Blessings and a T-Shirt

About a week or so ago, I received my 'UnTouchable' T-shirt that I designed. I was so impatient when I ordered it, I almost went for a walk, just to show people. But I told myself to chill out.

This Friday I had my chance to show out. I was so excited! I couldn't wait to go out and stick my chest out so people could look. I went with my mom to get some groceries and to treat ourselves to some cupcakes. While we were sitting on a bench outside, eating our cupcakes, this lady walks past us, and my mom says "Hey I like your hair!" the lady looks at us and smiles and was like "Hiii I wanted to say something to you guys but I didn't want to bother you!" She tells us that she has a natural hair salon a few doors down, and that she makes natural products.

 My mom and I of course get really excited and she asks if we're going to be there for a minute so she can run upstairs to get a couple cards to give to us. When she comes back, my mom is like, "Lauren, stand up and show her your shirt!" She tells me she likes it, and I tell her that I'm a natural hair blogger and I focus on natural hair care, styles, tips, and I also do hair. That sparks another wave of excitement with us and the next 10 minutes are filled with us exchanging info about ourselves and our businesses (also about cupcakes) and I find out that she needs natural stylists in her shop!

YESSSS! Hopefully I'll be in a shop soon then, and will move on to the next level in this journey. Y'all don't understand how excited I've been this weekend just off of those 10 minutes

Make sure you visit her website and support her! because just LOOKING at her products are enough to make you want to throw your money at her:

Store: http://silkpaperflower.storenvy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silkpaperflower

Product Review: Cassandra's Hair Potion

*I am not being paid for this review in any way. Guarantee to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth so help me God*

SO. Let me tell y'all about my new favorite product: Cassandra's Hair Potion.
Let me start off by saying that I have 3C and 4A hair with a splash of 3B in my 'kitchen'. My hair soaks up oil then acts as if I've never fed it before, so along with conditioning and protein treatments, I either have to moisturize every other day, or put heavier products in my hair to maintain moisture. I went on etsy.com to find some new products to share with y'all (and also shine some light on lesser known businesses), and I came across Cassandra's Hair Potion's page. The picture of the Extreme Moisturizing Cream looked so thick, and creamy, and I HAD to try it, so I immediately emailed her.

Ms. Cassandra was more than willing to share a sample, and I had it in my mailbox in a day. It was very well packaged; I was expecting little tiny jars, but I was blessed with plenty to try. the products came in a thick padded envelope inside another box.  I received Peppermint Bliss, Yummy Gumball, and Strawberry Delight, and a Peppermint Hair Mist.

 

The moisturizer comes in 4 oz ($7) and 8 oz ($12) size jars and 5 different fragrances. I tried the mist and Peppermint Bliss Moisturizer. It's very smooth and thick, and melts fast when you rub it in your hands, and the mist soothes your scalp and stimulates. It has Shea butter, Kokum butter, Cocoa Butter, Coconut oil, Glycerin, Olive butter, Essential oil, and Fragrance oil.

You can use it on wet, or dry hair, and a little goes a LONG way. I tested this moisturizer and hair mist on both my mama's hair and my own. Her hair is more coarse and thick, and it still worked GREAT, and with hair split in 4 sections, I really only need about a quarter size of moisturizer per section.

I prefer spraying or wetting my hair first, to make sure it penetrates, but if I put it in dry hair, I won't have to worry about my hair feeling weird and greasy. It still moisturizes. I only moisturized my hair twice last week, and I honestly really didn't have to, but only did it because i re-flatwisted my hair, so basically I gotta break my habit. My twist out curls are light, bouncy, silky, and smooth.

I love this moisturizer better than using Shea Butter. I'm going to be a regular customer. If you're having issues with keeping your hair moisturized, you should definitely try Cassandra's Hair Potion a try. All the ingredients work together to make you and your hair fall in love, and you can tell that she loves what she does, and puts a lot of love and care into her products.

I asked Ms. Cassandra a few questions so you can get acquainted with her:

How long have you been natural?

About 2 years. Because I didn’t big chop, I don’t have an exact date. As my natural hair grew, I gradually cut the relaxer out. The main reason I went natural is because I wanted my daughters to see the beauty of their own natural hair. I couldn’t expect to show them how to appreciate their own hair, while I had chemicals in mine.

How did you get into the natural hair business?

