BreaKINK New Ground

Nappturosity 50% off - ends 9/30/10 midnight

2010-09-22T05:47:00.000-07:00

Hello family: I just wanted to drop in quickly to alert you to a book deal. Anyone interested in purchasing the book Nappturosity should head over to the site (http://www.naturalhairbook.com/). It is going out of print and they are offing the last copies at 50% off. If you are like me and did not want to pay the $27 smackeroos for this natural hair book, jump on this quick. This offer ends on September 30, 2010 at midnight and there is a limited amount of books left. You must enter the coupon code "thankyou" upon checkout. Hope someone finds this helpful.

Next week I will be posting about the books I recently read from Lisa Akbari: "The Black Woman's Guide to Beautiful Hair" and "Every Woman's Guide to Beautiful Hair At Any Age". Both were available to my local library. Until next week Lovlies, take care!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Working with what God gave me

2010-09-13T11:31:00.001-07:00

I believe the saying goes “Sometimes the helping hand you need is at the end of your own arms” - don’t quote me on the wording :-). Anyway, that has been my approach to detangling my hair over the last few weeks. I haven’t enlisted the assistance of a detangling comb or brush on wash day and I can’t really say I miss it. My God-given “human comb” seems to be working out just fine. I don’t find that it takes any more time than my wide-tooth comb since I would always finger detangle my hair as a first anyway.

I make sure I have a pair of hair shears for stubborn knots and tangles. Another must is making sure my fingernails are tended to before this task (read this). I’m pleased this discovery has gotten me a step closer to rely less on tools/products for maintenance and become more in touch with my hair (no pun intended).

Have any of you tried this method? How did it work out?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Time waits for no one. . .

2010-09-10T11:17:00.000-07:00

Days gone by . . . . weeks gone by. . . . a WHOLE MONTH and no word from CallaLily!!! Please forgive my long absence. I apologize for the huge gap since my last post; life has been. . . . life!

To be quite honest, I am weening away from the blogosphere; sad news! There are still some posts that I want to present to you but I will not be moving forward with my original focus for this blog. Look for a Lisa Akbari post in the coming days; I purchased some products and read some books by her.

I'm sorry if this comes as a dissapointment but right now I have to put my energy and focus on more than my hair and blog. Things have been going well with my hair and I hope to give you some periodic updates.

I've enjoyed this hobby and I'll still be lurking around reading and commenting on some of my favorite blogs. I just won't be researching and posting here on a regular basis. I wish all my readers the best on their hair journey!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Introduction to "Core Concepts" (new mission)

2010-08-10T05:31:00.001-07:00

In my “teaser” post (here), I hint that I have an understanding on how to care for my hair. I am now focused on proper hair care. In the beginning, experimenting with hair styles and products (both commercial and homemade) was exciting but my primary interest is hair maintenance and preservation these days. As my hair focus has shifted, so has my objective for this blog. I’ve changed the subtitle description of BreaKINK New Ground from “My journey to appreciating my God-given hair and sharing the experience” to “Hair education, not just information!”.

While I still intend to share with you my personal, natural hair journey; I’m more insistent on sharing knowledge here. The key to unlocking a successful hair journey is education. My plans and goals are clear and I’m ready to get down to business.

I must put out this disclaimer: I am not an expert in the field of hair care. The information I share here should be used in addition to your own research. I am simply striving to equip you with accurate information but if you are looking for perfection, you’ve come to the WRONG place!

Since there is so much I want to share with you, I need to reveal the pieces layer by layer; starting at the foundation. I don’t have any hidden agendas or secret missions. When it’s applicable, I will state the source(s) of information I use. It is my hope that you will enjoy and benefit from my new approach. As always, your questions and comments are welcome!

Upcoming – Hair composition/structure. . .

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Winner of the “Dough for Dialogue” Giveaway

2010-08-05T04:56:00.001-07:00

The lucky winner of the “Dough for Dialogue” Giveaway is Alana! You have won (1) $10 gift card to your choice of Curlmart or Luv Naturals. I will send your prize via the email you designate. Please send your info to me at callalily40@gmail.com asap.

Thanks to all you Lovelies who participated in my "Christmas in July" giveaways. I’ll be getting back to my regular posting next week. . . with a new focus. . . stay tuned!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Giveaway reminder

2010-08-04T05:22:00.001-07:00

There’s still time to enter the “Dough for Dialogue” Giveaway (click here for details). This contest will end at Midnight tonight (EST).

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

BONUS: "Dough for Dialogue" Giveaway

2010-07-29T05:53:00.000-07:00

Here is the surprise that I said I had up my sleeve :-)

I had a wonderful idea to do a bonus giveaway. I get absolutely ecstatic when I receive and read everyone’s comments to my posts. It lets me know that people are interested in what I have to say; that my time and efforts aren’t in vain! I love to dialogue about hair and I’ve really met some wonderful ladies since starting this blog.

Well, I just want to let you know that it really means something to me when I get to converse with my readers and your comments truly make my day. I am giving a ten ($10) dollar gift card to 2 lucky subscribers. The winners can choose between Curlmart (geared toward hair products) or Luv Naturals (geared toward hair accessories).

*Disclaimer: all items haven been purchased with my own money. No company is sponsoring any giveaways*

Details for “Dough for Dialogue” Giveaway

The first winner has already been selected. I went back through all my posts since I started blogging and wanted to extend a nice gesture to my top commenter. From June 28, 2009 to June 28, 2010, that individual was. . . (drum roll please). . . ChocolateOrchid!!! :-) Just for letting me know that you were reading my blog during my first year, you earned yourself ten smackers (and I'm sure you'll give someone else a change to win the other prize, lol).

The second winner will be entered into a drawing.

What’s up for grabs?
(1) $10 gift card to Curlmart OR (1) $10 gift card to Luv Naturals

How can I enter?
You must be a BNG subscriber/follower. Your entry in this giveaway is two-fold:

Step 1: Find a post that has NOT been commented on and submit a comment on that post.

Step 2: Locate the post with the most comments. Then come back here and enter the name of that post as well as the name of the post of commented on for step 1.

Two parts for you; one entry for the drawing

When does the giveaway end?
You have from now until Wednesday, August 4th at Midnight (EST) to enter the “Dough for Dialogue” Giveaway. Your name will be entered in a drawing and my lovely daughter will select the winner on Thursday, August 5th.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Winner of the "Sleek and Shiny" Giveaway

2010-07-29T05:48:00.001-07:00

Random.org selected #6 so congratulations goes to Kingsmomma! You have won (1) 4oz Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade and (1) 2oz Carol’s Daughter Kizzi “Stay-Put” Hair Pomade (both slightly used). Please send your info to me at callalily40@gmail.com by August 2nd so I can mail your prize.

Thanks to everyone who entered the “Sleek and Shiny” Giveaway.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Giveaway reminder

2010-07-28T06:33:00.001-07:00

There’s still time to enter the “Sleek and Shiny” Giveaway (click here for details). This contest will end at Midnight tonight (EST).

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

"Sleek and Shiny" Giveaway

2010-07-22T07:53:00.001-07:00

You’ve all been great this month so this week’s giveaway is super easy :-) I’ve tried using pomades for shine and hold but discovered that it’s not really my thing. The two products in this giveaway have been slightly used but they are not doing anything for me but taking up room in my stash so if you feel you could benefit from the products, please participate.

*Disclaimer: all items haven been purchased with my own money. No company is sponsoring any giveaways*

Details for “Sleek & Shiny” Giveaway

What’s up for grabs?
(1) 4oz Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade (used once) and (1) 2oz Carol’s Daughter Kizzi “Stay-Put” Hair Pomade (used twice)

How can I enter?
If you are a BNG subscriber/follower, leave a comment below in this post “I want it”. That’s it!

When does the giveaway end?
You have from now until Wednesday, July 28th at Midnight (EST) to enter the “Sleek & Shiny” Giveaway. I will be using Random.org to select the winner. On Thursday, July 29th I will announce the winner.

Although the month of July is coming to an end and this would be my last weekly giveaway, I’ve got something else up my sleeve for you so keep checking back. . . .

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Winner of the "Eco-Friendly" Giveaway

2010-07-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

Random.org selected #3 so congratulations goes to Tiffany! You have won (1) 2oz Curl Euphoria Elixir (full size, discontinued product), (1) Curl Ecstasy Hair Tea (2oz sample size) and (2) Curls Milkshake (sample size). Please send your info to me at callalily40@gmail.com by July 26th so I can mail your prize.

Thanks to everyone who entered the “Eco-Friendly” Giveaway.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Giveaway reminder

2010-07-21T05:47:00.000-07:00

There’s still time to enter the "Eco-Friendly" Giveaway (click here for details). This contest will end at Midnight tonight (EST) and details for the new giveaway will be posted tomorrow.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

AM-8: Hardware for Hair

2010-07-20T05:36:00.001-07:00

The Sprite Pure-Spray 8 Deluxe Filtered Shower Head; Model# AM-8 is now in my possession! I feel like I’m in the elite club of ladies whose tresses have been reaping the benefits of this prize, lol. I believe this investment will make a contribution towards improving my hair. I have read how many fabulous naturals feel this device was well worth acquiring since your hair is just one thing that will profit from its use.

A recent NaturallyCurly article explains how damaging water can be to our hair (read here)

If you have a filter, what advantages have you seen from utilizing one?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

It FINALLY makes sense!

2010-07-19T11:21:00.001-07:00

WHO: CallaLily :-)

WHAT: Knowing how to care for her hair

WHEN: Beginning July 17, 2010

WHY: For hair preservation

HOW: More to come so stay tuned. . . .

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

"Eco-Friendly" Giveaway

2010-07-15T05:48:00.000-07:00

Curls was one of the first company’s that I learned about when I made the decision to go natural. I have had so many positive experiences with Curls. This week’s giveaway was inspired by a fellow blogger; where I learned that Curls started “The 4 Step Sustainable CURLS™ Campaign”. The campaign is geared toward making the environment cleaner and greener. Therefore, I wanted to spread the word and base my giveaway with that concept.

*Disclaimer: all items haven been purchased with my own money. No company is sponsoring any giveaways*

Details for “Eco-Friendly” Giveaway

What’s up for grabs?
(1) 2oz Curl Euphoria Elixir (full size, discontinued product), (1) Curl Ecstasy Hair Tea (2oz sample size) and (2) Curls Milkshake (sample size).

How can I enter?
If you are a BNG subscriber/follower, click on the link below to read up on “The 4 Step Sustainable CURLS™ Campaign”. Then leave a comment below in this post on how you have reduced or plan to reduce your carbon footprint where haircare is concerned. It can be anything from walking to the salon instead of driving to recycling your product containers.

http://www.curls.biz/environista.html

When does the giveaway end?
You have from now until Wednesday, July 21st at Midnight (EST) to enter the “Eco-Friendly” Giveaway. I will be using Random.org to select the winner. On Thursday, July 22nd I will announce the winner and post details for the next giveaway.

Think Green! :-)

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Winner of the "From the Earth" Giveaway

2010-07-15T05:16:00.001-07:00

Random.org selected #4 so congratulations goes to queta! You have won (1) 100g of Shikakai powder (Hesh) and (1) 100g of Cassia Obovata (Mehendi.com). Please send your info to me at callalily40@gmail.com by July 19th so I can mail your prize.

Thanks to everyone who entered the “From the Earth” Giveaway.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Giveaway reminder

2010-07-14T05:37:00.000-07:00

There’s still time to enter the "From the Earth" Giveaway (click here for details). This contest will end at Midnight tonight (EST) and details for the new giveaway will be posted tomorrow.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

"From the Earth" Giveaway

2010-07-08T06:04:00.001-07:00

This week’s giveaway is dealing with hair care products we get from plant life. I’ve experimented with several (henna (read here and here), amla, cassia, and common herbs) since going natural. If using the Earth’s natural resources for hair care is up your alley, this giveaway is for you.

*Disclaimer: all items haven been purchased with my own money. No company is sponsoring any giveaways*

Details for “From the Earth” Giveaway

What’s up for grabs?
(1) 100g of Shikakai powder (Hesh) and (1) 100g of Cassia Obovata (Mehandi.com). You can read the following articles on Shikakai and Cassia Obovata, however, I also advise you to do your own research.

How to wash hair with shikakai

Shikakai – The Natural Shampoo

How to cassia your hair

Using cassia to condition hair

How can I enter?
If you are a BNG subscriber/follower, leave a comment below in this post on which plant material(s) you have used, currently use or would consider using in your regimen.

When does the giveaway end?
You have from now until Wednesday, July 14th at Midnight (EST) to enter the “From the Earth” Giveaway. I will be using Random.org to select the winner. On Thursday, July 15th I will announce the winner and post details for the next giveaway.

