IM A RECOVERING PRODUCT JUNKIE

Hello all you naturalistas.

Im sure that we can all agree on this one.  in the beginning of my natural hair journey (or should i say, when i started caring for my hair.  i have been natural for about 5 years but still straightened my hair regulary which caused extensive heat damage) i spent countless hours on the net, in my search for the perfect hair products.  and believe you me i have tried ALOT.  Ive spent thousand of rands on products, products that to date are collecting dust and havent been touched in months.
My now staple hair products are my essential oils listed in my previous blog and water.  I have not shampooed my hair in two months now and just co-wash with Tresseme cleansing conditioner and my kinks couldnt be more happier.  In the evenings i shower without a shower cap and let the steam hydrate my hair and  i co-wash every morning.
So if you are newly embracing your natural kinks, take it from me........dont bother damaging your bank account with all those so called natural products on the market, just essential oils and water will do.  YOUR HAIR WILL THANK YOU FOR IT

Till next time.....LOVE THY KINKS

LOVE THY NATURAL LOCKS

GONE are the days when Afros were part of the "Soul Sister" subculture. Sales of chemical hair relaxers are showing a steep decline as more black women are embracing their natural manes.

Even international hair brand ambassador and award-winning style star Minnie Dlamini sports a thick natural head of hair when she is not wearing a weave.

A new report from global marketing research group Mintel shows that natural hair might be the new normal in ethnic haircare. According to the report, the US relaxer segment will reach $152-million (R1.52-billion) this year, down from $206-million in 2008.

Mintel's research also found that in the past year, 70% of black women say they currently wear or have worn their natural hair, meaning that they haven't used any chemical relaxers or had perms.

Read the full article here

*UNTIL NEXT TIME....LOVE THY KINKS*

ACHIEVING THE PERFECT WASH AND GO

Step 1

Start with freshly co-washed and detangled hair. Co-washing will ensure the optimal level of moisture has been infused into you strands. Rinse with cold water to seal the cuticle locking in moisture, shine and minimizing frizz.

Step 2

With your head upside down scrunch your favorite leave-in and oil into soaking wet hair. Scrunching distributes the product evenly without disturbing or stretching out the curls. Applying the oil and moisturizer together means you touch your hair less which results in less frizz and the extra moisture from leaving the hair wet creates shine.

Step 3

Using a silk scarf or microfiber wrap create a pineapple with all of your hair on top of your head. DO NOT TOUCH until hair is completely dry.

Step 4

When you are ready to leave take your hair down and shake your head. You can use your hands (no tools) to arrange your kinks but remember the more you touch the more you frizz.

SIX MONTHS NO HEAT CHALLENG DRAWS TO AN END

So 6 months back I decided that was going to go completely natural.  Even though I was already natural for about 5 years (no chemicals ) I still regulary straightened my hair with a ceramic iron.  Over time I noticed that my strands were heat damaged and I had no curl pattern at all.  And so my no heat challenge began. 

I have been having sleepless nights as I drew closer and closer to D day, BIG CHOP DAY.  The salon of my choice Candi & Coi and they specialize in natural hair. 

Stay tuned for the update on my experience…….

Till then:  LOVE THY KINKS

BIG CHOP

So 6 months back I decided that was going to gon completely natural.  Even though I was already natural for about 5 years (no chemicals ) I still regulary straightened my hair with a ceramics iron.  Over time I noticed that my strands were heat damaged and I had no curl pattern at all.  And so my no heat challenge began. 

I have been having sleepless nights as I drew closer and closer to D day, BIG CHOP DAY.  The salon of my choice is Candi & Co and they specialize in natural hair. 

Stay tuned for the update on my experience…….

Till then:  LOVE THY KINKS

CURL CARE; SOFT HOLD CREAM

I've been using this for wash n go styles and really like it. It doesn't take much of this product to give you good curl definition. I'm a fan of "Curl Care:  Aoft Hold Cream". I use moisturizer before applying.

