Luv ♥ My ♥ Kynxx

HairTherapy Wrap Review and Give-A-Way

2013-05-03T22:25:00.003-07:00

AND THE WINNER IS:

KESHA WILLIAMS!!

I was recently extended an opportunity to review the HairTherapy Wrap AND I'll be giving one away!!! I was excited to use the wrap after watching several positive reviews on it. On the box cover it lists that it is optimized for hair oil treatment a.k.a hot oil treatment. I decided to use it to deep treat my hair with a moisturizing conditioner. It also lists the wrap is microwavable and keratin bond safe and can be used on all hair types. A huge benefit to me was that it's cordless. One size fits most, it comes in cocoa (mine) pink or white, and the inserts can be heated on top of the stove as well as microwave oven. It can be washed which gives it another plus.

I deep conditioned with Honey Condish by Amazing Botanicals sectioning my hair into four parts apply conditioner all over.

Instructions were clear, another plus.

HairTherapy Wrap cautions not do over heat the gel packs, adding that the outside of the packs my not feel hot but the insides may be extremely hot. When heating the wrap and inserts should be in place and heated together. Avoid heating the gel inserts without the wrap. It is not recommended the wrap be worn for more than 20 minutes as well

Gel packs were easy to fit in and for the wrap to zip and secure them in.

3 plastic conditioning caps were included in the box.

Felt a bit heavy

Overall it was comfortable and provided a quick and convenient way to get my deep conditioning treatments, making it easy to multitask. I give the HairTherapy Wrap 2 thumbs up!

ENTER TO WIN:

Therapy wrap contest rules: 1. Must be a follower of Kynxx ~Natural Hair Stylez by Amber 2. Must like Brushlove.com on Facebook 3. Must write ok the giveway post status why you love your hair. 4. Write on brush loves wall Kynxx sent me!

Winner will be chosen at random Sunday May 5th at 7pm CST

HHG!

Cassandra Stephens MUA Altered Ego

2013-04-30T21:02:00.002-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of working with a very talented and professional make-up artist (MUA) name Cassandra Stephens during my first Kynxx photo shoot. The experience was so delightful I had to share it. I'm not one who wears make up and on the rare occasions that I do, I've never had full faced make up with foundation, blush, and eye shadow. It was such a treat. I felt like a completely different person not just after wards but during the entire transformation process.

There were 3 other models present for the photo shoot, all of them Kynxx clients. They also had the pleasure of being made over by Casssandra. While the first model, Evone, was being made up I was in another part of the photography studio. I over heard Cassandra explaining to Evone that orange or pink ( I don't remember exactly) tinted concealers cancel out dark circles around they eyes and help brighten and open up the eyes. It wasn't the details of the information that caught my attention. It was her willingness to share information and eductate others. I find that rare and very commendable. To me, it shows a very high standard of integrity for her craft. Not everyone in the beauty industry is comfortable with or possesses the talent to feel comfortable with educating their clients. I learned Cassandra also has her own self titled YouTube Channel where she shares make-up and natural hair care, styling tips and tutorials. When I heard her sharing make up tips and application tricks I was really glad to have met her. I already told her I will definitely be using her services for any events I need to get glammed up for in the future. I'm just grateful she's in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area!

BEFORE

Evone

Khlya

After

Evone

Khyla

GIVE-A-WAY

Stop by and "like" Altered Ego on Facebook to enter to win! (see details on Facebook) giving away 2 lipsticks 3 pairs of lashes an elf brush and 2 nail polishes.
Rules:
1. Must like Altered Ego's page.
2. Post on this status what you will do to upgrade your look.
3. The contest starts today (May 1st) r...uns till midnight on May 5th. A random winner will be chosen May 6th by 9am. The winner has until Wednesday May 8th at 7pm to inbox their shipping details. If the winner has not responded by 7pm a new winner will be chosen and announced on May 9th.
Good luck to you beauties!!

~Cassandra Stephens~

MUA~Natural Hair Stylist~Beauty Consultant

Facebook: [Altered Ego]

Instagram: csteezy85mua

To view services and prices or book and appointment with Cassandra via Style Seat click [HERE]

No Braid Elegant Updo

2013-04-16T09:09:00.001-07:00

Looking for a quick and elegant way to style your hair? Here is one I created specifically for those of you who are not able to braid to the scalp like most of my styles require. It took me 10 minutes from start to finish!

What you will need:

Large Tooth Comb (detangle if needed)
Soft Boar Brush
Open and closed ended bobby pins 5-10 of each
3 non rubber elastics (I used Goody elastics with no metal or rubber)
Hair Moisturizer of choice (I used pure aloe vera juice sealed with my Mango Shine Butter)
Hair Gel of choice ( I used flaxseed gel by Naturally Amari)

I started off the style on pre-stretched hair from a braid out. I lightly misted my hair with aloe vera juice all over and used about a quarter size amount of my Mango Shine hair butter to seal in moisture for the style.

To start the style I parted an upside down V in the bang area of my hair near my forehead (shown above), followed by placing my elastic around the section (shown below).

I then parted a large section in the back from ear to ear (shown above) and placed my elastic around the section.

I twisted the sections of hair I'd previously placed my elastics around. I gathered the final loose section in the middle of my head into an elastic and made 2 large twists with the hair in the middle section.

Starting from the bottom I pinned the large twist going under (shown above) using a large closed ended bobby pin to keep it in place. As you can see there is a bit of a gap so I used a large open ended bobby pin to close the space so the twist is lying flat against my head.

With the two large twists I made in the center section I placed one of the twists downward and pinned it with a closed ended bobby pin. The photo below I'm pointing to show how you cannot see where the first section and middle section twists meet...it should look like one big twist in the end.

With the second large twist from the middle section I pinned it going forward towards the upside down V shaped part I made, using a closed ended bobby pin to hold it in place.

All 3 twists are pinned and all I have left is the twist in the front to pin down.

I flipped the twist going backward and placed an open ended bobby pin where my index finger is held. (shown below)

The final bobby pin was placed in the front shown below again using an open ended bobby pin.

FINISHED LOOK...

I added a bit of styling gel to slick my sides down and give the style a much more polished finish by softly brushing the sides. I placed a few open ended bobby pins through out the twist in the middle to secure it to my head as well where I felt they needed to be placed.

This is a great quick and easy style to wear that can be dressed up or down for any occasion. I got tons of compliments and stares off of this 10-minute doo! Give it a try, I'm sure you'll look gorgeous with it!

HHG!

Permanent Hair Loss Issues? Styling is STILL Possible!

2013-04-12T20:46:00.000-07:00

I must begin this post expressing how thankful and grateful I am to my client for allowing me to do this post. I've done her hair several times now and this last time prior to the start of our styling session she asked if I wanted to take a before photo. I was elated. I never would have asked her or any other client I've had for a before photo due to the sensitive nature of hair loss. Her volunteering the before photo made me so happy. More than anything, it was her reason for allowing me to. She told me she knows there are plenty of women who deal with the exact same issue or similar she has, some more severe some less. Mainly, she wanted them to know hair loss caused by any reason, does not mean one cannot still look FABULOUS rocking an updo! She wanted other women to know how much they could benefit from Kynxx styling services and it is a huge blessing to me.

BEFORE

The photograph below is the style my client above sent to me that she wanted. Although her hair isn't loc'd, she still wanted something similar, recreated to fit her.

AFTER

After the styling session was complete my client awarded me the biggest most sincere hug. It really made me feel good to know she felt good. Just knowing it made her feel MORE beautiful was such a rewarding feeling.

If you live in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area and would like to book a consultation, feel free to contact me at luvmykynxx@gmail.com. Please allow 2-3 business days for follow up.

HHG!

Beautiful Hair Hot Oil Treatment

2013-04-09T19:10:00.002-07:00

Treating the hair with hot oil is a great way to temporarily repair dryness and brittleness in the hair, soothe dry flaky scalp, and treat dandruff. Caution should always be used when doing a hot oil treatment to avoid burning the scalp.

What you will need:

Bowl
River of Jordan Beautiful Hair Oil or Oil(s) of choice
Plastic bottle with applicator tip
Plastic Processing Cap and a towel or
Hair Steamer

Hot Oil Treatments should ALWAYS be done on wet or very damp hair. This is so the oils can seal in moisture. You can do this treatment prior to shampooing (pre-poo) or you can do this step after you shampoo and before you condition. I prefer to use the hot oil treatment as a pre-poo. I find after washing my hair following a hot oil treatment my hair is much softer, stronger, and does not have the dry feel it can have depending on the type of shampoo used. My hair tends to feel moist for days after doing a hot oil treatment. For information of which types of oils to use for a hot oil treatment if you don't have the chance to order Beautiful Hair Oil, click here to read previous posts all about oils and their specific benefits [Carrier and Essential Oil Posts]

1. First, you need to warm the oil. NEVER PLACE OIL IN A MICROWAVE OVEN!
Pour water into a small sauce pan and bring to a very gentle boil or just before boil. Pour close to boiling hot water into a small deep bowl.