Good luck! I’ll be doing my 3rd henna treatment at the end of this month and will provide updates then.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Winner of the "Buttered Up" Giveaway

2010-07-08T05:36:00.001-07:00

Random.org selected #4 so congratulations goes to Shaharazad! You have won (1) 8oz tub of unrefined shea butter (Butters-N-Bars) and (1) 14.5 oz bottle of Almond & Shea Butter conditioner (Suave Professionals).

Please send your info to me at callalily40@gmail.com by July 12th so I can mail your prize.

Thanks to everyone who entered the “Buttered Up” Giveaway.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Giveaway reminder

2010-07-07T05:09:00.000-07:00

There’s still time to enter the "Buttered Up" Giveaway (click here for details). This contest will end at Midnight tonight (EST) and details for the new giveaway will be posted tomorrow.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

"Buttered Up" Giveaway

2010-07-01T05:06:00.001-07:00

With my blogiversary officially in June, I’m late with the festivities :-) Anyway, get ready for a month of giveaways; YAY! I will be doing a weekly giveaway during the month of July for subscribers of BNG!

*Disclaimer: all items haven been purchased with my own money. No company is sponsoring any giveaways*

Details for “Buttered Up” Giveaway

What’s up for grabs?
I would like to butter you up with (1) 8oz tub of unrefined shea butter (Butters-N-Bars) and (1) 14.5 oz bottle of Almond & Shea Butter conditioner (Suave Professionals).

How can I enter?
You gotta butter me up first :-) If you are a BNG subscriber/follower, leave a comment below in this post on which of my posts was the most helpful/memorable to you and why (please include the title).

When does the giveaway end?
You have from now until Wednesday, July 7th at Midnight (EST) to enter the “Buttered Up” Giveaway. I will be using Random.org to select the winner. On Thursday, July 8th I will announce the winner and post details for the next giveaway.

That’s all folks. Good luck!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

BNG turns 1 today!

2010-06-28T04:59:00.001-07:00

I can’t believe it’s been one year since I started BreaKINK New Ground. I hope my blog content has been applicable to you. As I learn, I share my discoveries with you and I also gain from you. So “thank you” to everyone that reads, comments and subscribes. Your involvement means so much to me!

I appreciate you staying with me through this blog and hair journey I’m on (even in moments of drought, lol). You all are so wonderful :-)

By the way, I've got some upcoming giveaways planned for my subscribers. I’ll put up a separate post later with week with details.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Our daughters: Are we fighting a losing battle?

2010-06-25T06:10:00.000-07:00

Food for Thought Friday

It is my hope that my young daughter will continue to remain natural through her adolescent and adult years. I strive to instill a sense of value and beauty in how God made her. Controversly, I’ve read about this countless times; mothers whose wish it is to keep their daughters relaxer-free. But “they” have other plans. . .

The “well-meaning” family member who perms your daughter’s hair without your consent; she was only trying to help make her hair more manageable.

OR

Your daughter is tired of seeing all her friends with the hottest, straight styles. The occasional press & curl just won’t do. She wants straight, swinging hair 24/7; she goes behind your back and gets a relaxer.

OR

You thought you would always stand firmly on not allowing those harsh chemicals in your daughter’s hair regimen. With her non-stop pleas and your busy schedule leaving you less and less time for hair rituals, the “other” you finally breaks down and permits the perm.

Her beautiful hair is virgin no more :-( She may continue a lifetime of chemical dependency or one day she may find her way back to natural tresses. Disappointed by the culture’s heavy promotion of bone-straight manes; what’s a mother to do??? Voice your thoughts and opinions below.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Natural hair and your well-being

2010-06-23T06:11:00.000-07:00

I thought this would be an interesting topic to launch. Please chime in!

At times, I wonder if a decision to “go natural” transforms other areas of our lives. Everyone wants to look and feel their very best, inside and outside. So when one chooses to stop chemically straightening their hair, what other lifestyle choices are scrutinized? As we focus on taking better care of our hair, we tend to closely dissect the ingredients in our hair products. At times people commit to only eliminating certain things while some want to use ALL natural products in their hair.

Does this lead to a commitment to demand better ingredients in the things we consume? Does our focus and thoughts shift to TOTAL well-being; spiritually, mentally and physically? How has your decision to go natural affected your thinking in regards to total well-being?

I’d love to open this up for discussion/debate. Let me know if you want to see this turn into a series of some sort. . . .

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

An interview with Thirsty Roots

2010-06-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

When I reached out to Sharina Hill of Thirsty Roots, asking for an interview, I was SUPER excited when she accepted my request. I did this brief piece on them last week. Sharina is such a sweet woman with a luxurious head of natural hair. Please enjoy the interview!

Thank you, Sharina, for allowing me the opportunity to interview you on behalf of Thirsty Roots. Your site is loaded with tons of resources for those interested in taking better care of their hair. I had to contact you for the scoop on Thirsty Roots because I was really impressed with what you offer to the black hair care community.

CL: When was Thirsty Roots started, by whom and why?

SH: ThirstyRoots.com was launched in February 2010 by myself and my husband, but it developed in mid 2009 when I decided to educate myself about how to take care of my hair and style it in a healthy way. While exploring information, I realized I had to search and research heavily on the internet to find answers, and figured if I was having this issue, then maybe others were too. Therefore, I decided to create a website for all black hair types that combines hair care information, hairstyle ideas, and a place for community.

CL: What kinds of information/topics can readers expect on the site?

SH: The content matter for Thirsty Roots is based around anything that deals with black hair. We want to educate about healthy hair care, share people’s hair experiences, create an online outlet for hairstylist to present their skills, and other black hair topics.

CL: Thirsty Roots really seems to be geared toward “community”. Can you further explain the social networking (Youtube, Twitter, Ning, Facebook) aspect of Thirsty Roots and its benefit? Also, how will the forum be impacted by the upcoming changes with Ning?

SH: Social networking has opened up many things regarding information and connections. Thirsty Roots participates in and supports the use of platforms like Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter because it brings women and men of color together much quicker to discuss and learn about their Thirsty Roots. Ning supports the social networking companies, as well, so it’s a plus to our growing community.

The changes that Ning will make in July of 2010 will not affect Thirsty Roots as our current structure is prepared for growth.

CL: What is the vision for Thirsty Roots in the future?

SH: We are focusing on providing great online information for anyone who wants to get ideas about black hair, and more than anything, that’s our number one goal.

CL: What requirements does TR have before listing a salon/hairstylist/barber in the directory?

SH: There are no requirements to list your place of business or yourself in the Thirsty Roots Directory. Currently, we are working on options for a showcase listing for businesses and professionals, and featured opportunities for an affordable fee in a more detailed and organized directory. You can list you (i.e. hairstylist, barbers, photographer, etc.) or your business information for free right now and ongoing.

CL: Would you like to share anything about your personal hair story?

SH: Well, I have been wearing my hair in its natural state for 10 years now and had many issues while trying to learn how to take care of and style kinky curly textured hair. I initially got the big chop (BC) because my hair was damaged from the over processing of the relaxer. I love the freedom of not having to worry about getting a touch up every 4 to 6 weeks and the variety of style options with natural hair. Most of all, I love the experiences shared by many women on the Internet about their natural hair finds. It has and still is helping me learn how to care and style my own hair. This is why I want to create a place where we, as black people, can help one another learn about and discover our “thirsty roots”, while Bringing Out The Beauty In Black Hair.

Thanks again for taking to time to answer my questions and for creating a community where we can seek answers to the issues that we struggle with in our “hair culture”.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

When do you DC: before, after or both???

2010-06-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

I’ve talked about deep conditioning before and mentioned that I do this weekly. I’ve asked for your dc products/formulations/recipes in this post (please follow the link and share your comments). Now, I’d like to discuss WHEN you deep condition. Before going natural, I didn’t know anything about applying conditioner BEFORE shampooing your hair. In the last year and a half, I’ve come across tons of info and enjoy hearing about the creative ways people care for and style their hair. So here is what I want you to dish about now:

* Do you deep condition after cleansing your hair only?

* Do you deep condition before cleansing your hair only? And if so, do you apply any conditioner afterward that you rinse out OR do you just move on to your leave-in conditioner and style?

* Do you deep condition both before cleansing your hair and afterward?

I use a deep conditioner (this is my current fave) with heat only after I shampoo my hair. That is what works for me but let me know your preference.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Fabulous site

2010-06-11T05:35:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I stumbled upon a wonderful site founded by Sharina Hill. Thirsty Roots is all about “Bringing Out The Beauty in Black Hair”! The site showcases our crowns in many fabulous styles. This is a very resourceful place to go to view galleries, get celebrity scoop and hair tips. A wealth information can be discovered there and they are all about community; there is a forum you can join and they can be found on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube. Head over and check out Thirsty Roots – you won’t regret it!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Smooth hairline

2010-06-07T05:41:00.001-07:00

When wearing certain hairstyles (such as buns), I desire a smooth hairline. However, I don’t always want to use a gel to achieve this so I’m looking for an alternative. I have seen/heard some naturals use Slick Stick, plain shea butter or a pomade before setting with a scarf.

If you have found a solution to smooth your hairline without gel, please share your tips/tricks!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Scalp care

2010-06-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

Like our uniqueness with hair, no two individual scalps are the same either (I’ve learned that my daughter has different scalp needs than me). In all truthfulness, I ignored my scalp prior to returning to natural hair. Growing up, my mother never “greased” my scalp so I didn’t give any attention to it in that way. I did not experience issues with dry, itchy or flaky scalp.

However, there are two things that I would like to incorporate into my “scalp regimen”:
1) Begin to oil my scalp at least twice a week.
2) Usually, along with doing that you would massage the oil into your scalp. I have read many great things regarding the benefits of scalp massages and they feel so good!

It will be hard for me to develop this habit since I’m not used to giving my scalp any attention but hopefully I can stick with it and reap some wonderful benefits.

What do you do to care for your scalp?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Rockin' Locs

2010-05-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

I am excited to feature my young man in today’s post. My son has been wanting to wear locs for months now. This weekend marks the beginning of his journey with the assistance of. . . yours truly. I was hesitant to take on this project since I have ZERO experience at starter locs but we both are pleased with the results (although my parting method wasn't perfect). I’ve posted pics below.

In my quest to get more knowledge on the topic of locs, I turned to 2 books ((Thank God I’m Natural by Chris-Tia Donaldson (chapter 9 is dedicated to locs) and Nice Dreads by Lonnice Brittenum Bonner)) as well as several internet resources (such as Youtube, blogs, and websites devoted to locs – www.knattydread.com was helpful for me).

I used the comb coil method on damp hair using a gel as my holding agent. Altogether, the process took roughly 4.5 hours. As his hair grows in we will determine what method to use on the new growth. The experience of caring for his hair and scalp will be new to my son (he’s always kept a low cut) but he says he is up for the ride and I’m thrilled to offer what knowledge and skills I have to aid him in this new journey.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

1st pic is the top view, 2nd pic is the back view, 3rd pic is the side view

Curl definition: Are you gellin’

2010-05-19T09:31:00.001-07:00

Once naturals learn to embrace the coily, kinky hair we were given, one of our first missions is to “define our curl pattern”. We want to enhance what our hair does naturally; desiring a uniform, springy, frizz-free appearance. When using product to get curl definition, there are HUNDREDS of products that claim to give you the look you crave.

$$ Some of the more known about curling gels are $$

Kinky Curly Curling Custard
Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic
Beauty by Donna Marie MiraCurl Curling Gelly

$ Others watching their pocket book might opt for $

Fantasia IC
Eco Styler
curl activator gels like Smooth ‘N Shine or Long Aid
Homemade flaxseed gel (video)

Please share: Do you have a solid technique for defining your natural hair? What products have you tried with success? What products didn’t work for you?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Healthy hair comes from within (series coming soon!)

2010-05-13T11:37:00.001-07:00

We’ve all heard the above statement before – but is it true? Will the things we do for our bodies (positive or negative) impact our hair? I would like to open up this question for exploration and discussion. In this series, I’ll take my best stab at the following subject matters and its relevance to hair health.

water
stress
sleep
supplements
exercise
disease
healthy eating

Please stay tuned if you would like to discover whether or not our hair reflects what is going on inside of our bodies. This should be interesting!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Giving henna another try. . .

2010-05-12T07:11:00.001-07:00

I haven’t hennaed since this post. That was my 4th application and I had not noticed any significant benefits. Lately, I’m feeling compelled to give it another try. I don’t think I have the patience to do this on a regular basis so I may only do this every 2 or 3 months. We’ll see since I’m always changing my mind. Most people get significant benefits when applying henna every 4 to 6 weeks. Mainly I am looking for henna to strengthen and thicken my hair. I could care less about the dye and I hope it does not noticeably loosen my curl pattern! At the end of this month, I am going to do the henna application. I don’t have a solid recipe on my mixture as of yet. I’ve mixed henna with orange juice and I’ve also mixed it with amla.

