7 Day Challenge | Regular Moisturizing + Sealing

The other day I thought back to my first 7 day challenge. Basically, I picked an action and challenged myself to do it every day for a week. My first challenge was pretty successful.  I made the commitment to work out daily and followed through on my promise no matter what it took.  At the end of the 7 days, I felt a strong sense of accomplishment and knowing that anything was possible.

So I said,  why stop there? Why not keep this going with other challenges?  After a few minutes of contemplation, I decided to partake in a daily moisturizing challenge.  My motivation was to recreate a time, long ago, when I would apply a small amount of oil to my hair a couple of times a day.  After a while, others noticed that my hair appeared healthier and the compliments poured in.  Since that time, I've strayed far away from that habit.  In fact,  when I was bunning almost daily, it was not uncommon  to go days without moisturizing. 



My first action was to grab my trusty Iphone so I could create a daily reminder. A total of 3 daily reminders were set.  One in the morning, one midday and a third in the evening.  If the timing was right, I would moisturize and seal up to 3X daily.  But, honestly, I was happy to do it even once a day.  A week has now past and now it's time for reflection.


 Because of the frequency in product application, I chose Gleau oil blend which is light enough not to weigh the hair down. As  expected, my hair looked and felt better overall by the end of the week. Normally, by wash day my hair is pretty dry. But this past weekend, things were different.  Overall my hair still retained moisture and had some "hang time" even on wash day (which never happens).  The best part of this experiment came as I conducted my pre-poo session.  Since I don't do much combing during the week, my pre-poo usually results in lots of broken and shed hairs due to all the manipulation.  Not this time.  In fact, this was probably the most successful pre-poo to date.  I've never lost this little amount of hair during the pre-poo before.





I can't deny results like this.  Even though a week has come and gone, I will continue this practice as much as possible. It's definitely a keeper for me.  One thing I will do differently going forward is part my hair in sections when I apply product so every strand receives the benefits.  Another opportunity missed, that I will do more, of is seal my ends every 3rd day or so to further protect from all the manipulation.  Since this 7 day ritual was so successful, I've begun thinking of future experiments to  conduct.  Maybe a 7 day inversion challenge or a 3 liter of water a day challenge.  Who knows? The sky is truly the limit.  If you are battling chronic dryness, I urge you to try this for a week and see how your hair responds.  

{First Impressions} Thairapy 365 Conditioning Iron

Finally had the opportunity to take my new conditioning iron for a spin.  It looks like a flat iron, but behaves like a deep conditioning treatment.  At least, that's what it claims. There was no way that I'd pass up the opportunity to try such a novel idea, so I made my order on Amazon and waited patiently.  There were two options available to me.  The Jose Eber conditioning tool and the one made by Thairapy 365.  I chose the latter because of my experience with the Clarisonic and my Microdermabrasion machines. In both instances, I purchased the less expensive model, then upgraded and experienced the difference.  This time, I decided to get the "best that money can buy." 

The package itself only came with an iron and some safety instructions.  There was nothing in the box about how to use the conditioning iron.  So I went online and did some research.  The Thairapy website had some videos on the tool which I wasn't able to play.  Instead, I found some videos on how to use the Jose Eber iron.  I gather that it's meant to be used with a leave-in prior to styling.  But  I decided to try something a little different. 

I pre-pooed using Trader Joe's Nourish Spa. Then I jumped into the shower , rinsed, shampooed then stepped out to begin deep conditioning.  In a small bowl, I combined Kanechom Shea Butter and Silicon Mix Pearl Protein.  In went a half a capful of Pure Protein to complete the deep conditioning mix. After applying conditioner all over, I flipped the on switch and waited.  Then I was like "what am I waiting for, this thing doesn't have to heat up."  Just to confirm, I touched the plates which were glowing bright red.  As suspected, they were comfortable to touch. Not hot at all. 

So I took a section and started my first pass.  After the third section, I realized that I was using this thing like a flat iron. Meaning, I was passing it very quickly (as if to avoid heat damage) and I tried to avoid spending too much time on the ends.  I had to retrain myself to use this in a different way than I would my flat iron.  I took my time on each section and began to pay even more attention  on my ends.

