I have been testing out the Jance Carter Solution Creamy conditioning cleanse:

Description

Gently cleanses and infuses your hair with restorative essential oils Great for daily use instead of shampoo. Rinses impurities from the hair, while distributing restorative essential oils like Jojoba and Henna.

• Excellent for preventing hair color fading, leaves hair clean and conditioned
• Doesn’t strip hair of its natural oils, fabulous for co-washing
• Excellent for chemically treated or natural hair

Ingredients

• Water (Aqua), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Fragrance, Phenoxethanol.

Hair Models: Moca D1- Natural hair 3c/4a.-1 year old and Moca D2 - Natural hair 4c - 8 years old

I did not find it creamy but rather light which did not help when it came to detangling both girls hair.
I also hoped that after rinsing it out that the hair would feel soft but it did not. It felt rather slightly dry.


Pros:

• On an occasion, I also used it whilst D1 hair was still plaited and it worked really well. Because of the lightness of the liquid it was able to work effortlessly go through the hair.
• It did cleansed the hair and scalp really well.

Cons:

• I had to use lots to ensure that I had enough to go through the hair.
• Not good for detangling

Recommendation:

It is better used when hair is plaited and you can be sure that there is no residue left behind to cause buildup and itching.

Hair Structure

The route to Understanding how to take care of YOUR hair, is to grasp a basic understanding of the structure of your hair . Understand what benefits or non-benefits that products have on your hair. Understand the benefit of your eating habits on your hair..What are you feeding you hair?

There are four parts of the hair: the follicle, the cuticle, the cortex and the medulla. On average, each hair strand grows about six inches per year and then dies, usually before four years.

Follicle

The follicle is the portion of a strand of hair below the level of the skin. This is where hair begins and where it receives the nutrients it needs to grow and survive. The arrector pili and the sebaceous gland are considered part of the hair follicle, they are small muscle fibers attached to each hair follicle. They cause hair to stand up by contracting.  they contract involuntarily in cold weather, causing “goose bumps.”
The sebaceous gland delivers sebum to the follicle. Sebum is a greasy substance that lubricates hair and keeps it soft.

                                                                                   

Above scalp level, hair strands have three layers: the cuticle on the outside, then the cortex, and the medulla on the inside. Unlike the structures below the scalp, these are keratinized, or hardened and non-living.






Cuticle 
The cuticle surrounds a strand of hair, it acts like a roof. It determines how hair reflects light, its sheen. It consists of scales that grow and point towards the tip of the hair, sometimes five to twelve layers deep. The cuticle is translucent; even though it is on the outside, it is not the source of hair color.  It blocks moisture from leaving the hair shaft. It also slows down entry of substances (water/oils/conditioning agents) and it protects the shaft from damage The cuticle protects the cortex inside.


Cortex
Inside the cuticle is the cortex which is responsible for most of the hair’s width, weight and visual properties. It is composed of braided fibers with pigments of brown, black, yellow and red. The ratio of these pigments determines hair color. The cuticle is also responsible for whether hair is straight or curly, tough or weak, thick or thin. The cuticle is made mostly from protein and water.

Medulla
Inside the cortex of some hairs is a medullary canal. This canal contains only air and seems to have little or no effect on the properties of a strand of human hair.



HHJ- Ladyno

DIY washday

I really haven't had the time to do My posts like I did, before going back to work. But here I am,on the bus,on my way to a meeting and I thought why not, so here goes.

So five week ago, I was due my fortnightly hair treatment and could not make the the journey to my hairdresser, for one reason or another. So I had to DIY. I really wanted to use the products that he does but they are not sold in the UK. I decided that I would order them anyway but in the meantime, what would I use?
I did a bit of research and decided to try the Elasta QP CONDITIONER.

The night before. I pre-pooed with warm castor oil, covered wih plastic cap and one woolly hat and went to sleep. I used my usual Keracare products and decided to do a mild protein treatment adding ORS Professional to the mix, I then used the Elasta conditioner and OMG! My hair felt amazing. I will not give a review now, but will wait until after a few more uses.

