Aloe Vera Plant!

Y'all know how much I love Aloe Vera, right?

I use it for so many things. Such as:

• My new-growth and scalp spray
• My home-made braid spray
• I previously used Aloe Vera Gel on my scalp right after I neutralized my hair(when I relaxed)  to decrease/stop shedding 
• Aloe vera gel in my shea-butter mix
• Aloe Vera Gel for slicking down my edge when  in braids or twists 
• Aloe Vera Gel for any skin irritation I had
• Aloe Vera Juice to help with detangling 

....and the list goes on. 

Well, my boss knows how much I love Aloe Vera too and gave me an Aloe Vera plant! I have the best Management!!!

I am so excited to have the real thing and use it! These plants last forever(as long as I take care of it properly)!

She said it had a little accident during the commute to work. But new buds are already sprouting , it's all good!

Just as a reminder, here are the benefits* of Aloe Vera:

• The Aloe Vera plant is packed with some of same the vitamins and minerals which make up our own bodies. So much so that perhaps no other plant more closely matches the human body's biochemistry.
• Aloe Vera products have many benefits to the overall health of the hair. It helps heal any damage on the scalp, balance the pH level, cleans the pores, prevents excessive hair loss, relieves scaly or itchy scalp, oily hair, dandruff, renew cycle within the follicles. regulate sebaceous function, and maintain proper physiological balance in the scalp. And one of the biggest benefit of Aloe Vera is it helps reduce seborrhoea.
• Aloe Vera activate fresh growth and stimulate the growth of existing hair.
• Clinical studies show that Aloe Vera enhances cellular rejuvenation and provides the building blocks for hair proteins. Additionally, its anti-inflammatory properties protect against damage to the scalp and hair.
• Actually, Aloe Vera includes the enzyme which is beneficial in stimulating the new hair production.
• Therefore, Aloe Vera is beneficial for the production of hairs and provides softness and shine to the hair and prevents hair loss and other hair related conditions.
• Aloe's can help the scalp by healing it and balancing the pH level of the scalp while cleansing the pores.
• Some Indian tribes of Mexico attribute their thick, healthy hair to regular use of aloe vera gel which they rub into the scalp and hair each night.
• Aloe Vera gel is used on hair and entire portion of scalp to treat hair loss.
• Nourishes and moisturizes the hair and scalp.
• Increases blood circulation to the hair follicles.
• Aloe Vera products have many benefits to the overall health of the hair.  

*Taken from various sources, but you can read more..here, here and here. 

Aloe Vera Gel or Juice- Which is Better?

****5.26.17- Please note this article was written in 2011. An update to my opinion will be posted shortly****

I had a question from a reader regarding Aloe Vera. She wanted to know if there was a big difference between Aloe Vera Gel or Juice and could Gel be used as a replacement to the juice in certain mixes.

My initial response was Gel is just as good as the Juice depending on which brand you purchase.


I decided to dig a little deeper into this and came across this article/blog posted on the Whole Foods site. The article is mainly referencing Aloe Vera in terms of digesting, but it doesn't matter.
 This is also speaking about a particular brand of Aloe Vera Juice/Gel, but when looking at different vitamin sites for Aloe Vera Juice and Gel, I noticed the Carrageenan being the main difference in ingredients.

To Juice or Gel, you ask?
Aloe vera gel is actually made from the aloe vera juice by adding a food grade thickening agent called carrageenan, which is a naturally occurring sea kelp/Irish moss. They are almost equally effective because the 365 Everyday Value® Aloe juice products contain 99.7% aloe vera, while the gel products contain 99.5% aloe vera. Juice products are typically made for dietary supplement purposes, while gel products are more commonly used for topical application, though they can be orally ingested and may be soothing to your throat, stomach, and digestive tract.

http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2008/09/drink-your-aloe-vera/

So, basically the Gel isn't that much different than the juice. The main difference is the added carrageenan. See below for an ingredient listings for Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Juice and Gel.
I also, came to the conclusion that I will be switching brands of Aloe Vera. Instead of using Fruit of the Earth, I will now be using Lily of the Desert. Lily of the Desert seems more "organic" and pure to me.

Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gel Ingredients:
Other Ingredients: Certified Organic whole leaf aloe vera leaves, carrageenan (thickening agent), less than 1% of the following: citric acid (oxidation inhibitor), potassium sorbate (mold inhibitor). Contains 99.5% certified organic aloe vera gel

Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Juice Ingredients:
Other Ingredients: Certified Organic aloe vera leaves, less than 1% of the following: citric acid (oxidation inhibitor), potassium sorbate (mold inhibitor). Contains 99.7% certified organic aloe vera juice

Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Juice Ingredients:

Natural Aloe Vera Gel , Citric Acid , Sodium Benzoate

Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel Ingredients:

Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Gel, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Carbomer 940, Tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea



Lily of the Desert can be found at most vitamin stores such as Whole Foods, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, or online at places like VitaCost.

