Saturday, August 27

Review: Chi 44 Iron Guard

We all know that if we are planning on using any form of direct heat, a heat protectant should be used. Heat protection comes in various forms, such as a leave-in, serum, or water based spray. I have used all three kinds and sometimes combine two (for instance-using  Aphogee Keratin and Green Tea Reconstructurizer as a leave-in then once hair dries spray Beyond the Zone Heat Protectant on my hair, then proceed to flat-iron or blow-dry). My sister gave me her heat protectant, Chi Iron guard, because
never used it and doesn't flat-iron or blow-dry her hair.
I have used it a few times and because it was "Chi", I thought it would be the holy grail of heat protectants....
See below for my review.



Product Features
Provides superior heat protection for hair from the inside out
Protects against styling and finishing damages from the hottest heat styling tools
Remains hair silky and shiny
Styles last longer with use
Weightless compound, style can be regenerated with heat again and again


Ingredients
Water (Aqua), Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, SD Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, PPG 20 Methyl Glucose Ether, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein PG Propyl Silanetriol, Perfume (Fragrance), Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Ceramic

Product Description
CHI Iron Guard by Farouk provides superior heat protection, against styling and finishing damage from the hottest heat tools. Hair will remain silky and shiny, allowing your hair style to last longer

How I used it: When I last relaxed, I sprayed this on each section of my air dried hair before flat-ironing.
Also, before blow drying to stretch my underprocessed hair and/or newgrowth, I would spray this on about 98% dry hair.

My Review: My hair basically stuck together after a few days of using this as a heat protectant when flat-ironing. I figured it could have been because I sprayed on each section when I should have just sprayed through-out my hair. BUT when I used other heat-protectants, I did that and never experienced sticky hair. I also didn't experience the silky smooth hair I wished to. It didn't completely dry out my hair, but I didn't have that swang I would get using a serum,
So, I decided to give it another try, but this time blow-dry and only spray a very little on my hair. My hair still felt a little sticky and it wasn't as smooth as I wished.
I will give it one more try, but so far, I am not loving this

Will I re-purchase- No, I will not. Chi has great products, so I think if I were to purchase another heat protectant from them it will be the Silk Infusium,

Cost 8.5 oz:  free for me, but my sister paid $14.99 @ CVS BUT it can be as low as $9.00 at other places.

Thursday, August 25

The Beautiful Aaliyah- Re-Post

How could I have a Hair Blog and NOT post something on Aaliyah. I swear her hair was always on point. She was a beautiful woman inside and out.


~RIP Aaliyah~
Today marks the 10th anniversary of her death, so I had to re-post this!!!











For all of you Beyonce fans, take a look at her interviewing Aaliyah. They both look beautiful. Especially Aaliyah. I love jet black hair and I like the color on the tips. Anyway, enjoy!




If anyone can find me an article on Aaliyah speaking about her hair, let me know! I would love to post it. I see alot of people speaking about her regimen, but I never see her actually speaking about it.







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Sunday, August 21

Atlantic City- Hair Styles and Outfits

I spent the weekend in Atlantic City with some friends and had a blast. I have been there before, but this time I enjoyed it much more!! I didn't take many pics...but decided to share a few of myself with you all.

I still have the twists in my hair..and I must say, they are sooo easy to care for!









Thursday, August 18

Patra and her Braids

Okay..now I'm sure most of you have heard the term "Patra Braids". Well the originator herself was spotted recently with her trademark braids.

For all of you who don't know- Patra is a Reggae Artist from the 90's who's famous for the songs "Pull up to the Bumper" and "Romantic Call"..etc





Saturday, August 13

Rihanna

There is nothing really extraordinary about this hairstyle. What I like is the simplicity of it. Anyone can achieve this look with a simple phony-pony....or even with you're own hair in pony braid-out.

I kind of miss the red hair to tell you the truth...it grew on me.





Side-Note: No make-up and still looking beautiful!!


Images: Flynet




Friday, August 12

Took the Twists Out

 I wanted to keep these in for 2 weeks...but a Henna and Indigo Treatment is calling my name. Plus, I will be going on a trip soon and I would like my hair to look "fresh" for it.





Before removing each twist, I coated them with V05 Strawberry and Cream Conditioner. They were so soft and I had virtually no breakage. I separated and lightly finger detangled each twist as I removed them.

I was left with this..and a GREASY face!

Thursday, August 11

Giraffe Earrings

LOL.
So, I purchased some Vintage Hand Painted Giraffe Earrings on Ebay.

Now, you all know I am 6 ft. tall...and Proud! But growing up I hated my height...and would sometimes be called a giraffe. I swear, some kids are evil!!!

Side Note: Kimora Lee Simons went through the saaaame thing and look at her now!

Anyway...because I am so comfortable in the skin I'm in now...I bought these earrings as a way to embrace the "name calling"  I endured as a child.



I think they're cute...but then again, I have very eclectic taste in jewelery(if you haven't noticed by my last earrings post)

Tuesday, August 9

Angela Simmons Hair- Post Weave

I'm sure everyone knows that the Simmons sister's have some beautiful hair. For the last few years, they have been protecting their hair with weaves and it sure paid off. Angela posted this via twitter:


Just took my weave out.. Look how long my hair grew. Its so thick !!



