Shea to Shave

Shea Moisture's Restorative Conditioner is not only a great leave-in, but as a result of a recent experiment, I've discovered it to be a great shaving cream as well. #RANDOM I know. But when shaving my kitchen (lol), I noticed it doesn't leave those bumps on the back of my neck like some shaving creams do. And when shaving my legs, I don't have to put on lotion afterwards - the best part.

Ingredients include: sea kelp (good for moisturizing and softening skin), argan oil (used to revitalize dull skin) and shea butter (great for everything)

 p.s. did you know shea butter could be used for cooking? try my Kinky Curly Cupcake Challenge with that stockpile of hair products you aren't using ;)

Rhetorical Natural Hair Questions

Have you ever wondered the answers to these questions? Either I find they are so controversial that there is no one answer or it's impossible to find a solution. If you have any answers, please reply w/the solution and your hair type.

1. How can I achieve the perfect wash n' go?
2. Is shrinkage a good thing?
3. Is natural hair for everybody?
4. What's the best shampoo for my hair?
5. How can I make a dry patch grow back? (no seriously, it's been about 2 years without growth)
6. Is the hair typing system that big a deal? They're just numbers, right?
7. How can I part my hair perfectly?
8. Should I go see a dermatologist?
9. Should I take vitamins specifically for my hair's health purposes?
10. What are the quickest and flyest protective styles?
11. Which is better - a satin pillowcase, scarf or bonnet?

Do the Dula

FYI - Mountain Dew is the official soda of computer scientists. Had some at work today and based on the hair meetup I attended tonight, I was inspired to name the title of this post "Do the Dula"

Okay, so enough nonsensical banter. Tonight I attended a meetup in San Jose with a couple friends (Maryland alumni. Go Terps!) "It'll be A Sassy Affair" was the name and a stylist ad owner of Bebe salon answered questions we had about our hair and products and gave free consultations at the end. Plus there were free cocktails, so that's always a plus! During my consultation, I learned about an oil called Calendula Oil. Supposedly it's great for dry skin and can help with hair also.

Calendula Oil is extracted from a flower call pot marigold otherwise known as.... a calendula! You can find more details about the specific extraction process online, but the mildness of the oil and the antiseptic within makes it a great product for treating infections.

But the real question is, can it be used for your hair? I've found a recipe for Calendula Soothing Scalp Oil which is said to help combat dandruff which consists of:

• 6 ounces of calendula infused oil
• 2 ounces jojoba oil
• 10-15 drops of rosemary essential oil
• 10-15 drops of tea tree essential oil
• 10-15 drops of sage essential oil

Apply directly to your scalp and voila! I'll try this once I can get my hand on all these ingredients. It may be a little tough to do out here in Silicon Valley. Might have to wait until I get back to the DMV.

In other news, I did get a free sample of the Curls line's Curl Gel in our goodie bag!

 

The Essentials: Shampoos and Conditioners

Ever hear to be on your P's and Q's? Well for today's purposes, I want you all to be on your R's and S's. You don't need to natural hair as this applies to all hair types! First up:

R: Regulate
The government does not regulate shampoos so it doesn't need to fulfill its promises of being volumizing and moisturizing. Therefore we need to READ the ingredients.

S: Sebum
Sebum is a collection of fatty acids which your hair naturally generates. In excess, it can make your hair look shiny or oily. Most conditioners are composed of sebum-like compounds which coat the hair shaft - hence the moisturizing effects.

R: Reconstruct
Good conditioners contain hydrolyzed protein, helping to strengthen the hair shaft.

S: Sulfates & Silicones
Basically sulfate strips. Silicone blocks. Now let me explain more...Sulfates are usually found in shampoos. They get a bad rap for being too harsh on hair and drying it out. But, shampoos are supposed to strip oil. It gets rid of the product build up. So it's kind of a good thing that it strips. HOWEVER when not mixed with less harsh cleansers, it can do some serious damage. Some think it's best just to stay away from sulfate and just find a different way to remove build up.

Back to silicone. Silicone is a lab-created product. It's an oil and if you look at a previous post, you know that oils form barriers. With conditioners, this barrier can help form something called slip which makes it uber easy to comb hair while wet. But make sure you use water soluble shampoos. The other kind just creates build up and is kind of pointless.

Now that you know a little more about shampoos and conditioners, you can stay on your R's and S's!


p.s. Has anyone heard of using beer as a conditioner? Apparently it helps to strengthen your hair (find more home-made conditioner ideas here)