Do you henna? Please share the recipe(s) that have been successful for you.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

You asked for it. . . .

2010-05-06T05:32:00.001-07:00

New life! I want to thank those who participated in my “layout changes” poll. You asked for more change and I hope you like what is being delivered. It turned out to be a fun project and forced me to go outside of my comfort zone. I tend to resist change when its computer related but I knew the old design was on life support, lol :-)

Along with the new design here are some of the new features:

* LinkWithin for related articles

* Created pages for quick access (Mixtress Central for recipes, Back to Basics for my hair regimen series, Bookworm for book reviews and Reaching Out for places you can contact me)

*Condensed labels in cloud format

*Read more jump to take you to the entire article

* I have also removed advertisements

Thanks for your patience through this transition. I’d love your comments/feedback on the improvements I made.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Hair Pampering: Trimming

2010-05-03T06:43:00.001-07:00

I just had to do it! I noticed that my hair needed a trim – BAD! I don’t usually liken to cutting my own hair but I haven’t been back to the salon since last July and don’t plan on going any time soon (read about it here). For all intents and purposes, I’ve become a “do-it-yourselfer” in most hair related areas. Since July, I have only “dusted” my ends on a few occasions.

Since my quest is for not only healthier but longer hair, it was bittersweet. I’m acquainted with how my hair should feel and look so I cut off what wasn’t quite right. This probably turned out to be about an inch but I’m glad I did it. It is best to manage and care for your hair without the splitting, breaking, tangled ends that tend to hinder the process.

My slight vent: I feel like I’ve been stuck in this “middle ground” for too long. My hair is too long to be a TWA but I don’t seem to be able to retain length either. At times I feel like starting all over and doing a big chop to give me a clean slate. I don’t know if I will get that drastic yet. I still hold hope that one day, my hair will really thrive.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Weekend hair pics

2010-04-29T05:25:00.000-07:00

I promised that I would take a few pics this weekend when I took out my protective style so I just wanted to put them up.

Take take down process was pretty quick and easy. Following that, I pre-pooed with my avocado/mayo mixture for about a half hour. Then I shampooed with the black soap shampoo I made (see yesterday's post). Finally, I deep conditioned with Komaza Care Intense Moisture Therapy.

After all that, I lightly blow dried to stretch my hair a bit. I used Peace Love & Sunshine Coconut Confidence. I flat twisted my hair in layers and put perm rods on the ends.

Results: I loved the look and feel of my hair. The style wasn't what I was going for but it was ok. I only wore it that way for the weekend. I first pic is right before I took out the crochet braids (which I wore for 5 weeks) and the other is my twist out result.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

African Black Soap - Shampoo Review

2010-04-28T05:46:00.000-07:00

A warm "welcome" to my new subscribers and a heartfelt "thank you" to everyone who follows, reads and leaves comments on my blog.

I wanted to update you on my experience with the shampoo I made. On this post I mentioned I would break down my black soap bar into liquid form to use as a shampoo. I did not use the recipe I originally included on that post.

Here is what I did: I wanted to make a small trial batch so I used a 4oz plastic bottle that had a flip top lid. I took a section of my black soap and cut it in small cubes and placed it in the bottle. Then I poured distilled water in the bottle (enough to cover the soap). This took about a little over half of the bottle. I let this sit for a day to give the soap time to dissolve. When I came back to it, I filled to remainder of the bottle with aloe vera juice, vegetable glycerin, jojoba oil, olive oil and sage essential oil. I didn't measure anything I used. After I stirred my mixture, I was done.

My thoughts: I absolutely LOVE this shampoo!!! If you remember those commericals where the woman is expressing total ecstasy as she is shampooing her hair - yeah that was me, lol :-) The shampoo did an extremely good job of cleansing my hair and scalp while adding moisuture at the same time. I think I FINALLY found my staple shampoo.

I would definitely recommend making your own shampoo with this natural wonder. I'd love to hear your reviews if you decide to give it a try.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Ingredient inspector

2010-04-27T11:32:00.001-07:00

Many of us are conscious about what we are putting on our hair. We scan the ingredient labels looking for items we want included and excluded from the products we consider buying. But what about when the complete list is not being disclosed? When shopping for hair care products online or in the store, if a complete ingredient list can not be obtained will it discourage you from making a purchase? Would you possibly contact the company to inquire about the ingredients used in their products?

Let me know your thoughts please.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Nourishment - What does “deep conditioning” mean to you?

2010-04-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

Rinse-through conditioners usually instruct you to leave product on your hair for a few minutes. While conditioners described as “deep” or “mask” instruct you to leave on longer and may suggest the use of heat. I’m curious to know what your formula is when you give your hair a “deep conditioning treatment”. Please let me know what this means to you.

* Rinse-through conditioner + a form of heat (heat therapy wrap, steamer, dryer, conditioning cap, etc)

* Rinse-through conditioner + additional ingredients (oil, honey, etc)

*Rinse-through conditioner + additional ingredients + a form of heat

*Conditioner mask only

*Conditioner mask + a form of heat

*Conditioner mask + additional ingredients

*Conditioner mask + additional ingredients + a form of heat

* Mixture of 2 or more conditioners

*Do you concoct your own deep conditioner recipe from scratch (please include)

Please share whatever it is you do to deep condition your hair.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

2010-04-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

I’m in the beginning stages of changing this site a bit. Over the next couple weeks, please take the time to visit and give your feedback on what you see. Give me your honest likes, dislikes and let me know what subject matters you would like me to post on going forward. You’ve feedback is tremendously valued!

**Please leave your comments below and vote on the poll above**

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Crochet Braids: The Take Down :-)

2010-04-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, my hair is going to feel like it’s been SET FREE (insert the sounds of broken chains hitting the floor followed by harp music), lol. It’s been 5 weeks and I am taking out these crochet braids tonight! I really miss my hair and weekly washings. I’ve only been cleaning my scalp with Sea Breeze and cotton balls. It’s ironic that I was never one to care for my hair and would always keep it braided up. You think of so many styling experiments when you can’t try them (Does that only happen to me???). However, I do love the look and convenience of this protective style and will be doing it again soon.

I plan to pre-poo with a homemade avocado/mayo conditioner. Then I’ll shampoo and deep condition. Since I won’t have a whole lot of time to play in my hair this weekend I’ll set my hair with flat twists and perm rods and sport a twist out (my signature style). I’ll let you know how it goes and try to take pics.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

African Black Soap

2010-04-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

Many sing the praises of this natural cleanser. It can be used for face, body and hair care. When I initially found out about black soap, I was interested in using it for skin care (facial cleanser). After about a month, I discovered this was not a keeper for me. However, I’ve used this for hair and have had nice results. It cleanses the scalp and hair without stripping it. You can use the bar directly (as you would a shampoo bar) or you can break it down from a solid to a liquid. I’ve only used the bar in solid form but I will be making a liquid shampoo in the future.

Here is one recipe I found:
Black Soap Shampoo
-16ounces of distilled water
-african black soap
-jojoba oil
-coconut oil
-extra virgin olive oil
-vegetable glycerin
-rosemary essential oil
-tea tree essential oil

1. Fill a plastic container with distilled water and crumble pieces of black soap into it. Note that the more pieces you put in will turn out a thicker consistency of shampoo.

2. Leave in cool dry place for 24 hours.

3. After the wait the black soap should be dissolved and the water thicker. Give it a stir and continue to add 2tbsp of jojoba oil, coconut oil, olive oil, 3 tbsp of glycerin, 10 drops of rosemary and tea tree oil.

4. Give it one last stir and pour into an empty shampoo bottle you can adjust ingredients depending on your bottle size and hair type.

You can check out this link for more information about black soap. If any of you have tried (or plan to try) African black soap, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Creating curls

2010-04-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

I’ve got about a week left on these crochet braids so I’m considering styling options for when I take them down. I miss my hair! I’d like to experiment with various curly sets. However, there are so many ways to create them it boggles my mind!

Curls can be set with Bantu knots, pin curls or rollers/rods. The types that I have are magnetic rollers, flexi rods, Curlformers, perm rods, and Strawllers (thanks to Nikki’s post). I’d like to discover which achieved curly set best suites me. I'd also like to be able to keep the style for a week minimum.

Without getting into product selection, there are 3 core things to take into consideration when creating your curly styles:

*What will be used to set the style?
*Will hair be set on wet/damp hair or on dry, stretched hair?
*Will hair be air dried or dried under a dryer?

As I try these various sets I will keep you all posted on my progress (and take pics for you). Your tips would be greatly appreciated.

Do you have a solid method for creating curly styles? Please share!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Extra Extra

2010-04-14T05:41:00.001-07:00

I don’t usually peruse the newsstand section in the stores I frequent but the beautiful Jill Scott on the cover of May’s Essence magazine definitely peaked my interest. Mad props – this diva is doing her thing! However, upon closer look, I also noticed they were doing a hair feature. Well, that was enough for me to snatch a copy of my own. Their beauty section includes a nice write up on natural hair, hair coloring, weaves and grooming tools. I was also pleasantly surprised to see the lovely Sunshine (pg. 34) who is a business woman, Youtubber and blogger (to name a few). I'm sure many of you are already familiar with her.

If you haven’t already copped your own issue, what are you waiting for?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Parting is such sweet sorrow

2010-04-07T05:14:00.000-07:00

PROBLEM: A passion for perfect parts! Am I alone in that it takes me twice as long to finish a style where parts are exposed? Sometimes it’s so frustrating; you know the style doesn’t require an enormous amount of time but because you want the parts to be “perfect” you end up spending an eternity styling hair.

My tool of choice is the end of a rat tail comb but I have yet to prefect my parting process. If there is a science to it, I haven’t discovered it yet. . .

I braid my daughter’s hair often and of course we want our children to look their best. Plus who wants to invest all that time and find mistakes after finishing? Been there, done that! This past weekend I spent more time than I would have liked doing her hair. I put cornrows in the front and box braided the rest. The only exposed parts are in the front where it is cornrowed but I still wanted nice parts for the box braids (yes, I know I need professional help, LOL).

I guess I’m just left to conclude that prefect parts come with plenty of practice :-)

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

The need to buy: I'm losing control

2010-04-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

So far I’m on track with my hair product line up. I’m getting to know what I like and what I don’t so I see a full PJ recovery in view (YAY). In most of the product categories, I’m finding out what my staples are and what I’m not truly committed to. There are a few protein conditioners that I will be trying to see if I should incorporate them into my regimen, along with testing a clarifying shampoo (Come Clean or Pure Curls – haven’t decided which one).

Right now I’m struggling with wanting to buy styling products. I’ve definitely got to try Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar and Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic. I’ve also been wanting to re-purchase a hair oil - Afroveda SunSilk Citrus Hair Oil (simply because the smell is divine).

Truth is I don’t NEED to get them right now. I’ve got several pomades I can finish before getting the Oyin. I also have 2 comparable products to the Uncle Funky’s in my stash. And oils! Lord, I’ve got an army of those in my arsenal – seriously!

I’m trying to do the sensible thing and wait until I’ve used up some of what I already have but it’s hard (I can hear them calling). I want it, I want it, I want it. . . PLEASE HELP! :-)

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

I've been featured

2010-03-31T04:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was featured on True Naturalista (thanks True)

Check me out (here).

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Does season change = hair change?

2010-03-30T05:59:00.000-07:00

I guess because of the bad winter storm we experienced last month, I’m especially looking forward to the warm spring and summer days

Many focus on protecting their hair from harsh cold weather but the warmer months can be just as harsh! Venturing outdoors for activities can make your hair vulnerable to exposure from sun, wind and chlorine.

I’m interested to know what you will be doing differently during this time.

Will any of the products you use be put down until the colder months return? If so, what are you pulling back into your rotation?

What are the styles you prefer to rock?

What about head coverings? In the SUN, in the POOL or in the CAR with all windows down – do you use anything to protect your tresses?

Also, how do you care for your hair before and after swimming?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Shower or Sink?

2010-03-26T07:38:00.001-07:00

Which is best for your wash day routine? Is one really better than the other? I can see this debate go several ways. Maybe one is more convenient/easier for you. Maybe one “plays nicer” due to the flow of the water; creating less tangles.

Since I deep condition my hair frequently, I personal use both. I can not stand going in the shower a SECOND time to rinse conditioner out of my hair. I will either wash my hair under the tub or kitchen faucet, apply conditioner, detangle and dc with a towel or heat cap. After I’m ready to rinse the conditioner out, I hop in the shower. Obviously, if I’m washing my hair in the shower then I will rinse out the conditioner under the faucet after I’ve deep conditioned.

Everyone has their own preference – so which is your preference?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Look at what I did!!! (see pics)

2010-03-25T05:27:00.001-07:00

Ok, I’ve LONG past the potty training stage but I was so proud of myself on Saturday! Why you ask? Because I did crochet braids all by myself. I think they turned out nice for my first try. I watched some tutorials on Youtube (of course) and figured I would give this protective style a whirl.

