Where the heck are ya?!

Hey ya'll! I know, MIA again... But I'm not really missing this time, I've just been spending a little more time on my other blog!

Please hop over to my blog "Now, how 'bout that" by just copying and pasting this ---> http://letstalkabit.blogspot.com ...into your url!

Hope to see you there!

DC/MD/VA Curly Meet Up!! April 3rd!! Come Join Us!!

Oh Yeah!

There’s going to be a Curly Meet Up this weekend for the DC/MD/VA area natural hair folks!! Please join us for lunch, product swap and a fun time if you’re free this Saturday, April 3rd! Please send me an email at daydreamshdc@hotmaill.com if you’re interested and I’ll give you all the details! Talk with ya later!!

Rethinking Shampoos...

Hello Ya’ll!

I know, I know...long time, huh? Well, with so much going on with me, (taking classes, serving the community, acting travel agent for the family, etc..) I just haven’t found the time to get to the page as I’d like, HOWEVER, I will pop in every now and then until I can pull that extra time together!

I just wanted to check in with ya’ll to let you in on my latest “lesson learned”. Although I love the co-wash and have alternated between that and shampooing with some form of non-sulfate shampoo, (albeit only about once a month) I’ve now learned we may want to use a (non-sulfate) shampoo on a more regular basis. The reason being, ONLY using conditioner to wash your hair can cause major build-up on the scalp and hair. As I was told, shampoo is used to “take away” a certain element whereas conditioner is used to “add something to” our hair. So using only conditioner to clean your hair won’t take away the dirt and cleanse the hair and scalp as needed.

So, find yourself a good NON-SULFATE shampoo that works for your hair and go for it; Giovanni brand, diluted Dr Bonners, Trader Joe's Nourish Spa, Kinky Curly Come Clean, to name a few. You must remember though, you STILL need to make sure you condition your hair afterwards to “add back” the moisture that shampooing takes away!

*A Lil Extra: To hear more of the shampoo and conditioner explanation, check out Kimmaytube’s Youtube channel! Just go to Youtube.com and google “kimmaytube, natural hair”...this lady has it together seriously folks, and I think ya'll will get so much out of her videos. Until next time ya’ll, later!

MIA

Hey ya'll,

Just wanted to let you all know I'm not MIA (missing in action!), I've just been busy getting my paper/presentation and final exam completed for this present class! Please be patient with my postings, or lack thereof...I'll be back soon!! Toodles! :)

Ooops, I did it again!

Didn’t I JUST say I was done buying new products?? Well, you won’t believe what happened to me this weekend! While at the mall, minding my own business, this beauty supply shop had the nerve to be selling the one and only other product I’ve been wondering about!!! Devacurl One Conditioner and Devacurl Angell (okay, two)!! How dare they tempt me like that! They should know I’m weak…

Long story short, this conditioner is THE.BEST.CONDITIONER I’ve found yet! When I applied this conditioner, following the instruction from the Davachan website/videos, (google (Devacurl video") my hair felt like soft butter! And check out the definition I got from my twist out (and this is at the end of a long day of work, going to the kids school, cooking, etc…!) So this hair had already been in the coldness of the elements, as well as stood the heat of the kitchen. …Ok, the kitchen wasn’t THAT hot but you get my drift! lol Check it out:

PJ’ism at it’s very best…

Ok, I know, I know… I’m not suppose to buy more new stuff until I get rid of the old stuff but there’s one product that continued to call my name every single time I walked down the hair product aisles…every time! And finally I answered…not to get something new but just to get “it” off my back!! lol *Sad, I know…
Here’s the culprit now:


"Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Leave in Conditioner"

And you know what? I’m not disappointed; I’m glad I answered the call because this stuff is pretty good! It feels good in and does a decent job with twist-outs! I think it’s a keeper!

*You can find this almost everywhere, Target, Walgreens, Walmart, etc...

Until next time, take care!

Revisiting the past...

