Tag Archives: Shea Butter

DIY Whipped Coffee Bean Infused Hair & Body Butter

Hello Lovely Maicurlies,

In my last video I demonstrated how I make my Coffee Bean Infused Butter and today I am using that butter to make a whipped butter for the hair and skin.

DIY Whipped Coffee Bean Infused Hair & Body Butter

In case you missed the post on on how I make my DIY Coffee Bean Infused Butter please click here since that is the base of this recipe.

I have previously swooned about my love for all things coffee when it comes to my hair and skin (and yes it is a guilty drink pleasure too) and so this whipped butter is no exception.

Benefits of Coffee for the Hair and Skin.

Hair:

Reduces hair shedding and said to reduce excessive hair loss because of the antioxidants present in caffeine.
Increases hair growth since caffeine promotes blood circulation in the scalp which promotes growth.
Known to darken the hair and slowdown the early onset of grey hairs (with frequent and consistent use)*
Adds sine and dimension to the hair due to the darkening effect of the oil

*Should you have bleached/blond or dyed hair you do not want to darken, I suggest trying this with caution. The darkening is nothing drastic or overly evident however there is a potential that you will notice your hair getting a little darker so please keep that in mind.

Skin:

The caffeine helps reduce puffy and dark circles under the eye.
Tightens the skin giving you a youthful fresh glow.
Its anti-inflammatory properties is said to reduces redness in the skin and inflammation.
Known to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Known to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face.
Fights free radicals thanks to the antioxidants contained in caffeine.

Apart from the benefits of coffee, the recipe is really simple to throw together and quick to make plus it smells great too! I have written (several times) about the benefits of each individual ingredient used in this particular recipe because I tend to integrate ingredients I know my hair likes over and over. So for a breakdown of each individual ingredient please read these links Hair and Skin benefits.

Products/Tools used:

6 oz DIY Coffee Bean Infused Butter
0.4 oz DIY Vanilla Infused Almond Oil
0.6 oz DIY Coffee Bean Infused Almond Oil
2 capsules Vitamin E oil
0.2 oz Vegetable Glycerin (optional)
Essential Oil (optional 3 – 5 drops max)
Heatproof bowl
Whisk
Spatula
Gloves
Airtight Container
Piping bag to transfer the whip to the container (not necessary)

Note: You can use any carrier oil you wish, I just like to reinforce the coffee with a little coffee infused oil. Glycerin is an optional ingredient that can be used (it is a humectant and not everyone’s hair plays well with it). You can also replace the glycerin with raw honey if your hair prefers that.

I live in really warm weather practically 365 days a year therefore I prefer my butter mix to be more butter focused however, if you want a less firm mix (particularly in winter) then you can add more oil e.g. I suggest using a total of 2 oz for 6 oz of butter. Keep in mind the more oil you use the more runny it will be particularly in the warm summer months

Method:

Infused Coffee Bean Butter with carrier oils after being in the freezer for 15 minutes

Melted Butter with carrier oils after 15 minutes in the freezer

I add the carrier oils to the melted infused butter, stir everything together and then place it in my freezer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes I mix everything together with a spatula, the butter will be harder on the top and softer underneath. I whisk for a good 3 – 5 minutes and then I add the Vitamin E Oil and Glycerin (Essential Oil if you choose to add it) and then place it in my fridge for 5 minutes.

This helps to thicken the whip a little and will help make it fluffier since I re-whip again. After 5 minutes in the fridge I whip for at least 5 minutes and that is it. I like using my spatula to get the whip out of the bowl and then a piping bag to transfer it because I like being “extra” but that is not necessary.

I as always have a video on my channel:

I hope you enjoy the recipe & video, please let me know what you think!

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY Coffee Bean Infused Butter

6 Replies

Hello Maicurlies,

The DIY freak is back with another recipe 😀

This is a two part recipe where I will first make an infused butter (this recipe) and from that I will make a whipped butter (my next recipe).

To make this LOVELY infusion all you need is raw butter and coffee beans because yes, as the title says I will be showing you how I make my DIY Coffee Bean Infused Butter.

DIY Coffee Bean Infused Butter

The choice of butter you use it completely up to you, you can use just one butter or a combination of butters but the important thing is to use coffee beans. Please DO NOT use instant coffee, that won’t cut it! Filter coffee will just be a nightmare to try and separate afterwards so please stick to coffee beans.

