Hygral Fatigue

 

It is known that natural hair can be dry, and moisture is the main and important thing we naturals strive to achieve and master. While in the moisture game, one can overdo it which can lead to Hygral Fatigue.

 

What is Hygral Fatigue?

It is when the hair shaft swells excessively in the presence of water. This cause the cuticle of the hair to lift which can change the uniformity of that layer and lead to splits in the hair shaft during the drying.

 

Causes of Hygral Fatigue:

• Over moisturizing from constant overnight deep conditioning and or baggy method.
• Not enough protein and moisture balance
• Re-wetting your hair.

How to prevent Hygral Fatigue:

• Incorporate a well-balanced protein and moisture hair care regimen,
• Too much of a good thing can de damaging, so limit your baggy methods.

When doing pre-poo use penetrating oils like coconut oil, avocado oil, and olive oil. Once in a while use ACV rinses to balance the hairs pH. Remember, that while doing the protein treatments to correct Hygral Fatigue one must not overdo it and end up with protein overload.

 

Signs of Hygral Fatigue:

• Hair breakage because of the weakened strands,
• The feeling of mushy, and limp hair,
• Low elasticity.

 

Have you suffered from Hygral Fatigue? And, what did you do to correct it?

 

 

Thin hair do’s and don’ts

image credit: youtube

Hi

 

Natural hair can pose some other challenges when it comes to styling, more so if your have thin hair, the challenge can be somewhat difficult to achieve certain styles. There are certain things only thin hair girls can understand, mainly when it comes to achieving a fuller hair.

There are certain things to avoid when you have thin hair, not all products work well on everyone especially if you have thin hair. Below are certain things to stop doing or minimise to achieve a fuller style.

 

 

• Avoid shampoos with sodium lauryl sulfate

  People with thin hair need to avoid shampoos, polymers, proteins, damaging alcohols, and ammonia that are found in traditional shampoos in the form of ammonium lauryl sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate. These ingredients are added to make the shampoo feel thicker and richer in your hand, and also to create the foaming lather people have come to expect. The reality is that these same ingredients are incredibly harsh and drying to your hair and scalp.

• Go easy on hair colour

  Many women actually feel more texture in their hair once it’s coloured, but you need to be careful not to overdo bleach. Processing your hair too often, to the point of being fried, can seriously thin out your hair. Go as long as you can between your colouring sessions.

 

• Avoid or minimise heat styling

  Over-stretching or straightening the hair shaft whilst drying it will take all the elasticity and natural volume out of your hair. Be gentle with it and always use a heat protector.

 

There are steps also you can use and do to achieve that fuller styling.

• Hair styling that gives volume:

  You can incorporate the following styles which add volume to thin hair.

  Braidout

  Twistouts

  Bantu knotouts

• Products that assist with volume:

  For low porosity hair it is best to you mousse for styles like bantu knotouts, twistouts, and braid outs. Apart from the nice curl definition the mousse gives but it is also good for LP hair, because it does not weigh down your hair and made it clump all together.

 

What hair practices are you using for your thine hair?

Rosewater for hair

 

Hi hair lovers!!!

Rose water is flavoured water made by steeping rose petals in water. It is the hydrosol portion of the distillate of rose petals, a by-product (co-product) of the production of rose oil for use in perfume. It is used to flavour food, as a component in some cosmetic and medical preparations, and for religious purposes throughout Europe and Asia. The cultivation of various fragrant flowers for obtaining perfumes including rose water may date back to Sassanid Persia. Locally it was known as golāb in Middle Persian, and as zoulápin in Byzantine Greek

 

Rose water is very rich in vitamins A, C, D, E, and B3, as well as flavonoids and has antiseptic and antibacterial properties; it replenishes lost moisture and makes hair more manageable, smoother, shinier and healthier, can help reduce dandruff and its stimulating properties increases scalp circulation and promote hair growth. It nourishes and strengthens the hair follicles and promotes healthy hair. It balances the pH of the hair making it a natural anti-inflammatory.

 

Ways to use Rosewater:

• It can be used as a final rinse after shampooing, and it can help prevent hair loss;
• A hair mist;
• DIY leave-in conditioner
• And it can also be used on your skin.

 

 

Rosewater and glycerin mist:

1 cup Rosewater

2 tsps. oil of choice

2 capsules Vitamin E

 

Rosewater leave-in conditioner:

100ml Rosewater

2 Tbsps. conditioner of choice

2 tsp oil of choice

 

Have you tried using rosewater in your hair care regimen before?

Love

Lebogang

 

Hair Challenge results

Hi Hair lovers!!!

