Category: coconut milk

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Coconut Water ~ Health~ Skin~ Hair

The Lupie Chick

I have been struggling with maintaining proper potassium levels due to Lupus and some of my medications. The muscle spasms, drowsiness’s, and extreme thirst was too much to deal with and painful ( imagine the worse Charlie horse you’ve ever had then magnify that feeling by 10). I didn’t want to have to take another pill ( supplement) and I’m not a fan of bananas ( a great source of potassium), I sought the advice of my doctor as to what I could do naturally to bring my levels up.

He provided me with a list of good sources of potassium including fresh fruits, vegetables, shellfish, beans, wheat bran, salad, nuts, cereals, meat, and dairy foods. Then he told me about Coconut Water { insert O_o } is that like coconut oil?? Coconut milk?? I’d never heard of it. What is it??

Coconut Water a clear liquid extracted from green coconuts is low in fat and calories, has no cholesterol, and has a natural balance of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium- making it a healthy electrolyte drink. Coconut water is rich in potassium: a typical serving offers 569 mg, which is almost twice the amount in a banana.

The amino acids, potassium, and magnesium that make these tonics such a stellar sip also do wonders for stressed-out skin. You can use coconut water as a facial “mask.” Just apply to your skin and let it rest for 5-15 minutes, then wash off. Otherwise you can use it daily to wash your skin. Coconut water not only cleanses, it also tones your skin. If your skin is oily, you can also add grapefruit or pineapple juice to the coconut water, for added benefits.



Coconut water comes in many varieties ( and price points) and is sold everywhere from grocery stores, specialty markets, to Sephora I had imagined that it would taste like one of those fancy drinks you see people drinking while vacationing in a tropical paradise like Hawaii, Mexico or the Caribbean. I saw many celebrities pictured drinking coconut water so I thought, yeah… this is going to be good.

Rihanna

I went to Sam’s Club and purchased a case for $15.99.
NOW BEFORE YOU ALL RUN TO SAM’S
STOP….WAIT…. PAUSE…
HAVE A SEAT AND FINISH READING THIS POST
I could NOT drink it- everything I read said it was a ” delicious, cool, and refreshing ” LIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That stuff hit the back of my throat and BABY… EEERRRYYYYTHING I had previous digested came up and out!!!!!!! It’s a taste I cant describe except (IMO) it tasted like a mix of high octane gasoline with a subtle note of coconut.  ( YUKE!!!!!) I have a case of this stuff- and I WASNT GOING TO LET IT GO TO WASTE- what’s a girl to do??

The mixologist in me created a (natural) Coconut Water Curl Refesher!!!!!!!!

Recipe: Coconut Curl Quench
1 (can/box) Coconut Water
1/2-1 can (Goya) Coconut Milk
2-3 table spoons of Coconut Oil
2-3 table spoons of Aloe Vera Juice/Jelly ( which ever you have on hand)
 (optional) couple of drops of Vitamin E

Pour  everything into a spray bottle, shake to mix all indgredients. You can use  this as a curl refesher or if you need to mist your hair before/during styling/twisting/braiding this is perfect!!!!!!

I will have to seek an alternative method for taking in more potassium. because I cant stomach the coconut water, but my hair LOVES IT!!!!. ** Guess I better start with banana smoothies**

au naturale, castor oil, chronic autoimmune, co-wash, coconut milk, crisco, diet, hair growth, leave in condiitioner, lupie chick, lupus, miss naturale, miss sixx, natural day, pre-poo, relaxed hair

My desire to grow my hair to waist length

The Lupie Chick

Hello Loves-I’m back!!!!!!!

It has been awhile since I’ve updated my blog. All or most of you are aware that I’ve been fighting the autoimmune disease Lupus. I’m starting to “get my life” back as I once knew it and get back into some of the things i love- one of them BLOGGING!