3. If you're using Beautiful Hair Oil, place the entire bottle in the bowl of water that reaches at least half way mark of the bottle (depending on the size of the bottle) for 30 seconds, remove, test the temperature by putting one or two drops on the back of your wrist. If the temperature is comfortable move forward, if you can stand it a bit warmer place the bottle back into the hot water for another 30 seconds, test again, and repeat until you reach the desired temperature. If you are mixing your own blend of oils or just using one specific oil the easiest way to apply it is to transfer the oil to a plastic bottle with an applicator tip or nozzle.

4. Section wet hair into 4 sections.

5. Starting where you wish, part the hair into 1/2 inch sections depending on how dense your hair is parts may need to be smaller to ensure complete saturation of oils on the hair and begin apply the oil directly to the scalp. Once applied, gently massage the scalp with the finger pads (AVOID USING FINGER NAILS)

I use my finger pads to massage oils into the scalp and then I gently rub the oil completely down length of the hair.

6. Sit under steamer or place a plastic processing cap over your hot oil treated hair. If steaming is not an option our remaining hot water onto your towel, wring the towel out from excessive water and wrap the very warm towel around your head, allowing the hot oil treatment to process 30 minutes to an hour.

Oil and steam work wonders at making the hair much more manageable.

This is a photo of my clients hair immediately after washing the hot oil from her scalp and hair. She was left with very soft, moisturized, easy to comb through hair. Weekly or bi-weekly hot oil treatments over time will help improve your hairs ability to retain moisture for longer periods of time, help stop dry flaking scalp issues, and improve the luster of your hair over all.

To purchase River of Jordan Beautiful Hair Oil [CLICK HERE]

HHG!

FingerComber Havana Twist Extension Hair Review

2013-04-02T21:33:00.002-07:00

With Summer approaching more Naturalista's are planning on their upcoming long term protective style. Here in Dallas, TX it gets sweltering hot and keeping my hair protected is a must. About a year ago I was contacted on Facebook by a company called Fingercomber, inviting me to their business page to support and view their new line of extension hair. I am so glad they did. FingerComber carries a line of hair that includes very natural true to Afro-texture synthetic hair that can be purchased on a weft for a sew-weave style, wig for full hair protection, or in bulk for the most famous style created by FingerComber, the Havana Twists. It was love at first sight. What I really like about the FingerComber website is how informative it is. Not only can you purchase the hair their, you can also view styling how-to videos. After viewing the Havana Twist install video I knew I had to try it. I broke out my mannequin and after a few tries, I was looking forward to having my first Havana Twist client.

In the photo above, this is what the hair looks like when it arrives. My client ordered her hair in advance and stated she received it in 5 days. Not bad! Let me also point out Havana Twist Hair is NOT marley hair that is commonly used as extension hair for kinky twists. This hair comes in very thick ready to use, separated strips that make installing it easy to manage. I am very choosy about the type of hair I will work with because not all extension hair has the same quality. The colors in the photo above are Chestnut Black and Sangria which is the color outside of the plastic bags.

I used a small amout of product (Taliah Wajjid Tight Hold) at the base of each twist for a clean finish.

Bra-Strap Length Havana Twists I used 3 and 3/4 packs of hair...for the ends I used aluminum foil cut into 4/1-1/2 inch strips and rolled the ends in an upward motion about inches up each twists, followed by dipping them individually in boiling hot water for a few seconds and allowed them to cool before removing the foil roller.Very small, thin, perm rods would also work well on curling the ends of Havana Twists.

As you can see, the Havana Twists are not started by me using the braid first then twist method. I start each twist, with two strand twisting for a more natural look at the root of each twist. The method is shown in detail on the FingerComber website.

Fingercomber Havana Twist hair gets 2 BIG thumbs up!!! Good quality, good price, long lasting, and re-usable...get's no better than that!

[CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FINGER COMBER HAVANA TWIST HAIR]

To book an appointment contact me by e-mail at luvmykynxx@gmail.com

HHG!

Brunch of Champions!

2013-03-08T09:18:00.001-08:00

Coconut Oil Fried Plantains with Onion and Egg White Omlet with Fresh Kale

1 Ripe Plantain~ cut into rounds

1/2 Onion~sliced

1 Large Organic Kale Leaf

5 Egg Whites

3tbsp Organic Coconut Oil

Sea Salt and Pepper to taste

Best to use Non~Stick Skillet to avoid added fats to cook egg whites

cover to cook egg inside thouroughly

Flip and Serve...

Bon Appétit

Kynxx Pre-Spring Protective Style

2013-03-06T09:14:00.003-08:00

Since my last post reviewing the results I had using JBCO I've been keeping my hair in protective updos for the most part. One great thing about them is after I wear them a week or so I can take them down and rock a fierce braid/twist out. I'd styled my hair in the photo below, posted it to Facebook but didn't have time to make a tutorial for the blog. I wore this style for a full week....

Once it got frizzed out, I turned to one of my trusty scarves as shown in the photo below and rocked it a couple of days longer...

Then once I couldn't take the frizz any longer I decided to take my protective style down and was pleasently surprised with the outcome...a nice full braided/twist out as shown below...

I used a few large styling combs to hold my hair in place after moisturizing one side with pure aloe vera juice a soft boar brush to lay it down to one side...super simple yet super chic!! In total I got 2 weeks and 2 days of hair wear off of that one style.

Last week here in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area we experienced beautiful sunshine and close to 80 degree weather. This beautifully odd warm weather inspired another one of my cornrow/twists updos. This style took me about an hour and a half to do from start to finish...here's the how to tutorial.

I started off with freshly washed and conditioned hair using Amazing Botanicals Black Soap Poo and Honey Condish deep conditioning steam treatment. As always I turned to my old faithful hair gel Kinky Curly Curling Custard as my styling product for this look. I wore this style one week, and this time as promised to the fans on FB I have a tutorial...

I started with parting my hair directly down the center of my head into a straight line, separating both sections off with clips. Then on the right side I started at the nape and parted inch to inch and a half size sections, cornrowing the base of the braid to my scalp only, then two strand twisting the ends...

Once I was above the ear I started the part at the forehead at an angle parting it in a swoop motion as shown above...

completed right side shown above...^^^

I wanted the bun to be off centered so it would end up on the left side and not the center of my head. I parted a section from the middle, beginning the part at the crown taking it to the nape..about a 2 to 2 1/2 inch wide section.

Completely twisted center section shown above ^^^^

Then began cornrowing inch size sections that are parted at an angle, not straight across as shown below...

I followed the same parting direction until the braids met at the top from previously braided sections from the right side. Although I began with a centered part I prefer side angled braids instead of straight to the back direction. To do this, once I got to the area where my forehead was parted at the center, on working from the right side first, I parted past the center part at an angle as shown on the right side photo.

Long open ended bobby pins work wonders for my protectve styles. I find I dont need to use as many bobby pins as I used to when using standard sized pins.

This is where most people ask about...what do I do in the center. Honestly it really depends. Being a stylist I am very creative so I just pinned each side inward, going towards the centered twists and secure each twist until they are all pinned and tucked neatly and comfortably secured as shown above....

Until it looks like this ^^^

Back views shown above ^^^^

Front views shown below...

Because of the wavy texture of hair I have once product is added, my braids look loose but they're not. Once I put my satin scarf on and tie it down the custard dries with a stiff but not hard finish keeping the braids full of shine and free from frizz.

HHG!!

Castor Oil Challenge Final Update

2013-02-06T08:19:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to have had this post up 5 days ago however, I didn't get any updated final photographs. Which only leads me to think they felt the exact way I did about it. Tedious. I'm going to have to be honest about this challenge. Mid-way in I lost all desire to continue and only did so because it would have been a shame for the host of a challenge to quit. One reason I wanted to stop using it was becasue, I don't use oil on my hair to leave in unless it's coconut oil and only if I'm wearing a twist out or braid out to give it shine when needed. Castor oil is way to thick for my hair, even though I diluted it with other oils. The oily feel was not something I could see myself having to deal with for the sake of possibly growing my hair faster. In terms of growth I did notice it grew however not to the extent I've seen photos of others who use it faithfully. I feel my hair grew at its normal rate and sacrificing styling my Kynxx was so NOT worth it. I'm not knocking the product at all. Again, for most avid users it works, or they wouldn't be avid users. But for me, aside from coconut oil I'll stick to using them as hot oil treatments or in my deep conditioning treatments for added softening and strengthening. Here are a few side by sides of my experience over the last 60 days of using Jamaican Black Castor Oil 4 times a weekly. Along with protective styling.

As you can see my hair at the beginning at just above my shoulder blade bone. After two months of using JBCO it is now below my shoulder blade.

In the photo from December my hair stretched to armpit exactly...now it is a full inch plus below armpit length.

I notice the inch of growth. My purpose for starting the challenge was to see if using castor oil on my hair consistently could increase my growth rate. One positive thing I did notice was a slight thickening of my roots around my hair line which has always been pretty fine.

