This is likely the most long awaited post I've ever done. Yes my friends, it's time for the battle of all battles, WEN vs Hair One. Let the games begin!

First, I need to start off by saying that this battle was supposed to take place months ago when I first experienced WEN's Sweet Almond Mint conditioning cleanser. This opponent, however, was quickly disqualified for not meeting minimum qualifications needed to become a serious contender. I think I used it twice, then quickly proceeded to calling customer service for immediate cancellation of the monthly automatic shipping. I really wanted to like this product but it offered nothing for me in the way of moisture. In fact, I haven't used it since I got off the phone with the customer service rep. I may go back and try to soup it up with some oils or something. Either way this was a first round knock-out against Hair One - no competition.


So let's move on to the real battle shall we? It's what you all came here to see. We all know that you guys have a taste for blood and want to watch as these to contenders fight to the death finish.

"Ding!" "Ding!" "Ding!"

Price
In this corner we have Hair One coming in at only $11.00! Plus because it is sold at Sally's, you can easily take advantage of random sales and discount offers which can further lower the price. Another strength of Hair One is how readily available it is compared to it's contender. At first I could only find it at Sally's, now I have a choice of heading to my local Beauty Supply to pick up a bottle (or two).

WEN, on the other hand, goes for around $36.00 for 16 ounces. Add to that the fact that you can only get the product online. It's almost like they're saying "don't buy me, I'm expensive and hard to get." That's why it took me so long to write this post. I had to push through all the sense I had within me to pay nearly $40.00 for a glorified shampoo product.

So if you were to break it down to cost per ounces, Hair One is going for around $0.92 per ounce ($11.00/12 ounces). Wen is $2.25 per ounce (which still blows my mind by the way). I gonna have to give this round to Hair One. For $36.00 you could purchase 3 of the 4 varieties available and still have money left over for a piece of candy.


Ingredients
Many of the ingredients in both products are comparable. WEN, though, has around 7 fewer ingredients than it's contender. I also noticed that the order of the ingredients they have in common are somewhat different. Hair One has amodimethicone as #4 on the list. This same ingredient falls way lower in WENs composition. High up on WENs ingredient list are the numberous plant extracts which probably account for it's yummy smell. Hair One appears to have a few more harder to pronounce words than WEN. I felt I could make more sense of it's ingredient list than with Hair One. Some of the desirable ingredients I found in both products include: wheat protein, sweet almond oil, and Panthenol. Hair One also included Aloe Leaf Juice and Avocado oil into the mix. Even with the effort Hair One put in by including these oils, I still get the feeling that WEN is a more "natural" product compared to it's rival. So WEN wins this round.

Product
Like I mentioned before, a lot of the ingredients are shared by both products so I figured that there shouldn't be much difference between the two. But boy was I wrong. The moment I got a whiff of the Honey Fig scent, I was hooked. It smells so much like a real fig. It doesn't smell like fragrance, it smells of natural extracts. That's probably why fragrance isn't listed as an ingredient (unlike it's rival). Once I got beyond the smell, I moved on to actually using the product. Just like WEN Sweet Almond Mint, Honey Fig is uber thick. I...like....that... Feels more like a "conditioner", conditioner instead of just a "cleansing" conditioner. The biggest difference between the Fig and Mint version of WEN, is the moisturizing quality. Fig feels good. Hair One feels good to but, honestly, Fig feels better. When I compare the consistency and feel of both products side by side, WEN feels smoother and creamier to touch when I rubbed it between my fingers. The experience is a bit more decadent.



*I do want to mention that the "creaminess test" was conducted with a newer bottle of WEN vs. an older bottle of Hair One.*

So over all, I feel like WEN Fig has an edge over Hair One when I compare the products side by side.

Results
I think both products have the ability to get the job done. Both cleanse the hair without stripping it of it's natural oils etc. I feel like using a cleansing conditioner helps to continue the work of your pre-poo. Those of you familiar with this blog know that I've been signing the praises of Hair One for the longest. In fact, I made my youtube debut by doing a Hair One review. But honestly I feel like I've found a better product. Hair One is good, WEN Fig is better. It's thicker, creamier smells awesome and feels great. This doesn't mean I'll never use Hair One again. It's still a great product. I'm just glad to have access to the original product line that inspired Hair One's existence. WEN is definitely going on the staple list. I need to thank those of you who recommended WEN Fig to me. Good lookin' out.

Thanks to Her Best Hair for letting me repost this awesome article on:


 "How to Baggy for More Moisturized Hair"

The baggy method is exactly how it sounds an hair care method that includes a bag. The options for the baggy method include a full head baggy method, sometimes referred to as the Greenhouse Effect, or the ponytail only baggy method.

The overall purpose of the baggy method is to promote hair growth by locking in moisture. When baggying your ends only, after moisturizing them, length retention is promoted because the ends are not breaking and splitting due to dryness.

There is a difference between the baggy method and the greenhouse effect. The baggy method typically requires you to use a moisturizer whereas the greenhouse effect encourages your body heat and natural oils to moisturize your hair.

I have not tried the greenhouse effect but I have done the baggy method when my hair was extremely dry. It gave me immediate moisture but the results are temporary. When dealing with cases of extreme dryness I  would highly recommend regular conditioning with a moisturizing conditioner.