During the last 8 months, my lupus flare up has had an impact on my hair. I’ve experienced extreme shedding, and my texture has changed in some areas ( especially in the middle of my head). I have lots of single strand knots (ouch!) and my lovely curls have begun to take on a wave pattern (more than a curly pattern). I’ve never really cared too much about the length of my hair until I started to see it fall down the sink at every washing. Running my fingers through my hair has become a thing of the past ( as handfuls of hair shed daily). I’ve since decided to challenge my self to reduce (stop) the shedding, and grow my hair to ” waist length”.

Have you ever seen waist length hair-ITS BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!! Some of my favorite You Tubers are waist length ( Kimmy Tube, Urban Bush Babes, Long Hair Don’t Care, to name a few). BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

**Below is a chart to show the different hair lengths**

Picture of hair after it was washed, deep conditioned and flat ironed using Crisco ( in the blue can). My goal wasn’t to have super straight hair- just straight enough to do a length check. I’m #teamNoHeat- so the mere thought of applying heat to my hair frightens me.

Picture after a trim


I then put in 6-8 flexi rods ( mix of orange and red rods) to achieve a curly look.

Picture after removal of the flexi rods & (finger) styled


I’m introducing a new (simpler) routine to maintain length and (hopefully)continue hair growth

Co-washing- This means only using a conditioner to wash my hair eliminating the shampoo. I’ve always done this, and it has worked GREAT for me. My co wash regimen is often done on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Deep Conditioning/Pre Poo- For me this provides an extra boost in moisture, I do not buy fancy deep conditioning products because you guys know I’m the kitchen beautician!!!! My pre poo consist of honey and olive oil warmed, part hair in 4 sections, apply (heavily) to each section of hair ‘BEFORE” you shampoo. My deep conditioner (recipe) is 2 jars of stage two banana baby food, 1-2 tablespoons of (raw) honey, 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil or grape seed oil. Part hair into 4 sections, apply to each section ( concentrating on the ends) cover with a conditioning cap minimum of 30 minutes ( I usually go an hour).

Sealing-I had stopped sealing my ends for a while ( just was too lazy) or exhausted. I normally use an even mix of castor oil, coconut oil, and safflower oil ( melted and mixed together in a bottle and apply to my ends nightly). ** I also tuck my ends under a satin scrunchie at night. **

Leave In Conditioner- I apply leave in conditioner EVERYDAY ( with a light hand) to my hair. I mix my own ( distilled water or rose water, aloe vera juice, coconut milk, grape seed oil, and essential oils). I mist my hair “before” i re apply my twist or when I take my hair down in the morning- I will mist it lightly.

Diet-I’m now on a gluten free diet, and transitioning to vegetarian lifestyle. Diet is very important to those that suffer with lupus and I know for overall health and hair growth it start from the inside. ** I’m currently doing the New Moon Detox (fast) for 3 days and upping my water intake to 107 ounces a day ( half my body weight)**

Have you established any hair goals for 2012? If so please share…

Disclaimer: These images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written permission of Mz. Sixx. Use of any image as the basis for another photographic concept or illustration (digital, artist rendering or alike) is a violation of the United States and International Copyright laws. All images are copyrighted © 2012 – Au’Naturale by Mz. Sixx

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Product Review – Carols Daughter Tui Hair Smoothie

The Lupie Chick

Manufacturer: Carols Daughter

Type: Tui Hair Smoothie

Size: 8fl.oz

Price: $18.00-$20.00

Rating: 1 out of 5

Attributes: ( from Carols Daughter.com)

Detangles, moisturizes and protects your hair

Tames and detangles

Is rich in fatty acids and creamy butters for intense conditioning

Has Nutrient-rich oils of Olive fruit and and Sunflower Seeds to boost shine.

Has Shea and Cocoa Butters to provide moisture and help protect hair from dryness and brittleness.

Has Rapa Seed Oil, which is rich in essential fatty acids, Omega-6 and Omega-3

Has a fragrance cocktail of Guava, Mango and Passion Fruit

PLUS, it has NO Parabens, Petroleum, Mineral Oil or artificial color

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Amodimethicone, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium Bourbon) Flower Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Aspartic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Polyquaternium-37, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum)

The Good: (scent) the scent was very “tropical” and lured me in to proceed. Outside of the scent and the fact that I received this product FREE at a product swap my “good” was limited.

