Did you Know?
Did you know that natural herbs can be formulated for use in your hair. Herbs can be effective in addressing specific hair type needs. Just mix and match herbs to create your own individual twist for healthy hair.
For coarse or curly black hair: Comfrey, nettle, cherry bark, olive oil.
Dandruff: peppermint,lemon grass, birch, white willow bark,comfrey leaves, nettle.
Dry: Crushed lavender flowers, crushed orange flowers, red clover, comfrey elder flowers, chamomile and marigold.
Normal: Dandelion, horsetail, clover
Shine: raspberry, nettle.
Softness: Cherry bark, burdock root, olive oil, marjoram.
Growth: nettle, sage, basil, rosemary, onion juice.
12/30/08
12/28/08
Ylang Ylang Shampoo
If you are like me, tired of applying chemicals to your hair with names you can't even pronounce.Try being creative and make your own. After all if they can make it why can't you?
Ylang Ylang Shampoo(pronounced ee-lang ee-lang)
1/2 oz of castile liquid soap base( like Dr. Bronner's) or 4 oz of Pure castile soap chips.
32 oz of distilled water
4-8 drops essential oil of your choice( I use ylang ylang oil, hence the name of the shampoo)
Directions:
If you use the liquid soap base
Just mix water and soap then add the oils.
Ylang Ylang Shampoo(pronounced ee-lang ee-lang)
1/2 oz of castile liquid soap base( like Dr. Bronner's) or 4 oz of Pure castile soap chips.
32 oz of distilled water
4-8 drops essential oil of your choice( I use ylang ylang oil, hence the name of the shampoo)
Directions:
- Bring water to boil
- Pour over soap chips
- Stir until dissolved
- Add essential oils, mix 4-8 drops in a tsp of rubbing alcohol( I usually skip the alcohol).
- Store in a plastic container or spray bottle.
If you use the liquid soap base
Just mix water and soap then add the oils.
12/26/08
12/25/08
12/19/08
Recording Artist Janelle Monae
She rocks that natural hair and unique style with pizazz. Her song, Sincerely Jane is one of my personal favorites. Listen to the words y'all!
Love her high energy.Support real music!
Love her high energy.Support real music!
'Do The Pompadour !
Get Fabulous Hair For the New Year.
We all make some form of resolutions or promises for the New Year. Will we be able to keep it? Well that's the big issue. This year make a resolution that you will be able to keep while improving your tresses for the coming year.
Follow these four quick tips for healthy hair.
Clarify
Use Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse or clarifying shampoos to break down product buildup on hair. It is necessary to break down product buildup to prevent hair from appearing dull. This also allows the products used in the future to saturate hair and do the job required for healthy hair.
Moisturize
Moisture is the key. In order to maintain healthy hair keep hair moisturized. Whether using commercial products or your own natural concoction remember that hair needs water in order to remain healthy.
Lay Off The Heat
Please minimize the use of heat. Blow dryers, curling irons, straighteners etc. anything that applies heat to hair. Heat is instrumental in all those frizzy, dry, brittle, broken, fried hair. If you must use heat, apply a heat protection product and reduce temperature to the lowest needed to straighten hair.
Nourish From Within
It is a given. What you place in your body shows on the outside. Eating fruits, veggies and drinking water is instrumental in providing nutrients which is necessary for hair growth. So drink up those eight glasses of water, your hair will thank you for it later.
Follow these four quick tips for healthy hair.
Clarify
Use Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse or clarifying shampoos to break down product buildup on hair. It is necessary to break down product buildup to prevent hair from appearing dull. This also allows the products used in the future to saturate hair and do the job required for healthy hair.
Moisturize
Moisture is the key. In order to maintain healthy hair keep hair moisturized. Whether using commercial products or your own natural concoction remember that hair needs water in order to remain healthy.
Lay Off The Heat
Please minimize the use of heat. Blow dryers, curling irons, straighteners etc. anything that applies heat to hair. Heat is instrumental in all those frizzy, dry, brittle, broken, fried hair. If you must use heat, apply a heat protection product and reduce temperature to the lowest needed to straighten hair.
Nourish From Within
It is a given. What you place in your body shows on the outside. Eating fruits, veggies and drinking water is instrumental in providing nutrients which is necessary for hair growth. So drink up those eight glasses of water, your hair will thank you for it later.
