Tresemme Naturals Conditioner review!

Product Review: TRESEMME NATURAL CONDITIONER!




If you are looking for a cheapie but naturally inspired conditioner to co-wash with, then I recommend the Tresemme Naturals line:


It seems the big companies are catching onto the fact that less really is more, and we really do not need to have products that are laden down with silicones and cheap fillers for them to be effective!

Great for co-washing!

Not Completely NATURAL!


Ok,  so this conditioner is not 100% Natural but at the price its sold at £5.39 for nearly 1 litre, and I purchased  it the second time around on a 3 for 2 deal at Sainsbury's one day so it was worth it!




Likes:

• Its light
• does not strip my hair, (there are some conditioners that do- trust me!)
• cleans my scalp of oils
• provides a good amount of SLIP (ability to make your hair easier to detangle)
• Light moisture infusion
• Not too many ingredients!

Dislikes:

• the smell...although not bad not fruity enough for me!

Product facts:



• Professional quality, used by professionals

• Silicone-free & light weight

• Affordable

• U.S.D.A. certified organic aloe vera & avocado extracts

• Moisturizes hair, protects against damage & breakage with naturally derived polymers, leaves hair soft , more manageable, looking shinier and feeling 10x stronger after just one use (when used with Tresemmé Naturals Nourishing Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner versus non-conditioning shampoo).

• Dye-free, hypoallergenic, color-safe, great for all hair types

• Not tested on animals

• Made in U.S.A.




Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Fragrance (Parfum), Lauroyl Lysine, Caprylyl Glycol, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Aspartic Acid, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Citric Acid, Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice. USDA Certified Organic Extracts: Aloe Vera, Sweet Orange, and Avocado. 




In Summary!


I have been using this light conditioner for co-washing for a couple of months now and I like it, I also use it to wash the kids hair with and it does a great job, I would not use this for DEEP Conditioning, but you could actually use it as a leave-in too, I have done that for a twist out when my hair was out and it worked great, its actually light enough for me to manipulate through my braided hair under the weave and sometimes I will leave it in for a couple of days!




I have not tried the shampoo, it contains SULPHATES, although a lower amount than usual, I just don't do SULPHATES!




Try it and let me know what you think!






Leave your comments below!

My Protective Style Update!

Hi Ladies...




a couple of months ago, I posted about the protective style challenge I had set myself, well it lasted about a month in the braids, maybe a bit longer.  I decided to switch up the style and a do a long term weave for a couple pf month instead, WHY?  


I think the main reason was styling choices, I love to wear hats and I have a big head, (as my mother always tells me, when you were a baby you couldn't hold your own head up it was so big lol!)  so I find it easier to wear a hat with a weave.  I did the weave myself and I was quite pleased with the results.

Braids: Note the the big MELON HEAD!

These are my 'Healthy Weaving Rules'


these rules are what I follow  whilst doing  the weave and whilst I am in the weave, and I am a long-period weaver!  


I can wear a weave in my hair for up to 5 1/2 months with no breakage!  just growth.  I love the Growth I get from my weave!

WEAVE GROWTH- No Joke...its crazy thick up there!

My Healthy WEAVE RULES and Process:

Disclaimer:  these tips work on my hair, I am not in any way suggesting the same will work for anyone else, please do only what you feel comfortable with.

• Prepare your hair for the hibernation!  just like a bear who hibernates during the winter months will stock-pile his nuts and berries or is it squirrels?  one of the two anyway lol!  I prepare my hair for the weave hibernation, by doing a protein treatment first.  I want to ensure my hair is strengthened for the weave install.

• My treatment of choice...since I LOVE all things that emanate from the earth, I will use HENNA!  it works  for me so why break the habit!

HENNA head:  Excuse the glum face!

• I will then do a deep conditioner, my internal conditioning treatment.  The henna can be drying,so I will  then DC with my Deep conditioner mix.

• I then let my hair air-dry!  I am not that keen on the blow-dryer.

• I will braid my hair in no less than 10 braids ' Leroy FAME style'  for the younger readers I mean, straight back.  I had a stylist last year braid my hair in a spiral, and I hated it, it was too much manipulation for my poor strands!

• I contribute the health of my hair during the weave, or some of it to this braiding method.  

