My New Staple Product "Luster's S-curl"!!! LOVE-LOVE-LOVE!!!!

OMG!!!! I purchased this today and used it for the first time, and NOW I see why all the hair guru's and ladies who have been on their hhj would always say, you have to find what products work best for YOUR hair. Well, I found my perfect moisturizer, Luster's S-curl!!! I got this idea from my hair She-ro FGrogan on Youtube!. She loves it, and now I see why! It has my hair feeling moisturized without feeling wet & weighed down! No dripping, just moisture!!! It's so silky, I almost forgot how silky it is. I used to wear jeri curls back in the day, yes, I came up during the jeri curl era, but my hair always grew very fast with my jeri curls! I am going to love this product during the rest of my 1 yr hhj and beyond! I am in my 9th month of my hhj and I am doing GREAT!!! :-)

HHJ 8 mo 3 weeks comparison 17 weeks post

     HHJ 8 mo 3 weeks comparison

                                                              Retaining Length

July 6, 2012

Flat-Ironed hair bone straight to avoid texlaxing and for length check Mar.17, 2013

My New Length Check Tee-Shirt I Made For Longer Lengths 

Mar. 17, 2013

17 weeks post Mar 17, 2013

I started my hhj on june 27, 2012, but I took my first pic on july 6, 2012. It is mar 17, 2013 and 8-9 months into my hhj. My ends are thin, but I am not going to cut them until I texlax. I have also decided to try and keep stretching until my 1 yr anniversary on june 27th. I am going to try because I dont want to texlax my hair more than 2 times a year, but if my shedding gets to bad, or the different textures give me a problem, then I will texlax before june 27th... Well, I retained some length and I am very happy!!!

                     Split Ender Review and Tips

I will be using my new Split-Ender soon, but I wanted to introduce you all to it as a alternative to traditional trimming/cutting hair... This video is from a fellow hairlista!

Coconut Oil For Hair & The Benefits

All About Coconut Oil

I have been using coconut oil to seal my hair for a few months now, but after watching this video, I will more than likely stop sealing with it in the winter months because i have noticed how dry my hair has been, like it is soaking up moisture fast! I don't want to abandon it alltogether, so I may seal with it and another oil like extra virgin olive oil, which I use anyway when I do my GHE- "Green House Effect"...

1. Coconut Oil is a huge blessing for your hair. It is one of the most effective conditioners ever and helps in regrowth of damaged hair. That’s why it is used in most hair care products.
2. People living in coastal and tropical regions have excellent shiny black and thick hair. That’s because the only hair oil they know of is coconut oil.
3. Coconut oil is widely used both internally and externally.
4. Plush spas often use coconut oil in their expensive scalp and hair treatments. It is effective for all hair types.
5. Beauty product manufacturers are aware of the usefulness of coconut oil for healthy hair. That’s why it can be found in many hair care products.
6. Coconut oil is derived from the mature fruit of the coconut tree, Cocos nucifera, which is native to the Polynesian Islands and other tropical regions of the world.
7. Coconut oil is a thick, white semisolid at room temperature. So warm it prior to using it for hair.
8. Coconut oil has been used to treat hair for thousands of years. Its use dates back to prehistoric times and it is probably one of the very first plant oils ever used by mankind.
9. The benefits of coconut oil on hair have been utilized by indigenous people world over ranging from South America, Africa, India and most of Asia.
10. Coconut oil is rich in nutrients and good fats, so it’s an effective health food.
11. Although you can purchase hair products and conditioners containing coconut oil, make sure that you use pure coconut oil without additives to reap the most benefits.
12. Pure and unrefined virgin coconut oil is ideal for your hair and is also less expensive than commercial cosmetic products.
13. Apart from hair care, the unrefined and pure coconut oil can also be used for cooking, skin care and other benefits.

Coconut oil adds shine, lustre and body to your hair. It prevents scalp and hair follicles from infection and also slows down hair loss. It keeps your hair strong, revitalized, nourished and dandruff free!

1. A hair is just like a hose or a tube. It is hollow from inside.
2. Coconut oil fully penetrates this hollow space (the hair shaft) due to the polar nature of its constituent.
3. Coconut Oil fills up the hair shafts and gives more body to the hair. This makes the hair look more dense and full.
4. This also provides extra protection for the hair due to other benefits of Coconut Oil.

Hair gets damaged by the continuous swelling and shrinking of hair fibers due to water retention and absorption. This is called hygral fatigue.

Coconut Oil penetrates the hair fibers and prevents their swelling up.

In this way Coconut Oil is able to protect hair from possible damage.

