First Impressions | Linange Shea Butter Relaxer Review

Not too long ago I mentioned that, for the first time in years, I would be trying out a new relaxer.  More specifically, Linange Shea Butter relaxer.  The reviews alone were enough to interest me, but when I received even more confirmation in the form of a wonderful comment about how amazing the relaxer is, I was sold.

It was difficult, at first to decide between their texturizer and relaxer so I decided to try the stronger formula this time and, if I so desired, I'd experiment with the texturizer next touch up.   The lye formula comes with nothing other than the jar contianing the relaxer.  No activator needed to mix in like with my Affirm Fibergaurd.

With sprush in hand, I prepared myself for the experience.  Normally, I would mix a little Pure Protein into my relaxer but, for the sake of this review, I decided to add no bells and whistles.  Minutes prior to relaxing I applied excessive amounts of coconut oil to the length of my hair allowing it to soak in a little before touch up process.

 I separated my hair in small sections and began to apply the thick cream.  The consistency was heavy enough that it didn't move when applied.  That's a good thing.  My only thoughts were about how I demonstrated no discipline with regards to scratching itches in the days leading up to the relaxer application.  I silently hoped that Linange would spare my scalp from intense burning and subsequent scabs.

Linange didn't have that "relaxer chemical" scent and when I applied it throughout, it barely affected my new growth.  Another thing I noticed was how little scalp irritation I was experiencing.  After it was applied throughout, I began to smooth with my gloved hands.  Again, very little irritation.  Since it appeared that my hair wasn't over-processed, I allowed the relaxer to do its thing for a few more minutes before washing out.  The best way to describe what I love about Linange is that allowed my hair to retain its structural strength.  I felt like it respected my hair. I know this sounds weird but typically, after a touch up, I can tell that my hair was been "weakened" by chemicals and I immediately begin the process of reintroducing protein to my regimen to try to reverse some of that damage.  This wasn't the case with Linange, It did its job without wreacking havoc to my hair. I can only imagine the long term benefits of this.

With Linange, my hair doesn't feel damaged AT ALL.  It processed my hair enough to loosen my texture without making it weak  and fragile.  I almost felt like I didn't need a protein step after rinsing the relaxer but I did it anyway.  Oh, and I left the experience with ZERO damage to my scalp. No scabbing....nothing (even though I didn't deserve it).  I would say the experience was pretty flawless with one exception.  Everything was perfect with my newly relaxed hair but, I felt like my previously relaxed hair dried out a little from the impact of the relaxer run off as I rinsed in the shower.

The good news is that dryness was combatted with the help of Kerastase Nutrithermique and Kanechom Shea Butter.  Throughout the week, I kept the hair nice and moist using Evian Facial Spray, Aveda Damage Remedy moisturizer and Gleau Argan oil blend.  Next time I touch up, I'll come armed by applying Avlon's preservo serum to the length or perhaps I'll experiment with using their nuetralizing conditioner on my previously relaxed strands.

Lastly, the one jar was enough to do my entire head and leave a little for next time.  I will still need to purchase a second jar when I do this again in 3-4 months.  Overall, I'm a believer in Linange. It has now become the official relaxer of Relaxed Hair Health Blog until further notice.  For those of you interested, I would say that if you aren't looking for the "bone straight" look, consider trying Linange out and seeing if your hair likes it. Most of the people who tried it (including myself) are very happy with the results.

DIY Scalp Stimuation + Exfoliation Sugar Scrub

Lately my scalp has become a bit of a concern.  Normally, I think of my scalp during the cooler months but it's just as critical to care for the scalp now as it is during winter.  Simply put, I feel as if my scalp would benefit greatly from exfoliation.  I've gone on and on about exfoliation in previous posts. Heck even Chilli of TLC provided a gentle reminder when I ran into her last week.

There's Fresh Sugar polish that I adore for my face and I live & die by Tree Hut Shea body polish as an every day ritual. I'm pretty much exfoliating from head to toe.  That is......except for my scalp.  Scalp is skin too...right?  And, it's constantly bombarded with products oil and other stuff layered on throughout the week. Not to mention sweating from the warmer temps.  Our scalp deserves from refreshing.  I did a quick search online and learned that lots of ladies were getting good results from using a brown sugar scrub on their scalp on wash day.   

By simply adding some brown sugar to your favorite shampoo, conditioner, or even oil, you'll have a simple, effective method to cleanse your scalp.  

I also thought about how to take this process to the highest level possible by incorporating scalp healthy ingredients into the mix.  Perhaps, instead of olive oil, I opt for coconut which has anti fungal properties (great for dandruff) and will also nurture the hair.  A couple of drops of essential oil like eucalyptus or peppermint will provide an invigorating experience while increasing circulation and blood flow.

This, I think will work well during the pre-poo step, just before I get into the shower. I can gently massage/exfoliate my scalp as I allow the pre-shampoo product to condition my hair.  There's also the benefit of having a scalp free of excess dead skin, products, etc blocking the healthy growth of my hair. I can't wait to experience that clean scalp feeling again.

Currently Loving | CapriClear Coconut Oil Spray

One of new finds from my last Instagram Beauty Secrets posts that I was most excited about was CapriClear.  If you've been reading my blog over the past few weeks, you know that I've been fascinated with the idea of spraying oil on my hair instead of using manual application.  The Misto Sprayer has changed my life.  Incidentally, I was planning on investing on a second sprayer to house my coconut oil when I learned of CapriClear.  Right away I placed my order on Amazon, and from the moment my package arrived, we've been inseparable.

Girl, this stuff has been sprayed on my hair, my cuticles, my scalp, my feet, my elbows, my face, everywhere. This morning I even sprayed a little on my finger tips and rubbed on my lips as an all natural lip conditioner.  When my dermatisis strikes again on my scalp and hair line, I'll be ready.

