Finally, Working on that Book Again



What book? Why, the book about being a vegetarian of course. I'm no trained chef, nor am I a registered nutritionist or dietician. But I am one passionate vegetarian, and I think that warrants enough merit to write a book. Plus, I consider myself a witty person, all the more reason to write a book. I do consider myself an exceptional writer. My plans are to try to get a detailed book outline by the end of the year and start researching next year. This might all end up taking the backburner to my Honors Thesis, but I have to do something for pleasure.

Oyin Handmade Product Review: Nourishing Herbal Leave-Ins



Product Description: Our nourishing herbal leave-in tonics have been our most popular products since we first introduced "Greg Juice," the original citrus-herbal version, in 2004. Now available in three unique scents, this oil-free mixture of vegetable moisturizers and herbal essences remains hugely successful! The secret is this: spring water, strongly infused with a variety of herbs known to help condition and stimulate the scalp, thus encouraging hair growth; vegetable ingredients for detangling, moisture and suppleness; vegetable glycerine for humectancy and shine; and an essential oil blend nutritious to the scalp. This formula, like Greg Juice, is excellent for a daily pick-me-up on cornrows or twists. My sisters say it keeps their locs moisturized without weighing them down. And if I tried to detangle my hair without a bottle standing nearby, it would stand up and laugh at my comb. Many uses, this potion has.

Greg Juice contains: purified water infused with horsetail, lavender, nettle, roses, and chamomile; organic flaxseeds; aloe vera juice; vegetable glycerine; essences of lavender, sweet orange, ylang ylang; grapefruit seed extract; citric acid. It is naturally preserved with grapefruit seed extract and citric acid. Please use within 6-12 months, refrigerate for extended storage.

Juices & Berries contains: purified water infused with horsetail, lavender, nettle, roses, and chamomile; organic flaxseeds; aloe vera juice; vegetable glycerine; essences of lavender, sweet orange, ylang ylang; grapefruit seed extract; citric acid. It is naturally preserved with grapefruit seed extract and citric acid. Please use within 6-12 months, refrigerate for extended storage.

Frank Juice contains: purified water infused with horsetail, lavender, nettle, roses, and chamomile; organic flaxseeds; aloe vera juice; vegetable glycerine; essences of lavender, sweet orange, ylang ylang; grapefruit seed extract; citric acid, fragrance. It is naturally preserved with grapefruit seed extract and citric acid. Please use within 6-12 months, refrigerate for extended storage.

Prices: 2oz mini for $3.50; 8oz for $11.00

Availability: Order online from OyinHandmade.com or CurlMart.com. If you stay in the Baltimore, Maryland area, you can buy it directly from the store. The owners, a really sweet married couple, seem very nice. (I have watched their podcasts).

How I Use It and My Experience:
I use this herbal leave-in spray as a humectant to add moisture and draw moisture to my hair. I spray it on in the morning to my dry afro, step in the shower with my hair uncovered, and allow the steam of the shower to add moisture. I love that it contains not one, not two, but three humectants -- flaxseeds, aloe vera and vegetable glycerine. As far as the smell goes, I currently own the Juices and Berries and Greg Juice scents. I love both of them, but I lean more toward the Greg Juice. It has a light herbal scent that I like, and the Juices and Berries smells more sweet, like Kool-Aid. The bad news is that the smell never lingers for long, because I seal the moisture in using the Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade. But if you don't like the smell, that can be a good thing. Note that I use this to add moisture to the hair whether it is an afro or in twists. Be careful not to spray too much on the scalp. It caused some build-up when I went two weeks without co-washing. I does not, however, cause build-up on the hair. Spray lightly, not with the intention of making your hair wet, just damp on the surface. In conclusion, I plan to repurchase and reuse. I will probably only buy the Greg Juice scent from now on, since that is the one I like more, but not before giving the Frank Juice a try.

If I ever run out of this and want to use something with similar benefits, I will use my own homemade humectant spray recipe using aloe vera juice and/or vegetable glycerine added to water.

Product webpage can be found HERE.

Do I Dare? Vatika Coconut Hair Oil

One of the main ways for me to start using, or become tempted to use, a product is by seeing many naturalistas in the blogosphere and webosphere give rave reviews. One such products that meets this criteria is Vatika Hair Oil.

Here is what I keep reading...that this product will soften, strengthen, and moisturize your hair. That it contains ayurvedic (Indian medicinal) herbs that lead to added benefits to your hair. I can't seem to get a clear idea of what is smells like. Some love the smell, others abhor it. I have noticed that many use it in spite of the smell. And if I can't stand it, then I will just use it as a pre-poo treatment. Aside from being available primarily online only, unless I find an Indian grocer nearby, is that Vatika Hair Oil contains one ingredients I wish it didn't...milk.

