Haaaaaaaaaaaappy Holidays!

I wish you all a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! I'm just gonna relax and enjoy my break from work...............and just dream about my coming Happy Hair Days!!

Catch ya!

Itchy and sore scalp!

Itch here, itch there!!....heeeeeeeeeeeeelp..lol!!

Ever had braids and experienced itchiness or soreness of the scalp? Or do you ordinarily have an itchy scalp no matter what? This can be very uncomfortable and painful especially for those with very sensitive scalp. I do not have problems with dandruff or have an itchy scalp even when I braid my hair....but with this new hairdresser I got my braids from; and this is the second time, I noticed my scalp itches real bad and feels sore just as it did with the first one. With the first braid, i thought i needed to wash more because my scalp was used to 2 to 3 washes a week but now, I’m not sure. Maybe she has itch-transferring fingers......lol!!

After almost a week and the itch refusing to subside, I need a remedy. I first needed reasons why my scalp was itching in the first place and these are some answers I got that may apply to me.

a.       Tightness of braids: For sure, she braids okay but she styles her buns too tightly. She insists this is to help to keep the style longer......since most people who got this type of braid kept it in for 2 months, before they wash and re-style it for another 2 months (sometimes)!! If your hairdresser braids too tightly, either ask her to loosen her grip or go somewhere else if she insists on doing it tightly. My bun loosened on its own after about 3 days but the itch and soreness is still there!!

   

b.      Dry scalp: Though my black hair is often dry because of excessive heat and sun exposure, it does not necessarily mean I have dry scalp. At least I don’t think so...lol! But it is a possibility. I haven’t washed my scalp in a week and I haven’t done anything else to it apart from oiling it sparingly with JBCO and T444Z. I oil it SPARINGLY to avoid build-up because I may not wash my hair the whole month.

c.       Sun Exposure: The scalp, when exposed to the elements may become sensitive to the heat and sun. I barely step out of the office till I close at 5 pm and my scalp is not exposed to the sun but maybe, the 3 min walk I make from the main gate to my office is enough time for my scalp to reach to heat and sun exposure.

d.      An allergic reaction: If one wears braid extensions, especially synthetic braids, it is possible to experience an allergic reaction to chemicals used to treat the hair. Human hair may not give the same reaction when used to braid or weave. Now, I used Outre the last time I braided. I have used Outre for years and I doubt that I’m allergic to it. I have never used wool or yarn to braid before so maybe......I dunno! I read some suggestions to rinse hair with Apple Cider Vinegar if it is synthetic to neutralise some of the chemicals in it. Human hair or synthetic hair is okay to use, but using a high-quality brand with fewer irritating and low-quality chemicals in it helps with this problem if one has it.

What can one do about an annoying scalp itch then? I’m going to try these solutions and see which one works for me. 

• ·        Moisturizing Oil:  Using oil may very well help relieve a dry scalp that might just be thirsty. Jojoba Oil, Peppermint Oil or Tea Tree Oil is strongly recommended. I have none of these oils at the moment but I intend to buy a braid spray tomorrow and I will definitely look for a product that has one or all of these oils in it. I will either spray it on or spray onto my fingertips and gently work it onto my scalp between my braids. This will also give me the 5-10 minute scalp massage I have promised to do every other day until I can do it every day.

•       Shampoo: Weekly or bi-weekly shampooing, though very necessary in hot climates isn't on everyone's agenda, especially most ladies who don't want to mess up a hairstyle that took hours to achieve and cost a bit of money, or who simply do not know they can shampoo with braids. Our scalp needs to be cleansed on a regular basis, even when wearing braids. You can shampoo your scalp without messing up your hair. Cleansing in the shower in order to keep the hair in a vertical position really helps. Let the water cascade through the hair, working through your braids very gently with your fingers. Apply shampoo to your hands and work it onto your scalp, taking care to rub it in. The downward motion of the water will carry the shampoo onto your braids, so there's no need to vigorously work lather into them.