 It's made of 100% coconut oil and nothing else.  It sprays in a fine mist that releases just enough product.  Because it's fractioned coconut oil, it doesn't actually carry the coconut oil scent.  So, no matter how many times I sprayed it, there was no trace of coconut scent to be found.  Fractioned coconut oil also doesn't become solid in cooler temps so it's perfect for nourishing dry skin in the winter. 

I love this product so much.  Instantly, it became an item that I will carry around with me at all times.  I knew I was sprung when I left home for an overnight trip and went out to buy a replacement after realizing that I left my CapriClear at home.  Now I have the travel size an the 5oz bottle. Honestly, this is the most versatile product I own.  Often, when I travel, I battle drier skin and hair due to the change in climates.  I can't tell you how long I've dreamed of having a way to bring coconut oil with me on the road.  Finally, my dream has come true.   What I appreciate most about CapriClear is the liquid consistency.  Since warmer weather is coming upon us, I'm not looking forward to slathering on lotions that cause build up and feel heavy on the skin.  I can keep a bottle in the fridge and mist to refresh my skin while creating a nice glow (not greasy).

Because of my obsessive excessive use, I suspect that it won't be long before I'm repurchasing again (for a third time).  I think I'll experiment will buying larger bottles of fractioned coconut oil to refill when run out (which won't be long).  The convenience of this packaging is worth it's weight in gold.  Add to that to how versatile this product is and you have the recipe for a must have beauty product.  Everyone needs this......even you.

New In.

Sharing a small round up of new goodies that I've recently acquired. 

My  KHairPep samples came in!  Please read my last post on this  product line if you haven't already done so.  It seems to be a very promising product if the claims hold true.  I'll be testing it out this weekend and sharing my review soon.

After experiencing a couple warmer days, I decided to get back on my smooth skin regimen.  My favorite body scrub of all time has to be the Tree Hut Shea Butter Body Scrub.  Used daily, this stuff works miracles on my skin.  I've gotten compliments form a woman while receiving a massage on how soft/smooth my skin was.  There was even a time when a cashier noticed this in my shopping basket and asked, "is that why your skin looks so good?"  If you haven't tried this yet, make it a must.

In a past "Cravings" post, I talked about purchasing a Japanese Facial Steamer.  While looking at other Japanese beauty products on Amazon, I stumbled on an electronic facial roller/massager.  I couldn't find hardly any reviews or videos of this thing in use (with the exception of a promotional video from the company). I stepped out in faith and gave it a shot!  Weeks later, it arrived directly from Japan.  After charging, I gave it a shot for the first time.  In the video, they made it seem like this would simulate the strokes of someone massaging your face (like during a facial). Truth is, even on the low setting, this tool is more intense than I imagined.   After the first use, I though to myself, this thing would make an amazing scalp massager.  On my scalp, it feels heavenly, I tied my hair with a scarf because it has a rotating piece that could cause trouble if my hair got caught in it.  But even with my hair tied, it gave me an amazing massage.  Not just the "my scalp is stimulated" massage. But one that relieved tension in my head.  Afterwards, I actually felt better.  I'm really liking this thing.  I've wanted an electric scalp massager for years and now I finally goit it! I hope to make a video showing how it works so you can see it in action!

Boots.com Haul | grow gorgeous hair growth serum, Gold Collagen + more

Someone must have been a really good girl this year because I received a very special delivery on the eve of Christmas.  Can I just tell you how excited I am about my Boots.com haul?

After much discussion about the value of pea sprout extract in hair growth & health, I finally get to wrap my greedy little hands around a bottle (or two) of my own.  We've talked about grow gorgeous serum before.  But now I actually read the package, so let's find out more about it, shall we?

Product description on the label:

"Put your lethargic follicles through some serious schooling with this ultra-concentrated formula with a proprietary 21.5% active complex of 7 technologies that work hard together to make hair visibly longer, thicker and fuller."

Here is a breakdown of the 21.5% active complex.

+ 8.0% Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3: "Has been shown in an independent study to start working within 8 days to improve visible hair length while increasing hair density by 13% within 4 months. It'd be like having 13,000 more hairs on average."

+8.0% Bio-Active Pea Sprout Complex:  "Starts working within 2 weeks and improves visible hair growth by 78% compared to normal levels within 3 months based on an independent active complex study."

+5% Bio Active Complex of Chinese Skullcap, Soy Sprout & Wheat Sprout: "Improves visible hair thickness and the condition of the follicles within 3 months for fuller, denser and healthier looking hair.

+0.5% Hyaluronic Acid (non animal source): "Is able to attract up to 1,000 times it's weight in water, improving in scalp hydration and penetration.

So now that you have a basic understanding of the makeup of the serum, let's talk a little more about it.  I checked out the ingredient list which is pretty extensive but honestly, most of it consists of plant based extracts.  Water is the first ingredient.  The "Bio Active Extracts & Hyaluronic acid appear near the top of the list after water.  The only oil I saw present was castor oil which appeared as one of the latter ingredients.  As you can see from the picture above, it's a liquid serum.  The consistency is very watery and easy to distribute using the dropper provided.  Application was a snap because of the texture.  The only thing I would change about it is the scent.  It's really mild but, to me, it has a slight cologne-like smell.  But other than that, I'm cool with it.  I'm supposed to use it once a day, massaging it in until my scalp has fully absorbed the liquid.  So far, so good. Because of it's watery base, it feels like I'm moisturizing my roots during the process.  This also gives me another reason to stay consistent with my scalp massages.

Since I live in the U.S. and Boots.com only delivers in the UK, I had to take advantage of this opportunity and order whatever I could while I had the chance.  So I picked up a bottle of Fountain which is a liquid supplement containing 40 mg of Trans-Resveratrol.  This main ingredient is a powerful anti-oxidant which can help fight free radicals.  They say that resveratrol helps slow down the rate at which our cells divide which can slow down the aging process by extending the life of the cell.  Along with resveratrol, Fountain also contains black carrot (another anti-oxidant) and hyaluronic acid.  Seemed too good to pass up.

