Beer and Bands

Hello, to all my healthy hair fanatics! I want to share my latest experiment! I tried a beer rinse in my natural hair! I have been wanting to try it for a while but always forget by the time I get to the store or gas station!

The benefits of a beer rinse is softening, clarifying and balancing the pH of the hair and scalp, increase in shine and elasticity. more elasticity=less breakage. It has similar benefits as an apple cider vinegar rinse (AVC rinse).

Beer used for beer rinse

 I used a 40 oz of Old English malt liquor. It cost me $1.99. Wanted to explain to everyone in the store that the beer was for my hair and not for me! Anyway, I couldn’t find a warm one so I purchased the one out of the cooler. I opened it and sat it on my porch for about an hour. I had to go to work and didn’t want to leave it sitting outside so I opened it and sat it in the trunk of my car when I got to work. After about 6 hours, it still had a little fizz to it. It wasn’t as flat as I wanted but it was good enough.

I shampooed once with Hair Garden Hair Cleanser and did a hot oil treatment with coconut oil, palm, oil and avocado oil. I sat under a hooded dryer with a processing cap for about 15 minutes and then let it sit for a couple of hours. The shampoo and hot oil treatment was done immediately following my purchase of the beer so I let the oil sit in my hair as I waited on the beer to go flat. Once I was ready to do the beer rinse, I got in the shower and shampooed the oils out of my hair twice with the Hair Garden Hair Cleanser. I then took the beer and poured it in my hair slowly. I massaged it in and let it sit as I showered. The beer was really warm from being in the trunk of my car all day. I rinsed the remaining beer out after I showered and then applied Giovanni Smooth as Silk conditioner  to my hair to detangle. My hair felt a little stiff and crunchy following the beer rinse, but the softness returned once I used the conditioner. I blotted my hair gently with a towel and applied some coconut oil blended with a little palm oil to my hair. I always follow with oil anytime I wet my hair in any way to restore the oils I lost. It is also good to add such fatty oils to your hair following such an acidic process such as a beer rinse or ACV rinse. It helps maintain a healthy pH for your hair and scalp!

banded hair after beer rinse

I banded my hair in 8 bands using Hair Garden Shealoe and left it to air dry overnight. I could already tell a difference in the feel of my hair while it was drying in the bands. It was very soft and it had a lot of sheen. I used a hard rubber  afro pik and a denman brush to detangle and to help distribute product while banding.

Beer rinsed hair after bands

 

Bands removed after beer rinse

I took the bands down the following morning and was very impressed by the results! My hair had more body than it usually does after banding. My hair had a soft, cottony texture when I picked it out into an afro. I would definitely do the beer rinse again. It is advised that you only do this once a month to avoid drying out or over-stripping your hair. I will try alternating months w/ ACV rinse. A friend asked if a higher quality beer wold make a difference. I will try a higher end brand next time and let you all know!

 

I hope you got some useful information! Feel free to post your questions or your personal beer rinse results in my comments section! Thanks for reading!

3 comments May 12, 2011

Hair Growth Challenge Update

Greetings all! I have been away for a while but I wanted to come in and do an update on my growth progress! I My goal was to have 10-12 inches by December 2010. I was wearing a protective style (Senegalese twists) in December on into January so I wasn’t able to measure and update.

At the moment, I am at 9 inches. I am very happy with this! I have dusted about 4 times since my last update. I take off about 1/2 an inch each time I trim. I have a never-ending problem with split ends due to my tight curl pattern so I try to dust at least once a month and deep condition at least twice a month alternating with pre-shampoo (pre-poo) treatments and hot oil treatments.

I will be checking back in with another growth update in another few months. It is summer time and hair grows faster during these months so I am looking forward to my potential growth. Stay tuned and feel free to contact me with any questions either here or by e-mail at hairgarden@live.com. I am also thinking of adding IM to my contact options so my readers can contact me directly with any questions! Let me know what you think! Thank you for reading!

