Category Archives: Natural Hair Care Routines

Hair Routines

DIY: Itchy Dry Scalp Treatment (Protective Style Spray)

Hey Maicurlies,

I am back (finally, I know I have been away) with another DIY. This recipe is for the scalp and is helpful for those of us that suffer from an itchy, dry, irritated, flaky scalp especially when rocking a Protective Style (PS).

While rocking a PS, it can become a little difficult to maintain a healthy scalp while still keeping the integrity of the PS and this mix will hopefully make it easier to keep your scalp clean and healthy while attending to scalp issues. You are of course still going to wash your hair/scalp as normal however whenever you experience itchiness, dryness, irritations etc you can reach for this without having to over wash your scalp to try and sooth the issue.

Note: This mix can be used on your scalp even if you hair is not in a PS but this post was intended to focus on maintaining a healthy scalp care during PS mode.

Ingredients/Tools

1 oz Fresh Aloe Vera Juice
0.2 oz Apple Cider Vinegar (natural/organic)
0.5 oz Plain Water
5 drops Peppermint Essential Oil (EO)*
3 capsules Vitamin E Oil
Spray Bottle

*If you are pregnant please do not use any EO and always consult with your doctor/dermatologist if you are trying something new.

NOTE: This mix is not for medicinal purposes, it is simply for informational purposes. ALWAYS consult with a professional doctor/dermatologist prior to integrating anything new to your routine!

Ingredient Benefits:

Aloe Vera Juice – a natural humectant that attracts moisture in the air to the area applied (the scalp). It is packed with essential vitamins and minerals that helps to reduce dry itchiness on the scalp, stimulates hair growth and is said to help with very mild cases of Alopecia. It balances and conditions both the scalp and roots leaving no traces of “product” build-up, has natural astringent properties to leave you with a clean scalp and aids in moisturizing dry hair.

Apple Cider Vinegar – has natural astringent properties, while diluted (e.g. with water & AVJ) it provides the scalp and hair (roots) with an optimal pH level and is also known for its ability to remove product build up. It helps to not only remove product but also helps to close the pores on the scalp while at the same time closing the cuticle of the hair which provides it with shine.

Peppermint Essential Oil – has astringent properties as well which helps to eliminate product build up and to remove sweat and dirt on the scalp. It helps stimulate blood circulation in the scalp which in turns helps to promote hair growth. The oil is known for combating dry irritated scalps which can help eliminate dandruff. Due to its stimulating properties (it will make your scalp feel fresh and tingly) this can help tackle the issue of itchiness while at the same time cleansing the scalp to eliminate the problem all together.

Vitamin E Oil – in this mix it can help extend the shelf life of the spray (but does not work as a preservative!). The oil is packed with antioxidants that helps to moisturize the scalp, keeps it healthy, less prone to dryness and thus aids in the growth of healthy hair as well. It allows the hair to grow soft, full of shine and suppleness and also can aid in slowing down the onset of premature greying. The oil is known to help generate new skin cells which allows your scalp to remain healthy and thanks to its moisturizing and healing properties this allows for quicker and healthier hair growth.

Water – need I say more? H2o is a naturals best friend since it is a vital source of moisture for both the scalp and hair!

Additional Options/Ratio Alternatives:

The purpose of this mix is to help keep a clean and healthy scalp therefore it is advisable to use ingredients that have cleansing and moisturizing properties while not clogging up the pores of your scalp. Along with the ingredients above you could also add some Rose Water to this mix e.g 0.2 oz of Rose Water for additional moisturizing elements, soothing effects and a wonderful scent! Tea Tree Essential Oil is an alternative EO that can be used in place of Peppermint.

Mixing Method:

Combine all the ingredients together in your spray bottle and make sure to shake well before applying.

Application:

There are two methods that I highly recommend when applying the mix instead of simply spraying onto your roots/scalp. Either spray some clean ear cleaners (unused!) and run them along your partings. The other option is cotton pads/buds which is my favorite.

