The Fulani Method | Using a silk scarf to infuse moisture into your hair

As I type these words, I'm sporting a dampened silk scarf, why? Because I'm trying the Fulani Silk Wrap Method.  You may have heard of moisturizing and sealing your hair.  But have you considered moisturizing and sealing your scarf?

The Fulani Method is a tradition of the Fulani women who hail from Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.  The method is quite simple.  You simply moisturize and seal your scarf before tying around your hair.  You heard me right, you moisturize and seal your scarf.  The idea is that your scarf will infuse your strands with moisture as you sleep.  Or, if you're like me and wear your scarf around the house, you'll experience a moisture boost all day.  I see great applications for this method on when you're out in the sun all day or for instant replenishment whenever your hair is feeling extra dry.

You'll see a video demonstration below.  JoStylin immerses the scalp in water and dips in in oil. This morning I tried a modified version in which I misted the scarf with a spray bottle. This time I didn't include the oil component because I wanted to see how my hair responded to the damp scarf alone.  When I do use oil, I'll apply using the Misto Sprayer.  After a few minutes of sporting a lightly damp scarf, I removed it to assess the results.

Instantly, my hair felt more moisturized.  The little bit of dampness from the scarf allowed my hair to lay down quite nicely. It was like moisturizing the hair with half the work.  I love that I can modify the amount of moisture depending on what hair style I'm wearing.  If I need more moisture, I can lightly wet the scarf under running water. If I want to moisturize the hair without over saturation, I mist the scarf.  This method doesn't take the place of your regular moisturizing and sealing regimen, but it's a nice addition. Especially for those lazy nights when you just want to tie a (damp) scarf around your head and fall asleep.  Thumbs up for the Fulani Method.

Moisturize like a Pro! Welcome to the world of Professional Daily Hair Moisturizers.

Aveda Daily Hair Repair | Nexxus Leave In Moisturizer | Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defense | KeraCare Oil Moisturizer | Paul Mitchell Instant Moisture Daily Treatment.

Some of us have made worth while investments into professional quality deep conditioners, masks and treatments in search of perfectly healthy hair.  Once we fork out our hard earned cash for pricier products, we expect to receive high quality ingredients and amazing results in return.  Over the years, I've found many wonderful staples because I've stepped out of my comfort zone and invested in higher quality.  Now my curiosity leads me to explore the world of daily moisturizers from professional brands.

In my search for the "pro-moisturizers". I realized that most professional brands just don't make a daily leave-in moisturizing product.  Probably because their client base doesn't really use such a product on a daily basis.  But don't you worry, there were plenty of brands who understand the need for instant moisture (and hair repair) day in and day out.

AVEDA DAMAGE REMEDY (Naturally Repairs + Protects)
This product has been a staple of mine for years.  I'm not a fan of thick moisturizers for fear of product build up.  This product is light, creamy and practically melts into my strands.  I also appreciate the addition of quinoa protein (which has a low molecular weight) to provide a bit of strength.  Because it's an Aveda product, this moisturizer is loaded with botanicals and extracts.  Even if I add other moisturizers to my rotation, this Aveda Damage Remedy will always be a staple.

Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defense
After being blown away by Philip Kingsley's Elasticizer Extreme pre-poo treatment, I asked myself, "I wonder if they have a daily moisturizer?" Turns out they have a liquid daily-leave in to aid in elasticity, detangle, and help protect the hair during styling.  In an effort to further boost moisture levels, I'll be experimenting with substituting water in my L.C.O regimen with a liquid moisturizer.  This product just might be just what my hair needs.

KeraCare Oil Moisturizer
I love Keracare's Sulfate Free Shampoo. I adore their Humecto conditioner. I'm sure my hair will also fall in love with their oil moisturizer.  Way back in the day, I used Motions oil moisturizer on a daily basis (and Luster's Pink Oil Moisturizer before that). Maybe Keracare's moisturizer is the next evolution of oil moisturizers.  Oil moisturizers are perfect for when you need a heavier level of moisture (like when you are doing high manipulation styles).  I love how the product already comes loaded with oil which can save time in having to layer/seal with oil.  They're also great to travel with or to keep in your bag because one product usually does the trick.  I've added Keracare's Jojoba Oil Moisturizer to my cart.  Will review once I've had a chance to try it.

