Saturday, December 12, 2009
Give your hair a special treat for the holidays
Saturday, September 12, 2009
I will be away... but not for too long.
I just wanted to let you all know that I won't have an entry in my blog for another few weeks because I'll be getting married soon. Anyone who's planned a wedding knows that alot of work goes into it. I'm at that phase now where it's requiring just about all of my time.
I promise that I'll be back to share some great hair, skin & product information with you.
Also, the blog has been greatly focused on hair & I haven't focused on skin as yet. I will be working on both healthy skin & hair when I return.
I appreciate your understanding. Talk with you all soon.
Excellence in Beauty!
Ms. Naturesk
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The scales/flakes are gone
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
A Different Look
Monday, August 3, 2009
Thinning Hair?
First, determine what could be causing the loss then figure out how to correct & treat the problem. If you do not notice a difference, do seek professional, medical help.
If you're around the age 40-50, it's natural to see some thinning of the hair. Our hair follicles produce hair for a specific time and then the could stop or slow down hair production. So, what could you do to ease this problem...
1. Get rid of the stressful hairstyles... the braids, the weaves, the tight ponytails, the cornrows.
2. Check your diet. Are you getting your fair share of required vitamins & minerals? Think about supplementing your diet with vitamins for your hair.
3. Do you have a medical condition? Is this causing the thinning or what about the medication you could be taking? Notify your doctor if you suspect this is causing your problem.
4. Are you experiencing hormonal changes? Recently had a hysterectomy? Once your hormones are imbalanced, you will notice changes to the way your hair behaves and you will most likely notice thinning hair. Typically it takes about 1 year after hormonal treatment before you see improvements in your body including your hair.
5. What type of products are you using? Are they organic or claim to be natural? Look at the ingredients and get to know how good or how bad they are for you. Avoid shampoos with harsh ingredients like sulphates.
6. Do not ignore your hair & think the problem will simply "go away". That would be your biggest mistake. Pay extra attention and take extra care of thinning hair. Condition after every wash & deep condition at least once a month. Consider adding sage essential oil to your conditioner and/or shampoo, that helps to reduce falling hair.
7. Toss the no-lye perm, instead, shop for a conditioning lye perm. No-lye perms can be very drying for the hair & could cause hair loss over time. If you've been considering it or think you could live with it, go natural - ditch the chemicals altogether.
8. Brush your hair or massage the scalp to promote stimulation & circulation of the scalp, this is important to help with the hair growth process. You could also make your own stimulating scalp oil to massage the head with. Be sure to include jojoba oil. There are essential oils that will also help to promote hair growth like lemongrass, basil or rosemary.
Keep your hair on your head because it's beautiful!
Ms. Naturesk
Excellence in Beauty!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Silk Peptide Powder
Thursday, July 23, 2009
A Quick Hello
It's been a few days since I've made a post. I do have some great information to share with you, but have to dedicate some quality time to posting the details.
I'm currently planning a wedding and I'm sure you could imagine how busy I am. Please hang in there with me, I promise, I'll have some additional information for you in the very very near future.
In the mean time, please continue to send me your questions and comments. I always appreciate those.
Thanks!
Ms. Naturesk
Excellence in Beauty!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Yogurt Treatment Hair Mask
What you need:
1 egg yolk,
1 tablespoon of plain yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 tablespoon almond oil
What to do:
Whip ingredients together well. Apply to hair and leave for at least 20-30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
Benefits of the ingredients:
Yogurt is rich in zinc, calcium, lactic acid, protein, Vitamins B-1, B-2, B-6 and B-12 and yeast. The nutrients will work wonders for your hair especially because of the protein, zinc and Vitamin B complex which are all nutrients that our hair needs to remain healthy. It also helps to calm frizz and soften dull looking hair.
The almond oil and coconut oils are great emollients.
Honey is a humectant that will help keep & attract moisture to your hair.
The egg yolk is a naturally filled with cholesterol.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Get Natural Looking Curls Without Heat/Great Summer Hair Style
- Use your favorite leave in conditioner, setting lotion or a small amount of styling mouse.
- Part your hair from the front to the back, allowing for about 5-7 braids going to the back of your neck. Braid your hair from the front using only two-strand twists & secure the ends with barrettes.
- Let it air dry, preferable overnight.
- In the morning, release the braids one by one & moisturize the hair & scalp.
- Separate to add more body.
- Style as desired.
