Natural Hair Notes: Blackstrap Molasses Hair Treatment



Dec 2010 before trim



 

I finally got my hair trimmed this past Feb after about a year and 2 months since my last trim. I don’t know what took me so long but I finally got it over with. I did not have a lot of bad ends but enough to have made a difference in my hair. Since trimming I find that my hair is much bouncier and thicker, so I will make sure to trim at least once every 6 months or so.

I’ve been a bad girl as far as the salon visits and all the heat I have been exposing my hair to. I have gotten a little too flat iron happy lately so I have been deep conditioning and protective styling for the most part of February.

I decided to do another Black Strap Molasses treatment since I was due for a protein/strengthening treatment last weekend. I tend to use eggs and mayo but decided to try molasses again since it did such a nice job the first time around. I decided to use it as a pre-shampoo treatment like I did the first time. I did not mix it with anything. I used the molasses alone with a little bit of water since molasses can be super sticky and difficult to distribute throughout the hair if not diluted with water.

Molasses used as a hair treatment, helps soften and strengthen the hair especially if you notice a bit of shedding all the while providing shine to the hair.

I simply parted my hair in four sections and made sure I coated every strand.

This is what it looked liked with blackstrap. It made it look like I had a hair dye in my hair. I left it in my hair for about an hour rinsed and followed with an avocado hair treatment.

Please make sure you wear clothing you don’t need since it can get a little messy.

I followed up The Black Strap Molasses treatment with an avocado Deep Conditioner I made. I simply added honey and castor oil and left it in for 2 hours.

These were the reults soft, shiny and strong curly hair.

I used my rosewater and Aloe Juice mist as a leave in and once my hair dried, I used Bee Mine’s Balancing Cream, Sealed with castor oil (switced to castor from grapeseed) did a long braid in my hair and that was it.

 

 

I have been basically keeping my regimen simple. I try to do a homemade treatment every week or so. I’m also loving how soft my hair is when I use aloe and rosewater as a leave in. I will use Blackstrap in my other hair treatments since it helps keep my hair strong, shiny and soft.

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Silicones, Mineral Oils and My Hair

As you all know I’m in the process of overhauling my hair regimen, transitioning into a more simple and natural regimen. I’m specifically focusing on the ingredients I use on my hair. For a while now I have been meaning to do this since I have noticed that my regimen consisted mainly of cones, mineral oil and many other sinful ingredients known throughout the hair world.

In the short run my hair has benefited from these ingredients at least superficially I feel. But in the long run that may not be the case. Lately my hair has gotten very limp, weighed down and just plain lifeless. Dryness and keeping up with moisture has become rather tricky especially while air drying. I strongly suspect it’s my regimen and most of the products I have been using for the past year. So I decided to go on a silicone and mineral oil free regimen.

I mainly want to keep “cones” and mineral oil as far as possible from my hair and here’s why:

Silicones:

What’s good about it: Temporarily mends split ends, detangles, provides shine and manageability, keeps frizz at bay and gives appearance of healthier shinier hair.

What’s bad about it: Cones tend to coat the hair which is what tames frizz, giving the appearance of shiny healthy hair. However, this coating causes buildup on the hair which eventually blocks out moisture.

How to recognize cones: Recognizing silicones in hair care products can be rather daunting but taking a few seconds and familiarizing yourself with cones and their names you should get it right in no time.

A silicone ingredient typically ends with -cone, -conol, or -xane. Examples include: dimethicone, dimethiconol, amodimethicone, cyclomethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, and trimethicone. Source

My hair tends to like cones especially when rollersetting and with styles that require heat. Lately I have been air drying and the results are not the same at all. I find that cones provides my hair with a quick fix especially with straight styles that requires heat. As opposed to my curls and air dried hair which ends up dry requiring more moisturizer especially My Ors Olive oil daily moisturizer, which leads me into Mineral oil.

Mineral Oil

Mineral oi is derived from petroleum and like cones, coats the hair which in turn builds up on the hair, blocking out moisture. It basically just sit on the hair providing no true benefit to the hair. I have to admit I hav been in denial for a bit. Mineral oil is the second ingredient in my beloved ORS olive oil which I moisturize daily with. The thought of it just sitting on my hair as opposed to truly moisturizing is killing me. It’s best to keep mineral oil based products away from the scalp since it clogs pores as well, hindering new hair growth while promoting dandruff. A lot of my favorite Dominican deep conditioners contain this ingredient like Nacidt avocado, olive oil etc!

I’m not knocking these products, if anything my hair has grown a lot in the year since using these products, questionable ingredients and all. Remember that every hair type is different. The time it take for you to notice any cone buildup can take months while other hair types instantly feel the buildup by using products with these ingredients. One way to rid or keep you hair at bay of cone buildup is by using a sulfate based shampoo or clarify often, since it’s hard to rid the hair of cone buildup without a detergent based shampoo.