When I close the iron, the lights change from bright red to a mix of red and blue. There's also a very slight 'frequency sound" as you use the iron.  Other than that, you feel like it's not doing anything.  It doesn't straighten like a flat iron although it does give a very slight straightening effect. Could be due to the pressure of the plates against the hair. 

After I completed "ironing" my hair with the deep conditioner in, I jumped back into the shower then prepared for the styling process.  I decided to pop open my last tube of Biolage Cera Repair so I can seal the ceramides into the cuticle.   Again, I used the tool in sections over my entire head.  This time, I started noticing a difference in my hair as it began to dry.  My hair seemed a little stiff.  Similar to when my hair starts behaving after a deep protein treatment.  Not sure how I felt about this. I told myself, "OK, at least I know my hair will be stronger after this, 'cause my hair absorbed the protein really well." 

I dampened my hair again in preparation for the roller set.  The amount of hair I lost during this process was so minuscule it was laughable.  A couple of months ago, I was concerned about my hair loss when I roller set.  I was going to write a post about it but thought it'd be better for me to test various solutions before sharing my thoughts.  So far, this experience has exceeded my expectations in that area.

While I was under the dryer, I thought to myself.  I think it's a good product but I'm not sure it should be called a "moisturizing tool" because my hair didn't feel extra moisturized.  Little did I know that I would be eating those words when I removed my rollers and over the next couple of days.  Indeed my hair does feel moisturized.  The stiff hair I had earlier was gone.  My hair does feel like it experienced an ultra deep conditioning treatment even though I used zero heat or steam. Based on the review on Amazon, and the information on the box, the results will continue improve over the next 30 days. 

Honestly, even if my hair doesn't continue to improve beyond this, I would still be happy.  But, since the best is yet to come, I will be a bit more intentional next time and use even smaller sections.   Overall my hair feels like my cuticles are smoother and the strands are softer.  To me, this is the epitome of deep conditioning.   I'm very happy.

Kanechom Kraziness!!! Which one is my favorite?

I have been in hair heaven ever since I first learned about Kamechon and Silicon Mix.  My first couple of experiences were so delightful that I decided to dive in and expose myself to as many varieties as I could get my hands on.

So now I have a gang of 'em!  They're like my new little family.  Since my little collection is growing, I think it's a good time to assess my purchases to see which one(s) I like & will repurchase again. Although I've only used them once or twice, there are a couple which are becoming obvious favorites.  Here's a run down of my babies so far:

Kanechom Goat Milk  {Restores and Strengthens}

+ Main Benefits: Contains Hydrolyzed Milk & Wheat Protein  || Lightly Scented. || Thick Creamy, Moisturizing Feel.

 Will I Reorder?  Yes because of the strengthening/moisturizing qualities. Will help my hair maintain strength in between protein treatments.
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Kanechom Shea Butter { Moisturizes & Promotes Healthy Hair} 

+Main Benefits:  The most moisturizing of all the Kanechom products I own.  Contains Hydrolized Keratin as last ingredient.  Perfect for keeping moisture balance in my hair.  Will be the base for my protein treatments when ever I use Pure Protein in the future.  I'm in love with the texture of this product.  It reminds me of a better version of Suave Milk & Honey which was discontinued years ago.

Will I Reorder?  Yes! Yes! Yes!
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Kanechom Intense Care { Mega Hydration}

+Main Benefits:  Contains Hydrolyzed Corn, Wheat, Soy protein.  ||  Thick and rich

Will I Reorder? Not sure.  For some reason I thought it would be even more hydrating than my Shea Butter.  It's more of a nourishing product.  I think this Intense Care is better suited for extremely damaged hair.  At the moment, my hair is "normal."  The fact that Intense Care is so thick & nourishing isn't a bad thing (it's a really good thing) , I just think I was expecting something different. Maybe instead of calling it Mega Hydration, they should call it Mega Repair.  It's still moisturizing like all of the others but, with a name like Mega Hydration, you better come correct.
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Kanechom Acai {Moisturizing & Strength}

++ Main Benefits:  No obvious proteins listed in the ingredient list.  Contains several fruit extracts including Acai, which are hydrolyzed for better penetration into the strands.   Mild fruity scent.