• As the braids are thick and few, the foundation for my weave is strong.  Breakage occurs when the hair is braided thinly and then its pulled and tugged by an over-zealous stylist who tries to sew the weave hair in for eternity!

My Wonky 'DIY' BRAIDS!

• I will then sew the ends of my hair together at the back and across my head.  I need to access my scalp when in my weave, this is ESSENTIAL!

• The weave is then sewn on in a U-shape, starting at the back of my head.

My hair is thick, so I do not braid too tightly, 

• I do not mind that the braids are not the neatest, the main thing is my scalp is not being tightly pulled and I can access my scalp to oil and massage it nightly!

Thats basically it!

Maintenance:

I oil my scalp nightly using my SCALP Hydration Serum and my ROOT Energizer these oil ensure my hair growth is always THICK!

I will Wash and condition my hair weekly, and also do an oils rinse every other day to maintain the moisture in my braided hair.  I use olive oil and it works for me!

Its essential to keep your scalp clean whilst clean and hydrated whilst in the weave, this will give you the best possible chance of growing healthier hair.

Please check-out my selling scalp oil, www.root2tip.com, If you have ever suffered with the syndrome known to black women as ' Head knocking, where by you proceed to hit yourself in the head to relive an itchy spot you can't get to under the weave or wig!  

You will love the the SCALP Hydration Serum, it relieves all  weave, wig or braid associated itchies and grows your hair too!  

Weave Take-down tips!

1. Take your time and slowly loosen each row of cornrow and apply conditioner to each section and detangle, then twist.
2. Continue this until all the cornrowed braids are loosened.
3. Give your hair a wash and then follow-up with a protein treatment, the hair if it has been weaved up as long up as mine, will need strengthening again.
4. Take your time!
5. Do not be alarmed by the hair that sheds, this is a natural process, you have not combed your hair from weeks/months so this is normal!
6. Give your hair a rest, just leave it alone for a week or two.  

Most Important!

The rule is to really rest your hair for the same amount of time that you were weaved up for.  For some people who usually weave back-to-back, failing to do this rest period, may be the reason behind you not seeing thick healthy hair growth  in a weave!

NEVER, NEVER RELAX HAIR FRESH FROM A WEAVE...this is hair HOMICIDE!  especially if your hair is dehydrated.  If you can't wear your hair out, rest it under a wig, hat or scarf, but please let it be!

Please leave me a comment or question!!

www.root2tip.com

Premium Natural haircare For men, Women and children, 

1

Hairducation: What is Hair??

In order to have power over something you have to be as knowledgeable about it as possible, 

Welcome to this short series on the Basic Science of Black hair...


Part 1)

What is hair?

Hair is primarily made of a special type of protein called “keratin.” Keratin is the same tough, water insoluble material that  animal hooves, horns, finger and toenails are made from.

The cuticle (scales) on outside of our hair.

Each hair on your head grows from a hair follicle, a tiny, sack-like hole in your skin.   


At the bottom of each follicle is a cluster of special cells that reproduce to make new hair cells. The new cells that are produced are added on at the root of the hair, causing the hair to grow longer. 

The strands of our hair are constructed  with three layers: 

This is the inside of a human hair!

1) The Cuticle:


 An outer covering of  protective overlapping keratin scales  (think of the scales on a fish!)  

2)  The Cortex:


A middle layer of keratinised protein fibers , ( imagine putting a pencil inside  of a drinking straw, the cortex would be the straw!) 

3)  The Medulla


A central 'core' of round cells within the cortex (imagine filling a drinking straw with tiny beads, the medulla would be the beads, if present in your hair)

A medulla is almost always found in coarse hair, and often is absent from naturally blonde hair and very fine hair.

The living tissue that makes your hair grow is hidden inside the hair follicle. 
The shaft, the part of a hair that you see, is made of cells that aren't living anymore. 


This should be remembered when you are colouring your hair or thinking of perming it!


Hair and skin:


The main difference between hair and skin is, If you cut yourself, your skin can and will heal, since it's  a living tissue.  


If you damage your hair, it can't heal.   As the hair itself is dead!  (only the roots and follicle beneath the scalp are alive)  Healing damaged hair is difficult, tis often better to cut the damaged hair away and wait for it to re-grow again!