I washed and deep conditioned my hair on Friday. Then I put it in big plaits and air dried overnight. In the morning I put my hair in 12 cornrows straight back and began the process. I used Freetress Water Wave in 1B (a little less then 2 bags). It took me roughly 5 hours to install. I hope to maintain this style for at least a month.

So let me know what you think. . . .

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Protein: Love It or Leave It?

2010-03-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

So far in my hair journey, I haven’t put a real big emphasis on protein applications. I’ve used it (infrequently) in the past and my hair seems to do fine while some don’t favor protein. I do not intentionally avoid proteins, but the majority of products I use on my hair don’t contain them. Sheer curiosity has me pondering protein now; wondering if my hair will benefit from regular treatments. So far, I’m not looking at anything heavy (like ApHogee) but maybe 1 or 2 times a month I could use a light protein conditioner and see how that goes.

These are my considerations:

Komaza Care Intense Moisture Therapy – I already have this product and I’ve used it with nice results.

Aubrey Organic GPB Conditioner – I recently purchased this but haven’t tried it yet.

Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner – I’ve heard great reviews on this product.

Giovanni Smooth as Silk Xtreme Protein Hair Infusion – I’ve heard great reviews on this product also.

Giovanni Nutrafix Hair Reconstructor – I’ve heard great reviews on this product as well.

Now you dish! How does your hair do with protein? Do you use kitchen ingredients for your treatments (I would love your recipes :-)) or do you have a fave store bought conditioner?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Hair Journaling: 3 Month Progress Report

2010-03-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

Disappointed by slow growth!

On December 30, 2009 I decided I was going to get serious about documenting my hair journey. On this day, I took measurements and pictures of my hair. I planned to check my progress every three months (March, June, September and December). It’s a bit shy of the 3 month mark but I needed to take my measurements now since I’ll be installing braids over the weekend.

In December my measurements were from 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 inches. Yesterday my measurements were from 6 to 8 inches. Why the slow progress? If hair grows from the scalp an average of half an inch every month, I should have at least 1 inch growth. I’m so frustrated! I’ve been up on moisturizing and protective styling. Although the healthy eating and exercise has been lacking, I was hopeful for more then what has been obtained.

I don’t know if genetics has the major say here or not but since I don’t plan on taking supplements again, I may try a growth oil. I already have a few in my stash (and one on order) so maybe while I am wearing braids I can use it on my scalp several times a week.

So that’s my story for now. I’ll update you in June with my 6 month progress report. Keeping my fingers crossed. . . . . . .

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Tshirts: Natural Hair Community

2010-03-12T07:07:00.001-08:00

**YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! PLEASE WATCH.**

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

On the hunt: Komaza Care Review

2010-03-09T04:32:00.000-08:00

As a follow up on this post, I wanted to let you know my results on the 3 deep conditioners on my radar. You can read about #1 here and #2 here. This is the third one I tried:

Komaza Care Olive Moisture Mask http://www.komazahaircare.com/products/120/Olive+Moisture+Mask.html
Size: 4 and 16 ounces
Cost: $6.50 and $16
Ingredients: Water, Dipalmitoylethyldimonium Chloride (A derivitive of Palm Oil), Behentrimonium, virgin olive oil, olive butter, aloe butter, soybean oil, coconut oil, polyquaternium, quaternium 87, jojoba infused with nettles, horsetail, rosemary, peppermint, marshmallow, xanthan gum, pro vitamin B5, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B6, allantoin, honey, inositol,citric acid, rosemary essential oil, lavender essential oil, lemon essential oil, Polysorbate 20, cinnamon cassia, potassium sorbate.
Product description/claims: Created for all African American hair textures. This thick creamy olive butter deep conditioner is designed to detangle, moisturize, and soften hair to put an end to breakage. Komaza Olive Moisture Mask does not contain proteins making it friendly to deep condition weekly if you choose.

What I did: Pre-pooed with oil overnight. I cleansed with diluted shampoo. Then I applied the Olive Moisture Mask to my hair in sections and detangled. I put on a plastic cap and wrapped a towel on my head to let my body heat do the work. After an hour, I rinsed it out and continued with my styling routine.

My say: I have enjoyed other Komaza Care products so I was excited to try this. The conditioner is creamy, thick and has a nice scent. It took a bit more effort to detangle than the first conditioner I reviewed but it was not as bad as the second one. My hair did feel amazing afterward and I am pleased with the ingredient list. Most likely I will repurchase this product but the Love from Sweet Nature by Eddie is top on my list at the moment! :-)

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

March Mission

2010-03-05T06:19:00.001-08:00

After last weekend’s hair ritual, I was feeling bored and lazy. Instead of going into a styling session, I decided to wear my hair back in a ponytail, baggie my ends and sport a phony pony. My last rendezvous with the baggie method was approached differently but this way is nice also. I’ve been wearing my hair like this all week and I’ve been enjoying this little “break”. Before going to bed, I remove the phony pony, baggie and take the hair band out. Then I just throw everything back in the next morning – only takes 5 minutes. I make sure my ponytail is not too tight so I don’t put unnecessary stress on my hairline.

Anyway, it got me to thinking how long I can keep this up. Since I started hair journaling in January, I am scheduled to do a progress check at the end of this month. So why not see if I can continue this until then. I’ve committing to a month long challenge of baggying (spl?) and wearing phony ponies. I’ll keep you all updated.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Hair Typing

2010-02-23T06:08:00.000-08:00

Curl pattern, strand size, texture, what does it all mean??? Hair typing systems are simply tools used as a reference point. They can assist you (or your stylist) in hair product selection, deciding which hair techniques may work best and choosing a suitable hair style.

Some people aren’t interested in (or just outright despise) using hair typing systems. It can be a source of frustration and confusion for many. I’ve pretty much given up trying to nail down what my exact hair type is but I had to share some interesting information that I came across.

I was already aware of the 2 most popular hair typing systems (Andre Walker and LOIS) but I was not familiar with Fia. This site provides further explanation on this hair typing system. I find this system to be pretty simplistic, but that’s just my opinion. . .

Do any of you know about this hair typing system? Do you think it is more helpful than the others?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Why do we still love what’s bad for us? (my confession)

2010-02-11T09:26:00.000-08:00

So, Mother Nature has “trapped” me in the house for the last few days and I started going through some products that should have been tossed ages ago! I have to admit that until recent, I was only checking my products to make sure they were void of petrolatum, mineral oil, sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate. There are so many other ingredients that are toxic that I didn’t pay much attention to. You can reference this post for info on various resources that educate consumers.

Anyway, I threw away a popular brand Lock & Twist Gel which contains parabens, DMDM Hydantion and propylene glycol. I also pitched alcohol filled hair sprays & an “old school” hair grease containing petrolatum and mineral oil. But tell me why it is still so hard for me to toss my Let’s Jam! I’m sure you all remember that stuff. My container is still 2/3 full and it is difficult for me to part with it. I haven’t used this stuff in a long time but memories of good times keep me holding on – how ridiculous! :-)

So ladies, is breaking up really hard to do? Be honest, do any of you have this same problem with a product or products? I can’t be the only one!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Book Crazy: Building your home library

2010-02-05T06:20:00.000-08:00

If you don’t have a natural hair library, what are you waiting for? I love reading hair related books. I would go online to discover books that might help me better care for me and my daughter’s natural hair. I started off borrowing a lot of books from my local library. However, some books I wanted were just not available to check out so I decided that I needed a book collection for home. I like being able to go back and reference the information in these books.

**Here are the books currently in my home library**

Hair Care

Grow It! How to Grow Afro-Texture Hair to Maximum Lengths in the Shortest Time

Naturally Healthy Hair: Herbal Treatments and Daily Care for Fabulous Hair

Relaxed or Natural – You Can Have Beautiful, Black, Healthy, Hair: Comprehensive Guide to Reaching Your Hair’s Full Potential

Thank God I’m Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair

The Knotty Truth: Managing Tightly Coiled Hair at Home: DIY Survival Guide

Ultra Black Hair Growth II: another 6” longer 1 year from now

Beauty/Recipe

Natural Beauty from the Garden: More Than 200 Do-It-Yourself Beauty Recipes and Garden Ideas

Reader’s Digest Natural Beauty: Making and Using Pure and Simple Beauty Products

Ingredient Dictionary

Milady’s Hair-Care Product & Ingredients Dictionary

**Here are the books currently on my wish list**

Don't Go Shopping for Hair-Care Products Without Me: Over 4,000 Products Reviewed, Plus the Latest Hair-Care Information (Previously borrowed from library but now I want a copy of my own.)

Nappturosity: How To Create Fabulous Natural Hair and Locs (I’m trying to locate a used copy. I just think $27 is a lot to pay for a new paperback copy of this book.)

On various natural hair blogs and social networks, you can find many reviews on some of these popular reads. Upon request, I would be happy to do a complete review on any of the books I own (click here to view my previous book “mini reviews”).

So what is (or will be) in your home library? Do you have any recommendations for me?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

On the hunt: Hairveda Review

2010-02-02T12:48:00.000-08:00

As a follow up on this post, I wanted to let you know my results on the 3 deep conditioners on my radar. You can read about #1 here. This is the second one I tried:

Hairveda SitriNillah Masque
http://hairveda.com/condish.aspx
Size: 16 ounces
Cost: $17.50
Ingredients: Water, Coconut oil, Castor Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, SterylAlcohol, Stearakloniun Chloride, Dimethyl Stearamine, Orange oil, Orange Extract, Vanilla Extracts, Lactic Acid, Germall Plus, Fragrance
Product description/claims: Our Best Selling Deep Conditioner is wonderfully moisturizing and a little goes a long way. SitriNillah is perfect for conditioning and softening your hair after a relaxer or protein treatment.

Our ingredients are perfectly infused to bring the life back to your hair. Nourishing Orange oil penetrates deep down to treat lifeless and brittle hair.

Orange peel, used for centuries in Ayurveda hair and skin remedies is known for enhancing the hair's supple nature. SitriNillah contains no silicones.

What I did: Pre-pooed with olive oil overnight. I cleansed with diluted shampoo. Then I applied the SitriNillah Masque to my hair in sections and detangled. I put on a plastic cap and wrapped a towel on my head to let my body heat do the work. After an hour, I rinsed it out and continued with my styling routine.

My say: Nice but I didn’t love it. I must say that my expectations for this product were very high. I’ve heard so many good things about it and when you open the container the sweet aroma of orange sherbet hits your senses. However, it didn’t give me the slip that I like so detangling was a smidge more difficult. My hair did feel nice afterward but after I finish this jar, I don’t think I will be purchasing it again. Maybe I should mix some honey with this DC. For those of you who have had success with this condish, I would appreciate any tips.

Stay tuned for my next review – Komaza Care Olive Moisture Mask

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

I'm still here

2010-01-29T12:26:00.000-08:00

Sorry I've been a bit lax with posting this week. I've been pretty busy and I'm working on several things right now. I'll be back next week. Have a great weekend!

Thank for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

May the force be with you

2010-01-26T07:44:00.000-08:00

There is only one “force” that will dry your hair – AIR. We determine what temperature the air is that will dry our hair – the natural air in our environment or heated air.

Warm or hot air has been heated with the assistance of a hair dryer. There are 2 types of hair dryers: the hand held and the hood dryer (hard and soft); pics below. It is advisable to use a product designed to protect your hair from heat before using a hair dryer (or other heated hair appliance). PROS & CONS: less time, less shrinkage but potentially damaging.

Because heated air poses the risk of damage to our hair, many choose to let their hair dry naturally. This can be done while the hair is loose or you can twist, braid or band your hair for more elongation/stretching. PROS & CONS: more time, more shrinkage but a healthier option.

Others like to combine both methods of drying: air drying until the hair is mostly dry and then finishing with a hair dryer.

What factors do you consider when you need to dry your hair? Time? Shrinkage? Health?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Have you crossed the line???

2010-01-22T06:53:00.000-08:00

I’m talking about product lines. Now let me start by saying this post isn’t to hate on hair care companies that provide quality hair care systems for our hair type. But lots of companies want you to believe that you will achieve “optimal” results if you if stick to using their entire hair care system. I’m not trying to debunk myths or bust bubbles but I do wonder if others have had a successful hair journey crossing product lines in their hair regimen.

Let me be clear here, I’m not talking about always changing; going back and forth with a myriad of products (can we say PJ?). I mean, once you find your staple shampoo from company X, do you feel a need to use that company’s conditioner also? What’s your opinion? How important is it to you to stay within a particular company’s hair care line? Do you feel that products in the same hair care line are formulated to work better for your hair if used together?

