From Short To Long

Washing My Senegalese Twists

2012-01-08T10:51:00.000-05:00

New Vitamin Interest

2012-01-08T10:08:00.003-05:00

I was at GNC the other day re-stocking my Nordic Naturals Complete Omega 3-6-9 and GNC Hair Skin and Nails, when I spied the GNC Ultra Nourish Hair vitamins. I said to myself why no? and bought the Ultra Nourish Hair Vitamins.

The most visible difference beetween the Hair Skin and Nails Vitamins and the Ultra Nourish Hair Vitamins are the: HSN have 3,000mcg of biotin where as the UNH has 1,200 mcg of Biotin plus 500 mg of MSM and 500 mg of an Amino Acid Complex. The HSN vitamins have more vitamins for skin and nails, naturally. So, it should be very interesting to see if the Ultra Nourish hair vitamins make more of a difference in my hair than the HSN Vitamins.

I will finish my current bottle of HSN Vitamins before I try the UNH Vitamins, I have about 23 more days on my current bottle, but then I will be excited to try the UNH as I have never taken MSM in large doses before.

Random

2012-01-04T15:47:00.000-05:00

Break Hair

2012-01-04T14:47:00.005-05:00

I have to say that these twists have been the best hair style that I have ever chosen for a break/vacay. I have been home for a couple of weeks because of the holidays, also because I am between semesters, and my hair has been so very easy.

I've just been spraying my hair every other day with my braid spray and applying castor oil to my scalp twice last week and once this week. Easy peasy. I plan to wash and film washing my hair this weekend when I return to the midwest. I will have to travel again, to New Yoark next weekend for performances, so I will only bring my braid spray again.

I re-did the twists around my hair line yesterday in preparation for washing this weekend, so that is done.

I received a Sally Beauty supply gift cards from one of my Aunt's for Christmas, so I will show you what I purchased with that in a haul video as well.

Easy hair makes for an even more enjoyable break. I hope you all had a great Holiday, and I wish only great things for you all in the New Year!

As Requested: The Process of my Senegalese Twists

2011-12-21T17:12:00.003-05:00

Senegalese Twists Regimen

2011-12-16T18:33:00.001-05:00

Senegalese Twists

2011-12-15T00:24:00.000-05:00

The finished result. I will post a regimen video tomorrow.

Photos from Natural Hair Days

2011-12-12T10:27:00.002-05:00

Just sharing a couple of photos of what my hair looked like when I was natural. The first photo is a wash and go, and the second is a twist-out.

7 Months Length Check

2011-12-10T11:10:00.005-05:00

May 2011

May 11/December 11

I know its hard to tell, but I am APL length with 3 inches of new growth.

I am very happy with the results of this stretch turned transition

Oh, and I put a link to my twitter, its up and to the right of this post.

Transitioning

2011-12-09T23:39:00.002-05:00

Today's Hair 12/09/11

2011-12-09T23:17:00.004-05:00

Last night I blow dried my hair in preparation for putting senegalese twists in my hair over the weekend. However, I had a concert tonight, so after blow drying, I put my hair in two bantu knots. This morning I fluff and pinned my hair to one side. This is my hair at the end of the day, after the concert:
I also took some pics for comparison and length chceck purposes. I will post those pics once I upload them.

On another note, I started a twitter account so that I can post all of my random hair thoughts and info instead of having to do blog posts with little to no info. Twitter

So, there will be more to come.

Stretch With Me: Week 28 Gym Hair

2011-12-04T12:20:00.002-05:00

More Hair Plans

2011-11-22T15:03:00.005-05:00

I went ahead and put in another set of pixie braids over the weekend to carry me a couple more weeks. I also bought some braid hair because I am definitely going to put my hair in senegalese twists or individual braids before or after I go home, in a few weeks. I have also decided to transition back to natural hair, for at least another year and then cut between 19 and 20 months post .

I am going to transition using the Crown and Glory method. I plan to cut a few inches off of my hair before putting in the braids, so that each time I take them down, I will not have a huge mess to detangle.

Towards the beginning of my hair journey, 2006ish, I used the Crown and Glory method to grow my hair for about a year, this was my regimen:

Products:
Creme of Nature Ultra Norishing Professional Conditioner
Salon Care Honey and Almond Conditioner
African Royale BRX Weave & Extension Spray
Infusium 23 Leave-In Original Formula
Empty Spray Bottle

Braids Regimen:
Shampoo once every two weeks
-I diluted the shampo by mixing the shampoo and water in a 16 oz. cup
-I would pour this over my head half, rinse, then the other half, rinse
Wash with Conditioner every other day and after shampooing
-After washing out the conditioner I put a beach towel over my hair until there is no more dripping
Spray Hair with Leave-in and African Royale every other day
-I would mix the African Royal and Infusium in a spray bottle 50:50
-I would be sure that the mixture reached all of the hair in the braid as well as on the scalp.
I would re-do the braids around my ears every 2 weeks

I plan to do this same regimen without the co-washing, and with different products, so my regimen will look like this:

Products:
Creme of Nature Argan Oil Shampoo
Suave Coconut Conditioner
Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier
Infusium 23 Leave-In Original Formula
Empty Spray Bottle

Braids Regimen:
Shampoo and condition once every two weeks
-I dilute the shampo by mixing the shampoo and water in an 8 oz. applicator bottle
-I apply to my scalp, rinse and repeat
Apply conditioner, let sit for 5 minutes, rinse.
-After washing out the conditioner I put a beach towel over my hair until there is no more dripping
Spray Hair with Taliah and Infusium every other day
-I mix the Taliah and Infusium in a spray bottle 50:50
I would re-do the braids around my if different parts of my head every 2 weeks

I will wear extension for 2-3 months at a time, and then take a two week bread before putting in more extensions. During the two week break I will do a hard protein treatment one week and a deep moisturizing treatment the next.

I already own all of these products, so I just have to put the braids in at some point. In the meantime I will follow my regular regimen, ensuring that my hair is in optimum condition before putting in the braids.

Maximizing Your Hair Growth Potential

2011-11-18T11:56:00.007-05:00

The average person receives about 0.5 of hair growth each month, however this may not be the maximum amount you can achieve in a months time. Your body determines how fast your hair will grow, but if you want to ensure that you reach your full growth potential each month there are steps you can take.

1. Hair Vitamins
Your body produces vitamins for hair growth, but if you are a little deficient in this area, you will not get your full growth potential. To be sure you are getting enough vitamins in your diet, I recommend taking vitamin supplements; whether it be your daily multi, biotin, omega 3, 6, 9, b-vitamins, etc. You do not have to take tons and tons of vitamins because your body will get rid of what it does not need anyway, but pick specific nutrients and start taking them. I will put a long list at the end of this post stating what various nutrients do for the hair. Choose one or a couple, and take them every day. My favorites are Centrum multi-vitamins, GNC Hair Skin, and Nails Vitamins, and Nordic Naturals Omega 3, 6, 9.

2. Exercise
Exercise helps with blood circulation. If the blood flow to the scalp is insufficient, the nutrients that reach the hair follicles through circulation will not get their, thus hindering your growth potential. Stress also hinders blood circulation, and exercise helps to release this stress, thus increasing growth potential.

3. Scalp Massages
Massaging the scalp is yet another way to increase blood circulation to the scalp area. This circulation will lead to strong roots, which leads to stronger hair. Increased blood flow can also makes it less likely that the hair follicle will go into the resting phase, thus causing it to shed. To perform a scalp massage, apply oil to the scalp, put the pads of your fingers on your scalp, and move the fingers in a circular motion (do not scratch). This is a good video showing a scalp massage, she is showing how to do a massage whilea washing the hair, but I prefer doing a massage with oil:

4. Food
If you are not into taking vitamins, or you just need to eat better, eating the right foods is a great way to maximize your growth potential. The foods that help promote hair growth basically contain high amounts of protein, iron, omega-fatty acids, vitamin's A-C-B 12, and zinc. I have written another post on this subject: Hair Food, so I will not go into detail. Suffice it to say that eating the right foods will help your body throw out the strongest and healthiest hair. There is also food information in the list below.

The average hair growth rate varies from person to person, and you cannot change the maximum growth potential of your hair, no matter what you do. However, you can ensure you get that full growth potential each month by taking the steps outlined above.

Hair vitamin's and what they do, from Long Hair Care Forum.com:

The Complete Vitamin Guide posted by gymfreak336:
Before starting any vitamin regime, please set up an appointment with your doctor to go over any concerns you might have. This is especially true if you have a pre-existing medical condition like a heart problem or diabetes. Certain supplements in certain doses can aggravate these conditions. On the other hand, some supplements can actually benefit them as well as you over all health. In this guide, I will go over the benefits to your hair, our obvious goal, as well as the rest of your body.

When you mention hair vitamins to people you usually get one of two reactions. Reaction A-Why take vitamins, you don't need them to grow hair?
Reaction B-It sounds interesting but it is overwhelming to try to decide what to take, besides, I never have taken vitamins before and I don't want to get sick.

Both reactions make good points and legitimate concerns. Can you grow you hair long without vitamins? Of course you can and many do. There are many ladies here that have beautiful hair that don't take vitamins. Can deciding what to take and why get overwhelming? Of course, learning about vitamins takes time. No one can read a couple of articles in a book or online and expect to be an expert.

So what should you do? Many grow their hair with out them to the lengths they desire and on the other hand many have seem huge improvements in texture, growth rate and moisture levels by adding one or two vitamins. The choice is yours to make. Don't feel pressured to take anything by anyone. You should always do your research in what ever you decide to take, vitamins or even prescriptions. Just because it is recommended, doesn't mean that if will work or be beneficial to you. Which leads me to my next point. The number one cause of bad vitamin experiences is starting off with too much too fast. Our bodies like change. Think about exercise, change keeps us responding, the mistake most make is underestimating how little changes make big impacts.

Listen to your body, Rome wasn't built in a day and nether will your vitamin regime. Some supplements might not agree with you at a particular dose and you might have to experiment with your dosage to find what works for you. On the other hand, some might not agree with you at all. Pick 1 or 2 supplements to start with and add as your body gets acclimated to what you are taking. Experiment with different forms of a vitamin. Calcium carbonate is different from calcium citrate. While there are both calcium supplements, they do not work the same way in your body. You might tolerate calcium citrate but get horribly sick from calcium carbonate. Many multi-vitamin formulas mix forms of a vitamin to give you the most balanced effect. There is also more than one way to get most nutrients. Take sulfur for example. Increased amounts of dietary sulfur can help soften and loosen your curl pattern as well has help increase growth. Most get this through MSM but you can also use single form amino acids like L-cysteine, glucosamine, and beet powder increase sulfur intake. Also by starting off slow, you will be able to monitor your progress and side effects better. Right them down in a journal if needed to keep track of changes you feel and notice. Remember to stay hydrated. Any possible side effects such as head aches or tummy aches when starting a particular vitamin are exasperated from dehydration. Many negative side affects can be eased with extra water. Drink a full glass of water every time you take your vitamins in additional to your regular daily intake. If you find that no matter what you do, you still have issues with a supplement, toss it.

So, what will this cost me?
Before we get into the supplements, I know someone is thinking well, how much is this going to cost me. Supplements do cost money but you have to set your own limits to how much you want to spend. You can save money by being selective with where you buy your vitamins, by changing the form you take and eating a well balanced diet.You also might want to think about investing in a multi-mineral complex, especially if you forgo a multi-vitamin. These supplements are not expensive and consuming adequate amounts of minerals everyday can be more difficult. Liquid forms of supplements can also be more convenient and in some ways more cost effective in certain cases. Liquid flaxseed oil provides a higher concentration of omega fatty acids compared to capsules. 1 tablespoon of liquid flaxseed oil provides the same amount of fatty acids in 7 or 8 1500mg capsules of flaxseed oil. Set your budget and research different forms and brands of supplements before you buy anything. Once you find things that you like, keep track of their sales through mailing lists, catalogs, and email. Many websites have mailing list that will send you notices through email and coupons or free shipping offers. When in doubt you can ask the ladies here if anyone has any discount codes for websites.

When do I take them

Okay, so you are ready to pick your vitamins but how will you take them. I know some of you down them all in the morning with a glass or water. I donâ€™t recommend you do that especially if you are new to vitamins. This is a great way to ensure digestive problems and headaches. With vitamins, there are ways to help maximize the effects just by choosing what to take when.

For your multivitamins or multiminerals, look to how frequently you plan on taking them. If your multi says 2-3 times a day, you can take one with each main meal. If its just once, take it when you want

For omega fatty acids take them with a fatty meal. If you eat salad for lunch, then that is a perfect time to take your flaxseed oil, borage oil, and things like that. The dressing has healthy fats and they will help the omega fatty acids absorb. Again look at how often you often you plan to take them. If you take 2 borage oil capsules a day and 4 flaxseed capsules, split them and take some with lunch and dinner or breakfast and dinnerâ€¦.you get the idea.

For msm, you can really take it whenever you want. Many people including myself use a powder form and mix it in our drinks. If it irritates your stomach like it does for me, taking it with food can help.

For single form amino acids, they work better when taken on an empty stomach with vitamin C.

Basics

For many people, simply adding a quality multi-vitamin would help improve their hair health. I know the debates have gone on over and over before about whether or not you need one and if you eat a well balanced diet, you might not. Truth is most of us don't eat as well as we should and the quality of our food is not what it used to be. Foods draw their nutrients from the soil but due to limited lands and high amounts of pesticides, our food is not as nutritious as if used to be. Most of us eat some sort of fortified food in our day to day lives. Cereal, some breads, and juices all have extra vitamins added. What is not added to many of our foods are minerals. While you probably won't find many people with a vitamin a deficiency in the US, you will find many people who lack the proper levels of minerals such as zinc, magnesium, selenium, copper and the like. Also remember that the levels usually recommended are not what is required for optimal health. These recommendations are the levels needed to stay alive. They do not account for genetic factors that can predisposition you to have certain conditions. For example, high blood pressure is prevalent in the black community. Certain genetic factors put us at elevated risk and when you combine that with low levels of magnesium and elevated sodium use when we cook, then you have just developed a recipe for disaster.

Choosing a multi-vitamin does not have to be complicated. Choose one based on your personal needs and tolerance. If you do not like taking pills, look for one that is a one-dose formula. If you have a physical difficulty swallowing pills then look for formulas that have a soft coating and small in size. You can also look for a liquid formula. Look for formulas that use beta carotene as the vitamin a source. The other commonly used form, retinal palmate is found in animal products like milk. Too much retinal palmate can actually be detrimental to your health. Beta carotene doesn't pose the same type of risk. Most of us get enough retinal palmate from our diets.

