Castor Oil Challenge

I decided to join the 2nd Castor Oil Challenge on Hairlista.com that started on Wednesday April 22, 2009.

Castor oil is said to generate hair growth and thicken the hair.

Lord knows I don't need any more thickness but I'd LOVE to have enough hair for a bun/low ponytail for the summer.

The challenge runs from April 22, 2009 through July 22, 2009.

Based on the results I could find, people were able to grow and RETAIN an average of 1 1/2 to 2 inches of hair in the two month span. Sounds hard to believe in my opinion. LOL

http://www.hairlista.com/profiles/blogs/result-of-castor-oil-challenge

I'm a skeptic that loves a challenge so I can't see a promising healthy, natural alternative to faster route to growth and thicker hair without giving it a try for myself.

There are two levels to the challenge. The first level requires that you apply Castor oil to your scalp two times a week. The advanced level requires that you apply Castor oil to your scalp once per week.

I will be participating in the first level, applying Castor oil to my scalp two times a week.

When I wash my hair tomorrow, I'll take a picture of the length and thickness freshly cleansed and post an update at the end of the challenge.

If I don't get to feeling overly oily and my adult acne stays under control, I'll be able to do it.

I started the challenge two days because I knew I'd be washing my hair this weekend.

So far, using only Ohm Body's Sweet Hair Pudding, which I previous reviewed, and castor oil this past week has resulting in some serious curl popping going on. lol. I'm loving the combination.

Castor Oil

Back in the day, castor oil was used by the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt in an effort to prevent hair loss. It is highly emollient odorless oil and works as a deep conditioner to heal and soften both skin and hair. It is highly recommended to treat both eczema and psoriasis. Castor oil is also a humectant because it both attracts and retains moisture.

Castor Oil is rich in fatty acids and very lubricating so it makes for as excellent hot oil treatment for dry damaged hair. It coats the hair shaft and smooths the cuticle layer to seal in moisture, which leaves hair feeling soft and silky. It absorbs easily allowing deep penetration into the hair shaft. It is very important that you do not overuse Castor Oil if you are prone to oily scalp and hair conditions. A hot oil treatment is recommended monthly, while a weekly moisturizing treatment is useful to restore your hair to peak condition.

I've Been Tagged by UrbanCurlz

Please visit Urban Curlz at http://www.urbancurlz.com/.

What's your current obsession?
The swap board on Naturally Curly.com's Curltalk and reading the blogs in my google reader.

What's your must have fashion need?
A big red patent handbag.

What are you wearing right now?
Berry colored shirt, Dark Blue Jeans and Dark Blue Loafers (casual office)

What's your favorite food?
Jamaican

What do you do for fun?
Hang out with the girls; eating, dancing, and drinking (in moderation of course)

What made today special?
I woke up above ground in another day of His grace and mercy.

What would you like to learn to do?
Sew

What's the last thing you bought?
Ohm Body's Crown of Glory Avocado Hair Custard

What are you listening/watching right now?
Nothing/I'm at work and should be working. LOL

What's your favorite weather?
Spring time. I'm a spring baby born March 31st.

What's your one goal in life?
To raise my son to be a hard working, caring, loving, God-fearing man who is not a womanizer.

What do you think of the person that tagged you?
As self described, she's a true Urbanista. Check out her blog at http://www.urbancurlz.com/

If you can have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Anywhere in Hawaii. Sorry Urbancurlz but you have to share this dream. lol

What would you like to have in your hands right now?
A $50,000,000 winning lottery ticket.

If you can swap lives with anyone in the world for one day who would it be and why?
Halle Berry, She's beautiful and elegant yet simple. I'd love to get in that closet and see what she wants to donate to charity (ME). LOL

If you can go anywhere in the world for the next hour where would you go?
A luxury spa for the works.

What language would you like to learn?
Spanish.

What do you look for in a friend?
Trust, loyalty, realism, and dependability.

Who do you want to meet in person?
Beyonce due to this weird dream I had a while back of us hanging out in my city. My cousins where all with us as well as Michelle and Kelly. lol. Weird right? lol

What's your favorite type of music?
Reggae

What's your dream job?
To own a non-profit agency helping folks re-enter the work field. Would offer assistance with resumes, interview skills and business apparel free of charge.

