Can I Ask You A Question?

Hey ladies! I have a few questions to ask! I feel like I don't really know my readers and so I've put together this survey for you all to fill out. It's 5 simple questions plus and opportunity for you to give any suggestions or comments you'd like. Please take the time to do this for me! I would greatly appreciate it!

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Holdin Out...

Guys, I've been holdin out on a product review/recommendation and I am so ashamed. About a month and a half ago I installed a new shower head in my shower with the health of my hair and scalp in mind. I believe it's the same brand one that the creator of the natural hair blog "Mane & Chic" uses. Mine looks like this:

Being able to detach the head and use the long neck to get the flow of water closer to my scalp allows me to get my hair really saturated fast! I use the pulsating mode to do my scalp massages which feel AMAZING, btw! Detangling my hair also seems easier when my hair is as wet as this thing gets it. Bottom line, it gets two thumbs up and a definite Girl, YES! from me! I found this article online about the benefits of massaging your scalp and thought I'd share. Click here for the full article.

• It provides deep relaxation to the head and scalp which allows blood circulation to flow more easily to the hair roots.
• Improved circulation, which results from scalp massage, provides hair roots with nourishment to help trigger hair growth. Why? When the scalp or head it constricted or tight due to stress and tension, it blocks adequate blood flow to the hair roots.
• When scalp massage is repeated on a regular basis, it will help to actually strengthen the roots of the hair which will help hair growth.
• When a good moisturizing oil like jojoba is used as the base, it can help add moisture and conditioning to the scalp and the hair enhancing natural textures and making it move vibrant.
• Moisturized hair is less likely to split and break, which is a wonderful benefit of the oils used for scalp massage.
• Scalp massage adds natural luster and shine to the hair.
• In some cases, scalp massage can relieve itchy scalps, prevent flaking and help with chronic dandruff. Of course this is dependent on other factors but is a possible benefit.
• Regular scalp massage can help protect hair from environmental toxins and other weather conditions by helping to strengthen the follicles.
• It can help eliminate depression or other stressful or negative emotions.
• Scalp massage can also help alleviate chronic insomnia and provide restful sleep.
• In some cases, scalp massage can slow hair loss conditions.
• It also helps to spread the natural scalp oils to the ends of the hair without the harmful effects of daily brushing. Sebum, if produced in sufficient amounts, is typically distributed along the length of the hair shaft through normal combing and brushing but can be distributed through fingers at the time of the scalp massage.
• The benefits of scalp massage also help provide a glow to the complexion of the face.
• Scalp massage as well as body massage can also help to regulate the thyroid and can help to balance body temperatures.
• It can help your eyes to relax, help to minimize chronic eye strain, and can be a general tonic for hypersensitivity or excessive nervousness. In some cases it may help to soothe ADD behaviors.
• Scalp massage, can also help awaken creativity centers in your brain for more enlightened idea processing or long term meditation.
• It can be combined with deep breathing for even deeper results.
• When the base scalp massage oils are blended with essential or aromatherapy oils, emotional, spiritual or mental blocks can also be relieved, with ongoing treatments. Harmony can be restored.
• In some cases, regular massage with appropriate essential oils can help to slow the onset of white or gray strands.
• Regular scalp massage has proven to help in some cases of chronic headaches or migraines.

So as you can clearly see, scalp massages are highly benefitial. You can also use the balls of your fingers to massage your scalp to reap the benefits in a more cost efficient way! :)

Until next time ladies, happy healthy hair growing!

s

Reading Is Fundamental

As a transitioner, I'm trying to learn as much as possible about hair care in order to grow out and maintain my healthy natural hair. In doing so, I've learned a lot about products. What  makes a good product good? A bad product bad? A misleading product misleading? Well, I can tell you one thing, those jazzed up bottles with the pictures of the sistas who have their flyy hair swangin' in the breeze certainly aren't going to have "I'M THE WORST THING EVER FOR YOUR HAIR" written across them in big bold red letters! Girl, no! Not in this lifetime. People are trying to make money and "black hair care" is where the cash is at! We as "the enlightened" (naturals & transitioners) have to continue to research to figure out what the hidden evils are; the trick bags! As many of you already know, mineral oil and petrolatum are two things that are in the majority of "black hair care" products. In addition to being all up and through in our hair care systems, they're also horrendous for curly/kinky hair which is what is consideredto be "black hair". So how are ingredients like these helping to strengthen and better your hair? Simple, they're not! Mineral oil adds the sheen that curly/kinky hair types lack due to the difficulty that light has bouncing and reflecting off the coils. This adds a healthy look to the hair, very deceptive. Actually, what our hair needs more than anything else is MOISTURE! Mineral oil fails miserably at moisturizing the hair, but instead coats it, leaving the actual hair thirsty for the moisture that you may think you're supplying. Petrolatum, found in many greases is also a wolf in sheep's clothing. I know I speak for many when I say it aint nothing like a good scalp greasing to sooth an itchy, dry scalp. While there has been no scientific confirmation that petrolatum is "bad" for the hair, if used directly on the scalp it can cause the pores to become clogged and thus slow the growing process of your hair. I haven't used greases in my hair in over a year. Mainly, because I didn't like how it weighed my hair down and prevented it from blowing in the wind the way I liked. 

Now I know you all are curious about what else could be lurking in your favorite products and unfortunately it would take a forever to sit and go through every possible ingredient; time that i just don't have hunny! So instead I'll provide you all with a link to an ingredients dictionary that I came across and found to be very helpful! Every since I've began to do my research on what's actually in my products I've become a BOTTLE READER and thrown out a lot of wolves in sheep's clothing! Remember ladies, reading is fundamental! I encourage you all to become BOTTLE READERS as well and learn as much as possible to keep that hair in your scalp and off the floor! 

"I am an avid bottle reader!"-DJ

Broke, Broke Phi Broke. We Aint Got It!

Being in college over these past 3 years has taught me a lot of things. Time management, team work, leadership, and how to spot a bargain! Unless you've been hiding under a heavy rock in a desolate cave, you have to have at least heard about Kinky Curly Curling Custard. This product is raved about all over youtube and on various natural hair care forums on the net. Being a mere transitioner, I have not personally been able to give this product a shot and at nearly $30 a pop I'm kind of glad that I didn't! That is before discovering what I am about to share with you all. 

Being as though, I'm not fully natural, and thus unable to perform my own product experiments; I asked youtuber lia81 if it would be alright for me to post her KCCC vs. Eco Styler Gel video and she so kindly obliged! Thank you lia81! This video shows the difference between the infamous $24 KCCC and the Eco Styler Gel which costs $4.69 ($3.50 on sale) at Sally's Beauty Supply Store. Well, enough rambling from me! Watch, enjoy and make a wallet/purse friendly decision the next time you go splurging on your mane!