I'm no vegan, although I have been trying to be one for quite some time. And I use plenty of products with honey, mainly due to my love for Oyin Handmade. I even own a bear-shaped container of honey. But there is something about using milk on my hair. For one thing, milk spoils whereas honey has a shelf life of forever. Secondly, I don't know what good milk does a hair, whereas honey has many benefits. I did some more research, and have found out that Dabur, the company that manufactures Vatika Oil, also makes other hair oils, including an Amla oil. I have read about the wonder of amla and other ayurvedic herbs on the hair. I looked up the ingredients of Amla oil, and it contains mineral oil and dyes, two big no-no's, especially the mineral oil.

At the end of the day, I may give Vatika oil a try, in spite of the milk. As I said, I'm no vegan, just a vegetarian trying to be vegan. Furthermore, and this may sound weird, I don't think cows are as inhumanely treated in India as they are in the USA. The milk may be very well be conflict-free.

Also, this has me thinking I should do more research into ayurveda. I have been trying to think of ways to incorporate ayurveda into my hair regimen, especially since the popular brand AfroVeda has hiked their prices significantly. I never used their products, but now I don't plan to. I will keep you posted as to whether I purchase the Vatika or not and my overall research with Ayurveda as well. 

Oyin Handmade Review: Burnt Sugar Pomade

Product Description:
If your hair loves oils, it'll be thrilled to meet Burnt Sugar! This nourishing blend of oils, butters, and veggie waxes acts as humectant and protecting for hair, increasing shine to a high glossy sheen and locking in moisture. It's packed with essential fatty acids to nourish scalp without blocking pores, and actually sinks into your hair and skin for a long lasting, non-greasy feeling. It's great on braids, imparts shine and moisture to loose hair, and adds luster to locks.

HOW TO USE Rub between your fingers or palms to soften/liquefy. Use to moisturize scalp, to twist locs, to seal the ends of twists or braids, to polish a pulled-back style or an updo, to add weight to the canopy of your hair, to weigh down flyaways or control frizz, or to create waves on super short cuts.

Ingredients:
Castor oil, hydrogenated soybean wax (hydrogenated soybean oil), organic virgin coconut oil, mango seed oil, olive oil, unrefined hempseed oil, cocoa butter, broccoli seed oil, fragrance and love!

Price: $10.00 for a 4oz container; $16.00 from an 8oz container

Availability: Order online from OyinHandmade.com or CurlMart.com. If you stay in the Baltimore, Maryland area, you can buy it directly from the store. The owners, a really sweet married couple, seem very nice. (I have watched their podcasts).


How I Use It and My Experience:
I use this product to lock in moisture after spraying my hair with a humectant spray (usually the Oyin Handmade Greg Juice or Juices and Berries). I also use it to lay down my edges. The smell is divine, like syrup. I don't use it as a pomade for my scalp, even though it is described as an all natural version of the old school grease we may be used to. It is very much like an old school grease, so if that's what you're looking for, great. Like most of Oyin Handmade products, the ingredients are very good and all natural. I especially love that castor oil is the first ingredient. The smell also gives it many added points. The price is alright, but again a little goes a long way. This product is great for sealing ends, and I plan to continue to use it to seal my ends and moisture in general. I have been guilty of using too much, which has led to my hair having a product-y appearance, but it has sunk into the strands eventually. It mainly looks product-y when applied to damp hair. I very much plan to rebuy and reuse in the future. I may even invest in the 8oz container. I also plan to see how it works as a scalp "grease".

If every I run out of this and want something with similar benefits, I will use shea butter and/or castor oil.

Product webpage can be found HERE.

New Post Series: Oyin Handmade Review



At the request of my sister and fellow blogger Miss Cee C, I have decided to write a detailed post about all the Oyin Handmade products that I use and own. Currently, I own the following Oyin Handmade products:

• Honey Hemp Conditioner
• Juices and Berries - Nourishing Herbal Leave-In
• Greg Juice - Nourishing Herbal Leave-In
• Whipped Pudding
• Shine and Define
• Burnt Sugar Pomade

I will be doing a detailed review of each one, each getting its own post. The Juices and Berries and Greg Juice will be in one post, since they are the same formula but with a different smell. I realized that OH might be the one product line in which I use the most products. I have even bigger plans. Here is a list of the products I want to try from them in the near future:

• Frank Juice - Nourishing Herbal Leave-In
• Grand Poo Bar
• Head to Toe Honey Wash

Great Linkage: Honey Deep Conditioner Review



As stated in my revised regimen blog post, the one right before this post, I haven't yet tried the honey added to my conditioner for a deep treatment, because I just bought some yesterday. Furthermore, I am not due for another deep treatment until this weekend. In the meantime, my sister Miss Cee C beat me to the punch, and tried it herself. She had great things to say. To read her full review, click HERE. I'm so glad things went well for her in the honey department. I have even more faith now that things will go well for me.

