Effective Moisturizing: L.O.C Method !

Hey Guys, I know I have been seriously slacking on the posts, Unacceptable I know. But better late than never and I AM BACK ! In my absence I have been researching , trying new things with my hair and trying new products for you guys. (insert awwww ). I have been receiving a lot of emails concerning moisture retention, and here I am with the solution !

Previously I had encouraged the moisture-seal method. This is where you would moisturize by misting the hair with water or using a water based moisturizer then sealing with oils. After researching and experimenting I discovered a method that works much more effectively known as the LOC method. Now before you ask let me inform you that this has nothing to do with locking your hair or getting dreads!!!

LOC, is an acronym for Liquid, Oil, Creme. I tried it out, and it was so much more effective than the moisture-seal method! Plus It was very easy to remember as The acronym tells in what order the process goes. Before getting started I highly suggest that you part your hair into smaller more workable sections to ensure that the product is worked through your hair more effectively ! (I do four sections but If you have thicker hair you can do as many as you see fit, or for thinner hair feel free to make it three, whatever works best for your hair)







Step #1 "Liquid":  Mist hair with a liquid (water, or your favorite leave in condition I used my homemade peppermint and coconut oil mix )















Step #2 "Oil":  Apply oils to your hair. Make sure you concentrate on working from the ends upwards as your ends are the oldest and most vulnerable part of your hair. ( I used melted shae, castor, and olive oil)
















Step #3 "Creme": Apply a generous amount of A creme based moisturizer and make sure to work from ends upwards. for this step I used Cantu shae butter, but any creme based hair moisturizer is great.











After completing the steps for each section twist or braid that section away and move on to your next section. repeat these steps until all the sections have been braided or twisted. I usually do this before bed and I always remember to put on a silk scarf ,bonnet or pillow case. You do not have to do this in the night though, I choose to because I like leaving my hair to absorb the moisture over night then styling in the morning !!


Let Me Know if you feel the difference !!!!!!

Food For Hair : Greek Yogurt

I know for me this ones easy, I prefer Greek yogurt to regular yogurt. However it is an acquired taste for some.
On your next grocery run cruise the dairy aisle for low-fat greek yogurt (I suggest Chobani) which is high in hair-friendly protein, vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid -- an ingredient you'll often see on hair care product labels), and vitamin D. Emerging research links vitamin D and hair follicle health. Plus muscles love greek yogurt because its high in protein and when you get tired of eating it mix in an egg and some oilve oil and put it directly on your hair, Voila you've got a home made protein treatment.

Natural Hair Beauty : Cheryl Harris (Locs Of Love)

1. Introduce Yourself

My name is Cheryl. I’ve had this set of locs for a little over a year. I love all type of locs, from cultivated, freeform, white locs, black locs, asian locs, who cares, they’re all gorgeousJ

2. Why did you make the decision to go natural?

Going natural wasn’t exactly my choice. In 2009, after about only 3 years of rocking a relaxer, I finally had the experience I thought would never happen to me. The hair dresser left the relaxer in way too long and totally damaged my armpit length hair. My thick healthy hair was left brittle and broken. After that my mom did the big chop for me against my will. Ever since then I’ve been natural. I started my first set of locs in late 2009. I picked that set of locs out in May 2012, rocked a GIANT afro for 3 months then started my last and final set of locs in July 2012. I plan on keeping this set forever. Well at least right now I don’t see myself ever cutting them.

3. How would you describe your hair texture?

My hair texture is confusing. I don’t know how to define it. When I wore it loose for that 3 months, I discovered that I had 4a texture based on a chart at the beauty salon. When wet, my hair hangs down and is manageable and spiral curly, but when dry I had a decent amount of shrinkage but not that much and the easiest way for me to deal with it was when I had a blow out. My edges are smooth but as I move toward the crown of my head the texture is very kinky and coily. Now that I have locs, my texture looks more 4c down the shaft of the loc but at the root my hair is straighter.

4.What’s your monthly hair regimen

 Locs can be the easiest hairstyle or the hardest depending on how one takes care of them. The key is to keep them clean. A month of loc maintenance consists of washing my hair twice a month and retwisting once a month if necessary. Retwisting isn’t a requirement for loc wearers but in my opinion washing is required and should be done often. When I retwist I just palm roll or finger twist my roots, clip them in place and let it dry. Some loc wearers interlock with a special tool to tighten their locs. Interlocking lasts longer and won’t come down when the hair gets wet. It is convenient but not for everybody.

5.What does you wash day look like?

