RADISHES=BEAUTIFUL HAIR, WHO KNEW??

Radishes are great hair strengthening veggies, they contain vitamin C, silicon, and sulfur.  They're also a top mucus dissolving food.  Radishes dissolves mucus in the digestive tract which makes it easier for nutrients to be absorbed.  Because the radish is a cleanser and detoxifier, this is all great ingredients for a beautiful, healthy head of hair and also great skin.  You can make a salad and slice them on top, or you can make a veggie dip and consume them that way.  Which ever way you chose, include radishes in your healthy hair regimen, I promise you will not be disappointed.  If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave in the box below and thanks for reading:)

PROTECTIVE STYLING!!

Protective styling is any style that protects your hair from physical, environmental, and chemical damage.  Using this styling method can minimize damage being done to your hair and you can actually retain length.  Protective styling saves you from overmanipulation, or if you have a busy schedule and just need to get up and go, or if you live in harsh weather conditions, etc.  Down below I have a couple a videos that shows you how to do protective styles.  Enjoy and thanks for visiting:)


                                                                Goddess Braid

Roll & Pin Protective Hairstyle

Twisted Updos & Pompadours

Havana Twist Tutorial

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR RINSE!!

Apple cider vinegar rinses are one of the most beneficial ways to improve hair health!!  It removes product build up, restores the pH balance in your scalp, promotes blood circulation in your scalp (which stimulates hair growth), and gives the hair a nice sheen.  Apple cider vinegar rinse lays down the cuticle to protect your hair shaft, and because of this it imparts a smoother surface which reflects more light and makes hair shinier.  The acid and enzymes in apple cider vinegar kills the bacteria that causes dandruff, itchy scalp, and hair loss.  Bacteria clogs hair follicles allowing crust to form.  A healthy scalp is a happy scalp and an acv rinse will definitely make your scalp happy:)  I have an instructional video for you that shows you how to properly apply an acv rinse to your hair.  If you have any questions or comments leave it in the box down below and thank you for visiting!!

THE PLANT OF IMMORTALITY!!

Aloe vera is such a multi-beneficial plant.  It consist of 75 nutrients, 20 minerals, 12 vitamins, 18 amino acids and 200 active enzymes.  This plant is great for hair, skin, and health!!  The great thing about aloe vera is that you can use it internally and externally!!  Aloe vera is useful in treating skin ailments such as eczema, psoriasis, blisters, insect bites, and so on.  It's great for hair health because it stimulates the production of new hair, and it tames excessive frizz.  Aloe vera also is pH balancing, has anti-fungal properties, and helps hair retain water and moisture.  When taken internally it aids in digestion by detoxifying the body, alleviates acidity, helps with inflammation, and intestinal ulcers.  This plant is such an amazing plant.  You can buy the leaf at your local supermarket, and it won't even break your pockets!!  Here is a aloe vera leave in recipe from BGLH'S website.  Just tap on that link and it will take you right to it!!  There is a video down below on how to extract the gel.

Here is another video on how to make a gel, leave in conditoner, and spray!!  Enjoy!!

DO YOU WANT YOUR HAIR STRONG AS A ROPE? READ THIS!!

How do you think Native Americans had that long, strong hair?  The answer is pumpkin seeds!!  Pumpkin seeds was a part of their traditional diet, that's why their hair was so long and strong.  Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of zinc, sulfur, vitamin A, C, E, K, protein, iron, and a couple other vitamins and minerals.  Sulfur is a mineral part of amino acids that protein synthesis depends on, vitamin C is needed by your body to produce sebum.  Sebum is the oily substance secreted by your hair follicles, it's our natural conditioner.  Pumpkin seeds also contain biotin, so it's good for skin and hair.  The high zinc content helps ward off acne and other skin problems.  I purchase organic austrian pumpkin seeds from whole foods.  So next time you get a chance pick yourself up some organic pumpkin seeds.  It aids in strong and healthy hair growth:)  Do you eat pumpkin seeds?  Are you going to include them in your diet?  Leave a comment in the box below and thanks for visiting:)

WHY I DECIDED TO BE NATURAL!!

