It is my 11th month Nappyversary!

Well, it’s been 11 months that I’ve been natural again!  I am really enjoying my hair!  I must admit that for the last month, I got tired of my wash and go.  I’ve been throwing wigs on, wearing ponytails or putting on a hat to avoid combing it!  Today was the day that I needed to remind myself of how naturally beautiful God made me!  It’s been really interesting!  Why is it that white folks tell me that my hair is beautiful and some black people (women mainly) say that they don’t have the courage to wear their own hair natural.

For all of your who have reservations about your hair…well all I can say is Do You….but know that how you see yourself is also how the rest of the world sees you.

Also, a lot of you have asked me how I style my hair.  In this photo, I put some gel on it and some Miss Jessie’s Buttercreme.  It was some cheap gel that I bought because I didn’t have any MJ Curly Pudding.  I also added a little bit of Garnier Fructis Hair Serum.  I let my hair get almost dry and I used a blow dryer to finish.  I don’t comb or pick my hair out after I shampoo.  That’s how I keep the curl texture.  You can always twist your hair and let it dry if your curl pattern is not defined enough for your liking.

An Interview with Hair Professional Ladosha Wright – Superb Advice for Caring for Your Natural Hair!

I had the distinct honor of interviewing Ladosha Wright.  I met Ladosha while soliciting boutiques to carry my accessories in Cleveland,  Ohio.  She was also gracious enough to carry Nilaja products.  A friend referred me to get my hair done by her.  At that time, I was beginning to give consideration to transitioning to natural.  While I got my hair done by Ladosha, I noticed women walking in with beautiful, long natural hair and walking out with blowing-in-the-wind styles!

The professionalism that I observed while at Ladosha’s salon let me know that she was ahead of her class in what she did!  Ladosha is classy, intelligent, sassy and confident.  I hope that you take away some of the great advice that she so generously gives and if you live in the Cleveland area, give her a call and make an appointment!

• How long have you been a professional stylist and what made you decide to go into this field?

I have been a licensed cosmetologist for 10 years. I decided to become a cosmetologist after discovering the correlation between social ills and image when I was a social worker. My goal is to empower women to free them from the psychosocial chains (I stole that from Naim Akbar) of hair styling.

• What was the reason that you decided to give an emphasis to natural hair long before many other salons in your region?

I decided to promote and emphasize natural hair because of the horrible, crippling and fear based marketing schemes that promotes ignorance, lies, unsafe hair styling practices and incorrect hair styling practices.

• What type of services do most of your natural clients request?

Because all hair on the human head is natural and I promote teach my clients the science of hair and scalp properties, I attract women who want to learn how to shampoo, condition, and style their own hair THEMSELVES. Our salon is a teaching/learning salon. Women love all phases of hair styling.

• Since I have had the honor of having my hair done by you, I noticed that lots of you clients have long natural hair.  What type of regimen would say that many of them practice…as well as you to keep it that way?

I encourage and require my clients to keep their hair cleaned every 3 to 7 days depending on their hair texture, hair type and density (hair fibers per cubic inch on the scalp). I encourage and require my guests to make purchases according to their hair texture and hair type. Lastly, I encourage them to purchase what they can afford. Because hair changes as we age, I am provide hands on styling lessons with every visit to those who need it based on the condition of their hair when they sit in my chair!

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• What type of products do you usually use in the salon?

I highly recommend P2 by Philip Pelusi. He formulates and PROMOTES/MARKETS his products according to hair texture, hair type and the goal a person is trying to achieve with their hair. HE DOES NOT USE RACE. Never buy hair care products and styling tools that markets to a race of people. For example, Black Hair, Ethnic Hair, Women of Color, Latino Hair and so on.

Second I enjoy Deva Curl’s Sulfate Free line of products. It is absolutely fabulous and affordable for everyone with some sort of kink, curl or wave pattern regardless the sex or age. It offers a unique cleansing experience. The third product line I enjoy is J.F. Lazartique. His product line is formulated with the finest and very rare and exotic ingredients. Though he has a conditioner that costs about $300.00, hey in case you hit the lotto or marry Diddy, feel me!

• Do you think that it damages your hair to wear wigs, weaves, micorbraids, etc?