Why make this butter?

The idea behind this came about because I purchased some raw coffee bean butter from Sheabutter Cottage. (Let me tell you that stuff is the ish but more about that when I make my favorite whipped butter in about 2 weeks). So after purchasing the raw Coffee Butter I figured I could try and make the next best option which is to infuse coffee beans since I can’t make the raw version. I also figured that if some of you don’t have raw Coffee Butter at home but want to experiment this would be the next best option since you can use any butter you happen to have at home to make the recipe.

Tools/Equipment used:

6 oz Unrefined Cocoa Butter
3 oz Unrefined Shea Butter
2 oz Roasted Coffee Beans
Pot
Heatproof bowl
Sieve
Spatula
Gloves
Airtight Container

Method:

I first melt the Cocoa Butter by double broiling and then I add the Shea Butter & Coffee Beans. I do not let everything completely melt down while on the stove, I prefer letting everything melt naturally from the warmth of the already melted butter. I stir like mad to make sure everything has melted and also to get infusion started. I transfer the mix into an airtight container but do not cover it until the butters are no longer warm. It is important to make sure that the container is not covered until the butters have cooled down otherwise this will greate condensation and the water will create bacteria!

Infusion:

While the mix infuses I make sure to stir the butters everyday while it is still liquid (depending on your house temperature it can remain liquid for about 1 day to a few days, mine stays liquid on average for at least 5 days.) You want to leave the coffee beans in the butter for a minimum of 2 weeks, remember the longer they are left the stronger the infusion of coffee. Once the butter sets you will most likely see little white specks of butter, this does not affect its quality, it happens due to the temperature change while the butter sets and will dissolve really quickly.

Separating the Coffee Beans and Butter:

After a few weeks (in this example 3 weeks) you want to lightly, very lightly warm up the butters. I literally will double broil for no more than 3 minutes in order to get some of the butter to melt but I like to keep the majority firm. With the help of the melted butter the rest will continue to melt and the coffee beans will separate. All you have to do then is to sieve out the coffee beans and voila, you have coffee bean infused butter!

From here you can either add other butters or just add some carrier oils in order to take the recipe a step further to make a whipped body and hair butter (I shall demonstrate this next week).

Benefits of Coffee Bean Infused Butter:

In my particular example I used both Unrefined Cocoa and Shea butter along with the Coffee Beans.

Cocoa Butter: Cocoa butter is an extremely popular natural ingredient that is used to help increase the hairs manageability and moisture. The butter is known to help reduce hair loss and breakage. Due to its highly moisturizing properties it can alleviate scalp itching and irritation which in turn can eliminate dandruff. Since it is a fat, it can be used to replenish lost oils due to chemical processes such as perms and hair dyes. It is known to effectively strengthen hair, tame frizzy and flyaway hair. Cocoa butter is a popular butter known for its deep hydrating and moisturizing properties for the skin due to its high fatty acid content. It is said that the butter can help reduce stretch marks, the appearance of cellulite and marks. Cocoa butter is packed with antioxidants which means that it can help fight off free radicals and skin irritations such as eczema and dermatitis.

Coffee Beans: The caffeine in the beans is said to help blood circulation which in turn helps stimulates hair growth and the generation of skin cells. It is known to help reduce hair shedding and excessive hair loss because of the antioxidants present in caffeine. Coffee beans are said to improve the appearance of cellulite as well as fine lines and wrinkles. Apart from that its anti-inflammatory properties is said to reduces redness in the skin and inflammation.

Shea Butter: Shea butter acts as an excellent sealant. It therefor can help “trap in” moisture and moisturizing products applied to hair. Shea butter is highly moisturizing for the hair on its own as well and has the same affects for the scalp. Shea Butter provides nourishment to dry or damaged hair from the roots to the very tips; repairing and protecting against weather damage, dryness and brittleness. Due to its moisturizing properties it gives hair a natural shine and smoothing effect. Some people use whip Shea butter as a leave-in for hair (you can other moisturizing ingredients to it.) It is highly moisturizing properties improves the skin’s softness, suppleness as well as soothes burns. Shea butter can also be used as a mild “sun protectant”, soothes, moisturizes and is an effective anti-aging & anti-wrinkling butter.