Is this the most effective way to Moisturize & Seal your hair?

Psssst.  I want to let you in on something.  It's a new technique I've been using lately to moisturize and seal my hair.  From my first couple of days with experimenting, I think I will use this technique for life.  I'll start by saying that I had done a poor job of moisturizing and sealing prior to learning about the L.O.C/L.C.O technique.  Once I got hip to that, my life changed.  Then fate led me to the Evian Facial Spray mist which changed the game.

Just recently,  I found and fell in love with these mini aluminum misters which I adore.  It seemed like everything was darn near perfect.  How could they get any better?  That's when I took a hard look at my technique and asked myself "what do I need to do differently?"  Currently, my biggest struggle was evenly moisturizing my hair.  I tend to focus on the hair I can see. As a result, some areas suffered.  I'm in the process of gingerly nursing it back to health but it takes a bit of effort for me to focus on those areas.

Rachie | Lade | Me

The solution to this problem (of evenly moisturizing in little time) was so simple I can't believe I haven't done it sooner.  All I did was section my hair into 6 or 7 loose plaits.  Once sectioned, I was able to quickly mist the length of each braid.  When braided, all the hair in that section is very accessible.  There aren't tons of layers hiding under each other.  I no longer have to lift my hair or move hair out of the way to access the deeper layers.  It worked flawlessly. It saved me time and it was really effective.  Not too mention that, overall, this technique requires less manipulation than if I were to moisturize in small sections without braiding.

Some nights, I left my hair braided and unraveled the braids the following day. But if I'm not going for the wavy look, I could easily unravel once I've completed the moisture replenishment session.  Call me crazy but my hair seems to hold moisture longer ever since I've been using this technique.  Perhaps it has something to do with my new little aluminum sprayer.  The water particles are smaller than from the Evain spray bottle.  I'm of the belief that smaller water particles are easier to absorb by the hair follicle.  This combination of deeper moisture plus the enhanced technique has been pretty amazing.  Would you like to try?

p.s. Naturals typically use this method before twistouts/etc which I think contributes to their length retention, among other things.  I'll create a post on that topic in the future. 

DIY Evian Facial Mist

When I first discovered Evian's Facial spray, I got so excited that I immediately made multiple orders.  Some, I gave away. But I kept most of them for myself. Yes, I used them frequently as a facial spray. But I got the greatest benefit by incorporating Evian in my L.C.O routine.

The other day, I walked over to my stash of Evian sprays only to discover that I had only one 1.7 oz bottle left. How could this be? Have I used that many bottles?  After a few more minutes of searching, I conceded knowing that I had indeed almost run out.  That's when I realized that if my usage continues at the same rate, the cost could really add up.  My next thought was to find a way to make my own version of this wonderful mist.  A couple of searches online led me to these nifty little aluminum misters.  I like the fact that they're easily refillable and they're made of the same material as the Evian Facial spray bottle. 

Here's why I got three of them.  Do you remember my Instagram Beauty Secrets post where I featured a high end facial spray from Chanel?  Well, I actually took a trip down do the mall to test it out.  Chanel incorporated moisture binding ingredients to extend the duration of moisture.  Water on its own will evaporate pretty quickly so I appreciate that they took their formula to the next level.     

I too would like to experiment with various formula's since I now have complete freedom to do what I please.  One will be purely water but I will test out various hair mist blends as well as an enhanced facial mist.  By the way,  these bottles are ultra affordable and their mist game is on point.  As a matter of fact, they actually create a finer mist than the Evian.  I love that.

