Cowashing…Water is your friend!!!

Hi Beauties!

We've been having some really hot days here in the Caribbean. Today was one of those days. It was hot, humid did I mention hot? My braid out was a little dry and I realized my hair was breaking a bit. The quickest remedy for the breakage I could think of was to rejuvenate my hair with some good old fashion H2O!

Stop the presses….what? Water on relaxed hair for many is a no, no. This my dear ladies is complete mis-education. In fact, water = moisture which in most cases is what our hair needs to stop the breakage and retain length. The current misunderstanding is that water dries out your hair and makes it prone to breakage when in fact water adds moisture to your hair especially mid-week after a main wash.

Tip 1: Use a light conditioner to condition wash (cowash) your hair while in the shower. My favorite cowash conditioner hands down is V05 moisture milks and  Elasta QP Soy Oyl conditioner. Wash your hair like you would with a shampoo and let it sit on your hair for a few minutes while you shower.  Rinse, towel dry your hair, follow up with your favorite leave ins and natural oils. Gently detangle and let your hair air dry. Moisturize and seal. Your hair will thank you!

Tip 2: Throughout the week, lightly spritz your hair with water and glycerin (a humectant which traps moisture), aloe vera juice, or rose water. These are quick and easy ways to add an extra touch of moisture to your hair especially during the hot and dry months.

Tip 3: Protect your ends from the harsh wind and sun by tucking them under wigs or through buns.

Finally, it really starts from the inside so hydrate your body by drinking water regularly throughout the day.

Until next time….HHJ!

Henna and Indigo...Good Dyes for Hair?

Hi Beauties, 

I mentioned a few blog posts ago that I coloured my hair and I got tired of it. A few weeks ago I decided to end the torture once and for all and dyed my hair black. Stop the presses! I know many of you may be thinking Dee you have now triple processed your hair. I am happy to say no...I stopped at double processing. I dyed my hair naturally with henna and indigo and I am now a happy shade of black. I have light brown streaks in certain areas of my hair but I am overall black. 

For those of you who do not know what henna and indigo are let me clarify. 

Henna 

A plant based dye that is made from dried henna leaves. They are typically grown in hot climates such as the  parts of Asia, the  Middle East, and Africa. When used correctly this natural dye is said to impart properties similar to protein on  the hair such as strengthening the strands, but note it is NOT protein.  There is a wealth of valuable information on henna,  its proper use, and DO's and DONT's.  For further information please see http://www.hennaforhair.com/freebooks/hennaforhair.pdf

 and http://www.hennaforhair.com/

Indigo

Similar to Henna, Indigo is made from the dried leave of the Indigo plant. It is the same dye that is used in denim. When mixed with water a blue dye is released. However, a variety of colours ranging from brown to black can be achieved when used with henna. Please see http://www.hennaforhair.com/indigo/index.html

Doing a henna and indigo treatment is quite tedious but it is worth it. My hair feels stronger and healthier and so far I am very happy with my colour, at first my hair was jet black and I loved it! I am hoping to do another treatment soon.

Low Manipulation Overview

Hi Beauties!

Let’s talk about low manipulation styling. One of the mantras in the hair care community is that low manipulation styling reduces the amount of daily stress applied to the hair through less combing, brushing, and heat application.  Low manipulation styles are not to be confused with protective styles. In most cases your hair and particularly the ends of your hair will out to the mercy of the sun, wind, and everyday activity unlike protective styles where majority of your hair is tucked away.

 Popular low manipulation styles include:

•  Braid outs
•  Twist outs
•   Bantu knots
•   Flexi rod curls

Low manipulation styles are versatile giving you varying degrees of curls depending on the style you choose. However, many ladies shy away from these form of styling due to high potential for frizzy hair. The good news is that can be avoided using a few simple tips.

1.       Moisturize and seal

Using a water based products will add the much needed moisture to the hair shaft and sealing with natural oils such as extra virgin coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil will lock in the moisture. Long term use will reduce dry brittle hair and reduce breakage. Your curls will also look more nourished, bouncy, and feel soft to the touch.

2.       Use Damp hair

Protective styling on damp (not wet hair) especially for relaxed ladies allows the hair to cling together and form a mold (i.e. the curl      pattern) unlike dry hair. Natural ladies may have less problems with the hair forming a mold and are more flexible with doing braid outs on dry hair. In general using a small spray bottle to lightly mist the hair with water, aloe vera juice, or rose water should do the trick.

3.       Do not over separate

When doing the take down first make sure your hair is completely dry; if not your hair is likely to frizz. Gently separate each lock of hair yo reveal those beautiful voluminous curls. Mostly importantly, try not to over separate your hair as this can lead to frizz.

4.       Practice makes better

You will find in the early stages of doing a braid out that no two braid outs will be the same. Keep practising and perfecting your technique to achieve the perfect style for you.