Fairy or Single Strand Knots (SSK's): An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

Before I cut my locs, I had heard about the horror and the bain of existence that comes from experiencing single strand knots. I myself could not remember coming across any in my pre locking phases of life, but my sister Constance assured me they were sure to come.

When I BC'd in May, my hair was so short that single strand knots were not an immediate issue. But as they say in the Natural Hair World, Mo' Hair Mo' Problems. As length came, SSK's were sure to follow with my type 4 coils. Sure enough, I started to notice them as the year wore on. Single strand knots are also known as fairy knots. The idea is that only a fairy would be able to tie the distinct knot in a single strand of very curly, coily hair. Who can untanngle them? No one, really. They have to be snipped out.

As for me and my hair, I don't really trim or cut my hair because I don't think it is necessary when hair is very healthy. A healthy regimen will prevent split ends. But what about SSK's or fairy knots? I have decided that a healthy regimen would also prevent these buggers. My mission, and I have chosen to accept it, is to prevent my strands from wrapping around themselves. Thus, preventing single strand knots in the first place, making snipping an unnecessary step.

As usual, I found some great links on preventing single strands knots. Here are some from Mane and Chic and Mop Top Maven.



Taking into consideration these suggestions, I have implemented a few into my own regimen. For one, I am now committed to more oil rinsing when rocking wash-n-gos and other non protective styles, meaning at least two a week. This oil rinsing will become more relevant when the weather becomes warmer and I actually wear wash and gos more. I have also been rocking protective styles more, mainly flat twists and cornrows. This in turn has resulted in my ability to wear more stretched styles. Stretched hair prevents single strand knots. Lastly, I have been detangling hair before shampooing or co-washing.

The most important way to prevent SSK's is to make sure hair is moisturized. I am committed now to conditioner only styling and sealing in moisture with oils and occasionally by Oyin Burnt Sugar Pomade. Detangling, moisturizing, sealing, conditioning, stretching, oil rinsing -- these are just some of the ways that single strand knots can become a thing of the past.

Mop Top Maven Healthy Hair Care Challenge and Regimen Building

Most recently in my hair care, I have decided to take on the Mop Top Maven Healthy Hair Care Challenge. The basis of the challenge is to take on a healthy hair care regimen and be consistent. Meaning stick with it, something I have not done to the best of my ability. One idea I have is to print out and post my hair care (and skin care) regimen in my bathroom in order to remind myself of what I should be doing to have effective.

Here are my regimen updates. I know, its about time. 

Hair Philosophy: Low-Poo (mild detergents only every six to eight weeks), High Conditioning (Co-Washing and Deep Treatments), Cone-Free, Mineral Oil and Petroleum-Free, No Heat, Natural Hair Regimen with Ayurvedic Treatments

• Low-Poo Method: Giovanni 50:50 or Tea Tree Triple Threat (once every six to eight weeks)
• Pre-Shampoo Treatment: Extra Virgin Coconut and/or Olive Oil 
• Deep Conditioner: Rinse Conditioner + Raw Honey + Olive and/or Coconut Oil (bi-weekly)
• as purchased, ayurvedic herbs will be added to conditioner mixtures for deep treatments
• Condition/Co-Wash: Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner, Alberto VO5 Free Me Freesia Moisturizing Conditioner, Yes to Cucumbers Conditioner (once a week)
• Moisturize: Oyin Handmade Greg Juice (every other day)
• Seal: olive, coconut, castor, or grapeseed oil (every other day, after moisturizing)
• Detangling before every Co-Wash and Shampoo on dry preferably stretched hair as needed (using the MTM method that my sister did in this video)

The ayurvedic products I plan to purchase include kalpi tone, neem powder, shikakai powder, Vatika Coconut Oil, and Vatika Olive Oil.

Wish me well on my healthy hair care challenge!!

Where to Go to Purchase Ayurvedic Herbs

One of my hair resolutions for 2011 is to incorporate ayurvedic herbal treatments into my current regimen. As usual, Mop Top Maven provided a great post on ayurveda. She has already written great articles about ayurveda, and has just completed another one, found here. In the latest article, she discusses how to implement ayurveda into your hair care regimen, as well as how to follow a completely exclusive ayurvedic regimen. She does note that a completely ayurvedic regimen, although highly beneficial for the hair, requires much time to prepare the herbal infusions, deep treatments, and other mixtures.

