January 4, 2011
Hello, hello, hello!
Oh woe is me! Have you ever felt that you are racing with your hair and your losing!? I look at other women's hair stories and they are reaching there goal so quickly! I feel like the turtle in the race.
I was sitting on my couch feeling frustrated with my hair. Wondering what I have I been doing wrong. My ends STILL aren't where they are supposed to be. I mean I know that the ends of your hair are the oldest and I have been relaxing my hair for over 20 years and treating it very badly all this time, so I can't expect a complete turn around so quickly can I?! Well, I want one anyway lol.
So in 2011 it's time to buckle down and get serious about these ends! When I thought I was babying my ends, it was only slightly caring for them with the care they needed. I mean they are very damaged. Relaxers every 5 weeks from root to tips! Flat ironing every other day... Yes, it was bad and as bad as it was I need to be that much nicer to it now.
So instead of sitting there and feeling completely sorry for myself, I got up. I moisturized my hair in sections with profective, sealed with castor oil and twisted like a roll in two and put a scarf on for bed.
This is really a T&E (Trial and Error) for me. I have never really sealed with castor oil before by itself because it was so thick, but I think my hair needed some tough love! I also plan to wash my hair tomorrow if I am feeling better (Stupid cold! How terrible to start off the new year sick?)
So plan for tomorrow? Wear my protective style with ends tucked safely away, and co-wash tomorrow.
Note:
Products that I used? ProFective Leave-In Strengthener and Castor oil! That's it. I try to keep it simple.
Until the next post, Have fun and be safe!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Let's talk Oils! Part 4: Random Essential and Carrier Oils that need mention
January 3, 2011
Hello, Hello, Hello!
Well, I didn't want to devote a whole blog post to some essential and carrier oils that most people don't really talk about or use for hair care. The list of oils is quite extensive, and some of them are a little bit odd. This list is mostly complete however I did delete some that were just way off the wall I may at a later time update this list.
I emphasised Cinnamon, Jasmine and Rose oil because I am interested in them mostly for the smell as I like hair things that smell nice and would like to add a little to whatever mix I have made (and mastered!) to give it that little something extra. Cinnamon oil seems to have huge antibacterial properties which I think will be very helpful in extending the shelf life of my mixes! While Jasmine and Rose oil might just be pretty smells, they are also good in aromatherapy. I think smelling a little Jasmine or Rosemary or the like my relieve stress and make me a calmer person. Which is a side perk I like!
So now on to Carrier oils. The list of carrier oils is far smaller than the essential oils
Olive Oil, Castor Oil and Coconut Oil are also popular hair care carrier oils so I thought I would give them more of a mention.
Olive Oil
Castor Oil
Hello, Hello, Hello!
Well, I didn't want to devote a whole blog post to some essential and carrier oils that most people don't really talk about or use for hair care. The list of oils is quite extensive, and some of them are a little bit odd. This list is mostly complete however I did delete some that were just way off the wall I may at a later time update this list.
- Agar Oil:
- Ajwain Oil
- Angelica Root Oil:
- Anise Oil
- Balsam Oil
- Basil Oil
- Bergamot Oil
- Buchu Oil
- Cannabis Flower Essential Oil ( I have no idea!)
- Caraway Oil
- Cardamom Seed Oil
- Carrot Seed Oil
- Cedarwood Oil
- Chamomile Oil
- Cinnamon Oil
- Citronella Oil
- Clover Leaf Oil
- Cranberry Seed Oil
- Cumin Oil
- Davana Oil
- Dill Oil
- Fennel Seed Oil
- Fenugreek Oil
- Geranium Oil
- Ginger Oil
- Grapefruit Oil
- Henna Oil
- Jasmine Oil
- Juniper Berry Oil
- Lemon Oil
- Lemon Grass Oil
- Mustard Oil
- Orange Oil
- Oregano Oil
- Pine Oil
- Rose Oil
- Rosemary Oil
- Rosewood Oil
- Safe Oil
- Sandalwood Oil
- Spearmint Oil
- Tarragon Oil
I emphasised Cinnamon, Jasmine and Rose oil because I am interested in them mostly for the smell as I like hair things that smell nice and would like to add a little to whatever mix I have made (and mastered!) to give it that little something extra. Cinnamon oil seems to have huge antibacterial properties which I think will be very helpful in extending the shelf life of my mixes! While Jasmine and Rose oil might just be pretty smells, they are also good in aromatherapy. I think smelling a little Jasmine or Rosemary or the like my relieve stress and make me a calmer person. Which is a side perk I like!