Source



Monday, August 8

Two-Strand Twists on My Relaxed Hair


Because my new-growth has been getting tangled easily, I decided to put some twists in my hair to avoid any extreme knots during the week.
This is one time I really wish I were natural because these would look sooooo much better. The relaxed ends make my hair look stringy! But for now, they will do.

I will wear them either in a bun or in a faux bob. Because I did this with my real hair, I need to protect my ends by keeping them tucked away.


                                                            Twists rolled and tucked under


#Ew....I will not be wearing them down...AT ALL!

Hotmess! lol


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Sunday, August 7

Weekend Wrap Up- The Braids Aftermath

It took me 5.5 hours to remove all of my braids and this is half of the shed hair I was left with. Before removing my braids, I misted them with water mixed with Aloe Vera Juice. As I took out each braid out, I gently finger detangled my hair to remove all shed hair. Then when all of the braids were out, I sprayed my hair with the Aloe Vera Juice and Water then thoroughly detangled with a wide tooth comb.




After detangling each section, I put my hair in about 10 braids and shampooed my hair in those same braids.
I applied diluted shampoo to my scalp, massaged it in and let the water run down my hair.Then I applied some conditioner to the braids, let it sit for about 3 minutes then rinsed.









I then removed each braid, applied my Deep Conditioner (Lekair Cholesterol) then twisted each section. Put my shower cap on and left it on for about 1 hour.









While rinsing the DC out in the shower, I removed the twists and rinsed my hair loose. I then  applied Roux Porosity Control to my hair, let it sit for about 3 minutes then rinsed.
Towel Dried my hair, applied leave-ins and let air dry for about 30 minutes



Then I applied my Shea-Aloe Mix (Shea Butter, Aloe Vera Gel, Essential Oils, Avocado Oil) to my hair in sections, then put about 8-10 braids in my hair. I applied silk rollers to the ends to my braid-out wouldn't have straight ends.









Later on that night, I sprayed some Hot 6 Oil to my hair, removed the braids.  fluffed the braids out and was left with this........





I am now twisting my hair, so I can keep those twists in a bun for the week. This is the bottom 3 rows. 

Saturday, August 6

So You Want to Color Your Hair?!


Color treated hair, whether you are natural or relaxed, requires extra care.
I always suggest to use semi-permanent hair dye/rinses, henna, indigo, honey, coffee...you see where I am going...Go the Natural route
BUT some can't find one that works for them or would like a more specific or dramatic color so they opt for Commercial/Chemical Hair Dyes.
Some people just use Dye to cover up Greys.  

IF you Dye your hair, keep reading for some tips

  • If you are Relaxed, NEVER Color and Relax the same day!!
  • Always Relax Before Coloring- You should wait at least 3 weeks after Relaxing your hair to apply color. I suggest waiting 4 weeks
  • Start Stretching Your Relaxers- Now that you have TWO chemicals in your hair, it is important to reduce the amount 1 chemical treatment in your hair. You have to pick, the color or the relaxer. I vote for the relaxer
  • If you want the color to last, do a Clear RINSE (Semi-permanent Hair Color which has NO peroxide) to seal in the color- This will help reduce the amount of touch-ups you will have to do.  
  • MOISTURE, MOISTURE, MOISTURE and PROTEIN!- You need to keep your hair moisturized at all times. This means more Deep Conditioning Treatments, maybe incorporate Co-Washing and Moisturizing hair day and night. Also, don't forget about Protein treatments. A Hard Core Protein Treatment, such as Aphogee may be needed every 6 weeks. If not, a Mild Protein DC should be used at least bi-weekly.ALWAYS follow up a Protein treatment with a Moisturizing DC!
  • Use Sulfate Free Shampoos- Shampoos with Sulfate will strip the hair color and may potentially dry out your hair. Opt for Sulfate free Shampoos
  • LAY OFF THE DIRECT HEAT!!!!-  Blow-drying and Flat-Ironing your hair should be done at the absolute Minimum.


Thursday, August 4

It's About That Time

....to take these braids out!
That's it! I'm sick of them. I tried, I really tried to keep them in for 8 weeks, but I think 5 weeks is my max.
I must say that I am proud of myself. Since the start of my journey, the longest time I could keep my braids in was 4 weeks. Last year my braids lasted 4 weeks, then 3 and sadly after that, only 2 weeks.
So...to me, this is a big accomplishment.

This is what my new-growth in braids looked like @ 4 weeks. I think that's about .5 inches. Now I just hope I retain all of that.

This is TRUE 4B/4C hair!



I'm taking these out tomorrow, then I'll put my hair in small, long cornrows next weekend. I plan to keep those in for 2 weeks....

I plan to relax the first week of September and I know there's going to be a jungle to get through. My hair was slightly (I use this term lightly) underprocessed...so I have a lot to work with.
Here's a preview.....