Storage:

It is highly recommended to store this mix in the fridge for no more than 1 – 1.5 months maximum but constantly check to make sure there is no nasty fungus growing (you will be able to tell especially if you use a see through spray bottle). Keeping it in the fridge also means that it will have a soothing effect on the scalp and will help close the cuticles of your roots and the pores on your scalp!

I would love to hear what you think! If you use a scalp spray (or try this one) please do let me know, I love hearing from you!

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY – Moisturizing Dry Brittle Ends (Humectant Free)

DIY: (Recipe) Moisturizing Dry & Brittle Ends

1 Reply

Hello Maicurlies,

I brought my DIY (you know what) back on the blog to share…drum roll please…a DIY Recipe for the hair! (And the crowd goes wild!)

Moisturizing Dry & Brittle Ends

This particular recipe is one that I like to mainly focus on my ends since it does include a few “heavy” ingredients (heavy for my hair) that can potentially weigh my fine hair strands down. If however, you happen to have thick/coarse hair you probably can get away with applying this throughout the length of your hair without it stopping your curls/kinks/coils from being big and fierce!

Ingredients/Tools

Mixing Bowl (dry, clean and disinfected)
1.5 oz Plain Full Fat Yogurt
0.2 oz Raw/Natural Honey or Agave Nectar
0.2 oz (optional) Glycerine or Fresh Aloe Vera Juice
0.5 oz Rose Water
0.2 oz Virgin Olive Oil*
3 capsules Vitamin E Oil (roughly 0.15 oz)
**3-5 drops any Essential Oil (I used Citronella)
Spoon (dry, clean and disinfected)
Gloves (to be “extra” but not absolutely necessary)

**Note: Please do not use Essential Oils if you are pregnant of breastfeeding. Always consult with your doctor/dermatologist or a professional. Always make sure not to use too much Essential Oil since this can make the mix extremely “potent” and harsh, potentially causing you skin irritations.

Mixing Instructions:

All you need to do is combine all the ingredients together and mix really well once the Virgin Olive Oil has been added and that is it!

Application:

I prefer applying this on lightly damp detangled hair (the ends) as it makes it easier to distribute versus working on dry hair. I usually put my hair up in a bun and cover with a shower cap for 15-30 minutes then rinse it off with conditioner and cold water. The cold water helps to close the hair’s cuticles which allows for moisture to stay in my hair and since the cuticles are laying flat (closed) it also provides extra shine!

Ingredient Alternatives:

This is a humectant based recipe and some of you might find that humectants and your hair are not friends, it really depends on what your hair likes and the weather in your area. Humectants draws humidity in the air (moisture) to the area applied, if you have the right amount of humidity (neither too much nor too little) this creates additional moisture for dry curls/kinks/coils. If your hair does not like humectants you can limit the amount used e.g. Instead of using both Honey/Agave Nectar AND Glycerine/Aloe Vera Juice you can go for either Honey/Agave Nectar or Glycerine/Aloe Vera Juice.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil – can be replaced with any carrier oil of choice however I would suggest using one that is known to penetrate the hair strands e.g Virgin Coconut Oil.

Essential Oil – you can use any Essential Oil of choice or skip this all together (I am not the biggest fan of the smell of yogurt so the Rose water and Essential Oil helps to mask that).

If you have coarse/thick hair and would like to use this on the entire length of your hair then simply double the amounts apart from the Rose Water and Essential Oil. Instead use 0.7 oz Rose Water (so it does not become too runny) and keep the Essential oil at no more than 5-7 drops.

Storage:

I always use what I have made and then place the remaining in my freezer. I simply let it defrost on its own (no heat) during the following application.

P.S. in case some of you would like a humectant free recipe please do let me know I would be happy to create something along those lines.

Thanks

Maicurls

How To: Adding slip to conditioners to make detangling easier.

3 Replies

Hey Maicurlies,

Today I have something that I hope will help save you some money and perhaps even turn some of your least favorite conditioners (that you have stashed away collecting dust) into favorable ones!

Making Conditioner with Slip

Whether you returned natural just a few months ago or have been natural for a while, finding “staple” or favorite products (e.g. conditioners) are one of things we want to achieve. It can become a little difficult to find products that work for our hair without some trial and error, which can be quite frustrating.