I have been trying to decide exactly where I will be purchasing my ayurvedic herbs. I have two basic options, as usual: online or from a brick and mortar location. Living in a major American city, I am sure to find an Indian store in the area, but I may ultimately end up buying my products off line. Mop Top Maven suggests The Indian Food Store as a great place to start. Butters-n-Bars.com also sales Indian herbs, and I could purchase some cocoa and shea butter while I am it.

Co-Wash Conditioner Criteria

Found this great article on Associated Content, about how to choose a good co-washing conditioner. Since I am adopting a very low poo (once every six to eight weeks or every two months) regimen, co-washing is an even larger part of my hair care regimen. The article lists four basic criteria for choosing a co-washing conditioner, which are as follows:

1. Co-washing conditioners should be economical. This criteria makes sense. Co-washing can be an addictive habit, but a cheap conditioner won't make the habit an expensive one. Your hair will thank you for this habit, and your pocketbook will thank you for choosing a good quality economical conditioner. Your idea of economical depends on how much money you have in the bank. Super cheap to me is less than four dollars. A little more money to spare may have you buying a conditioner that is less than ten dollars. Keep in mind that two of the best co-washing conditioners are two of the cheapest brands: Alberto VO5 and Suave. Many naturals use these conditioners with great results. 
2. Co-washing conditioners should be watery (or water-based). Every naturally curly should know that the best moisturizer for hair is water. Water-based/watery conditioners are easier to work through very coily hair. Trust me, I know from experience. Water-based conditioners also guarantee there won't be conditioning overload. It may seem you can't get too much of a good thing like conditioning, but you can over condition hair, leading to too slick hair that might need a protein treatment to get right again. Never use a deep conditioner as a co-washer. As far as me, I don't even bother buying deep conditioners. They are very expensive most times. Just add raw honey and extra virgin olive or coconut oil to a regular rinse conditioner. Your cheap conditioner will do.
3. Co-washing conditioners should be low silicone or cone free. This is what is stated in the original article. I agree wholeheartedly. Co-washing with a silicone heavy conditioner can lead to product build-up. That is the last thing you need if you are following a low or no-poo method. I would add, however, that a good co-washing conditioner rinses clean. Meaning a silicone free conditioner may not necessarily rinse clean. Heavy butters and other ingredients can lead to build-up. Too much essential oils can make a conditioner irritating to a sensitive scalp. When it comes to co-washing conditioner, keep it simple, when it comes to ingredients. 
4. Co-washing conditioners should be low protein. Too much moisture can be bad, and too much protein can be just as bad, leading to very dry, dull hair. Some naturals are even considered protein sensitive. If you fit this criteria, avoid protein in conditioners at all times. 

Product Recommendations: If you don't mind cones, Herbal Essences is often used as a co-washing conditioner, but I would not recommend cone conditioners for co-washing. I used an HE conditioner to co-wash only once. My scalp felt itchy afterwards, most likely due to the plant extracts, dyes, and fragrances added to HE. Remember to look into HE carefully. They have recently revamped their ingredients. 

Many naturals swear by Suave Naturals line, especially the Tropical Coconut. I own SNTC myself. It is easy to find, super cheap, and available in a family or super size bottle. The large bottles are cheap as well. I have used this conditioner to co-wash many times. Love it. It is a mainstay product in my co-washing product rotation. Suave Naturals carries many other flavors. The consistency is a bit thick for a water based conditioner. 

Another great line of conditioners for co-washing is Alberto VO5. This line comes in many different scents. Make sure the one you purchase is moisturizing, not volumizing or even clarifying. I have trouble finding this line of products as easily as the Suave. And even when I do find it, I have trouble finding a moisturizing. And even when I finally find a moisturizing one, it is usually the horribly smelling (in my opinion, much to sweet smelling) Strawberries and Cream. I used the Pomegranate Smoothie for a while. But now I have found my favorite scent to be the Free Me Freesia. This conditioner has the best consistency in my opinion. Watery enough to be worked into my thick coils easily. 