Quick hair facts:  

• The average full head of hair has between 120-000 and 150,000 strands of hair growing form the scalp!
• Hair grows on average between 1/4 and 1/2  an inch per month- 
• You can grow in 1 year 6 inches of hair!
• Hair growth can be stimulated by increasing the blood circulating on the scalp.
• The Scalp Hydration Serum on www.root2tip.com and the ROOT Energizer, also on www.root2tip.com, are great ways to stimulate healthy hair growth!
• African hair is the weakest hair of all the races
• African hair has a higher density than all the other races
• African hair can grow to a longer length than you imagined if it is nurtured and treated like silk!

Long Afro hair!!

5 year old girl with waist-length Afro hair!

Healthy Hair  TIP!


The most significant component of your hair is the keratin it's made from.  If your hair is breaking or feels weak, top up the protein in your hair by consuming a diet, high in Protein and invest in at least monthly protein treatments, especially if your hair is chemically processed.


Remember, Protein gives your hair muscle!

www.root2tip.com

Premium natural Haircare solutions for Men, Women and Children with textured hair!

The hair growth cycle...HAIRDUCATION, from ROOT2TiP

Hair Growth Cycle...

Have you ever wondered why in the summer time your hair may grow faster, or at some time during the year you experience some kind of GROWTH SPURT?

Read on for some quick scientific facts about how our hair grows!

The Hair growth Cycle!

Hair Growth in 3 Phases!

There are 3 phases to the way our hair grows:




The Anagen phase ( this is where the hair growth takes place!) it can last between 2 and 6 years!

The Catagen Phase ( this is where the hair transitions and you can shed hair)


The Telogen Stage ( this is where the hair rests and no growth takes place)



So how do we grow really long hair?

It has been said that a persons' 'Anagen phase' is genetic, so the length of time you can grow long hair or that period of which the hair is 'Actively' growing' is determined by genes.  Is this true?  I would say that is debatable.

Long afro hair, shrinkage on the left, stretched on the right!

In truth, 88% of the time all of us are in the Anagen-active' phase of hair growth, but are we seeing that hair growth?  Most of us are maybe only seeing 30-40% of hair growth at any one time, this is down to our styling methods, chemicals in our hair products and bad hair practices that stunt our hair growth and lead to breakage.



Maximise your Anagen phase in 3 simple ways!




Read on...

1)     Keep your scalp healthy.  Keep it cleansed, moisturised and stimulated.

how?  conditions like dandruff, flakes and an itchy scalp to not aid the hairgrowth cycle.  By regularly washing your scalp, oiling it with a natural stimulating scalp oil, I love the scalp hydration serum @ www.Root2tip.com, and by massaging your scalp deeply, you will be sure to maximise your Anangen-active phase of hair growth.


2)    Retain your ends! - 

The ends of your hair are the oldest, by holding onto them and keeping them healthy you will see hair GROWTH!

 Keep your hair moisturised daily and pay attention to the TIPS!  breaking tips will lead to no real hair length, that is noticeable.

3)  Maintain a healthy diet high in protein!

Hair is primarily a strand of protein, so to keep the strands you grow, nourished and healthy from the inside, be sure to eat a diet that includes protein sources: Pumpkins seeds, fish, Tofu, chicken, Soya, beans, pulses to name a few!

So how will you Maximise your hairgrowth cycle this YEAR?

www.ROOT2TiP.Com

the beginning of Premium Natural Haircare...

www.root2tip.com

Protective Style your way to LONG hair this YEAR!

Hi Ladies,

I have been very busy over the past 12 months with my fam, business and just life in itself on the hamster wheel, do you ever get the feeling you are just running and running, not even stopping for water!  thats me alot of the time.

Anyhow, I vow that in 2011, I will update my blog alot more regularly, and let you guys know what I am doing with my hair!  and if what I do to my hair, helps you with your hair then I am doing my job!

God is Great so if he is willing, I will do my best!

I want to start with a 2010 round up of what I did to my hair last year.

The hairstory so far!!

I have been transitioning from a tex-lax I did a couple of years back that allowed me to grow my hair down to near enough waist length but , I was not to pleased with the tex-lax texture...it was great at ending the single strand knots, but I just didn't like the texture I had, so I grew it out.

