Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Updates and Henna & Saturation

Hello, my Hennalistas!

I am so sorry for my mini hiatus! I've moved, had a baby, my boys have been sick, and I've started working again. My my, I never knew how hard it was to be dedicated to writing posts until now! I've also had a bit of trouble with my *NEW* laptop which...well doesn’t work! So I've resorted to using my ancient one that isn’t as efficient with downloaded and stuff.

I just had to post because I did nupur henna today and my hair hasn't felt this good in a while. As far as henna saturation goes, there are some things I'd like to discuss. For one, when doing a henna, keep in mind that you need at least 4 treatments for the henna to build on the strand before you will observe any results. This is true for the most part, but when I use nupur henna I can immediately feel that my strands are thicker.

Your hair is constantly growing so you need to use henna continuously to cover the new hair. I like to do a treatment at least every 2 weeks, sometimes sooner.

Henna is very permanent. With that said, once the ends of your hair have been completely
Saturated there really is no need to henna the ends. I do it anyway because it makes the hair feel great, plus it's easier to henna the entire head. The Nupur Henna brand had many other herbs in it that are beneficial to the hair.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Luscious Lips







Ever wanted luscious, silky smooth lips?  Here's a simple recipe you can quickly concoct with natural ingredients right out of your kitchen cabinet. It's fast and easy, and your lips will be sure to thank you!

Ingredients:
Olive oil
Sugar
honey

Directions:
Take about a half  tsp of sugar and stir in a bit of honey  just to coat the sugar. Add a bit of olive oil- be careful, too much oil will dissolve the sugar ( if this does happen, just add more sugar!). Apply a small amount at a time to the lips while rubbing gently in a circular motion.  In no time you will have lightly exfoliated those dead skin cells and reveal irresistible, luscious lips :-)


Skin Care Products & Regimen


Here is a list of the Skin Care Products I use:

CVS Oil Free Acne Cleanser
Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Acne Wash Foaming Scrub
Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Toner
Equate: Oil Free Sensitive Skin Moisturizer
Trader Joe's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Trader Joe's Organic Raw Honey
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

My Skin Care Regimen:
Wash face with Cleanser and warm water, close with cold water, pat dry
^Apply Toner with natural cotton pad
Apply moisturizer as needed , 1 pump
*Done every day and night


Face Mask:
1 tps or less of Aztec Indian Healing Clay
Add honey to cut down irritation
Mix in ACV
Stir until a smooth, pudding-like consistency is achieved
Apply thin layer, let sit for 20 mins
Remove w/ warm water
Wash face with Scrub, close with cold water
^ continue from here
*Done as needed or 3x per week
**  use plastic bowl and spoon ONLY**


Voila
Healthy, Radiant Skin!
This is MY skin care regimen and the results I get. Please free to try these products and routine for yourself.  Results May vary. 







Monday, August 22, 2011

Garnier Fruictis Leave-in Conditioning Cream


I've been mostly involved with using NATURAL hair care products, but once in a while I'm tempted to try something not so natural and a bit easier to get my hands on. As I've recently posted, I'm on a quest to find an  alternative to my awesome dutiful duo leave-ins. While at Walmart I found myself in the hair care isle  sniffing away (wow, how did that happen?). I'm big on scents and the Garnier Fructis Leave-in  Conditioning Cream really caught my nose. Its raw fruity scent is nice but a little too much for me. What makes me able to handle it is that it still is a pretty nice scent that does NOT linger. I mean, it definitely sticks around, but on a lighter note! I have tried this conditioning cream many years ago  and I was not pleased with it whatsoever. Now that my hair is in better shape ( and/or it could have been reformulated), while using this product it immediately moisturizes  and detangles my wet hair after a fresh cowash and works beautifully with my staple cocoveda hair oil without build up. My  hair was very soft after air drying. It's less than 5 bucks and can be found at almost any store. I'm very impressed by this product and happy that I decided to re-try it :-)