Ok, I've been slacking a little bit lately but I'm here now! Better late than...ok, I'll stop. :)

Ya’ll, yesterday I went into my old storage case, (you know, the case where you store all of the results of your product-junkie-isms? lol) and I discovered an old friend! Smooth and Shine Curl Activator Gel! Yep, and I decided to try it again to remember why I’d put it away to start with. So, after deep conditioning my hair with a mixture of Aubrey Organics (AO) Honeysuckle Rose, AO GPB, Jamaican black castor oil, and a little Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deep Moisture conditioners, I mixed a little Smooth and Shine Curl Activator Gel with some castor oil and YA’LL!!! That combination worked wonders on my hair! I mean, curls popping everywhere, even in the “hard-headed” crown area of my hair! And it feels so full and soft! ummmm!

Now, even "back then" when I would find something that worked, I would buy a couple/few bottles and stock it away, and with this product, it was the same. I opened one jar and discovered I had a second jar in my stash box. I want to get a couple more jars but I’m hearing the original formula has been DISCONTINUED! The company does have a replacement but the ingredients aren’t exactly the same and some were added that are supposedly not so good for our hair. I haven’t tried the new formula but other naturals are saying the new batch isn’t as good as the original version…dang.

Anywho, just in case you’re able to find some of the discontinued stock, here’s what you’ll be looking for:



Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Oleth 20, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Benzophenone 4, Disodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Fragrance, Ext Violet 2


Here’s what the “new” formula’s jar look like (*See the aloe plant on the side?):



Ingredients: Aqua (water), Clycerin, Aloe Varvadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Panthenol, Carbomer, Tri-Ethanolamine, Hyaluronic Acid, Oleth-20, Disodium Edta, Benxophenone-4, DMDM Hydantoin, Parfum (fragrance), Linalook, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, CI 60730 (ext. violet 2).

If you decide to try the new batch, please let me know what you think of it! Bye!

STOP!!! Henna Time...

Good morning Ya’ll!!

Yep, the time has come for my periodic henna hair treatment. And I’m pretty much on track because it’s only been about seven weeks since my last treatment and I promised myself to do this at least every six weeks! Oh! So you don’t know how conditioning and strengthening henna can be for the hair? Well, that’s why we’re here…to learn, right?

There’s a lot of information on the world wide web about how beneficial henna is for hair but my favorite site on the subject is: http://www.mehandi.com . Once you reach this site, there’s a VERY informative and FREE book you can download to get all you ever wanted to know about henna…did I say FREE? Yep. You can even order your henna from this site as well; I do. I use the “Body Art Quality Henna for African Hair” because it’s sifted the finest, therefore, it doesn’t take forever to mix and rinse out. And please note: if you decide to try henna, only get the BODY ART QUALITY henna! Other hennas advertised on some of the other sites have some of everything mixed in and trust me, you don’t want to risk messing something up at this point!! So, read through the book, do a little more research, and then make your own decision on whether or not you’re interested. For me? I love the strengthening effects and conditioning properties henna offers and my hair loves it too!

I won’t get into the “how to’s” and all because that free book will explain the process, color results, and so much more, much better than I and why duplicate effort, right? But after my many hours of research and “trial and errors”, I’ve found the best henna mixture for ME is using green tea and apple cider vinegar mixed in with the henna to make the paste.

So, back to MY process… I made my henna mix last night, around 8:00pm, covered the mixture with plastic wrap and let sit overnight until early this morning. This morning, after detangling my hair, I applied the henna mix as instructed and just relaxed. In fact, here I am still relaxing with henna and cling wrap in/on my head!



*Vanity note: This picture was taken with the sunlight shining through the window so those are NOT large veins on my forehead, just sunlight hitting a couple spots! Heehee. Ok, back to our regularly scheduled broadcasting…

In this picture, you can actually see the color of the henna mud…my hair shouldn’t be this strong of a color but there should be an auburn-ish tint to my strands, which in my opinion, is quite lovely, especially in the sunlight. You may not notice it as much in regular settings since my hair was dark to start with.

