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Hello my fabulous fellow naturals!
I am super excited today and happy to report. My oldest daughter who is 13 did it! she took the plunge and BIG CHOPPED TODAY!!!!!!!, YEAH!!!!!!. She is beyond super excited and you guys know mom's in proud. She is truly blossoming into her own. Not being bogged down by what others think of her is such a wonderful thing ( but I must add truthfully she has always been this way :) Initially she started out as a transitioner but then it was this...
The weekends are her wash days , unless its needed before hand like swimming class, etc. She is washing her hair and turned to me and said "mom I'm ready" I say " ready for what" she says "ready to do my big chop". Silently, to my self I am doing a serious happy dance , and so excited I began to talk super fast , lol. Went to get the scissors and she sat there like a champ. You here me.... like a champ, held the bag as I began to chop...chop..chop. Smiling she looked up and said , this is so cool. And let me say it ...looks...so...cuuuuuuute !!! She has a pretty natural brownish reddish hair color when she was much younger my customers would always compliment her on how pretty the color of her has is. I use to tell her women are in the stores daily buying hair color to get the color she has naturally :) So, my household now has an added date of celebration on the calender, October 31, 2010 welcoming another fabulous natural :)))))))))))))))) As some of you may know my family and myself are Muslims , which means that the females adorn ourselves with head coverings when going outside of the home.. This includes my 3 daughters as well. So, I must admit it makes it a bit easier for her, that only family can see her hair. As we know short hair could be looked at as funny to some children and some children can be very mean. So, the fact that no one outside of family in our home only will be able to view her with her beautiful knew found glory. Also, The fact that its the day Halloween is celebrated , doesn't mean anything to us because we do not recognize nor celebrate Halloween.
Until , next time ...
Stay naturally fabulous and
TAKE CARE :)
Hey there fabulous naturals!
Although I choose not to use cones on my hair or my daughters hair. I must admit there were a few conditioners with cones listed as their ingredient , which I loved on my hair. But, after doing further research I made a decision to do away with cone filled products. To go further I find information about cones to be interesting at times and quite controversial.
You have some fabulous naturals who swear by cones stating that it leaves there hair silky, soft and easier to manage. Then you have some fabulous naturals who may have very well felt the same or who just simply choose not to even go near cones, but they ultimately realize that its something they do not want to use in their hair. There are many pros and cons. So, lets explore a few.
Whether cones are good or bad for you depends on ...you. What are cones? It's any product from shampoo, conditioners to styling products which contain some form of silicone's which is a long word for cones. Silicone's are often listed in the ingredients and end in "cone". Now, there are many forms of cones but lets explore two.
Dimethicone Versus Cyclomethicone
Did you know that sometimes dimthicone is sometimes referred as simethicone which is in fact one of the heaviest of all silicone's used in many hair care products. Cones have often been referred to as wax because it adds a thick coating on top of the hair.
Dimethicone can build up on the hair and may need to be removed with a clarifying shampoo, sulfate or a shampoo with cocamidopropyl betaine. But, what is for certain is that it can not be removed with just a conditioner. Like you know a conditioner wash.
Cyclomethicone
Cyclomethicone is said lighter than dimethicone and also leaves a great slippery , silky feeling after using. But, leaves nothing behind it evaporates quickly. Also, Cyclomethicone does not necessarily need to be removed with clarifying products since it doesn't not normally leave any residue on the hair.
Putting a stop to receiving moisture
One of the many reason some fabulous naturals don’t use cones is because the cones may block moisture for our tresses. Cones can leave the hair feeling puffy , dry and rough. There has been some reports that cones don’t allow the hair to breathe but this argument doesn’t really hold up because hair is dead once it leaves the scalp and it doesn’t breathe. While cone lovers report that cones and polyquats are great for flyaway hair because it smooths the cuticle, weighing it down and making the hair sleek. It doesn’t impede oxygen intake. While it may not wash off completely, if you actually switch to a non-polyquat shampoo. I don't know , so this is why I tend to stick to what works for my hair and , my girls hair.
Lets talk Water Soluble Cones
Water soluble cones are good for those who want the benefit of cones without the risk of moisture balance issues. Non water soluble cones may make hair feel rough, crispy, stiff or generally hard to the touch. Conditioners and hair care products that contain some types of cones may not penetrate into the cuticle leaving a top residue which can be hard to remove and give hair a greasy or oily look. I have noticed Some hair care products that do contain cones but they are listed near the bottom of the ingredient list might work best for those that can’t normally tolerate any type of cones, Example, hello hydration products.
when hair is wet
I have personally noticed that whether cones are water soluble or not I notice my hair feels great when wet but the proof to whether cones are good or bad for your hair is when the hair ultimately dries. If the hair dries feeling crunchy or dry and coarse. This how I realized cones were not for my hair.
Then it could be the opposite your hair could feel sticky or gooey ( if you will) since it does build up on hair it can also leave your hair feeling dry and looking dull, I have experienced this as well.
Hair Breakage
I believe At some point the hair can become so cone compromised the hair will break off.
Ultimately, using cones solely depends on you and your hair. So experiment , take pictures touch your hair get familiar with the feel of your hair, etc. Just remember that what may work for some may not at all work for others depending on hair texture, etc. Also, remember to read those labels and keep plenty of notes be it on paper or in your mind. Just remember we all all on a journey to healthy hair care. Until next time...
Stay naturally fabulous!
ENJOY AND TAKE CARE :)
Hey fabulous naturals!
