D.I.Y: Sweet Citrus Hair and Body "Buttah"

I hope all you mixtresses enjoy this super easy and quick DIY video! All of the ingredients used can be found here or here. Enjoy!

xoxo,

Alex

DIY: Hair Mud Wash

Enjoy! Click the jump for pics.

What's in my Oil Bottle plus 1

As most of you know today was the Protective Style Challenge kick off, super exciting! Over 70 women are participating and corresponding via email which is great. I decided since I will be wearing my hair braided for the majority of the challenge I needed to go invest in a new and bigger applicator bottle to oil my scalp while the cornrows are in. What better place to go than Sally's BSS? I didn't know it'd be so hard to pick out a $2 plastic bottle but it was. LOL, I couldn't decide, there were so many options!

**The spray bottle has lavender and calendula flower hair tea in it. GREAT for spritzing and refreshing strands**

Any who, I finally made a decision and a went with the large 8 oz bottle with the red little snap thingy to keep the contents from spilling. I also picked up Olive Oil's Smooth-n-Pudding. *Tisk Tisk* on me, I shouldn't have bought this product but you can blame my friend Ava for luring me in. It was only $6.99 if that makes my pure PJ purchase any better. It doesn't, I know. BUT I was super excited to use the product when I got home and filling my applicator bottle with some yummy oils, was the highlight of my evening. 

What's in my Mix

2 oz of EVOO - Rich in biotin, niacin, vitamins A and E 

1 oz of apricot oil-Rich in essential fatty acids

1/2 oz argan oil- High in omega 3 and 9, unsaturated fatty acids

1 oz of castor oil- Cleans and rids scalp of impurities

2 oz of sweet almond oil- has the ability to soften the skin on the scalp and reduce 

inflammation

**All items can be purchased on Ebay or at your local WholeFoods**

After filling my bottle I applied the oil to my scalp and gave myself a little massage to stimulate blood flow. Once all of that was said and done I twisted my bang area with the new Olive Oil product. I really wanted to put my mini twists back in but I didn't have time.

I was surprised at how much I liked this product on the first try. The packaging says it's a "gel" but I get more of a creamy custard feel. The consistency is great and the scent was pleasant, it also provided decent slip while combing which is a huge plus! 

I am anxious to see what my twist out will look like tomorrow. I flat twisted the right side up and over because I want my style to lay to the left. Hopefully it comes out well, stay tuned for pictures!

xoxo,

Alex

Clarifiers for Natural Hair

(google)

I came across a awesome post on natural hair clarifiers at Loc'd Diaries.com. I came across this site after doing some research for one of my Twitter followers who is experiencing product build residue in her locs. The minute I read the recipes I had to share them. Click the above link to see all of the awesome ways you can clarify your loose or loc'd hair!

What's in your spray bottle?

(source)

I get the question "what's in your spray bottle?" A lot! Especially on Twitter and I love it because then other naturals pitch in a dish what's in theirs. Fun stuff! Below is what I keep in my spray bottle. What do you keep in yours?

Daily Spray

1 cup water

1/2 cup rose water

1/3 glycerin

3 drops emu oil

3 drops rosemary EO

3 drops peppermint EO

* I like to use this daily because it helps me retain moisture through out the day and it leaves my hair smelling great*

DIY: Sweet CoCo Pomade

Hey ladies! I wanted to share with you all a QUICK, EASY, FUN & CHEAP pomade recipe that I came up with earlier today. I know a lot of my friends are trying to cut back from buying products and are resorting to becoming mixtresses, so THIS is the perfect concoction if you are trying to do the same.

You will need:

Cocoa Butter

Kokum Butter (Optional)

Coconut Oil

Castor Oil

Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet Orange/Lemon Essential Oil

Storage Container

Step One: Melt down the Cocoa Butter, Kokum Butter and Coconut oil over low to medium heat. 

Step Two: Allow the melted down butters to COOL but NOT solidify. I stick mine in the fridge for about 3 minutes.

Step Three: Once the butters are cool, add them to your storage container. If they are too hot and you are using a plastic container the container will melt. BE CAREFUL the contents can be super hot!!

Step Four: Add a cap full of each Castor Oil and Sweet Almond oil to the liquid butters. Mix well.

Step Five: Add your EO's to the mix, stir well and cover the liquid. Allow to cool in the freezer over night.

