My regimen! (REPOST)

So I actually accidentally deleted this post a couple monthsago. The good thing is however, I have changed around a couple of my steps, sothis is an updated version! Here’s what I do on wash day:

1.      Detangle (occasionally I would deep conditionthe night before)

2.      Shampoo (every other wash is a cowash)

3.      Condition

4.      Deep condition

5.      Wash

6.      Style and dry

On the regular, here is what I do:

·        Each night: mist with a water/oil mix

·        Each morning: shower without a  shower cap to let my hair get some moisturenaturally

·        Every other wash: protein treatment

A little more detail….

(By the way, the products are used are just what I find workwell for MY hair. It may not do the same wonders for you! Feel free to use whatyou’d like!)

Step 1: Detangle               Time:About 10-15 minutes

First things first! No matter what style my hair was in theday/night before I decided to wash, I always FINGER detangle. I wet my hair, orsometimes I may add some conditioner and water. I go through my entire head ofhair, looking for tangles and knots (YES! Everyone gets knots!). I estimated thetime to be between 10 and 15 minutes, but if you do it faster, that is okay.

Step 2: Shampoo              Time:About 10-15 minutes

To do this step, I section my hair into four bug parts. Iwash each part separately, and do a big twist when I have applied the shampoo.When I wash, I mostly focus on washing my roots because the suds will traveldown your hair shaft on its own.  When Ihave applied shampoo to all for sections, I wash my hair section by section,and retwist for the application of my conditioner. What I use: Giovanni Smooth as Silk shampoo (Walmart $7)

Step 3: Conditioner         Time:About 10-15 minutes

So after I add shampoo, I add conditioner in the samemanner. Apply it o the 4 separate sections, retwisting after each application,wash out in sections, and retwist for deep conditioning.  What I use:Giovanni Smooth as Silk conditioner (Walmart $7)

Step 4: Deep Conditioner             Time:30 minutes- 1 hour (varies a whole lot)

This step is the biggest change in my regimen. Last year, Ideep conditioned the night before/ about 30 minutes before I washed every time.Not I do after I shampoo because after adding shampoo your hair may be a littlestripped and deep conditioning can replenish it smack in the middle of yourwhole wash process. Whenever you chose to do it is okay, however. Applying mydeep conditioner is the almost same as the application of shampoo andconditioner. Add it in the four sections, but instead of washing my hair, Ileave the conditioner on and put a shower cap on for about an hour. During thistime, I find it’s useful to do my chores or something so I’m never wastingtime! What I use: Bear Fruit HairShea and Coconut Leave in Conditioner, which can be found online (about $13) ORmy homemade mix which contains EVOO, honey, and sometimes avocado (heated). Igo into even more detail about the process, though here.

Step 5: Wash!    Time:About 5 minutes

This is the final step of the wash process. At this point, Ilet my twists down and wash my hair while stretching it. (You could also washby sections… doesn’t matter how you do it… as long as you get all the sudsout!)

Step 6: Style and Dry      Time:Anywhere between 1 and 3 hours lol

Now depending on what you chose to do with your hair, it cantake a really long time, so make sure you’ve planned accordingly. If I’mstyling my hair for an occasion, I will do something nice to it, However, if I’mjust twisting to let it dry and protect my ends, I’ll usually do small tomedium twists all around my head because I love the definition that resultswhen  take it down. What I use (staples): a Moisturizing mix: water (mostly), coconut oil, jojoba oil, Bearfruithair moisturizer, olive oil; Shea butter, sometimes I'll use my Aussie spray on gel (less flaking!), bobby pins (of course!), banana clip, small scarf (to use as headband), satin bonnet

No heat challenge: Idon’t use heat that much on my hair, but I’m trying not to use any heat AT ALLthis year. Sometimes after twisting I’d sit under an overhead dryer for about20-30 minutes, but not this year! I just let my hair air dry, usually overnight. I also used to deep condition by sitting under the dryer for about 30minutes, but I don’t do that anymore either. Your body’s natural heat with ashower cap does the same job.

Everyday regimen:

Each night I spray my mist my hair with water and coat withcoconut oil. In the morning, when I’m showering, I usually do it without ashower cap now because my hair likes the natural moisture. Every other wash, Ido a protein treatment, which is instead of using conditioner in my for my deepconditioner, I use my vegetable glycerin protein (iherb.com).  I also hunt for split ends once a month.

Tips:

·        Be sure you’re constantly running your fingersthrough your hair to avoid any knots forming.

·        Try to avoid as much heat as possible

·        Listen to your hair! Pick the products thatproduce results!

