Source: Can Aloe Vera Help with Hair Growth?

Hair issues, such as hair loss or thinning, excessive frizz, dryness, or oiliness, as well as scalp conditions, including dandruff, scaly, or itchy skin, plague millions of Americans each day. Expensive treatments, such as creams, shampoos, and conditioners have left many people frustrated.

Aloe Vera shampoos and conditioners have been around for years. Aloe Vera serves as an ideal alternative to hair products laden with harmful chemicals and sulfates. For gorgeous, healthy looking hair, try natural aloe Vera.

Promoting Hair Growth:

Aloe Vera can be used as a safe and natural treatment to prevent hair loss. It is great for both men and women to promote new hair growth in places that have experienced hair loss or significant thinning. Aloe Vera stimulates the production of new hair and may even lessen the effects of Alopecia. Nourishing Shampoo:

The aloe Vera plant is packed with essential vitamins and minerals that aid in restoring hair’s strength and beauty. When combined with coconut milk and oils, such as wheat germ oil or jojoba, aloe Vera gel can make a revitalizing shampoo that not only works to prevent hair loss but also promotes new hair growth. Aloe Vera gel can be added to favorite shampoos to deliver nourishing benefits. When combined with herbs, essential oils, and plant extracts, the nutritive benefits of aloe Vera are multiplied exponentially.

Reducing Dandruff:

The natural enzymes found in aloe Vera can soothe and moisturize the scalp, helping to eliminate the scaly dryness that causes dandruff. It also helps to increase blood circulation in the scalp, which works to stimulate the production of moisturizing oils. Aloe Vera reduces the dry, itchy feeling that accompanies dryness or oiliness. It keeps the hair’s natural oils in balance to prevent excessively oily or dry scalp. Aloe Vera also brings a refreshing and cooling sensation to the scalp.

Natural Conditioner:

Aloe Vera acts as a natural conditioning agent that restores the hair’s sheen, luster, and shine. It not only makes the hair soft, but it also enhances strength and suppleness. It naturally combats frizz but does not have the greasy buildup that many hair care products leave behind.

Regardless of the scalp or hair’s condition, whether too oily or too dry, aloe Vera can restore the proper balance. It has amazing results for promoting hair growth as well as staving off hair loss. Say goodbye to expensive and often ineffective hair treatments. Try aloe Vera, nature’s own remedy for restoring health and beauty to hair.

Have you tried adding Aloe Vera Juice or Gel to your hair regimen? What are the pros/cons you’ve encountered with using this product?

Being natural or transitioning from relaxed to natural hair isn’t easy. You will see yourself fighting, cussing, crying, and throwing your hands up in defeat because your hair seems to have a mind of its own and doesn’t want to do what YOU tell it to do. Most women who are transitioning to natural hair, or who decide to take the plunge and big chop (BC), end up frustrated and confused because her hair is not looking like the persons hair in the YouTube video. My answer to this: Do You. Be You.

I have a degree in information technology and one of my professors once said, “If you don’t know the answer to something or don’t know how to fix an error message you are getting in something you have coded, the best solution in determining HOW to fix it is to Google your error or problem. Nine times out of 10 you can bet someone has had the same issue and has a solution on how to fix it.” This same concept can be applied when going through your natural hair journey.

If you have never had the opportunity to know and understand what your natural hair texture was like due to chemical relaxing at a very early age, then take the time to get EDUCATED! Google and YouTube are great resources for learning about natural hair and how to transition properly and what to expect during your natural hair journey. I would also say take the advice you get with a grain of salt. Not everyone who is posting videos or writing blogs is an “expert” in the Science of Hair. Most post videos and write blogs that chronicle their own personal experiences and results from using certain products. You may or may not get the same results based on your hair texture and environment, so don’t get frustrated. The whole concept of this natural hair explosion, in my opinion, is for you to become intimate with your hair. Only you will know what your hair likes and doesn’t like.

Here is a list of tips I have found that have worked for me since I began my natural hair journey and I hope this will help you as well.