In simple terms, how do you do the baggy method?
On hair that has been washed and conditioned you can apply a leave-in or additional moisturizer of your choice, put on a shower cap, and then secure into place with an elastic headband.
On dry hair, apply a moisturizer (or conditioner), put on a shower cap/plastic cap, and then secure into place with an elastic headband.
The length of time that you choose to baggy is up to you just keep in mind that too much of a good thing can be harmful.

Click on the links within this post to see images of the Baggy Method.
 Visit: Her Best Hair's Blog 

For Your Body & Hair Butters Visit:DIY Hair Care Products

Lately there have been some random thoughts and ideas running through my mind that I thought I'd jot down on e-paper. This blog has become as powerful to my journey as my good ole' fashioned hair journal so please be patient with me as this post may not be as structured as what you may be used to but will serve more as a sounding board than blog post.

As I'm always thinking and pondering on what I can do to make my hair routine better, one word comes to mind-"co-washing." This is the process of "washing" the hair with conditioner only. In recent past I've failed miserably in several attempts at air drying. Proper air drying techniques, in my opinion, is the peanut butter to the co-wash's jelly. The two just go hand in hand. I can't imagine washing, detangling, and roller setting 3 or 4 times a week after a co-washing. It just doesn't make good business sense. So because of this, I became content with washing every weekend and making the most of it.

Well lately, my work schedule has become so hectic that I have to now utilize my weekends to take care of random stuff that I would during the week if I wasn't coming home from work long after sunset. Since less time is available to me on the weekends, I've now adapted my wash routine to a bi-weekly schedule. I've only done this 2 or 3 times now but I've discovered some pros and cons to washing less frequently. Some of the pros include, more time to other stuff on the weekend and less hair lost from roller set manipulation since I'm cutting down the frequency. Cons so far include, increase risk of damage if the moisture and strength levels in the hair aren't replenished in a timely manner. Along with that are the scalp issues that can occur if with less frequent washings.

So I'm weighing the two sides and considering my options. This past week my mind was working overtime to figure out a way to receive the benefits of co-washing especially when I don't have the time. They say that necessity is the mother of invention. What I needed was to get the benefits of co-washing (moisture retention, less breakage, etc) without going through the entire process. The solution I tried this week involved a small spray bottle with an excellent mist, some spring water, and a cheapie moisturizing conditioner. Without measuring I combined the water and conditioner (probably twice as much water as product) into my spray bottle. By combining the two into one bottle, I'm incorporating two of the main ingredients in a co-wash (water and conditioner) into one. Because I'm not undergoing the process in the shower with all the manipulation that goes along with it, I get to enjoy the benefits without experiencing the possible setback that comes with not air drying properly. So this week I bunned daily and all I did was refresh my hair with my co-wash mix then tie a silk scarf to allow the product to do it's thing. Each time I did this step my hair was softer to the touch and my bun felt more moisturized. I like to this of this as a "dry" co-wash because it doesn't require the full emersion into water. Now that I know this technique is a viable alternative for me to co-washing, I'll tweak and adjust it until it's near perfect.

I learned a valuable lesson throughout this process. Before, I wouldn't even consider co-washing because time constraints and such. But at the same time, I was giving up the good that came with co-washing. So now I will question myself as to whether healthy hair techniques that work well for others and, didn't work so well for me in the past, could be modified to meet my needs. A whole new world has opened up to me with regards to what is possible with my regimen and learning from others. Nothing is off limits!

So as a follow up to my last post where I talked about the reprecussions of humidity to the hair, I thought I'd brainstorm some possible solutions to this pesky situation. Like I mentioned before, most (if not all) online suggestions directed me to find silicone containing products to tame frizz. While I do believe that silicones will provide a barrier on the strand that helps the moisture in the air from penetrating, I also can see a dark side to this option.

As women with textured hair, one of the greatest battles we face is that of dryness. We can all agree that air can be a huge culprit in the dryness factor of our hair. If the air is too dry, it sucks the moisture out of our strands leaving it dry and brittle. If the air is too moist, it over penetrates our hair creating an environment of dry and brittleness as the water molecules in our oversaturated hair strands begin to evaporate. As I shared in my last post, the oversaturated strand expands excessively to the point where the cuticle layer is lifted. This is really undesirable because any type of friction can lead to cracks on the hair follicle, spit ends, and breakage. So while I believe silicone can be useful in helping to create a barrier against the humidity, I also think there’s an undesirable side effect to blocking all moisture from entering the strand. For one, the layer of “protection” can turn into buildup if day after day; you are constantly applying silicone products to you hair. This may be a non-issue if you maintain a regular cleansing schedule and can clarify effectively on wash days. But let’s talk about some other options shall we?

For most of last year, I went without an umbrella. I had one previously but decided not to replace it right away once it went missing. Anyway, because of this, I found myself making mad dashes to my car on occasions when I was caught in the rain. Soon the mad dashes turned into calm walks to my vehicle once I realized that getting my hair wet in the rain wasn’t such a bad thing. Why? Because pretty much every time my hair received the moisture from the moderate rain, it felt softer and more moisturized for the rest of the day. For this reason, I’m not too adverse to the moisture in the air, I just think that we have to control it so we can receive the good from it and minimize the undesirable effects.