I’m going to try sticking with this cone free/sulfate free all natural regimen. I’m curious to see if my hair will bounce back at least to some decent thickness. I also have been getting bored with my routine so hopefully this new venture will keep me interested. Here is a sneak peak of some of the things I’m buying to start my natural regimen.

Silicone free and ultra thick and moisturizing. I will use this as a base for my deep conditioners.

Black strap molasses. I take a tablespoon of this every morning for my anemia. But I find that my hair will like this as well.

So remember if you are going to use cone or mineral oil based products make sure you pay attention to build up especially if you are using a sulfate free shampoo, since it’s hard to rid the hair of cone buildup without a detergent based shampoo. Sulfate based shampoos help, but remember they also dry out and strip the hair of moisture. So it’s all about paying attention to your hair’s needs and of course balance.

My new hair regimen wish list is coming to life as well as my recipe stash, I’ll have a post on that soon in the mean time check these helpful links out.

Black Hair Media: All About Cones


Black Hair Media: List of Cone free Conditioners


The Natural Haven: Mineral Oil


Tightly Curly: Hair Ingredients List


Naturally Curly: What’s the scoop on Silicones?

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Quick Hair Update

So the day I posted my review on Amal Oils I did my hair that day (sunday) sticking to the same regimen. I shampooed with dr bronner’s castile soap diluted, La Plancha, and nacidt avocado with organic argan oil. This time I did not use argan oil as a leave in, I used it for flat ironing instead. I decided to flat iron since I went out that evening and wanted to wear my hair out for a change. So I rollerset my hair as usual but this time I flat ironed.

I stayed in my dryer for my usual hour reading and these were the results hot off the rollers.

Right after, I combed the curls out and wrapped my hair in a dubbie wrap.

A wrap helps flatten my roots much better as well as helps tone down the volume the rollers tend to give my hair.

I just wrapped it in a scarf for about an hour. Then flat ironed my hair with my conair flat iron. Yeah it’s a cheapie but for me, it gets the job done.

These were the results after flat ironing. Pretty decent I think. I did not use a heat protectant (I know it’s almost a sin lol) but I think I threw out my chi iron guard by mistake when I was doing my product cleaning in Sept. Oh well. But I did use a small amount of Amal Oils Argan oil for a bit of shine especially towards my ends while flat ironing and loved how my hair came out incredibly soft.

 

I love how nacidt avocado finally was good for something. Thanks to the argan oil of course.

So these were the results later that day. Very soft and shiny hair. I’m very pleased with the progress I have made with my hair. However, since that weekend I have been very lazy in terms of caring for my hair. I’ve been way too busy on the weekends lately so it’s been hard trying to keep up.

So what I have ben doing is keeping it simple. I have been shampooing with dr. bronners castile soap and conditioning with hello hydration. Air drying then moisturizing and sealing with my hair slightly damp. And that’s it. No treatments or deep conditioning for the past two weeks. I feel that my hair has gotten healthy enough so it can handle a weekend or two without any treatments. I also wear my hair in buns quite often especially for work so protective styling is also in the mix.

This weekend is another story. Right now I’m under the dryer after babying my hair today. I again used the same regimen and used up nacidt avocado finally. This time I put my beloved argan oil to rest and used another oil I got from sally’s last year ( I’m serious about using everything!). Now I just have maybe one more treatment with nacidt Olive oil, my last DC to use up.

I have been very diligent with my hair so I deserved the small break.

As far as my natural regimen it’s coming along. I have purchased a few items and can’t wait to use up every product I have left to start trying out the different concoctions I have in mind. I’ll share my goodies and recipes I have in mind soon.

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Amal Oils Hair Review

This was my hair right before rollersetting a couple of weekends ago.

Lately as you all may know, I have been in the process of getting rid of a lot of hair products, anxious to jump start my new hair regimen sometime mid November or early December, which will be mostly based on natural, organic products and ingredients. I have come across several DC and one that seems to never come around for me is Nacidt’s Avocado Deep Conditioner. However this time around I added oils to it and the results were amazing.

Earlier in September Jalila of Amal Oils, sent me 100% organic Moroccan argan oil to try. The day I received the Argan Oil for review I had just did my hair (party that night) and since I typically DC every weekend I had to wait for my next DC session (but I did use it in a facial that day). Finally the weekend came back around and off to roller setting I went.





I can never get a straight line!

 I shampooed with Dr.bronnner’s castile soap, diluted with water. Then I used La Plancha (which I have been using biweekly). I’m really loving La Plancha’s Deep Heat reconstructor treatment. There are 3 ways to use it, I will tell you more in my review about it. 

I used the first method which is to leave it in for 3-5 mins and then rinsed, followed by Nacidt’s Avocado deep Conditioner (and several drops of amal oils argan oil). Left it in for 15 mins with heat. Once I rinsed the Deep conditioner I followed with Mane N tail. Once the conditioner was rinsed, I followed with my beloved Chi Keratin mist and several drops of argan oil as my leave in.

