Hairapy: Benefits of CoWashing Part II

OK LADIES,

As promised here’s my regimen.

I presently wear half wigs and lace fronts due to the fact I work fulltime, go to school fulltime and although I have long, thick hair- I want to keep it! So these are protective styles. As with any protective style I utilize no heat on my natural hair, I use only products that DO NOT contains petroleum or mineral oil. There are also some silicones that I look out for, as a relaxed lady you MUST in order to maintain healthy hair. I’ll find that list and post it later down the line.

I wash my hair once every two weeks (I find that personally washing my hair TOO much I lose hair) I alternate using shampoo one wash and co-washing the next. When I co-wash I use

Alberto V05 Moisture Milk Conditioner (they have different types, but I tend to use the strawberryncream one)

I simply slowly and carefully detangle my hair, wet, and then massage the conditioner into my hair. I work the conditioner as if it is shampoo, it’s very loose so it’s very easy to do so.

For the first co-wash after massaging I rinse, I put in a little more conditioner then let it sit. Depending on your hair, you may wish to by-pass this step, but again because I have thick hair, I use all the moisture this stuff can suck up. After I let it sit, normally 5-15 mins, I rinse. I squeeze, then lightly pat my hair dry (please remember hair is at it’s most fragile state wet) I spray my towel dried hair with THROWBACK Infusium 23 Provitamin Leave-in Treatment (all varieties except the maximum body cater to relaxed, permed, or color-treated hair)

I don’t soak my hair with it, I just spray enough to ensure that I’ve covered my entire head. I let it sit for a min or 2 then I comb it through, following up with either Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship Leave-In conditioner or Hawaiian Silky 14 N 1 Miracleworker

I seal my hair with 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil (I will be trying Castor Oil soon) Before my hair air drys I braid it up in two pigtails put on a satin bonnet. In the AM I bobby pin my pigtails and put on a wig cap; if I wear a half wig I do my normal separation in the front, if I wear lace I secure my whole head and do what I gotta do.

As with all regimen’s you learn by trial and error, learn your hair- the healthy way and use the products that give you the desired results.

Hairapy: Benefits of Co-Washing Part I

Have you heard of co-washing? Many relaxed sista’s think this process is detrimental but in all actuality co-washing has many MANY benefits for us ladies who fry, die, and lye our hair down.  

Co washing is washing your hair with a conditioner rather than shampoo. For it to be effective make sure you are using a moisturising conditioner (see pic) not a protein conditioner. A protein conditioner will dry out your hair, doing more harm than good. Look for inexpensive products to wash your hair with because you are going to use a lot. Alberto V05 has a line of Moisture Milks shampoo's and conditioner that are regularly on sale at CVS, WalMart, and even Supermarkets like Giant and Shoppers. roughly around .88 to 1.00 this is what i feel is THE BEST to use, normally it's very Liquidy, very loose which is great for those who wish to co-wash once or twice a week. The bottles are small but do come in 20% more bottles for a lil more change. As with any hair care product it’s very important to read the label and use only those products that you know work on your individual hair.   


Some Tips from the Pro's over at Back Hair Media


Taken From: The Official Co-Washing Thread


Since I see so many posts on co-washing from confused newbies, I thought this post would be helpful.  Also, this would be nice for some of the older members who dislike seeing the same posts asking the same questions about co washing over and over again.

 

Definition: Co-Washing is a technique that entails washing your hair solely with conditioner, this includes massaging the conditioner into your scalp like you would with shampoo as well as putting it on the length of your hair.

Benefits: Moisture, moisture, moisture! As well as softness and added mangeability for new growth

How-To:  Everyone does it differently.  There is really no 'right' way to co-wash.  If you do it differently than someone else, you will not be damaging your hair.  Personally, I let water run over the length of my hair and apply my conditioner in sections so I know that my hair is evenly coated.  I then massage it into my scalp and finger comb it through, which helps with the detangling process later.  Afterwards, I proceed to continue about my activities and rinse it out when I'm about to get out of the shower.

Products: Most of us perfer to use cheap conditioners because we co wash often.  Favorites tend to be: Suave, White Rain, and VO5.  I like those as well as Herbal Essences.  Some people cannot use cheap shampoos so they use conditioners like Keracare Humecto, Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner, and Nexxus Humectress

Growth: Because co washing can also clean the scalp, it is good for growth.  Hair goes faster with a cleaner scalp.  Some ladies report receiving enhanced growth from frequent co washes.

