Hello to all of my lovely naturals,
So I must admit that I have been forgetting to do my hot oil treatments, well today I set aside the time to make sure that I did mine. Well if you all know me at all then you know that I did some research. Now I have been giving myself hot oil treatments for years now, but I have been doing it my own way. What I mean by that is that I don't wash the oil out I give myself the hot oil treatment after my wash and conditioning. This has always worked for me but I wanted to know if there were others out there that felt the same way. Some people suggested to just rinse the oil out and all the others suggested to wash it...keep in mind that the people that say wash it out are relaxed or have very straight hair. Since oil weights straight/fine hair down then maybe they don't want any excess oil, but I love oil and so does my hair. To continue on with my research I asked a couple of natural ladies and relaxed ladies the one natural lady said that she was not really sure why we are washing out this oil. Another relaxed lady said "hey do what works for you". So that is what I will continue to do because washing out the oil is just crazy talk to me. Oh and my friend who is also natural was like "Well Verano, you know you are addicted to oil" Haha and she is totally right! Now that I was sure that I was doing what was right for my hair, I decided to experiment with what type of oils I wanted to use in my hot oil treatment. Check out the recipe below.
2 parts Olive Oil
1 part Castor Oil
1 part Coconut Oil
Warm this up in a pot..I don't like using the microwave because the heat is not evenly distributed. Oh and watch the oil because it will burn and keep in mind that you need to make sure that you have enough oil to cover your whole head..BTW this was too much oil for my hair but that is okay you can reuse.
So I parted my hair into four sections and within each section I parted into four sections. I took these sections and combed them and then massaged the oil into my scalp on down to the tips of my hair. After I completed each section I twisted into 2 twists. Let this sit for 15 min if you are going to rinse/wash out if not style as usual. I really liked the way that this made my scalp and hair feel. The only thing that I am skeptical about is that I have been hearing a lot of freezing coconut oil horror stories. If you don't have these oils (shame on you! ; *) then just use olive oil. Don't forget that during the winter dry months that we need to fully moisturize our hair. Oh and lucky for you naturals I am pretty sure that I need to clip my ends so I will post a demonstration vid on that in a little bit. Do you have any recipes for hot oil or do you like to leave the oil in also? Drop a comment and let me know!
Always,
Verano
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Showing posts with label moisture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moisture. Show all posts
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Henna Update
Hi ladies well I have been applying henna to my hair for about three weeks now...yes I am doing it once a week. I am pretty sure that I am going to change to every two weeks not for any reason in particular but just because it is time consuming. So I really love the results not only is my hair shiner but it is smoother,softer and stronger. I have not had much color change but it looks as though it is turning a light brown, which I am thankful for because I did not want to go red. When I first blogged about my henna experience I was using the henna/cassia mix that is made by light mountain (whole foods) and my major concern was the loss of curl pattern that I have heard people complain about. Once I washed my hair I noticed that my curl pattern was the same but maybe just a little looser but the good thing about cassia is that it is not permanent, it lasts up to two weeks in your hair. After a couple of washes I was back to normal. Because I knew that I wanted to do a full henna application I was afraid that after repeat applications I would not like the results. So whats a natural girl to do?! Well I searched the henna blogs and forums and women were talking about mixing their henna with alma to retain your curl pattern. That is just what I did I mixed half henna with half alma and my hair is back to normal but it is a little wavier which I like. I think everyone should at the least do a cassia treatment once a month because it is like a deep conditioner for you hair and trust me you will love the results. Check out the pics below of my braid out and tell me what you think.
Always,
Verano
Monday, November 29, 2010
Glycerin and Aloe Vera Juice/Gel
Hello to all of my lovely naturals,
Today I want to go over some of my favorite products!!! I use these is almost all of my home brewed elixirs. They not only moisturize but they also bring a shine to my hair. Now you will hear a lot of people say that you should not use glycerin in the winter time, I say figure it out for yourself use what works on your hair no matter the season! So below you will find the definitions for these products and I hope that this helps you to make educated decisions when it comes to putting products in your hair.
Aloe Vera Juice/Gel: Helps with dry,damaged and frizzy hair. Acts as a natural conditioner and moisturizer. Also has the ability to grow hair in some people the gel/juice will activate an enzyme therefore promoting hair growth.
Glycerin:is a clear, sticky liquid that is naturally produced during the soap making process. As a humectant, it attracts moisture, so is nice to use in products designed to provide additional hydration to the skin or hair. Since glycerin attracts moisture from the environment it will attract moisture from the air and toward the hair. The effectiveness of glycerin in a dry climate is questionable since a dry environment contains no moisture to be pulled toward the skin.
