Shay Buttah's Shea Butter

Source

For this healthy (ayurvedic/natural) hair challenge I've had to rely heavily on my shea butter mix as a moisture aid and a styler. Almost 2 years ago I started experimenting with different recipes to make the most beneficial mix. Know what I found out? You can basically use whatever you like! And that's why I love shea butter mixes. They can be so versatile and can be mixed to fit your direct hair needs. Below is the recipe I've been using to make mine. There are no exact measurements at all. I just add and mix until it...well...feels right in my soul! But you can add and omit anything you want. Experiment with different carrier oils, plant gels, pure plant oils (essential oils) and even scents until you find what works best for you!

Butter:

100% Organic Unrefined Shea Butter | Sealant for moisture, 

soothes irritated scalp, protects hair form weather damage (heat/UVs)

Carrier Oils:

Coconut oil | Great conditioner, light protein used to nourish damaged hair

Castor oil | Stimulates growth, prevents thinning, increase strength of strands

Extra Virgin Olive Oil  | Prevents dryness, conditions, improves strength and elasticity

Amla Oil   |  Conditions hair, strengthens strands, Promotes shine

Pure Plant (Essential Oils):

Vitamin E oil   |  Stimulates growth

Tea Tree Oil   |  Anti-bacterial properties, combats build-up, decreases dandruff

Grapefruit Oil   |  Stimulates hair follicles, fragrance

Tangerine Oil   |  Battles shedding, fragrance

Lemon Oil   |  Repairs hair sebum, adds luster, fragrance

Review: Vatika Hair Oil

I've been really trying to stick to the ayurvedic/natural aspect of my 6 month healthy hair challenge. It's actually been a lot easier than I thought because the products that I have been using are so accessible and CHEAP! One of the products that has actually been a major part of my hair regimen for over a year now is  Dabur's Vatika Oil. I've spoken about it a few times on the blog already. I thought it was about time for me to give you an in depth review.


Vatika (Enriched Coconut Hair Oil)- $3.99 (10.14 oz) : Vatika is a Premium Coconut Hair Oil enriched with Henna, Amla, Lemon and six other trusted herbs. Vatika's unique natural formulation ensures deeper oil penetration to give your hair and scalp complete nourishment for problem free, healthy hair.


Ingredients: Coconut oil, Neem, Brahmi, Fruit extracts of Amla, Bahera and Harar, Terminalia belirica, Kapur kachri, Henna, Rosemary oil, Lemon oil, TBHQ, Fragrance.

[You can go HERE to see the properties of some of these ingredients]

Honestly if I were stranded on an island for the rest of my life and I could only have one oil with me...I would probably choose this one. I LOVE it! It makes my hair feel amazing every time I use it. I tend to use it various ways mostly as a hot oil treatment and a sealant for my ends.

After I shampoo my hair I use it as a hot oil treatment instead of deep conditioning with a conditioner. I place the whole bottle of the oil in a bowl of very hot (yet not boiling) water for a few minutes,  pour the oil on my hair, place a plastic cap over my hair and let it sit for at least an hour (Most times, with my laziness, it's over night) I then rinse it out and style as usual. And when I braid or twist my hair I always seal my ends with this oil. When I take my braids/twists down my hair always feels super soft and looks very shiny .

Coconut oil in general has always been a hair saving ingredient for me but I love that the added ingredients in this oil help promote strong healthy hair which is what i'm always looking for.

The only cons I have are the smell and consistency The smell is definitely something to get use to. I wouldn't say that it smells bad but I wouldn't necessarily want to wear the perfume equivalent  of it either. If you want all of your products to smell like fruits and berries this probably isn't the one for you. Also because the product base is coconut oil it is usually in a solid state, which isn't a problem unless you're trying to squeeze it through the super tiny hole you have to puncture in the protective top. It can be annoying to have to slightly heat up the oil every time you want to use it. I usually just take the whole protective top off of it and let the slighly solidified product run out the larger opening.

Over-all this product is a God-send for my hair. Although I love my Extra Virgin Coconut oil, it's nice to know that I have a product that is considerably cheaper, and has a great amount of ayurvedic properties that  are so beneficial to the hair. You can find it at your local Indian grocer/store or if there isn't one near you check out this link to order it online.