Finally, I picked up more collagen.  This time it's in a bottle, already formulated for immediate consumption.  I heard about Gold Collagen before but had a hard time getting my hands on it.  When I saw it on Boots.com, I knew what I had to do. Another thing I like about Gold Collagen is that it also contains vitamins such as zinc, copper, biotin, vitamin C, E, B6 and, the one ingredient that all my purchases have in common, hyaluronic acid.

Santa sure knows how to make a girl's day.

Merry Christmas everyone!

How a roller with metal pins creates healthy skin & hair

I got a thing.  And I want to share it with you.  It's pretty nifty and can help me in both my hair and skin care journey.  You may remember a post I wrote on my plan on dealing with my acne scars. In that post, I mentioned the use of derma rollers to promote cell turnover and the generation of new skin cells.

I love the derma roller but sometimes I'm a little apprehensive about using it. Because it actually pierces the skin, I have to be conscious of maintaining high standards when it comes to keeping things hygienic.  This means, I have to sterilize the instrument to avoid skin issues.

I wanted something different that I can use every day but with similar benefits. I find that if I have to do something every day, I'm more consistent versus if I  use it once/twice a week.  Then one day I stumbled on this video.



Tonya demonstrated the use of a roller with pins that is similar to the dermal roller except that it doesn't pierce the skin.  I instantly knew I wanted one.  My skin responds well to vigorous stimulation.  Things like facial massage, skin brushing, the Clarisonic pro, have all be well received.  So I knew that I'd benefit from this rolling pin thingy.

Just when I thought things couldn't get better, I saw this video.



Am I seeing things or did I see this woman roll a bed of pins on her scalp?  Suddenly I was filled with wonder and excitement mixed with a little caution.  I'm an avid supporter of scalp massages.  I've even shared the benefits of scalp brushing.  Could this be the next level of scalp stimulation?

Fast forward a couple of weeks and my roller with the pins arrives.  I use it carefully on my skin for fear of inflicting pain on myself.  Instantly, I realized just how gentle this tool is.  It feels incredibly comfortable as I roll it up and down my face.  I experiment with different levels of pressure.  It feels nice.  My husband sees it and inquires about it's purpose. I tell him what I plan on doing with it.  He gives it a try. Minutes later he's still using it.  After I finally have it back in my possession I carefully test it on my hair.  Fear creeps up in me as I wonder if it will get tangled and rip out an entire section of hair as I try to dislodge it from my scalp.

I gently roll it on my scalp and begin to enjoy the tingling sensation as my scalp receives the stimulation.  Much to my surprise and wonder, the tool is extremely gentle on my hair. No snagging, no ripping, nothing.  It's even more gentle then when I use a brush to stimulate.  I'm amazed.  I've used it several times on my hair without one single casualty.  I'm pleased.  I've decided to get one more from ebay so I don't have to use the same one on my face and on my scalp.  Turns out that they come in two different sizes. I bought a small one for my face. The large one will be perfect for scalp rolling.

I love the feeling of experiencing blood flow after a rolling session.  Anytime blood flow increases to an area, good things happen.  Thank you, Tonya, for sharing this amazing find with us.

I bought Coconut Vinegar! Here's how I will use it.

As I was casually strolling through the aisles of my local vegan health food store, my eyes happened to look up at exactly the right moment to land upon this:

Immediately knew what it was because I just happened to write a post on coconut vinegar earlier this year.  Only difference was that my first attempt was a makeshift version. This time, I got my hands on the real thing.  Since this is a new product to me, I'm still in the learning phase.  So far, what I've gathered is how nutritious coconut vinegar is.  Not only does it contain 17 amino acids, minerals, vitamin C and B vitamins, it also has prebiotics (aka food for your digestive flora). All these nutrients are possible because the source of the vinegar is derived from the sap of the tree grown in volcanic soil.  It's said that the coconut trees go through their growth spurt in part due to the minerals collect from sea water along with the rich soil. The roots of the tree have access to this water which it delivers to the coconut blossom via it's sap. The nutritious sap is collected, fermented and used to make this amazing product.

Another piece of info I gathered from my research is that coconut vinegar isn't as acidic as ACV (apple cider vinegar). In fact, it has a nearly neutral pH.  This makes it much milder in taste and intensity to ACV.  So now that I have my hands on the "Coconut Secret," here's what I'm going to do with it.

I'm going to drink it! While I was checking out at the health food store, one of the employees mentioned how he drinks this in the morning instead of ACV. It has a much milder taste and doesn't sting like it's counterpart.  I used to muster up the courage to take a shot of ACV in the mornings but then I couldn't take it anymore and just gave up.  My husband still does it and I cringe any time I witness it.  Not only is it milder but coconut vinegar is much more nutritious than ACV.  Then I saw this video where a guy shared that he replaced him lemon water and ACV with coconut vinegar in the morning.  I'm gonna give it a shot!

I'm going to use it on my skin! Everyday I use some apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball and apply to my skin.  This is because I've battled dermatitis for over a decade and, I promise you, ACV is the ONLY thing that worked on the peeling I experience on my face.  Perhaps the ultra low pH has something to do with it.  I'd like to experiment with coconut vinegar because I'm attracted to the nutritional content.  I'm curious to see if my skin will benefit differently if it came in contact to a nutritionally rich vinegar day after day.  On the other hand, I still need the same potency I get from ACV.  Who know's, maybe the best solution is to mix the two.

I'm going to use it on my hair!  We should all know by now how beneficial apple cider vinegar is to our hair.  The low pH helps seal cuticles and promote a healthy scalp.  I read a few accounts online where ladies substituted coconut vinegar for their usual ACV and liked the results.  They claim that this is milder but still benefited the hair.  Sometimes when I use ACV, I feel like it's a bit much for my hair.  Having an alternative available really makes me happy. 

