Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care

Hola Chicas!

I'm a huge fan of green drinks, but since I'm preggers, I'm taking a prenatal. I researched vitamins the same way I did natural hair, and decided that Rainbow Light One (a food based vitamin-- some argue that these are better than the ones that contain minerals and vitamins chemically derived in a lab) would be one of the better brands to invest in. My doc said it doesn't matter in any way, and that Flinstones Chewables would be just as effective, lol. I hate the size and smell of the RL prenatal, but I suppose it's doing what it should. I like that it contains appropriate amounts of each vitamin and the proper form of vitamin A (Beat-Carotene). I've been taking it for nearly 6 months now.

Before I started taking my prenatal, I had a glass of Green Vibrance every morning. It was the only vitamin/supplement that I could 'feel' working. It gave me energy and with breakfast, kept me feeling full until lunch. Unfortunately it tastes like swamp butt, and MUST be mixed into apple juice for it to be considered palatable. While vacay'ing in Vegas last year, I had nothing to mix it with except for a bottle of Dasani. I poured the packet in, shook it up, and took a sip. I gagged. It was horrible... not even an acquired taste. I choked half the bottle down and vowed never to be without juice again. Despite the ass taste, I'll definitely go back to it once the little munchkin arrives.

Prior to Green Vibrance I was an avid user of Trader Joe's Super Crusade. An independent study was performed (on TJ's and many other vitamins on the market), and they concluded that it in fact contains all the ingredients the label claims. Good, right? Shame on those folks making supplements out there that are lying to us :-( I also love TJ's because the pill is relatively small (the size of a Tylenol gel capsule), goes down easy, and the price is right!

Remember the ridiculously beautiful and wholly natural Zhara?! Well she's back to share a very special recipe with the CurlyNikki community.




Zhara's Hairsational Organic Herbal Hairgrowth Tea!!!!!!

Healthy nutrition and exercise are definitely the most important part of your natural hair care regime in my opinion.
What goes in the body is a good refection of what comes out; physically, mentally and Vanity!
Homemade organic herbal tea is like drinking a liquid vitamin in its most purest form beacuse it absorbs directly into the bloodstream.
This organic tea contains many special vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients to enhance healthy skin, hair and nails!
It has excellent Health & Beauty benefits like purifying the blood, boosting circulation, promoting healthy hair growth, glowing skin, strong lustrous nails and the list goes on! Some of the herbs are detoxifying, so It’s also a great way to gently cleanse the body on a regular basis!

Drink this Fresh Homemade Organic Wellness Tea as part of your daily health and hair care regimen....

Cheers!

Recipe;

2tbs lemon balm ( melissa )
1tbs lavendar flowers
1tbs peppermint leaves
1tbs chamomile flower
1tbs rose petal
1tbs nettle
1tbs horsetail
1tbs coltsfoot
1tbs burdock root
1tbs oatstraw
1tbs alphalpha
1tbs rose hip
2tbs dandelion leaves
2tbs rasberry leaves
1/2 tsp ginger root


***For more information on the health properties and nutritional benefits of each individual herb click on this link to my favourite herbal chart online!!!!!

http://www.anniesremedy.com/chart.php

You can use a reusable silk or linen tea pouch, a stainless steel tea infuser or get some of the disposable unbleached tea bags at your local grocer!
Steep the tea leaves for a least 10mins and enjoy by itself or with a tiny bit of any natural/organic sweetner like Agave, brown rice syrup, raw honey, maple syrup, stevia ect....

Last weekend, I posted pictures from my shopping spree. I re-upped most of my hair products, and bought another bottle of Trader Darwin's (Trader Joe's Brand) Super Crusade. I received several emails asking if I've switched multis. I haven't. I've been taking Trader Darwin's since I started the blog at the end of last year. Here is the review I gave in October:


**Trader Darwin's Super Crusade Dietary Supplement- Purchase from Trader Joes (Serving Size: 2 Pills)

I feel that TJ's offers a top quality multi at a very fair price. It'll last me 3 months, and it only cost 13 dollars!!!!! Besides the price, the best thing about this multi is the size of the tablet. Granted, its still large, but it is no where near the size of your average multi (you know, the dreaded horse pill). You could swallow both tablets in one gulp with no issues. Its about the size of a Tylenol gel cap, but flat. I'm loving these and I no longer dread taking my vitamins.