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Dutiful Duo: Leave-Ins



After finishing my hair washing process before my next texlax, I applied my leave-ins which consisted of the coco cream leave-in from shescentit and cocoveda oil from hennasooq. I am sitting here on the couch air drying and smoothing my hair and had a revelation- there is no better combination of leave-ins as these two together- and is it some coincidence that they both begin with 'coco' when they don’t even come from the same store???
For the past few months I have been trying different combinations of leave-ins. In using natural hair care lines that make their products in small batches to ensure freshness and to eliminate the use of chemical preservatives, I often find myself at the merciless end of an agonizing queue.  To prevent this wait I purchase my products in bulk, but I can’t overbuy or else they’ll go bad……this too often leads me towards dabbling in unnatural products that are more easily accessible. Nevertheless, THESE two products never fail me- they have always been available, there are always discounts when I purchase them, the customer service of both companies is fabulous, and, MOST importantly, they ALWAYS WORK!!!  Stay tuned for both product reviews!
~healthy Hair Blessings~


Monday, June 27, 2011

Hair Regimen & Products: Summer 2011


♥ Shampoo: Wednesdays: Wash or Clarify 1x/wk or PRN
*Organic Root Stimulator creamy aloe shampoo for clarifying
*Amala Cream Rinse-Gentle Hair & Body Cleanser from Hairveda 
*Grand Poo Bar- Succulent solid shampoo from Oyin Handmade
*Head-to-Toe Honey  Wash  Oyin Handmade
  Cowash: Friday/Sunday/Monday &/or PRN
*Moist Condition 24.7 Moisture Enhanced Conditoner  Hairveda
*Acai Berry Phyto-Biofunctional Restorative Conditioner Hairveda
*Moist Condition Pro- Daily Protein Enhanced Conditioner- too heavy for everyday use for me Hairveda

♥ Deep Conditioner: Wednesdays after wash & or PRN
*SitriNillah- Ultra Moisturizing Deep Conditioner from  Hairveda
*Methi Sativa System- Protein Botanical Hair Rejuvenator from  Hairveda
*Banana Brulee Moisturizing Conditioner from Shescentit 
- I add oils, honey, and or Vegetable Glycerin

♥ Pre-poo: Every time water touches my hair! OR I try to at least
*Nutiva Organic Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil
*Honey Cream Moisturizing Pre-poo from Beaux Cheveux Essentials

♥ ACV: Anytime water touches my hair just about
*2Tbs of Braggs Organic Apple Cider Vinegar to 1 Cup of Filtered Water or
* Hairveda pH 24/7 Balancing Rinse that has a better smell ( green apple!)
Black Tea Rinse: Every shampoo- 2bgs each of reg. black tea & flavored tea to 1 cup of filtered water
*Regular black tea, caffeinated or decaffeinated, doesn't matter or
*Celestial Seasonings Herb Tea, Bengal Spice or Chai Spice

♥ Baggy: As needed
Hot Oil Tx: After any rinse and PRN
*Nutiva Organic Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil
*Cocoveda Oil from Henna sooq
*Jojoba oil
*Argan oil from Henna sooq
*Monoi oil 
♥ Henna Tx: Every 2-wks
*Godrej Nupur Henna
- From Henna sooq
* Moroccan
*Rajasthani
*Jamila

♥ Kalpi tone Tx: 1 wk after henna Tx

Rhassoul Clay Hair Mask: 1x/ month from Anita Grant

♥ Leave- ins
*Moringa Tree Detangling Ghee from Qhemet Biologics
*Coco creme Leave-in Condition Shescentit 
*Honey Hemp Conditioner Oyin Handmade
*Almond glaze on edges every from Hairveda
* Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier

***This is MY regimen and the products that I use, which are not limited to the ones that are listed. I am a  product junky trying to manage a healthy, mostly natural hair care lifestyle on a BUDGET, so I often dabble in less expensive, unnatural products as well. This is what works for ME. Feel free to use my regimen and products to assist you in your journey while using your discretion and common sense. This page will be updated as needed. Thanks for dropping by and feel free to leave a message :-)***


~Healthy Hair Blessings~

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Godrej Nupur Mehendi Powder 9 Herbs Blend: 2nd time around

Last Thursday I really wanted to do a henna treatment. I had left over Godrej Nupur henna that I used for the first time about 3 weeks ago. I wanted to take pictures of my entire henna process, but I own a nikkon with only a long lens, meaning I need to be at a far enough distance for my camera to process a picture- It was basically impossible to take a picture of the contents inside my henna bowl without having someone there to hold it up at an angle.  I once owned a smaller camera whose battery door unfortunately broke and, although I tried to hold  it together with tape, the darn thing kept reformatting my SD card which would erase all the pictures that were just taken, SMH! The battery kept falling out and the date and time continuously had to be reset- what a pain!!! I definitely have  to purchase a new lens for the Nikon and a smaller, hand-held camera :-/

For my henna process, I had to strategize when to mix it and apply it. To my advantage, my 2 yr old slept in considerably late and I  gave my newborn a bit of formula in addition to nursing him to keep his belly fuller which would allow him to sleep through my henna process-what a hot mess!