Two weeks later , I was due yet again my fortnightly wash and my hairdresser couldn't accommodate me, so again, I had to do my DIY. However, this happened a week late 14/04/13. I didn't get a chance to pre-poo but I washed with my usual and deep conditioned with my new Design Essential range that arrived from the USA. Because I was a week late, I thought I would mix the Express Instant Moisturising and the Stimulations Super Moisturising Conditioners together. I placed my plastic cap over the hair and two woolly hats to generate heat as I needed to get on with my wife/mummy duties as this was a Sunday.
This I kept on all day for about 9 hours (there is no need to keep it on this long) . I had a very busy day.
After putting the girls to bed. I rinsed my hair thoroughly! I tap dried my hair, added my leave-in and made six flat twists; three on each side.
I didn't want to go to bed with very damp hair and I didn't want to go under the hooded dryer. I used the blow dryer just to take the wet away on low heat. I then tied my hair and went to bed. .
This morning, I took out the flat twists, (one twist was still a bit damp) with my swag oil, and put my hair in a bun. BACK TO WORK!!

Protective Styling

The question usually is: "What is protective Styling"

Wearing your hair in a protective style requires that the ends which are the oldest and most fragile part of your hair are  tucked away and sealed with a moisturiser. 
One of the main goals of protective styling is to protect your ends. Protecting your ends from the elements and friction or contact from your clothing helps you to retain length

Protective styles don't make your hair grow, but they do make it possible to prevent breakage since your hair may be breaking off faster than it grows. What protective styles do is keep your ends "protected." Try any of these protective styles and see if you experience more hair retention. Just make sure, no matter which way you wear your hair, that your ends are put away

Popular protective styles include but are not limited to braids, twists, bantu knots, and shrunken afros. 

If your hair is short (after your big chop), here are some ideas:

Long Comb Coils

Short Comb Coils

Bantu Knots

Curly Braids

Two stand twists

For Relaxed girls  

Check out: +Ebony CPrincess  @ http://longing4length.com/category/hairstyles

She has a host of great hairstyles to try out. This is my favourite:

  

HHJ- Ladyno

Hair Vitamin Challenge

I have been reading and viewing a lot of information on forums, blogs and you tube and found one of the most talked about hair supplement was Hairfinity. There were great and not so great reviews. Some people saw extra growth others didn't. The product isn't cheap. It costs £22 for one month's suppy. You can visit their site and check it out for yourself at  http://www.hairfinity.co.uk/index.html

Hairfinity Hair Vitamins contain the basic nutrients for overall health. A healthy body is the ideal environment for healthy hair to thrive. This means that a good metabolism, and immune system are also key factors for growing healthy hair fast. They also contain specific nutrients that are essential for faster hair growth. Ingredients: NIACIN (VITAMIN B3), VITAMIN A, VITAMIN C, VITAMIN D, VITAMIN B12, VITAMIN B COMPLEX, SILICA
and MSM

I thought I'd have a go and I would make my own concoction . I bought the products that gave the best and  most positive results from other people.  Which were Biotin and MSN.

On the 3rd March 2013, I started my hair vitamin challenge to see how much growth I could get with my supplements at my next relaxer, which will be in May 2013. I take two Biotin tablets, two MSM tables and 1 Hair Skin and nails pill every day. I will continue to do so until the day of my relaxer.

Biotin I bought from Holland and Barrat. 

Biotin is most often thought of as the “hair growth vitamin.” It is an essential water-soluble B vitamin. Biotin has come to be known for its role in the health and beauty of Hair, Skin and Nails. It promotes healthy hair growth and protects against dryness. It also increases the elasticity of the hair's cortex, thus preventing breakage. 

See more at::http://www.hairfinity.com/BiotinHairGrowth.htm#sthash.k4koN37o.dpuf

MSM I bought from my local whole foods store

MSM is quickly becoming known for its role in hair growth. MSM is a naturally occurring form of sulfur found in many foods. However, conventional processing and cooking methods significantly decrease the effectiveness of MSM from foods. This is why it may be beneficial to supplement MSM for hair growth.
MSM provides the sulfur required for healthy collagen and keratin, which are essential for healthy hair growth. It is also believed to help naturally increase the hair growth phase. 