My tex-laxed hair!- I did not like the frizzy texture!

I was not going to big chop, so I just wore protective styles over the next 2 years and chopped the ends each time I had significant growth.  My hair grows quite predictably, so I probably get around 1/2 inch a month of growth, this is maximised by my fantastic hair oils I make and now sell!  www.root2tip.com check them out ladies!

So what is a protective style?

A protective style is a style that allows your hair to grow and rest but at the same time it 'protects your strand' from the daily wear and tear your hair usually goes through.

Protective styles include:

• Braids- with exstensions are best! 

• Weaves, (on braided hair that is not too toghtly cornrowed)

• Wigs ( I tried this for a while but my hair is thick and since I don't have time to cornrow it that often I don't    usually last that long in this form of protective!! 
• Twists- natural hair or with exstensions ( I prefer exstensions my hair is less likely to tangle this way)

Halfway through my braids! My head is big it takes a while!!

How long do you wear the PROTECTIVE STYLE for?

I usually wear my protective style for maybe between 3-5 months at at time!!  Wow - thats long I have heard many a lady say, doesn't your hair mat?  break, get dry? 

The quick answer to such questions is; yes, no and yes.   It will matt to some degree at the root where it's growing out, my last weave gave me 3 inches of hair growth so there was a little matting, but nothing a gentle touch and a ton of olive oil couldn't loosen!

No, I do not get any breakage, I treat my hair the same whether it's in a protective style or out. the same answer in respect of dryness, my hair drinks water, I have to wash my scalp every other day!

(DISCLAIMER!  I would not reccomend anyone else do the same, but it works for me due to the way I mange my hair whilst in the protective!)

Why do you keep it in a protective style for so long??

I am very committed to the kind of hair that I want, and I have always loved having longer hair, (however I now appreciate ' long hair is in the eye of the beholder, what's long hair to you, may not be long hair to me!)

Long hair to me is full waist length hair, is this an impossible dream to attain- No, especially if you are committed to your goals!

I also like the 'Kinder' surprise effect, in relation to the amount of hair growth I can achieve by just leaving my hair to 'GROW OUT' like a weed in the garden that is my scalp.  

I maximise my GROWTH using two oils, I use the SCALP Hydration Serum, 3-4 times a week and I use the ROOT Energizer 1 x a week.  I have been using this combo of oil for nearly 4 years now and my hair has never been healthier! 

My 2010 weave hair growth, 3 inches of hair in 5 months!

Feed your scalp to MAXIMISE hair GROWTH!!

Its so important to Nourish the roots of your scalp to ensure your roots continue to produce healthy hair.  My scalp loves to drink oils, if I don't oil and massage her for a day or so, she starts talking to me...feed me...feed me!!  its no joke!  my scalp loves to be HYDRATED!!  and why shouldn't she, the hair might be dead,  but the roots are most definitely alive!!

A Dry scalp = Slow to no hair growth!

Too many women I meet around the country whilst doing promotional launch days for my products, when I ask them...' what do you nourish your scalp with?  say ' Nothing or a bit of grease', the next question I ask is ' how often do you grease your scalp?  they then say...after a pause or two, 'not very often, so when I link their thinning hair or scalp problem to this very reason, (failure to nourish the hair roots).

I then go through the analogy God has blessed me with...a gardner will always pay attention to the roots of his crops to get them to grow healthy, he will ensure the roots are nourished and hydrated to maintain growth, this is when the penny drops!  So ladies we are all in the same boat.  

Women you do not have to acept a dry, flaky, itchy scalp, thinning hair or breaking hair!

My solution is quite simple!  Oil your scalp, massage it, keep her clean and she will produce the crops of hair you have always wanted!!

My hair after being in a weave for 5 months!  No Breakage! I trimmed a couple of inches.

If you look at any picture of my hair from now till 4 years back, the common thread you will notice since I have been using the SCALP Hydration Serum and the ROOT Energizer, is the THICKNESS of my ROOTS.  I treat my scalp like a field and cultivate my roots, to produce the crops of hair I want and desire!!

Winter Protective style almost completed- damn my Melon sized head!!

Cultivate YOUR own HAIR CROPS this YEAR!!