Click here for the rest of the article.

I usually take both tablets at night, along with biotin. Here's what I posted in October...nothing has changed:

• Is the best known supplement for the health and beauty of Hair, Skin and Nails.
• Is often referred to as Vitamin H, this vitamin promotes hair growth, protects against dryness and is involved in the biosynthesis of unsaturated fats.
• Increases the elasticity of the hair's cortex preventing breakage.
• Thickness the actual hair cuticle providing a fuller appearance because of the increased diameter of the hair shaft.
• A lack of Biotin would result in dermatitis and hair loss.

Although I have a brand new bottle of MSM, I haven't taken it in 2 months. No reason...just laziness...it's a big pill, and I hate big pills. If I could find one the size of my biotin supplement, I'd be all over it. I've been considering the powder, but haven't acted on impulse yet :]

I have started taking probiotics again to aid in digestion (of my food as well as integration of the supplements). The pill is large, so we'll see how long this lasts.

Later Gators,

Nik

p.s. Here's one of my 2 babies!

Lady!

JC, our resident chemist's special report on water:


Shower filters are mainly used to remove chlorine from water but can also be used to remove heavy metals and the salts that cause hard water. So why remove chlorine? It has been linked to changing protein structures (such as hair) and stripping oil (from skin and hair). Chlorine is the gold standard disinfectant and without which, we would more than likely have water with all kinds of bacteria and parasites.

As a guide, pick a brand that lists it claims with testing (for example 99% chlorine removal tested by xyz). Also pick a brand that gives you a guide as to how long you can use the filter effectively (9 -12 months usually).

There are many reports of people stating that their hair and skin conditioned improved instantaneously after using a shower filter. I don't however think that shower filters are the answer to instantly moisturised skin and hair. If your skin and hair was dry before using a shower filter and is still dry afterwards, then you need to look to other answers.

These can include at the first level diet and exercise and then at the next level daily care. Try changing your conditioner, porosity treatments and moisturising oils. I would also let you know that having long hot showers is not recommended for your skin or hair. Hot water opens up the hair cuticle allowing moisture in but if the cuticle is not closed back down then this same moisture is driven back out (dry hair!). Ideally with washing your hair, you should use tepid water (just warm to the touch). Also consider if your hair needs frequent protein conditioning. With natural hair, if you are not colouring or heat treating, you could reduce the frequency of protein conditioning. If you feel your hair is quite hard after washing, it could be excess protein.

As for the rotten eggs smell (hydrogen sulphide) it is most likely caused by a blocked or partially blocked pipe (Does the water take some time to drain?). This could happen if you have hair trapped in the pipes causing everything else that you try to drain down to get caught. If you don't already have one, get a filter to catch your hair and avoid it getting down the drain. You can also try some home solutions to fix the problem like bleach or buy a drain unblocker. I feel that I should add a disclaimer that I'm not a plumber so you may want to get one to look at it for proper advise!

This site compares 3 popular brands, side by side: http://www.discountjuicers.com/showercompare.html

Why not turn to natural remedies when dealing with our natural hair woes? God blessed us with a plethora of Essential Oils (EO's) and Herbs that can fix every hair problem under the sun! I ran across THIS article, and thought you mixtresses out there may find the following helpful. For those of you that don't concoct your own spritzes, gels and sprays, flip those bottles over (your fav conditioners & moisturizers) and see if you can spot any of the following ingredients...

Dry Hair:
Herbs: parsley, red clover, rosemary, sage, burdock, calendula, chamomile, comfrey leaf and root, elder flowers, horsetail, kelp, bladderwrack, irish moss, lavender, marshmallow, nettle, coltsfoot, white pine, green tea, ginsing, coconut milk ,cocoa powder, chlorella, annatto, rose, and orange powder.
EO’s: carrot seed, cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage, cypress, geranium, frankincense, jasmine, juniper, lavender, lemon, myrrh, palmarosa, peppermint, rose, rosemary, rosewood, clary sage, sandalwood, thyme,

Hair loss/Growth Stimulating:
Oils: seabuckthorn
Herbs: basil, burdock, nettle, parsley, rosemary, sage, yarrow, kelp (strengthens roots), horsetail, hibiscus, fenugreek, coconut milk, lavender, birch, watercress (encourages thick growth), yucca, thyme, and coltsfoot.
EO’s: basil, cajute, carrot seed, cedarwood, clary sage, cypress, eucalyptus, juniper, lavender, orange, peppermint, rosemary, clary sage, thyme, ylang ylang, lemon, yarrow, lemon balm, parsley.

