Hibiscus Flower - Part 4 - Hibiscus Hair Tonic

I typically cover my white with henna/indigo but I want to try something different.  Also, I am going to pick 20 to 30 hibiscus flowers as called for in the recipe and dry them myself.  This color treatment is suppose to be great for covering greys and providing a rich deep dark colour to your hair. I found this recipe for a hibiscus treatment for both color and conditioning:

"Suitable for those with dark red, brown and/or black hair.

Uses:
1. To strengthen the hair from the papila root to tip
2. To cover premature greys
3. To immediately seal the hair cuticles, stop hair breakage and repair split ends

Preparation time required:
10 to 15 minutes

Over low heat, warm 450-500 ml of water
Add 20-30 dried Organic Hibiscus flowers
Simmer, making sure NOT to let the mixture boil or evapourate - too much heat will destroy the goodness in the Hibiscus.
Remove from heat
The water would have turned a dark purply-pink.
Cool and store in a clean dry jar overnight
In the morning, wash your hair with our Babassu Shampoo Bar, rinse, and then instead of using your regular commercial conditioner use the Hibiscus infusion to condition your hair and scalp.

Do not rinse out.

Cover hair with a towel or cling film.
Leave the infusion on your hair for at least 45 minutes to an hour.
Rinse until all of the colour is gone.
Your hair and scalp will look & feel soft & moisturised.
..and your greys will be naturally dyed & nourished..

Source: Anita Grant

The Best Hair Dryer Ever

This is the kind of "blow dryer" I remember my mother's haridresser using, only my mom faced away from and under the blower so that the heat blowed on her hair and not her face (duh!).  The heat wasn't real hot but it blowed it dry enough for my mother's hair to be pressed and curled.   Oh yeah, only one dryer per customer was needed.

 I am fifty-five years old and when I was a child there were no blow dryers or hood dryers for the home. My mother would wash my hair in the kitchen sink then make me go outside with a comb and dry it in the sun. The good old reliable sun -Nature's lamp and heater.  It's free, it's good for you in small doses and it's everywhere.  The only problem is supply - it can be very iffy in certain places and certain times of the year.  If it was cold or rainy she would open the oven door and  place a small stool in  front of it where I sat combing my hair.

Although air-drying is the least-damaging, hence the "best" method of drying hair, practically speaking it may not be the best if it means wet hair when you leave home.   Indirect heat like a hood dryer helps to speed up the drying process without causing damage.  Both methods are simplistic but when compared to the blow dryer which blasts intense heat up to 400 degrees a mere inch away from the hair, they almost seems like the common sense thing to do.  I put my blow dryer down in 2009 and have never used it once!

I often dry my hair in a warm room, next to a heater or a fireplace.  Once I set my waves I let my hair dry without touching or combing it.

Rosemary Rinse - Hair Growth Experiment - Week 4

Week Four of consistent application of the rosemary rinse. 

The research analyst in me says maybe I should have measured Lee's hair at the beginning of the experiment so that I could have numerical data but the photographer in me says let the pictures tell the story.

To recap, On May 7, 2011 Lee started using a brew of rosemary juice that I made from herb I bought from a Mexican market.  At the end of Week One her hair had a fuller appearance and she said that she applied it every day.  Read that post here "Rosemary.

So okay, here is Week Four's update and it is a doozy.  The comparison pictures below show four weeks growth which on average is usually about half an inch:


She was even able to use a lower temperature on her curling iron because she had natural waves which became very defined.

  Not only is there noticeable growth in length but the condition of the her hair has improved.  She has been using a rosemary rinse every day for four weeks.



Game Changer - "Wild Growth" Hair Oil





Have you ever tried something new, hoping that everything you've heard about it is true?  Well, that's exactly how I felt when I tried "Wild Growth" hair oil.  I had stumbled upon a forum thread asking about Wild Growth and there were so many positive responses I had to look into it.  



The research blew my mind - so many dang-near-unbelievable claims and promises not only from the company but from the users as well.  Also, the ingredients are completely natural (meaning unprocessed or changed).  To find out exactly what is in the oil click here.

One interesting thing about this oil is that it works on ALL types of hair - Black/African, African Mix, Asian, European, Indian, Middle Eastern, Native American, South American hair types.

