Know your Carrier Oils

Another type of oil for hair is called carrier oils. The oils are called carrier oils because they carry the essential oil onto the skin. Carrier oils are also known as base oil or vegetable oil they are usually derived from seeds or nuts. Carrier oils are best used as natural and unadulterated as possible. Cold pressing and maceration are the two main methods of producing carrier oils. Carrier oils are very important in hair care; they are great moisturizers, strengtheners and very nourishing for hair.

List of Carrier Oils and Their Benefits To Hair

Jojoba Oil – The debate is whether jojoba is the king of the carrier oils. Many scalp related problems are caused by a hardened build-up of sebum that clogs the hair follicles and may cause some types of scaling. If this hardened build-up is not removed, it can eventually obstruct the hair follicle’s ability to function properly, jojoba rapidly penetrates down to the scalp and hair shaft, and readily loosens and dissolves this hardened build-up. The scalp and hair follicles are left clean and free to continue their normal function. Jojoba is great for all hair types and has an ability to inhibit excess activity of the sebaceous glands making it the perfect choice for people with oily scalps that still need conditioning. Likewise it can be used for dry hair as it helps to moisturize your hair properly.

Olive Oil – Only olive oil that is labelled “extra virgin” guarantees that the oil has been cold pressed from freshly harvested olives and does not contain chemicals. Extra virgin olive oil that is green in color is of higher quality than golden-yellow oil. Olive oil helps in preventing as well as curing hair loss as it prevents the production of the hormone DTH which causes the hair follicle shaft to decrease. Regular application of olive oil to hair prevents the production of DTH hormones on the scalp, thus getting rid of the problem of hair loss. For relaxed/permed hair ladies excessive chemical use can cause hair damage, olive oil contains antioxidants that promotes a healthy hair and scalp. Olive oil strengthens and smooths hair cuticles.

Coconut Oil - Coconut oil consists of more than ninety percent of saturated fats Vitamin-E and Vitamin K and minerals such as Iron. Coconut oil is considered one of the best natural nutrition for hair and is in contention with olive and jojoba oils as the king of the carrier oils. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair and it softens the hair and conditions the scalp.

Castor Oil – is a vegetable oil obtained from the castor bean. Castor oil is a colorless to very pale yellow liquid with mild or no odor or taste. It is rich in ricinoleic acid and can be used to treat skin conditions such as fungal infections. It nourishes hair and prevents the scalp from drying by retaining moisture. Castor oil added to hair care products helps to seal moisture, softens, and visibly thickens hair. Castor oil can also be used by itself on the hair to seal in moisture.

Vitamin E Oil - Proper circulation leads to thriving hair follicles which leads to hair growth. Vitamin E contains valuable antioxidants that help to keep the immune system up and improves circulation to all parts of the body, including the scalp. When added to homemade products, Vitamin E extends their shelf life. This oil rejuvenates and offers protection for the scalp and skin.

Avocado Oil- is extracted from the king of the ‘hair’ fruits avocado. It is full of vitamins that your hair needs like vitamins A, E, D and potassium. If you want a super deep conditioner treatment without having to buy a commercial preparation, you can add avocado oil to the other carrier oils and you will definitely feel and see the difference.

The Caramel Treatment – A Natural Hair Softener

The caramel treatment is a product in the E’tae product line. Boasting an all natural line up of ingredients from honey, bananas to olive oil, this product delivers in its ability to seriously soften and hydrate the driest and roughest hair textures. It helps people who relax their hair to ‘stretch’ their relaxer for longer peri...ods and helps people with natural hair by softening its texture for easier detangling and manageability.

The results of the caramel treatment are not permanent; they last for up to 4 weeks so should be reapplied monthly for continued benefits. Many report ‘loosening’ of hair texture as well as less shrinkage after the treatment but this is likely due to the added weight of the product as well as the increased moisture levels in the hair. For this reason, the caramel treatment is excellent for helping to straightening the natural hair as it takes less heat to get smoother results as well as better moisture retention.

No doubt the product is excellent but due to its perishable nature (no preservatives are used), the price tag for monthly treatments can become quite unappealing. Most of the ingredients in the product can be found in many average kitchens so making your own caramel treatment seems a more attractive approach for those who wish to use it on a regular basis.

By understanding the purpose of each ingredient, you can adjust the recipe every time you make it depending on your hair’s needs.

Honey – An excellent humectant good for moisture
Olive Oil – For lubrication and helps with moisture retention
Bananas – Good for moisture and some protein benefits as well
Molasses (Treacle) – Another excellent humectant with some protein benefits
Water – This is the best natural moisturizer and is used to thin the mixture
Apple Cider Vinegar – For the shine it imparts to the hair
Cornstarch – For thickening purposes
Wheat germ oil – For added strength and lubrication

Suffering from Brittle Hair?!