Rule # 1: You're in control
Whenever I find myself in an environment with lots of moisture in the air, my very first instinct is to reach for my satin or silk scarf. This, to me, provides a very temporary barrier against extreme humid conditions in the air. I’m sure a little moisture will likely penetrate the hair under the scarf but not nearly at the same levels as when my hair is exposed. Having a scarf on hand is much easier now that I’ve created my healthy hair on the go kit. Whenever the need strikes me, I grab the scarf and I’m good. The scarf also keeps the hair secured against the head which helps provide structure for the hair to dry naturally without a negative effect. Remember how I said earlier in the post that the air could be both good and bad. It could deposit moisture into the strands (good) then turn right around and create a vulnerable environment for the hair to become rough if the cuticle layer becomes raised (bad). If you allow a controlled amount of moisture to come in contact with your hair, and then tie down with a silk scarf, you allow your hair to experience the good and reduce impact of the drying after effects.

Another action I made sure I took whenever my hair began to get damp was to seal the hair right away with my nourishing oil blend. Since I always have a little bit on me at all times, I’d just simply seal the natural moisture in, tie down with a scarf and allow the combination to work its magic. In fact, I think it was this technique that afforded me the opportunity of going without purchasing a moisturizer for so long. I remember using a technique last summer (when the humidity was the highest) where I would cover my head with a clear plastic cap for 5 minutes or so to help generate moisture. Once my hair became somewhat damp, I would remove the cap, seal with Gleau Nourishing oil, and then smooth the hair with a silk scarf. That method worked pretty well for me. The moral of the story if you want to avoid dry frizzies and brittleness, never let damp hair dry unsecured….ever.

Remember learning about the terms hydrophilic and hydrophobic in 6th grad escience class? If not, let me refresh your memory. Hydrophilic means “water loving” while hydrophobic, on the other hand, translates to something that doesn’t love water. As a general rule, if you want to minimize the effects of extreme humidity, try laying off the heavy humectants. Humectants usually draw moisture from the air and attract to the hair. This is a great thing in the winter but when the air is already laden with moisture you may be promoting frizz. So for example, when I use my steam setter, I generally don’t have to use moisturizer because the steam roller will be transferring the water particles directly to the strands. If I apply extra moisturizer, the hair remains too saturated and the curl doesn’t hold or it comes out our frizzy and puffy. On the other hand, if I just use a little oil to seal, I experience different results. If your hair is already drawing a ton of moisture from the air, you should think about whether your regimen requires less hydrophilic products (humectants) and more hydrophobic products such as natural oils. The cool thing about natural oils is that even though oil & water generally don’t mix, they compliment each other perfectly when it comes to your hair regimen. Do oils provide the same layer of protection against moisture as silicone containing products? My guess is no. But I actually appreciate the fact that oils will allow for some moisture penetration while still helping keep frizz at bay. After all, moisture isn’t entirely a bad thing.

When it comes to dealing with your hair in a high humidity environment, low manipulation is critical. In the study I mentioned in my first post, there were images of the hair samples used during the experimentation. All of the hair samples had one thing in common, they we allowed to dry loose and unrestricted. This is a recipe for disaster for textured hair. If you read this blog on a regular basis, you know that I’m not one for protective styling. It’s just not my thing. Now with that said, I still know better than to walk out of the house with my hair loose when the humidity is in full effect. If a silk scarf isn’t handy, I’ll put my hair in a single braid, a bun, or put my hair in an upsweep. The only way I take my hair down is when I’m inside in an environment where I know my hair will be safe. Again, sometimes I allow some absorption of the moisture, then apply some light oil, tie down for further penetration then remove the scarf when I arrive at my intended destination. Sometimes just a few minutes under a silk scarf is enough to make a difference.

Rule # 2: Seal the deal
For some reason, when the weather warms I suddenly have the urge to break out my cute summer dresses while sporting braid out styles. Within a few short hours my once defined waves turn into a puffy mess. While I appreciate the thickness I experience as my hair succumbs to the humidity, I hate the fact that my hair looses definition as the hydrogen bonds are broken. I think back to the days when I frequented the Dominican salons. All that blow drying really helped seal my cuticles which helped preserve my style. In fact, one visit to the salon would equal bone straight hair for up to two weeks no matter how humid it was outside. From this experience, I conclude that using heat to seal the cuticles is another option. I’m not talking about the indirect heat from sitting under the dryer while roller setting, I’m referring to the direct heat of a flat iron or blow dryer. Like silicone, excessive use of either of these techniques tend to hinder your hair’s moisture levels in the long run so make sure you work smart when ever using direct heat. This means using quality heating tools that are less harmful to the hair. Just make sure you get enough moisture in the hair from your deep conditioning process before you seal. Whenever you decided to use direct heat, you’ve got to take extra precautions to make sure your hair isn’t harmed by the whole experience. Try to get as much moisture into the strand as possible beforehand. You also really got to make sure you step up and use quality heat protecting products. Lately I've been hearing a lot of good things about Nioxin Bliss Thermal Protector. I just picked up a bottle last week. High on the list of ingredients is wheat protein and amino acids (it also contains one silicone ingredient) I really hope it lives up to my expectations.

Which leads me into another point, one important note I also remember from my reading of the study was how porous hair absorbed more water molecules than virgin hair. Again, let’s assume for the sake of argument that those of us who relax have porous hair. So to me this means I have to make sure I’m giving my hair exactly what it needs in terms of protein and ceramides. Protein will strengthen the strand and fill in the cracks, ceramides will help seal the cuticle layer. Together they work together to create hair that’s less porous and therefore less likely to attract all that excess moisture. Think back to the "healthy hair experiment" that requires you to place a strand of hair in a bowl of water. Damaged, porous hair absorbs the water and soon begins to sink to the bottom of the bowl. Healthy hair floated on the water's surface as it was able to protect itself from absorbing all of the water around it. If you haven't done that test in a while, maybe now is a good time to revisit.