As you know our feet are a very important part of our body. So why not take excellent care of them. I love to pamper my feet and do so as much as I can. We know that some of us rave about the wonders of honey for our hair. Well, honey is also just as great for our feet. We can use honey in our pedicures which helps in elimination of accumulated toxins and help in make our feet feel alive! There are many ways you can use honey in your natural pedicures below I will share a recipe that I found and have been using on my feet for quite some time ( I don't know why I haven't shared this earlier :(
When choosing your honey try your very best to use organic honey. I am not sure of what the results are if you use non organic honey. But , hey if that's what you have on hand. Try it , and see how it works for this recipe. Now , lets get started...
YOU WILL NEED:
2 black tea bags
1 Teaspoon of honey
1 Teaspoon of lemon
And a bucket full of hot- warm water
Pumice stone
Allow your feet to soak in this mixture for about 15-20 minutes. Grab a book, a cup of tea, sit back and allow your feet to go to work. After, your time is up your skin should be nice and soft and ready to be free of any excess skin that may have been there. Here's where your pumice stone comes in , you will use this to get rid of all or any dead skin you may have.
NOW MOISTURIZE:
2 Tablespoons of honey
2 Tablespoons of coconut oil, sweet almond oil , or even jojoba oil.
Mix, mix, mix into a bowl. Rub it generously on to your feet and keep it on for 20-30 minutes. It's a perfect time to pick that book back up, sip another cup of tea, etc. Tip: I usually put a pair of old socks on my feet at this point or wrap saran wrap around my feet, the results are great! After, your 20-30 minute's is up rinse your feet with warm soapy water.
And ENJOY!
Thanks for reading and remember stay naturally fabulous.
TAKE CARE :)
Hey there fabulous naturals!
Last night I check in on one of my favorite naturally loc'd bloggers over at "on the road to queendom" great blog and well worth the visit. And saw this http://ontheroadtoqueendom.blogspot.com/2010/10/simply-beautiful.html now floetry was and is one of my favorite groups. It seems they both have split and are doing there own thing separately. But, the Floacist is rocking the heck out of her baldness , I she is beauuuutiful, and stunning. It takes a confident women to rock this. One who marches to the beat of own drum. I love it!
And, the song ....sexy I love this song . Its touching , soft , smooth and clean. The song is hot . So go on over and check it for your self. It is a must see, moment.
Until next time, stay naturally fabulous !
TAKE CARE AND ENJOY ! :)
Hey there fabulous naturals!
I just received my bottle of kiss my face upper management gel in the mail today. I've been looking for a second gel with a lower price than my curly magic. In the event that a time arises that curly magic may not be in my budget, I don't know if you ladies know but it is a bit pricey :(. http://www.unclefunkysdaughter.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=192
After hearing a few good reviews on this gel in which you can find here http://janeensjourneyback.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-journey-to-find-perfect-gel-is-over.html and here http://www.youtube.com/user/denimpixie#p/u/28/HgCo5uxdX18 I decided to check this gel out for myself I then went on over to i herb. com to price the kiss my face gel in which you can find here http://www.iherb.com/Kiss-My-Face-OHC-Upper-Management-Styling-Gel-Grapefruit-8-fl-oz-236-ml/8272?at=0
I found it to be much cheaper than my fave curly magic. Kiss my face gel is $6.44 and curly magic is $25.00 , see what I'm saying. Then I checked out the ingredients and found that they aren't that bad at all:
INGREDIENTS:
Certified Organic Aqua of Urtica dioica, Calendula officinalis & Anthemis nobilis, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate (Amino Acid derived) , Faex, Panthenol, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Citrus grandis.
Here is what is great about this product. It clearly states on the bottle that it's pH balanced and it is ( you guys know I what!?!...yes, that right gave it an ole pH test of my own, lol) and true indeed it came back a lovely pH of 5. Which is in fact lower in pH than curly magic which tested at 6. Kiss my face is also Organic. It has no sls, no parabens, no artificial color or fragrance. And it states no build up. Sounds great right!
It has a pleasant light smell, and the consistency is pretty thick. Now, this is not at all a full review. But , you ladies know I had to try some out on a portion of my hair. Based off of the little I used so far so good. The first thing I noticed is that it seemed to elongate my curls, which means I didn't notice much shrinkage. It states it has a medium hold, and it does. And, there is not a feel of the crunches in my hair. My hair actually feels pretty darn good. But, remember I performed this quick test on a small section of my hair. So, a full review shall come in a few weeks, god willing. So stay tuned.
My plan is as follows to alternate between cream based gels and gel...gels. I am doing a bit of a experiment with my hair trying to narrow down which of the two types are currently working best on my hair.
So , ladies if your interested go on over and check it out. I will post the link once again below. And for first time buyers over at iherb.com feel free to use my $5.00 off code NAB882.
http://www.iherb.com/Kiss-My-Face-OHC-Upper-Management-Styling-Gel-Grapefruit-8-fl-oz-236-ml/8272?at=0
Thanks for reading! and remember to stay naturally fabulous !
TAKE CARE :)
Hey fabulous naturals!
Just a heads up... save the date ! write it on your calenders....write on the back of your hands . I don't know just write it somewhere (lol). The infamous Qhemet Biologics will be having a November 26th , black Friday sale. So save up and stock up on your favorite products ( or which ever products will be on sale). I haven't heard if the sale will just be on select products. So keep your ears and eyes open. I hope to be stocking up a few jars or two of my favorites from Qhemet Biologics one of them being Amla & Olive heavy cream and a few more I would like to try. Hope to see you guys there.
http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/
Thanks for reading and remember stay naturally fabulous!