So ladies, tell me how will you be ensuring your hair is the way in which you desire it to be??  Its no good wanting something without working for it!!  God says 'if you ask it will be done'.  I am in LOVE with GOD!!  he always blesses my heart with its desires and I try to carry out his work! (but I do put the work in trust me!!)

I love helping women to get ' Healthier hair' and I am on a mission to get us all to love OUR real hair again, that is my passion, my product line will give you the hair you desire if you are consistent, show your hair RESPECT! and TLC! 

I will not stop until the ROOT2TiP Hairvolution, is in full swing!!

Healthy hair is there for the taking...how much do you REALLY want it??

My SCALP's Guilty Pleasure...she gets drunk on these two oils lol!!

www.ROOT2TiP.COM


Scalp oils 100% Natural & shipped internationally

My Henna Tutorial:

Strengthen Your Hair Naturally:

Henna is I believe one of natures best PROTEIN Treatments!

• If you have thin hair
• Hair that is breaking
• Hair that feels weak

Henna promises to:

• Strengthen your hair
• Stop Breakage
• Make your hair feel thicker
• Give you natural highlights based on your own hair colour

When the mix is prepared right you will be seriously addicted to the effects this great powder made up of ground up leaves and herbs has on your hair, relaxed or natural.

My Henna Mix

So what is Henna?

Henna is an all natural dye made from the leaves of the lawsonia henna plant. It has been used since ancient times to color skin (the art of mendi), fiber, and hair. The type of soil in which it is grown affects the intensity and shade of the color, but Henna yields just one type of color: red.

Henna's red color comes from a molecular protein. When Henna is used to color hair, the person is actually bonding a protein coating to their hair, which explains why Henna is the most permanent of dyes.



The red tint on my hair left by the henna!



Protein gives your hair 'MUSCLE!

Protein bonds inside your hair!

Our hair is made up of an ingredient called Keratin, which is a form of protein, the same fibre your nails are made up from.

Protein treatments are used to help “repair” damaged hair by filling in the hair shaft and giving it added strength and therefore longevity.

I prefer natural alternatives to chemicals, so Henna is a great protein treatment for my hair, it instantly makes my hair feel stronger and healthier.

Henna in my hair

  

Protein Overload :(

Protein in hair treatments can lead to the hair feeling stiff and hard when overused, but the hair DOES need protein, especially when damaged.

I usually henna my hair every 8-12 weeks, however depending on your hair type it can be used as frequently as once a month.

Many women who use high-protein hair treatments report that some of the products made their hair feel “dry” or “hard”. This can sometimes be associated with breakage because the hair is more rigid. This is often due to the fact that the women often misuse the products in question. They think that they need a product when they don’t or the product isn’t suited for their hair type.

Do not use too much protein, if your hair is healthy a protein treatment every couple of months is ideal, but it really depends on the health of your hair.

Quick HOW-to? Henna Tips:

1) Buy Body quality Art Henna - this is very important!

2) Mix  1 PACKET with, 1 part coconut milk, any cheapie conditioner you like, Boiled water

3) Ensure the mixture is loose enough for you to apply to your hair as a thick paste

4) Let the mix rest overnight if you want a real colour change or for a couple of hours if you have no time.

5) Spread newspaper on the bathroom floor and wear latex gloves, throw on an old t-shirt and section your hair.

Wear Gloves always unless you want to keep explaining why your hands are ORANGE!!

6) Apply the henna to your hair from root to tip, smooth into the hair gently ensuring all strands are covered.

7) Once completely covered  wrap your head with cling-film, and relax for a couple of hours.

8)  Rinse henna from your hair thoroughly,it can be grainy so use a mild shampoo if having trouble, follow up with a light conditioner, and notice the feel of your hair once it is all rinsed out- what do you think?

My Great Henna Shine

9)  Apply a hydrating Deep Conditioner and sit under a steamer or dryer for 30 mins, rinse and marvel at your hair!

Some people add an acidic ingredient to their mix to help the colour release, I don't as I find it naturally releases when left overnight, as I find adding vinegar or lemon juice too drying for my hair!

I always follow up with a moisturising deep conditioner as the henna as great as the benefits are can be drying on the hair at times.


Try it for yourself and see how your hair improves over time, Indian ladies have been using this for years and their hair always looks long and healthy!


Love yourself, Love your hair

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