I won't be using this oil aside from continuing to use it as an ingredient in River of Jhordan Mango Shine. Thanks to all who participated and shared their goals with me published or non-published, I am grateful.

HHG!

Kynxx~ Frequently Asked Questions

2013-01-30T00:26:00.000-08:00

I was invited to be a featured hair stylist during a natural hair symposium hosted by Nappiology, Inc. I was one stylist in a panel of 8 natural hair stylist located throughout the Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan area. The purpose of the event was to make the public aware of where stylist can be found and what services we provide as many of them vary. It also gave me the opportunity to meet other stylists in the area which is very beneficial for me. I often get asked if I straighten hair or color hair and now I know stylist who do that I can safely refer those who inquire to without feeling I've compromised integrity because I know they'll be in good hands. If you were not able to attend and would like to in the future I encourage you to join Nappiology Inc. Meet-Up [CLICK HERE TO JOIN] for the upcoming events as the Mane Event Symposium will be traveling to various cities throughout the DFW metroplex this year. By joining Nappiology meet-up you'll have access to all events related to natural hair care and styling in the DFW area.

During the symposium the panel of stylist were able to take questions from attendees. Most of the questions being asked I get quite often. I decided to write this post to address the most F.A.Q. this way when other's who contact me by e-mail or on Facebook I can send them right here without needing to repeat myself. Just remember, every person is different so my responses to the questions are in general. I am not able to specifically without holding a face to face consultation with you.

F.A.Q's

1. Will I have to cut all of my hair off to transition from relaxed hair to natural hair?

No. There is no need to cut off all of your hair during the transition process if you are not comfortable with wearing your hair short. Some find after a few months into the transition process they do not like the two different textures and that is why most Big Chop (BC). If you have long hair or you do not experience breakage during the transition phase then cutting half an inch off of the relaxed ends every two months will leave you with more styling options until the relaxed ends are completely gone. I don't recommend letting the relaxed ends just break off. If you do end up with lots of breakage during the transition phase and you don't want to BC then I recommend either wearing box braids (aka individuals) or some type of protective hair style like sew in weaves (only if the hair is healthy and strong and edges are in tact), and styles like the ones I often style on my clients shown in the [Kynxx Gallery-CLICK HERE]. The key is to avoid breakage so regular deep conditioning treatments weekly or bi-weekly can help avoid breakage and choosing styles that are conducive to the goals you have. If your edges are thin and weak or balding, wearing micro braids, weaves with glue applied directly on hair and/or scalp, and braids that are too tight are counter productive to growing them back.

2. What are good protective styles besides braids to wear year round?
Two strand twists, Bantu Knots, Tuck and Pin hairstyles are great for those who don't want to wear their hair braided. Here are a few examples of protective styles that do not include braids:

TUCK AND PIN:

BUNS:

TWIST/TWIST OUT UPDO'S:

BANTU KNOTS:

3.How do you do a protective style with thin edges and is there a way to help them grow out and when they do and are very short how do you protect them?

Wigs are great protective styles for those who have thin edges that are being nursed back to health. If wigs are not an option, the most important thing to remember is the style you choose should not put any tension around the edges. You protect the edges during the time you are nursing them back to health simply by leaving them alone. Wearing braids that hang down and over the edges are best like box braids shown below...

For box braids inquiries consultations/prices send email to luvmykynxx@gmail.com or contact me on [FACEBOOK]

and Senegalese twists. Protective styles like the ones suggested in the answer to question #2 are really good options as well if you are okay with having the edges out and showing while still thin or missing. During the time of repairing damage, loss, thinning etc. you must have patience and be willing to sacrifice looking your best, to maybe not the best, until you reach your desired goal.

4. What is good for dry hair?
A solid regimen that includes cleansing the scalp, conditioning with a good moisturizing conditioner alternated by reconstructing conditioners to keep the hair moist and soft yet strong thus assisting in it's ability to grow long. Afro-textured hair is dry by nature however when excessive dryness is the issue then there are several contributing factors that will need to be addressed. I wrote a blog post addressing some causes and remedies for treating excessively dry hair. [CLICK HERE] to read post.

5.What is a good hair care regimen to follow?

One created by you based on your own hair care needs. In the beginning of your journey you may have to loosely follow someone else's hair care regimen, tweaking products and hair care times, and styling techniques to fit your own hair once you become familiar with it. [CLICK HERE] to view my own hair care regimen to use as a guide for starting your own.

6. How long does it take to fully transition?

Hair grows at a rate of half an inch per month. Multiply that by one year and you get 6 inches of growth per year. If you do not wish to big chop (BC) then you must think ahead and plan to cut the relaxed ends off from your hair at a point when your new growth is at the length you are comfortable with sporting. When I transitioned in 1993 and the end of 1995 I didn't BC. I allowed my hair to grow until my new growth was at a length I was happy with. None of my hair fell out and I sported a low bun as my styling choice everyday for about 16-17 months occasionally wearing braids in between.
NOTE: There are certain cases when hair is very tightly coiled and the hair has been relaxed to bone straight. I find in many of those cases breakage is inevitable simply due to the textures of the new~growth and distinct contrast to with the relaxed ends at the line of demarcation (where the relaxed ends and new~growth meet. In those cases I do not recommend allowing the ends to just break off. Have a plan before you begin transitioning of what you can do style wise before you cut your hair and if you should have to any alternative styles you like that can be worn until you reach your desired hair length.

7. How do I know what hair type I have?

Although I do not subscribe to hair typing systems, I do understand there are many of you who do and find it helpful. Here is the guide to reference and use as comparison to see which category your hair fits in.

NOTE: In this chart there is another typing number missing, 4C which is supposed to be the z type strand hair pattern and usually in terms of texture, the most coarse of all. Remember most of us have more than one "type" and that is the reason I do not subscribe to hair typing systems. These systems are very subjective and vary depending on ones own belief of what they have instead of what is. I'm all for taking a common sense approach to hair care and "typing" the hair has nothing to do with the ability to care for it. It can be helpful for styling product choices but even with that someone my have hair that looks just like yours but your hair may respond differently from that person even using the same product. Its best to take the time and get to know your own hair period. We didn't need or use hair typing systems in the late 60's and 70's when natural was going strong. I personally see no need for it now. [CLICK HERE] to read my blog post describing my hair "type".

8. What can I do to make my hair grow fast?

I hear this question asked often and really the response has nothing to do with a hair product. Its in the foods we consume. Saturated fatty filled foods are directly linked to hair loss, thinning, and the inability to grow thick strong strands from the root. Dietary changes are the #1 link to growing healthy hair and even if it doesn't necessarily grow faster than the normal rate of .5 inches per month, when the hair grows at its maximum health potential, it will seem like your hair IS growing at a faster rate due to the increased ability to retain all that is grown. I have to remind myself of this often :) I am an UrbanBushBabe fan and recently came across an article and vlog about predetermined hair lengths. I think anyone asking this question should view this video and share it with everyone they know who asks the same. Very informative and it takes you back to the basics of hair care without all the newness of the movement that I feel only tends to be information overload and confusing. [CLICK HERE] to view UrbanBushBabes video.

9. What is Henna?
The powdered leaves of a tropical shrub, used as a dye to color the hair and decorate the body. Henna or Hina is a flowering plant, the sole species in the genus Lawsonia in the family Lythraceae.
[SOURCE]

Henna (Lawsonia Inermis) benefits on hair:

stops hair loss
stimulates hair growth by blending with the natural proteins found in hair
slows down premature greying
prevents breakage
adds shine
cures dandruff and dry scalp
reverses effects of pollution on hair and dryness due to excessive blow drying
renders a magnificent reddish brown color to dark hair

10. What is the best oil to use on dry hair?
There are 3 Oils that are noted for adding moisture to the hair, extra virgin olive (evoo), avocado, and virgin coconut most commonly known for pentrating through the cuticle and adding moisture up to 50%. These are oils that may be applied to hair without needing to apply water to the air first. I've read so many different moisture percentages each provides, each being different. Some articles I've read state coconut oil provides the highest moisture level to hair, evoo being the least and vice versa. Most stated avocado was in the middle of the two. I suggest buying a small bottle of each separately and using them on your hair to make the best choice based on how your hair responds to them when applied on dry hair.

11. How do I stop my scalp from itching?
It depends on the causes. Sometimes the scalp will itch solely from product build up that needs to be removed. Clarify with bentonite clay (for more info about bentonite clay [CLICK HERE] or a clarifying shampoo like Trader Joe's Tingling Tea Tree Shampoo. By doing so you remove the dirt and oils that often cause the scalp to become itchy and clogged. Another reason can be dandruff from oily scalp or flaky scalp as a result of excessive dryness. I suggest the natural approach only to cure either problem. Dandruff shampoos and topically applied ointment usually have chemicals that are harmful to our bodies for those who want to stay away from using products with toxins in them. One way to relieve itchy scalp is simply to massage it for a few minutes, using the finger pads, not tips or nails that can possibly be harmful for the scalp. Massaging with your oil of choice with a little peppermint essential oil or tea tree ES if dandruff is the cause for itching. For a more intense and possible cure to itching scalp are regular apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinses (1 part ACV 2-3 parts purified water). ACV rinses in it self can beautify hair by closing the cuticles in the strands, which results in added shine, less frizz, and a scalp without itch!