I wasn’t sure what DC to use, when suddenly I gave a mean look to nacidt’s avocado. This deep conditioner and my hair have issues. So for the sake of not wasting it, I decided to try adding Amal Oils Argan oil.

I do my best and anchor each one for proper hold.I feel like I get decent results considering rollersetting is so dam hard….

 I try my best! As my hair gets longer the harder it is to rollerset on my own especially the back. My skills are also a bit rusty since I did not rollerset much this past summer.

I stay in that dungeon of a dryer for a whole hour, reading, napping whatever….

The the end results. Very soft shiny hair.

Usually Nacidt avocado tends to leave my hair feeling like a straw, but after trying it out with the argan oil, I have been curious to see how my essential oils would let up as well. I love how Amal Oils Argan oil leaves my hair so silky. I tend to do well with argan oil and the products infused with them. So I had no complaints considering I had 100% organic Argan oil.

Leaving the oil as a leave in worked very well. I have other argan products but by far I like Amal Oils because it’s scent is non existant. The feel is not too oily either, it worked wonders on my DC and hair  without weighing it down.

Right after I came out the dryer, I wrapped my hair in a wrap. After a couple of hours I twisted it into a low bun and when I let the bun out I got some very pretty wavy spirals. I styled it to the side pinned with a few pins and there I had it. Soft shiny bouncy hair.

Argan Oil is definitely a great treat for any regimen. I noticed how soft my hands and cuticles have been as well as how my deep conditioners are instantly transformed using Argan oil.

Pretty much that is what I have been doing mixing and experimenting as well. Today I will follow this same regimen but will flat Iron after I rollerset so check out my next post on my results. I also will start adding other oils especially essential Oils to my Deep Conditioners. So stay tuned for my opinion on that as well.

In the mean time don’t forget to enter my sponsored giveaway by Amal Oils 100% Organic Argan Oil!

 Ends this Friday the 22nd!

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Amal Oils: Moroccan Argan Oil Giveaway (CLOSED) + Sugar Cane Syrup Face Mask

Earlier in September Jalila Bouchareb of Amal Oils (100% Organic Argan Oil), a company founded by Jalila, contacted Hell Notes for Beauty to sponsor not only a review but a fabulous giveaway to a lovely reader as well! Amal Oils is a fascinating company considering it stands on the foundation of Jalila’s sensational entrepreneurial spirit and her strong connection with the women of her native country, the beautiful Morocco.

Argan Oil (argania spinosa) exclusively known to Morocco, has been all the hype lately, especially in hair and beauty products. Coming from a tree that can live for up to 200 years, withstand droughts and overall difficult conditions, it is of no wonder why Argan Oil has been used to also withstand and tackle the ravages of aging skin and dry hair for generations.

 Amal Oils 100% Organic Argan Oil has been a great treat because when I started hearing all the rave about Argan Oil I was rather discouraged because most products were made with Argan Oil. It wasn’t the Argan oil itself. I wanted to try the oil itself, not products infused with it.

 This is why I was excited that Jalila had contacted me because not only did she have the highly talked about Argan oil from Morocco, but 100% organic, free of parabens, toxins, preservatives and fragrance. I finally had the main ingredient itself not just a product with the oil, which is usually found at the bottom of the ingredients list anyway.

  Argan oil also possesses a variety of culinary and health uses as well, not just cosmetic. For generations it’s been a part of Moroccan cuisine as well as known to help with cholesterol levels making Argan Oil even more interesting. However, Moroccan women use it for a variety of beauty regimens and here are some of the reasons why:

 
***
Antioxidant properties

High Vitamin E content

Anti inflammatory

Improves skin elasticity

Gives hair and nails strength and shine

Softens skin

Anti aging qualities

Eases skin issues such as dry skin, eczema, psoriasis 

Heals sun burns
Reduces excessive skin oil production

Treats acne
***

Amal oils (hope in Arabic) is dedicated to not only the preservation of beauty and youth but also preserving the livelihood of poor Berber women. In turn this ensures that the women who help produce this oil are fairly compensated for their very hard work by donating a portion of sales back to the women of Jalila’s country. It’s great that Amal oils is part of a cooperative that prides itself in helping women take part in their local economy. This gives poor Berber women hope through health care, education and overall woman power in a largely male dominated society.

I have tried several products that contain Argan oil and in fact have had great experiences with them, however as a lover of all things natural, I had to give Amal Oils a try and the first thing I started off with since receiving the oil 3 weeks ago was with my hands. I use about 5 drops for my hands and cuticles and my hands feel so velvety and soft I almost feel guilty using such a luxurious oil on my hands.

