MY SHEA BUTTER CONCOCTION

Shea Butter is another staple that is used in my hair on a regular basis. It provides moisture to dry, damaged hair from the roots to the tips, leaving it healthy and shiny. Rich in Vitamins A & E, it soothes dryness, repairs breakage and mends split ends. I use it especially to do my twist outs as it acts as a perfect sealant for particularly my ends. It also is great for smoothing frizzes. I love the fact that it absorbs quickly into the scalp without clogging the pores. 
It is important to use 100% Natural Shea Butter. I buy the African Shea Butter. I make my special Shea Butter Concoction by adding a few of my favorite oils. See details below:  
                                      
                                  YOU WILL NEED
1 Empty product jar
4 oz 100% Shea Butter
1/2 Tbsp Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil
1/2 Tbsp Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
5 Drops Rosemary oil


Place all the items into the empty jar and use a spoon or other suitable object (I use my comb) to vigorously incorporate the mixture until it is soft and smooth. The mixing process significantly softens the the mixture and I find that it retains and can be easily smoothed into the palms of the hand. Try it for your next twist out guys. You will love it.
N.B. Rosemary is excellent for hair growth.   

SECRETS TO HEALTHY HAIR FOUND IN YOUR KITCHEN (PART 1)

The secret to healthy hair is only a few steps away. Much of the foods that we eat are in fact excellent food for our hair too. The natural properties provided by many of these hair care remedies far supersedes those provided by their processed, beauty supply store bought, counterparts. Below are some of the many foods that your hair would just love to eat up:




HONEY - Honey is a natural humectant, which means it attracts and holds on to water molecules, thus making it a great moisturizing agent and an effective food to combat hair dryness. Add a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of your favorite oil to your conditioner and allow it to penetrate your hair for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and experience softness and sheen that that is well needed. You will bee happy. :)   


EGG - Eggs are known to be rich in protein and are very effective for hydrating and repairing damaged hair. The protein provided by the egg helps to make your hair stronger, thicker and healthier.  Eggs can be used to strengthen the hair follicles because of its high protein content.  If you are experiencing breakage then a protein treatment is a sure remedy. Combine two eggs with two tablespoons of  extra-virgin olive oil and work the mixture through the strands. Leave for 30 minutes and rinse with cold water. This will give your hair a boost of strength and will prevent your hair from giving you a raw deal. 


APPLE CIDER VINEGAR - Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is known for its reputation of being an excellent cleansing agent. It is very useful  for removing excessive build up and residue. If your hair tends to be packed with layers of oils, moisturizers, gels etc. this is a sure ingredient to help to remove them. Mix one Tbsp of ACV with two cups of water and shake well in a spray bottle. After your regular shampoo has been rinsed out, spray the ACV mixture into the hair.Many people leave the mixture in the hair but I prefer to lightly rinse it out before applying my conditioner. The ACV helps to close up the cuticles that are opened up during the shampoo process.It is also known to help with dandruff and itchy scalp. Dont worry about the slight vinegar smell that lingers after rinsing, it will totally disappear when your hair totally dries.


STAY TUNED FOR MORE HAIR NOURISHING FOODS YOUR HAIR WILL LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




     

Accessorizing Options

(Source: Etsy)


Getting bored with your natural hair is NEVER an option, as there is soooo much that you can do to change up your look and add a little flare and excitement to your do. Adding very unique accessorizing pieces can take your hair to the next level and just totally set off your look. 
It is especially great now that hair flowers are a fashion trend. The key is to not just stick with the plain old boring flowers but step out of the box a little and explore other ideas such as feathers (Pictured Above). I love how the feather is paired with the rhinestones to give it that edgy vibe. 
Start your hair accessory collection today and send me a pic sporting your favorite accessory.  

The Power of Pre-Poo

One very simple way of adding moisture and strength to your hair is by way of pre-pooing. Pre-pooing is nothing more than a pre-shampoo treatment applied to your hair and/or scalp. It is usually done with conditioner or oils or both. I usually use any cheapie conditioner (Herbal Essence Totally Twisted being my favorite) and some of my favorite carrier oils like extra virgin coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, jojoba oil or sweet almond oil. You can use whichever oils you prefer.

