AfroDeity

Body Shop Macadamia Straightening Balm

2012-01-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

My new best friend is the Body Shop's Macademia Straightening Balm. Now hold your horses I know what you are thinking. First of all there is no miracle wonder potion that will make your hair straight and this... is definitely not it. However I will say this is definitely a product for you transitioners.

The Speil:

This lightweight, humidity-resistant balm relaxes wavy and curly hair and reduces frizz.

Ingredients:

aqua (water) (solvent/diluent), cetyl alcohol (emulsifier), cyclopentasiloxane (skin-conditioning agent/emollient), propylene glycol (humectant), glyceryl stearate (emulsifier), peg-100 stearate (surfactant), phenoxyethanol (preservative), tocopheryl acetate (antioxidant), cetyl esters (emollient), dimethicone (skin conditioning agent), octyl methoxycinnamate (sunscreen), sodium polyacrylate (film former/viscosity increasing agent), hydrogenated polydecene (skin conditioning agent), hydrolysed wheat protein pg-propyl silanetriol (hair & skin conditioning agent), macadamia ternifolia (macadamia nut oil) (emollient), orbignya oleifera (babassu oil) (emollient), hydroxypropyltrimonium hydrolysed maize starch (hair conditioning agent), parfum (fragrance), methylparaben (preservative), cetrimonium chloride (hair conditioner), butylparaben (preservative), ethylparaben (preservative), ppg-5 laureth-5 (skin conditioning agent), laureth-4 (emulsifier/surfactant), isobutylparaben (preservative), propylparaben (preservative), laureth-23 (emulsifier), benzyl benzoate (solvent), limonene (fragrance ingredient), linalool (fragrance ingredient), geraniol (fragrance ingredient), anisyl alcohol (fragrance ingredient), benzyl salicylate (fragrance ingredient), benzyl alcohol (preservative), citral (fragrance ingredient), citronellol (fragrance ingredient).

Price: £7 at the Body Shop

My 2pence:

I bought this a couple of weeks ago when the BodyShop had a one day sale that I spotted through VocherCodes.co.uk. I had never bought hair product from the Body Shop before but I love hearing about new products, so I decided to check it out. The ingredients list is dizzying but nothing out of the ordinary and the BodyShop pride themselves on an all natural image.

So I applied after washing and just before I was about to blow dry on my semi wet, air dried hair. Once the blow dryer (on a cool setting) had done its job, I applied some more as a leave in as it smelled so good and was a nice creamy consistency. Totally loved it... smoothed down all the fly aways and my now 10 weeks post relaxer roots were calm and tangle free. I dont blow dry my roots or scalp so I was surprised at how easy it was to put my hands through my curls. So I kept using this as a leave in and as a heat protectant and I really love the way it makes my hair feel. Both the straight ends and the curly roots are so soft now and even without blowdrying this cream is a great moisturiser. A little does go a long way so I didnt have to use loads, I am sure this will last me a while.

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity

Leilu

Excellent Oils for Winter

2012-01-01T04:01:00.000-08:00

Hopefully you are all enjoying the festive season or at least enjoying the time off work!

Accompanying this festive season is always the inevitable cold snap. So I thought I would give you a run down and description of some oils that can help maintain and moisturise your hair in the cold and dry months

Some Excellent Oils for Dry Environments:

Jojoba Oil - Another of my favourite sealers. Due to the tight coil pattern of our type of hair we produce very little sebum (the scalp's natural oil) resulting in the dryness and breakage which is very common. It is easily absorbed by the hair and scalp and provides excellent lubrication and smoothing. Natural Contents: Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E (RICH IN), Myristic Acid, Plant Wax (mimics skins collagen).
Avocado Oil - has regenerative and moisturising properties. Natural Contents: Vitamin A, B1, B2, D, and E, Rich in protein, linoleic acid, minerals.
Coconut Oil - Oh the heavenly smell. This oil is another moisture sealer leaving hair feeling soft and supple. Natural Contents: vitamins A, B and E as well as phosphorus, calcium, iron, manganese and magnesium.
Mint Oil - ph balancing and soothing properties help with the itching many of us with dry scalp experience. Pairs well with carrier oils such as almond, castor or olive oil. Stimulates your hair follicles and promotes hair growth. More@Ehow