See more at: http://www.hairfinity.com/MSM-hair-growth.htm#sthash.2Ghxeld6.dpuf

Next I thought it would be ideal to get all the other Vitamins in one pill so I bought Vega Hair Skin Nails from my LLoyds Pharmacy. It also has MSM as a high ingredient. 

Its a multi-formulation designed to promote radiant hair, clear skin and strong nails and helps promote cell renewal. It specifically strengthens and improves production of collagen, and helps with connective tissue repair and production. The formula contains a range of powerful antioxidants to help zap free radicals which are a by-product of metabolism and are thought to cause damage to the skin and connective tissues within the body. http://www.expresschemist.co.uk/Vega_Hair_Skin_Nails_Formulax30.html

If the amount of growth is not seen on the due date, then I may give the Hairfinity a try . Watch the space...

HHJ- Ladyno

5 Myths about relaxing your hair

I was doings some research and I came across this article and thought that I should share it with you:

Busting the Black Hair Myths – 5 Myths about Relaxing your Hair

What's wrong with relaxing your hair? Leading Trichologist, Noon Etienne, examines some of the myths around relaxing hair and offers some advice on how to make relaxing work for you. Myth No.1: 'I can relax my hair and braid it the next day' Noon Etienne: No, ladies! The newly processed hair is in a fragile state and you would need to wait at least 4 weeks before you can braid it. Myth No. 2: 'I can take my hair out of braids or weaves and put a relaxer on it the same day or the next day' Noon Etienne: This is totally wrong! To get the best results, you need to remove the braids and treat the hair with a reconstructive, moisturizing treatment. Then you should wait for at least one to two weeks before relaxing or retouching the roots. Myth No. 3: 'I can use a permanent colour on my hair and then put a relaxer on it the next week'. Noon Etienne: This is totally the wrong way around. The correct sequence is to relax the hair and then you can apply a rinse or semi permanent colour the same day - once you have neutralised and treated the hair. A permanent colour would not be recommended after having a relaxer process on the same day because the scalp would not be able to with stand the hydrogen peroxide that is found in the permanent colour – in other words, it will sting or burn the scalp! To get the best results, you need to remove the braids and treat the hair with a reconstructive, moisturizing treatment. Myth No. 4: 'My hair is totally natural, so I don't need to put any treatment on it before relaxing it' Noon Etienne: Well, ladies, that is wrong thinking! Even though your hair is natural, you still need to prepare your hair for the chemical process to 'take' correctly. When the hair is not at its best, the chemical will not relax the hair and may even cause damage to your hair, which will result in breakage in some areas. You should be taking good care of your natural hair with reconstructive, moisturizing treatments every week or two, then your hair will have the strength that it needs for the breakdown process of a relaxer. Myth No. 5: 'I can put a no-lye relaxer on and leave it for more than one hour!' Noon Etienne: This is what I call the "Oh, it's not burning yet" attitude –does it sound familiar, ladies? Well, something you need to know about ‘No-Lye relaxers’ is that it is "the biggest Lie in the hairdressing industry" Of course there are chemicals in the relaxer! There are several types of Lye chemicals - Sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and guanidine. Any of the relaxer kits that you purchase off-the-shelf would contain one of the latter thee ingredients and usually involve mixing a cream and a lotion together for the chemical to be activated. Even though this type of relaxer does not burn, it does not mean "you can leave it on until you feel the burn"! You will end up over-processing your hair, causing it to lose elasticity, moisture and strength. Noon Etienne is a qualified Trichologist and a specialist in scalp and hair care. She deals with hair loss, alopecia, scaly scalp and dry hair problems. Noon is a Cosmetologist (Beautician and Hair Designer) with over 20 years experience working with all types of hair. Originally from New York City, Noon is now based in London, from where she has built an international client base across the U.K., USA, Africa and the Middle East. Contact Noon at: Noon 4 Hair, 48 Porchester Road, London W2 6ET. Tel: + 44 (0)20 7034 0734, Fax: + 44 (0)20 7692 4657, e-mail:  noon.etienne@btconnect.com or  noon4truecolors@btconnect.com

Quick for today

Today I've moisturised and sealed. Now I am rocking my bun. Yes I have grey hairs and I am trying, really trying to embrace them.

