Great Tips from All Things O' Natural

Natty Tip on HEALTHY HAIR GROWTH

Hola Chicas/Chicos..I pray all is well with everyone!!

I thought I would drop in and give the scoop on the question I receive quite often, which is 'How do you get your hair to grow so quickly?' Well, I can tell ya one thing..I don't take vitamins, I don't apply any miracle serum and my own products do not contain magical ingredients that would cause my hair to grow any quicker than what it is naturally intended to grow given that I give it a healthy environment to grow in.
So without further ado, Let's recap Natural Hair and HEALTHY GROWTH.. Now, keep in mind,  hair grows at a rate of about 1/4-1/2 INCH per month. The rate of our hair growth is determined by a few things, a few are: genetics, diet, and how we treat our hair overall. If we give our hair a nice platform/environment to grow, it will grow.  Here's some tips that ensure healthy hair growth, which is the main importance..HEALTHY

MY HEALTHY HAIR TIPS: 

(1)KEEP THE SCALP CLEAN . Applying large amounts of oils and butters only clog the pores on our scalp. Our scalp produces natural oils and many times it has an over production or does not produce as much due to a few things. (a) Years of being clogged using clog poring ingredients (silicones, mineral oil, petroleum, oils, butters). (b) lack of water intake..It's very important that we drink plenty of water (c) Improper diet. Certain foods can have allergic reactions in our bodies and many times,we do not know it unless we keep a journal of foods that cause us to have reactions on our scalp, you will normally see scalp issues such as dermatitis, psoriasis, etc (dairy is known to be a major culprit, but not the only culprit)...Ok, so back on track, be sure to keep the scalp clean and healthy. Making sure to thoroughly cleanse at least once per month using a clarifying cleanser and herbal, tea or acv rinses and co-washing..So again, keep the scalp clean, it's a living breathing organ and is easily clogged which causes it to malfunction

(2) PROPER DIET AND WATER INTAKE IS IMPORTANT: Again. Proper diet, Exercise and good water intake. Exercise is an excellent way to get blood circulation flowing which encourages healthy hair growth.

(3) MOISTURE. Be sure to keep the hair moisturized properly. A wonderful way that has ensured that my tresses stay moisturized is..First, apply water or a water based product to the hair...Then, apply a butter or oil to lock/seal in the moisture.

(4) TRIMMING/DUSTING: Trim hair when needed. Because our ends can make or break our hair, it is of the utmost importance to keep them hydrated and trimmed when needed.

(5) HIH (HAND IN HAIR SYNDROME).  Try at all possible to keep hands out of hair. I know we love love love our natural and want to rub on it, or our significant other loves to rub on it, but this can cause friction which leads to breakage. If it helps, keep hair in protective styles such as twists or braids/plaits, buns (not too often) so it's less tempting to caress our tresses.

(6) PRODUCTS JUNKY-ISM. Try, if possible, to remain faithful to a few products..When we indulge in many products, we have a harder time to know what may or may not create an issue with our hair. Giving a product time to work is one of the best ways to know if a product is truly working for your hair. What I have found for myself and other naturals who have achieved healthy hair and awesome growth is that we are faithful to the products we use and usually don't succumb to product junkyism..as tempting as it is. (some awesome women who have achieved wonderful healthy hair and use very minimal products besides me (wink) are Naptural85, Chime with Hair Crush, Pam with Koils by Nature)

(7) NIGHT PROTECTION. Protect your hair at night with a satin scarf, bonnet or satin pillowcase, whichever works best for you

(8) Document your journey..Pictures are an awesome way to see your growth. Because we see ourselves daily, it's hard to see our growth. On those days, weeks, months that I wasn't sure my hair was growing, I would look back on pics and see the growth. Those of us who have FB pages, we love for you to post your pics to our page..then revisit those pages a month or two later and look at those pics again.
(9) USE HEAT SPARINGLY OR NOT AT ALL. The use of heat can create a host of issues on the hair. So if at all possible, use as sparingly as possible and should you choose to use heat, be sure to use on clean hair and apply a heat protectant each time. 

(10) Patience..No matter how many products promise this, that or the third, hair grows at the rate that it is naturally designed to grow..Have patience, love it, nourish it and take care of it and it will grow..but more importantly it will grow healthy!!
  

If you love it..It will Grow..Healthy!! 

..Have a Happy Natty Day!!!