I of course have a “How To” Video on my channel:

Alternative options:

As I mentioned you can replace the butters I used with any of your choice. My suggestions are to try and use soft butters during the winter/colder months and/or a combination of soft and hard butters in the summer and/or colder months. Here are some alternative butters you can use: Avocado Butter,Coffee Bean Butter, Cupuaçu Butter, Mango Butter, Murumuru Butter.

DIY Protein Whipped Deep Conditioner Butter

5 Replies

Hello Maicurlies,

Here we go, another whipped butter recipe however, this one is a little different to the others.

DIY Protein Whipped Deep Conditioner Butter

I sort of came up with the mix because I decided to try and make my own whipped butter Deep Conditioner (DC). After a few experiments I came up with a combination that I loved and more importantly that my hair loved so I had to share.

In this recipe I use a combination of protein, a little bit of moisturizing ingredients (just a tiny bit) and butter, so the end result is a protein packed whipped DC butter! This butter DC works similarly to a regular Protein DC except that the addition of the whipped butter really makes my hair feel wonderful after rinsing it out. My curls pop, my hair shines and I do not get that stiff crunchy feeling you can sometimes get from regular protein DC’s. It also helps with shedding, breakage and strength. I will admit that I do not apply this as often as I do my regular Fortifying Protein Deep Conditioner because I love my butters and I am not a fan of washing it away (I am greedy like that)!

Having said that, if your hair is protein sensitive then you might want to thread carefully (if at all). All hair requires a little protein, yes even though with protein sensitive hair, but you will want to modify the ingredients I use and also spread out when you apply the product so your hair doesn’t end up being overloaded with protein. (Alternative suggestions are below).

Ingredients/Tools Used:

2 oz Whipped Butter (I used my DIY Whipped Shea Butter but you can use any whipped butter of choice).
2 oz Deep Conditioner (I prefer using a Moisturizing DC since I add protein in this recipe).
0.6 oz Lightly warmed up Rose Water – (can be replaced it with plain water).
0.1 oz Gelatin (protein).
1 Egg Yolk – protein (use the egg whites for breakfast or a face mask).
Spatula
Gloves
Bowl (for mixing)
Whisk
Container

Mixing:

I first re-whip my whipped Shea Butter just to make everything super fluffy. I then add in the DC and whisk again. I lightly warm up the Rose Water or plain water if you are not using Rose Water (it should just be warm not boiling). I sprinkle the Gelatin over the water and then stir to let it dissolve (set aside). I then add 1 egg yolk to the mix (I skip the egg whites because I always end up with bits of cooked egg in my hair if I add egg whites). Once the gelatin has dissolved I add the gelatin/rose water to the butter whip for the last time and then transfer to my bowl.

DIY Protein Whipped Deep Conditioner Butter

Application:

I apply the mix onto freshly washed (damp/wet) hair, cover with clingfilm, a shower cap and usually a scarf to keep my head nice and warm. The warmth helps to open the cuticles and allows the nourishing benefits to really seep into the hair. After 30 – 45 minutes I rinse out the DC with cold water. If you use warm water you run the risk of cooking the egg yolk in your hair and if you used the whole egg then the risk is even higher thanks to the egg white (cooked egg in your hair is difficult to get out)! I then reluctantly apply a moisturizing DC. I say reluctantly because my hair always feels awesome but doing a moisturizing DC helps to restore the balance of moisture/protein.

Storage:

It is not recommended to keep this DC for later use due to the combination of the butter, liquid and egg yolk. If you have any extra then I would suggest storing it in your freezer (if you must I would just splatter all the DC onto your hair). If you have made the mix ahead of time do not keep it for any longer than a few days in your fridge (it MUST be kept in your fridge if you have to make it ahead of time) trust me, any longer and you will regret opening the container! If it has been stored in the fridge or freezer the butter will become hard so you will need to take it out at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before you plan to apply it.

Ingredient Modifications/Alternatives:

If you have protein sensitive I would be cautious about how you use this mix (if you opt to do so) and how often you use it. Too much protein can cause protein overload for anyone but those with protein sensitive hair are more susceptible to it. I recommend you

Make sure you use a moisturizing DC instead of a Protein DC.
Use either the egg yolk or the gelatin powder (not both).
Add more moisturizing ingredients e.g. glycerin/honey/aloe Vera juice.
Leave the DC on for no more than 30 minutes and only apply it a couple of times a year.
Follow up with a Moisturizing DC for no less than 1 hour.