Coconut Oil prevents protein loss from hair

1. Our hair is totally made up of proteins. Protein loss from hair results in weak and unhealthy hair.
2. Coconut oil easily penetrates the hair shaft.
3. Regular application of Coconut Oil to hair as pre-wash and post-wash treatment results in a significant reduction of protein loss from both damaged and undamaged hair.

Coconut Oil seals and retains moisture

1. Internal moisture is necessary for moisturized and strong hair. Loss of internal moisture results in dry and weak hair.
2. Coconut oil seals the hair from outside and prevents the internal moisture from escaping – this keeps the hair moisturized and strong, giving it shine and a silky feel.
3. Coconut Oil also penetrates the hair shaft and conditions the hair from within. This supplies moisture to the hair follicles which protects them from heat and environmental damage.

Contains Antibacterial Properties and Nutrients

1. Microbial infections can affect the scalp and hair follicles, which results in weak and dry hair.
2. These microbes can also infect the scalp – resulting in itching, dandruff, shedding of scales and dryness.
3. Medium chain fatty acids, especially lauric acid, present in Coconut Oil possess all three remarkable properties of being antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral.
4. These properties protect the scalp against lice, dandruff and infection. They also protect hair follicles which results in strong and healthy hair – it also decreases hair fall-out.
5. Coconut oil also contains vitamins E and K. Vitamin E provides nourishment and also gives your hair a healthy shine. That’s why it is used in skin and hair care products.

Coconut Oil Nourishes the Scalp

1. Regularly massaging the scalp with coconut oil stimulates blood circulation to the area.
2. Coconut oil moisturizes the scalp and relieves dry skin conditions that prove damaging to the hair follicles. Applying coconut oil to the scalp makes it easier for the hair follicles to absorb its nutrients.
3. To maximize your hair growth results, perform regular scalp massages with coconut oil.

Treat Cradle Cap with Coconut Oil

1. Babies often develop a fungal condition known as cradle cap – coconut oil can prevent and eliminate the scaly fungus.
2. Simply rub a small amount all over the head and brush it with a soft baby brush for about five minutes.

Coconut Oil Helps Control Dandruff

1. Dandruff is either caused by the buildup of dry skin or infections of the scalp.
2. Coconut oil controls dandruff by preventing buildup of dry skin due to its ability to moisturize the scalp.
3. Massaging your scalp with coconut oil using circular motions will help scrub away dead skin, and also moisturize underlying skin to prevent future dandruff.
4. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, an antimicrobial agent which treats dandruff by preventing microbial infection.

Last But Not Least – A Styling Gel!

Coconut oil is semi-solid at room temperature, so you can use it as styling gel because it condenses at room temperature and will keep your hair in style!

Attention Please: Coconut Oil Does NOT Regrow Your hair!!!

1. It’s a myth that coconut oil makes your hair grow – it does not.
2. Coconut oil improves the health of your hair and scalp – so your hair becomes more resistant to breakage and results in less hairfall.
3. With less breakage occurring, it seems as if your hair is growing faster – but actually your hair is just remaining intact instead of breaking and splitting.
4. So coconut is not a cure for baldness but does improve hair and scalp health.

How To Use Coconut Oil

1. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature so warm it to liquefy it.
2. Rinse your hair in the sink or the shower before applying the coconut oil. Then towel dry to remove excess water, but keep it damp.
3. Place the towel around your shoulders to catch any dripping oil. Pour a small amount in your hands and massage it into your scalp and down to the tips of your hair.
4. Once you have saturated all of your hair, wrap the towel around your head and leave it for one to two hours. Then fully rinse you hair and wash with shampoo.

"HAIR STRUCTURE" Hair Follicle & Hair Shaft

HAIR STRUCTURE

Hairs are elongated keratinized structures. Keratin is a special protein, which is resistant to wear and tear. It is the protein that also makes up the nails. Like other proteins in the body, keratin is also a large molecule made up of smaller units called amino acids. The amino acids are joined together in a chain, like beads on a string.

The diameter of a single hair fiber varies from person to person; but it is usually around 0.05 to 0.09 millimeters.

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin. Each hair arises from an indentation on the epidermis. The hair has two parts: the hair follicle and the hair shaft.

Hair Follicle

The hair follicle is the point from which the hair grows. It is a tiny cup-shaped pit buried in the fat of the scalp.

The terminal part of the hair follicle seated within the skin is called a hair bulb. The hair bulb is the structure formed by actively growing cells. These cells produce the long, fine and cylindrically shaped hair fibers. Here in the hair bulb, there are some special cells, which produce the pigment that gives the hair its color. This pigment is called melanin and the cells producing it are known as melanocytes. We also know that receptors for the male hormones - androgens, are located on the cells of this structure.

