skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Hey there fellow fabulous naturals!
Well I tried this new technique that I absolutely loooove. Thanks to a fellow fabulous blogger "Paige the blogger" she has introduced me to "water washing". It's quite simple in fact it's basically a hair rinse. Here is what you do:
In a jar/container , add your favorite herb or herbs. Boil, some water pour the hot water over your herbs...allow this to steep for a few hours to overnight ( I like my herbs to steep overnight)....strain with a cheese cloth , strainer or both....pour your herbal infusion into your container....pour over your hair and scalp , scrub, scrub scrub with the cushions of your fingers ...and allow your hair to air dry * do not rinse out*...that's it !
I co wash 1x weekly , in between my co-washes I've been water washing with an herbal infusion. This little number is my new BFF....I love it!!!!!
Many thanks to "Paige the blogger" for sharing this technique :)
You can check her out here http://paigetheblogger.com/
ENJOY!!!
What is a Length Based Trim and How Do You Incorporate It into Your Routine?
If you are trying to gain length, then a length based trim may be just for you. Instead of trimming your hair based on a time table such as every 6 to 8 weeks, you base your trim on other factors: its length and your hair goals.
The length based trim should be performed on hair that has been 'thermally' or heat straightened. This includes but is not limited to blow drying, flat ironing and/or pressing. Once you have your hair relatively straight and styled in a way that you like to wear your hair, examine your ends. You will see that some hair is going to be longer than other hairs. The bulk or majority of your hair will be at the same length. Those longer hairs will make your hair appear scraggly and uneven on the ends.
1. Identify where the bulk of the hair is.
2. Determine the next length that you would like your hair to reach. It should not be more than 2-4 inches longer than the bulk of your hair.
3. Trim off the hair that goes beyond the goal length.
4. Allow your hair to fill in thickly at the new goal point length. Keep it trimmed at this length until the bulk fills in at the new length!
Congratulations! You now know how to perform a length based trim. I also call this the "Goal Point Method." You use this type of trim when you are trying to gain length, as fast as possible, on healthy hair.
TRIM Every 6-8 Weeks = To Maintain Length
TRIM Based on Length= To Reach Goal Length Faster
Only CUT = To Change Hair Style or Remove Damaged Ends
By Chicoro
ENJOY!!!
Do you know the properties of hair that leads it to being described as being healthy? Knowing what healthy hair is will help you discover the problem areas with your own hair as well as what you need to focus on changing.
Properties of Healthy Hair
•Hair that feels silky to the touch because most of the cuticle is intact.
•Hair strands that have shine or sheen without hair care products.
•Scalp is clean and moist without bumps, sores, or flakes.
•Hair holds on to moisture well.
•Hair has stretches without breaking or snapping.
•Hair is virtually tangle-free especially when wet.
Shedding is normal at approximately 100 strands per day.
•There is no breakage - small pieces of hair falling out when combing.
•There are not many split ends.
•Hair lies down and does not have frizzy pieces taking away from the hair style.
If this list describes you, then congratulations, you are growing healthy hair! You must be doing something right. Keep on doing it and don't let up because you don't think you need to. Healthy hair is a result of taking good care of your hair over time. Additionally, once you achieve it, you are then on the road for long hair should that be a goal for you.
ENJOY!!!!
Hello fabulous fellow naturals!
About a week ago I noticed a slight change in the feel of my hair. I have a few different types of hair, but to sum it up I would say it's 3b/3c....however, there is a small section on the very top of my hair , that I would call a problem area. This is the part of my hair that I experience the most frizz, and dryness.
So, After taking notice of the difference in the feel of my hair, it felt harder ( if you will) then usual and rough. I do not like that feeling...what so ever. I immediately, reviewed my current regimen...along with products particularly my shampoo, deep moisturizing conditioners and protein treatments. The ingredients in these products and how often they are used in my weekly or bi-weekly regimen. It was then that I realized my hair is on protein overload. Here, is what I discovered.