No I do not think wigs, weave, braids or any other styling method damages anyone’s hair. Remember hair is as unique as the head on which it lies. With that said, no two heads of hair are alike. One has to be a good candidate to receive any type of hair styling services. The ownest is on the hair stylist to provide a consultation before every service. The ownest is on the hairstylist to be trained/certified in the service they provide and the products they used. No excuses.

People who patronize salons should ask who trained the stylist and is the stylist certified to do and use any and everything they style and care for hair with.  In addition, look at the hair stylist hair. Is their hair real, do the clients they serve have fabulous hair and the likes. Too much stuttering or attitude from the hair stylist means get out the chair and go home. Why pay someone to mess up your hair. You can do that for free at home.

• Many women who subscribe to my blog have two main questions: How do they get their hair to grown long? What should they do about thinning or hair loss?  What is your advice?

I find that question interesting, no matter how many times I hear it. Biologically speaking hair grows 1/4th inch per month (give or take a few millimeters). No hair growing pill, creme, serum, grease, pomade or salve can make hair grow more than what God allows the body to do for FREE! Rogaine/Monoxidil is the only product that has made it through the rigors of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) that grows hair back from live follicles in the scalp that will not grow due to hereditary hair loss, thinning, balding or medications. The catch to the Rogaine/Monoxidil is that the area on the scalp has to be bald. If you have hair on your head it will NOT work. This product is for bald or thinning areas on the scalp.If you have a hair disorder such as Alopecia, hair may not grow back no matter what you use.

Next, because you get 1/4th inch for free rather you clean it or not. Relax it or not. Loc it or not and so on, LENGTH is achieved as the hair grows (for free!) by taking care of the ends to prevent the ends from breaking off as it grows (for free!). For those who have texture (kinky, curly or wavy) this can be challenging because the sebum oil (the free oil the scalp produces!) can not travel through that texture and protect the ends. Soooo, to keep the ends from splitting, breaking, snapping and tearing; If you have texture, I recommend keeping your ends coated with any oil that you can eat. Oils such as olive, coconut, alvacado and so on. Do not use water based cremes and hair lotions. Have your hair cut every 6-8 weeks (depending on your hair style or per the recommendations of your hair hairstylist). Invest in the best protein your money can buy. Use the proper comb and buy the best comb your money can buy. Comb your hair frequently to redistribute the oil to the ends. Combing your hair freqently will protect your ends, prevent them from breaking off. Follow my advice and you WILL have longer hair. I guarantee.

As for thinning, for most people it is hereditary. When genetics is the cause, their is nothing that can be done because on a celluar level the RNA is telling the DNA what to do. And if you have a genetic disposition that comes from your parents, that RNA has a disposition to not communicate with your DNA. So there is very little if anything a doctor or hairstylist can do. Also, infrequent shampooing, wearing hair styles that stresses the hair and other harmful stressors such as smoking, lack of exercising and the likes promotes hair to thin faster on top of a genetic disposition.

If your hair is thinning to due excessive pulling or tugging on the hair at the scalp area follicle (the little tiny hole the hair grows out of) is typically PERMANENTLY DAMAGED. Once the follicle is damaged NO HAIR will ever grow from that tiny little whole. That is why I teach every client who wants to learn how to do their hair properly, which products to buy and when they need to return to the salon and lastly how much it will cost.

• Do you think that the increase in women who are going natural is just a trend or do they finally realize that relaxing is simply just a choice?

I believe women have always exercised the power of choice. I believe women were mis-informed. With the introduction of the internet…oh boy; that challenged a lot of hair stylists and hair care experts. I do not believe there ever was a trend. I believe with the ways we can communicate is so fast via technology; it made it easier to get the word out.

• Some naturals are nervous about blow-drying and flat-ironing.  They want to ensure that they can go back to afros and shrinkage without damaging their hair.  What would you advise?

Because hair is made of a protein called keratin; purchase the best protein (I will not say that your money can buy…just invest in the best… lol!) , use it before blow drying. In addition, there are products that can be used with the flat iron. If you use some kind of thermal protectant, I promise every kink, curl or wave will return upon getting your hair wet.

