quick hair update my hair is still growing, can't wait to have a big ol' Angela Davis fro lol
In the winter my skin tends to be a little dry, one of the ways that i help to combat this, is by using pure African black soap, growing up we used this a lot... yeah we had dove and all that other stuff, but our main staple was African black soap, anything from packaged Dudu-Osun, to just buying a big chunk/block of pure black soap.
Benefits of African Black Soap
Helps to clear skin of bumps,spots and blemishes
Helps to relieve acne, oily skin & other skin problems
It's also great for removing make-up, I used this after one of my photoshoots, just to see cus I had a face full of make up on, and no lie it took it all off!
Helps against premature facial lines and wrinkles
African Black Soap: is great to use while showering, bathing or Washing your hair! it's 100% natural so you don't have to worry about sulfates and other damaging products. History lesson:For centuries, both the Ghanaians and Nigerians of West Africa have used African Black soap to help relieve acne, oily skin, clear blemishes and various other skin issues. African Black soap has also been used to achieve beautiful skin. Africans have also used this natural soap for bathing and washing their hair. Black soap will leave your skin silky soft and clear. African people use Black soap to get rid of skin rashes, ring worm, measles, and body odors. use the soap then top it off with some Shea butter and your good to go! This soap make your skin feel so good its keep it clean and healthy looking. African black soap is soft, organically shaped, it has a earthy smell. and it lathers up so well just like soap that u would buy from the store, get a good later then run the suds through your hair as a shampoo. The soap is Hand made it contains Roasted coca (Chocolate) Pods, Plantain Skin, Ash, Palm Oil, and Water. you can purchase it online or go to any African shop in your area. i got a pound of it for $4, it tends to go fast i love this stuff! make sure to keep the soap in a sealed zip lock bag, DO NOT get any water in the bag, if you do, this will cause the soap to dissolve!
Just in case you don't follow me on twitter or facebook i want to let you know, that i started another blogsite 2days ago called http://lovelyti.com/ :o) this is my official website, it's an extension of my youtube channel, basically on this blog, i talk about any and everything this is a good thing because now i have a separate place to talk about other stuff!! I would really appreciate it, if you all could sign up for this site as well. you can sign up by email, the subscription box is on the right hand side. please share the link with your friends as well, and visit often! http://lovelyti.com/ Thanks =)
How long have you been natural? well i stopped relaxing my hair October 17 2008 and i did my big chop Aug. of 2009
How did you start your natural hair journey? i started my journey doing bantu knots( my best friend back then) but after my last relaxer i was board with straight hair and a friend gave me the idea of going natural she sent me links to people on youtube that where natural and i was sold after seeing the first video! as of October 28 2008 i was DONE with relaxers!! and i must say i am proud of myself because it was hard i stuck to my guns and i am natural now!
Transition or b.c. if i could do it all over again i would have done my B.C. sooner! transitioning was hard because of the two different textures, it was also hard finding a style that i could keep for more then a week.
What’s your hair routine? well i am still trying to get something down but for right now since its cold.. sunday: wash day moisturize my hair and braid it up the front and two braids in the back. on Wednesdays i take down the back and spray my hair with my leave in conditioner and moisturize and use oils between the braids.
What’s your favorite hair style: well right now it's braids outs and twist outs
Any advice for natural newbies: i would say don't hold on to the relaxed ends too long! get to natural asap!!!!!! WATER IS YOUR BEST FRIEND!
Sorry I haven't blogged or vlogged in a few days, I was deathly sick this weekend I caught some type of stomach virus that was going around, my oldest son's birthday party was saturday and we had to cancel it =(
I couldn't hold anything down for 8hrs straight, come to find out the kids who were invited to the birthday party were sick as well, so they wouldn't have been able to come anyways.
By Sunday morning the entire household was sick, it was some type of virus that hit the school and daycares. so that's where I’ve been in case you were wondering...
We are all doing better now thank God!
Topic of the day PROTEIN why so many choice?? we hear about protein all the time, but there are so many to pick from,
i want to help break it down for all of my lovelies,
there are quite a few choices to pick from so pay attention=)
Ok so What is protein? Protein is made up of long chains of amino acids. Your body needs every kind of amino acid to preform normally. The amino acids our body’s cannot produce, we get from food.
Protein is required by the body for the growth, maintenance and repair of all cells.
If you aren’t getting enough protein in your diet, your hair and skin will be affected.
imagine a chick with anorexia, the first thing that is usually affected is her hair.
her hair will become dull, thin and fall out rapidly all of this is due to lack of protein!
Once the hair is out of the follicle it is very fragile, but there’s a lot you can do to make it appear healthy and keep it growing to it's fullest potential.
Along with keeping your hair moisturized and eating a good amount of protein, you can also add protein as an external treatment.
External protein helps coat the hair, by filling in your hair shaft, and adding strength to your hair.
There are many types of protein sold over the counter for hair repair, but they are not all the same in strength! Some protein treatments can soften the hair shaft like Dominican hair products and silk proteins!
vegetable proteins, makes the hair shiny and and healthy looking .
While others, like keratin protein help strengthen the hair.
Depending on your hair needs, this will determine which protein treatment that you will need.
*Read the labels you can cause serious damage to your hair if you don't!*
Collagen Protein (Animal Protein) -- known for increasing elasticity in the hair. ex: ORS hair mayonnaise, aphogee 2 minute reconstructer, VO5 protein conditioners.
all of these are also considered "light protein treatments" by many people.
I personally wouldn't use them more then twice a month.
Keratin Protein --(fibrous proteins) responsible for keeping the hair strong and pliable.
This is the strongest of all the proteins and is actually the one that hair is made from.
This one re-structures hair that has been damaged or broken down by chemicals.
It helps to replace the amino acid cysteine, which is the main one lost during chemical processing i.e. relaxers, dyes, jerhi curl kits ect, i know it's 2010 but folk are still rocking their soul glo kits =)
Remember these are heavy duty proteins. ex: Nexxus Emergencee, Aphogee Two Step Protein Treatment Dudley DRC-28 protein treatment.
my personal favorite is liquid keratin, i add it in my moisturizing conditioners,
to give it the best of both worlds, it's done wonders for my hair.
i did a video on it a while back on youtube.
Silk Amino Acids/Protein -- Silk has tiny molecules that can penetrate the entire hair shaft deeper than all other proteins without adding any weight, it leaves the hair feeling clean and non-greasy EX: Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk, Anti-Breakage Serum, Biosilk Silk Therapy Conditioner.
my personal fave is pure silk amino acid, i love that stuff!
Wheat Protein--is a moisturizing and strengthening protein.
it's known for increasing the hair's ability to maintain & receive moisture
ex: Lily of the Desert, ALOE VERA 80 daily shampoo Organics Daily Conditioner, pure Aloe.
Vegetable protein -- Vegetable proteins absorb more easily in to the hair shaft, than animal protein it does not create build-up, and it leaves the hair very shiny, and radiant!
ex: ORS Carrot oil, Yes to Carrots hair and scalp mask, The Hollywood Beauty Carrot Oil or moisturizing hair lotion and Giovanni vegetable shampoos and conditioners,
their leave in condish is the bomb!
Another great way of getting protein, is to ingest it!
try eating foods like chicken, tuna, salmon, peanuts, eggs ect.
So what is Castor Oil, and what does it do for hair? Castor Oil is derived from the castor bean, and seeds of the castor plant. It has been used for decades as a laxative and as a skin softener.
It is also a treatment for muscle aches, and infections and inflammations .
castor oil has been used as beauty aid, for years it helps to soften and treat very rough, dry skin. it's a vegetable based oil so it is ideal for skin and hair, it also makes a wonderful hot oil treatment for dry damaged hair. castor oil works to coat the hair shaft and smooth the cuticle layer, seals in moisture and leaves your hair with a soft and silky feeling. It is more easily absorbed by the hair,
allowing for deeper penetration into the hair shaft.
as with any hot oil treatment, it is important to avoid overuse of Castor Oil, especially if you are prone to a oily scalp. I recommend not doing a hot oil treatment more then once a month, i do one maybe a few times a year, if that...
I only do it when my hair is board and needs a change, weekly moisturizing treatments should be used along side castor oil so you can get double the benefits.
the main thing I use my Castor oil for, is sealing my ends, i do this whenever i braid or twist my hair. castor oil helps to maintain your length and prevent split ends, this is why i am able to go so long with out constantly trimming, but again do what works for you=)
#RANDOM
all of the Gucci samples have been mailed!!
you all didn't waste anytime, everyone should get their Gucci samples
hi everyone i made a video tonight announcing the winners of my giveaway.
make sure to check it out on youtube, and see if you are a possible winner!!
I have also paired up with a wonderful site called big discount fragrances
if you are interested in some gucci perfume samples contact me on youtube.
they sent me both male and female sample everything is shown in the video.
they also made a coupon code for my subs and followers, if you buy anything from their site you can save 10% off using promo code lovelyti
it's good from now- until feb 28th,you will be able to save some money right in time for valentine's day.
here's their site: http://www.bigdiscountfragrances.com/
I want to wish everyone who has supported lovely hair growth happy a new year!!! 2009 went by so fast, any issues or heartache that you experienced in 09 leave it in 09, do not bring any excess baggage to 2010=) 2010 is your time to start fresh and look a head to a better and brighter future!!
Remember new year higher standards, let's do better as women and as people in general. be blessed in the new year, thanks for all of your support ti •.¸¸.•*¨•❇Happy New Year!❇②Ⓞ①Ⓞ❇•*¨•.¸¸.•
Hey everyone hope you all had a great new year, i hope everyone was safe and warm=)
well i had gotten sent this link on youtube recently and i was surprised by what i saw lol,
well let me take that back since I’ve been vlogging a year now, nothing really shocks me...but i digress,
anyways there is a company making wigs for babies smh, now most you saw the lace front baby video that i did on youtube, well someone sent me a link to a company who makes wigs for healthy babies ages newborn to 12mths, i did my research and found out the company has been around since 08 but did not get any big exposure until their "product" was discussed on the tyra banks show.
I think it's sad that we can not love babies for who they are, I understand that women get bothered when people think their daughters are lil boys, my aunt went through that with her daughter.
unfortunately some people are just slow, you can have a girl in all pink with earrings but if she is bald people will say still say "awww what a cute lil boy" smh!
I went through that with my oldest son, people always thought he was my daughter =/ when his hair was long!
it didn't matter if he had corn rows going straight to the back,
or if i had his hair slicked back in to 1 big braid, he could be wearing a all blue sean john out fit, and idiots would still be like "oh your daughter is so pretty" WTH???
I would set them straight quick, fast and in a hurry.
I believe that people should use more common sense when it comes to commenting on children, if you can't tell the sex of a child just say cute kid and keep it moving lol!
hair should in no way determine the sex of a child, if your daughter is bald headed who cares.
if your son has hair to his back who cares....
Why are we letting OUR insecurities dictate what we do to our children's hair?
I could have cut off all of his hair, but for what?? i liked his braids, his dad wore braids, my brothers,my nephew everyone in our family was rocking braids at the time so our son did as well.
I always said when he got old enough to decided that he didn’t want braids then and only then would we cut his hair.
well once he turned 5 and was getting ready to start kindergarten he told me "mom i don't want long hair anymore" i asked him why and he said he didn't want anyone thinking he was a girl at school,
( he obviously heard some ignorant adults on the street ask me that)
anyways it was harder on me then him lol, but he wanted it cut so hubby cut it all off.
it was his 1st hair cut ever, he's always had hair even when he was born,
i swear he looked in the mirror for a week straight lol he was so happy with the hair cut!
now that he's about to be 9 he keeps a fade and refuses to ever grow his hair out =(
anyways the point of my story is... kids grow up kids change these 4-12 mth old babies will not be bald their whole life, i think that these small wigs look just as creepy, as the baby with the lace front on her head.
Anyways check this mess out and tell me what ya'll think.
cute package or just plain sad?
I find it odd that they airbrushed this
picture so much??
2009 will be over in less then 4days, 09 was a pretty good year for me, I had my up’s and downs, trials and tribulations but all of these things have helped to make me stronger. there were so many great hair styles in 2009, I even went through my own hair metamorphism in oct 09 when I did my "Big Chop" it's been 2 mths and I am glad I did it!
At 1st i missed my length, but now I am happy and I feel more confident. honestly this is probably the most that I have ever styled my hair in over 4 years, when i was relaxed i didn't do anything to my hair but wear it straight.
Now that I have my afro, I feel like I can do more with my hair, my favorite style by far is a twist out, for some reason braid outs don't work well in my hair, it was fine when I was relaxed but my hair will only take to doing twist out's, it's weird but I’ve tried 4 different braids outs, and each time it was a epic fail lol, but my twist outs are pretty nice, I’m finally getting the hang of styling my natural hair 2010 will be even better whoo hoo!!
rocking my Santa hat!
my wash n' go twist out
I did a double strand twist in the front and I pinned the side of my afro back.
So 2009 was a big year for hair styles, a lot of hair styles came and went and so many people switched up their hair styles at the drop of a hat, i enjoyed everyone's hair style choices. i think my favorite style of 09 had to be the half shaved head lol, raven symone started it and soon many folks followed suite, it became almost comical when willow pulled it off. Well i thought it was a cute hair cut, for shorter hair styles like the one Rihanna ,willow and keyshia cole rocked, i wasn't feeling the hair cut on girls with long hair like Cassie and Lala it look way too odd imo.
bangs: Bangs and bobs were huge this year, I believe Jessica Alba started this this trend in 09, it soon spread across hollywood.
this model's skin tone and hair cut are both flawless!
I don't care how old Keisha gets, she will always be rudy to me lol she is gorgeous!
miss kerri looks good with bangs.
sorry but I'm not feeling this hair style on Naomi, but it's good to see her giving those lace front a rest, her edges are severely damage.
Mo'Nique's hair looks fab, this is a pic from her alter ego photo shoot with Derek blanks.