12/17/08
I'm never getting THAT HAIR!
I must admit.
I too am a You tube fanatic when it comes to watching how other naturals style their hair. One thing I have realized about being natural (some 20 odd years experience) is that not all hair is created equal.
Many naturals get frustrated when they don't get the perfect spiral curls or the tight bouncy coils. The fact of the matter is, your hair is determined by your genetics. No amount of hair care products that promises perfect curls will change that.
I have long embraced the fact that my hair will not look like Rachel True's or Denise Vasi's.
So I learned to embrace my own hair and the compliments keep pouring in.
12/16/08
Enhance your style for the holiday with these beautiful accessories.
This holiday cutting back on spending doesn't mean cutting back on style.
So dig out that old outfit from your closet and jazz it up with new accessories. The proper accessories are instrumental in transforming any look. So whether its jazzing up your 'fro or enhancing your twisties. These hair accessories will surely give you the hot holiday look.
So dig out that old outfit from your closet and jazz it up with new accessories. The proper accessories are instrumental in transforming any look. So whether its jazzing up your 'fro or enhancing your twisties. These hair accessories will surely give you the hot holiday look.
Feather Petal Headbands $3.80
Mesh Flower Headband $5.80
Metallic Feather & Bow Headband $6.80
Jeweled Bow Bobby Pin $2.80
Abstract Woven Scarf $7.80
Silk Rose Headband $7.80
Southwest Feather Hair Clip $3.80
Satin Rose Headband $4.80
Shell Hair Clip $6.80Hair Care Questions Answered!
Whether you are a newbie natural or seasoned veteran, they are many myths and facts given about hair care. Here are some questions and answers about natural hair care.
Can I wash Natural hair more than once a week?
Yes, however it's best to wash hair minimally because the natural oils produced by the scalp are the best conditioner the hair needs to maintain its moisture balance. Afro hair is most known for its dryness. Constant washing will lead to chronic dryness and frizz.
How long should I leave conditioner in my hair?
For as long as needed. If you have 5 minutes or 2 hours some is better than none. Your hair will thank you for it.
Should I trim my hair every six weeks?
While there are no hard and fast rules to how often hair is trimmed. The more damaged the hair, the more trimming it will need in order to be healthy. If it is severely damaged from heat treatment and color, the rule of thumb is to cut for every inch of hair grown. That is, If you have an inch of growth, then trim an inch of damaged hair.
What about spilt ends how do I get rid of them?
The best way to get rid of spilt ends is to remove them. Yes, that means cutting the damaged ends of the hair. Products geared towards spilt ends, sadly do not repair them. It just gives the appearance of smooth hair but the damage is already done.
Does color damage natural hair?
Yes. Color treatment damages all hair types, but it can be especially damaging to natural hair which is already prone to breakage and dryness. Permanent coloring strips each strand of it outer layer to prepare it for the color. This outer layer is responsible for protecting hair strands. When they are destroyed they cannot reform on the hair strand thus leading to excessive dryness.
If hair is color treated remember to deep condition regularly to retain some moisture.
What is the difference between Natural vs Store bought products?
Both products can work depending on ingredients. Natural products have an advantage because you are able to control the ingredients applied to your hair. Store bought are formulated to be effective on hair but they also add ingredients to preserve the shelf life of the products which has adverse effects on hair. One such is alcohol,which causes dryness.
Got a hair question? Send it to naturalnana1@aol.com
Can I wash Natural hair more than once a week?
Yes, however it's best to wash hair minimally because the natural oils produced by the scalp are the best conditioner the hair needs to maintain its moisture balance. Afro hair is most known for its dryness. Constant washing will lead to chronic dryness and frizz.
How long should I leave conditioner in my hair?
For as long as needed. If you have 5 minutes or 2 hours some is better than none. Your hair will thank you for it.
Should I trim my hair every six weeks?
While there are no hard and fast rules to how often hair is trimmed. The more damaged the hair, the more trimming it will need in order to be healthy. If it is severely damaged from heat treatment and color, the rule of thumb is to cut for every inch of hair grown. That is, If you have an inch of growth, then trim an inch of damaged hair.
What about spilt ends how do I get rid of them?