Will I Reorder?  Yes.  Very moisturizing. Also a good base to mix with my Pure Protein. Will act as back up staple conditioner because the Shea Butter is often out of stock.
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Kanechom Ceramidas { For dry/damaged hair}

++ Main Benefit:  Ceramides in the form of Hexyl Cinnemal, which the representative from Kanechom stated was a "pharmaceutical name for ceramide" after I contacted her.  I'm so used to ceramide in the form of 2-oleamido and 1-3 octadecanediol which I often see in my Biolage Ceramide products.  From what I know of Hexyl Cinnemal,  it naturally occurs in chamomile.  I did a quick search of it and couldn't find much information that defined it as a ceramide.  I'm not saying that it isn't.  What I am saying is that in a couple other products I found online containing this ingredient, they also included other ceramides in the formulation.  My very unscientific conclusion is that it probably isn't a highly concentrated ceramide.

Will I Reorder?  Probably not.  I think I will stick to Cera Repair as the main ceramide product in my regimen. 

One thing I should also mention is during my email interactions with a rep from Kanechom, she made a recommendation that I try the Dark Chocolate conditioner.  She asserted that the Dark Chocolate would be "very hydrating for textured hair."  So I hopped on over to Amazon to see what folks were saying.  The reviews were pretty positive so I'm adding to my wish list. 

Oh, I should also mention that the woman who helped answer my questions graciously offered up two coupon codes that expire September 30, 2013.  The first code FIVE will take $5.00 off your order.  The second code FREE will save you on shipping and handling costs.  You can take advantage of the code by visiting the Kanechom site.  I will not receive any compensation if you chose to take advantage of the offers.  All of the conditioners seen here were purchased by a crazy woman who is obsessed with conditioners (me).

Finally have my Micro Mist: Here's what I think

I can't believe the day has finally arrived when I finally have my very own Micro Mist Steamer.  Yes, you heard correctly, I finally got a Micro Mist! Those of you who are old-timers to this blog know that I have been coveting this extraordinary piece of genius for over a year now.  My heart has longed for the day when this wonderful beast would be mine.  The day has finally come.....

This will be an account of my initial thoughts on this wonderful machine.   My Micro Mist shipped in a box so large that the UPS guy had to drag it across my lawn and physically place it in my home.  I wrestled for 10 to 15 to open up the massive box which contained my beloved.  Then I proceeded to do the work required to assemble this wonderful piece of machinery.  Frustration quickly set over me when I realized how much work is involved with assembling one of these things.

I must have invested over a couple of hours to make sure my new baby was perfectly ready for use.  Unfortunately, too much time had passed, forcing me to have to wait for the next day to actually take it for its first spin.
 

My first experience using it was (what I would describe as) a bit clumsy.  Because of this, I wasn't able to take any decent pics of the two of us in action.  I'm sure my subsequent experiences will far outmatch it's predecessor.   

A full review will come in the future but, in the mean time, here are my initial thoughts in the form of PROS & CONS
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PRO: I can set the duration, mist level and temp based on my hair's needs.  Yesterday, I was under the machine for a total of an hour.
CON:  The Micro Mist requires more care than my traditional steamer.  After use I was required to wipe the inside of the machine clean. I also had to dump out water from a small drainage container locate that the front of the machine.

PRO:  This thing holds a lot of water. Probably around a half gallon.  With my previous steamer, I always ran out of water much sooner that I anticipated.
CON:  It's a much bigger machine in my home than it appeared in the salon.  I gotta find a good place to store this thing.

PRO:  It was whisper quite.  When I'm sitting under my dryer, I often have a difficult time hearing my laptop.  With my Micro Mist, I could work on my laptop comfortably while under the machine without having to raise the volume.
CON: Expensive.

PRO: It comes with a nape guard which greatly enhances the comfort experience while steaming.

PRO:  The Micro Mist provides a 3 minute cooling blast at the end of the session to seal in the cuticles. Traditional steamers don't come with that option.

PRO:  Steams Mists hair evenly. Not one strand of hair was exposed which means every strand is getting their fill of steamy goodness.

PRO: Large Covered hood.  The biggest qualm I have with traditional steamers is that my big head can't properly fit inside. That's why I made a makeshift version of a steamer using my hooded dryer.  This large covered hood comes with an attachment that seals everything in and doesn't allow any of the steam to escape from the sides.

PRO: The design of the hood actually allows me to wear my hair down while steaming. This, again, allows for a more even steaming/misting process.

