Suppresing the PJ. Shea Moisture Products...

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Trying not to indulge my inner PJ, I have been looking-but-not-touching many different products I've seen around lately. One line that I really want to try is the Shea Moisture line. I really like what I have seen so far because the ingredients look good, the packaging is nice (not required but always a plus), and they smell great. My mom came to visit last weekend and she brought one of the products with her so I was able to get a "preview" if you will. Many times over the past week I have driven by Target and I literally had to talk myself out of going in to purchase them. I tell myself that I have a hodgepodge of products I need to finish up before I go out and spend money on more. Once I have done that, I am allowed to purchase the Shea Moisture line but not a moment before. Thank goodness there is no Walgreens around here since apparently they are having a BOGO sale as we speak and I might have broken down! Will power ain't easy!

So, in the meantime, I have been lurking online to check out reviews from other naturals who've tried it. I saw some here, here, and here. Most people seem the really like this line and have nice things to say. Of course we all know that each head is an individual and so I take everything I read with a grain of salt. That being said, the outlook seems promising.

Have you all tried these products? If so, tell me what you think and how you use them. Which of the different "flavors" would you suggest?

Natural Recipe {Skin}: Homemade Lip Balm

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Today's natural recipe feature comes from YouTube's DearNaptural85 (click to see her hair channel, Naptural85.) In this video, she is making two flavors of her homemade lip balm.

I chose this video because I really love all the effort she puts in to creating her own all natural products at home. Her recipe vids are super easy to follow and yield amazing stuff without all the chemicals.

Check it out HERE!

Do you make your own lip balms? If you have a recipe and want to share, click the Write for Naturally Leslie tab at the top and submit your recipe using the guidelines provided!

Natural Recipe {Hair}: Shea Coco Mix

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Naturally Leslie reader Trinette sent over this recipe that she loves for her natural hair and I wanted to share with you. Check it out!

Hi-

Here is a recipe that I use on my hair. I like to alternate styling creams and gel.

Sheacoco Mix

You will need:

Shea Butter

Aloe vera gel (liquid)

Coconut Oil

Take shea butter and place in a container (small one is good) heat for 30 seconds to melt the butter(this will make it more soft to stir, not a runny liquid)

Then pour in aloe vera gel (liquid only, I use the aloe vera gel from the website from nature with love), you may find yourself using more aloe than butter. Then pour in (be discreet) coconut oil until a creamy consistency. Then place top on container and let it cool and solidify (this will be very creamy) and apply to hair after shampooing. No need for a leave in condish! The aloe vera, shea butter, coconut oil, is all you need to condish, moisturize, and seal. This left my hair very soft!!! I do not measure I just use my best judgement. For example I may take a regular spoon (use to eat cereal) and scoop out butter, then pour a little of aloe to mix in(like I said you may find yourself using more, because this is your leave in condish!), then add coconut oil.

Mix all together and apply to hair after washing out conditioner. Do twist, braid out, etc.. your hair will be so soft and moisturized. Aloe is a moisturizer for hair. I don't like using this alone, my hair does not like it, but mixed with this recipe my hair loves it!!!

Thanks

Trinette Smith

Thank YOU Trinette!

If you have a homemade recipe for skin or hair that you would like to share with other Naturally Leslie readers, please email me at naturallyleslie@gmail.com and put Natural Recipe in the subject line.

Dry Winter Hair? Fix it with these natural homemade recipes!

The weather outside is frightful...but no reason your hair can't still look and feel delightful! If you're experiencing dryness due to the cold winter air, take a look around your kitchen and try some of these homemade winter hair recipes to get your hair back to moist!

***Avocado and mayonnaise

It may seem a bit strange to apply mayonnaise to your hair all the way to the hair tips, but it is a really good conditioner!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 ripe avocado
• 1 small jar of real mayonnaise

Do this:

Mash the avocado and mix with the mayonnaise. Apply to your clean hair and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. You'll get the best effect if you use a shower cap, plastic wrap or warm towel to add some body heat to the process. Rinse off.

Avocado and coconut milk

If you don't like the idea of using mayonnaise, try mixing the avocado with coconut milk.