 Typically washing my hair takes place on a lazy Sunday. I have really thick locs, only having about 88. The average amount for medium to small locs is 125-150 locs. My regimen for washing consists of shampooing and conditioning my hair with a natural product that won’t cause buildup in my hair later such as African black soap or Dr. Bronner’s clarifying shampoo and conditioner. After I do that, I do a hot oil treatment on my locs with different oils such as jojoba, coconut, olive, melted shea butter, etc. This moisturizes my scalp and adds nutrients, minerals, and shine to my locs. Nobody wants to have “ashy locs.” I don’t use gels anymore because most of them can cause buildup in locs. Buildup is what causes the appearance of “ashy locs.”  However, if you must use a gel, I recommend Taliah Waajid Lock It Up Gel. She only uses natural ingredients in her products that easily wash out as to not cause build up. After I get out of my hot oil treatment I spritz my hair with a oil and water mix and retwist my roots for a polished look.  I clip each loc down then sit under a dryer to set them in place. Once that is complete my wash day is over, I have a fresh retwist and I don’t have to do it again if I tie my hair up (which I don’t always do) until the next month or at least 3 weeks later.

6. Describe your favorite go to styles? 

My go-to styles are very simple. I usually do a basket weave to get my hair out of my face or a simple ponytail. A basket weave it a style a lot of loc wearers do. It’s very similar to a braid but much easier to do. You just layer the hair over each piece until you run out of strands. It’s a great way to get a simple updo. They go especially well for the elegant look. I’ve been experimenting with bantu knots, two strand twists, and roller sets. These styles create a wavy or curly hair pattern that allows me to get away with not retwisting my hair. Two strand twisting my hair gives me a 2 in 1 style. I can wear the twists for as long as I want and then when I finally take them out I’m left with a full head of spiral waves. I also like to pin half of my hair to the side and wear the other side hanging down now that it’s getting longer. Lately I’ve had an obsession with head wraps. They are quite convenient when I’m having a bad hair day. They come in many different colors and designs and can be quite fashionable if worn correctly and not like a night wrap for sleeping in.

7. How do you combat shrinkage?

 Shrinkage is no longer a big problem for me anymore. When locs grow they tend to gain some weight and start to hang. When wet they may hang a little lower but they don’t lose too much length when they dry once they mature. HOWEVER, during the baby phase of locs the hair isn’t completely locked yet. The unlocked natural hairs react the same to water as loose natural hair.  That process can be frustrating. There really isn’t a way to combat shrinkage. A part of locking you hair is going through the journey to get to the long flowing locs most desire. A person has to get through the “ugly phase” to get to the mature look. The process teaches you patience and acceptance of yourself through every part of the journey. Nevertheless there are other options for those who don’t want to go through the early phases of locking such as loc extensions.

8. What are some of your problem areas?

I wear a lot of ponytails and tight head wraps so some of my potential problem areas are the locs at the nape of my neck and the locs at the front of my edges. I probably need to start wearing my hair down more often to give my edges a break so that they won’t get thin and break or get damaged.That can all be prevented however. A lot of people help prevent this with the help of Biotin and Jamaican Black Castor Oil.   

9. Three Do’s for locs:

  Keep the hair and scalp clean, never be afraid to wash and condition your hair especially during the beginning stages 2) keep the hair/ scalp moisturized especially if you’ve dyed your locs before 3) love YOUR locs! Even if you are the only one who does.

10. Three Don’t for locs:

 don’t let the hair get dry, keep it moisturized so the locs don’t break or get damaged 2) don’t use products that can cause build up to accumulate in the locs. Don’t use waxes or heavy gels. 3) Don’t get caught up in comparing your locs to anyone else’s. Everyone’s journey, texture, personal preference for their hair is different. Lastly DON’T hate on anyone’s locs even if you think they’re ugly. Every locker is entitled to their own journey no matter what style, race, hair type, etc.

Yall can subscribe and follow my loc journey on youtube. My name is Cher Harr and my instagram is cher_harr !!!

Protein and Your Hair: How important is it ???

Hello Lovelies !
 So I've noticed that alot of naturals are unsure if their hair needs protein or how much protein and how often. The simple answer is Natural Hair does need protein. In order for your hair to be healthy you need to maintain the perfect balance between Moisture and protein. We can think of the hair shaft itself as a build up of links of deposited protein from the follicle. After a while of being exposed protein can not be replenished from the follicle  we have to do it ourselves. One very important tip I can give that I personally stick to and I can honestly say it helps is to do a protein treatment at least once a month. However. Be careful because too much protein dries out the hair shaft, so to combat that follow up a protein treatment with a moisture treatment. I do my protein treatment and moisture treatments twice a month alternately this way I maintain the strength of my hair as well as keeping the moisture.