My daughters have allergies and sensitive skin. Many hair products contain ingredients that my daughters are allergic to, such as mango. Other store-bought products turn my daughters’ skin into a bumpy, itchy nightmare. Products that use chemicals as preservatives and to add heavy fragrances were particularly problematic. Hunting for products became a full-time job – so I decided to make my own. When I would make hair my hair potion for my family, I would also give it out to friends and family. After a while, my friends suggested that I should make it available to others. My labor of love to find a perfect product that would give my girls gorgeous hair without itchy skin became Cassandra’s Hair Potion.
What makes your products unique and special?

What makes Cassandra’s Hair Potion: Extreme Moisturizing Cream unique:

·         Water is not the main ingredient

·         It’s made of natural butters and oils

·         Every ingredient used can be easily pronounced and is recognizable

·         No harsh chemicals

·         No Parabens

·         Helps hair retain moisture

·         Adds shine

·         No alcohol

·         No preservatives

·         Also a great body moisturizer

Where do you get your inspiration for your business?

My daughters inspired me initially. I wanted to create something that would work well with their hair. Then, as I began to hear and read more about other people going natural, I also became inspired by their stories.

Advice/message for new naturals?

There is a huge learning curve in learning what products and hair styles work for best for your hair. Don’t be afraid to experiment and most importantly – enjoy the journey and the experience. I had no idea what a joy it would to understand and work with my natural hair.

Example of product use

I love braid outs. I love how this technique gives a uniformed pattern to my curls while elongating my hair. It’s a style that works for any occasion.
I achieve my braid out by:
1. Separating my hair into sections. I create sections as I go. The amount of hair in section, depends on the desired look. Smaller sections give a more defined look. The bigger the section the less defined it will be. I usually have 12 braids total.
2. Dampen the section just created with Peppermint Hair Mist. Very important that the hair is not wet, but damp. Wet hair will take a longer time to dry.
3. Detangle the section with a wide-tooth comb and/or a Denman brush.
4. I apply Cassandra’s Hair Potion: extreme Moisturizing Cream as my sealant using about a dime-sized amount. Use less or more depending on hair.
5. Comb the cream through the hair.
6. Braid the section.
7. Make another section.
8. Repeat steps above until all hair is braided.

Product sites
website: www.cassandrashairpotion.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hairpotioncassandras
tumblr: http://cassandras-hair-potion.tumblr.com/

Available for sale at:
* Amazon
* Etsy
* Ebay

Daily Regime

Hello UntouchMyHair readers! Okay I have been SUPERR busy trying to get financial aid and other things ready to start my senior year at Florida A&M ! Yayy! Okay so, I would like to discuss with you guys the products I use almost everyday and how I use them! I would also like to give you all a quick run down of my weekly wash schedule and everyday regime.

REGIME: 

I style my hair every night either two strand twist, bantu knots, flat-twist or I will put flix-rods in them. I wash my hair everyWednesday- the first three Wednesdays of the month I will co-wash with my hair with Tresemme Naturals Silicone Free Conditioner or Giovanni 50:50 Balanced Hydrating Calming Conditioner and the last Wednesday I will wash with Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo then I will Deep Condition using a homade deep conditioner ofHoney, Sugar Free/Plain Yogurt, Your favorite Leave-in (If you want to turn this deep conditioner into a protein conditioner add a raw egg to the mixture). I will leave the deep conditioner in for 30 minutes with a plastica shower cap and towel over my head then rinse out, then I will style after. 

STYLING:

Depending on how much energy I have, I will section my hair in four equal parts using Goody Ouchless Hairbands or clips. I apply a leave-in conditioner to each section then I will detangle using a wide teeth comb or denman brush, being gentle with the ends of my hair. I will seal my hair with either Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil, Castor Oil or Africa's Best Herbal Oil (My Favorite!!). I will allow my hair to dry a little because If I style it right away my hair will still be wet in the morning, then frizz will come and we don't want that! Once it's dryed a little I will style my hair whatever way I like using a little Eco- Styling Gel. I put on my satin scarf and in the morning put a little Coconut oil in my hair then set my hair.

PRODUCTS:

 Shampoo:  

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo

Conditioner:

Tresemme Naturals Silicon Free Conditioner

Giovanni 50:50 Balance Hydrating Calming Conditioner

Leave-In's/Moisturizers:

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Intensely Smooth Leave In Conditioner

Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream

Homemade Leave In in Spray bottle (Water, EVOO, Vitamin E Oil, Your favorite conditioner)

Spray Bottle's (EVOO/Water, Aloe Vera Juice/Water, or just plain water)

Oils:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

Unrefined Coconut Oil

Castor Oil

Africa's Best Herbal Oil

Gels:

Eco-Styling Gel

Ampro Olive Oil Gel

Curls Passion Fruit Control Paste

-Toni

Good Bad and Ugly

I can remember sitting in the barber shop. The room filled w/ men, the only exception me and my mother. It actually had the atmosphere of your typical salon just masculine. I sat there listening to the men discuss football, girls and shoes while I waited to be called next to the chair. I sat there examining the man my friend was shaping up. He was a little cutie. Especially with his fresh cut fade. Which of course made me wonder how I'd look after I got up from that very same chair. Would I even still look like a girl? Maybe this is a mistake my hair doesn't look that bad. I say looking into a mirror hanging on the wall. Oh yes it does honey. I admit to myself.  

Finally it was my turn. I sat in the chair looking at my damaged choppy looking hair. There's no point in trying to save the length. My friend Steve was so excited that I had decided to go natural. He's been telling me that a short style would look great on me. His friendly way of telling me my hair is fried perhaps? I half engaged in conversation with him while I sat turned away from the mirror and he took a pair of clippers to my head. I just knew I was going to look like a boy! I'm 5'10 w/ side burns. Ugh. I felt so embarrassed being watched by literally every guy in the barber shop. 

When he finally finished and turned me around the girl I saw in the mirror frightened me. It was definitely me but this could not be my head. This little fuzz ball. I looked like a boy. The compliments coming from my mom and Steve as well as some bystanders floated through one ear out of the other. The only thing my mind was focusing on was this drag queen reflecting back in the mirror. Tears crept into my eyes. What did I just do? 

Steve looked me dead in the eye and told me that I looked beautiful and that my hair cut was bold. 'you're going to get a lot of attention girl so you better own it.'  After I left the shop I felt like everyone was looking at me and they were. I got a lot of compliments on my TWA ! I actually felt really pretty. I still had some insecurity of course. I never really got used to not being able to style my hair. It was nice though. . .while it lasted. Not having to do anything to it, simply wet it and call it a day. 

Many natural say that when they BC'd they were in a state of shock. A shock indeed it was, but it was the beginning of something wonderful. 

I know a lot of people choose to go the big chop route. Many transition. Whatever route you chose to go natural it won't be easy. Its a learning experience. I guess that's why they call this a journey. 

Tell me about your transition into natural hair!

-Piper

Loc Hair Care: Simplified

Loc Hair Care:  Simplified.

                The decision to go natural and later to loc your hair, is not a decision that one enters into lightly.  There are many things to consider when you decide to loc your hair; what products do I use, what size do I want my locs to be, will I use a loctician, what does free form mean?  A person can easily become overwhelmed trying to navigate through all of the information that is available on locs.  While everyone's journey is their own, there are two things that I feel are universal truths; one, you have to figure out what works best for YOUR hair and two, healthy locs are achieved by maintaining clean locs and moisturizing.  There are a million and one videos, blogs, and websites dedicated to loc hair care, product reviews, and tips.  I realize that I'm pretty much a "baby dread" but I have come to the realization that loc hair care has become too convoluted and difficult.  In a nutshell, water, a sulfate and paraben-free shampoo, and oils will be your best friends. 

Water

                Water is probably one of the most important things you will need to maintain a healthy set of locs.  When water is applied to your hair it is absorbed by the cuticle layer of your hair strand.  The cuticle layer is the outermost layer of the hair shaft and our hair's first line of defense.   Water provides the means for the necessary hydrogen bonding between hair fibers to occur that is essential for the maintenance of hair strength, elasticity and integrity. Without this, the hair becomes thin, frizzy, and much more prone to permanent damage and breakage.  In my opinion, it is equally important to increase your daily water intake into your body.  It not only aids in improving bodily functions, maintaining healthy skin, but also provides moisture to your locs from the inside out. 