Always,
Verano
Today I want to go over some of my favorite products!!! I use these is almost all of my home brewed elixirs. They not only moisturize but they also bring a shine to my hair. Now you will hear a lot of people say that you should not use glycerin in the winter time, I say figure it out for yourself use what works on your hair no matter the season! So below you will find the definitions for these products and I hope that this helps you to make educated decisions when it comes to putting products in your hair.
Aloe Vera Juice/Gel: Helps with dry,damaged and frizzy hair. Acts as a natural conditioner and moisturizer. Also has the ability to grow hair in some people the gel/juice will activate an enzyme therefore promoting hair growth.
Glycerin:is a clear, sticky liquid that is naturally produced during the soap making process. As a humectant, it attracts moisture, so is nice to use in products designed to provide additional hydration to the skin or hair. Since glycerin attracts moisture from the environment it will attract moisture from the air and toward the hair. The effectiveness of glycerin in a dry climate is questionable since a dry environment contains no moisture to be pulled toward the skin.
Always,
Verano
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Stylin n Profilin: Protective Braids
Hello to all of my lovely naturals!
I hope that you all had a blast for the holiday, cuz I know I did : ) So for most of us it is getting colder outside meaning that the days of the wash and go are over. In order to maintain proper moisture we will need to protect our hair, we can do that by properly moisturizing and wearing it in styles that are no fuss and do not unnecessarily cause our hair to be exposed to the elements. This does not mean that you can not wear the occasional blow out, braid out, afro puff and so on and so forth. This means that you should keep your hair in a protective style for 80 percent of the week at least in order to insure that your beautiful locs will still be able to thrive. Okay so on to my hairstyle...in order to achieve this hairstyle I first sprayed my hair with some water then moisturized it with natures blessing and detangled. Then I begun my braids but I started from the bottom going up, once I was done I pin curled (my fav) the tips and tied it up. In the morning I got up and took down the middle braid by a couple of inches and poofed it up into a mini bouffant. This style can be worn for a week and a half then for the rest of the week you can wear a braid out. Oh and remember that just because you have your hair in braids does not mean that you can relax on moisturizing your hair. Check it out and tell me what you think.
Always,
Verano
I hope that you all had a blast for the holiday, cuz I know I did : ) So for most of us it is getting colder outside meaning that the days of the wash and go are over. In order to maintain proper moisture we will need to protect our hair, we can do that by properly moisturizing and wearing it in styles that are no fuss and do not unnecessarily cause our hair to be exposed to the elements. This does not mean that you can not wear the occasional blow out, braid out, afro puff and so on and so forth. This means that you should keep your hair in a protective style for 80 percent of the week at least in order to insure that your beautiful locs will still be able to thrive. Okay so on to my hairstyle...in order to achieve this hairstyle I first sprayed my hair with some water then moisturized it with natures blessing and detangled. Then I begun my braids but I started from the bottom going up, once I was done I pin curled (my fav) the tips and tied it up. In the morning I got up and took down the middle braid by a couple of inches and poofed it up into a mini bouffant. This style can be worn for a week and a half then for the rest of the week you can wear a braid out. Oh and remember that just because you have your hair in braids does not mean that you can relax on moisturizing your hair. Check it out and tell me what you think.
Always,
Verano
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
To Henna or Not To Henna That is The Question Part 2
Hello to all of my lovely naturals!!!!!!!!!!
And the results are in....drum roll please.......I like it! It has made my hair shiny, softer, more susceptible to moisture, and stronger. Today when I took my braids out I did not have one single hair shed! yall heard me not a one. So I would say that overall this was an awesome experience. Ummm but I am not sure about the curl lost that verdict is still out and I won't be able to clear that up until I wash my hair. I will say this after I co-washed my hair for the umpteenth time I did notice that my curls were looser but that could have been from all of the conditioning of my hair.So this weekend I am going to get some henna Jamila BAQ (Body Art Quality) you want to use BAQ because it is stronger than the stuff that is labeled specifically for hair and mix it with alma powder to retain the curl (for just in case purposes) All in all a cassia/henna mix is a great conditioner and I foresee henna and I having a great love affair. Now if you all love to henna your hair or have had a horrible experience please drop a comment. Oh and if there are any questions don't hesitate.
Always,
Verano
And the results are in....drum roll please.......I like it! It has made my hair shiny, softer, more susceptible to moisture, and stronger. Today when I took my braids out I did not have one single hair shed! yall heard me not a one. So I would say that overall this was an awesome experience. Ummm but I am not sure about the curl lost that verdict is still out and I won't be able to clear that up until I wash my hair. I will say this after I co-washed my hair for the umpteenth time I did notice that my curls were looser but that could have been from all of the conditioning of my hair.So this weekend I am going to get some henna Jamila BAQ (Body Art Quality) you want to use BAQ because it is stronger than the stuff that is labeled specifically for hair and mix it with alma powder to retain the curl (for just in case purposes) All in all a cassia/henna mix is a great conditioner and I foresee henna and I having a great love affair. Now if you all love to henna your hair or have had a horrible experience please drop a comment. Oh and if there are any questions don't hesitate.