And of course after every wash I want to make sure I use a little apple cider vinegar during my final rinse to lower the pH level of the hair and scalp. And let’s not forget that during the summer months is the perfect time to make sure we use cold water when rinsing out product. Both of these actions help create that sealed cuticle layer which is so critical in fighting humidity. O.k so I went a little longer in this post than I usually do. That’s because I wanted to offer up some options on how we can leverage all the “free moisture” that’s available to us in the form of humidity while still keeping frizz at bay. I understand there will be times that our hair has to look perfect and using a silicone product is the answer, but I also think there are other (healthier) options available to us as well.

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March 20th is officially the first day of spring this year. Since I live in a warmer climate, thoughts of spring and summer weather have been on my mind for several weeks. One question in particular has plagued me since last summer and today I decided to do my research to see what I could uncover. The question is this, "does high humidity weather have adverse effects on my hair?" Where I live, I'm subjected to 100% humidity day after day in the summer time. Even though we're still in the month of March, the humidity levels in my city today is expected to reach 80%. For years it's been more of a nuisance to me than anything else but recently I've asked myself, "could there be more to this humidity thing?'

Not too long ago I received an email question from a reader of this blog. In it she mentioned how her hair seems to do better when flat ironed weekly that if she wore braid outs etc. My response to her was that it likely had to do with the "sealing" that occurred when she flat ironed which kept the cuticle layer down and frizz at bay. Little did I know, at that time, how detrimental frizz actually is to the hair.

From my search I learned that the hair strand tends to quickly absorb the water particles from the air in a high humidity environment. Logic would tell you that's a good thing but that's far from the truth. In actuality, a study done in 2007 determined that the more water content inside the hair (from a high humidity environment) the less hydrogen bonding occurs and the hair becomes less elastic. In the study, they also found that bleached hair absorbed more water than virgin hair. For all intents and purposes, let's also classify relaxed hair in the same category as highly porous hair and likely to absorb moisture at greater levels.

So wouldn't the ability to absorb moisture at higher levels be a good thing? Not necessarily. Porous hair can take in so much water that the hair follicle actually becomes swollen. According to the study published in the cosmetic Journal of Cosmetic Science, the absorbed water molecules break and replace hydrogen bonds inside the hair. Since, these hydrogen bonds are responsible for 50% of the hair elasticity, more absorbed water means less elastic hair which could mean more breakage. That's why they say "wet hair is more susceptible to breakage." Oh, by the way, this intense swelling could also raise the cuticle layer which is why the hair feels so rough in high humidity conditions. Rough, brittle and porous hair is the perfect recipe for breakage so now we have to create a plan to combat the effects of humidity before the summer gets here.

When I checked online for possible solutions, over and over again I was told to reach for silicone based products. While I do agree that silicones offer a beneficial barrier against moisture, I wonder if there could be a better way. So my next step in this process is to look at some alternative actions I can do help minimize the the adverse effects of humidity. I'll discuss more in detail on a follow up post. Stay tuned........

When it comes to hair and water, I have touted that the two go together like fried chicken and french fries. I believe I have even wrote that water alone, with a sealant can be enough to moisturize dry hair. I have found that this may not be true.

"........water is not a moisturiser at least not on its own. Take a moment to digest that statement, I am not saying water is useless, I am saying though that it may not be as useful in plain form. I have looked at multiple studies of moisturisation of skin and hair, it is clear that both will take up water but both will also lose water." From: The Natural Hair Haven Please read the article she wrote, very informative.

What I learned about hair and water and waters effectiveness as a moisturizer when used alone, is that water used alone has no benefit to the hair.

Why is this?

As stated in the article mentioned, hair does absorb water but, it also loses water was well. Hair cannot and will hold on to water. When you spray your hair with water, your hair will get rid of any excess water. Eventually over time, your hair will get rid of all of the water and thus become dry.

This may be why for some, spray in leave ins- which are mainly water, leave the hair dry after a  few hours. How do you remedy this problem and still provide your hair with lasting moisture? Remember, water still is a great moisturizer, when used under a sealant.

• Make sure you are not using water alone. Water sealed with shea butter or another oil is not enough to keep your hair moisturized for days on end but, it will help your hair retain some of the water longer.

"Our hair naturally trades moisture with the air to establish an "equilibrium" moisture balance with the surroundings. One study investigated the absorption and release of moisture on various hair samples treated with oils and compared the samples to non-oil treated ones. Researchers corroborated the fact that oils lower of the diffusion coefficient of water vapor and slow the loss of moisture of moisture from the hair." Taken from: The Importance of Working With Oils as Sealants

• "Oil seals are not permanent, neither are they 100% impenetrable" (taken from above article)

What does this mean for your hair? You may have to spritz your hair daily or even multiple times a day to keep a healthy moisture balance. Thus,why some naturals complain that by the end of the day their curls are back dry and thirsty.

Make sure your moisturizers have great conditioning and moisturizing ingredients. 