Relaxer Day 23.02.13

So it's that time again, when the hair need to be relaxed. I really can't remember when I last relaxed it. But based on my investigative work..I am no less than 12 weeks post. Usually my hair start sulking past 10-12 weeks, so in order to avoid a full blown tantrum and have a set back, I indulged my hair with a dose of the creamy crack!

You guys know by now..this sista don't do DIY with this costic substance.  So off to the hair dresser I go.

He applied protectants to my scalp, hair line as well as my hair to avoid over processing in the event of over lap.

He then separated my hair in four sections

Working each section one at a time, he applied DE sensitive relaxer (creamy crack) to the hair. Leaving the edges last as they are most sensitive. Also the edges take the relaxer quicker than the rest of the hair. Leaving the ends till last ensure that the edges don't take before the rest of the hair had time to absorb the cream.

  Note: there isn't any cream on the ends of my hair. It is only applied to the new growth.

Washed out cream with the neutralizing Shampoo thoroughly!!

Many people believe that the hair should get a treatment after a relaxer but their is no need. ( I will discuss in a later blog) Applied 6 in 1 reconstructing conditioner and left on hair for few minutes

Rinse WELL

Applied moouse to damp hair and roller set

 Sat under hooded dryer for as long as it took to dry

Remove rollers and trimmed/dust hair ends- without CUTTING hair to affect length retention

Wrapped hair and tied with satin scarf - reasons: 1. Protect my hair from the environment ( winter) 2.I save time doing it at home. If I need to go out I just comb it down.

 Next day I took it down, moisturised and sealed

If I did it myself.. I would be working through the evening/night. Not doing it myself.....Max 4-5 hrs

Love my hairdresser.

HHJ- Ladyno

Mineral Oils/Petrolatum/Petroleum in black hair?

"Mineral oil is an colorless, odorless, light mixtures of alkanes from a non-vegetable (mineral) source, particularly a distillate of petroleum. It is often a liquid by-product of the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum-based products from crude oil. It is related to petroleum jelly (also known as "white petrolatum"). It is very cheap, and it is produced in very large quantities. Some people may refer to mineral oil as melted wax, because the substance obtained when melting paraffin wax is basically the same as mineral oil."

Petroleum is a semi-solid substance that is composed of non-polar, water-repelling hydrocarbons. It is used widely in the cosmetics industry because it is cheaper to use as a filler ingredient than other oils.

The film that mineral oil creates on hair and and the use of petroleum or petroleum based products prevents moisture leaving the hair but also prevents moisture from getting in. Mineral oil despises water.  

Hair deprived of moisture leads to breakage.

Knowing what we do about black hair, we know that moisture is important to our hair. The question is..."Why are there so many black haircare products with mineral oil/petroleum in them?. ...COSTS CUTTING!!

Mineral oil/Petroleum blocks hair follicles, which makes the scalp dry (dandruff) and dirty and blocks hair growth. 

Practical- Try it (or not):

After washing your hands and whilst wet, try to moisturise your skin with petroleum jelly, or petrolatum. Its just sits on the skin and doesn't rub in.

The same thing happens with the scalp. It may hide dry scalp temporarily and can cause the hair to shine, but will not allow the hair to be properly moisturised. Some people use petroleum based-products to combat dry scalp but dry scalp is a lack of moisture getting to the scalp. The ingredients will eventually dry out and just sit on the scalp blocking hair follicles and more dandruff will top what's already on your scalp.

Practical- Try it (or not):

Applying petroleum based grease to your hair for moisturisation, Keep applying it and you will find your hair will begin to feel drier.

As the product builds up on the hair strands, moisture is blocked and is unable to enter the stands and hence the dryness.

Beware of these in the products that you buy. Check the ingredients. Minerals oil, Petrolatum and petroleum  can be found in Shampoos, conditioners, moisturisers and sealers. The only way to cleanse mineral oils from the hair is by washing your hair with sulfate shampoos. However, sulfate in our hair leads to another problem. 

Use 100%  pure natural oils:  for example – jojoba oil, coconut oil, olive oil, Almond oil etc.

