Monday, March 30, 2015

Spring And Natural Hair-Time To Get Your Hair Healthy, Manageable, And Beautiful



Okay so we are all worried about swimsuit season and summer fashion.  Many of us are on a diet and working out.  Many of us are failing at diets and our workouts, lol.  We can't just concentrate on our body people.  Remember your hair is your crowning glory.  Frankly it doesn't matter what size you are or how your hair looks but your hair is something you can improve and not suffer in the process. (I'm on a diet right now and I am suffering.  This sucks but working on my hair is fun.) What makes beautiful hair beautiful? For me beautiful hair is healthy, soft, has a personality, and enhances everything beautiful about your face.  I know if I take care of my hair this Spring I will have beautiful hair this summer.  My hair goals are as follows:

1. Cut down on the frizz
2. Cut down on the shrinkage
3. Stop shedding and breakage
4. Healthy in looks and feel (soft and thick)
5. Shiny

You know there is only one major thing I have to do besides eat right to get the above results.  Keep my strands hydrated!!!! I can't slack off.  I must be diligent.  First of all I am changing my routine.  I am not going to do the caramel treatment this spring.  Don't get me wrong I love this treatment but I want to do something a little less labor intensive.  On the same day years ago that I found the caramel treatment I also found (on the same site) a coconut milk & lime treatment.  I chose the caramel treatment because the coconut milk lime treatment was a relaxer.  I don't want to relax my curls I want to hydrate them so I never looked at that recipe again until last week.  I know that the more hydrated my curls are the looser they are that's why I love Kinky-Curly products.  My mind started thinking people put lemon and lime in their hair all the time.   Lime isn't a relaxer.  Coconut milk provides protein and adds softness to hair but it is not a relaxer! Oh snap said the blind woman who couldn't get pass that word relaxer! The coconut milk & lime treatment is not a relaxer!!! It is a serious hair hydrator.

Okay so I made up a batch for every woman in my family.  Tested on my mom's 2c-3a combination hair first.  She never takes care of it so it is always dry.  I worked it through her hair and her hair was absorbing it all in and loving it.  She left it on for an hour, washed it out and bam! Her hair looked healthy, shiny, and shrinkage was cut by about 25%.  Oh and frizz was like way down.  Did it relax her hair? No! Her curls or waves are still there.  So, coconut milk & lime is a super conditioning protein treatment.  I next tested the treatment on myself and since my hair is a 3b-3c-4a combo I thought I needed to leave it in my hair longer.  Problem is I have healthy but not very hydrated hair.  I left it in for 3.5 hours.  It did not relax my hair.  It made my hair soft and less frizzy but I feel like I got too much protein.  I had to really use a lot of conditioner to fix that over protein feeling.  Too much protein on healthy hair can make it brittle.  My hair wasn't brittle but I could just tell I left the treatment in too long.  Bottom line this is not a relaxer.  It is the hydration that loosens the curls and stops shrinkage.

My spring routine will be as follows:

1. Coconut Milk Lime Treatment (click to get my version) Will do once a week
2. Leave-in, Oil, Cream method for styling (I have not chosen which products I will use but you can find more info by clicking on the link or going to my Pinterest page Long Curly Hair Inspiration.
3.Coconut Milk and Aloe "Shampoo"




Saturday, March 21, 2015

Winter Hair And Crisco-What I Did For My Natural Hair This Winter



Okay so winter is the hardest on natural hair. It makes your hair dry.  Air drying becomes a major problem, health hazard and COLD freezing freaking cold!  I found that the following products made my hair hydrated, less frizzy and it gave me fewer wash days.  Now the Kinky-Curly makes my hair perfect every time but I save those products for the days I need to look my best.  I needed to find a cheaper way to look good on regular days.  I needed to find a way to make my wash and go last longer than one day.  Please note: I only air dry my hair so 30 degree temps are extremely cold for me.  I needed something to seal the moisture in my hair for a few days.  Crisco, yes I said it, crisco did the trick.  Not only did it seal in the moisture from the two conditioners I put in my hair but it cut down on tangles.  In fact many people use crisco to detangle their hair.  I have read some people online complaining about build up from crisco but I never had that problem.

