Category Archives: Natural Hair Care

Blissfully Basking in Baltimore, Maryland (Travel log 4 – 6)

27th November 2016 – I woke up at 7:00am, finally the day had arrived when I would meet my friend (K). We connected through (Napturallycurly.com) and our friendship grew after bonding over the experience of having lost our pet dogs. We had discussed for ages about how amazing it would be if we ever met and that day was the 27th November!

I made my way to the tiny Amtrack Station in Woodbridge, Virginia by way of taxi. My Taxi driver ended up not only coming from Nigeria but had lived in Germany (I am German/Nigerian) so he very quickly became friendly and handed me his card so I could call him in the evening when I was coming back from my trip. During the drive he gave me all kinds of advice and warned me about pickpockets and “rough” neighborhoods, he actually freaked me out a little but I knew I was going to be in the company of a local so I was ready.

It was really cold and I got to the train station a little early (as always) to make sure I would be on time. There was no where to sit and wait indoors so I braced myself for the 30 minute wait. For whatever reason you don’t find out which track the train will arrive at until it gets there so I decided to stand with the rest of the people. Of course, upon arriving it was announced that the platform was on the other side which, involved going up three floors, crossing a little “connection bridge” and going back down to the ground floor. There were a lot of elderly travelers, people with luggage etc. all of whom needed to use the elevator. I legged it across and made it, sweaty and all (because I of course was wearing a thick coat since I was cold) but anyways I made it!

I quickly texted K to let her know I was on the way, the excitement was building with every passing minute. After a little while I got a message from K asking if my train was going to be on time because she was informed that it would be arriving 1 hour late! This was news to me! Of course I panicked a little because we didn’t really have a lot of time to spend together and a one hour delay would eat away our time. I checked online and asked the ticket man who reassured me we would be on time and there was no delay. About 1.5 hours later I arrived at the station in Baltimore. Super pumped to meet my twin (we have a lot in common so we call each other twins) I looked around but didn’t see her. After a few minutes I spotted her looking around searching for me. HUGE SMILES, girly giggles and OH MY GOODNESS were exchanged along with a huge hug! Happy day the twins met!

K wanted to take me out to brunch first. Now let me explain my LOVE for all things food! I am literally obsessed with eating LOL. K and I both love talking about food, discussing recipes, sharing recipes, sharing what we plan on eating, what we ate etc. So when she told me we were going to one of her favorite spots for brunch I was more than thrilled. We ate at a place called The Blue Moon Cafe. I HIGHLY recommend a visit if you are ever in Baltimore (they have two locations). The food was mouthwatering and the service was great!

K did the honors of ordering for us and we shared everything selected because (US of A I will never get used to your portion sizes) this cafe had EXTREME portions! I am going to let the photos speak for themselves. And yes I did get to eat some crab (in here smothered with eggs and cheese and everything else) and yes, it was absolutely scrumptious! If I manage to get the names of each dish ordered I will update it here * will have to ask K. (Updated: Top Left – Cinnamon Roll (made with delicious biscuit), Top Right: “Sweet Baby Jesus (yes that is the name – this was the amazing crab dish with yummy cheese goodness) and Bottom: “Captain Crunch French Toast” – French toast coated with Captain Crunch Cereal before being cooked).

So after we ate (both of us had leftovers…HUGE I tell you), K then took me to the harbor district. The sun was out and we initially wanted to walk but figured she would end up getting a ticket if we left the car parked so decided against it. It took us ages to find a parking spot, tried a parking garage but the price for just 2 – 3 hours was ridiculous so we drove around looking for a place.

