"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!

"Creamy Crack"

While many refer to relaxers as "Creamy Crack", I think I'd have to redefine what I would consider to be my addiction... SHEA MOISTURE Curl Enhancement Smoothie... and yes, NeNe, you hit it on the nose. Though I had been using this product for several months, I'd recently run out. Much to my surprise, in the few days I hadn't used it, my hair seemed to look very dry and brittle, though it was considerable soft to the touch. It never dawned on me that it was because I hadn't used this product since I'd washed my hair. I normally use the smoothie on twist-outs, but I'd been wearing a wash and go so I never even thought that this may have been the problem. Well, much to much my surprise I twisted my hair today after purchasing another jar of the smoothie, and what do you know...  silky, shiny elongated twist just to my liking... and I'm all smiles.

Thanks again, NeNe for reminding me of how wonderful this product is. You can almost bet your bottom dollar that I'll be sure to never run out of this one again.

So, what product would you consider to be your "Creamy Crack" addiction?

Please, share your thoughts, comment, join my  network, and follow my blog...

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

What's the Secret?

For the last few days, I have been wearing a wash and go and before the day has even started my wash and go is gone. For some reason, I am having a time keeping my hair moisturized when rocking this infamous style. So, I am reaching out for answers.

What products have you found work best for your hair when wearing this style? I know everyone's hair is different and what works for you may not work me. However, I'm puzzled and just thought I'd seek some advice from others that may have experienced the same issue.

Share your thoughts, suggestions, advice and until next time... Love Me So Naturally!

Keys to Retaining Length

Many people wonder why their hair will only grow to a certain length and then start to break. Well, I have finally learned the secret to retaining length. Here are three tips I'd would like to share:

1. You must keep your hair moisturized daily. I personally found that using a spray bottle to spritz my hair with an oil and water mix helps out tremendously.
2. Low manipulation - Step away from the comb/brush. Wear your hair in styles that don't require you to comb/brush your hair repeatedly.
3. Tuck those ends away. Wear your hair in styles that protect your ends from: contact with your clothes, harsh sun rays and winds... and most of all keep your ends MOISTURIZED!

Try this for 6-12 months and keep track of your growth/length retention. Report back and let me know if you've noticed a difference.

If you have tips that you'd like to share or add, please feel free to leave a comment.

Until next time... Love me naturally!

Hair Regimen

Currently my hair care regimen consists of washing my hair  with a sulfate-free shampoo and deep condition with heat at least once a week. I also co-wash my hair with a low-cost conditioner such as Suave Naturals or Herbal Essence at lease once a week, but sometimes twice a week. Because my hair has not reached a length that allows me to pull it back in a bun, I normally wear my hair in a twist out or a wash and go.

I find that when my hair is out I tend to mess in it more often then I would like. When I notice that I am putting my hands in my hair too often or I begin to feel anxious about my hair, I simply wear it in a protective style that will not require anything more that adding moisture. Some protective styles I would recommend for shorter length hair include: flat twists, mini twists, corn rows, and sew-in weaves(this has worked wonders for some)... and yes, they have weaves that mimic our kinky coiled hair so you can still achieve that natural look.

I hope I have given you some tools that you can add to your regimen. Please leave comments or suggestions letting me know what you think.

Until next time....

Love Me So Naturally

Naturally Courageous

Learning to embrace our natural beauty can be challenging. Often times we aspire to be what we see. Well, I have decided to challenge myself. In November of  2010, I decided to join many others on the journey to care for and grow my hair in its natural state. After much research, I learned that a lot of the issues I have faced with growing my hair to its optimal length was a due to the harsh chemicals I used to process my hair. What a relief it was to find out that once I changed the way a handled my hair, my hair would change the way it responded to me.

I know that true change can only come from within. So today, I will walk the journey of loving myself from the inside out. I invite you to join me on this journey.

The journey to put the elements of who I truly am back into me….the journey to become "Naturally Courageous".