Dry Hair

For the past 2 weeks I have been training hard for my half marathon coming up this weekend, and I feel  like my hair has suffered some neglect. I did not even have time to deep condition this week : ( Which is the first time I have skipped a DC since the start of my journey. The workouts leave my hair riddled with drying salt, and with doing only the quick hair regimen steps, I have hair that is dryer than normal. I also think their may be some porosity issues there too.

Porosity is the term used in the science of hair care to describe how easily water and other matter can diffuse back and forth through the cuticle layer and into or out of the cortex. Hair is much like a sponge, capable of absorbing water and other substances from the environment, and also susceptible to losing precious moisture and lipids to the environment. Maintaining an optimal balance of moisture in your hair preserves its suppleness, strength, and shine. This is especially important for those of us with curly hair, as it greatly influences the health and beauty of our tresses.

The Fix : On my way to the Beauty supply store right now to pick up some Roux Porosity Conditioner
Just a $2.00 sample pack is all I will need. This with some clarifying and much needed deep conditioning should fix the dryness for sure. I will also stick to Co-washing only, no shampoo ( after this 1 clarifying wash) for the next 2 weeks.

Product Review: Carol's Daughter Monoi Line

I wanted to take this opportunity to do a product review on the Carol's Daughter Monoi Line. I ordered all three newly introduced products : The Monoi shampoo, conditioner and repairing hair mask. I used it consistently for three months as my only poo, condish and DC to really see if it would live up to its promise. Well the verdict is in!

WHAT THEY SAY
What it does:
This moisture and protein-rich formula deeply reconstructs distressed hair helping to fortify it against damage with hydrolyzed silk and hibiscus extract. Antioxidants and UV protectors help combat the drying and damaging effects of UV rays as it softens and smoothes hair, leaving it deliciously fragrant, detangled, and more manageable.

What else you need to know:
For thousands of years, Polynesians have used Monoi Oil for its natural reparative properties. To make Monoi, freshly picked Tiare flower blossoms are steeped in coconut oil to produce fragrant oil that helps repair hair, improving its condition, softness, and shine. The Monoi Collection was created especially for those concerned with hair breakage. This product does not contain petrolatum, mineral oil, or artificial colors.

Research results:
Based on independent studies conducted on natural and relaxed hair textures of Latina, African-American, and Caucasian participants:
- 84% experienced an improvement in conditioning, detangling, and combing ability
- 92% experienced a reduction in hair breakage and shedding during detangling and styling
- 12% experienced an increase in hair strength
- Participants experienced five times the increase in the life of relaxed hair

See my Carol's Daughter Mionoi Challenge post for a full list of product ingredients

WHAT I SAY

The entire line is AWESOME! The shampoo left my hair feeling clean but not stripped of any oils, and it lathers wonderfully. It made my hair feel softer than my usual CD Tui Shampoo, so I think I will swap these out all together. I used the conditioner for three different uses: co-wash, leave in and as a rinse out conditioner after my poo. I love how soft and buttery my hair feels after use! I made my hair very easy to detangle because it provides some serious slip. I even found it so easy to detangle three months post, and i saw very little hair in my comb after detangling. The repairing mask was my favorite, as it made my hair fell so strong, I actually passed on my normal protein treatments and just used a protein leave in spray every two weeks. My hair felt so well and conditioned overall, and I am highly pleased with the product line. I personally noticed fewer break and splits on the ends when I did my dusting, which makes me think this line actually does improve the strength and moisture content of the hair as claimed. I think this line would be great for those who are protein sensitive or scared to incorporate protein into their hair care regimen. The use of the bamboo water to strengthen hair structure is gentler on hair and has great results. The price tag on this line is one of the only cons. The deep repairing mask retails at about $29.00 for a 7oz. jar. And with deep conditioning twice a week on longer hair, you may fly through this stuff pretty quickly. The good new is, with purchasing a CD memeber's card, you can save big time on these products. I actually bought my membership at a sale price of $15.00. I was able to save about $13.00 off retail with purchasing all three Monoi products, so my membership just about paid for itself in use!!! 