To reconstitute the henna that was thickened by the freezing process, I allowed the plastic container it was in to sit in a hot water bath. I had to reheat the bath several times before the henna began to melt.

 Previously, I mixed the henna in with coconut milk and let it sit for 4 hours. Right before applying it I added coconut oil. Forgive me for not measuring anything-  NOT measuring is why I had left overs in the first place. I usually measure my henna, and being that this was the very  first time using this particular brand, measuring it would have been wise. I poured warm  filtered water into it and stirred it until I achieved  a pudding- like  consistency.
 I know I haven't even began to talk about any of the other hennas, but I already feel like this is definitely going to be a staple. Stay tuned for more in depth reviews of henna, my hair regimen, and other randomness. Thanks!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

***UPDATE*** Beaux Cheveux Essentials Honey Cream Moisturizing Pre-Poo

Picture

So it's been at least 5x that I've used the beaux cheveux pre-poo. The first time my hair was mega dirty and I wondered if this had anything to do with the results which weren't that noticeable. My hair usually isn't that dirty so I wanted to give it  a few more tries on my hair as it normally is. 

This time around I used it the 3rd day after a co wash, and then a week after no washing  to compare the difference. My results were pretty nice. My hair was left a lot stronger and moisturized, especially in this cold dry weather.

The greatest part is that this concoction is very cost effective. My hair isn't that long or thick, but  this product spreads wonderfully, leaving so much left in the container. I've used it a total of 5 times at least and about 1/4 of the jar is gone. 

Since I am a mixtress I feel as though I can duplicate this cream with some time, but with a small child and a baby on the way, it is very cheap to just repurchase this! It actually is a pretty good buy at $9.95- it's filled with a tone of awesome ingredients in an 8 oz jar.  

The fragrance it very light, herbally, and powdery and is very easy on a pregnant woman's nose. I am definitely going to repurchase this. I plan on trying the moisturizing spritz and essential leave in conditioner which are in, and hopefully the banana pudding which is coming soon.


If you are looking to minimize the amount of  products you use and are using a lot of oils to pre poo, this might be for you-this leaves my hair just as strong as when I use my avocado/ olive/ coconut oil mix to prepoo!  can be purchased here.

Thanks Beaux Cheveux!  

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Silk Elements Mixed Silk Nourishing Deep Conditioner- OMG!!!

 
 
 
Ok, so I heard about this a while back on LHCF and decided to purchase it this month since it was on sale. I have also been just searching for something that will work amazingly in my son's 3 type hair and would sweep me off of my feet....well I've found it! 
Unfortunately it isn't all natural,  but I'm over it. It works so well that I can see past that at the moment. It's originally 7.99 and on sale for 5.99 at Sally's. It's 12oz and had a floral powdery scent that does not linger. The smell isn't the best, but it isn't annoying or anything. The consistency is creamy and slightly thick, but not really. I didn't buy the shampoo or leave- in because I didn't think the reviews were that great, but I will go and get the shampoo. The leave in seems to leave flakes in the hair. 
Any how I tried it on my son's hair. He has 3abc hair with a small  patch of 4a dead center in the back of his head. So I'm always looking for a product  for him that works well for both types of hair. I shampooed with taliah waajid's shampoo for kids (never will I buy this again, just trying to get rid of it).  I then towel dried his hair and applied an ample amount, not knowing a little goes a long way. I applied this in sections  and put a shower cap over it for 5 minutes only ( instructions say 3 minutes so I wanted to see how good it really was in a short amount of time) and when I took the cap off his curls were already popping!  It was so easy to detangle  his hair with a wide toothed comb. I went back and forth between that and the tangle teezer and the denman brush to see which one worked the best but they all did fine.
I also used it in my 9 week post 4a/3c hair and OMG, my hair melted like buttah!!!! I have NEVER IN MY LIFE USED  ANYTHING  WHAT WORKED SO WELL AND SO FAST!!! This product makes stretching a breeze!!!
I urge everyone to go out and get this- you cannot lose since sally's has an excellent return policy! 