Bobs:
My girl Taraji looks flawless!
new mommy j-hudson looks super cute here, this wig fits her well.
Even though Tia cut her hair, I still get her and her twin mixed up #dontjudgeme
Michelle honestly looks good with this bob it's good to see her rocking her real hair.
shaved heads:
Solange looks flawless I love her new look!
keyshia cole's hair cut was my favorite out of everyone who shaved half their head.
kelis
not feeling it on cassie....
Tasha Smith with her twin Sidra Smith, who shaved her hair off last year. it's good to see her still rocking it, she is truly a natural beauty.
Blond hair: blond hair was big in 2009 Rihanna switched her hair color about 2mths ago, from all black to a two-tone look, I like it for the most part.
Mary always looks fierce she has been rocking blond hair off and on for years.
christian millian I think it's way too blond, it washes her out.
Kim shocked everyone when she dyed her hair blond, I think this color is nice, it's suttle and go's great with her undertones.
the queen!
Amber has rocked a lot of different colors, in her hair, but I love the blond look most of all. I think it fits her well.
leona lewis
this color actually looks great on lil kim, that barbie blond had to go!
Hey everyone, I am doing a Christmas contest on my youtube channel and you all are invited to join in, I am giving away free gifts, check out my latest video and make sure to subscribe if you haven't already=o) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISSn_-m_vks
In November Denman rolled out their latest most unique brushes ever! they have never been seen before in the world of hair brushes, they are fruit scented brushes they come in 5 fun fragrances. each brush is brightly colored and decorated with fruit. you can Choose from Strawberry Shortcake, Green Apple, Wild Dewberry Lemon Sherbet and coconut!
These brushes are D3 classic styling brushes, these are some of the most popular Denman hair brushes, they have a anti-static rubber pad they perfect for blow-drying, smoothing and shaping the hair. they work well in 4a-4b hair as well. they run about $7.00 what scent do you choose?
I was sent 4 free products from organix to try out and share with my youtube subscribers and my blog family, the 1st product that I used was the organix cucumber yogurt shampoo and conditioner.
Enriching Cucumber Yogurt Shampoo & Conditioner Description: indulge your senses with this enriching blend of organic cucumber extract to energize and hydrate, while antioxidant rich vitamins and ultra whipped yogurt proteins instantly nourish and condition your hair with organic avocado oils to create a smooth, soft, frizz-free finish. The natural enrichment of organic cucumber extract with ultra whipped yogurt proteins and avocado oils provide for a totally indulgent spa-like experience.
Product Review:I used the shampoo Thursday morning I shampooed my hair and it smelled amazing!! it got my scalp clean with out stripping all of the oil from my hair. afterward I added the conditioner, I left this in for 5mins then I rinsed it out, I notice my curls where a lot more defined and my hair was very soft and "bouncy" I truly enjoyed using this.
Moisturizing Grapefruit Mango Butter Shampoo & Conditioner Description: A tropical exotic blend of vitamin and nutrient rich organic grapefruit extract to nourish and hydrate, while organic mango butter and essential oils help moisturize and enrich your hair, along with sunflower oil for added moisture and a shiny, silky and frizz-free finish. It’s a moisturizing vitamin and nutrient rich exotic blend to hydrate your lavish locks.
Product Review:I washed my hair the next day with the grapefruit mango butter shampoo,
I enjoyed the smell of this product as well, it's very tropical and it really woke me up,
one thing I noticed about this shampoo is that it completely took out all of the oil and shea butter
that i had put in my hair the day before, I believe that the grape fruit extract acts as a natural clarifier.
It clarified my hair with out making my hair feel like straw, nor did it tangle my hair.
after wards I washed out the shampoo, and I added the conditioner it was wonderful it immediately made my hair softer and looser, I was able to finger comb the product through my hair. I did a light rinse meaning, i left a smidge of conditioner in my hair as a leave in, It held my curls well, they were soft and a lot of people notice the difference in my hair on youtube and at work.
I would recommend these products to anyone, they work in all hair grades and they are sulfate free, yes they contain some alcohol, but I believe Sodium Lauryl Sulfateis a lot more dangerous then alcohol, I also combat any alcoholic products by using highly moisturizing products like she butter, leave in conditioner, glycerin ect. with that being said it didn't dry my hair out at all=)
I have been a busy bee today, I had to get all my Christmas orders done! I made 10 bottles of natural lotion, 15 things of fragranced whipped shea butter and 4 bottles of hair oil lol I feel like I’m singing the 12 days of Christmas, anyways I got everything done, I also included 1 free roll on perfumed oil, to customers who brought more then one thing.
I enjoy making products it's a lot of work, but it makes me feel good to help others, I have over 30 different fragrances...I now have male fragrances as well. I recently brought a new fragrance that is very similar to INTUITION by Estee Lauder, it is nice I can't wait to get feed back on it!
If you haven't watched my latest youtube video, I made a video about a Milwaukee teacher who got mad and cut one of her student's braids. what happened was, a 1st grade girl was playing with her long natural hair, she kept making the beads click clack back and forth, she was told to stop but she didn't, I guess it was irritating the teacher.... Anyways she then tells the little girl to come up to the front of the class, and then proceeded to cut her braid in front of the entire class! the girl said she walked back to her desk and started crying.
anyways I feel this teacher was totally out of pocket, she told the girl's mom that she was frustrated that day... she didn't even get charged, all she had to do was pay a $175 fine!#wheretheydodatat? if i was to walk up to a that same teacher, and cut her hair i would be charged with assult! It’s a shame, i do agree that the little girl should have listened to her teacher, but even still, cutting her hair was way to extreme. What do you all think?
As everyone knows, I love lip gloss! if I could only use one make up for the rest of my life it would be lip gloss, well I was sent some new product samples by a company called yoyo lip gloss, I have been using their lip gloss for a few days now and I truly love it! their lip gloss is really affordable as well.
So what makes them different from any other lip gloss on the market?
1st of all they are super cute, they remind me of a modernize Bonne belle lol I remember me and my girls goingcrazy over Bonne bell in 7th grade.
well yoyolipgloss is for the next generation, besides being cute they come with a retractable
"bungee cord" you can hook them on to your pants, shirt, keychain or just about anything.
Hence the yoyo effect, it also helps for those of you who are bad at losing your lip gloss like I am!
well I was sent 4 of them to sample I fell in love after just using the chaha chocolate
so I decided to do a small holiday give away on my youtubechannel,
to enter you must be a subscriber and you must leave a comment, that's it =)
good luck to everyone!!
here go's the video check it out!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5TFZCG89hg
Here is a product description from their site
Description: The YOYO Lip Gloss Minis are fun retractable lip glosses that you can clip on for easy access;pull the cord and it extends 21/2 feet long, apply that delicious sparkle gloss and then back YOYO goes!Clip a YOYO Lip Gloss Mini to yourschoolbag, purse, jeans, belt or pocket. Use it to spunk up your outfit!
Package Contents: .211 oz (6 g)Lip Gloss, 1.18" Retractable YOYO Reel with a Built in Breakaway Feature
The Internet was all a buzz this past Saturday, because Willow smith the daughter of will and jada smith showed up in Norway with a new hair cut... as you all know obama was receiving an award for the Nobel peace prize. Well miss willow stole the show! she got on stage with her famous parents, rocking a cassie like hair do, yes meaning half of her head was shaved LOL! a lot of people think it's awful and they say that she is acting too grown for her age, she is only 9. Her brother, (not to be outdone) also caused a spectacle with his giant afro lol which i loved! jayden has a head full of beautiful hair, BUT i can see where these 2 hair styles would cause a distraction, especially since this was a serious affair.
Well in my personal opinion i think the hair style is kind of "grown" but i can respect will and jada for allowing their kids to express themselves and be their own person. I personally wouldn't let my niece cut half of her hair, nor would i let my daughter (if i had one), now if my daughter was 13 then maybe i would, but not at age 9.
Now my oldest son has walked around with an afro as big as jayden smith, this was when he was between the of 2-4 yrs lol! when his hair was braided it was to the middle of his back! the days that he didn't want to braid his hair, i spritzed it with water then i added some gel and called it a day=) I loved his afro!! he now refuses to ever grow his hair back out=( he claims he too old for braids lol (my baby is growing up)oh well. what do you think about her hair?
Introducing our very 1st natural beauty of the month!
How long have you been natural?:I have been natural my entire life!
Wow how old are you?:22 years old.
what made your mom NOT relax your hair?:My mom just decided not to,
She is natural and so is my sister. There were times I wanted to relax my hair,
But then I saw the damage it did to some people's hair, so I chose to stay natural.
Favorite hair product?:vo5 tea tree conditioner, coconut oil and shea butter.
What is your hair routine?: I wash my hair every 9 days,
once I'm done I deep condition, and blow dry.
What’s your favorite hair style?:A 3 strand twist out!
How do you do that?:take a section of hair, split the section in to 3 parts twist two of the strands around one strand, let it sit overnight then untwist.
(do not add a lot of shea butter to your hair, it will make it look greasy)
Any advice for natural newbies?:stay away from certain shampoos because they can dry your hair out. make sure you add moisture to your hair daily,because natural hair can be very drying. when trimming your hair,remember to always trim at an angle and not straight across.
What’s your favorite hair accessory?:I love stretchy headbands,
especially when I rock a puff, it helps to hold all my hair back.
If you would like to be featured, please contact me on youtube or email me on my fanpage! special thanks to Sharla=) be blessed.
The product of the day is aloe vera this is another one of my favorite products, in my product junkie collection! Aloe Vera is good for your hair,scalp and skin. Aloe Vera acts as a natural hair conditioner and can be used in place of chemical based conditioners. If you are suffering from excessive hair loss, aloe vera can help a lot.
So what is Aloe vera? Aloe vera is a plant that originated from Northern Africa, the Canary islands and Cape Verde. Aloe vera grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa and other arid areas. The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine. Aloe vera can be traced back 6,000 years, to early Egyptian civilization, the plant was depicted on stone carvings, and it was known as the "plant of immortality," aloe was presented as a burial gift to deceased pharaohs.
Benefits of Aloe vera: In the body: The Aloe vera juice benefits, your body as well you can drink aloe vera juice from gnc, it's pretty good, it's kind of sour, it helps your digestive track and keeps you regular. drinking aloe vera juice benefits your health greatly, it's made from the pure aloe vera gel, aloe juice provides your body with 200 health promoting compounds, including 20 minerals, 18 amino acids and 12 vitamins.
On your hair:Aloe has been used by Native Americans, Indians and many in the Caribbean to promote hair health and prevent hair loss. it can help the scalp by healing it and balancing the pH level of the scalp while cleansing the pores. Research says that aloe extract is known to promote hair growth. I believe this to be true, i used this for 8mths straight and, I believe it helped my hair grow like crazy during my transition. I have since ran out and i really need to buy some more, i love this stuff, it's great for all over body care!
On your skin: Aloe is a natural Skin Moisturizer, it helps to promote skin hydration. If you don't have a bottle of moisturizer available, you can just tear off an aloe branch and mix it with a little water. Apply the mixture on your skin to get results that are almost as good as an actual moisturizer.
(TIP) Aloe Vera gel with a small amount of wheat germ oil, and coconut milk can be used as a natural shampoo.
my natural aloe vera moisturizing spray: (ingredients) 1 cup of filtered water 1/3 cup of aloe vera juice 1 teaspoon of glycerin 1 drop of honey (if you choose) shake, spray and your good to go!
Today I was minding my business, when a friend came over to me and made a very rude remark, they said "come with me McDonald's, so we can get something to eat buckwheat"
now mind you I wasn't rocking an afro or nothing I had my hair in about 20 double strand twisties,
but I digress... well I looked them dead in their eye, and I asked them who they were talking too?
I said "I know you didn't just call me what I think you did!" I had absolutely no smile on my face what so ever!
once they saw I wasn't smiling nor did I find their comment funny, they quickly apologized. now me and this person are cool, but it bothered me because people throw these words around so frequently without knowing the meaning nor the history behind these powerful words! this same person who said this too me,
was told his whole life, that he has "good hair" and even as an adult he is proud to state this,
it's very nauseating smh.
We have all heard these words on the playground, at home, church etc.
We, myself included have been guilty of using these words towards not only other people,
but toward ourselves as well.
words like: nappy headed, buckwheat, pickininnie, good hair, bad hair, red head step child etc
these are very powerful words and we need to know the history behind them before just spewing these words out of mouths.
http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/picaninny/
picaninny/Buckwheat: was the dominant racial caricature of Black children for most of this country's history. They were "child coons," Picaninnies had bulging eyes,unkept hair,
red lips, and wide mouths into which they stuffed huge slices of watermelon. Picaninnies were portrayed as nameless, shiftless natural buffoons running from alligators and toward fried chicken. they were untamable "wild children"
the most famous picaninny was William Thomas Jr. he played Buckwheat from Little Rascals (Our Gang) series he started at age three and played his last Buckwheat role when he was 13. a lot of people knock him because he played this buffoon like character, but come on people
it was the 1930's how many black people even got a chance to act on the big screen?
he made money for him and his family...did he get paid as much as alfa alfa or spanky
no of course not, but being black back then, meant excepting what ever paid roles were available to you. unfortunately for us there weren't many roles to choose from, these were the choices we had picaninny, sambo, mammy, or butler.
so how can you knock William Thomas, but love flavor flav? think about that for a minuet...
we have a lot more opportunity now a days, but yet we still get casted in these buffoon like roles.....
from a young age many children with 4A-C hair are told that their hair is nappy or not good enough
at a young age, we are taught subconsciously and blatantly, to loath our hair how many times have we heard
our mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and other relatives, make comments like
"oh this child's hair is so nappy"or "come let me do that nappy head of yours" etc.
we need to watch what we say to young children about their hair, because these words stick with them
and can form how they feel about themselves later on in life.
same go's for children who are constantly told they have "good hair"
it can give them a superiority complex (hence my friend) it go's both ways.
teach children to love themselves and the ALL hair textures.
now we all saw the video that hit the net a few months ago and I did a video on it, it showed a women verbally abusing her daughter and belittling her hair, she repeatedly told the child she was nappy headed and then proceeded to sit on the child, all the while brushing her hair like a farm animal!