If I want to splurge or treat myself to a good quality, great smelling, superior ingredient conditioner for co-washing, I use none other than Yes to Cucumbers Daily Makeover Conditioner. This conditioner contains sodium hydroxide, which I noticed recently. Sodium hydroxide is an ingredient in relaxers. But I have been using this conditioner quite a bit for the last few months, and the results have been great. I also read that the sodium hydroxide is harmful when listed as the last ingredient and is used as a pH balancer (SH is highly alkaline). YTC is great for detangling. I will be using it as a base for a deep conditioner soon, with honey and coconut oil added.

Helpful Links:
Teri LaFlesh's Recommendations for Co-Washing (Rinse) Conditioners
List of Silicone Free Conditioners
List of Protein Ingredients (Curly Nikki)

Holiday Hair

Natural sisters and fellow bloggers Auset Abena (left) and Miss Cee C on Christmas Day 2010. I'm rocking a flat twist out shrunken a bit from the shower steam. Miss Cee C is rocking a tuck and roll leading to a side ponytail. Natural and loving it!

Merry Christmas everyone. And a Happy New Year. 

Shampooing Only Six Times a Year?!



Why do I shampoo my hair so much.? Really, when thinking about it, I realized that every time I washed my hair, it never seemed absolutely necessary. Sometimes, it actually felt stripped. Furthermore, I have taken silicones out of my regimen. All my silicone conditioners have been donated, to my sister Miss Cee C. I abhor the feel of gunky hair, so I don't believe in using a too much product. To each natural her own, but all that product layering with gels (which I don't use), creams, and other products makes me think my hair is disgusting. Furthermore, with the number of co-washes I do, I have decided that cleansing my hair with actual shampoo is not needed as often. Co-washing works great for me; my hair usually doesn't feel unclean after a co-washing, and feels greatly moisturized. Not stripped and dry after too much shampooing.

So will I be chunking or donating my shampoos? Of course not! Shampoos are great nonetheless for thoroughly removing build-up. Remember: Just because you don't use silicones, mineral oil, or petroleum, doesn't mean your hair is immune to build-up. Butters and oils can lead to build-up as well, but not as quickly as silicones, mineral oil, and petroleum.

I don't use any of the dreaded three I just listed. My staple products for hair are conditioners and oils. So when, how, and how often will I be using shampoos. Drum roll please...Once every six to eight weeks. Meaning I could be shampooing my hair as little as six times a year, or once every two months. Don't worry, I will continue to co-wash my hair at least once a week (or two weeks if my hair is in a protective style such as twists). My shampooing sessions will continue to be in the order of LATHER, RINSE, CO-WASH or BUFFER.

Another change. I am thinking about switching shampoos or adding another to the list of staples. Currently, the only shampoo I use is Giovanni (50:50 Balanced or Tea Tree Triple Threat). This shampoo does the job, thoroughly clarifying my hair. But a shampoo that I hear rave reviews about and that is far more economical and is available in a liter size is the Elucene Moisture Balances Shampoo. The shampoo uses a surfactant derives from coconut oil (sodium myreth sulfate). I am currently completing research on this detergent to determine just how harsh the chemical is. If I determine that it is too harsh to use, I am thinking about using the Curls shampoo as a shampoo. At the end of the day, I may end up sticking to only using the Giovanni line. It does the job and is available from brick and mortar locations.

I will be implementing my new regimen of stretched shampoos starting in the new year. I am also considering deep treating in between shampoos rather than on the same day as shampoos.