The Ayurvedic Way: Nupur Mehendi

One of the first ayurvedic treatments I decided to use for my 2012 Healthy Hair Challenge , was this one called Nupur that I found at my local Indian supermarket. This conditioning treatment is  a mixture of Brahmi, Shikakai, Aloe Vera, Methi, Bhringraj, Amla, Neem, Hibiscus, and Jatamansi. Each ingredient helps in the overall strength, condition, nourishment and shine of your hair.

This particular treatment is basically an enriched henna (Mehendi). So the actual processing application and time is just as long as if you were to do an actual henna treatment. I added enough water (no real measurement) to the Nupur powder to make a thick paste. I then added Amla and Vatika oil (which I also found at the Indian Supermarket) for extra softness and conditioning. I allowed the mixture to sit over night so that the properties of the ingredients could release.

 

The next morning. I washed my hair with a castile soap, then applied the treatment evenly from root to tip of my hair. I then twisted my hair in chunky two strand twists and let it sit in my hair for 3 hours. 

I made sure to rinse the product out VERY well. When the product was all removed I could instantly feel a difference in my hair. It was super soft and my twist actually looked...better. For experimentation sake, all I added was a bit more of the Vatika oil to my ends and I let the twists air dry that entire day.

That night I went to a party so I did a half pinned up twist out. Let me tell you! When your hair feels great it will look great too. I was really pleased with the results of the Nupur treatment and will definitely be using it regularly within this 6 month challenge. It was only $2 and definitely worth every penny.

2012 Healthy Hair Challenge

(Isn't she a CUTIE! Source: Tumblr)

Hola Everyone! I hope you all have had a wonderful start to the New Year. Around this time everyone is focused on beginning the year on the right foot. Making sure that we take care of ourselves inside and out. The start of the year is a great calendar marker to

For 2012 i'm focusing on me. Making sure that I take extra care of my body inside and out. And with that, that means extra care of my hair. On the 9th I'll be 1 year and 6 months completely natural. I've loved EVERY moment of this journey and I'm anxious to see how far I can take this. In one of the last post I talked about the healthy hair challenge I will be embarking on from now until my 2 year nappiversary.


2012 Healthy Hair Challenge:

*Develop and mantain a regimen: I plan on incorporating all natural and Ayurvedic ingredients and products in my weekly regimen for the first 6 months of 2012. No sulfates, mineral oil, petroleum, parabens, synthetic ingredients or other chemicals.

• Pre-Poo/Detangle (All natural Conditioners, Coconut milk, Coconut or Olive oil, Amla Oil )

• Cleansing ( Shikaki, castile soap, apple cidar vinegar rinses)

• Conditioning/ Deep Conditioning (Hibiscus petal powder, Mehndi powder, Brahmi Powder, Aloe Vera Juice, Neem, Marshmallow Root Powder)

• Moisturizer/Styler (Shea Butter, Flax seed gel, water, aloe vera gel)

• Sealing Moisture (Vatika oil, Coconut oil, Olive Oil)

*Protect ends:  Protective styles will definitely be a focus of this challenge I'm allowing a total of 2 weeks out of the 6 months for myself to be able to wear my hair "out" (probably a twist or braid out). One of my favorite styles that seems to be doing more damage to my edges than good is the classic "Puff". I won't be wearing one throughout the entire challenge. Also sleeping on a satin pillow/ with a satin scarf to prevent snagging the ends of the hair as well as retaining moisture in the hair.

*Working inside-out: Our moisture balance in our hair comes from how we hydrate our bodies on the inside. Drinking plenty of water we insure that the hair is moisturized well. Vitamins also gives you a great dosage of the nutrients you need to keep not only your hair healthy but your entire body as well.

*Make (realistic) goals: My overall goal is healthy hair. But along with that I'm aiming for length retention. Knowing that hair grows approx. 1/2 an inch every month I'm aiming for Arm pit length  (while stretching) by the end of this challenge.

*Happy Hair Days*

The hair life of...

So let us know who are you? 

My name is Porsche and I am 19 years old. I have one semester left in college. My major is law. Im always taking one day at a time, seeing the good in everything. I like to try new things and I love doing everything. Literally. I started a blog because I wanted to basically. Something different and to keep me occupied. my blog is "Oh Gee" (mzporsche-ohgee.blogspot.com). I love food and I love to eat food. Very active, love sports, meeting new people.

How long have you been natural and did you BC (big chop) or transition?
Well, after I wore kinky twists for almost a year, I went natural for about four months. It was a small natural because my hair was short. Afterwards, I went back to the kinkys and wore those for about two months, which made my hair grow really fast. I switched back to my most recent natural and wore it for another four or five months. It was really nice and big, which I loved. It was the perfect size.