The Bad: (consistency) the smoothie was very thin and runny. I could pour it out of the jar. I think the packaging could be better. A product that thin should be in a squeeze tub, not a jar (IMO). I didn’t see any “results” but I didn’t see any reverse behavior with my hair either ( dryness, brittle, or limp hair that other reviewers have complained about.)

The Ugly: (price) $20.00- TWENTY AMERICAN DOLLARS?? RI-DAM-DICLIOUS!!!- nuff said!!!!



Overall: The only CD product I’d ever tried was the Loc Butter and Marguerites Magic. I was happy with the loc butter ( click her for that review), the Maragruite Magic was so-so ( I purchased that for my daughter when she was relaxed). I was happy to be able try another CD product with out emptying my purse. Thank God for product swaps!!!!!! This product was a huge disappointment- so much so that I wanted to give it back to the person that gave it to me at the product swap ( I will be swapping this at the next meet up- T-R-U-S-T). Had I purchased this product- it would have been returned for a full refund. Maybe if CD market it differently, repackage the product, re price the product- it would do better ( well, I guess- that would make it a “new” product” :o). This one needs to go back into the test kitchen. **Note** I make me own hair smoothie with (1) jar of stage 2 banana baby food (.49), raw honey ($3.99) cream of coconut (milk)(1.99), avocado (.79) ( put it all in a blender, mix well, apply to hair, leave on .30 minutes with a heat cap for deep conditioning treatment)- Similar CONSISTENCY as the CD product, and my hair is left feeling soft, moisturized, and shiny for a fraction of the cost!



Have you tried Carol’s Daughter’s Tui Hair Smoothie? What did you think?


acv rinse, au naturale, baking soda, co-wash, coconut milk, conditioner, miss sixx, t-shirt dry

My Method of Co- Washing My Hair

The Lupie Chick

I’m often been asked how do I “wash”my hair? When I tell people I wash my hair with conditioner I oftentimes get a “confused” look. So below I’ve outlined my routine. There is no WRONG or RIGHT way to this method.


First, find a conditioner that works for your hair type. I’m a 3B/3C. My co-wash mix consist of Hello Hydration conditioner, mixed with VO5 Moisture Milk ( Strawberries and Creme), with Alma oil, Grapeseed oil, or Evoo Oil added. You can use conditioner right out the bottle- I’m a mixologist- so I mix EVERYTHING!

Get to know your ingredients. The long, hard-to-pronounce ingredients on the label can be overwhelming. But with familiarity, you can learn to spot which ingredients you want to keep and which you want to avoid. Ingredients like propylene glycol, cetyl alcohol and panthenol are common. Search online for ingredients lists. One such list can be found at http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/ingredients.html.

Recommended: Alot of naturals co-wash in the shower- I do not. If you choose to co-wash in the shower, purchase an extended shower head/hose. I co-wash my hair in the sink- I don’t like the feel of wet hair on my shoulders or back-again this is preference

Rinse the hair with warm water. Avoid water that is too hot (if it initially stings your back, it’s too hot). Cleansing results from the action of water plus cleanser (shampoo and/or conditioner) and agitation (hand movements through the hair). Warm water will clean hair well while hot water can be damaging. While rinsing with water, gently comb your hair with your fingers.

Apply your conditioner. This can be done in several ways.

(1) I pour my conditioner mix into a bottle with an applicator tip ( similar to the type of bottle hair dye comes in), I finger part my hair and apply the conditioner ( because of the applicator tip- it come out in a “line” formation”. Work the condition from root to the tips, continue until all the hair is covered.

(2) Pour conditioner mix into a large clean spray bottle and mix with water (optional: add a little coconut milk). Shake well and spray liberally onto the hair. This mixture will be more dilute than a direct application. I use this method when I need to mist my hair or to re freshen twist outs/braids outs.