We tend to look for conditioners that:

Provides moisture (if we are not seeking a protein conditioner)
Has sufficient slip to ease detangling
Smooths the hair
Softens the hair
Provides shine
Provides elasticity

In this particular DIY example I used TRESemmé Naturals but you can use any of the conditioners in your shelf. Note: some might not mix all that well with the gel but since it is not going to be left in your hair and will be rinsed out that shouldn’t be a problem.

The crux of this whole thing is to add Flaxseed Gel (FSG) to your conditioner of choice and that pretty much is it!

Why add Flaxseed Gel:

Apart from the fact that adding Flaxseed gel will help provide slip to the conditioner here are some of the other benefits:

Rich source of vitamin E. Vitamin E.
Provides moisture to the hair.
Provides nourishment to the hair thanks to the Omega – 3 fatty acids.
Helps reduce breakage and split ends.
Helps slowdown the process of premature gray hair.
It helps reduce shed hair.
Helps fight scalp irritations and dandruff.

Ingredients: (I get 2 uses from this recipe)

ingredients 1

8 Oz Conditioner (if you have shorter/thicker hair you might need to use less or more conditioner).
8 Oz Plain Water
2 Oz Flaxseeds (I like my gel to be thick since that provides slip).
(Optional) 5 – 7 drops Essential Oil (EO)*
Pot
Sieve
Clean and disinfected container
Spoon/Spatula
Gloves (to be extra sure you don’t contaminate the product)

*Essential Oils should be used with caution and only requires a few drops. If you are pregnant please do not use any!

Method:

I add the flaxseeds to the water (before it boils) and allow it to slowly come to a boil on low heat for 10 minutes while continuously stirring. Once I have the gel at a consistency I am happy with I immediately sieve the seeds (keep the seeds for reuse in a ziplock bag in the freezer and quickly pour water in the pot). I add the gel to my conditioner, mix really well then add the EO stir again, fini!

Storage:

If you have any remaining conditioner and plan to use it the following week I do suggest storing it in the fridge however, I have left mine in an airtight container in my bathroom to be used the following week without anything nasty growing in the container. I am always “extra” and use a clean, disinfect and dry spoon whenever I scoop out any hand prepared products just to make sure no bacteria, dirt etc comes in contact and grows anything funky so I suggest you doing the same (don’t dip your fingers in the container unless you use it all up in one go).

Ratio/Ingredient Alternatives:

If you are using a thin/runny conditioner and want to really thicken it use 3 Oz flaxseeds.
You can add some Rose Water to this by replacing half of the water e.g. 4 Oz Plain Water & 4 Oz Rose Water.
You can add a Humectant (if your hair likes them) e.g. Honey/Agave Nectar/Glycerine or Aloe Vera Juice (0.5 Oz).
You can also use a combination of Fenukgreek Seeds together with the flaxseeds e.g. 1 Oz Fenugreek 1 Oz Flaxseeds.

P.S. You can also add some FSG to your shampoo! Use 1 tablespoon of FSG to your shampoo in a bowl & stir. It will provide slip but also help to reduce the amount of stripping from the shampoo.

I really would love to hear if you try this DIY and what your results were!

Thanks

Maicurls

Overnight DIY Hot Oil/Pre-Poo Treatment

15 Replies

Hey Maicurlies,

So today I have a two tutorials to share and both are all about a Hot Oil mix which can be used as:

a pre-poo – applied before using a shampoo/cleanser to avoid the hair feeling completely stripped.
an overnight hot oil mix – after which you would co-wash or shampoo your hair (you don’t have to warm up the oil)

DIY Hot Oil Mix

Personally I like using it as an overnight hot oil mix so I shall delve a little more into that aspect but like I stated above you do not have to warm up the oil before application since your body heat (your scalp) and a shower cap (which you should use) helps to keep the oils warm. I prefer warming up the oil because it feels awesome applying it while lightly warm and my hair seems to soak up the oils when it is warm.