Let me just say that I am absolutely loving this natural hair movement!!!  Sisters we are finally embracing our natural beauty.  Our people are so beautiful and it warms my heart to see this happen.  For years I wanted to go natural and did not know how.  I had perm in my hair since I was 10yrs old and we didn't have youtube and all to guide us.  Well one year I went through a very bad heart break.  I then realized that I lost myself in the process and had to learn to love me again.  So I decided to research natural haircare because that's what I love.  I started transitioning January 2012.  Not only did I transition, but I also started to change what I ate, I prayed alot, I took care of my skin, I started doing exercises (I fell off but I will get back lol), drinking tons of water, educating myself everyday, etc.  This journey was more than just hair, it was more spiritual for me.  It helped me get through tough depressing times, it helped me love myself again.  It is such an amazing experience for me.  What does your hair journey mean to you?  What were your experiences?  Leave a question or comment in the box below and thank you for visiting!!

SWEET ALMOND OIL!!

Sweet almond oil is extracted from sweet almonds.  It can be used as a carrier oil for your essential oils, and it's great for skin and hair.  Sweet almond oil does not penetrate the hair like olive oil or coconut oil.  This oil is better used as a sealant or carrier oil.  It prevents hair loss, provides shine, and strengthens hair.  I have this oil in my bathroom right near the sink.  If I find that I am washing my hands too much I use sweet almond oil on my hands.  If I am going out, I spray  the ends of my twist with water and seal with  sweet almond oil.  If there is a conditioner that contains sweet almond oil, I add a little more. Sometimes my face gets a little dry from the heat in my house, I grab my trusty sweet almond oil.  I also use it to seal my hair after a wash.  Do you use almond oil?  What benefit did you see from using it?  Leave a question or comment in the box down below and thank you for visiting:)

HOT OIL TREATMENTS!!

Hot oil treatments are excellent  for your hair.  Whether your transitioning or not it's always good to do one once in a while.  Hair can become damaged by environmental issues, regular brushing, using curlers, dryers, etc.  Hot oil treatments help prevent frizz, adds shine and body, nourishes hair, helps prevent breakage, and moisturizes scalp.  You can mix a few oils together or several oils together.  My hot oil treatments consist of neem oil, jojoba, jamaican black castor oil, and coconut oil.  If you choose to use this mix I need you to know that neem oil is absolutely pungent but it has great benefits.  Whatever your hair likes stick to it.  The secret for lengthy hair is length retention and hot oil treatments helps out with that.  I have an instructional video down below from a young lady by the name of Anna Mitchell.  Please watch and enjoy!!  Any questions or comments leave in the box below, thanks for visiting!!

EAT A BANANA: YOUR HAIR AND SKIN WILL LOVE YOU FOR IT!!

I love bananas!!  They're packed with so many vitamins and they have multiple uses.  Bananas are known for there potassium content which is over 400 mg in a medium sized banana.  Potassium is necessary for proper nerve and muscle function.  It can also prevent muscle cramps after working out.  It keeps skin cells hydrated and helps with hair loss.  Bananas also contain vitamins C, B6, manganese, A, E, iron, etc.  Which is great for hair and skin health.  It can also be used for hair and skin mask.  Down below is a recipe or two for hair and skin.  Hope you enjoy and thanks for visiting!!

Banana Smoothie Hair mask                       

Banana, Honey, Coconut Oil Mask

Banana Honey Face Mask

Dry Skin Banana Face Mask

BENEFITS OF HENNA!!!