I know what you are thinking, what are the best proteins? The best protein is Daily Hair Rx by Philip Pelusi. It is the only protein that has the molecular structure that can repair the entire strand where needed, it does not weigh the hair down, it is organic and it works in 3 minutes on every texture. It cost $48.00. My next favorite is Repair Hair by of course Philip Pelusi. This product can be used as you flat iron your hair. As you apply heat to your hair this product repairs hair on all 3 layers; thus turning your flat ironing style into a treatment style…wow! I know. That product cost $48.00. Last, I recommend Eufora’s Fortifi. It too is Aloe Vera based like Philip Pelusi’s Repair Hair, it can be used with heat, it is organic and it only cost $18.00. It does not repair hair on all 3 layers, but it protects the cuticle layer which is what the hair is mostly made of…whew!

• Last question…what is your advice on a hair regimen to ensure that your hair grows/stays healthy and long?

Because hair grows 1/4th inch for free every month, I suggest that hair should be cleaned at least once a week for medium to thick density heads of hair. If your hair is thin or thinning; I suggest hair to be cleaned at least 2x a week because it gets dirty faster. I suggest you have your hairstylist tell you the direction your hair grows from your scalp to tell you the CORRECT texture. From there I suggest you make your purchases according to your hair texture, your hair type and the goal you have for your hair. Use the correct combs. Learn the proper technique to style your hair to ensure you are not pulling it out. Do not go against natural growth patterns because it promotes premature thinning and breaking. Lastly, drink lots of water, eat right, exercise, think happy thoughts, get a good nights sleep and if you do nothing else; please have good bowel movements throughout the day!

The name of Ladosha’s salon…Stephano & Co. Salon and the Reverence Design Team.

3649 Lee Rd. Upstairs, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120

her website: www.reverencesalon.net
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ladosha.wright

Specials….10% Off for New Clients. Free Trichological (analysis of hair and scalp) Consultation.

Scalp Stimulation – Things that You Can Do to aid in Your Hair Growth

Hey Natural Divas!

 

As I mentioned in my Audio Post, I have been reading a book called, Grow Hair Fast by Riquette Hofstein.  One of the steps that she addresses in an effort to grow your hair is scalp stimulation.  Here are some of her recipes:

Daytime Scalp Stimulator

(apply each morning)

3 ounces of cayenne pepper (you can buy it in oil form from a natural foods store)

a fifth of vodka

massage into scalp

*If you don’t want to buy alcohol, then mix equal parts of castor oil and white iodine.

 

Nightime Scalp Stimulator

(apply every night)

6 teaspoons of rosemary oil

3 teaspoons of basil oil

3 tablespoons of lavender oil

2 teaspoons of lemon oil

 

She advises that you wash your hair in the morning but I know that a lot of you only wash your hair weekly or monthly.  Go light on the oil if that is the case.

I massage my hair with oil each night.   However, I have been using EVVO, rosemary and peppermint oil.  I sometimes purchase Carol’s Daughter’s Hair Elixir.

I would love to know how massaging your head with oil daily or nightly helps you have healthy hair.  Please share.

Natural Hair Diary: Lovette ‘Luvvie’ Ajayi, Blogger – Essence.com

Natural Hair Diary: Lovette ‘Luvvie’ Ajayi, Blogger – Essence.com.

Henna in Your Hair? – Here’s what not to do!

Hi Natural Divas,

Well, I hope that you all had a nice Valentine’s Day!  I did!  I love love…but onto to something that I attempted to do today!  I put Henna in my hair.  That went fine…you know: put blocks in blender, added hot water and whipped it up until it had a “muddy” consistency.  Since I had so many errands to run this morning, I decided to put a shower cap on my head and then put a winter hat on top of that. Perfect!  My henna will sit on my head for a couple of hours while I take care of some business.  Well, after about an hour, the dripping began.  It didn’t seem to let up after a few wipes.  So I had to return home, rinse my hair, change my clothes and proceed to wash my white jacket.  It just seemed like a good idea at the time!

Learn from my silly, anxious error today and stay at home with henna in your hair.  By the way, my jacket came out clean and my hair doesn’t look bad either.  Most of all, if you are trying to grow your natural hair alone…dyeing with chemicals is still putting chemicals in your hair…..go for the henna.

