Hair

Moisturizing Protein Treatment

Hey chicas! I wanted to share the moisturizing protein treatment I recently concocted. It's not like I pulled this recipe out of thin air, for it's mainly formulated products combined. The reason why I made it in the first place is because I was running low on my Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor Treatment, and my hair was long overdue for a deep conditioning, protein treatment.

Hair

Curly Hair Update

Hey chicas! So, here's my curly hair update for December. Not sure if I'm going to get around to doing a video update this month, but I did want to let you guys know what's been going on with my hair.

Q and A Volume 8

Q&A Vol 8: Hot Oil, Deep Conditioning & Hair Dye

The latest installment of my Q&A series answers questions pertaining to deep conditioning treatments and the damaging effects of hair dye. Since some of my subscribers have asked that I do a video tutorial on my pre-poo olive oil treatment, I thought this would be the perfect time for a demonstration. Enjoy!

Hair

Winter Hair Survival Kit

With winter comes low temperatures and harsh winds, which can wreak havoc on our tresses. We're just entering winter, and I'm already noticing that my scalp is becoming extremely dry. It is therefore imperative that I adjust my regimen to accommodate the change in season. If I had to put together a healthy hair survival kit for the winter, it would include the following items/practices:

#1. A good moisturizing, deep conditioning treatment. True, moisturizing deep conditioning treatments are great year round, but they're especially important during the cold winter months when the cold from outdoors and heat from indoor heaters seek to dry out strands. Deep conditioners not only infuse moisture into the cuticle, but also alleviate a dry scalp. I would recommend using Organic Root Stimulator's Olive Oil Replenishing Pak; Extra Virgin Olive Oil; Neutrogena's Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner (they also have a dry scalp shampoo); and any conditioner that contains tea tree oil (For more info on the healing properties of tea tree oil, check out The Healing Power of Tea Tree Oil).

#2. A Moisturizer to protect the ends daily. There are a plethora of moisturizers on the market to choose from, but I would highly suggest using one that is light enough to use daily. If you choose one that is too heavy, it will weigh down the hair, causing it to look lifeless and limp. Pure coconut oil, Bronner Bros. Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion, and Hawaiian Silky's 14-in-1 Miracle Worker are three moisturizers that I've used that fit the bill. Yet, as I stated earlier, there are several on the market to choose from, so you just need to find one that works for you.

#3. A light scalp oil. I hardly, if ever, put anything on my scalp throughout the year, but my scalp and skin are becoming excessively dry as the temperature continues to drop. Hollywood beauty carries olive, carrot, and tea tree oils that are so lightweight, they absorb quickly into the scalp. Vitamin E oil is also a great option. I would highly recommend using these over a heavy oil/grease that can cause the hair to become greasy and limp. I would also avoid using a water based moisturizer that can cause your hair to revert at the roots if worn straight.

#4. Protective Styles. Although I'm not a big fan of protective styles, as I enjoy wearing my hair out and down and do so most of the time, protecting the ends is crucial during these cold winter months. Any style that hides the ends of your hair, whether it be a bun or even a simple ponytail with the ends tucked under, is great for ensuring that the ends of the hair don't dry out and split excessively.

#5. Ban the blow dryer! The heat from a blow dryer can dry out the ends of the hair on any given day, but it is especially harsh during the cold winter months. Avoiding heat as much as possible will help keep the ends from drying out, as the cold weather is already doing a good job of that! Thus, if you wish to straighten your hair, opt for air drying.

#6. A diet rich in protein. Remember, hair is mainly made of protein, so eating a diet rich in protein will help keep it strong and healthy, not to mention shiny :-). For those of you who don't eat meat, be sure to incorporate protein rich alternatives such as nuts, tofu, quinoa, and beans.

What steps are you ladies taking to protect your hair during the winter that aren't mentioned here?

