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the challengers
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Sunday, September 28, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
it takes comitment
lovelyti
to my blog lovely ladies and gents!!
Growing long hair takes commitment!!!
Hair usually grows at a genetic rate of 6-8 inches per year, at it's optimal rate it can grow 10-12 inches per year! If you have hair that is currently chin length and want it to be below your bra - take a ruler and measure the space between where your hair currently is and where you want it to be. If you need 6 inches to reach your bra strap, plan on it taking 10-12 months for your hair to grow to your goal length.
Every person is different and it may take you a longer or shorter time depending on a wide variety of factors. It is very important if you make the personal commitment to grow your hair long, that you do all the right things which includes the following things:
Proper nutrition: Drinking enough daily fluids, eating healthy foods such as dark green & yellow vegetables, dairy products, milk, eggs, avocados, lots of fresh fruits, chicken, tuna and salmon are high in protein so eat those whenever possible :o)
Things like excessive caffeine, sugar, nicotine, alcohol & junk foods can also cause your hair to be unhealthy and can slow down it's growth potential.
Drinking to many alcoholic beverages can dry out your hair and cause constant breakage.
Junk foods can slow down hair growth potential, which can cause your hair to constantly break.
Smoking can cause your hair to become dry and brittle which will lead to breakage as well.
Minimizing unhealthy hair care habits: (chemicals ie: perms/relaxers...
hot tools ie: flat irons, curling iron, damaging hair care products
ie: products containing silicones, grease, products containing alcohol,
are also no-no's.
Getting enough sleep, rest and relaxation: very important ladies gets that beauty rest!!!
Taking vitamins, minerals & herbs: Because most of us don't eat everything from the 5 major food groups, you may need to take vitamins or supplement... to achieve maximum hair growth. Whether you take a good multi-vitamin or a product designed to grow hair - this is an essential component for growing hair at your maximum potential!!
This is what worked for me! please remember we are all different what works for me may not work for you so please find a reggie that works for you....
thanks
*start a fotki... (this records your progress)
*Wash hair every week with conditioner...(shampoos are very drying due to sodium lauryl sulfate)
* Only shampoo/Clarify once a month... (this is done to remove any build up or to get what ever the conditioner has missed over the past 3weeks,
be careful clarifies strip hair completely so do not use more then 2x a mth.
*Only use wide tooth combs....
*Baggy at least once a month....(I don't really do this but this can help if your hair is extremely dry this also helped me the 1st mth i started my hair journey in 06' once i learned how to properly moisturize my hair i no longer needed to baggy.
*wear daily protective styles
i.e wigs, ponytails, buns braids ect.... (this helps to protect your hair from regular wear and tear caused my handling, flatirons and brushing ect)
*Take daily vitamins.... ( this helps because we do not eat all of the needed foods to grow our hair, so taking a supplement can help get your body and hair healthy.. please discuss with your doctor!!! I am not a Doctor or a nurse! for my young girls in the challenge please tell your parents before taking any vitamins!
* Take pictures every 3-6 months to document/show your progress!
******I can not stress this enough*******
do not relax every 6-8weeks, when I was relaxing, I only relaxed my hair twice a year and that is what has helped me the most... you need to stretch your relaxer if you can not go every 6mths then at least try every 3 mths.
good luck and happy growing!!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
figure out your hair grade & thickness
The wavy ones 2a - loose, stretched out S-waves throughout the hair 2b - shorter, more distinct S-waves (similar to waves from braiding damp hair) 2c - distinct S-waves and the odd spiral curl forming here and there
The curly ones 3a - big, loose spiral curls 3b - bouncy ringlets 3c - tight corkscrews
The really curly ones 4a - tightly coiled S-curls 4b - tightly coiled hair bending in sharp angles (Z-pattern)
SECOND CLASSIFIER - What (most of) your individual strands look like F - Fine Thin strands that sometimes are almost translucent when held up to the light. Shed strands can be hard to see even against a contrasting background. Similar to hair found on many people of Scandinavian descent. You can also try rolling a strand between your thumb and index finger. Fine hair is difficult to feel or it feels like an ultra-fine strand of silk.
M - Medium Strands are neither fine nor coarse. Similar to hair found on many Caucasians. You can also try rolling a strand between your thumb and index finger. Medium hair feels like a cotton thread. You can feel it, but it isn't stiff or rough. It is neither fine or coarse.
C - Coarse Thick strands that where shed strands usually are easily identified against most backgrounds. Similar to hair found on many people of Asian or native American descent. You can also try rolling a strand between your thumb and index finger. Coarse hair feels hard and wiry. As you roll it back and forth, you may actually hear it.