**Where to find: Tee that I'm rocking is available at Tangles And Beyond 

Earrings available at www.nappylife.com

Hair Challenges: Ready For Some Results

Bentonite Me Baby

 by: Ailkay Naturals

Today I am starting off the summer with a bang. I am treating Keyme (my fro) to two hair challenges. The first challenge we are participating in is the 90 day Castor Oil Challenge with Kinky Curly Coily Me. It's basically using any Castor Oil but I will be using JBCO - times a week. I will be using the JBCO in my daily water spritz and will also massage my scalp with it  times a week.  The second challenge I will be doing is with
 All Things O'Natural. She is having a healthy hair challenge in which you just use all natural products on your hair for  days  This challenge will help you gain more knowledge to what you are applying to your hair.  You should end up with shiny, more manageable tresses. I will post a link to her facebook page. Today's challenge for ATON will begin with the Bentonite Clay Treatment to purify your hair. You would want to start off with pure cleansed hair so you can reap the benefit of the results that lie ahead for you.  Below you will find a link to to ATON facebook page and website. I will also post information for KCCM facebook page and blog site.  The natural products I will be using during the challenge is Camille Rose products, Hairtage Hydration and Natty Butter and AV Moist Mist by ATON.  I hope you will join in on the challenge. So lets start of the summer with a bang and have some beautiful tresses going into the FALL. I am sooooo excited my AuNaturale friends!!!

All Things O'Natural

  http://allthingsonatural.blogspot.com/2012/06/bentonite-clay-hair-mask-treatment.html
  http://www.nattynatural.com/

Kinky Curly Coily Me!

 http://kinkycurlycoilyme.com/

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj5iIf5h6gM&feature=plcp

The Youtube link is for Blackonyx use of the Bentonite Clay!

Click on the purple links to follow and like their Facebook pages. I want to be apart of every helpful natural facebook page out there. Wishing everyone the best with their beautiful NATURAL tresses!!!

If you would like to try the bentonite clay, comment below "Would like to try!" I will mail you a sample but you will need to inbox your mailing info to me on my facebook page.

Peace, Love and Many Blessings to ya!

Nakia "AuNaturale" Davis

HairVeda Give Away!

     It's been in the making and I know it has taken me forever to post the give away! Please forgive me. But this is a simple give away and the good thing is, the products can be used on natural of chemically treated hair.  HairVeda products are among my staple line.  I love the moisture that my hair retains using her line of products. My hair always feel soft and moisturized after my wash regiment using her shampoo and conditioner.

Here is brief run down about HairVeda:

Mission

At HairVeda we're committed to helping you moisturize your hair! 

We've extensively researched various moisturizing techniques & ingredients to create a line which works well for the hair and skin! 

The HairVeda Staff has taken the pledge to use natural ingredients in most of our product fomulation and to clearly state all ingredients on the label. 

Using Ayurvedic herbs, oils & other natural ingredients, we believe our handcrafted hair care line can help turn your hair around. 

We're also committed to keeping prices affordable! We understand the current needs of our clients. 

 

Her products are all natural with no Silicones, Sulfates, Mineral Oils, Petroleum or Parbens! Here is your chance to sample her products at no cost to you.  This give away will include the following products: Amala Cream Rinse and Moist Conditioner 24:7 both in 16oz sizes. Now for the rules to qualify for the give away.

1.  You must be a follower of my blog at www.naturalforsure.blogspot.com.

2.  Below this give away, leave feedback with the following information:

     **If you are natural, state how long you have been natural, what made you go natural and one inspiration comments for other naturals.

     **If you are not natural, leave a brief statement as to what you think about the natural hair movement today and a comment stating if you have drawn any inspiration from seeing natural hair today.

I want everyone on my blog to have a chance to win my first ever GIVE AWAY so I hope the rules are comfortable for both naturals and chemically treated hair.  Winner will be chosen by random.org. The give away starts tonight will end at midnight on Tuesday, May 22, 2012. You can also like HairVeda on Facebook (optional)!

Wishing everyone the best of luck. And remember:

LOVE THE NATURAL YOU!!!

Peace and blessings~

Do you have a hair care regiment?

If you are natural or permed for that matter, you should have a hair care regiment that you follow to help promote healthy hair growth. Below is a hair care regiment that I found while reading today and wanted to share with you all. I will start following this method next week. Hopefully it will help strengthen my hair and help me to obtain even more growth. The products listed are just recommendations and in no way, shape or form necessary for you to purchase and use.

