Overnight Oil Pre-Poo

After my trip to Cornell, in the mountains, my hair was feeling pretty dry.  I wanted to do some sort of overnight treatment, so I decided on an overnight oil pre-poo.  Since I am still on this Peppermint Oil kick, I was eager to mix up a concoction.


My mix included:
Peppermint Oil
Avocado Oil
Olive Oil 
Vitamin E Oil


I didn't drench my hair in the oil, because I didn't want to wake up with a mess, but I definitely used more than I normally would; I would say that I used enough to coat the hair shaft.  As I was applying my mixture, I made sure to massage the oil into my scalp as well.  I put a plastic cap on my head and tied a scarf around my head.  I figured that the heat would help the oil to penetrate as much as possible.


I woke up this morning and washed out the oil, and then continued with my normal wash/condition/deep condition routine.  My hair is very soft and is full of life.


An oil pre-poo can be a cheap alternative to a overnight deep conditioning treatment.  Chances are that you have oils in small amounts already.

I *heart* Pureology

So I finally washed my hair; I had enough of the straight 'do.  I am in LOVE with Pureology shampoo and conditioner.  Please splurge on yourself and try the Hydrate line - it is simply amazing!  The shampoo doesn't leave your hair stripped of all life and moisture and the conditioner is very moisturizing (and tingles)!  Both products smell fantastic!  Below are some of the ingredients in each:
Hydrate Shampoo: Melanin, Sunflower Seed Extract and Oil, Glycerin, Rose Extract, Sandalwood Extract, Hydrolyzed Oat, Wheat and Soy Proteins.
Hydrate Conditioner: Sunflower Seed Extract, Sage Leaf Extract, Peppermint Leaf Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Shea Butter, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein.

I tried using the Paul Mitchell products highlighted in the routine I posted a few weeks ago.  After my hair was mostly dry, I used some BioSilk as well and that gave me a nice sheen and locked in moisture.  I am really happy with the curl definition that both the Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam (red top - Flexible Style line) and Paul Mitchell Foaming Pommade (red top - Flexible Style line) deliver.  I didn't experience terrible shrinkage and my hair doesn't feel crunchy.  The foam also allows your hair to dry very fast, so this could definitely be done in the morning before work.

I will post a YouTube video of this styling technique once I "perfect" it.  This will work well when I am feeling lazy and do not feel like twisting my hair and this is the closest that I will get to the wash and go.

I love the tingle!

I hope that everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend - I know I did!  I was able to relax and get some work and studying done. 

So it has 9 days and my hair is still straight!  Being in Virginia Beach did cause some "poofiness" due to the humidity, but I was able to use a little heat to get it back to normal.  It is supposed to rain through Wednesday in DC so I am not sure how much longer I can keep this look up.

My scalp has been itching something terrible, so I mixed up a concoction of pure Peppermint, Avocado and Vitamin E oils (I simply took a plastic Tupperware lid and mixed a few drops of each; I didn't make a big batch).  I gave myself a scalp massage and let me tell you, my scalp feels great.  The tingling sensation is so refreshing and I must admit that I smell great!  Not only will this help with the itching, the peppermint oil promotes scalp stimulation and promotes hair growth.  For more information on Peppermint Oil, check out my article at the The Coil Review.

PS - If you are looking for 100% pure Peppermint Oil, check your local vitamin and health shops.  I picked some up from GNC for only $7.

Flexi Rods aren't just for wet hair

Day 4 and my hair is still straight and full of volume.  On Sunday night, I wasn't quite sure what to do with my hair to maintain the curls because I didn't want to use any heat during the week.  So I looked through my closet and came across spongy pink rollers, hard pink rollers and flexi rods.  Not sure if you all remember, but I attempted to flexi rod my hair when it was wet a few months ago and that was an epic fail.  But I figured they had to be good for something, why not dry hair?


They have worked well!  My hair is at the length that it doesn't matter which way I roll it because it will look great in the morning no matter what.  So I have been using the flexi rods and pincurls to maintain the curls and I only use heat to touch up the roots in the front or to tame a wild piece.  To finish off my look, I used KeraCare's Oil Sheen with Humidity block and I am pretty happy with the results.  I took the below pictures this morning before I left the house:

Check out my article on The Coil Review!

Good morning!  I have another article up on The Coil Review, about Peppermint Oil.  It is a wonderful essential oil, so hopefully you will find the article useful.

Gym or no gym, that is the question...

First - don't judge me.  And yes I am having a vain moment.


So we all know that I don't get my hair blown out often, so it makes sense that I want to keep it straight as long as possible.


