On Hiatus

On hiatus until July 2010 or later. Stay tuned for more!

Type 4 Series: Smooth, Sleek Edges

This is a series on how to style and manage type 4 hair healthily. It doesn't matter whether you are natural, transitioning, or stretching relaxers.

Today's topic: How to achieve smooth, sleek edges without a boar brush.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

Eco Styler Gel (local beauty supply store)

rattail comb (Walmart, etc.)

satin scarf (beauty supply store, Walmart, etc.)

Let's Begin ...




This process works best on hair that has been washed within a day or two. The reason is because the hair is most clean (free of product buildup) and malleable at this time. Also, be sure that your hair is sufficiently moisturized before continuing.

Apply gel
Eco Styler Gel is recommended because it is thick and holds well for type 4 hair. It is also non-drying. (Water, a moisturizer, and glycerin, a humectant, are listed amongst the first few ingredients. There is no alcohol.) Begin by applying enough gel to coat the edges.



Comb edges
Using a rattail comb, gently comb the gel through your edges. End by using the back of the rattail comb to smooth down your edges. (See this post on why the comb is gentler than the boar bristle brush.) Don't worry if your hair is not flat at this point; so long as you've applied enough gel and combed it through, the scarf will take care of the rest.



Wrap scarf
Wrap your edges with a satin scarf until the gel dries.



Smooth, sleek edges achieved! This process was done on dry hair. Even smoother edges can be achieved on wet, freshly washed hair (see video below).




For even SMOOTHER EDGES: The following is video tutorial of how one type 4 lady achieves smooth edges. She uses a combination of Eco Styler and setting lotion on wet hair:

Grapeseed Oil, Linoleic acid, and Body Butter Mix

Grapeseed oil contains a high amount of linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid. (Safflower oil, my first love, also contains this fatty acid!) Linoleic acid has many health benefits when taken internally (e.g., decreases LDL cholesterol), but what is not discussed as much are its benefits externally. When applied to the skin, this fatty acid can help combat dryness by providing protection against moisture loss (1). Additionally it has demonstrated a potential to effectively reduce the size of blackheads and whiteheads (2).

*******

It's that time of year again to mix another body butter! In my original batch, I used unrefined shea butter with safflower oil. Since then, I've experimented with a couple more substances and mixtures to get a feel for what my skin likes. Here's my latest mix that I use on my elbows, knees, ankles, and lips. Enjoy!

Ingredients
grapeseed oil (high in linoleic acid, odorless)
unrefined shea butter (high in vitamins A, E; softening)
aloe vera gel (99% organic, moisturizing)
vegetable glycerin (humectant)

Melting the shea butter
Perform the following if your shea butter is too firm to mix and/or contains impurities. Heat the unrefined shea butter over the stove until melted. Stir continuously. Use low to medium heat. Should be melted in less than 5 minutes.

Filtering the shea butter
If necessary, filter the melted butter through a napkin to remove any impurities. (This depends on how unrefined the shea butter is and from where you purchase it.)

All mixed up
Allow the melted filtered butter to partially solidify at room temperature. Then mix in the grapeseed oil, glycerin, and aloe. Allow the mixture to harden overnight. The next morning, it is ready to use! (Roughly estimated portions: about 4oz of shea butter, 2oz of grapeseed oil, several tablespoons of glycerin and aloe. May adjust to achieve your desired consistency.)

SOURCES & MORE READS ON LINOLEIC ACID:
BARRIER AGAINST WATER LOSS
COMBAT ACNE
BODY FAT REDUCTION
DEFICIENCY
FOUND IN THE SKIN
GRAPESEED OIL CONTENTS

"Soul" Food Mondays || Living in Joy

Living in Joy.

If we become heavily dependent on our surroundings for joy, then we allow room for disappointment. Change your perspective in order to live joyfully.

We cannot always change our surroundings. Circumstances may appear that are out of our control. Events may occur that we cannot influence. That is life. However, we can control our perspective.

Reposition your perspective. Since we cannot always reposition our surroundings, joy must begin with our outlook. Two people can look at the same situation and see two entirely different perspectives. One individual can see an ordeal or doom while the other individual can see an opportunity or new beginning. Which perspective do you choose to have?

Focus your perspective on the reality of the situation. What is the reality? Well for one, the past is the past. Rather than spending endless hours dwelling on it, consider how to grow from it and then let it go. What else? The circumstances or events weighing you down today are only temporary. Your heart will heal; it will not stay broken forever. And another reality? Material things are just that - material. The latest shoes or hottest clutch should not define your inner joy.

Permanent joy exists beyond the temporary, beyond the material, and beyond our immediate environment. Joy comes from grasping the true significance and essence of life.

WINNER of the "Beautiful" Woman Giveaway!

So we have a winner for the "Beautiful" Woman Giveaway! Again, the prize includes the following:

$1 coupon for Olay
$1 coupon for Cover Girl Queen Collection
$1 coupon for Pantene Shampoo or Conditioner
2 NYX Lipgloss
1 NYX Nail Polish
1 NYX Glitter Mania Jumbo Eye Pencil

Thanks to all the ladies who responded. All answers exuded a 'healthy' beauty; it was tough choosing the winner. The question was:

... How do you stay "beautiful"?