 I also incorporated it into several deep conditioners I have been meaning to get rid of. I’ll have a hair review coming soon in the mean time here’s a face mask I did using:

Read more to Enter the Giveaway and see how you can make you own fabulous Argan Oil facial using

Sugar Cane Syrup (melao in Spanish )

Amal Argan Oil

Plain Greek Yogurt

Banana

Leave mask on for 15 minutes until it dries
I like to use it maybe once or twice a week especially before a special night out, party etc.

This is a great facial mask because it contains 3 of the 5 main Alpha Hydroxy acids I mentioned in my earlier post.

Bannana (Malic Acid)

Bananas contain antioxidants as well as a variety of vitamins protecting and nourishing the skin. Malic Acid is also found in bananas which helps increase collagen production, minimize fine lines and tightens pores.



Plain Yogurt (Lactic Acid)



This is my first time trying Greek Yogurt and have to say its so much better because it’s so thick, feels like a cream and smells like vanilla even though it’s plain! I love using yogurt because the Lactic Acid that yogurt contains helps sooth the skin and refine pores. Yogurt’s antibacterial properties are also ideal for oily and acne prone skin types.



Amal Oils Argan Oil (external use only)



Argan Oil contains a vast amount of Vitamin E ideal for softening the skin and treating scars.

Argan oil is also great for those who deal with eczema or severe dry skin. For oily skin types Argan Oil also reduces excessive oil production.

Sugar Cane Syrup (Glycolic Acid)

Last but not least, Sugar cane which contains Glycolic Acid. Glycolic acid helps exfoliate, soften and even skin tone as well as promote collagen production essential for supple skin.

I’ve always loved adding bananas to my face masks because when you put it on you feel a tingling sensation which lets you know the ingredients are working. This was one of my first facial mask I experimented with when trying out natural facial recipes, I usually add honey but lately I’m using Argan Oil for most of my facials and love how soft and clear my skin has been feeling.

Amal Oils Argan Oil is stored in a glass bottle, similar to the bottles most of my essential oils are stored in which helps preserve the oil much better. It has a very light, almost faint scent which you have to really stick your nose into your skin to catch it’s light nutty scent. Which I prefer, since I tend to be a bit sensitive when it comes to scents.

It also has a handy built in dropper so you use just the right amount you need.

So it’s finally time that you try this oil out for yourself. This is why One lucky reader will go away with a 2 oz bottle of Amal Oils 100% Organic Argan Oil!!!!

******

Rules

*Must be a Subscriber of Hell Notes for Beauty

*Open to US and Canada Residents Only

*Follow Amal Oils Via:

Twitter

and

Facebook

*Simply leave a comment telling me you have done the above mentioned……

*****Giveaway Ends Friday October 22*****

Hell Notes for Beauty is my personal Blog. The product was sent for review purposes only. Review of this product is based purely on my own experience and opinion. I’m in no way paid/work or am affiliated with Amal Oils.

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Benefits of Scalp Massages, Creamed Coconut Deep Conditioner Review

 While working on my blog post Tips and links that saved my Hair, I got to the part where I was discussing  pre poos and realized I haven’t done pre poos in such a long time, and on top of that, I have never given myself a scalp massage. Last time I went to the salon I did a honey and coconut oil pre shampoo treatment (turned out great) but I barely touched my scalp. Since I don’t deal with dandruff or deal with dry scalp issues, I have never been compelled to do anything special for my scalp. But in the midst of deprivation and reminisces (and revamping my hair regimen) I decided to revisit my pre poos these last couple of weeks but with an added bonus, a scalp massage.

Benefits of Scalp Massages

Promotes hair growth

Increases circulation
 Rids scalp of junk and buildup allowing new cells to regrow

Minimizes shedding and hair loss

Adds Strength

Provides shine

Conditions and soothes itchy scalp and dry hair
Reduces dandruff

The first week I started off with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and two drops of lavender (great oil for hair loss) but realized by week two the Olive Oil was a bit too heavy for my hair (looking greasy, weighing it down). Despite the olive oil being too heavy I noticed a huge difference as far as shedding. So instead of oiling my entire hair, I strictly focused on my scalp and went for a lighter oil, sweet almond.

I have used both ylang ylang and lavender together and alone and both my scalp and hair is loving it. I find that ylang is much more moisturizing when added for my scalp massages and pre-poos, leaving my hair ultra soft and shiny. Since I have started massaging my scalp I have yet to see more than 5-10 strands when I brush my hair. A significantly vast improvement considering these past summer months. I was also having issues with my scalp being a bit itchy so massaging my scalp turned out great for that as well. I like massaging my scalp, it leaves my scalp feeling refreshed and I myself feel relaxed and at ease. So this will definitely be something I will add to my regimen bi weekly, while pre pooing once a month.

 

As you know with my last hair update, I was freaking out because I felt like my hair was way too thin and I was dealing with shedding quite a bit, so I came across this thread which basically gave me an insight into hair shedding being a natural process. Hair goes through cycles naturally reinforcing and rebuilding itself so it’s actually normal for the hair to shed especially in cycles.