There are many hair, skin, and nail formulas out on the market too. These formulas contain a little of everything needed for healthy hair growth. If you have a balanced diet then adding one of these vitamins might be enough to give you what you need to see improvements or at least get you on your way. Andrew Lessman makes a quality formula as does Kal, Hair Fitness, Twinlab, GNC, Country Life and Puritans Pride. There are many more but I simply can't remember them all. You can also find some affordable formulas at wal-mart and stores like the dollar general. People have had results with these as well.

For Growth

Your hair is made of Keratin which is made from sulfur bearing amino acids. For this reason, most supplements that help accelerate your growth rate contain some sort of sulfur as well. Vitamins that extend you growth cycle also help your growth rate. Of course there are genetic limits to just how fast you hair grows but these vitamins help push your growth rate to the limit of these constraints. Other vitamins that help growth rate are vitamins that help maintain a healthy immune system and thyroid.

B-Complex vitamin; 50mg taken once or twice a day- B-complex vitamins are actually a group 8 vitamins. Thiamine(B1), Riboflavin(B2), Niacin(B3),
Pyridoxine(B6), Folic Acid(B9), Cyanocobalamin(B12), Pantothenic Acid(B5), and Biotin. Biotin is sometimes referred to as Vitamin H.

As a whole, B-complex vitamins are involved breaking down protein, carbohydrates, and fats. B-vitamins help make DNA, blood cells, maintain nerves and your gastrointestinal tract. When it comes to your hair, they help extend the growth cycle so that you can enjoy a longer period of hair growth.

Biotin is a sulfur bearing B-vitamin. Biotin is one of the most widely known "beauty" vitamins. One way biotin helps increase growth is by contributing to the overall sulfur content in our bodies and in aiding the breakdown of protein. Most people show improvement with a daily intake of at least 5mg of Biotin. Some have taken up to 15 mg without adverse results. There are no known adverse reactions to large doses of Biotin. Biotin is also used sometimes with diabetics to help with insulin problems. If you are diabetic, remember to check with your doctor before taking biotin. When taking Biotin, it is usually more beneficial to split up doses throughout the day.
Sometimes, biotin has to be manipulated to see the growth results. One way to do this is to alternate brands. Pick two brands and alternate between them every other month. Another way to do this is buy your daily dose before bedtime. Sleeping on some water soluble vitamins sometimes helps with absorption. You can also do a "loading dose" with biotin. For example, lets say you desire an overall intake of 7mg. For the first four weeks you take 10 mg, then for two weeks you drop down to 5mg, and then stick to 7mg thereafter as your maintenance dose.

B5 also helps thicken hair strands. You can also take this separately.

One thing to remember when taking individual b vitamins is that your body needs a balance of B-vitamins and just taking one by itself can throw off our balance. So if you are taking biotin or b5 by itself you might want to include a b-complex once a day if your multivitamin doesn't have a lot. A 50mg B-complex is more than enough to suffice. B-Complex supplements are not expensive either. When selecting your b-complex supplements, look for a complex that gives you no more than 400mcg of folic acid. I know country life, twinlab, and natures way all make a 50mg b-complex that doesn't have a lot of folic acid. The twinlab formula also is a liquid. You should not be consuming more than 800mcg of folic acid for an extended period of time. If your multi gives you 400mcg of folic acid, look for a b-complex that has less than 400mcg or split the tablet in half.

Most of the recorded side affects of high amounts of b-complex vitamins are stomach irritation and numbness in hands or feet. High amounts would be consuming over 100mg of b-complex vitamins everyday. Unless you are a serious athlete under a doctors guidance or someone with special health needs, you don't need that much.

MSM, Glucosamine, Sulphur bearing amino acids

MSM
Msm is a Methylsulfonylmethane, which is an organic source of sulphur. Msm is present in many foods such as raw fruits, vegetables, milk, and some grain products. Msm is very fragile and processing and cooking depletes foods of their msm content. This is all the more reason to add it to your supplement regime. Msm is a water soluble mineral and any excess is flushed out your system every 12 hours. Amounts as high as 2000mg/kg have been administered for testing purposes without any signs of toxicity. Msm is sold in powder form either in loose form or enclosed in capsules. Msm is also used to help treat other ailments from joint stiffness to allergies. Msm also has a cleansing effect on your system. Some people experience headaches and skin breakouts when first beginning supplementation. One way to avoid this is to start off with a low dose and slowly build up to higher doses. Some people also experience vivid dreams when taking msm. You also need to consume enough water to make sure that you a fully hydrated. The water usually helps speed up the elimination of the toxins msm sweeps out. There are no known harmful long or short term effects of Msm supplementation.

The benefits as for as hair and skin are concerned from msm supplementation are softer skin and hair, improved texture of skin and hair, and improved growth. Since Msm adds sulfur to your body, alot of people notice a softer and smoother texture of hair. Many also experience increased growth and density. When deciding on how to incorporate Msm in your vitamin regime, you first need to consider the brand you want to use. There are many brands out there to choose from and you need to be selective and get the best quality. Optimsm and Lignusil msm are patented forms of msm that many have used with success. These types of msm are packaged under many different brand names. Most brands list which kind of msm they have used on the package. Distillpure is another popular brand that is derived from pine. You need to also consider your delivery method. Using the loose powder that comes in jar is the most popular way to use msm. You get better absorption this way and it is more economical. All you have to do with the powder is mix a little with water or your favorite juice. I recommend you mix it with something that has a little vitamin c because vitamin c helps absorption. When starting Msm supplementation, start at a low dose and slowly build up from there. This will give you time to learn how your body responds so you can adjust your water intake or vitamin c intake as you see fit. After you have gotten used to Msm, you can take as much as you can stand. Some ladies here take as little as 2000mg to 30,000mg with great results.

Glucosamine

We have all heard of glucosamine before in all the ads to help heal tired worn out and joints and such but who would have thought it benefits the hair. Well, glucosamine is also another nutrient that adds sulfur to our bodies. Glucosamine is made up of glucose and glutamine and it helps the body product glycosaminoglycans which aid in the development of bone, connective tissue, skin and hair. Glucosamine is usually derived from shellfish so if you allergic to shellfish, this is not for you. Glucosamine works very well in tandem with Msm. For glucosamine supplementation, start at 500mg twice a day.

Sulphur bearing amino acids

The major single amino acids that contribute to hair growth are L-Cysteine, L-Methionine, and Lysine.

L-Cysteine

This sulfur bearing amino acid makes up almost 8%-10% of each hair strand. L-Cysteine helps accelerate hair growth and increase overall diameter of each strand. L-Cysteine is also a known antioxidant. L-Cysteine supplementation also increases elasticity in the skin and added strength to the hair and nails. L-Cysteine also helps aid healing of skin wounds. When taking L-Cysteine as with any other single amino acid, it is important to rotate between single amino acids and amino acid complexes. The reason being is to again regulate your internal levels. Whenever one amino acid level is thrown out of whack for a long period of time, the amino acid starts to lose its therapeutic qualities. By rotating between singles and complexes, you assure that your internal levels stay balanced and that you get the best effect of the amino acids. This does not have to be complicated either. Just take your singles for a month or two and then take an amino acid complex or just up your protein intake for the next month or two. I usually just add a extra spoon or so of protein powder in my shakes when I am on a break from the single amino acids. L-Cysteine works very well as a supplement. Vitamin C also helps the absorption of single amino acids so take additional Vitamin C when experimenting with single aminos such as this one. Take single amino acids on an empty stomach with water or juice, no milk because it will compete with the supplement. You can start at 500mg a day and increase to as much as 2000mg a day. There has been evidence that excessive L-Cysteine could damage dna but everyoneâ€™s body reacts differently. Excessive is usually described as being 2500mg and over for a long period of time. Most healthy diets contribute 1000mg of L Cysteine daily.

NAC-cysteine is another form of the amino acid. It usually is more readily assembled in the body and does not require breaks like regular L-cysteine.

L-Methionine

The benefits of this amino acid are similar to the benefits of L-Cysteine. L-Methionine helps preserve the health of the hair root. It also has antioxidant properties and helps remove toxins from the liver. This amino acid is used when treating acetaminophen (Tylenol) poisoning which damages the liver. This amino acid might raise levels of homocysteine in the body which has been linked with coronary heart disease. This risk is with excessive supplementation which is why it is important to take moderate doses of single amino acids and take breaks. The dosage is the same for L-Cysteine. When taken properly L-Methionine contributes alot to the overall health of your hair. 500m twice a day is usually enough to see positive changes in your hair.

Lysine

Lysine is not considered a true sulfur bearing amino acid but it shows great benefit to the hair and scalp. Lysine helps support connective tissues especially when it comes to tissue repair. When Lysine and iron levels are low, the body switches the hair follicles off so that the rest of the body can absorb whatever is there. Lysine helps the effectiveness of drugs and herbs that prevent DHT buildup in the body which is a know reason of premature balding. Lysine therapy helps decrease hair loss in men and women. You can take between 1000 and 2000mg of Lysine

Don't forget to up your vitamin C intake when taking single amino acids. Your overall intake of Vitamin C should be two to three times the amount of your single amino acids.

For Texture and Moisture

For improvements in your overall texture and moisture look no further than Omega Fatty Acids 3-6-9. Think of these glorious oils as the WD-40 of the body. They help lubricate everything and make sure that the body works as smoothly.

Omega Fatty Acids

If you only take one supplement in your life, let this be it. The benefits of adding these wonderful fats into your diet are really too extensive for me to name all of them here. Omega Fatty Acids are also call essential fatty acids because your body can not make them on it own with the exception of a little Omega 9. To make a real long story short, they benefit your heart, joints, skin, and nervous system, and so on .A primary function of EFAs is the production of prostaglandins, which regulate body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood clotting, fertility, conception, and play a role in immune function by regulating inflammation and encouraging the body to fight infection. They even play a part in how our body copes with pain. The American diet and lifestyle has brought on a great imbalance of these fats in our bodies. Processed food and lots of other more unhealthy oils has left us with a severe imbalance of these oils. We suffer from Omega 3 deficiency the most. Essential Fatty Acids are also needed for proper growth in children, particularly for neural development and maturation of sensory systems, with male children having higher needs than females. Fetuses and breast-fed infants also require an adequate supply of EFAs through the mother's dietary intake. Essential fatty acids help the body make other compounds like DHA which has found to be vital to healthy brain health. Omega Fatty acids is the reason why evidence strongly suggests that breast feed babies are smarter and healthier. Breast milk is full of them. In fact, even with a healthy diet, you are never exposed to levels as high as when you were a baby if you were breast fed.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Linolenic Acid)

Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) is the principal Omega-3 fatty acid, which a healthy human will convert into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and later into docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omega-3 fatty acids help make up cell walls, making then supple and strong, improving circulation, and they help reinforce connective tissue.

Where do you get it?

Flaxseed oil contains the most Omega-3 of any other source. You can take flaxseed oil or even use the ground seeds and get additional fiber. You can also find Omega-3 in hempseed oil, brazilian nuts, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, some leafy greens (spinach, kale, mustard greens, collards etc..), salmon, sardines, purslane, soybean oil, wheat germ oil, tuna, and canola oil.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids (Linoleic Acid)

Linoleic Acid is the primary Omega-6 fatty acid. A healthy human with good nutrition will convert linoleic acid into gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which will later by synthesized, with EPA from the Omega-3 group, into eicosanoids. Omega-6 has been used to help protect the delicate nervous system of diabetics, skin disorders like eczema, and PMS. In general, we consume enough linoleic acid but other factors prevent us from converting it properly in out bodies. These factors include metabolic problems from diets high in sugar, alcohol, and trans-fats from processed foods. Smoking, pollution, viral infections, and stress also affect this process. When beginning supplementation it is best to reduce these factors to see the best improvement.

Where to get it?

Borage oil, Evening Primrose oil and Black Currant oil are all rich in Omega-6. Other sources include flaxseed oil, hempseed oil, grapeseed oil, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, olives and olive oil, sunflower seeds, chicken, chestnut oil, and pistachio nuts. Corn, soybean, cottonseed, and sunflower oil also contain Omega-6 but due to refining, most are left without much linoleic acid.

Omega-9 (Oleic Acid)

This is the only except to the "essential" rule. Our bodies do produce a little of this acid. You can find Omega-9 in olive oil, almonds, avocados, sesame oil, cashews, peanuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts. Most people don't need additional supplementation of this one. To be on the safe side, use olive oil in your cooking if you don't consume any of the nuts listed.

Taking an oil in the liquid form by the spoonful seems to be the most popular and effective way to increase your intake of Omega Fatty Acids. When taking the liquid oil, 1-2 Tablespoons is usually all that it take to see improvement in most adults. Flaxseed oil is the most popular choice for Omega-3 supplementation. I know you have also seen fish oil used as Omega-3 supplementation and you can use that as well. The best explanation of fish oil vs flaxseed oil I have found was posted on a website that provided general info about all Omega Fatty Acids. In his book, Dr. Rudin (see below) points out that most Omega-3 studies are based on fish oil. Rudin finds this disappointing, as he has had better results with flaxseed oil in his own studies. This may be because flaxseed oil starts with the plant form of linolenic acid, ALA (alpha linolenic acid), whereas fish oil contains the animal form, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). The body makes its own DHA and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) from ALA. Although some claim that the amount of DHA made is small, the body doesn't need much DHA. Most DHA is contained in cell membranes, and is held there with little replacement. In contrast, ALA and compounds made from it are also needed in the body for a number of essential functions. Fish oil cannot provide ALA, and therefore deprives the consumer of this critical compound. Some people feel that they need DHA or EPA as a supplement, and that's their personal choice. However, most sources covering the different types of oil indicate that plant-based Omega-3s, or ALA, is the better choice Omega-6 fatty acids are not usually sold separately in the liquid form. You can get these in liquid form usually only in an oil mix. However I do believe that Barleans makes a liquid borage oil supplement. Otherwise your best is softgels. When taking Omega-3 in softgel form, start at 1,000mg twice a day and move up from there. With Omega-6 in softgel form you can start at 500mg to 1,000mg twice a day. Most people take 1,000mg of borage oil, and evening primrose oil twice a day and 500mg of black currant seed oil twice a day. Start at these levels and move up as you see fit. Most people, especially when taking the liquid form see improvements in a month. If the taste of flaxseed oil bothers you try a flavored formula. The only way I can take it is by using lemon flavored oil. I usually chase it with ice tea and it tastes just like an Arnold palmer. Barleans and spectrum make flavored oils.

