I've Got a Natural Hair Consultant? Wow.

Because I'm the "worst blogger ever", this post is about two weeks after the initial happening...

If you haven't heard of Nia Phoenix, it's time you did.  She's a natural living blogger who's really dedicated to doing the research and posting pictures.  One day may I be like her.  In the meantime, I'll be satisfied with just being her friend.

Two weeks ago, she contacted me about becoming my natural hair consultant.  For her it's about getting hands on experience with locs - hopefully she'll do them sometime.  The styles she does on loose natural hair are so cute.  But, I digress.  For me it about..I'm not sure.  Well, at least one bonus is it will give me something to post about.

When we met up for the consultation, she inquired about the state of my hair - length, porosity (how well it retains moisture - or at least that seems to be the meaning), current regimen, scalp issues.  Then she asked about my goals.  Honestly, my only real one is boob-length hair, but she managed to come up with more based on what my hair is looking like at this point.

For the next six weeks (or four from the date of this post) we're working on two goals - getting my hair to grow at those thin spots and getting my locs not just my scalp to retain moisture.  So far the moisture one has been the easiest to work on.  Nia has recommended that I steam my hair or use a moisturizing product (not just oil) every day and follow that the oiling (or sealing) the locs to retain the mositure. For the record, that really takes a lot of effort.  Steaming is easy since I no longer use a shower cap, but rubbing down my locs every day does take a bit out of me.  It's not that I have super long locs, I just have other things to do in the morning.  Since starting, I've only missed on day - yay me! I do notice a difference.  It makes me want to whip up some daily moisturizer - I've just been using coconut oil for now.  [On a side note, since the first batch, I haven't been able to recreate that perfect balance I experienced and it really pisses me off.]  This week I'm going to try castor oil, not the Jamaican Black one though since my scalp was not pleased with it.  We'll see how that goes.

For my thinning edges, I've been using a rosemary and olive oil blend.  This I do at night.  I've only been doing this a week now so no results that I've noticed yet.  Here are some before pictures:

Gosh that looks dry.

It's Been a Long Time

The end of the year is so crazy.  I've been trying to take pictures to post, but haven't found the time to actually publish them.  Today is my first day of vacation and so here is a look at what I've been up to:

End of October :

I went to New York and tried the work of Shannan at Pat's Extreme Hair Design.  I was pleased with my after...

...until I started to see the gel flaking by day two.  I will not be returning.  The service was good, but I'm over the raggedy shop look.  They need to do better.

Then in November I tried some some curls in my dry hair using Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion that I bought for $1 or $2 dollars.  After a few days, they fell and I had to get creative

I tried some curls again without the lotion, but didn't really care for the end product:

In the beginning of December I decided to try a braidout:

Almost done...

Yesterday, I finally broke out the cinnamon bar shampoo I mentioned a few months ago.  Love, Jasmine's site is down it seems, but the Facebook page is active.  There was no scent to this bar, but it may all be gone since it's been a year since my first post about it - 12 is a few.  I ended up doing three shampoos, but I put it coconut oil a few days before and Jamaican Black Castor Oil that morning in hopes of retaining some moisture.  It seemed to work.

December 2012

December 2011

 What a difference a year makes?  And it's exactly a year based on the original review post, but who knows how long it took for me to actually publish it.

I followed the wash with a quick shealoe I made with 3 tbs shea butter, 2 tbs coconut butter, 2 tbs aloe vera gel, and a few each drops of lavender and rosemary essential oils.  It wasn't really quick to make, but it was short notice.   I didn't even wait for it to great creamy.  I did my hair while it was runny and finished whipping it when I was done.  I had a plane to catch.

Now we are up to date.  How have you been?

Deep Cleansing

For the past few weeks, well maybe it's just been two, my scalp has not been happy.  It's been flaking up and quite unpleasant.  Last week, I did an ACV rinse, without much relief.  This week I decided to add a baking soda cleanse to the ACV rinse.