TAKE CARE :)
Hello fabulous naturals!
Here is a little inspiration for you. For someone who may be struggling in this area. For someone who may not have the will power to do so. For someone who may know someone who this message may help. Just check out the link given below and you will see exactly where I'm going with this. Sometimes we just need to hear from some one else.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faI7_KVrK2c
Until next time...Stay naturally fabulous and
TAKE CARE ! :))
Heeey fabulous naturals!
FYI, for those of you who may be interested. The results are in ,, A few posts back I did a post on a few great benefits of using bentonite clay. I then realized ( with the help of another fabulous natural) that I didn't pH test the bentonite ....ever ! . Once, realizing this I gasp and immediately test the pH of bentonite mixed with just water. It came back a pH of 9 :((( to alkaline for our hair.
Knowing from prior experience that Aloe juice has the tendency to lower The pH in many of our hair products ( this is sheerly from my own personal experience, some may not feel this way.). Once, I received more Aloe juice. BTW, I love, love, love this stuff can't live without it I add aloe juice into many, many of my products where needed. I mixed a bit of the benotine clay with aloe juice ONLY no water. Re did the pH And what do you know it came back as a much improved pH of 7 which is still in the safe pH range for our hair.
I have said this before and will say it again. Although the pH is 7 I really strive to use products that are in range closer to the hairs natural pH which is 4.5-5.5. I find much, much better results... my hair cuticles are much smoother, it seems to hold moisture better and my hair has much better shine. Since I do not use the Bentonite clay often only 1x monthly or even depending on how much product I've used I have gone as long as 1-1 1/2 months. So now when I mix my Benotine clay I plan to use Aloe Juice and Aloe Juice only ( maybe a bit of oil).
Some naturals are not that into pH levels and that's fine. For myself personally I have found that it has helped me tremendously in weeding out products that are to alkaline for my hair. And finding out why my hair may feel the way it does when using certain products. So in all ,I just wanted to share what I've found on the pH of the bentonite clay with you ladies. And, remember it is a clarifies our hair AND scalp, so if some of you ladies use it and your hair may feel a bit different that is why. Bentonite clay is to be used to clarify and using Aloe juice, and maybe a bit of oil. May just help in keeping some of the moisture in our hair :)
Thanks a bunch for reading! Until next time....
Stay naturally fabulous and
TAKE CARE ! :)
Heeey fabulous naturals!
I think for those of us who choose to raise our daughters as naturals is such a great thing. As I watch my oldest daughter in excitement as she takes stock of how well her hair is doing since making the decision to embrace natural hair is wonderful. I have seen her really put an effort in little things that are very important in keeping our hair healthy. Like, making sure each and every time she rest her head down for what ever reason she makes sure she ties her head up with her satin bonnet.
She has been taking swimming classes and I have stressed the importance of washing her hair on those days she's been swimming. To be sure to get the chlorine out, because its not good to or for our hair. I am now in the stages of teaching both of my oldest girls ( particularly the oldest, because she understands a little more) about the importance of knowing what we are putting into our hair.
I came across a article about raising natural daughters. Below I will gladly post the link.
http://newnaturalista.com/2010/family/raising-natural-daughters/
Enjoy and stay naturally fabulous!
TAKE CARE ! :)
Hello fabulous naturals!
I found a Great article. It really hits on some great points. Check it out, see what ya think. Enjoy your weekend and stay naturally fabulous!!!
http://cocoandcreme.com/2010/10/going-natural-what-folks-arent-saying/
TAKE CARE! :)
Hey there fabulous naturals!
This great read is quite helpful in my hair care regimen. So much so that when it was sent to me I new I had to share it with you ladies :)
Creating a record of your hair progress is documenting your hair journey. Do you know why it is important to record your progress? There are many reasons. Recording your journey helps you to see where you started, where you currently are with your hair and where you can go. You can use the information to continue to inspire yourself and inspire others on their own respective journeys.
Write down what products you are using, how you use them and how often you use them. Write down the ingredients of the products that give you great results. Describe the great results. Write down the products and the ingredients that don't give great results and record those as well. Build, improve, refine and solidify your hair care regimen one product and process at a time.
Analyze the notes you take about your hair. Use the written information to determine what you want to continue to do and what you may want to stop doing. Explain why, your reasons and note them in your written record.
Take photos of your hair from all angles at a designated point in time. You don't have to share them with anyone or you can share them with the world! It's up to you.
Courtesy of the beautiful and fabulous Chicoro
Side Note:
This is working wonderfully for my hair. This important step has and is continuing to help me in finding what ingredients does not work for me and my hair. Which in turn allows me to save, save, save when considering a hair product. By simply basing the ingredients on the temperment of my hair. ......ENJOY! and
TAKE CARE ! :)
Hello fabulous naturals!