Shampoo

I know you might be wondering "what is a sulfate and paraben-free shampoo?"  If you are like me and are fully embracing all things natural ever since you transitioned to Team Dread, then using things free of as many chemicals as you can is of huge importance.  Parabens and sulfates are chemicals used in many shampoos today.  Parabens act as a preservative that inhibits bacteria growth, therefore prolonging the shelf life of products.  Parabens contribute hair problems such as the deterioration of the hair follicles caused by the removal of the protective cuticle.  Parabens have also been linked to breast cancer.  Sulfates attract and then break dirt on the hair and scalp.  However, studies have shown that sulfates have been linked to eye damage, hair loss, hair thinning, deteriorates the hair follicle, and slows hair growth.  Sulfates have also been found to be toxic and a skin irritant.  (For more information, see http://www.topsulfatefreeshampoo.com/why-use-paraben-free-and-sulfate-free-shampoo/).  As we have already seen the importance of water in the strengthening of your hair shaft and follicles, it would be counterproductive to use products containing chemicals that aid in the deterioration and damage of the very hair follicles we are trying to strengthen.  

Oils

                I have used a few products since loc'ing my hair that promised to be natural and loaded with natural oils.  In reality, these products are full of chemicals and the natural oil in the product is virtually non-existent.  Why use a product containing the oil when we can go straight to the source and use the actual oil?  Oils are important because once the water has been absorbed by the hair, oils act to seal in the moisture from the water.  Oils also give your hair shine, aid in hair growth by stimulating the scalp, and keeps hair from becoming dry and brittle.  The four most important oils for natural hair and loc'ers are Tea Tree Oil, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, and Grapeseed Oil.  (For more information, see http://blackgirllonghair.com/2012/06/4-cheap-oils-that-work-incredibly-well/).  Tea tree oil is strong and it is recommended that you mix a few drops with water prior to applying to your hair.  Tea tree oil can be used right after shampooing or as part of a daily spray/mist.  Tea tree is my favorite oil because it is antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral.  Tea tree oil also sooths itchy scalp, eliminates dandruff, and unblocks hair follicles.  Coconut and Olive Oil can also be used to moisturize and condition your scalp as part of a hot oil treatment.  There is no need to spend unnecessary money on hot oil treatments full of unrecognizable chemicals when you can simply heat some coconut and/or olive oil and apply to your hair directly.    Grapeseed oil is high in vitamin E which also aids in hair growth and healthy hair.  When purchasing oils, make sure the oils are unrefined, virgin/extra virgin, and/or cold pressed.  Cold pressed oil is obtained through pressing and grinding fruit or seeds.  The temperature must not rise above 120°F (49°C) for any oil to be considered cold pressed. Cold pressed oils retain all of their flavor, aroma, and nutritional value.  These oils are not only good for your hair but have the added benefit of improving the look and appearance of your skin.   

-Shaun Scott

LIFE BEFORE NATURAL

                As a little girl, my hair was always a "problem".  I don't remember a time when I didn't have something in my hair; a relaxer, Jheri curl, sew-ins, braids.  I was always trying to cover up the naps and create the illusion that I had long luxurious hair.  In reality, my hair was damaged, thin, and unhealthy.  My hair was so thin and unhealthy that when I got sew-ins, my hair was too thin to cover up the tracks.  My mother took me to numerous hair dressers trying to get my hair to grow or figure out a way to tame my super coarse hair.  Never was it suggested that I should be my natural self.  My natural hair was something I was ashamed of and as much confidence as I tried to exude, deep down I didn't feel pretty.  In college I went through the phase of getting my hair cut short, which I liked at first, but still required all day appointments at the hair dresser to get a relaxer and maintain the cut.  In addition to that, the daily maintenance of a short cut that needed to be curled added the extra stress of heat.  As I have gotten older I realize that while I love to look good, it has to be with the least amount of effort possible.  Therefore, the short cut eventually lost its appeal and I was back to looking for something else to cover up my hair.  

                My last hair style was what finally made me decide to go natural.  The style was super cute and I stuck with it for a little over a year (which is really long for me).  It was the short hair cut style that Rihanna was famous for (shaved on one side, longer on the other side with a longer bang).  Even though the style was cute, it drove my self esteem even lower because in order to pull off the style, I STILL needed a little bit of weave in the front.  Who needs weave for a hair CUT?  I had had enough.  I decided that as soon as my hair grew out enough for braids, that I was going natural.  I didn't know what I was going to do with my natural hair, but I decided that I would figure that out later.  I began getting braids in February 2009 and wore them without fail until September 2011.  Each time I got my hair re-braided, I cut the relaxer out of my hair little by little.  I was so amazed at how my hair was growing.  There were a few times that I tried to wear my afro out but being new to natural hair, I was unaware of shrinkage.  I tried to blow my afro out to make it bigger but the heat began to damage my hair again so I went back to the braids.  Finally, I decided, you know what? I'm not going to worry about how short my hair looks or what people will say, I'm not wearing braids, weaves, or anything.  I'm going to get locs.  Getting locs was THE BEST decision of my life.   I love my hair.  I love the low maintenance and the carefree feeling my locs give me.  I have been loc'd for almost 2 years and this is the longest and healthiest my hair has ever been.   My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner and avoid a lot of the turmoil I went through trying to understand and accept my authentic self.   