I hope you enjoy the tutorial and the mix, would love to get some feedback if any of you try it!

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY Whipped Moisturizing Conditioning Butter

7 Replies

Hey Maicurlies,

Today I have the second recipe for my Whipped Butter “series”.

DIY Whipped Moisturizing Conditioning Butter

This Whipped Moisturizing Conditioning Butter is quite simply wonderful for the hair! The recipe is quick to make and literally can be done with 2 ingredients (I use an extra ingredient to make it super moisturizing but this is optional).

Why is this a Moisturizing Conditioning Whipped Butter?

I have been asked if whipped butter (on its own) is moisturizing for the hair and in my opinion it isn’t really “moisturizing” because I find that in order for a product to be truly moisturizing it should have proper moisturizing ingredients – basically it should have water included in some way. Water, at least for my hair, is the beginning and end of moisture. Regular whipped butter (on its own) doesn’t usually include water (especially if it is homemade) unless you have also added preservatives to keep it from going rancid and growing bacteria. I find regular whipped butter to be excellent at sealing, providing shine, making the hair soft, but not necessarily a moisturizing product in itself. For example, I would not abandon using leave-in conditioner in place of regular whipped butter.

So the combination of the moisturizing leave-in with the whipped butter makes this a moisturizing conditioning butter! To make sure you are using a moisturizing leave-in look at the back of your product to see if water is listed within the top three ingredients (if it is the very first ingredient even better).

Products/Tools:

DIY Whipped Moisturizing Conditioning Butter

1 oz Whipped Shea Butter (you can use any whipped butter, I used my DIY Whipped Butter)
0.7 oz Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner (you might need to experiment with different leave-ins)
0.2 oz Glycerin (Optional for additional moisture)
Whisk
Bowl
Gloves
Airtight container

When & how do I like to use this mix?:

I consider this an ‘all in one’ product. It has moisturizing properties, the ability to seal in moisture and at the same time also helps to give a little definition. I normally apply the butter mid-week on hair that was already properly moisturized and sealed after it was washed. I use it to help restyle my hair, giving back curl definition on styles like a twist-out, braid-out, Bantu knot-out, pin curls etc. I usually lightly spritz my hair with water and then follow up with the mix and move onto setting my hair. If my hair is feeling uber dry I will use my DIY Spray Leave-In Conditioner or my DIY Moisturizing and Curl Activating Spray. I do not follow up with an oil since the whipped butter already contains oil.

Storage/Shelf life:

I make small batches of this since I do not use preservatives. The combo of the leave-in and butter can result in bacteria/mould growth if it is left for weeks and weeks before being used up or properly stored. I have kept my mix for 4 weeks without any issues (by week 4 I had used everything up) but I strongly recommend making small batches especially when you are first trying out the recipe because not all leave-ins will mix well with your chosen whipped butter. You can store it in your fridge to help extend its shelf life for a little longer, just keep in mind the cold temperatures in the fridge will make the mix a little hard so take it out at least 30 minutes before you want to use it.

I have a video demo of how I make my Whipped Moisturizing Conditioning Butter:

Ingredient benefits:

Shea Butter: Shea butter acts as an excellent sealant and is known to help “trap in” moisture and moisturizing products applied to hair. Shea butter is actually considered to have some moisturizing properties and is therefore wonderful for the scalp as well as the hair. Shea Butter provides nourishment to dry or damaged hair from the roots to tips and is said to help repair and protect against weather damage, dryness and brittleness. It also has a smoothing effect that helps provide shine to the hair.

Water Based Leave-In: Water based leave-ins are a vital part of proving our naturally dry hair with moisture and should be part of our moisturizing routine. Leave-ins help to continue to condition the hair over the days they are left on and therefore help to prolong moisture in the hair while at the same time keeping the hair soft and supple. Leave-ins help to refresh styles, revitalizes our curls and help to smooth the hair cuticle, leaving us with shiny hair.