**After freezing for 1 hour**

This pomade is very yummy for hair strands and dry scalps! I plan on using it to soothe my itchy scalp and to take down my twists/braids to avoid frizziness.  All off the ingredients can be purchased at CamdenGrey.com, excluding the EO's, I got those from Roots Market.

xoxo,

Alex

Headwrap Tutorial

So you all have been asking for my headwrap "secret" and this post is JUST for you! Click the jump to achieve the look below. 

Good Hair Goop Recipe!

Click the jump for recipe details!




Good Hair Goop Recipe

2 oz Aloe - http://amzn.to/AloeVerGel
1 tbsp.Honey- Local Grocery Store
2 tbsp. Veg. Glycerin- http://bit.ly/VegGlycerin
Cap Full of Castor Oil- Local Grocery or Whole Foods
1 tbsp. Olive Oil- Local Grocery Store



I use this concoction to keep my hair soft and hydrated during the warmer months. Ideally it can be used as a leave in conditioner  to prevent dry hair. I like using the Goop for twist outs because it leaves my hair PLUMP, bouncy and soft to the touch.

**Read me**

(Sorry for the mirrored image, I forget to change camera settings)


Good Hair Goop Recipe



I use this concoction to keep my hair soft and hydrated during the warmer months. Ideally it can be used as a leave in conditioner  to prevent dry hair. I like using the Goop for twist outs because it leaves my hair PLUMP, bouncy and soft to the touch. 


Be sure to apply the mix to FRESHLY washed hair. Before applying I like to spritz my hair with warm water to open the hair cuticles. It's also easiest to apply when the hair is sectioned and detangled for even product distribution. If I am using this for a twist out I make sure to spray my hair with cold water once the twists are in. I find that sealing with cold water helps my hair retain even more moisture. 



If you decide to try this at home let me know how you like it! 

DIY: Flaxseed Gel Tip

 For all my mistresses who like whipping hair goodies up at home, I have a great tip for you when it comes to making Flax Gel. Many folks on YT have made their own flax gels but find it hard to separate the liquid product from the sold seeds. Some people use pantyhose to help strain but that technique is messy and kinda of a hassle--- my advice is use a STRAINER! Place a Tupperware bowl underneath the strainer and allow the gel to separate from the seeds. It may take a few minutes but it's much easier than trying to strain a HOT stocking. It works great and you're able to get almost all of the liquid gel separated  from the seeds without any extra debris floating around or ripped stocking causing a big mess!

Have you made flax gel? If so, what was your technique?

Luvlockd - My Sisterlocks Evolution

june 2008

feb 2011

jan 2010

In June 2008, I decided to finally end the lifelong love-hate relationship I had with my hair and get locked up. Just as the blogs of others inspired me, I hope my blog encourages others to fall in love with themselves...and become luvlockd with their own naptural hair!

Feel free to drop by ;o) http://luvlockd.blogspot.com/

Sisterlocks birthdate: Jun 18, 2008
Starting length: 3-5in" (even shorter in front)
Labor of love installation time: 30 hours

Anita Grant Rhassoul Clay

Today, I decided it was time to try those Anita Grant Clay cubes that I got last week from Hairrogant. I was already anxious to try the clay and my hair was in need of a wash. My original wash day was set for tomorrow but I had a lot of build up in my hair due to the Eco Styler Gel I used for my puff ball. My hair felt really gross. Any who, I washed with Carols Daughter Dead Sea Moss Shampoo and I applied the clay mixture as my DC. I had prepared it about 20 minutes prior to washing. I used HOT coconut milk instead of boiling water as my base, OMG, the best descion ever. I also added hibiscus powder and honey for some shine, deep hair shaft penetration and thickness to the mixture. Click the jump for more pictures and the application video. Enjoy!

video is under the jump.

Ayurvedic Regimen: Day 1 (Henna)

Today is day one of my Ayurverdic hair care regimen. I stopped by an Indian food store picked up some henna and decided to give it shot. When I got home I mixed 100 grams of henna with honey, 1 1/2 cups water, 1/3 cup conditioner and Vatika Oil. I stirred the mixture until I got a thick muddy consistency then I applied in sections. The henna smells gross to me, like wet grass, so if you want to add some EO's for scent you can.

More under the jump...