How Often: The average range is from daily to once a week. This obviously varies.

Feel free to add whatever else you want or ask any questions!

More info, Taken From Afri Curl

Benefits of Co washing
The general benefit of co washing is that it eliminates dryness, some women find that their hair grows more when they co wash. Another common effect is that women find it easier to retain hair length. For the hair types mentioned below the following benefits are often experienced.
Transitioning hair – Softens new growth so less breakage at demarcation* line.
Relaxed hair - Softens new growth making stretching** relaxer touch ups is easier.
Natural hair - Eliminates dryness and makes wash and go styling a reality.
Weave hair - Keeps your own hair underneath the weave healthy and soft.


How to Co wash your hair
For ladies new to this method the best option is to co wash weekly, after co washing allow the hair to air dry. Shampoo your hair once a month and use a protein conditioner afterwards. When you are in a hurry and need to dry your hair quickly, dry it with a hood dryer or a diffuser, You can fully or partially dry your locks.  Alternatively use a blow dryer on cool setting. 
1 Apply the conditioner to wet or dry hair
2 Leave the conditioner in your hair for 3 – 15 minutes. Detangle your hair whilst it is full of conditioner – it’s easier.
3 Fully rinse out the conditioner or for a more frizz free finish leave 5 – 10% of the product in your hair.
4 Ideally allow your hair to air dry.
As you become accustomed to how your hair feels after co washing you may wish to do it more often. If this is the case there are some points you particularly need to know and they are covered below.
Dangers of over conditioning hair
The over use of a conditioner on your hair can lead to breakage because it softens the hair to a point where it begins to break. Tell tail signs that you have reached this point is your hair being very stretchy when wet or feeling mushy. When your hair feels like this use a medium strength protein conditioner, one or two applications is usually enough to put it right. Ideally develop the habit of using a protein conditioner once a month or more depending on how often you co wash.
Daily Co washing
As mentioned before co washing on a daily basis can be highly beneficial. Some women experience more hair growth, whilst others discover retaining hair length is easier. Unfortunately for some the experience is less sweet. One of the main reasons for this is often the hair is never allowed or never has the chance to fully dry day after day. This constant state of wetness can lead to hair breakage. Bearing this in mind proceed with a little caution when considering daily co washing. 
Essentially co washing on a weekly basis is an effective easy and way to deal with dry hair. Give it a try. Dig out those old bottles of conditioner you didn’t totally fall in love with and make them useful.


there you have it ladies,
peep Part II for my personal regemin.

Hairapy SPECIAL EDITION: SECRET HAIR OF THE STARS " Indique Hair"

Here's the link to the website: 

The Beautiful Angela Simmons, Wearing her Signature LONG Mane,
This Hair is PURE Wavy and a CRAZZZYY 30in, YES 30in



Emily Bustamente Rockin the PURE Wavy (Straight)

So while browsing Youtube as I regularly do in order to get up on the latest hair crazes, I came across a video about Indique Hair, it was a customer review where the young woman had about 20’ inch of their Relaxed Straight hair in a Dark Brown color installed (unfor. I didn’t save the video to my favorites). Blogger Necole Bitchie featured them on her site a few weeks later and I became more interested, I wanted to know more about this hair, cuz HAIR IS MY PASSION- it allows me to express myself even when i'm intensely shy. I went to their site, to see more than I expected. they offer MANY hair types (Relaxed Straight, Body Wave, Pure Wavy etc.)  they offer ounces, survival kits, Pony Tails, Bangs, I-Tips, Lacefronts/Full Lace, Fishnets, and more recently clips-ins. the most important point i want to stress about them is that their hair is 100% virgin human hair that is natural and of the highest quality. on an educational note, this is the best hair on the market right now- Virgin hair means just that, untouched, no chemicals, and the cuticle is fully intact. their prices ain't too bad either, the highest item i'm seen was around 400 something, but that is the survival kit, which includes  
10" Relaxed Straight Bang
16" Relaxed Straight Fishnet
 18" Relaxed Straight Pony Tail
1 Bottle Limited Edition Indique Pink Nail Polish by Ginger + Liz Colour Collection
and of course, the Lace Fronts/ Full Lace and Frontals are EXPENSIVE as hell!!!! but hey, if you got it more power to you. I'm looking at the Fishnet, but I'm going to wait until someone posts a review on it on YT. I'm also looking at the Clip-Ins. Peep this Video:

Reading and clicking I found out that MANY celebs rock Indique hair; Check Below:

Cassie Rockin the PURE Wavy





                                                    

                                                       Chrissy Lampkin Rockin the Studio Fishnet

 



Olivia Rockin the Pure Straight/Wavy



Jilly from Philly Rockin PURE Curly, BOUNCE Coil Curl

to view more celebe's who rock Indique, Click HERE

Hairapy SPOTLIGHT: Meagan Good's Short Hairstyle Part II: The Persuit of Happiness

Original Article Found via Rolling Out
The reason i posted this is because 1. i love meagan as a young african american actress. 2. because this article is particularly inspiring to me, she really opens up- this is right after her 30th bday (not looking a day over 18) and she confesses her love for God without holding back; which we all know is rare in hollywood.

On Aug. 8, 2011, something happened. On that day that actress Meagan Good acknowledged that something had been taking shape in her life for close to a year. She experienced her epiphany, ironically, while blowing out the candles on her 30th birthday cake. Good looked up to the heavens and thanked God for something that had somehow been escaping her …

True Happiness.

And I know what you’re thinking … how could someone who seemingly has it all be just arriving at a place of happiness? In fact, how could a woman just seen in the wildly popular Jumping the Broom, and with upcoming roles in “Californication” and "Think Like A Man" really be struggling with achieving and maintaining a consistent level of happiness?
The answer is simple enough.

Life is hard. And when the world is analyzing your every move, it makes it that much more difficult to stay happy. But that’s all a concern of the past now for Good. Armed with newfound joy, which comes from her keen understanding that no matter what life throws her way, that both God and her family have her back, Good is officially happy and ready for the world.
So now, as she readies herself for a new decade and a bright new chapter in her life, Good has decided to share it all — both the highs and lows of her ongoing commitment to continued peace — in this exclusive, and very candid interview with rolling out.


It’s been a busy year for you, and your visibility has increased as of late. How does it make you feel when you hear people say that it’s the return of Megan Good?
I don’t feel like I ever left. I just started dabbling in different genres, movies, and going after different audiences. So maybe this is a return to the people that supported me since day one.  As you get older, you just like to approach things differently and look for different opportunities to play different characters and evolve as an artist.

So what were some of the things that you felt you had to explore creatively?
I wanted to look for roles that had nothing to do with me being sexy. And I’ve always wanted to do horror movies. It’s what inspired me as a kid, and when it’s done right, there’s a lot of dramatic acting in it. More than anything, I just wanted to play to a different audience, and do something different that had nothing to do with me playing a love interest or the girl next door. Even now, if I do play a love interest, it’s not your average role.  I’m working hard to make her quirky and more interesting.

Is there a newfound freedom in going after these new roles, and not allowing yourself to be confined to certain types of characters? Has this approach helped to birth a new Meagan?
No, my freedom and renewal comes from finally being happy with who I am, and being comfortable with all of me — even my shortcomings. I have come to a place in my life where I don’t have a problem saying or doing what I feel publicly. The only thing that I do focus on is walking a spiritual line, and that means that I want to represent a woman of God. I want to be a virtuous woman of God, but by that same token, I’m very different in my approach. I’m not overly religious. I’m not judgmental. I don’t look down on people and I don’t try and force what I feel on them. But the truth is, I love Jesus Christ and I am a Christian.
Now, I’m not perfect by any means, but I’m improving daily. I have to, because I know that there [are] a lot of young girls watching me, and I do want to teach them and be a positive influence in their lives. I want them to know that they can go out and have fun, but you also have to be smart. And I want them to know that if they choose to have a boyfriend, they need to always respect themselves and know their worth, and demand that he do the same. I also want to encourage young girls to be abstinent … as you can see, I just really want to be a positive influence.