Ingredients:

• 1 avocado
• Coconut milk

Do this:

Mash the avocado and mix with enough coconut milk to make the conditioner smooth and the right consistency for a hair treatment. Tip: Add the milk slowly so that the conditioner does not become too loose.)Apply it to your hair and leave for some 20 minutes. Rinse off. (Again, it is good to somehow seal the body heat in by using a shower cap or towel for example.)

Avocado and egg yolk

Finally, avocado and egg yolk is also a great conditioner!

Ingredients:

• 1 avocado
• 1 egg yolk

Do this:

Mash the avocado and mix the egg yolk. Apply it to your hair and leave for some 20 minutes. Rinse off.

*** Recipes from HERE

Natural for a Cause

I received this in an email and, as a woman employed as a professional educator (school counseling), I wanted to share.

Naturally Me will donate 25% of all orders and 50% of all consultant kits that are purchased in the month of march to Operation Prom Dress. Operation Prom Dress\NCSG will collect prom dresses and give to HS Seniors who cannot afford to purchase a dress of their own. You can make your skin soft and beautiful and also help out a worthy cause at the same time. Naturally Me products are 100% natural and vegan friendly.

There are so many kids who miss out on some of the cool activities at school like prom that most of us took for granted as part of the high school experience because of money. Now that many people have lost jobs and the wallets are tighter, this is a cool way to support a small business while also giving back to teens who are less fortunate.

Check it out: http://www.naturallymebychaundra.com/

Nourishing Hair Butter- A Review

Hey guys and gals! A few days ago I received a 2 oz sample of Nourishing Hair Butter in the mail. The company is called Nature's Indulgence and was founded by Dionne Murphy.

The ingredients are listed as:

Herbal Infused Water, Aloe Vera Juice, Shea Butter, Virgin Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera Gel, Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil, Steric Acid, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax, Glycerin, Optiphen, Vitamin E, Essential and Fragrance Oils and Grapefruit Seed Extract.

As you all know, I have my hair in box braids which I got about a week ago. This past weekend I spend some time in VA where it was really cold and dry. I decided this would be a good time to try out the product and see what benefits it could add to my hair.

The night before I left, I washed it and blotted dry. I added my conditioner on top and let my hair dry. After it was dry, I took a good sized dollop, about a quarter, in my hands and emulsified it. I applied it to the length of the braids on one side and added a little extra to the ends. I repeated this all over my head until each section of braids was moisturized.

The first thing I noticed about this product is the smell. It is light and fresh and almost fruity in a way. The texture is light and whipped. It absorbed quickly into my hair and left behind the lovely scent which was present but not overpowering.

Overall, I like this product. It is a nice light moisturizer but probably not enough by itself if you really like heavy creams for your hair. I would use this under an oil probably. I will have to try it again after I take my braids out to see how my hair like it for twists and other loose styles.

Thanks to Dionne for the sample and good luck with your business.

If you'd like to check out her other products, visit her blog and site!

Product Placement

For many, going natural is not just about a change in styles but also a change in what we use on our hair. After 10 years of being natural myself, I know I have done my fair share of PJ-ism! I've gone through phases of ONLY using natural products, then trying to find the cheapest effective products, then searching for specific ingredients, and so on. There have been full bottles of product that never get touched once I use it and determine it doesn't work for me. Then there are others that most people denounce that seem to work like magic on my hair.

So...I am really interested in seeing what you ladies (and gents) out there are loving right now to care for your tresses!

I want to compile a list of CUPs (commonly used products) and sort it by hair type/texture/length. So what I need from you is to send me your list of fave products along with a brief description of your hair as it is now. Tell me what you keep coming back to gain and again that seems to get the job done right! This includes shampoos, conditioners, gels, oils, pomades, creams, butters, spritzers, etc. All price points are welcome since I understand different people have different budgets. If you make something at home that is the best you 'eva had', send me that too.

With all of the products out there already, and new ones popping up every day, what is your go-to list that works every time?

Send your list/hair description to my email (not in the comments section) to naturallyleslie@gmail.com. After I get a good comprehensive list, I will post it for all to share.

Homemade Hair Masks

Hey guys! I love the idea of using what you already have at home to enhance your natural beauty. Besides, what could be more fun that rolling up your sleeves, getting down-n-dirty in your kitchen, and mixing up something that is both natural and beneficial? Here is a collection of recipes from the net for homemade hair masks you can use when your tresses need some revitalizing. Some are more moisture based while others are for protein. Of course you can add to or take away ingredients as you see fit.