12. What can I use to cure my dandruff?
One of the best ways to keep the scalp healthy is using Ayurveda powders. Brahmi, Amla, Shikakai, Bhringraj, Neem, Henna, Cassia, to name a few. Each powder is beneficial for different reasons although most of them noted for keeping the scalps oil production balanced and healthy, tightening the roots which leads to less hair fall, and improve thickness to the hair by providing strength to weak strands. I often write about my own dedication to using Ayurveda in my hair care regimen. Here a a few articles I'm sure you will find helpful:
[CLICK HERE FOR HENNA]
[CLICK HERE FOR CASSIA]
[CLICK HERE FOR ALMA AND BRAHMI]]
[CLICK HERE FOR COLORING WITH AYURVEDA HAIR POWDER]
[CLICK HERE FOR CLEANSING AND DISINFECTING WITH REETHA SOAP NUTS]
For more information about the benefits of Ayurveda for hair [CLICK HERE}

13. Am I still considered natural if I dye my hair or thermally straighten my hair?
In my opinion, yes because no chemicals that permanently change the texture of the hair like a relaxer would have been applied to the hair. I've heard and read some Naturalistas complain about looser strands after lifting their hair color more than say 2-3 shades but aside from that it's still not like putting a relaxer on the hair. Again this is my opinion and let me add I'd rather women straighten their natural hair and learn how to wrap it to keep it straight without using a flat iron everyday, then relax their hair. Over time thermal straightening can also loosen ones curl pattern. Nevertheless the hair is still not relaxed. No chemicals have entered into the blood stream that can cause permanent hair loss. I can't count how many times I got burned with a pressing comb on my scalp growing up and I still had a head full of long silky hair. If you want to keep your hair relaxer free, or natural, just keep the no-lye or lye away from it and you're good.

14. My significant other hates my natural hair or doesn't support my desire to transition, what should I do?
This can be a very difficult issue to deal with. You want one thing, your love desires another. Some feel like it's just looks, they'll get over the change and just do what they want and don't bother acknowledging how or what their significant other feels. There are others who desire and need the support from their mate and when it doesn't happen, it causes them to feel hurt, sad, and other negative emotions in relation to their hair choices. For those in that situation I can only tell you to pray on it and use every bit of knowledge that lead you to make the choice to transition, to educate him/her on why it is so important to you. Most of the time those who are not supportive simply because they don't know anything about it nor do they understand what the journey means to you. Calmly communicate while educating on the health benefits and I'm sure things will work out in your favor.

15. I want to transition my child's hair, where do I start?
Start with talking to your child and finding out what they want first. I know as parents the final decision is ours. They have to live with whatever choices we make for them in their best interest. However, why not take the time to talk to your child and see how she feels about her hair. Make it more than just about how she will wear it but dig deeper by finding out how she views her hair. Is it pretty to her, does she feel straight hair is better, does she have the good vs. bad hair syndrome so many of us were and still are plagued with and at times inadvertently pass on to our offspring. In order for the transitioning process to be smooth is to be honest about your feelings and views about your hair. So if you despise the look (and this goes for ADULTS as well) of Afro textured hair, transitioning is not for you unless your goal is to wear lots of sew in weaves or wigs or you plan to wear your hair straight. Aside from that transitioning needs to come from a place of unconditional love of self and acceptance. Shrinkage, kinks, curls, dryness, oiliness, multiple textures, are all a part of this journey and what make it so full filling. Learning the many things our unique coils can do and the multitude of beautiful ways it can be styled are all a part of it. In my opinion I don't think it should be forced especially on children who are pre-teen and teenage years. They have so many other things to deal with and unless you raised that child to value natural beauty from the start, be prepared for a little resistance just as you would be if making the choice to transition without knowing anything about it. The wisest decisions come after educating yourself about the process and the necessity to transition your mind in most cases prior to the physical transition.

I have a blog post that goes into detail on how to build and regimen and start a healthy hair care journey for your child, although all information in the post may be followed for adults too. [CLICK HERE] to read blog post.

16. #1 question asked no matter what the hair issue may be: What product do I use?
I'm not a nutrition expert nor dietician, I just want those of you struggling with hair issues especially if related to drug use (legal drugs are still drugs) to step away from product dependency for a resolution to hair problems and think internal. I drink 24 oz. green juice daily for the past 2 weeks and already notice an improvement in my mood, ability to concentrate, less hair shed, glowing skin, digestion and bowel movement frequency, and greater endurance during workouts. I do not have any known medical issues but if I did and took drugs as prescribed by my physician, I would definitely look into dietary changes and juicing for health and to free myself from expensive drug dependency. I cannot stress the importance of what we put into our bodies being included into our hair care regimens and to view them as products as well. When it comes to eating healthy I ENCOURAGE product junkism to the fullest!!

Nutri~Bullet, Nutriblast Recipe: kale, grannysmith apples,carrots, sunflower seeds, and purified water.

I purchased my machine at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for $99.99. When you register for e-mail updates you'll be sent a 20% welcome coupon that can be applied towards your purchase. For more information about the NutriBullet visit [HERE].

If you have a question that has not been addressed in this post feel free to leave it in the comments and I will update this same post with my response. Thank you for reading, Be Blessed...

HHG!

Easy Scarf Stylin'

2013-01-29T22:04:00.000-08:00

Since the castor oil challenge is still running I've had to come up with ways to prolong wearing my hair in twists in effort to get more length retention. I have quite a few slouch beanies and scarves and decided I may as well be using them. I posted the photo~collage above and had a few requests to make a tutorial, so, here it is.

I purchased the scarf brand new with an Express retail store price tag attached (previously worn a few time no longer have tags) for .25 at a thrift store in Arlington, TX called Thrifty town. Moving forward you'll read a lot more about my thrift store hauls. Everytime I share something I've found while thrifting I read comments on how many women like myself frequent them and find some serious deals on brand clothing. Not sure what the material is made of but it is very light weight. The photos below are close ups of the fabric to show the pattern up close and how sheer the material in under lighting.

HHG!

JBCO Challenge 6 Week Check~In

2013-01-16T23:13:00.000-08:00

Week 6 is here. Hard to believe almost 2 months has passed and I'm hoping I see MORE than 1 inch of growth with all of the effort I'm putting into keeping focused on the challenge. Here are the updates!

Kiara

ANYWAY, the Castor oil is working great. When i visited a hair salon in Indianapolis last week, one of the beauticians asked to feel my scalp. "Oh my goodness," she exclaimed, "Your scalp is really really soft. Dry hair isn't a problem your hair is well nourished." She told a customer to come and feel and they asked me what i used. The castor oil really softens the scalp. I know in the past i had really dry hair and dandruff, but that is a thing of the past. i am going to use castor oil and scalp massages to grow back my butchered hair. i am going to wait until June 15th, 23 weeks from now to get a trim. i am waiting that long because it probably will have evened out by then. Plus since the weather will be warm, the hair growth will be boosted. :)

Kenya

Still loving my managed ends. It seems like its grown?

Angela

I took my braids out on December 30th and wore a braid out for a few days. I can honestly say I've NEVER taken down a style and my hair look so good. JBCO use was definitely beneficial in keeping my hair from getting extra frizzy for the month I wore the box braids. here is a photo of how my hair looked during and after the take down. I lost quite a bit of hair which is why I prefer not to wear long term protectives like box braids. Although the loss was normal and expected, seeing all of that hair shed at one time was borderline traumatizing for me ;). After removing my braids I did not notice any additional thickening and nothing more than normal hair growth for 4 weeks. I also notice my head itched like crazy and I dilute mine with grapeseed and EVOO.

I washed my hair with Amazing Botanicals Black Soap Poo, deep conditioned with Honey Condish, then two strand twisted my hair using Kinky Curly Curling Custard.I wore the twists one week and now I'm currently rocking a well defined soft twist out for the past 4 days.

This weekend I plan to do a hot oil treatment using JBCO and Grapeseed Oil. Haven't decided on the style as yet for the final two weeks but it will be protective and the final photo will show my growth results from the challenge.

HHG!

Food for the Soul ~Vegan/Vegetarian

2013-01-07T12:22:00.001-08:00

January 1st in many households across the US it is tradition to prepare a soul food meal that usually includes either gumbo which is a seafood soup dish, black eye peas (for good luck throughout the year), greens (collards, mustards, or turnips) and usually rice and some type of meat. Since I decided to make dietary changes that do not include meat and reducing the amount of diary I intake, I've stayed away from preparing those delicious southern comforting soul food dishes. The thought of making collard greens without using smoked turkey tails to season them was actually scary to me. I thought they'd be bland and flavorless. I couldn't have been more WRONG.

