The Komaza Hair Analysis: Part 1

The Komaza Hair Analysis: Part 1

I've got some rather exciting news to share.  Years ago I conducted some online research around the possibility of receiving a hair anal... 6/28/2013

I've got some rather exciting news to share.  Years ago I conducted some online research around the possibility of receiving a hair analysis.  I wanted someone to study my hair strands under a high powered microscope and tell me what was actually going on.  What were it's needs, it's weaknesses? What could I do to make my hair flourish?

Back then, I couldn't find such a service at low cost. I think I found one company that operated oversees. Today, however, is a new day.  I'm happy to report to you all that in a few weeks, I will have undergone a full hair analysis and will receive detailed information on what I could do to address any hair concerns identified. Best of all the company I'm utilizing is minority owned and can speak the language of my hair.

The company I am referring to is Komaza.  I paid around $85.00 for the analysis and a week later they sent me a survey of questions and requested that I send over a sample of clean, shed hair for their review. I like that I can also separate the hair samples based on sections if I'm dealing with damage in a certain area.  After the analysis is completed, they schedule a phone consultation with me and will make recommendations of products & changes to my hair regimen based on my hair's needs.  I believe they will also do a follow up hair analysis months later to see if progress can be seen under the scrutiny of the microscope.

Words can not convey how excited I am to have this experience.   To be honest with you, I know that my hair is struggling right now.  This year has been super-duper busy and my hair has fallen victim to my lack of time, care and attention. I can't tell you the last time I had a decent strand ceremony session. I'm already bracing myself for the results which I know won't be pretty (at all).  I also like the idea of having someone tell me exactly what's going on based on the tiniest details.  Being the bottom line person that I am, I appreciate the opportunity to become much more deliberate and focused on my hair regimen. Especially given the fact that I don't see my schedule easing up anytime soon.

This is the first part of my posts on this experience. Stay tuned for updates (and hopefully pics) as I get further along in this process.  Yesterday I took the first step which involved completing a brief questionnaire discussing my current regimen, how much water I drink, which supplements I take, etc. Next I will send them three different samples of clean, shed hair.  The reason for three samples is because I plan on sectioning my hair into three sections, my left side, right side, and the back.  I look forward to seeing what shows up after close analysis (no matter how bad it is).  And I'm already making my commitment to taking action according to their recommendation no matter what I'm told.

I can not wait to tell you more about the Komaza Hair Analysis experience.  Hopefully we can all learn something from it.

"Once you go black".... Is Rice the new Super Food?

"Once you go black".... Is Rice the new Super Food?

I get so excited whenever I stumble upon a new super food.  Just days ago, I was reflecting on how much rice I eat.  As a person of Haitian ... 6/14/2013

I get so excited whenever I stumble upon a new super food.  Just days ago, I was reflecting on how much rice I eat.  As a person of Haitian decent, rice is everything. I can eat rice for breakfast, lunch, dinner if I had to.  When I gave up wheat, I began to eat even more rice since rice flour is used in many traditional gluten free products like bread, pasta, cookies, etc.   I felt like I needed to do something.  Eating all that white rice couldn't be my best option.  

Then I started searching.  Looking for alternative that could address my desire for a healthy grain.  The answer came in the form of rice.  But not just any rice, black rice.  Some of you may remember a previous post where I showed an image of what appeared to be black rice.  That dish was a traditional Haitian recipe where the rice derives it's color from a dark mushroom. So pretty much, it's white rice dyed black.  But this, my friends, this is the real deal.

Also, known as the "forbidden rice."  This grain has been enjoyed in Asia for centuries.  The reason why it was considered forbidden was due its rare appearance. Black rice was considered the finest grain and served only to the Emperor.  Which is why it was deemed forbidden to the common folks.  

Lucky for us, we live in a time when we can now have direct access to this precious delicacy.  Why do we want to shift away from eating white rice and transition to its black counterpart?  Because white rice doesn't hold a candle to this black beauty.

First off, the reason why this grain is so dark is because it's loaded with anthocyanin, an antioxidant that gives super foods their deep red, blue and purple colors.  Blueberries, acai , and other nutritious foods get their rich hue from their anthocyanin content.  But did you know that black rice has more anthocyanin than any other food source?  So you are getting more antioxidants in this rice than in blueberries, but without the sugar. Could black rice be any more perfect?  What if I told you that it also contains 18 amino acids, vitamin E, iron, zinc, copper, carotene and fiber? Then would you understand how amazing this grain is? 

 Wait, I'm not done yet.  I also learned that black rice is anti inflammatory. White rice, on the other hand, can promote inflammation.  The aging process is accelerated when inflammation is persistent in our bodies. Many of the illnesses were hear about nowadays are linked to chronic inflammation.   Do you know what else can occur? Skin issues.  There was a study conducted where 10% black rice bran was added to the diet of mice.  Turns out that this simple shift in diet significantly suppressed allergic contact dermatitis of the skin of the mice.  