Some Excellent Oils for Cold Environment

Macademia Nut Oil - A natural emollient, because of its similarity to sebum, it infuses into the hair and scalp and is absorbed very quickly. An excellnet protectant from chemical and heat damage and gives natural UV protection. My favorite blow dry cream at the momnet is the Body Shop Macademia Straightening Balm, great smell and leave my hair feeling silky and smooth even after blow drying. Natural Contents: Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, proteins and minerals
Safflower Oil - Softens and retain natural moisture. Natural Contents: Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, B6, Vitamin E, Rich in linoleic acid and minerals.
Castor Oil - Castor oil helps to seal in moisture.It is a humectant ie. attracts moisture to the hair. It also makes hair softer, promotes growth at the scalp and causes hair to become thicker with regular use. You already know that I am partial to the castor oil of the 'Jamaican Black' (JBCO) variety and I cannot recommend this enough.
Sweet Almond Oil - This oil is good for dry and dull hair. Lubicating but not penetrating Contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and E, and essential fatty acids.
Neem Oil- natural antibacterial and soothing properties. Excellent for use on fungal infections. Natural Contents: Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin D, Rich in protein, linoleic acid, minerals.
Apricot Kernel - The high content of Oleic acid gives Apricot greater affinity with the skin compared to some other oils which means that it is more easily absorbed. Natural Contents: Vitamin A Vitamin B1 Vitamin B2 Vitamin B6, B17 and Vitamin E.
Argan Oil - has some anti-ageing properties, due to high levels of Vitamin E and saponins (which soften the skin), these are well documented. It cools and soothes inflammation. Its ant-oxidant properties contribute to the neutralization of free radicals, particularly useful in the polluted Western hemisphere. Natural Contents: Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, proteins and minerals

Products with these oils are excellent for the winter months or I like to use some of these oils on their own as a prepoo or mixed with my deep conditioner.

Did I leave any out?

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity

Leilu

My current regime

2011-12-30T15:19:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

I just finished my monthly cleanse routine.
My current routine now involves once a month using Bentonite clay to cleanse my hair and scalp.
Especially as I have chosen not to use a relaxer but keep a straight do, it requires being a bit creative and keeping my roots clean and moisturised so they do not tangle.

I have been trying out some slightly unconventional mixtures for my deep condition:

My current deep condition involves all or some of the following ingredients
5 x tbsp Olive Oil
1 x Egg
2 x tbsp Jamaican Black castor Oil
a handful of bentonite clay

I wash the bentonite mixture out then I co-wash with Jane Carter Nourishing conditioner so that I can detangle my hair in the shower. I find this more effective as with new growth my hair tangles considerably especially with the bentonite mixture in. (I wash out the clay mixture and then do an extra condition whilst I shave etc.)

At present I still wash my hair twice a week, with one co-wash and one deep condition at the end of the week.

I am planning to get some more mane and tail as I found this quite moisturising. So would like to use this again.
Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu

Out with a Bang: 2011

2011-12-30T06:38:00.001-08:00

Hello All,

This year has been more than a roller coaster ride for us here at AfroDeity. Looking forward to beginning 2012 on a high.

This year saw the launch of the AfroDeity Online Store in March bringing products to the UK which were previously difficult to get hold of. Our new store prided itself on efficiency and great customer service. Our products included The Original Edgestick, Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Pendeza Tights and a selection of products from Jane Carter Solution.

We found a model, Nikki, for our first You Tube video describing the use of The Original Edgestick.

Our blogger Leilu laid herself bare and decided that it was not time to transition back to a curly fro as she has decided to use other methods to keep a straight do.

We launched our ranges on Amazon and eBay and Facebook/ Twitter and suppliers in London are now carrying Jamaican Black Castor Oil.

In 2012 we will be looking forward to the launch of the AfroDeity Essentials range and suppliers in Birmingham and Manchester. Also more hair updates from Leilu. Product Reviews and much much more.

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity

Leilu and the AfroDeity Team
Happy New Year!

My Neem Oil Experience

2011-12-30T05:47:00.001-08:00

Neem Oil is a vegetable oil. In India is not used for cooking purposes but it was used for preparing cosmetics and it is often found in insecticides and lice shampoos. It has also been proved to be toxic and should not be ingested by pregnant women or children.

My experience with this oil was not pleasant, it is not that it was not moisturising or antibiotic. It was that awful smell that some describe as a peanut and garlic odour. Anyone that ever said Jamaican Black Castor Oil smells bad, has obviously never smelled Neem Oil.

The smell lingered for days. I used it combined with coconut and jojoba oil as a prepoo and because the container said a little goes a long way I only used a small amount. I washed with shampoo and deep conditioned. The smell remained after I blow dried. It was almost nauseating.
I had to wash my hair again the next morning. I also had to throw my satin scarf and pillowcases in the wash.
A whole week passed before I could get the smell out of my nose. Yetch!!!

This oil definitely did what it said on the tin, but will definitely mix with a better smelling oil. I have heard tell that Kemi oil is nice for mixing, so I may try this.

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu

Jamaican Black Castor Oil : TV Spot

2011-12-11T08:42:00.000-08:00

Just found this on You Tube, in case anyone was interested.

Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil can be found over at AfroDeity's Online Store. This product is great for thickening up har but it can also be used for aches and pains, treating acne and as a pre shave balm. Also checkout the new range of AfroDeity Supporting products. The AfroDeity Peeps love to hear from you so email them with any questions or you can email me for my 6pence.

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu

Dear Father Christamas

2011-12-02T14:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Father Christmas,

Because I have been such a good goddess this year, could you please bring me:

MoroccanOil - Oil treatment for all hair types

Alterna Caviar Treatment Hair Masque

Amazonia Organics Hair and Body Butter

Keratase Elixir Ultime

Did you have anything in particular that you wanted Father Christmas to bring you this year.