This year I decided to take a leap out of my comfort zone and prepare a traditional New Year's Day feast for my son's and I. I'd been searching for vegan recipes for making collard greens and sweet potatoes for a few days before I found one I was comfortable with trying. I'd heard about smoke salt from visiting the site of beautiful Chef Ahki who posted the heading on one of her blog articles: "If you ain't eatin' greens once a week, you trippin!" It immediately caught my attention because I hadn't even thought about making greens without meat. I asked some of her followers what they used and was advised to use smoke salt to give the greens the smoked flavor without the animal fat. I couldn't find any smoked salt at Whole Foods and was bummed. I still figured I'd make the bland tasteless pot of collards since I'd already spent time and money on fresh organic veggies. While cooking I noticed I had some smoked paprika so I hopped online and found a recipe for cooking greens and it included smoked paprika, which I found for $2 at my local Kroger.

Recipe to feed a family of 3

2 bunches of organic collard greens (soaked, washed, with stems removed, and chopped as desired)
1 onion
1 16oz carton of vegetable broth/stock
2 tbsp smoked paprika
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water (optional)
combine ingredients in 4 qt or larger stock pot turn fire or burner on medium high, bring to a boil, turn fired or burner down to medium low and allow to simmer for 45 minutes or until collard greens are to your desired tenderness and texture.

3-4 large sweet potatoes or yams (chopped into large chunks)
1/2 cup of organic raw sugar
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp agave nectar
1-2 cups of water
place ingredients in 2 qt sauce pan on medium high burner setting, allow to boil, turn down burner to low and allow to cook until soft 30-45 minutes. Check with a fork for desired tenderness.

1-lb pack of fresh organic black eye peas (pre-cleaned separated and rinsed, or soak overnight in water and manually separate and rinse)
2 cups vegetable broth/stock (or enough to cover the peas)
1 small piece of garlic clove diced
Sea Salt (to desired taste)
Ground black pepper to taste
Place ingredients into small 2qt or less sauce pan and bring to boil, turn down to low setting until peas are no longer crunchy but before they begin to separate.

For those who don't know Quinoa is a great way to add protein to vegetarian and vegan diets. I am using quinoa in replace of brown rice.
1 cup quinoa
2.5 cups of water
Place ingredients into small sauce pan, bring to boil, turn down heat to low and cover with lid for 20 minutes or until quinoa has fully sprouted.

Completed Dishes

I gotta have my hot sauce!

Bon Appétit

JBCO Challenge ~4 Week Progress Check In

2013-01-03T06:26:00.001-08:00

Week four is has arrived and for me, time flies. I wore my box braids for 4 weeks, 2 days, and 8 hours...but who's counting ;) I'm not getting all the updated photos from the participants who first started which could be time restraints from holidays or their dedication to the challenge has wavered. Either way I hope the hair care regimen part of the challenge sticks more than anything. Let's get to the updates...

Angela

Frances

Kenya

I haven't noticed anything different. Just loving that I don't have the fizzy ends anymore.

Kiara

For the past two weeks, my life has been rather busy and so I simply wore my hair in plaits for basically the whole two weeks. I have been cleaning out our home and so wearing my hair in plaits, a bun and braiding it with castor ail and coconut oil as the most convenient thing to do, I was rather lax and I am going to put in more effort next week for all of my energy went into cleaning. When I finally unbraided my hair I noticed how very soft the curls were and how my hair felt a little heavier, it was even more tame! lol there were some single strand knots, but other than that, my hair looked beautiful and I got many compliments. I cannot wait for the next two weeks! :)

No more box braids for me. As I mentioned before I wore them a month and as you can see from the side by side none of my parts by the end of the month were showing. I was supposed to have re-braided the perimeter had I stayed with the Crown and Glory Method for retaining length but extentions and wearing the same style weeks at a time just are not my style. I don't like feeling like I'm depriving myself from looking how I want to look for the sake of getting longer hair. With patience it will come. For the remainder of the challenge however I will be wearing my hair in twists and plan to do them every 10 days or so. As a stylist it is very important I keep my own hair looking well groomed. Afterall, I am my own BEST advertisement! See ya in 2 more weeks!!

HHG!

Happy New Year ~Recap of 2012

2013-01-03T05:45:00.000-08:00

All praises due!! I am so grateful for all I accomplished through God's grace this past year and even more grateful to see the dawn of a new one. I met more new people the year 2012 then I have in my entire life. Some became friends and/or business associates, others transit, lost a few, gained a few but in the end each very significant and important no matter how brief. I'd like to take this time to thank each and every Luv My Kynxx blogspot reader for your comments, words of inspiration, and support. Your feed back is invaluable and serves as confirmation that I am living my life's purpose. I encourage anyone who is reading this to make 2013 BETTER than 2012. I have no resolutions but I do have goals and I my goal is to align my actions with God's will and to have the clarity and patience to KNOW that is willed for me and what is not. With that said here is a recap of some of my most favorite hair styles & photographs 2012! God Bless!

January 2012

I started the year out with a nice hair cut!!

My stretched Fro!

February 2012

Intro to Amazing Botanicals!!!

March 2012

April 2012

My trip to Los Angeles, CA!

Going to see my favorite singer Eric Roberson!

May 2012

Twists^^^^

Twist Out from previous twists ^^^

Mother's Day

June 2012

July 2012

3 Band Puff

August 2012

September 2012

Styled by Mrs.Tiana Rogers

October 2012

November 2012

December 2012

January 2013

Wishing You All The Best in 2013!!

HHG!

Caring for Box Braids and Styling Tutorial

2012-12-16T23:19:00.002-08:00

It's been two weeks and 3 days since I felt my hair and I miss my kynxx. One thing about being a stylist is it spoils you because at any given time I know I can style it up! With all goals though there is usually some type of sacrifice that has to be made to reach that goal. I want to retain more length and dust less from single strand knots and wearing box braids I know is one of the best ways to do so. I got a little bored with it and turned to YouTube for styling inspiration. There were tons of videos on how to style these babies. I created the style above in the steps below. I'll also demonstrate how I moisturize and care for them at night.

Moisture Routine

I add pure Aloe Vera juice to my spray bottle and spray it directly to my roots and braids ending where my hair stops. I pour aloe vera juice in a bottle and mist it over. This will also close the cuticle and remove frizz.

I use half Jamaican Black Castor Oil, 1/4 Hemp seed oil and 1/4 Grape seed Oil. Once the oil has been applied and massaged into my scalp for a few minutes I leave it alone. I perform this routine every other morning.

One thing I noticed is after half hour or so, the new growth from my braids is much straighter then prior to adding the oil. I think it's the weight of the Castor that coats my hair and causes it to lay down. Either way to me it's definitely a benefit.

The photograph below was taken about half an hour after the aloe vera juice was applied followed by the JBCO mix.

I usually keep them down.

I decided to try a Ponytail...I wasn't too fond of it though.

Box Braid Styling Tutorial

Left Right

One section of braids hanging in the front and one in back.

I placed the front section of the hanging braids towards the back hanging braids creating a loop.

I took the back section of the hanging braids and placed that section of braids underneath the loop and gently pull it through.

I secure the back section and any braids that are poking out with open ended bobby pins.

Box Braid Wrap Around Bun

I wore the style down after wearing it 3 days and nights. No maintenance aside from wearing a satin scarf at night.

After 2 night of wearing style

Night time routine...easy.

HHG!!

JBCO Challenge ~2 Week Progress Check In

2012-12-16T21:11:00.002-08:00

It's been 2 weeks in for the JBCO challenge and I must say for me it is coming along great. Lovin' my braids and the ease in caring for my hair in them. Let's get right to the participant updates. The updates are not necessarily to see growth, especially since it's only been 2 weeks but for participants to share any helpful information about using JBCO or regular Castor oil.

Kenya

I noticed in the past two weeks my ends are more controlled and defined. Less wiry and no frizz. I think it's because of the JBCO which I mix with EVOO.

Kiara

The castor oil was placed on the same spots of my scalp everyday. The photo is the best image I could take up close, but with the naked eye one can really see the thickness. The new hair is shinier and "wispier " than normal. It is filling in the spot that i have the least hair in. I have been wearing plaits for two weeks which saved on combing and tangles. I washed my hair twice this whole time and i will do the same routine next week!

Hair Regimen

Nightly Routine:
Spray hair with water
Apply Leave-in conditioner (Granier Fructis Intensely Smooth Leave-in Conditioner OR Herbal Essence Totally Twisted Conditioner) Apply Castor/Coconut Oil Mix Put hair in Protective Style
Protective Styles: Single Braids or Twists Flat Twists
One-Two large head band twists, Buns,

Daily Routine: Spritz hair with water, Smooth Castor/Coconut Oil on twists or braids

Weekly: Shampoos: Dr Bronner's Castile Soap, ACV or Nothing But Shampoo.

Conditioners: As I Am Co-wash, Ren Cleansing Conditioner or Suave Almond & Shea Conditioner

Alternate Weeks:Deep Conditioner Moisturizer Treatment: Suave Shea Almond Conditioner, Honey, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil mix

Deep Conditioner Protein Treatment:Suave Shea Almond Conditioner, Honey, Olive Oil Mayo, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil mix

Me!