So of course I had to try it for myself.  That's where the 'game changer" comes in because after using wild growth my hair became unrecognizable.  Like some magic potion offered from a mysterious elf this oil changed my hair into something otherworldly.  It turned my hair from the ugly duckling to the beautiful swan.  It was a joy to touch it, let it down, run my fingers through it, to just look at it.  I was in a store, speaking to a clerk when I turned around to look at something and the clerk gasped, seriously, she gasped and then she said "your hair is beautiful."  I was at an information booth asking directions and I felt a hand on my hair.  A seventy-ish lady was actually touching my hair!!  She used the words "beautiful" and "dahling."  Please don't think I am conceited or dramatic because my hair NEVER received so much attention and admiration.  Here is my hair after using Wild Growth oil for about a week:



Before Wild Growth my hair was as dry as straw, frizzy and easily tangled.  But not only does the oil conditions it actually makes hair thicker and last longer before falling out.  In other words, less hair comes out whne combed or brushed which makes combing less stressful.  My temples were thinning.  In fact they were practically bald.  I was so self-conscious of the bald spots I actually rubbed a lttle eyebrow pencil on them to make less noticeable (at least they seemed that way to me, someone probably thought "why is she penciling in her temples?").  Well, Wild Growth solved all that for me.  Not only has hair on temples grown back in but even better than before!  If only Naomi Campbell knew about Wild Growth.  Here are before and after pictures on my right temple:

I will be using Wild Growth for the rest of my life.  It won't be the only oil I used but it will be a staple.  It's sold at Sally Beauty stores for $7.99 (here in Los Angeles) for a 4 oz. bottle.  Those four ounces go a long long way, I probably buy  every four months or so.

Oh yes, one last thing.  Wild Growth comes in two types.  The heavier, original oil is in the white bottle and the lighter oil comes in the yellow bottle, both for the same price.  If you can, buy both, if you can only buy one get the white bottle.  I use the heavier oil on my scalp alone and the lighter oil on my hair.  Typically I run out of the yellow bottle faster than the white bottle so I try to buy two yellow bottles and one white bottle.  I especially rubbed the oil into my temple area but I did my ENTIRE scalp. 

My scalp itched - a lot - but this is a common occurance judging from the blogs and forums

I really believe in this product - I have not exaggerated anything - and I will be offering Wild Growth for sale on my site in the near future!

Rosemary Rinse - Hair Growth Experiment - Week 2

I haven't had a chance to take pictures of Lee's hair yet but we were in the post office the other day and the postal clerk complimented her on her hair being full.  You woulda thought the woman complimented me as excited as I got.  I told the clerk about rosemary and how it helps your hair grow and she wanted to know more so I gave her the address to my blog.

Anyhoo, Lee's hair is growing nicely and thicker (which is her objective).  Unfortunately, she is going to need a major trim soon so I will be gauging the thickness of her hair more so than length.

Pictures coming soon!!

References:
Rosemary Rinse - Hair Growth Experiment - Week 1
Rosemary rinse

Coconut Oil - Another of Nature's Gifts to Hair

Before I go into all the benefits of coconut oil for the hair I want to clarify what kind of coconut oil is best for the hair.  Any coconut oil that says "virgin" (there is no such thing as "extra virgin") or "pure" is the kind you want.  It doesn't matter the brand, as long as you see one or the other.  From what I've seen so far coconut oil from the Phillipines is labeled "virgin" and  the oil from India is labeled "pure".  So either one is the same thing.

The coconut oil on the left is good for hair while the oil on the right is a mixture of coconut oil with other oils.  Although it's not "pure" or "virgin" it's still useful for oiling the canopy of the hair.

Coconut oil taken internally supposedly destroys viruses (I say "supposedly because viruses can't be destroyed, only contained)  because it contains something called "lauric acid" which is also in human mother's milk. Lauric acid allows coconut to penetrate the hair shaft and start to build-up until it fills the cortex, building up the hair strand from within.  This takes several applications, so once again, consistency is the key to improvement.

The lauric acid in coconut oil can penetrate the cuticle to the cortex and fill it out.

To help the oil reach the cortex of the hair it should be applied when the cuticule is open which happens when the hair has been drenched with warm water.  Coconut oil can be used as a coating oil but I find that it's best when mixed with other oils such as lemon oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil.