So now on to Carrier oils. The list of carrier oils is far smaller than the essential oils
- Sweet Almond Oil (Is a very popular carrier oil and is nourishing and can softens and strengthens the hair. It is said that if you use Almond oil as a pre-wash treatment it is good at collecting dust, particulates and pollution in your hair)
- Olive Oil
- Sesame Oil
- Evening Primrose (Never heard of this oil)
- Canola Oil
- Sunflower Oil
- Emu Oil
- Castor Oil
- Walnut Oil
- Peanut oil
- Pecan Oil
- Macadamia Nut Oil
- Coconut Oil
Olive Oil, Castor Oil and Coconut Oil are also popular hair care carrier oils so I thought I would give them more of a mention.
Olive Oil
- One cause of hair loss is because of a hormone called DTH (DTH=Dihdrotestoserone (I have no idea how to say that BUT it is an androgen (Which is general term for natural or made hormones) made mostly in the prostate gland, testes, hair follicles and adrenal glads which leads the hair follicle shaft to decrease.) Applying olive oil to hair prevents the production of DTH hormones on the scalp, thus getting rid of the problem of hair loss
- appropriate for general scalp health
- natural conditioner
Castor Oil
- can be used to get rid of infections that causes various scalp problems
- When applied on a dry, scaly scalp, it can retain the moisture and improve the scalp condition
- can also strengthen the hair roots and promote hair growth
- hair conditioner
- pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, people with underlying health condition should take care with castor oil and should discuss the use of it with their doctors (Especially if you drink it!)
- An emollient with a rich source of fatty acids like oleic, linoleic, lauric, capric, caprylic, myristic and palmitic acid
- ideal for dry hair
- If not washed properly, this oil can clog the hair follicles inhibiting hair growth (I did not know this, when I started my hair journey I thought I should use this oil on my scalp. What a mistake! It made my scalp itch like crazy and I had no idea why. I did like 3 emergency washes trying to not to rip my scalp off in an attempt to get relief! Well, as happens often I was lazy after the last wash and let it air dry and went to bed. I had no time in the morning to do anything with it, So I slapped on my handy dandy ProFective Leave in and went to work. No itching! No itching all day and so I learned I can only use Extra Virgin Coconut oil in my Pre-poo and not overnight)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Hey what about those alcohols...
Hello, hello, hello!
January 1, 2011
This little tidbit was apart of my Let's talk oils seris but I thought this information needed it's out platform as it is such a common ingredient in hair care products and you see it everywhere. These are just the basics as I could gather them and I hope you find the information helpful!
Cetyl and other Alcohol's
Now...I bet you thought I forgot! Cetyl Alcohol. Now when I first started this hair journey I read that alcohol was bad and so I looked for products without alcohol and then I stopped myself and asked "Why is alcohol bad?" Well, alcohol is bad because it can draw out moisture from the hair and scalp. "But there are a few different alcohols listed on various products I use and it seems almost impossible to get any without alcohol! What is a girl on a journey to do? Keep researching is what!
So not all alcohols are created equally and therefore may not be so bad, which is like most things.
Some bad alcohols are ethanol, SD alcohol, SD alcohol 40, Alcohol denat, Propanol, Propyl alcohol and Isopropyl alcohol. They can be used to evenly distribute product through the hair to remove oil and/or residue from the hair. As we all know the act of dirt or oil residue on the hair can be a very rough act for hair which can weaken and remove the elements we work so hard in imparting to our hair. This alcohols can leave the cuticles lifted and rough. So we will call this drying alcohols.
Fatty alchols are Lauryl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol and Behenyl alcohol. Fatty is also 'oily'. These alcohol's usually act as an emollient and will help smooth the hair cuticle. Like all things they should be used in moderation as it can react with the sebum you naturally create and cause oily hair. So fatty alcohols not so bad!
January 1, 2011
This little tidbit was apart of my Let's talk oils seris but I thought this information needed it's out platform as it is such a common ingredient in hair care products and you see it everywhere. These are just the basics as I could gather them and I hope you find the information helpful!