Damaged Hair:
Herbs: basil, burdock, chamomile, calendula, elder flower, geranium, lavender, mullein, nettle, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sandalwood, watercress, st johns wort, rosehips (strengthens hair shaft), hops, horsetail, ginko/fumitory (absorb nutrients), fenugreek, comfrey, cocoa powder, beer, alphalfa.
EO’s: basil, roman chamomile, lavender, geranium, peppermint, rosemary, sandalwood, st john’s wort, hops, parsley.

Dull Hair:
Herbs: basil, burdock, calendula, chamomile, fennel, horsetail, linden, marshmallow, mullein, nettle, parsley, rosemary, sage, watercress, kelp, fenugreek, cocoa powder, beer, alfalfa, hops.
EO’s: basil, roman chamomile, juniper, lemon, lemongrass, rosemary, parsley, clary sage.

Irritated Scalp:
Herbs: calendula, catnip, chamomile, comfrey, yucca, watercress, oregano, marshmallow, hops, hyssop, ginko, fenugreek, elder, cocoa powder, alfalfa .
EO’s: roman chamomile, blue chamomile, oregano, hops, hyssop, fennel, catnip, hyssop,

Sensitive Scalp:
Herbs: burdock, calendula, chamomile, horsetail, marshmallow, nettle, oregano, yucca, milk thistle, hyssop, fennel, elder, lavender .
EO’s: chamomile, cedarwood, clary sage, ylang ylang, hyssop, lavender, oregano.

Dandruff:
Oils: Neem
Herbs: burdock, horsetail, lavender, nettle, peppermint, rosemary, sage, thyme, willowbark, yucca, parsley, green tea, fenugreek, coltsfoot.
EO’s: bay, cedarwood, clary sage, cypress, eucalyptus, juniper, lavender, lemon, myrrh, patchouli, peppermint, pine, rosemary, tea tree, ylang ylang.

I noticed that many of the herbs and essential oils listed above can actually resolve several hair issues all at once. It was very exciting to see that my favorite new spritz's ingredient list has just about every EO and herb mentioned in the Dry Hair category!

Oyin Handmade's Frank Juice ingredient list: Purified water infused with horsetail, lavender, nettle, roses, and chamomile; organic flaxseeds; aloe vera juice; vegetable glycerine; essences of lavender, sweet orange, ylang ylang, and rosemary; grapefruit seed extract; citric acid; and love

Check out my review of this product HERE.

Sweet Almond oil (SAO) is produced from sweet almonds or Prunus amygdalus. SAO, used as a carrier oil for blending essential oils, is beneficial for the skin, hair, and has overall health advantages as well. It can be used as an effective massage oil, and many use it to treat under eye bags, and eczema. For hair, moisten your fingertips with several drops of almond oil and gently massage the scalp. A comforting regimen, treating the scalp and hair to sweet almond oil, benefits follicles, prevents hair loss, provides shine and strengthens hair. It can also be used as a hot oil treatment. Eating raw almonds also has many benefits- it aids in digestion, keeps the brain healthy, reduces cholestrol and provides a healthy source of fat and protein.

SAO does not penetrate as deeply as other oils (i.e. EVOO, Coconut Oil), and shouldn't be used to 'moisturize' the hair. I use SAO the same way I use Shea Butter- as a sealant. I apply my water based leave-in or moisturizer and seal the wet, moisturized hair, with a very thin layer of the oil.

I have yet to try it on my scalp, but I'm very interested. I'm thinking of incorporating SAO into my weekly Deep Treatment, applying Jessicurl WDT+Aubrey ORganics Honey Suckle Rose, and finally SAO on top. I'll let you know what I think!

Benefits:

• Nourishes hair and smoothes hair cuticles
  
  
• Makes hair long, strong and thick
  
  
• Massaging with almond oil adds shine to the hair
  
  
• Controls hair fall

In the cyber world, there are several concoctions and magical serums floating around that promise to swiftly grow your hair to great lengths. I'm not in the position to review any of them...not even Boundless Tresses, which I used intermittently for 2 weeks. I believe that growth happens from the inside out...Obviously, we can't override our genes, but we can MOST CERTAINLY maximize our growing potential!