Always,
Verano
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| Cassia/Henna mix |
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| The box that it came in |
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| So fresh and so clean |
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| Cassia/Henna in my hair |
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| Cassia/Henna all washed out |
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Transitioning
Hello to all of my lovely naturals
Today I want to go over transitioning,this is a subject that all budding naturals are concerned with. So transitioning is when you decide to go natural but you are not quite ready for the bc (big chop) and want to ease into going all the way natural. When I decided to go natural I transitioned with micros at first because my hair was still chemically processed it was not that damaging. Next I went into kinky twists these are easier on your hair and allow for new growth to show without it looking tacky. Then I did the big chop now that was the first time! I really don't suggest that you transition while using braids, I say this because braids well extensions can be hard or damaging to the hair. When you transition you hair is very weak at the point when the natural hair meets the chemically processed hair and when you remove the extensions you can cause a lot of damage. Second I don't know about you all but I really don't like other people in my hair especially the sisters that braid your hair in the braiding shop, and I am willing to say at least 90% of them don't have licenses to do hair. If you decide to style your hair yourself you can better keep track of your ends which will need extra care because remember where the chemically treated hair meets the natural hair is extremely weak. Because of this fact you will need to clip your ends often. Research shows that hair grows 1/2 inch a month I would suggest cutting your ends while transitioning 1/2 inch a month. I know it sounds drastic but remember the idea is not to keep the length it is keep the healthy hair. Please remember to keep your hair in protective styles at all times your hair is very very fragile. When I speak of protective styles for 100% naturals this also includes any style that you don't have to touch for a day or two, but for those transitioning you should only keep your hair in twists or braids (your hair) not touching it for a week and moisturizing it often. Try not to comb your hair if you need to detangle only use your hands it is easier to maneuver through your coils with your fingers. Also don't get overwhelmed by the amount of hair that breaks off it is natural. Once you get at a comfortable point with the length of your hair you should immediately do the bc not only will it help your hair by cutting off all of the unhealthy hair but you will feel so liberated and wonder why you waited so long. Don't forget to deep condition,have a hot oil treatment, and lay off the harsh chemicals ie sulfates,silicone's, and alcohol. Oh and you are doing this for yourself to get to know yourself to see what beautiful locks you have been blessed with!
Today I want to go over transitioning,this is a subject that all budding naturals are concerned with. So transitioning is when you decide to go natural but you are not quite ready for the bc (big chop) and want to ease into going all the way natural. When I decided to go natural I transitioned with micros at first because my hair was still chemically processed it was not that damaging. Next I went into kinky twists these are easier on your hair and allow for new growth to show without it looking tacky. Then I did the big chop now that was the first time! I really don't suggest that you transition while using braids, I say this because braids well extensions can be hard or damaging to the hair. When you transition you hair is very weak at the point when the natural hair meets the chemically processed hair and when you remove the extensions you can cause a lot of damage. Second I don't know about you all but I really don't like other people in my hair especially the sisters that braid your hair in the braiding shop, and I am willing to say at least 90% of them don't have licenses to do hair. If you decide to style your hair yourself you can better keep track of your ends which will need extra care because remember where the chemically treated hair meets the natural hair is extremely weak. Because of this fact you will need to clip your ends often. Research shows that hair grows 1/2 inch a month I would suggest cutting your ends while transitioning 1/2 inch a month. I know it sounds drastic but remember the idea is not to keep the length it is keep the healthy hair. Please remember to keep your hair in protective styles at all times your hair is very very fragile. When I speak of protective styles for 100% naturals this also includes any style that you don't have to touch for a day or two, but for those transitioning you should only keep your hair in twists or braids (your hair) not touching it for a week and moisturizing it often. Try not to comb your hair if you need to detangle only use your hands it is easier to maneuver through your coils with your fingers. Also don't get overwhelmed by the amount of hair that breaks off it is natural. Once you get at a comfortable point with the length of your hair you should immediately do the bc not only will it help your hair by cutting off all of the unhealthy hair but you will feel so liberated and wonder why you waited so long. Don't forget to deep condition,have a hot oil treatment, and lay off the harsh chemicals ie sulfates,silicone's, and alcohol. Oh and you are doing this for yourself to get to know yourself to see what beautiful locks you have been blessed with!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Honey Rinse Review
Hello to all of my lovely followers
So last week I gave myself my first blow out....ummm I guess I liked it I mean it looked nice. I loved the fact that I could give myself a cool afro puff but I love my curls way too much right now to blow dry my hair. I say this because when I went to wash my hair this week I noticed that my coils were not bouncing back in the front area and I am pretty sure it was because of the heat that I put on my hair. So I decided to try this rinse that I had read about just to give my hair a little extra added moisture. After I washed and conditioned my hair I mixed 1 TSP of honey with 4 cups of warm water stirred and poured over my hair. Well not only is my front doing better but my hair has a nice sheen to it and when I feel it I have this nice little moisture on my fingers (not exactly sure how to describe it) but its not sticky it is just moisturized. Of course I like to take a couple of days to see if the product fully agrees with my hair but for now it was a really nice addition to my hair care product family! Please try this rinse everyone could use a little extra moisture and let me know if you have a positive or negative experience.