As many of you have noticed this adorable video celebrating little girls and their hair all over the blogs. Helping to teach our little sweet peas the joy of self acceptance and self -esteem. I watched this with my 5 year old and she loved every minute of it ( even my older girls came in and thought it was adorable). As my 5 year olds eyes got very big, along with the widest , brightest smile on her pretty little face. She, clung ever so close to me for me to pick her up so that she could sit in my lap so that she could get a better view. She sat very still and quietly taking in every word. As she left the room she sang very softly " I really love my hair" for the entire day. And, has since asked me to save the video, and I thought to my self sure why not. LOL , I thought it was adorable. Shortly, after we watched the video together I made sure to explain ( in a way a 5 year old could understand) what the message was in the video. Its purpose, and so that she uunderstood , that although in the video the Muppet's hair went from curly and fabulous like hers, to braids, and then straight. It can all be done just as her hair is right now, curly and beautiful. I think she got the message ( lol).
I came across a link to the scene behind the scene to this video which has the greatest message for our sweet little girls. A inspirational video, I thought you ladies may enjoy, so grab your daughters, your nieces, your granddaughters, students, etc and ENJOY! :)
http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-15749633/sesame-street-teaches-self-esteem-22512445
Thanks for stopping by !
TAKE CARE!
Hey there fabulous naturals!
I don't know about you guys, but I love apples. Especially baked ummmm, OK focus zainab (lol). I came across the great little post in which it shares different reasons why apples are not only great for our health but our hair as well. Below I will gladly post the link:
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/wavy/top-5-reasons-why-apples-are-good-for-you-and-your-hair?utm_source=nc_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=201001019
Thanks for stopping by!
TAKE CARE :)
Hey there fabulous naturals!
As some of you may know I reported in a previous post my thoughts on the hairveda moist condition 24.7. To be used as my co- wash conditioner, I went on about how much I loved this conditioner. I am sad to report I believe this little number may be the culprit on the extra....I said EXTRA frizz I've been having:(
This is disappointing to me because I really like this product . It left my hair super soft and moisturized after each use. But then ! I noticed more and more frizz each time I used . Frizz I never had before using this product. I don't mind frizz, in fact I welcome it. In my opinion it comes with the beautiful journey to being natural. Not, to mention it can give you the flyest big hair. I believe its the GLYCERIN. Here are the ingredients once again:
Ingredients:
Water Coconut oil, Hydronated Vegetable oil, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Dimethyl Stearamine, Lactic Acid, Germall Plus, Fragrance. 16oz. bottle.
Now, the odd part is that on the hairveda site for this particular product glycerin is listed 3rd on the ingredient list. On the very product I have in my hand its listed as 2nd. Now, I know that's not much of a difference and I agree. But, to me it can be a bit of an issue because if it is in fact 2nd and not 3rd like their site states. This could be why my hair reacted the way it did. Because being listed 2nd means it more glycerin in the product oppose to actually being 3rd. Perhaps, its just an typo. Any who, it's not working well for my hair anymore:( . On to....
HAIRVEDA'S WHIPPED CREME:
This was frizz city in my hair also. Nothing like the leave in I love that Kim from YouTube shared. This stuff here.... left my hair dry and frizzy. But, it did however do well on my daughters hair which is 4a , my hair is 3b/3c, and it also did not do well on my baby girls hair which is in the 3A area. I normally don't get to much into the grading of hair. It can drive you crazy, but it does help from time to time in finding the better products for your hair. I will not be repurchasing this product. The leave in I was using before this and currently using( Kim from YouTube leave-in ) works much, much, better on our hair. Here are the ingredients:
Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Ricinus Communis Oil, Sweet Almond Oil. Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter),Ceteryl Alcohol, Steryl Alcohol, Sunflower Oil, Allantoin, Isopropryl Palmitate, Emulsifying wax, Germall Plus, Light Fragrance.
That darn Glycerin!
HAIRVEDA'S ALMOND GLAZE
I brought this particularly for my girls hair. I really have no need for a pomade. This works great in my girls hair and does exactly what it says it will do. It provides great shine , holds hair down where need while providing great moisture. I'm not sure if I will repurchase, but its not a bad product.
Ingredients
Ingredients include: Sweet Almond Butter, Sweet Almond oil, Ricinus communis Seed oil, Beeswax, L. Laurate, Copernica Cerifera Wax, Fragrance. 6oz.
There you have it my thoughts on my small Hairveda haul. Thanks for reading!
http://hairveda.com/default.aspx
TAKE CARE!
Stay tuned for my thoughts on Bee Mine Curly Butter.
Hello there fabulous naturals!
Is it just me or what or does it seem as though people are super uptight these days. I just seems that some people are just not as friendly, polite, helpful, caring, receiving, and warm. What happened to being relatable and just lighting up some. What in the world makes people become or come across so I don't know....cold.
I've been noticing this lately. I just don't get, I know times are hard now with the economy, loss of jobs and no jobs, , relationship issues, fiances, housing, over all health for some and racism being alive and well but,...... damn.
I always tell my children smiles are free, good mornings don't cost a penny. And being personable and friendly doesn't cost a dime. I am truly grateful that through any thing that may come up against me. I try extremely hard not to make it a direct hit to someone else. Trying to always stay true to my self which is friendly and personable. It's good for the soul. I guess its not as easy for some. I'm just saying.
So is it just me, or what ?
Thanks for reading....
Take care!
Hello fabulous naturals!
Let me share more with you a bit about my friend Bentonite clay. I looove to use this clay on my hair. I opt to use this treatment instead of using a clarifying shampoo. I usually do a bentonite clay treatment once a month. You can purchase Bentonite clay at your local health food or vitamin store. I purchase mine at the local vitamin shoppe in my area. And , when applying I apply it on wet hair. Making sure it reaches every part of my hair from my scalp to the very, very ends. To be sure that my hair receives all of the benefits and clarifying that bentonite clay has to offer. I usually leave it on for about a good 30 minutes.
