Working with what God gave me

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

AM-8: Hardware for Hair

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!

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

Giving henna another try. . .

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

Hair Pampering: Trimming

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

Weekend hair pics

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

African Black Soap - Shampoo Review

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

Crochet Braids: The Take Down :-)

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

I've been featured

Yesterday I was featured on True Naturalista (thanks True)

Check me out (here).

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

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

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?

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

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

March Mission

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

I'm a bag lady :-)

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

Past reflections & future goals

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

You've got style!

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

More kitchen experiments

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

My latest hair brew

Why did I procrastinate until the last weekend of summer to do this??? I finally got around to infusing oil with herbs – I’ve been wanting to do this for months.

Anyway, the process of infusing carrier oils with herbs is very easy. I have read various methods of infusing oil. I am using the solar method. I would like to infuse the oil for about two weeks.

Although I have an herb garden, I purchased all of the dried herbs used in this experiment. It was hard to narrow them down but I decided on these five herbs:

Chamomile – Extracts from its flowering her are used in preparations for sensitive skin
because of its sedative and emollient effects. The active principle in chamomile is alpha-bisabolol, which is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, and nonallergenic. Also used in hair dyes, chamomile has a brightening and shine-enhancing quality.

Coltsfoot – This herb is excellent for the hair. It is valued for its high levels of amino acids (cysteine), phytosterols, and silica. This herb is said to strengthen, condition, and make the hair more resilient – thickening hair strands and enhancing shine. It’s also a great normalize for excess oil production of skin and hair.


Horsetail – This herb is excellent for the hair. Like coltsfoot, it’s valued for its high levels of amino acids, phytosterols, and silica and is said to strengthen, condition, make the hair more resilient, and normalize oil production of skin and hair.


Nettle – Nettles contains mucilage, amino acids, mineral, vitamins, and other beneficial herbal constituents that make this a very nourishing herb. Nettle is tonic (strengthening) and antifungal; it’s also said to stimulate circulation at the scalp, which is beneficial for hair growth. If you’re gathering it in the wild or garden, be sure to harvest before it flowers, and wear gloves so you’re not stung by the glandular hairs along its stalk. Interestingly enough, the burning and irritation caused by nettle plant hairs may be alleviated by dabbing nettle tea on the skin.


Rosemary – Purifying, antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent, and stimulating, this aromatic member of the mint family is a tremendous conditioner for the hair. It can also be used at higher quantities in a rinse to darken the hair.


The carrier oil I used was olive oil. From the fruit of the olive tree, this cooling oil is rich in protein, mineral, and vitamins. It will impart a rich, nongreasy emollience and shine to the hair. It nourished, stimulates, and softens the skin. The vitamin E in olive oil is a powerful antioxidant, and the fatty acids make for an oil that is very stable (it resists going rancid). This oil is heavier in viscosity and has a stronger aroma than most other oils, so, depending on your personal preference, you may want to mix it with a lighter oil. Make sure to purchase the “extra-virgin” variety.


After the infusion process is complete, I may add some vitamin E and/or essential oil(s); haven’t decided yet. I will do an update post with pics when the oil is ready to be transferred.

I plan on using the herbal oil for scalp massages, pre-poo/overnight oil treatments and to add to conditioner for deep treatments.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

*Information was referenced from Naturally Healthy Hair

15 minutes of fame :-)

Check me out on Black Girl with Long Hair

At ease solider

At one point or another, do you remember a time where you experienced dis-ease with your hair? Do you remember why? What have you done at this cross roads?

I had such an experience recently. Last weekend, I tried a different style (pics below) and I wasn’t really feelin’ it at first. I just wasn’t used to the look on me. After the time invested in styling, I wasn’t ready to take the style down so I let it be. My husband complimented my new do but I still felt some apprehension about wearing it out in public. I needed to run some errands so I just sucked up my insecurities and rolled out. From time to time, I would think about what my hair looked like with a bit of uneasiness but I began to feel myself getting over it. “This is silly” I kept saying to myself. In my travels, I didn’t notice anyone gawking or starting at my strangely – and do you know what? – I really didn’t care!

With each passing day, I rocked my do with more and more confidence and began to love the way it looked. Now, I’m looking forward to an awesome twistout I can wear for a few days after I take the twists down :-). I am grateful that I decided against taking my style down and getting an opportunity to be liberated.

I just wanted to share with my readers the struggles that I sometimes go through on my journey. For me, I was worried about what others thought. . . What makes us put so much stock in what other people think anyway? I hope this little tale helps you realize that you’re not alone and that the way we choose to wear our hair can be one more inhibition CONQUERED!

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily