Hair Needs

I am still trying to figure out what my hair really likes and dislikes. I know that she hates a lot of protein or products with protein in it. So I had to revisit what products that I can use. it has need very difficult. I have found conditioners that are void of protein. I did but SheaMoisture Leave-in conditioner but it has Aloe Vera in it, which has protein in it, but I will see if my hair likes it anyway. I will be using Jamaican Black Castor Oil and Sweet Almond Oil for my scalp. The Castor Oil has really got rid of my dandruff. I just need to find a good daily moisturizer. I will probably have to create my own with a glycerin concoction with Sweet Almond oil and Castor Oil. I am ordering avocado butter for protect my hair strands for the winter. My hair is getting somewhat long enough for two strand twists. But I will probably pin them up with bobby pins and wear but head bands and flowers as a cute protective style for the winter time. So my hair care regimen for the winter months of 2009 is:

1. Use conditioners, leave in conditioners and styling products void of proteins
2. Henna twice a month until starting October 2009 - December 2009 to see if my hair health will improve
3. Oil scalp using Jamaican Black Castor Oil at least 4 times a week. Sitting under my heat cap for at least 15 minutes
4. Lubricate strands with Avocado butter and olive oil
4. Wear two strand twist protective style for the winter months

Henna Revisited

So I am revisiting Henna because my first attempt at Henna from Lush was horrible. I am also found out that I have been overloading on protein and my hair is a rough, mess. In doing research I have found that good quality Henna is like a deep protein conditioner, but without the protein in it. Plus I want to color my hair without chemicals. lastly, after about 3 to 4 applications I should see major improvements in my hair. So I decided to buy better quality Henna from Mehandi.com . I bought 100g of Henna from Yemen for 7.50. The sift was very fine without the bits and twigs, much better than Lush.

1. I poured the mixture in a plastic bowl
2. Poured in liquid lemon juice. I did not measure I just poured stirred, poured and stirred until I got a yogurt consistency. I did want it to be too stiff like the last time.
3. Covered the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit until the next morning.
4. I poured about 2tbl olive oil to give my hair condition and to rinse out the mixture more easily
5. Wrapped hair in plastic cling
6. Sitting under my dryer throughout the day in 30 minute increments
7. Wash out hair in shower

Can I just say the application was easier than last time. It reminded me of when I used to relax my hair (Trembling).

I will post results tonight

Protein Sensitive

So I have been irritated and overwhelmed with the dryness and, roughness and non-touchableness (is that a word? lol) of my hair. It seemed as though nothing I used, whether leave in cream conditioner, moisturizer etc., will keep my hair touchable soft like I so crave. Then I realized after looking at blogs and other sites that my strands may have protein overload and the products that I have been using (conditioners, styling products) all had some sort of protein in them. So I decided to examine all of my hair products and use only those that was void of any type of protein. All the products that I had had some sort of protein in it.

I am a little bit upset because I just ordered a plethora of products.

1. Lacio Lacio Leave-In Conditioner (Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein)
2. SheaMoisture Leave-in Conditioner (Aloe-Vera)
3. BB Oil Moisturizer w/Castor Oil & Aloe Vera

Products that I had to give up:

My whole Giovanni line because they all had some type of protein in them

But I did buy some conditioners without any protein

1. Suave ColorCare Conditioner - Good price
2. Herbal Essences Totally Twisted - Curlynikki.com loves it
3. Herbal Essences Hello Hydration - I likie
4 Herbal Essences Hydralicious - Moisturizes very well
5. Suave Naturals Fresh Mountain Berry - Best bang for the buck 22.5 oz for under 2$. I will use this to wash out my henna.

Some common protein names found in many haircare products:

Some common proteins found in hair care products
Protein Major Amino Acids (generally many more amino acids are present)

Collagen- Glycine, proline

Keratin Proline, lysine, cysteine (a sulfur-containing amino acid)

Silk- Glycine and alanine

Soy- Glutamic acid, aspartic acid

Rice- Glutamic acid, aspartic acid, arginine

Milk- Glutamic acid, proline (contains all eight of the “essential” amino acids)

Oat- Glutamine, lysine

Wheat- Arginine, Leucine, Methionine

Aloe Vera

Hair Porosity

Although I am natural and do not have relaxers in my hair or straighten my hair with heat I did color my hair twice and I am paying the price for it. I was deep conditioning adding oils and moisture but my hair strands (The colored strands) are so frizzy unless I have a gel that clumps them together. I know I have a porosity issue because when my hair is wet with conditioner my strands still look frizzy. After stumbling across an amazing article on porosity and how to treat it I am determined to improve my strands with the help of the below articles tips as well as my henna and cassia treatments.