Post a comment and let us know. You know we love to hear from you!

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu

Weekend Deal at AfroDeity

2011-12-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

Here at AfroDeity we are so excited about it being Friday, here is a weekend giveaway ending midnight (UK time) on Sunday Night. 10% off for all orders over £20 for Facebook and Twitter fans and followers. Use code FRI678. Tell your friends! Dont forget this ends on Sunday!

The Seduction of Straight Hair

2011-12-02T02:06:00.001-08:00

After much agonising about whether to transition or keep my hair straight. I have decided that I like my hair straight and it is the hair style that I have decided to go with and that is my choice. If there was ever pressure to straighten your hair when I was younger. I feel that recent arguments and events and made me feel pressured to transition and go natural.

It's not a desire to look white as many believe. I kind of feel insulted by that assumption. I haven't been seduced by the media and the 'pretty' young things on the telly. I have actually only worn my hair straight for the last 8 years, previous to that I rocked an Afro all through my teens and into my mid twenties against convention and frankly I got a little bored of rocking a 'fro and with a fat face like mine, a straight do really frames the face well.

As you can gather, I like to go against convention and now that everyone is going for a fro, I want to go straight. I will not necessarily be using relaxers, there are other ways. So I plan to be a bit more creative with my regime and it does mean I may have to use heat where previously I wouldn't have done.

Well we will see how it goes. Maybe I will get bored and shave it all off and dye it platinum blonde.

Have a good day and wrap up warm. It's so cold today!

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu

Jamaican Black Castor Oil : How to Use

2011-11-25T08:01:00.001-08:00

How To Use Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor oil for Hair Growth And As A Moisturiser.

Apply small amounts of high quality Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil daily to your hair roots and scalp. Then massage the oil into your scalp using your fingertips. You may leave the oil on your scalp overnight. The oil will not soil your pillow as the Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil is easily absorbed into your scalp. Make sure to adopt a good wash regime and was oil out of your hair at minimum every few days.
Once per week use Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil as a Hot Oil Treatment preferably on the weekends. Use generous amounts of Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil and really massage oil in scalp and hair.
After applying Jamaican Black Castor Oil to your scalp and hair, cover your hair with a plastic cap and go under the Dryer for 15 to 30 minutes.
After Hot Oil Treatment with Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil you may shampoo with our Sunny Isle All Natural Lavender Jamaican Black Castor Shampoo and Conditioner.
You may now style and groom your hair on a daily basis with any one of Sunny Isle’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil all Natural Hair Pomades, lightly scented with your choice of fragrance, Lavender, Rosemary or Ylang Ylang essential oils.You will see results in two weeks after date of usage.

Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil for Eyelash and Eyebrow Growth

Sunny isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil will help your Eyelashes and Eyebrows to grow thicker and longer, and keep them from breaking. It also helps promote new growth in bare areas of your eyebrows caused by over-tweezing. Massaging a little Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil over the base of your eyelashes before bed prevents thinning and promotes rapid growth, leading to thicker and fuller longer lashes. Only use the Regular and Extra dark for eyebrows. The essential oils in the fragrance JBCO could cause irritation.

How to Use Sunny isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil for Eyebrow and Eyelash Hair Growth

Wash your face with a mild soap preferably Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil Soap and remove all traces of makeup from your eyelashes and eyebrows soap and remove all traces of makeup and dirt.
Dip the mascara wand or a Qtip into Sunny Isle Jamaican black Castor Oil, tapping off any excess oil. It is important to only apply a thin layer, so use a clean tissue to dab away drips from the wand/Qtip if necessary.
Brush the oil evenly through your eyebrows from inner to outer tip. Then use the wand/Qtip to apply the Sunny isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil to your eyelashes, just as you would mascara, from root to tip.

Leave the Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil on overnight and rinse off with a mild soap, Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil soap, in the morning before you apply your makeup/ moisturiser.

Treating Acne Using Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Many people are unaware that Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil has been used in many acne treatments. Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil treats many kinds of skin problems without drying the skin. Many of the acne treatments bought in store dry out the skin a great deal, as this is a method of slowing down the skin’s production of sebum. While sebum has been linked to acne, drying out the skin actually leads to even more sebum being produced in the future, which forced the skin to become dependent on the treatment in order to stay clear. Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil treatment, however, is able to prevent the skin from drying out, while still reducing the production of sebum.