Revised Regimen - Fall/Winter 2010

As promised, I have updated my hair care regimen. And I am also finally uploading a picture of my hair. The pictures reflect about 5 and a half months. When you read below,you will see that I am cleansing and deep treating twice a month, instead of just once. Everything below, I have tried, with the exception of adding honey to my conditioner for deep treatment (I just bought some honey today) and using Aussie Moist for deep treatment (I have only used it to condition/detangle). Otherwise, I have tried everything below.



Bi-Weekly Routine

• Cleanse/Clarify with Giovanni 50:50 Balanced Moisturizing Calming Shampoo OR Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Threat Shampoo
• This step is almost always preceded with a pre-poo treatment of olive and/or coconut oil
• I only lather once, then buffer with a conditioner (such as my Yes to Cucumbers Daily Makeover Conditioner) before rinsing 
• Deep Moisture Treatment (w/Heat) with Suave Almond Shea Butter OR Aussie Moist Conditioner + Coconut Oil or Olive Oil and Raw Honey
• No exact measurements are taken, but about a tablespoon each of honey and coconut oil is added for every palmful of conditioner
• Apply KimmayTube Leave-In Conditioner Recipe
• Style as desired (using Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding)

Weekly Regimen (alternate weeks when I am not shampooing and deep treating my hair)

• Co-Wash with Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner
• Condition/Detangle w/Aussie Moist Condtioner or Suave Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner
• No raw materials are added to my conditioner during this step. I usually finger detangle if my hair has been out in an afro and comb detangle with my Cricket Ultraclean Comb when my hair has been styled in twists
• Style as desired

Daily Regimen

• Moisturize with Aloe Vera Juice and Water OR OH Juices and Berries or Greg Juice
• Seal with Oils (olive, coconut, castor, or jojoba) or Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade

Look What I Bought...

 

Aussie Moist Conditioner. After deciding to cull away my Herbal Essences, I decided to incorporate another rinse out conditioner into my natural hair rotation. I did some research (meaning I looked on my favorite blogs) to see what other naturals recommended. I decided to purchase Aussie Moist Conditioner, for the following reasons:

• It is described as a moisturizing conditioner, formulated for "dry, thirsty hair." Moisturizing is the one word a product must say in order for me to consider buying it.
• It is available at most drug stores. I prefer to be able to buy something at the local CVS or maybe even Wal-Mart. Ordering things online is reserved for "holy grail" items.
• It is relatively inexpensive. It will probably be even cheaper at Wal-Mart, but I bought mine at CVS, which is always the Central Value Store.
• Curly Nikki says... (I know. I refer to her as the Confucius of natural hair). Curly Nikki says this is a great conditioner for those who have had good results with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. Her review can be found HERE.

My plans for this conditioner are to use it as a deep conditioner base, with olive and/or coconut oil and honey added for better conditioning, and to use it as a detangling conditioner. My new belief in life is to use a basic store bought conditioner with raw ingredients added as a deep conditioner. I am researching more the use of silicones, as in the positive uses. I do not utilize the Curly Girl method (no use of cones and conditioner washing only), because I use shampoo to clarify. Although the shampoo I use does not contain sulfates, it contains coco betaine, which removes build up of silicones and other hair products. I still use silicones and other products that may cause build up sparingly. One of the best ways to ensure growth is to let your hair breathe.

I digress. The point of this post is that I have bought the Aussie Moist Conditioner. I plan to use it soon, in about a week. And I will get back to you about how it performs. Stay tuned...

So Nice, I'll Buy It Twice (And Then Again)



I got the idea for this blog title from a Jc article, founder and editor of the The Natural Haven blog, in which she took a poll from her readers of conditioners that people highly recommended. While going through my bathroom, I realized that I have a lot of products. I mean a lot of products. I decided to not feel too bad, because I have been experimenting with different things since I big chopped in May. But I have found what I like the best, and what I like the least. And I have decided to make my own list of "So Nice, I Will Buy It Twice (and Then Again)." The only product that I have gone through since my Big Chop is my Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut, which I used to co-wash and detangle. Love it as a co-wash. As a detangler, its okay.

This list includes more than just conditioner. It also includes shampoos, stylers, sealants, and what I call raw materials (olive oil, aloe vera juice, and other things in their most natural state).