Talking Oils...Again: My Favorites and Why

I know that I have written quite a few posts on oils, but I can hardly help it. I love them, I use them often (perhaps more than any other beauty product), and their great for your hair and skin. On Black Girl with Long Hair, they asked the readers what their favorite oils were. It had me thinking, what are my favorite oils? Here is my list, so far. But best believe that the list will probably get longer since I love oils so much.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil - This vegetable oil has been proven to actually penetrate the hair shaft, providing great conditioning benefits. As a carrier oil, it serves as the base for essential oils and oil mixes. Can easily be found at any grocery store, more easily than all the other oils to follow. As a heavy oil, it is great for those with dry skin when using the oil cleansing method. The sheen it adds to hair is unrivaled by any other oil I have used, although coconut oil itches behind in a close second. Cons: Depending on the sniffer, the smell of this oil leaves something to be desired. I myself have gotten over the less than perfumery smell, and my sister actually likes the smell. Fragrance is so relative, however, and the benefits of this oil as well as its ease of finding cannot be beat.

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil - If you hate the smell of olive oil, try some coconut oil. Not as easy to find as extra virgin olive oil, it is easy to find nonetheless. But make sure it is extra virgin in order to get the benefits of this oil, also shown to penetrate the hair shaft for moisture and conditioning. The smell is very coconuty, as expected. Whether you like the smell or not, again is relative. Most who cannot tolerate the smell of olive oil go for coconut oil in its place. I love this oil, perhaps as my number one favorite oil. It can be used on the body as an all natural substitute for lotion. Cons: Not as easy to find in its extra virgin state as olive oil, but easier to find than the oils to follow nonetheless. This oil solidifies in cold temperatures, making it hard to use in winter months. Make sure you do not have an allergy to this oil before using. If you are allergic to coconuts, steer clear of this oil. Even if it does not solidify, the consistency of this oil is very dependent on the temperature of the room, going from all liquid and clear to white and solid.

Note: The other oil that has been shown to penetrate the hair shaft is avocado oil, but I have not yet used this oil. Olive and coconut are all the penetrative oils I  need at the moment.

Castor Oil - Ahh, not just for ingesting in order to use as a laxative. This oil is super thick, making it great for slicking down edges and flyaways. This oil is usually found easily in the laxative section of the drugstore, but if you want a larger batch, you may have to hit up a health food store. My favorite brand is Heritage Christi Palmi hexane free castor oil. This oil is recommended for hair loss and thinning hair and edges. It is the vital ingredient in the oil cleansing method, since all oil cleansing formulas consist of castor oil as the cleansing agent that removes dirt and impurities from the skin. This oil does not penetrate the hair shaft, but acts as a great sealant, locking in moisture from other products. Although I have never used as a medicine, the uses of this as a laxative and poultice wounds, in addition to many other uses, make this a very diverse oil indeed. Cons: The smell is very distinct. I think of it as medicinal. The thick consistency can be a turnoff for some. Not as easy to find in large amounts as olive oil. If you live near a healthfood store, you can guarantee it is easy to find. Large amounts can be found for economical prices online.

Jojoba Oil - The golden color of this oil is a great complement for its golden qualities. This oil is actually a wax ester, greatly similar to the wax esters created by the skin. The theory goes that since these wax esters are close to the skin's and scalp's, it helps to balance the level of "oil" (actually wax) of the skin and scalp. For this reason, jojoba oil is often purported to work as a great scalp oil and skin moisturizer. In the case as a skin moisturizer, trust that a little goes a long way. Too much, and your dewy glow could turn into an oily look. This is also one of the few oils that work for almost all skin types, since it balances the skin's moisture so well. Cons: My main complaint for this oil is definitely the price tag. This ish is expensive! Especially compared to olive and coconut and castor oil. Finding it in large amounts is hard, and in any case, the large amount would most likely be accompanied with a hefty price tag. I have not ever found this in large amounts. For this reason, I use this oil sparingly, mainly as a skin moisturizer for ingredient when making the Kimmaytube Leave-In.

Grapeseed Oil - This oil is great for its toning qualities and fast absorbency into the skin. It is very, very light. If a light oil is what you are looking for, this is the way to go. Because of its lightness and toning qualities, it is great for oily/acne-prone skin. It has been purported to fade blemishes from breakouts. I currently use this oil is my own oil cleansing formula and can vouch for its light feel. This light feel makes it an ideal skin moisturizer. Grapeseed oil is also an all natural sunscreen, since it can withstand very high temperatures. For this reason, it has also been used as a heat protectant by naturalistas such as Natural Chica and Kinky Kurly Queen of  Naturally Obsessed. Cons: Hard to find in its unrefined state, though easily found as a refined oil in the cooking section of most grocery stores. The oil does not have a very long shelf life. Fortunate for me, the brand I purchased (Aura Cacia) added vitamin E to the unrefined oil as an all natural preservative. It can be refrigerated, however, and will not solidify or even become cloudy like coconut oil. Not the cheapest thing in the world, but I love it so far. It's a keeper.