Rinse your hair well, with warm water. Ease your fingers through each section while the water flows through to remove any remaining conditioner. I do not rinse all the conditioner out- this step is optional

Optional: Apply product and comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb with rounded-edge teeth (detangling comb). This step is optional, I only comb my hair once a week during my weekly detangling session. Comb from the TIPS first, ensuring there are no snags then work your way to the roots. I don’t always add product- depending on how much conditioner is left on my hair- this step varies for me.

It’s time to dry. Just as with the application, there are several ways to dry your hair.

(1) Dry with a t-shirt, simply dab and pat your hair dry, or grab sections and squeeze excess water into the t-shirt. I t-shirt dry in the colder months

(2) Shake and go. Lay your t-shirt across the back of your shoulders (lengthwise shoulder to shoulder). Grab the bottom corners of the t-shirt and raise it up to your head, almost over your head. Think of Batman’s cape raised up as he jumps off a tall building! With the shirt raised, shake your head from side to side (ear to shoulder) and left to right (like saying no), shaking excess water into the towel. This is called the “no touch” method. For me- the less I manipulate my hair- the more my curls pop. You also want to avoid the frizzes. I shake and go in the warmer months

For me, co washing my hair is the way to go! I rarely apply commercial shampoo to my hair. Shampooing is too harsh and it strips my hair of much needed oils and moisture. In place of shampooing I do the ACV rinse ( click here for recipe) & Baking Soda Rinse. If you co- wash- share your method? What conditioners do you use?

au naturale, baking soda, bantu knot, bobby pins, breast cancer awareness, clarifier, coconut milk, coconut oil, ecostyler, fro hawk, miss sixx, pre-poo, protective style, styling products

Whipping My Hair Back N’ Forth- A’Yianah’s Way

The Lupie Chick

Style: Fro-Hawk

Complete: ( 2 days set/drying time- we do not use heat on our hair- therefore her hair air dried over the course of 2 days) 20 mins-styling

Products Used: Pre Poo Treatment ( Olive Oil/Raw Honey), Baking Soda Clarifying Mix, Yes to carrots shampoo, homemade hair spritz ( Coconut Milk, Coconut Oil, Curl Activator, Distilled Water), and Eco Styler Gel

Tools Used: my fingers, bobby pins

Reason for style: Protective style for the week

Note: A’Yianah is 8 months into her transition. During most of her transition time, she has worn her hair braided, corn rolled, and two strand twisted. We decided to give her hair a “break” and rock an alternate style for a few weeks. Her hair has already begun to thicken up and her edges are growing back beautifully ( thanks to my own concoction).

It was a wonderful sight as a mom to see my daughter rocking her natural so proudly. She was smiling from ear to ear and couldn’t wait to get to school to show her version of a fro-hawk. If any of you follow her on Face Book then you saw the pic’s that she uploaded this morning. Her out fit today- a black and red punk rocker t-shirt, black skinny jeans, and high top Pastry sneaks.. She was channeling her inner Willow Smith/ Rhianna. Stay tuned for further updates on her transitioning journey.

Au Naturale Hair Mask, Au'Naturale Hair Wash, Cantu Shea butter leave in conditioner, coconut milk, color. miss sixx, curly hair, moisturizer, natural hair styles, orange marmalade

You’ve Been Asking-My Hair Regime

The Lupie Chick

Hair Type-3C

Natural off/on since 2005

Loc Rocker 2.5 years

Fro Rocker-2 months

Daily

Moisturize
· Homemade Hair spray bottle mix applied to hair daily (coconut milk, aloe juice, Curl Activator or glycerin, & distilled water)
· I use Orange Marmalade Hair Butter, Lemon Soufflé Twisting Butter, or Lemon Cream ( all products that I make)

Weekly

Cleanse-Co-Wash

· No-poo / conditioner wash – *Sun-Wed-Fri*
I use Moisture Milk- Strawberries & Cream by Vo5 or Coconut By Suave
Any “cheaper conditioner” will do

· When using the conditioner, make sure to totally saturate your hair
· Detangle hair with a detangling comb or a Denman Brush I only “comb” my hair on Sun- Wed-Fri while detangling

· Always use a leave-in conditioner after rinsing out the regular conditioner
I use Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In or Long Relationship ( by Herbal Essence)
· Then apply a moisturizer and/or styling product to define your curls