 

In April I wrote a post about me starting a hair challenge, it started in May and ended in August so to say. On the challenge I had to do inversion methods for seven consecutive days per month, exercise and take biotin for those three months. I started off with the following lengths;

My starting length:

Front: 4.5″

Left side: 5″

Left back: 5″

Right side: 4.5″

Right back: 5″

My end length after the challenge:

Front: 7″

Left side: 6.5″

Left back: 6.5″

Right side: 6.5″

Right back: 7″

I started quite well with much enthusiasm, but by the beginning of the second month I took a great deep, I had stressful situations which made taking care of my hair a mission. What I have noticed is that thoughout the stress I went through I had little to no breakage which I am very happy for.

 

As y’all can notice from the length checks I have very uneven hair growth, which is surprising because I used to have fast hair growth on my left compared to my right side.

My take on hair challenges:

• Is that never enter a challange until you are mentally and physically ready;
• inversion methods are not for everyone, I could do it for two days maximum but the rest of the days, I will have thousand excuses why I cannot do it;
• eating healthy was never an issue for me, I managed to eat healthy most of the time;
• Excercising! well what can I say, its something I really need to work hard at.
• Will I do it again, for sure but excluding the inversion method.

 

Have you participated in any hair challenge what was the results?

Love

Lebogang

Product review – Afri-berry JBCO

 

Hi hair lovers!!!

 

I am back again with another product review from one our local products, Afri-berry Jamaican Black Castor Oil. The products are proudly South African, and are inspired by a beautiful lady Relebohile Moeng you can read her story here. Afri-berry products ranges from hair care to skin care please view their website here.

 

I was intrigued to try out their by the testimonies I saw on their website, I started using the Afri-berry JBCO on the 13th of June this year. This September will be my 3rd month using this amazing products. It all started when I started the 3 months hair challenge, which I will give you the results later. My edges where severely damaged to a point that I didn’t think anything can solve them.

Product details:

When used regularly, your hair will become thicker, with more body and natural shine. It’s also great to use on your skin to hydrate and nourish it to a youthful glow. A convenient 50 ml bottle makes it easy to simply pop Afri-Berry Jamaican Black Castor oil in your bag and take it along wherever you go.

Ingredients

Cold pressed Jamaican Black castor oil, pimento oil, shea butter, rosemary extract, organic saponified oils of coconut, olive oil, jojoba oil, cow placenta extract

The cow placenta powder is the active ingredient.  This is a breakthrough discovery that Afri-Berry has made and researched together with the ARC, and the patent currently lies with Afri-Berry.

The hormones and cytokines in a cow’s placenta promote hair growth not only by elongating the hair shaft but also by increasing the number of hair follicles; cow placenta is an affordable and natural alternative to minoxidile, which is widely used by hair experts for baldness.

No cows are harmed during this process – the placenta is retrieved when a baby cow is born, and instead of disposing of the placenta, it is used to make this amazing extract that helps to treat hair loss.

• Excellent for stimulating hair growth
• An amazing leave-in treatment for rejuvenating your hair
• Thickens hair naturally, for a fuller thicker head of glossy lustre
• Protects your hair from damage and repairs it too
• Seals moisture in your hair
• It even detoxes your hair from all the chemical treatments you have used
• Also a great nourisher for your skin
• Use it to condition your eyebrows and eyelashes
• Cold pressed oil that penetrates 90% overnight

 

How I use the oil:

I massage the oil on the affected area two times a day, I first moisturise and then pump a small amount of oil on my finger and massage my hairline.

Below is the picture of my before and 2 months while using this amazing product.

I am very happy of my progress, and I cannot wait to have a full head of hair.

 

Which product are you using to heal your hairline?

Love Lebogang

 

How to transition successfully

 

Pinterest

stratznest

Hi hair lovers!!!

If you do not want to do a big chop, then transitioning is a good option when going natural. The journey is very lengthy and it has highs and lows, but when you know what you are doing and you are having the right products for your hair then it will be smooth sailing.

 

What you must know is that during the transitioning process you will deal with different textures of hair, there will be your natural hair and the relaxed hair. Where these two textures meet is the demarcation line, where there could be a potential for breakage.

 

To minimise and stop breakage while transitioning, you can follow these following steps:

• Moisture retention – since you will be dealing with two textures, most of the time our natural hair is prone to dryness. Find a good moisturiser that is paraben and sulphate free. Incorporate a good moisturising routine.

Afro-botanics

• Protective styling – protective styling can be anything you want to do to hair that minimises manipulation to your hair, while it is best to implement this step but you must always remember to take care of your hair even while its in the protective style.

Pinterest

• Conditioning –  regular conditioning is very important to maintain the strands elasticity and moisture, and for also manageability. Deep conditioners must be use at least weekly in your hair regimen, leave-in conditioners must be use after washing your hair and whenever your hair feels dry and thirsty.