•      Antiseptic or Astringent: In-between shampoos try a scalp antiseptic or astringent. These are available in some pharmacies and cosmetic shops. Apply it to a cotton ball or swab and dab it on the itchy areas on your scalp only. This can greatly relieve your itch till the next shampoo, but it shouldn't take the place of regular cleansing. In some cases, facial astringent has been claimed to work fine too. Listerine mouthwash has also been suggested for this purpose. Most braid sprays contain antiseptics and I’d surely look out for one that has some of the following ingredients listed as these have antiseptic qualities. Wheat germ, allantoin, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, arctium majus root extract also known as burdock root, behentrimonium chloride, camphor, Chamomile flower extract, etc.

Read more on ingredients in your hair and skin products at;   (http://www.tamarasskincare.com/ingredients/)

More importantly, eat well and drink lots and lots of water to ensure your body and your scalp gets all the nutrition it needs.

Will keep you posted on what works and hope I don’t have to keep patting my itch till Christmas day!! Season’s Greetings!!

Natural Oils for Your Hair

                                                                                                   Image from madamenoire.com

Little did I know that I could use natural oils on my hair everyday!! A lot of ladies with very long hair, some with waist length hair, do no have a regimen without natural oils. Natural Oils seem to be the icing on top of the cake in the hair care industry. I have tried coconut oil, olive oil and castor oil and I must say ...............wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww to all these so far!! Works great especially for dry hair. Some other oils I am yet to try myself but which thousands have used in their hair, and you can also try out are:

Avocado Oil: Avocado oil is particularly great for natural and relaxed hair. It’s loaded with nutrients, amino acids, essential fatty acids, as well as vitamins A, B, D, and E.  And it’s excellent for moisturizing, deep conditioning, improving hair strength, strengthening hair, and boosting shine.

Castor Oil: Castor oil thickens hair, promotes hair growth, prevents thinning, moisturizes, helps reduce split ends, helps to tame frizz, and prevents scalp infections.

Jojoba Oil: Derived from the seed of the jojoba plant, this liquid wax is similar in composition to sebum; the moisturizer/conditioner naturally produced by our bodies. Unlike most other oils used in hair growth treatments, jojoba oil does not penetrate the hair. Rather it seals the hair follicle to seal in moisture. Breaking up crusted sebum build-up is how jojoba benefits hair health. Crusted sebum makes hair brittle and creates a blockage at the root.

Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is great for preventing dandruff, promoting hair growth, moisturizing, strengthening hair, thickening hair, and preventing damage.

Lavender Oil : As well as being the most popular essential oil, lavender is also considered to be one of the most effective natural treatments for the prevention of hair loss. Its ability to combat Alopecia areata (a common condition responsible for excessive hair loss) allows for considerable re-growth within months of regular use. Along with the preventative effects, lavender oil is a powerful antiseptic. The disinfecting properties of the oil not only treat many scalp conditions, but also fight microbes, fungi and other viruses.

Olive Oil (Extra Virgin Olive Oil): Olive oil, which is also referred to as the “godmother of hair oil,” is great for moisturizing, deep conditioning,  improving hair strength,  eliminating dandruff, and also has powerful antioxidants that can help fight hair loss.

Rosemary Oil: Rosemary oil is great for stimulating hair follicles for hair growth, preventing hair loss and greying, preventing dandruff, strengthening hair, and boosting shine.

Fish Oil: Containing 2 essential omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fish oil has long been known to be a critical component for health as our own bodies do not produce these acids themselves. The list of health benefits from fish oil is long and impressive. Although there hasn’t been sufficient enough research done on the benefits of fish oil on hair growth to establish a direct link, it is suggested that the nourishing effects the oil has on the skin would also apply to the hair. Unlike other essential oils, fish oil is not used topically. It is taken in a softgel form and puts its healing powers to use from the inside out.