Do you admire anyone's style?
Angela Bassett and Lisa Raye

Describe your personal style?
Classic mixed with trendy.

What's your favorite t.v show?
Half and Half

What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Chocolate

What's your favorite makeup brand?
Avon - great for sensitive skin.

What's your all time favorite perfume?
Hypnotic Poison by Dior

What's you fondest childhood memory?
Visiting my aunt and uncle in the country where the food was picked fresh from the gardens and the meat came from the pasture.

Who had been the biggest inspiration in your lifetime?
My Mom

Rules:
1.)Respond: answer the questions on your blog.
2.)Replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
3.)Tag eight other people

Sophia of Sophia, Naturally (Life with Sisterlocks)
Amina of Coup de Couer
Carmennc of Carmen's Blog
Marsha of My Life as a Nappy Head
Darshall of Aziza Beauty
Dez of Dez's Adventures with New Growth
Sunshyne of Hairlicious
Tory of A Kinky Hair Monologue

Review: Ohm Body Sweet Hair Pudding

I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of Ohm Body recently at the World Natural Hair, Health, and Beauty Show in Atlanta earlier this month.

One of her products was on my wish list and when I saw her there, I was delighted.

Product: Sweet Hair Pudding was designed to stretch, moisturize and define your natural curl patterns, while giving you soft and naturally bouncy curls without a crunchy or greasy feeling.

Product Claim: Made with the moisturizing properties of Honey, Sweet Hair Pudding adds weight, definition, frizz control and gives your hair a natural and long lasting hold. This product is great when applied to wet hair.

Ingredients: Unconditional love, Honesty, Divine Wisdom, Aloe Gel, Distilled water, Shea butter, Honey, Avocado Oil, Castor Oil, Pantheon (Vitamin B5), Yarrow, Sage, Natural Thickener, Nettle, Lavender, Horsetail. Emulsifying Wax, Vitamin E, Optiphen- Preservative, Colored with Wild Cherry Extract and Fragrance Blend.

Review: OMG. I LOVE IT!!! It is the perfect moisturizer and styler in one. Honestly, it's so moisturizing that I didn't realize that it was recommended to be used as a styler until reading the label after my first use. lol

The label says: Sweet Hair Pudding: Great for coiling, twisting, and adding definition and moisture to all hair types. No worries of waxy or greasy feeling in your hair. Love the abundance of the vitamins to nourish your hair. And indulge in the hair healing properties of aloe and honey.

Aloe and honey are two of the main products that make my hair thrive so I'm in love. lol

I do not currently do wash and go styles but when doing a twist set for an afro puffs, my curls and coils were popping.

I'll definitely be repurchasing this product in the near future.

Review: Adiva Apple Cider Vinegar Clarifying Herbal Rinse

http://www.adivanatural.com/

Description
This Apple Cider Vinegar Clarifying Herbal Rinse is truly nature working it's magic. Rinsing with apple cider vinegar will help balance the pH of your hair and remove the build up that can result from the use of styling products, lint and unworthy shampoos. Rinsing will also close the cuticle scales which cover and protect the surface of each hair shaft, leaving a smoother surface which reflects more light. As a result your hair is shinier, smoother, and easier to manage.

Directions
*After shampoo simply rinse through wet hair. For extra conditioning benefits, leave in and towel dry. The vinegar scent will disappear after hair dries.

*Can be used every other week. Avoid contact with eyes, may cause stinging.

*Can also be used for body

Ingredients
Distilled water, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice

Infused with: Burdock Root, Peppermint, Chamomile, Sage, Lavender, Rosemary, Nettle, and
organic citric acid

The Great 8 Herbs Used In Our Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Herbal Hair Rinse
ACV removes greasy build up and lint, restores ph balance,promotes a healthy clean sheen.