Add a comment April 14, 2011

Hair Garden Hair Cleanser

Hair Garden Hair Cleanser

I have been experimenting with different ingredient combinations and have finally come up with a recipe I am in love with! This is Hair Garden’s all new cleansing shampoo. I love it because of its great moisturizing properties and because it does not take much product to get a great lather. It does not make my hair feel dry and hard when I lather like a lot of commercial shampoos. While shampooing, I can even fingercomb through my hair with ease! It only takes a few drops to achieve a rich, foamy lather that leaves your scalp feeling refreshed and your hair feeling clean without that “squeeky-clean” feeling.

This shampoo contains all natural ingredients, none of those harsh industrial detergents many of the commercial shampoos contain. The base is an organic castile soap which is made up of natural oils such as coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil. Other beneficial ingredients include:

Vitamin E Oil - Nourishes dry hair and scalp, adds moisture, helps prevent split ends

Tea Tree Oil - Natural antiseptic, removes buildup, treats and prevents dandruff, treats fungal conditions, stimulates underactive sebaceous (oil) glands.

Lavender Oil - Relieves itchiness and dandruff, regulates sebum production, great for dry or oily scalp. Effective in alopecia treatment.

Peppermint Oil - Stimulates blood flow to follicle root which provides nourishment, effective for dry, thinning, or slow-growing hair.

Almond Oil - Rich in vitamin E, contains calcium which strengthens and improves hair quality, preserves hair.

Horsetail – Rich in silica which strengthens hair, strengthens hair follicles, reduces shedding from the root.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) – Clarifies hair and scalp of impurities, smooths hair cuticle, increases shine, kills bacteria that causes dandruff, balances hair pH.

This cleanser can be used by the whole family! It is not only good for cleansing the hair but the skin as well! Want to try this great shampoo? E-mail me at hairgarden@live.com! Thank you for reading!

2 comments February 6, 2011

Hair Garden Hair & Scalp Treatment

Hair Garden Hair and Scalp Treatment

I have been doing a lot of research and put together, Hair Garden Hair and Scalp Treatment, a combination of oils and herbs that are very beneficial to the hair and scalp. I have used it on myself and my clients with great results! I want to share the information about this awesome mixture with you all today!  I recommend this product for anyone suffering from dry scalp, flaky scalp, itchy scalp,  dry hair, shedding due to dry hair, hair loss due to stress on the hair follicle, or anyone looking for a good moisturizing oil. These are the ingredients and their benefits to the hair and scalp:

Olive Oil- A great hair conditioner, improves elasticity, works to lift impurities from the hair follicle that can cause slow or unhealthy growth.

Grapeseed Oil – Moisturizes scalp without leaving it feeling oily, good for those with overactive sebaceous (oil) glands. Has properties that combat DHT, which is responsible for alopecia (hair loss), encourages hair to move from telogen (resting) phase to anagen (active/growing) phase.

Avocado Oil – Rich in nutrients, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. Supplies vitamins A, B, D, and E. Natural humectant properties, that aid in adding and locking in moisture. Great for frizzy hair.

Aloe Vera – Stabilizes scalp pH. Used to treat alopecia. Helps soothe dry, flaky scalp. Contains a powerful stimulant called aloenin that promotes hair growth. Adds moisture to the hair

Rosemary herbs – Follicle stimulator, increases blood flow to the follicles which promotes growth. Works as a natural astringent. Regulates sebum (oil) production.

Horsetail herbs – Rich in silica which helps form collagen. Collagen strengthens hair, skin, nails, and bones. Contains traces of calcium which bonds to brittle areas of the hair. Helps hair retain moisture.

Clary Sage – Increases the effectiveness of rosemary, effective in treating dandruff, adds sheen to dark, curly hair.

Apple Cider Vinegar – Balances hair pH, brings it to a normal level. Dissolves mineral, dirt particles, and toxins found on the hair and scalp. Removes buildup, great for clarifying, kills bacteria that cause dandruff and scalp yeast. Closes open cuticles, smooths shaft surface on hair strand which increases manageability and shine.