We actually got threatened by an insane man in his car! He thought K had attempted to “steal” his parking spot even though she didn’t notice he was parked a few good meters away (he was far away enough that it didn’t look like he intended to take the spot in he first place). Mad man drove up beside us and yelled like a loon, “Didn’t you see me parked there waiting…yaddayaddayadda”. K attempted to explain that she hadn’t noticed him and asked him POLITELY to remain calm; to which he responded with “Go ahead and park there and see what will happen to your car when you come back”. I was so shocked (and have a big mouth) so I yelled “Excuse me?!? What did you say?!?” He was clear, “you heard me”! Normally if I were at home I would have gone off but I was a visiting tourist and my mother warned me to keep my mouth shut unless I wanted to be an arrested visiting tourist on my first trip the US so I left it at that (with a lot of shock and anger pent up)! We waited for him to drive off before looking for another spot, didn’t want to take the risk!

Anyways after that little incident we found and spot and walked around the harbor which was stunning! K pointed out little spots, places she likes to go to, places we would visit again upon my return, I even picked up some accessories.

Now I wouldn’t be me if something else didn’t happen…my freaking boot heel broke! Now given it broke when I was in Miami (a new pair of never before worn shoes)! I tried using gorilla glue and even zip tied the heels to let the glue set while in Miami, but oh no it felt like breaking while I was away from my hotel and mid walking around! H&M came to the rescue with a pair of ballerinas LOL.

To finish off our trip we picked up some coffee and headed to the station. I was disappointed that I didn’t get more time with her but K had work the following day, our initial plans didn’t work out, everything sort of was rushed planning and there were no later trains I could catch directly back to Woodbridge. No matter, I shall be visiting her again in a few months and more time shall be spent together!

The trip back was uneventful; I caught my train back to Virginia, my taxi guy was there waiting for me, (I realized I forgot my leftovers in K’s car which broke my heart) and I grabbed some dinner before hitting the sack!

My next trip was to Washington DC which will be covered in my next post!

Maicurls

Mashup Madness in Miami, Florida (Travel log 3 – 6)

Wanderlusting in Woodbridge, Virginia

17 hours, wine, excitement & nerves (Travel Log 1- 6 Flight to the USA)

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Before I begin to share everything I saw, ate, drank, experienced and felt in 4 States during my first trip to the United States (over the next 5 posts) I shall start at the beginning.

21st November 2016 12:00 am – woke up after maybe 3 hours of sleep thanks to excitement, nerves and my need to: check my packing list – recheck my packing list, pack – repack, check my passport & ESTA papers – recheck my passport & ESTA papers. So, needless to say I woke up tired and excited with a touch of nervousness, knowing I had 17 hours of travel ahead of me (15.5 hours total flight time with a 1 hour layover at one stop)!

Lack of sleep washed away after my shower, I proceeded to get dressed and ready. I decided on keeping it simple (as I always do) making sure I wouldn’t freeze on the plane (as I always do) by wearing a sweater, jeans, flat boots, a knitted cardigan & donning my less than glamorous twists. I knew I wasn’t about to get off the plane after 17 hours in any kind of normal looking “out” (twist-out, braid-out, bantu knot-out)…think messy clown and that would have been me especially without my satin scarf, so twists it was.

2:00 am – Check-in done, bags checked, hug and kiss to my dad and off I set for my big adventure. Security check dusted without any issues I headed straight to the lounge; thanks to my fancy card giving me access to some free breakfast and WiFi (I somehow always have an appetite). What is a trip without a shot of food and beverage right? And a random stack of face towels…?

So after breakfast was quickly wolfed down off I went to the gate. Nerves started to kick in and then I realized I somehow managed to forget my book (HOW…HOW), no matter there is a book shop in the airport, new book picked up and now off to the gate, book in hand.

While sitting on the plane I looked at my second boarding card and noticed the time of the flight, (goodbye common sense hello nerves)…why does it basically say I will have 0 minutes to catch my second flight when I land??? Read and re-read the boarding card, check and rechecked the time. The couple beside me are discussing their second flight and how they will have 45 minutes for their connection with a tiny bit of nervousness in their voices. I quickly turn to them “Doha is 1 hour behind us right?” He quickly proceeded to check his phone (could have done than myself…again nerves). “I think you might be right”….I hope so otherwise I am doomed before I get there! “Excuse me (to the air-hostess) Doha is 1 hour behind us right?” “Yes, Ma’am”. Relief took over and I smiled like a crazy clown (I don’t know why I keep referring to clowns I have deep seeded for them) to the couple beside me repeating what the was said even though they heard her too.

