HEALTHY HAIR and BODY

Healthy Hair Feature: Pre_medicalrulz

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:41:00 +0000

For 2010-2011 relaxed/texlaxed and natural features, check this post.

1) Are you natural, relaxed, texlaxed, or transitioning? (And how long?)
I am relaxed and as of Dec 2011, I am/was MBL. Haven’t done a length check since.

2) What mistakes have you made in your hair care journey?
I wouldn’t call them mistakes but more like a learning process. LOL. When I first started I followed everybody else’s regimen instead of simply listening to my hair. I was using cheapie conditioners because I heard everyone say ‘all conditioners are made equal’. That is a pure lie. LOL The first 10 months of my hair journey was at a standstill. I didn’t retain a thing.

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Friday's Hair Retention Tip!

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:00 +0000

Do you want to reach your goal? Then ...

adopt a low-manipulation shampoo routine. Instead of massaging your hair while you wash, massage your scalp only. Allow the water and shampoo to run from your scalp to your strands for cleansing. Additionally, lather only once instead of twice or more. If you are prone to product buildup and this routine is insufficient for cleansing, then reevaluate your product or shampoo collection.

Additional tips:
-Wash your hair in braided/twisted sections in order to minimize tangling
-Blot the hair, instead of rubbing, with a towel
-Use a natural shampoo, which is less abrasive than a sulfate (SLS, SLES) shampoo
-Use a microfiber towel, instead of a regular one that is likely to snag the hair

For Wednesday Hair Growth Tips, check out this post.

A Healthy You in 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:17:00 +0000

By Stephanie of Infinite Life Fitness

Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier? Lose weight? Work out more? Or maybe you just want to adopt a healthier more active lifestyle? Well I have some great news for you…you can and you should start TODAY! Sound too easy? Well yes…it is THAT EASY!

You do not have to invest in a fitness center membership to start obtaining your personal health goals. Today, I will give you some suggested tips to help you kick start your new healthier lifestyle.

First, you have to sit down and make a plan. Create some goals that you would like to achieve and be realistic when you make those goals. You cannot say that you want to lose 20 pounds in one month. Realistically and in a non-life threatening way that can NOT be done. There is no healthy way to achieve that goal in that amount of time. Losing weight takes time, patience, and dedication. It is good to make an overall goal. For instance you want to lose 20 pounds. Well then you have to make smaller goals to go along with that major goal. For example I want to lose 2 pounds this week, and try one new healthier recipe this week. That is a great mini goal to help you reach your overall goal. You will have to adopt a healthier eating style, you will have to adopt a new fitness routine, and you will have to set weekly goals for yourself (like I will only have 2 cokes this week and drink more water).

When you have your goals set you can then decide how you want to achieve these goals. This will consist of a mixture of adopting a new workout routine as well as adjusting the food you consume. It is important to learn what the right portion sizes are and to try to have a variety of things to eat throughout the day. (I have written a post about portions sizes that can be found here.) You do not want to starve yourself! You can eat and snack during the day as long as those foods are nutritious and beneficial to your body. Your workout routine should start off being about 3 times a week. (More would be great if you can find a great workout and if you can fit the time in to do so.) You can do some of the following things at home or in your neighborhood to start your workout routine:

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Interview with Mala Rhodes of AFROVEDA

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:25:00 +0000

The following is an interview with Mala Rhodes, CEO of AfroVeda Hair Products at http://www.afroveda.com/. AfroVeda strives to represent true, Ayurvedic hair care remedies for curly, kinky and coily hair types.

1. How long have you practiced healthy hair care? Tell us about your healthy hair journey.

Although my hair has been natural for more than 10 years, I have only practiced healthy hair care for the past 5 years. As I began to educate myself about the benefits of natural hair products, and utilize the principles of Ayurveda for my own hair health, I realized that having beautiful healthy hair was not just about what is applied externally. Being conscious of what I consume makes a huge difference in how healthy my hair really is.

My hair journey has been a very long one and began very early in life. I can remember the weekend hair sessions with my mother who would wash my hair (along with my four sisters) on Saturday night, and press it with a hot comb on Sunday. Although my hair didn’t “blow in the wind” from way too much grease, I loved the smoothness of it and the fact that it reached the middle of my back. That was “good” hair to me.