Always,
Verano
So last week I gave myself my first blow out....ummm I guess I liked it I mean it looked nice. I loved the fact that I could give myself a cool afro puff but I love my curls way too much right now to blow dry my hair. I say this because when I went to wash my hair this week I noticed that my coils were not bouncing back in the front area and I am pretty sure it was because of the heat that I put on my hair. So I decided to try this rinse that I had read about just to give my hair a little extra added moisture. After I washed and conditioned my hair I mixed 1 TSP of honey with 4 cups of warm water stirred and poured over my hair. Well not only is my front doing better but my hair has a nice sheen to it and when I feel it I have this nice little moisture on my fingers (not exactly sure how to describe it) but its not sticky it is just moisturized. Of course I like to take a couple of days to see if the product fully agrees with my hair but for now it was a really nice addition to my hair care product family! Please try this rinse everyone could use a little extra moisture and let me know if you have a positive or negative experience.
Always,
Verano
Sunday, November 7, 2010
My Miracle Elixir:Whipped Shea Butter
Hello to all of my lovely naturals,
As women we are bombarded with so many products that I think we tend to get overwhelmed. Well I know that I do, there are so many different products and oils out there and I want to try them all just to satisfy my never ending quest to find my "miracle elixir".Since we are always on the grind to find newer and better working products we either forget the ones that work for us or we never give them a proper chance cuz its on to the next.With that being said In the winter time I think that we need to go back to the basics. We need to use the products that give us the proper moisture and there is little room for error. That is why I am going to give you all my recipe for whipped shea butter it is my miracle elixir (it took my husband to remind me of this little fact) not only does it make my hair shine but it makes it soft and keeps it moisturized. I am not sure if I included this in my regimen but after I wash my hair and condition it I put my whipped shea butter on my hair immediately. So here it is
2 TBSP Shea Butter
1 TBSP Coconut Oil
1 TSP Olive Oil
1 TSP Castor Oil
1 TBSP Glycerin
1/4 TSP Honey (remember as a preservative)
Add shea butter,coconut oil, olive oil,castor oil,glycerin, and honey
mix in a food processor for about 5 min then freeze for about 10 min then mix again and ENJOY!!!!!!!
Once you use this let me know how it works for you
Always,
Verano
As women we are bombarded with so many products that I think we tend to get overwhelmed. Well I know that I do, there are so many different products and oils out there and I want to try them all just to satisfy my never ending quest to find my "miracle elixir".Since we are always on the grind to find newer and better working products we either forget the ones that work for us or we never give them a proper chance cuz its on to the next.With that being said In the winter time I think that we need to go back to the basics. We need to use the products that give us the proper moisture and there is little room for error. That is why I am going to give you all my recipe for whipped shea butter it is my miracle elixir (it took my husband to remind me of this little fact) not only does it make my hair shine but it makes it soft and keeps it moisturized. I am not sure if I included this in my regimen but after I wash my hair and condition it I put my whipped shea butter on my hair immediately. So here it is
2 TBSP Shea Butter
1 TBSP Coconut Oil
1 TSP Olive Oil
1 TSP Castor Oil
1 TBSP Glycerin
1/4 TSP Honey (remember as a preservative)
Add shea butter,coconut oil, olive oil,castor oil,glycerin, and honey
mix in a food processor for about 5 min then freeze for about 10 min then mix again and ENJOY!!!!!!!
Once you use this let me know how it works for you
Always,
Verano
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Girl has my hair sweated out?