THIRD CLASSIFIER - Your overall volume of hair Put your hair in a ponytail with as much hair as possible in it. Don't bother with the way it looks - the goal is to have most/all of your hair in there. If it means it sits smack dab on top of your head, put it there.
Measure the circumference of the ponytail. If you have bangs and/or you can't get all of your hair in there adjust according to how much of your hair you have measured.
i - thin (less than 2 inches/5 centimeters)
ii - normal (between 2-4 inches or 5-10 centimeters)
iii - thick (more than 4 inches/10 centimeters)
4B.This hair type is wonderfully unique.No visible curl pattern/coil but from afar, it's extremely soft to the touch but extra fine/fragile So don't comb like CRAZY! It's Very delicate !! (*pushes up imaginary glasses ) lol
Stay away from such ingredients as Mineral Oil, Petroleum, etc, you need constant moisture 4b hair is the driest hair of all of the hair grades, Satin bonnets are great!4A. Easily susceptible to damage do not comb excessively. Combing hair dry leads to frizzes,shedding and breakage. This hair is Extremely Versatile And as always, keep moisturized!Limit your combing (use wide-tooth combs, bone combs are great,but not the thin ones; they RIP and TEAR your hair) READ the back of all hair products, mineral oil always sneaks in.
THE 3'SThis hair type has many subtypes Can range from big ringlets, small ringlets, corkscrew, straw, to tight curls(curly lil balls).Pull it, stretch it, wrap it, and watch it sling back to its original state.Has a lot of body and volume, doesn't it?Easily absorbs water and has shrinkage when it dries.Always maintain moisture or can easily be prone to dryness/frizziness.. Keep it that way and you're asking for easy breakage. Limit combing, use a wide-tooth.Take the time to read all hair products, don't want to dry your hair out! Sleep with satin bonnet/scarf.3 SUBTYPES: 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D(3C/4A mixed)
THE 2'S This hair type is wavy.2A is fine, 2B medium textured, and 2C is thick & coarse with a frizzy look.Needs a balance of both moisture and control.Versatile- can easily be styled to look different.
THE 1'S This hair type is completely straight. No type of curl/wave pattern whatsoever.Can vary from extremely thin to extra coarse.Sometimes hard to keep certain styles-may fall during the day if doing various activities.Very sleek and shiny due to no curl/Wave which allows the light to reflect off of the hair giving it a shiny finish If 1's look dry and dull, it's most likely damaged.Fix that hair up! Deep-condition..wake it back to health.
what all hair is made of!
The parts that make up your hair: 
Cuticle: Outer layer of the hair. It is made up of layers of scales which interlock with the cells of the hair's inner root sheath to firmly anchor it in the follicle. This is a thin and colorless layer. Black hairs cuticle layer can be twice the thickness of that of white hair. 
Cortex: The middle layer. It is composed of cells which are tightly bound around one another. These bands provide the hair with elasticity and strength and are very receptive to chemicals. As a result, they can easily be influenced (or damaged) by dyes and relaxers.
Melanin: is contained in the cortex and is the substance that determines the color of our hair and skin. The more melanin, the darker the hair or skin.
Follicle:This is the name for hair before it emerges from the skin. Follicles are composed of many elements including carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Healthy amounts of these elements can improve the hairs' condition and appearance once it emerges.
Sebaceous/Sudoriferous Glands: Attached to the hair follicle are the sebaceous (oil) and the sudoriferous (sweat) glands. The sebaceous glands open and close continuously to release a waxy sebum oil into the hair follicle and onto the scalp. The sudoriferous glands contain many small structures with porous openings leading to the skin. They produce substances which dry on the skin including salts, acids, water and bacteria. If not completely dissolved and effectively removed from the scalp, they can help cause severe itching and dandruff. Thus, the scalp problems some people experience in the early stages of locs.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
why i choose to use these oils
here are just a few of the oils i use i use about 15 total.
Rosemary Oil:This magnificent herb is widely respected for its value as a hair and beauty aide. Rosemary can also be used in the bath, on the face and as a body or scalp massage. Believed to stimulate hair follicles and hair growth, rosemary is generally believed to slow down or even permanently hold off premature hair loss and gray hair. Rosemary oils and concoctions will soothe and condition dry, flaky scalps.
Castor Oil –It is a natural moisturizer excellent for dry skin. It is a natural emollient to hair. It will penetrate and make hair & skin softer. It is pressed from castor beans. Castor beans are native to tropical Africa. In Indian, Brazil & Thailand the crop is important because of it's commerce value…Try mixing Castor oil with lighter oils, such as almond or grape seed oil. Castor oil is a thick oil and it may be time consuming to remove it from your hair if used alone. Combine it with other oils to lighten its density.