Once I turned around 12 or 13, I received my first relaxer. I’m sure with 8 kids putting a relaxer in the hair of her 5 daughters made my mother’s hair care sessions much easier. We could wear wet-sets on special occasions and even wear it “down” sometimes for school. It was easy enough for us to take care of, so we were left to do just that. Despite the continued use of heavy greases and pomades, my hair still seemed to thrive. It wasn’t until I began experimenting with various other chemicals in my hair (Jheri Curl, hair color, and more relaxers – compliments of my sister who was in Cosmetology school) did I begin to notice a change. I didn’t take care of it like my mother did, and boy did it show.

Fast forward about 20 years and countless relaxers later, I found myself with thin, damaged hair from all the years of abuse. Beauticians continued to apply my relaxers incorrectly – only adding to my hair-thinning issues – and my own methods for restoring my hair’s health wasn’t working either. I seriously needed help. The chemicals had destroyed my hair and it was time for a change.

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Not a Fan of Shea? Try Mango

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:21:00 +0000

Are you not a fan of shea butter? Then try mango butter, which has a lighter feel. Check out this video tutorial on how to make whipped mango butter.

Friday's Hair Retention Tip!

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:51:00 +0000

Do you want to reach your goal? Then ...

incorporate pre-shampoo treatments into your regimen, particularly if you're prone to dry ends. Pre-shampoo treatments (or "pre-pooing", for short) usually consist of applying a conditioner and/or oil to your hair and letting it penetrate for an hour or so before your regular shampoo wash. The benefit of prepooing is that it minimizes the stripping of moisture that can come with shampooing. Note: There is no need to apply your prepoo to your scalp; simply applying it to the hair, or even just the ends, is sufficient.

Loo's recommendation:

Coconut oil for a prepoo. Coconut oil is known to not only penetrate the strands, but it may minimize damage by hygral fatigue (i.e., stress on the hair due to water uptake and eventual evaporation).

Source: COCONUT OIL & HYGRAL FATIGUE.

For Wednesday Hair Growth Tips, check out this post.

Healthy Hair Feature: Niqu92

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:18:00 +0000

Today's healthy hair feature is Niqu92. Though she's had a recent setback, there is much to be learned from her story ...

1) Are you natural, relaxed, texlaxed, or transitioning? (And how long?)
I was natural up until my junior year in highschool (08-09) and now im currently relaxed. I don't regret my decision at all. Although i loved my natural hair i enjoy my relaxed hair much more.

2) What mistakes have you made in your hair care journey?
I have always had long & healthy hair so i never really started a hair care journey per se until this year after many setbacks from 2011. I was on birth control pills and it made my hair fall out in clumps. On top of that i decided to go to a new stylist twice for a relaxer touchup and she did not neutralize my hair properly both times so my hair fell out from that. I also "bothered" my hair too much. I decided to start co-washing it about 5x a week and my hair became extremely thin and dry from that. I went to Great Clips for a trim and they sabotaged my hair. Due to all those setbacks i cut my hair 2-3in above BSL.

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3in6: Starting Month #2

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:11:00 +0000

For the challenge guidelines, see this post.

Tomorrow, we'll enter month #2 of the 3in6 Challenge. This February, I'll wear medium/large box braids every two weeks. My regimen will consist of biweekly washes and conditioning.

Ladies, how did month #1 go for you? What will do in month #2?

Skin Care || Coping With Vitiligo

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:12:00 +0000

WHAT IS IT?: Vitiligo is a skin disorder in which the destruction of pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) creates white patches on various parts of the body. It can be as mild as one small patch or as severe as large depigmented regions across the body. Vitiligo usually spreads quickly when it first occurs. It may continue doing so for years, halt, or go through a resting phase before spreading again. The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but current studies note an association between the skin disorder and oxidative stress. Vitiligo can affect any race, but it is more visible in those with darker complexion. Though the condition may affect one's self esteem, it is not a life- or health-threatening condition.

PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT: Depending on the severity of the skin condition, one's self esteem can become severely impacted. Having obvious white patches on the skin can make one self conscious and affect one's self image, especially in a society where physical appearance is valued. According to one study, "majority of vitiligo patients experienced anxiety and embarrassment when meeting strangers or beginning a new sexual relationship and many felt that they had been the victims of rude remarks."

MEDICAL TREATMENTS: First thing is first; see a dermatologist if you suspect you may have vitiligo. The sooner you see one, the earlier it may be treated. Medical treatments range from cortisones to skin grafting to PUVA and more. For detailed descriptions of these treatments, click here.

NATURAL TREATMENTS: Assuming medical treatments have failed you, there are natural alternatives you may want to explore, such as L-phenylalanine, Ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, etc. Some of these options are debatable, but studies on Ginkgo biloba prove promising for ceasing the progression of vitiligo.

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Reader's Question: Low Porosity Butter Mix

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:53:00 +0000

"Porosity is the term used in the science of hair care to describe how easily water and other matter can diffuse back and forth through the cuticle layer and into or out of the cortex." - naturallycurly

Reader's Question: I'm just wondering is any of the butter mizes you mentioned would work for low porosity hair. My hair is kind of fine but also low porosity. Shea butter makes my hair soft but a bit greasy, do you have any moisturizer recommendations.

Loo's Answer: For low porosity hair, I would actually recommend using a humectant-based moisturizer after a good deep conditioning treatment. After washing your hair, rinse with hot water (not too hot), then apply a moisturizing deep conditioner. (The hot water and subsequent heat will help to open up the cuticles.) Let the conditioner sit for 20 minutes with heat, then rinse with warm water. Follow up with a moisturizer containing glycerin or honey. (I recommend whipping a moisturizer of 1/2 part shea butter, 1/2 part mango butter, 1 part conditioner (I recommend V05), and 1/2 part glycerin. If this mixture does not work for you, then check out the Hibiscus & Banana Leave-In from Curl Junkie (click here). It contains even more humectants and is also geared towards fine hair.)

For porosity classifications and more tips of caring for low porosity hair, check out this article.

Friday's Hair Retention Tip!

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:12:00 +0000

Do you want to reach your goal? Then ...

seal those ends. Regular moisturizing is insufficient for some people. Sealing may be necessary to lock in the moisture and keep the ends supple.

The sealing process: Begin by moisturizing the ends of your hair with water (or a water-based moisturizer). Then follow up with an oil (e.g., coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil) and/or a butter (e.g., shea). That's it! Be sure to seal after every wash as well.

Friday's Hair Retention Tip!

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:36:00 +0000

Do you want to reach your hair goal? Then ...

keep heat usage to a minimum. Heat can translate into split ends galore, particularly when used inappropriately. Try alternative methods (i.e., braidouts, twistouts, roller sets) to stretch your hair.

If you must use heat: Apply a good heat protectant from root to tip beforehand. Also, if using a flat iron, use a relatively low or moderate heat setting and only 1-2 passes. Lastly, use quality products and tools to minimize heat damage.

Loo's recommendations:
Heat protectant - Carol's Daughter Macadamia Heat Protection Serum
Flat iron - GHD
Blow dryer - Conair Infiniti (tension method)

Video: Reading Your Body

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:37:00 +0000

A video on learning to read your body (when it comes to eating better).

3in6: The Challenge Begins!

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:18:00 +0000

For the challenge guidelines, see this post.

Today, January 3, is officially the third day of 3in6. I will be wearing jumbo twists every two weeks this month. My regimen will consist of biweekly washes and deep conditioning.

Ladies, how do you plan to wear your hair for the start of the challenge?

HHB New Year Resolutions!

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:05:00 +0000

What are your healthy hair and body resolutions for the New Year? Mine are:

- get back to prepooing with coconut oil (I've been slacking)
- exercise more frequently
- grow my hair to waistlength
- stick to my hair care regimen
- be more diligent about taking my multivitamins

Healthy Hair on Youtube: Sunshower143

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:47:00 +0000

I'm fan of Sunshower143 for her diligent twisting regimen and healthy hair. Enjoy:

3in6: Prep Week #3

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:16:00 +0000

PREP WEEK #3: December 19-25. To join the challenge, see this post.