"Replenishing moisture is also a primary goal of hair conditioner. This is accomplished from a variety of ingredients, from water to oils. On most conditioners, the first ingredient listed is water. This is because it is the main ingredient in the conditioner. Panthenol and glycerin help bind water to the hair. The next ingredient is usually oil. The best oils for moisture replenishment are lanolin, olive, honey, various seed and fruits. Butters are also used in thicker conditioners for intense moisture." Taken from: Hair Care Ingredients- Conditioner  

 Remember not all oils are moisturizing and not all oils make great sealants so do your research!

So, what do you use to moisturize and seal? How often do you have to moisturize your hair to keep it moisturized? 

 

 

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I live in the state of Florida and, as you know, one of the things I have to deal with for the better part of the year is how hot and sweltering it can get in the summer time. Currently, the weather is beginning to change and many of us are breaking out our jackets and sweaters. One of the last things we think about when the weather starts to shift is the amount of water we are taking in the a regular basis.

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Last year, while siting down having a conversation with my supervisor. I looked down at the palms of my hands and noticed something peculiar. My palms were white with dryness and I had tiny little areas of where my skin began to peel. I quickly picked those areas of skin out of embarrassment hoping the problem would soon go away. Days later, the entire palms of my hands were flacking and peeling. I'd never experienced anything like it. I thought I'd been infected with some type of skin eating bacteria. The more I peeled the loose skin, the worse it became.

My peeling palms were very embarrassing but the most disturbing part was I couldn't figure out how to stop it. So finally, after days of throwing around ideas and inquiring to myself about what could have caused this, I got the notion of increasing my water intake. The amount of water I was drinking at the time was very minimal. Like now, the weather was cooler and the desire to drink water was not that strong. I figured that since I wasn't thirsty, I didn't really need to drink much water.

So for the next couple of days, I faithfully filled my water bottle and proceeded to drink water at every opportunity. I think my goal was to drink at least 2 liters a day. I promise you that 3-5 days later, the peeling stopped and by the next week, my hands we back to normal. That experience was huge for me because it really taught me the power of drinking water and, more importantly, the consequences of being dehydrated.

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That whole experience got me thinking. Could the reduction of water intake during the winter months also have a negative impact on the health of my hair? Let's think about what our hair experiences during summer:

• Circulation is improved, growth is increased.
• Shedding is minimal
• The hair thrives overall

In the winter, I normally experience the opposite: super dry scalp, increased shedding, and slower growth rate. I used to think these results were just a normal part of winter but the whole palm peeling incident has really made me think. "Is it possible that some of my hair's winter symptoms have to do with my water lower intake?" When the body's water supply is insufficient, it uses whatever little water it has for critical functions such as making sure the brain and other organs are operating at proper levels. This leaves very little water for our extremities which leads to such things as dry hands, feet, lips, etc. We can see and experience dry hands and feet. But instead of moisturizing our bodies with water, we slather on lotions, butters, and lip balm to cover the problem.

The last thing I was thinking about, when my palms were peeling, was the possible impact of my dehydration on the scalp and my hair follicles. It's important to reiterate the hair strand is 25% water. Not only is the strand made up of water, it also relies on water to carry to the strand nutrients, vitamins, and proteins. If the palms of my hand were suffering at the hands of dehydration, what was going on with my hair? Looking back at my old posts from last fall/winter, one reoccurring message in my posts was about my constant shedding. Because of this, I'll make an un-proven assumption that the amount of water I drank had something to do with my dry, itchy scalp, my massive shedding, and my dry brittle hair. Once I remember being stranded on the side of a highway and, while waiting for the guy to come bring me gas, I read through an entire thread on Longhaircareforum on drinking a gallon of water day challenge. Those who managed to stick to the challenge faithfully boasted of experiencing more moisturized hair along with other desirable benefits. More specifically, they noted that their hair was more able to retain moisture overall. One member, amara11, provided us her opinion on whether increasing water intake actually could affect the already existing hair, not just the new growth. I took the liberty of posting her comment below for your reference:

Quote:

Originally Posted by locabouthair One thing to remember is that the water will ony affect the hair the new growth not the hair that is already on your head.So if your hair still feels dry after drinking lots of water, dont get discouraged, you have to give it time for the new growth to come in.

"This is not true. It's a common misconception.

The hair strand is continuous, and though hair is dead, it has layers that are continuous and feed right from the bulb. What you give to your body is not only apparent in the new growth, it is also spread throughout the core of the hair- (again because the entire strand is one continous length and it feeds out from the bulb). Since there is no disconnect between the bulb and the rest of the hair, what is available to the hair at the root, will eventually spread out to the tips/ends of the strand. You may notice it first at the new growth, but it will also make a difference in the hair that has already grown out (though this may take longer).



You can see between the root (bulb and papilla) and the rest of the strand, there is no division or block to the spread of nutrients and minerals to the rest of the shaft. This is one of the main reasons doctor can take tell whether you have ingested certain drugs by studying your hair strands (whether the roots are in tact or not!) "

This year, I'm not taking any chances. I have a new mindset when it comes to what my hair will experience this winter. It's inspiring to know there's something I can do to help manage my dry scalp and the health of my follicles. Along with the help of ultra-moisturizing hair products, I must focus on drinking enough water to make a difference this winter. Now, my water drinking will have a purpose. This purpose is motivating enough to encourage me to drink water even when I'm not thirsty. Hopefully you too have been inspired to really make a commitment to yourself regarding how much water you drink on a daily basis. I know for some drinking water isn't the easiest thing to do in the world. Heck, I only drink water and even I struggled to keep myself hydrated in the winter months. So now comes the time when we talk about some practical ways to turn our water drinking habits from a desire to reality.

One tip that I'll never forget is to start the day off with a large glass of water. At night our bodies are diligently working away to collect toxins. By drinking water first thing in the morning we jump start our digestive system and promote the removal of the toxins collected overnight. Once you've consumed your morning water, fill a couple of water bottles to take with you for drinking during your work day. When you return home refill your bottle and sip until you've drank close to half your body weight in ounces. Before getting into bed, refill another bottle so you've got water waiting for you for when you first awake in the morning. It's a process so don't get down on yourself if you don't drink as much water as you like one day. Just raise the amount even a little bit the next day.

So don't let the cooler weather rob your hair of the vital moisture it needs to thrive. We already have to deal with harsh external factors such as winter winds and lower humidity, the worst thing we can do is deprive the strands of water from the inside. Make the commitment today to combat winter dryness with plenty of water. Your hair will thank you.

Ever since the early days of this blog, I've sang the wonderful praises of Hair One Conditioning cleanser. For those of you who aren't in the know, Hair One is a cleanser that doesn't lather and strip the hair like conventional shampoos. I've received emails from some of you asking about how to increase moisture levels in the hair. For me, Hair One was a huge addition to my overall moisture regimen. Once I started using a conditioning cleanser, I was finally able to sync every step in my routine to focus on creating/maintaining moisture.

Even though I'm head over heels in love with the results I get with Hair One, I still can't help but consider if I'd get an even better experience by using WEN products. You guys may have seen the informercials featuring various women with lustrous hair thanks to the help of WEN Hair Care System. I've put it off for long enough and I feel I have to finally give in to my curiosities and give WEN a shot just to say I did. Not to mention the fact that my hair could benefit if WEN is indeed a superior product.

So one of the pluses of Hair One is the accessibility and, of course, the price. Any local Sally's store stocks up to four varieties of the conditioning cleanser. And at around $11.00/bottle, Hair One has a huge cost advantage over WEN. Amazon or QVC are pretty much your main source for WEN products. A 30-day supply kit will run you around $30.00. Not knowing if WEN was superior enough to Hair One to justify the price, I never took the plunge. That is until now......

I seem to have stumbled upon a really amazing offer to purchase the same 30-day supply which includes the cleansing conditioner, styling creme, and Intenstive Remoist Hair Repair Mask for just $5.99! Yes, you heard me right, I said $5.99 (plus $5.99 shipping and handling). You should also know that this is considered an introductory offer which automatically enrolls you to receive the 90 day supply shipped to your home every three months for $29. 95 a month. Of course, if you are not happy with your product, you can contact their customer support line and let them know you would not like to continue with the 90 day enrollment program.

I don't know about you guys but this offer, to me, just seems to good to refuse. Finally, I get a chance to try WEN for myself so I can really see if Hair One really is the one. Of course you guys know this experiment will lead to a "Battle of the Cleansing Conditioners" post at a later time.

UPDATED:  You can check out my "Battle of the Cleansing Conditioners" post here!

For those of you who are familiar with this humble blog, you know that I'm always striving to take the care of my hair to the next level. In the past, I've written posts boosters you can add to your leave-in to take the experience up a notch. I also took that same concept and applied it to the deep conditioning step. Now, I'm focusing in on the step just in between the deep conditioning and leave-in. A step that many of us may not think much about. That step, my friends, is the rinse.

Before, when you thought of "the rinse", the image that crossed your mind probably consisted of the simple act of rinsing conditioner out of your hair. Well today, I'm here to provide you multiple options. I want to tell everyone of the wonderful selections available in the world of the final rinse.

Here we go.....

Tea Rinse

Also known as an herbal rinse, this step consists of pouring herbal tea over the hair and scalp just after the wash. Once applied, you can then proceed to the deep conditioning step and rinse both the tea and the conditioner out at once. You can also opt to rinse with tea after deep conditioning as the final step to your wash. The benefits to rinsing with tea are said to positively impact the health of your scalp and minimize shedding. Some who've tried this method do say that the results are similar to having used a protein conditioner. For this reason, I recommend you break out your moisturizing conditioners when you rinse with tea. This type of rinse is safe enough to do weekly. If you find it to be too drying on the hair, then you can alternate to every other wash or as needed.

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

This is one of my favorite rinses. As someone who suffers from an overactive scalp, this rinse is exactly what the doctor ordered. Just to refresh your memory on the benefits of this rinse, ACV helps to clarify the hair and remove build up. Because of it's low pH levels, ACV helps seal the cuticle layer locking in the moisture and protein from your deep conditioner. Make sure to dilute apple cider in water before applying to hair and scalp. It can be a bit strong if left undiluted. What I like most about this type of rinse is that you are providing a direct benefit to both the hair and scalp in one shot. Long live ACV rinses!

Cold Water Rinse

Closing the cuticle is one of the most important steps in our wash. Why spend all that time, energy and product only to allow the cuticle layer to remain vulnerable to chipping and splitting? Cool water is the perfect finisher to your weekly wash. Cold water rinses help increase stimulation to the scalp, and can also minimize shedding. Oh, and don't forget about the shine! When your cuticle layer is nice and flat, your hair strands reflect light much more easily. The result? Healthier looking, smoother hair.