Vinegar Hair Rinse – Natural Hair Care Product

Vinegar Hair Rinse – Natural Hair Care ProductHair is on the mildly acidic side of the pH scale and has an ideal pH of 4.5 to 5.5, which is close to that of an apple cider vinegar rinse (pH 2.9).On the other hand, many of the hair care products we use, such as soap-based shampoos, bleaches, hair colors, and permanents are strongly alkaline.Rinsing with apple cider vinegar will help balance the pH of your hair and remove the buildup that can result from the use of these styling products and inexpensive shampoos.Rinsing will also close the numerous cuticle scales which cover and protect the surface of each hair shaft. This imparts a smoother surface which reflects more light and as a result leaves your hair shinier, smoother and easier to manage. Rough hair shaft with open cuticles compared to smooth hair shaft with closed cuticles.Don’t worry about the slight vinegar smell you will notice after rinsing. It will disappear completely as your hair dries.Make your own healthy after-shampoo hair rinse by mixing 1/3 of a cup (75 ml) of ACV into a quart (1 liter) of water. You can then store this mixture in a plastic bottle and keep it in the shower for ready use.If you would like to prepare a smaller batch of this vinegar hair rinse recipe to experiment with, try mixing 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of apple cider vinegar into 1 cup (250 ml) of warm filtered tap water.Apply the vinegar rinse after shampooing and then rinse it all out, or for extra conditioning, you can leave the rinse on your hair. This natural hair care product can be used once or twice a week or more often as needed. 

Hair Herbal Rinse – Natural Hair Care Product

By infusing various herbs into the vinegar rinse, you can enhance different hair colors and condition hair at the same time.Here are some recommended herbs to use with apple cider vinegar:

• For dark hair:……Parsley, Rosemary, Sage
• For light hair:…..Chamomile, Flannel Mullein, Marigold
• For red hair:…….Henna
• For oily hair:……Lavender, Thyme, Witch Hazel, Yarrow
• For dry hair:…….Marigold
• For brittle hair:…Horsetail

To make your own herbal hair rinse natural hair care product:

1. Place 2 tablespoons of the dried herb (or herb mixture) into a muslin bag or tea ball and put in a warmed tea pot.
2. Pour 1 pint (500 ml) of boiling water over the herbs and infuse for 2 hours.
3. Allow the liquid to cool then pour it into a quart (1 liter) jar.
4. Add 1 pint (500 ml) of apple cider vinegar and mix well.

To add extra fragrance to the herbal rinse, try adding a few drops of lavender or lemon or rose essential oils.No time to make your own natural hair care product?You can buy online, ready made apple cider vinegar herbal hair rinses at Amazon.com

Essential oil vinegar hair rinse – Natural Hair Care ProductIf preparing a vinegar/herb infusion is not your cup of tea, then a faster way to enhance the hair conditioning effect of apple cider vinegar is to add a small amount of certain types of essential oils.To make a batch, just add 5 drops of the essential oil to 1 cup (250 ml) of apple cider vinegar. When you are ready to rinse your hair, take 1 tablespoon of this mixture and add it to 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water.Types of essential oils that go well in a vinegar hair rinse include:

• Lavender
• Lemon
• Rose
• Rosemary
• Sage

Dandruff and Itchy Scalp Relief

The acids and enzymes in ACV kill the “bottle bacillus”, a bacteria that is one of the causes for many scalp and hair conditions such as dandruff, itchy scalp, hair loss and often baldness.The bacteria clogs hair follicles allowing dry crusts to form that itch and flake.For a simple home treatment for dandruff and itchy scalp, apply full strength ACV to the scalp, rub in, and leave on for a half hour to an hour before washing your hair.For an extra strength natural hair care product, apple cider vinegar can be infused with herbs such as stinging nettle, southernwood, goosegrass, plantain and burdock root all of which help prevent dandruff on their own. Tea tree oil is another excellent natural anti-dandruff ingredient, which can be added.