I just bought my bottle yesterday so I haven't had a chance to use it on my hair yet. But I did get a chance to taste it both raw and diluted with water.  First off, this smells and tastes nothing like coconut.  The taste is very similar to ACV but not as potent.  Doesn't burn as much when it goes down the throat.  Then I put a little bit of it on a cotton pad and wiped it all over my face.  The experience was very similar to when I use ACV.  In fact, it reminded me of when I first used apple cider vinegar as a toner.  My eyes were a little sensitive to the scent and I experienced a little tingling.  I think my skin got used to ACV because I rarely experience tingling anymore.  I hope to see additional benefits from the nutritional content of this vinegar both internally and externally.  Oh, and I can't wait to use it on my hair.

Seasonal Shedding? I'm not about that life

We've got to think on our feet and stay ahead of the game when it comes to this hair journey thing.  Right now, the only thing on my mind, is how to successfully avoid the excessive seasonal shedding as much as humanly possible.  I'm not talking about your normal, everyday shedding.  No, what I speak of is the viscous, non stop shedding that takes normally place right around the end of the year.

I look back to years past when I was plagued with an incredible amount of shedding.  Because of my relaxer touch-up schedule, I normally relax at the end of the year. So year after year, I would endure battle the shedding while having a bounty of new growth.  Shedding + New Growth = Tangles (massive ones).

Not this year though.  I think I have learned some tricks to help thwart my shedding. I intend to employ these techniques whole heatedly starting now. My focuses will be simple.  It's really all about making sure my scalp is well cared for while ensuring adequate circulation to the hair follicle.

Already, I'm noticing an increase flakes and dryness in my scalp.  This is not okay.  I see it as a sign of impending danger.  So I am taking the first step in my plan to prevent excessive shedding by increasing my water intake.  It's not as hot as it used to be and I'm noticing the need to drink lots of water is subsiding.  So I have decided to become more regimented in my water drinking.  Which means going back to having clear goals around how much water I consume.  Right now, I shoot for 2 liters or more a day.  Another reason why I'm drinking lots of water is maintain proper circulation throughout my body.  I have a sneaky suspicion that our circulation isn't as high in fall/winter season as in summertime which could be a factor in the shedding.

Another reason why I'm ramping up the water intake is because I'm constantly reminded of a conversation I had with a friend.  She told me that her stylist was always able to tell when she wasn't drinking enough water based on the condition of the scalp.  Then I think about some of the experiences shared on a forum when they challenged themselves to drink more water.  Several stated that their hair began to hold moisture better, others talked improved skin benefits, etc.  We, too, shall drink our water so we can experience all of that and more!

Along with the additional water intake, I also focusing on manual stimulation/circulation as well.  For over a month, I've challenged myself to exercise my scalp daily. This could include massages, scalp brushing, and even hair pulling.  Whatever I takes to bring more blood flow, I'm with it!  Whenever I consistently exercise my scalp, my shedding decreases. So, I'm committed to keep this up throughout the rest of the year.

A couple of other things I will keep doing is stimulating the scalp with essential oils on wash days (and more frequently if necessary).  Then I also need to make sure I drink lots of bamboo tea throughout fall and winter months.  The tea contains hair healthy nutrients that help my hair and scalp tremendously. Back in my vitamin rotation is cayenne pepper which is amazing at increasing internal circulation on so many levels.

 I've already employed these strategies and so far, so good.  I look forward to completing the fall/winter season without the paralyzing fear of having to battle unnecessary shedding.  Wish me luck.

{The Weekly Wash Project} Pre-poo scalp stimulation ritual

This week I realized that my scalp, which was once a major concern, has been giving me almost no trouble at all.  On the one hand, this is a good thing.  On the other, I've been ignoring my scalp.  Although I'm grateful to have one less concern to worry about, I also realize that, if left alone, eventually I will experience the side effects of not caring for my scalp.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands.  I opted to proactively add a permanent  step to my wash routine to care for my scalp.  Thinking ahead to fall season, I know that two scalp related concerns may surface.

1. Shedding
2. Flaking/peeling

For me, one solution to both of these problems came in the form of essential oils.  Back when my scalp issue was at its worst, I would use essential oils almost daily.  Now, I'm going to experiment with adding an essential & carrier oil scalp massage every week as a part of my pre-poo step.

Last night, before heading to bed, I mixed a little eucalyptus oil and coconut oil together.  I parted my hair in small sections and applied the blend directly to my scalp and hair.  Then I put on a plastic cap and called it a night. I can't tell you how much I love feeling a tingling sensation on my scalp.  Makes me feel like my hair follicles are coming alive!

Adding this step as a part of my weekly wash routine will give me several benefits.  Let's discuss:

+ Scalp stimulation to help promote growth.
+ Reduction in shedding.
+Less flaking/peeling
+Eucalyptus oil helps increase ceramide levels in the hair strand.

There's no reason for me not to do this.  Back in the day, when my scalp was misbehaving, I would use essential oils several times a week. As a side effect, I would often walk around smelling medicated.  My hope is that the weekly ritual will be enough to address any issue so I don't have to resort to doing it multiple times a week. This a proactive approach. Hopefully with this weekly scalp stimulation ritual (and by drinking lots of water), I'll be able to keep my scalp healthy throughout fall and winter.

Can protective styling actually hinder your hair growth journey?

During my hair analysis consultation, I received a piece of advice that I thought was worthy of an entire post.  We were talking about my stress point breakage when I mentioned that I was wearing buns to work pretty much on a daily basis  for quite a while (over 2 years).  As soon as I said that, she immediately gave me two pieces of advice.

1.  Try to move the location of my ponytail to avoid stress on the same area day after day.
2.  Try to wear my hair down for at least part of the day.