Pre-Oiling the Hair

I was watching the news the other day and saw President Obama and the First Lady in an Irish pub drinking a pint.  I was struck by the shine of the First Lady's hair, it gleamed like a mirror and I couldn't take my eyes off it.  Her hair looked so healthy and neat.  I began to wonder how often Mrs. Obama oils her hair and what kind of oil does she (or her stylist) use.  I wonder if she or her stylist applies oil as a finishing touch to only the canopy  (top layer) of her hair or does she pre-oil.

According to ancient practices that are still in use in India, the Middle East, North Africa and regions close by, oiling the hair is always done before shampooing rather than after.  When I first read about this it didn't make sense to me. It seemed that if the hair is coated with oil then shampoo wouldn't be able to get at the hair strand to clean it or at least make it more difficult to do so.  Also, I felt that oiling "dirty" hair was, well, kinda dirty and it didn't make sense to coat the hair with oil only to wash it right out.  But on the other hand, it's been around for centuries so something about it must work.

I found this article that explains the benefits of pre-oiling, what kind of oil to use, and how to do it.  I pre-oil now on a regular basis and it makes a world of difference in texture, pliability and tangles.

Here is another picture of the First Lady's beautiful hair as it shines in the London sun:

Pre-oiling makes hair shiny without being "greasy".

Henna and Iron Pots

This is from the article How Henna Adorns India Women.  I found it interesting because  it recommends mixing henna in an iron pot.  Also, it has another recipe that might be worth trying.

 I've come across the iron pot recommendation on many a Middle Eastern or South Asian web site.  I'm doing more research to find out what the advantage is of mixing henna in an iron pot. The words that are italicized and in bold have been added (by me) for clarity.

"A specific henna mix is made in an iron utensil (pot) and applied as hair dye. A handful of henna is taken in an iron utensil and to it are added a cup of tea de(con)coction, 2 tablespoons of curd (buttermilk) , and one beaten egg. If the mixture is thick a little water is added to loosen it.  The mixture is left overnight and applied in the morning for at least three hours. A henna mix like this makes the hair shiny, prevents hairfall (shedded hair) and cures dandruff."

Rosemary Rinse - Hair Growth Experiment - Week 1

Well, it's been a week now since my cousin, Lee, has been using "Rosemary Juice," the concoction I believe increases the thickness of the hair and "makes it grow."  I don't have any scientific data, no stats and very little detail on the benefits of rosemary on which to base my belief.  I have something better than that - my own two eyes.  I saw the results of the consistent application of a hair rinse infused with the herb for myself.  Read my prior article "Want to Grow Your Hair? Get a Rosemary Bush."

The scientific method requires that an event must be replicable to be declared valid so Lee has agreed to use this brew and allow me to track the progress (or lack thereof).  I will be enlisting other people to participate in my "study," including men.  If anyone is doing this experiment and would like to send me progress pics I would love to post them.

Anyway, the progress report is this - EXTRAORDINARY!    Lee used a 16 oz of the rosemary rinse every time she washed her hair over a course of eight days.  The picture above is a before pic. She had washed her hair and let it air-dry. Her hair has been bleached twice and she wants to strengthen it and grow it to BSL (bra-strap-length). 

When she came over this evening I was astounded by the difference in her hair.  It looked like it had been volumized with mousse or something but she says no, she just used her regular shampoo and conditioner and the rosemary rinse.  Besides the rosemary rinse the other difference in the before and after hair is that she blow-dried her hair instead of air-dried.  She said she could definitely see a difference and I could too:

If her  hair looks green to you that's only because of the poor lighting.  Outside pics with the sun are best.

Lee says she feels thicker roots and sees less shedded hair after only 8 days of use.

I made another batch of the rinse (see instructions in prior article), poured it in a recyled bottle and sent her back home with another week's supply. A glass container is preferable as the rinse can be poured while still warm.  If using a plastic bottle make sure that the liquid is completely cool to prevent any softening or melting of the plastic.