I use Orange Marmalade Hair Butter, Lemon Soufflé Twisting Butter, or Lemon Cream ( all products that I make)

· Seal ends with Castor/Coconut Oil Mix

Pre Poo Hair Treatment
· Hot Oil Treatment- Sunday
Hot Oil Treatment- Olive Oil ( or any other natural oil-coconut, jojoba, sesame, or Canola) + Honey ( make sure is PURE Honey- I prefer Raw Honey)
· 3tbls oil+3tbls honey=Hot Oil Treatment
o Sit bottle into a cup of hot water to warm mixture
o Pour the mixture over “Dry Hair”
o Apply heating cap for 30-60 minutes
o Rinse with cool water, then co wash or shampoo

Protective Styling


· Twist or Braid Hair at least 2-3 days a week (usually on Sun- Wed- Fri)
o Wear Twist Out or Braid Out styles
o Another option is Bantu Knots/French Braid/Corn Rows/2-Strand Twist
o Search You Tube for methods and other styling options

Bi-Weekly
Shampoo
· Shampoo hair with a sulfate free shampoo
o I use the shampoo that I make- If I use commerical brand I use Organix
o If your using shampoo with Sulfates, dilute the shampoo with distilled water and add Olive Oil

Monthly
Deep Condition

I mix either of the 2 recipes below to perform a deep condition once a month. I do not apply heat to my hair- therefore I never sit under the dryer.

Here is a picture of my hair- after applying the bannana mask

Banana Hair Mask (Protein)
Ingredients
· 1-2 jars of stage 2 banana baby food ( or 1 ripe banana pureed)
· 1 tbsp of honey
· 1 tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Directions
· Mix until smooth and creamyWork the mixture into your hair, paying particular attention to the ends (which tend to be more damaged). You can just use this mixture on your ends, if you prefer, especially if hair tends to be oily.
· Cover head with plastic wrap, and then wrap a warmed damp towel over the plastic wrap. Let the mixture sit on your hair for 15-20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water.

Avocado & Mayo DC (Protein)
Ingredients
· 1 egg
· 1 extremely ripe avocado
· 1 tbsp mayonnaise

Directions
· Blend all ingredients to make a smooth paste. Work the mixture into your hair, from scalp to ends Apply more at roots and ends. Cover your entire hair. Cover head with plastic wrap, and then wrap a warmed damp towel over the plastic wrap. This ensures a better absorption or deeper treatment. Let the mixture sit on your hair for 45-60 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water

Coconut Honey Deep Conditioner (moisturizing)
Ingredients:
· 4 tbls Coconut oil
· 2 tbls Natural honey
Directions
· Place coconut oil and honey in a small plastic bag and place the bag in a hot cup of water for 1 minute to warm. Apply to hair, wrap hair in a towel for 20 minutes. Wash then dry hair

Length Retention
· Clip ends
· Keep hair braided or twisted for at least one out of 4 weeks

** Note**
Will soon be adding Henna and Bentonite Clay to my monthly regimen

Nightly
Pineapple Hair
· (Put up in a high pony tail) and put on a silk or satin bonnet or a silk scarf. In the least, use a satin pillow case. Curls can be very fragile and tangle easily. You want to avoid tangling as much as possible while sleeping.

Notes/Helpful Hints
1. Detangle only when the hair is soaking with conditioner and rinse
2. Spray hair with water daily to hydrate and seal with natural oil if wearing the hair in a natural style.
3. Rotate the conditioners (both moisturizing and protein) every other week so that the hair does not stop responding to them.
4. A hot oil treatment to be applied to hair for 20 minutes before shampooing once a month.
5. Use a strong protein treatment if any out-of-the-ordinary breakage occurs.
6. Keep the hair braided for at least one out of 4 weeks to save on a detangling session and for length retention.
7. Do not braid too close to the edges (small baby hairs) to avoid thinning of the hairline.
8. Clarify the hair once every 6-8 weeks or when a lot of product has been used during the week to get rid of build up. Do not do this often to prevent the hair from feeling ‘stripped’ and dry.
9. Limited Use-
· Shampoo – Can be drying / stripping; I dilute or add oil to my shampoo and use sparingly
· Silicones – Trying to use fewer products containing these. They coat/build up the hair shaft and cannot be removed by conditioner alone.
· Alcohol – very drying to the hair
10. Track your growth every 3 months with pictures.