Oil Rinse

Got tangles and dryness? A much needed oil rinse may just be the answer for you. Unlike the other rinses in described in this post, oil rinsing isn't done in the last step of the wash. This method actually involves adding oil to the hair after the wash but before the conditioning step. Once you've applied the desired amount of oil, you rinse with warm water then proceed to deep condition. You can play around with oils you prefer for this method, depending on how many weeks post you are etc. You may decide to go with a lighter oil like jojoba or coconut oil or something thicker and more nourishing like castor oil depending on your hair's texture and how much detangling your hair needs. Either way, your hair can definitely benefit from adding this step to the routine whenever your hair could use a little kick.

Clear Color Rinse

Though I haven't used a clear rinse in years, I can clearly remember the immediate difference in the look and feel of my hair after applying a clear rinse. Instantly my hair became shinier and more manageable. Now that I think about it, I may pick up a bottle of clear rinse next time I'm at the Ulta store with coupon in hand. Years ago, I used Jazzing clear rinse because it was cost effective and readily available. This time, I'll try to seek out some higher quality products like Fekkai salon glaze or Sebastian Colorshines. These brands claim to help seal in the cracks in the strand that lead to dry, dull looking hair by adding a layer of protection on the strand that allows the light to easily reflect. Who knows, maybe the sealing of the cracks may lead to less breakage and better protection during manipulation. Who wouldn't want that?

Conditioner Rinse

Last but certainly not least is the conditioner rinse. I know you're thinking to yourself, "why would I rinse with conditioner after I deep conditioned?" That's a great question! I've asked myself that same question in the past until I re-implemented the conditioner rinse to my routine. If you're like me, some of your favorite deep conditioners are pretty good at providing strength and moisture. But often, they excel a bit better at supporting the hair's strength more so than offering up moisture. It would be great to have an all in one conditioner that gives superior slip and moisture, but in case you haven't yet found the one, why not try adding another quick step to your wash? A conditioning rinse is nothing more than deploying your brightest and best moisturizing conditioner to finish the job once you've already deep conditioned. What you do is rinse out the deep conditioner out then apply a super-moisturizing water-based conditioner for the last few minutes prior to rinsing. The result? Hair that's soft and strong but without the stiff feeling that we all hate. The best conditioners for this use are the ones with little to no protein on the label. If you do find protein, it's usually lower on the ingredient list. Although there are some products out there branded specifically for this purpose, any moisturizing conditioner will get the job done.

With so many rinse options for healthier hair, why choose just one?

A week ago I made another lousy attempt at airdrying. For those of you who don't know, air drying is not my strong suit. If I'm not careful, I end up with an unfortunate situation complete with tangles and unruly hair. Last wash was a disaster to say the least. I won't go into much detail but what I will say is that I spent all of last week with highly unattractive hair. So this week's wash was really important. I had to make sure I undid all the damage caused by allowing my hair to dry in such an undesirable condition.
Needless to say, after yesterday's wash, my hair is signing a different tune. So what I've decided to do is take a moment to recognize the all star cast of products that worked hard to bring life back in to my hair. You guys all did your thang and I am so grateful for each and every one of you. So without further ado, let the shout outs begin!

First off, I have to confess that for the past 2 months or so, I've strayed from using this product consistently. This week however, when it came down to pre-poo, I knew I had to reach for the best. Of course you guys know I'm talking about my Burt's Bees! Thank you Burt's, for starting things off right for me, this time, every time.

Next it was off to the shower where I shampooed with Hair One. Because of the time constraint, I knew I'd have to forgo the full fledge deep conditioning process in the traditional sense of the word. This time, I'd only have a few minutes to make things happen. So I employed three amazing conditioners to do a quickie on my hair. Because of you Alter Ego, Biolage, and Silicon Mix, my hair is back to life. Not just any life, abundant life.

My newfound love, Redken Extreme Anti Snap partnered beautifully with my Salerm leave in to create a magical rollerset. Here's to the both of you.

Finally were would I be without "softness in a bottle" Gleau Nourishing Oil Blend. What I appreciate most about this oil blend is how it consistently brings shine, softness, and moisture to my strands each and every time. Gleau, you are the perfect ending to a perfect wash day experience. Kudos to you!

Team, you all worked so hard to beautify my hair, I thought it was only right to pay homage in a public forum for all the world to hear. Once again, thank you all and I look forward to many more wonderful experiences such as these.

The day has finally come when Gleau Nourishing Oil blend is now available. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of being introduced to Gleau, allow me the honor of sharing some info with you. Gleau (pronouced "glow") is an all natural blend of 8 unique oils brought together for the sole purpose of nourishing dry, stressed hair. This blend was born out of a need to have and use natural plant oils that somewhat mimicked the results of a moisturizer. What I mean is that results like softer hair, shine, light feel would be common experiences to those who used the product.

INGREDIENTS

As you may already know, there are dozens of plant oils out there to choose from. Each with their own unique qualities. What makes Gleau special is the oils selected to comprise this amazing blend. Each one of the oils selected is said to have "moisturizing' qualities. Some of the oils used even have the ability to penetrate the hair strand, nourishing it from the inside. Another thing I should mention is the blend a pretty varied mix of some truly healthy oils-all in one bottle! Gleau contains moroccan argan oil , camellia seed oil from the orient, two varieties of jojoba oil, wheat germ, meadowfoam seed oil, and more. These are definitely ingredients your hair should be exposed to on a regular basis. It's like food for your hair!