In my quest for the basic staple products, it is my goal is to have 2 products in each category (pre-poo oil, cleansing product, deep conditioner, leave-in conditioner and moisture sealant). I’m finding it less and less important to stick to one particular product line for my hair care needs. If I like the ingredients, price and results I get from a particular product that is all that matters to me. Again, there are great companies that offer wonderful product lines but my preferences seem to be all across the board so yes, I have crossed the line! :-)

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

UPDATED Black Owned Hair Care Companies (Part 2)

2010-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

Last October I started an ongoing project to get listings for black owned hair care companies. The original listing had 40 companies (which I later added 1 more to). Now I’ve put up part two which includes an additional 19. . . *UPDATE* 21 companies. Please see the disclaimers below.

Once again, this is put together from information I discover and is only for the purpose of sharing that knowledge. As always, feel free to post your comments with corrections or additions.

Disclaimers:

I am not promoting any company for personal gain

To the best of my knowledge, the company’s owner/creator is of black or mixed race

Company offers a full line of hair care products; if I did not see the company offer cleansers, conditioners, moisturizers and styling products, they weren’t put on the list

I do not attest to know if all companies on this list have excellent customer service

Some companies on this list are not makers of “all natural products”; you need to research that for yourself

Common company lines that can easily be obtained at beauty supply stores or large retail (such as Walmart) were excluded from this list

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

All combs are not created equal

2010-01-13T12:08:00.000-08:00

I don’t use combs daily. I own two Jilbere shower combs (pictured) for detangling hair on wash day (while there is conditioner in the hair). I use rat tail combs only for parting. Now, recently it was brought to my attention that not all combs are created equal; seamless combs are a lot gentler on the hair than combs with seams. This is pretty much common sense but I had never though of scrutinizing my combs before. Now I’m contemplating investing in some quality seamless combs.

This article was very informative.

Also, these are two sites that appear to carry a variety of seamless combs.
Tenderheaded Accessories
Creative Products

So what are your thoughts? Is it worth it to invest in quality combs? Do you own any yourself (or are you thinking of getting some)? If so, where have you purchased them? What is your preference (particular brand name, certain material, etc)? Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

On the hunt: SNBE Review

2010-01-12T10:19:00.000-08:00

As a follow up on this post, I wanted to let you know my results on the 3 deep conditioners on my radar. Here’s the first one I tried:

Sweet Nature by Eddie Love Deep Conditioner
http://www.fabulousblackwoman.com/SweetNaturebyEddie.html
Size: range from 8 to 16 ounces (4oz bottles come with sample kits)
Cost: range from $8 to $15.50 (*updated prices* $9-$17.50)
Ingredients: Purified Water, Raw Honey, Avocado Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil, Peppermint Oil
Product description/claims: Detangling will be a breeze with this rich and creamy conditioner. Love will leave your hair unbelievably soft and manageable. The tingling sensation of the peppermint oil will awaken your scalp and stimulate your follicles.

What I did: Pre-pooed with olive oil overnight. Since I purchased her sample kit I cleansed with the Inspiration Shampoo (which I diluted in a separate bottle). Then I applied the Love Deep Conditioner to my hair in sections and detangled. I put on a plastic cap and wrapped a towel on my head to let my body heat do the work. After an hour, I rinsed it out and continued with my styling routine.

My say: I really enjoyed this conditioner. You can’t judge this conditioner by its consistency (which is thin/runny). This conditioner is penetrating and provided a good slip for me while detangling. The peppermint gives it a nice scent and mildly tingles your scalp. My hair was soft and easy to manage after using this conditioner. I think this is a keeper. I have already placed my order for the 12 ounce size.

Stay tuned for my next review – Hairveda SitriNillah Masque

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Are you on the fence?

2010-01-11T07:31:00.000-08:00

My advice/encouragement to current and future transitioners:

Everyone SHOULD learn to appreciate natural hair (whether they choose to wear it on their own head or not). Unfortunately, not everyone does. A person’s hair decisions are very personal and no one should try to force their own views on another. You may or may not receive support from your family and friends but realize that ultimately, you are the one who is caring for it. Be prepared to build up a resiliency to negative views.

Research, research, research! Get as much information as you can to be properly equipped for a healthy hair journey. There is a lot of cyber and print material you can reference to educate yourself on the proper ways in which natural hair can be maintained. If you know of someone who has knowledge in caring for their own (or others) natural hair, talk to them. Just know that, as with everything else, you will need to find out what works for YOUR hair. It doesn’t hurt to try someone else’s “hair miracle” product or technique but if it doesn’t work for you, move on to something else.

Try not to become a PJ (product junkie). This one is easier said than done :-). There is no shortage of product recommendations when it comes to the natural hair community. It’s easy to get caught up in all the hype. Some prefer “all natural” ingredients, others are “anti-cones”, some may love butters but hate oils and so on. Start to pay attention to the ingredients (not advertising claims) in your products and record how your hair reacts. You’ll begin to learn what your hair likes and what to stay away from.

Lastly, know that hair decisions are not permanent. At any time, should you decide that you want to change the state of your hair, it’s your choice to do that. There are many people who go back and forth with natural and relaxed hair. Even people who wear locs can successfully take them down without resorting the cutting them off.

If you have decided to transition from a hair texture that is chemically altered to 100% natural hair, you will run into some challenges. But at the end of the day, BE YOU, know why you have made the choice that you have and let that satisfy you. Good luck on your own hair journey!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

I'm a bag lady :-)

2010-01-08T06:09:00.001-08:00

I ended up doing an experiment, unintentionally. In order to keep my hair moisturized, I’ve been misting it in the evening when I get home from work, sealing my ends and putting on a plastic cap. I leave the cap on for a couple hours and take it off before going to bed (I don’t want to have wet hair in the morning). This practice is referred to as the “baggie method”.

I have to say that I like the results so far. I notice a difference in how my hair feels. I will try to incorporate this practice into my hair regimen but I don’t know yet, if it will be something I do daily. With consistent usage, I would be concerned about “sour” smelling hair.

Do any of you practice the baggie method? If so, let me know how it has worked out for you.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Killer nails!

2010-01-06T07:00:00.001-08:00

WARNING: Ragged nails can KILL your hair!

You may think this statement is strange, but take heed. When you break a nail, what do you do – cut it, file it, repair it, put it off for later, or just ignore it? Did you ever think of the role your nails play in hair health?

We should always treat our hair with TLC. So when you’re getting ready to handle your hair, you don’t want to have your precious strands snagged, pulled and traumatized by your fingernails. Broken, split, and torn nails should be tended to before tackling your hair rituals.

Just a quick tip to consider. . .

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Past reflections & future goals

2010-01-01T00:59:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! So this month makes 1 year since my natural hair unveiling and I’m so happy that I made the decision to take this ride. This journey that I embarked on brought so many revelations. I had already done a good bit of research on natural hair care but I soon realized that I would spend the next 12 months continuing to discover new things! I’ve experienced set backs and frustrations but I will move forward knowing that I’ve learned valuable lessons that will make the journey in 2010 that much better!

I’m totally focused on HAIR HEALTH this year. For me, three areas are crucial to attaining my goals. Firstly, I must find my staple products and stick with them. While I do need to use up what was purchased in my PJ days, I can no longer accept incorporating so many different product lines into my routine from wash to wash. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with wanting to try/buy a new product. I’ve had fun experimenting with store-bought and homemade solutions (and I will continue to mix up my own potions) but my hair is overwhelmed with the constant product changes.

Another goal is wearing my hair protected the majority of the time. Buns, wigs and braids are just some of the styles I will wear to keep my ends protected. I did not retain the length I desired last year and I believe styling was one of the main culprits for that.

Lastly, I must make hydration a priority. Towards the last of the year, I’d gotten better with hydrating my hair every day or every other day but I’m still not where I need to be with hydrating the INSIDE. I know keeping a water bottle with me at all times will encourage me to stay on track.

Ok, now it’s your turn to dish! What are some of your 2009 hair reflections? Did you reach any of your goals? What do you plan and look forward to in 2010?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Safety first

2009-12-30T07:47:00.001-08:00

Many people are concerned about the safety of the ingredients in the products they use. I understand the need to be educated about what we put in and on our bodies. You can access numerous online resources and print material that will reveal more information about these ingredients. I wanted to share some sites that you may want to check out for yourself. Hope this helps.

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

*site has link to cosmetic safety database*
http://www.safecosmetics.org/

Cosmetic Index
http://www.cosmeticindex.com/category/?page=view&advert_category_id=62

GCI Magazine
http://www.gcimagazine.com/

Cosmetics and Toiletries
http://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/

Society of Cosmetic Chemists
http://www.scconline.org/website/index.shtml

Cosmetic Ingredient Review
http://www.cir-safety.org/index.shtml

Personal Care Products Council (former CTFA)
http://www.personalcarecouncil.org/

Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov/

CosmeticsInfo.org
http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/

Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CCTFA)
http://www.cctfa.ca/site/cctfa/

The Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association (U.K.)
http://www.ctpa.org.uk/

American Academy of Dermatology
http://www.aad.org/

Society of Toxicology
http://www.toxicology.org/index.asp

Thanks for reading. Be blessed

CallaLily

What is beautiful?

2009-12-29T05:47:00.001-08:00

I understand that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and everyone has the right to their own opinion but I just needed to vent a little on this post. I have now been wearing my loose, natural hair for 11 months. My family has been totally supportive of my decision. However, last night some comments were made by my family that had me fuming! In summary, negative comments were voiced about women wearing locks. I have not considering locking my hair but I was offended by what was said.

Naturally, today I had to so some net surfing to find a hair gallery to go back and show to my family. Then, I remembered this blog. The creator of the blog also has a fantastic hair gallery here and I plan to head straight for the computer when I get home from work with my family following right behind me :-)

Hair choices are very personal and each individual has reasons on why they do the things they do with it. Going natural has allowed me to expand my views on what is beautiful. If you rock it "barber shop short", flowing down to your waist, natural or relaxed - I think it's all gorgeous and whatever your flavor is don't allow ANYONE to make you feel that you should conform to their view of beauty.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Wow, that's DEEP!!!

2009-12-21T09:52:00.000-08:00

Lots of people pay attention to deep conditioning their hair in colder weather. I love the benefits of deep conditioning my hair year round. I try to do this on a weekly basis. Here are some pointers to know if the conditioner you use is intended to penetrate your hair and provide nourishment: (1) label may read “deep conditioner” or “hair mask” (2) the instructions indicate to leave product on for 15 minutes or longer before rinsing (3) the instructions suggest the use of some form of heat.

In this upcoming year, I am on a new quest. Since I have PJ tendencies, I have tried many conditioners during my hair journey. Some have been purchased local and some I’ve ordered online. I have also enjoyed whipping up many of my own homemade conditioning treatments. Many times, what I use on my hair will change from week to week but in 2010 I want to establish my staple products and stick to those products.

I have found some conditioners that are nice but I really want to scrutinize what I put in my hair. While I want the ingredients in the products I purchase to promote healthy hair, I also want it to be economically sound. For me, that means, paying $1 per ounce of product (or close to that range).

These are some conditioners that I will try in the future. Not only do the ingredients sound hair yummy but it falls within the price I want to pay for a deep conditioner:

Hairveda – SitriNillah Masque-Ultra Moisturizing Deep Conditioner

Sweet Nature by Eddie – Love Deep Conditoner

Komaza Care – Olive Moisture Mask

I hope I have success with one of these products. Please let me know if you have tried any of these conditioners and what your results were. Also let me know of any product that I may want to try that meets the criteria.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

I'm on Facebook now!!!

2009-12-17T06:25:00.000-08:00

So I FINALLY created a Facebook account. For those of you reading this that already have accounts, I’d love to connect with you over there *my badge is posted down in the right-hand banner*

I need your help getting acclimated on there also. Tell me where all the “hot spots” are – what groups are happening (natural hair or otherwise) and what are some of the pages you frequent? I might as well hit the ground running, right!

Until we meet again, take care & be blessed!

Thanks for reading.

CallaLily

Study Hall: Book Club

2009-12-16T05:43:00.001-08:00

*Not directly hair related* I apologize; I'm not trying to turn this into a fashion blog (Lord knows I'm extremely under-qualified, LOL)

I just wanted to go back a bit and elaborate on my previous scarf post. I always like to take my research a step futher so of course, I has to visit my library. On top of the HOURS I spent watching YouTube videos, I was still hungry for more. To my surprise, I found NUMEROUS other ways to rock scarves! The books that I checked out, exposed so many other options that I didn't know existed. While I enjoy internet sources, I always strive to compliment that knowledge with addtional resources (regardless of the subject matter). May I suggest the same to you?

