Product Review- Carol Daughter Loc Butter

Many of you that know me personally, know that I constantly complain about my curly, sometimes frizzy locs. Usually after I re twist my hair looks frizzy after 3 -4 days. I heard about Carols Daughter Loc butter ( http://www.carolsdaughter.com/). I must admit the $15 price tag was a little to steep for my purse. I'd asked many loc wearers about the product they used and to my amazement none of them mentioned Carols Daughter. I cam upon the Carols Daughter store while I was in Jersey City, NJ and the sales person was doing her job that day! She sold me the loc butter, Marguerite magic for my daughter and gave me several samples of the bath oil and body butter. I had the loc butter 2 weeks before I used it- ok the day is here.. I washed my hair as usual, sat down and started to re twist.. I was initially surprised at the light feeling of loc butter. I wasn't greasy, but provided the right amount of oil. I re twisted all my loc's, then took the loc and twisted them into bandu knots for a wavy/curly effect. After I my hair dried I un twisted the knots, and I had a beautiful head of wavy loc's. I styled them as usual ( the front braided back, and the back hanging down) it lasted two weeks!!!!! I was shocked. I thought ok, it was a fluke, lets try this again.. Again, I washed my hair and palm twisted my loc's, sat under a hooded dryer and the result was BEAUTIFUL!!!!... The second time, I didnt want the wavy effect, so I really got a chance to see my length, and my hair dried in 1 hour. When I use gels, and shea butters usually my hair takes + 1.5 hours to dry...

I highly recommend Carol's Daughter Loc Butter for loc/natural hair. I thought long and hard about purchasing the product, because I didn't know anyone who'd personally tried it. I wasn't thrilled about the $15 price tag- a little goes a long way, I still have practically a whole jar and I've used it twice. There's no residue build up. The product is light, yet functional. Also, I LOVE the aroma!!! Originally, this was another concern. I had no idea what the product would smell like. Carol's Daughter did not disappoint! I will definitely purchase it again!

Au Naturale by Miss Sixx: Hair Recipes for Natural Hair

Au Naturale by Miss Sixx: Hair Recipes for Natural Hair: "0"

What's your loc maintenance rountine???

What's your loc maintenance guidline?? I'll start, feel free to fill in the blanks or rewrite the questions and answer them as you see fit.
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You need to wash you hair (8) eight days/weeks/months after you get your locs started.

You need to retwist every (2) Two days/weeks/months.

You need to retwist using Carols Daughter Loc Butter or my homemade loc butter .

I wash my locs with homemade peppermint herbal shampoo.

I began using conditioner 14 days/weeks/months after my first twist.

I use aloe vera or tea rinse conditioner

Whats your routine???

** guide borrowed from Nappturality **

Hair Recipes for Natural Hair

Hair Recipes for Natural Hair

You wear your hair naturally so why not treat your hair with natural products many of which can be found in your kitchen cupboard. Making your own hair products can be fun and extremely beneficial to your hair.

Quick Protein Conditioner
Take two egg yokes ¼ cup of water, beat the mixture together and massage through hair well. Put on a plastic cap for thirty minutes, and rinse thoroughly with warm water (not hot). Make sure all of the egg solution is rinsed from the hair (do not use shampoo). Dry your hair and style as usual. Taken From Braids & Beauty Magazine

Natural Scalp Healer
Mix 30 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 quart of distilled water, 1 teaspoon of sage oil and use as a final rinse after shampooing and conditioning. Taken from Pride Magazine

Quick Hair Treatment
Mix one egg yolk with two tablespoons of coconut oil, one teaspoon of organic apple cider vinegar and one tablespoon of glycerin. Pour onto the scalp and hair and cover with a plastic cap for 15 – 30 minutes, then shampoo Taken from Braids & Beauty Magazine

Product Build Up Remover for loc’s
Remove build-up from the scalp with a cotton ball dipped in one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar diluted in 8oz of spring water. Rinse Taken from Braids & Beauty Magazine

Herbal Rinses
Place two tablespoons of your chosen herb into a glass or stainless steel pot of boiling water. (Do not use aluminum; it would release harmful mineral deposits into the herbal rinse.) Cover and remove from the heat. Let the mixture steep for an hour. Make sure the mixture is not hot; room temperature is good. Strain off the herbs, and use the infused water as the last rinse after a shampoo and deep conditioning treatment.

Choose a herb from the list below according to your needs:

*Rosemary Circulation, scalp problems, dandruff
*Rosehip, An emollient, damaged hair
*Sage Strength, Is astringent & antibacterial
*Chamomile Brightens, highlights, provided sheen
*Horsetail Growth, dandruff
*Nettle, Baldness, dandruff, Is antiseptic

Kinard, T. (1997) ‘No Lye!’ New York, St Martins Press

Fruit Rinses

Mix one part fruit to three parts water. Let them sit in the hair for twenty minutes and then rinse thoroughly.
Choose a fruit from the list below according to your needs.