- Dampen with a mist of purified water or your favorite leave in conditioner or setting lotion.
- Part your hair from the front to the back, allowing for about 5-7 braids going to the back of your neck.
- Let it air dry for at least 4-5 hours.
- Once dry, release the braids one by one & moisturize the hair & scalp if necessary.
- Separate to add more body.
- Style as desired.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
What's Your Hair Type?
First the number... Typically describes the texture of your hair in it's natural state.
1 - Straight hair
2 - Wavy hair
3 - Curly hair
4 - Kinky hair
Then the letter... Typically describes thickness of your strands
a - Fine
b - Medium
c - Thick
Sometimes trying to figure out your thickness of your strands may be easier for some, but not for others... or you think it's one thing when it's the next. Here's a simple test you could try... Hold your hair and make a pony tail, now wrap all the hair around one finger. How many times did it go around that finger?
1 time: thick
2-3 times: medium
4+ times: fine
Hope this helps. Until next time...
Ms. Naturesk
Excellence in Beauty!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
No more Itchy Scalp
Sunday, June 28, 2009
RIP Michael Jackson
Nourishing your hair
Even though the hair is dead, we must maintain it to ensure that it is healthy (even as dead as it is). What do we need to make sure the hair shaft is healthy? The hair needs moisture and necessary vitamins and minerals. Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, Minerals: Iron & Zinc and others like Biotin and Silica are great ingredients to look for in vitamins for hair.
Why is it important to take supplements specifically for your hair? The fact is, most of us do not receive the nutrients we need to maintain healthy hair from our food we eat daily. Therefore, we must supplement our diet with these vitamins & minerals. The same thing applies for healthy skin (ever wonder why more & more people have skin issues now).
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tips For Effective (Basic Conditioning)
- Blot your hair to remove excess water before you apply your conditioner.
- Gently massage the conditioner in your hair.
- Use a wide toothed comb to release tangles and make hair more manageable.
- Pay attention to the type of conditioner you have; is it a leave in or rinse out conditioner?
- Remember to leave the conditioner for the time specified
- If necessary, rinse it thoroughly (for rinse out conditioners). Otherwise, you'd be leaving the conditioner in your hair until it is washed the next time (for leave in conditioners).
- Be extremely careful when detangling your hair while it's wet; avoid harsh rubbing, pulling or stretching.
- Stay away from conditioners that have cetyl alcohol because they could dry out the hair.
- Remember to always rinse with cool water to seal your cuticle for shiny hair.
Here are some other tricks to note:
- If you have severe tangling, do not start combing through from the root of your hair. Instead, start clearing the ends and work your way up. This would make the tangles closer to the root easier to comb through to the ends.
- If you do not use a clarifying shampoo when you wash, try not to use any hair pomade, grease or moisturizer at least 2 days prior to washing to ensure your conditioner is more effective.
Until next time... EZ conditioning!
Ms. Naturesk
Excellence in Beauty!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Know Your Ingredients - Part II
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Do You Need To Condition Your Hair?
- Make hair manageable
- Smooth down the cuticle
- Seal in moisture
- Prevent frizz
- Add shine
Hair Care Tip - Water Temperature
When washing, you should wash with warm water. This helps to loosen dirt and some build up, but it also allows any excess oils to be removed easily. Clean hair without build up and oil makes your conditioner easier to penetrate. Better penetration means healthy hair.
If you have dry, itchy scalp or dandruff, stay away from water that is to warm or hot. This irritates the scalp if the water is too hot. Ensure that you're washing with warm water and rinse with cool water.
When you rinse with cool water, it allows your cuticle (outer layer) to close and lay flat. This in turn allows light to reflect off of your hair causing it to look shiny and healthy.
Never use cold water because this could cause changes of blood/veins to constrict and give you a headache.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Summer Care for dreadlocks
Vinegar Rinse (Great for Normal or Itchy Scalp)
Here is the thing, the base would be the same to help with the various itchy scalp conditions, but based on what the itchy scalp condition actually is, you would need a different essential oil to treat it properly.
It's also important that I let you know that anyone can use the base to help clarify the scalp and better prepare your scalp to absorb nutrients from a deep conditioner or from your oils or pomade that you massage on your scalp. Have you felt that a product that did wonders for your hair seems not to work anymore? That's because product build up and residue blocks the absorption of the beneficial nutrients. So, if you have a healthy scalp then only use the BASE of the recipe. Use this every now and then; I'd say about once every 2-3 months.