After she made her second point, I asked if she could repeat her statement because I thought I heard her wrong.  When she spoke again, the consultant shared that she recommended that I wear my hair down as often as possible. Her reasoning behind this is:

"when the hair is pulled up all the time, it slows the growth of the hair by placing too much tension and restraint on the follicles, which can stun growth."

She used her daughters as an illustration of her point. One of the girls, has type 3B, 3C and type 4A hair.  The other only has one texture, 3B.  The one with the 3B hair, wears a ponytail all the time and is currently shoulder length.  The other, wears a loose braid and have very long hair.  We've all heard the advice not to wear our hair pulled back too tightly for the sake of our edges and hair lines but could wearing ponytails, tight buns, etc impact our growth?  After a quick search online, I found a couple of sites that supported this argument.

My consultant and a few online sources confirmed that hair has a "natural growth direction."  Meaning, when left in it's natural state our hair grows in a set direction as determined by the placement of the follicle.  When we put our hair in certain styles like tight ponytails and high buns, we pull our follicles in a direction that goes against the natural flow.  This added weight and pressure can restrict blow flow to the scalp and slow growth if repeated daily for long periods of time. Those of us with thicker stands need to be extra aware of this risk.  In my situation, I can say that I've been guilty to throwing my hair in tight buns and calling it a day.  By the time I let my hair down, my scalp feels tight and welcomes the newfound freedom.  Immediately, I have to engage in a scalp massage to bring some much needed relief.

Is wearing your hair down the secret to longer lengths?  It would be if not for the fact that doing so also invites other factors that work against your progress.  Manipulation related breakage is one of the first things that come to mind.  Wearing your hair down also allows for constant friction to your ends. Both of these destroy our ability to retain length so even if grow is improved, retention goes out the door.  For this reason, we must operate in a way that makes both sides work for us.  On the one hand, we want to avoid wearing a daily style that could restrict blood flow to our follicle, on the other, we want to keep our ends fully protected from friction & manipulation.  It's a delicate balance.

I'm trying out new ways of wearing my hair that doesn't put excess strain on my follicles.  This does not mean that I won't wear my blessed high bun again. But the high bun won't be my go to style day after day.  Or, I will just take the bun down when I get home, moisturize my hair and do a scalp massage to allow the blood to flow freely to my hair strands.  Ultimately, I don't want to sacrifice growth for retention and vise versa. So I plan on being very intentional whenever I wear my hair up or down.

What do you think of this theory, does it make sense to you?

MUST SEE!! My Komaza Hair Analysis Results (PIC HEAVY)

This is one of the most exciting posts that I've written in a while.  A dream of mine finally came true.  For the longest, I've wanted to have my hair analyzed and now I can scratch it off my bucket list.  You may remember from part 1 of this series that I sent over some hair samples to the good folks at Komaza hair care.  Once they received the hair and analyzed it, I was contacted to discuss the results via phone consultation.

To be honest with you. I was deathly afraid of what would come back. Why?  Because for the past 4-6 months, I've been pretty negligent with my hair.  I haven't been giving it the attention it deserves and was experiencing, first hand, the result of my actions.  I was so nervous, in fact, that I trimmed (cut) around 2 inches so I can get a head start on getting everything back on track.

The person on the other line was super friendly.  She took her time to discuss my results and answer any questions.  There were lots of pics but I wanted to show you the most interesting ones.  So without further adieu, let's get started....

There were several slides of my hair roots included in the summary.  She stressed that they look closely at the root to see if there are any signs of thinning.  All of my shed hair had a full, healthy bulb. In her words, "healthy root means healthy growth."  I'm glad to hear that.

This was probably one of the coolest images. Check out this knot.  Years ago, I was plagued with single strand knots but lately, not so much.  In fact, if I hadn't seen this pic, I wouldn't even thought about single stand knots as a concern. But now that I'm confronted with this image, I will be on the lookout to determine if this is a random occurrence or something I should be worried about.

There were several pics depicting various types of breakage.  Some at the end of the strand, some in the middle.  Just looking at these pictures make me cringe.   The stress point damage (below), she said, could be caused by me wearing a bun in the same place day in and day out.  The mid shaft breakage could be contributed to over manipulation coupled with lack of protein.

Another thing she mentioned was that I seemed to have obvious product buidup.  She invited me to introduce a baby shampoo into my regimen. The recommendation of a baby shampoo is so my scalp does not get irratated due to my seborrheic dermatitis.

Even with the graphic images depicting violent breakage, the consultant told me that overall, I had healthy hair.  I was shocked.  These pics completely freaked me out.  Honestly, I thought I'd have to shave it all off and start all over again.  She told me that she had to search the samples to find examples of breakage for the sake of the discussion.  Believe it or not, she said that, overall, my hair had good elasticity and took several firm tugs before the strand broke. Although most of my distressed strands showed signs of cuticle lifting, she said that severity of the lift was relatively minor (considering that I was relaxed) and could be easily be addressed. 

Oh, she also acknowledged me several times during our conversation for the amount of water I drink daily (takes a long swig from water bottle).

We talked specifically about what actions I should take based on my hair's strengths and opportunity areas.  I took copious notes and will discuss my next steps in full detail in a follow up post.  Even though I'm a veteran at this hair game, there were still some new insights that I got from the consultation. Can't wait to share with you!!!!

What do you think of these pics, pretty crazy huh?

If anyone is thinking of of doing this in the future, you can use the referral code 8n2sA6 to receive a 5% discount off the cost.

The Water Challenge: Using Iphone Apps to drink more water

I have to admit, even though I want so badly to drink up to a gallon of water a day, there are days when life gets too busy.  For a while I was bummed on days when I failed to reach my drinking goal but things started looking up when I came across some help in the form of technology.