Emu Oil: This all natural oil is derived from the emu; a flightless bird similar to an ostrich. Emu oil has been used for generations in Australia by aboriginal tribes for its regenerative and therapeutic properties. Its potent anti-fungal and anti-bacterial aspects break up residue around the hair promoting better hair and scalp health. Emu oil can also facilitate a 300% increase in cellular activity in the hair creating more resilient, livelier hair without a complex brew of chemicals that strip and damage hair.

Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil (commonly known as melaleuca oil) in a diluted solution helps to unblock clogged pores on the scalp. It also moisturizes the skin, conditions the hair and its anti-bacterial properties protect the skin from bacterial and fungal infections. By promoting the general health of the hair and scalp as well as boosting the body’s entire immune system, tea tree oil is very effective in healing damaged hair and allowing it to grow long, thick, strong and healthy.

Safflower Oil: Safflower oil protects hair, nourishes hair follicles, moisturizes, and stimulates blood circulation to promote hair growth and thickness. And it is extremely beneficial for natural as well as dry chemically treated hair.

Sweet Almond Oil: Sweet almond oil works great as a “sealant.” This means that it “locks-in” moisture. Sweet almond oil also nourishes hair, smoothes hair cuticles to control shedding, promote hair growth and thickness, prevents hair loss, and boosts shine.

There are a lot more natural oils available that give great benefits to both relaxed and natural hair. Some oils are heavier than others and the use to which one puts it depends on the type of hair one has. The scents of some of these oils are also too strong to use on your hair every day. These oils can be used for deep conditioning, hot oil treatments, pre-poos, sealing in moisture, flat ironing, massaging the scalp, etc, etc. Some such as olive and coconut oil are even ingested to work inside out!! Our very own palm oil and palm kernel oil have been used by some ladies on their journeys and they swear by it!

Most of these oils are available in cosmetic shops, pharmacies and shopping malls. Don't be afraid to mix these natural oils together for use. But if you do not want to make your own mix, there are many pre-blended scalp massage oils and hot treatment oils available on the market that you can try. 

Remember, first use a good moisturising lotion or cream (water-based is the best) and then seal in the moisture with a virgin natural oil. Remember that a little goes a long way because you don’t want your hair “frying” after all!!

Yarn braids...finally!

Hope I can hold for a month or two...without a wash!

I finally decided to get yarn braids yesterday as my style for this x’mas season instead of the weave I had been considering. I did not want to do this style because a few people I knew who had done it before mostly claimed it to be a very painful braiding experience. Considering the sleepless night I had and the throbbing pain I still feel on my scalp, I would have to agree with them. This is a style for the daring unless you leave it free as individual braids without bunning it. I did a little research on how to maintain it together with my hair and I came up with the same answers. Avoid getting it wet!! Hmmmmmmmmmmm.....................I may keep this in for 2 months if my scalp can take it. I am on the hunt for a dry shampoo just in case my scalp gets too dirty and itchy. Below is an excerpt of an article I found about wool or yarn hair:

Advantages Of Wool Hair

If you are wondering why wool or yarn might be used to make extensions, the answers are varied.  One obvious reason is that yarn and/or wool is usually less expensive to use than human or synthetic hair.

Wool and yarn are both much lighter than hair and the difference in weight is a factor for some people. If you think about it, the original Rag dolls were made with yarn for their hair.  Of course sheep wear wool instead of hair.

Since wool or yarn is usually attached through pinch braiding, merging the wool and yarn with natural hair into braids, as dreads or wrapped around existing strands, no glues, waxes or chemicals or used.  It is also considered easier to extend hair with dreads, braids or wraps.

Depending on if you are a Goth fan, you may or may not wear your wool and/or yarn extensions to a major Goth festival or clubbing. Some people who love dreads and don't have time to develop their own long dreads, will use wool for "instant" dreads.

Some people will use wool extensions to fill in for real dreadlocks or as temporary dreads.  Since yarn and wool can be braided, wrapped or as fill in "hair" it can be very handy.