You mentioned wanting to teach young girls; what would you have taught a young, 21-year-old Meagan?
I would have told her how much the Lord loves her, and how perfect she is in the Lord’s eyes. And I would have just told her to have faith and know that God is going to make everything work out. I would have told her that she shouldn’t try so hard to control her own destiny, and that she shouldn’t let people’s opinions of her make her form an opinion of herself. And lastly, I would have told her that she shouldn’t let people who are still trying to figure out life themselves, hurt her by their judgments or opinions.

Who was more influential for you: was it friends, boyfriends or family when it came to developing your opinion of self?
My mom and my sister were very positive, and I had a lot of friends and family who were very positive influences. They would call me out when I was wrong, they always encouraged me, and [they] were my shoulder to cry on when I needed it. At the time, there were a lot of things that were negative, whether it be a boyfriend, the media, or just anyone. I was always being judged about my appearance or whether or not I was being hypocritical with my words and actions.
And it’s funny since I turned 30 about two weeks ago, all these lights clicked on, and I spent all of [my] 29th [year] preparing for it and not knowing it was happening. I was preparing for this moment, and it’s just a really great place to be now. When you surround yourself with happier people and disregard the negative, it’s a much happier place to be.

Does it make you realize that what you thought was happiness before wasn’t really happiness?
Yes, I’m definitely more content, more happy and satisfied than I’ve ever been in my life. I’m really comfortable with where I am, and I know that there is so much more out there for me.

Now that you’ve secured a sense of happiness, what else is there to work on?
I think the main thing is that I’m definitely a party animal. I love to go out, and have a great time. And I don’t feel like there’s anything wrong with that whatsoever, I just have to make sure that I practice healthy habits when I do go out. I do like to drink, but for me it’s about making sure I stay in the pocket of what’s appropriate. That’s an area I’ve been working on and doing much better in … I’ve also focused on quitting smoking, working out more, and just living a healthier lifestyle. Outside of that, I’m pretty happy about everything else. I just want to improve my position and make better opportunities for girls coming behind me, and make sure that I stay in the pocket of what I need to be doing, so I can help young girls in juvenile jails and foster homes.

Tell us about your birthday wish when you blew out your candles.
I just wished that the people around me, and that people in general would know how valuable they are. No matter what their circumstances are, I wished for them to know that there is a better them on the other side. All they have to do is step out on faith and they can walk into it. That’s the nice thing about this last year … I discovered my faith in a major way. My world completely crumbled from every aspect you can possibly think of, but it was necessary in order for me to step into my new life. So I stepped into it and I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I just thank God that he gave me the strength, and I’m proud of myself for actually stepping out on faith, and allowing myself to be as happy as I am right now.

Hairapy SPOTLIGHT: Meagan Good's Short Hairstyle Part I

Meagan Good is definitely one of my style inspiration (no matter how many ppl go on her for wearing the same shoes/outfits- as if we aren't doing it too) she seems to have a great personality, and on her way to do more substance, featuring roles. She's known for her Long Slight curled mane, but more recently she did a big chop- AND I LOVE IT!. the cut and color give me life! it's so chic, it's so fresh and i definitely am looking for a wig to resemble her new look. check the pics below:

Hairapy REBLOG: The Hair Below: 6 Tips For Maintaining Your Hair Under The Weave

You Can Find the Original Article via Juicy Mag Online

Recently, ANGELA SIMMONS Twitpic’d herself with no weave revealing a thick healthy head of natural hair. No tracks, no clips, no pieces – that huge bountiful afro was evidence Angie takes care of the hair underneath her weaves, or as we at Juicy call it – the hair below. While you’re in a routine of always whipping your weave back and forth, don’t forget that you need to care for the hair below. If you want a full healthy head of hair while you keeping the flyest weaves and wigs check the following tips:

Moisturize
Get a good oil/moisturizer to apply to your real hair underneath. Weaved up or not, hair needs moisture – don’t ever deprive it.

Clean Scalp
A dirty scalp with tons of product build up can stunt growth. To avoid “stuntin’,” apply shampoo to your fingers and gently rub your scalp, use a spray bottle to rinse and apply a leave-in conditioner. Or try the newly popular no-sud shampoos on your scalp. Either way be sure to cleanse scalp weekly or bi-weekly.