This is a product fromDr. Miracles range and is sulfate and paraben free.  With Aloe to soften and improve ealasticity as it promises to keep your curls in place
Get the ultimate curl definition with this all natural creamy curl cream. High gloss shiny, free flowing hair without the dryness or crunchiness of conventional hair gels. This curl cream will bring out the curls and coils you thought you never had. 

BUILDING A HAIR REGIMEN

Healthy hair doesn't just happen -- it's usually the result of judicious care. But what if you don't know where to begin when it comes to a structured routine for your tresses? Don't worry; a hair regimen doesn't need to be complicated or expensive, but you should make time to perform a basic set of steps on a regular basis to keep your mane as healthy as possible.

A hair care routine should consist of the following:

·         Shampoo

·         Conditioner

·         Deep conditioner

·         Protein treatment

·         Daily styling aids

Shampoo

Look for a good-quality, moisturizing shampoo and use it at least once per week. Focus on cleansing the scalp first, rubbing in circular motions with the pads of your fingers (not the nails) and letting the motion of the water work the suds down the length of your hair. Avoid piling the hair on top of your head or diligently rubbing shampoo into your ends, which are the oldest and often the driest sections of your mane. Rinse thoroughly.

Conditioner

Follow up with a moisturizing conditioner. This is when you focus the product on the hair, not the scalp. Use a wide-tooth comb to work the conditioner through; you'll get better coverage this way. Look for conditioners designed for dry and/or damaged hair, as these usually contain the emollient ingredients that black hair needs. Instead of following a shampoo with a conditioner every time you need to clean your hair, you can co-wash instead, which is ideal for women who exercise frequently. You want rich, creamy formulas that completely coat your hair.

Deep Conditioner

How often should you deep condition your hair? The answer depends a great deal on how dry your hair is. If you take care to condition it regularly and always use a leave-in conditioner after shampooing, you probably won't need deep treatments more than once or twice a month. If you apply a lot of heat to your hair, you may need to deep condition at least once per week. Find a product or products that work for your tresses; there are a few good brands available that won't bust your budget. There are also some salon brands that work wonders if your hair is in need of moisture ASAP.

Protein Treatment

As with deep conditioners, how often you need a protein treatment depends a great deal on what you do to your hair. If your tresses are 100% natural -- that is, no chemicals at all, including color -- your hair can be perfectly healthy without any major protein treatments; an occasional mild reconstructor will keep your hair strong, but it's not required. On the other hand, if you color, relax, texturize and/or heat style your locks; you'll need more frequent and more intense treatments. These range from two-minute reconstructors you apply after a shampoo to spray versions that you add before styling; you may also need a serious treatment if you're experiencing extreme breakage. In those cases, it's usually best to have a stylist apply them, although you can visit your local beauty supply and find products for home use.

Daily Styling Aids

There are literally tons of styling products for our hair. Most offer differing results depending on the final style you want to achieve. Want perfect ringlets on your natural 'do? Then look for water-based gels or curl creams. Are you flat ironing your mane? Then you'll need a good heat protectant and oil-based moisturizer; a good smoothing serum may help as well. Relaxed hair will benefit from a daily moisturizer, especially when you focus on the ends, but you may also use mousse if you're creating a curly look via a straw set, Bantu knot set or braids.

Sticking to It

Now, all of this knowledge does you no good if you only deep condition haphazardly or you forget about applying protein to your relaxed and colored hair. Each of us needs to determine a schedule that fits into our lifestyles, whether you're a college student, corporate executive, busy mom or homemaker. Maybe you need to keep a hair journal until these steps become second nature for you -- plus, if you're very busy, it's all too easy to forget to deep condition or to put it off until you have more time. When it comes to hair, you often need to make time; taking proactive steps helps to prevent problems down the line.

Try scheduling hair tasks into a day planner, online/computer calendar, desk/wall calendar or whatever method best works for you. A sample regimen may look like this:

·         Sunday: Shampoo, condition, deep condition

·         Monday: Daily moisturizer

·         Tuesday: Daily moisturizer

·         Wednesday: Daily moisturizer

·         Thursday: Co-wash, moisturize

·         Friday: Moisturize

·         Saturday: Moisturize

·         Twice this month: Two-minute protein treatment

·         No regimen is complete without nightly protection in the form of a silk or satin hair cover or pillowcase!