** Feel free to alter this regime to suit your hair- these things works best for my hair**

aloe vera, coconut milk, comb coils, cultivated locs, curly fro, kinks, loc removal, miss naturale, miss sixx, orange marmalade, twist outs

My Loc Take Down!!!!!

The Lupie Chick

I’ve been debating about taking down my loc’s and starting them over for sometime now. I’ve been asking others there thought about me taking down my loc’s and I receive mixed responses. My loc’s were started 2.5 years ago with comb coils. As my hair begin to loc, I realized they were too fat ) especially on the top and the middle of my head). I wanted skinner, more uniformed loc’s. I’ve received so many “opinions” about width, size, etc. Ultimately I decided I had to be the decision maker and I needed to do what would make me happy in the long run. With that being said- Let’s start operation loc take down.

Day 1- July 11

Washed locs, and heavily laid on Mane N’ Tail conditioner with a heat cap. I left the cap on 30 minutes before I started the take down. I pulled one loc out from under the cap, and begun to pick with a rat tail comb. it took 1 hour for me to take down 1 loc!!!!!! F-R-U-S-T-R-A-T-I-N-G!!!! I had a spray bottle with conditioner and water – I sprayed every second.. gosh … IT HURT. After 5 hours, I’d only taken down 12 locs!!!! at this rate I’ll be doing this 3 months *sigh*


Day 2-July 12th

All day at work, I was thinking ” how can I speed up the take down process?”. Detangler!!! Maybe detangler would help.. I went to lunch and purchased a large bottle of Mane and Til detangler. I came home, ate dinner and spritzed my loc’s heavily with the detangler and the conditioner/water mix. I began to pick away…. *le sigh* lets just say Day 2 I only removed 3 locs!!!! The process wasn’t any faster and i was only more annoyed. enough for today.. will resume business tomorrow :C

Day 3-July 13th

Ok, Day 3 is here. I would have thought that after 3 days I would see more progress- NOT! I emailed my friend Kellee, who had taken down her loc’s. I inquired about her technique, and products to use. She advised that I was doing it correctly- and that its a very long process. It took her about 8 days to remove her loc’s. So I found some shows to watch on TV, laid out all my tools and got to work.. wet loc’s with water.. spritz with detangler.. spritz with conditioner/water mix… massage everything in.. snip the ends off.. pick..pick..pick.. after 3 hours I’d taken down 5 loc’s. Ive now made 5 my goal for each evening. too many more after 5 makes me very frustrated and my head start to hurt ( I’m tender headed).

Day 4th-July 14th

I was a wet mess last night with the double spritzing.. so I decided to put the detangler in to the conditioner/water mix.. *shrug shoulder*, couldn’t hurt, and I’m trying to reduce time. Man, I started with the really fat loc’s.. JESUZ!!!!! they took an hour to work through. whew.. I almost stopped at 4, but then I felt bad that I didn’t meet my target, so I did one more and I completed 5 ( YEAH ME!!). I see right now.. the fat ones are going to be difficult ( and they are all in the middle of my head and on top of my head).

Day 5-July 15th

I visited my local grocery store during lunch and noticed that the VO5 conditioner was on sale for $1. I began to browse though the assorted varieties- and came upon ” Tea Therapy” The chamomile is suppose to have a calming effect. So I jumped on it ( I’d started having anxiety attacks over the process.. it was getting to me- in a bad way). After work, I went straight home, ate dinner, got relaxed, and went to work on the next set of loc’s. This time, I told myself I wouldn’t count ( although I did) and I would take my time. Well I wet the loc’s and sprayed them one at a time with the VO5 conditioner/water mix.. Baby.. I was working em out!!! I worked from 7p-11p and had taken out 9 loc’s. Almost all of the front were taken down. I love the VO5 conditioner. its a little thicker than the Mane and Tail, and for this process- I think I rather use the least expensive of the two. Not sure if the Chamomile in the conditioner did its job with the calming effects- but I was calm.. and I found my rhythm. **Doing the cabbage patch**