Strength and Shine

Silica
Other vitamins and oils listed previously contribute to the strength and shine of your hair but a major component in improving strength and shine in your hair is silica. This mineral is often forgotten but it extremely important never the less. Silica is the most prevalent element on earth behind oxygen in the crystalline form silicon (quartz). When found in plant form, it is called silica. Silica is essential in bones, tendons, skin, cartilage and blood vessels. Silica is even found in the blood itself, and in such critical organs as the liver, heart and lungs. Silica adds strength and flexibility which make it an important supplement for the hair, skin, and nails. Silica needs to constantly be replenished in our bodies because through natural elimination, we lose silica everyday. Silica used to be found mostly in our grains but due to all of the processing our grains go through, there is not nearly as much silica in our diets as there should be. High levels of silica and sulfur are the reason why horses have such lustrous and strong manes.

I have to admit that silica supplementation is very confusing and one of the hardest supplements to understand. These because silica supplements are formed from plant sources that contain a certain percentage of silica and out of that percentage, not all of it is usually absorbed by our bodies. Personal factors like metabolism and eating habits will determine how much of it your body is able to absorb. With all that being said, I know some of you are think why even bother. Reason you should still be interested is that when you find the formula and delivery method that is right for you, you can experience great benefits in helping you increase the strength and shine of your hair. Foods that are rich in silica are rice, oats, lettuce, parsnips, asparagus, onion, strawberries, cabbage, cucumber, leek, sunflower seeds, celery, rhubarb, cauliflower, and swiss chard.

Silica supplements fall into three major categories; horsetail, bamboo, and liquid and gel formulations. Most manufactures add other ingredients such as other vitamins to help absorption of the silica.

Horsetail

Horestail is an herb that contains silica. Do not confuse horsetail with being silica which is commonly done. The amount of silica in the herb varies with the quality of the horsetail. Some formulations are standardized so that you know exactly what percentage of silica you are dealing with. For example, if you are taking 100mg of horsetail that is standardized to contain 10% of silica, then you are getting 10 mg of silica. Some are unstandardized. With horsetail supplements the usual dose is 500mg of horsetail two-three times a day.

Bamboo

Bamboo is the richest source of natural silica. Bamboo makes a great alternative to horsetail. Bamboo stems are filled with a silica rich gel called tabashir. This gel is extracted and standardized for supplement use. Bamboo supplements are very potent and contain some of the largest percentages of silica. Bamboo supplements are usually packaged in 500mg capsules that are to be taken twice a day.

Liquid and Gel forms

Alot of companies produce gel or liquid forms of silica supplements. These products claim to be one of the best ways to take silica because of their absorption properties. They are usually mixed with juice or water. Alot of the formulas are prepared from quartz. Dosage varies from brand to brand. Some brands that make some popular liquid and gel formulas are Jarrow, Natures Way, Cellfood, Natures Works, and Natures Answer. Eidon also makes a liquid formula that is supposed to be fabulous. (Thanks VWVixxen)

With silica supplements some have found it beneficial to rotate brands and formulations to obtain the best effect. Silica also seems to work well in conjunction with sulfur rich supplements, especially MSM.

Other things to consider

Just because a supplement isn't usually consider to be a hair and nails supplement doesn't mean that they don't provide benefits to you hair. There are many antioxidants and circulatory stimulants that provide a boost to your hair growing conditions.

Beet Juice Tablets

Beet juice is naturally high in sulphur and iron. When taken as a supplement, beet juice helps thicken the hair and sometimes helps increase growth. Sonnes, Freeda, and Solaray make beet juice supplements. It usually takes 2-4 tablets a day to reap the benefits.

Grapeseed Extract and CoEnzyme Q10

Grapeseed Extract is a popular antioxidant that also increases circulation. This increase in circulation helps promote better growing conditions. Grapeseed extract has also shown effectiveness in preventing DHT build up in the body. CoEnzyme Q10 also increases circulation. By increasing your circulation, you help maintain an even flow of nutrients to the scalp therefore creating the best growing conditions possible. Kashi makes a cereal that has Grapeseed extract mixed right into it. You can find the cereal at Wal-Mart; it is called Heart to Heart.

Zinc

Zinc is an important mineral that supports the immune system. Make sure you consume adequate zinc. You should aim to consume between 15-30mg of zinc. Too little or too much zinc can cause hair loss. Zinc also helps prevent DHT in the body. DHT can lead to premature hair loss. Zinc also helps maintain the oil producing glands on the scalp and adequate zinc intake can help decrease dandruff and dry scalp conditions. Do not consume more than 40 mg of supplemental zinc. A little goes a long way in this case.

Iodine

Iodine is vital to growing healthy hair. Sheep farmers long ago discovered that vegetation void of iodine due to iodine-depleted soil will adversely affect the growth of wool in sheep. Iodine is synthetically added to table salt, however in this form it is not assimilated well into the body and can therefore cause iodine overload. An excess of iodine in the body can adversely affect the thyroid. It is best to use non-iodized salt and retrieve your iodine from natural food sources. These include seaweed, salmon, seafood, lima beans, molasses, eggs, potatoes with the skin on, watercress and garlic.

Spirulina and other greenfoods

Spirulina contains all sorts of helpful vitamins and minerals from beta carotene, to protein, to iron. Spirulina also contains GLA, an omega fatty acid. Spirulina is also rich in phytochemicals that help enhance the effects of vitamins and minerals. Alot people add spirulina into their daily diet through pill supplements or in powdered form added to drinks and shakes. Other green foods to consider adding to your diet are barley and wheatgrass. Remember, spirulina contains high levels of iron so keep that in mind if you take it.

Fo-ti Root

This herb is sold in capsule form and liquid form to be mixed with drinks. Fo-ti root is used to help extend the growth cycle of your hair allowing more growth before the hair sheds. I have not used Fo-ti root before but it is a recommended supplement from Robin; the lady who developed the crown and glory method.

When it comes to hair specific nutrition there are certain powerhouse foods. These foods are also great additions to your diet for overall health. Here are some ideas that I have implemented in my own diet that have brought me improvements in my hair and overall health

Whole grains

Whole grain bread and pasta is high in fiber, protein and b vitamins. Many products also have a little iron in them. Oatmeal is easy to make and will leave you feeling full until lunch. Pastas like Barilla plus are made with ground flaxseeds and whole grain flour which adds a healthy amount of protein and omega fatty acids. When shopping for these products, look at the labels. Companies use the words "whole wheat" really liberally. Pick the products with the highest amount of fiber. Also try incorporate grains like spelt, barley, buckwheat and quinoa into your diet. Barley is high in niacin which belongs to the b-vitamin family. Buckwheat is one the most nutritious grains available. Quinoa is high in protein as well. If you are new to these grains, go your local health food store and sample foods that they have made with these grains. You can try different kinds of breads, salads, and soups that use these. I personally love using spelt to make great oatmeal cookies. By sampling items, you can get a feel of what flavors you like with out committing to buying a whole box of something that you might not like. Quinoa is really good as a side like rice pilaf or couscous. You can also buy little packets of ground flaxseeds that you can sprinkle on top of hot cereals and salads.

Salmon, Tuna and Shrimp

Salmon is a fatty fish that when eaten 2-3 times a week makes a nice omega fatty acid contribution. Tuna (without full fat mayo) also helps add omega fatty acids. Both are high in protein as well, and are not high in calories. Be sure that you make your own tuna salad. Many deli varieties have more calories and fat than a hamburger of equivalent size. Try a scoop of tuna on a whole grain English muffin, topped with a little shredded mozzarella cheese and toasted for 10 minutes. Add red onions and bell pepper to your tuna and up your veggie intake. Shrimp are a perfect source of low calorie protein that is high in iodine.

Nuts

Nuts like walnuts, almonds, peanuts, Brazilian nuts are perfect hair foods. They have high amounts of fiber, vitamin E, zinc, and copper. Nuts, especially walnuts have high amounts of omega fatty acids. Nuts are high in fat but the fat in nuts is great for your heart and they absorb very differently in the body. A handful of nuts once a day makes a great snack. Almonds are high in fiber and help suppress the appetite so if you are trying to watch your weight and your hair, try those. Peanuts are high in copper which helps preserve hair pigment.

Eggs

Eggs are known as the perfect food and for good reason. Eggs have a high amount of protein, low calories, and can be made in a variety of ways. Scrambled, poached, sunny side up, doesn't matter. The protein in eggs is easily assembled by your body and is high in sulfur bearing amino acids like L-cysteine. Now I know people have a fear of eggs because they do contain high amounts of dietary cholesterol but it is known now that most blood cholesterol is made by the body from dietary fat not dietary cholesterol. For a healthy person 1-2 eggs a day shouldn't cause any major impacts in cholesterol levels. If you still have cholesterol concerns, alternate regular eggs with egg beaters. You can also buy eggs that have higher amounts of omega fatty acids.

Olive oil

I know most of us have already discovered the benefits of olive oil. At any given moment I am sure that one of us is preparing for a pre-poo with it or mixing it into a conditioner. Using olive oil in your cooking is another way to gain hair and skin benefits. Olive oil contains squalene and omega-9- fatty acids which help the hair and skin retain more moisture. Olive oil helps boost the immune system and lower cholesterol. It also helps fight heart disease and high blood pressure. Olive oil also helps your body burn more fat.

Onions, Garlic and the like

Onions, garlic and shallots are members of the Allium family. The members of this family have one distinctive characteristic; their pungent smell. This smell comes from the high levels of sulfur they contain. While the intensity of the smell can range from pretty mild with leeks and shallots to really intense with onions and garlic, they all contain valuable phyto-chemicals that are helpful in treating all kinds of conditions from heart problems to itchy, problem skin. Onions and garlic are not expensive and are easy to use in a variety of ways. Eating onions with your sandwiches, especially if you are using packaged sandwich meat, will help you absorb less of the nitrates they use in meats today. Many holistic remedies for hair loss involve using raw onion and garlic on the scalp to reduce shedding and strengthen hair follicles.

Spinach

This humble green is a powerhouse food in all aspects. Spinach can be eaten raw or cooked and can be mixed in just about anything. Spinach is rich in calcium, iron, b-vitamins, beta carotene and even omega fatty acids. Spinach is great for hair growth because it provide a vegetarian source of iron and calcium which most women lack. Low levels of these minerals can slow hair growth. Spinach releases more nutrients when lightly cooked so try just sauteing it lightly with olive oil and garlic.

Here are a couple of my favorite hair and skin healthy things to eat. These meals give you more bang for your buck when it comes to nutritional value. I love to cook but I don't have the time to do it up all the time. I like things that are easy to make and can be made in limited space. Many of these things I would still be able to cook in my little dorm room with only a george forman grill, a griddle and a toaster oven.

Pumpkin Spice oatmeal: If you like warm creamy breakfast foods with an autumnal taste then you will like this. Make a cup of oatmeal like you usually do. I recommend that you use real oatmeal, not the instant stuff. After you oatmeal is cooked ( I make mine with a little milk and just a dash of half and half) mix in ½ a cup of canned pumpkin. Add a couple of dashes of pumpkin pie spice and honey to sweeten. This is extremely filling and tastes great. The oatmeal gives you iron, fiber and b-vitamins. The canned pumpkin gives you beta carotene, more fiber, and adds to you daily fruit and veggie count. To add to my protein intake, I brush just a touch of real maple syrup on two slices of turkey bacon and scramble 2 egg whites. If you don't like pumpkin, try sauteing apple slices until they are soft, add a sprinkle of cinnamon, which can help stave off the effects of excess sugar consumption, and topping your oatmeal with that. I would often make this in a crock pot and share it with my suite mates when I stayed on campus.

Oven Fried Chicken

Mix ½ cup of parmesan cheese, ½ cup of wheat germ, ½ tsp of rosemary leave, onion powder, garlic salt, thyme and a couple of shakes of black pepper. Pour ¾ cup of buttermilk in a bowl. Dip 8 skinless chicken thighs in the buttermilk and roll in the wheat germ mixture. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes. You can also use skinless chicken fingers to cut cooking time. The dark meat thighs are high in iron, protein and b-vitamins. Since they are skinless, you save a lot of fat. Each thigh is around 80 calories and has 3 grams of fat with 9 grams of protein. The wheat germ mix adds around 2 grams of fiber. I got this recipe out of a health magazine. I switch up the seasonings from time to time.

Tamari Salmon

Mix ¼ cup of tamari-soy sauce, 2 big spoonfuls of honey, ¼ cup of ginger-garlic paste, and a couple of shakes of pepper in a bowl. Brush the mix over the top of 4 salmon fillets (6 ounces a piece). Let stand for 10 minutes. Heat a nonstick pan or griddle to medium-high heat. Cook 4 minutes on each side and serve with brown rice. If you don't need to cook 4 a time, buy the salmon fillets that are shrink wrapped separately and frozen. They usually come 8-10 in a bag. Each piece of salmon gives you omega fatty acids, 35 grams of protein and just 285 calories.

Stovetop leek and mushroom stuffed chicken

Using a small knife, cut a pocket into 2 skinless chicken breast. Don't cut all the way through the chicken but be sure to make your pocket as big as possible. Season the chicken with garlic powder, thyme, pepper, and oregano. Sit aside. In a nonstick skillet, heat about 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add in 12 sliced shitake mushrooms and 1 thinly sliced 4-5 inch section of leek. Make sure you rinse the leek well, sand and grit can hide within the stalk. Cook, stirring constantly until tender. Remove from heat and sprinkle with thyme and salt and pepper. Fill your chicken pockets with the filling being careful not to overfill. Using the same skillet, heat up a little more olive oil and brown the chicken on both sides over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and cover. Cook the chicken for another 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. I use a griddle when I am pressed for space to make this one. Its smells great when cooking. This dish will give you 35 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving.

Diet

I thought I should put in a separate section to discuss ways to improve your diet because I find that many people believe that taking vitamins will make up for a poor diet. If only it was that easy. Taking vitamins with a poor diet is better than nothing but there is no substitute for eating well. For many people, simply changing what they eat for half of the day will make great improvements in their hair and health.

The most important thing when evaluating your diet is to be honest with yourself. Many people think that just because they had a salad for lunch then their work is done. What did you put on that salad? If you covered it with cheese, bacon bits, and half a bottle of creamy ranch or blue cheese dressing then think again. The fruit in a muffin doesn't count either.