Henna is a flowering plant that grows in hot dry climates and is also known as lawsonia inermis. The plant was used for over 6,000 years in Ancient Egypt to dye hair, skin, and nails.  It is also used in parts of North Africa, East and South Asia, etc.    Henna has great benefits for hair health.  The lawsone, which is the dye, coats the hair shaft and fills in rough spots on frayed cuticles.  Lawsonia is known to bond keratin which is your hair protein.  This is why henna adds strength and shine to your hair.  Some people claim it loosens curls, some people claim that they lose there curl pattern altogether.  That never happened in my case but everyone is different. The dye inside this plant usually gives a red/brown stain.  Please be careful when purchasing henna because some people add chemicals to it that can irritate your scalp.  Be sure to buy PURE henna.    I usually make a henna gloss.  Henna gloss is used if you want an easier rinse, better conditioning and subtle color change.  It's a whole lot better than using the chemical dyes over the counter because it's plant based not man made chemical stuff.  I have a recipe that works for my thick hair that I would like to share with you.  Just to let you know, henna has the smell of hay and can make your hair feel like hay.  I would suggest using a moisturizing deep conditioner afterwards.  Use a plastic medium sized bowl that you can cover and have plenty of newspaper, on the floor, around the sink, where ever you think it will land because henna can be messy.

Henna Gloss

200 grams of henna
1/2 cup of Hydra Recharge from Garnier Fructis or whatever moisturizing conditioner you prefer
2 cups of hot green tea
2 tbs raw organic honey
2 tbs organic hibiscus flower powder

Stir with a WOODEN spoon, you do not want to use a metal spoon because it will mess the dye up.  Cover and let sit for 24hrs thats how long it takes for the dye to release. Unless you use the jamilla henna but I don't use that one.  I use organic red Egyptian henna which you can purchase here Butters-n-Bars.  I looove the consistency, it's thick and not as messy.  This site also has Jamilla henna which I think releases faster, you can purchase here Butters-n-Bars.  Put a plastic cap on, leave it on for 2hrs or more then rinse.  Henna is usually a greenish powder, when the dye releases it looks brown.  It can also be frozen for more than 2 yrs so if you have some left over you can freeze it.  Down below is an instructional video by the beautiful Mop TopMaven.  She doesn't have the same ingredients as I do but she shows you the proper way to apply the henna.  Have you ever used henna?  Do you plan on using henna?  Leave a comment in the box below and thanks for reading:)

ARGAN OIL AND HAIR LOSS!!

Argan oil is great for hair.  It contains vitamins such as vitamin F, vitamin E, and is rich in Omega 3, and 9.  These vitamins help blood circulation to the scalp, reduces dandruff, regenerates hair cells, improves growth, and balances hormone levels.  Hormone levels that are imbalanced can be one of the reasons for hair loss.  Argan oil is proven to make hair softer, silkier, shinier, treats split ends and tames frizzy hair.  It can also be used for the skin as it has great anti-aging properties.  How do you use Argan oil?  Do you love this oil?  Leave a comment in the box below, thanks for reading:)

NUTRITIONAL YEAST AND HEALTHY HAIR!!

Nutritional yeast is a different species of yeast. It's not the same yeast that causes candidiasis.  It is gluten free and contains the perfect recipe for healthy hair.  Nutritional Yeast is a complete protein that helps fortify the protein in the hair shaft.  It also contains 15 key minerals, such as zinc, selenium, magnesium, manganese and copper.  The most important benefits of nutritional yeast, if your trying to grow your hair, is the B vitamins it contain.  B vitamins keep your hair shiny, healthy, and helps the color stay strong.  The yeast also contains vitamin B12 which is important for nerve function and helps rebuild blood cells.  I usually sprinkle some over my salad, or I make a veggie dip out of it.  My nutritional yeast was purchased at the Reading Terminal in Philadelphia.  It was hard finding this stuff even in the other health food stores.  You can also order some on the internet!!  The taste is a little cheese flavor so don't be scared try it out.   Purchase some this week, you won't regret it.  Let me know how you like it!!

BUTTERS ARE GREAT FOR THE WINTER!!

When I say butters I speak of shea butter, avocado butter, etc.  I prefer to seal with butter in the winter instead of oils because of the harsh winters that we tend to have in Philadelphia.  Butters (to me) are heavier than oils so I feel like they protect my hair better.  I'm going to give you a list of butters that you can try out so you can transform dry, brittle, hair into healthy, nourished hair!!