Create your own hair regimen. Your goal may be longer hair, stronger hair or simply healthy hair. Follow a routine with products that work with your texture and good hair days will result.

SATIN BONNET REVIEW

I think I’ve fallen in love . . . . . . .

with my satin bonnet.  We had a rough breakup but we reconciled we he came back a changed man with a no slip band that kept him on my head all night long.

But seriously, I purchase my Satin Bonnet from Clicks in Alberton City Gauteng.  I wrote off satin bonnets early in my journey because I grew weary of the little elastic band that would stretch out if you looked at it too hard and playing find the satin bonnet every single morning.

This bonnet is the truth.

Product Description

Stay on Satin prevents breakage and saves yours style better than ordinary satin.  Only Stay on Satin caps are made from our specially developed patent pending two sided soft satin material that is soft on the inside and satiny smooth on the outside.  The soft side provides some gentle grip to keep the cap in place during the night and the smooth side prevents friction against your pillow from causing breakage and messing up your style.”Stay on Satin caps never have any abrasive elastic or velcro and always fit right for a cool comfortable night’s sleep.  Stay on Satin caps also prevent your cotton pillow case from drying out your hair.”

Pros

The biggest pro for me is that this bonnet DOES NOT SLIP OFF!!!!! I’ve only been using it for a little while so I’ll have to see if that remains true over the course of time.  Also, I’m under the assumption that it comes in various sizes, which is great for naturals with some length.  I got the medium or large cap, I’m sorry I can’t remember, and all of my hair fits comfortably inside of the cap.

Cons

I haven’t been wearing the bonnet very long, but as of right now I haven’t been able to identify any cons of the product.

Would I use This Product Again?

Of course, I’ve used it every single night since I’ve had it.

How Would I Rate This Product?

100% curls, no doubt.

HOW TO TRANSITION FROM RELAXED TO NATURAL HAIR

Relaxing hair gives you six to eight weeks or so of beautifully straight and silky hair. However, the transition from relaxed hair into natural hair is tough - odd curly bits, split ends and endless breakage. Don't lose hope, since there is a recovery route. Getting back to your "natural" beauty is a beautiful thing and an interesting road to self discovery.

Keep your hair hydrated. The biggest struggle with transitioning your hair is preventing breakage due to damage and dryness. Do what you can to keep your hair hydrated and conditioned by using a conditioner on a daily basis. Every evening before bed, thoroughly incorporate either coconut oil or olive oil into your hair and let is soak for 30 minutes to an hour. This will help replenish your hair with moisture and nutrients that will strengthen the demarcation line (the part of the hair where the transition is occurring).

When you wash your hair, add a little conditioner to your strands prior to shampooing. This will help to keep the shampoo from stripping all the moisture. Then, condition as per usual.

Consider using a leave-in conditioner for your hair during the day. Apply some to your hair before you style it, paying careful attention to the demarcation line.

Use a deep conditioner regularly. Deep conditioning treatments take adding moisture to a new level. Although they are typically only used once a month or so, transitioning hair needs extra conditioning and can handle the treatments more frequently. Purchase a deep-conditioning treatment from your local beauty supply store, and apply it to your hair once a week. Alternately, you can also choose to visit a salon and get deep-conditioning treatments regularly

If you decide to have a professional deep condition your hair, try looking for someone who specializes in transitioning hair. They’ll be able to provide you with products and services designed specifically to meet your needs.If you’re feeling frugal, another great alternative to a deep conditioner is using a bottle of mayonnaise. Although it sounds (and might smell) a bit unappealing, it can work wonders on adding moisture to your hair. Apply it to your hair once a week for 30 minutes to a an hour.