My newgrowth is coming along great. I find wearing my hair in braid extentions allows me to actually SEE the growth which in itself is highly motivating. I am beginning to get a bit bored with them so to keep me focused on my goal of wearing them until February 1st I started accessorising more with scarves, my loc soc, and styling my braids to help comfort the fact I miss my hair, already. As you can see from the comparison shot the past 15 days has been quite progressive. I have nothing negative to report about using JBCO. I noticed when moisturize and apply the oil the once the oil is absorbed the roots of my hair look much straighter. So far so good...next update in two weeks!

HHG!

Castor Oil Challenge: Meet the Participants

2012-12-02T16:34:00.000-08:00

First I have to say thank you to all who signed up to participate in LMK Castor Oil Challenge. This will serve as motivation and support for us all and also for those who read LMK blog and want to learn how to care for their hair naturally. Let's get right to it and meet the participants who wanted to be included in the posts.

Kiara

1. Scalp massages every day

2. Castor oil three times a week but more frequently on certain areas.

3. I am going to "steam" my hair with a shower cap at least twice a week. This is also known as the GHE (Greenhouse Effect)
4. Protective styles every day
5. Wash my hair about once or twice every two weeks.
6. Document everything in a hair journal
7. Document with photos
8. No trimming only dusting
9. No using heat (flat irons, blow dryer) until the very last day of the challenge for a comparison photo
10. Moisturize and seal

Products I will be using

1. One and Only Argon Oil Shampoo (wash)
2. As I Am Coconut Co-Wash Conditioner (wash)
3. Extra virgin coconut oil (more than once a week)
4. Unrefined Shea Butter (only when plaiting or twisting hair)
5. One and Only Argon Oil moisturizing cream (because my hair gets dry at the ends)
6. And of course.... JBCO! :D

Angela

My Hair Regimen is as follows :)
Mondays:
-Shampoo- Jane Carter hydrating invigorating shampoo SLS-FREE
-Condition- Clear scalp and Hair Therapy Ultra Shea
-Deep Condition- Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Hair Masque or Doris
Mud Minerals pack treatment.
- De tangle with denman brush
- Style hair in two strand twist with Eco-Styler gel or Shea Butter
Thursday:
-Co-wash- Clear scalp and Hair Therapy Ultra Shea
-Style hair in two strand twist with Eco-Styler gel or Shea Butter
Daily:
-Moisturize with homemade hair spritz. Water, olive oil, jojoba oil
and coconut oil.
-Always making sure to wear a charmuse satin bonnet at night to protect hair.

Amina

VBerry88

Products used:
Pantene ProV Curly Hair Series Shampoo and Conditioner
Cantu Leave in Conditioner

Frances

My regimen is as follows:
Weekly co washing with tresemme moisture rich conditioner or herbal essence hello hydration....
Weekly deep conditioning with hair mayonnaise or cholesterol....
Weekly leave in conditioner either Alikay's leave in conditioner or cantu shea butter
Sometimes I pre poo with essential oils such as lemon, jojoba, rosemary, peppermint, and extra virgin olive oil........
I use clarifying shampoo approx. every six months

Every two weeks or so I steam my hair.....
Every 6 weeks or so I either use protein or henna on my hair...
Everyday I use extra virgin olive oil and extra virgin coconut oil - 80/20 ratio with a few drops of lemon, peppermint, argan, or rosemary oil....depending on what i felt like that day......

Akua

Hair Regimen

Nightly Routine:

Spray hair with water

Apply Leave-in conditioner (Granier Fructis Intensely Smooth Leave-in Conditioner OR Herbal Essence Totally Twisted Conditioner)

Apply Castor/Coconut Oil Mix

Put hair in Protective Style

Protective Styles:

Single Braids or Twists

Flat Twists

One-Two large head band twists

Daily Routine:

Spritz hair with water

Smooth Castor/Coconut Oil on twists or braids

Weekly:

Shampoos: Dr Bronner's Castile Soap, ACV or Nothing But Shampoo.

Conditioners: As I Am Co-wash, Ren Cleansing Conditioner or Suave Almond & Shea Conditioner

Alternate Weeks:

Deep Conditioner Moisturizer Treatment: Suave Shea Almond Conditioner, Honey, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil mix

Deep Conditioner Protein Treatment:

Suave Shea Almond Conditioner, Honey, Olive Oil Mayo, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil mix

Chanise

Kenya

My hair regimen is not major at all! The main product that I use is Shea Moisture. I use this to shampoo and condition. Also I co-wash with it. To deep condition my hair I use As I am hydration elation intensive conditioner. For daily moisture I use aloe Vera juice and Shea butter. When twisting my hair I use Shea butter and sweet almond oil. As you can see...nothing major, but I'm ready to make a change!

Clara

My regimen is protective styling with JBCO 3-5

times weekly on scalp, biweekly wash/conditioning with Pantene Relaxed

& Natural (for now) and JBCO as a hot oil treatment.

Regimen: Keep It Simple Sista (k.i.s.s. for me)

Wash once a week/ week & half (must for me because scalps gets irritated otherwise)

Moisturize ends at night/mornings with aloe vera juice and water

Apply JBCO every other day

Massage scalp daily

Styles:

Two strand twists, pin tucks, protective updos

Products:

Hello Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner, Cream of Nature Shampoo and Condition

Last but not least...ME!

My regimen will consist of using 1/2 JBCO and 1/2 Grapeseed Oil directly onto my scalp 3 times per week. I will steam my hair in the braids every two weeks and apply an astringent to my scalp as needed to remove dirt/build-up. My goal is to leave the braids in for the full duration of the challenge. If the frizz gets to be too much I will take them down the first of January, shampoo using Amazing Botanicals Black Soap Poo and DC using Honey Condish. I will seal with JBCO and Grapeseed Oil mix and re-braid my hair leaving them up until the last day of the challenge. I know I will get at least 1 full inch of hair growth...using JBCO Im hoping to get more than that. We shall see.

HHG!

Protective Stylin' with Box Braids

2012-12-01T00:30:00.001-08:00

I know one thing, looking at photos of hair styles will definitely impact the styling choices I make. After posting several photos of women and even one man rockin' fierce Poetic Justice, Box Braids, or Individuals (what ever name floats your boat) I was compelled to braid my own in the trendy style. So glad I did. Here are the details on how to install box braids with zero damage to hair, hair line, and scalp.

It's very important you choose 100% Kanekalon hair. I've been braiding hair with extensions since 2001 and the BEST hair I've found is Rastafri by Afrelle. It's super soft and has a natural shine to it. It doesn't cause me to itch like many of the other brands I've used in the past and it doesn't snag or cut my fingers no matter how many hours I find myself braiding. At an average of $3 per pack you can't beat it. If you're thinking of braiding your own hair and need a quality hair this is the one for you. If your local beauty supply store doesn't carry this brand, Black and God Platinum (silver package) is just as good but tends to be even harder to find. At least here in TX.

I bought 5 packs but only used just under 3 pks. I've seen and read all over the web of people using 8,9,10 packs of hair. That's fine in some cases. For hair that is extremely dense you will need more packs of hair even if the hair is short. However, if the hair is fine or thin less hair should be used to prevent the natural hair from breaking off due to it having way too much weight on it.

I made sure I used the same amount of extension her per section or box I was braiding. Here is a close up where you can see the amount in the section I parted off matches the amount of hair used in each braid. This is very important to prevent breakage, bumps, and unnecessary hair loss.

It's important the hair is prepped for braids. Especially in cases like mine where the intention is to wear them for a month or longer. The deep conditioning treatment I did added strength to my hair and moisture. Should I decide to take them down and redo them in a month I will shampoo and deep condition again before re-installing the braids. I took the time to dust my ends as I installed the braids as needed. This for me will be the perfect style for the Luv My Kynxx Castor Oil Challenge.

It took me 2 hours to complete the section in the photo on the left and the photo on the right shows the amount of braids I was able to do with one pack of the Rastafri braiding hair.

As you can see from these close ups of my hair line I have no red bumps, no swelling between the parts, I didn't take any pain killers before during or after the install.

I cut them a bit since this photo was taken. Instead of full waist length they are mid back.

Since burning the tips of braids is no longer an option like back in the day it is a must that the ends of each braid look natural and not blunt. I used a razor comb to thin the ends of the braids out prior to dipping them in a cup of boiling hot water for 5-10 seconds to get them this way.

Of the 3 packs of braiding hair I used, this was left from the third pack. I used just over 2 1/2 packs for my entire head. They are extremely light and very comfortable.

Whenever I wear braids...cornrows especially I have to have some type of bead accessory to add to them. I picked these hand carved wooden beads up for .50 each at the Texas International Hair Show I attended back in July this year. I knew I'd get a chance to rock these babies one day!