Hello lovely naturals,
I hear alot of my girlfriends talk about their hair sweating out. Well the great thing about being natural is that humidity can help your hair and hair style! Remember that humidity or sweating is just moisture and moisture is what we all want for our hair. So before I work out I put my hair in chunky twists with my special leave in-conditioner mixture which is half of my Trader Joe's light conditioner, half aloe vera juice, and some olive oil (I love this mixture) and pin curl them place a head scarf over my head and have at it. After I shower I take down the twists and rock my chunky twist afro add some hair pins if you would like. With this hair style you don't have to worry about sweating out your hair while you work out the moisture will help volumize your hair for this cool hair style. Another issue that we have is while in the club you get to dancing and work up a sweat (not too much cuz that would be gross :P ) and now you have to go to the bathroom and double check that you have out of control hair. So this hair style will have to be planned a couple of days before. I twist my hair in medium/small twists and rock that for a week. Now the night before I party I take my twists, moisturize them with coconut oil, and roll them up with rollers. You can rock this curly twists for the day (super cute) the day of the party I un-twist my hair and rock my twist out. Remember that since you had medium/small twists in your hair your twists will be well defined. When you work up a sweat your twists will naturally loosen up but still keep their form. Remember naturals moisture is our friend! Please comment and let me know if you have any hair styles that work well with humidity
Always,
Verano
I hear alot of my girlfriends talk about their hair sweating out. Well the great thing about being natural is that humidity can help your hair and hair style! Remember that humidity or sweating is just moisture and moisture is what we all want for our hair. So before I work out I put my hair in chunky twists with my special leave in-conditioner mixture which is half of my Trader Joe's light conditioner, half aloe vera juice, and some olive oil (I love this mixture) and pin curl them place a head scarf over my head and have at it. After I shower I take down the twists and rock my chunky twist afro add some hair pins if you would like. With this hair style you don't have to worry about sweating out your hair while you work out the moisture will help volumize your hair for this cool hair style. Another issue that we have is while in the club you get to dancing and work up a sweat (not too much cuz that would be gross :P ) and now you have to go to the bathroom and double check that you have out of control hair. So this hair style will have to be planned a couple of days before. I twist my hair in medium/small twists and rock that for a week. Now the night before I party I take my twists, moisturize them with coconut oil, and roll them up with rollers. You can rock this curly twists for the day (super cute) the day of the party I un-twist my hair and rock my twist out. Remember that since you had medium/small twists in your hair your twists will be well defined. When you work up a sweat your twists will naturally loosen up but still keep their form. Remember naturals moisture is our friend! Please comment and let me know if you have any hair styles that work well with humidity
Always,
Verano
Monday, November 1, 2010
Product Review Part 2
Hello to all my lovely followers!
Here is my review on Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque. I hope that you find it informative. Let me know if you have used this product and if it worked for your hair. Don't forget to comment!
Always,
Verano
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Silicones,Sulfates and Oils what is a natural girl to do? part 2
Hello to all of my lovely followers,
Alright and I am back! So lets dive into oils!!!!!!!!!! Now I am pretty sure that you all have heard very negative comments about Petroleum. In order to describe what petroleum does to your hair I will compare it to something..Okay so in the winter time once I get out of the shower I apply Vaseline to my skin (petroleum) in order to keep all the moisture in my skin and provide a barrier from the harsh weather. Well this is the same thing that petroleum is doing to your hair and yes it sounds good but petroleum based products clog your pores and hair follicles. Once you put a petroleum based product on your hair it acts as a barrier to anything else that you might put on your hair. You definitely do not want a barrier blocking all your efforts to properly moisturize your hair, keep in mind that petroleum does not moisturize the hair it just coats it and retains what moisture that you already have. On to mineral oil,which plays a trick on you and your hair. Once applied your hair appears to be shiny and well moisturized but give it a day or a couple of hours (depending on your hair type) and your hair will appear very dry but to the touch will have plenty of oil on it. Mineral oil just like petroleum it coats your hair not allowing any moisture to get in, but I think that it is more of a threat because you will think that your hair is moisturized and therefore not properly manage your hair causing it to become brittle and break off. There are people who think that using water based products are the best option because water has the most moisture,but in my experience water based products do not work on my hair. Not only do they not give me a sheen but my hair drinks up the product in one day. My rule is ALWAYS check the labels if a product has petroleum in it or mineral oil in it I don't use it. Now with that said don't go and throw out all of your products this is your hair and your experiences see what works for you. I know how hard it is to find something that works but you have been warned. Using products with these ingredients are harmful to the growth and health of your hair. I do not use any products in my hair with these ingredients because they cause my hair to look grey. Having natural hair is a journey you get to learn and love your hair as you should have done when you were a child. Everything is trial and error and as long as there are no texture changing chemicals involved I say try everything. Personally my hair has done the best with natural products and things that I make. Oh and one more thing when you are reading the labels the first ingredient has the highest concentration in that product.Please comment on your experiences positive and negative with these ingredients and don't forget to follow!