DIY: Easy Hair "Growth" Serum

(source)

A lot of you my twitter followers have been inquiring about my favorite hair growth serums and my homemade growth oil that I use almost daily. Today I decided to post about both. I like hair growth serums because they help the overall health of my scalp. A clean healthy scalp PROMOTES strong healthy GROWING hair. Please keep in mind that there is NOTHING  you can put on your actual hair to "make" it grow, hair, itself is dead all you can really do is preserve. Growing long hair starts within. Eating nutritious foods, drinking water, exercising and taking vitamins all contribute to growing long luscious locks.

I have 2 favorite growth products that I am using and one new one that I am giving a try:

1.Mega Tek

2.Bee Mine Growth Serum

3.MTG (just started using)

Mega Tek has been a favorite of mine since I first went natural.  I was using it daily for months and I  saw some awesome results from it. This product is very rich in proteins so please be careful when using if you hair is protein sensitive. This product was originally made for horses but when humans started using it a seeing results the product crossed over quickly! I love it.

Bee Mine Growth Serum I have been using this oil for a month now and I am in love with it. Contains great ingredients and sulfur, which helps promote hair growth. I use this oil almost every night before I go to bed after I twist my hair up.  This oil leaves my roots very soft and my scalp loves it. So far, I can't tell if it is making my hair grow by itself because I do take MSM vitamins and Biotin in conjunction with it.  Want to learn about Sulfur and hair growth, click here.

MTG  I decided to try this stuff after my girl Elle over at "Quest for the Perfect Curl" was taking about it on Twitter. I asked her a few questions and saw her results and I was sold. I know that different products work differently on different people but I had to give it a try. One the left side of my hair suffered some breakage from the color I put in it and I trying to re-grow the little section back so I figured I'd use this to help. So far, I have used it EVERY NIGHT for 2 weeks. I can definitely see some improvement. I am excited to see the results I get in a month. I use the bee mine serum in the morning and this at night. The smell of MTG is like bacon, LOL, so using it at night allows the smell to disappear in time for the morning. 

Now, my homemade growth oil recipe is simple, click the jump.

 You will need the following :

1.Castor Oil
(Regularly applying castor oil to your scalp and roots to eliminate dry hair and promote regrowth of hair within months. It will also help to thicken hair that is thinning out.)

2. Coconut Oil
(Keeps hair in good condition so that you don't lose it to damage and dryness. Coconut oil can help prevent hair loss and contribute to healthy hair growth.)

3.Neem Oil
(Relieves dry and itchy scalp, dandruff, the symptoms of scalp psoriasis, as well as giving you silky, shiny, stronger hair and encourage growth.)
4.Emu Oil
(hair follicles that are currently in the resting phase, otherwise known as the catagen phase, emu oil seems to help them wake up and begin growing hair again.)
5. Peppermint EO
(Peppermint oil for hair loss treatment is very effective as it binds the hair roots and increases blood circulation.)
6.Rosemary EO
(used to combat the fall of hair, stimulate the growth of new locks, strengthen hair roots, support hair follicles, eliminate dandruff, and clean the scalp and hair of impurities. )

I use a small plastic bottle, maybe 2 oz, and I fill it half way with Castor Oil. I slowly add in the other oils until the bottle is almost full. Then I add 6 drops of each EO in the bottle and shake well. Simple, easy and cheap! Enjoy!

BoBeam Hair Teas

BoBeam Etsy Store

 During black Friday I ordered some awesome hair teas from a cool Etsy store that I stumbled across. I decided to make a new spritz for scalp while I have my kinky twist in. I ordered the hair tea set, which came with 5 hair teas; Calendula & Lavender, Calendula & Hibiscus, Calendula & Rosemary, Calendula & Chamomile, Calendula & Green Tea. I only paid $6.00 for the entire set and I thought that was really affordable. These teas can also be used a hair rinses, which I am really excited trying once I take my PS out. 


Yesterday, I chose to use the Calendula and Green tea pouch for my spritz. I boiled some water and used my Raw Tea Leaf pot to allow the tea bag to steep and cool off a little before pouring it into a spray bottle.

This process was very simple. After the tea steeped and cooled I added some EO's, Water and Sweet Almond Oil it and poured it into the spray bottle. Voila! Easy.

I like how the spritz smells and leave my scalp. I will be storing it in the fridge so that it doesn't mold and go bad.

Do you use hair teas for rinses or spritz?

If so, where do you get your teas and how do you mix and use them?