How do we know what a balanced diet consists of?

Balanced means 5-8 servings of fruit and vegetables everyday, whole grain products, lean meats, nuts, and calcium rich foods. You should be eating a wide array of fruits and vegetables. One easy way to track this is by tracking the colors. Aim for at least one rainbow every day. For example, saute red bell pepper strips with a little chopped onion and add it to an omelet for breakfast. For lunch add a green salad and top it with sliced grapes, mandarin oranges, and sliced red onion. For dinner you can add a side of baked white or sweet potato and broccoli or spinach with a little roasted garlic. By eating as many colors as possible you insure that you are getting many different vitamins and nutrients. You can also puree vegetables like spinach and carrots to add to spaghetti sauce. Your meats should be of the best quality you can afford. Buy the ground beef that's 90-93% lean. Leave that 73% lean meat at the store. Take the skin off the chicken, whether it is dark or white meat. Avoid eating a lot of deep fried food and meat with tons of sauces on a regular basis. If you have that smothered chicken recipe that is just to die for, try cutting the fat and switching the type of oils you use. Take the skin off and add more herbs to add flavor without increasing sodium levels. You can still have things you like, just look for the healthiest way to make it.

Eating well does not have to be difficult. We have all picked up on bad habits through convenience foods and overly processed items we buy at the store because they are so easy but in all honestly, those meals are no easier than making something yourself. The whole cooking takes up too much time is the idea is something that food companies have ingrained in our brains to make us more dependent on them.

I know that there are those times where you are really tired, the kids are getting on your nerves and the dh won't help. Even if you resort to fast food, there are ways to still have your cake and eat it too.

At the fast food restaurant

Go online to your favorite fast food spots. Look at the dietary information and print out the information to the healthiest ones. Make an index card for each place and write down the best options at each one. Keep these in your car. I keep mine in my glove compartment.

Change the sides- If you love that spicy breaded chicken sandwich then eat the side salad, cup or fruit or apple slices. If you really must have the fries, order the smallest size they offer and only eat half. I love fries so sometimes I eat the medium fry and have a side salad.

Go easy on the soda. An average cup of soda from a fast food place can easily have as many calories as the rest of the meal. Sweet tea can also add the calories, get half sweet and half unsweeten instead.

At home

Keep some of your family favorites in the freezer. When you do have time to cook, cook an extra casserole and freeze for the times when you don;t have time.

Buy a baked chicken and serve it with a tossed bagged salad and store bought wheat rolls for an easy meal.

Cook up the stuffing for stuffed peppers and keep it in a bag in the freezer. All you have to do is pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes to soften it up, scoop it into bell peppers and bake for 20-30minutes.

Look into the 30 minute meal books. You can also print the recipes off for free online.

Most of us work in offices and the office place is another healthy diet trap. The candy they pass out, sweets in the break room, (or your desk if you are like me) and the snack and soda machines are recipes for disaster. You usually snack at work out of boredom. To stay on the right track there are a couple of strategies you can implement.

Keep fruit at your desk. A piece of fruit will normally smooth a sugar craving. Keep one of your favorites at your desk. Don't tell me that that is not convenient either. Most gas stations sell fruit now.

Keep low calorie candy with you. Small pieces of hard candy are usually low in calories and last longer. Many now come in sugar free versions that are just as tasty.

Eat breakfast. If you arrive at work hungry, you are just going to be searching for anything to eat. That is when you reach for the bear claw and Krispy cream. Resisting these kinds of things are easier when you are full. Foods high in refined sugar give you a temporary pick up and you will crash hard before lunch which will leave you going back to the snack machine for a bag of chips.

Pay attention on your way to work. Look for the food stops on your work path. If there is a Mcdonalds on the way, know what you healthy breakfast options are. If there is a gas station that has the microwave and such, see if they sell oatmeal packets. If there are little mom and pop cafes or small little restaurants, get a menu and see if they do pick up orders.

If you don't have time to always get lunch you can try a meal replacement bar. Look for ones with at least 5 grams of protein and no more than 400 calories. Snack bars should be under 200 calories.

Oh Natural Part 2

2011-11-15T19:26:00.005-05:00

So, I really want to go natural again. I have a little hesitation, but at the same time, I keep playing with my hair and the coils that I have, and I want to enjoy them. At the same time, I am not sure that I just want to cut all my hair off and leave myself with only 3 inches of hair.

I guess I am trying to say, that I want to go back to my natural hair, but I don't want to deal with only 3 inches of hair, however I have done so before. I know that I can style 3 inches of hair, but I will not have a whole lot of styling choices, and I do love to style my hair in various ways.

I admit that I chopped off two very small pieces of hair to see my natural curl pattern again, so I will put up the pics. Just spewing out some thoughts, no decisions have been made, as a matter of fact, relaxing seems just as good of an idea.

What are your thoughts?

Style #43: Pixie Braids

2011-11-11T13:23:00.000-05:00

Hair Plans

2011-11-11T12:31:00.002-05:00

I currently have braids in my hair, and I am pretty sure that they will take me to 26 weeks post, which will equal six months. Unfortunately, I will not be near my stylist for another 3 weeks after that, so I will put my hair back in pixie braids and wear them until I go home again.

I am actually almost sure that I will spend the next year protective styling by using the crown and glory method. I want to take a break from manipulating my hair, and I just want to be surprised by my growth instead of watching it grow. I did the crown and glory method at the beginning of my hair journey, so I know that I can be successful doing it.

I install my own individual braids or senegalese twists, so I do not have to worry about being near a stylist. If I go this route, I think I will wait to relax until the end of next year so that my hair is strong during these months. I do not want breakage, plus Senegalese twists will look better with some new growth to keep them in place and relaxed hair to blend with the braid hair.

In the mean time, I will continue to follow this pixie braid regimen by washing my hair and braiding. I want to enjoy low manipulation for awhile for optimal length retention.

Stretch With Me: F.A.Q.

2011-11-03T01:19:00.002-04:00

Stretch With Me: Co-Washing

2011-10-21T11:37:00.000-04:00

Sprial Set-Out

2011-10-17T10:30:00.002-04:00

As promised!

Style #42: Spiral Set

2011-10-16T23:55:00.001-04:00

O' Natural

2011-10-12T11:09:00.004-04:00

I always get an itch to go natural around a stretch. I am getting tired of relaxing and I am getting better at getting my new growth straight, but I do not know if I want to have natural hair again. I cannot have hair that is too big, because I do play in orchestra's where people have to see around my hair, so I would have to wear my hair in non-out big styles most of the time. I sure as hell will not big chop, I would "transition" until I just didn't feel the need anymore, but like I said, I get this itch during every stretch, and so far I have kept relaxing.

I don't know, just sharing a thought.

Stretch With Me: Blow Dry & Flat Iron

2011-10-03T20:10:00.001-04:00

Pics

2011-10-01T21:35:00.005-04:00

I did a post about preventing breakage, and I promised pics. Well here is a blow dry pic, and a couple after flat iron pics:

I will post the video of the process and pics of the finished after wrapped result tomorrow.

Stretch With Me: Preventing Breakage

2011-10-01T17:36:00.002-04:00

My Sister's Hair Progress September 2011

2011-09-28T10:20:00.014-04:00

You may remember my sister's May 2011 progress pics. I featured her in a post I did about uneven hair growth.

Well, its 17 weeks later, and her progress is great. Here is a reminder of her hair 17 weeks ago:

As you can see her hair was barely past shoulder length. Yesterday she went and had a touch-up, and all I can say is success!

The sides have evened up in thickness, and in January I expect to see even more length from her. She kept with the same regimen this last stretch, with the addition of more exercise and 1 and a 1/2 months of the GNC hair vitmains. She plans to continue the same regimen and products until her next touch up in January.

Her Regimen
1. Pre-poo with a cheapie conditioner (usually by Suave)
2. Shampoo (Keracare or Joico)
3. Deep Conditioner (Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose)
4. Apply leave-in (Taliah Waajid Concoction)
5. Seal with Oil (Hollywood Beauty Castor Oil)

On a daily basis, twice-a-day she:
1. Apply leave-in mixture (Taliah Waajid Concoction)
2. Apply Moisturizer (Wave Nouveau)
3. Seal (Grapeseed Oil)

Hairstyles:
4. Wore a pinned bun most of the time (sometimes elastic bands were used but those almost always took some of her hair out)
5. Wore a braidout for two weeks

Once a month she used:
1. Protein treatment with Joico reconstructor
2. Clarified with Suave
3. Rinse with Roux Porosity Control

Stretch With Me: Updated Regimen and Products

2011-09-18T15:27:00.002-04:00

Hair Spotlight: Pink Pearls

2011-09-17T10:26:00.002-04:00

What made you decide to begin your hair journey?
My hair journey began when my husband’s employer relocated us overseas and I couldn’t find a stylist in the area.

Are you relaxed, texlaxed, transitioning, or natural?
I’ve been relaxing for years. In 2010, I transitioned for 9 months and then decided to relax.

What is your regimen and what products do you use in your regimen?

My Weekly Regimen

Pre-Poo overnight with coconut oil

Shampoo: Kerastase Dermo-Calm (in winter), and Kerastase Bain Satin 3 (in Summer)

Deep Condition: Kerastase Oleo-Relax Slim Masque and Kerastase Masquintense for thick hair

Leave-in: Kerastase Oleo Relax Slim and Kerastase Nectar Thermique (for heat styling) and Oleo Relax Serum (for frizz)

Air dry

Style: Flat iron (Chi Silk Infusion and Redken Smooth Down heat protection), Braid Out, or Bantu Knot Out

Moisturize: Straight Styles -- Coconut Oil

Braid Outs, Bantu Knot Outs -- Kerastase Sublimateur Jour or Kerastase Serum Nuit for thick hair (at night) with a little coconut oil

Trim when needed (usually every 4 - 6 months)

Relax: 4 - 6 months with Affirm Sensitive Scalp

How have you styled your hair throughout your journey thus far?
I usually alternate flat ironing with braid outs, bantu knot outs, or air dry and then roller set on satin covered rollers.

Who is/are your hair inspiration(s)?
Sunshyne, from Hairlicious, inspired me to learn how to air dry successfully.

What is/are your hair goal(s) and how do you plan to achieve them?
My goal is to continue my journey of taking good care of my hair.

Do you have a hair album, blog, or youtube channel?
I have an outdated fotki, but you can find me on Hairlista.

What hair appliance, tool, or product could you never live without?
My Cloud Nine Flat Iron. It allows me to flat iron on low heat, leaving my hair soft and shiny.

My hair is beautiful because I treat it with extra special kindness.

Style #41: Reverse French Braid w/Bun

2011-09-14T10:53:00.002-04:00

Stretch With Me: Moisturize and Seal

2011-09-14T10:49:00.002-04:00

Chicoro Giveaway Winners!

2011-09-06T23:24:00.001-04:00

Stretch With Me Week 15: Air Drying

2011-09-05T13:38:00.001-04:00

I am TRULY Oil Obsessed

2011-09-04T00:44:00.001-04:00

Not pictured: Wheat Germ Oil and Grapeseed Oil. Pictured: Avocado Oil, Castor Oil, Hemp Oil, Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Vatika Oil. That is 8 oils in total!!!!

If you can't tell, I have a lot of oil. I am using them up slowly, but surely. I use oils to seal, in conditioners, cooking and to seal lotion in after showing. I use oils for everything!!!!

I haven't bought an oil in at least 3 months and I probably will not have to buy any oils for AT LEAST another six months, maybe even a year.

Of all these oils, I will re-purchase Hemp Seed, Wheat Germ, Castor and Coconut Oils. I have found that those four oils make my hair the happiest, satisfy my PJ need to have more than one oil, and can be used in my hair and on my skin. Gathering all of my oils together made me realize that I need to stop buying oils for awhile. Regardless, I LOVE oils!!!!!!!

Chicoro: Hair Products 101 Review and Giveaway

2011-08-30T23:27:00.007-04:00

Style #40: Flexi-Rod Set

2011-08-30T21:27:00.001-04:00

Maintenance:
Night: Moisturize, pin-curl
Morning: Re-Style
Gym: Pin-curl and cover with scarf. Once sweat dries, you can re-style

Stretch With Me: Detangling

2011-08-23T00:16:00.004-04:00

This video shows me detangling my hair on wash day, as well as the various sections I keep my hair in to prevent tangles. I just wanted to add that you should not put your hair in braids while it is wet, this will cause tangles (I put my hair in twists and clip my hair up in duckbill clips). As you can see in this video, my dry hair does not really get very tangled, but the wet hair could easily tangle. Always apply some kind of product before detangling wet hair and use seamless combs.

Hope this Helps!!!

Stretch With Me Series

2011-08-23T00:05:00.006-04:00

I am starting a stretch with me video/blog series. The first video illustrates my detangling process. It shows me detangling and how washing my hair in sections allows me to detangle with ease. This series begins with me at 13 weeks post, so I have at least 13 weeks left in my stretch. This series will include:

Detangling
Air Drying
Moisturizing
Preventing Breakage
Relaxer Preparation
Updated Regimen and Products
Blending New Growth
Co-Washing
Exercise Hair
Styling
Extra Options, Q&A

I will also do periodical stretching update video's that just detail any changes and challenges that present themselves during the stretch. The styling series will continue during this stretch, so you will also be able to see how I style my hair for this remaining 13 weeks. Feel free to make any suggestions for things you want to see now and during the series. I hope this helps someone stretch even a little more!

Style #39: Pin Curl Bun

2011-08-21T11:33:00.002-04:00

Maintenance
Night: Take down, moisturize, seal
Morning: Re-style
Gym: Friendly

It took awhile, but my hair is back

2011-08-20T15:38:00.002-04:00

It took almost all of 2010 to get my hair back to an even full state. I did not chop my hair off all of the way, but I did cut it back to shoulder length while the hair that completely broke off, grew back.

December 2009

May 2011

I am growing my hair to long lengths again, stretching for 6 months at a time, and I am so happy to see the difference in my hair. I can truly appreciate what it is to have long thick hair, and I will always speak up and never again let my hair be so mistreated.

Things that are just too much for my life right now

2011-08-19T14:44:00.005-04:00

by Missmusic

1. Making Hair products
I used to make butter, gels, juices and berries, and potions and lotions, but I just can't. I mean... that is just a lot right now, I don't have time or energy for all of that.

2. Co-washing (I can't)
I can't be washing my hair mid-week, I am BUSY! I don't want to buy another product and I don't wanna spend the time detangling and waiting for my hair to dry. I just can't-point.blank.period.

