Thinning Hair?

Have you noticed that for one reason or the other you seem to be loosing more hair than normal? Ponytail feeling smaller? Seeing more of your scalp than you should? Then you are suffering from thinning hair and that is cause for concern. What do you do now?

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!

Yogurt Treatment Hair Mask

I know it's been a while since I've put up one of my recipes and I've heard from a few people that have tried some of the recipes I published on the blog and wanted to see some more. So, here's another one that I like because I love yogurt for my hair and my skin. I like to eat it too :)

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.

Ms. Naturesk

Excellence in Beauty!

What's Your Hair Type?

I remember the first time I saw 3a, 2c or 4b describing the type of hair someone has? My thoughts were... what in the world could that mean?!?! I'm sure there are many of you that are thinking the very same thing right now. So, I thought I would share with you what these number and letter combinations mean.

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!

Nourishing your hair

Did you know that all the hair on your head that you comb and struggle so desperately to maintain is actually all dead tissue? It's actually the hair follicles from your scalp that is alive and produces hair (hair shaft). The hair shaft is really a dead cylinder of keratin. Believe it or not...

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).

Currently, I have some supplements that I use for my skin by Sanitas, called 'Complexion Clear'. Lucky for me, it also has some of the needed nutrients for my hair. In addition, I also take vitamins specifically for my hair.

If you have dandruff, one supplement you may want to add to your daily supplements is organic Flax Seed capsules. Not only is this great for a healthy heart, after a month of taking these capsules twice daily, you will have some relief from your itchy dandruff condition.

Hope you find a supplement that works for you. You will see a difference - I promise.

Ms. Naturesk

Excellence in Beauty!

Tips For Effective (Basic Conditioning)

Have you ever felt like you've been conditioning and deep conditioning, but for some reason your hair is still dry or doesn't appear to be nourished? That has happened to me... until I realized how important it is to use a clarifying shampoo or vinegar rinse to remove excessive build up from the hair's shaft.

I also did provide a vinegar rinse earlier on in this blog that also serves to remove excessive build up to ensure your conditioners are able to deliver all of the nutrients to your hair & scalp. Be careful of the "cones" in conditioners... they make your hair feel so great when you do apply them and they do a great job of sealing your cuticle. However, they are notorious for leaving build up and possible scalp irritants. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you're effectively conditioning your hair:

• 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:

1. 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.


2. 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!

Do You Need To Condition Your Hair?

We've talked about cleansing and some tips to pay attention to when cleansing your hair and scalp. To have our hair looking its best, lets see if we do need to condition it or not. I don't know about you, but have you tried styling your hair without conditioning it? Isn't it difficult to manipulate? Don't you have many tangles to deal with? I know you're thinking God bless the person that invented the conditioner.

Life happens to our hair... we style, we dry, we curl, we pull, we gel, we flat iron and our hair looks great! Doesn't it? Meanwhile, the abuse caused by heat, products or rough handling lifts our cuticles, allowing necessary moisture to leave and this causes our hair to be dry, dull, brittle and become prone to knots and tangles. As this type of ill-treatment continues, the cuticles would eventually break or become frayed. That's how our hair breaks off or you end up with split ends.

We want to avoid breakage and split ends if we want to preserve and maximize our length. Not to mention, we always want our tresses to look FABULOUS! So it is absolutely necessary that we not only condition after shampooing, but as I've indicated in previous posts, we have to deep condition at least one a month (2X if your hair is much drier than the average person) and use a resonstructor (for chemically processed hair) to add strength back to the core of your hair shaft (cortex & medulla).

A good conditioner should help to:

• Make hair manageable


• Smooth down the cuticle


• Seal in moisture


• Prevent frizz


• Add shine

If your conditioner is not doing these things for you, then ditch it and find a new one. As always, I recommend an organic conditioner. Be aware of products that advertise their products as being "Natural" when more than 50% of their ingredients are anything but natural. I also have postings on this blog called "Know Your Ingredients", become familiar with the most common offenders. I use different brands, but always read my labels to make sure that harmful chemicals are not included in my products.

More on conditioning coming...

Hair Care Tip - Water Temperature

Why is the temperature of the water important when washing and conditioning your hair?

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.

Vinegar Rinse (Great for Normal or Itchy Scalp)

I've had quite a few questions about dealing with itchy scalp. I've put together a rinse that has helped me. I used it just this past weekend.