She gave the following tips:  She poured the liquid in a spray bottle and sprayed her scalp.  She felt this was a more efficient way to apply the rinse to the scalp and not waste it on the hair which is not needed.  Also, she said she didn't rinse out the rinse, just massaged her scalp.  Although she didn't say but I would recommend that you apply the rinse after the shampoo (when scalp pores are open) and before the conditioner, which should be applied mainly to the hair, not so much the scalp.

I'm really looking forward to seeing her hair next week and hopefully I can get some outside pics too.

To be continued.....

A Uniquely American Hairstyle - The Afro

I contend that the 1960s and 70s were the years when African-American hair was the healthiest its ever been.  For roughly a decade, black Americans all over the United States wore their hair unencumbered and unprocessed.  In fact, where I grew up (Los Angeles) the hairstyle was called a  "natural"  because hair was not processed (relaxed) or pressed.  Just a good trim to give it shape and keep it neat and some Afro Sheen to keep it soft and shiny.  

The comb in this pic was commonly known as a "cake cutter" for obvious reasons.

The hairstyle is interesting for a number of reasons. While cultural hairstyles are often connected to religion and are centuries-old, the Afro was connected to a political movement for civil rights and came on the scene in the middle of the 20th century.  It is also interesting that the Afro is a rare instance of both sexes wearing their hair in the same style.  This hairstyle that African-Americans created was a way to define themselves for themselve and liberate themselves from a Eurocentric definition of beauty. 

Both men and women wore Afros.

 

Say it loud!



Superstars wore Afros.

My prom date wore an Afro, 1973.



This picture represents the seventies on so many levels.  There's my friend and I, both 14 years old, in our matching tie-dyed hot-pants with knee-high socks and moccasins.  Neither one of us can remember where we were going that day.  My friend has an Afro to die for while I am Afro-challenged.

No Blow Dryer, No Curling or Flat Irons, No Shampoo, Lots of Conditioner and Oils

My hair could never do that when I was burning and otherwise torturing my hair. This is the result of eight months of using henna, essential oils and the air to care for my hair.  I use Wild Growth Hair Oil, the white bottle for my scalp and the yellow bottle for my hair. Also I use Vatika Oil (LOVE IT) and plain ol' coconut oil. Any oil will do as long as it is done consistently.  Please excuse the unmade bed.


To be continued..

"Henna, Oh Henna, I Have Missed You"

I love the hair forums because the members provide real-life experiences that we can learn from.  Here is a nicely written article by a poster in the Curly Nikki forum named "OffandRunning."

One of the tips she gives in this article is simple yet extremely time-saving:

....I did discover a new applying tech that i will always be sticking to...the night before i applied i washed my hair detangled, and put it in several chunky twist. That morning when i applied the henna i undid each twist at a time apply the henna and move to the next one...it was soooooo easy.....i had my entire head done in 15mins top...... "Henna oh Henna, I Have Missed You..."

The sectioning of hair is helpful for any type, from 1a to 4c, and any length.

Recycle! Recycle! Recycle!

KFC's coleslaw container specifically says "reusable."

I love to find another use for an empty bottle, jar or container, especially if it's glass or has an interesting shape or color.  I blame Tupperware and the 80's for making empty spaghetti bottles beneath us all.  Now that we are more conscious of the environment and the recession is kicking butt we should think twice before throwing things away.

Recycling containers are perfect for our homemade hair brews.  Many women like to mist their hair with a mixture of oils, water and herbs and spray bottles can be found everywhere for sale but why buy a dinky bottle with only one spray option when you have a power mister sitting on a shelf (or in the trash)?

This is the BEST spray bottle I ever had.  I've had it so long I can't remember what the product was that came in it.  It holds a lot of water and has nice spray power.  It's also useful as a spray bottle for pressing wrinkles.  Cost?  Zero!

Many containers can be cleaned and recycled for another use.

I made a couple of batches of "rosemary juice" for use in my hair growth experiment and used an empty baby oil bottle and a water bottle.

Neem, Miracle Plant?

Wow, talking about a powerful plant, neem kicks butt all the way around.  From scalp issues to athlete's feet and everything in between, there is nothing that neem can't seem to cure or contain.  Those of you who are familiar with ayurvedic medicine and hair care have probably heard of neem.  Those of you that are in dire need of relief from scalp itching, eczema, psoriasis or lice have probably not heard of neem.  It is known to act amazingly fast and is inexpensive. 

