Walmart $3
My new favorite Hairspray, and let me tell you ive tried all kinds.
I like this one because it does what it say the hold is very flexible i made a video and you can clearly see that after i spray im still able to play around with the style.
My favorite Pro brand is Kenra 25 this one also holds and its flexible
Ion Mega Holding freezing spray (from Sallys Beauty $9)which i just finished by the way..
does not let you do last minute changes you style than spray.
so this is great for teasing and bumps/pompadours.I purchased this one because the girl said it was compared to KENRA 25..blahhh i didnt think so ..not purchasing again. Unless this is the only and next best thing to BEYOND THE ZONE!
Beyond the Zone Final Take (Sally's Beauty $6) is also a hold and freeze spray but i love this cuz it also shines the hold so its a 2 for 1..and it smells THE BOMB!
This one i will continue to purchase this is my favorite one from Sally's beauty
Ive also tried i wanna say the purple can of Herbal Essence now really i just only get these because they smell good and i mean hairspray is hairspray nothing special with these but they work!
What are your favorite hairsprays?
I'm ecstatic right now to have the honor of featuring "Pink Pearls", a member of Long Hair Care Forum, on the blog. After glancing at her luscious locks, I knew I had to learn more about what goes into creating a healthy head of hair such as this.......
Lucky for us, she was gracious enough to share all of the details of her hair care routine. So without further adieu, here are your questions answered about Pink's perfect hair.
What is your current length and hair texture?
"I am currently at waist length. It seems my hair has multiple textues: it's coily in some areas and wavy in others. My hair is thick and requires a combination of moisture and smoothing products."
How long did it take to get to your current length?
"With the exception of the time I cut my hair to ear length, it's always been bra strap length or longer. It probably to 2 years to grow from mid back length to waist length. I've never focused on growing my hair any length, just maintain healthy hair. My husband would always use my bra strap as a guide and cut above it. However, once I started trimming less, air drying, stretching and eating healthy, my hair grew more."
Are you relaxed or texlaxed? How often do you touch up, which relaxer do you use? For years I visited the salon. Every 6-8 weeks I would get a touch up until my husband and I were relocated overseas and he volunteered to help with my touch ups. Now I touch up 2-3 times a year with Affirm Sensitive Scalp. I started using Affirm at the recommendation of my cousin who is a salon owner. He suggested using Affirm because it's a great relaxer designed for sensitive scalps. I usually stretch for 5 to 6 month. Currently I am 5 months post.
Tell us about your daily and weekly regimen.
"I've always had a simple regimen.
Daily
In the morning: I use a small amount of coconut oil mixed with avacado oil a few times a week. If my hair is dry, I use Kerastase Sublimateur Jour followed by the oil mix.
Nightly
If my hair is dry, I use Kerastase Nutritive Oleo-Relax Nuit, folled by the oil mix. I also massage my scalp a few times a week with the oil mix.
Weekly:
I usually shampoo weekly. I pre-poo overnight with coconut oil, shampoo with Kerastase Dermo-Calmor, Kerastase Bain, Nutri-thermique, deep condition with Kerastase Oleo Relas Slim and Kerastase Masque Nutri-thermique using heat. I also use a mix of apple cider vinegar and spring water as a final rinse. I incorporated the ACV into my regimen after moving to an area here the water is hard. The ACV also leaves my hair smooth and aids in detangling. I mix 3 tablespoons of ACV with 2 cups of Spring Water in a bowl and pour in the mix on my hair. This is my final rinse after deep conditioning. I leave the rinse in my hair and apply my leave-ins. For my leave-ins, I use Kerastase Oleo Relax Slim, Kerastase Nectar Thermique and Kerastase Oleo Relax Serum. I air dry in two ponytails and flat iron or 2-ponytail rollerset or braid out. I apply my leave-ins to wet (not dripping) hair while in the shower.
For my heat protectants, I use Chi Silk Infusion and Redken Smooth Down Heat Glide. In my opinion, the Redken offers more heat protection and the Chi gives my hair a silky, smooth feel. I also use protein and clarify as needed. "
How do you wear your hair throughout the week?
"When I'm home or working out, I wear a loose bun or clipped up with a flexi8. When I'm out I wear my hair down or in a ponytail. Twice a week, at night, I curl my ends with medium size satin covered rollers and cover with a silk scarf. Other nights I sleep with a loose bun and a silk scarf. If I'm wearing a braid-out, I re-braid nightly."