Shea Butter

Shea butter is fat extracted from the African Shea-Karite tree.  Shea butter provides nourishment for hair and skin.  This butter can help shield the hair by locking or concealing moisture.  It has the ability to repair the hair and protect the hair against weather damage, UV rays, and soothes an irritated scalp.

Murumuru Butter

Murumuru butter comes from the nuts of the Astrocaryum Murumuru tree that grows in the Amazon basins.  It's highly emollient, moisturizing, film forming, and naturally glossy.  Great for dry skin and dry damaged hair.  It's natural gloss, vitamins, and minerals gives your hair a nice sheen. It is found in many of the moisturizing hair products that we love.

Mango Butter

Mango butter is made from the mango seed.  It has emollient properties which is great for softening the hair and sealing in moisture.  Mango butter can also restore flexibility to hair and reduce degeneration of hair cells.  Great for the skin also!!

Avocado Butter

Avocado Butter is made from avocado fruit oil through a hydrogenation process which yields soft, yellow-green butter. It conditions hair and scalp. Heals dry damaged skin and hair. Reduces wrinkles, age spots, marks, scarring, and can also be used as a heat protectant.

Kokum Butter

Kokum butter is very similar to cocoa butter because of it's uniform triglyceride composition.  It's better to combine this butter with other butters and oils because it's such a hard butter.

Is there a butter that you are interested in trying?  Leave a comment in the box below!!  Your comments are appreciated!!

HAPPY MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY!!

I want to talk about Dr. Martin Luther King jr. for a minute!!  Dr. King was a pastor, activist, humanitarian and a leader of the civil rights movement which was to achieve legal equality for African Americans in the United States!!  Dr. King used the power of words, and non-violent resistance to get his point across!!  That takes a very strong person to make a change without the use of violence and for that he will and shall always be remembered.  With out him who knows where we would be as a people.  Thank you Dr.  Martin Luther King jr. for all you did for our people, we will never forget!!

• According to the King Center, in 1957, Dr. King was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an organization designed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. He would serve as head of the SCLC until his assassination in 1968, a period during which he would emerge as the most important social leader of the modern American civil rights movement.

• In 1963, he led a coalition of numerous civil rights groups in a nonviolent campaign aimed at Birmingham, Alabama, which at the time was described as the “most segregated city in America.” The subsequent brutality of the city’s police, illustrated most vividly by television images of young blacks being assaulted by dogs and water hoses, led to a national outrage resulting in a push for unprecedented civil rights legislation. It was during this campaign that Dr. King drafted the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” the manifesto of Dr. King’s philosophy and tactics, which is today required-reading in universities worldwide.

• Later in 1963, Dr. King was one of the driving forces behind the March for Jobs and Freedom, more commonly known as the “March on Washington,” which drew over a quarter-million people to the national mall. It was at this march that Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, which cemented his status as a social change leader and helped inspire the nation to act on civil rights. Dr. King was later named Time magazine’s “Man of the Year.”

• In 1964, at 35 years old, Martin Luther King, Jr. became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize. His acceptance speech in Oslo is thought by many to be among the most powerful remarks ever delivered at the event, climaxing at one point with the oft-quoted phrase “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.”

• Also in 1964, partly due to the March on Washington, Congress passed the landmark Civil Rights Act, essentially eliminating legalized racial segregation in the United States. The legislation made it illegal to discriminate against blacks or other minorities in hiring, public accommodations, education or transportation, areas which at the time were still very segregated in many places.

• The next year, 1965, Congress went on to pass the Voting Rights Act, which was an equally-important set of laws that eliminated the remaining barriers to voting for African-Americans, who in some locales had been almost completely disenfranchised. This legislation resulted directly from the Selma to Montgomery, AL March for Voting Rights lead by Dr. King.

• Between 1965 and 1968, Dr. King shifted his focus toward economic justice – which he highlighted by leading several campaigns in Chicago, Illinois – and international peace – which he championed by speaking out strongly against the Vietnam War. His work in these years culminated in the “Poor Peoples Campaign,” which was a broad effort to assemble a multiracial coalition of impoverished Americans who would advocate for economic change.