Cetyl and other Alcohol's
Now...I bet you thought I forgot! Cetyl Alcohol. Now when I first started this hair journey I read that alcohol was bad and so I looked for products without alcohol and then I stopped myself and asked "Why is alcohol bad?" Well, alcohol is bad because it can draw out moisture from the hair and scalp. "But there are a few different alcohols listed on various products I use and it seems almost impossible to get any without alcohol! What is a girl on a journey to do? Keep researching is what!
So not all alcohols are created equally and therefore may not be so bad, which is like most things.
Some bad alcohols are ethanol, SD alcohol, SD alcohol 40, Alcohol denat, Propanol, Propyl alcohol and Isopropyl alcohol. They can be used to evenly distribute product through the hair to remove oil and/or residue from the hair. As we all know the act of dirt or oil residue on the hair can be a very rough act for hair which can weaken and remove the elements we work so hard in imparting to our hair. This alcohols can leave the cuticles lifted and rough. So we will call this drying alcohols.
Fatty alchols are Lauryl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol and Behenyl alcohol. Fatty is also 'oily'. These alcohol's usually act as an emollient and will help smooth the hair cuticle. Like all things they should be used in moderation as it can react with the sebum you naturally create and cause oily hair. So fatty alcohols not so bad!
Let's talk Oils! Part 3: Essential Oil: Peppermint and Carrier Oil: Jojoba
Hello, Hello, Hello!
January 1, 2010!
Happy New Year! Let's hope this year is full of bliss and my new years resolution of past bra strap length hair by this time next year! Hoping!
In my last post I talked about the essential oil Lavender and the carrier oil Grape Seed. If your thinking that the intro to this blog looks similar don't think your crazy because it is! I basically copied the intro from that post to this post to go over the basics of what an essential and carrier oil are so please feel free to skip to the good parts!
Doing some research and I wanted to buy some essential oils (An essential oil is a liquid that is generally distilled from leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils don't really have oily feeling. Essential oils are highly concentrated and a little goes ways)
I found an an essential oil set on Amazon for $19.95 and it includes: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Sweet Orange & Tea Tree. Which I think is perfect because I am a still learning and going through my T&E(Trial and Error) stage.
So from what I gather you want to add an essential oil with a carrier oil to your hair care products to boost the effect of the product. Like I have said no product is a miracle product, they just help you on your way and these added oils should help. So this is part one of, well I don't know how many parts there are quite a few essential oils and not nearly as many carrier oils, so I will try to stick with the most popular or well known ones but I may add more essential oils as they interest me.
Peppermint Oil
So Peppermint oil and Jojoba oil! I think Peppermint and Eucalyptus are about the same but I will try both of them in my shampoo to see how I like it. I have used Jojoba before and I have personally noted how light the oil is. I do like it and when I make my mix (Post on that way later!) I will definitely be including it.
Cetyl and other Alcohol's
Now...I bet you thought I forgot! Cetyl Alcohol. Now when I first started this hair journey I read that alcohol was bad and so I looked for products without alcohol and then I stopped myself and asked "Why is alcohol bad?" Well, alcohol is bad because it can draw out moisture from the hair and scalp. "But there are a few different alcohols listed on various products I use and it seems almost impossible to get any without alcohol! What is a girl on a journey to do? Keep researching is what!
So not all alcohols are created equally and therefore may not be so bad, which is like most things.
Some bad alcohols are ethanol, SD alcohol, SD alcohol 40, Alcohol denat, Propanol, Propyl alcohol and Isopropyl alcohol. They can be used to evenly distribute product through the hair to remove oil and/or residue from the hair. As we all know the act of dirt or oil residue on the hair can be a very rough act for hair which can weaken and remove the elements we work so hard in imparting to our hair. This alcohols can leave the cuticles lifted and rough. So we will call this drying alcohols.
Fatty alchols are Lauryl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol and Behenyl alcohol. Fatty is also 'oily'. These alcohol's usually act as an emollient and will help smooth the hair cuticle. Like all things they should be used in moderation as it can react with the sebum you naturally create and cause oily hair. So fatty alcohols not so bad!
Please stay tuned for my next blog and the last of this series : Let's talk Oils! Part 4: Random Essential and Carrier Oils that need mention
January 1, 2010!
Happy New Year! Let's hope this year is full of bliss and my new years resolution of past bra strap length hair by this time next year! Hoping!
In my last post I talked about the essential oil Lavender and the carrier oil Grape Seed. If your thinking that the intro to this blog looks similar don't think your crazy because it is! I basically copied the intro from that post to this post to go over the basics of what an essential and carrier oil are so please feel free to skip to the good parts!