Here are some books that were available to me:

99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Tie & Rock Your Scarf – Faith Blakeney, Justina Blakeney & Ellen Schultz
How many times have you looked at a scarf and thought, “cute, beautiful pattern . . . but what do I do with it?” Now with just a few basic tools and skills, everyone from a sewing novice to a fashion guru can reincarnate scarves old and new into party tops, ponchos, or even flowy evening dresses. The techniques are simple, the supplies are easy to find, and every one of the 99 awe-inspiring projects takes an hour or less, from start to finish.

How to tie scarves – Edie Weber
Next time you select a scarf to match your outfit and the occasion, tie it in one of these 24 distinctive styles. Full-color photos display every step and technique, along with fashion models showing off each finished touch. Experiment with your favorites for formal and informal occasions: * Windsor knot for the dress-for-success look * Whirligigs that add dazzle to casual * The turtleneck look and the double-ring look for casual dress * Ironed pleats for evening wear Add your favorite jewelry, as you braid a scarf with a gold necklace, or adapt scarves to different collar styles. The showstoppers: dramatic over-the-shoulder styles that plunge the length of your jacket in front, as well as imaginative streamers and pigtails down the back. 48 pages (all in color).

Sensational Scarves: 30 Fabulous Ideas for Twisting, Draping, and Folding – Carol Endler Sterbenz
A well-known artisan and best-selling author offers expert advice and step-by-step instructions on how men and women can use scarves to add color, style, and flair to any outfit.

The Complete Book of Scarves: All You Need to Make, Decorate, Embellish, Tie & Wear – Jo Packman
This elegantly photographed collection of scarves to make and enhance embraces the simple and the sensational. The fabrics specified include those found in notions departments and luxurious upscale fabric stores...and results subtly accent an ensemble or create daring and dramatic fashion statements. Clear, numbered directions for making and decorating various types of scarves are punctuated with profiles of the craftspersons....Those less dexterous who prefer simply to shop for their finishing touches, and those who have successfully created their scarves of choice, will appreciate the final chapter, which offers several pages of photos and diagrams of ideas for typing, draping, wrapping, and even decorating with scarves, allowing anyone to tie one on with style.--Booklist. 128 pages (all in color).

The five-minute scarf arranger – Pia Tryde Sandeman
Scarves continue to be the most touted, the most popular and the most versatile accessory in women's fashion. Here are instructions for creating more than 30 fabulous scarf arrangements.

I found these books very helpful. There are dozens of published books on scarves. Your local library may have a different selection but if you’re interested, it’s definitely worth a visit.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Let me be honest. . .

2009-12-14T11:20:00.001-08:00

I’ve been tagged with the Honest Scrap award by the beautiful Chocolate Orchid. Thanks girlfriend!

10 Honest Things About Me:
1. I’m a terrible speller (always have check my spelling on such words as definitely, kielbasa, lasagna, and so on)

2. I used to be in 4H club (don’t front, I know ya’ll remember 4H smile)

3. I enjoy watching Spongebob with my daughter (sometimes without her)

4. I’ve only been horseback riding once (I think it was about 7 or 8 years ago)

5. I’m an obsessive note writer/list maker (which turns out to be a waste of paper most times, LOL)

6. I want to learn how to ride a motorcycle – Biker Chic Baby!

7. I’m probably one of the few people that has an acquired taste for okra (and brussels sprouts, and liver & onions)

8. It’s been years since I’ve balanced a checkbook!

9. I’m just now learning to enjoy shopping (more patience with age I guess)

10. I didn’t know how to properly cornrow hair until 7 years ago (a coworker showed me how on a baby doll – don’t laugh)

I will give this award to the following lovelies whose YouTube channels I enjoy but also have great content on their blog.

Naptural Diva

The Discount Trendsetter Show

Naturally Flyy

Hair && There

MissKrisNew

Here are the rules:

1. Post the award on your blog
2. Present this award to others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you
3. Tell those people they’ve been awarded HONEST SCRAP, inform them of these guidelines
4. Share “Ten Honest Things” about yourself

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

My latest obsession

2009-12-04T05:30:00.000-08:00

Scarves! Oh, why have I slept on these for so long? I am just putting my toe into the waters of this marvelous fashion accessory. Recently, I’ve spent countless hours on YouTube discovering the many ways you can sport scarves. From head adornments to tops, my nose is wide open to expanding my fashion choices with beautiful fabrics. All shapes (square to rectangle), all sizes (large to small), all colors (solids to prints) and all fabrics (cotton to silk), even winter scarves (got my eye on an Infinity scarf) – I will not discriminate, LOL. I now move past the mindset of the infamous cotton handkerchief worn to bed to exploring a whole new world of options. I’m ready to dive in but need to go shopping first – yay! I’ll be hitting up thrift stores and places like Walmart, Target, TJ Maxx and Marshalls for starters. What ways to you wear scarves? Where do you buy them?

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Where have I been???

2009-11-30T07:34:00.000-08:00

WOW, I didn't expect to be gone so long. Sorry that I haven't been around. I have been busy and preoccupied with other things. I still have left some things hanging and I intend to get back on track. I just wanted you to know that I'm still here and haven't abandon my blog. I'll be putting up some posts later in the week.

CallaLily

Study Hall: Information Overload

2009-11-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

Ok, I am truly convinced that coincidences don’t exist; what is purposed to be; WILL be. Check out last week’s string of events:

Sunday: During a web surfing session, I discovered Naptural Roots Magazine for the first time (yes, I know I live under a rock). I made a note to go back and thoroughly check out the site later in the week – I had planned to feature them in my Study Hall post

Tuesday: Went back to check out the site and was deterred to do my Study Hall post on them since it was noted they were revamping the website. I wasn’t really sure what was going on and I seem to find sites that get abandoned (they longer update their page) or just end up being taken down (i.e. Natural Hair Digest). Then I decided I would post on a site that I had recently re-discovered.

Wednesday: Some time after I put up my post, I perused some other blogs that I read on occasion. I came across a post on Going Au Naturale from 2 weeks prior *interrupted thoughts: Why am I always late on so many things? I guess if I was on Facebook (like my friends keep nudging me to do) I might not be so clueless. . . back to your regularly scheduled program* Low and behold. . . Mae had done an interview with LeAnne Dolce, Founder of Naptural Roots Magazine. I’m so happy that I stumbled across this so I can share their dialogue with you. Enjoy the read on Going Au Naturale and check out Naputual Roots Magazine.

All in the universe is as is should be :-)

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

*You can click on the “study hall” label in the right-hand column to read posts you have missed

I'm truly honored: Kreativ Blogger Award

2009-11-09T16:12:00.000-08:00

the.kisser has graciously bestowed me with my first award (Thank you!). I want to share my award with these fabulous blogs:

Nominees

1. The Natural Haven

2. ChocolateOrchid

3. Nu Kynk

4. Beads, Braids, & Beyond

5. Newly Natural

6. Nappturology 101

7. ~Back to Curly~

Here are the rules for recipients:

1. Copy the logo on your blog or post

2. Mention who gave you the award

3. Nominate at least 7 blogs you find creative (link your nominees within your post)

4. Let them know they have received this award by commenting on their blog

5. Share 10 creative facts about yourself

10 creative facts about moi:

1. I experiment with & tweak recipes (for hair and for eating) Go mixtress :-)

2. Soon I will explore making my own hair accessories

3. I like to plan small parties/events

4. I can tell great children stories

5. I LOVE jazz music

6. I played the clarinet

7. I organized a book club once

8. I attended African dance classes

9. I've made up my own games

10. I like doing "crafty" things

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Back to Basics: Seal (A Hair Regimen Series)

2009-11-08T14:19:00.001-08:00

Here’s where we bring in the big guns – so break out your “heavy” artillery for this step. It is time to utilize your oils, butters and thicker creams. Several factors can determine what you will use here; weather, hair type, how you intend to style and what product (and how much) you used in step 4 are some things you may want to consider.

Step 5: Seal

What: Sealing is applying a product (oil or butter based) to the hair in order to lock in moisture.

When: Immediately following hydration

Why: The obvious intent of hydration is to prevent the hair from becoming dry.

How: In my personal opinion, you should seal the entire length of the hair shaft on your wash day while your hair is still wet. When you hydrate in the days following your wash, you may only want to seal the ends (feeling that using product daily on the entire hair shaft is not necessary).

It is important to explore your options and see what works best for your hair. If your hair is fine and easily weighed down or you don’t want to be left with “greasy” hair, a light oil may work best. For those whose hair is thick and coarse, your hair may respond better to heavy butters and creams.

Also, pay attention to the primary ingredients for the product you used in the prior step. Could your hair milk, lotion or cream serve as a sealant as well as a moisturizer?

Other notes: Remember that the ends of your hair are the oldest and require a little more attention.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Friday’s Formula/Tasty Tresses: Carrot (ongoing contest)

2009-11-06T07:48:00.000-08:00

“What’s up doc?” I may be grown but I still love my cartoons :-) My daughter doesn’t appreciate carrots as much as Bugs Bunny but maybe she would agree to one of the treatments below quicker than she would gobble up a plate of them. Forgetting about the dozens of products you can buy that are carrot-based, I didn’t think I would find much hair related information on carrots. Indeed I was pleasantly surprised. Hope you enjoy what I discovered.

What’s on the menu for your mane #7 – Carrot

CARROT: A vegetable that is packed to the brim with beneficial nutrients, antioxidants, and beta carotene. Beta-Carotene stimulates the formation of new hair and skin cells and also protects hair and skin from damage caused by the sun and pollution. There are also claims that carrots do a great job of cleaning out toxins and built up residue in hair and skin. Carrots are used to create Essential Oil, CO2 Extracts, Macerated Oil, and Hydrosol. The dried roots are even powdered to create a gentle, nourishing exfoliant. Carrot oil, being high vitamins A & E, is a great hair conditioner and helps to improve scalp condition.

Here are a few carrot recipes to try yourself:

Carrot Banana Hair Conditioner
3 carrots
1 ripe banana
Honey
Mayonnaise
Peppermint
Water
Blender
Container with lid
Towel
Steam or boil 3 washed and chopped carrots in 1 cup of water until tender. Fifteen minutes may be long enough to soften the carrots. Pour the carrot and water into a blender, and blend until almost smooth. Add fresh or dried peppermint to the blender and blend. Add the banana and blend until smooth and creamy. Next, add 1 teaspoon of honey and 1/2 cup of mayonnaise to the blender. Blend all ingredients together, making a smooth and creamy hair conditioner. Spoon the mixture into a jar with a lid, and store in the refrigerator until your next shampoo. Add a generous amount after shampooing, making sure to massage the hair conditioner in well. Wrap with a towel and leave in for 15 minutes to 2 hours. Rinse and towel dry.

Carrot & Avocado Hair Treatment
2 tsp carrot macerated oil*
1 ripe avocado
Prepare the macerated oil with the jojoba oil and carrot (*see below). Mash the avocado, then blend it with the oil to make a paste. Apply the mixture to the hair and scalp and leave for one hour. Wash off, using a mild shampoo with added lemon juice.
* For carrot macerate place the grated carrot in a bowl. Cover the carrot with jojoba oil. Place the bowl containing the mixture over a pan of boiling water and heat for 1 hour. Remove from the heat, strain and repeat with fresh carrot. Strain and pour into a dark glass bottle.

Infused Carrot Oil
2 carrots, peeled and grated
Coconut oil
Place the grated carrot in the crock of a slow cooker. Add sufficient melted coconut oil to cover and pour it over the carrot. Replace the lid on the slow cooker and cook the carrots and coconut oil at the lowest heat setting until the carrots are very soft and the oil is a deep orange color. Remove from the heat and strain the oil through a fine mesh sieve. Pour into dark, glass jars and allow to cool and set. Oil can be used for hot oil treatments or added to hair conditioner.

NOTE: Please lean toward a bit of caution since I’ve heard that some staining can result from using carrots.

~Ongoing contest (click here for details and rules)~

Can you guess what next week’s hair food (or drink) will be?

Leave your entry below in the comment section.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

* Other recipes can be found in the "hair recipe" category to the right

Study Hall: Information Overload

2009-11-04T09:16:00.001-08:00

Here is a cute site that I re-discovered recently. Samara’s site is dedicated to African American women with relaxed or natural hair who seek long, healthy tresses. She provides helpful articles on proper hair care. She also has a blog and YouTube channel with tutorials. Head on over there!

Grow Black Hair

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

YouTube is ssoooo awesome!

2009-11-02T07:15:00.000-08:00

Along my hair journey I came across some great hair information and tutorials on YouTube. When I started my account, it was solely to subscribe to my favorite channels. Last week, when I did my Study Hall post on Black Owned Businesses, I was unable to copy and paste the table I had formatted. Therefore, the only reason why I went through the trouble of downloading a video to my YouTube channel was so my blog post wasn’t funky looking and EXTREMELY long, lol. I never imagined that anyone on YouTube would actually find my channel and view the only video that I downloaded. So basically, I did it for my blog readers and it is already reaching more people than I thought. I started to get responses from others. I have made a few revisions and 1 addition to my original list, then reloaded it. Hopefully, the video will gain more exposure and I will get more addition requests. I love how all of these cyber communities work in concert.

