Look what i Got:)

JUST GOT THESE IN THE MAIL **excited voice***

Hemp seed oil ((Pure, Organic)), and Rosemary EO ((not in the pic))!!!

Got these offline because I found them for a great price((esp. the EO)). But I can't wait to try my hemp seed oil on my hair. I did alot of research on this oil. I told myself that I don't want to go out and try and buy every single, or majoirity of, carrier oils. Ain't nobody got time for that, Lol. But I picked this oil as my main oil, and if I like it I will continue to buy it. I also have castor oil, evoo ((mainly for deep treatments)) and apricot kernal oil ((but I use the apricot kernal oil for my face)).

Once I get results I will def. post a review:):)

Growing LONG Natural Hair!!

SOOO, I downloaded this app yrsterday called the Natural Hair Community, which I strongly recommend downloading if you have not already because it shares very valuable information that includes anything and everything pertaining to natural hair. While I was reading some articles at work ((my job was that dead/boring)) I came across this article about how to retain long natural hair. I found it very interesting, so I took some notes and decided to share with you all what i learned because I have yet to come across any of this information just by watching youtube channels.

So here are a few tips::

1.) How to comb your hair - The reason why us as naturals use wide tooth combs to detangle our hair is because using a smaller comb is damaging towards out hair. We have to remember that our hair is very very fragile. Especially at the ends because that hair is the oldest. But the BEST way to comb your hair without pulling out your hair is to finger comb/detangle your hair. This is no secret that some use their fingers to comb out their hair, but finger combing is alot better for your hair.

2.) Massaging your scalp - The best way to stimulate hair growth is by keeping the blood circulating in your scalp area. There are oils that do this job. But say its not in your area as far as being affordable, you can give your scalp a daily 5 minute massage. By massaging your scalp once a day for 5 minutes, you keep the blood circulating, stimulating hair growth. And plus, IT FEELS GOOD!!

3.) Protective styling - I used to think that by protective styling, people meant twist outs, bandtu knots, cornrows, and etc((and some people probably did mean this lol)). BUT protective styling actually means what you use in your hair, like products, to keep it protected from getting damage done to it. For example, if your looking to putting heat to your hair, whether its flat ironing it or blow drying it, a protective style would be the products you use to protect your hair from the heat causing heat damage. Another good example of protective styling would be products you use during the winter, or even before going swimming.

4.) Does Biotin truely work - In this article, i read that biotin in some cases for some people may not even work. It is said that your body only intakes a certain amount of biotin daily. This amount includes the amount of biotin that your body already produces. If you take biotin and your body has already has its daily amount that it will intake, then the rest will simply be flushed out. I've seen where plenty of naturals take biotin and says it works. I take it myself and still will continue!! I do see my hair growing, but when i read this it totally made since. I don't believe this is saying that you shouldnt take biotin because it doesn't work. But you should watch how much you take, because if your taking multiple tablets your probably waisting your money. But, then again, whatever works for you:):)

5.) PROTEIN - Protein makes your hair stronger and healthier. Make sure you are intaking protein in your diet and nourish your hair with protein treatments how ever much she needs them.. Your hair LOVES IT!!

6.) Sealing your ends - Sealing your ends is very important when trying to grow long natural hair. Think about it!!! Like I said before, your hair is very fragile. Your ends are the oldest parts of your hair. If you don't protect and take care of your ends then growing long natural hair will be very difficult.

7.) SATIN is a MUST - Make sure to always keep your Satin scarf around. Even if you need two, Lol. It prevents your hair from breakage, frizz, and being damaged!!!

8.) Your diet - Keeping your body in shape, healthy, and hydrated is just as important as doing the same for your hair. You cant eat junk food all the time and expect to have healthy hair. Remember: your body will protect, hydrate itself before it sends nutrients to your hair. So make sure your giving enough to your whole body. Eat lots of veggies and fruits because that's where alot of our vitamins come from. Also your meats and beans for some protein. And while your at it, keep up with making sure you get your daily vitamins in your diet. Even if that means you have to take vitamins.

Other than the tips that I gave, there's also the obvious like keeping your hair Moisturized:):)

**This is my own summary from the article I read and took my own notes on based on an article written be Natural Hair Community. If you want more info, Research!!**

GREAT CARRIER OILS FOR HAIR!!

Took it upon myself to share the different, yet most common, carrier oils for natural hair..
Mind you if you are newly natural/transitioning, you DON'T have to go out and purchase every one of them. Just find one, two, or maybe even three that work best for your hair ((i'd suggest two lol)) and use them. Experiment with a couple, but don't spend money on every one, especially when some of them participate in doing the same thing!!!

Jojoba Oil: It regulates the sebum produced on the skin, as the oil can control the greasy texture of the skin. On dry skin type, the oil acts as a moisturiser. Mix a little quantity of jojoba oil with your regular moisturiser and this works wonders on your skin and your hair. This oil is what most naturals use and love. Although a little pricey, a little goes a long way with this oil.