Hydrate your sexy | Evian Facial Spray

Ever been in a situation were you didn't know you needed something so badly until that thing came crashing into your life? It wasn't until a few days ago that I realized how integral a spray can of water would be to my well being.  Yeah, that's right. I said "my well being."  After learning of this amazing gift on Instagram, it became the first item on my want-list. Similar to how one would move a DVD to the top of their Netflix queue. Luckily I found a great deal featuring a full bottle and a travel size for under $10.00.  As I waited for my package to arrive, I thought about the many ways I would use my new babies.

captured from the Instagram Secrets post

The travel size Evian spray would immediately go in my handbag.  I envisioned myself sitting on the  plane and nonchalantly reaching into my bag and misting my skin with moisture.  The size of this thing is perfect.  Small enough to fit in pretty much any size purse.  One or two mists is all I need.

The moment my package arrived, I knew I made the right choice.  I have this weird affinity for ultra fine mists.  Evian facial spray provides a fine, subtle mist that spreads evenly over the face.  After using, my face feels hydrated, not wet, and it gives me this nice dewy look that I so much appreciate.  What  I really love about the spray is how it feels cool to the skin.  Whenever I get too hot, I mist.  Instantly, I feel cool and comfortable again.

I bought two pairs, but after using, I immediately decided to give a pair to my mom.  I thought of her hot flashes and how much relief she could get.  She's always working in the garden or doing something physical that has her breaking a sweat.  She keeps her Evian Spray in the fridge to keep it even cooler before using.  I love them so much that I decided to get three more sets.  Oh, did I mention that I've been using it to moisturize my hair?  If you recall the LCO moisturizing technique, it begins with you applying a liquid to your hair prior to adding a creamy moisturizer and finishing with a light nourishing oil.  Well, I have found my new liquid!  Evian works exceptionally well because the mist is distributes evenly and is so light!  Perfect for creating instant moisture.

Have I stressed enough how much I love my new facial misters?  Even if they didn't flawlessly moisturize my hair, I'd still think these are the best things since sliced bread.  You must have one (or three).


 

Update| Is the Thairapy 365 Conditioning Iron worth it?

It was just the other day when someone left a comment on a post asking about an update on my Thairapy Conditioning Iron.  First thought that came to my mind was "oh yeah.....my conditioning iron."  Seems like I may have forgotten about it.  Somehow it found its way back to the depths of my hair product closet.

Why had I stopped using it?  Most like because for the past couple of months, I tried my hand at air drying again and didn't figure in the conditioning iron into that regimen.  Prior to shifting to air drying, I would sometimes forget to use the iron during my wash routine. The iron is one of those things that you do that doesn't have any obvious immediate impact. You run it through your hair and nothing seems to happen.  But honestly, it did make a difference in the overall results.

On Sunday, I decided that my air drying stint had run its course and it was time to get back to roller setting. This time, I would need the help of this iron to get my hair back on track. Weeks of air drying left my hair frizzy, dry, and really fragile.  I needed something amazingly powerful to help bring life back into my hair.  The Thairapy iron was exactly what I needed to get the job done.

But this time I would use the iron in a way like never before. Instead passing the iron over my hair with conditioner, I would use it during the roller set just after I misted each section with my Biolage Keratindose and Inphenom mist.  Each section was parted, detangled and misted with leave-in then I used the  Thairapy iron.  Roller setting texlaxed hair isn't as easy as it used to be.  The texture is very present which makes for somewhat poofy roller set.  But, with the conditioning iron, the hair is flattened and tamed prior to rolling.  This gives it a mild straightening effect without ANY heat. Thairapy claims to infuse products deeply into the strands while sealing and protecting the cuticle layer.  And I experienced all of that on Sunday.

My curls tumbled down onto my shoulders as I removed the rollers one by one.  Each curl appeared smooth, shiny and (best of all) healthy. This was a far cry from the appearance of distress my hair showed just a couple of hours earlier.  The comments from hubby sealed the deal for me.  That morning he mentioned how my hair appeared darker and later that evening he threw in a couple "your hair looks good" randomly in between sentences.