The herbs you see floating in the mixture are the horsetail and rosemary herbs. I left them in the oil to get their maximum benefit. I recommend this oil for hot oil and pre-shampoo treatments, scalp maintenance when wearing  protective styles, and for daily use.

Want to get your hands on this wonderful oil and try it for yourself? E-mail me at hairgarden@live.com for more information. Thank you for reading!

Add a comment February 6, 2011

Pre-poo Recipe (pre-shampoo)

 I tried a new pre-poo recipe the other day and was very satisfied with the results so I wanted to share it with my readers. These are the ingredients I used:

•red palm oil (5 tablespoons)
•coconut milk (1/4 cup)
•honey (2 tablespoons)
•yogurt (1/4 cup)

Pre-poo mixture

Hair after pre-poo is applied

pre-poo

 I moistened my hair slightly with water. I applied to mixture to my damp hair, covered with a shower cap and let it penetrate for about 2 hours.  I rinsed thoroughly with warm water and then applied some Giovanni Smooth as Silk conditioner. After that, I shampooed once with Hair Garden Cleansing Shampoo and followed with the Giovanni conditioner. I then sectioned my hair into four sections and applied coconut oil to my dripping wet hair before towel blotting it. I let my hair air dry for almost 30 minutes and then detangled with Hair Garden shealoe moisturizer. I braided my hair into three cornrows and let it dry overnight. The next day I had soft, shiny hair and a moisturized scalp!

Give this recipe a try! You can add or exchange ingredients for your experimenting pleasure! I would love for you to come back and share what you tried and your results on my blog! Thanks for reading!

Add a comment February 6, 2011

Red Palm Oil

I want to share some information about an oil I have added to my hair, scalp, and skin favorites! I always see palm oil or palm kernal oil in many natural hair ingredients when I read the labels, but never thought much of it. My mom used to cook with red palm oil all the time when I was growing up. I knew it gave food a great aroma and taste and a distict color, but I was not aware of all of its internal and extral benefits for our bodies. I came across it one day while searching for coconut oil at the Oriental grocery store and decided to bring a bottle home to experiment with. 

Palm Oil

Palm oil is rich in beta-carontene which is a great antioxidant. It has a higher content of beta-carotene than carrots and tomatoes. It’s high in vitamins A and E, so it helps repair damaged skin. It is effective in treating eczema, psoriasis, scars, and stretch marks. It is used in a lot of a products geared towards renewing and moisturizing skin.

This oil also has several amazing benefits for hair! It softens, improves elasticity, and adds shine. Red palm oil also has antibacterial properties which aids in providing a healthy growing environment for your scalp and hair follicles.

Unlike some oils, red palm oil does not lose its nutrients when it is heated. It is a very heavy, thick oil and solidifies at room temperature like coconut oil. Due to the intense nature of the oil, it is great for a pre-poo (pre-shampoo) treatment and even a hot oil treatment. I have added this ingredient to my Avocado Deep Conditioner (pre-poo)

I did a pre-poo treatment with the red palm oil. I used:

• 1/4 cup red palm oil
• 1/4 cup coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• a few drops of lavender oil

I melted the red palm and coconut oil before I started. I filled the sink with hot water from the faucet and let it sit for about 5 minutes and enough melted for my mixture. I poured in the red palm oil then followed with the coconut oil. I had a hard time with that coconut milk- I was drinking more than I was pouring! LOL! I then added stirred in the coconut oil and added about 6 drops of lavender oil.

I warmed the mix up in the microwave for about 30 seconds and then applied it to my hair in sections. I covered with a plastic shower cap and left it on for about 4 hours. I followed with my cleansing shampoo. I shampooed twice and followed with Giovanni Hair Reconstructor. After rinsing, I applied coconut oil to my soaking wet hair and then towel blotted it. I used a little Giovanni Direct Leave-In and then sealed my ends with shealoe and banded it to dry overnight. The next day, my ’fro was soft and bouncy, I had a lot of movement. My scalp and hair were both moisturized and  I didn’t have much styling difficulty the days after, finger styling was  much easier.