Recipe:

1 oz Rose infused Grapeseed Oil
1 oz Coffee Bean infused Almond Oil
1 oz Neem infused Virgin Coconut Oil
3 capsules Vitamin E Oil (roughly 0.15 oz)
1-2 drops Essential oil (optional)

Mixing Instructions:

All you need to do is to combine all the oils together. If you opt to make it a hot oil treatment then you place the bowl with the oil in a pot of hot water (no longer on the stove) for 3 – 5 minutes. Once the oils are a little warm you can add the essential oil and you are done.

NOTE: Do not let the water mix with the oil especially if you plan on storing the remaining oil for future use. And remember to never place the oil in direct heat e.g. in the microwave or directly in a pot on a stove! You run the risk of not only zapping away the nutrients of the oil but will cause the oil to burn your hair and scalp and might accidentally cause a fire!

Application Process:

Before I apply the warm oil I like to spray my hair with a little plain water. I find this step necessary because 1. it means I am re-hydrating my hair with moisture 2. it makes the application process a little easier and 3. if you have dry hair then applying the oil onto dry hair means you are “trapping in” the dryness versus trapping in moisture if you apply water first.

I like to apply the oil while warm (NOT HOT) going from my roots to my ends. I work in the oil really well and usually do a quick detangle with my fingers. I cover up with a shower cap and scarf for the night and then proceed to wash my hair with shikakai or a co-wash depending on what my hair needs.

Benefits:

Helps to stop cleansers from stripping the hair.
Provides shine.
Softens the hair.
Eases detangling.
Fights against dry hair
Soothes a flaky/itchy scalp.

The results afterwards and even during the hot oil treatment is really quite evident immediately! In the video you can see how my old, dry and tangled hair quickly becomes soft, detangled, shiny, smooth and all round happy!

I would love to hear if you do hot oil treatments and how? Do you do overnight treatments, what oils do you use? Do you apply water first? Tell me all about it!

Thanks

Maicurls

Keeping a Hair Journal

2 Replies

Hi Maicurlies,

Source: http://office.microsoft.com/

A New Year brings new missions, plans, goals and so on! This of course is not only true for our professional, personal and day to day lives but some of us also have goals for our hair! I will be touching upon the “Hair – side of things”!

One of the most resourceful way to measure, record and monitor your goals is to write it down in a Journal. Now with the “Digital Age” you can of course use a Digital Journal. I personally prefer to physically use pen and paper (I guess I am “Old School”.) Now, when it comes to what to write in the journal I say EVERYTHING!

I recently joined a Natural Hair Forum (which I have previously mentioned) Napturallycurly.com Hair Forum and in there I spoke with a few of the lovely ladies and checked what they note down in their Hair Journals. It was great to share ideas because they brought to light some points that I seemed to have missed. So together with a few of the ideas I had and some of the suggestions I got, I have made a little list of things you can note down in your journal (these are just suggestions!)

Routines

You can map out the kind of routines you do/want to do e.g. when you want to pre-poo, Shampoo, deep condition, Co-wash etc. You can not down the products/ingredients you used, how your hair felt afterwards, how long it was been treatments etc.

Hair Styles

In this category you can note down what hair styles you have tried and how they worked out for you. Included in here you can also write what products you used, how your hair was when you styled it (e.g. wet, damp, dry), how you set it (e.g. air dry, hooded dryer, hair dryer). You can also note down future planned styles you want to try out.

Products/ Mixes

For this section you can note down any new products you have had your eyes on or new recipes you want to mix. When it comes to recipes you should write down the ratios of each ingredient used, how you mixed it and how you applied it. At the same time I think it is just as important to record what worked or did not work. This way you save yourself (and your hair) have repeating a mishap or forgetting about a product/mix that your hair loved. Same as before you should note down how your hair felt, the process you used, how long you left it in, did you use direct heat or not, did you warm up the product/mixture etc.