Always,
Verano
Alright and I am back! So lets dive into oils!!!!!!!!!! Now I am pretty sure that you all have heard very negative comments about Petroleum. In order to describe what petroleum does to your hair I will compare it to something..Okay so in the winter time once I get out of the shower I apply Vaseline to my skin (petroleum) in order to keep all the moisture in my skin and provide a barrier from the harsh weather. Well this is the same thing that petroleum is doing to your hair and yes it sounds good but petroleum based products clog your pores and hair follicles. Once you put a petroleum based product on your hair it acts as a barrier to anything else that you might put on your hair. You definitely do not want a barrier blocking all your efforts to properly moisturize your hair, keep in mind that petroleum does not moisturize the hair it just coats it and retains what moisture that you already have. On to mineral oil,which plays a trick on you and your hair. Once applied your hair appears to be shiny and well moisturized but give it a day or a couple of hours (depending on your hair type) and your hair will appear very dry but to the touch will have plenty of oil on it. Mineral oil just like petroleum it coats your hair not allowing any moisture to get in, but I think that it is more of a threat because you will think that your hair is moisturized and therefore not properly manage your hair causing it to become brittle and break off. There are people who think that using water based products are the best option because water has the most moisture,but in my experience water based products do not work on my hair. Not only do they not give me a sheen but my hair drinks up the product in one day. My rule is ALWAYS check the labels if a product has petroleum in it or mineral oil in it I don't use it. Now with that said don't go and throw out all of your products this is your hair and your experiences see what works for you. I know how hard it is to find something that works but you have been warned. Using products with these ingredients are harmful to the growth and health of your hair. I do not use any products in my hair with these ingredients because they cause my hair to look grey. Having natural hair is a journey you get to learn and love your hair as you should have done when you were a child. Everything is trial and error and as long as there are no texture changing chemicals involved I say try everything. Personally my hair has done the best with natural products and things that I make. Oh and one more thing when you are reading the labels the first ingredient has the highest concentration in that product.Please comment on your experiences positive and negative with these ingredients and don't forget to follow!
Always,
Verano
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Home made lavender shampoo review after a day
Hello to all my lovely followers
I just had to blog about the results of my home made lavender shampoo. So as I was getting ready to twist my hair (protective hair styles for the winter time is a must!) I noticed that my curl pattern that usually frizzes away to nothing once the water had dried from my hair was still there, and my hair felt smooth,silky,moisturized and healthy. It really is a must try naturals! and it is something that I will use forever!
Always,
Verano
I just had to blog about the results of my home made lavender shampoo. So as I was getting ready to twist my hair (protective hair styles for the winter time is a must!) I noticed that my curl pattern that usually frizzes away to nothing once the water had dried from my hair was still there, and my hair felt smooth,silky,moisturized and healthy. It really is a must try naturals! and it is something that I will use forever!
Always,
Verano
Silicones,Sulfates and Oils what is a natural girl to do? part 1
Hello to all my lovely followers!
Today lets tackle the natural enemies of our curly hair. I am just joking of course! I will give you some information on these chemicals and my opinion and hopefully help you to come to an informative decision on the subject. Okay so I am pretty sure that you are hearing a lot of negative talk about silicone's and sulfates but sometimes its hard to get to the bottom of these opinions. Lets start at the top with sulfates. Sulfates can be found in shampoos they are a harsh cleaning agent that strips the hair of everything. Now if you are putting heavy products on your hair or using a conditioner with silicone's you will need to use a shampoo with sulfates in them because that is the only chemical that can get rid of silicone's. Sulfates cause the hair to be dry and brittle and will remove all oils from your hair natural and other wise. Now I don't suggest using products with sulfates because they strip your hair and I for one work too hard to keep my hair properly moisturized to have it stripped in one washing. Okay so now on to silicone's there are two types water soluble and non water soluble. For right now lets focus on non-water soluble. Silicone's can be found in conditioners and they coat the hair and like I stated before the only thing that can remove them are sulfates. In my personal opinion I don't want anything coating my hair because then it will not be able to absorb any of the oils that I put in my hair. At first silicone's make your hair look smooth and shiny but this is only temporary many people say that after awhile their hair looks dull. If you think back I am pretty sure that you can recall hearing some hair professional say that after awhile you need to change your shampoo and conditioner. This is because after time the silicone's will cause your hair to look dull and lifeless this happens because of product build up to be more specific silicone build up. Now some people use conditioners with silicone's and they don't have any problem. Non water soluble silicone's usually end in ane,cane,one,and cone. There are a lot of you who only co-wash (natural term for only washing with conditioner) if this is the case for you I don't recommend using a conditioner with silicone's. Water soluble silicone's have a PEG in front of them and they are safe to use in the co-washing process. I suggest before throwing away any of your products keep what works for you and your hair. Now that was a lot! I was going to cover oils but I think I will make that my next post because I have a lot of information on that as well. Please follow and comment and let me know what your take is on the whole silicone and sulfate debate.