Do you use direct heat? If so, how often?
"Yes I use heat, In fact, I usually experience more dryness and shedding when I wear heat-free styles. I usually alternate between heat styling with braid-out and bantu knot-outs. I try to limit the sue of heat styling by air drying. I flat iron on 300 degrees with my Cloud Nine wide iron using the chase method."
How do you maintain moisture levels and manage breakage?
"Most of the moisture in my hair comes from my diet: drinking lots of water and eating foods containing water. I also use products with moisture and use silk scarves and sleep caps. In the past, I used a hair steamer, which was great at adding moisture. The first time I experienced breakage was recently after my husband and I were relocated to Australia. Since my arrival in June, I've been battling extreme dryness and some breakage. Nothing seemed to work until I tried Kerastase Oleo fusion and a black tea rinse. The Oleo fusion has made my hair soft and mosturized. The black tea risne stopped the breakage. I also have few products from the Kerastase resistance line and will incorporate into my regimen when needed."
Do you do anything internally, such as diet, vitamins, etc, to promote healthy hair?
"Definitely! I love healthy foods, especially Asian food. I eat salmon twice a week, a variety of beans, nuts, fruit and vegetables: kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts, bok choy, kiwi, dragon fruit, and many others. A few months ago, I purchased a large bobble and that has helped me incorporate more water into my diet. Normally, I fill-up my large bobble three times a day which is roughly 102 ounces of water. I drink green tea and take a multivitamin. I try to eliminate the white stuff: sugar, salt, and flour. However, good chocolate is my downfall."
Winter is around the corner, are you doing anything to prepare your hair for the colder weather?
"Winter has come and gone! The winter season in Australia is June-August. When I arrive in June it was the beginning of winter. It seemed like immediately my hair and scalp became dry. I had to add a second shampoo to my regimen, Kerastase Dermo-Calm to help with dry scalp. I also started using coconut oil as a pre-poo and daily nourishment for my hair."
You're stuck on a desert island and you can only have 3 hair related items with you. What would they be and why?
"Oh geez, only 3. Well, I would definitely need coconut oil. It softens my hair and conditions my scalp. Kerastase Oleo Fusion is another one I would need. It leaves my hair silky smooth for weeks. I would also need my seamless combs. When I'm past 8 weeks post, I use a combination of 4 combs to detangle and smooth. The 4 Comb Smooth method involves using multiple combs to detangle and smooth your hair as if you were roller setting. It use this method because the longer I stretch, the thicker my hair becomes. It involves using an extra wide too comb, a wide tooth comb, a medium tooth comb and a fine tooth comb. Depending on the density of your hair, you may only need two or three combs to achieve smooth, detangled hair. "
Some random stranger offers you $1million dollars to help her create healthy hair just like yours within a specific period of time, how would you do it?
"I would begin with making sure they were eating right: getting adequate protein, water, fruit and veggies. This step is not an overnight fix, but eventually eating right will aid in healthy hair. Next I would like at the condition o the hair and scalp. Does the hair have split ends and in need of a trim or cut, is it lacking moisture or protein, is the scalp unhealthy, etc? I would also develop a regimen and make product suggestions based on the hair texture and condition. I would inquire about their hair practices: are they protecting the hair at night, using excessive heat, wearing hair styles that add stress to the hair, improper detangling? And I would evaluate the condition of the hair tools and make recommendations."
Anything else you'd like to add as a word of encouragement or any other hair care tips you'd like to share?
"Don't get discouraged and don't jump on every bandwagon. When you discover what works for you, stick with it! Begin with a simple regimen, selecting products based on your hair texture (porosity, densit, etc). Make a list of products that worked and those that didn't work. Doing this allows you to look at the ingredients in those products that didn't work and avoid them when making future purchases. Most importantly, be patient and allow your regimen to work."
I'm grateful for Pink's sharing. From her feedback, I was reminded of how important it is to start with a great relaxer. I also noticed how she uses quality products in her regimen. I've never tried Kerastase's products before but now she has me intrigued. Her comment about the ACV rinse reminded me of how important it is to do this step every wash day. I vow to be more consistent. Pre-pooing overnight is so beneficial to the hair. No wonder her locks look so healthy. Pink is one of those people who can use heat effectively in her regimen. I can tell from her sharing that she doesn't take any risks when using heat. Lots of heat protectant and a low temp on her flat iron help her avoid heat damage.