I think it's sad that people, look at our hair as such a burden/chore, our hair is NOT bad it's just different and instead of embracing the differences in our hair, we hate it....SMH we have to do better.
her children got taken away from her, after this video hit the net.
it's a sad situation, but once again embrace your children's hair it's not a burden, it's a blessing!
I was sent a news article a while back and it touched my heart there is a white family who adopted a little black Ethiopian girl, and guess who styles and does her hair every other day...
her father, a older white man! he went out of his way to research, ask questions, and learn how to care for his black daughter's hair I thought it was wonderful, now granted he uses a fork at times lol
but we WON'T judge him, what ever works for him to get his daughter's hair done properly is a great thing in my opinion!
So basically I wish that we would embrace our hair and stop trying to be funny all the time,
we have made words like nappy, good hair, bad hair, and buckwheat all too common when will it end??
read the article about the father it's a wonderful story.
http://www.blackvoices.com/boards/entertainment/entertainmnt/entertainment/white-father-braiding-black-daughter/270473/print/25
A few months ago I joined a natural hair group in my area, I never went to any meetings prior because I was transitioning at the time, and I wanted to be 100% natural before, I made an appearance.
well this weekend was my 1st meet up, I went with a friend I met a while ago, who is natural as well, we ended up meeting at this Cajun restaurant the food was so good!
I had a great time, it was good to be around so many natural women of all ages and hair types! we sat and talked about some of our experiences, we swapped stories, hair tips and gave each other lot's of great advice.
None of them know that I youtube or own this site, I just wanted to be incognito and check out the scene, everyone was so welcoming and down to earth, we ate and hung out for 3 hrs. Now even though this was my 1st meeting, I was entered into a drawing and I won a gift bag filled with wonderful natural products and books!!
The group meets a least once a month, so I think I will try and make it more often. If you’re natural or you feel alone on your journey, I think going to a meet up like the one I went too is a good way to meet other natural women!
I did a double strand twist in my hair it came out lovely.
this is the bag i won 100% recyclable
this is everything that they stuffed in that lil'bag lol i got a bunch of wonderful things those samples are Aubrey's organics products iv'e always wanted some bert's bees products these all natural lip glosses are wonderful! i love the make up bag it came with.
i didn't win these lol but i bought them sunday at Burlington, they were having a great sale on tennis shoes! if your looking for Christmas gifts you should go up there, they had a wide variety of shoes and clothing for sale!
i love ecko red shoes, they are always cute and blingy, i rock my high tops with skinny jeans only low tops can be worn with what ever.
glycerin is one of my favorite products, i literally add it to everything i make, i believe that this is a important product to add to your product junkie list lol!
So what is glycerin? Glycerin is a neutral, sweet-tasting, colorless, thick liquid that can be dissolved into water or alcohol, but not oils.
Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it attracts moisture from the air and adds it to your hair and skin.
Glycerin is a natural by-product of the soap-making process, commercial manufacturers use glycerin in everything from lotions to conditioners.
Benefits of glycerin: glycerin is beneficial for hair as well as skin. Dry brittle hair will benefit greatly, if you suffer from a dry or flaky scalp, rubbing vegetable glycerine on to it can alleviate this. In addition to its moisturizing properties, it also strengthens the hair and makes breakage and split ends less likely.
it is wonderful for your skin as well, it helps to keep your skin well moisturized, this is very beneficial in the winter and summer months. it's also hypoallergenic!
(TIP) when adding glycerin to your hair oils, make sure you shake it up every time you use it, because glycerin separates from oil.
I love adding glycerin to my moisturizing sprays! list of ingredients: 1 cup of water 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or olive oil 1-2 teaspoons of glycerin feel free to add a few drops of fragrance oil to your mix. shake it up and your good to go! you now have your own home made moisturizing spray.
I have not bought any moisturizing spray from the bss, in over 3 years! this mixture works very well, on every type if hair grade! try it out some time. have a great weekend=) http://www.facebook.com/pages/lovelyti/174912008599
If you haven't seen my latest youtube video i made an announcement
i have been going through alot with my job and their crazy scheduling, i am grateful to have a job in these tough economic times, but dang it's running me ragged now that m y kids are getting older i need a more steady schedule something 8-5ish, these late nights and working on Saturdays and some Sundays are getting to be too much for me, so i am making a career change, i am very happy about it, but it's overwhelming as well!
Well the good news about my career change, is that I now have more time to post on my blog,
i will be able to post at a decent time meaning NOT at 1-2am when i'm half sleep, and can barely proof read =( lol i'm only human so don't judge me too harshly.
I will be changing the direction of my blog it will still focus on hair,beauty, fashion
and other great info, but now i am doing 2 different sections, one will be called
lovely natural and the other is fashionista i made a youtube video explaining everything,
so please watch it.
if you are interested in submitting photos to be in either category, please contact me on here or on my facebook fan page. i recently started it, so if you haven't joined please do!!!
i will be doing micro blogs on there as well. i have already received over 20 submissions,
i am very excited to start this, the 1st set of ladies will be featured in 2 weeks once they have been interviewed.
I hope you ladies decide to join in, i want to encourage ladies who are on the fence about being natural to feel confident in themselves and go for it! you can be natural and still be 100% fly and sexy don't let the media brainwash you in to believing that you can't.
I also want to represent my ladies who relax and/or wear weaves as well, I did the same thing for years,so at the end of the day its about choices, it's not my place look down or judge anyone based on their personal choice.
I want to do two categories, because i want us to see each other as women 1st and foremost not natural vs relaxed, i want people to see that natural women can be just as fly as anyone else,
i want us to realize that at the end of the day, it's just hair! we can be beautiful with our natural hair, or relaxed hair.... no drama, no beef just women coming together!
I only see positive things coming from this, it's a great way for all of us to share fashion tips and hair tips, so i hope you all feel free to submit your photos as well.
I want to see the latest fashion trends in your area, so only fly pics please!!!
check out the video and contact me if your interested.
hey everyone hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving!! mine was great we have lot's of left overs too!! i have been busy with work and the family not too much else is new=) I went to my 1st party au natural last Saturday, i was weave free i wore my natural hair, and i loved it! i had a great time and quite a few guys gave me props about my hair and i even got photographed at the party so it was great! I was channeling Lauryn hill, with this hair style lol i'm getting better at styling, i'm not perfect yet,but i'm gaining my confidence with each new style that i do. what ya'll know about killing me softly video!
Well I ran in to this lady that hadn't seen me in a year, she couldn't believe i cut off my hair, she kind of had a scowl on her face when she said it...she then proceeded to ask me why everyone was going natural?? all i could do was laugh i told her, i can't speak for anyone else but i gave her MY reasons for going natural. she said she could never do it, but "gave me props for stepping out side the box" *kanyeshrug*LOL if you say so lady =)
It is now starting to get colder, i am still trying to debate on how i want to handle my hair this winter, in the winter my hair go's in to hibernation mode and i wear protective styles only!! it helps to give my hair a break and protect it from snagging,breakage and cold air. my hair is to short and thick for a bun so really my only choice is braiding it and rocking my good ol'lace front! as you all know i hate braided extensions and sew-in's... i spray my hair a lot with water, so i don't know how this is going to work, as the days get colder...plus i get sick very easily so i don't want to walk around in the cold with wet hair... if you all have any winter tips for rocking Afros, please let me know i am open to any suggestions =)
Today i'm going to tell you about one of my favorite winter oils, as you all know i LOVE shea butter, but it is some times too thick for my face, especially if i decide to wear some face powder, so to combat that i like to use hemp seed oil in the winter, it's light but it absorbs so well and keeps my face from drying out!
Iv'e never smoked a day in my life, this includes weed, cigarettes, black N milds ect. not knocking anyone, but it's not MY thing, feel free to insert----NERD/GEEK--- here lol anyways even though i am not a fan of "weed" i do know and understand that cannabis/hemp is a great plant, it is used for many purposes i love the oil that comes from the hemp seeds! so let me break it down to ya'll! (side note: because i don't smoke, i believe this has benefited my skin greatly) people always ask about my skin, NO SMOKE+ LOT'S OF WATER=MY SKIN lol
Facts About Hemp
Hemp Plant or cannabis sativa The hemp plant, is also known as cannabis sativa is the same as marijuana. The big question that most people have is this: is the hemp seed oil that is used to make beauty products and smokeable marijuana from the same plant?
The fact is that they are different varieties of the same species, according to industry experts. The difference is that drug-grade hemp contains high levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is psychoactive, while industrial hemp (the one used in beauty products, shampoo and conditioners) has so little THC that it's virtually drug-free. Therefore, any beauty products containing hemp are free of illegal substances! (whoo hooo)
it's great on not only skin but dry scalp and hair! shampoos and conditioners made with oils from the hemp seed are terrific moisturizing agents because they help restore the cells that have been damaged by harsh chemicals, excessive perms, bleaching, coloring, and other excessively harsh hair care products. When you use a shampoo made with hemp seed oil, the end result is hair that not only looks and feels healthier, it literally is healthier. I always make sure to add some hemp seed oil to my cowashs,shampoos, deep conditioners ect. a little bit go's a long way!
products made with hemp are no joke! In fact, there’s an entire industry devoted to utilizing the full benefits of hemp seed oil. These products are being used by individuals who want organic products containing ingredients that have been proven to make a difference.
The moisturizing properties of the fatty acids found in hemp seed oils, truly help dry scalp and hair by increasing the scalp’s capacity to retain more of its natural moisture. Shampoos made from hemp seed oil help to sooth and even restore skin that is dry or damaged. It’ll also make your hair shinier and more manageable.
Hemp seed oil on your skin is the bomb!!!(real talk)
Hemp seed oil contain lot's of fatty acids, this occur naturally in the skin and are helpful in protection against skin damage.
The topical use of hemp seed oil has an anti-inflammatory action on the skin and also helps to increase ceramide levels, thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Apart from all of this, hemp seed oil also contains around 23% protein and all nine essential amino acids, as well as two sulfur-containing amino acids. Some studies have also shown that the omega-6 gamma-linolenic acid found in hemp seed oil, are effective in the therapeutic treatment of acne, the oil helps to reduce inflammation and also helps to alleviate "breakouts".
Hemps seed is a very light and finely textured oil it doesn't mess up your make up either=) hemp seed oil, conditions and provides moisture to your skin, it's often also included in facial washes to prevent dehydration and de-fatting of the skin.
hemp seed oil that it is used in cosmetic products, does not cause hallucinations and is not banned by any government, so basically if you cook with the oil, or drink it you can't get high lol!
anyways i hope this opens up your mind about hemp seed cannabis is not always a bad thing if it is used properly and in cosmetics. you can find hemp seed oil at health stores. i get mine by the gallon cus i make products but it shouldn't be hard to find i love it i add it to my lotions as well.
I wanted to share this with ya'll, this is my graphic design that i made for little shaniya davis if you remember i did a video on her a week or so ago, her funeral was last saturday in fayettville nc. It came out today that shaquille o'neal covered the funeral cost for the family, i'm proud of shaq for doing that. well i am a member of her facebook fan/prayer page so this was a picture i designed in remembrance of her, please feel free to share this picture, let's not forget her or any of these other missing and abducted children if i can leave you all, with any words please talk to your children, be honest with them about the world that we live in!! hug them, kiss them and tell them that you love them everyday. have a blessed weekend everyone. peace
hey everyone hope i all is well, i have been loving my hair, i have not worn a weave
in over 3 weeks lol it's been a lot easier, just wash and go or should i say spray and go lol but i love it.
Last Saturday i did a new henna treatment and i want to share it with ya'll.
i did a henna and molasses treatment. it was wonderful, what i did was mix my henna together then i added 2 tablespoons of molasses to it, i ended up doing an over night henna treatment which i now do cus it's easier to let it work it's magic while i sleep lol.
Anyways when i washed it out, i noticed a big difference my hair was softer it was easier to comb and my curls were looser, it also made my henna darker it took off some of that red tint!
it was nice, i had more of a brown tint to my hair,
after wards i applied my oils and twisted my hair i really enjoyed this treatment
i would recommend trying it and seeing how you like it.
my recipe about 1 cup of henna
2 tbs of olive oil 2 tbs of coconut oil 1 tbs of acv 1 tbs spoon of aloe vera juice
2 tbs of molasses about 2 cups of warm water... i applied it in sections, then i applied a shower cap and a old scarf, then i went to sleep on a old pillow case=)my hair turn out really soft.
Benefits: Molasses - contains natural sulfur/sulphur which is a mild natural fungicide, that rehydrates & detoxifies cell fibers by allowing water & nutrients into the cells & toxins to flow out. Sulphur is one of the key building blocks for healthy hair growth. molasses is a great treatment for damaged hair. it is said to strengthen and stop hair loss, it can also help to regrow hair.
With continuous use Black Strap Molasses is said to darken gray hairs over a period of time.
use can also use molasses As a pre poo use 1/2 cup of pure Black Strap Molasses to damp hair and let sit for 30 minutes... ( You could leave it on over night if you like) Rinse and shampoo and condition as usual. you will see a big difference in your hair... real talk=0)
As a conditioner:1/2 cup molasses with 1/2 cup Jamaican black castor oil or regular castor oil. your hair will be super soft and super shiny, to me home made products are the best way to go the only thing i now buy from store are cheapie conditioners, and herbal essence conditioners...most of my hair products are things that i make from my kitchen,
it's easier because i know what's in it, and they make my hair grow fast so i have no complaints=)
i took this pic to show ya'll the difference half my hair is covered with the molasses and henna the other half is not.
my hair being stretched
my hair completely covered you can see the curl definition pretty well.
dang i'm cheesing hard in the is picture lol i guess i was happy with the results=)
*note to self mean mug the camera next time LOL!
