Friday, April 26, 2013

Pure Shea Store Goodies



While at Women's Empowerment last month, I picked up some goodies from Pure Shea Store! I can't wait to try them out! I got them from company founder Chris, aka "The Soapman" himself :-)

Pure Shea Store products are completely natural and created without animal testing, parabens, GMOs or other harmful ingredients. Their focus is on providing products made with the best possible ingredients. All products are made by hand in their warehouse in Baltimore, MD based on the recipe of the founder's grandmothers (Grandma Pearlie and Dee Dee).

I'll be trying out the Mango Hemp-Shea Shampoo Bar, as well as the Shea Leave-In Conditioner.  I've never used a shampoo bar in my life, so I'm very interested to see how I like it! I'll let you know :-)

Check out Pure Shea Store products for yourself at the following website:Pure Shea Store or visit one of their many stores (locations can be found via the website as well).





Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Kinky/Curly Hall of Fame - Chaka Khan


This multi Grammy award winning singer/song writer came to fame in the 70's. She's famous for hits like "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You", "Through the Fire", and "Sweet Thing", just to name a few.  To date, Chaka Khan and her amazingly enormous curly fro are still synonymous! 

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Snip Snip - It's Trim Time



 
I've gotten quite a few questions about trimming, and how often I trim my ends.  Personally, I trim my hair about every 3 months. When I straightened my hair more regularly, I probably did it about every 2 months, since I was using heat on my hair.  But being that I don't use heat often, every 3 months works well for me.  If in between that time period I see any random splits, I'll run and grab the scissors and snip right above the split on that particular hair strand.

Since I'm an accountant, I usually perform my routine end maintenance right after the accounting quarter close.  It's just easier for me to remember that way.  The accounting quarter close happens every 3 months, so that's my cue to trim :-)

My Process for Trimming:
1) Twist hair in big or medium size twists (about 8-18 depending on how I'm feeling).   My primary reason for twisting is to stretch the hair so that the ends are easier to see and cut.

This time I twisted an old wash and go that I had worn for 3 days and was starting to frizz.  I spritzed with water and twisted up.  Other times I'll put in the twist right after I wash my hair.

2) When twists are dry I then proceed to take them out.  (I'll usually leave in overnight)

3) As I am taking out the twist I divide the unraveled twist into sections, and just clip clip. I would estimate that I cut about 1/4-1/2 inch off the ends.

That's all I do....it's not the  most scientific way, but it works for me. Even with my non-scientific method my hair is still fairly even.  Since I wear my hair curly 95% of the time it doesn't matter to me if my hair is perfectly even.  I'm more concerned about the shape of the curly fro, over the super evenness when straightened.
How about you?  What's your hair trimming process?

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Multivitamin w/ Biotin for Healthy Hair


Not to long ago I was at my neighborhood Vitamin Shoppe.  I was talking with my oh so knowledgeable vitamin girl about mushroom complex and wellness formula, and suddenly I thought about a conversation I had with one of my coworkers about hair thinning. My coworker was interested in learning how to increase her hair's body and strength.

In talking with my vitamin girl I learned that usually a multivitamin that includes biotin normally does the trick. Biotin has been found to aid in hair growth and overall hair health. She mentioned that most times postpartum woman that experience shedding after childbirth are found to have biotin deficiency.  It helps to strengthen both hair follicles and the hair shaft. Taken regularly, hair will be stronger and less prone to breakage.


My vitamin girl recommends taking a multivitamin with biotin, as oppose to straight biotin. She said the multivitamin that I currently take, Alive! Once Daily Women's Ultra Potency, is perfect as it contains 325 mcg. Another recommendation was Mytrition Women's Personal Packs. 

Although you can take just straight biotin, she only recommends this if you are REALLY experiencing hair thinning/loss.  The usual biotin supplement is about 5000 mcg, which when taking regularly will strengthen your hair something fierce!  The average person does not need that much.  So she only recommends this if you have a serious deficiency, because this will effect ALL of your hair.  As in all over your body! Meaning legs, arms, eyebrows, everywhere!  So only take what is really necessary, ie multivitamin, if you are not really deficient :-)

Anywho, that's my spiel for today! Ta ta for now! 







Friday, April 5, 2013

Tassie - Curly Girl Extraordinaire


Tassie


The other day I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with one of my dear friends Tassie.  This fellow naturalista is a licensed Holistic Skin Care Therapist.  Tassie is the owner of Restorations Holistic Skin Care Services, as well as creator of Tacia Essentials (Skin, Hair, and Body organic product line).   She's a naturalista in about every sense of the word.  So of course I just HAD to interview her :-)

How long have you been relaxer free?
It's been about 9-10 years.

Did you slowly transition or do a drastic big chop?
I big chopped.  Actually, I've done 3 big chops :-)

You did your initial big chop to remove your relaxed hair, but you've also had 2 other big shops since you've been natural.  What were your reasons for the 3?
The 1st time was because I was tired of my hair. The 2nd was because I finally found a support system for natural hair. I wanted to start over utilizing the new support system.  The 3rd time, I felt like my hair should have been longer and it wasn't as healthy as I wanted it to be.  So I just wanted to start over. 

How did family and friends react to your decision to wear your hair naturally curly?
They were very supportive.  (They have no choice, it's my freakin hair lol lol)

What would you say are your biggest hair challenges?
1 - Retaining moisture
2 - Being lazy;  like not doing it every day like I'm suppose to.
3 - I don't want to say styling.... The basic style of the puff I do that alot.  But every now and then styling does become a challenge because I don't really know much.  I get bored with hair so quick.  That's why I could never loc my hair, I would get bored so quick and just boom cut it off quick.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have 4 hair products/tools, what 4 would you choose?
1 - Definitely water. That's just obvious. My hair loves water.
2 - Conditioner - It helps to keep it nice and supple.
3 -Tacia Essentials Shea Butter Blend
4 - Paddle Brush - When it's wet with conditioner I take the paddle brush and REALLY comb through it.


Do you have any hair inspirations?  If so who?
There are a few people i like on YouTube.  Let's see... MsVCharles, Longhairdontcare, and +Naptural85 

Any words of wisdom or advice you’d like to pass on to others?
EMBRACE YOUR HAIR!!!!  Love every single stage that you go through because there is always something new to learn.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Product Purchase - Nourish and Shine by Jane Carter Solution



Nourish and Shine


I was in Whole Foods Market this past weekend, and like always I couldn't pass by the health and beauty section without taking a peek.  It always calls my name!!!!  I usually don't purchase anything. Most times I just see what products are there and read labels.  I'm big on "all-natural" and organic type products.  I guess that stems from the vegetarian in me :-)  So of course Whole Foods is one of the biggest chains for "natural and organic products".  It's a vegetarian and health lovers paradise!

Anywho....I decided to purchase Nourish and Shine by Jane Carter Solution.  I've never used it before, but I've heard some good things about it.  It'll let you know how it goes! Wish my luck!  Check out the following video if you'd like to learn more about the product.  It's from the Jane Carter Website.