I made an ACV and water mixture (50/50) poured over my scalp.  Then I saw with a shower cap on for about two  hours. Next, I filled kitchen sink with warm water.  Poured baking soda in my hands and rubbed it into my scalp like shampoo.  I then used the water in the sink to rinse out my hair:

First baking soda rinse

Then I let that water out and rinsed it out some more:

Second post baking soda rinse

Third post baking soda rinse

Next using my homemade shampoo base I did two lathers.  Or maybe it was three.  Here's what came out:

First rinse - you can really see the dirt when I take the flash off.

Second rinse

Third rinse

Then I retwisted with coconut oil.  Yay for clean hair.

Recovery - Moisturizing Pre-poo

So after yesterday's hair lightening fail, my hair felt dry.  I decided to try a pre-poo in hopes that my hair would forgive me:

5 oz Aloe vera gel ( food grade )
3 tbls of coconut oil
1 teaspoon wheat germ oil
2 teaspoons honey

I mixed the ingredients, but since the aloe vera gel was cold, the coconut oil didn't melt.  I wet my hair with hot water in an effort to aid the oil melting. 

That didn't work so I went under the dryer for 15 minutes. Then I washed it out using a basic natural shampoo.  Running my hands through my hair, it felt great.  My scalp felt lubricated, but not greasy. Yay!

I followed up with a retwist using my latest batch of loc butter.

Loc Butter Take 3

I think I did it this time:

2 tbsp shea butter
2 tbsp mango butter
3-4 tbsp coconut oil
glycerin
aloe vera gel

After melting the butters, I added the aloe vera gel and glycerin and whipped for 1-2 minutes and placed the bowl in the refrigerator.  When the mixture looked like lotion, mixed a little more before placing it in the jar. 

I used it today to retwist and it was soft.  The aloe vera gel didn't separate either.  I was quite pleased.

Daily Moisturizer

I originally selected this recipe because it is for hair growth. When I actually got around to making it though, I was interested in using it as a daily moisturizer so I didn't bother buying carrot or argan oil.

3/4 cup of coconut oil
2 tbsp jojoba oil
1/4 cup of olive oil

The original recipe called for 1 tablespoon of carrot or argan oil.

When the ingredients were combined, I had enough for three 2 ounce bottles.  The coconut oil causes the mixture to solidify, but if the room is warm or your rub it your hands first, it spreads easily.

As part of my test of how long I can go without washing my hair, I've been applying the oil at least once daily.  It's been 12 days since I washed it, but you couldn't tell by looking at my scalp. : )

Loc Butter Take 2

So the first run at making the loc butter didn't go so well.  I decided to make some tweeks to the recipe:

2 tbsp shea butter
1 tbsp mango butter
1/2 tbsp coconut oil

I melted those in the double boiler on medium.  Then I added:

1 tsp sweet almond oil
1 tsp jojoba oil
1 tsp avocado oil

I poured the mixture into a glass bowl and mixed it on low for a few minutes before adding:

5 drops lavender
10 drops of tea tree oil

I alternated between mixing and freezing the mixture until it whipped up like a thick lotion.  On the last run in the freezer, it ended up solid so I think I should have quite while I was ahead. I whipped it one more time before putting it into the old shea butter container.

Tomorrow, I'll do my hair and see how it works out.

Follow up: I left the ACV rinse in my hair for 3 hours then rinsed it out with warm water. After washing with a shampoo concentrate, I retwisted my hair. I was being lazy so some of it dried before I got to it. I palm rolled the locs this time. Then I sat under the dryer for an hour.  I'm pretty sure I was under there for too long, but I wanted to make sure that it was fully dry.  I didn't get the same shine I got from the shealoe recipe, but I'll try tweeking the recipe later.

Loc Butter Take 1

The shealoe was okay, but I think I'll pass on further use until I find or come up with a different recipe.  I found a loc butter recipe and I'm trying it out today.  Using my newly purchased double boiler, I melted:

2 tbsp shea butter
2 tbsp mango butter
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp liquid lanolin
1 tsp sweet almond oil
1 tsp jojoba oil
1 tsp avocado oil
10 drops ylang-ylang oil
10 drops lavender essential oil (my personal touch)

I poured the mix into a cleaned out hair grease jar and let it cool.  It did not solidify so this "butter" is more of an oil.