Be blessed talk to ya'll in a few days!
follow me on twitter if your not already=)
twitter.com/lovelyti
hey everyone! well if you haven't been following me on twitter or watching me on youtube, i just wanted to let you know,that i finally cut the relaxer out of my off my hair =) it was a hard decision but in the end i am glad i did it!
i wore my hair to work the next day everyone was shocked a lot of people liked it, but of course a few people had an issues with it, which i don't understand cus it's MY HAIR! i am getting more and more used to it, i can't keep my hands out of my head lol at times, i feel 2pac cus all eyes are on me, but as the day go by i am getting more comfortable with it and myself, i no longer think that people will assume that i am a boy.
i am going to post the video,so please check it out and i'm going to post some pics=) i have to work early in the morning so i am keeping this short, i will be back sunday with a full blog.
my hair was even longer then this but this was me last year around this time i have learned so much about natural hair, so since i know how to grow my hair to it's full potential, i hope to have full arm pit or bsl length natural hair by oct 2010!! i may start another challenge... so stay tuned! i am going full force ladies i want long 100% natural hair by oct 2010=)
after a year with out a relaxer, i am at full shoulder length when stretched=) so don't get it twisted ladies, you can have a healthy happy transition, you do not have to have a fade to go "natural" you can cut your hair when you get comfortable, don't let anyone pressure you or make you feel bad about YOUR HAIR DE SCIONS.
i have to work early tomorrow, i am rocking my satin bonnet to bed=) have a safe and happy weekend=) ti
hey everyone it's been a minuet, but as you all know this is not a "typical" blog it is also a website, i have been keeping my self busy with not only youtube but blog talk radio.
i started co-hosting for a few people and i was even invited to be a guest speaker on a few shows. ever since then i have fallen in love with btr, i am now hosting my very own show every Thursdays evening at 10:30 pm EST, feel free to stop by, i take live calls from my subs, followers,and blog friends, we talk about a wide range of topics, this week i will be co hosting a show with princess FAA radio , we will be discussing good hair /bad hair so feel free to come by this weds at 9pm EST http://www.blogtalkradio.com/PrincessFAA.
Hair tips for fall and winter We protect our skin from cold winter weather by wearing ear muffs, gloves, coats and scarves, but a lot of us forget about our hair, our hair need to be protected as well during these next cold months.low temperatures and low humidity are hard on our hair. cold weather can cause dry hair, split ends and dull lifeless hair as well.
Your shampoo and conditioner:
you should be using moisturizing shampoo and conditioners during the rough winter months.
Try to avoid shampooing everyday to let the natural oils lubricate your hair, i wash 2x a week.
co washing is a great thing to do at least once a week.
Protection from winter weather:
Winter time can be fun,but windy days can snap your hair causing split ends.
Control your hair by rocking a pony tail or a bun, the wind makes hair very susceptible to breakage.
protect your hair by wearing hats, keeping your hair warm, and staying out of the wind for prolonged periods of time.
On going treatments:
At least once a week take time out to give your hair a special deep conditioning, use your favorite deep moisturizing treatment to restore the moisture that is being robbed by dry air. also try doing a hot oil treatment pick your favorite oil and let it work it's magic.
Remember these Tips
Don't go outside in the winter time with wet hair. If you go outside in the cold weather with wet hair, you risk the possibility of your hair freezing, which leaves it prone to breaking and getting damaged.
Use hair tools, such as ionic hair dryers and ceramic plated straighteners that will lock in the moisture in your hair instead of stripping it. The winter takes enough moisture out of your hair and you don't need your styling tools to take even more. The less moisture in your hair, the drier and more damaged it will be.
Rock a hat or wear your hair up during winter time. Try doing updos or sleek chignons in the winter, this will to help protect your hair from damaged.
Invest in a humidifier, Heaters take moisture out of the air. Skin needs about 30 percent humidity in the air to stay moisturized. humidifiers are the best thing, as soon as it gets cold i bust mine out the closet, it benefits your hair as well.
i hope everyone has a great week! i will be doing another video sometime this week, and i will be hosting a BTR show on Thursday the topic is about folks who are chasing their 15mins of fame so please come to this show as well. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lovelyti
hey lovelies, well earlier today i recorded a video,
showing my subs how to do a acv wash and how to make a natural protein treatment using SILK AMINO ACIDS and phytokeratin these are 2 really good staples of mine.
i have been using them for quite some time, i add the silk amino acids to my lotions and i also add them to my deep conditioner. i only deep condition 2x a mth, because i cowash a min of 2x a week. dealing with my transitioning has been a challenge at times and a learning experience as well. I am very proud of myself for not feeding in to what the naysayers and the negative folks had to say, i did what worked for me and because of that i am seeing the fruits of my labor=)
for all the ladies who choose to transition please keep in mind, that you are dealing with 2 totally different hair textures and both sides need attention and care.
relaxed hair is usually deprived of protein and your natural hair is usually lacking moisture, so you want to make sure you have an equal balance of both, so you won't have a whole lot of breakage and shedding.
I make sure to spray my hair twice a day with my moisturizing mix then after that i seal with shea butter or castor oil. now to get the needed protein in your hair with out, getting it on your natural roots all you have to do is take a little castor oil pour some in your palm then sprinkle a pinch of SAA in to the castor oil. then mix it around with your finger then apply it your ends!
this helps to give the relaxed ends a light protein boost with out having to get it all over your natural hair, now i only do this 1-2x a mth cus you don't want to go over board, there is a such thing as protein over load! now SAA is extremely light, so i doubt you can overload on it but since i henna, i don't need to add the SAA everyday.
well after a year of not relaxing my natural hair has grown a lot, i am officially shoulder length, i am planning on cutting my relaxed ends soon, preferably for my 3yr hair anniversary, but who knows it will depend on my mood and if i feel like doing it on that day=)
i didn't think i would reach SL this fast but i am glad i did, cus this proves to me that there is nothing wrong with my natural hair and that my hair can grow, look and feel healthy with or with out a relaxer every 6mths.
i was thinking about waiting till i was full SL before cutting but who knows... i'm just gonna stick to my reggie and keep doing ti and what ever happens HAPPENS LOL.
close up of my natural hair texture!
4a mixed with 3c
my natural hair un-stretched, sits on top of my shoulders. when it's flat ironed it covers the top of my shoulders.
it's been a long year i didn't think I could do it
but it's done, I can't wait to be all one texture! my relaxed hair is past bsl, I will miss the length but i can't go back to relaxers for now, I've learned and experienced so much in this past year, i am ready to embrace my natural hair for what it is. am i scared? kind of, but hey it's just hair right.........
SAA/Silk Amino Acid
Silk Peptide comprises 18 kinds of amino acids, which is produced from the hydrolysis of natural cocoon protein. It is widely known as the amino acid supplement because of very high digestion and absorption ability. Furthermore, silk peptide moisturizes the skin due to the excellent absorption to skin and moisturizing ability. It also nourishes, softens and gives luster to the hair damaged by perming. It can be used in the following:
Phytokeratin is a protein additive for hair products. It enriches shampoos and conditioners and adds shine and bounce to the hair, as well as penetrating the hair, thus enhancing its moisture content. Phytokeratin improves the softness of the hair and increases the amino acids already present in the hair. Up to 10% phytokeratin can be added to hair products.
A lot of people feel like they have to spend a lot of money on hair products, did you realize that there are many things in your kitchen that are healthy, 100% natural and excellent for your hair! I am going to list a few food items that i love applying to my hair!
1. Mayonnaise benefits: The oils in the mayo leave strands smooth and frizz-free. I've done this several times, and my hair always feels soft after. Simply scoop some mayonnaise out of the jar massage it through you hair until it is all damp. Cover with a plastic shower cap, watch TV or clean up for 20 minutes. Then rinse it out in cold water only!!! (very important, otherwise hot water will set the egg content) and wash and condition as normal.
2. Honey I am a huge fan of honey=) benefits: honey helps soften and moisturize hair strands also gives great shine. Mix 2 tablespoons of honey with 1/3 cup of olive oil and apply to dry hair. Wash it out after 30 minutes. you can also add some honey to your favorite condition it will not go rancid because honey is a natural anti microbial!
3. Avocado benefits: When combined with coconut milk, it is great for to sealing split ends. First, mix together one mashed avocado with 1 cup of coconut milk, you can also add some honey as well. Cover your hair with the paste and let sit under a plastic cap for 30 minutes wash as usual.
4. Apple cider vinegar benefit:helps to cleanse hair thoroughly also balances your hair's ph levels. mix 1 cup of warm water and 1/4 cup of this acv, then spray through out hair and put on a plastic cap. The acids will strip hair of dulling product buildup, it is also good for getting rid of dandruff.
5. Eggs benefits: eggs are excellent sources of protein, eggs help hydrate and repair damaged hair, You can use them to deep-condition as well. combine two eggs and 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Work mixture through strands, then leave in for 30 minutes. you can also mix 1 egg and 4 table spoons of mayo this is a excellence protein conditioner, remember anything dealing with eggs should be washed with cool water, trust me they will cook in your hair and it is a mess trying to get egg out of your hair=D
6.Rosemary oil benefits:it helps to stimulate circulation and promote hair growth. Try massaging some rosemary oil into your scalp this truly helped my thinning sides.
7.ummm Yogurt(in my homer Simpson voice) benefits: plain yogurt has been shown to loosen the curl pattern of 4a/4b hair. also If you run out of conditioner, this is a great back up it will leave your hair Soft and shiny!
8.Bananas,yeah I said it!! I love this pic this little girl is adorable! did you know that bananas contain tryptophan, a rich amino acid that is known to be extremely beneficial for hair and skin. They are also chock full of potassium which adds super softening properties to the hair shaft. Along with vitamins A, B, C and E bananas contain rich natural oils and carbohydrates. All these goodies shore up the natural elasticity of the hair and prevents split ends.
in order to use bananas they need to be black and icky looking not spoiled but on the way to be spoiled, you feel me? ok so this is what you need to do... i need to make a video on this i tried it a while back and i really liked it...
my own banana Hair Mask Recipe
1 ripened banana 2 tablespoons plain yogurt 2 teaspoons of olive or coconut oil 1/4 teaspoon of lecithin* i use soy lecithin,i get mine shipped from Canada (don't ask me why) lol 1/8 teaspoon of honey 2 teaspoons of sweetened condensed milk//i used regular milk you can also add a few drop of your favorite calming essential oil. mix this in a high speed blender or food processor.
apply it with a relaxer brush, apply it to damp hair cover with a shower cap, i left mine on for an hour rinse thoroughly. lightly shampoo to get ride of any build up.
do you have a favorite hair recipe? if so feel free to add it in the comment box.
hey everyone hope all is well, coming on today to talk about natural hot oil treatments. I know a lot of you buy hot oil treatments like vo5, luster's, and queen helen from the store, but did you realize that these store brought hot oil treatment are crap! they are watered down with water, mineral oil and lots of other stuff that your hair doesn't need.
A hot oil treatment is the use of natural oils to moisturize and prevent damage in all types of hair. This type of treatment is especially necessary for African American hair.
It replenishes proteins and minerals loss due to the use of heated tools, relaxing, coloring or other chemical processes. You can use any of your favorite oils, you can use 1 oil or you can mix many depending on what your hair needs. Olive oil is a very popular oil for doing a hot oil treatment, because you can find it anywhere and it is great for your hair.
Coconut oil is another great choice coconut has so many benefits plus it helps to promote hair growth!
Both of these oil will add strength and shine to your hair.
a few different oils Jojoba oil can also be used in the mixture.
castor oil helps hair with thickening.
grape seed, shea and avocado oil, help to re-hydrate.
Adding tea tree, peppermint or rosemary will help to stimulate your scalp, and put a end to a itchy scalp!
You can mix any or all of these oils together in small amounts, and place them in an applicator bottle.
application Apply the hot oil directly to your scalp using the tip of the applicator bottle.
Massage the oil on to your scalp, then apply the oil to the entire hair shaft. Be sure the oil is evenly distributed and an ample amount is applied to the ends.
this will help to seal and protect your ends from splits and breakage.
Place a shower cap on your head and sit under a hooded dryer for 15-20 minutes. If you do not have a hooded dryer you can moisten a towel and warm it in the microwave.
what I do is heat the oil in the microwave, I heat it for 15-25 seconds, make sure to always test the heat of the oil on your wrist before applying it on to your scalp.
make sure it's not too hot, then apply it to your hair and scalp leave it on, for minimum of 15 minutes. I usually keep mine on for an hour because I have no life lol .
Once your time is up make sure to wash your hair, remove the oil by washing it out with warm water and shampoo.
I wash it out by doing a light shampoo or a cowash, i do this because i do not want to re-strip my hair of all of the oil and moisture that i just added to it.
So try it out some time ladies, i guarantee your hair will feel a lot better this way then with the store brought oils.
There are so many different dryers on the market, from hand held dryers to hooded dryers
I'm going to talk about what you need to look for when purchasing a dryer
brand/price doesn't always make it the best.
History
(wikipedia) blow dryers are frequently called a hairdryer, they are electromechanical device designed to blow cool or hot air over wet or damp hair, in order to accelerate the evaporation of water particles and dry the hair. Blow dryers allow to better control the shape and style of hair,
by accelerating and controlling the formation of temporary hydrogen bonds inside each strand. These hydrogen bonds are very powerful (allowing for stronger hair shaping than even the sulfur bonds formed by permanent waving products), but are temporary and extremely vulnerable to humidity. They disappear with a single washing of the hair. Hairstyles using blowdryers usually have volume and discipline, which can be further improved by the use of styling products and brushes during drying to add tension, hold and lift. There is a myth that using blow dryers increases hair loss. There is no scientific evidence to support this. Blow dryers were invented around the end of the 19th century.
The first model was created by Alexandre F. Godefroy in his salon in France.
Different types of dryers...
Ionic
If you want salon-quality results, then an an ionic dryer, is a must!
it provides smooth hair and body by reducing emissions from position ions.