3. Braiding my hair
I used to braid my hair (growafrohairlong.com), but it's just too much work. I have to put the braids in, and then I have to take them out. That's just too much.

4. Henna/Ayurveda……..
See number 1

5. Anything that requires over an hour to prepare or apply. That is truly doing the most; there was a time when I did everything, but as I get up in my hair age I realize that it is all just too much! Pencil me in for............never.

6. Editing my posts.
I know, I read my posts and ask, "did I write that"? I mean, I am in grad school, I do scholarly writing all the time, but I just look at it and say "oh well," and keep it movin'. I know I should do better, but I just don't feel like it.

Simply put, I am just hair lazy right now, and I'm ok with that. There are times when I realize that I just need to get over it and stop.…….and I'm ok with that.

And on that note, I am going to go watch my Netflix now.

Please and thank you!

Chicoro: Hair Products 101

2011-08-18T18:58:00.005-04:00

Review and Giveaway coming Soon!!!

Sponsored by Chicoro

Hair Spotlight: Prospurr4

2011-08-15T14:13:00.002-04:00

1. What made you decide to begin your hair journey?
After stumbling onto LHCF, I realized that I was not destined to have short (neck length), dry, damaged hair.

2. Are you relaxed, texlaxed, transitioning, or natural?
Texlaxed

3. What is your regimen and what products do you use in your regimen?
I try to keep my regimen as simple as possible and use products that can be easily found locally. Basically, I cowash once a week (with VO5 or Suave conditioners) and use diluted shampoo (Motions Lavish) on those weeks that I feel buildup on my hair. I touchup my texlax (with Revlon Realistic Lye in regular strength) every 7-9 weeks and deep condition (with Motions Moisture Plus) at that time. I don't go to salons; I do everything myself.

4. How have you styled your hair throughout your journey thus far?
I use rollersets or twists to "straighten" my hair; I never use direct heat appliances such as flat irons, blowdryers or curling irons. My hair is usually styled is some type of curly, textured or updo style.

5. Who is/are your hair inspiration(s)?
My greatest inspiration was Isis. She was a member of LHCF who was texlaxed with a similar hair type as mine.

6. What is/are your hair goal(s) and how do you plan to achieve them?
I am closing in on my final hair goal, which is U-shaped WL by December 2011. My regimen is the same as stated in question no. 3 above.

7. Do you have a hair album, blog, or youtube channel?
Well, I do have a fotki hair album that, unfortunately, has not be updated in a while. I don't have a blog or youtube channel.

8. What hair appliance, tool, or product could you never live without?
I absolutely must have my soft bonnet hair dryer. Other things that I use are optional/replaceable.

My hair is beautiful because it's long, healthy and so versatile.

Her bun is huge!!!

Style #38: Banana Clip Side Bun

2011-08-13T13:30:00.003-04:00

Maintenance
Night: Take down, moisturize seal, bonnet
Morning: Re-Style
Gym: Friendly!!!

Hair Science: The Causes of Hair Loss

2011-08-10T12:01:00.003-04:00

Hair loss can occur from the misuse of heat, but it is usually an internal issue. Baldness can occur from heredity, medication, and underlying medical problems. In medicine, hair loss is called alopecia, permanent hair loss (pattern baldness) and temporary baldness (alopecia areata), often show this hair loss on various parts of the body. There are various categories within the two large categories of balding:

Permanent hair loss

Male-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). For men, pattern baldness can begin early, even in the teens or early 20s. It's typically characterized by a receding hairline at the temples and balding at the top of the head. The end result may be partial or complete baldness.
Female-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). Women with permanent hair loss usually have hair loss limited to thinning at the front, sides or crown. Women usually maintain their front hairline and rarely experience complete baldness.
Cicatricial (scarring) alopecia. This rare condition occurs when inflammation damages and scars hair follicles, causing permanent hair loss. Sometimes the patchy hair loss is associated with itching or pain.

Temporary hair loss

Alopecia areata. Hair loss usually occurs in small, round, smooth patches about the size of a quarter. Usually the disease doesn't extend beyond a few bare patches on the scalp, but it can cause patchy hair loss on any area that has hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes and beard. In rare cases, it can progress to cause hair loss over the entire body. If the hair loss includes your entire scalp, the condition is called alopecia totalis. If it involves your whole body, it's called alopecia universalis. Soreness and itching may precede the hair loss, but symptoms are often minimal.
Telogen effluvium. This type of temporary hair loss occurs suddenly, most often after a significant illness or major life stress. Handfuls of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or may fall out after gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning and not bald patches.
Traction alopecia. Bald patches can occur if you regularly wear certain hairstyles, such as pigtails, braids or cornrows, or if you use tight rollers. Hair loss typically occurs between the rows or at the part where hair is pulled tightly.
Anagen effluvium. In this type of hair loss, actively growing hairs in the anagen state are affected most often by chemotherapeutic drugs given to fight cancer or lymphoma. Hair loss starts soon after beginning therapy and is more extensive than in the telogen effluvium state. In the weeks after the therapy has been completed, the hair cycles re-establish themselves, although the hair may not return as thickly as before chemotherapy.

The course of each cycle varies by individual. But in general, the growth phase of scalp hair, known as anagen, typically lasts two to three years. During this time, your hair grows just less than 1/2 inch (1 centimeter) a month. The resting phase is called telogen. This phase typically lasts three to four months. At the end of the resting phase, the hair strand falls out and a new one begins to grow in its place. Once a hair is shed, the growth stage begins again. Gradual thinning is a normal part of aging. However, hair loss may lead to baldness when the rate of shedding exceeds the rate of regrowth, when new hair is thinner than the hair shed or when hair comes out in patches.

Causes of specific types of hair loss

Pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). In male- and female-pattern baldness, the time of growth shortens, and the hairs are not as thick or sturdy. With each growth cycle, the hairs become rooted more superficially and more easily fall out. Heredity likely plays a key role. A history of androgenetic alopecia on either side of your family increases your risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the developmental speed, pattern and extent of your baldness.
Cicatricial (scarring) alopecia. This type of permanent hair loss occurs when inflammation damages and scars the hair follicle. This prevents new hair from growing. This condition can be seen in several skin conditions, including lupus erythematosus or lichen planus. It's not known what triggers or causes this inflammation.
Alopecia areata. This is classified as an autoimmune disease, but the cause is unknown. People who develop alopecia areata are generally in good health. A few people may have other autoimmune disorders, including thyroid disease. Some scientists believe that some people are genetically predisposed to develop alopecia areata and that a trigger, such as a virus or something else in the environment, sets off the condition. A family history of alopecia areata makes you more likely to develop it. With alopecia areata, your hair generally grows back, but you may lose and regrow your hair a number of times.
Telogen effluvium. This type of hair loss is usually due to a change in your normal hair cycle. It may occur when some type of shock to your system — emotional or physical — causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state. The affected growing hairs from these hair roots fall out. In a month or two, the hair follicles become active again and new hair starts to grow. Telogen effluvium may follow emotional distress, such as a death in the family or a physiological stress, such as a high fever, sudden or excessive weight loss, extreme diets, nutritional deficiencies, surgery, or metabolic disturbances. Hair typically grows back once the condition that caused it corrects itself, but it usually take months.
Traction alopecia. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair too tightly cause traction alopecia. If the pulling is stopped before there's scarring of your scalp and permanent damage to the root, hair usually grows back normally.

Other causes of hair loss

Poor nutrition. Having inadequate protein or iron in your diet or poor nourishment in other ways can cause you to experience hair loss. Fad diets, crash diets and certain illnesses, such as eating disorders, can cause poor nutrition.
Medications. Certain drugs used to treat gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems and high blood pressure may cause hair loss in some people. Taking birth control pills also may result in hair loss for some women.
Disease. Diabetes and lupus can cause hair loss.
Medical treatments. Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy may cause you to develop alopecia. Under these conditions, healthy, growing (anagen) hairs can be affected. After your treatment ends, your hair typically begins to regrow.
Hormonal changes. Hormonal changes and imbalances can cause temporary hair loss. This could be due to pregnancy, childbirth, discontinuation of birth control pills, the onset of menopause, or an overactive or underactive thyroid gland. The hair loss may be delayed by three months following a hormonal change, and it'll take another three months for new hair to grow back. During pregnancy, it's normal to have thicker, more luxuriant hair. It's also common to lose more hair than normal about three months after delivery. If a hormonal imbalance is associated with an overproduction of testosterone, there may be a thinning of hair over the crown of the scalp. Correcting hormonal imbalances may stop hair loss.
Hair treatments. Chemicals used for dying, tinting, bleaching, straightening or permanent waves can cause hair to become damaged and break off if they are overused or used incorrectly. Overstyling and excessive brushing also can cause hair to fall out if the hair shaft becomes damaged.
Scalp infection. Infections, such as ringworm, can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally grows back. Ringworm, a fungal infection, can usually be treated with a topical or oral antifungal medication.
Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder). Trichotillomania is a type of mental illness in which people have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair, whether it's from the scalp, their eyebrows or other areas of the body. Hair pulling from the scalp often leaves them with patchy bald spots on the head, which they may go to great lengths to disguise. Causes of trichotillomania are still being researched, and no specific cause has yet been found.

The following tips can help keep your hair healthy and may minimize the appearance of hair loss:

Eat a nutritionally balanced diet.
Handle your hair gently. Whenever possible, allow your hair to air-dry naturally.
Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns or ponytails.
Avoid compulsively twisting, rubbing or pulling your hair.
Check with hair care experts about hairpieces or styling techniques that help minimize the effects of balding.
The over-the-counter (nonprescription) medication minoxidil (Rogaine) promotes new hair growth and prevents further hair loss in a small percentage of people. Other over-the-counter hair growth products have no proven benefit.

If your hair is not thining or balding, then do not worry about your daily shed hairs. Since most people normally shed 50 to 100 hairs a day, losing hair is nothing to worry about. If your hair is thinning or balding, go see a doctor to be sure this hair loss is not a symptom of something more internally.

Source: The Mayo Clinic

Exercise and Hair Growth Stimulation

2011-08-01T21:37:00.003-04:00

For the record, nothing can make your hair suddenly spurt. However, there are ways to create the best environment for your hair to grow at a steady somewhat accelerated rate. One of the external ways to do this is cardiovascular exercise. Cardiovascular exercise gets the heart beat going, thus tthe body experiences an increase in blood flow, including your scalp. Add this increase in blood flow to the right vitamins, and you will see a steady increase in growth. This happense over time, since your hair takes awhile to spurt from the scalp, this is not a fast way to see increased growth. However, over time exercise along with eating a good balance of vitamins can increase stimulation, thus affecting growth.

The key to seeing this increase is regular exercise and a healthy diet for at least six months, so do not expect overnight results. However, as they say, a healthy body will show you it is healthy by giving you beautiful nails, skin, and hair.

Shampoo Search

2011-07-29T12:39:00.003-04:00

I have talked about my shampoo search many times. In the past, I have felt that I have found all my staple products, except for that perfect shampoo. They have often been too cleansing, not moisturizing enough, too moisturizing, not cleansing enough, or they tangle. I was never really satisfied with any shampoo once CON changed their ingredients, but I did find some that did the job. Let me clarify, I was looking for the perfect shampoo in that it did not contain any sulfates, but was cleansing, moisturizing, did not give me tangles, etc. As a long term stretcher, I really feel that having a good shampoo can really help make stretching so very easy.

Well, my search is over, I now have a great combo that does all that I want and more. In a recent post (Regimen Changes), I wrote of how I use Giovanni Smooth As Silk Shampoo and Creme of Nature Argan Oil Shampoo as my perfect combo. The Giovanni, loosens up the oil and dirt from the week quite well without stripping my hair, and the CON gently gets rid of that loosened dirt while adding moisture while detangling. These two products are my dream shampoo combo, so the search is over!!!

This means that I have all of my staple products, so now I will just wait for my hair to grow!!!!!

Style #37: Chignon

2011-07-26T15:31:00.004-04:00

This method is for those with short to medium hair without a donut from Sally's. If you have long hair, DO NOT TEASE YOUR HAIR!!!!

Maintenance
Night: Moisturize, Seal
Morning: Re-Style
Gym: Friendly!!!!

Moisturizing

2011-07-26T08:03:00.005-04:00

This question on LHCF seemed like something I should post on here as well, so:

How often do you moisturize?
4 x's a week

How often do you moisturize with a leave-in?
1x on wash day and as necessary

What do you use?
Elasta QP Mango Butter or Bee Mine Luscious sealed with coconut oil

What's different about how you moisturize now and how you did it at the beginning of your hair journey?
The frequency; I used to moisturize every day, twice a day, but I've learned that if I use the right products to clean and moisturize my hair on wash day, my hair will stay moisturized a long time, so I do not have to moisturize until about the end of the week.

On wash day, I follow my regimen, ending by spraying my leave-in on and applying Hemp seed butter to my ends. This leaves my hair moisturized for at least 4 days, I apply coconut oil to my ends the 2nd and 3rd day after washing to ensure they continue to act right, and on days 4-6 I moisturize and seal my ends once a day.

Moisturizing this way ensures that my hair does not get weighed down through the week because I am only applying moisturizer once my hair needs it.

Questions, Suggestions, etc

2011-07-24T00:38:00.003-04:00

I will continue to do the style videos, at least until I reach 52 styles, and if I think of more then I will do more. Once I get an HD Camera (next month), I will begin to re-do many of the videos for the sake of clarity and take down the old videos, but in the mean time I will continue with the series.

Are there any topics that you would like me to cover in a video? Any instructional hair styles? Any instructional hair things at all?

Also, is there any subject that you would like me to blog about? Any burning questions about hair, etc.

Would you like me to change anything about the set up of my blog, etc?

Basically, ask me or tell me anything you would like to say.

Oh, and I will not show my face, so there is no point in asking ☺

Three Books to Buy

2011-07-22T08:51:00.005-04:00

I used to read hair books, and recently I have had an interest in reading them again. I have my eye on three books by Chicoro and Sistaslick. Both ladies are Long Hair Care Forum veterans who have fantastic hair and know the whole science behind black hair. I will buy these books once I have the funds, and I will review them here at that time.

I have talked about Audrey Davis-Sivasothy's (Sistaslick) book before, but it is a more like a textbook, than a book, that explains the in's and out's of black hair, and gives a strategy for growing healthy hair.

Chicoro, is a health enthusiast with gorgeous long hair. She has written two books, Grow It! and recently, Hair Products 101, which should be a great resource for ingredients, etc.