EXPERIENCE

Those of you who've tried Gleau are saying the same things:

• "Gleau makes an excellent sealer. It helps keep in moisture from your favorite product in longer."
• Gleau produces intense shine. It gives the hair a nice healthy glow.
• Gleau helps soften the hair. It's light and DOES NOT weigh the hair down. It's never greasy or heavy.

I myself use Gleau on a daily basis. I often use it on it's own without a moisturizer. Either way, I still get great results. Even when used on a daily basis, I don't experience the flat, greasy hair I get if I use other oils regularly. This recipe brings out the best in each ingredient.

One thing I'll also say is that Gleau is pretty affordable considering the ingredients. I've seen argan oil products sold for upwards of $30.00. Even a bottle of plain Jojoba oil can cost more than Gleau. Here, you are getting a blend of quality, effective oils for one very affordable price. Argan oil is one of the first ingredients in Gleau

The glowing reviews on Amazon.com speaks to how wonderful this product has been to those who've tried it. To learn more, visit Gleau's website.

Fantastic Product!, June 24, 2010 By J. Fulton - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Gleau Nourishing Hair Oil Blend (Misc.) Light feel and smell on the hair. Great moisturizer. Take it from somebody who lives in the desert. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Report this | Permalink Comment This one's a keeper!!, May 19, 2010 By CarlaDenise - See all my reviews This review is from: Gleau Nourishing Hair Oil Blend (Misc.) This oil doesn't weigh my hair down, I don't have greasy product build-up, the shine is ridiculous, and my hair (I promise) has never felt as soft as it does when I seal with it. Even more, a little goes a very long way with this product. It's literally a healthy, moisturizing, nourishing, "Gleau" in a bottle! I know what works for some may not work for others, but I think this one is worth a shot and I strongly recommend it. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Report this | Permalink Comment Gleau Nourishing Oil, April 18, 2010 By Shay (Virginia) - See all my reviews This review is from: Gleau Nourishing Hair Oil Blend (Misc.) This oil is light and easy to spread. The smell is really light because I can not detect a distinct scent which works for me. I appreciate all the great oils in this product. Rather than having to buy all of these oils separately they are all in one convenient product. It makes my hair really soft too. This will be a repurchase. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Report this | Permalink Comment Light and Nourishing, April 11, 2010 By Relish (Chicago IL) - See all my reviews This review is from: Gleau Nourishing Hair Oil Blend (Misc.) As someone with thin, fine relaxed hair, I immediately appreciated the lightness of this product. I apply only once a week at night. Any other application weighs my hair down. This product completely absorbs into the hair. I also use it in my "pre-poo" deep conditioning. I would recommend this to anyone looking for weightless moisturization. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Report this | Permalink Comment A little goes a long way, April 9, 2010 By Mum2L (CA USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Gleau Nourishing Hair Oil Blend (Misc.) I first tried a sample of the Gleau Oil before it was even on sale on the market and really liked it. A little goes a long way. It's a very light oil (a combination of oils including Argan, almond, coconut), and it easy absorbs into my hair and does not weigh it down even when I use it daily. I find it has no scent. I personally don't like products that have a strong smell, so that's a big plus for me. Definitely a keeper. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Report this | Permalink Comment High quality product that works!, April 9, 2010 By Lisa "southernbelle54" (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews This review is from: Gleau Nourishing Hair Oil Blend (Misc.) After trying a free sample of Gleau I knew I had to go ahead and purchase it. I use it to seal in my moisturizer and it keeps my hair from feeling dry all day long. After using it just a few weeks, I've noticed a significant reduction in breakage and my hair feels softer too. A lot of products make promises but Gleau is the real thing! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Report this | Permalink Comment cocochava, April 9, 2010 By S. Guess "cocostef" (usa) - See all my reviews This review is from: Gleau Nourishing Hair Oil Blend (Misc.) The oil was fabulous. It is very light,and the scent is not bad. I received my shipment in a very timely manner. I look forward to ordering more Gleau oil. I normally shy away from most oils cause my hair is fine but this oils is not too heavy at all. Thanks a million Nadege!!!!!!!!!! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Report this | Permalink Comment Wonderful product!!, April 9, 2010 By Nyiia Ricks "Dominica" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews This review is from: Gleau Nourishing Hair Oil Blend (Misc.) Hey girls! I became interested in really caring for my hair only about a month ago. I discovered Gleau oil from Nadege and since she has such beautiful relaxed hair I thought that if she's using this product it must be pretty good. I got the order in about 3 days and its one of the best moisturizers that I've ever used. I have dandruff issues and this really works as a great scalp oil and its makes my hair really soft to the touch as a daily moisturizer. I have below shoulder length relaxed hair and I'm really interested in growing it out. I really focus on putting it on my ends to keep them from splitting and I can already see a difference. I'm on my way to longer healthier RELAXED hair. Thanks Nadege! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Report this | Permalink Comment Awesome!!, April 9, 2010 By Leandria Streeter - See all my reviews This review is from: Gleau Nourishing Hair Oil Blend (Misc.) I love using Gleau on my hair every day. Great texture and smell. Never leaves a greasy film on my hair. I absolutely love it best as a moisturize when my hair is flat ironed straight, as it maintains my hair as is---it doesn't weigh my hair down. Great price too! I hope the formula never changes....LOVE the ingredients Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? Report this | Permalink Comment