-Shaun Scott

               

Big Chop

I big chopped 9/8/2012 and it has been such an amazing experience. I've learned to care for my hair and watch it grow. My goal is BSL by the end of summer. I've had so much success with hair growth and retention and I could list the products that I use but your health plays a huge part as well. Hair vitamins, natural products, and heat free styling only go so far. I wanted to do a series on health tips that not only help with hair growth but also with overall health. I think we forget our body is a machine working to keep us going. We can't just focus on hair we must focus on the body as a whole.

Hydration is key. You must drink water every single day. It is so important not just for healthy hair but for clear skin, better metabolism, and helps energize muscles. If you want healthy hair drinking water is a must. The amount of water you should drink daily varies from person to person. I personally try to drink at least 2 liters a day. If you take your weight and divide it by 2 that's the numbers of ounces of water you should be drinking daily.

I know a lot of you don't like the taste of water but don't let that stop you from drinking it and staying healthy. It should be health over taste but if you're not quite there yet try making your own vitamin waters. Adding fresh fruit, fresh herbs, and even some veggies to water is a great way to add flavor to water and also add vitamins.

 Vitamin water recipe.<http://www.theyummylife.com/Flavored_Water> 

Sassy Water Recipe.<http://www.asweetsimplelife.com/home/2012/1/16/sassy-water.html/>

-Demetra

He Say She Say They Say I Heard...

I could write a post telling you what to do, what to buy, how to do it, how often etc... 

You can come on here and rant and rave about how frustrated you are because you tried a method someone else told you worked for them, and you expected the same results. I guess this post is for the newbies because I see a lot of frustration on here because some of you had high expectations for your hair, and a couple months later, you're frustrated because your hair isn't growing as fast as you want it to, and it's curls aren't as defined as you were hoping they would be. Some have become complete product junkies and just layer products over each other to get a slick bun, or a shiny twist out. Well I need to tell you something...

Stop.

Your hair isn't the issue. Or a burden. Your hair is doing what it's supposed to. The sooner you realize that shrinkage happens to everyone and that it's not a bad thing, that nobody's curl pattern is the same, and 100 products won't make life easier, the more enjoyable this journey will be for you. Give your hair a chance. Just love it, and take care of it, and you'll be rewarded. Trust me. 

Never take assume all advice or information will apply to your hair. Just because something works for some people and/or the informant has done their research, doesn't mean it will always work for you. If you just want to experiment and see if it works, that's fine. But don't expect everything to work; and don't get upset if it doesn't. Just move on to the next thing. Most, if not all, natural vets have gone through trial and error. We didn't just know what to do, and what to use. You don't get to dodge the mistakes either!

Patience really, really is the key to success with your hair. Be adventurous, be curious, and don't be hard on yourself or your hair when it doesn't turn out how you want. Have fun. Ask questions. Learn about other's experiences, and share your own. You'll be surprised what you learn -- even from yourself!

- Lauren

Rub-A-Dub

I keep procrastinating with creating my hair schedule so pretty much I just oil and style my hair until I feel it's time to wash it.... today happened to be that day. I washed my hair about a week or two ago with this vegetablesomethingorother shampoo that... didnt do bad things to my hair, but I wasn't really feeling what it was doing to it, so today i ACV washed. I have one of those applicator bottles, so i put about a 1/4 cup of baking soda in it, then filled it up with water and squirted it aaallll in my hair. Then I poured some baking soda powder in my hand and rubbed my scalp to make sure i got it good and clean.

then i rinsed the bottle, and poured vinegar in it (typically apple cider vinegar is used but i didnt have that... i had white vinegar). I squirted it all in my hair and it started to fizz up and watnot, feelin good feelin great, and i rub and rub and rinse.

After that's all done I rinsed my bottle and put aloe vera juice in it and saturated, sectioned and combed my hair, and put coconut oil in.