What you need:
Base
2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
2-3" of aloe leaf, peeled and scraped
1/4 tsp pure vitamin E oil
1 tsp baking soda (expect some foaming; a fun science project)
For Dandruff
add 3-4 drops of tea tree essential oil (helps tremendously with the itching)
and 3-4 drops of cedarwood essential oil
For Eczema
add 3-4 drops of tea tree essential oil
3-4 drops of lavender essential oil
3-4 drops of geranium essential oil
1 tbsp of andiroba oil (if you could locate)
For Psoriasis (there is no cure for this, but there is relief)
add 3-4 drops of tea tree essential oil
3-4 drops of German chamomile essential oil
1/2 tsp neem oil
1 tbsp of andiroba oil (if you could locate)
What to do:
- Gently massage this mixture on your scalp and leave it on for 3-5 minutes (max).
- Wash with a tea tree shampoo or a gentle organic shampoo.
- Follow with a tea tree conditioner or organic conditioner
- Style as desired
- Massage organic oil(s) to the scalp only; use one or a combination of jojoba oil, coconut oil, andiroba oil and add a few drops of the tea tree essential oil to your oil mixture.
- Repeat this at once a week until you see some relief. You could wash more than once a week, but do not use the vinegar rinse more than once a week
Naturesk
Excellence in Beauty!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Summer care for your hair.
Some like it hot...
Some like it cold...
Many like the summer...
Summer is one of the most anticipated seasons of the year for many reasons: trips to the beach, vacation, time off from school, vacation, time to show off your fabulous summer wardrobe and body, bar-b-ques, family reunions, vacation (did I mention this already). You could probably tell I like to go on vacation.
It's just a 'feel good' time of year and what better way to feel wonderful about yourself, than to have fabulous hair through it all. So, simply prepare your hair to handle the summer weather, as your hair will be exposed to one or many of the following: the wind, the sun, salt water, chlorine, sand, dirt, smoke...
Here are some of my tips for surviving the summer:
- Give your hair a nice trim to get rid of any damaged, dry, over-processed split ends.
- Use a clarifying shampoo to remove any build up from exposure to salt or chlorinated water.
- Use a leave in condition prior to a trip to the beach or the pool.
- Moisture has to be your friend during these drier months, so, recognize when your hair needs moisture & apply.
- Use a moisture rich shampoo and conditioner.
- Deep condition at least once a week to replace essential moisture that is easily lost.
- Use a swim cap.
- Protect the ends of your hair by tucking them in as often as you could.
- Really, really try to stay away from blow dryers & hot curlers. I know it's almost cliche', but we all know it's important to avoid heat, much less during the hot season.
- Use low tension fasteners to hold your hair; if your hair is dry & your fastener is to tight, your hair will break & snap easily.
- Braid your own hair (avoid synthetic hair additions if you could). Braids & corn rows are still hot, not to mention, you won't have to worry about your hair everyday.
- If you're a hat person, wear one; they're always stylish.
- Try a new hair style. It's hair, it will grow back. New season, new you!
Now that you know what you should do to take care of your hair to look completely fabulous, now get your summer shopping & vacation planning moving and ENJOY every single day.
Feel free to share your summer plans or hair regimen.Monday, June 8, 2009
Roller set today
My hair was shiny and very bouncy. I personally do not like a lot of body from the scalp; so I just use a small a flat iron on a medium setting and flat iron the roots quickly. My hair lies on my scalp the way I like it and the rest is full of body.
I hope these pictures captured the shine & the curls. All I could say is, I'm enjoying my hair today. It's a great hair day :)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Green Cleansing for your hair - Shampooing
Some people wash there hair everyday, others wash 1-2X a week and if you're not washing your hair at least once a week, then you may have some other issues.
We place great emphasis on keeping our hair clean, some condition & deep condition well. Question is, what are you putting in your hair and on your scalp. Remember the scalp is one of the most absorbent parts of our body. If you're using toxic products, guess what - it's being absorbed into your body. Choosing green/organic/natural products should become a priority of yours. If you use any great natural products, feel free to share them with others reading this blog.
Typically it's the detergent and/or the preservative in your shampoo that is of concern. In most cases sodium lauryl sulfate or, the milder version, sodium laureth sulfate. Some other culprits are cocoamide diethanolamine (DEA), ammonium laureth sulfate or any ethoxylated compounds. Most shampoos also have propylene glycol, which we learned is a no-no. Look for a safer ingredient like lauryl glucoside, which is a soapy blend of coconut oil, cornstarch ad sugar & will gently cleanse without the toxins.