1. Get Educated. Join an online natural hair community. (CurlyNikki, Facebook, YouTube, etc). You don’t have to join every single natural hair community that is available, but do join those that will provide you with the greatest natural hair support to help your through your journey.

2. Experiment. Most people who become natural say being natural is expensive. It doesn’t have to be once you learn which products work for your hair type and the styles you want to achieve. You don’t have to try every product that comes out on the market because someone on YouTube did a review and got excellent results. Stick with what is working for your hair type.

3. Tools. Invest in a wide tooth comb or Denman brush (or a plastic tip brush without the ball tips on the end) that will assist in detangling your hair. Always detangle hair while it is wet and soaked with conditioner. This will help prevent breakage.

4. Silk and Satin. Invest in a silk or satin pillow case to prevent hair breakage while sleeping at night. If this is not feasible, then purchasing an inexpensive silk or satin bonnet or scarf will work as well.

5. Water. While drinking plenty of water will help cleanse you on the inside as well as nourish your hair strands from the inside, also adding products that contain water based ingredients will help moisturize the hair strands from the outside.

6. A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words! Take pictures that chronicle your natural hair journey from transitioning to big chop to one year natural hair anniversary and beyond. This will help you see how well you are progressing. Constantly measuring the hair with a tape measure to see how long the hair has grown every month can sometimes frustrate and put a dent in the ego. Taking pictures will allow you to see how long your hair has grown over time.

7. Sample, Sample, Sample. Sample sizes of products are a great way to use a particular product without spending a lot of money on it. Also, entering contests to win products and checking out Lolas Green Hair where you can purchase used hair products is a great way to save money without spending a lot.

8. Cut Down or Eliminate Heat Styling. Applying excessive amounts of heat to the hair (i.e. flat ironing, curling, blowing drying) can cause heat damage sooner or later. Excessive amounts of heat can also loosen your natural curl pattern and permanently damage the hair. If you must use heat, use a heat protection serum such as Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Heat Protection Hair Serum. This will allow you to straighten your hair while shielding it from heat damage caused by heat styling tools.

9. Get Regular Trims. To minimize breakage and split ends, trim hair as needed. Cutting a half inch off every three months or so helps in keeping your mane looking healthy and prevents split ends for going up the hair shaft.

10. Have Fun with Your Hair. No two heads are alike. Learn how to create different styles and looks with the products and accessories that work for your hair type. Once you see how versatile natural hair can be, you will be glad you made the decision to go natural and begin to love your natural hair journey.

What other tips and tricks have you discovered during your natural hair journey that work or don’t work? Share them with us.

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I am always in search of hairstyles for naturally curly hair and like to change up my hairstyle once or twice a week, depending on my mood and schedule for the week. A few weeks ago, one of my co-workers commented at the fact that I am always changing my hairstyle. I told him (yes, him!) that “variety is the spice of life!” I like to be different and love changing my hairstyles to fit my mood and the weather.

Since I’m still in the “infancy stage” of my big chop (May 12, 2011), I am always on YouTube and other natural hair blogging sites trying to find a hairstyle that is easy to create and will look good on me. I had about two inches of new growth when I did my big chop and it’s grown about two extra inches since then. One of the natural hair blogs I follow, NaturallyCurly.com, has photos of curly hairstyles for wavy to curly kinky hair types. I browsed a few of the pictures on there and the section that caught my eye was the Curly Hairstyles by Hair Length. I have short hair (not too short and not long enough), so the photos in this section will be particularly appealing to me. I plan to bookmark this page and browse this section in the upcoming weeks to find new hairstyles to rock! I have tried the “fro hawk” and didn’t care for this hairstyle and needless to say I won’t be wearing it anymore. Something about it reminds me of Mr. T from the TV show “The A-Team.”

Any who, if you’re looking for new hairstyles to rock based on your hair length, hair type, or you have a special engagement you are attending and want to look your best, I would suggest visiting the NaturallyCurly.com website and checking out some of the fab photos on display! Enjoy!

Hey everybody! Ok, I attempted this again and this time it was a success! I am very happy with the way this turned out. Below is the video, ingredients, and directions for this attempt:

The ingredients used for the Whipped Shea Butter:

100% Unrefined African Shea Butter
Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
Tea Tree Oil
Butter Cream Fragrance Oil (you can also use essential oils in place of this).