According the random number generator, our winner is commenter #4:

caramelnaps25 said...

I stay beautiful (or try my best) by watching what I put into my body, using the most natural products that I can, trying to get enough rest, exercising, and not stressing out! It has been hard these last few weeks with teacher layoffs and worries about jobs for next year, but in a nutshell that is what I do:)

Congratulations, Caramelnaps25!! Email your address to healthy_loo@yahoo.com to claim your prize. Please respond by May 19 11:59pm EST.

Natural Blemish Lighteners

Dark spots and hyperpigmentation are common among people of color. Choosing from the many products available to "even" one's complexion can be a bit overwhelming -- and expensive. Below are some thrifty alternatives that may be worth trying. Realize that this process may take weeks or longer to experience noticeable results:

� Yogurt and Orange Juice
� Honey and Lemon Juice
� Cucumber and Lemon Juice
All recipes found here.

� Lemon Mint Honey and Orange
Recipe found here.

Be sure to use sunscreen in the daytime to minimize repigmentation of your darker regions.

As always, I encourage you to seek a real expert -- your dermatologist -- for other options.

What works for Loo's dark spots? Using lemon juice, brown sugar, or L'Or�al Revitalift Night Cream (the most effective + expensive of the three options).

Your Voice: Type 4 Series!

This is for all ladies, whether natural, transitioning, texlaxed, or relaxed stretchers. Do you have super-tight kinks and coils?

Are you curious to learn how to care for them healthily? how to style them? how to comb them? how to "manage" them?

In the next couple weeks, I'll post about how to achieve the following on type 4 hair:






� Super, sleek edges
(no boar bristle brush required)
� Wedding/formal styles
(with little/no heat required)

Feel free to leave a comment below stating whatever else you're interested about learning.

REVIEW #6: Goody Spin Pins

Purpose: Use two spin pins in place of 20 bobby pins

Number of trials: 4-5

Instructions: Spin in to secure a style; spin out to take down the style. (Works similar to a screw. The pins come with detailed instructions and pictures.)

How I used them:

� To create a simple bun with twists. (One to two spin pins to secure bun.)

� To create an updo with a pompadour. (One spin pin to secure the updo and the other to secure the pompadour.)

� To create a sidehawk; to create a bun on loose, stretched hair.

THE REVIEW:

The best thing about the spin pins is that they are gentle, easy to use, and a timesaver. (They are much gentler on my super-tight kinks than bobby pins.) In my opinion, they are on the expensive side ($5.19 at my local Target vs. $7.99 at my local CVS). However, you can get your money's worth by using them for various creative updo styles beyond than the simple bun. They are ideal for ladies who steadily wear updos -- including me. At the moment, I'm still partial to my ouchless band, jaw clip, and single frenchbraid ... but the spin pin may become a good friend in time.


PROS: easy to use, easy to take out, very gentle on the hair, sturdy, detailed instructions and pictures, replaces multiple bobby pins

CONS: only comes in "blond" and "brunette", a bit pricey

RATING: Overall, I give the Goody Spin Pins 4 out of 5 stars. The ultimate question is can they do the work of 20 bobby pins? On my thick hair, not really, but they did the work of 5-10, which is still pretty cool. Additionally, it would be great if they could offer "black" spin pins in the future.

"Beautiful" Woman GIVEAWAY!!

Health and beauty go hand in hand in my book. So tell me ...

... How do you stay "beautiful"?

Leave a comment below to enter this giveaway, which closes on May 15 at 11:59pm EST.

The winner will receive the following:

$1 coupon for Olay
$1 coupon for Cover Girl Queen Collection
$1 coupon for Pantene Shampoo or Conditioner
2 NYX Lipgloss
1 NYX Nail Polish
1 NYX Glitter Mania Jumbo Eye Pencil

Recap: Hair and Body Foods!

You are what you eat. So is your hair. Healthy tresses start from within ...

1. Strawberries for A Sweet Tooth
2. Fruit Salad ... Body and Hair
3. More on Eggs ... Food for the Hair
4. Oysters, Hair, and Body
5. Rice and Beans ... Hair and Anemia
6. Carrots, Hair, and Body
7. Salmon ... Choose Wisely
8. Sushi, Hair, and Body
9. Green Veggies, Hair, and Body
10. Whole Grain, Hair, and Body
11. 10 Foods for Your Hair
12. Omega-3, Hair, and Body

What's in Your Detangling Medley?

Current stash? An assortment of almost-empty conditioners. Future staple? Avocado detangling deep conditioner. (Read about it here.) In order to make the future the present, the current stash has to go. Time to get creative:

DETANGLING MEDLEY #1:
� avocado oil
� Hollywood Olive Cholesterol
� vegetable glycerin
� Jane Carter nutrient replenishing conditioner
� V05 Silky Experience champagne kiss with silk protein








DETANGLING MEDLEY #2:
� extra virgin olive oil
� YES to cucumbers daily makeover conditioner
� vegetable glycerin









So, what's in your medley?