Shampoos:

1. Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Threat Shampoo - Why rebuy? I love the way it makes my scalp feel. Tingly, but not too tingly like some tea tree shampoos. You mainly feel it once you rinse it out. My only complaint is I have to talk slowly and concentrate to say the name.
2. Giovanni 50:50 Balanced Moisture Shampoo - Why rebuy? Just like it promises, it clarifies the hair without stripping it of moisture. In fact, it does a great job of adding moisture to the hair. Very balanced, indeed.

What shampoo do you not plan to rebuy? The Giovanni Smooth as Silk. I just don't like it as much as the other two I've used. I don't know why, I just don't.

Conditioners:

1. Suave Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner - Why rebuy? This ish is the bomb! And it's super cheap. And it smells good. And it has almond oil and shea butter as ingredients. I've used it to co-wash, detangle, and deep condition. I liked it best as a co-wash and deep conditioner. For this price and this performance, I don't see why I wouldn't rebuy this again.
2. Yes to Cucumbers Daily Makeover Conditioner - Why rebuy? Great smell. Great ingredients. Not the cheapest thing in the world, but I have to remind myself that the container comes with about 17 ounces for about $8. Also, it's cone free, but detangles like a dream. Actually, it might be the best detangling conditioner I own. I have also used it as a co-wash. Love it in that regard too. I plan to use it as a deep conditioner, with coconut oil added. And maybe some honey? Mmm good.
3. Giovanni Weightless Moisture Direct Leave-In Conditioner - Why rebuy? Great base when making the Kimmaytube Leave In. Great on it's own, although I plan to use it mainly in the Kimmaytube recipe. Smells nice. Decent price. Can buy it on the ground.
4. Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp Conditioner - Why rebuy? Great ingredients, including the humectant honey. Great base in my Kimmaytube Leave-In recipe. Great leave-in conditioner on it's own. Purportedly, it can be used as a pre-poo, but I have never tried it. Perhaps, I shall. Although I have to buy it online and it's not cheap, I think it's worth the cost and the wait.
5. Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner - Why rebuy? Cheapie conditioner with high quality performance. Smells nice. Can be found at almost any drugstore. Cone free. Great co-washing conditioner. But that is about it. Comes in a family size container that's only $2. And this may sound odd, but it's white. I feel more comfortable putting white conditioner in my hair. No dyes are nice to know.
6. Oyin Handmade Juice and Berries or Greg Juice - Why rebuy? I love these humectant sprays. They work best when I seal in the moisture with a thick oil, like castor. I try not to do that too often, because it can lead to build up. I plan to only buy one scent at a time, and I like the Greg Juice scent the best. I plan to try the Frank Juice as well, though.

No Plans to Rebuy?

1. Alberto VO5 Conditioner - Why not rebuy? It's always a hit or miss for me with this stuff. Many naturals swear by the Strawberries and Cream, but I cannot tolerate the smell. Then when I try to buy other moisturizing conditioners that are not the S and C, I can hardly find any. I find volumizing and clarifying, but not ever moisturizing. I have given up on the hunt. Super cheap, but what's the point when I spend gas money trying to find the good ones. If I come across a decent one, and I have a dollar to spare, I'll buy it, but I won't go looking for it anymore
2. Most of my Herbal Essences Conditioners - Why not rebuy? Because I have too many! And I don't use them! I used one to co-wash, and my scalp felt itchy. I think it's all the added dyes and fragrances. Perhaps as my hair grows longer and I can focus more on the hair and less on the scalp, I will use them more. In the meantime, the only one I plan to rebuy is the Hello Hydration and Totally Twisted. The rest smell great and do about the same thing, but really, I have to admit I have gone overboard. I may give them away.
3. Yes to Carrots Daily Mud Conditioner - Why not rebuy? I just cannot tolerate the smell. Call me shallow, especially since the ingredients are nice. But the smell is too much to take. Furthermore, since I know that Yes to Cucumbers performs beautifully without the awful smell, I don't see the point in buying again.
4. Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner - It's too thick to work with, since my hair is as curly as can be. My curls are so tight, that a super thick conditioner is actually a hindrance. Furthermore, the price is a bit high to not have wowed me. So no more Aubrey Organics for me.

Stylers:

1. Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding - Why rebuy? Smells like chocolate. Provides great hold. Great ingredients. A little goes a long way. My only complaint is that the hold can be too good. It literally cannot be washed out with just conditioner. When I try to co-wash this stuff out, it just keeps the style exactly the same. It can  be great if that's what I want, but I have to detangle my hair after having used this product. I also like to use it as a hand moisturizer.

No Plans to Rebuy

1. Oyin Handmade Shine and Define - Why not rebuy? I just don't see the point. The smell is not as nice as the Whipped Pudding. I have only used it for a wash and go. The hold is not very good at all. What this does for my hair, I could easily do with any leave-in conditioner, especially the Kimmaytube Recipe.