The Right Brushes/Combs
When combing human hair weaves, detangle from tip to root using a wide tooth comb. Synthetic hair wearers can use a bristle brush. When combing or brushing, don’t tug. Too much tension can damage your real hair.

Cover Hair At Night
Sleeping with a satin scarf or bonnet will keep weaves from getting tangled and prevent breakage of any hair left out in a partial weave. Stay away from all cotton coverings. If you have braids or twists, you can also add a little moisturizer before covering your hair at night, to penetrate in your real hair.

Expiration Dates
Don’t keep fake hair in your hair past its time. Even if the hair still looks fresh, leaving it in longer than 6-8 weeks can cause matting and hair damage. This goes for both weaves and braids.

Let It Rest
When taking hair out, give your hair and scalp a rest for a couple of weeks. Make sure to pamper your real hair and give it plenty of TLC, which includes deep conditioners, trims, and no harsh chemicals.

Is That Your Hair??

It's Summertime, and I personally cannot manage my hair during these humid, wet, funky, and most importantly HOT dayz. So, keeping that in mind, I keep my hair wrapped up as much as possible. exposure to the elements even on the most healthiest hair is bad, so if i have the oppertunity to braid my ish up, and roll-up, crimp, or flat iron a small section in the front and plop (for a lack of a better word) a Half-wig on my hair and be worry free for two weeks straight for the low low price of 12.99-25.99 WHY NOT???!!!!. This post is for all those rude ass ppl who even when my natural hair is showing have the balls to ask me "Is That Your Hair?" "What Kind of Hair is that?".....REALLY!?!?!? what difference does it make, other than for you -in your ignorance- to gloat about the fact that it's not. 9 times out of 10 the hair i brought matches the length of my natural hair which by the way again is resting beautifully under this inexpensive alternative. no matter weather it's growing out of my scalp or attached to a comb/drawstring....it's my hair! and i wear it proudly. attempting to demean anybody for choosing to do what they wish with what god gave them just shows how ignorant you are, and may even boarder on jealously. OPEN YOUR MINDS PPL.....and if you can't do that, mind your business.

Hairapy- DRY Scalp!!!!

I know i'm not alone when i say that the winter does a number on your hair. Recently i've stopped wearing half-wigs (I WILL START AGAIN FOR THE SUMMER!!) and focused on bettering the condition of my hair, it's growing beautifully, stronger than ever, and seems to be rebounding well from my progressively HARSH bleach/color/relaxer/rinse phase. Now that it's winter time i'm having an even harder time with my hair, primarily because my scalp gets dry quickly, and it also cannot handle alot of oil/grease. it puts me in a bad situation because i do have long, THICK hair- which is already hard to keep clean; but factor in the fact that it's JET BLACK and you have some comb thru mornings and i'm like WTF?!?!?!. I'm experimenting with oils/cremes etc to get control over this situation, i was told by a stylist to start with a good clarifying shampoo, i'm still researching on what to try; i'm also trying this new product by SoftSheen Carson, called "Optimum Care Dandruff Solutions-Daily Flake Control" i lightly (that is the key) dabbed a bit in several quick parts in my hair and brushed it into a style- so far, so good. my hair isn't as itchy- but the directions on the bottle suggest using this product 3 to 4 times a day- which anyone with relaxed hair knows just isn't realistic. however if i see in a few days my hair becomes dirty and/or itchy i will apply more. it's a water based type of liquid which isn't very thick at all- but i was afraid it would wet my roots too much, but again i lighly placed it in a few areas. again, so far so good, i'm hoping it works out so i can maintain my schedule of washing my hair every 2 weeks.

 Optimum Care Dandruff Solutions Daily Flake Control Link

Hairapy- HAIR COLOR!!!!!

I'm definitely an experienced Hair Colorist, HOWEVER, I AM NOT a professional and I will tell any and everybody, to get the best desired results, PLEASE go to a professional.

