Hair Care for the Holidays

Seasons Greetings Beauties!

I hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas celebration/holiday. All the dinners, church services, parties, beach limes has kept us all very busy. However, that packed schedule during this season challenges our style, hair, and make up regime a little more than usual. When speaking about hair  specifically, we tend to  use more manipulation and quick/extravagant styling both of which (often) involves heat in high frequencies including blow drying, flat ironing, and every thing else in between.

Ladies, let's be honest. The usual hair care regimen tends to be neglected. I do want to enter 2015 with healthy tresses, so here are a few of my tips that I use to guide me through the season.

Protective Styling

Now is a good time to pull out your favourite wig, install your braids or those bundles and give your hair a rest.  Wigs, weaves, cornrows, and braids are all great options for protective styling and when used  correctly can reduce stress on your hair. Don't forget a good ol' fashion bun or braid out still doesn't hurt.

Heat Protection

If you must use your heat tools, please remember to use your heat protectant. The use of a good heat protectant reduces the damage caused by heat tools such as flat irons and curling irons. Still try to use a moderate heat setting on your tools and not otherwise fry your hair.

I currently use the CHI Iron Guard 44 as my go to heat protectant. I have been using this product as a staple heat protectant for the past 4 years with no problems.

Low Manipulation

Gentle combing and brushing goes a long way. Reduce styles that put stress on your hairline such as that extra tight ponytail. Always use boar bristle brush and a wide tooth comb when styling.

Moisturize

That holding spray or styling gel may seem like its worth it right now, but you may end up paying for it later when your hair dries out and more hair is left of your back and on the floor than on your head resulting on your first setback for 2015. Find a holding spray that does not have that extra strong hold as these tend to leave your hair less dry and crunchy and the hold is removed at the stroke of a brush. I also prefer a styling/finishing paste for my edges than styling gels. My edges lay smoother  never feel dry at the end of the day.

My go to edge paste is the Chi Twisted Fabric.

Love it! It is wax based and is filled with emollients that leaves my edges soft, a little goes a long way and it is an absolute staple!

The list above is by no means exhaustive. So, feel free to share a few of yours. Let's grow together!

Until next time...happy growing :)

Chi Nourish Intense Review

Hi Beauties,

The Giovanni line of shampoo and conditioners have been staples in my hair care regimen for almost 4 years. I recently decided that  I would like to try something new not because the line was not working for me anymore, but simply because I needed a change.

I tend to do this from time to time and I have had much success with Nexxus and Mizani but, somehow I always return to Giovanni. Not to be deterred, this time, I did a little research and decided to try the Chi Nourish Intense Hydrating Silk Hair Bath Shampoo and the Nourish Intense Silk Masque Conditioner.

Shampoo 

My first impression of the shampoo is the sweet smell, almost that of bubblegum. This is a welcomed change from the unscented Giovanni line. A few stand out features of this product is that it is sulfate and paraben free and promises to gently cleanse the hair without stripping.

After a few washes, I can certainly appreciate how soft and moisturized my hair feels.  At one point I was almost tempted to detangle but I decided to wait as per usual until after deep conditioning.

Conditioner

The Silk Masque for Coarse hair is easily one of my new favorites. A little goes along way and the conditioner gave my hair great slippage. Detangling was a breeze and 30 mins of heated deep conditioning left my hair uber soft and manageable. The smell is also similar to the shampoo which is a huge plus.








Drawbacks

Both can be little heavy on the pockets ranging between US$15-30 depending on the volume you choose.

Would I buy again? Absolutely! I really love these products and they might serious contenders for the top spot. Only time will tell.

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.  

My Regimen

Hi Beauties!

So I have been getting many questions about the products I use in hair. Before I go any further it is important that I point out one major point.

Products DO NOT grow your hair!!!