Household Makeup Removers

Yesterday evening. Concealer caked under my eyes. Mascara loaded on my eyelashes. Toss in some thick black eyeliner, glamorous eyeshadow, and loose powder. Rummaging through my product stash for something to remove the makeup. Wait. I own none of that stuff. Time to improvise:

Olive oil as a makeup remover.
Regular cleanser + brown sugar for a scrub.
Witch hazel as a toner.

It worked out well!

If you decide to try these household options, be careful in the region around your eyes.

OTHER OPTIONS:
*makeup remover - jojoba oil, safflower oil, castor oil
*scrub - white sugar + cleanser
*toner - lemon juice or rubbing alcohol (may be drying though)

FOR MIXOLOGISTS:
TONER RECIPES #1
TONER RECIPES #2
MAKEUP REMOVER RECIPES

Playlist for May

On shuffle: Jumbo twists into a bun; twistout puff (1 week max)

Sounds like: Esperanza Spalding

Interlude: weekly washes, detangling, & moisturizing

New Shampoo ... Let's Talk pH

*The truth about pH and our hair:
The pH of our hair is about 5. Some sources say the pH of shampoos should range between 6.0-8.0 while others say the ideal pH is 5.5. Another source suggests between 4.0-7.0. Whatever the ideal number, the truth is the pH of our hair is 5 for a reason ... and to knock that balance way off can cause problems (e.g., dryness, roughness, cuticle lifting, scalp fungal growth, etc.).

MORE READS:
pH AND OUR HAIR - NATURAL HAVEN
pH AND OUR HAIR - CLASS PROJECT
LIST OF SHAMPOOS and pH
BENEFITS of LOW pH

********************************************************
*Why no poo no more?
My no poo routine consisted of using 1 part baking soda, 2-3 parts conditioner, and 3 parts water. I loved the mixture because it cleansed my scalp really well while not stripping my hair. However, this routine is nixed in light of the following informative sources - Kimmaytube's pH video and thenaturalhaven's baking soda post. I knew beforehand that baking soda was alkaline (i.e., high pH), but I did not know that though I diluted it with conditioner (slightly acidic) and water (neutral), it was still pretty high. I tested the solution myself and saw a whopping pH of 9. Even though I follow up with an ACV rinse (pH of 4), I don't know what long-term effect this routine will have on my hair and scalp ... so I'll stop now.

*My new shampoo:
I don't have a staple seeing as I'm just now switching back to poos. Right now, this Desert Essence is up to bat and Giovanni is on deck. Perhaps, Alba will make an experience too. Whatever the shampoo, it must have these qualities:

-max pH of 7 (after dilution in water),
-mainly natural,
-no sulfates,
-no silicones,
-no EDTA,
-super cleansing for the scalp (hence why I bought "for oily hair")

More on Desert Essence Organics Lemon Tea Tree Shampoo:
You smelled it right! I will be reviewing this in the near future. Any vegans or vegetarians out there will be happy to know that this shampoo is 100% vegan. The Lemon Tee Tree shampoo boasts containing: jojoba seed oil to loosen and dissolve excess oil and build-up on the scalp and hair, high-quality Austrailian Tea Tree Oil to provide antiseptic qualities, sugar cleansers, and more.

********************************************************
For those who want to check out the Desert Essence Organics line, here you go:

Desert Essence Hair

"Soul" Food Mondays || Perseverance in Setbacks

Perseverance in Setbacks ...

1. The setback. The stylist cut more than you wanted. The salonist severely overprocessed your hair. The five pounds of fat are back. Your career of four years is gone.

2. Breathe. Though we all hate hearing this in hard times, the reality is 'it is not the end of the world'. Breathe and take a stab at a new healthy hair regimen, losing the regained weight, submitting resumes for a new job. It may not be easy, but it is not the end of life either.

3. Regroup. Look for what to learn from the setback. Where did you falter (if you did)? What could you have done differently (if anything)? What can you do now (no ifs here)? Rearrange your plans. Draft new paths. Your goal can be met but may just require a new or adjusted route.

3. Persevere and learn. The other reality is that life is not easy. (I can argue that this is a good thing, otherwise there would be nothing for which to be grateful. However, that's another topic for another blog.) There will be hard days (including setbacks) and sometimes one just has to persevere to the end. Remain strong. Endure the challenge. Be patient. Continue to strive. Do not give up.

4. The reward. Your hair grows to even longer lengths. Your tresses are healthy again. You achieve the fit body you always wanted. You are hired for a more lucrative job position. To whom much is given, much is required.

MORE READS:
BOUNCING BACK #1
BOUNCING BACK #2

GIVEAWAY Winner!!

We have a winner for the GIVEAWAY!! It was a difficult decision, so I let the random number generator do its job. CONGRATULATIONS, commenter #2 - Dani! Please email your address to healthy_loo@yahoo.com by May 6th so that I can mail you your prize.

Thank you all for your responses!!