Last week I traveled out of state for work and decided to pick up a gallon of water to last me over the next couple of days.  My coworker, who also was in search of a gallon, casually mentions to me that his water intake was darn near non-existent until he took action.  He found an app online that helped him track his daily water intake.  I immediately thought of our water challenge and decided that I had to share!

Waterlogged-Iphone (Free)

 

Waterlogged was the first app I looked into.  Based on the features available, this is the one that I'll likely download and use.  What I like about this app is the "take a pic of your bottle" feature which allows you to track your water intake based on your specific bottle.  This works well for me because I you guys know that I have that cooky looking water bottle which I love so much.  

Another thing I like about Waterlogged is that I can set my own goal and the free version has a reminder prompting me to keep drinking. By the way, you have a selection of reminder alerts available that are various versions of water sounds.  There's also a premium version of this app with special perks like unlimited interval reminders throughout the day.

Water Your Body Lite-Iphone (Free)

Water Your Body Lite is what introduced me to this whole "tracking your water" game.  This app works by allowing you to add your body weight so you can achieve a goal of drinking half your weight.  Some of the reviewers of the free version mentioned that they would like the ability to accept water consumption entries after reaching the pre-determined goal.  

Water Your Body -Iphone/Android ($0.99)

The upgraded version of the Water Your Body App has some neat features. For one, it asks questions about your lifestyle that could affect your water intake. Breastfeeding mothers and those who exercise frequently need to drink more water and this app accounts for that.  A few of the reviewers of this app compare it to "playing a game" which keeps them excited about what they're doing for their health.

I hope this post is helpful for those of you who struggle to keep drinking water throughout the day.  These are just a few suggestions, there are more options available on the App Market.  You now have a digital accountability partner to help you win this water challenge journey. Drink up!

Your Ultimate Exfoliation & Circulation beauty Regimen | Part I

I have a little voice inside that will sometimes repeat certain phrases, ideas and obsessions over and over again.  Lately the voice has been reminding me incessantly of the importance of exfoliation.   You may remember the water update post where  I shared a video of Chilli sharing water drinking as one of her beauty secrets.  Besides that water drinking, she also recommended that we "exfoliate a lot." 

It wasn't until I kept digging that uncovered an interview where she mentioned receiving chemical exfoliation on a monthly basis.  That makes total sense to me because when you look at the woman, her skin has the same qualities of someone much younger.  Her skin is fresh and new as a result of her consistent exfoliation. 

  Last summer I regularly used my Tree Hut Sugar Scrub (on my body) on a daily basis.  The compliments on my skin were bountiful.  In fact, a cashier at Walmart went as far as to open a jar of my scrub in the check out line and say "wow, this smells good, is this what you use to get your skin so pretty?"  Once I was enjoying a spa service last year and, in the middle of my experience, my masseuse informs me that my skin was "so soft."

I also want to give props to the use of the steam room for helping create the look (and feel) of soft, glowing skin.  Since skin exposing season is upon us, I'm ready to go all in and create an exfoliation routine that works from head to toe.  My goal is to create a full-on exfoliation routine that will keep me soft, supple and glowing all over.  Yes, my reasons for this new routine is mostly aesthetic but I also know that I'll experience benefits to my health as well.  You see, I intend this routine to be a comprehensive exfoliation and circulation regimen.  

I'll be breaking all of this down into a series of posts. Starting from how to  regularly exfoliate our skin/bodies, our face, and our scalp. To how to promote overall circulation that helps promote blood flow and cell turnover.  It'll be fantastic, I promise.   So don't head out too far 'cause you don't wanna miss part 2, 3, and 4 of this wonderful series.  

Stay tuned.

ACV+Coconut Water= The perfect hair rinse

Guess what I'll be doing next wash day?  I'm going to experiment with a new rinse.  Most of us have used apple cider vinegar (ACV) as a final rinse on wash days.  We do this to help seal the cuticle layer, promote shine, and address itchy scalp issues.

Most often we dilute the ACV solution with water to curb the acidity levels.  Recently, idea popped into my mind.  "What if I were to use a little coconut water and ACV as my final rinse?" Would there be any benefits?  The first thought that came up was how coconut water is loaded with nutrients such as calcium, minerals, B vitamins, and protein.  Also, unlike water which has a neutral pH of 7, coconut water was a slightly acid pH of between 4.5 and 5.2.  Oh, by the way, our hair, and sebum has a pH level of between 4.5 and 5.5. Coincidence?

When this first came into my mind, I had no idea if it could work (or provide any benefits). So I went to Google to help show me the way.  One of my searches led me to the realization that there's an actual product out there called coconut vinegar which is essentially fermented coconuts.  One person shared her experience using coconut vinegar as follows:

 |"Yes, I’ve used apple cider vinegar many a-time as a hair rinse and it clarifies the scalp so well that you actually get a squeaky clean feeling on your hair and in your follicles. I figured that vinegars are vinegars and that they’d work similarly. So, I applied about a cup and a half of coconut vinegar into dry hair, massaging it into my scalp. Then I worked any excess on my hands into my hair and down its ends. If you try this at home – one note: be careful to tip your head back while doing this. Don’t let it seep into your eyes like I did because Yowyzas! it stings. Then I let it sit as I did all my other washing up before rinsing it out of my hair (not shampooing it out).

Well, my hair felt amazing! First its great for clearing out flakes and build up. This is important for those of you with flakiness or dandruff because while you may think you need less cleaning and more moisture, its can be the opposite You need to keep your scalp as clear as possible so that the bacteria from dandruff that feeds on dead skin cells are kept at bay (trust me, its worked for many of my clients). Secondly its fantastic for softening. Coconut vinegar is packed with minerals from the coconut water or coconut sap it is derived from and contains zinc, iron, manganese, potassium, copper and magnesium. Coconut sap also possesses all nine amino acids and these proteins are a wonderful treatment for our hair."