Bottom Line: If you are looking for a line that takes the guest work out of what to use for proper moisture/ protein balance, or a quality list of ingredients that will help rather than harm you hair, tis line is it! It is truly suitable for all hair types and textures.  

Visit the CD website for more info and to purchase products at a discount with membership card

http://www.carolsdaughter.com/

Hair Steaming

Now that I have been on my journey for a full year, I am really interested increasing my hair health in new ways. I love to deep condition my hair and credit it as a very key component in my healthy hair regimen. Now I am so excited to be adding a hair steamer to my hair care regimen. Hair steaming is a method of deep conditioning that uses a hair steamer (there are both salon and at home versions for sale) to swell and open the hair shaft for deeper penetration of moisture and conditioners into the hair structure. It is said that hair steaming will deliver greater levels of moisture into the hair cuticle because it uses steam or wet heat, rather than the dry heat from a normal hooded dryer method.  Incorporating this level of moisture into the hair helps to stop dryness and breakage. Steaming is great if you are experiencing drying & falling hair due to chemical abuse. It will also open up the hair follicles to promote faster hair growth.

After researching different hair steaming units, I decided on the Huetiful Hair and Facial Steamer. I made the decision to purchase this one because it was smaller than the large salon versions and more affordable. It actually had really great user reviews and youtube reviews. I can't wait to try it out! I plan to steam once a week for about 20- 30 minutes with a deep conditioner and oils.

New Carol's Daughter Monoi Challenge!

I don't know about you all, but I am over excited about the new CD line "Monoi", which features three new products that promise longer, stronger hair. Now I don't get to heavy into the promises product make but I do get amped when it comes to a great product ingredient list and the offering of something different. What is Monoi oil you ask? Well it is actually an oil that Tahitian's have used for many centuries to moisturize and maintain the beauty and health of their hair and skin. Monoi oil is a natural beauty product based on two unique ingredients, Tiare Tahiti (Gardenia Tahitensis) and refined Polynesian Coconut oil (Cocos Nucifera). Monoi is stabilized with Vitamin E.

You guys know I LOVE coconut oil and can't live without it. The results and benefits my hair has garnered with its use are pretty evident if you read my blog on a regular basis. I was wondering WHEN Lisa Price would finally include a line that would feature Coconut oil as its main ingredient....and now she goes and gives us something that I think will be GREAT. This line not only includes Monoi oil but also bamboo water which is the strongest plant on our planet. This will help to reinforce the hair's structure and give it longer life. Not to mention it features the use of shea butter, silk protiens and pro vitamin B-5. I love what this line will bring to Carol's daughter brand. I have decided to start my first challenge. So to help get me to BSL by my June 30th B-day, I will use the CD Monoi Repairing mask as my weekly deep treatment, the Monoi shampoo & conditioner as my hair care staples for the next 2 months. Hopefully CD delivers on the promise of stronger longer hair! I will keep you all updated and deliver full reviews once I have finished using a full container of the products.

Ingredients List


Monoi Repairing Shampoo: Water (Aqua), Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Coconut Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Shea Butter Glycereth-8 Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus(Sunflower) Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Hydrolyzed Silk, Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Quaternium-91, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance (Parfum)

Monoi Repairing Hair Mask: Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Cetyl Esters, Dimethicone, Fragrance (Parfum), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oiol, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Oil, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccaride, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Extrac, Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethiconol, Octyldodecanol, Ceteareth-20, Quarternium-91, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone

Monoi Repairing Conditioner:Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Isododecane, Fragrance (Parfum), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Isohexadecane, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Oil, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Octyldodecanol, Ceteareth-20, Quaternium-91, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone

What is Cupuacu Butter?

Cupuacu Butter (pronounced Coo-poo-wa-soo) - Comes from a fruit tree of the chocolate family, native to the northern Amazon. Cupuacu improves the appearance prematurely aging and thinning skin while being a superior moisturizer with great water absorption. It offers high levels of essential fatty acids, which with its rich phytosterols, help the appearance of your skin’s elasticity and overall appearance of your skin. Cupuacu's incredible creaminess promotes a special softness and smoothness to your skin to boosts natural moisture and help your skin appear more elastic.