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s less than thirteen years of nonviolent leadership ended abruptly and tragically on April 4th, 1968, when he was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. King’s body was returned to his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, where his funeral ceremony was attended by high-level leaders of all races and political stripes.

DEEP CONDITIONING: IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR HAIR RIGHT?

Deep conditioning is wonderful for your hair but there is a such thing as overconditioning.  Some people leave their conditioners in for hours even until the next day.  That is not a good thing.  It only takes 20-30 minutes at the most for the hair to absorb the conditioner (that's the max).  Overconditioning could mess up the keratin in your hair and can make your hair softer, weaker and prone to breakage.  Think of how weak your fingernails get after sitting in the tub too long.  It's the same keratin protein that your hair has.  If something like that happens don't worry, it's only temporary and can be fixed with proper handle and care. Are you guilty of overconditioning?  Please leave a comment in the box, thank you!!

DULSE: WHAT IS IT?

Dulse is an ancient food from the sea that's been used by the people of Asia, Canada, Ireland, and other Northern European countries for centuries!!  Dulse is great for your hair as well as your body.  It contains B6, B12, E, A, and is rich in iron.  Other minerals that it contain are zinc, calcium, potassium, magnesium as well as iodine.  It's practically a hair fertilizer.  It's dark red and comes in different forms. Sometimes it could be in powder form or a chunky form.  Next time your in a health food store, try picking some up especially if you have a hair growth goal.  Have you tried dulse before?  Are you thinking of picking some up?  Leave a comment in the box below, thank you!!

AMLA OIL!!

Amla oil a.k.a indian gooseberry is a fruit found largely in the subtropical mountainous regions of South and Southeast Asia.  Amla oil contains a number of essential fatty acids and the fruit itself contains vitamin C, polyphenols, flavonoids, water, protein, and other vitamins and minerals.  Amla oil helps treat dry, itchy scalp, and helps prevent gray hair.  It has twice the antioxidant power of acai and 17 times that of pomegranate.  It has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties, and it binds copper and iron which makes it an chelating agent.  You can find this oil here Amla Oil or at any health food stores, websites, etc.  A lot of the cheaper ones contain mineral oil so be careful and read the ingredients!!  Do you use Amla?  Are you planning to use it?  Leave us your comments!!

COCONUT OIL: OH HOW I LOVE THEE!!!

I absolutely looove coconut oil!!!  It does my hair right, I cook with it, I make lip balm with it, I oil my skin with it, etc. Coconut oil is one of the few oils to penetrate through the hair shaft because of its molecular structure.  I personally use it as a pre-poo (which is a treatment applied to the hair prior to shampooing or co-washing) and I finger detangle with it.  It's a great conditioner for the hair, think of the natives in those tropical regions with that beautiful shiny black hair!!!  Here's how I do my pre-poo!!!

I take my jar of unrefined organic coconut oil
part my hair into 4 sections
I part one section at a time
I put the oil from root to tip
after I am done with the section I put it in a bun
then I cover my hair with a plastic cap for a couple hrs then wash

It helps keep the oils in your hair instead of completely washing them out.  Do you use coconut oil?  Do you pre-poo with it?  Leave a comment below!!!

HAIR POROSITY: HOW POROUS IS YOUR HAIR?

Porosity refers to how much or how little your hair can absorb water or chemicals into the cuticle layers and the cortex of your strands.  There is low porosity, normal porosity and high porosity.
Low Porosity - means that it's difficult for your hair to absorb moisture and it resist chemicals.
Normal Porosity - means your hair easily allows moisture to enter in and it stays in longer.
High Porosity - means your hair is badly damaged. The cuticle layers of your hair is lifted and will let moisture out easily.
How do you know which one you have?  There is a porosity test you can take.  Gently hold a strand or two of your dry hair between your finger and your thumb, slowly slide your fingers along the length of the strand.  Start from scalp to end and if you feel an uneven texture then your hair is slightly porous.  Here's an in depth article about hair porosity, hope you enjoy!!  Hair Porosity 101: What It Means & How To Repair it

EAT LEAFY GREENS!!! BETTER YET DRINK THEM!!