Let me skip the pesky details of the really dreadful “chicken” sandwich, slight turbulence (I am no good with turbulence at all think white knuckles, holding breath and praying). And let me get to the “good stuff”.

After landing and going through security (which seemed pointless to me since 1.5 hours ago I just did that; better safe than sorry) I make my way to the screen to see where my gate is. Of course, the other end of the airport! I leg it carrying my oh so (not) wonderful HUGE carry on that weighs a ton without anything in it let alone all my extras I carry on a plane. Marching and telling people to please move out the way (politely) I managed to get to my gate and….yes… ANOTHER security check, but this one was the mother load of checks.

Shoes off, scarf off (forgot to mention the scarf before), cardigan off, camera out and switched on, Laptop out and switched on, phone out and switched on, any other electronic items out and switched on. Through that beeping machine (I really do not know what it is called) and then a pat-down. I apparently must have been amusing to watch because two airport staff guys were standing there with fascination as this went on, whispering like two……ok I will let it go… (I was not pleased as you probably can tell)! Security check done and now everything goes back on and of course all gadgets should be switched off before the bags are stowed away on the plane for take-off.

I proceed to give in my boarding card & get “Excuse me Ma’am but you have to go back through security”. If looks could kill, the guy wouldn’t have been able to finish his sentence. “Um what? Go through THAT (pointing at the line and that whole ordeal) AGAIN?” “Yes Ma’am, I am sorry but it says on the screen that you need to go through again”. “WHY?? I just did all that”! He proceeds to move from behind the desk, passport and boarding card in hand without a word. My eyes are burning a hole in the back of his head. Luckily the pat-down lady saw us “Why is she coming back, she went through”. “Are you sure”. “I just checked her, she is fine”. Nothing else from boarding card & passport man other than “Have a good flight Ma’am”. *HUGE EYE ROLL*.

plane

I board my flight and I am seated on an isle seat the middle row for a 14.5 hour flight with no one sitting in the middle seat (happiness)! Now I remembered that I forgot my sunglasses after seeing a girl on the plane taking a Selfie with sunglasses on (HOW…HOW)? No, I did not buy a pair on the plane LOL! Enter again the “chicken” sandwich. At lunch time I am about ready for a bottle of wine but I settle for a glass or two. Now enter turbulence! The mother load of turbulence! Think skeleton knuckles, lip biting and screaming prayers (internally lol). I basically got maybe 3 hours sleep on the flight with endless hours of movie watching thanks to nerves, excitement and being jolted awake by turbulence.

After 14.5 hours of flight time, alcohol, finally something decent enough to eat and strolls up and down the plane I land in Washington Dulles Airport. I stepped outside the airport at 3:00 pm on the 21st November 2016 (yes it was 21st November AGAIN time difference is something else, more about this in my next post). I am greeted by 1 Degrees Celsius (33.8 Fahrenheit) wearing my sweater and cardigan. You best believe my luggage was opened and my thick coat and gloves were brought out. Smiling (again like a crazy clown) I am staring up at a beautiful blue sky, feeling the crisp “freezing” breeze and the excitement of exploration has taken over! First stop Woodbridge, Virginia…

to be continued in part 2.

Maicurls

Caramel Hair Softener – Recipe from: Hair Care Rehab

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Hello Maicurlies,

I have come back with ANOTHER DIY!!!

DIY Caramel Hair Softener from “Hair Care Rehab” – Audrey Davis Sivasothy

I can not take credit for this gorgeous, delicious, luscious looking DIY recipe though, all credit goes to the talented author and Naturalista Audrey Davis Sivasothy and her wonderful book Hair Care Rehab. You can read all about how much I love this book in my review here.

I contacted Audrey to check if it would be alright for me to use her recipe in a “how to” video/blog post and she was happy for me to share, so here it is! And Thank You Audrey!!!