There are many benefits to using Bentonite Clay:
1. It is a gentle yet effective way to clarifying your scalp and hair.
2. It gently draws out all of the impurities from your hair and scalp which includes, oils, dirt, and product build-up.
3. It enhances the natural curl pattern.
4. It's perfect for co-washers especially because co-washers are prone to product build-up.
5. You can do this treatment as often as you wish.
6. There are many, many, many did I say...many :) great choices you can use to mix with your bentonite clay a few being. Herbal infusions of water, tea, aloe juice, apple cider vinegar, and oil. Then there is coconut milk and even coconut cream. I like to use....yes you've guessed it..... herbal infusions of water, aloe juice and oil.
TIPS:
1. Do not use any metal of any kind when mixing your bentonite clay. It is said that the metal will have an effect on your mixture.
2. And always, always follow up with a deep moisturizing conditioner. Which will help in restoring the moisture back into your hair. That the bentonite clay has drawn out due to the clarifying properties.
Thanks for reading!
ENJOY!
update on bentonite clay..
One of my faithful fabulous natural followers , left a comment to this post after it was posted. And brought up an excellent point. She was wondering the pH of the clay. OOOPS! I immediately thought how on earth had I let something so important to me slip by me....the pH level.
I immediately went to test the bentonite clay and it came back at pH of 9. Not good.... to strong for our hair. This test was simply done with the clay and water. Sadly, I ran out of Aloe juice I will be picking some up this week ( god willing). Once I receive it I intend to immediately re test the bentonite clay mix with aloe Vera juice. Its from my prior experience aloe Vera juice has the tendency to lower the pH balance in products.
I sure hope so , I like Bentonite clay. It works well in my hair. I will not be using this clay again until I receive more Aloe Vera juice . Which will enable me to retest the clay, if it is still pass the safe range in pH for our hair ( which is 4.0-5.5) I will no longer be using bentonite clay for my hair. Stay tuned....
Special thanks to Tinuke from Coily Bella's Haven :)http://tinukewilson.blogspot.com/
Hey there fabulous naturals!
I have heard many naturals state that their tresses does not care for products with glycerin in them. As of now I am at a cross roads with our Friend ol glycerin. Currently I've been doing some slight experimenting on my hair (nothing to serious). Trying to weed out ingredients that seem to make my hair react, Umm lets say.......crazy !
Now I was able to narrow my usage of proteins and which type is best for my hair. I believe I may have come across something else my hair prefers over another ( not ready to post on that yet, the verdict is still out. Stay tuned:)
And now Glycerin...it seems that glycerin makes my hair frizzy. Now, that is not written in gold but It seems to be leaning in that direction...no glycerin. I don't know , we will see. I am very well aware that glycerin is a humectant. And it should be used with caution based on the humidity. But, I am not talking about that type of affect. I am saying glycerin seems to be making my hair frizzy no matter what type of weather it is.
My question to you ladies...Are or have any of you fabulous naturals experienced this? If so how did your hair react. Please share.
Thanks for reading!
Take care and......
ENJOY!!!
Hey there fabulous naturals!
I came across the most fabulous, the most inspirational , and even a few laughs you tube video I just had to share. I hope to someday soon attend a natural hair meet up. The inspiration in the room from what I have seen watching you tube and even reading a few post from those who has been fortunate enough to attend, is one that you must witness in person. The way ladies are embracing their natural hair is beautiful. As well as the way the beauty of being natural is slowly embracing our daughters, our nieces , our grandchildren ( I don't have any of the last two ) the very young, the young, the middle aged, the old and yes even the very old . Because both of my grandmothers had natural hair. From time to time when I was younger I clearly remember the days I would watch in amazement the beauty of my grandmothers hair (both of them maternal &paternal) and how from time to time they would press their hair.
My paternal grandmother wore a mini Afro for many, many years. And , it was fabulous. I can recall a time when I was a young child . My parents would go to Jamaica every year for their vacation. One time my mother left with middle length hair. And, came back with the flyest Afro. Very similar to the fellow naturals hair in the video you are about to watch. And it looked absolutely beautiful on my mother. So yes ! we can all be natural and fabulous...no matter what age !!!
Check out this fabulous YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYGTlzlQpSE
Thanks for reading!
ENJOY!!!
Hello fabulous naturals!
Can I first say her hair is F-I-R-E !!!!!!.... F-L-Y!!!!!...S-H-A-R-P!!!!. love...love...love her hair. There are a few products out there. That I would like to check out. I have heard pretty good things about these products. Some are stylers, some are moisturizers and some are conditioners.
I have been doing slight comparisons on the difference in how my hair reacts between more gel like stylers and creme / butter like stylers. Now, I am still a huge fan of uncle funkys daughter curly magic. But, lately its been hit and miss. Sometimes it gives me curls that I may not be looking for that day. Since my hair has grown , my desired look has changed as well. Not, so much the little skinny type curl ( if you will) more larger fuller looks. And, that's where the creme like stylers come in, what I've noticed is that with these type of stylers I can achieve the bigger look after a dry twist out.
thus far these are the creme like stylers I've used...