If you have tightly curled/coiled hair or hair that is very dry, then I would recommend  red palm oil as a pre-shampoo or hot oil treatment! I hope you found something helpful in my entry. Please feel free to share any of your experiences with palm oil. Thank you for reading!

*Note: I also use palm oil daily for my skin and I love it. The smell was to strong for me to use it alone so I did a half and half blend with coconut oil in an 8oz container. I added about 8 drops of lavender essential oil and about 6 drops of orange oil. This disguises the smell very well and leaves you with a nice light and sweet smell. Other varieties of essential oils can be used to alter the smell. I enjoy long lasting moisture now that I have added this oil to my skin regimen. I use it all over my body including my face.

4 comments February 1, 2011

Avocado Deep Conditioner

Last weekend I fell in love with avocado as a deep conditioner. I loved it so much, I made more and gave it away at my last natural hair and health meet-up, because I wanted everyone else to experience this wonderful conditioner!

I had read so much about it, but still had not tried it so I was ready to give it a shot. I was eager to get the process started once I found time to do it! These are the ingredients I used in my recipe and the reasons:

Avocado Deep Conditioner

1. Avocado (ripe, near rotting)- Ranked in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Most Nutritious Fruit! High in monounsaturated fats and omega fatty acids. Contains over 20 beneficial nutrients including vitamins A, B6 (combats alopecia), C, E, and K. Hydrates the hair and skin. Contains almost twice the potassium of a banana.

2. Yogurt (plain, fat included)- Excellent detangler, works to soften the cuticle encouraging slip. Acts as a natural alpha hydroxy acid clarifying hair of build-up and enhances shine. Lactic acid works as anti-bacterial and anti-fungal which can sometimes work to slow hair growth or cause unhealthy hair growth. 

3. Honey (raw)- Great humectant (draws in moisture), softens hair and increases elasticity, enhances shine

4. Coconut Oil (pure or virgin) Great hair conditioner, strengthens and protects hair from damage, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, absorbs well into air and skin, closely mimics our natural oils.

5. Olive Oil (extra virgin)- High in monounsaturated fats, high in antioxidants. Conditions and softens hair improving elasticity.

6. Rosemary Essential Oil-Follicle stimulant, strengthens hair roots. Helps eliminate dandruff.

7. Red Palm Oil- Softens hair, adds shine, increases elasticity. Antibacterial properties.

I used one avocado, 1/3 cup of yogurt, 2 tablespoons of honey, 5 tablespoons of coconut oil, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, and a 5-6 drops of rosemary EO. I mashed and whipped it with a fork. I find that using a hand mixer, however, gets out a lot of the pulp which can get trapped in your hair.

I had a busy day with clients so I left it on for about 6 hours and then co-washed it out with Giovanni conditioner about twice. I applied coconut oil to my dripping wet hair and then massaged it into my ends and the length of my hair and then focused on my scalp. I then blotted with my towel and applied a dime sized amount on Giovanni Direct leave-in conditioner. I banded my hair in about 12 sections using my personal shealoe blend (shea, aloe, rosemary and lavender EO) and let it set for about 48 hours. I wore scarves and kente head wraps along with knit caps during this period. I could tell from the hair that was exposed that the conditioner worked well. I could see the shine and my hair looked stronger and healthier! These are the results after I took down the bands.

Back View of Hair

Conditioned Hair After Banding

I left my hair like this and wore a satin bonnet to bed. In the morning my hair was still in tact. I finger-combed my hair and used the tail of the rat-tail comb to blend the sections. I loved how my hair looked and felt. It was very soft and fluffy. I barely had to use my pick, because finger styling was such an ease after this conditioner. This preserves the hair by reducing the styling stress which can cause breakage and increase shedding. I noticed my banding lasted longer also. Later that week I did a braidout after applying some coconut oil and was very pleased with the results. I wanted to see how my hair behaved with my next cleansing. I noticed very minimal shedding. Usually when I go extended periods of time without combing my hair, I experience major shedding during my cleansing routine, but this was not the case this time!