Directions:

1. Place Shea Butter in a bowl and put in the microwave for 30 seconds to soften.

2. Add 1 tablespoon each of olive oil, coconut oil, tea tree oil, and fragrance or essential oil.

3. Begin whipping mixture on slow speed with a mixer of your choice, gradually increasing the speed.

4. After all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, scoop into another bowl (if necessary).

Today marks my seven month natural hair anniversary. I would have liked to have posted pictures for my seven month anniversary, but I cancelled my Internet service with my ISP (Internet Service Provider) because I kept having intermittent signals up to the point the modem went completely out. I had called my ISP this past summer to have them troubleshoot why my modem kept giving me intermittent signals, but the technician claimed it was something with the signal in the area.

Needless to say, the modem went out on December 3rd and I have been using slow ass dial-up since. I haven’t used dial-up in over 10 years and it’s like waiting for water to boil! In the meantime, while waiting on web pages to download I can get some packing done. LOL I haven’t even attempted to upload anything using this dial-up service. I could probably go to work and do an 8-hour shift and whatever I am uploading would probably still be uploading! I will be moving at the end of this week (yea!) and will have broadband Internet service installed by a different service provider. So, I’ll be back to high-speed Internet and will be able to post pictures and video once I get settled.

Any who, my hair is growing well as I get closer to my one year natural hair anniversary. I have been using the Shea Moisture products for the past month and I love how they make my hair feel extremely moisturized. I am currently using the African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo, African Black Soap Balancing Conditioner, Curl Enhancing Smoothie, and the Curling Soufflé. I have heard a great deal of women say they do not like the Curling Soufflé because it made their hair feel greasy and seemed to weigh it down. Some thought that maybe they used too much and this is why they did not get the results they were hoping for. For me, I use the Curling Soufflé in conjunction with the Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I think the smoothie helps to balance out the greasy feeling you would get when the using the Curling Soufflé alone. I two strand twists my hair using these two products and have received many comments on my twist outs. I will post pictures/video of me using the two products together and the results of my twist outs at a later date.

Now what’s happening on the home front. As I said earlier, I will be moving at the end of this week. I am moving from a two bedroom townhouse to a two bedroom single family home. I will be renting out the house, but have the option to buy it in two years. I went and did some cleaning at the new crib (lol) today and realized I will be getting MORE for my money at the same price I am paying for my townhouse. Plus, I get a 1-car garage and already installed alarm system with the house that I do not have with my townhouse. I am excited to be moving and have packed about 95% of my things.

Also, last month I got a promotion at work for “mo’ money, mo’ money” after only working at my job for nine months. The company changed the career path that will allow employees to learn more about the company and learn other systems and processes compared to the position I started out doing. When my former team manager approached me about the position and asked if I was interested, the first thing I asked him was, “How much is it paying?” I explained to him that I was not going to accept a lateral move on pay to another department when I can go outside the company with my bachelor’s degree and make more money. When he told me what the pay would be for just the training and that once I complete training I will get another pay increase, I told him yes I am interested and will clean the windows for more money! Seriously!

Anyway, I started the training class for the new position on 11/14 and completed it last Friday, 12/9. I officially started working in the new position on yesterday and although I had to go back to nights (2:30pm to 11pm), I do get Friday/Saturday off, so it will feel like I have the weekend off. I think I will like the new position more so than I did my previous position. I will be taking escalated external customer service calls, calls that come in directly from the customers (overflow), and calls from internal customers (co-workers) who have questions, concerns, or trying to make a reservation for a rental car. I still have to go through the second half of the training in January for this position before I will be bumped up to the new pay rate for this position, but I am excited that my former team manager approached me about this position because he felt that I would be a good fit for the job.

Well, that is it for my natural hair update and other happenings. I will try to post again before the end of the year (wow, only two weeks left in 2011), but if I do not get to talk to you again before then, have a very happy and safe holiday and I look forward to talking with you all in the new year! Peace & Blessings!