This past weekend however, I skipped the oils and decided to do a creamed coconut deep conditioner.

I bought this about two weeks ago while shopping for my spices, aloe, and veggies. I paid just a $1 for it and could not figure out what to do with it exactly, I knew I wanted to do a deep conditioner with it, but did not know how or with what. So I decided to add Herbal Essence’s Hello Hydration and I instantly had my creamed coconut deep conditioner.

I let it sit out for an hour and it was not creamy, but rather soft. So I took a small steak knife and scraped out about half of the bar.

I then added Herbal Essence’s Hello Hydration….

Mixed them together….

and put it in my hair for about an hour…… 10 mins w heat.

 conditioned with Mane n Tail and Rinsed with Apple Cider Vinegar.

I lightly sprayed my hair with Chi Keratin Mist right before it got too dry. I liked how my hair felt and will add cream of coconut into other deep conditioners I have in mind and see how it turns out. This turned out great because the following days my hair felt very moisturized, my curls were not as tight and I was able to run my fingers through my curls without pulling. I’m almost done with most of the my Dominican hair products. So soon as I’m done I will get into product junkie mode and upgrade and simplify my hair regimen… Until then I will wait and see what I find out there and use up everything I have before I purchase anything.

This was my hair these past two days.. I just moisturized with ORS in the jar and sealed with sweet almond oil and braided my hair into a ponytail. Right when I was ready to head out I just let the braids out and this is how my hair has been.

Compared to the Cream of coconut deep conditioner I did back in June, I like the way the creamed coconut left my hair combined with Hello Hydration. Either way they both left me with great shine and moisture…..

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Tips and Links That Saved My Hair

During the first few months of my hair journey I had little money to spend on hair care products. Since I was just starting out to see what worked for my hair or not, it would not make sense for me to blindly spend money on products I was not too sure about. The first few months mostly consisted of homemade concoctions which was truly the safest money saving method for a newbie like me who is/was just starting out, especially on a budget.

In this post I will share with you, all the tips, recipes and commercial products I have used to get me to a decent hair regimen.

To start, you have to figure out what you want to achieve. Many people immediately want long hair but if your hair is not healthy it may never grow. For me, focusing on my hair’s health was my main priority. What works for others may not necessarily work for you, so make sure you do your own research and you will eventually find what works best for you. 

 

– Understanding Protein and Moisture Levels-

I noticed during my ignorant hair days I would for some reason gravitate towards protein deep conditioners and protein leave ins. This always lead to my hair being very dry, hard, difficult to manage and prone to a lot of breakage. Although proteins are needed to help strengthen the hair, I did not understand the concept of protein and moisture balance and so I was missing out on a simple but golden rule in my opinion, moisture! Too much protein can cause major breakage and dryness so it’s always essential to follow up most strengthening protein keratin treatments (reconstructors, etc) with a deep moisturizing conditioner.

The thread that saved my hair’s life: Hair Breakage 101

Basic Things a Newbie Should Know:

Newbie 101

Protein and Moisture Balance

The Natural Haven

Favorite Homemade strengthening protein treatments:
Mayo and Olive oil or coconut oil/ Egg and Mayo
Yogurt and 1 egg/ Yogurt and honey

-Deep Conditioners-

My hair tends to be naturally strong so strengthening my hair is not an issue. Maintaining moisture however can be very tricky and difficult for me to manage because even though my hair likes protein I tend to over do it with moisture at times.

 Most deep conditioners are meant to moisturize your hair, there are some that tend to be a bit on the protein side so make sure you are picking up mostly moisture based conditioners if you don’t want to over do it with protein (list of protein free conditioners). I like to use deep conditioners every single week preferably with heat for 15-20 Min’s and have not missed a deep conditioner session since starting my hair journey.


Homemade Deep conditioners: 
Banana, Olive Oil hair mask (great for air drying)
Cream of coconut w/olive oil
Coconut milk and honey or Olive oil
Avocado, Banana and Olive Oil hair mask

Best when used with Heat ( flat iron, blow dryer)
Nacidt olive oil
Miss Key 10 en 1
Silicon Mix (mild protein/ moisture based)
Queen Helene Cholesterol,
 La Bomba
Deep Conditioners List

-Conditioners/Rinses-

There are basically two types of conditioners/rinses, protein based and Moisture based conditioners. I use conditioners after every deep conditioner session. Now for me this can be tricky at times because depending, let’s say I did a Protein treatment, followed by my usual moisture Deep Conditioner… depending on how my hair is feeling, my hair may need on that particular day either moisture or protein. I may use Hello Hydration (moisture) or Mane N Tail (protein), again depending on your hair’s need you may need to alternate between the two types. I usually tend to be more on the moisture side so I usually reach for Mane n Tale to help bring in some protein into my regimen.