This was my hair 5.28.2011


Kimora and Kenzo

Now you would think that I am gushing over Kimora's hair....but nope..I am in love with this little fro (although it's not picked out) Kenzo has going on. Isn't he adorable? And that hair?!! So cute. I usually don't post men's(or shall I say little boys) hair on my blog...but there's a first time for everything!



Wednesday, August 3

10 TIPS TO BOOST YOUR METABOLISM

I get this newsletter from one of my vendors monthly and saw these tips. As a child, I had very fast metabolism, but I was always afraid that it would slow down drastically as I got older. Luckily, it hasn't  and realized that it could be because I follow at least 8 out of the tips below.
I'm sure you all have seen this before....but here's a reminder.

Metabolism; simply put, is the process by which the body makes and uses energy (calories) for everything from the cellular absorption of nutrients to running a marathon. Whether you're trying to lose extra pounds or preparing for the inevitable metabolic slowing that comes with age, here are some surefire ways to boost your metabolism to keep your energy pulsating and your body in shape.


1. Build lean body mass
Muscle is the single most important predictor of how well you burn calories. Muscle burns more calories than fat so the more muscle you build, the higher your resting metabolic rate will be. Every muscle cell that you gain is like a little factory that constantly burns calories for you, even while you sleep, and revs up when you exercise.

2. Get moving
You know the drill, but here's a reminder; at least three times a week include 30 to 60 minutes of some form of aerobic exercise. Remember, anything is better than nothing.

3. Eat
It may sound crazy to those trying to lose weight, but severely restricting your calorie intake will slow down your metabolism. Recent studies show that eating smaller meals every three to four hours aids metabolism and weight loss.

4. Ditch the sugar
When you eat sugar you throw your metabolic switch into fat storage mode. Instead add more fiber to your diet; it is harder for your body to process, and you will get a small increase in metabolism.

5. Dont skip breakfast
It's a fact that people who eat a healthy breakfast are slimmer than people who don't. And try to think outside the box. A breakfast bowl of vegetables and brown rice is a great way to kick-start your metabolism for the day.

6. Include hot foods
If Mexican and Thai flavors are your favorites, you're in luck. Spicy food that has hot peppers in it appears to boost metabolism.

7. Drink green tea
Go for green tea which is known to stimulate metabolism longer and more effectively than coffee.

8. Don't forget H2O
Staying well hydrated is essential to flushing the body of toxic by-products that are released when fat is burned. Cold water may also give your metabolism at least a small boost because energy is required to heat the body.

9. Avoid stress
Stress can actually cause weight gain because physical and emotional stress activates the release of cortisol, a steroid that slows metabolism.

10. Sleep
Research shows that people who don't get seven to eight hours a night of sleep are more prone to weight gain.

Of course, factors such as your age, gender and genetic makeup will affect your metabolism. However, if you put some effort into it, it will not be difficult to increase the rate of fat burning.

Source: health.msn.com


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Tuesday, August 2

I Need a Relaxer, My Hair is Shedding?

What is Shed Hair?
Shed hair is hair that has reached the end of its growing cycle and naturally falls from the scalp along with its tiny, white "root or bulb" attached. 

I never understood what people meant by, "I can tell I need a relaxer because my hair is shedding more".
How does not putting a chemical on your hair and sometimes scalp make you shed more?

My theory is this:
  • Their hair is  breaking from the line of demarcation. They see long strands of hair and assume that it could be shed hair
  • They are experiencing Seasonal Shedding- There is a time of the year where people shed more then normal
  • Their shed hair is not falling out like normal because it is getting stuck in their curly new-growth so when combing, more hair comes out
  • In some cases they could have an allergic reaction to a new product they tried..which resulted in hair loss (which could sometimes look like shed hair)

My point: Getting a relaxer because you are experience breakage at the line of demarcation, is valid.
I always suggest to do a protein treatment a week before then relax(be at least 8 weeks post). But to get a relaxer because of shedding, isn't the solution. Shedding and a Relaxer has no correlation.

*I did a blog post on ways to slow down excessive shedding in the past, but I will do another post shortly
*You can search for the older post using the search bar

Indigo- Used to Make Whites Brighter?


As some may already know, I am 100% Haitian although I was born in America.  :-D

I was speaking to my aunt last night and I mentioned how I use Henna and Indigo to color my hair Jet Black.
She stopped me and was like "Indigo??? Ask your Mother what we used Indigo for back in Haiti". Then I remembered that my mother mentioned she used it when doing laundry.
My Aunt was telling me that they used Indigo Powder to make white clothes whiter. They would just place the blue powder in water then soak the white clothing and they would come out whiter then before.

I think that's very interesting. For some reason, I didn't think they would know what I was talking about when I mentioned Indigo...but in reality they used it for most of their childhood.

Monday, August 1

Keyshia Cole

Keyshia Cole, always do something "different" to her hair, decided to switch up the whole "shave the side of your hair" hairstyle.
I can honestly say that I DO NOT like it. But it's her head...and as long as she likes it, that's all that matters!



Side Note: Such a beautiful family!!!

Source