My avocado mixture will now be a part of my deep conditioning family! I wish I did not wait so long to try it! I hope you love this conditioner as much as I do! Feel free to leave me feedback about your experience with this conditioner! Thanks for reading! Blessings!

*Update (2.6.11)- I have added palm oil to my Avocado Deep Conditioning recipe! Check out my article about red palm oil to find out its benefits!

2 comments December 21, 2010

Personal Hair Growth Challenge

Well, as promised, I am doing my personal hair growth challenge update. So far, I am at 7  inches. I am kind of disappointed. Either I was happy with the shears when I was dusting my ends or I measure my hair incorrectly at the beginning of the challenge. Being at 6 inches almost 4 months ago, I should have made more progress by now don’t you think? The thing is, I can tell a major difference in the length of my hair fro when I started the challenge so I think I may have been a little gratuitous when measuring my hair before. I can even tell a huge difference when I look at the picture of my afro labeled 6 inches. I know I have maintained more than an inch of length since that photo. 

Hair length as of 8/23/10- 7 inches

My regimen isn’t as structured as it could be but I do have a routine. I shampoo about 3-4 times a month depending on my activity level. I alternate between shampooing with coconut soap, castile shampoo, and black soap depending on my mood and what my hair needs. I seal my ends after shampooing with shea butter sometimes blended with another oil. I do my honey deep conditioner about twice a month. I usually band or cornrow my hair down while wet to stretch my hair a bit to make it easier to style. I always air dry my hair. I refuse to use my blow dryer. If completely necessary, I will sit under a hooded dryer to speed up the drying process. I am dusting my hair about every other month.I have worked on increasing my water intake. That has not been too difficult due to the hot summers down in Georgia! I have also added kelp to my daily supplements (check earlier article for kelp and air growth benefits). I have increased my daily MSM intake from 1000 mg to 2000 mg. I am still taking my prenatal vitamins.  I do my scalp massage about twice a week. The I did one more caramel treatment since the last one I blogged about and just recently tried the henna. That has been it as far as any extreme things I have tried on my hair to keep in the condition it needs to be in to grow longer! This is a photo update of where I have gotten. As you can see, my hair has gone past my collar bone. I am pleased with my growth no matter what the measuring tape says!As far as styling, I haven’t done any protective styles since February when I had Senegalese twists. I have just been wearing the simple afro or a puff. I will keep you updated on my progress! Thanks for checking in!

Add a comment August 30, 2010

My First Henna Experience

Hello! I had been hearing a lot of buzz in the natural hair community about henna and all its benefits. I didn’t want to alter my natural hair color so I never considered it. However, I came across a “henna gloss” recipe on www.curlynikki.com that gives you all the conditioning benefits along without the color change.

What is henna?

Henna is a shrub native to Asia and North Africa. It contains pigment called lawsonia. It is extracted by grinding the leaves and stems of the plant. For centuries it has been used to color hair, skin, nails, and fabric. It works by bonding to the  keratin in your body (what the outer layers our hair, skin, and nails are composed of). Henna is not a permanent color.  It gradually fades taking anywhere from a month to almost a year to leave the hair and about a week to 6 weeks to leave the skin and nails. Henna originally is a red-orange color. Other plants are added to henna to produce the other colors offered, such as auburn, brown, and indigo.

Why I decided to try henna gloss

I decided to try henna because with my research I was convinced it would be the right conditioning treatment for me. It bonds to the keratin in your hair adding strength. This also fills any “holes” in the strand (missing shingles from the cuticle) adding to the overall strength and elasticity of the strand. This also give the hair more sheen! My hair had become dull from frequent co-washing and failure to seal my ends like I should be doing. I have always had a problem with dryness and split ends because of my hair type (fine/medium strands, high density, very tightly coiled) so I needed a little something to assist me with maintaining moisture and restoring strength.