*Burdock: great for thinning hair, dry, irritated scalp, dandruff, and seborrhea

*Catnip: Promotes healthy hair growth

*Chamomile: a healing and soothing herb to soften hair, soothe the scalp, lighten, condition, and stimulate growth

*Lavender: useful for all hair types it stimulates hair growth, and degreases

*Sage: traditionally used to restore color to graying hair, excellent for week hair

*Nettle: conditions, improves color and texture, helps with dandruff, irritated scalp, and dry scalp

*Peppermint: stimulates the scalp

*Rosemary: excellent for all hair types and problems it acts as a tonic and conditioner, one of the herbs to use, gives luster and body, stimulates growth, helps with dandruff

Review
Apple cider vinegar is used ro balance the pH of your hair, remove build-up , seal the cuticle, and add shine to make you hair smoother, and easier to manage. This is why I choose to do monthly ACV rinses.

I wash in sections so after I conditioned my hair, I sprayed the product into each section from root to tip. I let it sit for about five minutes. I immediately felt my scalp tingle. As stated, you can leave the product in your hair for extra conditioning benefits but because I prefer to use ACV as a rinse (and that intense tingle (lol)), I rinsed.

Although the product is called "clarifying", I used it as a rinse so I can't say whether or not it works as a clarifier. I didn't rinse it completely out and because my hair was already shampooed and conditioned, I didn't experience any significant cleansing effects.

I'll definitely will continue using the product. Adiva recommends that you use the product once every two weeks so I may move to bi-monthly versus monthly treatments. I will repurchase the product.

Update:
On Sunday May 31, 2009 I finally took time to use the product as a clarifier. I always wash my hair in sections unless doing my monthly henna treatment. I loosed each section and sprayed the product into my scalp and hair. I allowed the product to sat on my hair for 3 - 5 minutes prior to rinsing. I definitely felt a thorough cleansing. It's a wonderful way to clarify the hair without it feeling stripped.

Goodies From the Hair Show

I was able to purchase a product on my current wishlist - Ohm's Sweet Hair Pudding directly from from creator Nicha Douglas.

http://www.goingohm.com



Below is a gorgeous revesible wood hair tie purchased from Sisters Love Loc Bands for a mere $4. Excellent quality and the added blue bead kicks it up a notch. Visit the website at .
http://sisterslovelocbands.com/.





After attending the workshop Salon Ownership: Make it Happen, Make it Last, I had to have a copy of the presentation on CD.

http://www.braid-designer.com/products2.html




Adiva Apple Cider Vinegar - Clarifying Herbal Hair Rinse. The ingredients include distilled water, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice. The product is infused with burdock root, peppermint, chamomile, sage, lavender, rosemary, nettle, and organic citric acid.

http://www.adivanatural.com



Chic Afrique Herbals Oyin Sweet Honey Souffle - Moisturizing Body Souffle. Ingredients include water, sweet almond oil, shea butter, emulsifying wax, steric acid, Xantheum gum, borax,
essences of honey, sugar and vanilla and grapefruit seed extract.

http://www.chicafrique.biz



Freebies

Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Deep Conditioner Treatment



The Damn Salon's Damn Hair Butter in Peppermint and Tea Tree

http:\\www.thedamnsalon.com



Jamaica Mango and Lime Locking Gel, Locking Wax, Taliah Waajid's Curly, Kinky Natural Easy Herbal Comb Out and Taliah Waajid's Black Earth ProductsAfrican Healing Oyl.

http://www.rastagroup.com/html/jamaican_mango___lime_products.htm
http://www.naturalhair.org/haircareproducts.aspx

I'm back from the World Natural Hair, Health and Beauty Show in Atlanta, Georgia

Oh my, where do I start?

It was wonderful.

If given the opportunity, I highly recommend that you experience a natural hair show for yourself. The joy of participating can't be described.

There was an abundance of workshops, natural beauties, haircare services, hair, skin, and makeup products, jewelry, art, books, food, and more...

This was my second year in attendance and I enjoyed this year's show even more so than last.

I had the pleasure of meeting three fellow bloggers, which was joyous in and of itself. These include The world famous and gorgeous CurlyNikki, the stunningly beautiful Naturally Leslie, and the lovely and charming jewel Naturally Sophia (I feel like I've known her a lifetime). Be sure to view her wonderful selection of hair ties, earrings, and hair jewelry at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7017139. I also had the pleasure of meeting Nikki's beautiful Aunt, which was a joy.



