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

Hair Throughout The Ages 

 

From infancy up, our hair can go through many changes. It's said that our hair actually changes, on average, every seven years. Just as our body ages and can go through different phases due to hormonal changes, so does our hair.

TBYHC Check In

Hey divas,

Just checkin' in witcha to see how you're doing with the challenge. I must admit that I was a bad gal last month because I forgot to do a protein deep conditioning treatment! It's hard remembering to do a deep conditioning treatment period, but particularly a protein treatment because I've come to the conclusion that my hair can't tolerate a lot of protein. I've grown accustomed to doing a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment once a month because I find it essential in prepping my hair for heat. Needless to say, I will be doing a protein deep conditioning treatment Thursday or Friday of this week.

How are things going for you lovely ladies?

XOXO,

DPrincess28

P.S. Hope you all enjoyed a blessed Easter Sunday!

Hair

TBYHC 2011: DPrincess28's Hair Care Log

Hey divas! I figured I'd share with you what I've done thus far in order to kick off this fabulous challenge, which, by the way, I'm so thrilled that many of you have decided to join me on. Okay, so...let's get started!

I flat ironed my hair on Friday, February 25, and rocked the straight look for a week:

FYI, I haven't trimmed my hair since I cut it in December (for details, see Hair Cut 12.10.10), and don't plan on doing so until this challenge wraps in June.

On Thursday, March 3rd, I saturated my hair with EVOO as I was preparing for bed:

Once I got my hair nice and oily, I then put it up in a loose ponytail and tied a plastic grocery bag around my head (I ran out of processing caps, so this was the next best thing!):


I placed my satin bonnet on top and went to bed:

The next morning, I woke up (thank God!) and shampooed my hair with a sulfate-free cleanser. Afterwards, I applied Aphogee's 2 Minute Reconstructor treatment to my hair, because I haven't done a protein treatment in a while. This challenge calls for two deep conditioning treatments each month, and I believe that protein should be used following heat styling, as it can serve to strengthen the hair. Plus, I already did a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment prior to heat styling, so I needed some protein to balance things out.

Instead of simply applying the deep conditioner while I was in the shower, I instead waited until after I exited the shower to apply it. I combed the conditioner through from root to tip with my wide-toothed shower comb:

This was done on slightly towel dried hair because the hair can absorb more of the conditioner when it's not already saturated with water. Next up is a pic of what my hair looked like after I saturated it with the conditoner. I applied it to the hair in sections, which is why you see that funky part going down the middle:

After sitting under my hooded dryer for ten minutes on medium heat, I rinsed the condish out with cold water. Afterwards, I applied some sulfate-free moisturizing conditioner, and rinsed it out immediately. Here I am with squeaky clean, deep conditioned locks:

*Hi*

After my hair was clean, it was ready to be styled, so I decided to apply some of the Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding I recently purchased and featured in my latest Product Haul. This is what my natural curls looked like after my hair was completely air dried with the product:

As you can see, my curls were a little frizzy, but hey, they always look better in subsequent days. To refresh my curls on day two, I simply spritzed my hair with H2O and added some of the pure Coconut Oil that was also featured in my latest Product Haul, and went on about my bizness. By day three, I felt that my curls needed a little boost, so I allowed my hair to get wet in the shower, and further spritzed my curls with H2O upon exiting the shower. Afterwards, I applied more of the Curly Pudding (I didn't apply nearly as much as I had on the first day. In fact, I didn't even part through my hair like I did on day one, and simply used my fingers to scrunch and pull on parts that I felt needed more definition). Here's what my hair ended up looking like once dry on day 3:

I love how elongated my curls are! I will continue to rock my natural curls for the rest of this week, and then come wash day, I plan to try out a different heat-free style, such as a braidout or twists. I'm not yet sure what I'm gonna do, but I'll definitely keep y'all posted.

What have you ladies done to kick off this challenge?

XOXO,

DPrincess28

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

Hair Update

So, I was really trying to not straighten my hair at all during the "Take Back Your Hair" Challenge, but I attended a special event for which I wanted to wear my hair down and loose. Now, I asked you ladies if you would consider it cheating if I were to dye my bangs (See Check In & A Question for the full post), and most of you said no. In addition, some of you expressed that if I did color my bangs, then I should consider that as cashing in on one of my heat passes. Well, because I did want to wear my hair straight, and will probably straighten it again for an event I have coming up next month, I've decided to hold off on coloring my hair until after the challenge.

Last Thursday I shampooed my hair with my One N' Only Ceramic Silk Shampoo, then did a protein deep conditioning treatment with Aphogee's 2 Minute Reconstructor treatment. I allowed my hair to air dry over night with a heat protectant (For details see How I Air Dry My Hair Prior to Straightening), then flat ironed it with my GVP Generic Chi the following day. This is what my hair looked like prior to washing it:

Hair pre-shampoo and styled with Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1 Miracle Worker

And this is what my hair looked like after straightening it:

Back shot

Side Shot

I know we're only one month into the challenge, but I can already see a major improvement in the health of my hair. My hair looks and feels much fuller and healthier. This challenge has forced me to stick with a regimen that includes regular deep conditioning treatments. Since I stopped straightening my hair once a week in '09, I didn't feel the need to deep condition as much, as I always saw it as a necessary measure to prep my hair for heat. Yet, I now see that regular deep conditioning treatments really do keep the hair strong and healthy regardless of how it's styled.

My ends look just as clean and crisp as they did when I trimmed them last month. I therefore don't intend to trim them again until the challenge is over in December. Staying on top of this new regimen (little to no heat and lots of deep conditioning) will further assist in keeping my ends clean throughout the challenge.

Hope you ladies are doing well :-). I can't wait to hear how things are going for you!

XOXO,

DPrincess28

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.