Family notice

My mum is not aware about my decision to go natural. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. She didn't let me use weave until I was like 14 and I understood her plight. Apparently it makes a girl look older than she is and when a girl shows her natural hair it tends to make her look younger. My mum would probably like my decision, sometimes she wants me to leave my hair out instead of fixing weaves upon weaves. Don't worry, I'm progressing.

External Article: Henna Hair Dye

This is a very healthy way to get red and other reddish color variations, without the damaging effects of synthetic products, providing that you use body art quality  henna, your hair will love you for this because unlike its synthetic counterparts henna will keep your hair soft, shiny, easy to manage and give you gorgeous colors!

Ingredients:
1-cup henna (body art quality)
1-cup lemon/orange juice/grapefruit juice (chamomile tea is also an option)
1/2 cup to 1 cup filtered water (try to avoid chlorinated water)

Method:
In a mixing bowl that you can afford to be stained red, mix henna and lemon juice. Any of the acidic juices listed above can work just as well. Add 1/2-cup water pouring on the mixture until it has a yogurt like consistency. Cover bowl with a plastic wrap and leave for 12 hours.

After 12 hours at 24 C the henna is ready to be used. In preparation you need old towels or rags, protection for the floor around you and also plastic gloves to do the application. Use the same precautions as dying your hair; protect your neck and clothes as far as possible before you begin. Apply a light coat of Vaseline along the hairline and forehead to protect these areas from being stained.

Part your clean and dried hair in four parts. Put on your gloves, your hands will be stained if you do not do this. Apply the henna using your fingers beginning at the hair roots, working your way through the four sections till all the hair is covered. Work henna paste all the way to the ends of the hair for each section.

When all the hair is evenly covered, your hair should be generously coated with henna, pile the hair on top of your head–fasten it with a clip and put on a plastic cap–some persons use a saran wrap, a plastic cap is easier to maneuver if you are doing this alone. Over the plastic cap tie a towel or a bandana over the cap for added heat. This will prevent the henna from drying out too quickly and keep the heat trapped on your head.

For deeper, richer color stay under the plastic cap for a minimum of two hours. The longer the henna is in the hair the deeper and richer the color and the more it will stain your hair. Also, if you go under an overhead dryer for 30 minutes this will hasten the coloring process and does wonders for your final hair color.

Rinse out the henna paste from your hair with room temperature water and conditioner. Do not use shampoo at this stage.

The final, glorious color will be revealed the older the dye stays on your hair.

Please note: For longer hair 2 cups henna to 2 cups lemon/orange.

Courtesy: Black Hair 101

Hair Butters

Hair butters together with coconut oil can be used to make a hair gel. Instead of using the usual seethrough hair gels from the shops, you can make your own using a hair butter.

What are hair butters?
Hair butters are pressed from various nuts, fruits, and plants that have nutrients in them that are good for the hair and skin. Examples of some of these pressed trees and plants are: shea, mango, cocoa, avocado and hemp. For years various cultures in Africa have been using these butters for skin and hair with great results.

Nutrition Benefits
They are easy to absorb in the skin and hair and have the capability of renewing the skin by speeding up skin cell regeneration. They are rich in Vitamin E, the healing vitamin, and hair butters are known to assist in the softening of hair and assisting in hair growth. These natural butters are far better for your skin and hair than any commercially prepared concoction, they are easily absorbed by the body, allows moisture to flow back and forth. Your skin and hair stays clear and moisturized when you use these butters and the best thing about the butters is that they are all natural.

Types of Butters
There are several hair butters on the market that are very useful for black hair. These butters are a great alternative to several beauty and hair products on the market. Some of them are:

• Shea Butter
• Mango Butter
• Avocado Butter
• Cocoa Butter
• Hemp Butter

I personally would recommend Shea Butter. You can find these products at your local hair shop, just ask.

Hair Oils

There are so many good and natural oils that can be used to promote the growth and strength of your hair. You can by these essential oils in shops and add them to your hair creams, conditioners and shampoos if you will. Because our hair is tender, we need to put in more effort into caring for it naturally by avoiding the use of harsh chemicals.