The best way to get rid of spilt ends is to remove them. Yes, that means cutting the damaged ends of the hair. Products geared towards spilt ends, sadly do not repair them. It just gives the appearance of smooth hair but the damage is already done.
Does color damage natural hair?
Yes. Color treatment damages all hair types, but it can be especially damaging to natural hair which is already prone to breakage and dryness. Permanent coloring strips each strand of it outer layer to prepare it for the color. This outer layer is responsible for protecting hair strands. When they are destroyed they cannot reform on the hair strand thus leading to excessive dryness.
If hair is color treated remember to deep condition regularly to retain some moisture.
What is the difference between Natural vs Store bought products?
Both products can work depending on ingredients. Natural products have an advantage because you are able to control the ingredients applied to your hair. Store bought are formulated to be effective on hair but they also add ingredients to preserve the shelf life of the products which has adverse effects on hair. One such is alcohol,which causes dryness.
Got a hair question? Send it to naturalnana1@aol.com
12/15/08
Feature Model ,Aisha Cain
OMG so I just discovered this model, Aisha Cain. Apparently she has been around for some time and was a part of the long running Evian campaign. She is also this months Natural Beauty.
Simply Beautiful
Killer Boots
Let me just veer away from the hair thing and say that this is my dream shoes. Wow gotta work extra hours to acquire these *sigh....(ok now back to hair).
12/14/08
Homemade Hair Mayonnaise Treatment
So my hair's been getting a little dry and brittle lately so I turned to my trusted homemade recipe, The Hair Mayonnaise Treatment.
Why mayonnaise? Well apart from the fact that this works great with my hair, it is the perfect recipe for natural hair. The ingredients in mayonnaise is oil based and a great source for deep conditioning.
It also contains no petroleum, mineral oils or alcohol which damages hair. You would be surprised at the amount of conditioners and hair treatments geared towards damaged and dry hair which contains harmful ingredients which does worse damage to your hair.
Gimme my hair mayo treatment over those any day. A few weeks of this treatment and your hair will be in tip top shape.
Enjoy.
Items Needed
Mayonnaise (Hellman s, Kraft etc.)
One egg
Tea Tree, Lavender, Jojoba Oil(choose one )
One teaspoon Honey
Shower Cap, Saran Wrap or Plastic Bag
Heated Towel or Dryer (optional)
Blend or Whisk Mayonnaise, egg, honey to a creamy consistency. Add oils, this is great for helping to mask the smell of the mixture.
On freshly washed hair generously apply Mayonnaise mixture. Don't forget to get the ends because they tend to be the most plagued with dryness.
After application, put on shower cap , saran wrap or plastic bag to completely cover hair. At this point you can allow it to sit naturally in hair for 2-3 hrs. Another option is to wrap warm towel around head for 10-15 minutes. For those with minimal time, sit under the dryer for 15 minutes to allow treatment to saturate.
Wash out treatment from hair and enjoy the softness.
Why mayonnaise? Well apart from the fact that this works great with my hair, it is the perfect recipe for natural hair. The ingredients in mayonnaise is oil based and a great source for deep conditioning.
It also contains no petroleum, mineral oils or alcohol which damages hair. You would be surprised at the amount of conditioners and hair treatments geared towards damaged and dry hair which contains harmful ingredients which does worse damage to your hair.
Gimme my hair mayo treatment over those any day. A few weeks of this treatment and your hair will be in tip top shape.
Enjoy.
Items Needed
Mayonnaise (Hellman s, Kraft etc.)
One egg
Tea Tree, Lavender, Jojoba Oil(choose one )
One teaspoon Honey
Shower Cap, Saran Wrap or Plastic Bag
Heated Towel or Dryer (optional)
Blend or Whisk Mayonnaise, egg, honey to a creamy consistency. Add oils, this is great for helping to mask the smell of the mixture.
On freshly washed hair generously apply Mayonnaise mixture. Don't forget to get the ends because they tend to be the most plagued with dryness.
After application, put on shower cap , saran wrap or plastic bag to completely cover hair. At this point you can allow it to sit naturally in hair for 2-3 hrs. Another option is to wrap warm towel around head for 10-15 minutes. For those with minimal time, sit under the dryer for 15 minutes to allow treatment to saturate.
Wash out treatment from hair and enjoy the softness.
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