I've made a vow never to go without this iron on wash day again.  It is an absolute must for healthy hair. Not only does it tame my thick hair but Thairapy elevated my moisture levels.  I have a timer notification that sounds every day at 2:30 pm reminding me to moisturize my hair. Yesterday, I touched my hair as the timer went off and concluded that it didn't need any external moisturizing at that moment.  My hair was doing just fine.  So, in response the question of the beloved reader asking me if the iron is worth it.  The answer is YES!



Thairapy Conditioning Tool @ Neiman Marcus

Biolage Keratindose Leave-in just got better.

This post is brought to you by a wonderful reader who connected with me to share the good news regarding my beloved Matrix Keratindose Leave-In.  Here's what she had to say:

"Thank you for the Biolage Keratindose suggestion! I have FINALLLY found my one true love!!!  I had to let you kow that Beauty Brands has the mini purse size (gift with purchase) for free!  We need this in our life!  Be sure to get one.... or two:)"

Seconds later, I was on the Beauty Brands sight desperately trying to get my hands on some. Unfortunately for me, they don't have that offer online and there isn't a Beauty Brands location in my neck of the woods.  Before panic began to set in, I headed over to Amazon as a last resort.  And, of course Amazon had my back. They had 1 oz bottles for under $5.00 including shipping.

My hair really began to thrive after my 7 day Moisturize and Seal challenge.  For the most part, frequent moisturizing has become a habit for me.  When I travel though, it becomes a challenge.  Just the other day I had to moisten my hair with water, from the tap in my hotel bathroom, before misting it with a few sprays of CapriClear coconut oil.   Since I'll have a mini Keratindose with me wherever I go, I never have to worry about being stranded with dry hair ever again.

For those of you who weren't throughly convinced for buying a full size bottle after reading my first review, perhaps you can dip your toes in the water by trying the mini size.


(p.s.  I did pick up two)

Product Review | Biolage Keratindose Leave-In

If you haven't picked up a bottle of Biolage's Keratindose leave in yet based on my craving post, I'm here to tell you that you have made a terrible mistake and lost valuable time.  My shipment arrived last week.  By the time the package arrived, my wash day was over a week overdue.  At this point, my hair was in need of moisture so I decided to put the Keratindose to its first test.

 Instinctively, I reached for the Pro-Keratin Leave in and began to mist my old, dry, bun.  Even before Keratindose touched my hair I knew I was in for a treat.  Because the bottle is clear, I could actually see the product.  By the looks of it, the Keratindose is a creamy leave-in in a spray bottle.  Creamy leave-ins are a dream come true for thick, coarse hair like mine.

Then I sprayed......Then it touched my hair.....Then I fell in love.  After placing my Keritandose on the counter, I picked up my Misto sprayer and sealed my hair with oil.  I am not kidding when I say that my hair was ultra moisturized the entire day.  No, let me correct my last statement.  My hair wasn't just moisturized, it actually felt conditioned all day.  Conditioned hair is on a much higher level than moisturized hair.

Biolage's Keratindose has filled a GREAT VOID in my hair regimen.  For the longest time I've been looking for a creamy leave in with ultra miosturizing qualities.  But, at the same time, I enjoyed using a watery leave-in for detangling purposes during the roller set.  I thought I would never have my cake and eat it too.  But, my friends, Keratindose has come into my life and changed everything!  EVERYTHING!

Keratindose looks like a hydrating moisturizer but sprays like a watery leave-in

This is the most conditioning/hydrating leave in I own!  It sprays like a watery leave-in but it operates like a creamy leave in.  On top of that, my Keratindose detangles my hair like a BOSS!  In fact, I'm gonna say that I like it much more for detangling than my It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In.  Why?  For two reasons:

1. Gives waaaaaaay more slip. Which means easier detangling.
2. I've never had the urge to use It's a 10 on my non-tangled hair. Usually I just use it as a spot treatment on my difficult tangles. With Keratindose, I want to use it all over.  

