Hola Chicas,
I just returned from my daily walk… I had to focus less on my pace and timing, and more on trying not to catch fire. Note to self: if it’s after 10am… hit the treadmill.
Day 1
That’s after two days of intense heat and humidity, two 3 mile walks, and two nights of rough sleeping. I used Yes to Cucumbers as a leave-in, Aveda Defining Whip to style, and Dabur Vatika Oil to seal the ends. I’ve since applied a tiny amount of the Vatika oil every morning and night– it’s supposed to strengthen your hair and prevent breakage and splitting. As I said before, it’s still too early for me to share any results. However, the lovely ladies of Longhaircommunity.com and Longhaircareforum.com have had great results with this oil (long, strong, healthy hair). Here are a few details:
Product Description:Dabur Vatika Coconut Oil is a premium Coconut Hair Oil enriched with henna, amla, lemon and six other trusted herbs. Vatika’s special formula ensures deeper oil penetration to give your hair and scalp complete nourishment for problem free, healthy hair. Henna along with other herbs coat your hair and protects it from oxidation. Amla strengthens the roots of your hair to help maintain their health and natural thickness. Lemon has an astringent action which controls the flow of sebum.
Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Neem Oil, Brahmi, Amla Extracts, Bahera and Harar, Kapur Kachri,
Henna, Milk(Lac), Rosemary Oil, Lemon Oil, TBHQ, fRAGRANCE
Sorry for the digression. Anyway, I’m not doing my hair again until Sunday or Monday evening. I’ll probably try a braid-out using the same product combo.
DC with my fav. homemade avocado DC (makes my hair feel so soft and amazing!
Wash – my homemade brown sugar scrub
Condish – my homemade conditioner
Oil – my homemade oil mix (EVOO, 100% Pure Coconut oil and 100% Natural Canola Oil) most likely'll heat it up a bit so it acts as both a hot oil treatment and so it doesn't sit on my hair.
Seal, heat protectant (from the crazy climate) etc – 100% natural, straight from the source in Africa, shea butter.
Just as usual- a wash n go. I should henna, but I am too lazy this weekend. When I bought my hair vitamins( http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml;jsessionid=FPT3C5U1CTLEUCV0KQNQIGQ?id=P2884&categoryId=C13320 ) yesterday (which are amazing) I got a sample size of the hair mask from the same line. I might do the mask tonight….
This weekend I bought all the stuff I need to henna my hair along with indigo to cover the gray and tone down the red. I'm doing something I rarely do and that is an actual hair sample test. I have one sample in 100% henna mixed with apple cider and lemon juice (I ran out of cider. The other sample is 95% indigo and 5% henna. I have a lot of hair and I didn't want to have to do all my hair to see what the different combos will look like. I'm photographing everything and hopefully can setup up a fotki album.
The samples should be ready in another hour or so.
Goddess! =)
Hi Nikki!
I just took my finger coil frohawk out that I had rocked for a week. I washed my hair and henna'd using Jamila '09 and Hisbiscus Flowers (for the 1st time!) I plan to do an overnight deep conditioning treatment using AO White Camellia Conditioner,Vatika Oil, and Hydratherma Naturals Moisture Boosting DC, and honey. Tomorrow I will rinse out and style it, using Cantu Shea Butter & Coconut Oil (if needed), into bantu knots for a "knot-out" for the week. I also gave my hubby a henna/indigo treatment too! He's now an official 'Henna Head!'
Just got my hands on some Renpure "My Pretty Hair is Parched", so I'll be washing my hair. I might do my first ever pre-poo! By the way: the braid and curl has changed my life. Thanks for all the fantastic hair advice everybody!
Yesterday was day two of a twisted bantu knot out.(transitioning) I just co washed my hair. I oiled my scalp and flat twisted it for a flat twist out tomorrow. This is my first time flat twisting so hopefully it turns out nice.
Hey Nikki. As always, your hair looks great. I can't wait for mine to be that length. I planned to cowash, deep condish, and twist my hair in medium size twists last night, but I get in too late (9 pm). I decided to cowash with Aussie Moist; detangled; used DevaCurl One conditioner and braided my hair in 6 cornrows, going kinda of to the side back. I took my hair out this morning, and I didn't get the definition I was looking for, so I am going to twist tonight with EcoCustard and wear a twist out tomorrow.