The Pre-pooing process is simple. It can be done on the day before you wash or on the day you actually wash your hair, depending on which method you choose. It involves applying the conditioner or oils to your hair in its dry state as the products are harder to absorb when the hair is wet.  If you are pre-pooing with oils only then it is safe to leave it in your hair overnight. In this case, you apply the oils and place a silk scarf or cap over your hair.  I would not recommend that conditioner be left in your hair overnight because extended exposure can cause its moisturising properties to make your hair too soft, light and limp. If you use protein conditioners, your hair may become too dry, which makes it susceptible to breakage. 


After applying your Pre-pooing treatment always cover the hair with a plastic cap or a warm towel for about 20-30 minutes. You may sit under a hooded dryer for added penetration. I make good use of the heat provided by nature this time of year so I go outdoors after applying my treatment and soak up that good sun (not recommended for everyone…remember your sunscreen if you intend to attempt this).  I am positive that, like me, you will achieve healthier looking and feeling hair after applying this step to your regular shampoo regimen.

Celebrity Braids - Simple but Classy

                                                                   CIARA
Sometimes the simplest things in life are the nicest. When considering styling options for our natural hair we tend to overlook the basic braided/cornrowed hairdo. This is such an awesome styling option that can be explored. It can be worn not only casually but can also be pulled off for a dressy occasion.
One suggestion that I would give is that you make either your makeup or accessories pop to enhance the look. If the length of your hair is not suitable for the style, you can add a little weave to achieve the desired length. I incidentally rocked a similar look last year for my birthday girls night out. See pic below. I actually wore this as one of my transitioning styles but would definitely do it again as I love the convenience of not having to style or maintain my hair for two weeks.Why not try your very own Ciara or Candie inspired braids.

OIL LA LA!!!!!!!! (Oils That Your Hair Love)

Oils are the lifeblood of natural hair and without their use the hair would be deprived of much needed nutrients. The use of oils has formed a part of my daily hair routine and in fact most of the oils that I use in my hair are also used on my skin. Below are a list of oils that I use which have been proven to be valuable to natural hair, and a brief description of their benefits.

Jojoba Oil - Jojoba Oil is good for all types of hair, especially hair that is dry or damaged, has split ends or is prone to breakage or tangling. It is known to provide the hair with much needed moisture. Jojoba Oil also works well on the scalp and keeps it from being dry, thus aiding with the prevention of dandruff. Adding a small amount of Jojoba Oil to your shampoo will generate amazing improvements to the look and feel of your hair and the pore cleansing effects help to promote growth and regeneration.

Sweet Almond Oil - Sweet Almond Oil is extracted from pressed Almonds, and is rich in vitamins A, B1, B6 and E. Vitamin B Complex, including vitamin B6 has been shown to improve hair growth. Vitamin E contains antioxidants that promote the circulation in the scalp. Vitamin A contains antioxidants necessary to maintain healthy cell and membrane growth. Sweet Almond Oil is a moisture rich oil that penetrates well into the hair shaft and follicles. The hair helps to relieve dryness and itching promoting a healthy scalp. It can be added to your conditioner, homemade spritz or directly to the scalp.

 Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, or as some would say "EVOO", is excellent for natural hair. EVOO can be added to other hair products to provide extra "slip", which makes the product go through the strands easier, this makes manipulating the hair easier. I add it to my Shea Butter along with one or two other ingredients to do my twist out. EVOO may also be used as a detangling agent. The oil may be applied to the hair, and be worked through your coils in order to make your hair more manageable. It is a great way to add sheen to your hair.

Grape Seed Oil - Grape Seed Oil is light and is easily absorbed into the hair. It helps coat the hair to add moisture and reduce breakage.  Grape Seed Oil is rich in antioxidants and has many beneficial properties for your hair and scalp. It can be used daily because it is not greasy and as such will not weigh down your hair. I mostly apply it directly to my scalp as opposed to adding it to other products. My skin loves it too.

Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil - Coconut Oil is one of the best natural nutrition for the hair. It promotes healthy hair growth and provides it a shiny complexion. Regular massaging of your head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free from dandruff. I add EVCO to everything. Its a must have.