These ladies have long been hair inspirations of mine, they were mainstay's on the boards, and they really knew everything about growing long black hair before everyone else decided to get into healthy hair care.

Clarifying Shampoo

2011-07-22T08:28:00.003-04:00

You do not have to spend tons of money on a clarifying shampoo. As a matter of fact, it is somewhat nonsenical to do so. The point of a clarifying shampoo is to strip the hair of everything, which you can get any number of shampoo's to do. My personal favorite clarifyer comes from Suave, yes cheapie Suave. Their clarifying shampoo's strip the hair of cones, oils, dirt, calcium buildup, etc, all for less than $2. It doesn't matter if your clarifying shampoo has sulfates because you want it to strip your hair. So, please do not spend $10+ for something that can be done for less than nothing. Save your money and go get some Suave ☺

Style #36: Loose Twist Out

2011-07-19T09:16:00.003-04:00

Maintenance
Night: Moisturize, Seal, Two French Braids
Morning: Style
Gym: Clip Up

Regimen Changes

2011-07-18T08:56:00.003-04:00

No more Oi Pre-Poo
As I stated in the CON review video, I will not pre-poo with oil anymore. With the Creme of Nature shampoo, it is just necessary. However, I will still take the time to separate my hair and get the shed hair out with my fingers before any water touches my hair, as I see this as the key to having a painless stretch. The purpose of the oil pre-poo was to protect my hair from the harsh effects of shampoo, to detangle and get rid of shed hair before washing, and to give my hair a ceramide infusion. However, the CON shampoo does most of that, and adding oil to my deep conditioner takes care of the rest, so no more oil pre-poo for me.

Shampoo Technique
Also, two months ago I began shampooing differently. I have increased my running and I am lifting heavier, so my hair is extra dirty by the end of the week. This means that I need to use a shampoo that is a little more clarifying, as well as a shampoo that is more moisturizing on wash day. Thanks to CON, I have found a moisturizing shampoo, and thanks to Giovanni, I have found a more clarifying shampoo. Neither shampoo contains sulfates, but both have what I am looking for.

For my first lather I use Giovanni Smooth As Silk Shampoo, it loosens up the dirt on the hair and scalp without taking away excess moisture. My second lather is dedicated to the CON Argan Oil Shampoo, it gently cleanses, moisturizes, and detangles before I move on to the conditioning step.

Protein Pre-Poo
From now on, when I need protein, I will pre-poo on dry hair with protein before proceeding with the rest of my regimen (not a weekly step, but as necessary). I will begin using the Aubrey Organic GPB again for this step because it is meant to be used on dry hair, which means it will work best that way. Plus, I just love the Aubrey Organics conditioners.

Creme of Nature with Argan Oil from Morrocco Shampoo Review

2011-07-17T16:13:00.000-04:00

Hair Blog and Forum of Note

2011-07-10T12:46:00.002-04:00

The Science of Black Hair
I recently, last month, discovered that Audrey Davis-Sivasothy, aka Sistaslick, runs a hair forum. The Science of Black Hair forum is a fantastic resource and community. It reminds me of LHCF in its early days, supportive with a whole lot more scientific knowledge. Audrey Davis-Sivsothy has also written a book, The Science of Black Hair, that was recently published and is getting rave reviews as the black hair "bible." I can't afford to buy the book anytime soon, but I will buy it the moment I do come up with the money.

Anyways, the forum is has free membership, but if you subscribe and are active in the forum, you are eligible for prizes and the scholarship contest. I personally love the "The Hair Science Lab" portion of the forum, because I love to read the science behind hair instead instead of conjecture. Check it out!!! You will not be sorry!

Phenomenal Hair Care
This blog is a stylists perspective on hair care. She talks not only about hair care, but the business side of things for those interested in the hair field. The author of the blog has an engineering background, certificates from various hair related fields, and she is just plain informed. She obviously stays on top of the new trends, and she talks about all types of textured hair; relaxed, texlaxed, natural, etc.

I have enjoyed learning about these two hair sources, so I hope that you do as well!

Gym/Health: Snacking

2011-07-09T13:19:00.004-04:00

I am an exerciser and I try to eat a somewhat healthy diet to maintain my figure, relieve stress, and to just plain feel good. I do not deny myself sweets, but I am conscious of what I eat. This often means that I cook most meals, and take meals with me when I cannot go back home to eat during the day. I also make sure to carry snacks around with me to prevent myself from indulging in things that I should not.

My Favorite Snacks
1. Kind Bars
I love, love, love kind bars!! They are so compact, they hold a lot of flavor (not nasty tasting energy or protein bars, bleh), they are healthy, and they are relatively inexpensive. I usually buy 5 or more at a time, so that I have enough for at least a week. I usually get them at Vitamin Shoppe, Starbucks, Whole Foods, Publix, local health food stores, or even University Bookstore's! They are great in a pinch. My favorites are the cranberry+almond bar, the pistachio+blueberry+pistachio, and apple cinnamon+pecan (also my nephew's favorite)! Kids love these bars because they are tasty and parents love them because they are healthy.

2. Pistachios
I love, love, love Pistachios. They are great with or without salt and they are satisfying. I like to put a cup, un-shelled, in a little baggy and just go. They are perfect for snacks between classes, easy to find, and healthy. You could probably take your favorite nut in general, but be sure to look up the caloric serving size so that you know how much fat you are consuming (even good fat can be overindulged in).

3. Fruit and Veggies
Apple slices can really be a great treat, and adding a little caramel makes them a sweet treat. I also enjoy eating carrots and broccoli with/without dip. Dried fruit can really be satisfying, and if you buy it from a health food store, healthy as well. Even a simple piece of fruit can really help you get to that next meal.

4. Smoothie
You may say to yourself, huh? Well if I plan to exercise later in the day, I may have a smoothie with whey/soy protein as a snack. The muscles recover fast with the aid of a little protein, and in a fruit smoothie, it becomes a tasty treat. Pineapple and kiwi are great for masking the taste of protein powder. I love to use strawberries and pineapple or strawberries and kiwi with protein powder as a nice snack.

5. 100 Calorie Packs
There are so many tasty options with the 100 calorie packs (or something comparable). Just be sure to find a 100 calorie pack choice that has enough food in it to satisfy. Some of the 100 calorie packs have 2 cookies, or less than a handful of cookies, etc. This will not satisfy, and so you may eat five 100 calorie packs, thus defeating the purpose. I like the Cheez-it and popcorn options when selecting a 100 calorie pack.

6. POPCORN!!!
I can always turn to popcorn to satisfy a craving. The crunchiness of popcorn is said to reduce hunger and I just love the taste. I find it best to pop my own popcorn in coconut from kernels, and then add a butter popcorn seasoning instead of butter and salt. Popcorn is a grain, so it is good for you if you do not add tons of butter and/or salt, and coconut oil is a good saturated fat (so its healthy).

Just six of my favorite snacks, there really are so many options (chips and salsa, homemade trail mix, edamame, etc.). Carrying around snacks really makes a huge difference in what I eat, and helps me eat what I plan to eat each day. I am not saying never eat chips or pretzels, everything is fine in moderation, but be sure to take advantage of all of the options out there instead of only going for the seemingly easy ones. Hope this helps!

Hair Spotlight: Sunnieb

2011-07-08T13:24:00.003-04:00

What made you decide to begin your hair journey?
I got tired of my hair growing to shoulder length and breaking off. This happened to me for years. By late 2008, I'd had enough of this cycle and started searching the internet for help. I was amazed at all of the information and blogs related to black hair care! Women who looked like me with my hair texture were growing their hair to great lengths. I gained hope that if they could do it, so could I.

Are you relaxed, texlaxed, transitioning, or natural?
Fully relaxed

What is your regimen and what products do you use in your regimen?
My Regimen

Shampoo/DC 2x a week
Co-wash 2-3x a week
Always airdry
No direct heat
No brushing (combs only)
Self-relax with Design Essentials Sensitive Scalp every 14 weeks

My Products

Shampoo: Suave Daily Clarifying(2x a month); Nexxus Therappe (weekly)

Deep Conditioners : Nexxus Humectress/Motions CPR Protein Reconstructor (always add 1tbsp honey and evoo )

I apply my deep conditioners like Hairlicious in this video:

Only difference is that I no longer twist, I just lay my hair over to the side.

I do my protein deep conditioner on dry hair. It makes a difference! My hair is softer and has more bounce. I then follow up with Nexxus Therappe and airdry with my regular leave-ins.

Co-wash Conditioners: Garnier Fructis/Herbal Essences - all varieties.

Leave Ins: ORS Carrot Oil, African Royale Hot Six Oil, Castor Oil, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, NTM Silk Touch Leave-In, Rusk Smoother

How have you styled your hair throughout your journey thus far?
I wear buns 5 days a week. On the weekends, I wear ponytails or some sort of half-up/half-down style.

Who are your hair inspiration(s)?
I would have to say Sylver2 is the first head of hair I saw that made a believer out of me. I lived in her Fotki for a month! She's the reason I use Rusk Smoother to this day.

Sunshine from Hairlicious also inspired me with her videos and tutorials. It's because of her that I add honey and EVOO to my deep conditioners.

What are your hair goal(s) and how do you plan to achieve them?
I want my relaxed hair to grow as long and healthy as it'll grow! I want it all! I plan to stay the course by not getting lazy with my hair regimen, drinking 100oz water daily, being consistent with my vitamins, eating better, and regular exercise.

Do you have a hair album, blog, or youtube channel?
Here's my album:
http://members.fotki.com/sunnieb/about/
I plan to start blogging in the future.

What hair appliance, tool, or product could you never live without?

Only one???

I guess my silk scarf because I use it nightly to keep my hair moisturized and neat while I sleep.

My hair is beautiful because.....it shows off all of my hard work and proves that with proper care, my hair type can and will grow healthy and long.

CON Argan Oil Shampoo First Impressions

2011-07-02T18:21:00.002-04:00

As stated above, these are my first impressions of the shampoo. I shampooed my hair three times with this shampoo, and you may say to yourself, why? Because my hair felt so moisturized after the first two washes that I was doubtful that my hair got clean!

I went for a jog (5th of the week, so my hair and scalp was super dirty, did some lifting at the gym. When I got home I shampooed, I did not pre-poo and I did not detangle before washing (as I would normally do) because I did not want to change the result of the shampoo in any way shape or form. After washing, my hair still felt moisturized, but after hopping out of the shower I was able to see that my hair and scalp was clean. Plus, to test the product even further, I detangled my hair right out of the shower, before adding conditioner, and it really was easy to detangle.

So, my first impression is that the new CON sulfate-free shampoo is back and maybe even a little better in the moisture department. I will be back with a thorough review in a couple of weeks!

I HAVE IT!!!! CON Argan Oil Shampoo

2011-06-30T20:39:00.004-04:00

A representative of Creme of Nature stumbled upon my last post about the Shampoo and sent me a bottle (in Maine!!!) So that I can review it in a couple of weeks!!! I am so excited, I will wash my hair tomorrow after exercising and a couple of more times before coming on here and giving a full review, but I might give a pre-liminary review tomorrow. I have to use it a couple of times, and I think one of my friends with a different hair texture is going to use it as well, so I will be able to give a good thorough review. I am so excited!!!!!

Be sure to look out for these reviews!!

Traveling Hair Kit

2011-06-26T21:16:00.005-04:00

I am traveling up the east coast at the moment performing for 7 weeks (I am currently in Maine). That is a long time, so I had to do something with my hair. I did not want to just co-wash because I am still exercising at least 5 days a week while traveling. So, I decided to continue to follow my regular regimen and to just air dry along the way. I didn't want to add hair appliances to my suitcase, which is a whopping 52 lbs! I have to carry my instrument and music essentials on the plane, so that means that I have to be an efficient packer. On this trip I brought with me:

Giovanni Smooth As Silk Shampoo
Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner (pre-mixed with oils)
Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor
Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier
Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Serum
Hemp Seed Butter
Elasta QP Mango Butter
Tropical Isle Virgin Coconut Jamaican Black Castor Oil (I am trying to use this up)
2 Hair Clips
Hair Therapy Wrap
Shower Caps
Spray Bottle (To mix my leave-in conditioner)
Flexi-8 Clip
EZ Comb
Hair Elastics (small and large)
Hair Pins
Hercules Sagemann Combs and Boar Bristle Brush

When writing that all down, it seems like a lot, but this travel kit has ensured that my hair is doing quite well so far. I have another 5 weeks to go, so at the end of this trip I will be 12 weeks post (about half way through my stretch. Hopefully it will have been smooth sailing!

The Hunt for Creme Of Nature Argan Oil Shampoo

2011-06-24T14:36:00.004-04:00

I am on a quest to find the NEW CON Argan Oil Shampoo. At the very beginning of my hair journey, when I was natural, I used to use CON Shampoo (green and red label) because it detangled like nothing they have out there right now. Yes, a shampoo detangled my hair! Plus it would get your hair really CLEAN without stripping the hair or making it feel dry, even a little moisturized. Then CON had to go and change their packaging and put sulfates in the shampoo, so I stopped using it. Now, the NEW CON Argan Oil Shampoo is said to be the old formula without sulfates and with Argan oil.

I have searched high and low in my hometown, I have called every Sally's around, I have checked every Walmart to NO AVAIL (I don't want to have to buy it online)!!!!! So, now I am in Boston and I am still searching for the shampoo (not actively, but passively of course). You may say to yourself, WOW, you need to just wait, but you just don't understand how great this shampoo used to be. Plus it curbs my PJism by focusing on one product instead of trying a bunch while I wait to find the CON. I don't really need any products, but I just cannot resist this particular shampoo.

So, as I move up the east coast in the next 6-7 weeks performing and teaching, whenever I stop at a Walmart or Drugstore I will try to find this shampoo. I will not go out of my way, but I will surely search for the shampoo if I am in a place where they might have it.

Yes, I know I sound like a crazy person, :-)

Style #35: Swish Bun

2011-06-22T13:32:00.001-04:00

Maintenance
Night: Moisturize, Seal
Morning: Re-style
Gym Friendly!!!

It Is HOT! My Summer Hair Routine

2011-06-21T09:41:00.007-04:00

It is seriously hot in Florida this summer, I mean we are breaking records at the moment.! I jog outside and lift inside Monday-Friday, so the humidity can really suck the moisture out of my hair. However, I like to keep things simple and I still want to enjoy wearing my hair out on the weekends, so this is the routine I have come up with that makes my hair happy and not dry.