Glycerin: Vegetable Glycerin is a humectant that attracts water in the air (humidity) and directs it to the area applied (the hair.) Due to its oily nature it can also be used as a sealant however should be used sparingly and should be diluted since it is thick and sticky. Vegetable Glycerin is better served when used in moderately humid climate, if used where there is a lack of humidity in the air it can do the opposite, extract moisture from the hair to the air. At the same time too much humidity in the air can cause frizz. (Not all naturals like to use glycerin so this is a head to head preference).

I would love to hear what you think about this mix, especially if you try it out!

Thanks

Maicurls

DIY Body Butter Bars (2 recipes)

Protective Style & Castor Oil Week 6 Update

5 Replies

Hey Maicurlies,

Week 6

So I have come to the end of my Protective Style and Castor Oil Challenge and have to admit I am a little sad. Figured B&W pictures would show “sadness” but to be honest I just love the look of B&W photos!

Anyways, I will have a separate overview of the challenge as a whole, along with a video shortly but I just wanted to share how my last week went in this post.

For a recap of my previous weeks check below:

How did my last week go?

Not to sound like a broken record but it went well. I did two protective styles over six days and of course also massaged my Castor Oil Mix on my scalp, hairline and ends four times in the week. My two styles were as always super simple. For the first three days I did a really quick & loose pinned back up-do using only bobby pins. On the last three days I did a roll and tuck with 3 two-strand twists & accessorized the style with my DIY Floral hairband.

What Did I do?

I did my wash day routine on Sunday, moisturized and sealed before twisting my hair at night.

Day 1 – After taking down the twists in the morning I massaged my Castor Oil Mix on my scalp, hairline, ends and did one of the simplest styles since starting the challenge for the next 3 days.

Literally all I did was very loosely take my hair back fold it over and pin it down. The style was so loose that you could see a little frizz I call this being “carefree” ( it doesn’t bother me but I could be done the style with a little of my DIY Flaxseed gel for a “neater” look.)

Day 3 – I reapplied the Castor Oil mix to my scalp, hairline and ends at night.
Day 4 – In the morning I moisturized my hair with my DIY Creamy Leave-In Conditioner and sealed with my whipped butter mix then put my hair into a rolled back up-do accessorized with a DIY floral headband. (I had my DIY shell earrings on that day and it get a beach feeling when I wear them) 😀

I left two sections on the sides and one at the front to make two-strand twists. The rest of my hair was pulled back and rolled up. I pinned my hair at the top instead of under (by my neck). I took the twists to the back to give my hair a little texture and pinned the twist at the top as well.

Day 5 – At night I took my hair down, massaged my scalp, hairline and ends with the Castor Oil Mix and pineappled to sleep.
Day 6 – Redid the style and at night I repeated the night method of day 5.
Day 7 – Was supposed to wash my hair but got caught up with house work

Castor Oil Challenge:

As mentioned, I used the castor blend 4 times during the week. My hair felt a little limp by day 7 because I might have used a little too much whipped butter after re-moisturizing but I was still left with smooth, moisturized, shiny and soft hair.

So that was my first attempt at 6 weeks of protective styling and castor oil massages. Like I mentioned I will have a recap post of my final results along with a video explaining my experiences and plans but I can tell you now I enjoyed the whole challenge and it shall be repeated!

Thanks

Maicurls

Protective Style & Castor Oil Week 5 Update

8 Replies

Hey Maicurlies,

First I want to apologize for being late with this post I once again got caught up with work and personal stuff but I am here with an update!

Protective Style Challenge Week 5

There is just one week left of my Protective Style and Castor Oil challenge and I can proudly say that I am glad I did it and look forward to incorporating more protective styles into my routine from now on.

For a recap of my previous weeks click below:

How did my fifth week go?

Similar to the previous weeks, everything followed together really well. I had my hair tucked away for 6 days of the week, used my Castor Oil Mix 4 times and then washed my hair. I noticed that I tend to do a really quick style at the start of the week and then try to do a little more for the second part (probably because I subconsciously want a little more “oomph” on the weekend). I will admit that when I took my twists down on the first day I really really wanted to rock a twist-out…the definition was AMAZING but I was strong.

The first style I did was a SUPER quick and simple tuck and pin and then finished with a big puff bun with a deep side-bang (I really liked this one)!

What Did I do?