Fruits Suitable for Rinses

* Banana Rinse Excellent emollient, highly natural lubricant and hair conditioner; beneficial to the hair and scalp because it binds with water to hold in moisture.

* Coconut Milk Natural emollient with great conditioning proteins. Helps to reduce the loss of moisture and to soften and smooth the hair.

* Lemon Rinse Refreshing astringent, stimulates the scalp, dissolves sebum buildup.

* Apple Cider Vinegar Retards dandruff, provides sheen to hair

Kinard, T. (1997) ‘No Lye!’ New York, St Martins Press

Exceptional Skin Care Recipes with Essential Oils

Exceptional Skin Care Recipes with Essential Oils

The use of essential oils can be tracked as early as 4500 BC. They were used in spiritual rituals and possibly the first medicinal treatments. Today essential oils are commonly used in skin care products, the foundation of aromatherapy, and healing.

Oils are classified into two types: carrier oils and essential oils.

Carrier oils are usually derived from the seeds, kernels or nut, such as almond oil, apricot oil, avocado oil, and sunflower oil just to name a few. Carrier oils have unique characteristics that can provide therapeutic value in skin care products, aromatherapy and healing.
Essential oils are distilled from leaves, barks, roots, flowers and other aromatic parts of a plant or tree. Essential oils are more potent than carrier oils and if applied to the skin undiluted can cause severe irritation or allergic reaction. Therefore, essential oils are mixed with carrier oils to dilute potency. Additionally carrier oils carry the essential oil too the skin, thus the term carrier oil.

Essential oils are not the same as perfume or fragrance oils. Whereas essential oils are created from botanicals, perfume oils and fragrances are chemically created and do not offer any therapeutic benefits.

In skin care, carrier oils are usually referred to as base oils, vegetable oils or fixed oils. Additionally there are animal based carrier oils such as Emu oil (from the emu bird) and fish oils. In general, aromatherapy blends do not include vegetable oils or animal based carrier oils.

Below is a short list of common carrier oils and essential oils and the therapeutic value of each oil:

Carrier Oils:

Sweet Almond oil: Effective makeup remover and moisturizer. It has a great effect on fighting wrinkles, as well as having an anti-bacterial effect on the skin.

Avocado: Moisturizes, reduces appearance of age spots, heals sun damage and scars. Additionally, avocado regenerates and rejuvenates the skin. Avocado increases collagen in the skin and therefore is an anti-aging ingredient in skin care. Avocado oil has superior moisturizing qualities.

Jojoba: Balances skin’s sebum, therefore beneficial for both dry and oily skin types. Also an eye-makeup remover rich in moisturizing properties.

Olive Oil: Contains natural anti-oxidants and vitamins and acts an anti-inflammatory in skin care products. Also used in scar treatments from acne, eczema and stretch marks.

Essential Oils:

Chamomile: An excellent skin cleanser. Good for dry and itchy skin, eases puffiness and strengthens tissues. Smooth out broken capillaries thus improving skin elasticity.

Geranium: A good overall skin cleanser. Wonderful oil for mature and troubled skin and brings a radiant glow and promotes circulation. Safety Precautions: Geranium essential oil is well tolerated by most individuals, but since it helps in balancing the hormonal system, care must be taken during pregnancy.

Lavender: Useful for all skin types as it promotes growth of new cells and exerts a balancing effect on the sebum (oil glands). Has a healing effect on burns, sunburns, acne, eczema and psoriasis.

Lemon: Brightens pale and dull complexions by removing dead skin cells. Has an effective cleansing action on oily skin. Note this oil is photo toxic; care should be taken to avoid exposure to sunlight, ultraviolet light and sun beds after application

Neroli: Useful for dry, sensitive and mature skin as it helps with regeneration of cells and improves elasticity. Helps reduce the appearance of varicose veins, scarring and stretch marks.

Rose: Particularly good for mature, dry, or sensitive skin. As a tonic it is a soothing quality for inflammation and constricting action on capillaries. Consider substituting rose geranium as Rose oil is very expensive, or consider making your own rose oil, get the recipe at

Complete Skin Care Therapy and click on the recipes tab, then essential oils.

Rosemary: Helpful for sagging skin as it is a strong astringent. Tones and tightens the skin. Has a stimulating effect on the uterus, so do not use if pregnant.

Sandalwood: A balancing oil and good for dehydrated skin, and dry eczema. Provides

Ylang Ylang: Has a balancing effect on sebum so useful for both oily and dry skin types.

Below are a few skin care recipes using the essential oils and carrier oils listed above:

Honey Facial Mask with Rose Oil

2 Tablespoons honey

2 Tablespoons sweet almond oil

5 drops Rose essential oil (very expensive, consider making your own essential oil, see my post - Make Your Own Essential Oils, or use Rose Geranium as a substitute)

1 drop Vitamin EMix honey, sweet almond oil and rose essential oil.