Cupuacu promotes smoothness and softness to the hair increasing the natural moisture and elasticity. The butter has proven to be beneficial for brittle, dry hair due to it's long lasting hydration properties to replenish moisture while promoting a healthy shine. Cupuacu is considered hydrophpllic (water loving) with a high capacity to retain water and prevent moisture loss.

Split Ends: What causes them & How to Avoid Them

What are Split Ends and How Do I Get Rid of Them?
Split ends are not completely avoidable, BUT there are ways to prevent them and keep these pesky problems to a minimum. Let me first say, there is NO WAY TO REPAIR split ends. Once the cuticles and cortex are damaged on that strand, there is no lotion, potion, or oil that can repair he split. The only way to rid your hair of split ends is to cut them completely off. If you are trimming or cutting your hair the most important thing you can do to start things off right is to purchase a good pair of hair cutting shears. Please do not use regular household scissors, or the $3.00 pair you purchased form the corner beauty supply. Scissors that are not sufficiently sharp will only cause more split ends! Also remember you can't keep using the same shears for 4 years and expect those to have the same sharpness as the day you purchased them.  Take the time to invest in a good pair and replace them regularly.

Split ends occur when the protective cuticle of the hair is destroyed at the end of the hair. The hair will then split into two or more strands. Keep in mind that splits can occur anywhere along the hair shaft. Once it splits you must cut the damaged part off as the split can continue all the way up the shaft causing further damage. 


What Do Split Ends Look Like?

Preventing Split ends


The ends of your hair are the oldest, and dryer parts of your hair. This is why splits typically occur here. Simply put DRY HAIR BREAKS. This is why moisturizing your hair daily, paying close attention to the ends and sealing the ends with oil is one of most important measures you can take to avoid split ends.  I have minimal splits now because I have removed heat from my hair equation altogether.  Heat drys out your hair.  If you are relaxed and you are using heat on a regular basis you are abusing your hair... your goal of long hair will only be a dream.  I thought because my hair was healthy looking, that is was healthy...but my hair would not grow past shoulder length.  I only used direct heat once a week and of course before my journey adding moisture was a no no because it would make my hair draw up and I would have to re-set it and flat iron again.  So heat plus no moisture, constant manipulation from combing equaled constant split ends for me.  I can remember getting my hair trimmed at the salon and seeing new splits a day later! Below is a list of Do's to preserve those precious ends. The longer you can keep your ends in tact the more length you will retain, and the longer your locks will flow.

To Prevent Split Ends...DO

- Deep Condition (with heat and or a plastic cap) hair often to provide each strand with nourishment and moisture.

- Moisturize your hair daily and lightly seal it with oil to provide a barrier for hair and give it improved elasticity. This will help it to stretch under stress put on hair rather than split and break. Split ends sometimes occur because the protective hair oils do not reach the end of the hair shaft, causing it to split. African American hair is naturally dryer because of the curly nature of our hair. The sebum (oils produced naturally by our bodies) does not easily travel down to the end of the hair shaft which creates much dryer ends for African American hair.

- Trim your hair regularly to prevent splits from traveling up the shaft and stopping future splits before they start.

- Apply a high quality conditioner after shampooing or cleaning scalp to close and seal those raised cuticles and lock moisture into each strand.

- Avoid applying heat to hair at all costs.  I would only apply direct heat for special occasion while on your journey.  You can ease back into heated styles a little more often after you have achieved your goal length. Remember that heat (especially direct heat i.e flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers) will rearrange protein bonds and remove moisture from the hair strands which can cause splitting.

- When using heat on your hair be sure to apply a heat protectant to provide a buffer between your hair and the heat.

- Make sure your moisture protein balance is in check

- Wear protective styles as often as possible. This will help protect those precious ends from exposure to rubbing against cloths, the dry air, and other natural elements which can cause ends to split.

- Minimize combing and manipulating your hair.