Miss Jessies- Quick Curls
http://www.curlmart.com/miss-jessies.html
Not enough moisture but there are ways to make up for the lack of moisture. I will not be using this product again. Due to the second ingredient and the Hydrolyzed proteins it contains. Lately , I've been staying away from any of the proteins with "Hydrolyzed" in front of it. They tend to be of the stronger proteins. And, because I have somewhat finer hair. These type of proteins are to strong for my hair and tends to dry it out over time. The other ingredients don't seem to be that bad, except the second igredient is another name for mineral oil, and they are:
Ingredients
Water, parafffinum liquidum, VP/DMAPA acrylates copolymer, polyquaternium-37, cyclopentasiloxane, grape seed extract, nettle extract, alfalfa extract, betula alba leaf extract, lavender extract, borago officinalis extract, fennel fruit extract, ginger root extract, laminum album flower extract, chestnut extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, sunflower seed extract, matricaria flower extract, linseed seed extract, rosa gallica flower extract, silybum marianum extract, viola tricolor extract, punica granatum extract, honeysuckle flower extract, bergamont fruit extract, apricot kernel extract, hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, PG-propyl silanetriol, fragrance, polyquaternium-11, propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, cyclohexasiloxane, PPG-5-ceteth-20, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, ceteareth-10, propylene glycol, hydroxyethyl cellulose, disodium EDTA, PPG-1-trideceth-6, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, DMDM hydantoin, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, yellow 10, green 5 .
Afro Veda "Pur whipped Gelly"
I am not a big fan of Afro Veda's products at all. They just don't seem to work for my hair. Now, my youngest natural in the house. Her hair loves 3 of their butters. The pur whipped gelly, didn't do much for my hair right along with the rest of the items I purchased a while ago ( way before the change in price). It left my hair feeling moisturized the first day. But, days following it became quite dry. Will I repurchase this or any item from Afro Veda ...no.
Ingredients:
Aloe Vera, Whole leaf gel, Coconut oil, Almond oil, Herbal oil complex, Vanilla Essential Oil.
Products I plan to try: (God willing)
OYIN HANDMADE
Whipped pudding
Shine & Define
Burnt Sugar hair pomade
Honey Hemp Conditioner
http://oyinhandmade.com/
BEE MINE
Bee Lovely Moisturizing Daily Conditioner
Bee Hold Curly Butter ( Just ordered, Stay tuned for review in a few weeks)
Dejas Hair Milk
Bee.u.ti.ful moisturizing deep conditioner
http://beemineproducts.com/
MY HONEY CHILD
Olive You Deep Conditioner
http://www.myhoneychild.com/home
Donna Marie
Dream Curling Creme
Super Buttercreme
http://www.shopdonnamarie.com/
This list is quite long...I know. And the list above is in no particular order as to which I would like to try first. I plan to try fitting these items in where my budget allows. If any of you ladies have tried any of the products mentioned above. Please share your thoughts and or results.
Thanks for reading!:)
Take care and....
ENJOY!!!
Hello fabulous naturals!
I have yet more on breast cancer awareness. Perhaps many more for the month of october....and beyond. Here is a pretty good read loaded with a few of the many myth's surrounding breast cancer. I can not stress enough how very important it is to update ourselves on all that invovles the awareness of breast cancer. Remember, knowledge is power!
http://health.yahoo.net/experts/self/6-breast-cancer-myths-busted
Take care.
Hello fabulous naturals!
I came across a very helpful article on healthy skin care tips. I have had great results with the oil cleansing method along with a few little other treats I do for myself and my skin on the weekends or when I have time. But, eating healthy plus drinking plenty of water is the best over all thing I feel we can do for our skin. Below I will post the link for your viewing pleasure...
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/beauty-style/skincare-health-beauty/beauty-eats-healthy-food-for-healthy-skin
Until next time , take care and...
ENJOY!!!
Hey there fabulous naturals!
I have come to realize that I have more than one favorite co-wash conditioners. There are some naturals that find they are PJ's when it comes to conditioners. There are often new naturals who may have just BC'd and may be unsure of a great conditioner to co -wash with. So, I figured we could help them out. So here's my question to you ladies.... if you co-wash, what are your favorite co- wash conditioners? ....I will share mine in order as to my favorites, thus far.
1. Moist Condition 24.7- Hairveda
2. Moisture Milk- VO5
3. Herbal Essences- Hello Hydration (This little number does have cones in it, which is the #1 reason why I've stopped using it. However, minus the cones it is a fab-u-lous conditioner.)
4. Daily Cleansing conditioner Cream- Darcy's Botanicals ( This could have been listed higher on the list, but because it has more cleansing agents in it I listed it last. but I love it!)
Now your turn.....
Thanks a bunch for reading !
ENJOY!!!
Hello ladies!
I came across a YouTube video called from a fabulous fellow natural. There she shared a Atlanta based natural hair salon geared toward young naturals which is called"Girls R Groovy Too !!". The salon is absolutely adorable, along with providing services they also teach these young ladies proper hair care and education for natural hair. The entire idea to me is one of greatness. And to be quite frank , has by thinking cap lighting up!. I would looooove to do something like this. I think it is is very important that we do all that we can to continue to encourage our young ladies, that there is many, many types of beauty and that being our natural selves is one of them..Loving and excepting what the creator has given us.
However, I am also one who truly believes this concept must start at home. Way before society gets a hold of our precious gems. Way before someone is able to alter the minds of our daughters into believing that there natural beauty is not one of acceptance, before someone puts in our precious babies minds that to be excepted they must look like everyone else in their neighborhood, in their school, in their classes, or even in their circle of friends. I am also one who strongly believes that the fathers ( if present) must step in and help in letting our daughters know that they are beautiful and #1 at all times. Before, another male steps in and alters our daughters way of thinking into believing that they must look for acceptance through a strange male counterpart. If fathers are not present , than ladies that too falls on us...we must let our daughters know their beauty is one of a kind on the inside as well of the outside.