This is a 4 oz jar.  It was filled, but I poured some out into two other jars.

I washed my hair this morning and rubbed a mixture of  liquid lanolin, avocado oil, and tea tree oil onto my scalp. To add some moisture back, I applied aloe vera gel to my hair section by section before starting in on the "butter."  I put the "butter" to my finger tips and retwisted my roots.  After clipping them down, I finger (instead of palm) rolled the rest of the loc.

The plan is to spread this batch over three uses before tweeking it:
1. Use aloe vera gel to "wet" hair
2. Retwist right after washing
3. Retwist dry

Initial reaction:  Not sure that my hair is at the point where finger rolling works.  At least not when done dry with an oil.  The roots look good, but the rest of the loc is a bit puffy and dull looking.  My scalp does feel good.  If all else fails, this may be the moisturizing product I've been looking for. Based on how this came out, there is no need to do #3.

5 days in: My scalp is not happy.  It looks moisturized, but it is flaking.  Actually peeling is more like it.  I've been adding avocado oil, but it doesn't seem to be making it through.  I think the lanolin was a bad move.

Verdict: Take 1 was a fail.

Tweeks to come:  More shea butter, some tea tree oil, no lanolin

The Why

A Listing of Ingredients in the Recipes Provided and the Purpose They Serve:

*My scalp is extremely dry and I suffer from seborrheic dermatitis so most of my recipes are geared toward scalp relief.*

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - the benefits go on, but I'm concentrating on the aspects that matter to me.

• Balance pH of scalp
• Thicken hair
• Remove dead skin cells
• Aid with itchy scalp and dandruff
• Give hair body and luster
• Hair cleanse
• Remove buildup and residue
• Close cuticles

Shea Butter

• Moisturizes
• Adds luster to hair - Truth,  I made some shealoe to twist my hair, and there was a definite difference.
• Treats dry scalp - hmm, undecided

Aloe Vera Gel

• Contains enzymes which stimulate hair growth
• Reduces dandruff
• Can be used to tighten locs
• Drys out scalp (helping to give that dread look?) so be sure to mix with oil before applying to retain moisture

Olive Oil

• Moisturizes
• Improve strength and elasticity
• Natural conditioner - adds shine and makes hair soft
• Helps with split ends

Mango Butter

• Relieves itchy skin
• Moisturizes and smooth rough skin
• Treats eczema and dermatitis

Coconut Oil

• Conditions
• Helps regrow damaged hair
• Dandruff relief
• Helps retain moisture
• Contains fatty acids which are anti-dandruff agents

Liquid  Lanolin

• Moisturizes
• Helps heal chapped skin (winter is coming)

Sweet Almond Oil

• Protein source
• Contains Vitamin E
• Shiny hair
• Conditions
• Carrier oil

Jojoba Oil

• Relieve dryness
• Mend split ends
• Smooth frizziness
• Conditions
• Antibacterial
• Cleanse scalp
• Protect hair when swimming
• Prevent thinning hair
• Natural sheen

Avocado Oil

• Carrier oil
• Contains proteins, vitamins A, D, E and B6, magnesium, copper, iron, amino acids and folic acid
• Natural sunscreen

Ylang Ylang Oil

• Hair re-growth
• Conditions
• Anti-seborrhoeic
• Balances oily and dry skin

 Wheat Germ Oil

• Increases lost moisture to the hair while adding shine, strength, and softness.  
• Helps keep the hair cuticle closed and free of breakage.
• Tends to build up on scalp.  Hmm
• Of note: It has a "nutty" scent which I am not a fan of

Honey

• Moisturizer
• Low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide which had lightening properties

Glycerin

• Attracts moisture (from the air or you)

Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO)

• Moisturize, thicken, strengthen and increase hair growth