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..