I think I am forgoing all gym activity for the week!  Let me try to rationalize this:

1. We all know that the minute I hit kickboxing, my hair will "poof" and I will leave looking like Simba and there goes my money down the tubes.
2. I count my calories, so as long as I eat like I am supposed to, missing a week of the gym won't be too bad - right?!?!?! (hmmm - let's not think about how I didn't go last week either).
3. (I'm fresh out of reasons already).

When you hair is blown out, how do you keep your hair straight through workouts?  Clearly I need some help here!!!!

Salon Visit + New Products + Pics

Well I had a wonderful weekend and I hope everyone did as well.  My appointment with Nicole at Pure Beauty was wonderful as usual.  She really knows natural hair is an expert colorist - I adore her.  I highly recommend her to anyone in the DC area who wants color (single process, highlights, etc) or a very good blow out.  Her blow drying technique is fantastic.  This time she just touched up my roots, gave me a little trim (not much at all), and blew out my hair in a cute curly look!  Check out the pictures (notice I threw in a picture of my "date night" outfit haha).

I had coupons for my hair services as well as products, so I figured I would splurge a bit.  I feel in love with the Pureology hair products, during my first visit to Pure Beauty, so I picked up the Hydrate shampoo and conditioner (purple bottle) as well as Redken Butter Treat hair conditioner.  The last time I saw Nicole, she said my hair was very dry and told me to use the Butter Treat.  Well in 3 months I finished the whole bottle and she said my hair felt like it did the first time I went to her for a below out - before I had any color.  I warn you that Pureology is expensive, about $30 a bottle, so I don't think I will be able to keep this up! 

In my quest to one day be able to the "wash and go" look, I asked Nicole for some suggestions.  She assured me that there is no reason for me or anyone else not to rock this look.  So here is what she suggested:

1. Wash and condition (and deep condition) as usual.
2. Detangle with conditioner in your hair and rinse.
3. Use a generous amount of Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam (red top - Flexible Style line) mixed with some of the Paul Mitchell Foaming Pommade (red top - Flexible Style line).
4. Distribute thoroughly through your hair.  Your hair should be saturated and covered with white foam, so don't be alarmed.
5. After you work it through, pull it through your hair.  (When I watched the other stylist do this step, it look kinda like she was shingling in an upward motion.)
6. Sit under the dryer for 5 - 10 mintues, just so the foam will disappear.
7. Shape your hair and you are done!

I recorded a video blog post on Friday night and I haven't been able to upload it yet.  So I will try again and this time tape myself trying this new "wash and go" technique.

Beautiful

I have stumbled across some wonderful things today regarding black hair. On 8/24/09 my father would have been 63 years young - Lord knows how much I miss him. So when I stumbled upon the photo gallery of a father braiding his daughter's hair it really touched my heart. Even more beautiful is that the father is white and his adopted daughter is Ethiopian. I have a found memory of my dad trying to roll my hair on pink rollers when I was younger. I have no idea where my mother was, but she wasn't around lol. Needless to say, it was a mess, but he tried.

Enjoy - http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/living/braids/10.html

The NYT writes about black women and hair...

Good morning lovelies!  The NYT posted an article about black women and hair and it pretty good.  Chris Rock's new movie, "Good Hair", is really bringing the issue of black hair out in the open. 


I always find it interesting when people talk about "good hair".  I honestly hate the term and in the past have fell victim to using the term myself.  But it really doesn't make sense.  What makes someone's hair "better" than mine?  That is ridiculous.  Our hair textures and types are all different and beautiful.  Just because I can't wet my hair have it be curly and bouncy with no effort, doesn't mean that my hair is "bad" - just different.


The article also touches on hair coloring and if one is still "natural" if they color their hair.  We know this hits close to home.  I've never claimed to be chemical-free, but I do consider myself to still be natural as I don't alter the texture of my hair with a relaxer.  I love hair color and it is a way for me to express myself.  Right now, I am lovin' the red tones but maybe I want to go lighter, or darker.  Who knows - the options are endless!


But anyways - I am rambling.  Check out the article and let me know what you think!

I'm ready for the Fall...

I'm getting bored again!  I desperately want the summer to end so I can wear my hair straight.  I'm so envious of girls rockin' full, cute roller wraps.  *hmmph*.  People have been telling me that as my hair gets longer, the weight of my hair will help keep it straight.  Is that a lie?  Does anyone successfully roller wrap and flat iron their natural hair and have success keeping it straight!


I have an appointment with Nicole to get my roots touched up, more highlights (if she thinks I need them), a glaze and a trim.  I don't think I am going to let her straighten my hair because the minute I walk outside, my hair is going to poof up like a cotton ball.


I'll post a picture of my dry twist out when I get home.  My hair is finally back to the length it was at before Nicole had to chop all of it off!