·        Be patient, and stick to your regimen! Your hair will love you for it!

Twenty Twelve!

I know we're well into 2012, but HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I was trying to see if I had any natural hair resolutions for the year, and I realized, I absolutely do!

1. Retain length!
How do you do that, you ask? Simple! Take care of your hair! That statement alone however is a general statement. It doesn't mean you have to follow someone else's regimen down to the type of pillowcase they use! Taking care of your hair is more than just the products you use. It includes your diet, making sure you take care of your body, (EXERCISE), etc. it's kind Of like taking care of a baby! ^__^

2. Make my own hair product(s)
I've been searching for all natural whipped Shea butter recipes. I've found some helpful ones but there's always an excuse for me (shaking my head at myself). HOWEVER! Before the year is over, I'm gonna have my own recipe. Scents and all!

3. Start vlogging?
Possibility. I have friends who text and call asking for hair tips and tutorials. Making a video is so much easier than texting it all... But I haven't completely decided yet.

4. BLOG MORE OFTEN!
I'm really gonna shoot for at least one blog post a week. I know I've said this before but I'm gonna try my best this year! Maybe I'll get a shadow write or something for those weeks when I'm extremely busy! Lol we'll see what happens. There's A TON of info waiting to be shared about the beauty of natural hair... Enough time wasting, Sophie!

And finally...
5. Inspire at least ONE person!
I hope that one day, someone reads my blog or sees my pictures and feel like they want to do something creative themselves. Thats enough for me!

Have a creative new year! ^__^

Moisturizing & Deep Conditioning [Requested Repost]

Moisturizing 

Time: About 5 minutes
First of all your hair needs moisture, moisture, MOISTURE!! (Especially if you have thick, extra nappy hair). I moisturize on almost a daily basis and whenever I'm styling my hair. Right now, my favorite moisturizer is a Bear Fruit Hair product. I don't actually remember the name of it, but the website gives you the option choosing what oils, butters, herbs, fruits, and scents you want to put in your product (they also have some other ingredients). Their products are very inexpensive. You can find them here.

I also use Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner. It works as a a leave in conditioner, but you can also use it in daily styling ($6 at Wal-Mart). I use the Shea Butter as a sealant - (after I add water, I add the Shea butter to hold the moisture.) Another one of my favorites Olive Oil Organic Root Stimulator Moisturizing Hair Lotion. I use it in daily styling also.

Deep Conditioning

Time: About 1 hour
Deep conditioning is a REALLY good idea for anyone with nappy hair. I do it before I wash (or co-wash) my hair because it makes your hair softer & easier to work with. I think the most important part of this process is the heat treatment. (It's good if you could even deep condition the night before you're going to wash your hair, but doing it right before you wash is fine also.) My deep conditioner is a homemade product (Say yes to saving money!) I actually have 3 I want to try, but I've only actually used just this one recipe. What I use is called Sweet Avocado Deep Conditioner. The ingredients are: 1 avocado, EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and honey. It's very simple to mix. (Depending on how thick your hair is, you might not even need the whole avocado. Also, you don't HAVE to have the avocado. The EVOO & honey alone will do just fine.) To mix: 1) Mash the avocado until it's almost completely liquefied. 2) Pour about one spoonful of honey into a sandwich baggie. 3) Pour another spoonful of EVOO into the baggie. 4) Place the baggie in a bowl of water. Microwave for one minute. 5) Open the baggie, and pour the mashed up avocado into it. 6) Mix it with a fork until the mix looks uniform. --> AND THERE YOU HAVE IT! (All of the basic recipes listed here can be made almost the same way. If you have any questions ask me!)

*Other recipes:
Baby Banana: banana baby food, EVOO, honey
Cucumber & Egg: 1/2 Cuke, 1 egg, 1/2 and eggshell worth of EVOO.
A sidenote: As you can see, the constant ingredient is EVOO. Believe it or not, it works WONDERS for nappy hair!

The process: 1) Part your hair in four big sections. 2) Apply the deep conditioner very generously throughout your hair. After you've applied it to one section, make one big twists. 3) You can leave the hair in the twist when you do this step. Put a shower cap on your head and sit under a hair dryer for 50 minutes. (Try to tilt your head just to make sure the back and the front of your hair get some heat. This step is really important! The heat opens your pores so that your scalp really takes in the deep conditioner.) 4) After 50 minutes, take the shower cap off and wait 5 minutes. 5) After 5 minutes, wash your hair out with COLD water.

After you've done this you can just go straight into your wash. If you're doing the overnight process, stop at step 3 for the night, and pick up at step 5 the next day.