My current Shampoo- "Kinky Curly come clean"...Although this shampoo is pH balanced at 7, and does not contain protein. I would rather use a shampoo that is closer to my hairs pH which is 4.5-5.5...this shampoo is great for a clarifying shampoo, but not as a weekly shampoo ( not for my hair , anyway) it's way to strong. Until, I find a great shampoo with pH closer to my hairs pH ( and, believe me... I am searching daily) I will be co-washing and clarifying 1x monthly
or use a product that states cleansing cream.
My current deep moisturizing conditioner- Aubrey's organic honey suckle rose- Although, I really like this deep moisturizing conditioner because it is rich, thick and creamy , and left my hair feeling like silk after using and I have been using it for quite a while. I realized it has wheat germ oil which is a protein. Now, that is not the entire problem...the problem is I was using this every week after every shampoo...even after my primary protein treatment ( will talk about that below) which I thought was good for its moisturizing properties ( which is to be done after every protein treatments). I have a few to try that will be protein free (hopefully) to replace this one. Waiting for one to arrive as we speak...I will keep you ladies posted.
My current protein treatment- Avocado treatment ( done bi-weekly)-, Again, this treatment was doing great for its purpose...it has made my hair stronger when it was needed. However, now that my hair has reached a place where its pretty strong...this treatment is no longer needed in my regimen..Now, its way to strong for my hair...I will continue to use a protein conditioner, but one with a much, much lighter protein. I have decided to wait a few weeks before reincorporating a protein conditioner back into my regimen. I will probably start them again next month using them only once a month. I have A few I have my eye on...I will keep you ladies posted.
MY LESSON:
All I need is a great pH balanced shampoo, conditioner cleanser or simply co wash ....a deep moisturizing conditioner one that is protein free to use weekly and a conditioner that is a light protein treatment to use 1x a month. Along with my moisturizers, oils and sealants. I do need to have protein in all of my products, my hair does not like that...just 1x monthly , we will see how that goes..and if necessary re evaluate. Understanding the importance of having a balance of both moisturizing and protein in my regimen, and....
Always, listen to your hair. Pay very close attention to your hairs behavior and the feel of your hair. I am very grateful for learning and incorporating such a lesson....I believe that this is the very lesson that may have saved me a lot of heart ache.
ENJOY!!!
Products often come in pretty bottles that would make lovely decorative pieces were it not for the labels. Plastic containers or jars are often just the right size for some other use in your home. Perhaps you'd like to reuse the containers, but want to remove the labels.
I like to reuse some of my jars to infuse my oils with herbs. But, would have a hard time removing the labels and or glue. Below are a few tips in doing so with ease.
Things You'll Need for removing labels:
Nothing but hot water.
1. This works fast, so line up as many containers as you want. The containers should be dry and at room temperature. Run the faucet until the water is Hot. Carefully fill the containers above the level of the labels. Do not let any water drip onto the labels. That will allow the paper to separate from the glue. You do not want that to happen.
2. Let the container stand for three minutes. Find something else to do, boil an egg, but don't cheat! Patience is a virtue, they say. If you get pulled away from this task for a long time, just empty and refill the bottles with hot water.
Starting at one corner, begin gently lifting the label. Voila! It should come off in one piece, glue and all. The trick is in heating and softening the glue from the inside and keeping the paper intact by not letting it get wet. Your containers/jars are now ready to reuse.
How to Remove Glue From Glass Jars:
Things You'll Need:
Peanut butter or Cooking oil
Spread a little cooking oil or peanut butter onto the glue area using a paper towel. The oil will release the glue. Let it sit an hour or more, soak the glass in hot, soapy water (dishwashing detergent is fine) and rub or peel off the glue. Using steel wool ( optional) Repeat procedure if necessary.
My thoughts:
I've tried both of these little numbers and they worked great ! and the best part in some cases its a money saver.
ENJOY!!!
Cold Pressed or Cold Expeller Pressed:
Cold pressed oils, also known as cold expeller pressed oils, have been mechanically pressed from the fatty portions of the botanical while ensuring that the maximum temperature (caused by friction) does not exceed 120 degrees.