Start by putting a large pot of water on the stove and bringing it to a boil.
Once the water is rapidly boiling, take it from the stove and put it on the counter. Make sure that it is in a very sturdy location and that nothing will fall on it.
Put a towel over the back of your head, covering both head and face, and allow the steam from the water to hit your face. This will open up your pores and will allow the Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil to become a much more effective acne treatment.
Once this has been completed, rub your face with a washcloth to remove any excess dirt and put a small amount of the Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor oil onto the cloth. Any one of our Jamaican Black Castor Oils may be used, but we recommend the use of our Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil with Ylang Ylang.It has a fabulous stimulating effect on the skin. The Ylang Ylang Essential oil helps to correct the production of sebum (Oil) in the body.
Rub this oil all over your face using circular motions and make sure that you get any areas that are giving you trouble. If any areas of your skin are giving you particular problems, make sure that you apply a little bit extra Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor oil, especially the one with Ylang Ylang, in order to ensure that you have properly taken care of the area.
Once the Sunny isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil is all over your face, keep it on for a few minutes so it can be absorbed into the skin then wash your face with warm water and make sure that all of the oil has been removed from your face.
Splash your face with cold water, as this will allow your pores to close up. This is essential for the next step of the Sunny isle Jamaican Black Castor oil Acne Treatment, as you will not want your pores to remain open all night, since they will clog.
Once you have washed your face with cold water, dry it off.
Apply more Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil {Recommended Ylang Ylang} acne treatment on your face and let it sit there overnight.
Make sure that you put a bit of extra Sunny Isle Jamaican Black castor Oil on any areas that are causing you particular problems.
When you wake up, wash your face with a moisturizing soap preferable Sunny Isle Lavender Jamaican Black Castor Oil Moisturizing Soap to prevent the drying of skin.

Recent Conversations

2011-11-08T03:33:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

I had two of the most bizzarre conversations whilst on my way out in the last two days.

The first was with a caucasian friend who commented that she had to get her hair dyed this evening. Off hand I causally commented "Is that not your natural hair colour?" and the look of embarrassment on her face was identical to the one I would have had when colleagues would say to me "Isn't that your real hair?". I was absoloutely flabbergasted at how embarrassed she was, she quickly laughed it off and changed topic but it was amazing to me how personal a question that was. I had no idea that "white girls" got embarrassed about that kind of thing. Dye commercials etc are common place around us constantly, I didn't really think it would be a problem to ask something like that. Obviously I was mistaken and it was akin to asking a black girl "Is that your real hair", which I think is quite a personal question. I do have a friend that will tell everyone that will listen that she is wearing a weave, but most girls I know dont really mention it unless asked and their caucasian counterparts just assume that this is your hair.

The second conversation was this morning walking through that horrible weather we had. It was a drizzling a bit and I waved to a neighbour who immediately started to explain, although I hadn't asked, why she was wearing a rain hood. Her hair although blond and straight was in reality brown and curly!, though I had never seen it in this state. And if the rain got on it, it would be twice the size by the time she reached work!! Again I was astounded that she was so embarrassed by her hair that she felt the need to tell me this. To be quite honest if it had been raining a little bit harder I would have been running for cover myself. Get my hair wet... I don't think so. She then proceeded to tell me that she woud love to have hair like Tina, my neighbour on the other side who had long blonde straight hair, exactly like the hair I thought this other neighbour had, so that she didn't have to constantly straighten and thin hers with special scissors.

Cor Blimey I thought I had problems.

This idea that its just black women who are ashamed of their hair and cover it up because they want to be white is in my opinion a myth. All women have issues with some part of their bodies and none of them are happy with their hair. Apparently Gwyneth Paltrow is a slave to hair straightening irons. Frankly we are all, Black, white, japanese and indian trying to live up to some arian ideal. Blonde flowing hair like Miss Piggy.

This is just my personal observation but it is reinforced for me daily, that this isn't just a problem that black women face! But that we should all be happy with ourselves.

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity!

Leilu

Do We Judge Others by Their Hair?

2011-09-27T03:47:00.000-07:00

When you see other people whatever colour they may be do you judge them by the way they wear their hair?

Do you think a natural sister is trying to make a statement? Well is she?
Or that someone with a bright red Rhinna style relaxed hair is trying to look white? Well is she?

"Good hair means waves or curls, Bad hair means you look like a slave"
"Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person"

Is his really what we think of ourselves? Do we think we are better than someone else because we wear our hair natural, or more beautiful than someone because our hair is relaxed

To quite honest I dont really think that much about my hair and really just want to get through the day without having to think about it too much about it. For me the ultimate low maintenance hair stye would be just to shave it off.

I am a bit slow and behind the times and really not down with the kids as I actually hadn't heard this song before. It is a nice catchy tune and has a simple message.

I am not my hair and how I wear it does not define who I really am. So dont judge me!

I guess I just wanted to say that we all need to make our own decisions about how we wear our hair, how we are comfortable with our hair. How do you feel about a girl wearing a mini skirt getting unwanted attention from men, should she cover herself up? Isn't that the same as saying a black man with cornrows will attract attention from the police, shouldn't he just shave it off. Think about it.

The whole argument reminded me of a case on 'Eli Stone' a smart prime time lawyery type drama on channel five. One of the main characters was representing a friend that was being sued by a young african american lawyer who he was not hired because he was black. This friend was also african american and had a problem with the fact that the younger lawyer had not conformed to white corporate america the way that he had had to. He mostly objected to his unkempt afro.