Raw Materials - Everything I consider raw materials, I plan to continue purchasing. This includes olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, and aloe vera juice. I have not used shea butter on my hair in a while, but not because it doesn't work well. I just haven't. I may start using it more when the winter comes, and I mainly use shea butter on my skin anyway. I plan to buy honey as a raw material, to add to rinse out conditioners in order to use as a deep conditioner.

There you have it. I actually have culled down greatly on what I will rebuy. I know what works, and what doesn't. This is not to say that the things I won't rebuy are bad for your hair, they just haven't done wonders for my hair.

Holy Grails: (my favorite products. Of course, they would be conditioners).

• Suave Almond Shea Butter Conditioner
• Yes to Cucumbers Daily Makeover Conditioner

Must Have Hair Tool

• Cricket Ultraclean Smooth Seam Comb

Fun Day: What I Did to My Hair this Past Weekend

Pre-Poo Treatment -- Equal parts olive oil and coconut oil

Shampoo -- Giovanni Triple Tea Tree Threat Shampoo

Buffer/Co-Wash -- Yes to Cucumbers Daily Makeover Conditioner

Deep Conditioner -- Suave Almond Shea Butter Conditioner and Coconut Oil (a tablespoon coconut oil for every palmful of conditioner)

Leave-In Conditioner -- Kimmaytube Leave Conditioner Recipe (with Giovanni Direct Leave In as the base)

Styler -- Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding

Reflections: I loved my idea of using the coconut oil and olive oil mixed together as a pre-poo. Coconut oil as a pre-poo is a great way to use it in these winter months coming up, since coconut oil can solidify on you in the cold temperatures outside. The Giovanni TTTT made my scalp feel slightly tingly, which was pleasant. I usually use my Yes to Carrots to buffer, but I didn't feel like experiencing the smell, so I used my Yes to Cucumbers. I like the Suave Almond and Shea Butter as a deep conditioner, even though it is not advertised as a deep conditioner. I decided to add coconut oil to it it give it more conditioning power. Of course, I loved the Kimmaytube Leave-In. I actually like how runny the conditioner comes out. It makes it easier to work through my very tightly coiled hair. When I applied the Suave deep conditioner, I had to part my hair in rows to get every strand covered. It was painstaking, but I feel worth it in the end. And finally, my Oyin Handmade was beauty to work with. My friends helped me put my hair in mini-twists, and they agreed that the OH Whipped Pudding is great product for styling. It's also one of the the few products I will repurchase from the Internet, along with other OH products.

Also, this Fun Day was not on a Sunday. I attended AIDS Walk the next day, so I decided to do my hair Saturday. Furthermore, I am considering shampooing and deep conditioning my hair every two weeks now instead of just once a month. I also plan to keep my hair in two strand twists more often, and am considering rocking some comb coils. Stay tuned...

Yes, Yes, Yes to Cucumbers



I feel comfortable writing this review, because I have used this conditioner a good number of times since I purchased it a few weeks ago. I used this conditioner to take down my two strand twists, and properly detangle. As far as detangling goes, it works great. I love the fresh smell the cucumbers provide. Much better than its Yes to Carrots counterpart. I also love that this conditioner is silicone free. I don't stay away from silicones, but it is nice to have a cone free good detangling conditioner. Asides from using it as a detangling conditioner, I have been also using it as a buffer when shampooing and as a cowash conditioner. It works great in that regard as well. I love this product, and I very much plan to repurchase it. I also have plans in the future to use it as deep conditioner, adding coconut oil and honey a palmful of the conditioner. I am sure it will work great in this regard as well. This conditioner can be purchased from Target and Walgreen's. The conditioner I am talking about is the Yes to Cucumbers Daily Makeover Conditioner, but I am interested in trying out some other Yes to Cucumbers products.

Winter Blues and Coconut Oil



Summer is over. Fall is here. Soon, fall will be over, and winter will be here. Experienced naturals know the damage that harsh cold winds can do to natural hair, mainly causing extreme dryness. Also, humectants works by drawing moisture from anywhere it can, including the environment. But if there is no moisture in the air, like in the warmer, more humid months, humectants will draw moisture from the hair itself, which is a very bad thing. This is not to say that humectants have to be banned altogether during the winter, but anti-humectants (yes, anti-humectants) have to be incorporated into the hair routine to ensure moisture is not lost from your precious strands.