Friday
Complete Wash Routine Air Dry Evening: Put four pin-curls or 2-3 braids in my hair before bed

Saturday
Morning: Fluff and go Evening: pin-curl before bed

Sunday
Morning: Fluff and go Evening: castor oil and baggy my ends before bed

Monday
Morning: Bun and head band before exercise After Exercise: Clean and clothe myself, then put my hair up in a flexi-8 clip or EZ Comb Evening: Moisturize ends before bed

Tuesday
Morning: Bun and head band before exercise After Exercise: Clean and clothe myself, then put my hair up in a flexi-8 clip Evening: baggy ends before bed

Wednesday
Morning: Bun and head band before exercise After Exercise: Clean and clothe myself, then put my hair up in a flexi-8 clip Evening: Wipe sweat and dirt from scalp with witch hazel, Moisturize ends before bed

Thursday
Morning: Bun and head band before exercise After Exercise: Clean and clothe myself, then put my hair up in a flexi-8 clip Evening: baggy ends before bed

Friday: Begin again

This method allows me to enjoy my hair, exercise, and keep things pretty simple. As I get deeper into my stretch, I may have to co-wash, but for now, this works. Plus, I will be going North to perform and work for the next 6 weeks, so I will get a break from this heat! As you can see, this is a no direect heat routine, because I do not see a point in using direct heat in this Florida sun and humidity. I am still using the same products, but I am dying to try the New/Old Creme of Nature Shampoo, but I have not been able to find it locally as yet.

Keeping My Ends Pristine

2011-06-17T14:26:00.004-04:00

There really are steps you can take to keep the ends of your hair pristine without constantly protective styling. Do not get me wrong, protective styling really is the fastest way to retain length and have beautiful ends. However, wearing your hair down once or twice a week really should not deter your length retention.

The question is then, How do I take care of my ends so that they stay in the best condition possible?

Well, when the hair's moisture content dips below 10% splitting and cracking of the cuticle can occur. So, your job is to prevent that moisture content from dipping below 10%, how? Follow these steps:

1. Deep conditioning
Deep conditioning is really for the oldest hair on your head, because the new hair is still able to get help from the sebum from your scalp. Deep conditioning ensures that the ends/oldest hair is able to have a proper moisture/protein balance, maintains elasticity, and receives optimum nourishment.

2. Leave-in conditioner/Moisturizer and Seal
This is what will ensure that your hair stays moldable until the end of the week. If you do not put something on your hair before manipulating it every day, your ends will become very fragile and either thin out or split. Do this at least once a day to help your ends retain their moisture/protein balance. One does not have to apply more than a quarter sized amount of moisturizer daily, but it is necessary to apply moisturizer to ensure the hair is lubricated each day before styling.

3. BUTTER!!!!!/Oil Based Moisturizer
I find that putting some kind of butter or oil based moisturizer allows your ends to retain optimal moisture until your next wash. Butter helps with moisture loss and they reduce the friction between hair fibers, thus preventing splits. As a relaxed head, it is only necessary to apply a butter to the ends once between washing . This ensures that you do not have to put globs and globs of moisturizer on your ends every day, applying a heavy butter allows me to forgo moisturizing my hair for the two days after washing (but I would not do so). I find the best butter is Hemp Seed with Avocado coming in as a close second, and Castor as the best oil with Coconut coming in as a close second.

4. Low Manipulation
Try to reduce the amount of touching (hand in the hair disease) you do to your hair. Do not pull a comb through your hair several times a day. In the case of your ends, less is more.

That is it, four simple steps. Protective styling will also help with optimal ends health, but as I said, if you use these methods, there is no reason you should not be able to wear your hair down a couple of days each week without adverse affects. Oh, and you cannot repair split ends, so if they are split, just go ahead and cut them, your hair will be better off in the long run.

Fantastic Article about split ends:
Split Ends: Everything You and Your Hair Need to Know

My Product Fav's

2011-06-04T08:56:00.005-04:00

This is simply a list of my favorite hair products, as I find more, I will add to this list.

Oils/Butters:
Avocado Oil
Grape seed Oil
Hemp Seed Butter
Hempseed Oil
Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Jamaican Organic Coconut Black Castor Oil
Vatika Oil

Shampoo:
Bee Mine Botanical Moisturizing Shampoo
Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo
Matrix Biolage Colorcaretherapie Delicate Care Shampoo
Organic Root Stimulator Creamy Aloe Shampoo

Conditioner:
Aphogee Two-Step Treatment
Aphogee Two Minute Keratin Reconstructor
Aubry Organics GPB Conditioner
Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner (Wet Hair)
Aubrey Organics White Camellia Conditioner (Dry Hair)
Keracare Humecto Conditioner
Nature's Gate Conditioners
Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner

Leave-In:
Bee Mine Deja's Hair Milk
Infusium 23 Leave-In Original Formula
Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier

Moisturizer:
Bee Mine Luscious Balanced
Elasta QP Mango Butter
Jane Carter Nourish & Shine
Keracare Conditioning Cream Hairdress

Styler:
Aloe Vera Gel
Fantasia IC Olive Oil Serum
Fantasia IC Frizz Busting Serum
Fantasia IC Heat Protectant Serum
Fantasia IC Sparkalites Gel
Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Styling Gel (Blue Jar)
Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Serum

Tools:
Hercules Sagemann Combs!!!!!!!!

Hair Science:Uneven Hair Growth

2011-06-03T10:57:00.008-04:00

This post is inspired by my sister because she has uneven hair growth.

What do I mean by uneven hair growth?

Maybe one side of your hair grows faster than the other, maybe the hair at the back of your hair grows faster than the front, or maybe the sides grows faster than the crown, etc. In my sister's case, one side of her hair is naturally thinner than the other. Many women experience uneven hair growth, and while for some ladies their hair eventually evens out, for others it does not. Oftentimes ladies who have hair that is thin in some areas and thick in others, do not see any change over time.

Unfortunately, there are no definitive studies about uneven hair growth, although the consensus is that hair grows differently all over your head. But the best explanation I've seen thus far states that because we are purely asymmetrical, as far as the rest of our body is concerned, one side of our hair will always grow faster and thicker no matter how much we try to baby the other "weaker" side. There are some heads that even have different hair types on either side of their heads. Hence my sister, even as a girl her left ponytails were always thinner than her right ones. She just thought that it was because her left hair was more damaged- but that doesn't make sense when you are only 10 years old with natural hair.

It wasn't until this past week when she got a touch up that she realized that her hair is just naturally thinner on one side. She had been cutting her hair for a couple years now back to the same length in hopes that one side would "catch up" with the other, but now she realizes that it never will, so she will stop getting her hair cut and just let it grow.

Examples:
The sides of my sister's hair

As you can see, one side is considerably thicker than the other.

From the back, it presents an interesting picture, mostly just a V shape.

For those into hair science, here are a couple studies and articles for your reading pleasure:

Thickness, medullation and growth rate of female scalp hair are subject to significant variation according to pigmentation and scalp location during ageing

How Fast Does Human Hair Grow?

Hair growing faster on one side of the head....why?

HILARIOUS!!!!

2011-06-02T10:43:00.000-04:00

This is just tooo funny, I had to share:

Admirable Style: Vintage-LA Vintage

2011-05-31T16:11:00.002-04:00

I love a great Vintage find! I find that you can find some seriously cute vintage clothing for next to no cost, and you can really show your personal style because you will not see what you buy on every person on the street. Shopping locally is a good way to go, estate sales, vintage stores, etc. However, my current favorite online vintage store is L.A Vintage.com because the site has some fantastic shoes, they steadily get in new murchandice, and the prices are reasonable. Plus, they are having a 50% off sale right now, so don't sleep on L.A. Vintage!

Gym: My Exercise Routine

2011-05-27T20:13:00.004-04:00

I am an avid exerciser because I like to maintain a certain health status and body type. I do not exercise to please anyone except myself. I will go into more detail about my workout as I continue these gym posts, but here's what I do on a weekly basis.

Run 10k 4 days a week (takes a little over an hour)
Each day I run I lift weights with a focus on one body area (lower body, upper body, core and back, etc.)
I do yoga once or twice a week on my days off running

I love Hot and Ashtanga styles of yoga. They really work the body hard and give it a fantastic stretch at the same time. I am sure to eat well, but I never go hungry or deny myself a sweet. I am conscious of my calorie intake, but I do not fret about staying on a strict diet. I enjoy cooking and finding new healthy, but tasty recipes to keep eating healthy interesting.

I lift just as much as I do cardio because I find it is best to balance weight loss with muscle gain. This balance ensures that as I lose or maintain my weight and my shape remains pronounced.

Why Don't I Texlax?

2011-05-26T10:20:00.003-04:00

Texlaxing means that you relax your hair, but you do not let it fully process to bone straight hair. Well- I have thick coarse hair, so when I fully process my hair, it remains thick and full. I do not lose my texture when I relax (in fact no one should, and if you do, your hair is overproccessed).

I really feel that texlaxing is perfect for those that don't have really thick abundant strands. Texlaxing will give the illusion that your hair is thicker than it is and you don't have as much hair to tangle upon itself when you wash. Medium thick hair can also get away with texlaxing easily; it's just a personal preference. However, I think people with thick hair may be asking for trouble. If you do have thick hair and you texlax, it may be best to touch up more often than those with thin hair.

If you have thick hair, and also you stretch your touch-ups for long periods of time, there will come a point at which you will not be able to do much styling with your hair without heat. In my opinion, that defeats the purpose of growing your hair. If you can't enjoy styling your hair then what is the point of growing it?

This is a very opinionated post, but in reality whether or not you decide texlax is your choice!

Bootcamp 2011

2011-05-26T10:14:00.004-04:00

I was looking at the posts in the My Hair Story label to remind myself of what I did to get my hair to its long lengths and I was reminded that I used to participate in LHCF Bootcamp. It was a great way to keep myself honest about what I do to my hair. So, for this stretch I am going to adhere to the rules of Bootcamp, which are:

1. No Direct Heat (Hooded Dryer is acceptable)
2. No Trimming (Dusting is allowed)
3. Deep condition w/Every Shampoo Wash
4. Wear Only Protective Styles or Low Manipulation Styles

Now that I do not have to baby my hair anymore, I will not have to do special treatments nor will I have to take extra special care of my hair. Now I can treat it as healthy hair and just maintain it. So, I will keep things as simple as possible and just let my hair grow. I expect some serious growth from this regimen. I also plan to give the GNC hair skin and nails program one more chance, but I will only take one of the Hair Skin and Nails Vitamins each day to prevent any acne break outs.

I will have some great progress to show after this 6 month stretch, GUARANTEED!

Style #34: Infiniti Bun

2011-05-25T13:50:00.000-04:00

Regimen Until My Next Relaxer

2011-05-22T14:30:00.002-04:00

I plan to stick to my same regimen and products. I usually wet bun or frequently co-wash over the summer, but this summer I plan to just continue what I have been doing lately.

I will wear my hair styled in some way over the weekend and during the week I will wear my hair in a bun or french braid.
I will moisturize my ends nightly because I exercise outside in summer and it tends to suck the moisture out of my hair by the end of the day.
Mid-week I will apply witch hazel to a cotton ball and wipe down my scalp to get rid of some of the sweat
I will wash once a week, probably after my last workout of the week.
I will wear a head band every work out to soak up sweat

I really feel this regimen keeps things as simple as possible for me. I will continue to try new products, but I have my staples.

Musician Spotlight: Jackie Arrington

2011-05-22T14:16:00.006-04:00

This up and coming flutist recently put herself in the spotlight by winning the 2nd flute position in the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Winning the job was quite surprising for the flute world because it was her FIRST audition. For those who know nothing about the process, it usually takes people several years and several auditions before they get a job as big as the LA Phil (they are the big leagues like Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, etc).

Jackie has been in Berlin this past Spring on a Fulbright Scholarship studying music.

May 2011 Relaxer Update

2011-05-21T11:42:00.012-04:00

Just to remind you, this was my hair at the beginning of the stretch, September 2010.

My hair today!

She trimmed a lot, but it was needed in order to even everything out. The first pic is not curled and the one from today is; but regardless, I am incredibly happy with the thickness!!! It took two years to bounce back from my setback, but my hair is back! It is now even, she put in slight layers, but no strand is drastically uneven anymore, so I am now officially on the grow.

The experience:
The stylist completely based my scalp from bottom to top, around the edges of my scalp, and then she applied the relaxer. She used Affirm Sensitive Scalp, and it didn't burn- not even a little. I was quite surprised because usually I burn since I have a very sensitive scalp; but I didn't even burn a little after she completely smoothed. This is only the second relaxer I have used that did not burn- the other was Alter Ego Linange.

Anyway, she applied really fast, smoothed, and then let it sit for 5 minutes. She then shampooed 3 times and applied Keracare Humecto, and let me sit under the dryer for 20 minutes. She washed that out, sat me in the chair and then began to trim.

She was trimming and I thought to myself, great!" she is not taking off a lot"; but then she combed it again all around my head and then she began to trim again and that is when I got worried. She seemed to be evening it out, which I knew meant she would be trimming off a couple inches all around. Well, as I feared, she did, but in the end I realized that it was for the best. As you can tell from the September picture, my hair was very uneven and it really needed to be evened out.

So then, she put in a setting lotion by Nairobi in my hair and sat me under the hooded dryer to dry.

After my hair was about 90% dry, she blow dried to get it the rest of the way dry. My ends were so pretty after that, hahaha.

Then she used a Marcel flat iron to curl my ends under. After that, of course my sister wanted to take tons of pictures. So, here are a couple more pics:

Relaxer Day is Tomorrow!!!

2011-05-20T15:24:00.003-04:00

I made my relaxer appointment for tomorrow morning. Because I have eight & 1/2 months of new growth I don't want to risk messing up the relaxer trying to apply it myself. So I have solicited the help of a trusted stylist (she's been doing our hair for over 15 years including all of my sister's relaxers).

I went to see the stylist today for a pre-relaxer consultation, (and to make sure that she had enough relaxer to cover all of this new growth) and found out that she will be using Affirm Sensitive Scalp on my hair. She exclusively uses KeraCare/Affirm products so I should have some great results. I will also get a much needed trim. I am dying to see the progress and can't wait to post pics of the results. Stay tuned for the update!!!

Style #33: Relaxed Puff

2011-05-19T18:18:00.002-04:00

Maintenance
Night: Moisturize, Seal and re-braid
Morning: Style
Gym: Braid

Admirable Style: SUMMER DRESSES!!!