Sweet Almond Oil - A very recent purchase of mine, and not well researched at all. I actually bought this oil by accident, thinking it was apricot kernel oil. The oil will not go to waste, however. My research shows that it is a great oil for almost all skin types. It is light, but has moisturizing qualities. Aura Cacia describes it as nurturing. The oil is high in Vitamin E, which makes it great for skin protection from the sun and for aging skin. It is also recommended for massaging and as an after shower moisturizer, applied to damp skin. I will most likely use it as an after shower moisturizer. Currently, my oil cleansing formula consists of ten percent of this oil. It may or may not be replaced with another oil. Cons: I could not find much research on it. It does not appear to have as many uses as the other oils. Not the easiest to find at all, although I like the one made my Aura Cacia.

Herbal Essences...No, No, NO!

Just when I had decided to give up my Herbal Essences by way of donating them to less fortunate curlies/coilies, I read via the comments section on Curly Nikki that the ingredients on Herbal Essences have been revamped, and not for the better. The commenter on Curly Nikki claims that they have decreased the amount of plant extracts in their products, increased the amount of silicones, and added sodium hydroxide. If this is true, all I can think is, "Herbal Essences, wtf?". FYI: Sodium hydroxide is the active ingredient in relaxers, permanently loosening the curl pattern. Although this information is not confirmed, I plan to read the ingredients for myself the next time I visit a drugstore that carries HE. The ingredients were not listed on their website, even though they used to be. Very suspect.

But this is what I call a teaching moment. Teri LaFlesh, author of Curly Like Me and creator of the website www.tightlycurly.com warns that even when you have products you consider staples, and many naturals consider HE conditioners a staple produce, be sure to check the ingredients often. Major companies often change the ingredients on their beauty products without a notice to anyone. Herbal Essences has changed the look of their products to go along with the new ingredients. Perhaps that is their way of warning us that the ingredients have changed. So even when you find a holy grail product, thank the Lord, but don't take it as leave from having to CHECK THE INGREDIENTS OFTEN.

Lucky me, I don't consider HE a staple product. If you have used HE conditioner and would like something similar (a good quality cone conditioner with amazing slip), I suggest the Suave Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner. Much cheaper and high quality. I know, because I have used the product myself. But remember, even if you decide that Suave is the product for you, check the ingredients often.

Oil Cleansing Updates



As suggested by Mop Top Maven, I switched out the olive oil in my oil cleansing formula for something far more lightweight. My first choice was grapeseed oil, but I have yet to purchase some. I decided to use some jojoba oil instead, even though I am running low on that precious golden oil. I uped the amount of castor oil, from 50 percent to 60 percent. The remaining 40 percent was pure jojoba oil. Mixed together it created a cloudy golden colored oil formula.

I massaged the oil mixture into my skin, let a hot damp washcloth draw out impurities with steam, then repeated once more. I wiped off excess oil with a washcloth, then splashed my face with cold water to close the pores. The results: GREAT. My skin felt well  balanced -- not too dry, not too oily. I didn't feel the need to add a dab of jojoba oil for moisture because my skin felt almost perfect.

This formula is great, but I am not quite done experimenting. I plan on using grapeseed oil also for its astringent qualities and ability to fade blemishes. The above picture is not my skin right after my oil cleansing from this morning, but it is my skin since I have started the oil cleansing method. Stay tuned for more updates.