In essence, a natural diva has to winterize her routine, so that Old Man Winter won't be the death of her hair. Naturally Obsessed wrote a great blog post about how to winterize your routine. The post can be found HERE. I plan to incorporate her advice in a number of ways:

• More protective styling and less manipulation: Protective styling is anything that keep the ends of the hair tucked away. The ends are the oldest part and consequently the most prone to breakage. Since my hair does not touch the nape of my neck or rub up against my clothes, protective styling is not as necessary for me. As length comes, the importance of protectively styling will grow. I do plan to wear twists more often, to decrease how often I manipulate my hair.
• Condition. Condition. And Conditioner some More: I own quite a bit of conditioner, and still am tempted to buy more when I go down the product aisle at stores. But since it is so important for healthy natural hair, I don't feel bad for owning so much. I plan to deep condition bi-weekly, instead of only monthly. And since I am paranoid about having very clean hair before deep conditioning, I also plan to shampoo bi-weekly instead of monthly. And since I'm paranoid about not overdrying my hair with shampoos, I am uping my ante with pre-poo treatments. I will be using a mixture of equal parts warm coconut oil and warm olive oil, applied generously to the hair and left on to allow deep penetration to the cortex of the hair. I may also use only coconut oil to pre-poo, since its nutrients stay intact better at high temperatures than coconut oil.

Those are the two main things I will be doing to protect my hair this winter. This TWA is seriously in need of less manipulation. I have found a few fairy knots (more on this later) and was thinking of scheduling a trim (I need to check the moon cycle), but I am wary of trimming and don't want my little length to be cut off. I might not get another trim until my one year Big Chop anniversary. So much to think about.

Also, as the title suggests, I have something in particular to say about coconut oil. To start out with, coconut oil is amazing. It penetrates to the cortex of the hair; has a more pleasant smell than olive oil, which also penetrates to the cortex of the hair strand; is a great addition to conditioner; and is overall the bomb. You can even cook with it if you so desire, as it is a great oil for deep frying. But there is one feature of coconut oil that has be taken into account as the winter months approach. Coconut oil starts to solidify at any temperature below 76 degrees Fahrenheit. Consequently, if you put coconut oil on your hair in the morning than walk outside in cold weather, you run the risky of frozen and/or crunchy hair.

What to do? I for one am going to use my coconut oil more for overnight pre-poo treatments and hot oil treatments. Also, I will be using my olive oil more to seal in the morning, since olive oil does not solidify like coconut oil, although it will get cloudy if you refrigerate it. Will this result in cloudy hair during the winter? We'll see. My hair LOVES oils, so I couldn't imagine a routine without them. Also, coconut oil and olive oil are all-natural anti-humectants. Don't let the winter blues make you discouraged about your hair. Just know what to do and plan things accordingly.

What I Know for Sure about My Hair (and Natural Hair in General): Part 1

My hair is steadily growing, and my TWA isn't so teeny anymore. When I had an afro the first time around, back before I started my locs, I didn't know what the heck I was doing. Recently Curly Nikki had a blog post about what you would tell your younger self about how to take care of your hair. Her post can be found here. I left a comment, but I decided to expound on my thoughts. Now that I'm older and wiser, and doing much better, I have a number of things I would tell my younger self when it comes to natural hair care, with my particular texture in mind (which is 4a/4b, what I would describe as coily or tightly curly).

1. Sulfate shampoos are a natural hair diva's worst enemy. Overly drying and harsh to delicate tresses, your hair will thank you as soon as you drain that sulfate shampoo down the sink or flush it down the toilet.
2. Conditioner. Conditioner. Conditioner. Now that you know sulfate shampoos are the enemy, learn how friendly conditioner is to natural hair. It doesn't have to be expensive conditioner, but experiment with what works for you. You can never have too much conditioner. Great for co-washing, deep treatment, and styling, conditioner is so useful. You can even use it to shave if you feel like to have too much.
3. Although conditioner is a natural diva's best friend, invest in a good quality sulfate free shampoo. Just because a shampoo doesn't have sulfates doesn't mean it can't be clarifying, and clarification is key when cleansing hair of product build-up. Even if you don't use silicones, buy a clarifying shampoo. Oils, butters, and other heavy products can lead to hiar build up as well.
4. Speaking of silicones, research for yourself to determine whether or not you will use products with silicones. If you do choose to use them, know that periodic clarifying is key to remove the product build-up that can result from using silicones. But you should be clarifying your hair periodically anyway, at least once every month.
5. Don't run from water. Water is key to healthy natural hair. It should be the first ingredient in any conditioner you use, with the exception of a deep conditioner. Co-washing as often as you like is fine. Water plus conditioner equals happy hair. Water is also the only thing that really moisturizes hair. Which leads to number six...
6. Lock moisture in with butters (such as shea) and oils. Good sealing oils include castor oil and jojoba oil.
7. Although most oils coat the hair shaft, making them great products to lock in moisture, other oils actually penetrate the hair shaft to the cortex, serving as moisturizing strengtheners as well. The two best ones, as far as easiest to find, are olive oil and coconut oil. Only use the extra virgin or cold-pressed version of these oils.
8. Most times, the best thing for your hair is something you can buy from the grocery or health food store. Think olive oil, coconut oil, aloe vera juice or gel, raw honey, and so much more. Whether or not you want to become a mixologist and make your own products, it only take two second to add a tablespoon of coconut oil to a palmful of conditioner to add major moisture benefits.
9. Speaking of moisture, it is key to healthy natural hair that is curly, coily, or kinky. But you can have too much of any good thing. Protein is also important for natural hair, but make sure to have a good protein moisture balance.
10. Know your hair and what's best for it. If you don't know what's good for your hair, anyone can give you "good" advice. You don't need a cosmetology degree to know how to take care of your own hair better than anyone else, and just because someone is a licensed stylist doesn't mean they know what their doing with your hair. It's your hair and your head; get to know it better.