Developing a Haircare Regimen for Natural Hair

I began this technique and altered it as I went along when I decided to cut off my relaxed hair and grow it naturally. I wanted the healthy thick hair I was born with and I was tired of the stringy, weak, limp, hair I had when my hair was treated with chemicals. Naturally I could gain length without any breakage due to chemicals. Going natural was the best thing that ever happened to my hair. After a few months I began to love the hair God blessed me with. I loved the coils of my hair and the strength that it had. I embraced the natural texture of my hair and I found myself intrigued by women that chose to wear their hair natural.

Items you will need:

The above items are items you will need that are essential in caring for your hair. I recommend using your fingers to detangle and comb the hair, but if you want to comb your hair, a wide tooth comb is best for natural hair. Only comb natural hair while it is wet to prevent breakage. To comb natural hair properly start by applying detangler to wet hair, such as the Curls Milkshake or Kinky-Curly Knot Today. You can also detangle the hair while it is still saturated with conditioner after co-washing or cleansing. When you begin to comb start at the ends of the hair and work your way up. You can also use a denman brush to remove tangles from the hair. Naturals rave about the use of denman brushes. There are several types of denman brushes on the market with differences in how may rows of teeth and the spacing of the teeth. It's best to experiment to see which brush type is best for your hair.

Butterfly clips are essential during styling and detangling. They hold the hair out the way and help you section the hair off making your detangling and styling easier and efficient.
Purchasing a spray bottle will help you during your natural journey when styling and moisturizing your hair. A lot of natural styles work best if the hair is styled while it is damp. It will also help when you need to dampen your hair while detangling. Keeping a spray bottle around will make styling easier for you, but if you plan on putting aloe vera, glycerin, and water in it, remember to keep it in the fridge to prevent bacterial and mold from growing in the bottle. Remember anything containing water that does not include any parabens or preservatives has a high chance of bacterial and mold growth. Water is the key to any and all lifeforms.
You will also need to sleep with a satin or silk bonnet or scarf on your head at night to prevent your cotton sheets and pillowcase from absorbing moisture from the hair. It will also prevent your hair from being tangled in the morning.
Natural hair may be more stronger and healthier than chemically treated hair, but you will still need to clip your ends. Hair shears are another recommendation to your natural haircare kit. Use them to clip your ends every 3-4 months to get rid of split ends.
Last but not least, a hooded dryer which should be used to deep condition the hair weekly. I do not recommend using it to dry the hair. Natural hair looks and feels it's best when it dries naturally.

The Grow Natural Black Hair Technique

I have broken my technique down into 3 simple parts. Cleansing, Conditioning, and Moisturizing. The Grow Natural Black Hair technique will virtually eliminate breakage and damage to natural hair, it will help you maintain a proper moisture balance, and it will allow you to add length, growing your hair to the longest possible length.

Cleansing

A healthy head of hair starts with a clean scalp and clean hair. Black hair should be cleansed ever 3 days with a sulfate free shampoo such as Kinky-Curly Come Clean or Curls Curlicious Cleansing Cream. Other sulfate free shampoos can be found online at Naturally-Curly.com.
The Technique

1. Section the hair off into 4-6 sections and secure with butterfly clips. Rinse your hair with warm water that is set on a gentle stream (like the strength of a rain shower). Separate your hair and rinse as much product as possible from your hair and scalp. This process should take about 3-5 minutes depending on the amount of product buildup. If you are using natural products it will take less time because it won't be a lot of buildup in your hair.
2. Choose a conditioner that is silicone free and inexpensive to use as a detangling conditioner prior to cleansing. I like to use the Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Conditioner. Saturate each section of your hair with this conditioner and detangle the hair with a wide tooth comb or denman brush to remove tangles and shed hairs.
3. Pour about a quarter amount of sulfate free shampoo into your palm and rub hands together while holding your hands over your hair so the excess shampoo may drip into the hair. Apply the shampoo to the hair, paying close attention to the scalp. Your goal is to make sure your scalp is cleansed, the shampoo will eventually run throughout the hair and remove the dirt.
4. Gently massage the scalp with finger tips in a zig-zag motion from front to back, massaging the entire scalp. Next gently rub the shampoo through the length of your hair with your palms and remove the excess shampoo. Apply some more conditioner, detangle again and rinse with warm water. (Note: Always detangle from the ends to the roots!) The water should not be a strong force because this can also be damaging. When rinsing the water's force should be similar to the strength of a rain shower. After the hair is free of shampoo and conditioner remove excess water by gently squeezing and running your palms down your hair to remove it.
5. Rinse the hair again with warm water and apply a leave in conditioner followed by a moisturizer and style as usual.