 This stuff is so amazing that it actually coaxed me to experiment with air drying again.  This past weekend was my first successful air dry in years.  Biolage has stepped it's game way up with this product.  My household will never be without it again.   To me Keratindose IS the definition of a leave-in conditioner.  Meaning, it doesn't feel like I'm applying a leave-in product, it feels like I'm using a leave-in that actually conditions my hair.

  You need this product more than you know. Those people who left glowing  Amazon reviews were speaking the honest truth.  I have nothing else to say. Just trust me on this one.

Why I'm going back to Dry Deep Conditioning

As a follow up to my 7 day moisturizing & sealing challenge, I want to let you into the part of the story I didn't share in that post.  I sang the praises of how daily moisturizing preserved my hair  during the pre-poo manipulation process.  I was so happy with the results, I thought nothing could go wrong.  After pre-pooing, I jumped into the shower to wash and prepare for the deep conditioning. Once complete, I stepped out of the shower, allowed my hair to partially dry and began to apply the conditioner section by section. 

Here's where things seemed to go wrong.  With every application of product, I would look at my hand and find broken pieces of hair. Some short, some longer.  How in the heck did that happen?  Just minutes prior I was patting myself in the back  for a wonderful experiment which seemed to create the most amazing outcome.  Now, suddenly, I was brought back full circle. 

The first thing I did was analyze why this was happening.  Why was my hair responding poorly to a simple thing like applying product.  The only answer the came to me was the possibility that my, already moisturized hair became over saturated with moisture after the wash.  All the conditioning/protective product was washed out when I shampooed, leaving swollen strands of hair.  Then, as I applied thick conditioners, my fragile damp hair succumbed to the pressure.  I'm not sure if my theory holds true but I'm willing to practice rule #2 in setback avoidance and act fast!  After I rinsed the conditioner from my hair, that breakage I was experiencing seemed to go away. It was like the product protected my hair during the wet manipulation.

The very next wash day, I'm going to conduct a dry pre-poo/deep condition.  Meaning I will apply product to my dry hair, then steam and use my conditioning iron.  Then, I'll step into the shower, rinse, and use cleansing conditioner.  For my scalp, I will apply some essential oil during the pre-poo step when I have the most access to my scalp.  If this works out, every 2nd or 3rd wash I will clarify to keep product build up at bay.  Actually, dry deep conditioning was something I did previously but somehow, I gravitated towards the more traditional approach.  But after last week's experience, I think I'm ready to go back to the non-traditional route.  Keep you updated!

7 Day Challenge | Regular Moisturizing + Sealing

The other day I thought back to my first 7 day challenge. Basically, I picked an action and challenged myself to do it every day for a week. My first challenge was pretty successful.  I made the commitment to work out daily and followed through on my promise no matter what it took.  At the end of the 7 days, I felt a strong sense of accomplishment and knowing that anything was possible.

So I said,  why stop there? Why not keep this going with other challenges?  After a few minutes of contemplation, I decided to partake in a daily moisturizing challenge.  My motivation was to recreate a time, long ago, when I would apply a small amount of oil to my hair a couple of times a day.  After a while, others noticed that my hair appeared healthier and the compliments poured in.  Since that time, I've strayed far away from that habit.  In fact,  when I was bunning almost daily, it was not uncommon  to go days without moisturizing. 



My first action was to grab my trusty Iphone so I could create a daily reminder. A total of 3 daily reminders were set.  One in the morning, one midday and a third in the evening.  If the timing was right, I would moisturize and seal up to 3X daily.  But, honestly, I was happy to do it even once a day.  A week has now past and now it's time for reflection.