Always,
Verano
Today lets tackle the natural enemies of our curly hair. I am just joking of course! I will give you some information on these chemicals and my opinion and hopefully help you to come to an informative decision on the subject. Okay so I am pretty sure that you are hearing a lot of negative talk about silicone's and sulfates but sometimes its hard to get to the bottom of these opinions. Lets start at the top with sulfates. Sulfates can be found in shampoos they are a harsh cleaning agent that strips the hair of everything. Now if you are putting heavy products on your hair or using a conditioner with silicone's you will need to use a shampoo with sulfates in them because that is the only chemical that can get rid of silicone's. Sulfates cause the hair to be dry and brittle and will remove all oils from your hair natural and other wise. Now I don't suggest using products with sulfates because they strip your hair and I for one work too hard to keep my hair properly moisturized to have it stripped in one washing. Okay so now on to silicone's there are two types water soluble and non water soluble. For right now lets focus on non-water soluble. Silicone's can be found in conditioners and they coat the hair and like I stated before the only thing that can remove them are sulfates. In my personal opinion I don't want anything coating my hair because then it will not be able to absorb any of the oils that I put in my hair. At first silicone's make your hair look smooth and shiny but this is only temporary many people say that after awhile their hair looks dull. If you think back I am pretty sure that you can recall hearing some hair professional say that after awhile you need to change your shampoo and conditioner. This is because after time the silicone's will cause your hair to look dull and lifeless this happens because of product build up to be more specific silicone build up. Now some people use conditioners with silicone's and they don't have any problem. Non water soluble silicone's usually end in ane,cane,one,and cone. There are a lot of you who only co-wash (natural term for only washing with conditioner) if this is the case for you I don't recommend using a conditioner with silicone's. Water soluble silicone's have a PEG in front of them and they are safe to use in the co-washing process. I suggest before throwing away any of your products keep what works for you and your hair. Now that was a lot! I was going to cover oils but I think I will make that my next post because I have a lot of information on that as well. Please follow and comment and let me know what your take is on the whole silicone and sulfate debate.
Always,
Verano
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Home made lavender shampoo
Hello my lovely followers
Okay so I am so excited that I just had to do a quick blog. I made some lavender shampoo a couple of days ago and used it today. You talking about something that was awesome when it first went on my head I could tell that it was going to fully moisturize and clean my hair. I got out of the shower and my hair was bouncy and clean without being stripped. I don't use shampoo I co-wash my hair (co-wash or no poo is a term used when naturals only use conditioners to wash their hair) but I wanted to give shampoo a try and ran across this recipe, it was such a pleasant surprise and not to mention totally relaxing because of the lavender. Unfortunately I did not jot down the website that I received this recipe from but a major shout out to whomever came up with this little piece of heaven for my hair! Try it out and see if you like it as always what works for me might not work for you but my motto is as long as it is a natural product there is nothing that could happen, other than I hate it or love it. The recipe is below please let me know if this works for you
Always,
Verano
Okay so I am so excited that I just had to do a quick blog. I made some lavender shampoo a couple of days ago and used it today. You talking about something that was awesome when it first went on my head I could tell that it was going to fully moisturize and clean my hair. I got out of the shower and my hair was bouncy and clean without being stripped. I don't use shampoo I co-wash my hair (co-wash or no poo is a term used when naturals only use conditioners to wash their hair) but I wanted to give shampoo a try and ran across this recipe, it was such a pleasant surprise and not to mention totally relaxing because of the lavender. Unfortunately I did not jot down the website that I received this recipe from but a major shout out to whomever came up with this little piece of heaven for my hair! Try it out and see if you like it as always what works for me might not work for you but my motto is as long as it is a natural product there is nothing that could happen, other than I hate it or love it. The recipe is below please let me know if this works for you
Always,
Verano
Natural Shampoo Base
This is the base I use for making essential oil and spice shampoos. It makes 1/2 cup of concentrated shampoo.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup castile soap
1/2 teaspoon of (extra virgin) olive oil
1/4 cup castile soap
1/2 teaspoon of (extra virgin) olive oil
Method:
Mix together all ingredients and place into shampoo bottle.
Lavender is an time honored aromatherapy treasure. It soothes an irritated scalp and stimulates the hair follicles. Lavender also aids in relaxation and feelings of well-being.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup fresh lavender
2 tablespoons of glycerin
1/2 cup Natural Shampoo Base
1/2 cup fresh lavender
2 tablespoons of glycerin
1/2 cup Natural Shampoo Base
Essential Oils:
5 drops of lavender essential oil
Method:
Mix water and lavender together into a heavy bottom pot and bring to a boil.
Let boil gently for at least twenty minutes.
Let cool slightly and add basic shampoo mixture and glycerin slowly to herbal mixture.
Mix well.
Pour shampoo into container and let stand for a few days to allow the mixture to thicken.
Use as you would your regular shampoo.