It's a henna weekend! I'm obsessed with doing the henna then a caramel deep conditioner that i came across in the comments of the DC post. I have the house to myself, movies on deck, and lots of new treats for my hair. today's going to be a great day! ^_^
i usually don't flat iron, but i plan to flat iron (slightly…cuz i still like big hair) and twist it into a bantu knot-out for later this evening.
i may highlight it tomorrow….never done it before!
this weekend is my easy weekend…i have my natural hair in two-strand twists. i will co-wash and deep treat my hair on sunday night.
Well I'm in the big city of Chapel Hill for the weekend so I'm just trying to keep the twist out fresh. It's always nice to visit with family and friends.
I am getting a much-needed trim and a black rinse. I am REALLY excited to have my hair dark again. Totally over the highlights. I know, dark hair for winter, lighter hair for summer. Well, I tend to do things backwards 😉
your hair looks great! i just got done mixing my henna. I plan on letting it sit overnight. I mixed it with warm fresh black tea, and i'm going to add honey in the morning. It's my first henna treatment. I'm excited! Then I'll probably do a braid out! I love your hair!!
Hey Nikki…did you follow me to Patel Brothers in Queens NY yesterday? LOL! I bought Dabur Vatika olive oil enriched with almond, cactus and lemon, (only went in for coconut oil, yeah right). So far my scalp is less itchy. Peace out.
I currently have may hair in very small individual braids with yaki braid fiber extensions. I water-set them last week, and for the most part, the ends are still curly, but it has straightened out quite a bit in general, so I'm going to try and re-set them either tonight or tomorrow.
To water-set braid fiber, you should have some cool water for dipping, perm rods, a towel, and a pot of very hot water. My mom has perm rods, but I was at her house when I did this, and now I'm at my place, where I have flexi-rods instead. I'm going to use them and hope for the best.
First, dip the ends of the section you're rolling in a cup of water that is not hot. This will make it easier to completely wrap the ends around the rod without any straight bits sticking up. Roll/spiral the fiber neatly around the rod as far up as you think you can go without incurring damage to yourself when you dip the rodded hair later. When all the hair is rolled, set your pot of water to boil.
Once it boils, remove the pot to a heat-safe surface. Place your towel immediately next to the pot. Moving very carefully, lower the rolled hair into the water and leave it there for about 15 seconds, or until you think all the fiber on the rods is completely wet. Slowly raise your head and allow the rods to settle onto the towel. Fold the towel around the rods and wait a couple minutes for the hair to cool down and for the excess water to be absorbed into the towel. Do this as many times as it takes to wet all the rodded ends.
After the dipping is done, secure the rodded hair in a bonnet or net of some kind to keep the weight of it from pulling at the anchor (your) hair. Leave it so until the rodded hair is dry. The drier you allow it to be, the better it will set. Once the hair is completely dry or very close to it, carefully unwind it from the rods. Now style to your taste and soak up the compliments.
I'll probably leave them in the twists I did last week. Trying to stay out of my hair for a while, even if it is summer, due to school…such is life. But I have a question: do you rinse your hair after working out? I've found that when I do this, it gets super dry..so not too sure what to do. Suggestions?
I am going to try Bantu Knot's on my transitioning hair…oh boy, wish me luck!!!
I had to day off and guess what I did? I hennaed my hair this morning. I didnt tell my family that I was off today, lolI didnt want anyone messin up my plans to get this done,It came out beautiful!Nikki you look soo darn cute!Have a great weekend every one!
Thanks ladies!!
@OloriOba and anon, thanks for the heads up! I talked to my doc about various herbs and even some teas and she assured me that there is no scientific evidence to confirm that (for example) red raspberry leaf will result in contractions or rosemary will cause pre-term labor. Clearly, I'll still proceed with caution. I'm not using it on my scalp, or soaking my hair in it as a prepoo… just a dab (and I mean a pea sized amount) on my ends. I'll keep you guys posted!!