Expeller Pressed:
Expeller pressed oils are mechanically pressed from the botanical material at high pressure to obtain maximum yield. Not all expeller pressed oils are cold pressed as high pressure extraction can cause temperatures to rise above 120 degrees. Only if temperature is monitored and kept under 120 degrees, can the oil be called cold pressed. Otherwise it is simply called expeller pressed.
Solvent Extracted:
Sometimes it is necessary to use a solvent in order to extract the oil from certain seeds, nuts or kernels in order to make the extraction cost effective. Once the oil has been obtained, the solvent is then removed from the oil, but a trace percentage of the solvent may still be present in the final oil. Coconut, Palm, Grapeseed and Rice Bran are typically solvent extracted.
CO2 Extracted:
CO2 extracted oils are extracted using fluid carbon dioxide as the solvent. Carbon dioxide is converted to liquid using high pressure making it a safe and effective solvent that allows all the desirable active constituents of a plant to be collected without the risk of heat degradation. Once the extraction is complete, the pressure is released allowing the carbon dioxide to return to its natural gaseous state, leaving behind only the extracted essence of the plant. CO2 extracted oils are the closest representation of the natural plant ever achieved. CO2 total extracts include the volatile components as well as the heavier, waxy components that give plants their color, and are therefore thick and waxy in consistency.
Infusion/Macerate:
An infused or macerated oil is a vegetable oil that has been "infused" with the fat soluble properties of other botanicals. Plant material is bruised and soaked in a base oil for a set duration of time. The base oil is sometimes gently heated to encourage infusion. The material is then filtered. Additional material may be infused in the same oil a number of times. The final oil is then well filtered to remove any traces of plant particles. The benefit to using an infused vegetable oil is that the infused oil will contain the therapeutic properties of both the vegetable oil and the botanicals that were infused into the oil.
Refined:
Some oils undergo a refinement process in order to remove impurities, improve the color or texture, or stabilize the shelf life of the oil. The oil is reacted with a weak base solution to saponify the free fatty acids into soap. The oil is then centirfuged and washed with water until the pure oil remains. The oil may also be degummed to remove the sticky phospholipids, color pigments and odor lending portions.
Bleached:
Some lipids are bleached in order to improve the color and clarity of the oil. Bleaching is generally done by passing the oil through fuller's earth or clay and then filtering the oil.
Deodorized:
Some lipids undergo a deodorization process in order to remove compounds that lend an unappealing or overpowering aroma to the oil. This is generally done by blowing high temperature steam through the oil to vaporize the aromatic components. This process is made more effective by heating the oil to high temperatures and performing this process under a vacuum to help remove all of the volatile odorous substances. Due to the high temperatures used, deodorization is clearly the most damaging process of refinement.
MY THOUGHTS:
I found this information to be very helpful, in my learning and purchasing process of my products. I have often ordered products and come across a few of these terms... a few of them I really had very little or no idea at all what in the world they meant. For myself I have found it very important to know and try to have some sort of understanding in how some of the products like, butter, oils, etc are made. By doing so this will then help me in knowing if this particular way of processing or even if this product is for me or what I may be looking for in a product at the time. Hope this helps!...Take care.
ENJOY!!!
For all of you fabulous naturals out there who have your own youtube channel here I will post a site , with the link.... where you can recieve your very own business cards in which you can promote your channel...here is what is said :
Broadcast your YouTube channel with Business Cards from MOO
MOO is offering YouTube users a FREE* pack of business cards to help you promote your YouTube channel to anyone you meet.
Tell me more...
Thanks to what MOO calls "Printfinity," you can print a different image on every card. This means you could have a different thumbnail from your videos on each card. To capture stills from your video, find the image you want, pause the video, take a screenshot, then save as a high resolution JPEG, PNG, GIF or PDF file.
You can also choose MOO designs, insert a QR code, select a graphic from YouTube's Creator's Corner or go shopping for 'Ready Made' products.
How do I make a pack?
MOO lets you upload your images at moo.com where you can follow a simple online process to add your YouTube channel and contact details. It only takes a few minutes to produce great-looking cards like the ones in the picture.
To learn more visit this link http://us.moo.com/en/partner/youtube-cc
ENJOY!!!