Before I decided to home school 4 out of the 5 of my children , I was very active in the school in which they attended. It was there that I saw first had how some of our young ladies in our communities are really in trouble. From everything from their language, to their inviting way of dress ( these were elementary school children), their confidence level, and their willingness to do anything to get attention no matter who or where it came from. This saddened me on so many levels almost daily.
This is why when I saw the idea surrounding the salon"Girl's R Groovy Too" I was thrilled ( I just love that name). And thought , perhaps I can try in starting something similar to this. Especially since I have 3 girls of my own, I would think I'm pretty exprerinced in the are of raising girls (lol) In which teaches young ladies, I'm talking elementary to high school. The importance of their natural beauty, how to care for their natural beauty, positive ways to deal with life issues while not compromising be the ladies that they are. I am not completely sure on how I am going to go about this entire idea. But, it is one I feel is needed. Maybe scouting out a fellow like minded natural to partenership with me ( I dont know, just an idea). It would be a non-profit organization, maybe try in getting a few sponsors, introducing many of the fabulous natural hair care lines out that are children friendly (maybe starting out with samples), etc. It very well may start in my very own living room. By going to my local schools , inviting some of my daughters Friends & parents ( because remember it all starts at home, and sometimes we as parents could use tips too), inviting some of the neighbor hood young ladies. I don't know... but I feel I can offer something to the young ladies in my community.... something in this line of work. And, it would be my pleasure.
I will gladly post the link below for your viewing pleasure of this wonderful salon. Lastly, if any of you ladies have any ideas please feel free to share them with me. I would love to hear from you , thanks for reading...take care and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBkp9Oa2kz8
Girls R Groovy Too!! (site) http://www.girlsrgroovytoo.com/
ENJOY!!!
LETS INSPIRE ONE ANOTHER IN OUR BEHAVIOR....IN OUR SPEECH...IN OUR SUPPORT...
Hello fabulous naturals!
The other day I was checking in on a few of my favorite bloggers and had the honor of coming across a post from the fabulous Tiffany over at " A day in the life of a curly girl" . Where she shared her thoughts on inspiration. This post was short...sweet...and straight to the point. And, one that was meant for me to read, at that very moment.
For me it meant many , many , many things. Not, to get all religious on you guys or anything. And by the way there is nothing wrong with that. But , its just not what this blog is about. But, Allaah (god) has so many ways of showing me things, and he does so when HE feels the time is right. Now some of you may read the post ( over @ A day in the life of a curly girl, where the link will be provided below) and think "Zainab, its really not that serious". Oh, but I disagree my dear friends for myself it meant more than what the eye can see. The point is....we must INSPIRE ONE ANOTHER LADIES...INSPIRE.
Don't forget to check out the lovely Tiffany over @ "A day in the life of a curly girl" there you will find great home decor tips, hair tips , recipes, and a great sense of humor, just down right fun and inspiring ! I love visiting this blog. Below I will post the link to the great little post I speak so highly of along with the link to view all that "A day in the life of a curly girl" has to offer .
http://thecurlworld.blogspot.com/2010/10/inspiration-nation.html
http://thecurlworld.blogspot.com/
IT'S NICE TO BE IMPORTANT, BUT ITS MORE IMPORTANT TO BE NICE. - John Cassis
( She shared this lovely quote with me as well. And I loved it, so I thought why not share it here with everyone @ AuNaturale.)
Take care and .........
And remember be a inspiration to Someone , not just today but every day!
ENJOY!!!
Hello fabulous naturals !
We all like a little henna every now and then , RIGHT?. I particularly like to use henna to decorate my hands and feet. My daughters love it, they were brought up knowing how to use henna. We often have henna parties of our own, applying little decorations to our hands , and feet ( my oldest daughter is really good at it) In fact I know of a lot of sisters who have henna parties. Its quite popular right before a sister gets married, other sisters and herself will get together and adorn themselves with henna. Henna is not only great for our hair, but can be just as nice for our nails!
Henna Nail Paste Recipe
1 Tablespoon of henna paste
1 Tablespoon of warm water
2 drops of vitamin E oil
Mix
Grab a small bowl, pour the henna into the bowl and mix with water.
Add the vitamin E , making sure to mix well forming a paste.
Apply
While the paste is still warm, use a small brush ( small paint brushes work great) to apply carefully to finger nails only. Be sure to have a cloth handy to wash off any henna that may accidentally get on your skin surrounding the nail. To prevent it from staining your skin.
Allow henna to dry for at least 30 min , or until completely dry. If any excess paste remains , just gently wipe it off with a paper towel. And , remember this paste will stain, but will however eventually Beginn to fade. So, therefore apply as often as you like.
Use warm water to rinse off hands.
Buff nails with a buffer gently.
TIP:
Try applying a base coat to your nails before applying the henna paste, to help in preventing the paste from staining longer than you would like.
Thanks for reading :)
ENJOY!!!
Hey ladies!