Wool Hair Is Lighter

Wool hair is often recommended for people with very fine hair that is not suitable for real hair.  Any type of health problems such as chronic headaches, scalp or skin conditions which would be problematic due to the weight of extensions hair would warrant wool.

There are light wool strands that can be combined with your natural hair to create dreads  Many people will use multiple colors for a dramatic look. 

Light wool dreads can be purchased in brilliant colors, standard colors, two-tone and even three-tone shades.  Some supplies offer up to 4 different colors.  Basically there are not limits to what can be done with the wool dreads.

There are different wool hair installation methods.  If you are merging the wool with your own hair a very common method is the pinch-braid method. 

Some people prefer pinch-braid because this eliminates the need for chemicals, glues or special treatments.  With the pinch braid method, your own hair is usually braided down one side of the wool strand so you have an intermingled braided effect.  The actual wool strands are attached right at your root.

Depending on the length of your hair and how much wool is added, the installation time can take approximately 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.  Keep in mind that every person is different and thus the times will vary.

Disadvantages Of Wool Hair

When utilizing wool or yarn it is important to buy the right product.  This is true if you prefer to buy hair.  The right hair makes all the difference.  This is true of yarn and wool.  Some wool will shrink when it gets wet or is washed. 

This may not sound like a concern unless you are wearing the wool at the time and it shrinks into your hair, causing it to become difficult to remove.

Wool fibers can break off and tangle around your real hair which means that in extreme cases you may need to cut the tangle hair out to remove the wool.  Or be content with permanent wool infused dreadlocks.  You should check the wool attachments on a weekly basis.

Wool also may develop an intense aroma with it gets wet.  Some people would describe wet wool as having a pungent smell.

 

Maintenance And Care

Most experts that work with wool hair state that the wool can last for several weeks, if not months, with proper care.  This means that at some point during that extended period you will need to wash your scalp.  It is important to avoid getting the wool wet as much as possible. 

Wool, which is very light when it is dry, gets very heavy when it gets wet.  If you wish to wear wool intermingled with your hair which will require that you shampoo on a regular basis, consider the following popular wool washing options:

1.  Wrap as much of the wool in plastic wrap or plastic bags and segregate from the rest of the hair before washing.  This will keep the wool part of your hair dry.
2.  Use only dry shampoo formulas like cornstarch or cornmeal and focus the dry shampoo ONLY on the scalp or your natural hair.
3.  Have someone help you shampoo and apply a very small amount of diluted shampoo to your scalp and then rinse carefully to avoid getting the wool wet.

To help the wool hair extensions to last as long as possible, experts recommend regular maintenance visits that will maximize the life-span of the extensions.  During maintenance visits the rows that have loosened due to hair growth or other normal conditions, will be re-tightened.

Many wool hair wearers have different opinions about whether to completely abstain from washing or not.  You will have to find your own appropriate care methods.

(Source: http://www.hairboutique.com/tips/articles.php?f=tip100007.htm)

My Prayer.............

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!! Another wonderful day in my life is here!! My wedding anniversary! 3 years already? Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooow, time really flies when you're having fun!!

All I want is more love, unity and peace!! Blessings oooooooooooooooooo blessings!!

And now, to my hair!

I'm gonna get yarn braids today for the occasion! Something like sister locks so I can keep it in for a month or a little more. I had wanted to use a weave or mesh but considering that I want to be able to wash my hair  twice a week without disturbing the braids, the stylist advised I use the crocheting yarn instead.  Yeah......that will be some fake hair...lol!! I just hope getting it done is not as painful as some swear it is. I guess I just have to tell the stylist not to braid too tightly.

My prayer is that in 2 years time, I'd have my thick, shiny and smooth Armpit Length hair and I won't need any quick fix. Will post some pixs when I'm done. Cheeeeeeeeeeers!