Confession of a Wash-n-Go Coily Queen (Part Deux)



Now that I have embraced my natural hair personality (minimal styling with a near obsession for healthy hair care), here are some resolutions I plan to fulfill in support of this revelation. You could also consider these natural hair resolutions for the New Year:

1. Do at least two oil rinses a week to minimize and maybe even decrease the occurence of single strand knots (aka fairy knots).
2. Implement a new detangling method to be done, before shampooing or co-washing, on damp rather than wet hair to minimize unnecessary shedding.
3. Introduce ayurveda into my hair care regimen by adding Indian herbs to deep treatments, making my own vegan Vatika oil, and possibly doing an ayurvedic pre-poo treatment.
4. Purchase a satin bonnet, since my satin scarf is starting to smush my afro down each night, forcing me to attempt to make it look as good as it does on cowash days. 

These are all the New Year Hair Resolutions I have for now. If you have any, please share in the comments below.

Coming Soon...More Pictures of My Hair

Now that I have regular usage of my own camera, I will be uploading more pictures of my own hair. It will not be a lot of pictures, necessarily. Just enough pictures to suffice the amount of time I spend talking about my hair. I am also contemplating uploading a few YouTube videos after I start a channel.



I love blogging, mainly because I love writing. I understand, however, that people like the visual more than writing. Or at least, the visual in addition to writing. So more pictures of my hair, my routine, my experiences, etc. are coming soon. Stay tuned....

Shrunken versus Stretched

Recently, I said that I prefer my hair shrunken rather than stretched. Here are two comparison pics I wanted to share to show the difference. I'm not really taking a poll here, but you decide for yourself which you prefer, shrunken (as in the first picture) or stretched (per the second picture). The last picture are my flat twists my sister put in my hair which yielded the resuls of the second picture.

Well, I know I prefer the first picture, but I loved having the twists in my hair. They were cute and easier to refresh in the morning. I just applied a little olive oil, and kept it moving.







Great Link: Aruvedic Regimen Building

Thank God for Mop Top Maven. I have been perusing her blog archives so much lately. The main reason was to see her posts on skin care, since she uses oil cleansing and I wanted to revamp my skincare regimen to use oil cleansing exclusively. Her posts on skin care will definitely be put to use in my updated skin care regimen. Grapeseed oil, here I come. While looking at her blog, I realized she had a few posts about ayurveda, a concept I wish to add to my hair regimen. I'm not too keen on using henna for many reasons, but especially since it can lead to a looser curl patten and because it can be very messy. Henna is not the only Indian herb that deserves special attention. With ayurveda, the world of natural herbs for beauty care are endless.



Mop Top wrote two great posts on incorporating ayurveda into her hair regimen. The posts can be found here and here. Check them out. I know I will.

Pictured above is amla powder. It is an ayurvedic herb that is purported to stimulate hair growth, strengthen hair at the root, and condition hair. Just one of the many herbs that ayurveda has to offer.

Confessions of a Wash-n-Go Coily Queen (Part I) + Pictures

Before big chopping back in May, I always envisioned myself as the type of natural committed to minimal manipulation and protective styling. With a TWA, twists were not an option, but as my hair grew I was eager to twist it up and eventually braid it down. What I have recently realized was that I have been trying to force a certain natural personality on myself. In my heart, I knew I was a wash-n-go naturalista.

My hair is not very visible in this picture, but it shows how my hair looked the night my sister complimented me on my curls. 

The truth is, I love my wash-n-gos, both the minimalist approach to them and the end result of my hair's look when I do them. Perhaps, I didn't accept this because I thought that my extremely curly hair needed stretching, or someway of minimizing my tight, tight, (I cannot stress enough) tight curls. My shrinkage is more than 75% the actual length of my strands. Another thing I realized was that I loved my hair in its shrunken state, with the coils tightly clumped together and dense looking. My hair stretched out usually looks overly thin and sparse to me. I have learned the actual strands of my hair are quite thin, although my hair look like the thickest creation by God when completely shrunken. Yes, what an oxymoron; I have thick thin hair. Let me try to explain again: My strands are thin, but my hair's curl pattern lends itself to a very thick look. My hair is always even longer than I can imagine when I stretch it out. The last time I co-washed was to revert my hair back to its natural curl pattern when I wore a flat twist out. My hair shrunk to even smaller size than I would have imagined.

