already packaged in forms that’s readily absorbed by the body. What more can one ask for?Not only will my hair benefit from this increased nutrition but I anticipate and equally beneficial result with my skin, nails, and overall health. My goal is to consume seaweed in its natural form at least several times per week. I figure it’s only a matter of time before the benefits of my efforts will manifest itself outwardly. In my opinion, seaweed should be a part of everyone’s diet because of the high amount of minerals, calcium and glyconutrients.
Here's more on the nutritional value of seaweed.
For those of you do it yourself gals like me who don't want to spend a fortune on sushi take-out, here are some video guides on how to make sushi at home at a fraction of the cost.
I really wanted to share this with my readers because I truly feel that there are an unlimited amount of options available to us that can make a major impact to our healthy hair journey. I’m absolutely sold on the idea of seaweed being a key to having strong healthy hair.
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