Some shampoos boasts having some really great ingredient (e.g. Aloe Vera), unknown to most of us, there's a fraction of a fraction of "Aloe Vera" in the mixture. So minuscule we may as well say it just had AV. because there isn't enough of the ingredient to give it full credit.
There is special information for taking care of your hair if you went swimming in a pool or at the beach. I'll have a special article on my blog to help you maintain healthy hair after you've swam. Look out for it.
How often should you shampoo?
This would depend on your hair type and the state of your hair:
- If you have fine hair, too much shampooing can cause dryness. So, do not wash daily.
- If you spend a lot of time in the sun or wear a lot of styling products, shampoo more frequently. Remember to use a clarifying shampoo at least once a week. Note that daily shampooing is not recommended for any hair type.
- For Hair type 3 or 4, shampoo at least once a week. You could use a clarifying shampoo followed by a moisturizing shampoo. I will say that I do not use a clarifying shampoo weekly. Understand your hair and know what it responds well to.
Some important tips to remember when shampooing:
- Comb through your hair with a wide teeth comb prior to shampooing.
- Shampoo your hair in the shower. Do not lean over your tub or sink to wash; this would cause more tangles.
- You should not comb your hair while shampooing. First, when your hair is wet it is in its weakest state; combing it will make it break easily. Second, it's much harder to get the tangles out during your shampoo.
- If your scalp is itchy or dry use a milder organic shampoo, like a chelating shampoo.
- If you are hair type 3 or 4, you should not rub the scalp too hard or too vigorously while cleansing; it could cause bruising, irritation or cause the hair to stretch.
- Repeat your shampoo only of you think your hair really needs it.
- Use my pre-shampoo recipe below for hair that's dry or dries out quickly. If your hair is not very dry, you may consider using ever other 1 or 2 shampoos.
- Follow your shampoo with a conditioner and detangle with a wide teeth comb.
Pre-shampoo Hair butter
What you need:
- 3 tablespoons organic virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon organic neem oil
- 1 teaspoon organic spirulina extract
- 10,000 IU Vitamin E
- 2 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 drops bergamot essential oil
- 2 drops chamomile essential oil OR 3 drops of German chamomile essential oil for reoccurring itchiness or flakes on the scalp.
- 2-3 inches of an aloe leaf
- Measuring spoons, knife, blender & small container or bowl.
- Cut the aloe leaf & scrape the inside (slimy & bitter part).
- Add the ingredients into a blender ( use a small blender if you have one). Blend all ingredients until it's well blended & distributed evenly.
- Massage the treatment onto scalp and distribute evenly along your tresses; ensure your ends are well covered with this butter if they appear or feel dry.
- Leave on hair for 10-15 minutes. Be careful not to let the oil get on your face. Essential oils could cause breakouts on sensitive skin.
- Rinse thoroughly in shower and proceed to shampoo as usual. (You will need to clean the shower after you're done because of the oil.)
- This is a great moisturizer and the chamomile will help if you have severe itchy/flaky scalp. Feel free to use this as often as you like for maximum effectiveness. This recipe yields enough for 1+ uses depending on the length of your hair.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Dangerous and/or Toxic Cosmetic Ingredients (Part I)
Petrolatum (soft paraffin, white petrolatum, petroleum jelly) - this is derivative of petrol/ gasoline; it's a lung irritant and non-biodegradable environmental toxin.
Propylene Glycol (PG) - eye irritant and has been linked to conjunctivitis; can cause upper respiratory tract irritation. This is also found in your vehicle's anti-freeze.
Mineral Oil (liquid petrolatum) - causes blood and skin cancer formations in animals; eye and skin irritant; derived from petroleum; non-biodegradable environmental toxin.
Methylparaben - is used as a preservative in a lot of hair & skin care products. Known to be a skin & eye irritant; endocrine disruptor linked to breast cancer; environmental contaminant.
Polyparaben - in fact, and any other paraben is an irritant; also known to be a skin & eye irritant; endocrine disruptor linked to breast cancer; environmental contaminant.
Isopropyl Alcohol (SD-40) - human neurotoxin; skin, eye, and lung irritant; vapors causes drowsiness and dizziness, causes skin dehydration; may promote brown spots and premature aging of skin. This is also a derivative of petroleum.