Doing some research and I wanted to buy some essential oils (An essential oil is a liquid that is generally distilled from leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils don't really have oily feeling. Essential oils are highly concentrated and a little goes ways)
I found an an essential oil set on Amazon for $19.95 and it includes: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Sweet Orange & Tea Tree. Which I think is perfect because I am a still learning and going through my T&E(Trial and Error) stage.
So from what I gather you want to add an essential oil with a carrier oil to your hair care products to boost the effect of the product. Like I have said no product is a miracle product, they just help you on your way and these added oils should help. So this is part one of, well I don't know how many parts there are quite a few essential oils and not nearly as many carrier oils, so I will try to stick with the most popular or well known ones but I may add more essential oils as they interest me.
Peppermint Oil
- Cross between Watermint and Spearmint
- a high Menthol content (Side Note: Menthol is used mostly for it's cooling effect.)
- contains menthone and menthyl esters, particularly menthyl acetate
- produce a cooling sensation on the skin
- helps remove dandruff and lice
- Regulates and normalizes oily hair
- mix 2 drops of oil with 4 oz of water (This seems to be the common solution for use of Peppermint oil and it is highly recommend that you do not apply this oil directly to the hair)
- stimulates the hair follicle which helps in hair growth
- binds the hair roots and increases blood circulation which is good for preventing hair loss
- can be mixed with jojoba oil and glycerin or mixing peppermint oil, Castor oil, tea tree oil, coconut oil and vitamin E oil. This mixture is known to promote hair growth (I don't know how true this is)
- does not leave the scalp oily
- balances the pH, it can be used for the treatment of dry scalp
- can add shine and gloss to the hair
- contains minerals such as manganese, iron, magnesium, calcium, folate, potassium, and copper. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin A and Vitamin C.
- relatively shelf-stable when compared with other vegetable oils, it is more shelf-stable than oils of safflower oil, canola oil, almond oil but less than Castor oil and coconut oil
- replacement for whale oil and its derivatives, such as Cetyl Alcohol (Side note: Hey! Doesn't this look like a familiar term? Something we find in out normal hair care products..Lets investigate a little. See below for more info about Cetyl Alcohol and maybe a blog entry later :)
- Fungicide and used to control mildew.
- resemblance to 'sebum' or oil produced by the sebaceous glands, present in our scalp and skin (The oil our scalp naturally produces)
- oil can regulate the level of sebum production. Excess production of sebum can clog the hair follicles and impede hair growth (So if you feel you have an oily scalp this might help regulate that little problem)
- effective scalp cleanser
- improve blood circulation
- hair conditioner, which can be used to get rid of dry and frizzy hair. It can seal in the moisture in the hair shaft
So Peppermint oil and Jojoba oil! I think Peppermint and Eucalyptus are about the same but I will try both of them in my shampoo to see how I like it. I have used Jojoba before and I have personally noted how light the oil is. I do like it and when I make my mix (Post on that way later!) I will definitely be including it.
Cetyl and other Alcohol's
Now...I bet you thought I forgot! Cetyl Alcohol. Now when I first started this hair journey I read that alcohol was bad and so I looked for products without alcohol and then I stopped myself and asked "Why is alcohol bad?" Well, alcohol is bad because it can draw out moisture from the hair and scalp. "But there are a few different alcohols listed on various products I use and it seems almost impossible to get any without alcohol! What is a girl on a journey to do? Keep researching is what!
So not all alcohols are created equally and therefore may not be so bad, which is like most things.
Some bad alcohols are ethanol, SD alcohol, SD alcohol 40, Alcohol denat, Propanol, Propyl alcohol and Isopropyl alcohol. They can be used to evenly distribute product through the hair to remove oil and/or residue from the hair. As we all know the act of dirt or oil residue on the hair can be a very rough act for hair which can weaken and remove the elements we work so hard in imparting to our hair. This alcohols can leave the cuticles lifted and rough. So we will call this drying alcohols.
Fatty alchols are Lauryl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol and Behenyl alcohol. Fatty is also 'oily'. These alcohol's usually act as an emollient and will help smooth the hair cuticle. Like all things they should be used in moderation as it can react with the sebum you naturally create and cause oily hair. So fatty alcohols not so bad!
Please stay tuned for my next blog and the last of this series : Let's talk Oils! Part 4: Random Essential and Carrier Oils that need mention
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