Brittle hair can result from external factors, such as exposure to harsh chemicals, or from internal causes, such as an illness. These are the primary external factors for those lackluster locks:

•Harsh shampoo
•Shampooing too often
•Hair dye
•Hair perms
•Chlorine in swimming pools and hot tubs
•Overuse of the blow dryer or curling iron
•Too much exposure to sun and wind
•High mineral content in local water supplies
Hot oil treatments can treat dry brittle hair the use a cream based, deep conditioner 2 times a week will also combat dry hair.

Rinse with cool water as your final rinse to close the cuticle and prevent further damage. Avoid shampoos that are clear in color. These shampoos are referred to as plain shampoos. Plain shampoos contain little to no moisturizer instead use a good moisturizing shampoo that is sulfate free. Deep condition at least 2 times a week. Apply the conditioner to clean, damp hair. Put a shower cap on and sit under the blow dryer. This will open up the cuticle and condition your hair better. Use daily conditioners and even better, use a leave-in conditioner as well.
Purchase a boars hair brushes distribute oils better throughout the hair, down the hair shaft. Cut back on blow drying or use the blow dryer on the cool setting. Keep use of heating products to a minimum if possible. And always use a styling product that specifically protect hair during heat process.

Is your Hair ready for Spring & Summer?

UVA - Ultraviolet A

This is the sun's strong radiation-filled light rays. Ultraviolet A rays have the longest wavelength and they can penetrate into the hair's deepest inner layer, the cortex. The UVA rays disturb the hair cortex's fiber-like cells that gives the hair its strength and elasticity. It can also damage the color pigments that create natural hair color. The UVA rays can also burn the hair cuticle which is the outer hair layer.

The cuticle contains a web of tiny overlapping scales. When the scales are damaged they can not lay flat and will look lifeless, brittle and dry.

UVA rays can also burn and damage unprotected scalp. It is even possible to burn the part of your hair where scalp is unprotected. UVA rays can damage the skin on the scalp in many ways and activate free radicals which accelerates aging. A severe sunburn on the scalp has even been known to cause some cases of hair loss.

UVB - Ultraviolet B

These are invisible rays that also can penetrate deep into the hair's cortex or center damaging the hair fibers. It can also damage the hair cuticle. UVB rays can easily dry out the hair and cause natural and chemical colors to fade.

UVC - Ultraviolet C

These rays are the most damaging but do not reach us because of the ozone layer which currently protects us.

DEEP CONDTIONERS CAN PROTECT YOUR HAIR FROM HEAT DAMAGE CAUSE FROM THE SUN. USING HAIR PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN A SPF BETWEEN 8 AND 10 WILL ALSO HELP TO PROTECT YOUR FROM THE RAYS OF THE SUN. PLEASE READ THE BACK OF THE PRODUCT TO MAKE SURE IT CONTAINS (Octyl Methyosycinnamate Octyl Methyoxycinnamate i, ).LEAVE IN CONDITIONERS CAN HELP ALSO BUT DONT LAST AS LONG. AFRICAN SHEA BUTTER IS ALSO A GREAT PRODUCT FOR HAIR SUNBLOCK . 

All Natural Aloe Vera Juice Pre-Poo

Ingredients you will need:  

1.Castor oil (use amount suitable for length and thickness of your hair)

2.Aloe vera juice (use amount suitable for length and thickness of your hair)

3.bowl and spoon

4.plastic cap/bag

Ingredients you will need:

In a bowl mix

-½ cup of aloe vera juice or whole leaf aloe vera

-1-2 tablespoons of your favorite oil (wheat germ, olive, safflower, walnut etc)

In a separate Bowl melt

-Food grade coconut oil (1/4 cup)

-Sit the bottle or jar in hot water- do not put in microwave or on the stove!

Remember, everyone's hair has different needs. You may need more or less of this mixture. Or, your hair may not like this at all. None of these will irrevocably change your hair. Thus, you just need to wash out the mixture if your hair doesn't like it.

1. Using your fingers, separate your hair into 4- 8 sections. If your hair is caked with hard product, rinse your hair first. Gently handle the first section. First, smooth the hair in a downward direction. You are just trying to make sure that all the hair is going in one direction. You don't need to completely detangle the hair at this point.

2. Dip your hair in the bowl of aloe vera and oil or cup your hands in the mixture and transfer it to the section onto your hair. Work it through. Get the aloe vera/oil mix into your hair from root to tip. Make sure it is moist throughout the sectioned hair. If your hair is long enough, twist it and wrap it around like a bantu knot. If it is not, try to twist it and move it out the way. Repeat until you have done this to each section.