Natural hair right before applying henna.

I purchased a henna color from the local natural foods store. As the recipe stated, conditioner, yogurt, or honey can be added to the mix to block the color. This was also stated in the instructions that came with the henna for those who only wanted the conditioning benefits. I added about half of the big tub yogurt (about 16 oz), 6 tablespoons of honey, and a teaspoon of olive and coconut oil to my mix, along with a few drops of rosemary oil. I added a teaspoon of distilled water and  yogurt here and there to lighten the mix a bit because it was really thick and lumpy. Once I was satisfied with the consistency of the mix, I began to apply. It was a texture similar to pudding or cake batter.

Henna Mix

The henna I had smelled like green vegetables or even fresh-cut grass. You are supposed to apply the henna to clean, towel-dried hair. I shampooed with a bar of black soap and towel-dried my hair gently by slighty patting with the towel. I sectioned my hair into four sections and began from the apex (middle) of my head and moved my way out towards my nap and edges. This reduced the mess and kept the henna off of me for the most part. I went through in small sections like I was sealing my ends. I used my gloved hands to apply the product. Once my hair was completely saturated with product it kind of reminded me of the caramel treatment. It felt very heavy in my hair and weighed it down a lot just like with the caramel treatment. My hair doesn’t do that with any other conditioning treatments.

Hair with henna applied

Hair completely saturated with henna

I put on a shower cap and left the mixture on for 6 hours. Some leave theirs on overnight. I didn’t have that option and wouldn’t have left it on that long any way. I also spent about 45 minutes of the first hour under the dryer. The rest of the day I put on a scarf and ran my errands. When it was time to rinse I filled the sink with warm water and dunked my head in the best i could and swished my hair around. I used my fingers to shake some of the grains from the henna out of my curls. After that, I shampooed with lavender castile shampoo I mixed. I repeated twice and took my time shampooing each time to remove all of the henna. (Make sure you deep condition very well following a henna treatment to prevent dryness!) I then followed with a honey and olive oil deep conditioner. I sat under the dryer with low heat for about 30 minutes and then co-washed it out with Giovanni Smooth As Silk Deep Moisture conditioner. I repeated the co-wash twice.

I towel-dried my hair then sealed my ends with a mixture of shea butter, aloe, castor oil, and a few drops of rosemary oil. To set my hair, I decided to use banding. I banded my hair and let it set for about 2 days. I always wear a nice head wrap out when I am banding. I like to leave my bands in for a while just to reduce the styling stress on my hair from picking. When I took the bands out I was pleased with the results. If you take a  look at the “results” photos in my banding article, you can tell a huge difference between the condition of my hair after using the henna. There was no obvious difference in my curl pattern. The only change I noticed was that my curls bunched more. My hair definitely felt stronger. There was almost no shedding during detangling. I had more shine and my hair seemed thicker.

Hair after henna and banding

More curl formation in parts

Back view of hair after banding

In the post-banding photos above, my hair has not been combed out yet.

I haven’t experienced any post-henna dryness so far. I am making sure I give my hair everything it needs before it needs it to prevent that from happening! I will comment that my scalp was slightly itchy after using the henna but that was from having that wet product in my hair for the extended amount of time. Needless to say, I am in love with henna. It is now a permanent part of my protein deep conditioning  regimen. I think I will do henna every other month. Overuse of henna could cause dryness and I do not need that!

If you are looking for a conditioning treatment to revive your hair, I would definitely suggest trying henna!

Thank you for reading!

2 comments August 30, 2010

Banding

Banding natural hair

Banded natural hair #2

 This is my natural hair completely banded and an after photo of my hair after bands are taken out. This is the initial result of my type 4 hair after banding. Hair has not been combed or picked yet in the photo. I pick the hair for a blown out afro look.

My banded natural hair

Hair after bands are taken out

 Hope you found this helpful!! Thank you for your interest!

Add a comment August 19, 2010