 

Why did you decide to go natural or stay natural?I decided to go natural because I was tired of the same kinky twists and I wanted my hair to "breathe" basically. I wanted a new look and a natural was the quick and easy way to go.

 

What are your staple products and hairstyles? Ok. staple products and hairstyles. I didn't really use any products on my natural except a grease made by Blue Magic to keep my scalp moist and a shampoo made by Avon.

What is your regimen?

I had a simple and short regimen. I washed my hair, greased it a little, braided it to the scalp, and wrapped it up.

What are your natural hair goals?

I really want to get my natural as big as possible. My hair grows really fast and it has came a long way. I can't wait to see my hair reach its potential.

How do you keep your hair intact overnight?

I braid it to the scalp and wrap it up. When I pick it out in the morning, it makes it easy to comb and blows it out pretty good.


How do you maintain length?I guess the braiding keeps my length up.

Have you received any negative comments about your hair?
I haven't received any negative comments. Everyone thinks i should wear my natural and keep it forever. My family and friends says it suits my face and style.

 

Name 1 reason you went natural and why you love being natural.

I went natural because it was easy, quick, and convenient. I don't think you can get any better than that.

 

How and where can we find you online?

Since I no longer have a facebook, you can find me and my life online at mzporsche-ohgee.blogspot.com, or you can email from porsche_2010@yahoo.com. I am always connected anywhere I go.

[If you’re interested in being apart just leave a comment with your email (or best way to get in contact with you) and I'll make sure to send you everything you need, so you can be featured on the blog!]

The Ayurvedic way

Over the past year I've been impressed with the growth of my hair. But honestly I think there is still a lot I can do to take my overall hair health to the next level. Now that I've done a lot of experimenting with products, trying to discover what works well with my hair and what doesn't, I realize that my hair tends to thrive when I incorporate natural ingredients.

With that said starting at the beginning of January I plan on doing a strict 6 month challenge of using just (mostly) natural ingredients to care for my hair. One of the easiest (yet most complex) ways of doing this is by adopting an Ayurvedic Hair Care Regimen.

Ayurvedic practices are a system unique to India where natural ingredients found in that region are used as an alternative means for medicine, treatments and hygiene. Many of the ingredients that are used in ayurvedic regimens can be found at most Indian markets and stores in the states. Also some ingredients used commonly in western culture (many you find in teas and herbal infusions)  can be found at your local health food store or Co-op.

Using ayurveda methods is beneficial not only because it's easy to mix ingredients specific to your hair needs but also the ingredients are NOT expensive. (They are considerably cheaper than the "all natural" products that you find in drug/beauty supply stores and online.)

Here are a list of ingredients that are commonly used in ayurvedic regimens. I'll definitely be seeing if I can get my hands on a good variety of the following:

Amla Powder | Stimulates hair growth, has wonderful conditioning properties, strengthens hair at the roots


Hibiscus Petal Powder| Conditions hair, Rejuvenates hair making it shiny


Mehndi Powder (Henna)| Mixture of multiple ingredients,   Not only used for hair coloring, works  as an excellent hair conditioner, imparts silkiness and shine


Kalpi Tone | Promotes hair growth, prevents pre mature balding, light conditioning properties, imparts shine 

Brahmi Powder | Strengthens hair at the roots, helps relieve dandruff, also purported to thicken hair  


Aloe Vera Juice | Balance PH level, heal scalp, imparts sheen, light conditioning properties, nourishes and moisturizes hair 


Neem | Helps fight scalp infections, works against dry and flaky scalp which causes dandruff

Shikakai | Acts as a natural cleanser, and mild conditioner, whilst promoting hair growth

Marshmallow Root Powder | Nourishes hair follicles and scalp, conditioning properties, imparts shine 


Vatika Oil | Mixture of Ayuerveda herbs into a coconut oil base, seals moisture, conditioning properties, imparts shine

As we get closer to the new year I'll share more ingredients,  recipes and techniques I'll be incorporating in my new hair challenge.

Face it!!

(source: Tumblr)

A great alternative to buying high end products that are showering the beauty market, is to use simple ingredients that you can find in your local grocery store and even your kitchen cabinets.

Of course this philosophy is not just restricted to your hair. Using more natural ingredients in your over all health/beauty routine will be kind to your body as well as your pockets.

Recently my face has been less than lack luster. I've had a bunch of acne flare ups, some color distortion from acne scaring and incredibly dry and flaky skin. I can blame this on two things.