Scalp Spritz

I mentioned in my PS post that I will be using a spritz to condition my scalp. The spritz I make is simple and I use it on my curls, twist outs and puffs almost daily. I will also be massaging my scalp with Bee Mines Serum and my Mega Tek mixed with peppermint EO and Rosemary EO. Promoting growth while my PS is in is very important to me. I want to make sure I treating my hair and scalp like I would if it weren't twisted. The ingredients for my spritz are below for any of you who want to try it.

Scalp Spritz

*Aloe Juice

*Jojoba Oil

*Water

*Grapeseed Oil

*Neem Oil

*Peppermint EO

Do you have a spritz recipe?

If so, share it below!

xoxo,

Alex

DIY: Cute Head Band

Today I was in a crafty mood and I decided to make a cute head band to jazz up my natural hair.

I went to Michaels and spotted some SUPER CUTE ribbon and then I came across a old plastic head band laying in my drawer that I was not using-PERFECT.

(You can purchase regular head band from CVS or your local Beauty Supply store for under $6 a pack.)

Making the head band was very simple and took me all of 10 minutes and cost me under $10 to make.

What you will need for this fun project is:

*Ribbon

*Head Band

*Hot Glue Gun

*Scissors 

Click the jump for instructions on how to make this COOL accessory.

Put some how glue on the end tip of the head band.

Let cool for 10 seconds before applying the fabric.

Having the glue a little sticky is perfect for the ribbon, it helps it stick a little better.

Then start to tightly pull and wrap the ribbon around the head band,

Make sure there is no "bubbling" going on.

The fabric must be snug.

Continue the pull and wrap motion until you reach the end of the head band.

Glue down the ribbon as you did when you begain wrapping the head band.

Cut off any extra ribbon and smooth.

VOILA!

The finished piece.

Nice. Cute. Easy and Affordable!

:)

Safi: Cocoa Hibiscus Conditioning Custard

Over the weekend I decided to whip up something new and exciting! This new concoction is called "Cocoa Hibiscus Conditioning Custard." It has some yummy ingredients in it like Raw Cocoa butter,Sweet Almond butter and Water infused with Hibiscus Flower Petals (that's what give the custard a pink tint). I offered 2 sample jars to two of my Twitter followers. Once they review it and give me some feedback I will SHARE THE RECIPE with you all so you can make it at home and have it handy whenever you need it.

Doesn't it look yummy?

Marshmallow Root Hair Mask

So I took my weave out. I know it was only in for 2 weeks BUT I could not take the itching. My scalp was burning and nothing was helping. Once I took down the weave I was instantly relieved. My scalp was caked with gunk too. It was gross and my hair smelled awful. I made the right choice for me and my hair. I was kind of bummed that I wasted my money. I only paid $60 to get it installed so it wasn't that bad. It wasn't a $250 weave. If it was that sucker would've stayed in, LOL. Anyways, my hair needed some TLC and a good trim.

I was planning on doing a Bentonite clay hair mask but I was out of powder. So instead I used Marshmallow Root Powder as my base. See below for the recipe and details.

Recipe:

8 oz of water

2 cups of Marshmallow Root Powder

2 teaspoon of Honey

1 teaspoon on Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Coconut Oil to coat hair strands before mask application.

1. Mix the MRP and the water together very well. Using a hand mixer helps a lot. Make sure the consistancy is similar to pudding..

2. Add in the honey and JBCO. Stir well.

3.Apply Coconut oil to hair before the mask.

Below are some pictures that I took of my hair while applying the mask.

My strands felt amazing and my curls were very defined.

Sectioned hair before the hair mask was applied.

My hair was super dry and frizzy!

I used Hairveda's Vatika frosting as my coconut oil of choice. I love this stuff.

My ends were NASTY! I was so glad to get rid of them.

Up close curls. 

This in between length is INTERESTING, LOL. I look like a mushroom head.

Look at those curls! 

I rinsed the mask out of my hair after 45 minutes. 

I then coated my strands with Giovanni's 50/50 conditioner while I was in the shower. 

I rinsed most of it out and then parted my hair in 6 sections.

Each section had about 6 individual twists in them.

Before I twisted I dusted my ends with some sheers to get rid of my SSK's.

I then banded the twisted sections to prevent major shrinkage.

My hair was NICE and stretched this morning and my ends feel soft and clean. 

See below for my stretched twist out puff.