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Ultimate Relaxer Experience

I relaxed my hair on 12/16/10 after a 10 week stretch. It was just that time! It turned out to be the ultimate relaxer experience and I would like to share! You do not have to use the same exact ingredients but as long as they are along the same lines you should be fine.Here is what I did:

-based scalp: vatika frosting, summit sensitive scalp base relaxer
-based lengths: vatika frosting-this made any detangling A BREEZE! 
-relaxer, added: 1capful of  olive oil, 2 cap fulls avosoya oil
-application 10 minutes, smooth 9 minutes, washed out thoroughly'
-megatek ( protein treatment) 10 mins, wash out
-neutralizing shampoo- was not pink whatsoever-did an excellent job rinsing out!!
-french perm stabilizer 60 seconds-restores the pH of hair
-amala cream rinse 2x
-black tea rinse- left over in fridge from 2 weeks ago- left on 20 minutes
-dc treatment on top of BTR- silk elements olive oil condish and L'Oreal natures Therapy  mega moisture nurturing creme- smells awesome & very hydrating, ms claudies oil, avosaya oil -about a tbs of each oil.
-sat under drier for 20 minutes
-rinsed out in shower
-acv rinse
-on top of acv rinse put acai berry condish in w/ cap for duration of shower
-rinse out apply coco  creme leave in to towel dried hair- 10 pumps
-applied warm cocoveda oil
-applied ic fantasia heat protectant
-let air dry completely

will blow dry and flat iron if needed **** I actually just passed the flat iron through my hair 1x

I know this seems like a lot but it actually wasn't! The longest part was the relaxer time and sitting under the dryer ! Everything took about an hour and 15 mins from start to finish! My hair is so healthy and heavy from my henna and kalpi tone and btr and protein treatment. I did a lot of reading up on the light protein treatment right before the neutralizing step bc this is when the cuticle is most open- this is true, and I absolutely  LOVED  the results. I didnt find any information on the btr, and didn't look for any on the acv after doing a relaxer. I figured what the heck, as long as I do a really moisturizing dc I should be good! Well this was so true. I was so gentle with my hair that I lost only 2 strands the entire time! The btr was right in time when my hair is so fragile after a relaxer. I would always watch a ton of hairs go into the sink as I washed the relaxer out but not this time! 
I purposely failed to mention the type of relaxer as it did not make the difference in my opinion.I have done this routine of prepooing, shampooing, btr for 20 minutes or until dry, dcing for 30 minutes on top of btr, cowashing out, acv, closing with cold water, and then aidrying a few times now and my hair is just marvelous. I have extremely fine 4a hair with a little 3c in the back and my hair is just so strong!  I do this whole routine 1x per week when shampooing only ( of course minus the relaxer, stabilizer,& protein part!). I have not needed to co wash on top of this since I only start to do so when I'm 4 weeks post relaxer or if I just feel like it. Thanks for looking and I hope this routine is able to benefit someone :-)

ECSTASY SHEA SOUFFLÉ and Body Butter by Carol's daughter



This scent starts out as an invigorating sweet surprise and then reduces down to a lingering but subtle musk. It isn't too sweet and not too musky, but works perfectly with my body chemistry.

The soufflé itself is like a luscious cloud of silk, captured in a jar that lacks justice for its feminine scented allure: I'd imagined it to be in a fancy jar, bustling with pinks and purples or something. Needless to say, I rubbed this smooth emollient onto my thirsty parched hands (from excessive washing- I'm a germ-a-phobe) and felt immediate relief- not a greasy feel, film, or residue in sight. I then proceeded to apply the ecstasy soufflé mixed with some ecstasy body butter onto my stomach and my GOSH! My thirsty belly drank this combination with the greatest delight! My pregnant tummy has been smooth and silky for hours... I feel so moisturized, pampered, and relaxed, as though I've finally found the products that I not only deserve, but deserve me! Thanks Carol's Daughter:-)