Most people get from this that the younger lawyer shouldn't have to conform to fit into the older lawyers world. What I get from it is live and let live. The younger lawyer shouldn't judge this older man either as he had his reasons and experiences for who he was and is now and his decisions. Likewise the older lawyer needed to understand that this young man was an outstanding lawyer and the way he wore his hair shouldn't even feature and doesn't need to anymore. I suppose that is what prejudice is all about really, our individual experiences.

Obviously our individual preferences about how we wear our hair are affected by those experiences and do affect us deeply... more than we probably even realise!

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity

Leilu

Bentonite Clay

2011-09-19T14:55:00.000-07:00

I was really excited to get some bentonite as I had heard great things about it. I have quite bad eczema so I wanted to apply this to my skin and hair. I had no idea how bizarre the use of this product would be.

The Speil:
Bentonite Clay or 'healing clay' has the ability to absorb toxins, impurities, heavy metals and other internal contaminants. It is renowned as one of the most powerful and effective healing clays. It can be used internally or externally and has many varied benefits.
It is often used to treat:

bites, poisoning and skin infections

skin blemishes (makes a great clay face mask) and ailments such as itching and eczema

Cleanse and detoxify hair and skin with 100% natural bentonite. Reveal lustrous hair and revived skin, let nature take care of you.

My Experience

The instruction said to mix with water until you get a creamy paste and apply to skin and hair for 15 - 20 minutes. So I mixed a generous amount of paste and slobbered over my hair quickly. Now I suppose my first mistake was just globing it over my hair. It was really thick and after I had lathered over one side of my hair it seemed to stick together and kind of harden. So I would definitely part my hair in six before applying this next time. Once it was on my hair I decided to do the ironing while it was on my hair. After about 10 minutes I was just getting into the ironing groove when my husband walked in. It took a little while to explain why I had covered my hair and body in mud (... oh sorry volcanic ash) and was standing in the middle of our bedroom with mud (... i mean volcanic ash) all over my head, legs and arm, but thats a story for another day.

I decided not to shampoo as I thought this would be counterproductive and I plan to to a protein deep condition in two days time so I thought I would shampoo then. My roots did feel really nice and my hair wasn't tangled even after having all that thick mess on it. A very messy process all in all. I did not get my lustros-o-meter out to check if there was much difference before and after but my hair did feel good afterwards. Just not sure about just washing the dirt (... I mean volcanic detoxifying ash) out with just water. My major problem was the mess in the bathroom after I was finished. All that mud and dirt just got everywhere and I will have to be more careful next time. We are all currently obsessed by natural products. I dont know about you, but I hate the way my bathroom smells of egg after I have used this raw ingredient to condition my hair.

What was truly amazing was my hair the next day. After I finished washing my hair I did my usual leave in, Jane Carter Wrap and Roll and Revitalising Leave In and then air dried, then plaited in one ponytail when dry and went to bed. Nothing special, no blow drying or hot combing. The next day after I let the plait out, I really noticed how straight my hair was and how thick and full it look. I know it wasn't just the Jane Carter stuff as I have been using those for six weeks and my hair hadn't been this full and bouncy. To be quite honest I dont think my hair has ever been this bouncy. I really liked the way the fullness lasted all day.

I didn't find much difference with my skin. The usual itching that night and the next day. Not sure if I have to persevere, but I cant say it worked very well on my skin.

Definitely a keeper, I wanted to use this for its detox properties, but i also loved the way my hair felt the next day, I truly wasn't expecting all that bounce. Me Likey - 4 out of 5.

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity

Leilu

Jane Carter Solutions: Week 5

2011-08-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

I wasn't going to post on this yet but I had purchased a few more Jane Carter products and after using them today I just had to let you know how I had been getting on.
I have officially dumped Elasta QP for this range, until now nothing moisturised my hair as well until I used Jane Carter Solution.

Jane Carter Solution Revitalising Leave in
My favourite product that I now use every day is the Jane Carter Solution Revitalising Leave in. Perfect for everyday use. Comes in easy to apply spray bottle and does not lie on the hair. Not greasy, actually moisturising and an excellent product for natural and relaxed hair. Ideal for those who have trouble detangling and acts as a protective barrier against heat and heat styling. I give this product 5 out of 5, I cannot fault it at all.
Ingredients: Purified Water, Extracts of Aloe Vera, Comfrey, Watercress, Myrrh, Panthenol, Essential Oils, Anthemis Noblis Flower, Symphytum OfficinalLeaf, Equisetum Arvense, Urtica Dioica (Nettle), Rosemarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Lawsonia Inermis (Henna), Butoxyethenol, Polyquarternium11, Soyamid DEA, PPG30, Cetyl Ether, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Hydantoin, Glyceryl caprylate, methylisothiazolinone (preservative).