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Updated Regimen

1x week

• Prepoo
• Shampoo or do a Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
•  Deep Condition with Moisturizing DC/ with heat for at least 10 minutes
• Add leave-ins
• De-tangle
• Airdry

1 x Week

• Co-Wash
• Leave-ins
• Airdry

Daily & Nightly

• Moisturize and Seal with oil

Quarterly (Every 3 Months)

• Full Henna Treatment

Relax every 4 months or more
Protective Style 98.9% of the time

Dust Ends (3/4'')
every 8 weeks or when I see an increasing amount of split ends

Trim Hair (1 inch)
every 6 months


Products

Prepoo Mix:
3 table spoons of Karishma Henna
1 table spoon of Black Strap Molasses
a few drops of Castor Oil

Shampoo
Dr. Woods Black Soap with Shea Butter
or I would do an ACV rinse


Deep Conditioner
Aubrey Organics White Camelia Conditioner
few drops of oil

Conditioner for Co-washes
Mane n Tail Deep Moisturizing Conditioner

Leave-ins
Wash Day:
Aphogee Pro-Vitamin Leave in and Aphogee Keratin Green Tea Leave-in
then
Giovanni Direct Leave-in

Cowash Day
Mane n' Tail Enriched Moisture Enriched Hair Strengthener
then a mix of  
Giovanni Direct Leave-in
Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Relaxer
Organic Root Stimulator- Lye in Regular

formally Silk Elements Shea Butter- Mild Lye

My New Growth/Scalp Mix

I am now 10 weeks post relaxer and this is the point when my new growth really starts to come in.
To avoid any type of breakage, I have to make sure I keep my new-growth very moisturized along with the rest of my hair, but I pay extra attention to my demarcation line.

For the last 2.5 months, I have been using an Aloe Vera Mix which was originally made as a "growth aid", but now it's a perfect solution to keep my new growth moisturized as well. I use this mix at least once a day, usually in the morning and I would just finger part my hair and spray. This will definitely be a staple in my regimen.

I put my mix in a 4 oz spray bottle to avoid any type of dripping when sprayed on my scalp/new growth and it consists of:

Up to Pink Line: Castor Oil
Up to Black Line: 99.9% Aloe Vera Juice
Above Black Line: 8 drops of Rosemary Oil  and 10 Drops of Eucalyptus Oil (if pregnant please consult with a physician before using any type of essential oil)

I shake before every use.

I haven't written about castor oil, so see below for a little bit of the benefits. For the Aloe Vera, Eucalyptus and Rosemary Oil benefits, feel free to click on the links I placed above.

Castor Oil prevents hair loss and regenerates hair

The anti-bacterial and anti-fungicidal properties of Ricinoleic Acid in castor oil protects the scalp and hair from infections which can cause hair loss. The Omega-9 fatty acids in castor oil also nourish the hair and prevent the scalp from drying.

Rubbing castor oil on your scalp and the roots of your hair will regenerate new hair growth within months. This will also thicken thinning hair

http://skinverse.com/castor-oils-many-uses-for-beautiful-skin-and-hair.html

Skin Care Regimen

My face/skin has always been a sensitive issue for me because I am the only person in my immediate family that suffered from acne, hyperpigmentation and dark spots. I have been going through this since the age of 14 and after trying out every product under the sun and many doctor visits, I have finally nipped most of my issues in the bud. I stopped using any topical medications and decided to try to battle my skin issues the "natural" way.
One thing that really has helped me was increasing my water intake and taking multi-vitamins daily. I noticed a change in my skin immediately.
On top of that, I changed my products(to more natural ones) and so far..knock on wood..my skin is to my liking. It's not perfect, but I have come a long way and I am very satisfied.

My Regimen is as follows:

Morning:

Wash hands(of course)
Rinse face with Cold Water (Thanks to Tola , I will now be rinsing with warm water first to open up the pores)
Apply Face wash- Dr. Woods Black Soap with Shea Butter
Rinse off with Warm water - (Thanks to Tola , I will now be rinsing off with cold water)
Blot skin with the softest yet non flaky toilet paper( I used to use wash cloths, but I feel like they breed bacteria unless I use a new one every single day which is too much for me)
* This is the point where I used to tone my face, but the toner I used I believe was irritating my skin..so I skipped it for the last 3 weeks,
Apply Nadinola Discoloration Fade Cream to dark spots only with Q-Tip
Apply Mill Creek Aloe Vera Gel as a facial Moisturizer( Aloe Vera gel is very moisturizing for my skin and it restores the PH balance that was depleted by washing.)