As in all other aspects of life, everything should be done in moderation. Oil application is no different. Use a little at a time as you don't want your hair to be overly greasy. Experiment and see which ones work best for you. You will be sure to say Oil La La!!!!!!!!!!    

Back To School Time Saving Hairdos

It is back to school time again and that usually means rushy mornings and struggles to make it out of the house in good time to avoid tardiness. I have a 8 year old son and personally it is always a challenge to accomplish everything in the daily morning routine in time.  

I can well imagine how much more difficult it must be for you who have to factor in combing your little girl's hair, which in many cases can be a grueling task for both parties involved. Life can be way easier if you consider some time saving hairdos for your little girls which will not only allow you to be able to avoid excess rushing but it also greatly reduces hair shedding caused by frequent combing.

Consider getting your child's hair braided, twisted, cornrowed etc. Its is not only very attractive but also very convenient and a prudent means of achieving a stress free daily school preparation routine.

Wash n Go

I was in short cut mode full force on Friday. Usually after I do my wash I two strand twist my hair as the twist out is one of my favorite hairdos. In instances when I am strapped for time I am forced to just wash n go. After washing I would just apply some leave in conditioner to my hair, spritz it with some of my homemade spritz(See previous blog titled My Homemade Spritz for ingredients) and a dime sized portion of Vatika oil. My hair is then slicked back in a head band, shaken a couple of times and I am ready to go. Very importantly though, it is imperative to take a small spritz bottle along with you in your purse to refresh and replace moisture in the event that you experience dryness while out and about.

The Convenience of Co-Washing

On Friday I was faced with a dilemma. My hair was semi-dirty and I was experiencing a little itching. I knew I was overdue for a protein treatment and had plans to do one next week when I did my wash routine.  I definitely didn't want to go through a regular shampoo and conditioner process, neither did I have the time to spare to go through with all of that based on the tight schedule I had. At the same time I wanted to address the itching and dryness that I was experiencing. 
I decided to do the the emergency version of my wash routine. I did what is called a co-wash. This is a quick, easy, and very effective wash method. Co-Washing is the process by which you wash the hair with conditioner only, or in my case conditioner and oils. Co-washing avoids harsh results from frequent washing with shampoos and helps to keep natural black hair soft and manageable. I use any cheapie conditioner along with black Jamaican Castor oil, Extra-Virgin Olive oil and Essential oil of peppermint to do my co-wash. After applying the mixture, I use the finger tips to massage it into my scalp and gently rub it into my hair, ensuring that the entire length of my strands are saturated. I cover with a plastic cap for 30 minutes and then rinse. The end result is clean, soft and shiny hair.Try it and style and desired.  

Natural Bride

It would appear to many, that a bride with natural hair could never pull off that elegant and classy look that brides usually pride themselves in having. The truth is that there is no need to get tempted to aspire to achieve the traditional bridal look. Your hair is your beauty and so it stands to reason that your natural hair is your natural beauty. I am sooooo loving this bridal do and would have rocked it for my wedding had I been natural 13 years ago when I tied the knot.
An elegant hair accessory as the one pictured, adds a nice pop to her already beautiful natural afro hairdo.











Images Courtesy of Etsy

Bedtime Protective Styles

The natural hair journey is one that requires much discipline and dedication. As such, it is very important for you to be very diligent about your hair care regimen. One very important daily routine that is of bedtime protective styling. This will vary based on your preference. Protective styling options that I consider very useful include two-strand twists, flat twists, plaits, cornrows or bantu or nubian knots (commonly known in my culture as chiney bumps). Each will give a different look when loosened. Bedtime protective styles keep your hair healthy and moisturised. These styles protect your hair ends from exposure to the air which can cause excessive dryness, which ultimately leads to breakage. The advantage of protective styling is that it keeps moisture in your hair… where it belongs.

High Fashioned Natural Hair

If you ever doubted that natural hair could take on that edgy and high fashioned character, here is proof that it can. "Big Hair" is often required on the set of a photo shoot or on the runway. Natural hair is usually naturally voluminous and can therefore provide that coveted look.