Jane Carter Solution Wrap and Roll
At first I didn't think this would be appropriate for relaxed hair but I re-read the directions etc and decided to give it a try. I rarely blow dry or straighten my hair unless it is a special occasion and I always use the cool setting on the blow dryer. I put this and the condition and sculpt on my hair before blowdrying and by the time I had blow dried , and pressed my hair. It was so light and wonderful to touch, Most of the time after blowdrying my hair it felt coarse and this was one of the reasons I rarely blow dried. I then used the revitalising leave in and the condition and sculpt before final styling. I give these products 4 out of 5 because of the feel of my hair, moisturising, beautiful citrusy smell and non greasy credentials.
Jane Carter Solution Wrap and Roll
Ingredients: Deionized Water, Anthemis Noblis Flower (Camomile), Symphytum Officinal Leaf (Comfrey), Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail), Urtica Dioica (Nettle), Rosemarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf, Humulus Lupulus (Hops), Lawsonia Inermis (Henna), Certified Organic Essential Oils: Lemon, Grapefruit, Coco-Sultaine, Glycerine, Glyceryl caprylate, methylisothiazolinone (preservative)

Jane Carter Solution Condition and Sculpt
Ingredients : Deionized Water, Anthemis Noblis Flower (Camomile), Symphytum Officinal Leaf (Comfrey), Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail), Urtica Dioica (Nettle), Rosemarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf, Humulus Lupulus (Hops), Lawsonia Inermis (Henna), Certified Organic Essential Oils: Lemon, Vanilla extract, Panthenol, Polyquarternum 11, Phenoxyethanol.

Jane Carter Nourish and Shine

Still also not a great fan of Jane Carter Nourish and Shine but I rub into my palm and apply to the ends, which dont feel dry after I have used this. I will have t ogive this product 2 out of 5. I imagine it is great on
Ingredients: Shea butter, Kokum butter, Illippe butter, Mango butter, Vitamins A, D, & E, pear and grapefruit essential oils.

Jane Carter Solution Curl Defining Cream
One for the natural ladies. If you have used this and want to share, please email or leave a comment!

Are you interested in a samples, rather than buying them outright. See the Jane Carter Solutions Travel Kit and Hair Care Kit to try the entire range at a reduced price.

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity

Leilu

Hair Disaster

2011-08-27T05:22:00.000-07:00

Hi There,

For those of you that have read and liked Don't touch a black womans hair syndrome , and Chris Rocks Good Hair: British White Male will like this hair disaster story.

A friend of mine just started co-habitating with a young man of the caucasian persuasion. When you start to live with someone there are certain things you may want to keep to your self or that you may not want them to know yet! You are used to having your privacy after all.

Well my friend had weave in at the time and was doing a repair job in the bathroom. There were pieces everywhere, hanging on the side of the bath, on the sink, by the toilet and she was looking in the mirror, trying to sort it out when the door she though she had locked, opened and in stepped her young man.

From her description I am not sure who was more horrified or embarrassed! Her with her hair all over the bathroom? Or him walking in and finding that scene and wondering who exactly he had agreed to live with.

Anyway he was cool about it when she explained but didn't realise her hair involved so much or costed so much! He just assumed it grew out of her head and look nice all the time.

When she told me I laughed so hard,I fell off my chair. I just can't imagine the expression on either one of their faces.

I suppose when do you tell someone about that stuff (no matter their race, all men are generally clueless). It's not the kind of thing you bring up on a first date and some women would rather their partners never know how they manage the effortlessly flawless beauty they see daily.

Well it takes a lot if work, weather waxing or shampooing or applying eyeliner, we do seem to go to extreme lengths to look good. Not that everyone goes to extreme lengths but we all do something to make ourselves look and feel nice.

If you have any hair or beauty disaster stories you want to share email me and let me know!

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity

Leilu

Relaxed and Desperate

2011-07-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Just a quick post about our tagline 'Relaxed and Desperate'.

A couple of people have said that they thought that I was just all about relaxed hair and I just wanted to counter that.

Our tagline is relaxed and desperate because, when I started this hair journey I was using relaxer, my hair had fallen out, my scalp was in a state and I was absolutely desperate!!

I needed help and I found it via the internet, on all the blogs and hair forums and all the other women who had similar problems and let me into their hair lives with their blog.

So I started this blog about my journey and where that journey has taken me. At the moment I still relax my hair, just a little differently to how I used to to.

I dont know where this journey will take me but I wanted others to know that they are not alone and if they were like me either relaxed or if they were just plain desperate they could find some help. Like I did!

So whether you are relaxed, curly, locks, braided natural, this site is for you too!!!

Whatever your hair orientation we are here to help!

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity

Leilu

Jane Carter Solutions: Week 1

2011-07-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine from school is getting married in a couple of weeks and I'm a bridesmaid. My hair is only 8 weeks post relaxer and I wasn't planning to get it relaxed for a while. My friend however ( she knows this) is a proper diva and if I turn up at her wedding looking less than immaculate, she would have my guts for garters. So I plan to relax at 9 weeks rather than 12.

Anyway to cut a long story short I wanted to make sure my hair was in tip top shape before the relaxer and so I decide to 'buy the farm', 'go the whole hog' and buy quite a few products from the Jane Carter Solution Range from the nice people over at the AfroDeity Online Store and I also popped a bottle of Lavender Jamaican Black Castor Oil in with a new applicator bottle. I prefer Ylang Ylang but as it was not in stock the Lavender is just as nice!