Did you notice how Pink's first area of focus, if offered $1million dollars, would be on the wealthy stranger's diet and eating habits? It's the foundation to healthy hair and I'm certain her diet of leafy greens, omega filled seafood, and lots of water are a key component to having a head of hair like hers.
For those of you who make your own products, I know you will agree with this next statement "Everything looks like an ingredient for a hair recipe!!". I have went through our supplement cabinet and looked up just about every supplement we have to see if it is beneficial for hair and or skin care. I was surprised most by turmeric, wheat germ and olive leaf, I have no idea olive leaf could help with acne and dandruff. My newest supplement turned hair and skin ingredient is ginseng. We got a bag of it from a friend and I had no idea what to do with it. My husband was taking some of it internally for energy aside from that, it just kind of sat on the shelf.
So I looked to my hair care encyclopedia; Google, and low and behold ginseng has been being used for ages in hair care and skin care!!
Ginseng:
"Ginseng has been used in many shampoo formulas, and a variety of ways exists to take ginseng for hair health."
"Add several tablespoons of the ginseng tincture to your favorite shampoo. Wet your hair with warm water to open the hair follicles and massage the shampoo deeply into your roots. Let it sit on your scalp for several minutes and repeat this process four to seven times a week." Source: Livestrong.com
For Your Body & Hair Butters Visit:DIY Hair Care Products
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| DIY hair Care Products |
Clarify- When I'm trying out a new leave-in, I clarify my hair to make sure I have zero buildup. My clarifying shampoo of choice is Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Fortifying Shampoo. I use it every six months and I love it so far. Cleans really well but, doesn't strip my hair.
Follow The Directions- I know some of you are probably like "Duh!" but, you will be amazed at how many people don't follow the directions on products. If a Deep Conditioner says leave on for 20 minutes, follow that time frame first and then adjust accordingly. Doing this can also save you from causing damage that may result in a set back.
Layer Products Correctly- This is a big one for me, I find that some naturals don't know how to layer products. Here is how I layer: Damp Hair--> Water Based Leave-In Conditioner-->Butters/Oils (sealants)--> Gel/Stylers. This is why starting with clean hair is so important, after all of these products week after week, I doubt a leave-in conditioner would be able to penetrate my hair without a proper shampooing/cleansing.
Read The Ingredients- Even if a product claims to be a moisturizer, if it does not contain water or aloe vera in atleast the top 5 ingredients then it's not going to moisturize and would be better suited as a sealant used on top of an adequate moisturizer.
I hope these tips help some of you! If you have any tips, please share them in the comments below. Thanks!
For Your Body & Hair Butters Visit:DIY Hair Care Products
Wal*mart
$3
I found these Sugar Sheets in The Wal*Mart Party/Cake Isle..i went back today to browse and they had these sugar sheets in zebra there were really cute, they have the basic primary colors..they might vary in stores.
Te Sugar sheets have a thin plastic on the back I wasn't sure if it was part of the sheet or just to keep it fresh so i took a teeny bite and realize it was a plastic cover..so it didn't peel it off just yet, I cut the tiny square for the cupcakes and the huge one for the mouth of the cake then one by one took the plastic back off, they were easy to cut with this plastic still attached to it!!
It doesn't stick on it its own..I applied Royal Icing to act as the glue and it worked!!
Let me mention the taste of the sheet is actually really good it blended in well with the butter cream I used (confectioners sugar, butter and water) i thought I was gonna end up peeling it off like i do with Fondant..but I didn't even realize I bit into it even ate the cupcake with out thinking twice about the little red mouth!!
I LOVE WILTON PRODUCTS!!
Aesthetic Dermatology • Aesthetic Surgery • Anti-Aging Medicine
Joseph F. Greco, PhD, PA/C will be a faculty member at the 1st International Hair Surgery Masters Course, Oct1, 2011 in Paris, France. The Course runs in conjunction with the 7th European Congress, European Masters in Aesthetic & Anti-aging Medicine, EMAA, an International conference that attracts over 2,000 physicians from around the world.