I plan to do some really cute styles with these braids and will have styling post through out this month. Depending on my tolerance level, I may incorporate the Crown and Glory method and keep this as my staple style for awhile to retain all that I grow through the course of the next year. That's a maybe...don't hold me to it :)

Some of you may be asking yourselves what is the Crown and Glory Method? [click here for details about the Crown and Glory method.

HHG!

Deep Conditioning with Hemp Seed Oil

2012-11-30T23:11:00.005-08:00

After reading about the benefits of hemp seed oil for hair I had to purchase a bottle. This is my second experience using this wonderful oil on my hair and along with argan oil, it's one of the best in my opinion. It's benefits on the body in general are astounding.

The first time I used Hem pseed oil I used it as a hot oil treatment. After rinsing my hair in the shower to remove any product build up I used it as a pre-poo step by putting the warm oil on my hair while wet and wearing a baggie for a couple of hours. I rinsed and then followed with shampooing and deep conditioning. I loved the way my hair felt and how defined my curls were. I decided to try it again this time warming it a bit then mixing it in with conditioner to use as a deep conditioning treatment.

This bottle was purchased from an EBay store...I paid 16.00 for it with free shipping. I don't have the information on the store but there are several of them that carry this brand of oil at comparable prices.

Benefits of Hemp seed Oil for Hair*

Many women who are concerned about the health of their hair use shampoos and conditioners made with hemp seed oil.

Hemp seed oil is not the typical product that is put on your hair. Hemp, in its industrial-grade state, is drug-free and non-hallucinogenic, lest you worry that it's harmful, since it comes from the Cannabis plant. Hemp seed oil has been subjected to heat which sterilizes it and prevents germination.

Although hemp seed oil was used in hair care and treatment for a time before it was used in commercial shampoos, companies did eventually realize the many benefits of hemp seed oil for hair care. The commercial-grade hemp seed oil used for hair care is an excellent source of amino acids and has been proven to have many benefits for your hair.

Hemp seed oil, like Argan oil for hair, is a good source of many nutrients than can benefit the health of your hair. It is proven to be helpful for developing keratin formation. Hemp seed oil for hair helps develop stronger and healthier hair.

As you age, your hair develops deficiencies in Omega-3 fatty acids. When you use hair care products infused with hemp seed oil, which has a high content of fatty acids, you can help to stave off the aging process. The 3:1 ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 essential fatty acids is exactly what your hair and your scalp need. This ratio is also the easiest absorbed by the body.

When you use products with hemp seed oil on a regular basis, you should experience a dramatic difference in the feel and look of your hair, regardless of whether it is usually oily, dry or normal. Since the human body does not produce essential fatty acids on its own, they are still needed for optimum health.

Researchers believe that we should give our body and hair essential fatty acids (EFAs). Ninety percent of Americans don't take in enough EFAs. EFAs help to build other chain fats which your body uses to maintain maximum health, in your body and in your hair. These fats help to keep the positive substances in your cells while keeping out the bad substances.
[source]

One of the things I get asked about most is hair growth. I cannot stress enough that healthy hair does not come from a styling product. The key factors to growing long healthy hair is a diet high in protein, low in saturated fat, and a body that is well hydrated daily. Deep conditioning treatments are the next most important part of a hair care regimen so if healthy hair and longer hair is the goal one must make time for weekly, bi-weekly or monthly hair care regimens that include deep conditioning treatments. Treatments like the one below can be done with or without heat. Without heat use plastic conditioning processing cap as shown in photo below I'm wearing for 1-4 hours. With steam process without a plastic cap for 20-30 minutes. Using a hooded/bonnet dryer cover hair with plastic cap and process treatment for 45 minutes on medium high setting.

Deep conditioning recipe: Amazing Botanicals Honey Condish (enough to cover hair thoroughly) 1-2 tbsp of warm hemp seed oil, let it marinate about an hour w/ a Baggie covering hair and no heat or steam for 30 mins no baggie, or sit under a hooded dryer for 20 minutes w/ Baggie and allow the hair to cool 10-15 mins after coming from the dryer. Rinse in cool water.

One of the most common statements I hear is...I don't have time for deep conditioning. Well, here is one way you can MAKE time. As you can see in the photos below I'm wearing a slouch beanie. Underneath the beanie is my plastic cap covering my hair with conditioner in it.

You can see some of the plastic cap though the knit in my beanie...it's all good.

No one has to know I can go out in public and still deep treat my hair without worrying about time restraints. This day I went to the grocery store and to the bank. No one knew I had conditoner on my hair.

My hair was so soft and defined after I rinsed the conditioner and oil blend from my hair. This was exactly the treatment I needed for my hair. I was prepping my hair for my next protective style...box braids aka individuals. My next post will show how I installed my braids to optimize growth with zero damage to the hair, hairline, and scalp.

HHG!

*This post is for information purposes only.

Protective Styling~Banana Clip Updo #2

2012-11-25T15:55:00.003-08:00

I came up with this easy style a week ago this past Sunday after accepting an invite to Church. I didn't know what to do and knew a bun wasn't going to cut it and I had very little time to do whatever I was going to do. Quick thinking I grabbed my faithful banana clip and styled it the exact same way I did in my previous styling tutorial style here: [Summer Protective: Banana Clip Updo] I tweaked it simply by placing the clip at the top of my head instead of the back.

What you'll need:

Styling Product of choice to slick hair down around the sides. I find gels work best to slick mine down so I used Kinky Curly Curling Custard.

Open ended bobby pins.

Banana clip

Large toothed comb

Soft boar bristle brush

I started with clean, conditioned, detangled hair...This style may be done on dry hair that has been stretched from wearing twists or braids as well by misting lightly with water or your moisturizer of choice to make the hair easier to detangle and comb through.

I use my large toothed comb to gather my hair and place it towards the front top part of my head.

This banana clip works best on full hair. The long slim clips are for straighter hair textures and tend to be much too tight once the clasp is closed.

Once the clip is on, I then add the Kinky Curly Curling Custard (down to my last ;) to slick and shine the sides and back of my hair brushing it once to add a clean smooth finish.

The hair left out is then twisted in several chunky twists.

This is were the creativity come into play. I pinned the back twists down using a pin curl pattern with open ended bobby pins to secure them into place.

The second set of photos shows my hair pinned slightly different from the photos at the beginning of the post. Once the hair coming out of the clip is twisted just get creative and style the twists however you like that goes with your face. The more you style it the better you'll become at choosing looks that suit your own face shape.

HHG!!

Castor Oil Healthy Hair Challenge

2012-11-08T22:20:00.001-08:00

Jamaican Black Castor Oil is known as the powerful traditional healing oil from Jamaica. It's commonly used for hair growth issues, skin conditions, aches and pain, breast massage, fibrosis, first aid for cuts, wounds, burns and much more. Tropic Isle's Jamaican Black Castor oil is organic and Hand-Processed. Luv My Kynxx will be starting a Castor Oil healthy hair challenge.

Challenge will begin 12/1/12 and end 2/1/13.
Sign up deadline 11/29/12

1. Sign up by leaving your first name and e-mail address in comments below this post. If you agree to allow me to post photos on LMK Blog you will need to send and email giving me permission to post them for this challenge. Anyone who agrees will have their progress tracked which is intended to serve as a motivation for the participant and readers. You will also be required to include your regimen when you submit photos if you want your photos posted as well.

2. Submit one photo (cropped and edited) on the first day of the challenge and one side by side of the previous vs. current week.

Dates to submit photos will be:

12/1/12

12/15/12

12/29/12

1/12/13

1/26/13

2/1/13

Only photos submitted on time will be tracked.

3. Hair styles will be protective only for the entire duration of the challenge. Buns, cornrows, braids, twists, bantu knots, protective updos and are recommended during the challenge. If you are wearing a sew-in weave and do not intend on taking it down or braids with extensions and do not have access to shampooing without it affecting the hair style you choose then at least bi-weekly you'll need to clean scalp by using an antiseptic like Sea Breeze or apple cider vinegar to alleviate dry itchy scalp. Daily moisturizing with water and or aloe vera juice are recommended especially on days you choose to apply the JBCO.

4. Participants are responsible for following a no less then bi-weekly hair care regimen. If you choose a long term protective like box braids or mini twists, kinky twists, or wearing a sew in I recommend scalp cleansing with either Sea Breeze or some type of antiseptic or apple cider vinegar and water (ration 1:3). This will help soothe dry itching scalp issues some may incur. Heat may be use for participants who prefer to wear their hair blown out. If you do not know what a regimen is and would like to read an example of one click here [Kynxx Hair Care Regimen]

Please wash and deep condition your hair with whatever you feel is best for it. I am not able to recommend products for those I am not able to see in person.

5. The only styler to be used is JBCO for the entire duration of the challenge. Aloe vera juice and water are both fine to use for moisture. No gels, puddings, creams or butters may be used. If you must use a styling product please include which ones you used when you submit your photos. You may use another carrier oil(extra virgin olive oil, jojoba, coconut, almond, grapeseed, avocado, hempseed, argan) to thin the JBCO for those who do not want to apply the thick oil on their hair. Use as much as you feel you need to make it the consistency you are comfortable with. Again please include any deviations from using nothing but JBCO when you submit your photos.