Ceramic
A ceramic hairdryer will use its own self-regulating heat options to provide effective results resulting in healthy and well-conditioned hair.
Tourmaline
a tourmaline type provides the same results as an ionic dryer with added power and a faster drying time.
Wattage hair dryers have different wattage options. It's important to choose a hairdryer with 1,800 watts, as it will ensure enough heat runs throughout it. Never use a dryer that has more than 2,000 watts, as it is dangerous to use, this is the worst type to use on african american hair this will cause a lot of damage and breakage to your hair, so look for the wattage amount ladies. If the hair dryer has high wattage, then use the lowest setting possible.
Settings Most hairdryer settings have nearly four to six settings temperature settings rang from to low, medium and high. Any hairdryer that has one setting most often provides the user with brittle and dry hair. Look for a hairdryer with a cool air button that provides an option for lesser temperature throughout the entire hair drying process, this is a absolute must for hair that is
3c-4b the cool button is your friend ladies hit it when necessary!
Additional Hair Dryer Features
Many hairdryers have nozzles and/or diffuser options. When a nozzle is applied to a hair dryer it is used to direct the airflow. For someone with kiny/curly hair, these attachments are imperative for proper styling.
These attachments and accessories are made from non toxic durable materials to insure quality and long time use. Enhance volume with a diffuser, straighten hair with a comb pick or create a precision blow with constrictor nozzles.
In my opinion I think this is the worst blow dryer to use on your hair,
i used this type of blow dryer for years, and
i remember always seeing tons of my hair in the combs, they would snag and pop my hair strands constantly, i wouldn't recommend blow drying with this type of hand dryer.
blow dry tips
you will need a nozzle to attach to the hair dryer
this will apply direct heat flow to the hair shaft.
Flat professional hairdressing clips
Preferred styling products Gloss, oil and heat protectant!
Large paddle/ round brush depending on the style
Before blow drying hair Prepare your hair for styling with a good shampoo and conditioning treatment. Blot your hair with a towel and allow it to dry naturally. Your hair needs to be at least 80% dry for the styling to be effective.
Use a wide toothed comb to detangle hair. Apply heat protectant to your hair.
Massage hair with a dollop of straightening balm.
How to blow dry your hair #2
Part your hair into four horizontal sections,
two at the sides and two at the back.
Clip these sections on top of your head. Do one section at a time.
Using a thick, round brush, start blow drying the hair while pulling the brush through the hair from the roots to the ends. Pull the hair away from your head, stretching and straightening it as you go.
Direct the airflow down the hair shaft as this will give added shine to your hair. Continue from section to section of free hair till all the sections are dry and smooth. Keep the tension consistent and evenly distribute heat over the section of hair you are concentrating on. This will ensure uniform hair texture and prevent over drying of certain areas. Continue to work down the length of your hair until only the ends are left around the brush.
For turned in or turned out look, simply bend the hair around the brush.
For the straight, sleek look remove the brush and insert it underneath the ends using the airflow from the dryer to keep them against the brush.
You can apply gloss or oil to smooth over your hair and remove any unwanted frizz.
Blow drying tricks and tips
Always point the dryer down the hair shaft as you are blow drying the hair as blowing upward can cause frizz.
Your hair dryer should be light enough to hold easily as holding your arms over your head can be pretty tiring.
never apply direct heat to hair or scalp,
Too much heat on the scalp can and will burn you, trust me!
Never allow air to flow up the hair shaft. Hair will look dull and lifeless.
Brush and blow dry the underside first so that hair in the lower section gets dried too. It is better to work from the backside of your hair to the front side.
Ensure that each section is dried fully before moving on to the next section, so that you don’t need to redo it again. With partly-done section, hair may revert to its original state.
Do not blow dry hair when it is too wet or still dripping. In the same fashion, do not direct heat to a section that is 100% dry. Use a spritz bottle to slightly add moisture before blow drying. Start with hot air and finish with cold on every section to first build in the desired style and then lock in the set.
Avoid too much drying of hair by holding the nozzle at least 5-6 inches away from the head and using a medium setting. Also, do not direct the air flow at any one section for more than a few seconds at a time.
Avoid sectioning clips that cause wrinkles. You can place a piece of tissue paper between the hair and the clip to avoid any ridges.
*Waring*
Blow dryers are for hair, nothing else. Don't use it to dry your body
high heat can cause burns.
Never blow dry your hair when it is dripping wet you could get electrocuted by doing this.
Blow drying can cause headaches, You shouldn't use them for more than an hour-and-a-half at a time. this time frame is for getting a Dominican blow out or a professional styling at the shop.
if your just blow drying your hair at home i would recommend no more then 20mins,
if you still have some wet spots let it airdry
just so you can cut down on the heat somewhat.
Try to avoid blow drying freshly-colored hair It's already dry enough, this is a sure way to have a lot of damage and breakage, heat and color do not mix!
Avoid using near bathtubs - it can be deadly
also ladies always, always, always, use a heat protection!
blow dryers are no diffrent from any other heat styling tool, make sure to protect your hair. when I do blow dry which is hardly ever i use my nexxus heat protect ant spray.
i make the dominicans spray this in my hair as well, before they start my blow outs.
Newest fashion trend??
The blow dryer gun:
Ever heard of a hair dryer that looks like a pistol? It’s called the  Pistol Hair Dryer LOL not much of a strecth with that name smh.
This gadget has been floating on the web for a while now. But now, it’s actually in stock and for sale at gadget4all.com for $39.
The Pistol Hair Gun has three settings, uses 1000W and weighs just 345g.
it 's a small dryer and is intresting to say the least, but i'm not down with pointing a pistol at my head i don't know, it kind of creeps me out lol I may be wrong, what do you guys think??
well there are so many diffent choices when it comes to dryers some would say go with a chi or a sudu or a t3 but a lot of these start at a minium of a $100, i have seen some dryers as much as $300. I have a Remington Professional Hair Dryer it is a cheaper version of chi, it even says it on the box that is what got me lol, I got it at walmart for $40 and i haven't had any issues with it, Well as you know i like to air dry my hair, i think is the safest way to retain your length but if you going to blow dry make sure you get a good blow dryer and follow the tips above.
I get questions a lot pertaining to how i take care of my ends and maintain my hair length the best thing that has worked for me is spraying with a moisturizing base and sealing with either oil or butter.
Moisturizing base=water You can either use a spray bottle with filter water in it as you moisturizing base or else you can use moisturizing spray from the bss.
oil/butter= oil base i use either castor oil or shea butter both work great,
since i no longer relax i can do this 2x a day, when i was relaxing i did it just at night.
There are some moisturizing sprays you can buy
But i am here to tell you, that you can mix water, glycerin and coconut oil together
And still get the same results for half the price and it's all natural.
Store brought products you can buy: Organic Root Stimulator
Carrot Oil Triple Moisture
Silk Touch Leave-in
Profectiv Anti-Tangle
Leave-in Profectiv Mega Growth
Cantu Shea Butter
QP Mango Butter
Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in
Night time When I go to bed, I spray my hair lightly with my moisturizing mix, then I add coconut or olive oil to my hair, then I braid it in to pigtails, then I apply shea butter or castor oil to my ends.
So being that I do this to my hair 2x a day, I wash my hair more,
I co wash 2x a week and I clarify every month this is done around my henna treatments.
Another thing that can truly help you maintain your ends/hair, is that you need to make sure that you are always sleeping with either a satin pillow case or a satin head scarf.
this has made a huge difference with my hair and skin.
I refuse for my hair to sleep on anything but satin lol I’ve spoiled her!
So what is SATIN? Traditional satin has a glossy and a dull side, which is important to remember when sewing garments. While satin was once made exclusively of silk, satin is now made with polyester, acetate, nylon and rayon. These other fabrics provide a less expensive means to achieve the glossy finish provided by satin.
a cotton pillowcase may feel soft, but cotton is highly absorbent causing it to draw moisture from your hair and skin while you sleep. The natural oils found on the scalp are uniformly distributed along the hair shaft with the simple act of brushing, but these oils are then absorbed by the cotton, drying it and making it more brittle.
The weave of the cotton is also abrasive tending to grip individual strands of hair causing them to break and the hair to tangle. This is why your hair can look such a mess when you wake in the morning. This can be detrimental to African American hair, especially if your hair is in the 4's!
The answer to this problem according to hair experts is a Satin Pillowcase.
any satin pillowcase will be of benefit.
Most medical experts also recommend satin pillows for patients being treated for cancer and hepatitis C where, following the treatment, patients are often in bed for long periods and suffer from frictional Alopecia, the abnormal loss of the hair root and hair shaft from the hair follicle caused by the hair rubbing against the abrasive cotton and damaging the hair cuticles with heat.
Sleeping on a satin pillow helps prevent the cuticle heating up during the night as the head moves around and puts pressure on the hair because the head and hair flows over the satin.
so satin pillows are not only good for your hair, but your skin as well!
I own 4 satin pillow cases (i'm a wild sleeper =/ don't judge me lol )
they tend to cost more but they are so worth it!
when I went to fl last weekend, i forgot my pillowcase but i had my satin scarf,
well i fell asleep for 20mins on a Cotton pillowcase, when i tell you that pillow was so oily
it totally absorbed everything, i had put in my hair 8hrs earlier, so i know for a fact cotton is not the best thing to sleep in, i have yet to find a single hair on my pillow case in 2 years=)
Organix
Well a few weeks ago i had gotten some new organic shampoo and conditioner i had heard a lot
of good things about them but i never got a chance to try them out, well they had a buy one get one free sale on organix products at bi-lo so i had to get it, and let me tell you this was some of the best shampoos and conditioner that i have every used and i am not over exaggerating or telling you to run out and buy it, just giving my honest opinion =)
1st the shampoo made my hair so soft it foamed up very well, it did not leave my hair matted and tangled, the conditioner was really good as well, it made my hair extremely soft and i kept it in for 5mins and it really got it detangled and moisturized, i would recommend these products to anyone natural or relaxed everything is 100% natural, so there isn't anything to worry about.
This is the conditioner that I have.
Soft & Silky Vanilla Silk Shampoo & ConditionerIndulge your senses with this exclusive blend of smoothing Tahitian vanilla bean oils to instantly nourish and moisturize, while silk amino proteins strengthen and seal your hair’s cuticles, revitalizing your hair, creating silky, smooth shiny hair. Smoothing Tahitian Vanilla Bean oils blended with exotic silk amino proteins create a decadent treat. All you need for soft, smooth and seductive hair in one irresistible formula.
This is the shampoo that I got from bi-lo unfortunately when they have buy 1 get 1 free they never has 2 things that match lol
Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo & Conditioner Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner is an exclusive blend of organic coconut milk to nourish your hair, while ultra whipped egg white proteins add strength and elasticity, along with weightless coconut oils to add hydration and balance. The luxuriously creamy, foaming, hydrating formula leaves your hair feeling clean, glowing, softly scented and super soft.
Hey everyone I hope you all are doing well, I had a excellent birthday thanks again for all of the emails and birthday wishes on youtube, twitter, facebook, myspace ETC, I truly appreciate it!!
Well today I'm blogging about ROLLER SETS! I love roller sets but I am not the best at them, I am learning and hope fully, with time and patient I can get better.
Roller sets are a great protective style, I did a roller set a few weeks ago it turned out ok I think it's harder for me because of the 2 different textures, but from what a few people told me they said that I need to flat iron my natural hair first, then roller set it so it blends with my relaxed ends. so I will try that this week and hopefully it will look good and my hair will flow together.
rollers come in many sizes and shapes there are so many different types of rollers to choose from no matter what you choose you hair will look good!
this lady has a beautiful straw set you can get this this look by using rods or regular drinking straws.
Roller sets give your hair bounce,body and style, without having to resort to a lot of unnecessary heat from flat iron or blow dryers, this is good especially if you are trying to achieve length with your hair. with that being said roller setts can be very challenging to learn, especially if you have a full head of hair. Practice makes perfect and you will notice a big difference in the health, texture and length of your hair.
How to roller set....
my combs & rollers, I put my setting lotion, in a old motions bottle, I mix it with 1/2 lotta body and 1/2 water=) go green!!
things you will need: 1) Wide Tooth Comb 2) Rattail 3) Magnetic rollers 4) Duckbill Clip 5) Water Bottle 6) Leave-in Conditioner 7) setting lotion
Instructions:
1) Wash and Condition hair as usual
2) After rinsing out conditioner, leave hair soaking wet and put a plastic shower cap over wet hair.
3) Apply leave-in, or setting lotion make sure to concentrate on the ends. Fill your water bottle with the mixture of your choice water, water and setting lotion, or liquid leave-in.
4) Part hair twice down the middle (imagine a Mohawk) use a ponytail holder or big duckbills to keep the sides out of the way.
5) Start with the mohawk first. Spray with water, don't forget to soak your ends! they need to stick to the rollers.
6) Part a 1 inch horizontal section and comb down. The hair should be hanging in front of your face. Pinch the end and place the roller on TOP of the hair. Roll up (towards the ceiling). Rolling up is the easiest on your arms and creates a lot more space on the head for the rollers. Continue until you finish the mohawk section.
7) Move on the right or left side. Make three vertical sections.
8) Start with section furthest from your face. Part a 1 inch section and roll up. Continue until you complete each section. Then move the opposite side of your head and do the same.
9) Air dry or dry under a hood dryer. Anticipate at least 30-90 minutes under the dryer.
10) Make sure your hair is COMPLETELY dry before removing the rollers, or else your hair will revert if not completely dry!
11) Remove Rollers and ENJOY Remember the smaller the roller, the tighter the curl and the longer the curl will stay.
difference between heated rollers and regular rollers:
normal rollers have to be used when your hair is wet, then you let it dry. hot rollers are heated up and can be used on dry hair.
my box of mixed rollers!
these are not the best because of the spikes can snag your hair and cause breakage.