Here was my routine:
1. Wet hair completely down
2. Wash Hair with Herbal Essence Cleansing Conditioner (Co-Washing)
3. Rinse
4. Condition with Pantene Repair & Protect
5. Wash the rest of my body and after maybe slightly rinse out conditioner.  I leave some of this product in my hair.
6. Apply Pantene Curl Perfection Conditioner and I leave it in; only adding a little water to work it through if needed.
7. Take a dab or two of crisco, melt it with your hands body heat and distribute through your hair.  This seals in moisture and keeps the frizz down.  My hair also felt silky to the touch.

I am writing this info down because by next winter I may forget what I learned or I may have a completely new routine.  The crisco worked better for my hair than coconut oil.  I think because coconut oil gets hard in cold weather and the crisco melted into my hair strands smoother.  This is what worked for me.  You need to find out what works for your hair in winter.

So my winter hair products are:

Crisco
Herbal Essence Naked Cleansing Conditioner
Pantene Repair & Protect Conditioner
Pantene Curl Perfection Conditioner
Kinky-Curly Knot Today and Curling Custard
I also did Caramel Treatment

Sunday, January 4, 2015

In The Anime World Capricorns Rule


Capricorn Super Couple
Urahara and Yoruichi

Okay, my birthday is today which makes me a Capricorn but I am no ordinary Capricorn.  I happen to have five planets in Capricorn (correction I have 6 in Capricorn).  By the way in astrology the word “planets” refer to more than just planets.  Planets in astrology is a term used loosely so, don’t get hung up on the use of the word.  The sign Capricorn is ruled by the beautiful planet of Saturn.   I love my ruling planet but in the world of astrology there is not much love for Saturn.  Saturn is the, teach you a lesson planet, the no fun hard times planet.  When Saturn comes to your sign it is all gloom and doom.  At least that’s how many people feel, so having five (correction 6) “planets” in Capricorn can be a very heavy thing.  My Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Mean Mode are all in Capricorn. (Correction I have 6 things in Capricorn because I also have Capricorn in True Node.) When things are going bad for Capricorn I get five times (make that 6x) the bad.  My sisters would make fun of me, “You do that because you’re ruled by Saturn.”  This statement would be just the beginning in a true fight.  Their statements can be brutal and being a Capricorn can be used against me.


I am a very proud Capricorn.  Capricorns are smart, loyal and have a very unique sense of humor.  The traits of Capricorn make great traits for anime characters.  When I get a little down on myself I remember I am a Capricorn and I like being a Capricorn.  Everyone has their opinions about my beloved sign but my favorite interpretations of the sign Capricorn comes from the anime world.  Even when a Capricorn is a villain you respect them and that is awesome.  I find my sign to be represented well in both manga and anime.  I like seeing how Capricorns are defined in the stories of anime.  I watch Japanese anime a lot but I never blog about it. I love being a Capricorn, I love anime and I love seeing both worlds together.  I made myself a promise Fall of 2014.  I promised that on my birthday I would talk about anime.  Well there are thousands of great blogs already out there for anime and I read them from time to time.  The point is I don’t need to blog about anime but I do want to celebrate me.  Being a Capricorn and watching anime is a big part of me.  It is my personal fun.  So in honor of Capricorns everywhere I have a Pinterest Board just for Anime Capricorns.  I find many anime characters inspiring so if you want to see what inspires me also take a look at My Anime Inspiration.  The Anime inspiration board is my favorite of the two boards.  I love Capricorn characters in all stories but in anime they are magic.  I need magic in my life always and this is one way to do just that.

Albert Einstein Quote


Monday, December 29, 2014

New Cleansing Conditioners That Are Great For Those Who Co-Wash (Herbal Essences is Wen Alternative)

Herbal Essences Naked Cleansing Conditioner



This cleansing conditioner is the real deal.  I have used it for the last two months and have loved the results.  Detangling my hair comes easy with this conditioning cleanser and it really cleans my hair.  In some ways it is better than Wen.  My hair detangles faster with this product.  In fact no other product works as well as Herbal Essences Naked Cleansing Conditioner at detangling my hair.  For a long time I wanted to find an alternative to Wen.  I love Wen but the cost not so much.  Herbal Essence Cleanser is better than just co-washing because it leaves my hair soft, clean and feeling healthy.  The price is also a money saver.  One thing, this conditioner cannot be left in your hair as a leave in conditioner.  I wish it could and frankly so does my little sister Faith but the scent is very strong, too strong.  We have allergies and this cleansing conditioner must be washed out due to the strong fragrance. 