Coconut oil- is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shinny complexion. Regular massage of head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as a hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams. Benefits of Coconut Oil•Moisturizes dry hair •Improve tanning (does not contain sunscreen) Smooths skin •Longer shelf life.
Peppermint oil also stimulates the scalp and encourages hair growth!
Tea tree oil- is best known as a very powerful immune stimulant. It can help to fight all three categories of infectious organisms (Bacteria, Fungi, and Viruses), and there is evidence that Tea Tree oil massage prior to an operation may help to fortify the body and reduce post-operative shock, Used in vapor therapy, Tea Tree oil can help with colds, measles, sinusitis and viral infections. For skin and hair, Tea Tree has been used to combat acne, oily skin, head lice and dandruff. As essential oils have become more accepted by the public, the use of Tea Tree has increased significantly. This can be readily evidenced by the commercial products now using Tea Tree essential oil.
Olive oil- is rich in Vitamins E and K to help protect hair from environmental damage. Delivers significant antioxidant and moisturizing properties to provide luster and elasticity to dull, damaged hair. Excellent for color-treated hair, as olive oil increases color intensity and protects against color deterioration.
Shea Butter- provides skin moisturizing • Clinically proven anti-aging properties • Stretch mark prevention and minimization • Protection against inflammations • Rapid healing for burns (minimizes scarring) • Enhanced cell regeneration and capillary circulation (this helps the healing of small wounds, cracks, crevices, and skin ulcers) • Shea butter has soothing, moisturizing and protecting effects. Due to the presence of a sizable quantity of unsaponifiable fats, its content in vitamins and other active elements, shea butter adds other more precise activities to these general properties.o It displays a protecting role against UV rays because of its content in cinnamic acid and can thus be incorporated in solar products. The natural latex contained in shea butter would moreover prevent certain sun allergies. o Shea butter also helps cell regeneration and capillary circulation. This favours the healing of small wounds, skin cracks and crevices, and skin ulcers. In the cosmetic field, this property is an asset against skin ageing. o It has restructuring effects on the epidermis, also on dry and fragile hair. Dry skin, dermatitis, dermatoses, eczema, sun burn, and burns are all helped by natural shea butter. o It has an anti-elatic characteristic which makes it a good active ingredient against stretch marks. o Shea butter can also be used to treat rheumatism and aching muscles, and to ease colds because it decongests nasal mucous tissues. It is very well tolerated by the skin for it does not normally trigger any allergic reaction and can even be used on very sensitive skin areas such as mucous tissues and around the eye so Shea Butter is also useful for dry hair, dry scalp & dandruff. Apply African shea butter at least twice a week to your hair & once a week to your scalp. It improves hair texture, hair moisture & hair growth. Shea Butter grooms locs. Apply African Shea Butter to your hair before swimming to help protect your hair from the chlorine & salt. After swimming, shampoo & condition your hair right away. A little shea butter before & after you dry your hair is a good idea.
tips for maxium hair growth
Simple rules to remember:
Take Hair Growing Supplements or vitamins, Eat right, exercise, reduce stress, gets lots of sleep and you are well on your way to maximizing your own personal hair growth potential. You can either take a good supplement that contains the necessary vitamins and minerals or you can make up your own formula.
Some vitamins that you can take....
Vitamin B-complex - 50 mg.
of the major B-vitamins (including folate, biotin and inositol)
Vitamin B-6 - 50 mg. of vitamin B-6 Vitamin
C with bioflavonoids - one to two grams daily
Vitamin E - 400 to 800 IU daily
Beta-Carotene - 10,000 to 15,000 IU of beta-carotene daily One recommended daily dose of magnesium, sulfur, zinc Silica (horsetail) - 300 mg.
daily Nettle - 250 mg. three times daily
Flaxseed oil - one tbsp daily or one tablet Beta-Carotene - 10,000 to 15,000 IU of beta-carotene daily.
Here are some other general hair growing guidelines:
Avoid the use of hot water, hot steam or saunas that may stress the hair.
Have a weekly scalp massage to provides added stimulation to the hair follicles.
Perform a series of on going hot oil or deep conditioning treatments to protect the hair's shaft. Keep the environment in mind, Before taking your hair for a ride in a convertible or for a day at the beach, comb a protective conditioner through the hair. Protect your hair from sun, wind, heat, salt water and pool chemicals.
Exercise for your hair: Any form of physical activity will increase blood circulation to the scalp, helping nutrients to flow more easily down to the individual hair follicles.
Get enough sleep to allow your cells to renew and refresh.
I play wii fit in order to get exercise, it really works wonders and you can do it in the privacy of your own home!!
Allow your hair to breathe, avoid constricting your hair with tight bands, hats and cornrow braids because These things can lead to split ends and hair breakage.