Hey ljkelly!! I wanted to invite you to my STL baby shower, but I couldn't find your email addy! I'm such a PJ that I return to coconut oil and coconut oil based products ever so often to assess the results. So far so good… my ends aren't crunchy. I'll report back soon 🙂
@OloriOba – I have read the same thing about products containing neem. I use a complexion soap that contains neem from Chagrin Valley. Their website has a disclaimer about using the soap if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
I would love for this to be a henna weekend but I am going to a wedding so it doesn't look like it will happen. I did fingercoils a couple of days ago so I am going to do a coil out with that. By the way, I also use the Vatika Oil and I am with you, it is too early to tell but I like the way my hair feels. I will keep using it though.
I have a question about coconut Oil. I love it but I am afraid that it has protein in it as I am protein sensitive. Do you see any negative side effects w/ the coconut oil since you are protein sensitive as well?
Weekends plans: BIG CHOP!
i have that same oil but i put it in my daily spritz because for some reason i dont like the smell of it alone. i plan on getting my hair braided up. ive had it out for a few days.
I am getting my hair straightened and trimmed so I plan on doing a pre poo with oil and honey, poo with sulfate ( i have color in my hair so I use clairol shimmer lights, great for the color bad for my hair so that is why I pre poo or my hair will feel like straw. then I plan on deep conditioning for about 30 minutes. Rinse put in my leave in and head over to the salon. this is only for the week. I cant fight with my hair and the humidity.
your hair always looks FAB nikkie 🙂 Well my plans are to deep condish then a friend and I are going to do small twist all over my head to wear up to 4 wks and i'm going to rod the ends to give me more options w/ styles (if it turns oute I'll send pics in)
Its a henna treatment weekend for me this weekend! While I don't really look forward to them, I LOVE the way my hair looks and feels after, sooooo I do it! After the henna I usually set it in a cinnabun like updo to protect my ends and make sure it stays moisterized and protected.
this weekend i plan to henna and conrow my hair for upto 3 weeks. lately i have been neglecting my hair but this weekend im going to start babying my hair.
Nikki, I tried your Henna Gloss concoction this afternoon. I was SO happy to get rid of the nasty henna odor with orange essential oil and then the conditioner added to the henna. I had a little Green Apple & Ginger and a little Red Raspberry and the combo smells like bubble gum! The consistency was a little loose, like pudding before it has set, but so far it's not running down my neck or face. I can't wait to see and feel the results.
Not sure how I want to style it yet. I may do some tiny twists for the weekend and untwist on Monday, but every time I do that my head itches.
WOW!! sounds nice and your hair looks so healthy CurlyNikki. I don't want to cause an alarm but I see the Vatika oil contains Rosemary Oil and I have heard and read that anyone who is pregnant should not use Rosemary Oil as it can trigger contractions. Is this true?
Your hair looks so good, and the pregnant belly is definitley working for you. I'm so surprised that you're able to walk out in all of this heat. I'm in Ga near Savannah and it's hot as heck here, and it's going to be 95 sat n sun with the heat index making it 110 degrees. But anyway, i know that you love to use the product Yes to Carrots, but have you tried the other product called Yes to Tomatoes. I saw it while in Walgreens yesterday, they have all 3 of the yes products also available in the travel size as well. Anyway, just passing through and wanted to say a quick hello. Take care and have a wonderful weekend.
hey nikki, you are SO motivational. still posting when you're deep into your pregnancy. i'd love to see a post about new moms and how their hair routines changed once they had babies. seems you'll have less time. just curious if hair is the thing that suffers for new moms…
now to answer your question, this weekend i plan to deep condition and twist my hair. i'll wear it twisted for a couple of days and do a twist out. i want to learn how to do cute flat twists that can be worn out in public. i'll keep my hair conditioned and detangled so i can do a major trim according to the lunar charts on june 22/23.
I'm Loving It,Beautiful!
Not much since I have a cold. Have you ever experienced problems with your hair when you're sick/feeling under the weather? My hair feels dry. Dryness usually isn't a problem for me.