What normally happens next is, after about 2 hours of wearing my henna mix, I’ll rinse the henna out using a little oil and cheap conditioner to help get all of the henna out. This may take a little bit of effort as the mix is all up in your hair! I will follow the final rinse (water runs clear) with a deep conditioning treatment, to soften the strands a little. And viola! I’m done! I’ll post a picture of the finished results just before I do the deep conditioning treatment to show you the color! Until then…later ya’ll!!

Sunday morning...

Ok, so I didn’t give the wash-n-go a chance at a second day… hence no follow-up picture. Why? Because as I was playing around in my hair, as I’m prone to do (and know I need to stop!) I found quite a few single strand knots. And I know the hair has less chance of doing that if it’s stretched...and moisturized. *Single strand knots are the tiny knots you may sometime feel at the end of a single strand of hair, that’s curled back on to itself. I tried to capture one in the picture below; it's easier to feel than it is to see:




So, as to not disappoint, I’ve decided to show you the result of the twist-out I did last night. Here goes:



I’m thinking this is going to be my main hair-do for a little while… It looks okay to me and it’s easy to do… What do you think? Hmmm…, I'll keep trying. lol

Revisiting the "Wash-n-Go"...

Ok, so I decided I was going to try the “wash-n-go” again. *The “wash-n-go” is just what the name implies, except just before you “go”, you have the option of adding a little bit of styling product to help your style along. I haven’t attempted this style since late August; I’ve been immersed in twist-outs since the beginning of September.

The process I used for my wash-n-go this morning actually started last night. I did a deep conditioning on dry hair using a mixture of Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose conditioner, olive oil, Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa conditioner, and a little coconut oil. I added a very light coating of this mixture to my dry hair and then braided my hair in three braids, one on each side and one in the back. Because the amount used was just enough to cover each strand (not over saturating), about the time I was ready for bed, my head was mostly dry. I covered my hair with my satin bonnet and off to dreamland I went.

Upon waking this morning, I unbraided my hair and I used an applicator bottle to apply my oil mixture (olive, coconut, and jojoba) on my scalp and did a light massage; I then rubbed some of the mixture all over my hair, concentrating on the ends, and then headed for the shower.

I co-washed with Suave coconut conditioner and then finger-detangled my hair while the conditioner was still in; after a thorough scalp massage, I lightly rinsed with lukewarm water. I reapplied more conditioner, adding a little bit of Trader Joe’s conditioner to the mix, ensuring all of my strands were coated with the stuff. That sat while I took care of the rest of my shower. After cleaning, I again lightly rinsed but this time I used cold water to encourage the hair cuticle to close. I then used my styling product of choice, ECO styler gel (the clear one), and distributed that throughout my hair; after another light rinsing, I SHOOK MY HEAD LIKE A DOG! LOL!! I know that sounds funny but shaking your hair (don’t hurt your neck doing this!) causes your curls to separate and eliminates the strands from clumping too much together. *This may sound like a lot but in reality, it only takes about 10-15 minutes, including your shower.

Here’s a little look-see of the little curls that formed (this was taken at the end of the day, after it’d dried):



Hmmm…. tomorrow I’ll give a brief report (and maybe a picture depending on the results) on how it lasts overnight! Until then, toodles!

Happy New Year Ya'll....here's to a New You!!

Wow! It’s 2010 already! It’s during this time, the start of the new year, that we begin making New Year resolutions and one of the most common “resolves” is the declaration to lose weight. Yeah, I do it myself and each year I’m sure I’ll “do it this time”! I usually start with the mindset of, “there must be an easier way” and each and every time, I fail! lol So, this year, I’m not going to try any fad diet or make over-zealous work out plans. This year, I’m going to do it the old fashion way…stop eating so much of the wrong things and get my butt moving!

When attempting to do something I don’t like so much, one of the best ways I’ve found to combat the “BLAHS” is to incorporate something I DO like with it. And what is one of my favorite things to do?....learning how to take care of my hair!! So, while researching the basic formula for weight loss, (burn more calories than I take in, duh!) I found an interesting read on www.webmd.com (can you tell this is one of my favorite medical sites?) titled “Top 10 Foods for Healthy Hair”. Here goes:

“Healthy Hair Food No. 1: Salmon
When it comes to foods that pack a beauty punch, it's hard to beat salmon. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, this high-quality protein source is also filled with vitamin B-12 and iron. "Essential omega-3 fatty acids are needed to support scalp health," says Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD, a dietitian in Los Angeles and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "A deficiency can result in a dry scalp and thus hair, giving it a dull look." Vegetarian? Include one or two tablespoons of ground flaxseed in your daily diet for some plant-based omega-3 fats.