PRO: Micro Mist technology allows for a deeper conditioning and healthier hair.  The technology helps protect the hair from possible damage related to the high heat of traditional steam.

That's pretty much how I feel about my Misting Machine.  I hope to do more posts in the future and even a video demonstrating how I use it.

Beyonce, Gabrielle Union, and Adriana Lima's secret to flawless skin

Once upon a time, I would scour the internet for skin care secrets of celebrities.   My intention was to uncover the magical products used to create that flawless glow.  One of the first products I learned about was called LaMer, a premium skin care line said to be used by dozens of A listers.   Within moments of learning of this brand, I already made plans to acquire this product line.  You can imagine my disappointment when I learned that at the top of La Mer's ingredient list was mineral oil and petroleum.  Later on, I learned of this other fancy product line called Natura Bisse.  I purchased one of their serums and scored some samples of their other products but, to be honest, none of what I tried really blew me away.

Then I asked myself, why not study the habits of celebrities with amazing skin and look for a few commonalities.  So I did.  And I found one major connection to beautiful skin that I just can't ignore. The secret, my friend, is water.

Let's take Adriana Lima for example, this woman stunned viewers by looking amazing at Victoria Secret runway shows.  In the days leading up to the show, Adriana admits to following a strict diet which creates that lean flawless look.
When Adriana isn't preparing for a runway show, she maintains perfect skin by drinking a gallon of water a day.  Just one look at her amazing skin and I'm sold on how incredible one can look when well hydrated from the inside out.

Then there's the epitome of perfect skin, miss Gabrielle Union.  How many women look as youthful and remarkable as Gabby does at 39?

Aside from keeping her skin well protected from the sun, Gabrielle boasts of drinking a full gallon of water a day as "the easiest and best skin care secret that's made a huge difference on her hair skin and nails."

Then of course there's the queen herself.  I've read accounts of people who seen her in person and talk about the greatness of Beyonce's skin.  I once wrote a post on Beyonce's work ethic.  Seems like whatever she does, Bey is always taking things to the next level.

So it didn't surprise me one bit when I read that Beyonce also makes certain to drink a gallon of water a day.  And in true Beyonce fashion, she kicks it up a notch by adding lemon to her water which provides detoxing benefits, increases vitamin levels of the water and increases alkalinity in the body.

No wonder her skin looks so good.  

Other celebrities who love drinking beaucoup water include Tyra Banks and Jennifer Lopez.  Two weeks ago, I found myself battling dry, cracked nails, dull, horrible looking skin, and a few breakouts.  I asked myself an important question "how much water have I been drinking lately?"  Looking back, I realized that I severely neglected my water intake.  The minute I determined this, I immediately recommitted to drinking water first thing in the morning again and throughout the day. Two weeks later, and I get two compliments on my skin from my hubby in one day.  I repeat, two compliments in one day!

Have I been drinking a gallon a day?  No, but I really cranked up my water intake to a minimum of a liter but, more often than not, I drank 1.5 or 2 liters daily (sometimes more). I also started drinking a little lemon water as well.

Quick Tip: When drinking lemon water, make sure to use a straw to protect your teeth from the acid.

Another smart move you can make is to "eat your water".  If you're one of those people who hates drinking water, try eating more foods that contain a high water content like watermelon, celery, cucumbers, tomatoes and even greens.  Or get as close to water as possible by drinking coconut water or sipping on healthy teas.

I'm bringing all of this up because the weather is starting to shift as we move towards a new season.  With cooler weather it usually means we drink less.  Drinking less water promotes dryer skin and restricts hair growth and pretty much slows everything down.  That is not the business!  So let's all learn from these celebrity beauties and drink plenty of water!  No excuses.

How to keep the sun from destroying the most valuable part of your hair

Summer is upon us once again. What I love about summer are the extended daylight hours and the warm bright sun.  I'm a July baby so the heated temperatures don't bother me at all. One only thing that bums me out about summer is this, the potential damage that can be caused by the sun.

I'm not only talking about damage to the skin from ultraviolet rays. It's even worse than that. Hopefully by now, each one of us is applying a decent sunscreen to protect our skin on a daily basis.  But what about the part of our bodies that comes in contact with the sun first...our hair.