It is important to note that as long as you are breathing your hair grows. Much like everything else in your body it will only stop working once pass away. I know there are many naysayers who will beg to differ considering they may have only had neck or shoulder length hair (short hair runs in the family).  I am 98% percent certain that the length of the hair has to do with breakage due to several factors such as harsh manipulation, lack of protein, and lack on proper moisture just to name a few and not genetics. The human hair growth phase is long enough to take one's hair beyond neck and shoulder length. Our curl pattern is our achille's heel in that the tight coils and kinks inhibit moisture from passing down out strands. Also our hair type is very fine contrary to what we may think making it very easy to break. Start by ditching that standard comb fine tooth we get in the market replace with a wide tooth comb, trash the hair grease (Blue Magic and like), and lay off the harsh sulfate containing shampoo.  Substitute for milder shampoos (preferably sulfate free), wash your hair more often (water is your friend), moisturize and seal your hair. I promise you will notice an immediate difference in the texture and fullness of your hair. Later on even the length, your hair grows only 1/4 to 1/2 inch every month  so you will not see a major difference in length overnight. Remember products will only help in hair maintenance. Pay attention to the words in bold and become familiar with them. You do not have to look for the exact products I use,everyone is different what works for me may not work for you.  I am providing my regimen only as a guide. Happy Hair Growing!

Clarify     ~ 1x per month with Joico KPak Chelating and Clarifying Shampoo

Shampoo ~ Giovanni Deep Moisture Shampoo

Condition ~ Giovanni Deeper Moisture Conditioner

Cowash   ~  1-2x per week with VO5 moisture milks conditioner

Moisturize and Seal ~ as needed no less than every 2 days with my own   moisturizing spritz of 100% natural shea butter, coconut oil, AVJ, Jojoba Oil (winter) Shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie ( Spring and Summer). Seal with Jojoba oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, or argan oil.

Deep Conditioner ~ Nexxus Humectress with fav oils (castor oil, EVCO, Olive Oil) honey, and Silk Amino Acids

Protein Conditioner- Giovanni Nutrafix Hair Reconstructor/Aphogee 2-Step Treatment

Leave In Conditioner ~ Giovanni's Weightless Direct Leave In

Trim ~ Every six months, dust regularly, search and destroy regularly

Relaxer ~ Olive Oil (Regular)/ Dark and Lovely (Regular)

Additive ~ Silk Amino Acids added to my conditioner 

Guess Who's Back?!?!?!

Hi Beauties!

Yes believe it or not I am back! After almost a year I am back :). Between being sick, going to school, and traveling, lots of traveling I really did not have the time to blog or do videos. I did slack a little bit about my hair care (just a little) but I am back on track. Last year I hated the V shape my hair was forming so I cut approximately 5 inches off and went back to shoulder length. It was the best decision I ever made! I deep conditioned faithfully, went  to Jamaica and got some homemade castor oil and the rest was history! My hair has been growing consistently thick over the last few months. Though I have not done an official length check I am guessing that I am somewhere around APL. Regardless I am proud of myself considering the slacking off. A major regret I had is that I streaked my hair a few months ago. My hair's texture has since changed to one that I greatly dislike and cannot recover. I have not had any major breakage but I did a henna and indigo treatment and I am almost back to black. Life happened and I could not keep the indigo in my hair as long as I should have. Anyhow, no complaints! This is something I don't see me doing again...anytime soon. Never say never but I have no desire to do so presently. Along the way I have managed to convert a few naysayers who never believed in healthy hair care so I am happy. Well beauties Lady Dee is back! I am more than excited to share my hair journey with you guys! In the next few posts I will be giving you guys a quick synopsis of what I have been doing to my hair over the past few months to get you up to speed. Then we'll move forward. Stay tuned pics will be coming soon. I am also going to be re-vamping my youtube channel so look out for that also. Right now I am rocking one of my favorite go to  low manipulation styles...a braid out but it's raining :(. Hopefully the humidity doesn't get to me. Till next time..loveeees...Happy Hair Journey!!!

Lady Dee