Heated rollers come in three sizes, large,medium and small. Sets tend to contain 12 or 24 rollers. The best type, in my opinion, are the ones covered in a velvety material. Avoid the old fashioned type with the hard plastic spikes around the barrel of the curler. Always place the 'pins' in the proper storage space. These are a real hassle to replace and they are so easy to loose.
velvet coated heat rollers are the best type to buy.
Here's how to get the best out of your set of heated rollers:
· Wait until the red light comes on, indicating that the set is ready (hot enough). · Start at the crown and use the right size for your style. ·Roll the hair around the curler and pull the ends until they disappear. This will avoid the 'fish hook' look. · Don't roll them too tight. · Work your way down the back and then the sides. · Finish with the ones at the front. · Remember that the direction of the roller will determine the direction of the hair. · Once all of the rollers are set in place, sit still. It is often the movement that allows the rollers to slip and pull,splitting the hair. · As soon as they are cool start removing the rollers in the same order that you put them in. · Spray your hair with a light spray and let it dry. · You can now style as desired
the large ones:gives body to straight styles.
the medium ones:bends or changes the direction of the hair.
the small ones: gives curl definition.
A set with heated rollers takes a lot less work, it's a plus if you have long thick hair.
What's the best type of heated rollers for African American hair?
From everything I've read the best kind for African American hair is the Caruso Professional Ion Steam Hairsetter. lots of ladies have seen good results with these. I do feel like it works better on hair types in the 2-3c if you have 4a-4b it may not work as well unless you are relaxed, now if your natural from everything I've read you will need to straighten your hair first or else you will not see any of the desired results.
description from their site:
Non damaging - Ionic Technology for soft, voluminous curls creating shine and reducing static and frizz. The new anti-static, anti-frizz Caruso Professional Ion Steam Hairsetter uses negative ions to produce up to three times the amount of steam of ordinary hairsetters. Ions create strong, long-lasting and luxurious curls. Help condition, soften and make hair shinier while adding volume and reducing frizz.
Here are some directions from one of the ladies on lhcf I've never tried it so check it out and see if it works for you=)
For NaturalHair (Press and Comb) Soft, natural textures may be curled by carefully controlling the amount of steam. (For some coarse, natural textures, the rollers may not work well. For best results, coarse hair should be chemically treated). Follow this setting procedure:
1. Shampoo hair, removing all traces of oil/curl activator.
2. Blow dry hair smooth until completely dry.
3. Section hair first. Then steamrollers briefly -- no more than 2-3 seconds. (see "Steaming the Rollers" section).
4. Set by taking large sections and using the comb clip where necessary. (Comb clips hold short ends on the roller).
5. Wait 5 - 10 minutes (until moisture is evaporated). Or use a dryer for 2-3 minutes instead.
6. Remove rollers. If no dryer has been used, let the hair "air" for 5 minutes.
7. Comb and style.
Important: Do not set hair that contains curl activator...gummy moisturizer...heavy oil...or any product that leaves hair feeling damp. The setting process will moisturize hair naturally. A light setting lotion may be used before setting for extra body only if the hair is thoroughly dry. After setting, a light spray of oil sheen or holding spray may be applied.
I have also read that a few ladies add setting lotion, or leave in conditioner to the water, so that way the steam makes their hair bouncier. this whole steam thing sounds interesting, I would love to try it out some time.
my satin rollers
OK last but not least this is the latest rage in rollers LOL!! they are called satin pillow rollers, these have got to be the easiest rollers that I have ever used! believe me folks, if i can use them you can too! I brought 3 packs of these at the bss, they cost $3.99 a pack you get 10 of them in a pack. the best part is they are very comfortable to sleep in. when I took them out the curls were super tight, the only thing I didn't like is that my natural hair didn't curl as good as the rest, but like I stated earlier I will need to flat iron first. so once I do that, I will post some updated results, but these roller are great they are very easy to use, and there is no snagging of the hair thanks to the satin.
so ladies what types of rollers do you use? and how many times a week do you roller set? have a great week everyone!! ti
Hey everyone hope all is well, just coming on here to blog with you about the latest hair craze from half cuts to bald head fades.
well it's been all over the blogs and the news Solanage Knowles shaved her entire head, ummmm OK, so what! why are we so obsessed with everything thing that celebs do? lol I could see the Chris and Rhianna thing because it brought domestic violence to the masses but a hair style making it on to cable news as "news" is ridiculous!
my thing is this what is the big deal? for all we know, this maybe her big chop, she may be going natural! so many people were talking bad about her at work and on the internet, it's like people still can not except short or natural hair on women of color, some guys hate women who wear weaves, but then in the same breath talked bad about Solange for shaving her head, ok she is weave free so what is the problem?
Me personally I could care less what grown folks choose to do to their hair, you guys know this already....but what i find funny is that people talk so bad about solange shaving her hair but everyone praises amber rose?? I am not a solange stan in the least, lol you guys know i like her sister, but i will take up for anyone who choose to step out of the box. i sent her messages on twitter letting her know, F what people think, do you!!!
I keep telling ya'll life is too short to live trying to please other people, some people will feel me on this and others will always follow the mold that society has set in place, either way i still have love for you =)
I personally love it, i feel like it takes a lot for a women to do a big cop or shave their head so many times as women MYSELF included, we hide behind our hair and our weaves, it make us feel comfortable and it makes us feel more feminine, I can respect any women who chooses to break from the mold and do her own thing, be it a hair style or her fashion sense and Solange does both. A lot of folks are saying that solange bit amber rose=/ for those of you who don't know who she is she is Kayne West's on again off again girlfriend, she is very beautiful and she also has her own unique sense of style she rocks a bald head and you can usually find her rocking a pair a hot sunglasses. well for all the folks saying that solange bit amber rose's style you ladies are wrong, women have been wearing their hair shaved since way back when, Lot's of black women in Africa still choose to wear their hair shaved, no one in "Hollyhood or Hollywood" started this trend, I get tired of people saying that. solange rocking very short hair years ago=) well I was on Nicole bitchie's website and she has old pics of solange from 5 yrs ago when she was pregnant and guess what, her hair was super short then too! so she was doing this way before amber rose stepped on the scene.
amber rose just cut her hair, and this is why she has gotten so much attention, no one paid her any mind when she had long hair she looked like an ordinary female, but once she shaved her hair off this is made her stand out plus her fashion sense is always on point! you can't hate on her, the girl can dress! amber rose before her big chop=D
About a year ago Alice Dellal shocked the fashion world by shaving half of her hair off. Now more and more mainstream celebrities are getting Alice's look.
here she go's still rocking it a year later!
fantasia a few months ago.
nina sky, kelis and cassie
Rhianna jumped on the bandwagon 3 weeks ago.
close up of Cassie's design.
my girl LaLa Vasquez rocking her half shaved head!
Natalie Portman is the most recent hollywood celeb to shave her head. she has beautiful bone structure.
Australian singer cassie davis shaved half her head like american cassie did lol
regular girl rocking it for some reason, it doesn't look as good on us regular working class girls lol!
At Stockholm Fashion Week in march the major trends was the shaved head!
well regardless if you choose to shave your entire head or half make sure to always ask for help just in case.....
well maybe when saaphyri windsor gets out of prison she will start fresh and shave her head as well, her hair is in horrible condition in this mug shot... sometimes when hair is this damage a fresh shave is the way to go. i'm not being facetious either lol!
so what do you ladies think about Sloange's big chop would you shave half of your hair?
http://twitter.com/lovleyti talk to me on there, I am officially addicted lol!! have a wonderful weekend ladies!!
Hey everyone I hope all is well with you!! it's been a busy 2 weeks between the death of Michael jackson R.I.P and numerous you tube videos and work, I haven't had much time to blog, well today I wanted to blog with you about protective styling, beacuse I get this question a lot.
So what is protective styling: protective styling can be a hair style that helps to protect your hair from constant manipulation, hair snags and breakage. It can also be things that you do to protect your hair like using no heat for long periods of time, co-washing or henna treatments... The goal of protective styling is to retain your hair's health, thickness and growth!
So what style can you wear to "protect" your hair? Well updo's are great protective styles and there are a wide variety of updos that you can do to your hair. french twist updo
classic bun.
you can updo locs as well.
Eva the diva looks absolutely stunning here with a classy chic bun.
Braids: braids can be a great form of protective styling, the main thing to remember when wearing braids, is to make sure that you do not get comfortable and stop your routine! continue to moisturize, oil and wash your scalp.
I suggest that you never get super small braids like, micros because they cause way too much damage in my opinion. micros briads tore my hair up, I will never, ever, ever ever ever get micro braids again! I would suggest box or tree braids. they are a decent size and they wont take forever to do or take down.
Wash and Go's wash and go's are another great protective style! any hair grade can do a wash and go, but many women believe that only hair in the 3's look good with wash and go's... I think wash and go's are convenient and super simple, when I rock mine, I make sure to add some leave in conditioner, and coconut oil to help seal in the moisture and add a little shine!
Alica keys back in the day, rocking a cool p.s.
Wigs, lace fronts and sew-in's wigs and lace fronts are my personal favorite protective style choice! I like them because there is no manipulation from braids, I can wear them and take them off as needed and still properly maintain my hair every night.
I call tyra the queen of l.f's and beyonce the princess of them lol
In Touch magazine reports that the wig collection belonging to Beyonce Knowles has been estimated to cost $1 million. According to In Touch, the singer has tailor-made hair-pieces for every occasion. The majority of them are custom. I believe it! being that I own 10 of them my self and they cost a lot lace fronts rang from $200-500 a piece, some custom pieces depending on the hair grade can easily range upwards of a $1000.
kelly rowland is rocking a sew-in in this picture.
I think she looks better with short hair.
gorgeous supermodel Bev Johnson makes and rocks her own line of wigs.
If you stylist ever gives you a hottie type hair weave, hint: she really hates you lol! this is the worst weave I have ever seen, the sad thing is can't nobody tell her nothing lol
Ponytails: ponytails are another great great protective style, it helps to really maintain your ends. you can either wear your own hair in a ponytail or else you can rock a phony pony.
I'm loving Janet's pony!
Curls,twists and braid outs:
curls, twists and braid outs are excellent protective styles! they are simple to do and work well on natural and relaxed hair equally. I love braid out they have helped me deal with my transition pretty well.
simple roller set
big magnetic rollers were used to get this look.
she has some beautiful spirals....
a picture of a lady doing her braid out, she braided her hair in plats and added rollers to the ends. in the morning your braid out will be fierce! the only thing you will need to do, is finger comb your hair, and add a little product.
jill scott with her braid out.
well I hope you enjoyed the blog, so what protective styles are you wearing, which one are your favorite?
This is the Micheal Jackson tribute picture that I made the day before his funeral, I showed my twitter folks... but I hadn't gotten a chance to post it on here. hope you like it. r.i.p MJ!
Hello sweeties,I hope everyone had a fabulous 4th of july! Me and the family had a fabulous time, lot's of food and fun!!
Well today I'm going to blog about a few of the latest summer must haves,
summer isn't "officially" here but dang I can't tell!
it has been close to 100 degrees everyday for the past 2 weeks, it is hot down here so to us it's been summer since April lol! enjoy the blog ladies and have a fabulous week!
5 summer must haves! I believe that this summer is a mix of everything from glitzy glam to bohemian chic,
i feel like designers are taking a bit of this, and that from every trend and throwing it together. the main reason i say this is because, the gladiator sandals are so popular this year, and you can wear them with anything, from a Bohemian dress to a sexy mini skirt it's really up to you! I am a big fan of both the gladiator sandals and the fringe sandals, the best part is that they are so comfortable and they come in such a wide rang of colors that you can't go wrong, they are super easy to match up with any outfits!
kimkardashian rocking her Bohemian look
she looks good to, I'm loving the vest and the top!
1. Long dresses a.k.a Maxi Dresses:
A big difference from the mini you are covered but still feel cool.
Long dresses are all the rage this summer, they run about 58 inches long so if your short this may not really be the style for you, but you can get a shorter dress and still be fashionable=o)
long dresses are great because they come in a wide variety of colors and prints.
The material also feels wonderful against your skin, they look great on any body type.
Long high end dresses run from $100-300 depending on the designer, but you can get these fabulous dresses on sale now at wet seal for $15! you can't beat that, wet seal has a wide variety to choose from as well. Don't forget the accessories! chunky jewelery looks great with these dresses.
2.Dressy Short Shorts :show off thoes sexy legs!
short shorts are in again this summer, the dressy shorts are more popular this year then the plain denim short. these shorts look really great on long legged ladies, you can rock them with a stiletto heel or some flats, either way you will look stunning!
They also come in plus sizes, so to all my plus size chicas out there, don't be scared to rock them! I have seen plenty of plus size girls rocking these in the club and looking f.a.b.u.l.o.u.s!!
3. gladiator sandals
gladiator sandals are all the rage this summer
you can find them,with high end designers
like Chanel, or you can find them for under 15.99 at wet seal,
rule 21 and forever 21.
last week rule 21 was having a sale
on these, buy one get one 50% off
I got 4 different pairs, let me tell you these are some of the
most comfortable shoes, I have worn in ages and they look
good with anything! you can rock them with a skirt, shorts, pants,dresses ect
and you will still look fashionable.
marykate is rocking Chanel sandals in this picture!
4.suede fringe sandals
Bohemian chic at it's best!
I love the outfits and the sandals look
fabulous and comfortable.
5.over sized totes and Hobos
celebs love their huge bags!
KloeKardashian looks stunning in this pic,
I almost didn't recognize her, she is rocking
the latest over sized Louie vuitton bag, and I love it!
you don't have to spend $600 on a vuitton bag, here's go's a hobo bag that you can find at rule 21 for $3 online it's more, but in the store it's $3 rule 21 is one of my favorite stores.
so these are my top 5 summer must haves, so what are you rocking so far? do you own any of these must haves? if you do what do you have?
good evening sweeties, if you haven't seen my video i announced the winner yesterday on youtube, the winner of the challenge is babyshuf2, she is winning a brand new digital chi flat iron!!! retail price $129.99 at target!! so please take some time out to congratulate babyshuf2 she did a wonderful job, along with all of the ladies from INMH!!! i am very proud of my ladies, such a huge turn around from EVERYONE in just 6-7months=o)
I too own a chi turbo and it is a wonderful ceramic flat iron! it has temperature control and works excellent on natural hair, i would recommend this to anyone who wants to change their look from time to time, make sure to use a good heat protectant anytime you flat iron, chi silk fusion is a excellent choice!