Use this week to draft your healthy meal plan for 3in6:

For the challenge, we are to eat fruits/vegetables with each meal.

Find or come up with recipes that incorporate fruits/vegetables
Write your grocery list
Set up a drinking plan for your water intake

REVIEW #12: Pura Naturals Cupuacu Hair Butter (Lemongrass)

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:15:00 +0000

NOTE: I am not paid to review this product.

Purpose: Moisturizer

Ingredients: Theobroma grandiflorum (Cupuacu) Butter, Astrocaryum Murumuru Butter, Mangifera indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Shorea stenoptera (Illipe) Seed Butter, Organic Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit , Organic Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Pouteria (sapote oil) Sapota, and Herbal extract blend (horsetail, nettles, and burdock root).

Number of trials: Numerous (until I finished the product)

How I used it:

Applied on freshly washed and conditioned hair.

_____________

THE REVIEW:

The cupuacu butter is divine. It is really rich, thick, and moisturizing. A little bit of the product certainly goes a long way; the sample lasted me much longer than I thought it would. The lemongrass blend smell (while I like it) may be a bit strong for some, so I suggest trying the unscented version of this butter.

___________________

PROS: moisturizing, natural, a little goes a long way

CONS: a little expensive

RATING: Overall, I give the Pura Naturals Cupuacu Hair Butter 4.5 out of 5 stars.

New Personal Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:44:00 +0000

In case you're interested, I've started a second blog entitled "29 Going on 30". It gets personal about career, love, etc. It's a completely different flavor from this blog.

http://looandlife.blogspot.com/

Swap These Ingredients for Healthier Ones

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:14:00 +0000

For the full article, click here. Share your own ingredient swaps below.

3in6: Prep Week #2

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:43:00 +0000

PREP WEEK #2: December 11-18. To join the challenge, see this post.

Use this week to adjust your regimen for 3in6:

Determine what protective style you'll wear for 3in6
Choose whether you'll style for 2, 3, or 4 weeks at a time
Purchase products you will need to maintain your hair
"Practice" your new regimen
Up your water intake gradually

Thursday Tips!

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:30:00 +0000

*Check your hair scissors periodically. Dull scissors can contribute to split ends.

*Mix one part of pure honey with two parts conditioner for an extra punch of moisture. Use the concoction after a fresh wash, leave it on for 20 minutes, and then rinse.

*Donate unused hair products that you have in overstock, or give them away as gifts this holiday season. Swap used hair products with friends or family.

The Truth about Probiotics

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:36:00 +0000

With the increasing interest in probiotics (bacteria that help maintain the natural balance of organisms in the intestines), it is important to know the facts. Check out the following overview on WebMD.

3in6: Prep Week #1

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:50:00 +0000

PREP WEEK #1: December 4-10. To join the challenge, see this post.

Use this week to get a fresh trim or cut. The following reasons are why:

The goal of the challenge is to retain length, and there is no better way to do it than with healthy ends from the start.
Trimming or cutting throughout the challenge is a no-no. It will defeat the purpose of retaining length.

How should one trim/cut her hair? It depends on your preference. A trim can be done on dry or wet hair, and straight or coily hair. I prefer to trim in twists.

Read this post about trimming.

3in6 is Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Loo) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:07:00 +0000

Just in time for the New Year! This challenge will run from January 1 - July 1 2012. Below are the details. Are you in? Mark your spot in the comment section.

Purpose of this challenge: To retain 2-3 inches of growth in 6 months.

Challenge period: January 1 - July 1 2012

Guidelines:

1. Eat fresh vegetables or fruits with each meal.

2. Take a daily multivitamin.

3. Drink sufficient water.

(Amt of water in oz. = Your weight in lbs * 0.5)

4. Wear twists or braids 2-4 weeks at a time.

5. No direct heat.

6. Absolutely no trimming. (Start with a fresh cut now if need be.)

Allowances:

Each challenger is allowed two 1-week periods of styling her hair as she pleases (e.g., puff, rollerset, etc.).

Tips on wearing twists/braids long term:

- Do not twist/braid too tightly

- Redo the perimeter weekly or biweekly.

- Deep condition & detangle thoroughly prior to twisting or braiding.

- For more tips, check out posts in the twist series