Photos

Now when it comes to psychically writing in a journal it might not always be convenient to print out photos and stick them in the journal (although I LOVE the idea of that!) So what you can do is, have a folder on your computer dedicated to your hair journal which is ONLY used to document your hair progress. You can have a section for before/after Deep Conditioning, new product before/after results, new DIY mixes before/after results, tracking your growth, new hair style results etc. TIP: What I plan on doing for measuring my hair’s health and growth is to actually choose one hair style as my “staple monitoring” hair style. For example if I choose a Wash-n-Go to be the staple examining style I would take photos of my hair when I do a Wash-n-Go every month/two months and then track how my hair looks (in terms of health, shine) its density (thickness.) and its growth. This way I have a more reliable measurement instead comparing stretched to un-stretched hair or puffy versus “un-puffy” hair. You might even go as far as to use the same product, wash routine etc. when monitoring the results.

Challenges

Challenges are always fun to do (you might get a bigger kick out of it if you involve others as well.) So you can forum a group (or on your own) challenge yourself to do more protective styles, moisturize your hair more frequently, reduce heat, completely stop using heat etc. For example: write it down, note how you felt on the day when you would normally flat iron your hair, and what you did to overcome the urge to use heat. Having it noted down somewhere might make you feel a little more accountable to go through with it!

Short Term Goals

In here you can include when you plan on cutting/trimming your ends. You might also plan on dying your hair for a special occasion and you can plan and prep your hair for the event. Straightening your hair might also be on your plan (if you are not already using heat more frequently) so again you can plan and prep your hair for the special occasion. Note down the same as above: how you prepped, what you used and how your hair felt afterwards.

Long Term Goals

Now when it comes to long term goals this really is a personal thing. Some of us might want bra strap length hair, mid back length or longer! For some, your long term goal may be to use only organic products throughout the year. You might have a date picked out when you want you hair to be xx cm. If you integrated a new routine into your hair care then you long term goal might be to compare how your hair felt and looked one year ago compared to now and you will be in a better position to see if the new routine worked for you or not. You get to really determine/measure the results if you have recorded your progress every step of the way.

Final Tips

There are a few tips I think you should consider when you start to map out your goals.

KEEP IT REALISTIC (most important!) If you are starting out with a Tiny Weeny Afro (TWA) it might not be realistic to say “By the end of the year I want Hair reaching my B**T.” There is nothing wrong in wanting something however, if you setup goals that you KNOW are unrealistic, you might end up being disappointed or unmotivated if they do not turn out the way you want.

KEEP IT SIMPLE. For example: if you want to try out more protective styles saying “I want to try out a new hairstyle three times a week” might not be effective. Having conflicting goals e.g. trying to do more protective/less manipulative styles might not work out if you are constantly changing your hair style during the week.

DO YOUR RESEARCH. If you are working with a budget you might & should not go spending all your money on the ‘most expensive products’ just because you think that is what you have to do! There is so much information online! Do your research, experiment, read reviews, and ask questions. There is always an alternative out there, you just need to do a little homework!

DO NOT GIVE UP. It can be a hassle at times (believe me I know!) But you can not give up just because it is “hard.” Life in general is not easy and most of the time you need to push through to get what you want, but the rewards really are worth it! If you are stuck in a rut or think you can not make it, take a breath and relax. Keep in mind that you are NOT the only one going through this or struggling. Sometimes just looking at pictures, reading peoples stories, communicating with other can be just the thing you need, so do not give up!

Ok so I wrote a book and will end it here by saying I am ALWAYS happy to answer any questions, discuss topics and share whatever I know so in case someone wants a shoulder to lean on (mine is free!)Good luck on whatever journey you might be on this year and remember you are not alone!

Thanks

Maicurls

Slowly but surly getting there – Hair, Skin and Health Blog update

2 Replies

Hi guys!

So as the title suggests I am slowly getting through the initial things I wanted to write up! The thing is, as I start writing I keep on thinking of new things to write! Anyways so yes I have written up a good part of my Hair and Skin care sections. There are still things missing though and I will star getting though them. The health section is also pretty much done but I think I will be adding in a few things like my favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes. I will probably also put up my exercise plan showing the exercise videos I use from Fitness Blender and how my Elliptical Machine workout program.

In my next post I will do quick summary of which Hair and Skin Care explanations I have written until now (04.09.2013). This will make it easier for you to know what is actually done so far. As I write more I will make new posts highlighting them.

Hopefully the blog will start picking up and I will get to interact with a few of you!

Thanks

Maicurls