What really motivated me to accept my wash-n-go personality is when my sister complimented me on my hair after she saw some pictures of me with friends on Facebook. She asked me what had I done. I honestly could not remember doing anything in particular, other than applying humectants sprays and oils each morning. The only thing keeping me from washing and going is the extremely cold weather. Furthermore, I love to wash my hair. Odd, I know. By washing I mean both co-washing and shampooing. Another fact of my natural personality. I prefer to focus on caring for my hair, rather than styling my hair. The shampooing and deep conditioning may get tedious, but I know my hair will thank me for it. After spending an entire evening styling my hair, my patience wanes off after a few days, and I am ready to take it down. Even when wearing a twist out, I am eager to wash my hair and see my natural curl pattern. I get separation anxiety from my natural texture. Silly? Maybe. But that is just me. It is all about accepting my natural texture.

Now that I have confessed to myself and my dear blog readers that I am a wash-n-go girl, what are the next steps? Simple, hair maintenance that best supports this natural hair personality. This means that I will be seeking ways to prevent fairy knots as much as possible since that is one of the cons of wearing wash-n-go styles. More oil rinsing, here I come! Ph Balance, here I come! Furthermore, I will not be buying styling products that often anymore. My Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding will probably last me another year. I am also looking into conditioner styling more since I plan to always have a good quality conditioner on hand.

Don't get me wrong. I will style my hair from time to time. My favorite style so far has been flat twists. Cute and a lot faster to do than individual two strand twists. I also liked the look of the flat twist out after it had shrunken a few times after showering without a cap, allowing the moisture to shrink my hair to a smaller, thicker looking style. My focus now will be hair care, not hair styling. So cleansing and deep treating will now be regular parts of my regimen. My hair regimen will be getting revamped, for a more natural ingredients-based, minimalist approach. Stay tuned...

I Just Wanna Wash My Hair

Being the very busy college senior that I am, my hair regimen has been interrupted by extracurricular events as well as scholastics, specifically finals. Furthermore, my regimen does not include the use of heat, and these cold November winds have prevented me from being able to just wash and go straight out the door. The last time I did that, it was actually a bit cold. My roommate chastised me for my choice of leaving the room with damp hair knowing the weather would be cold. God spared me pneumonia, so I will no longer tempt Him.

My finals are now complete, and my hair is in need of some TLC, because aside from washing, I can't remember the last time I deep conditioned my hair. Furthermore, I am supposed to be DC'ing twice a month to combat cold winter weather overdrying my hair. My deep treatment, however, might be waiting until this weekend. I just wanna wash my hair, ASAP. Furthermore, I am considering giving away all my silicone conditioners. I'll explain why in a later post. So, here are the hair plans for today.

• Shampoo with Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Threat, because I need the soothing scalp benefits of tea tree right about now. My scalp has been itching somewhat for the past few days.
• Oil Rinse with 50:50 blend of olive oil and castor oil
• Condition/Detangle with Yes to Cucumbers Daily Makeover Conditioner
• Rinse out Conditioner and apply Giovanni Weightless Moisture Direct Leave-In Conditioner

Allow hair to air dry while I watch television and clean/pack for the winter break.

Hair Plans: Ayurvedic Hair Mask

I had been thinking for some time now that I wanted to up the ante on my deep treatment. Currently, I just add honey and oil to a regular rinse conditioner, and the results are fine. I suppose what I am looking for is that WOW factor that I would expect from a deep treatment. After all, it is a treat.

If you have been paying attention to my recent blog posts, you have read about how I want to experiment with Ayurveda. Just how I was going to add this to my regimen, I was not sure. I have decided that I am going to make a ayurvedic hair mask, using Indian herbals. There are so much to choose from, including brahmi powder, neem powder, amla powder, cassia, and henna. Most likely, I will stick with what can be purchased from Butters and Bars. This website carries many ayurvedic herbs.

In other news, visiting archived posts on Mop Top Maven has me wanting to call me Madame Mix-a-Lot. What is keeping me from going out and buying so much stuff are a few things: lack of funds, lack of storage space for everything I want to buy, and fear of not using what I do buy. Once I get my own place, I may become more enthusiastic about becoming a mixstress. Right now, for the most part,  I will stick with my rule of four, making only things that use four ingredients or less.