There is so much more I would tell myself, but I will continue with the advice in another post. More about what I know for sure about my hair and natural hair in general, coming soon.

The above picture is about a month after I cut my locs. It was a very close haircut. My hair has grown at least three inches since this picture, stretched out of course. Until next time...

If you have natural hair, what would you tell your younger self?

Candle Warmer: A Great Natural Hair Tool

My VitaCost package arrived today! I was very excited to pick it up from the Mail Center on campus. Speaking of living on campus, I was thinking about a peculiar dilemma I have. In my dorm suite, I have access to a kitchenette. It has a sink, a full refrigerator (great for my aloe vera juice, which is perishable), and a microwave. But when working with fatty oils and butters, such as coconut oil and shea butter, I don't like to melt them in the microwave because I read somewhere that the radiation takes out the vital nutrients. But since I don't have a stove, I can't melt my shea butter and coconut in a double boiler. What is a naturalista to do?



I was expressing this concern to my suite mate, and she was gracious enough to suggest that I melt my solidified coconut oil on her candle warmer. Since burning the wick of candles is not allowed in our dorm, we place the candle on the candle warmer to melt the wax and release the aroma. Placing my solidified coconut oil (while still in the glass jar) and shea butter (which was in a plastic container) made both products melt down. I am so happy I have discovered this double use for a candle warmer. Even when I have access to a stove, I may save myself the hassle of making a double boiler method and continue to use a candle warmer to melt down solid fats and oils.

VitaCost.com and Kimmaytube Leave-In



I have found a new website that just might become a new love for my natural hair products. When I say natural hair products, I am not referring to particular brands but the basic ingredients I use to care for my hair: aloe vera juice, coconut oil, jojoba oil, castor oil. The products I just listed are the ones I recently purchased from VitaCost.com. My friend Dee put me on to this website, which sells natural oils and other high quality goods at a low price. I purchased the following:

1. Desert Essence Jojoba Oil - 4 fl oz
2. Heritage Products Castor Oil Pressed - 32 fl oz
3. Lily of the Desert Organic Whole Leaf Aloe Vera Juice - 32 fl oz
4. NSI Extra Virgin Certified Organic Coconut Oil - 16 fl oz

All these items came to only 31 dollars and some change, and that's after shipping was added. I know I just give a rave review of Whole Foods and natural hair products, and I maintain that they have great natural hair care brands. But when it comes to natural oils and other raw materials, VitaCost will probably stay the place for me. My only regret is that I didn't buy some raw honey and olive oil while I was online. Did I mention that shipping was economical as well. I ordered on Wednesday and my products should be here this Monday. Great timing!

The products I purchased are anything but arbitrary. All the things I listed, with the exception of the coconut oil, are ingredients to be used when making the Kimmaytube Leave-In Conditioner. My friend Dee was nice enough to make me a small batch of the leave-in so I could try it for myself. After co-washing and detangling with Yes to Cucumbers Daily Conditioner (great product!), I applied the leave-in conditioner, which left my hair very soft. I applied it again on Saturday to make sure it wasn't beginner's luck, but again it left my hair soft and moisturized. The link to the Kimmaytube YouTube video that shows how to make the conditioner can be found here.

I used Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp as my conditioner. Next time, I will try it with the Giovanni Direct Leave-In Conditioner. I might even splurge on some Kinky Curly Knot Today. Stay tuned...

I know this post is getting long, but I also had to mention that on this past Thursday I celebrated my five month Big Chop anniversary. I will try to post some pictures of my growth progess since the day I cut it until now. My sister Miss Cee C also celebrated her Big Chop anniversary of six months. Her article about it can be found here.