Day 6- July 18th

OK.. today wasn’t so great- its the day AFTER the wine fest and I was nursing a MAJOR hangover. *Note to self* taste the wine- don’t DRINK IT…I washed my entire head- It was hot, I was sweating and I had been spraying conditioner in it all week so I figured I would wash my hair, and do as many as I could with a hangover. I worked from 2p-8p and I completed 8- the entire front is loose!!!!! I did 2 big twist on the loose hair and sealed the ends with Crisco ( yes, the blue can- CRISCO). I looked like Shirley Temple with the ringlets hanging from my face. My daughter came in and said ” mommy.. your almost finished!!” All I have left is the back.. MAKING PROGRESS !!!!!!

Day 7- July 20th

I’ve missed two days and I feel like I need to get this OVER AND DONE WITH. I came straight home, ate a quick meal- and got to working. I worked for 5 hours and had removed 6 loc’s. The back is allot harder to take down- actually they are murderous. They are wound so tight and they are smaller. Aggggghhhh.. I’m never gonna be finished ( *insert sad face*)

Day 8-July 21st

I came to work feeling good and looking better. Until it was implied that my loc’s project a bad image. You can tell that my loc’s are gone in the front- I’ve been wearing my hair in a pony tail. One of my co workers noticed and lets just say- I found out what she really thought of me rockin loc’s ( click here to read what happen). I came home, hotter than Satan and immediately began to work on the remaining loc’s. I think I was so angry that I channeled that energy intro completing the take down. I didn’t track how many I took down, I just worked until I was tired and out of energy.


Day 9 – July 23rd

I have a few errands to run and I’m ready to get home and finish working on my hair. Its the start of the weekend and I’m determined- I WILL NOT GO TO WORK ON MONDAY WITH 2 HAIR STYLES ( locs in the back and a pony tail on the front- NOT GOING TO DO IT). I’m down to the final 15 loc’s. I worked until 2am Sat morning- ( I swear if I’d started with the back- I would have chopped them all off- there is NO way I could have done too many more of these skinner, tightly coiled loc’s)..

Day 10- July 24th

We spent most of the day at the water park to beat the 110 degree weather. While at the water park- I noticed every loc wearer- and there were plenty to look at. OMG– I cant wait to re loc. I’m starting to feel out of the circle-but its ok– I’m out BUT NOT FOR LONG. I washed my hair- and two strand twisted the “loose hair”, and sealed the ends with Crisco. I’m down to the final 9 loc’s ( yeah!!!!!). I can see the finish line..


Day 11- July 25th

I woke up with a mission.. Today is the day I will complete my loc take down. I cooked breakfast and dinner at the same time. Doubled up on ice cold drinks turned the TV to First 48 and began to work on the final 4. The final 4 were stubborn- OH BABY! they weren’t trying to go!!!! I realized after hours of tugging.. and picking that the last two rows in the back were the ones I latched- That’s why they are so friggin tight!!!! Anyhoo– It took me 6.5 hours to take down the final 4! Whew I got to the last one- I almost cried- I knew that once that last one was out- I would temporarily be out of the loc wearer circle ( sad face). I almost kept it, then I was going to cut the whole loc off as a memory- then I decided to just take it down. I called my daughter in the room and told her I was on my last loc. She asked, “now that you don’t have loc’s will you still make products?”- We’ll of course I will- she smiled, and clapped and I begun to pick..pick..pick..pick…. ( fast forward 52 minutes) and it gone.. I no longer rock loc’s– I marveled at my hair.. Now I’m here with this big head of hair and suddenly, I’m confused.. I’ve been natural off/on since 1995- but I always kept it short. I plaited my hair and trimmed the ends, took the plaits out- moisturized and two strand twisted all the hair. Now what?? My friend Kellee, and I exchanged 22 email over the last 11 days. She asked me ” what will you wear for your debut” * shrug shoulder* I don’t know- maybe a twist out- This day seemed so far away- but now its here- what am I going to do???