Straightened hair in most cases require large volumes of hairspray and aggressive teasing to achieve the pouffy look.
Don't be afraid to rock your edgy hairdos as they reflect nicely on camera. I had tonnes of fun styling Trishauna's hair on the set of the CY Fashion Photo Shoot.

My BIG Heat Horror

My Heat Damaged patch. Straight when wet. 

I remember when I was growing up my mother would often tell me that she made many mistakes and that I should learn from them and not try to experience them for myself. Those words would save me a lot of failures, stresses and disappointments.
Likewise, I have made one crucial hair mistake during my natural hair journey that I would love to share with you with the hope that you won't ever make the same mistake. Like I mentioned in my Conversion Story, it initially was not my intention to remain natural but I was using it as a means of growing out my hair so that it would be nice and healthy with the view of perming it afresh. When I did the big chop I realized that I loved the Afro and decided to abandon all perming plans. Even thought I had already done the BC, at that stage I was not a natural hair convert at heart and I guess I still hadn't embraced wearing natural hair. As such I wore styles that disguised the fact that I was natural. The bottom line is that I wanted the best of both worlds.
My HEAT HORROR all began when I started wearing sew in weaves. I wore many sew in weaves but the straight weave was responsible for my hair woe. I did my weave with a side part and as such I had to leave out a small portion of my beautiful natural hair to cover the weave tracts. Anyone who is a professional weave wearer knows that the portion of hair designated with the task of making the weave look authentic has to be nice and bone straight. The only way for me to achieve that without Chemical exposures was to daily straighten it with my flat iron. I was most pleased with the outcome of my hairdo but little did I know that I was in for a rude awakening.
When I removed my weave and washed my hair I was most devastated to see my roots in the area that covered the tracts still bone straight. Can you imagine how ridiculous I looked with this one patch of perm looking hair in the front of my head
and everything else natural? I was so mad at myself for being ignorant of the permanently damaging effect that continuous heat would have on my hair.
Like a desperate lady looking for a cure to a terminal illness, I immediately went to my best friend GOOGLE for advice. This I have to admit was one of the few times that she has let me down. I tried many of her prescribed remedies to no avail. One that I can remember is that of immersing the section in vinegar before washing, among many others. Nothing worked. I was stuck with it and had to wait for it to grow out and gradually trim off the straight ends. Moral of the story.........try to stay as far away from heat as you can as it may cause permanent changes to your curl pattern or in my case remove it altogether. Like mymother would say, I have made the mistake before, learn from it and save yourself the disaster.
I'm out...........

Horrors of Heat



In almost every aspect of our lives we fear heat. This is due to the fact that in many instances heat can have very damaging effects. This is no different when it comes to our hair. Hair when exposed to heat may lead to damage of the hair follicles, breakage and shedding.
Try to avoid having to use heated tools too often. An occasional blow out or flat iron may not be noticeably harmful but the truth is...abstinence is key. Repeated use of flat iron on natural hair can have devastating results. In my next blog I will share my personal experience with repeated flat ironing and how it messed my hair up big time. Stay tuned......

Natural Celebrity Of The Week

Lauryn's Fro

Lauryn Hill has been one of my favorite artistes of all times. Her natural image has always earned my respect and admiration. I love how her hair is beautifully coiled voluminous. She rocks many varieties of natural looks but the big afro is one of my favorites.

She recently appeared for a performance with her hair straightened, causing many loyal naturalistas to express concern that she may have reverted. I personally think it’s just a blow out to change up her look. I would be very disappointed if she did otherwise. Her hair has become an instrumental part of her image and it tells the story about her appreciation for natural beauty. She is a True Realist!!!!     

Lauryn's Straight Look. She looks very fabulous and this just shows the versatility that exists with natural hair. 

My Homemade Moisturizing Spritz

My Homemade Moisturizing Spritz

                                                            

Keeping natural hair moisturized is always a challenge. The hair tends to get very dry and brittle and many times require a little mist of moisture to get it feeling soft and manageable again. Finding an over the counter product that does just that without exposing your hair to harmful ingredients such as alcohol is difficult. I have been making my own moisturizing spritz ever since I went natural. I use it daily in my hair to revive my twists, refresh my curls or simply to detangle my hair. It has been my savior the few times that I dared to go to bed without doing a protective style as my hair would be very dry, hard and knotty. Just a few pumps from my spritz bottle and comb through is a walk in the park.