If you must use chemicals on your hair, go to a professional and try "spot" treatments to get maximum results with minimal damage.Use "hair friendly" hair accessories like elastic covered bands, smooth hair clips and snag less barrettes.
Avoid boredom!!!! Other Hair Care Tips:
Since black hair is fragile, even sleeping on a “rough” cotton pillowcase can cause damage to the ends of your hair. You can combat this problem by either switching to a satin pillowcase or wrapping your head in a satin scarf or bonnet before going to bed. When it comes to styling your hair, always use a wide-toothed comb and never a brush to protect strands.
Water = Optimal Hair GrowthWater makes up approximately 1/4th of the weight of a strand of hair. When hair has the proper amount of water, it will respond by being supple and shiny.
Water is the key source of energy for every single cell of the body including the cells that drive hair growth and overall health.
Water energizes the nerve endings of the scalp and roots of the hair so that they are more responsive, thus enhancing the natural vitality of the skin and hair roots.
You can TAKE ALL OF THE HAIR VITAMINS IN THE WORLD BUT if you are not downing enough H2O, your cells that drive hair growth will not reproduce and your hair will become DRY & DAMAGED!!
Water is involved in the transport of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and many other nutrients -- including those essential for hair growth.
Protein = Spurs Hair Growth- Inadequate protein intake over a lengthy period can force hair into the resting phase with shedding a few months later
- To encourage hair growth, adhere to a diet rich in protein
- European studies have found that soy protein reinforces hair and stimulates its growth
- Protein is composed of the amino acids essential for the building of new cells, including hair
- Hair is a shaft of protein, essentially keratin
- A single protein can help a bald mouse sprout a coat of fur
- Good food sources for protein include fish, eggs, beans and yogurt. Soy protein has also been found to be helpful in stimulating hair growth
Sufficient Sleep = Is Crucial for Growing Hair HealthyErratic sleep patterns may lead to accelerated hair loss & brittle hair
Most of us need between six and eight hours of sleep each day
Sleep helps your body to refuel and regenerate, reduces stress levels, helps you relax and is a great hair tonic
Studies of male pattern baldness suggest that lack of sleep plays a role in altering the hormone balance in the body that leads to hair loss In men.
vitamins and what they do
Vitamins For Healthy HairGood nutrition is vital to healthy hair growth, just as it's essential to overall good health. Although your body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to maintain proper body functions, there are several that are specific to hair growth and health. When starting a new vitamin regime, it usually takes from 2 to 3 months to see results in your hair's condition. That means that patience and consistency is very important. It's also important to check with your doctor before starting a vitamin program, especially if you have health concerns.
Healthy Hair Vitamins Vitamin A - Antioxidant that helps produce healthy sebum in the scalp. Food sources: Fish liver oil, meat, milk, cheese, eggs, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, apricots and peaches. Daily Dose: 5,000 IU.
Vitamin C - Antioxidant that helps maintain skin & hair health. Food sources: Citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe, pineapple, tomatoes, green peppers, potatoes and dark green vegetables. Daily Dose: 60 mg.
Vitamin E - Antioxidant that enhances scalp circulation. Food sources: Cold-pressed vegetable oils, wheat germ oil, soybeans, raw seeds and nuts, dried beans, and leafy green vegetables. Daily dose: Up to 400 IU. Warnings: Can raise blood pressure and reduce blood clotting. People taking high blood pressure medication or anticoagulants should check with their doctors before taking Vitamin E supplements.
Biotin - Helps produce keratin, may prevent graying and hair loss. Food sources: Brewer's yeast, whole grains, egg yolks, liver, rice and milk. Daily dose: 150-300 mcg. Inositol - Keeps hair follicles healthy at the cellular level. Food sources: Whole grains, brewer's yeast, liver and citrus fruits. Daily Dose: Up to 600 mg.
Niacin (Vitamin B3) - Promotes scalp circulation. Food sources: Brewer's yeast, wheat germ, fish, chicken, turkey and meat. Daily dose: 15 mg. Warnings: Taking more than 25 mg a day can result in "niacin flush" - a temporary heat sensation due to blood cell dialiation.
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) - Prevents graying and hair loss. Food sources: Whole grain cereals, brewer's yeast, organ meats and egg yolks. Daily dose: 4-7 mg.
Vitamin B6 - Prevents hair loss, helps create melanin, which gives hair its color. Food sources: Brewer's yeast, liver, whole grain cereals, vegetables, organ meats and egg yolk. Daily dose: 1.6 mg. Warnings: High doses can cause numbness in hands and feet.
Vitamin B12 - Prevents hair loss. Food sources: Chicken, fish, eggs and milk. Daily dose: 2 mg
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