I did my wash day routine on Sunday which included a new and improved Protein Deep Condition (DC) followed by my Moisturizing DC. (The Protein DC involved egg yolks, hibiscus tea, gelatin, coffee infused oil and a little conditioner. I will eventually have a write-up and how to video). I moisturized my hair with my creamy leave-in conditioner, lightly sealed with a tiny bit of oil and then added some of my whipped butter before putting my hair into 12 twists.
Day 1 – After taking the twists down I massaged my Castor Oil Mix on my scalp, hairline, ends and randomly pinned my hair back. There was no real strategy to the method I lightly rolled my hair at the front, tucked it and used bobby pins to hold it in place. For the hair at the back I loosely rolled my hair under and then pinned it (repeating this every morning gave me slight variations in the look).

Loose pin and tuck

Loose pin and tuck right

Loose pin and tuck back

Loose pin and tuck left

Day 3 – I reapplied my Castor Oil mix to my scalp, hairline and ends.
Day 4 – I moisturized my hair with my DIY Creamy Leave-In Conditioner and sealed with Almond Oil. I then put my hair into a big puff bun with a side-bang.

Puff bun with deep side-bang front

Puff bun with deep side-bang right

Puff bun with deep side-bang left

Side-Bang of Puff bun

Puff bun with deep side-bang back

Day 5 – I took down my hair at night, massaged my scalp, hairline and ends with my Castor Oil Mix then pineappled for the night.
Day 6 – I repeated what I did the night before.
Day 7 – Wash day routine and then got my hair ready for the final week.

Castor Oil Challenge:

I still am amazed at the fact that although I have fine hair, I can still get away with using a thick oil like castor without ending up with greasy limp hair. Since I thoroughly enjoyed incorporating my whipped butter into my routine last week I used it again and yes this addition is a winner! I ended the week with hair that wasn’t thirsty, dull or knotty. I will say that I started the week with hair that felt different…stronger, I think my hair was in need of a really strong Protein DC. I will just end this with: I was working with hair that retained moisture, had less tangles and less frizz = happy Mai.

So digging this challenge experience and experiment!

On the last home stretch!

Maicurls

Protective Style & Castor Oil Week 4 Update

3 Replies

Another week done Maicurlies!

Protective Style Challenge Week 4

I am on the last 2 weeks of my Protective Style and Castor Oil challenge and haven’t given up yet! 😀

For a recap of my previous weeks click below:

How did my fourth week go?

It went by well. I was able to protect my hair for 6 days and used my Castor Oil Mix 4 times in the week. I did a REALLY simple updo at the start of the week (I don’t want to call it “boring”) – the “Gibson Tuck” and then finished with what I call the “Chameleon Twist” (I liked this one!)

What Did I do?

I did my wash day routine on Sunday, a Henna Gloss followed by a moisturizing Deep Condition, moisturized and sealed before twisting 9 chunky twists.
Day 1 – After taking down the twists I massaged my Castor Oil Mix on my scalp, hairline, ends and put my hair in the Gibson Tuck with 2 two-strand twists on the side and a chunky two strand twist at the front – pinned as a “side bang”.

Gibson Tuck with two two strand twists on the side and a chunky two strand twist as a side bang.

Day 3 – I reapplied my Castor Oil mix to my scalp, hairline and ends.
Day 4 – I moisturized my hair with my DIY Creamy Leave-In Conditioner and sealed with my whipped butter mix. I then put my hair into my Chameleon Twist. To do the style I first did my “Twisted twist”.

Twisted Twist

– After making one big two strand twist from 7 medium twists held at then center of my head I tucked away the ends of my hair by wrapping it around the base.

Chameleon twist with pompadour

Day 5 – I took the Chameleon Twist down and massaged my scalp (as best I could), hairline and the ends of each of the 7 twists with my Castor Oil Mix then wrapped it back up.
Day 6 – At night took my hair down, massaged my scalp, hairline and ends with the Castor Oil Mix and pineappled to sleep.
Day 7 – Wash day routine and then got my hair ready to be set for week 5.

Castor Oil Challenge:

As mentioned, I used the blend 4 times during the week and my hair was suuuuuper smooth, moisturized, shiny and soft! I think my whipped butter sort of helped with that as well (particularly on my ends). I had been using my DIY Spray Leave-In Conditioner to remoisturize my hair mid week but decided to use the Creamy Leave-in and whipped butter for a change. My hair LOVED the combination of being moisturized and super sealed. I can’t say it enough, castor oil is the truth and when combined with other nourishing ingredients …bye bye dryness!