If you are starting out on your healthy hair journey, take care. Do your research and don't follow all the fads around and don’t believe the adverts on the bottles/cans/tubs or TV.

Links for information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_oil

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curly-hair-care-methods/coily-manifesto/using-mineral-oil-for-hair

http://blackgirllonghair.com/2011/10/rules-of-engagement-for-mineral-oil/

http://www.blackhairinformation.com/hair-problems/is-mineral-oil-really-all-that-bad/

Starting your healthy hair journey

Basics to Get You Started!

You Will Need:

1 Clarifying Shampoo
1 Moisturising Shampoo
1 Moisturising Deep Conditioner
1 Protein Deep Conditioner
A Leave-in Conditioner
1 Moisturiser
1 Natural Oil

Wide tooth comb
Satin/Silk Scarf and/or Satin Bonnet

- Shampoo your hair with a moisturising shampoo 1xweek (Preferably sulfate free)
- Use a moisturising deep conditioner with heat (At least 20mins) after every shampoo
- Always follow up with a leave-in conditioner
- Use a water-based moisturiser 2x/day (Morning & night) then seal in the moisture with a natural oil
- Always wear a satin/silk scarf or bonnet to bed
- Relax at least every 8/10 weeks (If You can go beyond that, even better)
- Do a protein treatment when needed (Whenever the hair feels very limp, mushy, overly soft etc.)
- Trim when needed
- Use a Clarifying shampoo (remove buildup) 1-2x/month (depending on the amount of product you use)
- Use a wide tooth comb to comb/detangle your hair. You'll experience less breakage.

1. Start with a nice cut.

Start with a nice, fresh cut. If your hair ends are badly damaged cut off those thin, damaged and brittle ends. Broken ends cannot be made healthy again no matter what product you use or what it promises.

2. Take hair pictures and start hair care journal.

Write down your thoughts and feelings about your hair, hair goals and the time frame you want to achieve them? Do you desire thickness, length or both? Take pictures of your hair every month or every relaxer to monitor your hair's progress. It amazing to see hair transform from thin and lifeless to thick and beautiful!

3. Trim those ends.

Clipping your ends at every as necessary with very sharp scissors. Don't hold on to them for length. They will damage the hair you are trying to keep healthy. Prevent split ends before they start because you can’t repair them once they are here.

4. If you choose to shampoo, shampoo 1-2 per week.

Always use a moisturising shampoo (sulfate-free)! Many of us don't wash our hair regularly but this only results in dry hair. Water is the supreme form of moisture. For growth to occur, it is very important to keep your scalp clean and healthy. Focus on the scalp and work your way through to the hair ends. Don't pile all of your hair on the top of your head, this will cause tangling and breakage.

5. Deep condition with high quality protein and / or moisturising conditioner weekly.

Deep condition your hair with plastic cap under the dryer at lease once per week! Moisturising "deep" conditioners penetrate the hair by infusing moisture into the hair strand. Protein conditioners strengthen the hair by adding amino acids to the areas of the hair strands that are weak. Use good quality conditioner with lots of slip to detangle the hair. If you are unable to deep condition under a dryer, apply a warm towel on your hair then apply a plastic cap and leave on for at least 15 minutes. Another option is to apply a deep penetrating conditioner to your hair followed by a plastic cap at night before sleeping. In the morning, rinse out the conditioner and style as usual.

6. Use a leave-in conditioner.

This is important! A high quality leave in conditioner will moisturise, detangle and protect the hair when heat styling. Leave-in conditioners will also prevent breakage and protect the hair from weather damage.

7. Look at your products!

Read the ingredients on all of your hair care products. Don’t use products containing petroleum and mineral oil to moisturise your hair. Products containing these ingredients will only coat the hair and not penetrate the hair strand. Therefore, the hair will not be moisturised. Stay away from alcohol based products as these will lead to hair that is dry, brittle and prone to breakage i.e.. hair spray, gels, mousses and spritz.

8. Keep moisture in the hair.

Dry hair breaks!It is so important to keep the hair moisturised. Many people seem to think "My hair just won't grow!". What's really happening is, the hair is growing yet it is breaking at the same rate hence, no length is retained. Moisture to your hair daily. Moisturising increases elasticity and decreases breakage. When moisturising the hair, focus on the hair ends.
9. Never use bristle brushes on wet hair.