 It seems upside down that neem is so much more powerful and so much less expensive than eucalyptus oil and yet few people know about it.

"Rural inhabitants in India and Africa regularly use neem twigs as tooth brushes. Neem twigs contain antiseptic ingredients. That explains how these people are able to maintain healthy teeth and gums." Source

While neem does wonders for the hair and scalp, it is also very effective for skin problems such as pimples and severe acne.  It would take a book to list all the benefits of neem so here is an article that nicely explains pretty much everything about neem.  You will want to get some of this plant as soon as you finish reading it!

Neem will be offered on this site in the near future.

Want to Grow Your Hair? Get a Rosemary Bush

Rosemary is quite an herb.  Little do people know that a concoction of rosemary, poured over your scalp whenever you shampoo will make your hair grow.  I've seen it personally do this for a former boyfriend who was starting to go bald.  You know men are just as concerned about their hair (or lack of it) as women are and my FBF was frantic about the thinning he was noticing.  His friend told him to get some rosemary and place some in a bottle and fill it with water.  I'm not sure if he put the flowers in too but I do know that the concoction was purpulish in color. 

I've got to admit the results were startling!  His hair came back alright, even thicker than before!!  Someone told me that the "ro" in Rogaine comes from rosemary.  Sure enough whenI went to the Rogaine site there is a special page for rosemary.  

Rosemary is also suppose to be good for slowing (even eliminating) gray so I'm going to give it a go.  I'm going to buy a rosemary bush and put it in my yard.  It is a quick growing herb and you're suppose to trim the bush every month so that means a constant supply of "rosemary juice" which is what I called my FBF's concoction.

Update: My cousin and I went hiking this morning and I tried to spot a rosemary bush that perchance may be growing in the wild.  But I didn't so we went the Mexican market and found "fresh" (the date onthe back is 4/15/11, which means it was picked a month ago.  Anyway, it was the freshest rosemary I could find so I bought it.

It didn't look bad but then I've never seen fresh rosemary before so who knows for now.

So I put four sprigs into a pot of water and brought it to a boil.  The whole house spelled like eucalyptus once the steam got going.  Then I covered the pot and turned down the heat and let it simmer for a while (I can't remember how long, maybe 15 minutes).


This is after I boiled then simmered the rosemary for 10 or 15 minutes.



Same brew one hour later.

 After boiling and simmering I turned off the heat and let the mixture sit, with a lid, for about an hour.  The color of the liquid is similar  to my FBF's "rosemary juice."  Now I have to decide if I want to dilute it.  I think I won't.

I will be using this concoction on my cousin's hair which is blond and straight and is the exact opposite of mine.  I will update with pics.

I recycled an empty baby oil bottle after I strained the rosemary juice.

For directions read "Rosemary Rinse - Hair Growth Experiment - Week 1".

Microbraids in Tibet

  

As usual, I was watching a movie and noticed something about the hair of the people in the movie.  This was not documentary but was based on a true story.  The title of the movie is "Seven Years in Tibet" with Brad Pitt.  The movie is ho-hum but I was transfixed on the hair style of the Tibetan women and how it reminds of African-American microbraids.

Also, as usual, I had to find out why they braid their hair in such tiny braids.  African-American women wear micro (tiny) braids for easy hair care, to protect their own hair and for a different look.  Tibetan women braid their hair in tiny braids - 108 to be exact - because Tibetan Buddhism holds that 108 sacred qualities constitute an enlightened mind.  The number "108" is significant in Buddhism for many things and Tibetan women represent this with their hair style.


Source





Source







In old Tibet women never cut their hair from the the time they were born.

However, microbraids are fading in Tibet as women begin to embrace modern society and perferring shorter hair. An increasing number of young men and women often dye their hair and follow the fashions of pop film stars and singers.  Those women with the traditional long braids look wistfully on the young Tibetan women.  "I deeply admire and envy today's girls wearing bobbed hair, which looks neat and tidy and is very easy to look after," said Zhaxi Zholma, a 65-year-old Tibetan lady.

Source: Chinese Embassy:

A Henna Recipe

There are so many henna recipes with so many different combinations of various items that first-time henna users can be paralyzed or overwhelmed.  Here is a basic recipe that comes from an Indian website:

Ingredients:  

Henna powder, 2 cups (about 200 grams)

Warm water, 1 cup

Lime (or lemon) juice, 1 teaspoon.