Dr. Greco will be presenting four lectures on his experiences utilizing autologous cellular therapy in hair restoration surgery, non-surgical hair regeneration and the use of cellular therapy in hair loss diseases like Alopecia Areata and Discoid Lupus.
Additionally, Dr. Greco will speak on Tips and Pearls to achieve the maximum in a surgical hair restoration procedure and be the moderator of two sessions.
It's time again for giving. This time I'm really excited to share Liquid Keratin's Filling Leave-In. I stumbled upon this product at the hair show and I was so excited that I bought an extra one just for you!
The giveaway is open to U.S and international contestants. I'll notify the winner via email once that person is selected. The giveaway will be selected on October 15, 2011.
All you have to do to enter is:
- Send an email to relaxedhairhealth@gmail.com titled: Keratin Giveaway
- Follow the blog.
p.s. I've gotten a ton of products either sent to me, or I've won them in giveaways and such. Since I'm downsizing my stuff, I will be doing more frequent giveaways in the upcoming months. Be on the lookout.
Have you been planning a DOMO KUN party ??
Items for kids party weren't so easy to come across so when your kids would like to have a theme party the best we can do is try for a CAKE at least well i tried everything that my little brain could think of!!
The shirt and the backpack were the only 2 things i could find that were the real thing!!
The cake and cupcakes took about 2 hours total to decorate nothing fancy but the kids loved the cupcakes even if they were different colors.
These Domos were made of lunch bags had no ideas what to make of them but they decorated everything..presents.. I made a Birthday card, the table cover, hanged them from the ceiling fan pully things!
This DOMO is made from a Doritos Halloween themed box i just painted the box, made arms and legs from the bottom cover, and decided to have him holding the balloons.
Last BUT NO LEAST is the fridge I found some Postal Paper at the Dollar Tree and I thought this was GENIUS (if I say so myself) also I wrapped the presents in this paper!!
I also made marshmallows covered in Carmel and chocolate theses are THE BOMB they remind me of SEES CANDY the Scotch Kisses or even the Scotch Mallows ummmm yummmy
If I had the time I could have easily made the Domo face on these goodies.
With so many new natural hair companies popping up and just as many enthusiastic reviewers, product reviews are a dime a dozen these days. It can be easy to end up spending hundreds of dollars on products that don't work for your natural hair. Here are some things to look for you when watching or reading a review to see if a natural hair product will work for your hair.
How did they incorporate the product into their regimen?
This has to the number one thing I look for in product reviews. Take shampoo for example; some people pre-poo and deep condition BEFORE they shampoo their hair, which makes shampoos less stripping. So, their review of a shampoo may be that the shampoo was moisturizing and didn't strip their hair. Well, you go get the shampoo and let's say you don't pre-poo or deep condition before shampooing. You try the shampoo out and it strips your hair and you hate it!
What Is Their Hair Porosity?
Basically there are 3 types of hair porosity; which simply is the way everyones hair absorbs and holds moisture due to their cuticle structure. DenimPixie did a great video on porosity which you can view HERE on YouTube.
Keeping porosity in mind when watching a review will help you determine if a product will be too heavy for your hair, easily absorbed or not enough moisture. If someone mentions that certain ingredients tend to sit on their hair and build up easily over time, this will give you an idea of their hair's porosity in comparison to yours. For some, shea butter works great and doesn't cause very much build up, for others it can be waxy feeling and just sit on top on their hair making it dull.
What Is The Intended Purpose Of The Product?
I was watching a review where someone was reviewing a deep conditioner. The reviewer wanted the deep conditioner to detangle her hair. Well, the deep conditioner made no such promises of detangling but, even still the reviewer gave the conditioner a thumbs down. This type of review may sway you against trying the product, thinking it's not a great detangler, etc. when in fact that's not even what the product promises.
What Is Their Hair Type?
For me, a reviewers hair type comes into play only when it comes to stylers such as gels and hair puddings. Paying attention to hair types will help you determine how a gel will make your curls pop or not pop if the person has the same curl pattern as you do. This also helps when looking at how a product defines curls, stretches curls, etc.
What do you look for in a review? Do you watch product reviews often?
For Your Body & Hair Butters Visit:DIY Hair Care Products
The summer is Officially over...and some of us wanna go darker..