 Because of the frequency in product application, I chose Gleau oil blend which is light enough not to weigh the hair down. As  expected, my hair looked and felt better overall by the end of the week. Normally, by wash day my hair is pretty dry. But this past weekend, things were different.  Overall my hair still retained moisture and had some "hang time" even on wash day (which never happens).  The best part of this experiment came as I conducted my pre-poo session.  Since I don't do much combing during the week, my pre-poo usually results in lots of broken and shed hairs due to all the manipulation.  Not this time.  In fact, this was probably the most successful pre-poo to date.  I've never lost this little amount of hair during the pre-poo before.





I can't deny results like this.  Even though a week has come and gone, I will continue this practice as much as possible. It's definitely a keeper for me.  One thing I will do differently going forward is part my hair in sections when I apply product so every strand receives the benefits.  Another opportunity missed, that I will do more, of is seal my ends every 3rd day or so to further protect from all the manipulation.  Since this 7 day ritual was so successful, I've begun thinking of future experiments to  conduct.  Maybe a 7 day inversion challenge or a 3 liter of water a day challenge.  Who knows? The sky is truly the limit.  If you are battling chronic dryness, I urge you to try this for a week and see how your hair responds.  

Proof that drinking your water can make you beautiful

How is everyone doing with their water drinking? You didn't think I forgot, did you? Just because I haven't touched on the subject lately, doesn't mean we still aren't taking on this challenge! If all of my past begging, pleading, and shouting from the rooftops didn't convince you to drink more water, maybe this will.

 Sarah, a 42 year old woman was suffering from health symptoms including poor digestion and reoccurring headaches. Desperate to try something to cure her ailments, she sought the help of a medical professional who encouraged Sarah, to increase her daily water intake to 3 liters. Sarah was willing to try anything to address her health concerns but little did she know that three liters of water would benefit her in ways she couldn't have imagined.

(source)

 The image you are seeing before is the transformation Sarah experienced after only four weeks of drinking three liters of water a day.

• The bags under her eyes are gone.
• Dark circles disappeared.
• Her skin tone is even toned and brighter.
• Her lips are plumper.
• Wrinkles have diminished greatly. 
• She appears almost decade younger than she did just four weeks earlier. 

If this isn't enough to keep you inspired every time you take a sip of water, I don't know what is.  Sarah also experienced improvements in her digestion, her flexibility and her headaches disappeared.  She even lost a little weight during the process and experienced improvement in her cellulite.  

Last week I traveled across the country to attend business meetings.  I posted on my instagram page an image of my water along with other necessities to maintain moisture levels.  I know the devastation that occurs when we are dehydrated.  A counterpart and I hosted the meeting for our department.  Throughout the entire 3 days, I kept a 1.5 liter bottle of Fiji water on hand from which I sipped regularly.  I didn't see her drink anything during the entire session.  On the last day, I caught a glimpse of her arms and legs which were scaly and clearly parched.  As we hugged goodbye at the close of the meeting, I begged her to start drinking more water.  The look on her face let me know that she understood exactly what I meant.  She confessed that drinking water was an opportunity for her then vowed to take better care of herself.  Like Sarah, her face showed signs of premature aging that I'm certain will correct itself if her water intake increased.  

What's most interesting to me about this article is the amount of water Sarah drank.  I have this theory that various level of water intake provide different benefits.  If we only drink a couple of cups a day (like Sarah did pre-experiment). The benefits are minimal.  We are able to stay alive. Basic functions are operating, but at the same time, our health is impacted.  Then, as we increase our water to maybe 1 liter or 2, we start feeling better. Toxins are eliminated at a faster rate. Things get better.  But when we veer into the territory that lies just beyond 2 litters (up to a gallon a day), then something wonderful happens.  Our bodies have enough resources to deal with the pressing health issues. Then finds that it can also focus on what I  call "beauty benefits."  

Beauty benefits are when your skin starts to clear up, your scalp isn't as dry as it used to be, your nails grow in nicely, your hair flourishes and you have an all over glow.  Who wouldn't want that?  I know you want that.....don't you?  

Then drinking your effin' water.