You can imagine my delight upon reading this review. Of course I'd love to get my hand on a bottle of coconut vinegar but until then, I came up with the bright idea to experiment a little by diluting my ACV with some unsweetened coconut water (the closer to all natural, the better).  This stuff isn't cheap so I'm think that I"ll use it in a spray bottle as a leave-in prior to applying my traditional leave-in.  So it'll be more of a "pre-leave in."

As of this moment, I haven't experimented first hand so look out for a follow up post later on.  I'm excited and hopefully this will bring great results.  Wish me luck.

How your body's pH is affecting your hair journey

The last few weeks has been non-stop for me.  Long days of traveling usually means little sleep, poor eating habits, and higher stress levels.  From my past experience I'm aware that this usually has an effect on my body that goes way beyond just feeling tired.

The more devastating outcome is that my body's pH level begins to shift in the wrong.  I know this from testing my pH using strips made for this purpose.  As suspected, my lack of vigilance around taking care of myself created a less than ideal environment for my body.  The body, in a healthy state, is alkaline.  When stress, low quality foods and other unhealthy habits come into play, our pH moves from being alkaline to acidic.  This throws the body out of balance which can be devastating if left unchecked for extended periods of time.

While researching for this post, I learned that the sebum produced by our scalp has an acidic pH.  This helps keep the scalp balanced which prevents scalp flare-ups, the growth of fungus and other non desirables.  When the body's pH starts to shift in the wrong direction, the scalp suffers.  I read somewhere that an acidic environment causes red blood cells to clump together which slows down their transportation and limits the amount of nutrients and oxygen they're able to bring to our cells.  I talk about massage and stimulation all the time to bring blood flow to the scalp, but what value is that if the blood isn't balanced and healthy enough to transport those nutrients?

Now that I aware of this, I'm obligated to take action to correct this issue.  This means that I must take deliberate steps to maintain proper pH levels even especially when life gets crazy. Some of the things I will be doing to promote a healthier internal pH balance includes:

• Enjoying a glass warm lemon water on a daily basis.
• Juicing!
• Eating a green salad at least one meal a day.  
• Drink plenty of water with pink salt (when our bodies are acidic, the body tries to buffer/protect itself by absorbing calcium in our bones as an acid buffer).  Pink salt adds valuable minerals to our water and helps bring pH levels back in balance.
• Pray and meditate to manage and eliminate stress!

I believe in a holistic approach to our hair care journey.  It's not just about buying up hair products. More importantly, we have to create the most ideal environment for our bodies and our hair.  Before I would let the hustle of daily life get in my way of putting the most important thing first.  Now I'm working on being purposeful with taking care of my body, my scalp and my hair.

"Brushing My Scalp Gave Me Thick Healthy Hair!"

This post is inspired by a comment shared with me on a Facebook post about how Brooke Bailey attributes her amazing skin partly to drinking a gallon water a day.  Audrey left a comment on the post that peaked my interest.  According to her, the two keys that made the most impact to her hair journey were "drinking plenty of water and brushing/stimulating her scalp."  Of course I was immediately intrigued and wanted to learn more.  She talked about how she'd heard of the benefits of brushing the scalp but stayed away from applying this practice because brushing the hair is something that is not viewed as a healthy practice for our hair.  According to Audrey (who's goal is to grow her hair long enough to donate to a Locks of Love patient), since brushing her scalp regularly "people who haven't seen her in years marvel at how thick and long her hair is when it's down."

I'm a huge proponent of scalp stimulation as a healthy growth method but I have yet looked into the merits of brushing the scalp.  So I sat down and starting to think it through.  There are definitely some pros and cons to scalp brushing our hair.  Let's discuss:

PRO:  Increased stimulation & blood flow equals a healthy scalp.
CON:  Brushing hair is the highest form of manipulation so the risk of mechanical damage & breakage is way up there.
PRO: Increased gloss to the hair as it distributes natural oils through the strands.
PRO: Feels nice.
PRO: Loosens dead skin on scalp, promoting healthier growth.

I felt compelled to try this method out for myself.  I've got a myriad of hair brushes so I had plenty of options to chose from.  My requirements were a brush a could adequately navigate through my thick hair all the way to my scalp  for proper stimulation. This brush would also have to cause as little damage as possible.  After much experimentation, I came up with four options:
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Massage Tool: MASON PEARSON BRUSH
Scalp Stimulation Level: HIGH
Hair Manipulation Level: MED/HIGH

Of all my traditional brushes, the Mason Pearson looks the most intimidating.  Don't let the looks fool you, this brush is unbelievably gentle.  For the purposes of scalp stimulation, this Mason Pearson brush does an excellent job.  The white bristles melt through my new growth and go directly to my scalp.  Once there, I keep the brush in place and proceed to move the brush in circular motions.  I DO NOT BRUSH MY ACTUAL HAIR for the purposes of scalp stimulation.  There are the rare times when I brush my hair with the MP brush. I do lose a hair here and there but not enough to cause a panic.   It's probably the most gentle "blow out" brush I own.
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Massage Tool: Kent WoodyHog Brush
Scalp Stimulation Level: MED/HIGH
Hair Manipulation Level: LOW/MED

Although the idea of using a wooden hair brush may seem a bit uncomfortable, my experience is the exact opposite.  I bought this brush at least six months ago because the "bristles" seemed so non-threatening. I believe this is one of the only paddle brushes I own that is completely seamless.  Unfortunately, this brush was so gentle that it barely made a difference when I used it on my hair.  But, when I use as a scalp massager, the Kent is darn near perfect.  I can nestle it into my new growth and pull it out with out any concern of snagging or breakage. It's definitely gentle enough for daily scalp massages.
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Massage Tool: SCALP MASSAGER
Scalp Stimulation Level: MED
Hair Manipulation Level: LOW