So I purchased:

Jane Carter Solution Replenishing Conditioner
Jane Carter Solution Revitalising Leave in
Jane Carter Solution Nourish and Shine
Jane Carter Solution Hydrating Invigorating Shampoo
Jane Carter Solution Scalp Nourishing Serum

I wish I had splashed out for the Hair Nourishing Cream , but hey ho, maybe next month.

Jane Carter Solution Replenishing Conditioner
Well I have had my first go with the Replenishing Conditioner and at first I thought well I guess this is okay but no better than my other conditioners but then I realised hardly any hair fell out while I when my hair was dried( I air dry). I then started to style and there was minimal hair loss and my hair felt silky and smooth. My roots particularly loved this and they were so soft and manageable, so I know my natural sisters will like this conditioner.
Official Verdict: Me Likey Alot- 5 stars

Jane Carter Solution Revitalising Leave in
I have been using this for a week now, not greasy, doesn't lie on hair and absorbs in nicely giving hair a really nice shine. I used this along with the Nourish and Shine and my hair just drank them up . So citrusy. Really nice change from the products I have been using. I suppose some people might not like the smell but it was very appealing to me.
Official Verdict: Me Likey - 4 stars

I have still to try the other products but will keep you updated on my progress and let you know how I get on with the other products. I love the fact that you can get such a varied range of products from Jane Carter and depending on your hair type they have a product for you no matter your race or hair style preference

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu

Where to Jamaican Black Castor Oil In Stores in the UK

2011-07-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

This post is a long time coming, but finally there are stores on the ground in the UK that sell Jamaican Black Castor Oil.

In South London

Nubian Natural

1 Vining Street

Brixton, London

SW9 8QA

United Kingdom

Tel: 0207 733 8277

In West London

Charlie's Hair and Beauty
67 GoldHawk Road
London
W12 8EG
United Kingdom

Nearest Tube: Goldhawk Road

Keep your eyes peeled for shops in your area that stock this product and let us know!

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity!

Leilu

Thank you

2011-07-09T07:17:00.001-07:00

So I just wanted to say thank you to all my readers for sticking with me through this process and for the encouragement all the way. This journey has been tears and smiles and learning and it was nice to have others to share it with.

Thank you!!!

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu

I want this: Amazonia Organics

2011-07-07T03:27:00.000-07:00

I so want this, I saw an advert for this and was totally intrigued.

Amazonia's Speil
Amazonia Organics introduces all natural Hair and Body Butter.

Taming afro, frizzy, dry and curly hair into low-maintenance, shiny beautiful hair.

This new hair smoothing treatment which is already a big hit in Brazil, takes hair care of afro, curly and overtreated hair to a sophisticated new level without using chemicals or harsh ingredients.

As the name suggests, the butter can be used for both hair and body – but it’s on hair that this 100% organic butter really shines.

This easy-to-use product helps control frizz and nourishes dry and porous hair. The result is shiny, low-maintenance hair that is protected against the elements. With no harmful chemicals it is perfect for the whole family.

So I really wanted to buy this and then saw the price £30!!! Will have to save up my hair product budget for the next three months. It is supposed to work instantaneously which sounds great. I will be buying some as soon as I am able and I will let you know if it lives up the hype.

Anyone tried this and want to share their thoughts we would love to hear from you

OverUse Jamaican Black Castor Oil - Part 2

2011-07-07T03:19:00.000-07:00

Hi There,

My first post on this generated quite a few questions about how much people were using their JBCO. If you are using this, please do not be alarmed. My first post was really just alerting you to the problem of putting copious amounts od any oil liberally on your scalp and not maintaining and washing your hair frequently enough.

Case in point, I bumped into an old acquaintance who had been using JBCO on her scalp for some time now and seeing very little results, I was quite surprised by this as the damage to her scalp wasn't that severe. Some hairs had sprouted but the progress I had expected to see was very little for the amount of time she had been using the product. So I asked her, how she was using it. It turns out she was applying this to her scalp daily while wearing a weave for over 2 months. No washing whatsoever in between.

Now, it doesn't matter what products you use unless you use them correctly and treat your scalp with some kindness, Our scalps need to be kept clean, Usually you would get dirt and build up anyway, but by putting JBCO directly onto the scalp and not washing, bacteria was just languishing there ( this would probably apply to any oil or grease).

My advice, is that if you are putting this on your scalp, please make sure you adopt a good wash regime.
Make sure you adopt a regime of some sort full stop. There is no point buying all these products and then continuing on the course you had been all along. If you really want to treat your hair properly, you need to change those old hair habits and start fresh with new ones. This applies whether you are relaxed, natural, wearing braids or weave.

I hope this helps a bit, but if you want more info or if this post makes no sense, email me

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity
Leilu

New PhytoSpecific Shampoo and Conditioner Range

2011-06-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

I make no secret of the fact that I love the PhytoSpecific products.