Stay away from heat. In general, hot tools should be avoided if you’re trying to protect your hair. Using curling irons, flat irons, and blow driers can stress your hair and cause breakage, specifically at the demarcation line. While transitioning your hair, do all that you can to allow it to be as natural as possible. Avoid hot tools, and if necessary, limit their use to only one day a week at most.

If you absolutely must use hot tools, keep them away from the demarcation line and avoid using them on your roots where your natural grow-out is forming.
Limit your hair washings. This goes hand in hand with adding moisture to your hair; washing your hair frequently strips your strands of the natural oil that helps to keep it strong. Wash your hair as little as you can, using plenty of conditioner when you do. If you’re able, wash your hair once every 7-8 days so that there is plenty of time for your natural oils to thoroughly coat each strand of hair.
Give yourself a hot oil massage. Waiting for your hair to grow out is often the most frustrating part of the growing-process. Rather than waiting idly by, you can promote new hair growth by giving yourself frequent scalp massages. Use a bit of oil (coconut, olive, avocado, etc.) warmed slightly to massage your scalp. This will stimulate the hair follicles and help the strands to grow a bit faster. Hot oil massages can be done as frequently as you would like, but should be done at least once a week for the best results.

Promote hair growth with supplements. Maintaining your vitamins and minerals is important to general health (in addition to hair health), but taking certain supplements can speed up hair growth and strengthen your hair extra fast. Doctors recommend taking biotin or viviscal - supplements specifically used for hair and nail growth - to increase the speed at which your hair is growing. Additionally, making sure you have enough vitamin D and A will help your hair out as well.

Some studies show that taking a saw palmetto supplement (derived from a small pine tree) can yield faster hair growth than taking nothing at all.

Avoid adding chemicals to your hair. Although it may seem like a given, you should be avoiding all relaxers and perms when trying to transition your hair. In addition, stay away from hair dyes and bleach, as these cause significant damage to your hair, causing it to break and become frizzy. Look for all natural alternatives to chemicals you typically use, as these will be much safer on your scalp and strands than harsh chemicals are.

Purchase new hair products. As it turns out, not all hair products are created equally. With a huge variety on the market, it can be difficult to find products that will work with your hair and your wallet. When transitioning your hair though, it is vital to get transition-friendly hair supplies. Look for sulphate-free conditioning shampoos, as well as other hair treatments advertised specifically for use in transitioning hair. Although these won’t necessarily change the appearance of your hair, they will work hard to prevent further damage and reverse current damage in your locks.

If you go to a salon that specializes in transitioning hair, ask for recommendations in hair products.

If nothing else, find a sulphate-free shampoo. Sulphate (present in most cheap shampoos) causes significant drying of hair strands and it clogs up the pores of the scalp, reducing hair growth.

Keep your hair hydrated. The biggest struggle with transitioning your hair is preventing breakage due to damage and dryness. Do what you can to keep your hair hydrated and conditioned by using a conditioner on a daily basis. Every evening before bed, thoroughly incorporate either coconut oil or olive oil into your hair and let is soak for 30 minutes to an hour. This will help replenish your hair with moisture and nutrients that will strengthen the demarcation line (the part of the hair where the transition is occurring).

BASIC HAIR CARE FOR TYPE 3C HAIR

Basic Hair Care

Never brush the hair, use only wide tooth combs

Detangle hair that is wet, conditioned, and moisturized, starting from the bottom and work your way to the top.

Shampoo with natural, sulfate free,  (I love this product )moisturizing shampoo no more then once a week, always follow up with a good conditioner

Deep condition at least once a month with a conditioning cap for at least 30 minutes (i do this once a week using this product )

Use satin sleep caps, satin pillows, and satin scarf’s under winter hats to avoid breakage

Use only metal-free hair elastics soaked in olive oil or similar hair friendly oil

Avoid using any heating tools on the hair
Avoid towel drying the hair, use an t-shirt

Trim damaged ends when needed

THE BENEFITS OF COCONUT MILK FOR HAIR

What are the Benefits of Coconut Milk for Hair

I had no  idea that coconut milk had so many health benefits until I started working on this blog. I'll focus on hair...You can use coconut milk as a conditioner or to make a moisturising shampoo.