A little background on Babyshuf2...... babyshuf2 has come a long way she decided to go natural after years of relaxing her hair she says in her fotki, that her last relaxer was August 19, 2008. she transitioned for 1 month and literally shaved/bc'd her hair this past Sept 2008 =o) when she joined the hair growth challenge, her hair was around 1-2 inchs long, she has done a great job growing and maintaining her length!
some of her favorite products are.... Shea Butter unrefined (#1), Honey, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), Aloe Vera gel, V05 Moisture Milks conditioner, Pantene Pro-V conditioner (smooth), Suave Coconut Milk conditioner, Suave Tangerine Conditioner, Suave Refreshing Waterfall Mist Conditioner, Veggie glycerin, Africa's Best oil, Smooth N' Shine curl activator gel, Homemade gel, Garnier Fructis Leave-in conditioner, Garnier Fructis Fortifying cream conditioner, LouAna Coconut oil, regular Mayonnaise, Eggs, Lustersilk's Shea Butter Cholesterol, Glycerin bar, Miconazole nitrate 2%, lemon juice, Kinky Curly Curling Custard (KCCC), Fantasia IC Gel & Polisher, Mane 'N Tail Shampoo, Mane 'N Tail Deep Moisturizing Conditioner, Aussie moisturizing conditioner, TRESemee Remoisturize (w/pro-vitamin B5 & Aloe), Hydratherma Naturals Follicle Invigorator, & various Indian (Ayurvedic) oils and powders, Herbal Essence (Hello Hydration) conditioner, Infusium 23 (moisturizing formula), PRO STYL Gel activator with aloe & honey, PRO STYL Gel activator with Pro-vitamin B5, Aphogee Balancing Moisturizer, TIGI Bed Head Moisture Maniac conditioner.
check out her pics, she came such a long way! ME and Ladies on IMNH are very proud of you Babyshuf2!!!
This is more Proof that black hair can growth! all it takes is a little hard work and persistence!
Thank you babyshuf2 for joining my challenge=o) You and all of the ladies have made me very proud! this proves to the world, that my hair growth tips and advice are genuine, well researched and most of all they work!
Hey everyone I hope all is well, and I hope everyone has a great week=o)
whoooo hooooooh 4 hour left until the challenge is officially over!! Well if you have been following me on youtube or twitter you would know that
I got my hair done for the 6mth challenge it turned out lovely! I went to a new Dominican shop, I was really nice and clean and they were very professional and friendly.
well my blow out didn't last as long as it did in the winter, it has literally been 90-100degrees everyday, my hair started to revert back quickly, humidity is not my friend lol
well at least I got it to last 3 days, but i will not get another blow out until winter,
I don't have money too waste plus this southern heat is no joke,
it's way too hot to have all this hair hanging down my back lol.
Well it's all good, I mainly wanted to get it blown for a accurate length check I compared my pics from 6mth ago and my hair has definitely grown, it has grown at least 6inchs, I got my maximum growth potential!!
I am very grateful to have a regiment that works for me! I had to tweak things a tad bit since I am transitioning but so far so good!!
well I just wanted to take this time out to thank everyone who has supported me on both youtube and my blog, I never thought anyone would follow my blog or read the things I wrote but not only did you all read them you all commented and sent me question and requests, so thank you so much ladies!
It is good to have support from other women be it in real life or over the internet. Many times we females can be so damn catty, but I have honestly gotten to know some of the coolest ladies, I have ever met right here from my blog,forum and youtube. So thank you ladies for all of your support, thank you for sharing my website and my youtube videos, I wouldn't be here with out all of your support and backing.
Good luck to all of the challengers, the winner will be announced by the end of the week. I have to go to the hospital tomorrow so I can't do a video, but I should be up to par by fri so hold tight =o)
Continue on your path to healthy hair, do not listen to the negativity and the back handed comments from so called friends, family or from females off of any hair sites, do what works for you, you do not have to explain your self to anyone, but God that's how I look at it.
As along as I am happy with my hair, I could care less what others think, or have to say about my hair, at the end of the day relaxed, natural or transitioning love yourself and don't feed in to the hair hype or hair drama =o)
love you guys, make sure to follow me on twitter!!
Hey everyone, I hope your having a great week! we had a great time Saturday my hubby and I went to the all white affair it was hosted my Gabrielle union, a lot of our friends joined us up there as well. We had a wonderful time. She was a really nice lady she looked like a regular female, she didn't have a face full of makeup, she was her self and took time to speak to people and take pictures and even got on the microphone,we had a great time!
I took this picture of her she was posing for me =o)
well today I'm going to talk about my apple cider vinegar wash in detail, I told you in my last post that every now and then, I do acv washes, acv washes are a great way to cleanse your hair naturally. Some facts and benefits of apple cider vinegar:
*Hair is on the mildly acidic side of the pH scale and has an ideal pH of 4.5 to 5.5, apple cider vinegar has a pH of 2.9
*many of the hair care products we use, such as soap-based shampoos, bleaches, hair colors, and permanents are strongly alkaline.
*Rinsing with apple cider vinegar will help balance the pH of your hair and remove the buildup that can result from the use of these styling products and inexpensive shampoos.
*Rinsing will also close the numerous cuticle scales which covers and protect the surface of each hair shaft. Using acv helps to make your hair smoother on the surface, which reflects more light and leaves your hair shinier, smoother and easier to manage.
*Apple cider vinegar is made from fresh ripe apples. It goes through a fermentation process that creates the final product. There are many uses for apple cider vinegar. Don't worry about the vinegar smell ladies you will not notice it after rinsing your hair I promise. cross my heart =o)
*Acv is a excellent for dandruff and other scalp irritation The enzymes and acids in apple cider vinegar help to kill bacteria and fungus, that are known to be the cause scalp issues.
*if your scalp is dry and crusty, try applying full strength apple cider vinegar to the scalp. Massage it in. Leave it on for an hour before washing it out, this really does help. it is way cheaper then selsum blue lol!
How I make my ACV mixture. I add 2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into 1 cup of warm filtered tap water. which i then pour in to my spray bottle, i drench my hair with the mixture then i put a shower cap on for at least 30mins once the time is up, i wash it out and it gets my hair very clean! after wards I deep condition my hair, but you don't have too, =o)
Remember ladies this product is 100% natural you can wash your hair with this once or twice a week. I also add 2 teaspoons of baking soda to the mix, on the days that I want to clarify my hair naturally. i won't lie to you, it does take some time to get used to, not having the suds and the foam in your hair. but once you get the hang of it, you will be pleased with the results.
I do this every other month when, I want to try something different or switch up my hair routine.
Hey everyone hope all is well! Today is a beautiful southern day glad to be here to witness it. Today was my day off, so I made sure to enjoyed it to the fullest! Ok so I went to my Wal-Mart, smh Am I the only person who can't just walk in to Wal-Mart and get the one thing I came for? I went to buy some more cheapie conditioner for my co washes and of course I ended up spending about $40 in other stuff that I had no intention of originally purchasing lol.
Well today I’m going to talk about co washing I get this question a lot, on you tube I talk about co washing a bit, but a lot of people still don't really understand why or what the point of it is. So I’m going to break it down ;)
What is Co washing ??
co washing is when you wash your hair with a cheapie conditioner like suave, rain or v05 basically these conditioners are replacing the need for shampoos.
Reasons for cowashing!! Coarse, kinky and curly hair benefit the most from CO washing. Shampoo can really roughs up the cuticle and these types of hair are very susceptible to this. CO washing doesn’t rough it up at all, leaving it smooth, soft and frizz free!
But does it clean the hair?
That is a question I am frequently asked, The answer is yes, conditioners do contain a very small amount of detergent. It's not enough to dry your hair out, but enough to clean it gently.
Remember ladies Not all conditioners are suited for co washing. You will need cheap, 99-cent conditioners. The great thing is you can find these cheapies at many stores including the dollar store. And they all smell really good there is a wide variety to choose from the one I am using currently is vo5 pomegranate protein conditioner it smell delicious =) I also love suave's coconut milk!
Directions you can follow:
Ok so the main thing to remember ladies is that first of all, you don’t use this conditioner like a conditioner, you are going to use it like shampoo.
1-Wet your hair, and start shampooing with the conditioner. Use gobs of it. Don’t worry about using too much, you almost can’t plus it's a $1.oo =o)
2-Use about a quarter size in the front, the top and on each side and the back.
concentrate on rubbing it on to your scalp and along your hair shaft, your scalp should be slick and entirely covered with conditioner.
3- Enjoy your nice hot shower and rinse your hair out, do not forget to RINSE VERY WELL! So you don't get a lot of conditioner build up.
4-you can also do a deep conditioner after this as well, I have done it several times before with out any build up what so ever. Just make sure to rinse thoroughly.
Ahhhh the final results:
Your hair will feel really soft, even when it’s wet. If you have thick or coarse hair, you might be really happy about this. Eventually your hair will be just as clean as it would with shampoo, but will be so much healthier and softer!
Tips: I always make sure to clarify my hair once a month, to get rid of any builds up. I usually make my clarifying treatment correspond with my henna wash days. You want to always clarify your hair at least once a month to get rid of any build up from conditioner, dirt, oil, grease ECT.
I clarify with a clarifying shampoo or else I do a apple cider vinegar wash and I will blog about that another time for those of you who may be curious about it =o).
I co wash at least 2x a week, but I recommend that you try it at least once a week...
try it and see if you like it, it definitely can't hurt!
Hey everyone hope all is well!! just got off of work a few hours ago, cooked dinner and now I’m on here blogging, I’m trying to keep the blogs coming so please be patient with me =o) I’m taking some time away from you tube, so I can focus on a few others things including my blog.
well today target, was having a great sale on huge bottles of herbal essence shampoos and conditioners, as you know I rarely shampoo my hair with regular shampoo, I mainly co-wash at this point in my life, so I bought the conditioner. I am co washing 2x a week, I henna 2x a month so the weeks that I henna I drop a co-wash day, I hope your following me =)
Ok so I wash my hair at least 8x a month, some months more depending on the weather, I believe the frequent washes have really helped my hair turn around. what I have found out especially now that I am transitioning, a lot of products that were ok for my relaxed hair are no longer ok for my natural hair, my hair doesn’t really agree with regular shampoo any more, so I mainly cowash, and if I shampoo I use a sodium sulfate free shampoo, the days I henna, I have to wash my hair a min of 5x with a sls free shampoo, a lot of sls free shampoos, do not lather as well so this is why I have to do a few more washing, where as when I used regular shampoo, I could get all the henna out in 3 washes.
the main thing especially after doing a henna treatment is to deep condition, I deep condition for min 2hrs because henna can dry your hair out, so I make sure to d.c. every time, I used to d.c. every week after I used shampoo, but now that I mainly co wash, I do not have to d.c. as much as I used too. I d.c. 2x a month now.
Ok ladies that was just a update about me and my hair follicle lol I know a lot of you may not be in to the natural stuff or could care less about sulfates, So I wanted to compile a list of good sulfate shampoo for you, and good sulfate free shampoos for those who may be interested.
The Best Sulfate Shampoos
There are numerous shampoos geared towards women of color. Some of them work and some are crap they leave our hair worse then when we started =( Here are some shampoos to look for when choosing a shampoo for relaxed and/or natural black hair.these are listed all over the net as the top the five shampoos for african america women. I have used most of these myself and I had never had any issues with the ones that I tired. Crème of Nature Regular Shampoo• sls free =) Why it works: It detangles extremely well and leaves your hair soft and super conditioned. This shampoo has been around since the 1970s and works great. It's a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, so no conditioner is needed at all. It’s inexpensive, too. You can find Crème of Nature Shampoo at your local beauty supply retailer.
Mizani BotaniFying Conditioning Shampoo• I love this stuff, as you ladies know, I am a huge fan of mizani products!! this particular shampoo is gentle enough to be used everyday, it cleanses the hair and scalp while restoring a natural moisture balance. The aromatic blend of botanicals nourishes, soothes and massages the scalp. The lubricating emollients of the shampoo linger in the hair long after the rich lather is gone.”• Why it works: This shampoo smells amazing, and while that obviously isn’t a good enough reason to use a shampoo, it definitely adds to the experience. Mizani products are great for women of color! Their products makes your hair more manageable, softer, and shinier. This shampoo is slightly more expensive than drug store brands and can be found at select Mizani salons. I used their relaxer for 4 year straight, and I loved it,! mizani worked well on my hair so no complaints over "hair" lol if you relax your hair, mizani is a great product to use....see i don't knock anyone, you want to relax, then do what makes you happy, but use good products that wont cause as much damage to your hair.
Pantene Pro-V Relaxed and Natural Shampoo• The claim: “This rich Pantene Pro-vitamin shampoo has moisturizing conditioners that hydrate hair and help relieve the scalp's dryness with every wash. It can help dry, brittle hair look healthy and irresistibly shiny.” • Why it works: This ultra-creamy shampoo is amazing because it really cleans your hair without drying it. Your hair will feel remarkably softer after just one wash. It works just as great on relaxed or natural hair. You can find Pantene Pro-V products at your local drug store. I have heard rave reveiws from plenty of ladies, on this product. before I stopped using sulfates, I never got a chance to try this shampoo, but I have heard great things about it... so fee free to try it!
Nexxus Therapee Shampoo • The claim: “This luxuriously lathering, beautifully scented, and lavishly opalescent formula was created to help restore and maintain hair’s vital moisture balance. Intensely moisturizing and nourishing, you will notice the difference in just one shampoo.” • Why it works: This shampoo detangles hair wonderfully and is also extremely hydrating. This shampoo uses scientific technology to make your hair noticeably more pliable. It includes such naturally moisturizing ingredients such as Avocado Oil and Wheat Flour. You can find Nexxus products at your local salon. Nexxus products are the bomb! I have used a few of their products, they smell great and I have no complaints!
Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo• the claim: “This hair-quenching shampoo provides gentle cleansing while restoring hair's moisture level. Moisture Recovery's exclusive Hydramine Sea Complex, combined with Joico's Quadramine Complex repairs and reconstructs, restores vital fluids and provides intense moisturization.” Why it works: The Hydramine Sea Complex, which is a blend of “moisture-loving ingredients from the sea that quenches overly dry hair attributed to the environment, chemical services or genetics,” really does do something to repair the hair. It’s a little pricier than the other shampoos, but it’s definitely worth it. You can purchase Joico products at your local salon or beauty supply retailer. I have never tried this, but it is revered as one of the top shampoos! if you use it, let us know what you think about it!!
Why some people choose to go the sulfate free way... Scalp problems such as itching and flaking affect millions of people across the world. If you have an itchy or flaky scalp, one of the simplest things you can try is washing your hair with an SLS-free shampoo. SLS-free shampoo do not contain the chemical Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, which is a foaming agent used by many of the big brands. In fact, the next time you are in your local supermarket, take a look at the ingredients listed on the shampoo bottles. You’ll be surprised at how many have SLS in them.
Why is SLS used in shampoos? There are two main reasons that SLS is such a popular ingredient in shampoos. Firstly, it is cheap as it is produced synthetically, making it ideal for low-cost brands. Secondly, it is a very effective foaming agent; that is to say it creates lots of foam when mixed with water. In addition, as well as making shampoos foam, SLS also helps them to cleanse the hair of oil and dirt. As can be seen here, there are a number of good reasons why so many manufacturers choose to use SLS.
What else can SLS do? SLS is a pretty powerful chemical which has several functions in shampoos. Unfortunately, not all of its effects are good, which is why it is sometimes causes to scalp problems. SLS is a known to be irritating to the skin and is even used as a standard skin irritant in clinical studies! It is not surprising, therefore, that it can cause scalp problems when frequently applied as part of a shampoo. It is recognised as being one of the most irritating chemicals of its kind which are used in shampoos. Its irritating effects can create an itchy, flaky scalp in some people and manufacturers are slowly realising that SLS in shampoos is affecting their customers in this way. There is a gradual move to using less irritating chemicals in its place but SLS-free shampoos are still not that commonplace on supermarket shelves.
SLS has also been found to have some other undesirable effects. One such effect is its ability to penetrate the cornea of the eye, even if absorbed through the skin, where it can accumulate and then be released slowly. This is particularly a concern for babies and children, where the effects are greater.
SLS-free shampoo Green People offers a range of SLS-free shampoos for different hair types. Instead of SLS, we use gentler foaming agents such as Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate and Decyl Glucoside which are less likely to cause scalp problems.
ok so these were just a few of the reasons I decided to go sulfate free. more mainstream shampoos are starting to go sls free mode! L'Oreal is one of them, here is the description: L'Oreal has introduced EverPure, a complete sulfate-free color care system that takes out the harsh ingredients that can dull color-treated hair and cause damage. Research shows that harsh sulfates, surfactants and salts can strip and fade color, as well as dry hair. New EverPure uses gentle ingredients and natural botanicals to deliver rich lather without stripping shine.
Here go's a list of a few sulfate free shampoos
Pureology Queen Helene Mint Julep Shampoo With Protein Qhemet Biologics Egyptian Wheatgrass Cleansing Tea Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile J/A/S/O/N (Not all formulas are sulfate-free) Morrocco Method MyHoneyChild Cleansers Organix Dudu-Osum Herbal Shampoo Creme of Nature Burt's Bees Carol's Daughter Back to Basics Aubrey Organics
How ever you decide to wash your hair, make sure to use the best products, this will help to prevent any damage, and save you a lot of hair trouble in the future, email me with any questions! be blessed, ti
Hey everyone hope all is well, just coming on to blog about sunglasses! it is getting hotter and hotter all over the country, today was 88 degrees=D the best way to help protect your eyes from the harmful uv rays are to wear sunglasses. sunglasses come in many styles and shapes so let's find out what pair of sunglasses will work best for your face.
Some facts about sunglasses: -Wearing sunglasses help to protect the health of your eyes.
-Sunglasses protect the delicate skin in the eye area from premature signs of aging due to UV rays and sun damage.
-Your eyes can get damaged by the sun just like your skin. However, you can't protect your eyes with sunscreen like you do your skin. Your only defense is to wear protective UV blocking sunglasses.
-Eyes regularly exposed to too much sun can develop serious and sometimes permanent damage.
-Opthomalogists recommend wearing UV blocking sunglasses whenever you are in the sun long enough to get a sunburn or tan.
- The lenses in most low priced sunglasses purchased at the drugstore or from a street vendor do not offer sufficient UV protection.Large wraparound sunglasses help to protect the eyes from the wind, as well as the sand, dirt and pollen sometimes carried by the wind.
-Sunglasses also help keep you safe while driving or playing sports in bright sun. Glare from the sun reflecting off snow, water, or other objects can be blinding and very hazardous while driving.
How to determin the shape of your face:
1. Determine your face shape. Pull your hair back and look in a mirror. Look at the general outline shape of your face, and the angle of your face relative to your chin. If your jaw seems square or rounded, you have a square or round face, respectively. If your face is longer than wide, it’s oval shaped. Compare your face with the pictures of face shapes. Your face shape may change with weight loss or gain.
2. Determine which styles and frames complement the shape of your face. Your frame shape should be the opposite of your face shape in order to complement and soften your natural shape.Round face – Squarish or rectangular frames balance this shape.Square face – Rounded or oval frames that are wider than tall are ideal.Oval face – If you're lucky enough to have an oval face, you can wear any style of sunglasses.Heart-shaped face – Rimless and semi-rimless frames complement this shape.Oblong face – Square sunglasses, wide frames that are fairly tall look best.Long – Semi-rimless are the best choice for faces that are longer than wide. 3. It’s best to try on the sunglasses in person before buying so you can be sure they fit comfortably and look good. Your face shape: . Round Face you should look for sunglasses equal to or slightly wider than the broadest part of the face. Minimize the curves and add definition with soft, angular, rectangular styles or double brow styles. Higher temples will create a longer profile.
· Square Face this face shape consists of a strong jawline, a broad forehead and wide cheekbones. Reduce the angles with soft, curvy styles that will give the face some definition such as cat-eye styles. The classic ovals also works well for this face shape. Frame suggestion: Oval, Round, Cat Eyes
· Oval Face If you have an oval face like beyonce or halle you are in luck. Almost any style works for oval face. Experiment with the latest looks, such as wraparounds or shields. Square shaped frames with gently rounded edges and higher temples also look good on an oval face.Frame suggestion: Any frame shape
· Oblong Face should widen and shorten the face with sunglass styles that do not extend beyond the widest part of the face. Round or square shapes will look great on this face. Frames with short horizontal and long vertical lines also work. Decorative or contrasting temples add width to the face. Frame suggestion: Round, Square
· Diamond Face You have wide or high cheekbones with a narrow forehead and chin. Oval sunglasses will soften the contour of the face, although softly curved square frames will work as well. Make sure the styles are no wider than the top of the cheekbones. Frame suggestion: Oval, Square, Rimless
·Heart-Shaped Face You have a narrow jaw and a wide forehead. Soften the lower portion of the face by accenting the eye area. Styles such as cat-eyes should angle outward at the top corner and be wide enough to balance the jawline. You can also try metal frames with rimless bottoms. Frame suggestion: Frames with a Straight Top Line, Cat Eyes
So ladies, once you find a perfect pair of frames.... don't forget to enjoy,enjoy,enjoy!
Hey lovelies! it's been a while i have been getting a lot done lately, but i miss you all and i hope everyone is doing wonderful! congrats too class of 2009! My little sister is graduating next Saturday, so congrats to everyone making it out of high school and getting ready to step in
to the real world. well today this blog is dedicated to you soon to be graduates!
I want to talk about toxic personalities that you should stay away from, once you all head to college and the business world these people are all over the place and they love to bring other down to their miserable level so let's find out who they are!!
Now I know that we like to think that all the people in our lives are well-adjusted, happy, healthy minded individuals, unfortunately a lot of folks are not this way and you have to weed them out asap. I have personally had moments where I've been happy all day,
and I'll be Damned if someone did not use their negativity to try and suck the happiness and joy out of my life for that split second, you need to watch out for folks like this seriously!
Here is a list of theses toxic personalities,
I had to switch up the names to suite my needs lol !
1. Manipulative Micah: These individuals are experts at manipulation tactics.
Is a matter of fact, you may not even realize you have been manipulated until it is too late. These individuals figure out what your 'buttons' are, and push them to get what they want.
Why they are toxic:These people have a way of eating away at your belief system and
self-esteem. They find ways to make you do things that you don't necessarily want to do and before you know it, you lose your sense of identity, your personal priorities and your ability to see the reality of the situation. The world all of a sudden becomes centered around their needs and their priorities.
2. Narcissistic Nikki: These people have an extreme sense of self-importance and believe that the world revolves around them. They are often not as sly as the Manipulative Marys of the world, but instead, tend to be a bit overt about getting their needs met. You often want to say to them "It isn't always about you."
Why they are toxic: They are solely focused on their needs, leaving your needs in the dust.
You are left disappointed and unfulfilled. Further, they zap your energy by getting you to focus so much on them, that you have nothing left for yourself.
3. Debbie Downers: These people can't appreciate the positive in life. If you tell them that it is a beautiful day, they will find somthing wrong like screaming "NO IT NOT, IT'S TOO HOT!"
If you tell them you aced a mid-term, they'll tell you about how difficult the final is going to be.
Why they are toxic: They take the joy out of everything. Your rosy outlook on life continues to get squashed with negativity. Before you know it, their negativity consumes you and you start looking at things with gray colored glasses yourself.
4. Judgmental Jessica: When ever you see things as cute and fly, they see things as strange and unattractive. If you find people's unique perspectives refreshing, they find them 'wrong'.
If you like someone's unique taste, they find it 'disturbing' or 'bad'.
basically these types of chicks always have some thing to say and it's usually never positive!
Why they are toxic: Judgmental people are much like Debbie Downers. In a world where freedom rings, judgment is so over. I have found in life that a lot of judgmental people are insecure with them selves, and are far from perfect! so this is why they judge others so harshly.
Spending a lot of time with these types can inadvertently convert you into a judgmental person as well.
5. Dream Killing Keisha a.k.a the playa hater!: Every time you have an idea, these people tell you why you can't do it. As you achieve, they try to pull you down. As you dream, they are the first to tell you it is impossible.
these folks are straight up haters there is no other words to describe them!
Why they are toxic: These people are stuck in what is instead of what could be. Further, these individuals eat away at your self-esteem and your belief in yourself. Progress and change can only occur from doing new things and innovating, dreaming the impossible and reaching for the stars. So screw the haters and belive in your own goals and dreams!
6. Insincere Inez a.k.a funny acting!: You never quite feel that these people are being sincere. You tell a funny story, they give you a polite laugh. You feel depressed and sad and they give you a 'there, there' type response. You tell them you are excited about something and you get a very ho-hum response. They also tend to always have a smart responce for everything as well!
Why they are toxic: People who aren't sincere or genuine build relationships on superficial criteria. This breeds shallow, meaningless relationships. When you are really in need of a friend, they won't be there. When you really need constructive criticism, they would rather tell you that you are great the way you are. When you need support, they would rather see you fail or make a fool of yourself.
7. Disrespectful Dan a.k.a the loose cannon: These people will say or do things at the most inappropriate times and in the most inappropriate ways. In essence, they are more subtle, grown up bullies. Maybe this person is a friend who you confided in and uses your secret against you. Maybe it is a family member who's all in your business, when it is none of their business!Or maybe, it is a colleague who says demeaning things to you.
Why they are toxic: These people have no sense of boundaries and don't respect your feelings or, for that matter, your privacy. These people will cause you to feel frustrated and disrespected.
cut them off asap because before long, it may turn in to a physical altercation!
8. Never Enough Nellies: You can never give enough to these people to make them happy. They take you for granted and have unrealistic expectations of you. They find ways to continually fault you and never take responsibility for anything themselves.
Parents and other family member can sometimes fall in to this category.
Why they are toxic: You will spend so much time trying to please them, that you will end up losing yourself in the process. They will require all of your time and energy, leaving you worn out and your own needs sacrificed.
so to all my young people out there, getting ready for the real world, these are the people you need to steer clear from. you have so much to look forward too don't let anyone or anything deter you from your dreams and goals! send out positive vibes and in return you shall bring positive people in to your life.
remember my saying life is too short!!!
DO NOT spend your time dealing with TOXICITY AND OR NEGATIVITY.
welcome to my hair blog
my name is Ti and 2years ago
i embarked on a hair grow challenge, and now i want to help other women grow their hair too..
by showing them proof that you don't have to mixed or have Indian in
yo family lol... to have long healthy hair.
Me and my hair have both been through a lot in over the years, i went from hating my hair, to just plain ignoring it, but now that i have learned the proper way to care for my hair i love my hair to death :o)
my hair grade is 4a/with a lil 3c mixed....
i achived (bsl) bra strap length in oct 08 then I trimmed my hair nov 18th 2008! so i am right above bsl!
my next goal is full bsl by june or mid back length by nov 09!!
happy growing everyone!
make sure to read my older posts,
there is a lot of great info on there that shows you how to start your hair growth journey.
make sure to subscribe to me on youtube
click the youtube button on top,
to get to my youtube home page....
thanks for all of your support!!
ti
as with any hot oil treatment, it is important to avoid overuse of Castor Oil, especially if you are prone to a oily scalp. I recommend not doing a hot oil treatment more then once a month, i do one maybe a few times a year, if that...
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