Protein treatment conditioner

Leave-in Conditioner

• No heat – try as much as you can to stay away from heat like blow dryers, flat irons. If you have to use heat, always use a heat protector.
• Lastly – Patience – it took you time to reach the length your relaxed hair is, so it will take time to see results

 

Do you incorporate any of these steps in your transitioning phase?

Love Lebogang

Benefits of steaming natural hair

 

Hi hair lovers!!!

Happy hump day, lets talk about hair steaming. We all know that 4c natural hair is prone to dryness, and by steaming your hair you add moisture back to your hair strands. When the hair is fully moisturised is not easily broken while you are manipulating your hair.

Benefits of steaming your hair:

• hair stretches easily;
• less breakage;
• lifting of cuticles,  making product absorption easy;
• opens hair follicles and pores for better moisture absorption.

 

What to do when you do not have a steamer?

• use laundry steamer;
• use the gym steam room;
• shower;
• use warm towel.

Which is your best way of steaming your hair?

Love NKM

Product review-Palmer’s Hair Milk

 

Hi hair lovers!!!

I bought this product at my local Clicks in June you can read all about it here. I was skeptical at first to buy the product fearing the unknown. The product really replenishes the hair.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Cetearamidopropyldimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Hydrolyzed Keratin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Sine Adipe Lac (Nonfat Dry Milk), Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin.

Directions:
On Dry Hair: Place a small amount into palms, rub hands together and smooth through the hair from scalp to ends. On Damp Hair: Apply evenly, working through hair, focusing at the ends, to assist in detangling. Blow dry and style as desired.

 

Product Description

Size:250ml

Replenish dry, damaged hair with Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Hair Milk. This lightweight, non-greasy hair lotion penetrates deep, replacing natural essential oils. Formulated with pure coconut milk and vitamin E to leave hair soft with body, moisture and shine. PARABEN FREE

 

My take on the product:

• My first application was on dry hair, it left white residue but faded away before I left the house.
• My second use was on wet hair and I used it with my Cantu curling custard, and for the first time I had the most defined bantu knot-outs.
• I am really impressed with the fact that it works well with my Cantu products.
• With continued use my hair was feeling strong and looking fuller and thicker like when I use my Henna treatments.
• My hairline has since improved and the baby hair on my hairline is much stronger.

The downside was:

• I experienced protein overload, my hair became too strong that it lacked elasticity and was easily breaking, I am now doing more moisture treatments to reverse this problem.

 

 

 

Love NKM

Product review -BioLife Biotin

Hi hair lovers!!!

 

On the 1st of May I started my growth challenge, which includes using bioting as my growth aid. Biotin has many benefits like growing your hair thick and also helps with your metabolism.

The product advises that you must take 1 capsule per day after a meal. I did according to the directions for the whole of May. In June I upped my dosage to 2 capsules per day, which was not bad for my skin unless if I forget to stick to my 2 -3lts of water a day.

Product details:

• Hair: Promotes hair growth, keeps hair strong & healthy, prevents breakage.
• Nails: Strengthens brittle nails.
• Skin: Relieves rashes & dermatitis.
• Metabolism: Helps the body to process fats, carbohydrates & protein. Supports healthy, sustainable weight management.
• Blood sugar: Helps to keep glucose levels steady, preventing blood sugar spikes.
• Energy: Alleviates lethargy and mild depression.

BioLife Biotin is preservative-free and suitable for vegans.

Directions

• Take 1 capsule daily or as directed by a health care professional.
• Store below 25°C.

Warnings

• Pregnant or breastfeeding moms should consult a medical professional before taking this supplement.
• Keep out of reach of children.

Ingredients

Biotin 5mg (5000mcg)

 

Pros:

• Thicker hair, my hair is now thick which is a bonus for me as I used to relay mainly on henna for this volomous look,
• Less breakage,
• My nails are much stronger now

 

Cons:

• Breakouts when not consuming enough water.

breakout on my chin

 

I will continue to take the biotin capsule until the last day of my challenge, I don’t think I can take pills for the rest of my life. I will have to continue incorporating healthy meals and an exercise regime.

June hair product stash

Hi hair lovers!!

For the month of May I had little to no new products bought, as I was practicing my mixtress skills. In May I concentrated mostly on DIY masks and the bought products I used I was trying my best to finish them.

As y’all know that my hair challenge started in the month of May you can read all about it here. Since the beginning of my challenge I have been trying my best to follow through on my monthly steps which is a post for another day.

For this month I wanted to concentrate more on deep condition using store bought products because I am a lazy natural, and that mixtressing can become a bit hectic if you are running short of time.

 I also had to restock on my biotin, this time I bought enough to last me for the remaining months of the challenge.

Which products have you bought lately?