What is in coconut?

It's packed with vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5, and B6 as well as iron, calcium selenium, sodium, magnesium, manganese and phosphorus. It's also a good source of proteins and natural oils.

How does coconut milk help hair? It:

1.     Helps to protect hair from the loss of protein.

2.     Boosts hair's body/volume and shine by replenishing hair fibres with oil.

3.     Helps to repair damaged hair

4.     Helps to detangle hair.

5.     Helps to soften hair.

6.     Treats a dry flaky scalp.

7.     Helps to treat hair loss - not scientifically proven but some claim tis so!

8.     By protecting hair and the scalp, it helps hair grow.

If you are making a shampoo coconut oil gives it a moisturising quality so that the shampoo doesn't strip your hair.

If you are making a conditioner then it fortifies hair fibres with proteins, iron and oils. Using heat by wearing a shower cap to trap body heat or blow drying over the surface of your shower cap helps with the absorption of nutrients. 

ESSENTIAL OILS

You don’t always have to buy fancy, big name hair products for your hair. Sometimes the best products are actually very simple and found in your local Whole Foods store. What are these simple hair products? Well they’re natural oils. I’m a natural haired woman and know first-hand that natural oils are amazing for hair. They work wonders on my hair. And I’ve been using natural oils for years to make my hair softer, shinier, and even stronger. Basically hair needs oil. So be sure to check out these 7 fabulous natural oils for natural hair.

Avocado Oil
Castor Oil
Coconut Oil
Olive Oil (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Rosemary Oil
Safflower Oil
Sweet Almond Oil

Avocado Oil is particularly great for natural hair. It’s loaded with nutrients, amino acids, essential fatty acids, as well as vitamins A, B, D, and E. And it’s excellent for moisturizing, deep conditioning, improving hair strength, strengthening hair, and boosting shine.

Castor Oil thickens hair, promotes hair growth, prevents thinning, moisturizes, helps reduce split ends, helps to tame frizz, and prevents scalp infections.

Coconut Oil is great for preventing dandruff, promoting hair growth, moisturizing, strengthening hair, thickening hair, and preventing damage.

I LOVE using Olive Oil. And Olive Oil, which is also referred to as the “godmother of hair oil,” is great for moisturizing, deep conditioning, improving hair strength, eliminating dandruff, and also has powerful antioxidants that can help fight hair loss.

Rosemary Oil is great for stimulating hair follicles for hair growth, preventing hair loss and graying, preventing dandruff, strengthening hair, and boosting shine.

Safflower Oil protects hair, nourishes hair follicles, moisturizes, and stimulates blood circulation to promote hair growth and thickness. And it is extremely beneficial for natural as well as dry chemically treated hair.

Sweet Almond Oil works great as a “sealant.” This means that it “locks-in” moisture. Sweet almond oil also nourishes hair, smoothes hair cuticles to control shedding, promotes hair growth and thickness, prevents hair loss, and boosts shine.

HAIR MAYONNAISE REVIEW

I went to the hair supply store and purchased Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise because I heard from a Face Book Friend that Mayonnaise is great for moisturizing and strengthening hair. He suggested I whip up a batch of hair mayo myself, but I wasn’t really interested in that, so I bought some.

I paid R50.00 for it at Clicks, Rynfield and it’s a good deal for a pretty big tub. The product claims its good a Treatment for damaged hair, Moisturizes and strengthens, and Provides incredible body and shine.

This product is a rich blend of botanical extracts and herbs have joined forces with whole egg protein and olive oil to restore and renew dry, damaged hair.

The directions:

•Shampoo hair with Organic Root Stimulator Uplifting Shampoo. Rinse thoroughly and towel blot.

•Place Hair Mayonnaise into palm of hand. Rub hands together and gently massage into hair. Comb hair to ensure even coverage of hair shaft.

•Cover hair with plastic cap and let process under a warm dryer for 15 minutes.