The truth is, TLC and patience, are the only sure things. However, from my personal experiences, I've learned that the following were correlated with faster than average (and/or healthier) hair growth:

1. Physical Exercise-Running or any other moderate/high intensity exercise (yay for Cardio) increases the blood flow to your scalp. Increased blood flow means that more nutrients are brought to your hair follicle. I purchased a treadmill last year, and used it regularly for 5 months. I'd put in a Deep Treatment (DT), don a plastic cap, and walk briskly (I don't run, lol) for 30-45 minutes, 3 days a week. Killed two birds with one stone!Between the cardio, and the frequent DTs, my hair flourished!

2. Healthy Diet- Hair consists of protein, so it is essential that you consume enough. Incorporate foods from all the groups - especially protein. Nuts, poultry, vegetables, fruits, grains, eggs, etc. All contribute to healthy, growing hair.

3. Dietary Supplements- Biotin and MSM are ingredients every hair vitamin should contain. Biotin promotes cell growth, the production of fatty acids, and metabolism of fats. MSM lengthens the hair growth phase (which means that you keep more hair on your head). Using a combination of the two is beneficial for healthy hair. This winning combo, plus a quality Multivitamin will definitely aid in the hair growing process. Check out this article.

4.Henna- If you do a search for 'henna + hair growth' on the hennaforhair.com forum, you'll see that many women truly believe that henna has resulted in increased hair growth. I'm a believer too! My jump from shoulder length to APL last year was directly preceded by my first henna applications. Some ladies think that the actual process of applying henna stimulates the scalp (which we now know, aids in hair growth). One could argue that henna stretches the curl, and gives the illusion of longer hair....whatever the mechanisms are, for me, it produced faster hair growth.

5. Scalp Massages- Nightly scalp massages increase blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles. 5 minutes should suffice.

Of course, hair growth is nothing without an understanding of retention. Protective styling, moisturizing and sealing, frequent deep treatments, and delicate handling all aid in retaining the length you've worked so hard for!


Happy Growing Ladies,
Nik

I love her length, fullness and shape!!!! I really don't want my curly length to change- between chin and shoulder length is ideal for me and IMO, really cute. I just want my hair to grow 'out' a little more...so I'm using The Secret.

Daily Regimen (3 supplements total):

• Is the best known supplement for the health and beauty of Hair, Skin and Nails.
• Is often referred to as Vitamin H, this vitamin promotes hair growth, protects against dryness and is involved in the biosynthesis of unsaturated fats.
• Increases the elasticity of the hair's cortex preventing breakage.
• Thickness the actual hair cuticle providing a fuller appearance because of the increased diameter of the hair shaft.
• A lack of Biotin would result in dermatitis and hair loss.

Source

I haven't experienced the break-outs that some ladies speak of. In fact, my skin glows and I attribute it to the biotin and msm.

I feel that TJ's offers a top quality multi at a very fair price. It'll last me 3 months, and it only cost 13 dollars!!!!! Besides the price, the best thing about this multi is the size of the tablet. Granted, its still large, but it is no where near the size of your average multi (you know, the dreaded horse pill). You could swallow both tablets in one gulp with no issues. Its about the size of a Tylenol gel cap, but flat. I'm loving these and I no longer dread taking my vitamins.

In the past, I've taken ALIVE! multivitamin (too expensive, 3 pills a day, LARGE tablet size, won't purchase again), and LifeForce Multiples (expensive, 2 pills a day, large pills, but would purchase again). I did research on both of those and they're suppose to be at the top of the multi list for quality, absorption and content, but I'm sticking with TJ's for now. You can buy Alive! and LifeForce at Whole Foods or Vitamin Shoppe.

I'm really bad about spreading my supplements out over the day. I'm sure they'd be more effective that way. Sometimes I remember, but most of the time I don't. About 90% of the time, I remember that I haven't taken them while I'm brushing my teeth before bed. I then swallow all 4 pills with a 16 oz bottle of water, and end up waking up in the middle of the night with the urge to pee, lol.

I'll take more stretched length shots soon!!!