• Olive Oil - Only olive oil that is labelled “extra virgin” guarantees that the oil has been cold pressed from freshly harvested olives and does not contain chemicals. For relaxed/permed hair ladies excessive chemical use can cause hair damage, olive oil contains antioxidants that promotes a healthy hair  and scalp. Olive oil strengthens and smooths hair cuticles.
• Coconut Oil - Coconut oil consists of more than ninety percent of saturated fats Vitamin-E and Vitamin K and minerals such as Iron. Coconut oil is considered one of the best natural nutrition for hair. t is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair and it softens the hair and conditions the scalp.
• Jojoba Oil - Jojoba is a traditional treatment in many cultures for relieving skin problems and promoting hair growth. It is effective in reducing dandruff and for moisturizing very dry skin.
• Almond Oil - The nutrients in almond oil make it an ideal solution to many hair problems and to maintain healthy hair. The combination of fats and fatty acids in almond oil softens, strengthens and nourishes the hair. Almond oil has been recommended as a hair growth agent for centuries..With the benefits of Vitamin E and potassium, almond oil helps with hair fall out and breakage as a natural hair loss treatment. In the event of dry scalp, almond oil nourishes and moisturizes the scalp, and removes the flakiness.
• Avocado Oil - It is full of vitamins that your hair needs like vitamins A, E, D and potassium. If you want a super deep conditioner treatment without having to buy a commercial preparation, you can add avocado oil to the other carrier oils and you will definitely feel and see the difference.
• Peppermint Oil - helps to stimulate blood flow to the root of the hair. This is very important for hair as it helps the hair to receive proper nourishment. This in turn will lead to hair growth. That tingly feeling when peppermint oil is felt on the scalp is actually the stimulation of  blood flow to hair.
• Vitamin E Oil - Proper circulation leads to thriving hair follicles  which leads to hair growth. Vitamin E contains valuable antioxidants that help to keep the immune system up and improves circulation to all parts of the body, including the scalp. When added to homemade products, Vitamin E extends their shelf life. This oil  offers protection for the scalp and skin.
• Castor Oil - It nourishes hair and prevents the scalp from drying by retaining moisture. Castor oil added to hair care products helps to seal moisture, softens, and visibly thickens hair. Castor oil can also be used by itself on the hair to seal in moisture. It can be used to grow your eyebrow hair.

Go to your local hair or beauty store and ask for any of these oils. They work wonders!
More information

Hair treatments

Hair treatments will bless your natural hair with a load of protein, especially if you suffer from dry and breaking hair. Natural and homemade conditioner treatments are better than those from the shops. It is low-cost and quite literally, a miracle worker. These treatments require the use of a showercap to be able to trap heat and open up the hair and make it more porous, also referred to as ''the greenhouse effect''. These treatments can be done every 2 weeks.

Mayonnaise Treatment (Youtube tutorial)
Purchase some mayonnaise at your local grocery store. It doesn’t matter which brand you choose, just as long as it is regular mayonnaise.

1. Prep your hair using warm water to get it nice and damp, but not soaking wet.
2. Scoop some mayonnaise out of the jar and start rubbing it through your hair like you would a conditioner. The amount that you are going to use really depends on the length and thickness of your hair. Feel free to lather on the amount that you feel most comfortable with.
3. Wrap your head of hair with a plastic wrap, a plastic bag, or shower cap to trap the heat inside. Heat opens the pores and allows the treatment to penetrate strands further and thus work better.
4. Let the treatment sit on the hair for 1-2 hours.
5. Wash the mayonnaise out. This is most easily done in the shower using a diluted shampoo. You may need to shampoo a few times before you are able to get all of the mayonnaise out. Be sure to use the shampoo gently, not tangling the hair. Using a towel, rub gently to soak out the water.

Olive Oil Moisturising Treatment
Olive oil is one of the top oils that is known to penetrate the hair better than others. That doesn’t just mean that it nourishes and conditions. An olive oil treatment can improve the elasticity and strength of your hair far better than other essential oils. It contains anti-inflammatory properties that promote scalp health and prevent dandruff.

1. Take 1/4 cup olive oil and pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
2. Part your hair into four sections and apply the warm olive oil to your scalp, section by section. Make sure to work the olive oil from the scalp to the ends of your hair.
3. Put a plastic cap on your hair and let the olive oil work its magic for 30 minutes.
4. Remove the cap. Shampoo, condition, and style your hair as usual.

Coconut Milk Treatment

Coconut milk is rich in protein and fatty acids, which makes it great for conditioning, strengthening and minimizing hair breakage. It also protects you hair from the UV damage of constant sun exposure. 

1. You’ll need: 1 cup coconut milk, 1 peeled and mashed avocado, 1 tbsp of honey.
2. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. 
3. You can apply cool mixture directly to hair, or preheat mixture in microwave for 30-45 seconds. 
4. When applying, massage mixture into hair and scalp. 
5. Wrap hair in a hot towel or cover with shower cap for 15 min-60 min. 
6. Rinse out with shampoo/conditioner and style as usual.

Honey Treatment

Honey is a natural humectant, which means that it holds on to water molecules. This makes it a great moisturizer. Honey hair treatments are great for conditioning hair and adding sheen. Honey is also super rich in sulfur, iron, zinc and vitamins B1, B2, B3- all nutrients that aid in hair growth.

1. You’ll need: ½ cup honey, 2 tablespoon olive oil (Be sure to apply to freshly shampooed hair)
2. Mix honey with olive oil. 
3. Heat mixture in microwave for 30 seconds. 
4. Apply to hair, then cover head with shower cap for 15-30 minutes.
5. Rinse out with conditioner and style as usual.

Look for the good ingredients...

When buying any haircare product it is very important to look at the contents of it. This picture of my Oil Sheen Conditioning Spray shows the ingredients: jojoba & almond oil which is very good for growth. It is not a harsh conditioning spray and it includes natural oils, to provide shine. Care for your hair this way..

What isn't there to love about big hair?

Hair care has no price

I have been doing some browsing of good haircare products on the beauty store Superdrug's website.
Look what I stumbled upon. Click on the picture for a larger view.

It is full of quality and affordable, especially when on sales. A lot of hair care products work well on all hair types, regardless of race, since all tresses are made up of Keratine.