Here are my favorite Home made Protein and moisture treatments I got them straight from the net and Ive been using them for years

Mayonnaise and avocado Protein Treatment:

                                                       

Mayonnaise is made of oil and egg so it’s very moisturizing for hair. The high-fat content of avocados makes hair less dry and prone to breakage. You'll need two tbsp mayonnaise ( i get the fully fatty ones not the reduced fat ) and 1  avocado (or pear for the Jamaicans) and two tea spoons of your favorite essential oil mine is coconut oil. mix all the ingredients in a bowl until creamy. Apply this homemade conditioner through your hair concentrating on the ends. For even distribution, use a wide tooth comb.Cover with a cap and walk around the house clean or watch TV for about 30 mins or sit under a dryer for 10-30 then follow your regular wash routine. 

Coconut Honey Oil Mask

1/2 can of coconut milk ( freeze the rest) 

5 table spoons of honey 

   *sometimes i sneak an avacado or a banana to thicken it up 

 

mix it together apply to your hair leave it in for 30 mins or ssit under a dryer for 10-30 mins. Follow up with your normal wash routine. 

Hope the post helped Guys ! Let me know if you try one of these and what your results are 

Sincerely Kinky Koily Kurly ♥

Weekly Food For Hair : Salmon

Salmon

Besides being rich in protein and vitamin D (both are key to strong hair) The omega-3 fatty acids found in this tasty cold-water fish are the true superstar. Your body can't make those fatty acids, which your body needs to grow hair. About 3% of the hair shaft is make up of these fatty acids, Drayer says. Omega-3s are also found in cell membranes in the skin of your scalp, and in the natural oils that keep your scalp and hair hydrated.

Other great sources of omega-3 fatty acids: Mackerel, Sardines.

Protective Styling: For Your Summer

Hey Guys, I know its been a while.  Exams are done school is out and bikini seasons almost here!!!! I for one am very excited about that, but then again who doesn't like being able to show some skin and soak up some Vitamin D ? When the warmer days are here we go from inside activities to outside ones. We're more frequent at the pools ,beaches, and parks. What does that mean for our tresses? The winter brings frigid drying weather yes, and while the summer is more forgiving moisture wise, our activities are not ! The chlorine in the pool, salt at the beaches, more frequent washing due to sweating.... all of these require us to pay more attention to our hair. Protective styling is a great way to combat the extreme conditions of the season.

For those who don't know protective styling is any style that protects the ends of your hair by keeping them away. People tend to think that protective styling means long poetic justice braids, or Senegalese twists, weaves and wigs. These are protective styles but those long braids and heavy styles are not for the hot weather while some can handle it , some cant. I know I for sure DO NOT like no long booty braids and twists when its hot ! During summer i use more products and I like being able to take out my hair and wash it properly.

Here are some other styles you can do that do just as good of a job protecting your ends. Here are some of my favorites. They take little time to do and little time to take down !

Individual Twists

















Flat Twists

 Buns

 banto knots/ knot outs

 Corn Rows

Up Dos

Important !!!! Hair Porosity.

Have you Ever wondered why when you put products in you hair 2 minutes after your hair feels dry ? Or maybe you're one of the people who feel like all the product you put in your hair is just laying on top of the hair shaft but not actually moisturizing it. No? Then maybe you're in the batch that feels like your hair just loves the stuff you put in it ??  Sometimes the way your hair responds to products you put in it depends on the porosity level. Porosity refers to the ability to absorb. Your hairs porosity level is most times genetic but can be effected based on some factors.

 There are three different levels of porosity:

1. Low porosity Hair: this is when the cuticle of the hair shaft is too tight compacted and does not let moisture in or out. Low porosity has a tendency to repel product rather than absorb it.
 
2. Hair with Medium porosity is considered "normal" hair. With normal porosity, the cuticle is compact and stops most moisture from leaving or entering the hair shaft and will readily absorb and retain product properly formulated for this hair type.

3. Hair with high porosity also classified as "overly porous" is the result of heat damage, chlorine/hard water/mineral saturation, sun damage, or use of harsh ingredients. Overly porous hair is damaged in some way, and is dry, fragile and brittle because of the open cuticle that both absorbs and releases moisture easily. Although overly porous hair absorbs product quickly, it is often dry as the open cuticle does not allow for product retention within the hair shaft.

You can check your Porosity level by plucking (yes plucking ) a few strands from your hair and placing them in a glass of water ( it wont hurt and if it does you wont die !  I promise )  ..... If your strands sink to the bottom quickly you have overly porous hair
if it stays on top and takes a long time to sink  you have low porosity, if it floats somewhere in the middle then congrats you have normal porosity !

You need to determine your hair type and your hair porosity, and then think about what types of products are best suited to your particular hair type. Other factors will come into play, but these two hair properties are the most important properties to know.

Naturally Yours 
~Lannie