2011-05-18T18:26:00.004-04:00

Its almost that time of year again, time to bust out your summer dresses. A dress in this Florida heat is a God-send, and there are a TON of cute dresses out there. Whether you fancy vintage, the bag lady look, or a bold print, when summer rolls around bust them out!! Don't forget to put some beautiful shoes with your dress and to accessorize!!!!!!

If you're an online shopper, be sure to check out Etsy.com for some fabulous finds. The dress below is from one of my fav etsy shops: Amore By Tina E.

Fierce Hair: Color!

2011-05-17T21:57:00.003-04:00

I love the way Rhianna continues to rock her red hair!

Don't be afraid of color! If I were to color I would definitely go to Aveda and get them to use Elumen hair color on my hair since it seems to be the least damaging. Regardless, a pop of color never hurt anyone. Adding color can really make you fall in love with your hair again or just give you a change. If you don't want to color you actual hair, add some pieces or a full on sew in.

Am I Going Natural?

2011-05-14T17:52:00.003-04:00

I am sure some have wondered if I am going natural since I have stretched for so long. Well let me be clear, I WILL relax sooner than later.

I was wondering how long I could go without relaxing and I was contemplating going natural again, but I really do love the ease of my relaxed hair (especially since I exercise so much) and the versatility.

After my next relaxer I will continue to stretch for 6 months at a time, also doing a trim with each relaxer. I am going to go to a trusted salon in my home town to get my hair relaxed because I do not want to try to relax all of this new growth myself. I do think I could stretch longer, but:

1. I am getting annoyed at having to spend so much time waiting for my hair to dry,
2. Braid outs and bantu knot outs do not look great, and my favorite twist outs look plain terrible.
3. I can't co-wash and go because my hair is not long enough to just pull back ignoring my new growth, so does not work!

So, I will relax this week or next.

Gym: Clothes

2011-05-13T14:13:00.003-04:00

I am an avid jogger, I usually do 10k 4-5 days a week and some type of weight training. One thing I have learned over the years is that proper gym wear really is not over rated. I sweat a lot when running, especially if I am running outside in the summer in Florida, and clothes show that wear and tear. So, I have invested in gym clothes made from sweat-wicking fabric aka moisture wiking fabric.

What is moisture wicking fabric?
This fabric is a breathable synthetic fabric that absorbs sweat away from your skin. So, there will be no peeling your heavy sweaty clothes off when u get ready to wash. This fabric can also help fight odor, so if you have smelly feet after exercising, try wearing sweat-wicking socks (yes, they exist).

Where to buy?
You can get moisture wicking clothes anywhere you get any other gym clothes. I get most of my gym clothes from TJ Maxx or Target, but you can go just about anywhere exercise gear is sold.

Style #32: Twisted Willow Smith

2011-05-13T13:13:00.002-04:00

Musician Spotlight: Regina Carter

2011-05-07T12:28:00.003-04:00

I have been a fan of Regina Carter since I was in elementary school. She has truly made a name for herself as a soloist and a formidable black woman. Her album of African folk tunes is truly a testament to her own personal style. She was the recipient of an award, the "genius award," by the McArthur Foundation, which allowed her to create the album. Carter is a cross over artist, not only performing classical works, but also with such popular artists as Lauryn Hill, Bill Joel, and Mary J. Blige.

My Absence

2011-05-07T12:27:00.001-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted lately, I traveled to New York to perform and then I had finals. That is all over and so now I can get back to posting daily. I am currently doing a hot oil treatment and will make a video later today, so I will post that either today or tomorrow. Again, sorry!!!!

Admirable Style: Hats

2011-04-29T14:04:00.006-04:00

Well with THE Royal Wedding happening today, lately hats have been getting a lot of attention. As a southern woman from Florida, a cute large hat is ideal for those blisteringly hot days. I love the hat with a floppy brim, but as long as its big and cute, I will rock it. A large hat goes especially well with a sundress and is always appropriate for an afternoon tea or just chillin out on the beach.

There are tons of high fashion, high pricde hats out there, but don't skip over places like Target and TJ Maxx for that perfect hat. It may not last as long as a high quality hat, but it will be just as cute. I LOVE to find hats at Target, big and small, they have such a wide range of very cute hats, you just have to keep an eye out and grab that great hat when it goes on sale.

Fierce Hair: Locs

2011-04-28T09:49:00.008-04:00

It was Lauryn Hill that first made me realize how hot locs can be. A well groomed set of locs can be so very cute and they can be styled in so many different ways. Lord knows there is just something so sexy about a man with well groomed locs, YES!!!!!

Ryan Gentles, Yes Lord!!!

Gym: Phone Apps

2011-04-27T10:46:00.005-04:00

When I first began going to the gym I could not run very far, so all I would do is aerobic classes. After awhile I realized that I needed to do more cardio, so I began to use the elliptical. That was great, but I was not losing many calories and I wanted to run. So, I just went out to the track and ran, well the first day I did a mile, it took awhile, but I did it. The next day I couldn't do the mile because my legs were tired and I had no endurance. So, I went onto long hair care forum and found the Couch to 5k program.

Now a days The Couch to 5k Program can now be found as several apps for most phones. I find that apps are a fantastic resource, they are right on your phone and are often easy to use.

I have used Personal Running Trainer to reach my 10k goal, and I have to say that it is a fantastic app. My other favorite app is myfitnesspal, it is a calorie counting program that can help you loose weight all by itself. It can keep track of your food, exercise, and nutrition for the day, and at the end of the day it will tell you whether or not your daily food intake was good for weight loss or not.

Phone apps are really a fantastic tool in helping to meet your fitness goals. So, find the app that suits you and get your healthy lifestyle.

Braiding Tutorials

2011-04-26T12:04:00.003-04:00

Youtuber, GirlsLoveYourCurls, has a series of EXCELLENT tutorials concerning braiding hair. She uses various colors of yarn to show how to braid and then she shows how to braid hair. She speaks about the differences in the various types of braids and is just great!

Flat Twist
Basic Braid
French Braid
Cornrow Tutorial
Hair Threading

Musician Spotlight: Anthony and Demarre McGill

2011-04-25T22:37:00.005-04:00

I love these two classical musicians. These brothers (literally and figuratively) are taking the classical world by storm. These two have been making giant steps in classical music since their teens, winning the Avery Fisher Career Grant, attending the Curtis Institute of Music and holding top orchestral positions (Pittsburgh Symphony, Florida Orchestra, etc).

Demarre McGill

The older of the two, Demarre McGill is a very talented and successful, flutist. He recently won the Seattle Symphony Principal flute position and began a new chamber music series.

Anthony McGill

The younger brother, Anthony McGill holds the principal clarinet position in the Metropolitan Opera of New York (which means he is getting PAID).

The success of these two gentleman is especially exciting because there are not many blacks in professional classical music. The majority of black professional classical musicians are string players (Sphinx), but the McGill brothers are successfully paving the way for the black professional in the classical wind world!

Style #31: Double Flat Twists

2011-04-24T16:37:00.002-04:00

Maintenance
Night: Take down and moisturize
Morning: Re-style
Gym: Leave as is

Admirable Style: The Blazer

2011-04-23T14:54:00.008-04:00

The Look of the Young Professional:
Most of the time on TV and in the news you see the fashion of the black celebrity, the socialite, and the hip hop world plastered all over television. However, I always find it interesting to see the young professional, and how they choose to be chic, young, and seriously professional. It is such a delicate balance, that difference between young and chic and just too young to know any better. Owning a great blazer can really make a huge difference in your professional wardrobe.

Examples:
These two are saying, I am young, I take myself seriously, and you might think I am successful.

In this photo, Tracy Ellis Ross looks gorgeous as always, but look at Mara Brock Akil in the background. She is in neutral's with a pop of color in the shoes that says I am secure and high profile at the same time.

This woman is taking the classic Chanel tweed suit to another level. All of these colors are masterfully tied together, she is not showing a whole lot of skin, yet her body is obviously banging, her hair is pulled back, and just so you know she is all powerful, the shoes!!!

This Boho-chic outfit is full of color, with a Vanessa Huxtable vibe that makes this a young, but professional look.

Notice the common denominator in these photos?

The Blazer!!

In each one of these photos, the outfit would be considerably different without the blazer, and might I add a little less interesting. These photos show the importance of a great blazer in any Professional wardrobe.

When searching for a blazer, be sure to get a material that will not look tired and worn out after a couple uses. Be sure to have a fitted blazer, if it doesn't fit in the store, go to a good tailor and have it taken in. Even a very large blazer needs to accentuate your shape in some way. Don't be afraid of a print, or a very shiny set of buttons at the cuff, they can really take the blazer from just bleh, to WOW, look at her!

Firece Hair: Cornrows

2011-04-22T22:56:00.004-04:00

I LOVE a cute set of cornrows!! I am almost sure I will wear a set of cornrows to take a break from constantly styling my hair sooner or later. They are so low maintenance and can be styled in so many ways.

Remember this?

I love the fact that you can style cornrows in so many ways, with or without adding hair.

Gym Hair: Pros, Cons, Tips

2011-04-21T10:20:00.004-04:00

I frequently get asked about what I do with my hair while at the gym. To answer that question, I thought it would be good to talk about the affect of exercise on hair.

First, I would never ever let my hair get in the way of fitness. You body's overall health is more important than your hair. That is not to say that occassionally taking time off to ensure you hair does not revert from a straight style is not ok, but instead to say, do not let your hair keep you from ever stepping into the gym.

Benefits:
1. Increased Blood Circulation
Exercising can really help to stimulate the body in several ways, as far as hair is concerned, exercise can increase the blood circulation in your scalp. This increased circulation can actually lead to an increase in hair growth.

2. Increased Sebum Production aka sweat
Your hair shoots up from your scalp and creates tiny little holes, your scalp produces sebum through these tiny little holes to nourish the hair and scalp. When you exercise, the pores on your scalp open up and pour out sweat from your sebaceous gland (sebum), this is great for your hair and scalp!

3. Stronger Hair
The increased sebum production and increased blood flow work together to really provide natural nutrition for the hair, thus making it stronger and thus better able to grow longer.

Cons
1. Hair Styling
Frequent Exercising can really put a damper on your styling choices throughout the week. I know from experience that most styles do not last throughout the week when exercising due to sweat.

2. Sweat
Sweat can dry your hair out. If you only exercise maybe 3-4 times a week, then there is no need to worry, but if you are a 5-7 times a week person, the sweat can really build up like any other dirt on your hair and cause dry hair.

3. Breakage
Breakage can occur from ponytail holders, head bands, your hair hanging and rubbing against clothing, etc. or even excessive washing.

Tips:
1. Wear your hair in styles where your scalp can breath, do not put on a scarf or bandanna while exercising because your hair will more than likely smell as a result of the moisture being trapped in your hair while exercising.

2. Wear some sort of sweat band to pick up some of the sweat and keep it from running down your face.

3. Try using a dry shampoo (I like the one from organic root stimulator) to clear some of the excess dirt that can form while exercising.

4. If you co-wash frequently, find ways to not comb the hair but to instead style with your fingers only. Frequently combing the hair can lead to hair loss, breakage and thinning.

5. Acid + Alcohol=Dried, breaking, nasty hair. Do not use any products with alcohol in your hair when exercising, it reacts with the acid produced from sebum and tears up your hair.

6. Wait until your hair has dried before styling (in other words, wait for the sweat to dry)

Experiment: GNC Hair, Skin & Nails Program Update

2011-04-20T11:04:00.002-04:00

So after using the program for about 4 weeks, I decided to not use it again. I drink plenty of water each day, but 3000 mcg of biotin is not ok for my skin. Using this program caused breakouts on my face, that after not using the product for a couple of weeks went away. My skin was soft and radiant, it had a glow, but the breakouts were a no-no. I have always had issues with biotin, so I knew that I had a chance of getting breakouts from the use of this product, so I do not blame the company. I did see an increase in hair growth as well as thickness, so far this increase is not temporary, but we shall see. In my last progress pics, I did a dusting, but I still had a good amount of progress, so I can definitively say that the GNC program did increase my growth a little.

I would give this product a thumbs up for people who have tried using Biotin and not had any problems. For those who are biotin sensitive, I give this product a thumbs down. I like using the hair skin and nails formula alone, taking one tablet a day instead of two, so I will continue to use the program under those circumstances. By the way, there was also an increase in my boob area that went away after after about 2 weeks of not using the program (this is supposed to be a side effect of evening primrose oil, hahaha).

Style #30: Braid n Pin Curl

2011-04-18T01:49:00.001-04:00

Maintenance
Night: Moisturize, seal, bonnet
Morning: Re-style
Gym: Clip up in with claw clip or pull up and off shoulders with head band

Aprill 11 Progress Pics

2011-04-10T16:12:00.004-04:00

Its that time again, to see how my hair is fairing during this stretch. It seems just fine when not straight, but to truly make sure my relaxed hair is not thinning out, I decided to straighten my hair and take some progress pics.

My last progress pic were January 8, and my hair looked like this:

(Towel is at APL)

AND.........................................
This is my hair today:
I was halway done:

Finished!

I am so sorry the last pic is so dark, if you click it, it will enlarge and you can get a better picture of the length.

Well, I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. My hair is growing and not suffering at all from this stretch, so I will continue!

Style #29: Sylver 2 Braid Out

2011-04-06T10:19:00.002-04:00

Maintenance:
Night: Moisturize and re-braid
Morning: Style
Gym: 2 French Braid's

Sorry guys, I thought this posted and it turned out that I did not press publish!

Vacation Hair

2011-03-31T10:42:00.002-04:00

I am currently on a week vacation, back home in Florida. I decided to keep things simple and easy by keeping my hair in double French Braids.

I will post this weeks style video this Sunday!

Style #28: Braid Out on Dry Hair

2011-03-23T21:24:00.002-04:00

Maintenance
Night: Moisturize, Seal, re-braid
Morning: Style
Gym: Clip Up with claw clip

Laying Down Your Edges

2011-03-23T20:34:00.001-04:00

In my last post, I wrote that I would do a video about laying down my edges, but Traycee from KISS just did one and she does almost exactly what I do.

The only difference is that I use my spray leave-in first, then I put some hemp seed or elasta qp mango butter on my hair, then I put the ORS Edge control, or I use Bee Mine Be Cury and ORS Edge Control, or Gel and ORS Edge Control. I find this keeps the dull look away. Otherwise I do as she does, I wet my my boar bristle brush with my leave-in and follow her steps, including the scarf.