Healthy Hair Food No. 2: Dark Green Vegetables
Popeye the Sailor Man didn't eat all that spinach for healthy hair, but he could have. Spinach, like broccoli and Swiss chard, is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. The oily substance, secreted by your hair follicles, is the body's natural hair conditioner. Dark green vegetables also provide iron and calcium.

Healthy Hair Food No. 3: Beans
Beans, beans, they're good for your ... hair? Yes, it's true. Legumes like kidney beans and lentils should be an important part of your hair-care diet. Not only do they provide plentiful protein to promote hair growth, but ample iron, zinc, and biotin. While rare, biotin deficiencies can result in brittle hair. Blatner, who is also a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, recommends three or more cups of lentils or beans each week.

Healthy Hair Food No. 4: Nuts
Do you go nuts for thick, shiny hair? You should. Brazil nuts are one of nature's best sources of selenium, an important mineral for the health of your scalp.
Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that may help condition your hair. They are also a terrific source of zinc, as are cashews, pecans, and almonds. A zinc deficiency can lead to hair shedding, so make sure nuts are a regular on your healthy hair menu.

Healthy Hair Food No. 5: Poultry
Chickens and turkeys may have feathers, but the high-quality protein they provide will help give you the healthy hair you crave. "Without adequate protein or with low-quality protein, one can experience weak brittle hair, while a profound protein deficiency can result in loss of hair color," Giancoli tells WebMD. Poultry also provides iron with a high degree of bioavailability, meaning your body can easily reap its benefits.

Healthy Hair Food No. 6: Eggs
When it comes to healthy hair, it doesn't matter whether you like your eggs scrambled, fried, or over easy. However they're served up, eggs are one of the best protein sources you can find. They also contain biotin and vitamin B-12, which are important beauty nutrients.

Healthy Hair Food No. 7: Whole Grains
Sink your teeth into hearty whole grains, including whole-wheat bread and fortified whole-grain breakfast cereals, for a hair-healthy dose of zinc, iron, and B vitamins.
A whole-grain snack can also be a great go-to food when your energy is zapped halfway through the afternoon, and you've still got hours to go before dinner.

Healthy Hair Food No. 8: Oysters
Oysters may be better known for their reputation as an aphrodisiac, but they can also lead to healthy hair -- and who doesn't love that? The key to their love and hair-boosting abilities is zinc -- a powerful antioxidant. If oysters don't make a regular appearance on your dinner plate, don't despair. In addition to getting it from whole grains and nuts, you can also get zinc from beef and lamb.

Healthy Hair Food No. 9: Low-Fat Dairy Products
Low-fat dairy products like skim milk and yogurt are great sources of calcium, an important mineral for hair growth. They also contain whey and casein, two high-quality protein sources. For some healthy hair foods "to-go," try throwing a yogurt or cottage cheese cup in your bag when you head out in the morning to snack on later in the day. You can even boost their hair benefits by stirring in a couple of tablespoons of ground flaxseeds or walnuts for omega-3 fatty acids and zinc.

Healthy Hair Food No. 10: Carrots
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which promotes a healthy scalp along with good vision. Since a healthy scalp is essential for a shiny, well-conditioned head of hair, you'd be wise to include carrots in your diet as snacks or toppings on your salad.”