My current spritz concoction includes the following:

4 oz Distilled Water

2 oz Vegetable Glycerin

2 oz Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

5 Drops of Essential oil of Lavender

5 Drops of Essential Oil of Rosemary

Pour all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well.

Ingredients may be substituted based on preference. I choose to use Vegetable Glycerin because it is a very good source of moisture and it leaves my hair feeling soft and silky. The EVOO gives my hair a nice sheen. The essential oil of Rosemary has a reputation for stimulating hair growth (which is one of my main goals) and the essential oil of Lavender I use to give the mixture a nice smell. Hope this works for you the way it works for me. Much love.

Health Before Beauty Series......

                                               


While being beautiful is very important, it is equally if not more important to consider our health. As with our bodies, looking nice and attractive sometimes takes precedence over being fit and healthy. This should never be the case as the longevity of the body is dependent on the state of it's health and not the appearance of its beauty. The same principle applies where our hair is concerned. Having healthy hair is very important and equal effort should be placed on caring for the hair as styling the hair. The truth is, the healthier the hair, the more beautiful it will look. With this in mind, I will be dedicating the first couple of blogs to sharing tips as to how to achieve healthier and more manageable natural hair. Stay tuned..............

Product Pick of the Day - Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Conditioner

I have a couple conditioners that I am comfortable using, but the Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Conditioner is by faaaaarrrrr my ultimate favorite and it is among the top 5  products that I dare not run out of. It truly stands up to its name as being a Conditioner that moisturizes, detangles and smoothes for ultra-soft, shiny and touchable hair. Not very many conditioning products can provide me with these results. I have very thick hair that tends to get very dry and brittle if it lacks moisture so my level of appreciation for this product is through the roof.  I get mine online at www.vitacost.com. It is a must have. Love it!!!! Love it!!!! Love it!!!!

My Conversion Story

Thought I would use my first blog to kinda share a little bit about my natural hair conversion story. I have been natural for approximately 14 months. I am totally a convert of the little adage that says: “knowledge is power and ignorance is a vice”. I never knew that going natural would ever be possible for me. I have always been encouraged by my bestie to consider going natural as she had embarked on the said journey some three years prior. I had always flatly refused only because I never in my wildest imagination thought that my hair texture would be conducive to going natural. (I think my hair type is a 4B). I am yet to master the art of determining hair types. My decision to eventually embrace going natural was not deliberate but by default. The thing is that I had been experiencing severe breakage during my chemical days and all efforts to treat and trim were proving futile. My only option was to allow my hair to grow out natural then cut all the processed ends off with the intention to perm it after it had grown to a decent length. That way, I would be able to start fresh with a healthy head of perm. As it turns out, after the big chop I pretty much had a two inch Afro that I instantly fell in love with. I thought it looked so cute and I realized that natural hair was far more manageable than I ever dreamt. I have since then been sold out to my natural hair regimen and I have resolved to totally "Emancipate myself from chemical slavery".

This was a Curl-Hawk hairdo that I achieved by loosening my twist out, spritzing the hair then pinning it with Bobby Pins. I was able to rock the look for a couple days. That was supposed to be my fierce look but it looks more pensive. I promise you will see my fierce look before long.  

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Meet & Greet

Hi everyone, welcome to my Blog Spot. My name is Candie and I am super excited to use this forum to share my hair evolution with all you Natural Divas. NaturalHairnamix.com is designed to provide a medium by which I can communicate with individuals who have embraced the wonderful world of natural hair, to share practical, up to the minute updates about natural hair care, products, styling options, daily motivation and much more. I believe that the decision to go back to ones "natural roots"  is one that exhibits a very high level of confidence and a willingness to step away from the status quo that has been set which has caused many of us to believe that straighter is better. The stigma once associated with wearing natural hair is becoming fast eroded and many are embracing their natural beauty. The natural hair journey is not one to be taken alone as it can become a very lonely road with potential stop signs. Candie's Natural Hairvolution  provides valuable and priceless tips that will cause us to maintain that diva status naturally.