"Time to Henna?"

Since I have decided to go natural I have treated my hair with Henna almost every four to six weeks. Henna is a natural hair dye which provides a wealth of benefits for strong, healthy hair. Henna is great for completely covering gray hair and lasts much longer then other coloring agents. For various results, Henna may be mixed with other natural coloring agents such as Indigo to achieve your desired look.

My Henna Mix:

100g of Body Art Quality Henna
1/2 cup of conditioner of your choice (My Preference: Say Yes to Carrots! or Herbal Essence Hello Hydration)
1/2 cup of Distilled water
2-3 drops of Peppermint Oil
2 Tbsp of Olive Oil

Mix ingredients to a thick paste and apply evenly throughout the hair. (It is not necessary to wash hair prior to application) Cover hair with a plastic cap or saran wrap for at least three hours. Thoroughly rinse hair free of Henna residue, and style hair as normal.

Though Henna is a great benefit for naturals, it also provides the same benefits for chemically treated hair. However, it is important to use body art quality Henna if your hair is chemically treated.

There are some rare cases of people who have had an allergic reaction to Henna. Thus, prior to using this product I would recommend completing a test patch to verify you do not develop any of the following symptoms:
a tight feeling in the chest, sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and dry cough, after exposure to Henna powder or paste.

As with any product, I would recommend that you do extensive research to ensure that the product is right for you.

You can purchase Henna from the following website: http://www.hennaforhair.com/

As always, leave comments, questions, or add suggestions on how you use Henna.

Until next time, Love Me So Naturally!

Big Chop ~vs~ Transitioning

I have been asked a lot of questions about going natural. I am hearing a lot of concerns about having to do what we would call a "big chop". Not everyone is comfortable with cutting all of their hair down to its natural state.

Well, I have good news for you. You don't have to. It is perfectly acceptable, and for some preferable to grow your natural hair out to a length in which you are comfortable before deciding to cut off the processed ends.

So, how can I do this, you ask? I would first suggest to try to go without using heat. There are styles that will help blend the two different textures of hair. Some recommendations I have would be to wear: braid outs, twist outs, buns, individual braids (be sure that the braids are not too tight as this could cause more damage than it's worth), and other protective styles.

There's a wealth of informational videos on natural hair care forum sites such as youtube, CurlyNikki.com, and Long Hair Don't Care. Explore sites like these for tips and instructional videos on how to do these styles at home and save money. Or, try to find a salon that specializes in natural hair care in your local area for added help and support.

As always, leave a comment, share your concerns, suggestions and let me know what you think.

Until next time.... Love Me So Naturally!