List of protein and moisture based Conditioners

-Health, Diet and ingredients your hair should avoid-

I have always loved food and have always been amazed with the health qualities fruits and vegetables possess. Making sure you maintain an adequate diet is crucial to your hair’s health. It not only improved my hair’s success but also skin, nails and overall well being. Adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals as well as overall stress levels can benefit you hair’s health tremendously. Drinking water is very important for the body as well. It naturally rids the body of harmful toxins and it definitely reflects in your skin and hair.

Keeping away from chemicals is always the logical way to go. When I started out I wanted to use strictly all natural products. However I got all Dominican product crazy and I neglected to catch a very important point. Certain hair care products can be very toxic and straight up damaging for your hair so researching and being aware of certain ingredients is always key to a healthier overall you. Ingredients you should avoid.

-Pre-shampoo Treatments-

I started out with Pre- Poo treatments but now (due to laziness) do them maybe once or twice a month usually before I clarify. Pre-shampoo treatments are mostly used to curve the drying effects of most shampoos, perms, dyes, beauty salon visits, etc (especially those shampoos with SLS). Pre-poo treatments also helps add moisture, shine and strength to your hair usually leaving you with shiny soft results. Most of my pre shampoo treatments consist of oils, you can use an array of butters and conditioners too.

My favorite pre shampoo oil treatments you can combine each or use separately:
Pre-Shampoo ideas
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Honey

-Shampoos/clarifying-

I have not used a sulfate shampoo since starting my hair journey and I’m truly glad I stopped. Sulfates dries out the hair especially kinky curly types like mine. There are many types of Sodium Laurel Sulfate free shampoos on the market. One of my favorite homemade shampoos is Dr. Bronner’s. Very easy and affordable. Another  shampoo I have been using for quite some time is Hair One moisturizing shampoo. At times Hair One causes build up, but it does a good job at cleansing and moisturizing. Clarifying shampoos are great to use when you feel your hair has build up, is not responding to treatments or greasy.

List of sulfate free Shampoos

SLS

-Leave ins-

As I said, way back in my hair days, I always gravitated toward protein leave in and my one and only favourite one was Infusium 23. This is a very heavy protein leave in, now I’m not saying it’s bad in the contrary, I loved Infusium 23 and bought it religiously. But imagine doing a protein treatment followed by this leave in (usually skipping DC’s). I had severe breakage and dryness before I came to the simple realization of the true purpose of proteins. Leave ins are great and right now my favorite is Apple Cider Vinegar rinse. Also chi keratin mist has been a long time staple as well as Lacio Lacio (great when used with heat). Leave Ins helps your hair maintain strength, moisture and usually keeps my hair frizz free after rollersets.

-Porosity Control-

Depending on the health of you hairs cuticle layer, the ability for your hair to retain and gain moisture can be very difficult. A simple porosity control shampoo always does the trick for me.

Hair Porosity

Keep It Simple Sista

-Moisturizing, Sealing and Protective styles-

Maintaining protein and moisture levels was truly an awakening but second to that knowledge, I  truly have to say that moisturizing and sealing has truly helped keep my hair breakage and split end free as well as contribute to it’s current length. Moisturizing your hair followed by sealing in that moisture with oil helps keep hair moisturized much longer and helps maintain adequate shine and strength. Protective styles are also crucial because it hides your ends and keeps them from drying out and rubbing on your clothes, reducing split ends significantly in my case.

Split Ends 101

Let’s Talk Oils

So basically these are most of the tips and links I have saved throughout my hair journey. Everyday I’m learning something new so I may update this post every now and then. Finding out what works best for your hair type is very important, staying optimistic and well informed can lead you to healthy hair hassle free.

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Waist Length Challenge August Check In

This is my first official photo documenting my progress back in April (after about 10 months into my hair journey) when I decided to enter A Grl Can Mac’s Waist Length challenge. When I took this picture in April, my hair was very thick and a bit on the dry side. And of course I was ranting about my salon experience.

April 2009

July 30th 2010

This is my hair now, had a nice experience at the salon this time, so no rants. I went to a wedding the weekend of July 30th and since I rarely treat my hair to some heat and needed to check in with the challenge, I decided to hit up the salon and finally take family photos with my new found hair. This time around my hair looked and felt incredibly moisturized, healthy and not many split ends. The last time I cut my ends was in December of 2009 and I’m noticing that it’s growing into a “v”. I’m also surprised that my ends are still looking decent. Before I got to the salon I did a preshampoo treatment (honey and coconut oil) and walked in with it in my hair and brought along my Miss key 10en1 deep conditioner (10 mins w/ heat) and let them do their magic.

Despite my hair turning out really shiny, fabulous (that prepoo teatment never fails), and straight, my hair felt nowhere near as thick as it was back in April. I don’t know if you can notice in the pictures, but I definitely feel the difference.

