Back to Basics with High Tech Banding!

Well it's probably safe to say that my slippage issues are due to my heavy hands (as my mother sais when I mead dough) and my loose braid & banding when shampooing my locks. I went to get my hair washed by my consultant and she showed me a different way to band my hair and she reminded me why I have to be gentle with my locks while washing. I think that I might have scrubbed  too hard previously because I panicked when I saw the build up in my locks as I discussed in my previous post here.

I have just recently started a You Tube Channel and I posted a video about my banding process. I think it is a good video for newbies and those who feel like they have to go back to basics to deal with their slippage issues. I will post the link below and please feel free to Subscribe and/or friend me if you are a fellow You Tuber.

But here are some pics of my hair after taking it out of the braids/twists and bands. I really like the curls and waves and they have lasted a LONG time.

Enjoy

The Woman Inside Channel

Stay Blessed

Shea Butter Whip

Recently, I made a Shea Butter whip to use on my daughter's hair and our skin.

I have used it for a week and I love what it has done for my daughter's hair . My daughter's hair is moisturized and looks shiny.  My skin feels silky smooth and I love the benefits of using Shea butter on me.The only adjustment I will make is to use  a stronger smelling EO that is still highly beneficial for hair and safe to use on my LO. ( I am not in love with the scent)

What you need:

• 6 TBSP Shea Butter
• 1 TBSP Coconut Oil**
• 1 tsp Jojoba (ho HO ba) oil 
• 1 tsp Grapeseed oil
• 1/2 TBSP Aloe Gel
• 1 TBSP Veg. Glycerin, 
• 1/4 tsp Honey/ or 10 drop of Tea Tree oil   
• 10 Lavender Essential oil
•  Storage container that can also be used as your mixing bowl
• large bowl to hold hot water
• spatula
• mixer
• spoon

1) Place Shea butter in your storage container and put that container in the bowl of hot water. Melt Shea butter (leave some chunks)

2) Add all carrier oils, aloe gel and veg. glycerin.  Mix these ingredients with a hand mixer for 5-7 min.

3) Put mixture in freezer 5-10min till hard.

4) Mix again and using a spatula insure that you get anything stuck in the bottom rim of your container. Blend for about 5 min.

5) Add your EO and preservative (honey or Tea Tree Oil)

 6) Continue to blend 3-5 min or until you get the consistency that you prefer. 

(1 week later)

Shea Butter Whip in Action

I rarely use this style because it causes too much stress on her hair but this was Big D's Birthday.

Here are some great resources for the benefits of Shea butter and Coconut oil.

**In the recipe above I used my own homemade coconut oil and I will share the method my Mother taught me at another time.

I have to add that even though I like making this whip, I will continue to make it for my daughter's hair, I really miss pampering myself with buying hair products (silly I know) so  I am going to continue to enjoy  the natural product line, FUZE for my skin.  I love love it and the Vanilla Butter smells sooo good. Big D definitely prefers it.

Stay Blessed!!!

TWI

Finally getting some LOVE!!!

YEEEAAAHHH! I have had 3 people in the last 6 days tell me in person that they LOVE my hair!! Before,  I've gotten "oh you've changed you hair...looks nice", "you cut your hair" and "your hair is cute". But now I can add "I love your hair" to the list. I am doing the happy dance.

I guess that self- love, sending positive vibes, thing really works ;)

Of course, I have to give a shout out to Precious, my SL consultant! I would also like to give some credit to my new purchase.

(Click on image for website)

I bought 2 packs for $6.95 each at a local retailer called Shamrock Imports. I ended up exchanging a pack because later I read, on the Soft Spikes wed site, that the black curlers work better then pink and purple(the colors I bought) because it's made of a sturdier foam. Keep that in mind if you would like to purchase Soft Spikes for your locs. Even so, I kept the pink because I had already used them and they worked just fine.

I used only one pack, so 30 rollers, I didn't use any setting lotions, gels or even water but I did sleep in them over night. It wasn't too bad to sleep in but then again I am use to sleeping in perm rodes. ugh
Here's the curl:

Here's the 'style':

The curls lasted 3 days and when I'm able I want to use aloe and water as a setting gel to enhance the results.

OK, I am off to make some Whipped Shea Butter and I will post about that (if it works out) along with the adventure I had in making Coconut oil .

Stay Blessed!

6 months- Back on track again.

Well last week I had to tell myself that I loved my hair but now I really really do love it. Finally, I had my re tight and repair done. And I think it looks great!! I feel like I am back on track again.

After my appointment, I took a good look at my locks and I have to agree with my consultant, there is much improvement.

Remember the back of my hair not too long ago:


                                                

Before

Precious Installed 11/09/09

Now

My hair has started locking (I thought that it was bunching lol). My partings look better and my grey build up is gone. Precious fixed my slippage, reinstalled a few locks that unraveled and started some new locks as well. I am so grateful for her hard work (she is soo fast all of that done in 4 hours) But I can't wait for the day I come in for just a straight, quick and easy re-tight. My wallet is definitely waiting for that too. (I can't complain too much, I hear of some people paying out much more then me)

There is still some work to be done. She is working to save some thinning locks and reinstall some of  my lost locks that she believes are due to my locks being too tightly retightened  (before I became her client).

So Precious sends a warning, that if you have really coily hair make sure you do not force those last few rotations. You have to give your hair room to contract.

Now, I just need to combat my dry scalp the best way I can. I am decreasing my coffee intake, increasing my water intake, and I am going to start using our humidifier again. If I can remedy my dry scalp I can decrease my chances of build up. Wish me luck!

Stay Blessed!!

Natural Facial Care

I am trying something new with my facial care routine. (to distract me from my hair challenges...sending my hair good vibes) A few months ago, I decided to only wash my face using black soap and I found that it removed all of my make up easily without drying my skin but it was not helping to remedy some bumps on my forehead. that I got during pregnancy 2 years ago. So I have decided to try adding a second wash using Baking Soda.

When my consultant said she was going to use baking soda to help get rid of my build up at my next appointment, I decided to read up on it. I found out that yes, it is great for build up and many use it to rid themselves of acne and other blemishes as well. I also decided to look for some natural toners and I decided to try a ACV/Green tea mix. So here is my night time routine.

1. Wash face with pea size piece of black soap and warm water
2. Mix tablespoon of baking soda with enough boiled water to make paste then scrub face in a circular motion and rinse very well
3. Fill cotton pad with ACV toner (recipe below) and gently pat face
4. Moisturize with a 50/50 mix of Grapeseed oil and Jojoba oil
5. Look in the mirror and say " I love you, your perfect" DH recommends doing that because it is best way to end your day

ACV Green Tea Toner

1/3cup brewed Organic green tea 

1/3cup ACV

1/3cup Distilled water

mix together in glass container and keep in the fridge.

Original recipe from anneroshine

Results after 1 week

Bumps are going down and are lighter in appearance but not gone yet. You can not see the difference in pics yet but DH and I can see it in person. I will do a one month visual comparison later. 

I like the results thus far the only issue is the smell of ACV but it goes away after some time. DH doesn't seem to notice but then again he is just getting use to me mixing one concoction after the other. 

Stay Blessed!