Wednesday, November 30

Weekend Hair Plans


I plan on doing a Henna and Indigo treatment on my hair this weekend because I am well overdue.


as you can see my hair has been relaxed- update will be at the end of Dec.- Not too happy with the results!

My hair is a reddish/brown color because of the Henna Glosses I do weekly/biweekly and I prefer Jet Black hair!
I would like to do Henna/Indigo treatments quarterly and the last time I did one was in August.
As said before, I feel like the Henna strengthens/thickens up my hair...so I am doing the most to finish this year off with a bang.


*Hair update coming soon


Sunday, November 20

Quick Tip- Panthenol

Try using products that contain Panthenol.
Panthenol is the alcohol form of  Vitamin B5. It is marketed in a variety of hair care products such as shampoos, conditioners and leave-ins to help "thicken" hair  because it can penetrate the hair shaft increasing the hair diameter by a small percentage.
Although Panthenol is a form of alcohol, it is actually very moisturizing and has similar characteristics of a humectant.
The one product that I use that has Panthenol high on the ingredient list is my Nexxus Headress leave-in. It's not only moisturizing, but I do feel like it makes my hair stronger and more moisturized.  

Friday, November 18

I am SO Ready to Relax

I am 12 weeks post relaxer and I think I have reached my limit. Not only am I dealing with 12 weeks worth of new-growth, but I am also dealing with some under-processed areas. It takes me at least 1.5 hours to fully detangle and the only way I can avoid knots and tangles is by straightening or putting braids/twists in my hair.

Today I did a hot oil treatment, shampoo-ed (with my brand new Shea Moisture Shampoo, love it!), Did a Mild Protein Treatment,  Deep Conditioned with Moisture, Air-dried for a little bit, detangled, blow-dried my hair then dusted my ends. 
The detangling and blow-drying took me 2 hours!!!! That was my breaking point.

Not sure exactly when I will Relax...It will most likely be next weekend which is why I switched up my way day routine. I'll keep you posted though.


My New-growth even after blow-drying using the tension method


How my hair looked after blow-drying since I placed each section in bantu-knots- HOT MESS

Wednesday, November 16

Got Some New Shears

I purchased some Sheer Glory Shears from Sally's last year for about $10.00 and I guess you get what you pay for. I would notice a few weeks after dusting I had some split ends even though I was doing everything "right". So, I decided to purchase some new shears especially since I am dusting this weekend.

After doing some extensive research and reading many reviews, I found that Tweezerman Shears are the best option for a decent price.

The great thing about these are that they have a free sharpening lifetime guarantee!


I got these for $20.00 at Walgreens. They can be found in the Beauty section where the tweezers are.

More info on the shears:

  • Stainless steel
  • High performance blades
  • Ice tempered and hot drop forged stainless tell
  • Hand crafted for precision hair cutting
  • Extra sharp & long lasting cutting edges
  • Expert balance, comfort and control

Tuesday, November 15

Protective Styling- Necessity or Personal Choice?

A protective style is any style where the ends (the oldest and most fragile part of your hair) of your hair are tucked away/"hidden" & moisturized to avoid  friction and wear& tear from the environment. 

I put my hair in protective styles on a regular basis for 4 reasons:
  1. Less manipulation
  2. To keep my ends tucked away from clothes, wind, etc which could possible result in damage
  3. I LIKE THEM
  4. Because I'm lazy!

Before I began my healthy hair journey, I wore my hair down almost every day. My hair was somewhat healthy, but thin and never went past shoulder length. When researching healthy hair care practices, one common practice I saw in the MAJORITY of long haired ladies was the implementation of protective styles (buns, french rolls, braids etc.).
Even my Mother,who has mid-back length hair, protective styles on a normal basis.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results

I knew I had to make a change in my hair care practices in order to yield results, which I did and I am now slowly receiving.


I can count at least 10-15 relaxed success stories (going from short and thin to long and thick) who credits protective styling as one of their reasons for achieving such results. I tend to go with the majority NOT the minority.
Of course protective styling alone does not give you thick and healthy hair and of course you can still reach your goals without them...but for ME...I do them because I like them and  I have seen results.

So, in my case...protective styling is a necessity AND personal choice!
What about you?

Sunday, November 13

Small Weekend Haul

Hey Loves! Hope everyone had a great weekend!!
I went back to my parents place and spent some time with them, friends and other family. Then ended the weekend off with a bang at a GREAT church listening to beautiful church hymns and enjoying the service.

Anyway....I received/purchased a few things when I was back home and decided to share it with you all.