Did you know of the potential dangers of ultraviolet rays to our hair?  It turns out photoaging which is normally a term we use to describe the leathery skin created by excessive sun, can also happen to our hair as well. There was a study done on a couple years ago on this topic.  They studied changes to the hair after exposure to UV rays.  Particularly they were looking for shifts in the amount of hair lipid present in the cuticle.  Now, if you read my post on 18-MEA, you already know that this compound is a lipid (fat) present on the cuticle layer. It provides a level of protection against damage, creates shine, and helps promote a smoother cuticle which lessens the impact of mechanical damages and makes combing much easier.

Not only are we destroying our blessed 18-MEA when we relax or color our hair,   we're also impacting this precious compound by exposing our hair to UV radiation.  Basically, our hair is being damaged by the sun.   So now that we know this. What are we going to do about it?

Hopefully everyone reading this has scarf they normally wear to bed.  But do you have any scarves that are cute enough to wear outside?  There's are park near my house and, from time to time, I like to take a morning walk.  The difference in my hair on the days I wear my scarf vs. when I don't is undeniable.  I'm not just talking about the humidity-induced frizz, I'm talking about dry crinkly hair.  My hair looked and felt like the sun took it's toll on it. From that moment on, I began to feel really uncomfortable whenever I would spend long amounts of time (hours) in the morning or mid-day sun without some sort of protection.

If covering your hair with fashionable scarves outdoors isn't your thing, consider picking up a couple of products meant to help provide UV protection for the hair.  Aveda has a line of products for this purpose and so does Kerastase.  Neutrogena silk to touch leave in cream also contains UV filters to protect the hair from dryness caused by the sun.  These are just some of the few. ApHogee's gloss polisher has UV filters as well.  Feel like going the natural route?  You can opt to include some natural plant oils in your regimen before you head out for a day of fun and sun.  Oils like macadamia nut, hemp seed, sesame seed, shea butter and coconut oil all provide low levels (under SPF 10)  of UV protection.  So if you know you will be outside for the day, bring a little bit of a sun protecting oil with you to so you can reapply if needed.


Finally, even with the sun protection, I suggest you still have on hand products that contain 18-MEA to replenish the stored lipids that are brutally taken away from you.  I've been using MEA containing conditioners for the last couple of weeks and my hair has been very pleased. I still thought it would be a good idea to pick up a leave-in with this amazing ingredient so I can give my hair this treat between washes.  My next move was to adopt a bottle of Kerastase Chroma Thermique (Thermo-radiance protecting milk).  Meant for color treated hair, Thermo Milk contains both ceramides and the valuable 18-MEA ingredient.

Those two work together to create a fabulously healthy cuticle layer.  The lipids help provide elasticity and shine while the ceramides keep the cuticle layer sealed from damage. Oh, and I learned from the Kerastase site that Chroma Thermique also contains UV filters and can also be used to protect hair from heat styling.  Although it does contains silicones, it's first ingredient is water which technically can classify Chroma Thermique protecting milk as a moisturizer.  So far, my hair is loving this hot pink hair restorer.  Yes, it's a little pricey, but for all the benefits I get, I would say this is probably the most valuable Kerastase product I own.  Let's recap this product's value shall we:

• Heat protector
• UV filters
• Light,water based moisturizer
• Ceramides
• 18-MEA
• Color protector

It's like Kerastase was thinking of me when they created this product.  O.k. I'll stop gushing about the Chroma Thermique and move on.

 The bottom line to all if this is to raise your awareness of the need for sun protection throughout the summer (and pretty much every day).  If you relax, your already depleted levels of 18-MEA (from relaxing) is stripped away even further from sun exposure.  Even if you're natural, the sun will still damage your hair.  Color treated girls, you're part of this too!  Bottom line is that no one is safe.  We all have to protect ourselves one way or another.  When I re-read the details of the study mentioned earlier, I learned that the cuticle damage to the hair was greater in UVB (outdoor sun) vs UVA radiation (indoor sun like in the picture above).  This means that our hair is more susceptible to damage when we're outside vs indoors.   So even those of us who don't go outdoors much are still being exposed to UVA radiation and still must take precaution to protect our skin and hair. I hope we all learned something today and from this learning, I pray that all you will take some type of action to protect our hair and skin from accelerated aging caused by the sun.  Enjoy your summer!