I've heard pretty good things about the Jessicurl "Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment" and after reading and hearing the great reviews. I then went to check out the ingredients, which in my opinion are pretty darn good. It includes fatty alcohols which are considered "the better or good alcohols" and they include Lauryl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, and Behenyl Alcohol. Fatty alcohols aid in the moisturizing factor in our conditioners. When I shop for conditioners I always look for these Alcohols to be included. So here we go....
Jessicurl says:
Use this treatment once a week to restore moisture to dry hair. Rich in botanicals and natural butters, Jessicurl weekly deep conditioning treatment will improve and maintain the health of your hair.
Ingredients:
Water infused with Lemongrass, Nettle, Burdock, Kelp, Marshmallow Root, Horsetail, Basil, Bay Leaf, Oregano, Rosemary, Peppermint, Sage and Thyme, Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol, Shea Butter, Avocado Oil,Cocoa Butter, Lecithin, Aloe Vera Powder, Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance
I say:
To me this condiitioner is pretty resonable, with shipping included. Depending where you order from The prices range. I ordered from curlmart I will include links below for places that carry this conditioner. It comes in 2 scents and 1 without fragrance, the fragrance I ordered was the citrus lavender which has lavender essential oil. This scent is STRONG...lawd !, a little to strong for my liking. So, that was my first put off, The consistisy is very thick. And the slip is pretty good. As I stated before I like thickness in my DC's, so that was a plus. It coats the hair very well, now remember my hair is currently at its longest from the very front,very top and all the way down the center. So the 8 oz size works well for me , because my sides and back sides do not need as much conditioner. It's pH balance is a 7 ( I like my products a little lower in pH, 4-5.5 at least). So to balance the pH I added 1-2 Tablespoons of Aloe juice, and 1 tablespoon of herb infused oilve oil. I add these ingredients to all of my DC's. Doing so brought the conditioner to a pH level of 5...right down my alley.
After applying I sat under the dryer used with very minimal low heat for about a good hour or so. I find conditioners work much better with a little heat. Plus, this DC calls for heat. After, I rinsed my hair while rinsing... my hair felt FAB-U-LOUS it felt really good. After I styled and allowed my hair to completely dry, my hair was dull, and had more frizz than normal, or more than I like. Now, I am not an complete enemy of frizz. I have learned to embrace my frizz , it helps in bigger , fuller hair on my big hair days. But, this was a bit much. I was not feeling it at all. I really, really wanted to love or like this product and had such high hopes for this little number. I think it in some part it had to do with the ingredients it included. I do, however plan to revisted this conditioner at a later date. I havent completely given up all hope , sometimes products work different or even better at a different stage in your hair journey. Then there is the Too Shea! extra moisturizing conditioner that I plan to try and review also, so stay tuned for that. But, for now the weekly DCT doesnt have anything on curls " curl ecstasy hair tea".....thanks for reading :)
http://www.curlmart.com/
https://www.jessicurl.com/
STAY TUNED FOR REVIEW ON HAIRVEDAS WHIPPED CREME ENDS HYDRATION
ENJOY!!!
Hello fabulous naturals!
It is no secret I am a herb fanatic ! I looove my herbs, and since incorporating them in my hair care and skin care regimen. I have had great results. I really believe using herbs in my hair has been one of the best things I have done besides going natural along with cutting out a few not so good hair care ingredients and a few other things.
For the past few month I have been using the oil cleansing method with Castor oil being my main ingredient mixed with a bit of Olive oil infused with sage. I love this way of cleaning my face, and have had really great results. Sage is great for those who have oily skin or sensitive skin. The oil cleansing method has been around for quite sometime and lots of ladies use this method with great results . And some even use different oils, such as grape seed oil, evening primrose oil, jojoba oil, etc.
From time to time I do a herbal facial stem treatment. How, I came up with the idea was one day after mixing lots and lots of herbs preparing to mix a herbal spritz. I leaned over to get a good smell of the delightful herbs I was using, and the smell and steam hit me all at once .....and it smelled divine. Ladies, when those herbs are steeping it smells so good , the entire kitchen was on fire! (lol) not literally. And, I have heard in the past that steam used with caution can be great used as a facial treat. So, why not add some beneficial ingredients , right?!?
So what I do is this:
Use about 2 quarts of water
1-2 cups of your favorite herbs
use a very large pot
Next:
Add your water to your very large pot and boil
Add your herbs to your pot of boiling water ( I use dried herbs) I'm sure you can do this with fresh.
Cover and turn off the heat allow your herbs to steep for a few minutes , give it a few stirs and remove from heat.
Now:
Transfer your pot filled with your lovely herbs on the counter , table which ever . But somewhere you are comfortable. Placing your face 6-7 inches above the pot. Placing a large towel over your head allowing it to hang down around the pot. Making sure to catch all of the nutrients ,vapors and goodness coming from the herbs you've added. Making sure to keep a good distance from the pot. But, close enough to enjoy it comfortably.
Great herbs that can be used , but not limited to:
Sensitive skin:
Calendula, sage, horsetail
Dry skin:
Calendula, Chamomile, Lavender, Rose hips, Dandelion, Parsley, Plantain, Peppermint, Rosemary.
Oily skin:
Lemongrass, Horsetail, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Burdock, Parsley, Nettle, Thyme.
Lavender- Calming and sooo relaxing, great for circulation and stimulant.
Birch Bark-Inflammatory Qualities
Cinnamon Bark- Natural astringent, known to suspend excess oil on skin.
Great places you can order herbs online:
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
http://www.bulkherbstore.com/
http://www.texasnaturalsupply.com/
ENJOY!!!