But alas, there are a few products that i use when i permenantly color my hair- that just might help someone out

ION Color Brilliance Permanent Liquid Hair Color (two boxes in picture)

Color Brilliance Permanent Liquid Hair Color  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<LINK

I use JET BLACK and this gets my hair the BLACKEST I've ever seen. it isn't harsh like other permanent colors, comes in liquid or creme and relatively cheap. 4.49 (without a beauty club card- SO GET ONE! for an even greater deal @ 3.99)

TO START- i begin with a GOOD washing, possibly with a good clarifyer- if not i tend to use the

Ion Crystal Clarifying Treatment

Ion Crystal Clarifying Treatment  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<LINK

After the treatment, I theroughly wash it out of my hair and continue with the color, my hair is naturally dark, think and long so i grab two boxes of color, and the 4 oz bottle of developer, which i add all of both into an applicator bottle (you may want to use the creme color if your utilizing a mixing bowel- i use an applicator bottle because i'm better able to determine where the color is going)

i normally let it sit for about 20-30 mins, but depending on how much is left in my hair from a previous application i wait 10-20 mins.

RINSE HAIR THEROUGHLY after color applies- i use

Ion Color Defense Shampoo 12 oz.

Ion Color Defense Shampoo  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<LINK

it's a great shampoo, gently cleanses, moisturizes, and strengthens color-treated hair.

you might want to follow up after washing with a conditioner or a hot oil treatment- and follow up behind that with

Ion Color Defense After-Color Sealer 6 oz.

Ion Color Defense After-Color Sealer 6 oz.

this locks in hair color, moisture and shine.

BONUS:

FOR THOSE STUBBORN STAINS ON SKIN, FURNITURE ETC. I USE

Roux Clean Touch - Haircolor Stain Remover  

Roux Clean Touch - Haircolor Stain Remover

Hairapy- 3 Quick Winter Hair Savers for Relaxed and Natural Hair

Spotted @: http://fashionbombdaily.com/2010/12/28/3-quick-winter-hair-savers-for-relaxed-and-natural-hair/

I often find myself thinking of what’s actually good about winter besides the holidays. I mean other than that, winter is just one big season of too much snow, too much cold, and too little daylight. *smh*
Black hair that’s already dry enough to begin with can take a serious beating during the winter. It’s important to treat our hair like the delicate flower that it is. Here’s three quick ways to do just that…

1. Beware of wool and other moisture-snatching fabrics. All the things that keep us warm like wool coats and heavy scarves can rub against our hair and cause it to break. The fix? You can protect the hair with a silk or satin scarf that lines the inside of a wool hat or acts as a barrier when used as a layering piece with your wool coat or scarf. It’s also important to use a silk or satin scarf and/or pillowcase to protect your hair at night.

2. Limit your usage of heat. We know excessive heat can wreck havoc on our tresses so continue to limit or even avoid using it especially during the colder months. Try wet wrapping your hair after you wash and deep condition. Dab a little Moroccanoil Treatment in your hair to help speed the drying process. I like a wet wrap because when the hair is dry (best time to do this is before you go to bed at night so your hair is dry in the morning) it takes very little to style it. You can run a quick flat iron or curling iron through it if need be.
For natural hair, try “setting” the hair in braids or twists.

3. Moisture and seal. Moisture is important to our hair year-round but it’s essentially important during the winter. Alternate between a deep conditioning treatment like Phytospecific Multi-Regenerating Creme Bath (Vital Force Creme Bath) or Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask and light protein treatments like Aphogee Two Minute Reconstructor. How often you alternate will depend on the condition of your hair (if it feels hard and brittle when wet, deep condition; if it feels gummy when wet, protein). Every six weeks or so try a deeper protein treatment like Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment.
In addition to your conditioners, it’s imperative to use a good daily moisturizer and then seal with a natural oil (unrefined coconut oil is a fave). To do simply divide the hair into workable sections and work in your moisturizer paying special attention to the ends. Then take a pea sized amount of your oil and work it into the hair. Careful not to use too much oil to avoid overly oily strands.
And there you have it. Three quick winter hair savers for both natural and relaxed hair. Feel free to add your own winter hair savers in the comments :)

http://www.folica.com//www.folica.com/hair-care/hair-protection-products/moroccanoil-oil-treatment-three-four-oz

http://www.folica.com//www.folica.com/hair-care/hair-treatments/moroccanoil-intense-hydrating-mask-eight-five-ounce

PHYTOSPECIFIC Vital Force Creme Bath, Damaged, Brittle Hair 6.75 fl oz


I'll SPOTLIGHT ApHogee products (i have MANY)