Whole Foods and Natural Hair

Whole Foods, here I come. As soon as I can hustle a ride, I'm headed to the store to purchase the necessary ingredients to make the Kimmaytube Leave-In Conditioner. That list will include:

• Whole Leaf Aloe Vera Juice 
• Castor Oil
• Jojoba Oil
• Coconut Oil (not one of the ingredients in the Kimmaytube recipe, but I could use some more EVCO - extra virgin coconut oil)

While on the subject of Whole Foods, I realized just how great Whole Foods is for natural hair as well as healthy eating. They have book section with healthy cookbooks and nutrition books. They also have a gelato section, with dairy-free versions. Yum. But back to hair. Whole Foods is a great place to go for both Curly Brand products (such as Aubrey Organics and Kinky Curly) and top quality ingredients for mixstress concoctions. If you are lucky enough to live near a Whole Foods, take advantage of not having to pay shipping and handling for things such as cold-pressed oils, raw honey, vegetable glycerin, aloe vera, and more. Speaking of, I will also be buying some raw honey to add to my conditioners, along with olive oil, for a deep treatment affect.

Let me not get my hopes up too high. I still need to figure out where to buy my heat cap for deep conditioning. CurlMart just might be the place to shop. Well, you can't find everything on the ground. Speaking of Brick and Mortar locations, I plan on hitting up a Sally's Beauty Supply as well. Came to find out that the combs I bought from CurlMart are available at Sally's. I just might buy my heat cap from them also, if they have any. 

All Hail Kimmaytube...Leave-In Conditioner Recipe



First and foremost, I have not actually tried the recipe yet, but so many people in the natural hair blogosphere and forum sphere swear by it. My good friend Dee, who has beautiful hair, told me how great she finds it. So I decided what the heck, I have nothing to lose. The ingredients needed to make the leave-in conditioner, as created by YouTuber Kimmaytube, are great things to have on hand if used alone. I had been meaning to buy some castor oil, jojoba oil, and aloe vera juice anyway. Also, my hair loves leave-in conditioner. After my successful styling using Honey Hemp Conditioner (pictured above) as a leave-in, and then styling with Whipped Pudding (both by Oyin Handmade), I have every intention of always applying a leave-in conditioner to my hair after washing/co-washing. The YouTube video for Kimmaytube's Leave-In Conditioner can be found HERE. Another reason I love the idea of this recipe is that it will allow me to stretch out my Honey Hemp, which is not the cheapest thing in the world. I even want to try it using Kinky Curly Knot Today, which was OUT the last time I visited Target. Darn. Stay tuned for how this recipe works for me.

Currently Reading...



I was in the college bookstore, and felt the need to buy a book for pleasure, even though I have not read my textbooks all the way through yet. What did I buy? None other than Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. In short, the book is about food politics. It is not written to promote vegetarianism, but to give Americans a greater sense of knowledge to what we eat and why we eat it. The billion dollar food industry has a lot of influence in nutritional reports and government conclusions about nutrition. The book gets deeper, but I suggest you read it for yourself. Concepts such as "froom leaves to seeds" and "from quality to quantity" to explain the manifestation of food in America are explained in greater detail in the book. It was in this book that Pollan gave his adage to "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Again, you have to determine for yourself, realistically and healthfully, what is food, how much is too much (or not enough), and how much is mostly when saying mostly plants. I love Michael Pollan (pictured above next to the book cover). If he became a vegetarian, I just might love him even more.

Yes to Cucumbers and Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Threat

I may be a product junkie after all. What started out as a trip to buy some new VO5 Conditioner, particularly the VO5 Tea Tree Therapy line, ended up as a stroll down the product line at Target. In case you haven't heard, Target carries a lot of natural product lines, including Giovanni, Kinky Curly, Shea Moisture, Miss Jessie's, Curls, and more. In the end, I bought the Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Threat shampoo, purported to give a tingling feel to the scalp. I would love to experience that. I also bought Yes to Cucumbers Daily Conditioner, which has a much better smell than their Yes to Carrots which I currently own. I will most likely use the YTC as a leave-in or deep conditioner, with honey and olive oil added.

One item I would have bought, most likely, that was all run out was the Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-In Conditioner. It must be good stuff, because it was goooone. Well, next time. I don't know exactly when I will use the YTC, but I will probably use it the next time I style my hair or deep condition. The Giovanni TTTT will have to wait until my next shampoo day.

YTC is advertised as being formulated for color treated hair. But the thing about that is both color treated and naturally curly hair tend to be dry, so it should work just fine. The Giovanni TTTT is formulated for all hair types, so I will take their word for it. 

In other news, I plan to buy some Ayurveda herbs for deep treatment. More information on Ayurveda coming soon...