Castor Oil: Regular usage of castor oil is purported to increase hair growth, reduce or prevent damage and breakage, treat dry hair conditions and condition and moisturize hair and scalp. The oil can be used to prevent hair frizz and/or split ends. It is also a very thick oil that gives great shine to hair.

Avocado Oil: Good for moisturizing dry, brittle, and damaged hair. This oil is beneficial for hair that is frequently chemically processed (if you use relaxers, hair dyes, and perms you have chemically processed hair). High in nutrients such as amino acids and vitamins A, B, D and E, avocado oil is good if you need to create a restorative hair care regimen or treatment to help repair and support hair and scalp health. This oil is the best to help feed hair follicles and helps protect hair from free radicals.

Coconut Oil: A light oil in its liquid form but also said to weigh the some hair types down (Limp, straight hair) Coconut oil is able to penetrate more layers of skin than other oils, which allows it heal the scalp and penetrate the hair follicles. For the hair, this oil can bind itself to weak spots along the hair shaft and help reduce protein loss, thus providing temporary strength. This temporary strength will help you avoid hair breakage during styling

Sweet Almond Oil: The almond is full of omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6 plays a large role in growth and development and stimulates hair growth, as well as skin regeneration. Sweet almond oil has trace amounts of omega-6 and still provides many benefits to hair and skin. Sweet almond oil strengthens the hair and moisturizes the scalp. Placing a small dime-size amount in your hand, dip your fingers into the oil and rub it into the scalp. Use a circular motion to stimulate the scalp.

Grapeseed Oil: Grapeseed oil can be used as a hot oil treatment. This deep oil conditioning benefits the hair by normalizing the scalp. Your hair will be soft and shiny. It moisturizes the hair and scalp, making hair supple reducing brittleness, breakage and helping to protect the hair ends from splitting. Also helps with Dandruff.

Hemp Seed Oil: Hair, skin, and nails are all formed from the same line of dermal cells, so it is no surprise that people who use hemp oil report thicker and shinier hair, softer skin, and stronger nails. Since hemp seed oil is nearly identical to our own lipids, it is capable of penetrating our cells and lubricating the surfaces between them. It is used to nourish not only dry skin but blotches and lesions as well. It can detoxify the skin and even out skin tone. You can safely use hemp oil as a skin moisturizer without worry of it clogging the pores. This is a great oil and said to be an alternative to fish oil, but even better. This oil contains plenty of vitamins and minerals that no other carrier oils contain. I haven’t seen a lot of naturals use this one, but I ordered mine offline a couple days ago and absolutely can’t wait to try it:):)

Olive Oil: Another favorite for naturals, Olive oil is a convenient, readily available carrier oil that also has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains flavonoids that protect skin cells, inhibit histamine and reduce allergic reactions. It nourishes and restores elasticity to the skin. Many, like myself, use olive oil for deep treatment purposes. Leaves hair feeling extra moist and soft.

Wheat germ Oil: A valuable source of Vitamin E, wheat germ oil is derived from the heart of the wheat kernel. It contains fatty acids, is high in protein, nourishes and softens the skin. The Vitamin E in wheat germ oil is a powerful antioxidant.

These are not all of the carrier oils, there are indeed PLENTY MORE where these came from. But as for the main carrier oils that naturals use that are great for sealing, and moisturizing hair, these work perfectly!!

One oil that is not on here is Apricot Kernel Oil. I don’t see a lot of naturals that use this oil. Most naturals use Sweet Almond Oil instead, in which is supposed to be like an alternative. I DO, in fact, use Apricot Kernel Oil. BUT, I mixed it with raw, unrefined cocoa butter and use it for my face((after I wash my face with black soap)), which I find very nourishing and not oily at all.

The information done for these oils was done by my own research, mostly from Livestrong.com. Also, do your own research!!!

WHAT CARRIER OILS DO YOU USE THAT WORK BEST FOR YOUR HAIR??

Having SUPPORT!!

Its such a GREAT feeling when you have the support from people close to you when you make big decisions. I was thinking when I got up this morning that instead of waiting when i go back to school to get my BC, that I would get it next week wednesday instead!!!

Thats when i got excited about the idea and decided to go ahead and do it. Therefore, I wanted to tell the big dawgs (my parents) about the decision i made and THEY ARE FOR IT!!!! I dont know, lol, just having support from the fam just makes it even better.

My little brother, who is currently a senior in high school, even had an input and said he's been thinking for a while that I should get it done! Idk how he came to thinking that. Maybe because this whole summer ive been doing nothing but watching youtube channels and other naturals' hair stories. LOL

But, Ive decided that the 1st of August it is! Feeling great about this decision and more than ready!!!