According to the book (and my own personal experience) this recipe will:

Soften & hydrate the hair
Reduce Frizz
Strengthen the hair
Lengthen curls
Improve curl definition

I also found it:

Provides shine
Reduces tangles
Provides bounce

Now before I move on I will reiterate what the book says: you will want to do this on a day when you have “me time”, so I suggest doing this on a “pamper day” when you know you will not be rushed simply because for some of you after application you might want to follow up with shampoo and a quick Deep Condition (more about this further down).

Ingredients/Tools:

Caramel Hair Softener Ingredients

2 overripe Bananas (the more ripe they are the better)
4 oz Water
1 oz Lemon Juice (in the original recipe it mentions using 2 oz but I use less*)
2 oz Raw/Natural Honey
4 oz Maple Syrup or Molasses
2 oz Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
1 oz Plain Flour
Mixing container
Blender
Sieve
Spoon
Pot

*I use less Lemon Juice because it tends to be too acidic for my hair and can dry it out, I suggest for your first attempt using less than 2 oz and then increasing if you so please.

Ratio/Ingredient Alternatives:

Replace Honey with Agave Nectar
Use either Maple Syrup or Molasses
Use any carrier oil you wish in place of the EVOO (e.g. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Almond Oil, Avocado Oil etc)
Use Corn Flour in place of Plain Flour
Baby Banana food in place of real bananas (I always find real bananas work better)

You can use half the ingredients mentioned to make less.

Mixing Instructions:

I first cut the bananas into 2 – 3 pieces and then blend them, you want to make sure they basically turn into banana “mushy juice”. (This is where using overripe bananas come into play because the more ripe they are the easier it will be to get a smooth mix without too many bits). Next I add the water and lemon juice and re-blend. After this I highly suggest using a sieve, this will help further eliminate banana bits (which are so difficult to get out of curly/kinky hair). You then can add the honey, maple syrup, EVOO and stir. The last ingredient is the flour which, should be done in halves and blended in between to make sure it is lump free.

The last step is warming up the mix. You only want to lightly warm it up, NOT boil it! The warming up will only take a few minutes and as soon as this happens you will notice the mixture thickening. Turn off the stove as soon as you notice the thickening otherwise you will be left with a lumpy and thick hard to use mix.

Application:

You must allow the recipe to cool down to room temperature before you apply (please do not burn your fingers or scalp!) I prefer to apply onto damp hair (doesn’t have to be freshly washed) and then cover with a shower cap, plastic bag and scarf for 1.5 hours (you can leave it on for 45 minutes – 1.5 hours no more time is required). I normally only follow up with a conditioner to rinse my hair and then move onto styling without the need to Shampoo or do an Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) rinse or a Deep Conditioner.

Of course I have a video of my mixing process:

Things to keep in mind:

This is NOT a temporary relaxer! I have seen a few videos/blog stating that the caramel treatment works as a “mild/temporary relaxer” for the hair….I don’t know how one could come up with that but NO! The recipe provides the hair with so much moisture and nourishment that dry hair (at least my dry hair) basically absorbs all that goodness which ends up making my curls “heavy” (for lack of a better word). This heaviness makes my curls appear longer which I guess is why some people claim it is a “temporary relaxer” but again NO, it just leaves your hair not dry!
If you can know you will not be able to use all the mix in one go either use less of the ingredients, give some away or as a last resort store the remaining in your freezer. Do not leave it in your fridge for more than a few days because it will go moldy!
If you store it in your freezer, I suggest gently double broiling in a heat proof glass bowl over water since it will become really thick and almost impossible to manipulate onto your hair once it has been frozen.
Some of you might feel the need to follow up with shampoo afterwards or perhaps an ACV rinse. If you use shampoo then you might consider doing a quick 10 minute deep condition just to make sure your hair doesn’t feel stripped because of the shampoo.
If you are allergic to ANY of the ingredients please DO NOT USE THEM! There are always alternative ingredients, such as those mentioned above or other recipes you can use without risking your health.
If any of the ingredients are new to your routine, please do a patch test before you apply it all over your hair, to avoid any unforeseen allergic reactions.