Always detangle wet hair with a wide tooth comb or denman brush.

10. Relaxed ladies, listen up...

A. Don't overprocess your hair. If you relax your hair more than every 8 weeks, you are overprocessing your hair. It is best to relax every 8 to 10 weeks. If you can go a little longer without experiencing breakage, go for it. Overprocessing your hair will definitely result in damage and will ultimately lead to breakage.

B. (Caution: You may disagree with the following statement, Remember I did not write this) Say away from no lye relaxers (box kits). These relaxers are promoted as being less damaging yet far from the truth. Ca hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, guanidine hydroxide (calcium hydroxide with guanidine carbonate) and lithium hydroxide will dry out the hair over time and leave mineral deposits on the hair making it difficult to moisturize resulting in constant dryness, split ends and dull looking hair. Using lye relaxers are highly recommended. Lye relaxers will allow the cuticle to lay flat resulting in shinier hair without the mineral deposits. If you have to relax with a no lye relaxer you MUST use a chelating shampoo after neutralizing. A chelating shampoo contains chelates which will attach themselves to the mineral deposits left on the hair and remove them.

11. Limit the use of direct heat.

The use of direct heat should be limited to 1 - 4 times per month or just special occasions. Using direct heat on a daily basis will definitely result in damaged hair. Whenever you do use direct heat, remember to use a heat protector prior to the direct heat application. Use only ceramic / tourmaline irons instead of marcel irons. Ceramic/ Tourmaline irons are less damaging to the hair. Also, never use heat on dirty hair. Heat should should be used on clean hair only. No more than 2 days after washing the hair. Using heat on dirty hair only bakes dirt into the hair. Dirty hair will burn faster and of course, cause damage. Limit blow dryers to 1 -2 times per month. It is best not to blow dry the hair at all. I only use hood hair dryers.

12. Wear protective styles.

Protective styles are styles that protect the hair ends. Usually the hair ends are tucked away protecting them from drying out. These styles involve little or no heat and does not require much manipulation of the hair. Styles such as twists, braids, buns, up-dos, cornrows, or any other style that hide the ends of your hair. Our hair ends are the most fragile because they are the oldest. These styles protect the hair in extreme cold and hot temps.

13. Know the difference between breakage and shedding.

Don’t be alarmed with hair shedding. Typically, hair sheds 50-100 strands daily. Each hair follicle has a cycle of growth which eventually will lead to death. Everyone has a different growth cycle. Shedding is different from breakage. If you see a white bulb (hair follicle) at the end of the hair strand, this would be considered normal shedding. If you don't see the follicle this may be considered hair breakage.

14. Protect your hair at night.

Always sleep in a silk/satin scarf or bonnet or use a silk/satin pillow case. Sleeping with a cotton scarf or pillowcase will cause the the hair to dry out. Cotton is very absorbent and will absorb moisture from the hair.

15. Avoid hair stylist who don't value healthy hair.

Some stylist focus more on hair 'styling' and less on hair 'health'. Find a stylist who specializes in healthy hair. If you stylist is scissor happy, heat happy or chemical happy you will never see any results.

16. Make It Simple

Find a simple hair regime that works for you. Be patient and consistent. Stick with your regime and don’t give up despite hair “set backs”. Hair normally grows 1/4th to ½ inch per month. Be patient and give your hair that extra TLC.


HHJ-Ladyno

REVIEW OF KERACARE LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

REVIEW OF KERACARE LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

Claims:  Helps prevent thermal, combing and ultraviolet damage.

 It:         - improves surface properties of hair, leaving it smooth and with lots of sheen. 

             -detangles

             - Contains sunscreens

              -Excellent for blow drying

Ingredients:

Aqua/Water/Eau, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Poluquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrolysed Wheat Protein, Chitosan PCA, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium PCA, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, BEnzophenone-3, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isosteaeyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate, Simethicone, Fragrance/Parfum, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl lonone,Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Eugenol, Hydroxcitronellol, Isoeugenol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Methylisothiazolinone.