Cetyl Alcohol - skin & eye irritant.
Ceteareth-(with any number after it) - Unsafe for use on broken skin; eye and lung irritant; contaminant with 1,4-Dioxane (found in fumigants and automotive coolant).
Dimeticone (Dimethicone) - petroleum derivative; environmental toxin. Used for it's silicone like properties especially in conditioners, but perpetrated as being safer than silicone.
Phenoxyethanol - linked to allergic contact uritica and dermatitis; endocrine disruptor and carcinogen in animals.
Create your own Herbal Shampoo (very simple)
Let's Grow!!!
1. The anagen phase - this is when the hair is actively growing, usually for 2-4 years. It varies from person to person due to a number of factors, like genetics. Our hair is at this phase for a good 93% of the time.
2. The catagen phase - also referred to as the transitions phase. The hair stops growing, but there continues to be cellular activity in the papilla (what we sometimes refer to as the root). This usually lasts for 15-20 days... about 1% of the time.
3. The telogen phase - also called the resting phase, when growth halts completely for about 90-120 days - 6% of the time. There is no additional growth at the papilla. that hair strand is forced out and the cycle begin all over again.
Some interesting facts about hair:
- Hair grows about 12mm or 1/2 inch per month.
- A single strand lasts up to 7 years.
- Women have more hair than men.
- Hair grows faster in the summer and during sleep.
- Hair grows its fastest during ages 16-24.
- Between the ages of 40-50 women tend to loose about 20% of their hair.
- Hair becomes drier with age.
Black hair is different (let's face it) and we should treat it differently than non-black hair because the make up is slightly different. In most cases, our cuticle could be up to 2X thicker and this causes our hair to be closer to a type 3 or 4. Because of its kinkiness, it's more prone to drying out and thus will break easier than non-black hair. When we brush and comb, we have to deal with more tangles and more hair loss.
I'm a hair type 3b/3c and usually, I have less breakage or hair loss when my hair is straight. When I have a fresh perm or I blow dry my hair, I find I have less breakage. On the other hand I would damage the structure of my hair if I continually blow dry, flat iron or perm more frequently than every 8-10 weeks. So, for all of my followers with black hair, keep in mind that our hair is different.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Let's understand hair...
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Being a bit naughty
Not only did I blow dry, I also broke out the flat iron. I promise it was not my intention, but I simply did not have the time today to sit under the hair dryer. Sometimes, that's the way it goes, but ladies this should be the exception and not the rule. Stay away from the heat - it's the devil for your hair :) The more heat you use on your hair, the more dry & brittle it would be and that dryness would promote breakage & split ends.
I also put together my special butter that I've been using for the last 2 years on my skin. It has some great ingredients: organic shea butter & cocoa butter, olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, organic vitamin E...
I've also been doing some more research for you...
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Time to Deep Condition
What you need:
Ingredient benefits:
- The egg yolk is rich in cholesterol, honey is a natural humectant and will help your hair to retain its necessary moisture. Egg white is rich in protein & Vitamin A. ** remove the chalaza from the egg if you're able to. That's the little semi-solid white things you see after cracking open an egg.**
- Coconut oil is full of nutrients & proteins necessary for healthy hair growth; it's also great for treating dry scalp (which I have at this moment).
- Olive oil replaces moisture, elasticity & nutrients lost from your hair being exposed to the elements; it's rich in Vitamin E.
- Avocado has hydrating benefits & will help do away with dull looking tresses.
- For a good deep condition sit under a dryer for 15-20 minutes with a plastic cap on.
- Wash thoroughly.
- Remember to always rinse with cool (not cold) water. This will seal your hair cuticle and help to reveal beautiful, shiny hair.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
New Phase
I went to the organic store and purchased some organic hair cleansers and conditioner. I even purchase a special hair folice revitalizer. I'll let you know if it works before I tell you what it is. They say it takes at least 30 days to begin seeing changes. I even used a special concuction on my fiance's head. We'll see how that goes.
I've been doing my research and now I'll be experimenting before I tell you what works and what doesn't.
Friday, May 15, 2009
I've had it with over the counter hair products
Things like eggs, aloe (mentioned above), olive oil, andiroba oil, coconut oil, castor oil... even mayo. I believe you could find these things all in your kitchen... DON'T BE AFFRAID TO USE THEM.
I'm going back to basics... wanna join me?