I would love to hear what you think if you give this a try, or if you already have used the Caramel Hair Softener please let me know what you thought!

Thanks

Maicurls

Coffee Rinse for long, stronger, healthier Natural Hair

7 Replies

Hello Maicurlies,

Today I have a simple DIY to share!

Coffee RInse

A good old Cup of Joe for the hair! Yes, coffee Maicurlies! You might have noticed that a few of my other recipes (mainly my whipped butters and oils) include coffee and so today I wanted to share a quick and easy recipe that will literally take you 5 minutes to put together!

(P.s. I have previously covered hair rinses in the form of Tea Rinses – Green Tea Rinse & Hibiscus Rinse).

Why a Coffee Rinse?

A lot of commercial products include coffee/caffeine based ingredients because:

It stimulates the roots due to the increase in oxygen and blood circulated to the scalp.
With root stimulation comes hair growth!
It is known to reduce breakage.
Extremely effective in reducing shedding
Caffeine promotes shine to the hair.
Coffee deepens the colour of brown – black hair (not permanent but with frequent use is more visible).
Add’s natural highlights to the hair (not permanent but with frequent use is more visible).
Can potentially mildly darken grey hair (not always visible).

*Any men reading this and perhaps going through very early stages of hair follicle miniaturization caused by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) you can also try applying coffee to your roots to help slow down the miniaturization of your hair follicles.

A few things to keep in mind:

If you are not looking to darken your hair then stay clear of coffee rinses (blond/bleached/highlights).
If you are not a fan of coffee/allergic or sensitive to caffeine, it is best to stay away from coffee rinses.
Some of you might feel that a rinse with shampoo and/or conditioner might not be sufficient for you after the rinse, therefore a quick Deep Condition should have your hair feeling awesome (do what works for you).
Remember to wear a top you don’t mind getting stained, use a towel you don’t mind getting stained and immidetly rinse your shower/sink after application to avoid stains.
Use a shower cap to contain any dripping.

Ingredients/Tools:

8.8 oz. Plain Water
1 oz. Roasted Coffee Beans – you can lightly grind them to get more coffee essence*
3 drops Peppermint Essential (optional) – or any Essential Oil of choice**
Pot
Spoon
Sieve
Clean & Disinfected Container (e.g. a squeeze bottle/bowl/measuring cup etc)
Gloves (optional)

*Yes you do have to use coffee beans, instant coffee is just not going to cut it!

**If you are pregnant please do not use Essential Oil (you should consult your doctor if it is alright for you use to coffee rinses during pregnancy).

Alternatives:

I use quite a lot of water since I like to make sure my hair is completely soaked in the coffee (you might need more/less depending on your hair density & length). You could potentially add some Rose water to this mix (e.g. 7.7.oz water 1.1 oz rose water). The Essential Oil is optional and can be replaced with any you like or skipped all together, I use peppermint because it s great for the scalp, stimulates blood flow and I love the tingly feeling I get when I use it! Instant coffee will not be of any benefit for your hair so please refrain from using it (if you do not have coffee beans, opt for a tea rinse e.g. the two I mentioned above or Black Tea which is much stronger).

Mixing:

Basically you are brewing a light cup of coffee. You can grind the coffee beans for just a few second (you do not want to make powder because the coffee bits might get stuck in your hair!). Add the beans to the water on the stove and boil for 5 minutes. Note: the longer you boil the stronger and darker the coffee will become. Sieve out the coffee beans and then transfer the coffee to your container. Once it is at room temperature you can add your Essential Oil and you are done!

Process:

I like to start on my roots first and then move onto the length of my hair. I split my hair in two sections while applying and then once done I cover my hair with a shower cap for 20 – 30 minutes. I move onto applying my conditioner (or deep conditioner) if my hair feel dry. I actually just slap on the conditioner over the coffee (because I only have to rinse once) but that is optional. If you plan to use shampoo then rinse with shampoo first and follow up with conditioner/Deep Conditioner.