If you are still not convinced, I'd like to tell you about why I've fallen in love with this ebony rice.  It tastes so freakin' good!  Seriously, I have no desire to eat white rice ever again because this stuff is so delicious.  The flavor is described as nutty but I'm not sure "nutty" is the best way to describe it.  It's just so tasty and flavorful.  I've cooked mine in broth so I'm sure that added to the flavor profile.  Normally, when I eat white rice, I need some sort of gravy or a meat protein to help round out the dish and boost flavor.  The other night, I decided to eat a small amount of black rice mixed with a ripe hass avocado and had a blast.

Two days later, I had black rice again as a side with my Ahi poke. Amazing.  Here's the thing, I picked up some sushi yesterday at my favorite spot. After eating two rolls, I felt a little different. I was feeling bloated and lethargic.  For some reason, I didn't experience that same heaviness feeling after eating black rice.  Not sure why.

Seriously, I now shun all of the half filled bags of white rice sitting in my kitchen cabinet.  I have gone to the dark side and I ain't coming back.  I understand that it's a bit more expensive than white rice but so are blueberries.  I don't have to worry so much about shelf life as I do with healthy fruits, plus I'm getting even more benefits than blueberries pound for pound.

p.s. I found a 22 lb bag online which I will probably get to share with my mother who professed to eating white rice every day last week. Not too long ago, her doctor told her that she suffered from chronic inflammation. I can not wait to give her something to enjoy that can actually bring benefits to her body.

The Water Challenge: Using Iphone Apps to drink more water

The Water Challenge: Using Iphone Apps to drink more water

I have to admit, even though I want so badly to drink up to a gallon of water a day , there are days when life gets too busy.  For a while I... 6/12/2013

I have to admit, even though I want so badly to drink up to a gallon of water a day, there are days when life gets too busy.  For a while I was bummed on days when I failed to reach my drinking goal but things started looking up when I came across some help in the form of technology.

Last week I traveled out of state for work and decided to pick up a gallon of water to last me over the next couple of days.  My coworker, who also was in search of a gallon, casually mentions to me that his water intake was darn near non-existent until he took action.  He found an app online that helped him track his daily water intake.  I immediately thought of our water challenge and decided that I had to share!

Waterlogged-Iphone (Free)

 

Waterlogged was the first app I looked into.  Based on the features available, this is the one that I'll likely download and use.  What I like about this app is the "take a pic of your bottle" feature which allows you to track your water intake based on your specific bottle.  This works well for me because I you guys know that I have that cooky looking water bottle which I love so much.  

Another thing I like about Waterlogged is that I can set my own goal and the free version has a reminder prompting me to keep drinking. By the way, you have a selection of reminder alerts available that are various versions of water sounds.  There's also a premium version of this app with special perks like unlimited interval reminders throughout the day.

Water Your Body Lite-Iphone (Free)

Water Your Body Lite is what introduced me to this whole "tracking your water" game.  This app works by allowing you to add your body weight so you can achieve a goal of drinking half your weight.  Some of the reviewers of the free version mentioned that they would like the ability to accept water consumption entries after reaching the pre-determined goal.  

Water Your Body -Iphone/Android ($0.99)

The upgraded version of the Water Your Body App has some neat features. For one, it asks questions about your lifestyle that could affect your water intake. Breastfeeding mothers and those who exercise frequently need to drink more water and this app accounts for that.  A few of the reviewers of this app compare it to "playing a game" which keeps them excited about what they're doing for their health.

I hope this post is helpful for those of you who struggle to keep drinking water throughout the day.  These are just a few suggestions, there are more options available on the App Market.  You now have a digital accountability partner to help you win this water challenge journey. Drink up!

MIZANI Cleansing Cream giveaway

MIZANI Cleansing Cream giveaway

It's been way too long since I've hosted a giveaway here.  I'm ready to make things right by giving away a full 8.5 oz bottle of... 6/09/2013

It's been way too long since I've hosted a giveaway here.  I'm ready to make things right by giving away a full 8.5 oz bottle of Mizani Cleansing cream.  Those of you who've read previous posts know that I'm such a fan of conditioning cleansers over typical shampoos that can over strip the hair.

My love began when I first tried Hair One then went to a new level after my encounter with WEN.

Now and forever, cleansing conditioners will always be a staple for me.  If anyone out there hasn't experimented with a cleansing conditioner, I urge you to enter this giveaway!

According to the label, this product is a "mild, low-lathering foam [that] gently cleanses as it helps restore the hair's natural moisture/protein balance and refreshes the scalp.  To remove buildup, use it as a between-shampoo conditioning wash."

Enough about that, let's talk about how you can get your hands on this thing!

• Follow my blog!
• Send me an email to relaxedhairhealth@gmail.com with the words "Mizani giveaway" in the title. 
• This giveaway is open to those in the U.S.
• The lucky winner will be selected on June 23, 2013.  

Thanks for participating! I wish everyone luck.