3. You should have a head full of aloe vera mixed with oil twisted sections. Go back to the first twist you did. Undo it, pour the liquid coconut oil in your hand and work through the section. Re-twist it and repeat on whole head. Place a plastic shower cap on your head for 15-60 minutes. Your moisturizing pre-poo is complete!

Treating Dandruff Naturally

To clear up dandruff you need to counter the cause of the problem: your scalp's acidic pH level. You need to use a Apple Cider Vinegar to restore your scalp's natural alkaline pH level, prepare a cup of apple cider vinegar and pour it on your head while on bath and rinse it with water.

This is a good and easy way to overcome scalp.

First, you use flaxseed oil, then you follow with apple cider vinegar which is great at fighting yeast and bacteria.

I love the addition of the sugar to the oil because it acts as a natural exfoliator for dry flakes, but some women prefer to leave the sugar out.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutesIngredients:

• Flaxseed oil (olive oil works if you don't have flaxseed oil)

• Finely granulated white sugar or brown suger

• Apple cider vinegar (preferred) or white wine vinegar

• Hydrogen peroxide

Preparation:

Mix a tablespoon or two of flaxseed oil and a teaspoon of sugar into a bowl. If you don't have liquid flaxseed oil, you can puncture 3-5 flaxseed oil capsules.

Apply the mixture to the scalp and massage in.

Wrap hair up in a hot wet towel and let the flaxseed oils soak in for about 20 minutes. You can also put hair up in a shower cap. Of course if you are short on time, you can skip this 20-minute let-the-oils-soak-in step.

While you're letting the flaxseed work on your dry scalp, mix up 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp hydrogen peroxid and 2 cups lukewarm water. For best results, put it in a spray bottle.

Get in the shower and rinse out the flaxseed oil from the scalp using a small amount of shampoo. Rinse thoroughly.

Turn off the water and separating your hair into sections, spray the scalp thoroughly with the vinegar/hydrogen peroxide/water mixture. Note: AVOID GETTING MIXTURE IN EYES.

Massage the vinegar into the scalp.

Wrap hair again in a hot wet towel or in a shower cap (less messy). Let the vinegar mixture soak into your scalp for 20 minutes to an hour. (Yes, you can skip the marinating if you are short on time, but do let it sit on your scalp for at least a minute).

Rinse thoroughly.

Henna and it's Benefits

Benefits of Henna as a Conditioning Treatment

As a conditioner, henna strengthens hair and adds shine while making it soft and manageable. If you have really curly hair, you may also find that using henna can loosen curls slightly and may even help to battle frizz. Henna also works as an anti-fungal treatment, and this can be especially helpful if you suffer from things such as dandruff or other scalp-related issues. Henna is also known for leaving a natural-looking red color behind, but if you prefer to not have this happen you could purchase neutralized henna powder. Using a neutralized henna paste will give you all the conditioning benefits, without the red color.

Preparing the Hair for a Henna Treatment

Most experts will recommend not washing your hair before you apply the henna. This is because the henna seals in the natural oils. If you choose to oil your hair in preparation for the henna treatment, you should do this the day before. You can use oils you find the home or essential oils. If your hair is excessively oily or if your oil treatment has left too much residue behind, you may want to consider washing the hair before applying the henna. Excessive oil might hinder the henna from working properly.

Applying the Henna Paste

If you purchased henna powder, you'll need to mix it at home to make the paste. Experts recommend using water and honey to mix with the powder to form a paste. Once you're ready, you should pin up your hair and work in layers. The henna paste can be tricky to apply, but thinner layers will make the application a little easier. The henna can be left on overnight, but it's best to check because some pastes can work in as little as 30 minutes. Others need to be left on longer to really work.

Handy Tips

Henna works best with a little humidity and heat, so heating the hair slightly with a hair dryer and covering it with a towel can help the henna penetrate the hair. Be sure to rinse the hair thoroughly and take your time to ensure that all the paste has been rinsed out. Traditional henna also stains, so it's best to use gloves to protect your hands and applying a little petroleum jelly to the hair line to avoid staining the skin.

This might sound weird but it really works:

-Put peanut butter on your hair as if you were perming it-Put a plastic bag over it-Sit under a dryer or sleep in it over night-Wash it out

Your hair will feel very strong and have LESS shedding

 As Hair Moisturizer

 All you have to do is mix equal parts of mayonnaise and peanut butter and apply it to your damp hair. Once done, let it set for 30 minutes and then rinse with water.