Ah yes, how could I forget the one tool made especially for massaging my scalp.  I loved this little thing so much that I even made a video about it.  My rubber scalp massager is so gentle that it pretty much causes zero breakage or tangling.  But compared to the other options on my list, the level of scalp stimulation is a bit lower.  This is expected because of the rounded tips meant to protect the scalp during the massage process.  The scalp massager is the perfect choice daily use.  It's also great for those who have damaged hair and want to be extra careful when creating blood flow to the scalp.  And best of all, it's super affordable.
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Massage Tool: Tangle Teezer
Scalp Stimulation Level: HIGH
Hair Manipulation Level: LOW/MED

When the Tangle Teezer craze hit last year, I bought one as soon as I had the chance.  Turns out that this thing did nothing good for my hair.  Everytime I ran that thing through my hair I experienced breakage.  So, I stored it away neatly in a drawer in hopes that one day it would have purpose.  Well ladies, the day has finally arrived.  Just looking at this thing leaves me intimidated but, I tell you, that as a scalp massager, the Tangle Teezer is ultra-effective.  The teeth are small which allows it to easily get past my new growth.  When I begin to circulate the Teezer in small strokes, my scalp comes alive.  When I remove the Teezer out of my hair, I experience no ill effects.  Of all the options on this list, I would say that I can feel the impact of the Teezer the longest after the massage is over.

I like the fact that I have four options because I can use depending on the state of my hair. For example, if my hair is newly relaxed, I would use a gentle massager like option 2 or 3.  When the new growth is kickin', I can promote a healthy scalp with the Tangle Teezer.  Can't wait to incorporate this routine into my daily regimen.

Thanks Audrey!

8 Ways to stop your Shedding now!

A couple years ago seasonal shedding nearly ruined me.  There was a point in time when that's all I wrote about because I was so plagued by it.  I attribute a couple of my past set backs to complications related to excessive shedding.  Fast forward to today and I can honestly say that I'm confident in the strategies I use to combat shedding at the first signs.  My intention is to list as many options for you as possible because I understand that one size may not fit all when it comes to shedding.  As you continue to read the post, notice that many of my suggestions have a similar bond, they deal with the scalp directly.  And in doing so they have a greater likelihood of actually being effective.

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One of the most popular methods talked about for minimizing shedding has got to be tea rinses.  This pretty much involves applying various teas to the hair and scalp to moisturize, strengthen, and (most importantly) eliminate shedding. Many swear by this method.  I won't go into length on the process here because I have a detailed post on the topic that you can read as a reference.

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Have you noticed that drinking a lot of water has be coming up a lot lately in my posts?  Here's the thing, normally, this time of year means that my scalp is dry and itchy.  Undoubtedly, this will lead to excessive shedding.  The scalp just isn't healthy if it's dehydrated.  So, on the one hand, you have dry skin cells surrounding the scalp, on the other hand, the amount of nourishment to the hair follicles is diminished because dehydrated cells are less able to absorb nutrients from the blood stream.  Put this all together and you have a recipe for hair fallout.  When I kicked up my water intake this winter, everything started going right.  My scalp is healthier with very little flaking, and shedding is at normal levels.  All is right with the world.

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When the temperature drops, our body's natural instinct is to direct blood flow to our internal organs to keep them warm.  The result of this is less blood flow to our extremities, hence the cold hands and feet.  Our scalp also suffers from this phenomena and (I believe)  this relates to increased shedding during the cooler months.  When I experience too much shedding and I want to nip it in the bud, I implement the Sanford Bennett method of scalp massage. Works like a charm for me every time. I love this technique because the exercise aggressively invigorates blood flow directly to my scalp.   When I do this consistently, I don't have to worry about overzealous shedding.

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If any of you ladies are dealing with dermatitis of the scalp, I suggest you check out my posts on using essential oils and apple cider vinegar to manage some of the symptoms.  Really bad dandruff leads to hair loss, especially in the winter time.  I've seen it happen in my own journey. If you are dealing with severe dandruff issues, addressing it should be a first priority in your regimen. 

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Do you remember how in the post about the Skin Care Regimen created a by Celebrity Expert, we were asked to finish off our facial cleansing routine by sealing our pores with an ice cube?  Well, on a related note, I wrote about how taking cold showers (or rinsing the hair will cool/cold water) can not only help seal the cuticle layer of the hair, but also help bring blood flow to the scalp (as our bodies attempt to warm that area) and close the pores that surround the hair follicle.  The results are shinier hair and minimized shedding.

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Another option that some ladies swear by when it comes to shedding is garlic conditioner.  I've tried garlic conditioner myself and, although I didn't have much of a shedding issue at the time, I used it as a deep conditioner and really liked the product.   I'll be completely honest and tell you that when I did use it, my shedding didn't slow down but looking back, I think about how I wasn't doing the other things on this list to deal with internal factors related to the shedding. I thought that a hair product was the cure-all.  Now I know to take a more holistic approach so I can deal with the shedding on multiple levels.

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I believe that boosting vitamin intake is ultra beneficial in fighting the war against shedding.  When you're taking supplements that support the growth of healthy hair, you are giving yourself an edge over shedding.  Some supplements to look out for are omega 3 oils, biotin, and MSM which is said to help lengthen the "life span" of the hair strand. 

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To this day, the post that has received the most comments over every thing I've ever written is the nail rubbing post. People seem to think the idea is crazy enough to try and, once they've tried, they are compelled to return and share the good news.  I've been told by countless of you that when you rub your nails, you can begin to feel stimulation in your scalp.  For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, the process is as simple as it sounds. Just rubbing the nails together to stimulate the scalp through reflexology.  What I like about this method is I can do it anywhere.  I don't have to wait until wash day to rub my nails.  I can stimulate my scalp whenever I feel like it and no one in the room knows that I'm creating healthier hair when I rub my nails together.  It's our little secret.