So, I am a BzzAgent and received some samples of Fekkai shampoo, conditioner, hair masks and mouse to try/give out. They supplied me with full size bottles of the shampoo and conditioner, but I will most likely try out the sample sizes instead, then if I like the product..I will give away the full size bottles and sample packets.
*I'm only giving it away because I already found my staple products.
*Fekkai products are pretty expensive...I saw these in Target for I think $20 each.


I found an Indian grocery store near my parents place that sold just about all the oils and hair treatments you can think of. I purchased Amla Powder because I will be using that instead of Henna for my pre-poos. I'm only using Amla Powder because I plan on doing a Henna and Indigo treatment next weekend which will turn my hair jet-black. If I continue to do Henna Gloss Pre-poos my hair color will change back to reddish brown and I don't want that.

$2.00 Each



This other store near my parents place sells some CUTE earrings for $1.50 each. So..I purchased about 8 pairs.



I picked up this Oil Blend because I was loving the different oils in contained. I may use this in my Deep Conditioner and I will also use this on my skin(which I already did all weekend). I will only use this on my body..not my hair.

Ingredients: Gin Grow Oil Complex {Safflower Oil, Jojoba Oil, Sesame Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Castor Oil, Ginseng extract (Ren-Shen), Lavender Oil, Avacado Oil} Gin Grow Herbal Complex {Rosemary Extract (Mi-Tieh-Hsang), Sage Extract (Shu-Wei-Tsao), Angelica Archangelica Extract (Bai-Zhi), Licorice Extract (Gan-Cao), Job's Tears Extract (I-Yi-Jen), Junipeus Virginiana Extract (Cedar), Hyacinth Extract, Clove Extract, Balm Mint Extract, Chamomile Extract}, Polysobate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate Vitamin A), Water, Propylene Glycol, Capsicum Annum Oleoresin, Fragrance, Methylaraben, Ehylparben, Proylparaben, Butylparaben, Phenoxyethanol.

Just not feeling the last few ingredients :-/

$5.00 at CVS


My Blow-dryer stopped working and I only use it when I Deep Condition my hair because I have the bonnet hair dryer attachment.
So...I picked this up for $12.00 at Walgreens. Some of the proceeds supposedly go to Breast Cancer research so I chose this one instead.




That's all Folks!



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Friday, November 11

3 Tips to Avoid the "Thin Relaxed Hair" Look

I love me some Tyra, but y'all know her hair looks slightly thin. I apologize in advance if this offends anyone


1.) Protect those ends!- I say this time after time, but you MUST protect your previously relaxed ends during the relaxer process. I use a Neutralizer Shampoo then seal it in with Vaseline or Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Not only are you protecting your ends from overlapping during the relaxer application, but you are protecting them from run-off when you actually wash the relaxer out.

2.) Decrease the amount of Relaxers you get yearly- This basically means to "stretch" your relaxers to at least 10 weeks.
Why should you stretch your relaxer when you follow step 1? Well, no matter how much you protect your hair, you previously relaxed hair will still be touched by the relaxer. So stretching your relaxer will minimize the effects.

3.) Dust those ends (Regularly) in Small Sections- I know some people dust their ends when they "feel" like they need to. I dust based on a schedule now, which is every 8 weeks. Your ends are guaranteed to go through wear and tear. So dusting them often, will help you avoid a big trim in the future. When I say dust, I mean a quarter inch. When I say sections, I mean you part your hair in medium sized sections then lightly dust the same amount of hair through-out your head. Dusting should be minimal enough NOT to notice a difference in length



* I know many of my followers have read these tips time after time, but some people reading my blog haven't. I need to cater to EVERYONE!  

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Thursday, November 10

Weekend Hair Plans

My weekend starts today since I have tomorrow off due to Veterans Day! Yaaay!!

So, that means these cornrows come out tonight!



Before removing them, I will spray the complete length of the braids with Braid-Spray to ensure my hair is moisturized.
Then I'll finger comb to remove any shed hair.

This is the outcome: It took me 2 hours to get them out



Now, my only issue is that I have plans tomorrow AM and Saturday, so chances of me washing my hair tonight are slim. Y'all seen it is an overnight and part of a day process!
So, I will most likely do a braid-out in the interim. If I can't get to washing my hair this weekend, I will feel sooo weird. Only because I'm used to washing weekly and it has now been 2 weeks since I washed my hair.

We'll see how this all turns out!

Saturday, November 5

$20 for a Comb?!?!




I have heard nothing but great things about the Hercules Sagemann: Magic Star Jumbo Rake Comb and I finally took the plunge and purchased it for a whopping $20.63 including shipping(hotcombs.net).
Now when it comes to healthy hair care, there are certain products you can save or splurge on.
For me, a great detangling comb is something I would prefer to splurge on.
Now...what is so special about this comb? Well..it's seamless and made with great quality.
Seams in combs can detoriate your hair with time because they are constantly cutting or rubbing against your strands. See this quick post I made on Seamless Combs a while ago.
I do have a smaller Hercules Sagemann seamless comb that I won in a give-away which I sometimes use after detangling with a wider tooth comb and when I braid my hair. But I wanted this jumbo one because I prefer Wide Tooth combs.