Leafy green veggies are so important to incorporate into your diet while trying to grow long and strong hair.  They contain fiber, phytonutrients, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes that flush pollutants and toxins stored in fat cells.  According to Kimberly Snyder's The Beauty Detox Foods you can get more greens in her glowing green smoothie than several salads put together!!!  It is better to blend your smoothies because blending doesn't completely masticate the produce.  Instead, blending helps the greens' nutrition become readily available because they are considered predigested at that point.  So if you want thick, healthy, shiny hair remember that you have to take care of your inside as well as your outside.  Please if you have any questions, concerns and or comments leave a little something in the box down below we appreciate them thank you:)

WHAT THE HECK IS CO-WASHING?

Co-washing is a term short for conditioner washing.  Conditioner washing is great for us curlies because our hair have a tendency to be drier than straight hair.  The reason for this is because natural oils that comes from our scalp have a hard time lubricating our strands to the end.  Co-washing helps keep the hair hydrated and nourished. You can co-wash your hair as much as you like but if your hair becomes dull from product build up you should always clarify with a sulfate free shampoo or apple cider vinegar rinse.  Build up happens when you constantly co-wash without clarifying because of silicones.  Water soluble silicones wash easily from hair, non-water soluble silicones do not and that's when you have to clarify.  Co-washing is not for everyone, if you have oily hair it would just add more oil.  If your hair is dry it can moisturize your hair.  Here is an instructional video on how to co-wash by the lovely naptural85.  You can visit her blog at www.naptural85.com.

Do you co-wash, and if so how often?  What are some of the methods you use for moisture?  Please leave your comments in the box below, we greatly appreciate them!!

RHASSOUL CLAY

Rhassoul clay is a natural clay mined in the atlas mountains of Morocco.  It contains trace minerals such as silica, iron, magnesium, potassium and other trace elements.  Rhassoul clay is great for detoxifying the scalp by removing dead skin cells and sebum while nourishing skin cells with the trace minerals.  You could use this clay as a natural alternative to shampoo and you can use this as a facial mask just adding water.  I have a recipe that I put together for my own hair.  My hair is multi-textured and thick so this is how I make my rhassoul clay.

Rhassoul Clay Mix

2 cups of rhassoul clay
hot water (I just judge the consistency I don't really measure)
2 tbs of apple cider vinegar
a bit of coconut milk and half a banana ( I mix in the blender)
2 tbs of organic raw honey
melted organic cocoa butter
olive oil
monoi oil

Stir the mixture with a WOODEN spoon not a metal spoon you do not want the clay to react.  Part your hair into 4 sections (at least thats what I do, whatever works), do one section at a time parting those sections and smoothing the clay in each section.  After the hair is covered in clay put a plastic cap over it and let sit for 30-45 minutes then rinse.  I like to dunk my head in a tub of water to make it easier!!  I use clays to wash my hair cause I find that even sulfate free is a bit much for my hair.  My hair comes out a little dry after using shampoo so this is one of my alternatives.  Here is an instructional video by kinkykurlyqueen!!  We do not have the same ingredients but this shows you how to distribute the clay correctly.  You can follow her at http://naturallyobsessed.net/.


Do you use a natural alternative to shampoo?  Are you thinking about trying rhassoul clay?  Please leave a comment at the box below!!!  We would love to hear about your alternatives!!

JOJOBA IS NOT AN OIL!!

According to http://www.jojobacompany.com jojoba is not an oil because it does not contain triglycerides. Jojoba plants are woody perennial bushes native to Arizona, Mexico, and California.  Jojoba is actually a liquid wax ester similar to human sebum, because of this it loosens and dissolves hardened sebum that could obstruct the follicle's ability to function properly if left unattended. Great for dry scalp issues such as dandruff, hair loss, and great for all hair types!!  I personally use jojoba for my skin and if I have a conditioner that doesn't have enough slip!!!  It could be used as a hot oil treatment, cuticle oil, shaving prep, aftershave, massage oil, carrier oil, etc.