The Big Picture: A Balanced Diet for Healthy Hair
When it comes to foods for healthy hair and beauty, variety is the best way to go.
"An overall balanced diet of lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fatty fish like salmon and low-fat dairy will help keep hair healthy," Giancoli says.
If you're tempted to drop pounds fast with the latest fad diet, it could leave you with less-than-healthy hair -- along with a growling stomach. Low-calorie diets are often low in some of the most important nutrients for healthy hair, including omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamin A. In addition to stunting hair growth and leading to dullness, super-low calorie plans may even cause hair loss.
"Crash diets can affect the hair cycle," Mirmirani tells WebMD. "Losing a significant amount of weight in a short amount of time can affect that normal hair rhythm. Two to three months later, you might notice a significant increase in shedding. This is a temporary problem that you recover from with a well-rounded diet."”

Now...was that a mouthful or what?! lol Later Ya'll!

I’m not a Doctor! .. I don’t even play one on this blog!

Hey Everyone!

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season and getting the chance to spend some quality time with family and close friends. With the new year quickly approaching, I‘m sure everyone’s getting those resolutions set, me included, except I this time I plan on sticking to “the plan” dang-gone it! lol We’ll see...

Well, one of the to-do items on “my plan” is to take extra care of this head o’ hair of mine! When I first went natural, I started taking the supplement Biotin (and *MSM). One of the benefits of biotin is it helps stimulate hair growth and hair thickness, as well as improve nails and skin. Because I was newly natural and wasn’t sure of my natural hair growth rate, I wasn’t able to determine if biotin had much to do with the rate my hair was growing; I was averaging about ½” to ¾” of growth per month. *NOTE: The average growth rate for hair is between ¼” to 1” of growth per month. When I BC’d in November 2008, I had about 1 ½ inches of new growth (stretched). *In the picture below, I still had a little bit of relaxed ends hanging on.



Later, during the month of December, I joined a “5 Inches By Next December” challenge with my natural sisters on Nappturality.com. I was able to reach my 5” goal by late-March/early April...that means about 3” of growth in 3 months. Shortly after ending the challenge, I stopped the supplements. Since April, I’ve trimmed my hair twice and have “dusted” my ends about three more times...so I can say I’ve cut about 1 ½” to 2” off since April. Today, my hair is between 5” (center of head, hard-to-retain-length section) and 6”. Yep, about 3 ½” of growth in almost eight months, which equates to about 3/8” of growth per month. Not bad, in fact it’s about average but I was getting close to an inch a month before.

Soooo, yesterday I went to Walgreens and found Nature’s Bounty brand of Biotin 5000mcg (5 mg). It was a “Buy One, Get One” at that! I probably could have found them for less but I got both bottles for $11.00, each contains 60 capsules to be taken once a day. If taken as suggested, these should last me 4 months which should be more than enough time to see if the biotin is doing anything for me.

I found an interesting read on www.webmd.com that tells about biotin and its benefits:

“Eating for Hair Health continued...
According to experts, this nutrient is also essential for hair growth. It's so important that biotin supplements are often prescribed right alongside medical hair loss treatments such as Propecia, Proscar, or minoxidil (Rogaine, Ronoxidil).
"Biotin is a major component in the natural hair manufacturing process -- it is essential to not only grow new hair, but it also plays a major role in the overall health of skin and nails," says Andrew Lessman, clinical researcher and creator of Your Vitamins, an all-natural supplement line manufactured in Henderson, Nevada.
While Lessman says we can get biotin from our diet -- it's present in foods like liver and egg yolks -- we would have to consume thousands of calories daily to get what our hair needs. That's one reason why he and so many dermatologists suggest biotin supplements.
Indeed, Daly says he routinely recommends up to 3 mg of biotin daily for his hair loss patients, while Lessman developed a healthy hair, skin, and nails product containing 2 mg of biotin per daily dosage, which he believes is the minimum for healthy hair.
The recommended daily intake (RDI) of biotin is a scant 300 mcg -- and even the healthiest diets usually contain no more than 30 to 50 mcg, says Lessman.”

.....

Notice the clinical researcher recommended a daily intake of 2mg (2000 mcg) as the minimum for healthy hair; the supplements I have are 5 mg (5000mcg). I’ve read on several hair boards where women are taking up to and beyond 13,000mcg!! Now, although biotin is a water soluble vitamin and any excess is flushed out of the body, I wouldn’t recommend taking that much. As usual, please do your own research on Biotin to see if it’s something you’d be interested in. And I will keep you updated on how my plan goes with using the Biotin 5 mcg!