•Rinse hair thoroughly with warm water and proceed with styling.

My Review

I loved this product! After the first use I saw an immediate difference in the softness of my hair.

With natural hair you have to deep condition it often because it needs lots of moisture. I didn’t shampoo my hair because my Shampoo Day is Friday/Saturday, so I applied Olive oil to my hair, then did a conditioning wash (co-wash) then I applied the mayo to my hair. I put a cap on and rinsed out after about 20 minutes.

While I was rinsing it out of my hair I could feel a dramatic difference in the texture of my hair. It didn’t feel like the past 2 nights I’ve done my co wash. After rinsing it out of my hair, I applied my oil mixture to my hair and massaged it into my scalp and rubbed it through my hair. I put on my satin bonnet and I let my hair air dry during my sleep because everyone says “Heat is bad for your hair”. I woke up this morning and my hair didn’t feel rough and dry like it has the past two nights. 

It’s definitely something I will use multiple times a week to continue strengthening and moisturizing my hair.

If you have used this product, let me know what you thought.

If you haven’t used this product, it’s worth a try!

5 SIMPLE STEPS TO REVERSE STAGNANT HAIR INTO LONG THRIVING HAIR

March 2014 marks to beginning of my natural hair journey and today it is time to reflect  for the black girls who want long hair. The big question is………have you met your hair goals? Is your hair longer than it was in January? If your hair is not gaining length or if you have had less than stellar results this year, this article is for you. These are 5 simple steps to reverse stagnant hair into long thriving hair

1.  Accept that what you are doing does not work
2. Know when your hair breaks
3. Try something new
4. Know when to stop
5. Have realistic expectations

You are doing it all, protective styling, moisturising and  deep conditioning but still you have not managed to move your hair an inch. It is time to face the facts – your current routine despite having all the good stuff really does not work.

It is time for a critical assessment. Do you keep a protective style long enough to ensure that you gain benefit from it? Do you moisturise at the critical points when moisture is needed (when taking down a style and when handling free hair) and do you avoid handling your hair at its weakest state (soaking wet)? Could you be doing too much to your hair therefore causing it to wear away and compromise length?

If you do not see results within 2-3 months, you need to make this critical assessment again. Do not wait for 1 year to go by. You should be able to see small increments in your hair length every 2-3 months.

The reason for hair staying at a stagnant length is because it is breaking just as fast as it is growing. It is really important to know when your hair is most vulnerable to breakage and this varies from person to person depending on your individual strand thickness and choice of styling. The most common breakage points are:

-during takedown of a protective style (especially at the ends)

-during detangling (both conditioner combing and dry detangling)

- while wearing hair free (due to tangling, shrinkage, knots and regular handling)

Once you identify why and when your hair is most vulnerable to breakage, you will be able to know exactly when you must protect your hair from damage.

Having accepted that what you are doing does not work, it is time to try to do something new. If you have been conditioner combing, try dry or damp detangling  for a little while and see how it works for you.  Compare your results after 2-3 months and decide which one really works best for you.  If you have never deep conditioned your hair, try doing it for 2-3 months and see if your hair improves or not. If you only use heavy oils or butters on your hair, try light oils and see if your hair would equally be happy with those. Do not write things off before you actually try them.

I am really all for trying something new but equally you should know when to stop. If a technique causes immediate breakage, stop using it. Do not think perhaps your hair is shedding more than usual, assume that the technique is not working for your hair and must be adjusted to suit your curls and kinks or not used at all. If you are deep conditioning 2-3 times a week and your hair is not moisturised, stop and reassess how you are conditioning (is your conditioner working, do you need to warm it up first, could you do with some protein, do you use a leave in/moisturiser/oil after washing).

Finally hair takes a long time to grow. Many naturals cannot retain 100% of their growth. If your hair is susceptible to split ends then cutting them off will impact retention but provided at the end of the year you have kept some length, do not be disheartened. There are a small proportion of women who can keep all their growth but I feel that it is more reasonable to expect between 3-5 inches per year with a regular trimming or dusting routine.