I have one other video slideshow in mind for the future but I don’t see me becoming a vlogger (video blogger) – for now my focus is just on blogging.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Back to Basics: Hydrate/Moisturize (A Hair Regimen Series)

2009-11-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

Moisture comes from WATER; not oils and heavy butters. It is ideal to moisturize your hair at least once daily. Some do it several times a day while others may prefer every other day. Either way, it is vital that you incorporate this step into your hair regimen.

Step 4: Hydrate/Moisturize

What: Hydration is applying a product to the hair for moisture.

When: Daily is preferred

Why: The obvious intent of hydration is to prevent the hair from becoming dry.

How: Applying water or a water-based product to the hair without total saturation. A simple spray bottle of water or other liquid concoction is fine. Also, there are various leave-in conditioners that can serve this purpose. Hair milks, lotions or creams, listing water as the first ingredient, are also excellent.

Other notes: Depending on the style your hair is in, be aware that shrinkage is possible.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Friday’s Formula/Tasty Tresses: Cantaloupe (ongoing contest)

2009-10-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

I don’t know if you all are enjoying this series but I’m having a ball! It’s so amusing to see all the creative hair recipes for edible items. I’m sure that many may look at these posts from time to and think that I’ve totally lost it, lol. Just trying to get you to “think outside the box”. Get involved and try to figure out what I’m going to cover next week. Let’s take a look at cantaloupe this week.

What’s on the menu for your mane #6 – Cantaloupe

CANTALOUPE: Our hair thrives when we give it what it needs. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that aids in producing healthy sebum in the scalp which keeps the hair and scalp moisturized. Without a sufficient amount of vitamin A the hair becomes dry. Vitamin C maintains the capillaries that circulate blood. Amongst other nutrients, cantaloupe is rich in these two vitamins.

Here are the cantaloupe hair recipes I found:

Fruit Salad Deep Conditioner Recipe
1/2 a banana
1/4 avocado
1/4 cantaloupe
1 tablespoon wheat germ oil
1 tablespoon yogurt
Blend all ingredients. Apply to hair. For extra conditioning, squeeze in the contents of a vitamin E capsule. Leave in hair for 15 minutes. Then rinse.

Natural Hair Conditioner Recipe
2 oz. purified water
1/2 banana
1 tbsp. plain yogurt
1 tsp. honey
1/4 cantaloupe
1 tbsp. sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. wheat germ oil
In blender combine all ingredients and pulse on medium 10 to 20 seconds. Using fingers, apply mixture to hair in downward motion, smoothing as you go. Leave on at least 45 minutes. Rinse with warm water, and shampoo. You can skip your regular conditioner, but do a final rinse with cold water to seal each strand.

~Ongoing contest (click here for details and rules)~

Can you guess what next week’s hair food (or drink) will be?

Leave your entry below in the comment section.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

* Other recipes can be found in the "hair recipe" category to the right

Study Hall: Information Overload

2009-10-28T06:54:00.000-07:00

After MUCH aggravation and technical difficulty, I am finally posting this.

Ok, I’ve been working on this project for a week and a half; did the best I could. Since I know some of us like to support black-owned businesses, I wanted to compile a video listing for you. I know this is not “all known to mankind” but it’s what I unearthed over the hours I worked on this project. Some are very popular while others you may not have heard of before. I just wanted to get the information out to interested parties. Hope you enjoy.

Here are my disclaimers:

* I am not promoting any company for personal gain

* To the best of my knowledge, the company’s owner/creator is of black or mixed race

* Company offers a full line of hair care products; if I did not see the company offer cleansers, conditioners, moisturizers and styling products, they weren’t put on the list

* I do not attest to know if all companies on this list have excellent customer service

* Some companies on this list are not makers of “all natural products”; you need to research that for yourself

* Common company lines that can easily be obtained at a beauty supply stores or Walmart were excluded from this list

If you have information that conflicts with my listing, please let me know of any error. Feel free to leave a comment if you know of any other companies to add.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Back to Basics: Condition (A Hair Regimen Series)

2009-10-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

The world of hair conditioners is so vast it might make your head spin! With companies promising their products will do this, that, and the other it is hard NOT to become a conditioner crack-head! There is no doubt many aspects take a toll on our tresses. The environment, how we manipulate our hair, whether we choose to use chemicals (including color) and what we use to cleanse our hair are some things that take from it. Conditioning is the step we take to give back.

Step 3: Condition

What: Conditioning is applying a product to the hair after cleansing. Keep in mind that conditioning should enhance your hair’s overall health and appearance.

When: After cleansing

Why: The purpose of conditioning hair is to restore balance.

How: Types of conditioner (with examples) (1) Rinse through (VO5 & Suave) – leave in for a few minutes and rinse out (2) Homemade (avocado & mayonnaise) – single ingredient or mixture of edible ingredients; heat can be used for better penetration (be careful with eggs though). Also note that some homemade treatments can call for a gentle shampoo afterward (3) Deep (Elasta QP DRR-11 & Curls Ecstasy Hair Tea) – leave in for 15 minutes or longer; heat can be used for better penetration. (4) Leave-In (Jane Carter Revitalizing Leave-In; water based & SheaMoisutre Shea Butter Leave-In; cream based) – apply to hair and do not rinse out (5) Herbal rinse (Hairveda pH24/7 & Adiva Apple Cider Vinegar Clarifying Herbal Rinse) – pour through hair; it can be left in or rinsed out. You can also make your own tailored rinses. (6) Intense Treatment/Special Purpose (ApHogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor & Motions CPR) – follow manufacture instructions carefully. These conditioners usually have “repair”, “reconstruct”, or “protein treatment” on the label.

Other notes: It is good to have more than one conditioner to alternate. This is because your hair can get used to one and will not respond the same.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Friday’s Formula/Tasty Tresses: Bananas (ongoing contest)

2009-10-23T05:25:00.001-07:00

Yum - I love this versatile fruit. However, when it comes to using bananas in hair recipes, I learned a lesson that will forever stick with me. As with avocados, I approach using bananas with caution. You may have seen me post before that I prefer using the jarred baby food. Sure I could just as well puree them, but I allow myself to be lazy with this one.

What’s on the menu for your mane #5 – Bananas

BANANA: This fruit is high in carbohydrates; vitamins A, B, and C; and minerals, especially potassium. It has excellent humectant and moisturizing qualities for the hair.

These are only a few banana hair recipes I came across:

Moisturizing Banana Hair Conditioner
1 small, ripe organic banana
1 tablespoon organic honey
1 teaspoon sweet almond oil
Mash the banana together with the honey and sweet almond oil. Apply this mixture to your shampooed hair. Cover your hair with a plastic bag to allow for body heat to accentuate the conditioning effect, and leave mixture on for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

Banana Hair Mask
1 banana
2-3 dollops of mayonnaise
1 tablespoon olive oil
Put banana in blender and puree until completely smooth (you don’t want clumps of banana in your hair). Then add mayo and oil and blend until smooth and creamy. Apply to hair. Cover with plastic cap and let sit for 15-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and shampoo as usual.

Fruity Deep Conditioner
Combine ½ banana, ¼ avocado, 1 tbsp wheat germ oil and 1 tbsp yogurt. Also take a vitamin E capsule and squeeze its content into the mixture. This is for extra conditioning. Apply in hair and leave for 15 minutes. Wash with mild shampoo.

Hope you enjoyed this. Now go monkey around with some of these recipes :-)

~Ongoing contest (click here for details and rules)~

Can you guess what next week’s hair food (or drink) will be?

Leave your entry below in the comment section.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

* Other recipes can be found in the "hair recipe" category to the right

Inquiring mind: Reader's conern

2009-10-22T05:02:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I received an email from a reader with concerns about breakage and braiding. I will address them in this post. I did do some investigating on this topic, but please realize that I am not a hair professional.

Hello Callalily,

I just came across your interesting blog a few days ago and it's extremely informative. I wonder if you could help me with a teeny tiny question.

My hair used to fall off very badly a couple of months ago and after the final abuse from a stylist that was supposed to be one of the best I decided I'd had enough and would take my hair care into my hands. My hair is shoulder length now. Since I started my new regimen, my hair has started coming back to life very slowly and is growing quite well. It still falls out but not as much as before and it is reducing day by day. At the moment I do not wish to relax at all until the damage has been rectified but at the same time it is getting a bit harder to manage the new growth so I'm thinking of braiding it for a few months to give it time to recover from the damage. My question is do you think it's advisable to braid my hair while it is in this condition? I would be making medium sized braids and not micro braids? If braiding is not advisable then what could I do to put my hair away for a while apart from wigs and weaves? The middle east weather is TERRIBLE for African hair.

I don't use heat at all on my hair, comb as gently as I can and use logona organic shampoo and Lush handmade shampoo. My conditioners are logona wheat protein conditioner, bodyshop honey moisturiser, garnier fructis long n strong, tresemmes and mane n tail. I use mayo and eggs for protein treatments. I also use olive, coconut, rosemary and eucalyptus oils for daily moisturisation after adding leave ins. A lot of other products I could use are not available in UAE so I try to improvise best as I can.

I look forward to your response. Thank you :)

I’m very sorry to hear about your experience. This is the perfect time to embark on your healthy hair journey! It seems you already have a good understanding of what your hair needs and are on the right track with your hair care.

Assuming you can exclude other causes for breakage (i.e. medical issues, diet, etc.) we will focus on the hair. Hair requires a balance of protein and moisture. When the balance is off, I believe breakage occurs. While your hair is in a weakened state, less manipulation is better. Braid extensions can protect a person’s hair from excessive styling and breakage. When you approach this protective style correctly, you can have great success with nursing your locks back to health.

Before: It is important to give your hair some deep conditioning treatments. Preparing the hair in this way, prior to braiding it, can strengthen hair that is in a weak condition.

During: During the process of braiding your hair, make sure of several things (1) your braids are not too small (2) your braids are not too heavy from adding too much hair (3) your braids are not too tight!

Getting braids is not a ticket to maintenance-free hair (I learned this the hard way). While you are wearing your braids, remember to moisturize daily. You can choose to cleanse your scalp during this time also. Various methods exist for this purpose. You can apply witch hazel or another product to your scalp to remove build up. You could also mix shampoo and water in an applicator bottle to cleanse, then thoroughly rinse afterward. If you choose this method, you may want to section your hair and put it in a few big braids first. Remember to protect your style with a scarf before going to bed. If you find it necessary to oil your scalp, use a light oil 2-3 times a week.

After: It is recommended that you keep extensions in for no longer than 2 months. During this period, you can re-do the edges if necessary. Removing braids should be done gently. You can spray diluted conditioner on your braids prior to taking them out. Then, after the extension has been removed and the hair still wet, gently comb out the hair that has been shed while you have been wearing this style. There is no need to be alarmed when you end up with a mass of hair after you have detangled all of your hair – this is normal.

Now that your hair is free and detangled, make sure to use a good moisturizing shampoo and deep condition again. You can give your hair a resting period and then return to another braided style if you desire. If you intend to go back to relaxing and you feel your hair is in condition to do so, read this article to give you a guide on approaching this wisely.

I hope this helps you. Good luck with your hair journey.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

* This site provides terrific information and instructional videos for those who want to wear their hair braided.

Water is not the ONLY way

2009-10-21T05:57:00.000-07:00

I’m still researching my weekly Study Hall post so here is a "sub" to sit in; didn’t want to leave you hanging :-) Study Hall will be back next Wednesday.

Also look for a stimulating post tomorrow where I address a reader’s hair concerns.

I not only enjoy making hair treatments and products, but face and body treatments/products as well. While water is a fabulous liquid to utilize, you can feature others that could give it that extra oomph. With all that is available to us, there is no reason to get stuck in a rut. I persuade you to try something different – you may like the results even more!

Next time you whip up a treatment or product for your hair, face or body, try one (or a combination) of the following to replace all or part of your water.

Water alternatives:
* alcohol (vodka, brandy)
* aloe vera juice/gel
* tea/herbal infusion
* flowal water/hydrosol
* vinegar
* witch hazel
* milk (buttermilk, coconut milk, cow milk, goat milk, rice milk, soy milk - Does that cover them all?)
* yogurt
* cream
* juice (fruit or vegetable)
* honey/honeyquat/agave nectar
* molasses
* syrup
* glycerin
* oil

* tinctures (diluted)

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

You've got style!

2009-10-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

O’ Happy Day! I couldn’t resist putting up a second post today. I wanted to share a new style discovery. I lot of ladies are seeking protective styles with the season change and I believe this would fall into that category.