*A Lil’ Extra: “MSM” is methylsulfonylmethane (METH-əl-sul-FON-il-METH-ane); MSM provides sulfur, a vital building block of joints, cartilage, skin, hair and nails, and methyl groups, which support many vital biochemical processes in the body, including energy production. MSM is a naturally-occurring nutrient found in small amounts of many foods.

Wishing you All a Merry Christmas and an Amazing 2010!

Hey Ya'll!
It's Christmas Eve and I'm attempting to get the family together for a family-game night face-off! For this post I decided to repost an article I wrote on my "other" blog ("Now, how 'bout that?"); the post is in reference to starting your new year on a positive note:

Have you ever been in a great mood and as soon as someone with a negative attitude came around, your day seemed just a little less bright? I'm positive this negativeness is highly contagious; not only does it spread to you but it zaps away your positive energy and makes you physically unwell. Since passing beyond the age of "knowing better", I've become determined to distance myself from folks with bad attitudes. Of course, working outside of my home forces me to engage with all kinds of folks so this isn't a total withdrawal, it's more of a distancing on a personal level. And you know what? Most times it feels good; other times it's rather sad that there's only a handful, ...heck, maybe one or two folks I enjoy spending time with. Once you reach a certain point in your life or a certain age, you suddenly feel as if you shouldn't have to put up with so much of the nonsense. Am I getting crotchety and impatient in my older age (not that old!) or am I just sick and tired of being sick and tired? I've even considered marketing cards that expresses what some folks feel uncomfortable saying... Example: "I've known you for a long time and have mostly enjoyed knowing you but now I feel our friendship is costing me more than its worth"; or "I love you but it's time for you to get off of my couch and start living life on your on!"....better yet, "You may have fooled someone, but I know you only got that job because of who you know, not what you know". *giggle Maybe you'd be better off sending that last one anonymously! But do you get my drift?

LOL! Start 2010 on a positive note, surround yourself with positive people and things. If your environment doesn't support you, you can't be your very best. I wish peace and happiness to you and yours, and may the new year find you in an even brighter light! *Mmmwah! :)

Snowed In....

Hey Ya’ll!

We’re snowed in over here on the east coast and what could be a more perfect time for a deep conditioning treatment! Although I co-wash at least once a week, I only shampoo once a month and this weekend marked my shampoo day. I used Giovanni’s Smooth as Silk Shampoo (sulfate free). After rinsing, I then did a clarifying rinse with ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar (ACV) in about a quart of water. I ran the ACV rinse over my freshly washed hair followed by another quart of clear water.

I followed this with my deep conditioning treatment; I mixed Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle and Rose Conditioner, Giovanni’s Smooth as Silk Xtreme Protein Hair Infusion, coconut oil, olive oil, Suave Humectant, and a drop or two of Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO). I smoothed this mixture into my hair, ensuring I coated every strand by mashing it into each section of hair, and then covered with a plastic cap. After a little cleaning and playing a couple board games with the family, (about 2 hours) I finally rinsed the conditioner out.

To stretch my hair a little, I applied my mixture of shea butter, glycerin, coconut oil, and JBCO (yummy!) through my hair and braided it into eight braids. Because we’ve been snow bound, I’ve left the braids in all day. I’ll post a picture when I take them out tomorrow for work …that is if we’re able to get out on the roads!

So, I guess I’ll “see” ya’ll tomorrow! Take care!

Hair Diary Entry

HELLO!!

Happy Holidays!! Girl, I have finally gotten my flat iron technique down to where I can actually go out in public with straight hair. My versatility is endless!!! I had curls on Monday last week and a French roll by Friday. Today I am enjoying my twist out.

Have I told you lately thanks for saving me from going back to the creamy crack? To think I almost gave all this up. I surely would have regretted it.

I am currently using the JBCO and you are right; LOVE IT. Hope you are in the Holiday Spirit. Tracy

(JBCO - Jamaican Black Castor Oil)