*Masks for Dry Hair

Coconut cream mask

Soften a large chunk of coconut cream in your hands and massage into hair. Wrap your head in a warm towel and leave it on for an hour. Wash out with a gentle shampoo.

Egg mask

Beat two full eggs with 2 tablespoons of water. Apply to clean, damp hair, massaging in well. Leave for 10 – 15 minutes and then wash out with mild shampoo.

Banana smoothie for hair – not for drinking!

Mix 1 mashed banana, 1 full egg, 3 tablespoons of honey, 3 tablespoons of milk and 5 tablespoons of olive oil. Make sure it's well combined and then apply to hair. Leave for 15 – 30 minutes and wash out with a gentle shampoo.

Yogurt hair mask

Separate an egg and beat the white until it's foamy. Mix with 6 tablespoons of natural yogurt. Massage into the hair and leave for 15 – 30 minutes. Wash out with a very mild shampoo.

Avocado hair mask

Mash the flesh of one ripe avocado. Add 1 tablespoon of honey and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix until creamy and then apply to your hair. Leave for 20 minutes and then wash out with a gentle shampoo.

Olive oil hair mask

Whisk up 5 tablespoons of olive oil – it doesn't matter which sort – with 2 full eggs. Massage thoroughly into your hair and then cover it with plastic wrap or a shower hat. Your body heat will help the oil to penetrate. Leave for a minimum of 30 minutes and then shampoo out, rinsing well.

Honey and Olive oil mask

Mix 3 tablespoons of olive oil with 2 tablespoons of honey. Apply to your hair and wrap your head in plastic film or put on a shower hat. Leave for at least 30 minutes and then shampoo as usual, rinsing well.

Banana and almond mask for dry, damaged hair

Mash a ripe banana and add a few drops of almond oil. Mix well and massage into your hair. Leave for 15 – 30 minutes. Wash out with gentle shampoo.

Milk and honey mask

Mix a tablespoon of honey in half a cup of full fat milk. Apply to your hair and leave for 15 minutes. Wash out with a mild shampoo.

Masks to help get rid of dandruff

Fenugreek mask

Soak a handful of fenugreek seeds overnight in just enough water to cover them. In the morning, grind the seeds in the water to make a paste. Apply to your hair and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Wash it out using a mild shampoo.

Thyme hair rinse

Put 7 heaped tablespoons of dried thyme into 2 cups of water and boil the mixture for 10 minutes. Your kitchen will smell heavenly! Strain the mixture and leave it to cool. Lean over a bowl and pour half of the solution onto clean, damp hair. Keep scooping it out of the bowl and re-applying until all your hair is well soaked. Don't rinse or wash out. Keep the other half of the solution for another treatment!

* The above recipes are from HairStyleCity.com

Here's a vid for a Yogurt Banana Hair Mask...

Check out these sites for more homemade hair mask ideas:
DivingCaroline
Long Hair Lovers
HealthRecipes
Natural Homemade Beauty Tips (blog)

Trying not to PJ....

I thought this vid was so cute that I wanted to share it with all of you! Unless you have been under a rock for some time now you have probably heard a lot about the Oyin Handmade products. Thanks to a RAVE review by Curly Nikki, I am itching to try their Honey Hemp Conditioner. Because I am trying to abide by my own PJ rules (considering a-I have no job yet and b-I have tons of other crap I gotta finish), I will not purchase any conditioner until the bottle I have runs out (and this means no three-times-a-day conditioning just so I can use it up so I can run out and buy more stuff!). After checking out their site and seeing Jamyla, the mixtress' hair, I have to say that I think they might be a good fit and I am really curious to see how their products will work on my hair texture.

Five products I am really itching to try:

Juices and Berries (hope it smells as good as it sounds)
Head to Toe Honey Wash (sounds creamalicious)
Honey Hemp Conditioner (can't wiat!!)
Shine and Define Serum (good for edges??)
Whipped Pudding (love anything whipped)

***My B-Day is July 22 so I would gladly accept these as gifts from anyone*** LOL JK!

Here's the cute commercial I was referring to made by a lovely You Tube'r:


So if you have had luck with these products let me know!