Debut New Hair Day!!!- July 26th

Its Monday- I whipped out my new dress to go with my new hair. I’m feeling something sexy and fancy. I un twisted the two strand twist I had did last night- and errrrr.. ME NO LIKEY.. I didn’t look like the girls on You tube.. I didn’t like it.. nope.. can rock like this.. So I took my water bottle filled with Coconut milk, water, and Aloe Juice and spritzed my hair.. Rubbed some Orange Marmalade Hair Butter on each section… a little Aloe Vera Gel… Shuck.. finger fluffed- D-O-N-E…. I got big hair ( which is what I wanted) * doing the cabbage patch* I LOVE IT!!!!! I put on my hoop earrings to complete my style and a sista is looking and feeling like a million bucks ( **singing Uh You fancy huh?**):!!!!!!!!

acv rinse, apple cider vinegar, au naturale, bentonite clay, blow dry, coconut milk, damage, ezema, facial, hair treatment, herbal infusion, miss sixx, shampoo, vitamin Shoppe

Benefits of Bentonite Clay

The Lupie Chick

What is Bentonite Clay?
It is a detoxifying clay that can be used both internally and externally. It is commonly used amongst us natural queens as a hair cleanser but is also great for the skin.

Benefits of Bentonite?
Used as a shampoo, Bentonite removes build up and dirt from the hair and scalp without stripping. It is highly absorbent, so when used on the skin-it extracts oils and toxins from the skin.

How to use Bentonite?
It it mostly commonly combined with plain water, EVOO, or ACV.

Where to find Bentonite?
It can be found at many health food stores.

Bentonite Clay Curl Popping Hair Care Treatment Recipe:

This recipe depends on the length and thickness of your naturally curly hair.

Prep time: 10 mins

Instructions
Mix 1 to 2 parts Bentonite clay
Slowly add *water to the clay until you achieve a pancake mix texture.
Apply to your hair (dry or wet)
Allow to set for between 15 – 20 minutes
Rinse thoroughly until it’s all out of your curls, kinks and coils.

*water can be replaced with your choice of liquid for example: Organic Coconut Milk Herbal infusion or anything you like…* (Source: Anitagrant.com)

While researching info about Bentonite, I found so much information about this wonder clay. It is also effective treatment for skin rashes like Eczema, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, Autism and the list goes on. I don’t know about you, but I am running to my health food store to whip up a recipe this weekend.
I’ll keep ya posted.

au naturale, coconut milk, conditioner, honey, keepitsimplesista, miss sixx, mixology 101

How do you use coconut milk in your hair??

The Lupie Chick

How do you use coconut milk in your hair??

1. Coconut milk soaks. This involves no other ingredient other than
coconut milk coming into contact with your hair. You douse your hair
in coconut using the whole can and leave on your hair for about an
hour. I have not done this because most people comment that it is so
drippy while your are waiting that hour..but they do say it makes
their hair feel nice!

2. Coconut milk+Conditioner mixtures. I do this very frequently,
about every other week to ensure that I do not have hair protein
overload. I mix coconut milk with my moisturizing deep conditioners
(not protein conditioners because coconut milk is a protein
remember!!). The conditioners that I have had great success with
coconut milk are Lustrasilk Sheabutter Cholesterol (in the bottle)
and Proclaim Aloe&Shea all of which you can find at your Sally’s
beauty supply. I mix coconut milk with these conditioners and add
other natural ingredients including coconut oil, aloe vera gel, and
castor oil. You can change your recipes based on what your hair
wants. The general recipe for the coconut milk+conditioner mixture is
as so:

1/4 cup coconut milk
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup conditioner
Mix all of these ingredients and let sit on your hair for about an
hour and rinse out! Strong fluffy hair for the rest of the week!

** Courtesy of Moni from Au_naturale@yahoogroups.com **