Herbal Essence also claims you don't need to condition your hair after rinsing out the product.  This is true for most hair types but not all.  Plus I use conditioner to style my hair so...I always add a conditioner or a leave in conditioner after.  The fact is my hair feels and looks great after rinsing the product out and if I had my mother's hair type (2b-3A) I could rinse and go, but I don't so I can't.  That said this is a great product for all hair types.  If Herbal Essence would come out with a leave in conditioner with the same chemical make up and a softer scent well my life would get a whole lot easier.

Please note: My husband would proofread my blog for me and now that he has crossed over I no longer have a way to check my mistakes.  I am a typo waiting to happen but at least I can laugh at myself.




Friday, August 29, 2014

Get Ideas For Your Diet and Exercise Routine

Sometimes you just don't know where to start when trying to improve your body.  Should you start with diet, exercise or both really depends on you and your body.  You can't look at only what works for a guru, or your friend.  I personally feel that each body is different, just like our hair.  No one person's hair grows in the same pattern as another.  Like finger prints our hair is unique and I believe this is true of our bodies as well.  The best thing to do for your body is to learn what works for you.  Study what works for others.  Use your own imagination and creativity.  Find what works for you.  That's what this blog is about, finding your own way.  Combine the knowledge of others with what you know about yourself.  I am providing links to help you find your own way.  Some of the diets I have tried.  Some blogs I really like but I cannot say I agree with everything.  I must say some of the ideas that I like you may hate.  Things that I find useless may be the very thing you need.  This is a place to start your body journey.  The number one way to lose weight is to accept who you are.

Diets, Books, Programs & Blogs

The 4-Hour Body   The Bulletproof® Diet   DDP YOGA   The Beginner’s Guide to Intermittent Fasting   Experiments With Intermittent Fasting  The 5:2 Fast Diet  Correct Food Combining Principles   6 Food Combining Rules for Optimal Digestion  Ayurveda Food Combining  Suzanne Somers Diet  Ketogenic Diet Plan  Lose Weight by Achieving Optimal Ketosis  30 Day Ketogenic Diet Plan  Starting a Raw Food Diet  Raw Food Diet  A Low Carb Diet Meal Plan and Menu That Can Save Your Life  How Much Carbohydrate is Right for You?  The Benefits of Calorie Restriction  Want to Live Longer? Don’t Try Caloric Restriction  Counting calories: Get back to weight-loss basics  CalorieKing   Calorie Counting - A Guide to Calories & Weight Control   Tracy Anderson


Exercise

Butt
How to Get a Better Butt: Step Up Your Knowledge
Butt-ology 101: How to Enhance Your Gluteal Muscles
The biggest problem areas for runners : the results!
6 Glute Exercises to Improve Your Runs By Nikki Kimball
 Runner’s World
Clams: The Ultimate Pilates Butt Exercise
Gluteus Medius Hip Exercises
Gluteus Medius: Activation and Strengthening Exercises Note: Had a hard time adding so had to share this video as its own blog

Gluteus Minimus Stretching Exercises : Training & Stretching Tips

Gluteus Minimus


Exercises to Isolate the Gluteus Minimus : Working Out the Body



Exercises for the Gluteus Minimus & Piriformis : Tone & Trim the Body


Gluteus Medius Isolated Activation




Get a firmer butt like Beyonce using a pillow



The Beyonce Butt Workout


Butt Workout - The Best



Abs
Fast Abs  

Pilazies! Sexy Abs from Bed



Standing 10 Minute Ab Workout Real Time: Melissa Bender


more STANDING ABS, how to get a flat stomach, ab workout


Jillian Michaels: Standing Abs Workout



Legs



2Min Challenge: Legs!



Active Isolated Stretch for the Adductors


Open All Three Hamstrings and Attachments - Active Isolated Stretching


How to NOT stretch hamstring and get MORE Flexible! Stretching is making you tighter!



Tight Hamstrings Freed without Stretching -- Feel It Happen.


Tight Hamstrings? Don't Stretch, Do This Instead

How to Restore Tight Hamstrings


Combo Exercises

POP Pilates: Serious Standing Pilates for Legs, Butt & Obliques



Standing Workout Thighs, Hamstrings, and Glutes (Real Time)