Twice a Week
I follow the above but I add Baking Soda to the face wash, apply to skin then let it sit for like 10 minutes then I rinse off- This somewhat exfoliates my skin

*I always wash my face before I go to the Gym

Night
Wash hands(of course)
Rinse face with Warm Water
Apply Face wash- Dr. Woods Black Soap with Shea Butter
Rinse off with Cold Water
Blot skin with the softest yet non flaky toilet paper( I used to use wash cloths, but I feel like they breed bacteria unless I use a new one every single day which is too much for me)
Apply Mill Creek Aloe Vera Gel if skin is dry

The Wonderful Benefits of Aloe Vera for Hair

I have been using Aloe Vera Gel for a number of purposes:

Hair Gel
To Shave- Sometimes
Soothing of Relaxer Burn
In my Mix for Braid Spray/as a Moisturizer
As a facial moisturizer in the winter when my skin gets really dry

just to name a few





But never did I think to use Aloe Vera Gel or the Juice as a leave-in...
And boy oh boy was I missing out. Remember how I said I was dealing with extreme tangles and knots..well I tried 2 things to help fix that issue

1. Wash my hair in Sections/Braids
2. Used an Aloe Vera Gel Mix as a leave-in which included:

• Distilled Water
• Aloe Vera Gel
• Castor Oil

My hair has never felt so soft!
I went out and purchased a gallon of Aloe Vera Juice from Walmart...called Fruit of the Earth and I will be using the Juice instead of the Gel in my mixes for now on. Not only will I use it for my leave-in's but I will use it to restore moisture in my hair at night(on non wash days).

2 More things about Aloe Vera Juice which have me excited to use it

• Many reviews of how it slowed down shedding drastically
• Restores the PH level back in relaxed hair

 To read more about the benefits of Aloe Vera see below

My Braid Spray Mix

I rotate between African Pride Braid Spray and my own spray mix while in braids. I usually use African Pride in the morning then my spray mix during the day and at night.

I used the same products last time I had braids back in March. I had little to no breakage and my hair was quite moisturized when I took my braids out.






This is what's in my Spray Bottle (I don't know exact measurements, sorry, but this sums it up)

• Aloe Vera Juice (fill the bottle up about 80% to the top)
• Glycerin (I pour it until I get close to the top of the bottle about 15%)
• Jojoba Oil (10 Drops)
• Rosemary Oil- (6 Drops)
• Coconut Oil- for the smell (a few drops..I put this in until it smells good)
• Aloe Vera Gel (a few drops)

Here is a little more info on each product
Edited 7/24/2011- I now use Castor Oil in Place of Jojoba, Extra Virgin Olive Oil in place of Coconut Oil and Eucalyptus Oil in Place of Rosemary.
I still get the same benefits!
Before spraying this mix, I sometimes spray my braids with Distilled Water.

Benefits of Vegetable Glycerin for Hair
Apart from being able to return moisture back to dry hair, scalp or skin, glycerin for hair growth is also used. Using glycerin one can greatly condition dry, frizzy and brittle hair. If you are suffering from dry, flaky scalp then rubbing some vegetable glycerin on scalp can greatly alleviate irritation. This is especially beneficial for Afro-African women, who have dry hair or flaky scalp issues. Apart from moisturizing benefits of glycerin for hair care, it also greatly helps to strengthen the hair, which leads to less breakage of the hair, and less formation of split ends.
buzzle.com-glycerin-for-hair

Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel for Hair
Using aloe vera on the hair cleanses and conditions the scalp, helps balance the pH of the scalp, reduces oiliness, moisturizes dry hair and helps repair damaged hair. In addition, the gel from aloe's leaves can even stimulate hair growth in some cases, or at the least, prevent further balding. Similar to its benefits for the skin, aloe vera softens, fortifies and rejuvenates the hair, while it flushes dirt, debris and bacteria from the scalp. It can be used on the hair in a variety of ways, though the most popular consist of purchasing or making your own aloe shampoos and conditioners, or applying pure aloe gel to the hair.
ezinearticles.com/Aloe-Vera-Benefits-For-Hair

Relaxer Burn?

A quick remedy to heal your scalp from a relaxer burn is 99.9-100% pure Aloe Vera Gel. Just rub a little on your scalp every day and you will heal very quickly! I use this all the time.

Aloe-vera plants have been used for centuries to treat burns holistically. While the science to verify the long-held beliefs about the efficacy of aloe vera as an herbal remedy is conflicting, anecdotal evidence is strong. The clear sap inside the leaves of the plant has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties that soothe and heal burn injuries.
*Aloe Vera Gel is obviously produced from the sap in the plants*
                                        http://www.e-how.com/

You can find Aloe Vera Gel at your local drug store, Walmart, Target...the list goes on. Just make sure it's 99.9% or 100%. This gel has absolutely NO alcohol in it either.