Since I have had my curly fro out most of this summer I have not been moisturizing and sealing every night as I should and usually do (mostly laziness). My sister noticed my concern and mentioned that the stylist did a good job at keeping my hair straight thus perhaps reducing my thickness significantly. But I still was not convinced and thought many things could have been the cause:

1. wash n go’s/not maintaining adequate moisture throughout the day

2. detangling too often/skipping moisture and sealing sessions

3. too much co washing

4. too much protein by way of BPT

5. it’s just normal, as it grows longer it thins out more?

6. Maybe I need a little trim

I have a feeling that I may be overdoing it with either the co washing or the BPT Wheat germ or it is just NORMAL for my hair to feel this way. I have had about 2-3 shedding/breakage episodes since April but mostly due to moisture so that may be a factor. I don’t know what I may be doing wrong, maybe too much protein? Moisture? My curly fro sucking the life aka moisture out my hair? or maybe it’s just normal for my hair to feel this way? I don’t know.

Maybe it’s not a big deal but to take precaution I will lay off BPT and use it every other week as opposed to weekly and will also limit my cowashes to once a week. I will get back into Protective styles for the next two weeks and take my curly fro out every weekend or so. This is to limit my hair to the sun and just maintain more moisture since I feel I may be over doing it with the protein (BPT).

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Despite my hair not being as thick as I had expected, I’m very thrilled with how healthy my hair looks. Never in a million years did I think I would be able to enjoy my hair frizz free nor see how much progress my hair has been able to make. I will be revamping my regimen, a post on that soon, right now I’m deep conditioning with Miss Key 10 en 1 review coming soon also.

I truly encourage you ladies to pay attention to your hair. It is not an easy task but the results are so worth it.

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Dominican Hair Product Review: BPT Wheat Germ

I bought BPT Wheat Germ back in January and have used it maybe once or twice throughout last winter while rollersetting.  For the past month or so I have been using BPT weekly and so far my curly fro is loving it. I don’t remember what I thought about BPT Wheat Germ when I tried it the first few times, (I guess at the time silicon mix stole the show) but this time around I have to say I’m impressed.

At first I was not sure how to categorize BPT Wheat Germ, either as a protein or deep moisture conditioner since I feel it provides me with both. Even though it says vegetable protein conditioning cream, the ultra softness kind of throws me off a bit.

So far I feel that with my hair BPT Wheat Germ acts like a mild protein conditioner, while also providing me with adequate moisture (just like the label says). Since I have been using this weekly I find that my hair sheds a lot less than usual and my hair feels stronger too. My hair loves protein and with all the cowashing I have been doing on a weekly basis (hello hydration), BPT helps keep my moisture and protein levels in check. So I don’t think using BPT weekly on my hair will hurt in terms of protein overload.

BPT has a light sweet scent, is very creamy and detangling is a breeze which I really need especially now with my curly fro in full force. To help keep my protein/moisture in balance I usually always follow up BPT with a moisturizing conditioner even though I’m tempted not to, since my hair is so incredibly soft after rinsing.

I have a few deep conditioners around I’m almost done with so I decided to mix a few. This time I used Queen Helene’s cholesterol, my very first deep conditioner when I began my hair journey a year ago, and La Bomba a Dominican product. This Combination was amazing and left my Curly fro soft and moisturized.

I have been experimenting with my own shampoo concoctions recently and right now I’m loving Dr. Bronner’s. The shampoo I have been using, Hair One Sulfate free, tends to cause build up so I have been interchanging them every now and then.

 I prefer Dr. Bronner’s lavender castile soap over the orange since I notice the orange tends to dry my hair out a bit.  It’s very simple just 2-3 cups of water and about 15 drops of Dr. Bronner’s soap and you instantly have your homemade shampoo. There are many recipes online which you can add all sorts of oils to your Dr. Bronner’s shampoo mix. If interested CHECK this video out.

This was my hair after it was all said and done, BPT Wheat germ, and the deep conditioner combo I did. This was right before the fourth of july weekend and that major heat wave that hit earlier this month in NYC, so I decided to rollerset that day and use Agadir’s Argan oil as a leave in.

 So instead of using lacio lacio as usual, I used my Agadir Argan oil treatment as a leave in and went on to rollerset my hair.

Right before I went into the hair dryer I lightly sprayed my hair with Agadir Argan oil Spray Treatment….

 

and lightly sprayed my hair right after. This was my hair after the rollersets, very soft, silky and bouncy hair. My hair reacted nicely to Agadir’s oil and may incorporate it into my rollerset regimen regularly this coming winter.

 Since that was the time that heat wave struck NYC I decided to take advantage and do protective styles. I just did a side bun with a cute flower I’ve had for years I bought at Claire’s. Simple yet protected hair.