1. My sampling of commercial face products for a fall/winter regimen.

2. The beating my face has taken from the recent cold weather.

I wanted to share with you some simple recipes that can replace those expensive face products and also give your face a healthier and more radiant glow.

____________________________________________________________________

Cleansing:

Oil cleansing is a gentle and affordable way to remove dirt, bacteria, make-up and dead skin cells from your face daily. Because most of us already have oils in our arsenal it's much more convenient than buying a separate facial cleanser. By using oil to cleanse your face you are also eliminating the abrasive properties of sulfates and other ingredients within certain cleansers.

The great thing about oil cleansing is you can literally use which ever type of oil is more convenient to you. It's all about mixing and experimenting.

In my personal oil cleansing mix I use:

A small bottle of any type

50% Castor oil (helps draw out toxins and dead skin cells from skin)

25% Grapeseed oil (acts as a natural moisturizer and helps prevent acne)

25: Extra Virgin Olive oil ( also acts as a natural moisturizer)

6 drops of Lemon essential oil (helps with brightness in complexion)

3 drops of Tee Tree essential oil (helps combat dry skin and works as an anti-fungal ingredient)

1. Gently message a quarter size amount of the mixture all over face.

2. Place a hot, damp towel over your face until it cools. (allows the oils to penetrate your skin and steam out all toxins and dirt.)

3. remove hand towel and wipe away any excess oil off.

4. rinse your face with cold water to close the pores.

Toneing:

Toners are used to keep your skin tone even and bright. It is also used as a defense against acne and dry skin.

My Toner recipe:

A new/clean spray bottle

60% Chamomile Tea (used against flare ups, redness and therapeutic/calming properties)

20% Apple Cider Vinegar ( cleansing properties and ph balance)

20%:Aloe Vera Juice (acts as a moisturizer and ph balance)

6 drops of Lemon essential oil/ or juice (helps with consistent brightness in complexion )

1. With your spray bottle a tleast 8 inches from your face spray in a "X" and then "T" formation over your face.

2. Allow the mist to dry on your face before moving on to moisturizing.

(A lot of people also use witch hazel instead of Apple Cider Vinegar in their recipes. Feel free to use your own variation on the recipe.)

Moisturizing:

The price of moisturizers on the market these days can be out of control (especially for the amount you receive).Using a dime size amount of either hazelnut, jojoba or grapeseed oil will be more than sufficient when it comes to a daily moisturize. Even for those with oily skin the lightness of each of these oils allows for the skin to absorb it easy and fast without the oily/ greasy feeling it can leave on your face.

____________________________________________________________________

Hopefully with a little tweaking to fit your personal needs, you'll be able to fit these cost-effective and healthier alternatives into your skin-care regimen.

Mixology 101: Honey

(source)

Now that summer is officially over and the cold breeze of the autumn is here its important now more than ever to make sure your hair is moisturized, to keep from being dry. Things like deep conditioners, moisturizing spritz and leave-ins are all ways of keeping your strands moist.

One agent that can be used to help with added moisture is something that you can find in your own pantry. Honey is considered one of nature’s well kept secrets. Honey serves as a natural humectant. In other words, when honey is exposed to air it naturally absorbs water molecules from the air. This makes it an ideal ingredient in your hair care regimen. It traps and seals in the moisture leaving your hair shiny, moisturized and healthy.

Like oils, the brands of honey that you will find the most beneficial are the brands that have not altered the honey's properties. So like Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Cold Pressedcastor oil, try to find Raw honey so you will get all the nutrients and properties that could be lost from over processing and heating.

Of course adding honey directly to your hair can be an extremely sticky situation but it isn’t as hard to deal with as you may think. Here are some ideas that can help you incorporate honey into your routine.

Hot Oil/Honey Treatment: (video)

Honey Infused Deep Conditioner: (recipe)

What you will need:

• Conditioner of choice (I used Aussie Moist)
• 2 Tbp Favorite oil (consider using olive, coconut, castor, jojoba, or sweet almond)
• 2 Tbps Raw honey
• Bowl and spoon for mixing

Mix all the ingredients into the bowl with your spoon. Apply mixture to wet hair. Cover your hair with a plastic cap. Leave hair covered for at least an hour (sometimes I do it over night and my hair feels FANTASTIC the next day). Feel free to sit under a hooded dryer or a steamer. Rinse the mixture out of your hair and continue with your usual styling.

*Happy Hair Days*