Me and CurlyNikki



Me and Naturally Sophia

These three ladies are even more beautiful in person and in spirit and have a genuine passion for their niche.

Like last year, I took some workshops and both were wonderful.

The ultimate class was Salon Ownership-Make It Happen, Make It Last with extremely intelligent instructor, Anita Hill. Anita is the owner of Braids and Dreds in Richmond, Virginia. Ya'll, the girl has it going on. The class lasted two hours and covered a very detailed discussion on financial management, earning additional income through retailing, staffing, legal structure, and more. I was able to invest in a copy of her CD titled Salon Ownership - Make it Happen, Make it Last for a mere $20. Please show Anita some support by visiting her web site at http://braid-designer.com. You can purchase your own copy of the hour and a half long presentation at http://www.braid-designer.com/products2.html.



Braids and Dreds offers various workshops and classes including Lace Front Weaving, Advance Locking, and How to Establish and Maintain a Salon. If there is a need, Anita will be happy discuss setting up an event in your local area so please contact her via email at braidesign@aol.com.

I also attended the Crown In Glory Hair Adornment Workshop presented by instructor Nekhena Evans of New Bein' Enterprises. We had a very interesting discussion on the topics of the history of hair adornment, contemporary styling with hair adornments, adornment meaning and symbolism, and types of elements of hair adornments

Nekhena sells a variety of hair products, hair jewelry, and ponytail holders. Please visit her website at http://www.newbein.com/html/body-hair-care.htm



The third and final workshop that I attended was Silki Flatwist led by instructor Ronnie Decoteau of Roni's Artistic Hands. Roni, unfortunately, was not provided with the materials she needed to properly run the workshop and due to that misfortune, She was forced to utilize a mannequin head with no stand to demonstrate the technique. The workshop had a large turnout and because every one was required to stand around a table to view the technique, the view was horrible. I refuse to waste time in an unproductive workshop when I can be using the time more effectively to gain other knowledge so i departed early. Roni is a master at what she does, hince the name "Roni's Artistic Hands" so please show her support by visiting her site at .
http://www.freewebs.com/ronisartistichands/.





Deeply Rooted was putting it down at the right of the main entrance. There were at least six stylist on hand providing discounted services. My personal observation including the stylists doing flat twists, two-strand twists, loc tightening via palm rolling, extension services, cornrows, and comb coils. Be sure to take a look at their gallery. Other services provided included manis and pedis, cuts and lines, full body massages, etc. They have two locations - East Point, GA and Smyrna, GA. You can visit their web site at http://www.deeplyrooted.com/home.html.



I was able to get my eyebrows threaded for a mere $5, which was a 1/2 price special, by a beautiful Indian queen from Shea Salon. Shea Salon is currently having their grand opening at 1534 Howell Mill Road in Atlanta, GA. Their website is currently under development but you can contact them at 404/355-1951. You can also contact them via email at sheasalon@att.com.



Last but not least, I had the pleasure of meeting Jane Carter, the creator of Jane Carter Solution. Jane gave a heck of a deal on her products selling them for a mere $5 to $10, which was more than a 50% savings over her retail prices. If you haven't had the opportunity to sit in on any of Jane's recent conference calls, please check out the webcast replays.

First Call
Second Call

Chocolate Orchid took a picture with Jane. You can view it by clicking "here".

For more on the World Natural Hair, Health, and and Beauty Show, please visit the fellow blogger sites below.

http://chocolateorchid.blogspot.com/2009/04/world-natural-hair-health-beauty-show.html

http://www.curlynikki.com/2009/04/view-from-atl.html

http://naturallyleslie.blogspot.com/2009/04/more-from-2009-world-natural-hair.html

I'll update you on the goodies I purchased in a later post.

Hair Care: Shedding or Breakage? Understanding the Difference

by Audrey Sivasothy

Understanding the difference between hair breakage and shedding is an important part of any healthy hair regimen. Many people use these terms interchangeably to refer to any hair that falls from the head; however, this misinformed language can be a recipe for hair disaster. You must be able to properly differentiate between these two very specific forms of hair "loss" in order to effectively address even the smallest of your hair needs. This article will teach you the difference between hair shedding and hair breakage, and offer strategies to help you combat both hair problems...

Click here to view the full article.