Great Linkage: MopTop Maven and Skincare

MopTop Maven has gorgeous hair, fashionable clothes, and a great blog. But one of the things I admire most about MopTop Maven, (it might tie with her hair), is her gorgeous, flawless skin. She utilizes the Oil Cleansing Method, and has a DIY approach to her skin care products. She makes her own toner, and uses all natural oils to cleanse as well as moisturize her skin. Her OCM recipe is more complicated than mine (right now, I'm using equal parts castor oil and olive oil), and she uses the OCM exclusively for cleansing her skin.



While doing research on how to revamp my skin care regimen, I found great information on MopTop Maven's website. I figured I'd share the links:

• MopTop Maven's Skin Care Regimen Video and Blog Post
• About Differnt Oils for the OCM for Various Skin Types
• OCM Formulas and Toner Recipes
• Reader FAQ: Why Would I Put Oil on My Oily Skin
• Troubleshooting: Having Trouble with Oil Cleansing

Well, I have decided to stop being so lazy. The truth is, even though I have oily/blemish (acne) prone skin, I have not formulated a OCM ratio more specific to that skin type. Also, I need to actually use some type of astringent. One thing about the OCM also, is that I need to buy even more washcloths than I already have. The massaging step of the OCM should be repeated 2-3 times. Using clean washcloths every time is essential for not putting bacteria back on the face, actually causing instead of curing breakouts.

Another thing I am concerned about with this method is travel. Yea, I said travel. How do I manage to carry that many oils and astringents (like witch hazel and green tea) on a plane with a carry-on only. Well, looks like I'll need to buy some travel containers for my homemade formulas. I'll keep you posted, so stay tuned.

Regimen Building and DIY Beauty Care



I have been thinking about this for some time. My hair regimen is pretty together, and I am constantly looking for ways to improve it. My most recent phenomenon is trying to use only the products that I absolutely have loved after more than 6 months of experimenting since my BC back in May. A few of those hair products include: Yes to Cucumbers Conditioner, Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp Conditioner, Oyin Handmade Greg Juice and Juices and Berries, Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Threat and 50:50 Balanced Shampoos, and my much loved raw ingredients of olive oil, castor oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and raw honey.

But what about my precious skin? And my precious body, as far as external care? I realize now that my enthusiasm for my hair doesn't necessarily translate over to my skin and body regimen. As much work as I put into my hair care regimen, I need to put the same enthusiasm into my skin care and body regimen.
How can I improve my regimens? For my skin, here are some things I plan to do:

Weekly or Monthly Facials

Oil Cleansings

Clay Masks

Steam Treatments

When it comes to my body, I am in the process of formulating a body butter. Most likely it will be shea based and have coconut oil in it as well. Or I may look into buying the Whipped Shea made by Oyin Handmade. I also want to up the ante by buying only vegetable based soaps, my favorite brand being Nubian Heritage. Body brushing is something else I want to look into. In any case, stay posed for an updated hair regimen as well as a skin and body care regimen.

What Am I to Do with Alll This Aloe Vera Juice? - Moisturizing Spritz



When I ordered from Vitacost.com, I did not realize how much aloe vera juice came in the container I purchased. I use it mainly for the Kimmaytube Leave-In conditioner, but I haven't made a batch in a while. Now I am wondering what to do with all this aloe vera juice. Hmmm. I have decided to finally make a moisturizing spritz, using some other things I have in my stash of beauty supplies and products. For ideas, I revisited a blog post by Curly Nikki, who asked followers, "What's in your spritz bottle?" I plan to keep it simple before I start getting too fancy with the ingredients. For my moisturizing spray, I will use the following:

Distilled Water

Aloe Vera Juice

Olive Oil

Castor Oil

As far as the ratio is concerned, I have no idea. The order above will be what I used from highest amount to least amount, starting with a water base, since water is the ultimate ingredient in hydration. The aloe vera juice will serve as a humectant and acidic ingredient to balance the pH of my hair. The oils will seal in the moisture. Random: I need to buy more olive oil, ASAP.