Okay i put too much coconut oil in my hair, so my mom rubbed my head and used some oil on her skin -______-

But anyways, my hair feels clean and moisturized, and my scalp feels so good...

- Lauren

OOh Girl What You Use On Your Face??

You go to a store and head to the beauty section looking for face products. You're looking for something to exfoliate, brighten, and fade blemishes. but what....the....fwhich one do you choose? there's a million products there saying they do the same thing, but different things, and therefore they're better, so you stand there for 5,000 years reading the bottles trying to decide what you're gonna spend your money on.

...........Unless you have lovely people in your life to give you advice on products that worked for them.

So instead of buying a bunch of products to clean, tighten, brighten (no, not like bleaching. imeen you look refreshed and alive), and rid my face of deadskin, I created my own face mask.

I call it my Curry Mask. It has turmeric, Rice Flour, Turmeric, Brown Sugar, Honey, ground oats, and Lemon.

I love it, my mom loves it, I want you to love it too!

If you'd be interested in having products available let me know!

- Lauren

Summer Hair Care

 Ladies! Summer is coming quick, but before we get too excited and grab our cute sun dresses and sandals we have to make sure our hair is protected. Believe it or not the sun can be a threat to your natural hair, but there's always a solution. If you take anything from this let it be moisture!! I can't express enough the importance of it. The sun and heat will leave your hair dry and that's a natural no-no. Keeping your hair moisturized isn't too hard or expensive.

-water can be your best friend (and cheap too!)
-deep conditioner
-leave-in conditioner
-essential oils
-sealant (Shea butter)
If you don't want the hassle, don't worry! There are some really cute protective styles. You can rock braids and twists which lock in moisture. A few popular styles are:
-Box braids
-Senegalese twists
-Havana twists
 -Beeper braids
-Mini twists (with your own hair)
-Sew ins (try avoiding heat)
Don't get too comfortable, you'll still need to maintain the moisture.

- TEONA

Natural Conditioner Experiment

okay so i needed a deep conditioning treatment and i wanted to try to make one so i head to my kitchen and i pull out:

• hemp powder
• honey
• coconut oil
• olive oil
• vinegar
• turmeric

.......... that's it i think.

okay before you gimme that face, understand that these items are pretty normal to use in hair. as conditioners. yea even the vinegar. I did make two mistakes though:

first, i used hemp powder instead of oil. while it didnt do anything bad to my hair, putting it in was kind of messy because it as like putting mud in that quickly turned chalky. then, i used honey even though i know honey does is a baaad idea in my hair. so many ladies tell me they use honey in their hair and i just cant comprehend. it just strips my hair like nobodies business.
but it wasn't too bad though. if i switched the hemp to hemp oil, and ommited the honey, i think i would have something really good.

lemme tell you what does what though:

hemp oil: helps hair hold moisture longer, softens hair, improves elasticity, helps with detangling, and increased natural sheen

turmeric: if you have dandruff, eczema, dermatitis, or some skin issue or condition, this can help (not completely cure) you out a lot. it helps bring circulation and nutrition to scalpy too (heeeyy hair growth)

coconut oil: it brings your hair moisture, helps with split ends, and is a sealant. i would tell you more, but you gotta visit my site :p

olive oil: it's like the natural chick's staple. it's a good deep conditioner, moisturizes and strengthens.

vinegar: i've mainly seen that it helps keep your scalp clean and flaky free. ACV (apple cider vinegar) with the "mother" (that cloudy stuff that lets you know "i'm organic") is better than the distilled though

honey: grrr. i want to like it so bad. but for your sake i'll tell you what i've found about honey, and i'll put this on my website too, so maybe you'll try it and it'll work for you (let me know how it goes and what you did): first off, it's a humectant, which means it draws moisture into your hair. so you got dry hair? it got you. it helps give you hair shine, restores health, helps with hair loss and/or thinning edges (equal parts cinnamon, olive oil, and honey applied to thinning areas 2-3 times a week should help) aaaaaaaaaannd lastly it can be used in a protein treatment (1tbs honey, 2tbs evoo (extra virgin olive oil), and 1 tbs plain greek yogurt. apply to damp hair, put a plastic cap on and sit for 20-30 min or longer if you need it. rinse.)

so at the end, it wasn't too bad. next time, i'll just forget the honey, and maybe add a conditioner base to the powder wont make everything so wet chalky.

if you want to know my exact measurements of my conditioner so you can try it, let me know. but yea, that's my adventure for the day lol.

- LAUREN