Simple, huh?  Well, this is a basic, no-frills, how-they-did-it-back-in-the-day recipe.  This is pretty much the recipe I use when I'm in a "get 'er done" mood and don't feel like being creative.

Stir the ingredients into a thick paste. The acidity of the lime or lemon juice and the warmth of the water help release the colour. Let it stand for at least one hour before application.

  

The site does recommend additives for those who want to get fancy such as ground cloves, coffee, amla powder.  It even suggests  mixing henna "in an iron vessel"  to help give a dark brown shade. I'm not vouching for that one (but I've read it on more than one Indian website), but I do know that you can mix henna in any type of bowl - plastic (will leave stains), glass or metal.  Think of mixing flour.

 

The site also suggests that for dry hair add an egg and a tablespoon of coconut oil/olive oil/mustard oil to your henna mixture.  I can say I've added egg and olive oil to my mix on different occasions.  The egg is suppose to make your hair shiny but it's hard to tell because my hair is so shiny from the Vatika Oil I use.  However, I've stopped adding any kind of oil to my mix because it may keep the henna from fully coating and binding to the hair.

 

Lots of people like to leave their henna on for HOURS but this totally unnecessary.  Most authorities say from two to four hours.  I know I have to keep it on for at least 3 hours because of my white.

Anyway, I'll be posting other recipes or at least links to them.

One Way to Wash Your Hair the Green Way - With Baking Soda.

This method of washing your hair fufills every definition of Green.  The best part is the clean feeling you get from something so simple and inexpensive. Go here: A Non-Toxic, Frugal Way to Wash Your Hair Without Buying Shampoo.

How To Lighten Henna'd and or Indigo'd Hair

I am still working on getting just the right dark shade from henna/indigo for my hair.  I have a tremendous amount of white in my hair and my hair very non-porous (hair shaft is thicker to penetrate) so with just henna my white becomes orange which is not flattering to my skin tone.  I applied henna and indigo combinations several times on my hair and new white growth but could never achieve a brown of some sort.  At that time I did not realize that my hair shaft is extremely non-porous and I would have to leave the paste in for much longer than recommended.  I could not go out with orange in my hair so the next day I applied indigo and the results were exactly what I knew they would be - jet black hair.

I rocked the jet black for a minute but I feel it is too harsh and now I'm looking for ways to lighten my hair without chemicals.  If you're like me and need to "lighten up" literally check out this fantastic article by a Long Hair Community Discussion Board poster, Ktani.  All you need is honey, water and coconut oil!

I will be trying it soon and will report back with before and after pictures.

The Men with the Flaming Orange Beards

After reading that a journalist was recently killed in Libya who had produced a documentary about the Afghanistan war I went to Netflix and found the film available for download so I watched it.  The documentary is titled "Restrepo" and is about a group of soldiers who are on a mission to "win hearts and minds" in the middle of Taliban country.  While the film was riveting I immediately knew that the elderly man with the orange beard was a henna user.

While I knew henna is big in places like Afghanistan, little did I know the importance of henna in the Pashtun Muslim culture.


Screen capture from "Restrepo"



Screen capture from "Restrepo"

Screen capture from "Restrepo"

Screen capture from "Restrepo"

Since women aren't allowed in public I have no idea what their hair looks like but this pervasive use of henna by the Afghanistani/Pakistani Pashtun men intrigued me so I did some research.

Firstly, men routinely dye their hands with henna as early as boyhood.

Here are some boys showing off their henna'd hands and fingernails.

Here are the henna'd hands of a male Afghan soldier as he stands at attention.



Secondly, Pashtun men have been using henna on their hair and beards for centuries and do so to emulate the Prophet Muhammed who also used henna.

In fact one Sunni sect wanted to call for a fatwa on muslims who use anything other than henna because Mohammed said "Verily, the best thing with which you can change the colour of hair is al-henna and indigo..." in one the hadiths.

Here are some more pics of henna'd men in Afghanistan:

Source1: The Land of Men with Flaming Orange Beards
Source2: Why Afghanistan Matters
Source3: Free Thinker
Source4: Henna