Anyway....here's more on this product: IT BETTER BE WORTH IT!

The Magic Star Jumbo Rake is an "all-around" comb. The Magic Star Jumbo Rake works like a hand to add volume, separate curls, and blend sleek straight styles. The Jumbo Rake can handle even the toughest jobs: detangling hair, distributing your favorite conditioner, gently gliding thru wet hair, awesome shower comb.

No worries about snagging or ripping your hair. The teeth are absolutely free of any seams or burrs. The teeth are hand-sawn, hand-cut and hand-polished to perfection! In the Salon, at home or when traveling, Hercules Sagemann's combs are unbeatable for styling.

Tip: Use nothing but the best combs on your hair...even at the salon! Consult with your stylist about using your comb(s) at all of your appointments and get the most out of your hair care regimen. Remember, if it's not a Hercules Sägemann comb, it's just a simple comb. See for yourself

Whether with lots of volume, curly or smooth, with or without texture, styling combs make an individual look possible. Particularly when smoothing the hair, it is important that the comb is absolutely burr-free. Only in this way is it possible to guarantee that the hair cuticle is preserved. The width, length and shape of the tooth determines the type of texture and gives the individual look. It is a friend to your hair and scalp. The ideal styling comb for every look!
•Made by hand from 100% Vulcanized Natural Hard Rubber
•Tried and tested design with perfect ergonomics
•Twist-resistant and yet flexible
•The teeth are hand-sawn, hand-cut, and hand-polished to perfection!
•Non-porous (will not support the growth of mold or mildew); guaranteeing hygiene
•Chemical and heat resistant
•Antistatic (prevents fly-away hair)
•Very smooth and gentle to the hair and scalp due to rounded tips and sides
•Very good gliding ability when combing through the hair

Friday, November 4

Cute Hair Post: Black Hair

I saw this on a blog called Beautiful Dreamer and thought it was a really cute post about Black Hair.

It's kind of long, but I enjoyed this! Hope you all do too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Black Female Hair has been subject to scrunity, debate and scorn. It has been altered from its naturally tightly curled state to limp loose sickly strands.(Ms. D sidenote: this only applies to SOME people ) It has been teased by boys, and mocked by girls. It has been stressed from tightly intertwined braids, hidden by sew-ins weaves, chemically changed by relaxers and burned by too much heat. It has been colored, cut, styled, teased, primped, and even shaped into mountaneous mile-high creations where birds can (and have) lived. It has been called good (if it's long and free flowing and Barbie-esque); it has been called bad (if it's tight and curled and nappy-like); it has been called bought (gone today, hair tomorrow). White women burned bras to take a stand against injustice and inequality; Black women grew afros.
But nothing that Black Hair has gone through even mildly equates to what happens when a Black teacher (me) teaches in a primarily white and non-Black area with girls ages 12-14.

LaLa Vasquez-Anthony's Head Piece

Lala attended Alicia Keys annual "Keep a Child Alive Black Ball", which brings celebrity and philanthropy together to fulfill hopes, dreams and raise funds for children and families with HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.


When I saw this photo of Lala..it immediately caught my eye. This is such an easy way to dress-up a bun and make it look ellegant!  I'm not sure if I would wear that, but I think she looks great!
 

 
Images: Getty Images

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MSM- Natural Hair Growth Supplement

I saw this article on Curly Nikki and decided to post this on my blog as well.
I take 1,000 mcg of Trimedica MSM daily by scooping the powder into my Orange Juice.
I have been taking MSM on and off for about 2 years now, but recently I have been taking it consistently.
When purchasing or consuming MSM, I always suggest purchasing a brand that states it's OptiMSM.
OptiMSM is one of the purest forms of MSM and although it is more expensive than the others, it's worth the price.

I have noticed:

Less Shedding- I believe the MSM extended my Anagen Phase
Clearer Skin- Some people experience break-outs or cysts, but my skin actually became brighter and more clear. I do take this with Vitamin C , so that may help. I also drink a lot of water (but should drink more)
Softer New-Growth
Very vivid dreams- I should start a blog about all of the crazy dreams I had since taking MSM. Whenever I tell people about my dreams the next AM, they are surprised how I remember them so clearly and how bizarre they are. This is just one of the side-effects I guess, but I don't mind it.
A Change in my Menstrual Cycle - Whenever I first taking MSM when I haven't for a while, that month, my period either comes a little early or it last a little longer. But it is also very light. I know TMI. It goes back to normal the month after.
No Joint or Muscle Pain- When I was working out extensively, MSM was a must. I never experienced any pain and I believe MSM was the culprit

MSM will probably remain a staple supplement in my regimen because the good outways the bad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
via DrPhoenyx.com
It’s always a pleasant surprise when you stumble upon a vitamin or supplement that can cure some of the most common health issues, while also giving you a nice little beauty boost. And such is the case for MSM!

