Henna - How to?

I love Henna,

as it affords me stronger thicker hair, check-out my video for my mix!!

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, 

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From India with LOVE xx...

The power of...Ayurvedic Haircare


Ever wondered why ladies of Indian descent always seem to have long flowing locks?

Do you remember when you were at school and your Indian class-mate with her long braids hair always smelt of a strange oil? More than likely it was Jasmine oil or coconut oil...whatever it was it worked wonders!

Well I am here to say how about adopting something Indian inspired into your life...forget about the Curries and Naan bread, I mean Ayurvedic haircare techniques.

AYURVEDIC HAIRCARE 101- The Basics

No matter what type of hair nature blessed you with, there are things you can do to keep it healthy, lustrous, looking its best, according to the tradition of Ayurveda, the 5,000-year old system of holistic healing that originated in India:



1) Oiling the hair and scalp:


A warm oil scalp massage two or three times a week will help stimulate growth and moisturize the scalp. You can use a good quality coconut, almond or olive oil.

Apply some mildly warmed oil to your hair and gently massage into your scalp evenly with your fingertips. Leave on overnight if you can, if not, leave on for at least an hour or two, then get it out by shampooing your hair. The scalp massage helps you relax and aids sound sleep as well.

Oils to use:

Coconut oil
Almond oil
Olive oil

A lovely coconut oil...

One of my favourites is this one by parachute...its a premium brand and smells divine- you'll be surprised how shiny it makes your hair. Try it on damp hair and let your hair dry naturally...and watch that shine.

Buy this from your local Indian wholesaler or grocery shop

2) Henna- Natures best Protein treatment!

This videos show how you should use it...see below for reasons why!

Henna is traditionally used in India and West Africa as a hair conditioner, strengthener and natural colourant.

Benefits:

It will thicken your strands

It will strengthen your hair and may help with breakage

It is 100% natural

Inexpensive to buy

You will see a difference from the first application

My favourite brand is...Karishma- body quality art henna

My Henna-mix Recipe:

1 pkt of Karishma Henna

1 tub of natural yhoghurt

2 tbsp honey

2 oz Olive oil

Add all to a metal bowl, mix well and leave it for 1-2 hours for conditioning benefits or overnight to use as a conditioning treatment with colour!

WARNING!!

Always apply oil to your hair as a hot oil treatment prior to using henna...do not rinse it out as the henna can be drying!

Only buy 'body quality art henna' as it is a fine grain...and better quality and purer

Do not add anything acidic to your mix- as it can be drying enough on the hair, the colour will release if left overnight naturally.

Follow up your henna treatment with a moisturising deep conditioner, add oil to the conditioner to increase moisture.

The colour your hair becomes varies from head to head- natural highlights!)

3) Using Herbal powders:

Amla, Shikakai, Maka, Brahmi or Neem

Using these Ayurvedic powders is said to have the following benefits for your hair:

• They stop hair breakage
• Strengthen the roots
• Strengthen the hair
• Condition the hair
  

How to use them?:

For conditioning and strengthening effects, use 1 tbsp of Amla + 1tbsp of Brahmi or Maka and make a tea with it, put in in a mug and let it brew, once brewed use an old stocking to strain the liquid off into a large jug and ass another cup of plain water.

Use this tea to rinse your hair with, after saturating your hair in coconut or olive oil and leaving overnight. Pour over your hair and do not touch your hair just let it sit their on the scalp for 5-10 minutes, then proceed to rinse it from your hair.

Follow up with a deep conditioner treatment for at least 45 mins!

Different tea mixes for different conditions:

(add 1 tbsp of each of the following)

Brahmi + Amala = conditioning

Amla + Shikakai = cleansing

Amla + Neem = Deep clean/dandruff

Maka + Amla + Brahmi = Super conditioning/strengthening.

My Ayurvedic experience...

I have been using henna for the past 12 months and it really has helped to make my hair stronger and thicker as well as giving an incredible shine.

I have recently started using the tea rinses and again they really are great at strengthening the hair. It takes a while to get into a routine with them, but once you do there is no stopping you.

Natural is best for me, so I love all things given to us from Mother Nature...

My Ayurvedic Results so far:

Check out the shine I have got from my recent henna treatment:

This is the colour my hair has become...I only henna every 3 months or so:

It has also helped me to retain length by strengthening my strands:

So what are you waiting for...try something natural and beneficial for your hair!

Think out the box...

You can also buy oils with Ayurvedic herbs like amla and brahmi in them, these are also great for your hair as a hot oil treatment, or a leave-in oil.