Click on the below two links for the explanation of porosity and remedies to fix highly-porous strands.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/367189/hair_porosity_help_for_dry_damaged.html?cat=69


http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/375435/hair_porosity_help_for_dry_damaged.html?cat=69

Poduct Junkie Reviews

Okay I am a bonafied PJ. Well maybe that is a little too harsh. I think that because I am newly natural I am still on a quest to find products that do not make my hair crunchy. I like products that leave my hair soft after it dries. Products that maintain the softness once it dries and products that cultivate and fertilize my scalp helping it to grow healthy. I have tried many products since my last post and most of them were garbage. But, from many naturally curly reviews and my own research I bought a plethora of products.

1. Castor Oil (Walmart) - Promotes healthy hair growth. I am doing the Castor Oil Hair Challenge on Hairlista. If my hair takes to the castor oil I will definitely buy the Jamaican Black Castor Oil.

I love this product my dandruff has subsided. I have had bad scaly dandruff for as long as I can remember. I will never not use castor oil ever again.

2. Long Aid Activator Gel (Walmart). I really like it I smooth out my hair when I first wash it. It really defines my curls.

Pros: Defines my curls
Cons: Makes it a little crunchy, stiff with barely any moisture.

3. IC Fantasia Hair polisher styling gel Color treated Hair (Ordered Online. I hear it does not make hair crunchy, but leaves it moisturized. Hopefully it can replace the Long Aid activator gel. Review to come.

4. Bio.Star Lacio Lacio High Shine Leave In Hair Conditioner. I hear nothing but good things about this conditioner.

Since I have been overloading on protein I do not know how my strands will react to it. We shall see.

5. Shea Moisture Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner. I hear nothing but good things about this conditioner from curlynikki.com.

Since I have been overloading on protein I do not know how my strands will react to it. We shall see.

6. Frizz-ease CremeSerum Overnight Repair Formula. Trying 9/30/09.

What can I say it sucked. Left my hair dry and did not make it soft. Probably good for straight hairstyles.

7. Fantasia Leave in Moisturizer Hair & Scalp Treatment. Hopefully I can use this as a daily mist, especially for the winter season coming up.Trying 10/1/09

It did not leave my hair soft or moisturized. And it had glycerin in it which should have made it soft.

8. Giavanni Leave in Conditioner (Walmart/Target). I really like this product.

Pros: Natural, smells good, leave in ceme conditioner
Cons: Hair does not dry soft with moisture because I am sensitive to protein

Promise's Hair Growth Update

Sorry I have not posted anything in a while. I was frustrated with the appearance that my hair was not growing. But I just needed to be patient. Here is my updated hair growth as of September 2009.

New Product Reviews

Hello hairgraffitians I know have not updated on any new products lately, but I was In various establishments this holiday weekend and I picked up a few:

1. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula "Restoring Conditioner" - (Walmart) have not used yet, but it smells really good just like the their cocoa butter in the skin.

It had protein so it left my hair hard.

2. Smooth'n Shine Polishing "Silk'n Sleek - (Walmart) The product felt good in the store, not too thick, felt light and silky on my hand so I bought it.

It had protein so my hair hated it

3. BB Growth Serum - (Walmart)The ingredients look amazing, all natural, only con is that the bottle is extremely small 2 oz for about 5 bucks, but the plan is to use the product for a whole month until August 09.

My hair did not like it

4. Dove Advanced Color Care "Leave-in Luminizing Mist - (My local Psuedo Dollar Store) Hopefully will leave my hair soft without putting my favorite gel Elsta Care in it.

Did not moisturize my hair


I will periodically update through the month on all products

JUne 2009 Hair Pics

Just Loving My Curls

scrapblog.com/hairgraffiti

The Urban Lifestyle scrapblog shows a month of hair growth that I took these the weekend of June 6th, 2009. You can not tell because of shrinkage but I had a lot of new growth about 1 inch. I can tell because when I twist my hair I do not have to grip so hard to twist the curls. Next update is July 4th.....see you then hairgraffitians.

June 16th Hair Pics