I was recently chatting with a newly natural neighbor (try saying that 3 times fast!), when she asked about supplements she could take for hair growth. I suggested MSM. I guess she expected me say something like biotin or a multivitamin, because she instantly looked confused. So I explained that MSM, aka methylsulfonylmethane, is a sulfur-based compound that is naturally found in many foods such as milk, onions, garlic and green vegetables. Next to water and salt, MSM is also the 3rd largest compound found in the human body. Within the medical community, MSM has been traditionally used to treat pain bone and joint diseases such as osteoarthritis and tendonitis. But it also has a really cool side effect. And this really cool “side effect” is hair growth.



How is this possible?
The main ingredient in MSM is sulfur- one of the principle building blocks of hair (and nails). So MSM helps hair growth because it gives your body a building block for hair. But besides just contributing one of the main building blocks of hair, it is also theorized that MSM increases hair growth potential by lengthening the growth phase (anagen phase) of the hair cycle.

Thursday, November 3

Breakage and A Look Back

So, I realized when braiding my hair that some of my nape area has broken off.
It's kind of hard to explain how much and where, but I am quite devastated to say the least.
To try and explain, its on the left side of my head and the length of the broken hair is a little above my collar bone. So, about 3-4 inches broke off. The size of the breakage is about 1 cornrow. So...it's not A LOT, but any breakage to me is disheartening.

                                                                    
                                                                         
The red circle somewhat illustrates where the breakage area is
I know the culprit is the underprocessing of my relaxer and dealing with about 3 different textures in that area.
I'm in repair mode...which I will touch on in another post.
But I know for a fact I can bounce back from this minor set-back.

How do I know? Well simply because I went from this:

June 2009
sorry didn't like my face in this pic. As you can tell my nape area was way above my shoulders!


To This in about 2 Years

So, now I have my edges and nape to worry about. So far, my edges are progressing nicely...I'm more focused on my nape now!

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Review: African Pride Olive Miracle Moisturizer Lotion

I have been using this moisturizer for about 6-7 months now so I decided to give a review...Here you go!

What they Say:
  • Provides a healthy looking sheen
  • Rich in extra virgin olive oil
  • Non-greasy formula
African Pride Olive Miracle Moisturizer Lotion is rich in Extra Virgin Olive Oil for the ultimate in silky smooth deep conditioned hair and a moisture-rich, healthy scalp. Use regularly to help stop breakage, split-ends, and dryness.
African Pride Olive Miracle Moisturizer Lotion is perfect for blow drying, maintaining short hair styles, and moisturizing curly styles. Protects against the effects of chemical processes ands styling tools.

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua,Eau, ) Glycine Soja (Soybean)Oil, Propolene Glycol, Olea Europaea (Olive)Fruit oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter),  Cocos Nucifera (Coconut)Oil,Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed oil, Persia Gratissima (Avocado)Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Equisetum Hiemale ( Horsetail )Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia ( Tea Tree) Leaf Oil,  Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Steareth-2 Steareth-20,Polyquaternium-37, Propolyne Glycol,Dicprylate/Dicaprate,PPG-1,Trideceth-6,Phenyl Trimethicone,Laneth-15, Lanolin oil, Dimethicone, DMDM Hydantoin,TBHQ,Methylparaben,Propylparaben,CI 19140 (FD&C Yellow #5) Parfum (Fragrance)

What Ms.D says : I ALWAYS use this to moisturize my hair whenever I braid it. I also use this as a daily moisturizer but rotate with a protein moisturizer a few days a week.

My Review: When I purchase a moisturizer, I  look at the first 5 or 6 ingredients to see if I am familiar with them and if they are good. If you look at this product, the first few ingredients are GREAT. I have been using this for 6-7 months now and love it.
This moisturizer smells REALLLY good. It has a fruity smell, so for those who don't like that, it may annoy you.
Besides the smell, this is a great moisturizer for the price you pay. It keeps my relaxed hair and new-growth  moisturized all day and I  don't really need to seal with an oil after using it.....but me being paranoid, I do anyway. There is no protein at all in this moisturizer, so if you are protein sensitive...this will work great for you.
It has a thicker/slightly oily consistency, so a little really does go a long way.

Will I repurchase: Of course! I have repurchased this about 4 times and it remains a staple in my regimen.

Price: $2.99 for 12 oz @ Sally Beauty Supply


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