Looking forward to the last 2 weeks.

What do you think of the styles I did this week?

Maicurls

What I looked at to identify the structure of my hair

10 Replies

Hey Maicurlies,

One thing us naturals can agree on is (~~our hair needs moisture scratch that)~~ OUR HAIR THRIVES ON MOISTURE. If you are able to get moisture to penetrate the cuticle of your hair, reach the core and (fingers crossed) retain the moisture then chances are your hair will be a happy camper.

I was recently asked to make a video showing what my hair looks like when it is product free after being freshly washed. The lovely lady who requested the video stated she was having issues with her hair and wanted to see what my hair looked like. I will have that video up soon.

Product Free Hair

First I want to point out I am not a hair expert nor am I professional I am however aware of what my hair likes/doesn’t like and can pretty much tell by the ingredients in a product if my hair will respond positively or negatively to it (most of the time not always).

Our ability to grow healthy hair has to do with knowing how our hair is structured such its porosity & width but also the ingredients in the products we use. Some of you might already be aware of this however, if you are newly natural or unsure then I hope this post will be helpful 🙂

I’ve previously mentioned that I wrote about porosity and hair width for Global Couture and have linked the two articles below:

How to Find the RIGHT Products for Your hair (Part 1: Porosity)

How to determine the right products for your hair (Part 2: Hair Width)

I was able to identify that I have medium/high porosity with it leaning more towards high porosity and fine hair strands. If you are unsure of how to do the tests to determine your porosity and width there are simple testes you can do at home which you can read about here.

Porosity – How your cuticle is laid. There are 3 main categorizes:

Low Porosity – difficult to absorb moisture due to closed cuticle but once moisture is in the core it is well retained.
Medium Porosity – easy to absorb and retain moisture due to optimum laid cuticles (lucky people!)
High Porosity – easy to absorb moisture but also to lose it due to highly raised cuticles.

My Hair Porosity

I could not only tell from the results of the porosity test but also because of how quickly my hair absorbs anything I apply and how quickly it can become dry if I do not seal my hair properly. Moisturizing and sealing my hair during the week is necessary if I want it to remain moisturized and avoid breakage. After doing a deep condition I will dilute ACV & water run that over my hair and then do a final rinse with cool water (not always pleasant) but necessary.

In the past I have only ever used oils after moisturizing because I did not have access to butters however all that has changed now. 🙂 With that said, I also have to be careful of how I use my products and how much I use. If I am not careful I can weigh down my curls due to the fact that I have fine hair strands (will be covered below).

It is all about layering products for me so I moisturize (water + leave-in) and the seal (oil and/or butter).

Hair width – Identifying you hair’s width allows you to not only determine which products to use but can also help you with length retention and healthy hair growth. Hair width means finding out how thick or thin your individual hair strand is. There are 3 main categories of hair width:

Fine – The hair strands are thin and can be weighed down if a lot of heavy or thick products/ingredients are overly used. The hair is fragile and extremely susceptible to breakage if it is not handled with a gentle hand and care.
Medium – The hair is neither thick nor thin and is able to handle both heavier and lighter products/ingredients but should still be used in moderation.
Coarse -The hair strands are thick and might require you to “work in” products/ingredients in order for them to be dissipate in the hair. It is said to be “strong” but still requires a gentle hand when manipulating it in order to retain and grow your hair

My hair Width

As mentioned I have fine hair and yes a little too much of ANYTHING can weigh down my hair. I like to refer to it as “mousy” (when my hair is damp/wet). I literally look like a wet cat and detest going out like that! So even “good ingredients” such as creams or butters can really make my hair look lifeless, flat and greasy.

While I need to follow the steps of moisturize and seal, in the back of my mind I always have to remember too much of a good thing can be bad. This also applies for styling products.

When it comes to handling my hair I have to be extremely careful. Rushing through detangling is just screaming for breakage which, I have done more than I’d like to admit. So I also look to strengthen and thicken my hair with the help of my Henna treatments.

How do you take care of your hair based on your porosity and hair width? I would love to hear from you.

Thanks

Maicurls