At the base of each hair bulb is the dermal papilla containing a vessel tuft. Thus, it is essential for the nourishment of the growing hairs. Within the skin, internal and external root sheaths cover the hair follicles. The external root sheath of a hair follicle is continuous along with the epidermis. There are also some glands adjacent to the hair follicles. The most important one of these glands is the sebaceous gland, which produces and secretes the natural oils lubricating hairs, namely sebum.

HAIR SHAFT

The part of the hair seen above the skin is called the hair shaft. The hair shaft is made up of dead cells that have turned into keratin and binding material, together with small amounts of water. This structure explains why we do not feel any pain while our hair is being cut.

The hair shaft is formed by three layers. The innermost layer of the hair shaft is named the medulla. It is seen only in large and thick hairs. The middle layer of the hair shaft is called the cortex, made of keratin fibers. The strength, color and texture of a hair fiber are provided by the cortex layer of the hair shaft. The outermost layer of the hair shaft is the cuticle. This thin and colorless layer made up of between six to ten overlapping layers of long cell remnants, serves as a protection to the cortex.

13 weeks post... 8th month into my HHJ "Shrinkage while Stretching"!!!

I have got a lot of shrinkage, but I can still see my hair growth/length retention!!! I think I have about 2 1/2 inches of new growth since nov. 25, 2012 when I did my texlax. On my 6 month anniversary Dec. 27, 2012, I was still at the same length I was on Nov. 25, 2012 which the longest part of my hair was at the 4 line... I have a texture shot below this pic.... @ the bottom of the second pic, you can see my hair looks straigthened, that's the front of my head. I had to bend down to take the pic to get a good close up of my roots. That straightness is the result of my flaxseed gel slicking my edges down ever so sweet while I rock my buns! I LOVE my flaxseed gel, I will NEVER use the clear kind again!!! I am stretching until march 25, 2013 (4 months) I may try to stretch longer, it depends on how hectic my stretch gets, plus I like when I relax my roots, my shedding decreases tremendously!!! Oh yeah, the black tea rinse really does work ladies!

My Regimen is at:

http://mymanefitnesssupreme.blogspot.com/

 My Fitness Blog is at:

http://theswimsuitproject.blogspot.com/

"Glycerin" The Do's & Don't of Using Glycerine

                        "Glycerin" The Do's & Don't of Using Glycerine

I was reading a post on hairlista in regards to when to use, or when to NOT use "Glycerine" Apparently, this humectant is to be used only during the warmer seasons, but when the climate is cold, it has the opposite effect of drawing moisture from the air to your hair, and making the hair dry! I have noticed my hair has been extra dry lately, and not I am sure I have found the culprit! I'm glad I found this post because I have been putting glycerine in my hair butters & my water based moisturizing spritz!!! As of today Feb. 6, 2013, I will not put glycerine in my hair products during the winter seasons! Below is some information that explains the difference in low humidity, and high humidty conditions as they pertain to the use of glycerine....

Low Humidity

In extremely low-humidity conditions, such as a cold, dry winter air, there is no appreciable amount of water in the air for the humectant to attract to the surface of the hair. In this particular type of climate, the best one can hope for with most traditional humectants is for them to prevent evaporation of water from the hair into the environment. Also, under these circumstances, there is some risk of the humectant actually removing moisture from the cortex of the hair itself, creating the problem it was intended to prevent.

That’s why in dry climates it is important to use conditioning products which rely on strong moisturizers rather than traditional humectants. However, it is interesting to note that new humectants are being developed that perform well even in low humidity (such as hydroxypropyl bis-hydroxyethyldimonium chloride and dihydroxypropyltrimonium chloride).

High Humidity

In high-humidity conditions, such as summertime in the southeastern United States or the tropics — where the relative humidity can easily reach or exceed 90 percent during the day — there is a tremendous amount of moisture in the air. This can be disastrous for curly hair. If curly hair is dry and damaged, it is very porous, and easily absorbs water from the air. In high-humidity conditions, this can cause curly hair to swell so much that cuticles are raised, making the surface of the hair very rough. These cuticles can then become entangled with cuticles of adjacent hairs and create a huge, tangled mass, which is prone to breakage. Also, curly hair swollen by excess water can lose its curl pattern, creating the dreaded summer frizz.

Clearly, products heavy in humectants will only exacerbate problems with humidity-induced frizz. Some humectants can also develop a sticky feeling when they become saturated with water, which is certainly an undesirable characteristic for hair. Thus, in tropical and subtropical climates, it is essential to maintain well-moisturized hair that is in good condition (which will be less prone to absorbing water from the hair). But it is preferable to use products containing fewer humectants or humectants with less hygroscopic capacity.

Due to the limitations and pitfalls of humectants in extreme weather conditions, it is apparent that these ingredients probably function best for curly-haired consumers in moderate climates, with temperatures and humidity in the medium range.