Let boil gently for at least twenty minutes.
Let cool slightly and add basic shampoo mixture and glycerin slowly to herbal mixture.
Mix well.
Pour shampoo into container and let stand for a few days to allow the mixture to thicken.
Use as you would your regular shampoo.
Winter Seasons...Is Your Hair Fully Moisturized
Hello my lovely followers,
Okay so you were whipping your hair in the summer stunting on folks but now it seems like all your moisture is gone and you can't seem to get it back. Don't fear lovely naturals you can retain the same amount of moisture in the winter months with the right knowledge. First I will give you some information as to why your hair care routine isn't working anymore; in the summer months there is moisture in the air therefore making it easy to retain the moisture in your hair. You will hear a lot of naturals saying that they use glycerin to secure their moisture. Glycerin is a by product of the soap making process it is a humectant and at high concentrations it will attract and hold water from the environment therefore causing your hair to glisten. Since the winter months are cold and dry (in most areas) your hair is most likely loosing all of its shine. In the winter time you hair feels kind of schizophrenic with the constant change in temperature, from the warmth of your car to the harsh cold outside, to the warmth of your office. The best solution is to wear what we like to call protective hair styles. These hair styles include but are not limited to braids,twists,weaves,wigs....whatever floats your boat. In the winter time I like to wear twists and head coverings (fashionable ones of course) oh and remember if you are going to wear a winter hat please wear a scarf over your hair until you reach your destination. Okay so we still need to cover your hair care routine....This is when you hit your hair with your heavy hitters it is all about protecting your tresses. I leave the glycerin on the shelf and exchange it for cold pressed and cold processed castor oil (will blog about the benefits of cold pressed and processed oils later) not only as a hot oil treatment but as a moisturizer..maybe castor oil does not work well for you the object is to use a heavy oil that will coat your hair against the elements. Also invest in a good deep conditioner, a deep conditioner should have to be kept in your hair for at least 15 min. You should also use shea butter (a natural hair conditioner and moisturizer) and last but not least please remember to wrap your hair before bed time. So to sum it all up 1.Don't forget to moisturize your hair with something that will coat the hair shaft and follicles therefore retaining your moisture 2. Give yourself a hot oil treatment at least once a month 3. I suggest only deep conditioning your hair during these times 4. And finding a good moisturizer for your hair ie shea butter or natures blessing (my favorites)
Most importantly remember that getting to know and love your hair is a work in progress what works for me might not work for you so with that in mind try it all until you find what works for your hair. Good luck and remember moisture is a curly girls best friend!
Always,
Verano
Okay so you were whipping your hair in the summer stunting on folks but now it seems like all your moisture is gone and you can't seem to get it back. Don't fear lovely naturals you can retain the same amount of moisture in the winter months with the right knowledge. First I will give you some information as to why your hair care routine isn't working anymore; in the summer months there is moisture in the air therefore making it easy to retain the moisture in your hair. You will hear a lot of naturals saying that they use glycerin to secure their moisture. Glycerin is a by product of the soap making process it is a humectant and at high concentrations it will attract and hold water from the environment therefore causing your hair to glisten. Since the winter months are cold and dry (in most areas) your hair is most likely loosing all of its shine. In the winter time you hair feels kind of schizophrenic with the constant change in temperature, from the warmth of your car to the harsh cold outside, to the warmth of your office. The best solution is to wear what we like to call protective hair styles. These hair styles include but are not limited to braids,twists,weaves,wigs....whatever floats your boat. In the winter time I like to wear twists and head coverings (fashionable ones of course) oh and remember if you are going to wear a winter hat please wear a scarf over your hair until you reach your destination. Okay so we still need to cover your hair care routine....This is when you hit your hair with your heavy hitters it is all about protecting your tresses. I leave the glycerin on the shelf and exchange it for cold pressed and cold processed castor oil (will blog about the benefits of cold pressed and processed oils later) not only as a hot oil treatment but as a moisturizer..maybe castor oil does not work well for you the object is to use a heavy oil that will coat your hair against the elements. Also invest in a good deep conditioner, a deep conditioner should have to be kept in your hair for at least 15 min. You should also use shea butter (a natural hair conditioner and moisturizer) and last but not least please remember to wrap your hair before bed time. So to sum it all up 1.Don't forget to moisturize your hair with something that will coat the hair shaft and follicles therefore retaining your moisture 2. Give yourself a hot oil treatment at least once a month 3. I suggest only deep conditioning your hair during these times 4. And finding a good moisturizer for your hair ie shea butter or natures blessing (my favorites)
Most importantly remember that getting to know and love your hair is a work in progress what works for me might not work for you so with that in mind try it all until you find what works for your hair. Good luck and remember moisture is a curly girls best friend!
Always,
Verano
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