But hard to decide on a color, maybe you've seen Wella Color Charm Cashmere Collection they have beautiful browns. I Had some Gold, Red tones that were embedded in my brown hair so i decided to go a dark brown and this color covered all those unwanted tones!
I used 4NW Medium Natural Warm Brown with a 10 developer for 45 minutes
For the Top I actually used Pale Ash blonde(not shown) from Wella it's the tall box Gel Permanent hair color..and it worked well except for on the roots so I went back and applied (only to the roots) Clairol 12AA-BV with a 10 developer for 20 minutes or so!!
Back to Pale Ash Blonde it burned my eyes made them water the WHOLE time the vapor of the dye was EXTREME the smell was killing my nose and burned the heck out of my scalp, now i've used many colors and dyes and this one wins them of NEVER TRYING AGAIN CATEGORY!
Usually when a color stings a little, like in 3 minutes it goes away COMPLETELY!!
I even washed my scalp with cool water before applying the dye..
Anywho let me know what colors you use for the Fall/Winter!!
I'm happy to announce that both the loose leaf bamboo tea and the bamboo tea bags are now available. My thanks to you who've tried the tea and shared your feedback about how much you are enjoying the tea. It's got such a wonderful, light and pleasant taste that even those who aren't into herbal teas have quickly become fans. 
The moment I stumbled upon this wonderful find I knew I had stock up. I'm just so pleased to have the opportunity to share this amazing treat with each and every one of you. My thanks goes out to the grower of the bamboo leaves who graciously offered to give me special pricing so I can offer the tea at an unbeatable cost. 
I've heard from many of you who shared how you are benefiting from the addition of silica into your diet/regimen. Silica supplements are great but they can get a little expensive. Since I now have access to bamboo leaves (which have a higher silica content than horsetail), I can stretch my silica budget much further. Although silica is marketed as a beauty or hair, skin and nails supplement, it's really powerful at impacting our overall health including our joints, bones, organs, etc. 
Since having access to bamboo tea, I no longer have the desire to splurge on Figi water for the purpose of increasing my silica intake. All I do is steep a little tea and I'm good. I've been traveling alot lately so I pack a couple tea bags in my purse, pour a little hot water into a cup and I'm good to go. After I've finished my cup of tea, I re-steep the bag and start all over again. Plus, because the tea isn't bitter, I take it straight with no sugar or honey. 
What's most amazing about this offer is how fortunate we are to have access to this tea. For those of you who've been searching, you know this tea is not readily available at your local health food store. It's sort of a rare find that I'm fortunate to experience. So now you have a choice, do you prefer tea leaves or loose leaf? Check out the bamboo leaf page to get your silica fix.
I have been hearing ALOT of talk lately about ceramides. At first I thought, they were just abother "craze" or something and didn't pay the "talk" any attention but, after further research, ceramides are actually quite beneficial to our hair. I was also shocked when I found out that I had been using ceramides for years now!
Here are some excerpts from an article written on Associated Content By Audrey Sivasothy:
What are Ceramides?
"Ceramides are naturally occurring lipids (or fatty materials) found in the hair fiber or naturally in the skin. According to Butler and Poucher, ceramides molecules that "bind the cuticle cells to the cortex and Ceramides naturally exist within the hair fiber, sandwiched in a region between the cuticle and cortex called the cell membrane complex (CMC). Here along with the proteins in the CMC, they regulate the flow of materials in and out of the cortex. Because they essentially bind the cuticle cells to the cortical cells, ceramides help keep our hair from falling apart! Ceramides are also believed to play a role in the hair's transition from "live cells" within the follicle and beneath the skin's surface, to the dead, keratinized hair shafts that we see."
Safflower oil 78%
Grape seed oil 73%
Poppyseed oil 70%
Sunflower oil 68%
Hemp oil 60%
Corn oil 59%
Wheat germ oil 55%
Cottonseed oil 54%
Soybean oil 51%
Walnut oil 51%
Sesame oil 45%
Rice bran oil 39%
Pistachio oil 32.7%
Peanut oil 32% [17]
Canola oil 21%
Egg yolk 16%
Linseed oil 15%
Lard 10%
Olive oil 10%
Palm oil 10%
Cocoa butter 3%
Macadamia oil 2%
Butter 2%
Coconut oil 2%