Conditioning

After properly cleansing your hair, hair must be properly conditioned to keep it strong, healthy, and soft. With natural hair a deep conditioner and a leave-in conditioner should be used. Deep condition your hair weekly, and apply a leave-in conditioner every time you cleanse your hair, even when you deep condition it.
To deep condition the hair apply conditioner of choice to the hair gently working it from root to tip through out your hair(There are several conditioners recommended in the Grow Black Hair Shop.). Next cover the hair with a plastic cap and sit under a hooded dryer for 20-30 minutes. After you have conditioned rinse the hair gently with warm water removing all traces of the conditioner. Finally, add a leave-in conditioner such as the Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave-In Conditioner or the Karen's Beautiful Body Hair Milk or Nectar to the hair working it from root to tip as well.

Moisturizing

Natural black hair needs all the moisture it can get on a daily basis. Using the right type of moisturizer is critical because most moisturizers available for our hair type is filled with heavy greases and laden with cheap oils and waxes like petroleum, lanolin, beeswax, and mineral oil. Some even contain all these ingredients! These ingredients along with protein should be avoided in hair products for our hair. The key ingredients in a good moisturizer for natural black hair is water, oil, and a humecant such as glycerin or sorbitol which will draw moisture from the air into our hair.
Another natural alternative is using the glycerin, water, and aloe vera spray followed by unrefined shea butter to moisturized the hair. It's natural and much cheaper than purchasing a moisturizer from the beauty supply.
Moisturizers should be applied on a daily basis. One great way to hold moisture in your hair is to apply Kinky-Curly Curly Custard to the hair. This natural curl defining hair gel not only imparts a healthy glossy sheen and defines your natural curl pattern, but it holds moisture in your hair as well. This product was a Godsend when I started growing my hair naturally. I wore a TWA(teeny-weenie afro) and my afro looked so gorgeous. It was curly and shiny. My hair smelled delicious and my hair was always soft and moisturized. Curly Custard helped me love my natural hair because my hair never looked frizzy and dry when I used it. Another moisturizer that is great to use is Curls Milk Shake and the Karen's Body Beautiful Hair Milk, Cream, or Butter.
I have recently discovered a new way to moisturize natural hair. My hair feels like heaven when I use this concoction in my hair:

Karens Body Beautiful Moisturizing Hair Spray
• 1/3 bottle of KBB Hair Nectar (or Sweet Ambrosia)
• 1/2 water
• 1/2 vegetable glycerin

Mix the above ingredients in a spray bottle and spray your hair. Follow up with an oil such as coconut oil to seal in the moisture. This can also be used as your leave in after a co-wash or shampoo. It will leave your hair amazingly soft.

Sealer

Natural hair must have a sealer applied to the hair after moisturizing to lock in the moisture. Always remember to seal your ends at night before going to bed to prevent breakage. The following are good oils to use to seal natural hair:

• Organic Virgin Coconut oil
• Extra Virgin Olive oil
• Jojoba oil
• Grapeseed oil

Information by: Grow Long Hair

Rolling in the Deep~

Have you established your deep conditioning regiment?  Deep conditioning (DC) is very important in maintaining healthy, moisturized hair.  Your deep conditioner will be slightly thicker than your regular conditioner. In order to get the maximum benefits from DCing, it will require some type of heat.  This mean you can sit under the dryer...I though relaxer days were over :) or you can do the baggy method by using a plastic cap to maintain heat (sounds much better).  It is very important that whether you are using store bought conditioners or making your own,  that the conditioner gets some time to sit on the hair and penetrate the shaft of the hair. Otherwise, you have not received the full benefits of the DCing which would be very pointless.  Below, I will give you a run down of how you can deep condition your hair using a hair dryer or the baggy method.

How To Deep Condition Hair (Dryer Method)
1. After shampooing hair, preferably with a sulfate free shampoo, you can do a final rinse of the hair with warm water.
2. Apply the deep conditioner to the hair starting at your ends and avoiding the scalp as much as possible.   Deep conditioner should never be deliberately applied to the scalp.   While you want your hair from root to tip to be saturated with the deep conditioner, putting it on the scalp can interfere with your hair’s natural oils (sebum) and create build up.   Have you ever noticed that after three days of deep conditioning your scalp is flaking?   That’s the DC; do not rub it in your scalp, put it on your hair.
3. Cover your hair with a plastic cap and then go under a hooded dryer for 20 to 30 minutes.   The heat allows the hair shaft to open and the deep conditioner to enter along the shaft.   It is imperative that heat is used on your deep conditioner so that it can penetrate the hair.   Do not use a high heat setting.   A low heat setting will work just fine.
4. After you are finished with the dryer, allow the hair to get back to room temperature and then wash it out.   Make your final rinse a cold one to seal back the hair cuticles. (I need to improve on the cold water. I love the feeling of hot water running through my hair)

