I'm Going Natural...Attempt #2

Hello Beauties!

Please try not to roll your eyes this time around. I have really thought about this decision and I am going through with it. I have decided to go natural! Why? Frankly, I like a challenge and I want to try something new. No,  I am not on a journey to "discover" my roots and inner beauty or any other soul searching endeavor. I am quite confident in who I am as a black and beautiful black woman and I do not have warped sense of beauty. I could wear weave tomorrow, braids next week and go bald the month after that. I would still be and feel beautiful.

My hair today is very thick, shiny and healthy. Therefore, I'm not going natural to "have healthy hair".  I have not trimmed my hair since my  

12 inch cut over a year ago and my ends are still "looking fresh."

Simply put, I would like to see my natural texture. My younger sister has done it, why can't I? The decision is not an easy one, however, I am resolved. The big challenge is what will happen at 3 months post.

According to my calendar I am exactly 4 weeks post.Will I big chop at 12 weeks? Let's see. I will provide updates as often as possible.

If you have any tips and encouragement. Please feel free to share!

Until next time... Happy growing!

Happy New Year! What's your resolution?

Happy New Year Beauties!

The tradition is that we set resolutions that we hope to achieve for the new year in pursuit of growth and development. Last year my resolution was to read more books, fiction and non-fiction. I did read a few more books than the previous years. However, to say I am now the avid reader I once was is far from the truth.

The new trend for 2015 is to take the rebellious route (albeit logical) and not have a resolution at all. Some say, why wait 365 days to set new goals when we have today? Further, tomorrow is promised to no one. Others argue the approach of the new year moves one toward introspection, soul searching, and reflection.

 Whatever your decision, here's to new year of laughter, family, friends, adventures, mistakes and new memories.  We will have highs and lows because this is life. What really matters is that we learn and grow from our experiences. Therefore, when its all over one can say; I didn't just exist,  I have truly lived!

Until next time beauties! Happy growing!

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.