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:

1. Gently massage this mixture on your scalp and leave it on for 3-5 minutes (max).
2. Wash with a tea tree shampoo or a gentle organic shampoo.
3. Follow with a tea tree conditioner or organic conditioner
4. Style as desired
5. 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.
6. 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

Relief is on the way...

Naturesk
Excellence in Beauty!

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:

1. Give your hair a nice trim to get rid of any damaged, dry, over-processed split ends.
2. Use a clarifying shampoo to remove any build up from exposure to salt or chlorinated water.
3. Use a leave in condition prior to a trip to the beach or the pool.
4. Moisture has to be your friend during these drier months, so, recognize when your hair needs moisture & apply.
5. Use a moisture rich shampoo and conditioner.
6. Deep condition at least once a week to replace essential moisture that is easily lost.
7. Use a swim cap.
8. Protect the ends of your hair by tucking them in as often as you could.
9. 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.
10. Use low tension fasteners to hold your hair; if your hair is dry & your fastener is to tight, your hair will break & snap easily.
11. 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.
12. If you're a hat person, wear one; they're always stylish.
13. 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.

Roller set today

I used my pre-shampoo butter, washed, conditioned and roller set my hair. I could not sit under the dryer for the full period because I was also cooking (you know how it is sometimes ladies). However, I did find some time eventually and sat under the dryer for about 30 minutes and the results were wonderful. In fact, I believe that I'll stick to this type of drying; why sit under the dryer for hours?

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 :)

Green Cleansing for your hair - Shampooing

I'm sure many of you would agree that your appearance is very important. Great hair is a sure-fire way to boost your attractiveness and self confidence. We feel great when we look good & your hair contributes to your overall great look. Let's talk about cleansing your hair...

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.

What to do:

1. Cut the aloe leaf & scrape the inside (slimy & bitter part).
2. Add the ingredients into a blender ( use a small blender if you have one). Blend all ingredients until it's well blended & distributed evenly.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.)
6. 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.
   

I did not blow dry (YEAHHH)... instead I applied a natural blend of organic oils to my scalp & moisturized through the tip. I combed my hair into seven knots (see pic below), uncurled them & styled. The knots give a great curl patter that can yield many great styles. I like to wear my hair in a curly pony tail or pin it up like I was wearing a banana comb.

Let's Grow!!!

Hair has three stages of growth:

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.

Let's understand hair...

If we're going to really take care of our hair & ensure how we'll get to our maximum length, we must first understand it & understand how it grows.

It's important to know that our hair is mainly made up of protein; this protein is called keratin. Hair is also made up of moisture and other minerals. This visible part of your hair (the part we comb & style) is called the hair shaft. The hair shaft consist of dead tissue; the part of your hair that is not made up of dead tissue, is the root. Typically, we have to take care of the hair shaft to stop premature breakage, but we feed the root to ensure our hair continues to grow & grow healthily.

Your hair strands have three layers: the cuticle (the outer layer), followed by the cortex (which gives hair it's strength & elasticity) and the medulla (the center which consists of keratin cells). The real purpose of the medulla is not quite understood, however, specialists believe that it is responsible for carrying nutrients through the strand. They say, this may explain why hair is one of the first to be affective if you get ill.

You'll learn that sealing your cuticle is very important in protection the health of your hair strands. The images below show a perfect strand, the outer green lines show a sealed & perfect cuticle. The second image reflects a damaged & frayed hair strand. Most times damaged by harsh environmental conditions and/or abuse of heat.

One reason you rinse with cool water is to seal your cuticle after you have cleansed & condition. A lot of conditioners use silicones to help with this process. However, be aware of the various silicones... not all are good for your hair.

A perfectly healthy strand of hair ----------------------------------------->

A damaged strand of hair

Being a bit naughty

I washed my hair today, but I have to confess, I was 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...

Time to Deep Condition

I will deep condition my hair today with products from my kitchen & you can too. This is a great deep condition that you should do at least once a month because sometimes we just don't have the time to do it on a more frequent basis. Not to mention, not everyone needs all this moisture or protein.

What you need:

I mixed, 1 egg yolk (you can also use the entire egg), 1 tbsp of honey, 1 tbsp of olive oil, 1 tbsp of coconut oil & a heaped tbsp of crushed avocado. I massaged from scalp to the end of my hair. For longer tresses, you may double the recipe.

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.

What to do:

- 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.