If you use coffee rinses for you hair, or plan to please do let me know I love hearing from you!

Thanks

Maicurls

“When Good Hair Goes Bad” By Nikki Walton (Aka CurlyNikki) eBook for FREE

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Hello Lovely Maicurlies,

This literally is a just a quick “For Your Information” post to inform you that Nikki Walton (a.k.a. CurlyNikki) has released her second book! Her new book “When Good Hair Goes Bad” *drum roll please* can be downloaded for FREE! Yes, I said for FREE!!!! (I would hurry as the eBook might only be out for free for a limited time).

NOTE: I was neither paid, compensated nor requested to share this information, I happen to be subscribed to curlynikki.com and received a Newsletter update with information about the book’s publication and eBook version.

Nikki teamed up with Dark and Lovely which is where you can (currently) download the eBook: Darkandlovely.com/nikkiwalton.

Her first book “Better Than Good Hair” was published three years ago and was all about empowering woman to take control of their hair care and providing emotional support. This time “When Good Hair Goes Bad” has a compilation of quick hair fixes, tips and tricks at just the turn of a page!

I will leave it at that for the moment since I have only had a chance to glance over the eBook (I love what I have seen so far) plus I might just have to squeeze in another eBook review so I don’t want to give too much away just yet.

Anyways, happy downloading and happy reading Maicurlies!

If you get a chance to read it please let me know what you think, you know I love hearing from you!

Thanks

Maicurls

eBook Review: Curly Halo – Author: Kimberly Elise

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Hey Maicurlies,

I am back with my 3rd book review and this time it is an eBook!

The eBook is called “Curly Halo” and the author is the wonderfully talented and beautiful Natural actress Kimberly Elise!

Image Source: Curly Halo (screen shot)

DISCLAIMER: Please note, I want to make it clear that I was contacted by a representative working for Kimberly to see if I would be interested to to review her eBook on my Blog/YouTube Channel and I was pleased to do so.

I have always insisted on openness and honesty on my blog/channel and would never compromise my integrity to provide truthful information whether it is in the form of information sharing, a review, a DIY mix or a product suggestion. That holds true with this review, and having been sent the eBook did not influence my thoughts on it, one way or the other. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own honest opinions. I was not paid or compensated to state anything mentioned in the video and/or my blog post.

“Curly Halo – Your Natural Hair Care Reference Guide & Workbook”

Who are the target readers?: Those that have been natural for a while can benefit from the book thanks to the fact that it includes helpful information that any natural can use along their continued Natural Hair Journey (regardless of how far along they are). It includes hair and scalp care tips which again is why I suggest “long term” naturals can benefit from it. Now for those that are either considering going back natural, those transitioning or those of you that might have recently Big Chopped (BC) I highly suggest Curly Halo for you! It is packed with suggestions, tips and advice to help you along your journey (which can be a little daunting at first, especially if you are threading in unfamiliar water)!

Pages & Chapters: The eBook consists of 80 pages (in total) and has been broken down into 10 chapters.

How to “use” it: Since this is an eBook, I got a link with the eBook and then downloaded the file. It can be read on any software that allows you to read a PDF file. I actually used my eBookshelf (software I downloaded on my Samsung) but it can also be read on a regular PDF reader.

Text: Curly Halo takes you through hair and scalp care right from the start and not only provides information on how one can provide healthy hair and scalp care but also some steps that can be taken in case you come across any hair/scalp issues throughout your journey. It is a really easy read, it is not jam-packed with too much text, includes images and tip boxes and most notably worksheets! The worksheets can be used as interactive pages that you can use for note taking – part of your Natural Hair Journal. (P.s. I highly recommend you get yourself a Hair Journal if you have not already done so)! The language used is very simple which makes it easy to read and digest and does not require you to have a science degree or even any prior knowledge of hair care. I love the simple yet elegant appearance of the eBook as well!