For the past two weeks or so I have been sporting my fro everyday and so far I have my good times and bad times…

This is what I have been working with these past two weeks. Trying to maintain moisture for my curly fro has been an issue for me but I have discovered aloe vera gel works to make a little difference. I also have been trying to perfect a daily spritz but I been frustrated with that so far because nothing seems to work. I tried glycerin, conditioners and oils and so far my hair soaks up all the moisture. The front of my curly fro is OK but the back feels like mini Brillo pads which are hard to untangle. So what I have been doing is moisturizing with ORS olive oil in the jar and sealing with Castor oil, which I feel with this weather is not helping seal in moisture. I ‘m going to buy Jojoba oil and see how it works for sealing soon as I run out of castor oil. I also have been braiding my hair right after washing that way it won’t get so dried out. This helps me manage my hair much better when it dries as opposed to just wash n go. Hello hydration is a great conditioner I’m on my second bottle and like BPT, Hello Hydration helps detangle my hair nicely during co washes. I like BPT and so far it fits in nicely with my current curly fro regimen which has been:

• Co-washing 2-3x a week ( Hello Hydration ) or Mane n’ Tail (to balance protein, when needed)
• BPT Wheat Germ 1x week ( mild protein )
• Shampoo with Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap
• Nacidt Olive oil/ La bomba ( deep conditioning ) 1x a week with heat for 15 mins
• CHI keratin mist ( love this! I use it every other day after co washing )
• Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse ( bi-weekly )
• Moisturizing Daily with ORS olive oil in the jar.
• Sealing daily with Castor oil
• Sometimes I use a spritz sometimes I don’t my next try may be just aloe and water
• Desert of Lily 99% aloe vera gel to style and keep curls defined a bit

 Bpt works very well for both my curly hair and also straight rollerset hair. Provides enough moisture and makes my hair feel very strong too. Overall it’s a learning experience trying to master the very different textures my hair tends to transform itself into. By my next hair post I should already have my results for my Waist Length Challenge.

I’m excited to see my results and the rest of the ladies.

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Cream of coconut deep conditioner and some hair ramblings

These past three weeks my hair and I it seems have started a whole new journey all over again. It’s been a year since I started bringing my hair back to life and focusing on the factors contributing to it’s health (water, diet, regimen).  Between May – Oct my regimen pretty much was deep condition every week, moisturize and seal, air dry and keep my hair in protective styles especially during the first few summer months.

Then fall came around and I got hooked on rollersetting and have been ever since. Not only did I practice rollersetting (still trying to perfect it) but my hair responded nicely all winter and it also helped me manage my hair much better.

After acv rinse

But now summer has come along and I’m not looking forward to sitting under a hot dungeon of a hair dryer  nor do I want to keep my hair in buns again all summer either. I want to now learn how to maintain my very curly hair (I can’t be rollersetting forever).

These past three weeks or so it got really hot, evidence of what is to come, so since my ACV rinse I let my curly fro out just to see how my natural hair has truly turned out. Maintaining curls however is not an easy task nor is it just a simple wash n go.

Throughout I noticed my hair air drys very dry so I need a thicker moisturizing leave in.

The first week I left my curls out I noticed a lot of frizz and it was very hard detangling on wash day. But I got through it with minimal damage (I used nacidt rinse).

During my curly fro week I came up with a moisturizing spritz. I used motown girls homemade spritz recipe and included Agadir’s daily conditioner, coconut oil, and castor oil. The scent was heavenly but it was not providng the moisture I needed. My hair was soft and shiny that I can’t complain, but  my ends were frizz madness.

By week 2 and next wash day I ended up trying a coconut cream deep conditioner with olive oil and it truly helped loosen up my curls and also provided each curl with definition, moisture and manageability. I sat under the dryer for about 15 mins and did a few chores for about another 15 and then rinsed. I followed with mane n tail conditioner to help balance my protein levels since I tend to over do it with moisture. I had shiny curls and was able to still run my fingers throughout most of the hair by day 3. The results were great my curly fro did not grow by the hour and it was a lot less frizzy. Compared to coconut milk, I truly prefer the cream. It left me with a lot of moisture and shine.

I’m trying to find a good daily leave in spritz but so far nothing catches my interest yet (glycerin, aloe juice??). My version of Motown girls leave in spritz was actually good to start and perk my curly fro in the mornings, but I need a thicker much more moisturizing concoction for my ends.

After cream of coconut DC

Since I need to tweak my curly girl regimen a bit I decided to rollerset this week to give my ends a break. I have to protect my ends since august is my first WLC check in.

 I used my usual Silicon mix, Nacidt olive oil deep conditioner and Nacidt olive oil rinse. I followed with chi keratin mist and lacio lacio. I decided to rollerset because it has not been too hot or humid lately and Monday wash day, was very mild. So I took advantage and as usual the Nacidt and Silicon mix combo left me satisfied. However I know it won’t be for long since the heat and beach days are right around the corner.

Right after rollerset and wrap Monday

 Tuesday morning

So I will try perhaps an aloe or glycerin mix for my summer spritz along with a good leave in. I also may try the baggy method once or twice a week for my ends sake. So far I’m loving the Cream of coconut treatment as well as ACV rinses. Hopefully this will be a great summer for my hair.

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