PhytoSpecific are known for their premium botanical hair and skin products and their specialist botanical approach to health and beauty through hair and skin care products for vulnerable hair and skin types.

Recently I tried one of PhytoSpecific's new offerings the Rich Hydration Shampoo and Milk.

Rich Hydration Shampoo

How to use:

Wet hair and apply shampoo
massage gently into scalp
Rinse
Repeat the application and leave for a few minutes
Rinse Thoroughly

Phyto's Speil:

The Rich Hydration products include natural ingredients: White Clover Honey to restore moisture balance to the hair shaft; Mallow Extraction to instantly soften hair and intensely hydrate the fibre; Pomegranate extract to nourish and regenerate even the most deficient hair fibres: Guava, Kiwi and Castor Oil for instant detangling and to deliver bounce, suppleness and shine to even the most unruly hair.

My 2p's Worth:

What a treat for three of my five senses!!

When you first pour out of the bottle, it looks like liquid silk, a delight for the eyes.
I only used a little to start and a little went a long way. A 10p sized dollop was more than enough to cover my whole head. Very smooth and lathered nicely for such a small amount. I unfortunately manged to get a bit on my ends and so my hair felt a bit dry after the wash, but very very clean
and the smell.... OMG it smelt amazing and the smell didn't leave me for almost two days. I always complain when I am conscious of my hair because of a sweet or strong smell from products. But this was welcome. So nice

It was an amazing treat for my hair

Rich Hydration Milk

How to Use

After shampooing, gently apply a generous amount of product to towel-dried hair.
Comb through hair with a wide-tooth comb.
Leave on for 10-15 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly and style.

Phyto's Speil

Phytospecific Rich Hydration Milk gently restructures and revitalises delicate, dry hair. Formulated with canola oil and wheat proteins, sheen and lustre are restored to leave hair silky soft and beautifully shiny.

With its fine, delicate texture and its restructuring performance, Phytospecific Rich Hydration Milk leaves hair soft and beautifully shiny. While guar gum extract works to soften and smooth the hairs cuticles for easy detangling.

My 2p's Worth:

The treat didn't end with the shampoo and I was just amazed at how far this went, a small amount in my hand covered the ends and most of my hair and did I say about the smell. this smelt great, I just wanted to smell my hair all day. Any dryness from the shampoo wasn't apparent after using the conditioner. My hair felt moisturised and soft. So the conditioner made up for that!

I have relaxed hair and when I was finished with this my hair was straight all over, supple and easy to manage. I do always state that it really isnt about the products, but how you use them and the routine you stick to. However if you want to treat your hair to a beautiful botanical mix, you have to try this. I have totally fallen in love with Phyto all over again.

You can purchase their products from

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity

Leilu

New Website Launched for AfroDeity's Store with New Products

2011-06-17T02:35:00.000-07:00

Now available:

Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo, Conditioner and Pomades

Applicator Bottles, Polythene Caps

Jane Carter Solutions Range

Pendeza Tights

and so much more to come! Easier to search and includes its own blog.

To celebrate the launch of our new store if you like our facebook page between now and July 15th 2011 you could win one of the Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo and Conditioner sets. Tell your friends!! Spread the word ... Free Sunny Isle Products to try. Applicants from the UK and

Europe only.

AfroDeity's Online Store for more information about our products Email Us

Building a Regime:Leave In Conditioner

2011-06-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

A leave-in conditioner is applied after you cleansing the hair and can be applied daily. This is left on the hair until the next wash day.

Most people will think that using a leave in conditioner is the same as greasing your hair daily. It is not. You will want a leave in conditioner that actually moisturises the hair and is absorbed into the hair and does not just stay/lie on it. Your hair craves moisture and a good leave in will leave your hair feeling free and soft, possibly even shiny, but not limp and greasy.

Some of the other leave ins I love are:
Elasta QP Oil Recovery Moisturiser ( I use this with their HTWOO Spray)
Mixed Chicks Leave in Condition

Mizani’s Moisturising Silkening Liquid Gel

Silky Locks K2H 365 leave-in conditioner

Suki Skincare’s Hair Scalp Conditioning Oil

Moroccan oil range

Coconut Oil as opposed to mineral oil (which is found in many black hair care products) is much more easily absorbed into the hair and has been used for centuries as a leave in conditioner on its own.

If you know of any others post below.

Our hair is prone to dryness so a good leave in conditioner is vital. Try and choose ones that do not contain petroleum jelly, petrolatum or mineral oil (but do not panic if they do, they may also contain other good nutrients). Apply the moisturiser to the ends and do this daily or as your hair requires, it should make your hair feel soft and pliable. Also to help with keeping moisture in, a light oil (eg. olive) applied sparingly may be used to seal moisture into the hair shaft and give your hair shine.

Embrace Your Inner AfroDeity

Leilu

Black Edgesticks with EU plugs

2011-06-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

If you live in or travel to the EU quite frequently, you can now purchase the EdgeStick from the AfroDeity Online Store in sleek black with EU plugs!! Only £45. Shipping to the EU is £7 International Signed for!