Highlights for me: First and foremost I LOVE the “holistic” approach Kimberly used in the eBook. This of course works really well with DIY hair care so you can be sure that I LOVE this aspect! Thanks to its simplicity it provides readers with easy to do healthy hair/scalp care options while still providing alternative suggestions for those that are not too crazy about taking a more “hands on” approach to their hair/scalp care (not everyone is tickled to death about DIY hair care). Another part of the eBook that I love are the worksheets. As I mentioned, they are interactive and can help guide you to make decisions, take note of experiences/thoughts and keep track of trial & error “experiments”. Having a place where you keep all this information is really important, regardless of whether you have recently returned back natural of have been natural for a while (we can not keep track of everything in our head)!

Where can I buy the eBook?:

Kimberly Elise’s Website: http://www.kimberlyelise.com/ebook/

Would I recommend the eBook?: In closing, YES I really did enjoy reading Curly Halo and do recommend others to pick up a soft copy from Kimberly’s site!

If you have come across the eBook please share your own personal thoughts, I would love to hear from you!

Thanks

Maicurls

Book Reviews: The Science of Black Hair & Hair Care Rehab – Author: Audrey Davis-Sivasaothy

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Hello Maicurlies,

Today I am here with something new, two book reviews! I am excited to share my thoughts on these two books written by the talented (and stunningly beautiful) author: Audrey David-Sivasothy. The books are “The Science of Black Hair” and “Hair Care Rehab”.

Disclaimer: Please note that I won both the books in an Instagram (IG) Giveaway (thanks to my friend Necey) that was done by Audrey. (Little shout-out to both of you ladies)! Here is Audrey’s IG page: https://www.instagram.com/blackhair101/). I was not sent the books for reviews (there were tons of winners btw) I just wanted to share my thoughts on the books. I have based this review SOLELY on my own personal thoughts and opinions (I am not a “book critic” by any stretch of the imagination).

Biographgy of Audrey Davis-Sivasothy (Retrieved from Amazon.com)

Audrey Davis-Sivasothy is a certified trichologist, lecturer and consultant to the cosmetology industry. A health scientist and member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Sivasothy is also author of the international best-selling book—The Science of Black Hair. This foundational text on black hair care has been used to train cosmetologists all over the world, and is the bestselling and most highly-rated reference textbook on textured hair today.

Sivasothy has been a guest expert on The Dr. Oz Show, and her work has been featured in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s World, The Huffington Post, Essence, Sophisticate’s Black Hair, and Hype Hair Magazines.

Amazon.com

“The Science of Black Hair”

The Science of Black Hair – Image Source: Amazon.com

Who are the target readers? : Regardless of how much or little knowledge you might have about black hair, this book is suitable for those that are new to taking care of their own hair, those that are struggling with their hair care or even Hair Professionals (e.g. stylists, hair dresses).

As the name suggests, the book is tailored for those of us with Black hair and under that category, it doesn’t matter whether you are natural, transitioning, relaxed or telaxed, etc., there is so much helpful information in the book that covers all aspects of black hair. The books sets out to help you better understand your hair, how to care for it, how to care for your scalp and how to maintain a healthy hair & scalp routine for the long term. It teaches you how to maintain chemically treated or natural hair to optimal health, helps you regulate optimal product pH balance, helps you grow longer stronger and healthy hair and the most important aspect (in my opinion) is that the book highlights the importance of protein/moisture balance and how to achieve this in order to prevent breakage, retain & grow healthy hair.

Pages & Chapters : There are 13 chapters in the book and it consists of 256 pages (in total including index).

Text: It is a really easy book to read through and follow, you do not need a science degree nor any kind of former understanding about hair/hair care. You basically can learn straight from the book. The pages are spread out and includes images & illustrations (those of you that are really visual learners, you might want to opt for the colour version of the book versus the black & white option).

