Hair Update

I now have 65 days remaining for my Hair Goal Challenge. I have made some progress but I didn't like the way my ends looked so I decided to trim them. This might be a set back on my goal but it's okay as long as my hair is healthy.

 

 

Humectants

A humectant is a substance used primarily in foods and cosmetic products to help retain moisture. These substances are called hygroscopic, which means that they are able to absorb water. 

Natural Humectants: 

• Glycerin
• Honey
• Panthenol(pro-vitamin B5)
• Lecithin

Synthetic Humectants: 

• Propylene Glycol-causes irritation and contact dermatitis
• Ethylene/Diethylene Glycol-causes irritation and contact dermatitis
• PEG Compounds(eg Polyethylene Glycol)-may contain the toxic by-product dioxane
• Synthetic alcohols (eg Glyceryl Coconate, Hydroxystearate, Myristate, Oleate)

Natural Anti-Humectants:

• Shea Butter
• Organic Beeswax
• Hydrogenated Castor Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Palm Oil
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Synthetic Anti-Humectants:

• Silicones
• Esters(such as isopropyl palmitate)

Sources:

http://www.natural-skincare-authority.com/index.html

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/humidity-humectants-and-the-dew-point

 

Sealing Natural Hair

How To Seal Natural Hair

1. Start with wet hair.
2. Apply a leave-in conditioner.
3. Apply a top coat of oil or butter.
4. Style as usual.

Tips to Effectively seal your ends

• Use thicker oils or butters.
• Squeeze excess water from your ends.
• Use twice the coverage of oils on your ends when sealing.
• Make sure your ends are healthy.
• Tuck your ends away.
• After sealing do not manipulate your ends until they have dried.

Glycerin

After hearing wonderful things about the use of Glycerin on natural hair I knew that I had to get some, so I went looking and thankfully I found some. So after washing my hair yesterday I spritz my hair with my water and glycerin mix then sealed with Shea butter and braided my hair. Instantly I notice a difference. My hair feels so soft and moisturized I can't keep my hands out of my hair. My hair has never felt this soft ever since I went natural. This is absolutely a keeper. I love it.

What Is Glycerin? 

Glycerin(Glycerine/Glycol) is a natural, serum like, clear liquid with a sweet taste. It is hygroscopic, meaning that it absorbs water from its surrounding.

Types of Glycerin

• Vegetable Glycerin: Plant based/Food grade
• Glycerin: Animal based or petroleum based

The Similarities

• Both act as emollients and humectants (draws in moisture from the air to the hair).
• Both are thick, clear and odorless.
• When diluted can be a wonderful moisturizer,but take precaution in humid and dry climates.
• If air is hot and humid, will absorb the moisture from the air and cause the hair to swell, creating course frizzy hair.
• In weather that is extremely dry, will seek out the moisture in your hair therefore dehydrating your hair which can cause damage and breakage.

  

Head Wraps

So I ended up taking my kinky twist out before my intended date. Honestly I'm glad I did because my hair had started locking together with the braid. Any way I had to go out the next day so I wouldn't have gotten the chance wash and style my hair so I wore a head wrap. Head wraps are a must have because it's something you can go to when you don't know what else to do or you are having a bad hair day. They are quick, easy and very versatile.

 

Hair Update

It has been 3 weeks now since I have my kinky twist braids in and I have a lot of growth. I had to re-braid my hairline in the front and back because of the growth. I'm probably gonna keep these in for another week and then take about a 2-3 weeks break before re-braiding my hair again. 

the center of my hair

the front of my hair

Naturali-Chik Look-Book: Yaya Dacosta

Yaya Dacosta has been one of our favorite naturalistas ever since she burst on the scene in cycle 3 of "America's Next Top Model." With her chemical-free coils, bohemian headwraps and eclectic style, she marched to the beat of her own drummer -- and looked fly while she did it!

These days, the Yalie is setting Hollywood on fire with her roles in "Tron: Legacy" and "The Kids Are All Right" -- and her tresses are still on-point. From sky-high updos to a wild, sexy blowout, here are a few of our favorite YaYa mane moments.

 At the premiere of ‘Take The Lead,’ YaYa twisted her tresses up in the back for an elegant upsweep.

 

 At the launch for the StoryCorps Griot initiative in Harlem, YaYa tucked her coils into a cap for a funky-cool look.

At the Sebastian International Film Festival, Dacosta piled her curls on top of her head, letting them spill over one eye. So chic!

 

At the 2008 Emmy Awards, YaYa let her freedom hair fly with this loose, impossibly sexy ’do.

At the opening night of ‘August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come And Gone,’ DaCosta sported this beyond elegant pompadour. Perfect for evening!

YaYa rocked a sky-high pompadour chignon at the 7th Annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards.

 

 YaYa dazzled all with this high-drama blowout at a Montblanc event in New York City.

YaYa sported a mass of adorable ringlets at the premiere of ‘The Extra Man.’

YaYa rocked soft waves tucked behind one ear at the ‘Vidal Sassoon The Movie.’

Source: http://photos.essence.com/galleries/hairstyle_file__yaya_dacosta

There are so many wonderful photos of this naturali-chik lady sporting beautiful styles. She's truly an inspiration. May she continue to do her thing.

Sunflower Oil

We all know that sunflower oil is used extensively for culinary purposes. But, do you know that it is also an important ingredient in a wide range of skin and hair care products. In fact, sunflower oil is one of the most commonly used base oils in various hair oils. You may also find it in different types of hot oil treatments. Let us take a look at the various aspects of the use of sunflower oil for hair care.

Sunflower Oil Benefits for Hair

Consumption of sunflower oil is found to be good for hair, as it contains a wide range of nutrients that are beneficial for hair. Apart from being rich in vitamins A, B, C and E, this oil is also rich in minerals like iron, potassium, calcium, etc. Even folate and omega fatty acids are found in considerable amounts. Omega fatty acids are said to be good for preventing brittle hair and hair loss. All these nutrients are beneficial for both skin and hair. In fact, sunflower seeds are one of the important ingredients in some of the healthy hair diets. This explains the use of sunflower oil for hair growth.

Apart from consumption, application of sunflower oil on hair and scalp is also recommended. It is said to be a good hair conditioner. It can also make the hair healthy and strong and add more shine and luster. According to some studies, sunflower oil applied on hair is good for protecting the hair from absorption of ultra violet rays. It acts as an emollient both for skin as well as hair. Apart from preventing water loss, emollients can keep the hair soft and moist. So, it is used in various hair care products meant for dry flaky scalp.

Source: Buzzle.com

Coconut Oil

 

Coconut oil is, hands down, one of the most effective hair treatments for a very wide variety of hair issues. It works incredibly well for repairing damaged hair that has been over-processed, heat damaged, or is just naturally dry. Coconut oil is also anti-fungal in nature, making it a perfect natural anti-dandruff treatment, or as a preventative treatment for dandruff. It's a great regular hair treatment for maintaining very healthy hair and scalp when used as a part of your regular haircare routine.

Coconut oil works well for reconditioning dry hair because the molecular structure of coconut oil, unlike other oils or moisturizers that just sit on the hair, is ideal for penetrating the hair shaft, getting past the cuticle, repairing and preventing damage from the inside out. Lauric acid, capric acid, and vitamin E (all present in coconut oil) help restructure hair, increase hair's strength by preventing protein loss, and vastly improve shine. People that regularly use a coconut oil treatment report increased body, shine, and manageability with less breakage, static, tangles, and split ends. Many also claim that hair sheds less and feels thicker after regular use.