Real Queens Regimen and Green House Effect

 It’s my birthdaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay and my hubby’s too!! I’m super happy to be alive and well. And I’m soooooo happy the elections also ended peacefully!! I’m in such a good mood ....hahhahahhahahaha!! Enough of that!!....let’s talk about our hair. 

Got my braids out...finally!! It was such a smooth process and I didn’t lose a lot of hair during the detangling process. I followed a procedure I had never used before and I was amazed!! I soaked my hair in braids with my V05 conditioner, left it on my head covered in a shower cap for 1 hour. I then undid the braids with the tail of my comb gently. The braids had so much so slip it was easy to undo them. Once a couple of braids were completely undone, I twisted them together and added some more conditioner. The whole process took a little over 3 hours mainly because I was doing little chores, babysitting, and watching the elections on TV in-between

I then continued with my normal wash routine and detangled in the shower with my big comb. It was such a breeze!! So easy, no stress. No knots, no breakage. Just a little shedding (which was normal since I hadn’t combed my hair in a month).

I later went to the salon to get my hair straightened (haven’t used heat in 6 months) after it had dried because the new growth was too puffed up. It didn’t lay the way I had hoped so I got my hair in bantu knots for the night. Got some nice curls this morning!!

Now to the Real Queens Regimen and the Greenhouse Effect hair care method I know is working for MY hair. This is what I got from the site of the lady who was using this method for her hair.

This was her progress in one year with this method!! AMAZING!

REAL QUEENS REGIMEN

•       Wash hair once a month with 100% natural shampoo
•       Deep condition as needed with 100% natural conditioner
•       Blot hair dry with a t-shirt (it's more gentle on the hair than a towel)
•       Do the green house effect at least twice a week or as often as you'd like (the more the better)
•       Dust ends every 1-2 months (this is optional, but highly recommended)
•       For best results wear protective or low manipulation hairstyles
•       Try to avoid using heat - air dry instead of blow drying
•       If you flat iron your hair, only do it once a month
•       Be gentle with your hair - don't comb and brush so often
•       Try to not use products with chemicals in them because they produce the wrong kind of build-up which will force you to shampoo more frequently - use natural products/oils
•       Eat right and drink lots of water

GREEN HOUSE EFFECT

•        On damp or dry hair apply a generous amount of JBCO or EVOO throughout your hair (or however much you can tolerate) making sure to coat the ends in the oil to create a protective barrier against pollution, fabrics, dryness etc.
•       This regimen works well with various protective hairstyles such as bantu knot outs and braid outs, so once you’ve oiled your hair you can prep it accordingly depending on how you plan to style it the next day.
•       Place shower cap or plastic bag over your hair to lock in the moisture from your scalps natural oils and heat from your head. This creates a green house, steam effect during your sleep which is the best time for your hair growth in this case.
•       Place a head tie/scarf over your head & shower cap making sure that it’s nice and snug; for best results also wear a winter hat over your scarf to help produce more heat.
  In the morning you may find that your hair is a bit damp from the moisture the steam effect created.
•       You can either blow dry it on cool setting, let it air dry a bit (about 15 mins) before styling, or go ahead and style it while it’s still damp and let it dry as the day progresses.

* If you don't really care for the JBCO smell, you should definitely try the Shea Oil with Mango & Papaya. It will make your hair smell amazing or you can simply use EVOO from your local grocery store, it's much cheaper!

GOOD FOODS FOR YOUR HAIR

•      Protein: liver, brewer's yeast, fish, eggs, beans, cottage cheese, yogurt, tofu.
•      Iron: liver, whole grain cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, eggs, dates, raisins.
•      B Vitamins: eggs, meat, poultry.
•      Essential Fatty Acids: walnuts, canola oil, fish, soy.
•      Vitamin E: avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil.
•       Sulfur: meats, fish, nuts, legumes, vegetables (especially onions).

(Source: http://realqueens.ning.com/group/haircareskincare/forum/topics/real-queens-regimengreenhouse or http://realqueens.net/real-queens-regimen. I’ve been following her progress on YouTube as well.)