My Opinion: *** 3stars

I liked the way it felt . It had a very creamy feel which was very moisturising. It was true to it's detangling claim.  I don't think that I will be using it again because of the ingredients. 

HHJ- Ladyno

REVIEW OF KERACARE (Natural Textures) BUTTER CREAM

REVIEW OF KERACARE (Natural Textures) BUTTER CREAM

Claims: A moisture locking soufflé that only hydrates curls and coils, but also employs Lanolin plus Argan, Abyssinian and Castor natural oil to achieve proper natural oil and moisture (lipophilic) balance. Hair becomes amazing smooth and the Alma and Shikakai Botanicals enhance the shine of the hair. Promotes healthy hair growth.

Ingrediants: Aqueous(Water,Aqua Purificato, Purified) Extracts:Phyllanthus Emblica (Amla) and Acacia (Shikakai), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Theobromo Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Emulsfying Wax NF, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycern, Lanolin, Ricinus Communis (Castor)Seed Oil, Beeswax, Argania Spinosa Kernal Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (jojoba) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Carbomer, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Triethanolamine, Potassium Sorbate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance/Parfum, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, d-Limonene, Lilial, Linalool, Methyl lonone Gamma. Source: 1-Natural;2-Wheat derived

My Opinion: *** 3stars

For the purpose of my use , I didn't find that it held the style well. I did not flake or have a crunchy feel. Lovely creamy feel. Hair felt moisturiser. I would use it as an everyday moisturiser if it didn't have beeswax.

 HHJ- Ladyno

Wash Day

So, my hairdresser has gone away on vacation and I was due my fortnightly wash and deep condition.

As per usual,  used my staples in the shower ensuring that my motion was one way to prevent tangles.
1x Keracare Cleansing shampoo ( clean the scalp and remove product build up)
1x Keracare Moisturising Shampoo ( put back moisture in the hair)

Partially towel dried my hair to soak up the water and then added
1x Keracare Conditioner
I sat under the hooded dryer for 20 mins then rinse

Added the leave-ins:
1: Jane Cater leave-in Conditioner

2: Keracare leave-in Conditioner ( First time use)-sample sachet

My hairdresser roller sets my hair but after several attempts of doing it myself, I have given up. So, my go to style is the braid outs whenever I have to do my hair at home. This time I am going to try the twist-out using the Keracare Butter Cream -sample sachet- also for the first time.

I divided my hair into four sections. Each section have 4-5 twists. At the end of the twists I used the little rollers to curl the ends.

Returned to the hooded dryer and stayed as long as I could before needing to attend to the baby.

Next morning:  It came out  fizzy but I think it is because I had a steam shower after exercising.

 HHJ- Ladyno

Postpartum Shedding

In a recent post, I mentioned that I had my baby who is now 4 month old. A month and a half  ago, I would comb my hair and slowly but sure enough, more and more hair would come out of my hair day after day. It reached a stage where I didn't want to want to comb my hair. I didn't want to finger comb or any form of manipulation. I could feel my hair thinning. She is my second and I never knew of this condition until I got it myself.  

I had to learn that this is nothing to worry about or I would worry the rest of my hair out. It not something that could be easily brushed aside. In fact it is there every time I would look in the mirror.

One way of dealing with it was washing my hair with Keracare 1st lather shampoo, followed by the
Whilst my hair was still damp I applied my leave in - Jane Carter leave-in and then separated my hair into sections. In each section I applied the IC and Keracare (Natural) foams

 

From what I've read, postpartum shedding happens to most women, it is untreatable and it is short-term.  During pregnancy, hair literally gets stuck in the 'grow' phase and becomes thicker, longer, shinier, healthier looking. After the birth the new found growth and thickness decides to take a vacation creating excessive hair fall while detangling, styling and sometimes when it's not being touched. No garlic shampoos or tea rinses will help. 

I washed with my cleansing shampoo follow by my hydrating shampoo. I then applied the conditioner and left it in for 20mins. 

 I then plaited my hair

After it air dried, I took it down gently:  Outcome:

The Joys of Motherhood on a healthy hair journey. So those of you who are experiencing this.. take heed...it will get better.