Hair

How to Cheat a Deep Conditioning Treatment

Heat is an important part of the deep conditioning process because it opens up the hair shaft and allows the conditioner to penetrate. Conversely, using cool water to rinse out the conditioner is important because it seals the hair shaft, giving the tresses a shiny, healthy look. Normally, I sit under a hooded dryer for about ten minutes or so to allow the conditioner to process. Yesterday however, we reached scorching hot temperatures, so the last thing I felt like doing was sitting under the dryer and getting fried to death.

A simple way to include heat in the deep conditioning process without using a hooded dryer is to take a towel and heat it. I assume you could use a warm towel fresh from the dryer, but since that wasn't an option for me, I simply took a towel and drenched it in hot water:

I distributed some Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Pak throughout my hair with a wide tooth shower comb, then placed a processing cap on my head:

I removed the towel from the sink and squeezed most of the water out. I then took the towel and wrapped it around my head on top of the processing cap:

Please excuse the greasy face in this pic! I had just stepped out of the shower, so my face was freshly moisturized with no powder, LOL! Anyways, I kept the towel on for ten minutes or so, and the cool thing was I didn't lose any time, as I was able to pluck my brows and check my email while at the same time treat my hair.

This may not be as effective as sitting under the dryer, but it's how I "cheat" my way through the deep conditioning process.

Hair

Protein Treatments

I've spoken about the importance of doing protein treatments in my YouTube videos and here, on my blog. Hair is mainly comprised of a very strong protein called keratin. It is therefore essential that we treat our hair with protein periodically so that we can put strength back into strands that have been weakened by heat and or constant styling. There's a portion of an article in the Dec/Jan issue of Sophisticate's Black Hair Styles and Care Guide Magazine that I'd like to share with you. In it, celebrity hairstylist Traci Washington talks about the importance of protein treatments, and how those who suffer from constant breaking and shedding can benefit from them. Here's what she had to say:

"A protein treatment, followed by a moisturizing treatment, is ideal for women who struggle with breakage or shedding. Details Washington, 'If you're someone who breaks all the time, you'll probably have to use protein twice a month. And to eliminate so much shedding, you should use the protein at least once a month.' Washington notes that heat-activated protein treatments should be left on long enough for the solution to penetrate. 'If you're not going to sit under the dryer, you need to leave it on for about an hour,' the celeb stylist says. 'If you have access to a dryer, you need 15 to 25 minutes depending on how severely you need it" ("Mane Moisture: Customized Conditioning For You," Page 113).

I've been using my Aphogee 2-minute Reconstructor regularly. Yet, I've been following the directions on the bottle which states that it should only be kept on the hair for two minutes, and then rinsed out. I only apply heat when doing moisturizing treatments, but according to Miss Washington, heat needs to be applied when doing protein treatments as well.

Hair

Olive Oil As A Conditioning Treatment

When I was transitioning, I used to put extra virgin olive oil on my hair at night and then wash it out in the morning. I considered this to be my alternative to the traditional hot oil treatment. The olive oil kept my hair well nourished, and I believe that it is the reason why I experienced little to no breakage as I transitioned out of my relaxer.

Below is a video in which I explain my olive oil treatments.





In addition, here is a link to a great article that explains the benefits of olive oil in detail: Olive Oil: The All-Purpose Remedy.

Hair

Relief for a Dry, Itchy Scalp

Normally, I don't oil my scalp. However, there are times (like now, during the winter) when I experience dryness at the scalp. Hollywood Beauty carries a great line of hair oils that easily absorb into the scalp, quickly eliminating any white, patchy areas. The best thing about them is that they're so lightweight, they won't weigh the hair down. You can purchase them at Long's Drugs and or your local beauty supply store.

(Carrot & Olive Oil)

If you're suffering from a dry, itchy scalp, then perhaps you can benefit from a deep conditioning treatment. Organic Root Stimulator has a great, moisturizing deep conditioner that adds moisture to dry, brittle hair, while soothing a dry scalp.


If dandruff seems to be a recurring issue, you may need to switch over to a medicated shampoo such as T-Gel. I would also recommend consulting with a professional about your condition.