In her book Apple Cider Vinegar- Miracle Health System, Patricia Bragg recommends trying the following natural hair loss treatment:

Natural Hair Loss Treatment

For bald and thinning areas apply to scalp an hour before shampooing- 2 Tbsp ACV mixed with a tiny pinch cayenne powder.Then before going to bed, mix a royal jelly capsule with one tsp ACV, pat on bald areas and leave overnight.The following herbs have also been used to prevent hair loss and stimulate hair growth:

• Burdock
• Catnip
• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Saw Palmetto
• Thyme
• Yucca

Make your own vinegar mixture as per the herbal hair rinse recipe given above and apply it full strength to the scalp. Rub it in and leave it on for a half hour to an hour before washing your hair.Apple cider vinegar is just one of many natural products that can be used to treat hair loss.You can find more holistic tips on how to stop your hair loss now, as well as a male and female natural hair loss treatment procedure that helps you address and eliminate the causes of hair loss, in an e-book called “Hair Loss no More” The author, Jonathon E Phillips, is an international hair health specialist and hair loss analyst who has also studied in the fields of physiology, toxicology and naturopathy.He guarantees that if you follow the simple steps outlined in this e-book you will see results and feel the benefits within 8 weeks or he will refund the complete cost of the book, no questions asked.

Home Remedy for head Lice

Lice infestations are very contagious and are characterized by intense itching caused by an allergic reaction to a toxin in the saliva of the lice.If you find that commercial lice preparations are too toxic (many contain pesticides) for you or your child’s skin, try the following herbal head louse treatment described in the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine that uses all natural hair care products:

1. Carefully brush the child’s head with a mixture of 3 parts olive oil and 1 part lavender essential oil.
   • First apply to a small area to test for allergic sensitivity or skin reaction.
   • The hair should be saturated with the olive oil mixture and a shower cap put on for 5 hours.
   • The olive oil clogs the breathing pores of the lice and they can’t hold their breath for more than 4 hours.
2. Follow this by an apple cider vinegar rinse, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) ACV added to 1 cup (250 ml) water, to unglue the nits from the hair.
   • Nits or lice eggs are fairly small and can be pearly to grey in color.
3. Then, using a fine-tooth comb, parents should comb the child’s hair meticulously to remove the lice eggs from the hair shaft.
4. And finally, wash the child’s hair with a natural shampoo.

source: www.helium.com

 

Coconut Oil – Great for Moisture

Coconut oil is said to have so many healthy attributes, including anti-fungal and antibacterial properties as well as vitamin and mineral richness, that it is being touted by many as the new “super food”. With so many benefits, is it any wonder that there arecoconut oil hair growth effects?

The oils and proteins in coconut oil work well to help keep hair from losing protein, which is one of the major contributors to hair breakage and hair loss. When used at least two times weekly, in addition to a stimulating scalp massage, it has been found that coconut oil can help to stimulate proper circulation and keep the scalp moisturized. It can also help to keep the head free of things like dandruff, as well as help to re-grow hair.

How do we harness coconut oil hair growth effects? Essentially, this can be done in two ways.

For people interested in growing their hair longer and thicker, it helps to keep the hair well moisturized and the hair shaft strong. This will prevent breakage of the hair and allow it to grow longer and thicker without looking damaged. It can also be used as a very effective hair conditioner daily, to help keep hair strong and damage-free.

For those interested in stopping hair loss and encouraging new hair growth, coconut oil hair growth benefits can be effectively harnessed when used warm with a scalp massage. The massage itself helps to stimulate the circulation of the scalp and hair follicles, which will make it easier for the hair follicles to absorb the valuable nutrients provided by thecoconut oil, nutrients which are necessary to re-grow hair.

For years, coconut has been thought to not be good for us because of all the saturated fat that was in it, but now people are finding that it’s the form the saturated fats take that makes a difference. As far as topical application is concerned, this oil is great for skin care and hair care.

The use of coconut oil on the scalp can also help to keep it free of lice, and will help to heal anything from a mosquito bite that might be on the scalp to the occasional pimple that people get on their heads. This will help to keep the scalp moisturized and healthy, which will in turn help to encouragehair growth. Since hair cannot grow well from an unhealthy scalp, coconut oil hair growth benefits cannot be underestimated.

The use of coconut oil on the scalp can also help to keep it free of lice, and will help to heal anything from a mosquito bite that might be on the scalp to the occasional pimple that people get on their heads. This will help to keep the scalp moisturized and healthy, which will in turn help to encouragehair growth. Since hair cannot grow well from an unhealthy scalp, coconut oil hair growth benefits cannot be underestimated.

source: http://www.all4naturalhealth.com