Transitioners are encouraged to participate!

All photos submitted will be posted as is so please crop and edit before sending attachments to

luvmykynxx@gmail.com

To purchase Jamaican Black castor oil visit www.oilsfromjamaica.com

LMK Castor Oil Healthy Hair Challenge participants receive a 10% discount when purchased from the Oils of Jamaica website. Discount code will be e-mailed to you upon challenge sign-up.

Special Thanks to Daphne co-owner of Oils by Jamaica.

How to apply JBCO

Do scalp massages with it two to three times per week. It will help your hair become healthier as it grows.

Add to conditioner

Use it for your braid outs/twist outs

Find Oils by Jamaica on [FACEBOOK]

HHG!!

Nappiology Nappy Hour 2012

2012-11-05T11:33:00.000-08:00

Seem's like yesterday when I attended the first annual Nappy Hour Nappiology Expo pre-party. Like all Nappiology events I've been to, they just get better each year. This year, food was served, poets peformed spoken word and as always beautiful men and women graced the venue with positive spirits ready to par-tay!! I was fortunate to have been one of them! Here are some highlights of my night....

The Bar...

Cheers!!

This young lady is a natural hair stylist from Memphis,TN and Ian Anthony Brown,

Founder and Artistic Director at Bandan Koro African Drum and Dance company a long time Facebook Friend. For more info on his African Dance classes visit www.bandankoro.com

Me with one of my very first clients, beautiful Georgette. I started out styling hair mobile..such a treat each time I see her...her hair is beautiful!

O-M-G can you say Kool-Aid!! Had to take a snap with the woman who made it all possible De Phillips Johnson...so sweet she is!

Gift bags for all who attended...goodies from Miss Jessies!!

Food on Deck!!

Spoken word Artists were on point...such good vibes.

Wobble, wobble :)

Down, down, do ya thang!!! Cupid Shuffle time!

A party ain't a party without a Soul Train line!!

Beats!

I had a great time...relaxed and enjoyed socializing with good folks! Looking forward to next year!

HHG!!

Best Ways to Ensure a Happy Styling Experience

2012-10-10T08:04:00.001-07:00

Let's talk about bad salon and/or stylist experiences. We have all been there. Ask for a trim and walk out with a full fledged hair cut. Go to get our hair braided or weaved and two days later have to take it down due to improper installation and unbearable pain. I've addressed this a few times because I really don't want anyone to be a victim while PAYING to get their hair styled. There is only one way to ensure you will not be a victim while sitting in the chair and that is to be a part of the process from the consultation up until and during your styling session. If the stylist doesn't require some type of in person or over the phone consultations...BEWARE. There are too many different types of Afro textured hair therefore a good stylist in my opinion, is going to want to touch, see, and hear your hair (yes I said hear because damaged hair and healthy hair sound completely different). The consultation process should be viewed by the client as an interview process and by the stylist as well. I know for a fact I am NOT the stylist for everyone. I have made mistakes and had to do hair over again based on my own errors or taking on a job where I miss judged and extensions were added to hair that really was not strong enough or healthy enough. I’ve had to do hair over again based on lack of communication on the client’s part expressing what they wanted. Doesn’t happen often but it has and I made SURE I corrected it. A good stylist should be humble enough to acknowledge errors on their part, yet still remain confident. A good stylist will know how to lead and direct a client down the correct path to reach the clients personal hair goals without ego coming into play. Being proactive and involved is the key to not be victimized in the chair and leaving with a horror story to tell. Before you book your styling session make sure to ask the potential stylist questions like:

1. How long have you been styling hair?

2. Do you work solely on Afro textured hair?

3. Asses the look and condition of the stylist hair. If the stylist hair looks, damaged broken, unhealthy and/or poorly groomed, think twice. If the stylist is wearing braids or weave to where you can’t see what their real hair looks like, ask to see a photograph of their real hair. If he/she declines or say’s there are none to show…BEWARE.

4. Ask what types of combs are used while styling and if the consult in in person ask to see them.

5. Ask what hair handling practices they follow when combing through Afro textured hair. A stylist familiar and comfortable working on Afro textures will always comb from the ends to the roots on wet or well moisturized hair.

6. Ask what shampoo, conditioner, and types of styling products are used.

7. Ask an approximate time frame for the style you desire to be completed on your hair.

8. Bring the products you use on your hair to the consultation to see if the stylist is familiar with them and ask for ingredient clarification, even if YOU already know it…the point you want to make sure of is if the STYLIST knows good from harmful ingredients in the products you are using.

9. Ask if they work on children. I’ve learned through experience not all but most stylist who work on children tend to be much more patient and gentle with hair handling practices.

10. Ask to see photographs of their work. Don’t settle for one photo either. In my opinion, good stylist should have multiple photos of their work showing what they have done on various Afro textures, not just one.

11. If the stylist doesn’t ask you any questions about your hair and/or your personal hair goals, BEWARE. Although the stylist is the professional it should be their main concern to help you reach your goals by empowering each and every client with knowledge on how to care for their hair in between your styling sessions.

12. MOST IMPORTANT!: DO NOT BE AFRAID OR TIMID. SPEAK YOUR MIND WHILE YOUR HAIR IS BEING STYLED IF TOO MUCH ROUGH HAIR HANDLING IS GOING ON OR BRAIDS, WEAVES, STYLES IN GENERAL

This face is the one you want to have when your styling session is complete...not the first image and again the ONLY way to ensure you will have this expressive smile is to be PROACTIVE from the consultation on...Don't be a victim to poorly trained uneducated hair stylists whose only concern about you is to collect money and move on to the next victim. Peace and blessings to all!!

HHG!!

Disinfecting with Reetha (Soap Nuts)

2012-10-08T23:49:00.001-07:00

Reetha a.k.a Soap Nuts

Frequent cleansing of combs, brushes, hair clips and other styling utensils are a daily part of my duties as a stylist. One of the state requirements is for all styling utensils to be disinfected by soaking in a solution known as Barbisol. I was looking for natural ways to clean and disinfect my styling utensils and learned from visiting a YouTube channel called HennaSooq. I watched a video on how to foam soap nuts and the person in the video stated they are very good for cleansing hair brushes. I sent her a message asking if she thought using soap nuts instead of Barbisol would still provide the same disinfecting properties and she advised they would and since the soap is all natural using it makes it the better choice. I'd seen Reetha a.k.a Aritha powder before when casing my local Indian markets on henna and ayurvedic powder hauls, and the henna brand I use has a small amount in it as well, I just never purchased any. I decided on my last visit to buy a small bag of these ayurvedic soap nuts to see just how clean it would get my styling utensils. They were really inexpensive which was good. I purchased a 3.5 oz bag for $1.99.

The state of Texas mandates stylist must use this method to sterilize all styling utensils. What alarms me about using the solution is the warning on the bottle:

Barbisol is so potent you only need 2 oz. per 32oz of water. Utensils must be immersed in the solution for 10 minutes and then allowed to air dry.

Styling utensils must soak in the Barbisol and water solution for no less then 10 minutes to make sure any blood borne diseases are removed or any other type of contamination is removed. I hold consultations prior to booking clients so anyone with sores or open wounds would not be seen by me and would be referred to a dermatologist for help correcting the scalp issue. The back of the bottle also suggests gloves be worn and no direct contact with skin or eyes. Any contact with eye's will lead to irreversible damage. Now why would I want to use that? Thank Goodness for soap nuts!!

Benefits and Uses of Reetha (Soap Nuts)*

Cleans and brightens jewelry and metals like gold and silver.

Shampoo for the hair for thickening and to control hair loss. Should be used in moderation for those with excessive dry hair issues.

Treats eczema, psoriasis and is noted for removing freckles.

Removes lice from the scalp with it's gentle insecticial properties.

Used in treating contaminated soil.

Cleanses and removes all fungus and infection from the scalp, or anything needing to be thoroughly cleaned without adverse side effects.

*Direct contact with eyes should be avoided

Laundry Soap

How to make Natural Liquid Soap

What you need:

1 bag of soap nuts- 15-20 for shampoo or laundry strength

nut cracker or small hammer

4 quart stainless steel pot

6-10 cups of water

Instructions: remove inner seed from nut by cracking the shell. Place shells only into pan of water setting stove on high until water comes to a rolling boil. Turn stove down to medium setting and allow to boil for 25-30 minutes. Strain Reetha shells from the liquid soap.

Shells begin to saponify on contact with water.

Bring to boil and turn stove eye down to a medium low setting; allow to simmer for 30 minutes or so.

Strain shells from liquid. Shells will now feel very soft and flexibale in the inside, slightly firm on the outside shell.

Allow pre-rinsed styling utensils that are free from shed hair and/or product so soak for 15-20 minutes.

Store combs, brushes, clips, clamps etc. in plastic container with lid...that's it and that's all!! If you are a natural hair stylist and want to use an all natural cleansing agent for your styling utensils ...this gets the job done!!

HHG!!