How To Deep Condition Hair (Baggy Method)
So you are weary of heat and you might not own an hair dryer.  You can still deep condition hair with heat using a plastic cap.   The plastic cap method is very convenient and allows you to do other chores or even rest will DC'ing.
1. After shampooing hair, make your final rinse be a warm one.   A rinse that is hot enough to feel comfortable on your head.
2. Squeeze out excess water and apply the deep conditioner on your hot tresses, this should allow the deep conditioner to start working right away.
3. Cover with a plastic cap.
4. You can wear the cap anywhere from 30 minutes to sleep overnight letting your tresses get the maximum amount of the DCing treatment. 

I know you are saying how will the baggy method help to DC your hair.  The heat will come from what your body generates.  This is the method that I chose to use when DC'ing because I am allowed to complete other chores while also doing my hair care regiment.  I hope this information sheds some light on why it is important DC your hair and a give some tips on how to complete this process. What's your tips and tricks for DCing your tresses? What method do you use and what's your favorite deep conditioning product(s)?

As always, love being the natural  you!

MIA (Missing in Action)

Hello everyone! I hope the New Year is going well for you thus far. I haven't posted a blog this year!!!! WOW! But that's all about to change! I know it has been awhile since I posted a blog. Even though I was enjoying it, I just did not know if anyone was really benefiting from the information I was sharing. Needless to say, I will start back officially blogging next week.  If there is a topic about hair or makeup that you would like for me to post about, please feel free to ask!!! As always, LOVE being the natural YOU!!!!!

Nakia

Not Seeing Growth? Six Major Hair Killers by Omonike Anderson

1. Addictions: Yes! Alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine—when consumed in excess amounts—can rob the body of essential nutrients your hair needs to thrive. In addition, smoking has been conclusively proven to prematurely harden blood vessels, restricting blood flow and damaging capillaries (tiny blood vessels that pass blood from arteries to veins). Limited blood circulation means VERY little stimulation for hair growth. To avoid stunted growth, consume these stimulants in moderation.

2. Dehydration: Insufficient water intake not only leaves your hair dry and brittle, but can completely halt hair growth altogether. Here's why; water nurtures the cells that divide and grow your hair, so when cells aren't being adequately lubricated they cannot perform their job properly. To be certain your body is receiving sufficient water, the Institute of Medicine recommends that women consume an average of 9 cups per day while men consume an average of 13 cups.

3. Fatigue: Chronic lack of sleep can affect your body’s chemical balance, which can stunt hair growth—or even cause hair loss. Not everyone needs the same amount of sleep, but 7-9 hours of rest per night is highly recommended for adults, according to Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. Even more so, it is essential to establish a regular sleep schedule when you are guaranteed to get a quality night’s rest.

4. Laziness: Getting that blood flowing is not just good for the body, but can also work wonders for your hair. Regular exercise gives the body the circulation it needs to promote hair growth and maintain healthy tresses. Studies prove that inactivity contributes to stress which produces a hormone called cortisone. This hormone is known to stop hair follicles from growing altogether. Exercise can help combat this hormone as increased activity reduces the amount of cortisone present in the body. To be certain you are getting enough exercise, the US Department of Health and Human Services recommend working out for 30 minutes at least five times a week.

5. Nutrition Deficiency: It’s not rocket science, healthy looking hair often grows out of healthy bodies. Since your hair is the last part of your body to receive nutrients, hair growth may be stunted when there isn’t enough to go around. Eat the foods your hair loves, such as lean meat and poultry, eggs, yogurt, broccoli, spinach, and fish rich in Omega 3’s. These foods are excellent sources of protein and are proven to have positive effects on hair growth.

6. Improper Hair Care: Excessive heat, roughhousing, and failure to thoroughly moisturize are all practices that can keep the hair breaking just as quickly as it grows. Remember, your natural strands are VERY delicate and demand the proper TLC to thrive. Be sure to keep those blow dryers and flat irons under the recommended 347 degrees Fahrenheit (or low/medium setting), be gentle when handling or detangling, and always remember that dry hair is the prerequisite for breakage.