Highlights for me: Personally, as I mentioned one of the most interesting parts of the book was the focus on protein & moisture balance. It is something that I have commonly mentioned in my blog and videos since the hair is mainly made up of protein and requires moisture to stay balanced. Audrey does a really good job on highlighting the processes in which one can maintain a protein/moisture balance along with explaining why each process is important. Another section in the book that I really enjoyed is the explanation of the LOIS Hair Typing system (aka: L.O.I.S). I find this method a lot more helpful than the commonly known Andre Walker Hair Typing System – where hair is broken down in numbers (1 – 4) and alphabets (a – c). Now I am not the biggest fan of “hair typing” in general, especially in terms of people trying to find out ‘what kind of curl I have’ simply to categorize “manageable and unmanageable hair. I think the Walker system can be used to identify what type of curl you have BUT should be used together with aspects such as density, hair width etc otherwise in my opinion it is pointless. (I have written about both of Density and Width).

Anyways back to the LOIS typing system: it goes a step further than just identifying the “type” of curl one has by basically looking at the structure and characteristics of ones hair by identifying curl pattern, strand size and hair texture. In my opinion understanding those characteristics is A LOT more helpful!

I plan on doing a Video & Blog Post about the LOIS System in a few weeks so please stay tuned for that!

Where Can I purchase the Book? :

The book is available in 4 options (found on Amazon) – please be mindful when ordering to make sure you choose the specific one you want:

Paperback Black & White (that is what I have): https://www.amazon.com/Science-Black-Hair-Comprehensive-Textured/dp/0984518428/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Paperback Colour: https://www.amazon.com/Science-Black-Hair-Comprehensive-Textured/dp/098451841X/ref=tmm_pap_title_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Hardback Black & White: https://www.amazon.com/Science-Black-Hair-Comprehensive-Textured/dp/0984518436/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Hardback Colour: https://www.amazon.com/Science-Black-Hair-Comprehensive-Textured/dp/0984518401/ref=tmm_hrd_title_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Would I recommend the book? : Absolutly! I highly recommend this book for anyone that has black hair!

“Hair Care Rehab”

Hair Care Rehab – Image Source: Amazon.com

Target Readers: The second book “Hair Care Rehab” has a special place in my hearth! While I highly recommend both books, I just ADORE “Hair Care Rehab”! Audrey created another wonderfully written book that is comprehensive while not overwhelming, easy to read, easy to understand and this book caters to ALL hair types. So if you happen to have Caucasian straight hair, African/Black Natural hair, Transitioning hair, Relaxed hair whatever the case might be this is for EVERYONE!

Pages & Chapter: It consists of 277 pages, broken down into 3 Units and is a paperback Black & White book (I have not found a colour version of this book).

Text: Audrey yet again crafted a wonderful guide that takes you through three stages of hair & scalp care that is filled with illustrations, images, easy to read text and helpful informative information that really gives you a great understanding of how to care for your hair all by yourself!

Highlights for me: There are so many parts of the book that I love but if I had to pick I would say that the biggest Unit of the book that helps you determine any potential hair/scalp issues you might be facing is one of my favorite sections of the book. It not only explains the type and cause of the issue but most importantly (in my opinion) it explains how you can overcome the situation and hopefully prevent it from reoccurring, since you have an understanding if its cause! I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t mention the little Do It Yourself (DIY) section that Audrey wrote about! Yes, there is a little section on DIY mixes and you know I LOVE the fact that this has been included! I actually plan on doing one DIY for my Blog and Channel (I spoke with Audrey and she was happy for me to share….Thank You Audrey)!

Where can I purchase the book? :

Hair Care Rehab: https://www.amazon.com/Hair-Care-Rehab-Ultimate-Reconditioning/dp/0984518452/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1466322208&sr=1-1&keywords=hair+care+rehab

Would I recommend the book? : I think the question is a little pointless but YES ABSOLUTLY!

So in closing as I said, I recommend both books. You can opt to go for one book first and then the second however regardless of the one you pick I think it is worth a read!

If you know of any other books that you have read and would recommend, please leave me a message below, I would love to hear from you!

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY: Itchy Dry Scalp Treatment (Protective Style Spray)

9 Replies

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!