Massage onto clean face and neck with fingertips in an upward motion. Allow to set on face and neck for 15 minutes. Rinse off with tepid water. Gently pat dry and see the benefits.

Moisturizer for Normal Skin

Geranium 1 drop

Lavender 2 drops

Sweet Almond Oil - 1 Tablespoon

Apply to face after cleansing and toning. Use a few drops of this blended mixture as needed. Note: when mixing your essential oils with the carrier oil or lotion, let set for 1 to 2 days so the oils can blend thoroughly.

Essential oils are fun to work with and offer so many benefits in skin care, healing properties, and in the home through aromatherapy. The above list is just a sampling of what essential oils can do for you. However, essential oils are very potent and care should be taken when using them. Additionally, a patch test is always recommended as with any new skin care product.

Essential oils are also eco-friendly!

Vegatable Glycerin

What is it Vegetable Glycerin?

This is a versatile all natural product with an extended shelf life. It is a carbohydrate made from vegetable oil, often palm or coconut oil. It is water-soluble as well as hypoallergenic. Not only is it safe for use in cosmetics but ingestible as well.

Vegetable Glycerine is a clear, colorless, and odorless liquid with an incredibly sweet taste having the consistency of thick syrup. It is used as an agent in cosmetics, toothpaste, shampoos, soaps, herbal remedies, pharmaceuticals, and other household items. Because it is soluble in both, water and alcohol, its versatility is a major benefactor in its purported growth and popularity within the manufacturing sector. It is invaluable as a natural source ingredient with emollient like properties which can soften and soothe the skin and it assists the outer epidermis in retaining moisture. This helps to explain why it is one of the most popular cosmetic additives used today.

Glowing Skin Benefits

Vegetable Glycerin will help your skin by aiding with moisture retention that is so vital to skins health. We damage our skin with nature’s elements, make up, and water everyday. We use cleaners that contain drying agents and synthetics. We dry skin to the point of being visually flaking, peeling and look dull.

The anti-aging properties of vegetable glycerin helps keep that healthy additional moisture locked into the skin. The result is soft, smooth, silky skin that is radiant and younger looking.
Whether it is young, hormonal skin changes or mature skin the advantage of using this all-natural product will be obvious almost immediately.

Battling Acne

The skin being clean and properly moisturized prevents acne. There are commonly adverse effects such as redness or irritation with the common chemicals used in skin products. Vegetable glycerin is hypoallergenic and ideal for all skin types. There is a visible difference in skin when using these acne cleansers and moisturizers.

Preventing Acne

The antibacterial properties will keep pores clean from clogging debris that causes acne without the inflammation that can occur from using unnatural products.
Healing Acne:The same antibacterial properties in Vegetable glycerin will aid in the healing of acne after it has surfaced without undesirable or harmful effects.

There are very few products on the market today are not only as affordable but also as adaptable to your skin type as Vegetable glycerin. This acne and anti-aging solution is the answer to many dilemmas over what products are safe and effective for all skin types and ages.

Most glycerin recipes that I come across are

3 parts aloe vera gel
1 part vegetable glycerin

combine the two and mix well, use as a hair moisturizer. I have also used this as a facial moisturizer, it works you do need to refrigerate the concoction though ( its the aloe vera) there are also other variations such as a

natural hair spritzer

8 ounces distilled water

1 teaspoon aloe vera gel

1-2 drops of vegetable glycerine

1-2 drops essential oil

15 drops grapefruit seed extract

receipe taken from http://www.enviromom.com/2007/09/natural-hair-sp.html

The Head Band Edition- The Perfect Summer Hair Accessory

With warmer weather approaching headbands are my new favorite hair accessory. Everyone can wear a fabulous headband. A big, bold headband always looks striking with natural hair. Try it and see — pull back your fro, your kinks, your curls, your twists, or your locs with a wide headband and know you’re working an accessory not everyone can. Here are some of my favorites.. ENJOY

For head wraps and scarves with true afrocentric flair, check out the beautiful
hair accessories of Wasijuru

Weezawear also makes lovely wide headbands that won’t get lost in a massive fro, for eight dollars a piece.

Bethany Lorelle offers the kind of accessory that can make you instantly memorable. Her styles of headbands look great on a short haircut or a TWA. Something like that with a simple dress at a summer wedding or barbecue? DIVALICIOUS!!!!!!

I love the Mandizzle collection from designer Mandi Derrow. The new headbands and clips are featured on Mandizzle.com. To purchase from Mandizzle, find the whole collection on Etsy.com.

Zurique Natural Hair Accessories and Jewelry

http://www.zurique.net/default.asp

Our artisans create handmade hair scarves from a variety of quality materials such as silk, crochet, beads, cotton, satin, and chiffon to name a few. We offer an assortment of different sizes and patterns like paisleys, floral, animal print, geometric, and abstract print.