At times, we all can experience panic or discouragement when we don’t have a hair do planned (or nothing you are trying is working the way you want it) before having to head out the door. That happened to me today. Prior to going to bed, I had two-strand twisted my hair (24 twists) and set it in bantu knots. This morning, I took the bantu knots down but didn’t want to separate the twists. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do with my hair and nothing I tried look right. Light bulb moment. . . I threw a headband on and used a few bobby pins to center the curly twists to my head. Crisis over! I was pleased with the outcome and will definitely be visiting this style more through the season. Let me know what you think of it.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Back to Basics: Cleanse (A Hair Regimen Series)

2009-10-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

Here is part 2 in the 6 part hair regimen series. There are more elements on the topic of cleansing one’s scalp/hair than you may think. I did my best to cover all areas but if I left anything out, please let me know.

Step 2: Cleanse

What: Cleansing is applying a product – with concentration on the scalp – to remove dirt and build-up before you condition.

When: Before conditioning

Why: The purpose of cleansing – stated above.

How: People have a myriad of ways to approach this step – (1) Shampoo – can be store bought or made at home (2) Shampoo bar – solid shampoo in the shape of bar soap (3) Conditioner – aka “co-wash” using a store bought conditioner for cleansing instead of shampoo (4) Herbal Tea/Paste – Ayurvedic herb combinations (in their powdered form) are steeped with water to the desired consistency, then applied. Teas are strained and used as a liquid rinse. Pastes are applied and left on for a period of time. Please check out this youtube channel for further clarification on using Ayurvedic herbs (listed under “Herbal Hair Care”).

I should also mention that some people like to clarify on a regular basis in the following ways – (5) Baking Soda – baking soda diluted in water or added to store bought conditioner (6) Apple Cider Vinegar – acv diluted in water (7) Lemon Juice – fresh or store bought lemon juice diluted in water or added to store bought conditioner (8) Clay – some natural clays can also be used for hair care; make a paste with clay and water, then apply and leave on for a period of time. This information on bentonite clay was sited on Anita Grant:

Bentonite Clay - Naturally Curly and Afro Curly Popping Hair Care Treatment:

This recipe depends on the length and thickness of your naturally curly hair.

Prep time: 10 mins

Instructions:

Mix 1 to 2 parts Bentonite clay Slowly add *water to the clay until you achieve a pancake mix texture.Apply to your hair (dry or wet)Allow to set for between 15 - 20 minutesRinse thoroughly until it's all out of your curls, kinks and coils.

*water can be replaced with your choice of liquid for example:

Organic Coconut Milk

Herbal infusion

or anything you like...

Hair Care Benefits:

After you Shampoo - One single treatment of Bentonite Clay will remove build-up from your scalp leaving naturally curly and Afro hair clean and clear.

As a shampoo replacement - Bentonite Clay may also be used like a shampoo trapping and removing dirt, debris, build up and other particles from your hair and scalp.

Other notes: Have fun experimenting with some cleansing routines you haven’t tried yet! I am going to begin experimenting with Ayurvedic herbs.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Friday’s Formula/Tasty Tresses: Avocados (ongoing contest)

2009-10-16T05:20:00.000-07:00

It’s getting cold in my neck of the woods! I’ll be gearing up to start sporting some protective styles. This week’s Tasty Tresses is avocados. The flesh can be used alone or mixed with other ingredients for a wonderful hair treatment. The oil from this fruit has the capability to penetrate the hair shaft. And I also learned that you can use the pit as a massage tool! :-)

What’s on the menu for your mane #4 – Avocados

AVOCADO: The flesh of this fruit is 75 percent fat and up to 25 percent oil. Avocado is high in vitamins A, B, and C, as well as minerals, and is an excellent emollient and moisturizer for the hair and skin, particularly dry conditions.

Here are some avocado hair recipes I found that use common ingredients:

Avocado Dry Hair Conditioner
1/2 ripe avocado
1 teaspoon wheat germ oil
1 teaspoon jojoba oil
Combine all ingredients. Work the mixture through your shampooed hair and scalp. Cover your hair with a plastic bag to allow for your body heat to accentuate the conditioning effect, and leave the mixture on for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

Avocado & Honey Conditioning Mask
1 ripe avocado
1/2 cup honey
Scoop out flesh of avocado and mash. Add honey and combine thoroughly. Apply to dry hair. Cover with plastic cap and wrap towel around head. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse and follow with shampoo.

Avocado & Mayo Conditioner
1 mashed avocado
1/2 cup plain mayonnaise
Take mashed avocado and mix with mayonnaise. Massage the mixture into your dry hair and scalp. Put on a shower cap and wait 20 minutes. Rinse the mixture out with cool water and shampoo afterwards with a gentle shampoo.

Tropical Deep Conditioner Recipe
1 peeled and mashed avocado
1 cup coconut milk
Combine mashed avocado with some coconut milk in a small bowl. Heat in microwave for approx. 45 seconds. Stir. Test temperature. Massage mixture into hair. Wrap hair in a hot towel or cover with shower cap for 15 minutes. Rinse out and shampoo.

The ways in which you can use avocado as a hair conditioner are endless. I’m sure you can seek out dozens more recipes if this has peaked your curiosity. I’ve mentioned in a previous post that I puree avocado with some water in the blender to use in hair concoctions – food chucks left in your hair is NOT COOL!

~Ongoing contest (click here for details and rules)~

Can you guess what next week’s hair food (or drink) will be?

Leave your entry below in the comment section. Stay warm!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

* Other recipes can be found in the "hair recipe" category to the right

Study Hall: Information Overload

2009-10-14T06:07:00.001-07:00

Another cool site coming at ya! Although it doesn't look like this site is currently being updated, there are still lots of great articles and other information to explore.

NOTE: To a lot of us "nappy" is a taboo word because the meaning is associated with something negative. Our God-given hair is beautiful and versatile. Don't let the name of this site discourage you from checking it out! I hope you can benefit from the knowledge it offers.

Nappy Kitchen

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Life revelation

2009-10-12T05:24:00.000-07:00

Good morning divine creation! I hope your weekend was enjoyable.

Life is full of ups and downs – no way around that! And the truth has a way of exposing itself to each individual. At times, I get a word at a certain moment that really causes me to stop and take note of its truth. I will begin to share with you some monumental insight that I receive on occasion. I have to realize that the revelation I receive may also be intended for another. It may not be for me to keep to myself, but to be a messenger to benefit someone else. This is not going to turn into a planned or scheduled format on this blog – when it hits me, I’ll post on it. This way, I can give a positive word to my readers AND keep it fresh in my own mind and spirit. We tend to go through life having to learn and re-learning valid truths. So this morning, on my way to work, this is the revelation I received:

When someone speaks negativity into your life, you have a CHOICE to believe what they say or to dismiss it and replace it with positive.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Back to Basics: Pre-poo (A Hair Regimen Series)

2009-10-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

On my natural hair journey, I am learning how uncomplicated a solid hair regimen can be. Often times we seek out information, products, and hair methods that further confuse us. I wanted to do a 6 part series spelling out the basic foundation to giving our tresses the care they crave.

Step 1: Pre-poo

What: Pre-pooing is applying a product (oil, conditioner or a combination of the two) to the hair and leaving it on for a period of time before you cleanse.

When: Before cleansing

Why: The purpose of pre-pooing is to condition and protect the hair.

How: Here are your options – Method #1 – You can start with dry or damp hair. Apply heated or unheated carrier oil (such as olive, coconut, etc) to hair and/or scalp. Cover hair with plastic cap and scarf/towel/cap. Wait at least 20 minutes before rinsing out (you can also make this an overnight treatment, rinsing it out the next day).

OR

Method #2 – You can start with dry or damp hair. Apply conditioner (or conditioner/oil combination) to hair only. Cover hair with plastic cap and scarf/towel/cap. Wait at least 20 minutes before rinsing out. It is NOT recommended to do this method overnight.

With either method, if you are doing a 20-30 minute session, you can incorporate heat from a dryer or heat cap.

Other notes: Honey and molasses are also popular pre-poo ingredients. They can be used alone or added to your oil and/or conditioner.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

Friday’s Formula/Tasty Tresses: Apples (ongoing contest)

2009-10-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone has had a wonderful week. This week’s Tasty Tresses is apples. The beverage we drink internally from this fruit is said to have numerous health benefits. As for hair, I’m sure that we’ve all read about the advantages of using apple cider vinegar for our hair (build up remover, cuticle closer, pH balancer, etc). There are countless concoctions that use this ingredient in hair rinses.

What’s on the menu for your mane #3 – Apples

APPLES: This fruit contains malic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, which works as an exfoliant and emollient to lift dandruff away from the scalp. Used in small quantities, malic acid is moisturizing; in higher quantities, it is exfoliating.

Here is an apple cider hair recipe:

Apple Cider Dandruff Treatment
1/2 cup apple cider (preferably organic)
Massage the cider into the scalp area with your fingertips. Repeat after every shampoo; you will see significant results after several applications. Repeat treatment whenever outbreaks of dandruff occur.

I’ve also seen where you can add apple juice to your homemade shampoo recipes.

~Ongoing contest (click here for details and rules)~

Can you guess what next week’s hair food (or drink) will be?

Leave your entry below in the comment section. Enjoy your weekend!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

* Other recipes can be found in the "hair recipe" category to the right

Study Hall: Information Overload

2009-10-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

Short and sweet - just wanted to quickly pop in to share two great sites.

Check them out!

A New Era in African Hair

From Grandma's Kitchen

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

More kitchen experiments

2009-10-04T18:18:00.001-07:00

This weekend I’ve been creating more hair potions. Pictured from left to right: conditioning spritz, herbal acv, herbal hair oil.

Conditioning Spritz: water infusion of the same herbs used in my oil. To this was added, aloe vera gel, vegetable glycerin, grapefruit seed extract, sage essential oil and tea tree essential oil.

Herbal ACV: I put herbs in a glass jar, poured the apple cider vinegar over the herbs and stirred it. The herbs will need to steep in the vinegar for at least 3 weeks. I will stir or shake the jar once a day for the first week. After I strain the herbs, I will use this for hair rinses (diluted in plain water or an herbal infusion). NOTE: You MUST use a plastic lid or put a plastic barrier between the opening and lid if you are using a metal lid!

I used these herbs:

Mint – Wonderfully fragrant, mint is refreshing, stimulating, and invigorating. It is antiseptic and anesthetic in nature, creating a cooling, soothing effect.

Lavender – The flowering tops of this herb have a delightful aroma. Lavender has cleansing and astringent qualities. It is also very beneficial as a cellular regenerator for the skin.

Oregano – This aromatic herb is stimulating, antiseptic, and astringent (having good cleansing properties). Oregano is effective as a hair detangler and softener.

Rosemary (see oil post for info)

Nettle (see oil post for info)

Herbal Hair Oil: This is the result of my infused olive oil from two weeks ago. I wanted to let it infuse for another week but was getting impatient. After I strained the oil, I added vitamin E, peppermint essential oil and lemongrass essential oil.

I am really having fun with the various herbs I’ve purchased for hair concoctions. Hubby teases me when he walks in on my experiments – refers to me as a mad scientist (sinister laugh and all) :-). Hope this will inspire you to whip up a batch of tonic for your tresses.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

* Information was referenced from Naturally Healthy Hair

Friday’s Formula/Tasty Tresses: Aloe Vera (ongoing contest)

2009-10-02T05:41:00.001-07:00

I had one entry for the first contest. However, this is an ongoing venture so I’m optimistic that it will ignite more involvement. Having said that, this week’s Tasty Tresses is aloe vera. This may be a strange one to see here but aloe vera can be used internally as well as externally. Many people choose aloe vera as a health tonic.

What’s on the menu for your mane #2 – Aloe Vera

ALOE VERA: The gel found within the leaves of this plant has remarkable properties, including healing, soothing, antibacterial, antiseptic, emollient, and moisturizing qualities. Studies have shown aloe enhances cellular regeneration. The juice from aloe vera has been used as a shampoo, hair setting lotion, and condition, with remarkable results for both the hair and the scalp. Diseases of the scalp are often treated directly with aloe vera juice.

Here is an aloe vera hair recipe I found that uses common ingredients:

Tress Rescue Conditioner
2 ounces aloe vera gel
1/2 teaspoon olive, avocado, or jojoba oil
2 ounces organic apple cider vinegar
1 ounce powdered milk
Combine ingredients in a bowl, stirring to blend. Apply to freshly-washed damp hair. Allow to remain on hair for 10-30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Makes enough for one treatment. Discard leftovers.

I’ve also seen countless recipes that use dietary aloe vera as an ingredient in shampoos, hair spritzes, hair butter creams and hair gels. . . way too many to post here!

~Ongoing contest (click here for details and rules)~

Can you guess what next week’s hair food (or drink) will be?

Leave your entry below in the comment section.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

* Other recipes can be found in the "hair recipe" category to the right

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