Check out my youtube channel: SweetnNappy16
^^^especially if you want to see my BC, because I will be posting it on there:):)

Thanks,

SweetnNappy!!!

Learn something new Er'day!!!

Transitioning… My learning phase

((yes, my summer job is at the movies LOL))

I would be LYING if I said I haven’t spent my transitioning phase as my learning phase. And most of it was not on purpose. I have learned a great bit while transitioning, and I know once i fully go natural I will continue to learn even more. To name a few: using products without sulfates, parabens, etc., using REAL shea butter and making sure its unrefined, not using a microwave to heat up your products, great carrier oils, what TWA actually meant (LOL), chipped nails being a no no for natural hair and PLENTY MORE…

Therefore, I felt the need to share this info piece by piece (meaning not all at once) with newly transitioners/naturals just like me…

First things first… what to look out for when shopping for products!!!

Many naturals don’t care whether their products are organic, natural or sulfate free, and so on… AND THAT’S FINE!!! Everyone is different, so no one is going to go the same way about doing things when it comes to going natural and using certain products… BUT for those of you who would like to only use organic and natural products then this blog is just for you…

HERE’S THE 411::

Parabens: Parabens get a bad rap due to being labeled Xenoestrogen. These agents mimic estrogen (female hormones) once inside the body. Many researchers and Scientists believe that estrogen disruption can lead to malignant tumors in breast tissue.

Phthalates: Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors and estrogen mimics. For this alone, one would want to avoid them where possible. They've also been linked to metabolic disorders and hepatocarcinogenicity. You can also check out www.nottoopretty.org for more info.

Gluten: Said to result in hair loss especially in people who are gluten-sensitive. So not only watch for gluten free hair products, but also food that contains gluten.

Mineral oil: this is not necessarily a bad product for your hair BUT, it does cause your hair to become pretty dry. And lets be honest, as a natural, Who wants DRY HAIR?? So if you do use products with mineral oils, make sure to keep hair moisturized and don’t use too often. But with that being said, do what works best for your hair.

Petroleum/Petrolatum: pretty much the same thing as mineral oil. While is does give your hair great shine and slick it prevents your hair from being able to breathe. Prevents moisture from penetrating into the hair shaft, clogs pores, and, eventually, dries your hair out.

Sulfates: harsh chemical which damages hair by dehydrating the sebaceous glands and strip the scalp of essential oils and natural oils which can lead to hair loss. Can also make color treated hair fade away with every use. For more great info check out www.buzzle.com

Here’s some to name a few, you can also keep an eye open for synthetic colors and other synthetic items. I was going to put a description of alcohols on here but not all alcohols are bad. Personally, I try to stay away from them but do you boo booJJJ

Protection is a MUST!!

So this is my protective style for the time being. Just some braids, this is called a long bob... I know, nerdy right lol. Playing around in Claire's!!! But will be keeping this in up until the 2nd week of August. Hopefully I will get by BC right after taking this out!!

Why the Transition!!!

FINALLY... LOL!!! Yes, I am transitioning and as of right now I am currently going on 3 months post relaxer. Unfortunately, this is, in fact, my second attempt at transitioning and going natural.
But i have in fact learned that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, thats what some of us need is a first failed attempt.
But anywho... So at this point, your probably wondering the main reason at why I decided to go natural which is pretty much the main reason for this blog post. But even if your not, i will answer the question anyway, lol. But I am going natural mainly because all the damage that my hair has gone through with continous relaxers. Some of the damage could be from me not taking good care of my hair, BUT im pointing the finger at the creamy crack lol..
As far as the damage, i dont even know where to begin. As I compare my hair to how it was the first couple of years that i've had relaxers, it's gotten so much weaker and so much thinner, mind you ive been natural since my sophomore year in high school. So i'd say i've been getting relaxers for about 5 years now. My hair has split ends after split ends. Now i know everyone has split ends, but for mine even after i get my hair trimmed it still splits right after getting it cut. Id have to get continuous trims instead of every three months. Everytime i wash my hair, its rediculous how much hair i have in my hands rather than on my head (if that made any since). I don't know if it was stress from school or what, but either way i am OVER IT.
Also, i got my hair done in kinky twists a couple years back. After keeping them in for about 2 months, i took them out and noticed how much of my edges were gone. Yeah, im not going back to her again!!! But ever since this incident it has yet to grow back like how i know it could. Which leads to the fact that I am going natural...
This is how my hair looks now. Its called a Frohawk!!! But being that its been almost 3 months post relaxer its looks ”ratchet”, Lol.
Another reason I am going natural again is because I just want my hair to be healthy again. I also need to start learning how to take better care of it. I cant continue to treat my hair the way I do for the rest of my life... Next thing ya know, i will be bald headed-_- Lol
Thanks for reading,
SweetnNappy