Category: loc maintenance

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Goody Spin Pin

The Lupie Chick


I keep seeing the commerical the Spin Pin and I’m so courteous. Now in the commercial I saw one AA female with thicker hair, but it was straight. I’m wondering if this will work on us with natural thick hair when it’s not straightened… what about loc’s, sisterlocs, or braided updo’s(ummmmmm… *baffled*). I love the fact that you can use it and it is like using 20 bobby pins. I hate using bobby pins,they hurt my scalp…so this would be super helpful. You can get the entire set below for 14.99 plus shipping and handling. I’m only interested in the spin pin. They sell them individually at CVS, Target and Walgreens. I’m confused at how it would work…I’m pretty sure it would get stuck in my loc’d hair. Have any of you tried this??

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My Wavy Loc’s

The Lupie Chick





Friday evening, I tried a new maintenance routine on my locs and I must say I was happy with the results. I first did a Evoo/ Honey pre shampoo treatment ( same as a hot oil treatment- added raw honey to the Evoo mixture, sit bottle in a cup of hot *not boiling* water, shake, the apply) onto dry hair before I shampoo’d, covered with a plastic cap for 45 minutes, then shampoo’d with Au’Naturale Hair Wash, and Conditioned with Au’Naturale Hair Mask). I then started to re twist my roots using Au’Naturale Lemon Honey Twist & Loc Souffle,I secured a couple of locs with a clip on the ends, then braided 3-4 locs together and secured the ends with a small rubber band. I continued this process throughout my head, and covered my head with a silk bonnet and went to sleep. ** total twist time 45 minutes!!!**. I allowed my hair to “air” dry ( avoiding the hooded dryer- I was afraid that the dry heat would strip the moisture I had gained from pre washing my hair with oil and honey- I hope you can see how moist was loc’s were in the pic of my loc’s at the root). I took the braids down Monday morning before work- and the results were BEAUTIFUL- a head full of wavy loc’s.. This was the fastest I ever re twisted my hair and I didn’t have the aches and pains of the clips on my scalp (I’m very tender headed and the clips usually hurt my scalp). The roots stayed twisted and I maintained a good amount of length. I was very satisfied with the results and the time spent to obtain this style. ** Now lets see how long it last**

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My Pipe Cleaner Curls

The Lupie Chick




I LOVE pipe cleaner curls!!!! Finally a low mainteance style that provide me longlasting curls. If you thought about giving yourself a straw set to create cute spiral curls, this style is for you. The pipe cleaner curls work well to create spiral curls in locs! So, if you want, curly dreadlocks, this is a style for you!

Things you’ll need:
• Pipe cleaners ( I purchased mine from Michael’s Craft Store)
• Shampoo ( Au’Naturale Hair Wash)
• Conditioner ( optional) ( Au’Naturale Hair Mask )
• Setting lotion ( I use Lotta Body- diluted w/ distilled water in a spray bottle)

Step 1
Prep the pipe cleaners- take the pipe cleaners and fold in half, leave a loop at the top and begin twisting the remaining ends. I initially twisted 50 to get started.

Step 2
Wash and condition your hair

Step 3
Towel dry your hair, but do not dry it fully

Step 4
Apply setting lotion, Take a pipe cleaner and roll up small sections of hair damp from the end to the root

** On traditional locs most people do 2 locs per pip cleaner, if you have larger loc’s – like myself- I suggest 1 loc per pipe cleaner** Fold the ends of the pipe curler up and twist it around to secure the pipe cleaner in the hair.
Continue rolling until the entire head is complete.

** If you aren’t re- twisting your roots-You can divide your hair is half and make two ponytails- apply the pipe cleaners to the exposed ends and rolls up to the band holding the pony tail- that will also give you added length and a “not so tight” curl**

Step 5 * optional*
Mist hair once all over with the setting lotion or a moisturizing mist ( 1 part distilled water, 1 part EVOO, couple drops of peppermint oil, and couple drops of Lemongrass Essential Oil- shake well)

Step 6
Sit under a hooded dryer and allow hair to dry completely (I sat under the dryer 1 hour) – You can also allow the hair to air dry. The longer you keep the pipe cleaners in the better- a friend of mine (Doni) kept hers in the entire weekend!!!!

Step 7
Remove the pipe cleaners by pulling the pipe cleaners straight down (do not unravel)

Step 8 – REVEAL YOUR CURLS
You will have a head of beautiful spiral curls in your locs, dreadlocks, or natural hair. The curls will drop as the days/weeks go by. My locs maintained its curly state for 3-4 weeks.

** Stay tuned- this weekend I will attempt pipe cleaner curls on my daughter 2-strand twist**

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Loc it up Thursday- How to take better care of dreadlocks

The Lupie Chick


Once you’ve got your new hair style, taking good care of dreadlocks often becomes a top priority. Whether you decide to take care of your style on your own or with the help of a professional stylist, dreadlock hair care is as hard or as simple as you want it to be.

Many people have these mythical thoughts that having dreadlocks means less hair maintenance. It doesn’t though; having dreadlocks just means having a different hair maintenance routine.

You have two choices for this routine: you can either spend money on your hair or spend time with your hair.

Spending Money: Git Your Hair Did

A stylist that specializes in the professional care of dreadlocks is called a loctician. There are a growing number of specialized salons around the world for people interested in sporting either natural or synthetic locks.
These hair specialists have knowledge of hair locking methods and maintenance techniques that aren’t always taught in traditional cosmetology schools where hair stylists learn their trade.

Among other services, a loctician can help you maintain ‘manicured locks’ – locks that are usually styled, coloured and otherwise groomed – to give you a clean, “mainstream-friendly” appearance.


Spending Time: D.I.Y. – Do It Yourself

Should you chose to have your hair professionally maintained and styled, you’ll still have to maintain your own hair between visits; there’s no way around it if you want a healthy head of hair full of soft, shiny, flexible locks.
And even if you’ve never considered using a stylist for your dreads, you know that your locks need to be maintained on a regular basis. We’re able to give you tips and techniques to make that maintenance a lot easier.

Whether we are talking about Black hair care, Asian hair care or Caucasian hair care, the way that you will maintain your hair with dreadlocks will have changed a bit from what you are used to.

Taking care of dreadlocks on your own saves you money, but it often takes as much as twice the amount of time than if you had professional care. Don’t think of it as hard or as a waste of time though. If you hadn’t before, you’ll begin to enjoy taking care of dreadlocks by yourself and will love how easy it is.

Spending a while with your hair gives you a better feel for what works and what doesn’t. You’ll acquire a taste for a wide range of hair care products like Au’Naturale by Mz. Sixx, Carol’s Daughter, Mango and Lime Products, Knotty Boy Products, Ms. Jessies’s, fine essential oils and must-have dreadlock hair tools.

All this so you can give yourself salon-like treatment (without the salon-like price)! Find out what your hair maintenance program should and should not include by by consulting a loctician.

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Now Seen on Etsy!

The Lupie Chick

I’ve finally done it… (yippee!!!!) After many request from family and friends to purchase some of my Au’ Naturale products -I’ve finally jumped out on faith and opened an Etsy page (http://www.etsy.com/shop/AuNaturalebymzsixx)
Etsy is a place where you can buy and sell anything handmade. New items will be added weekly. Take a few minutes and check my Au’Naturale items. All items are:
Parben Free
Chemical Free
100% Natural

Wishing everyone a Mery Christmas… Stay Beautiful… and Au’Naturale…..

Feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions.

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Essential Night Time Routine for Natural Hair

The Lupie Chick

Essential Night Time Routine for Natural Hair
Three Things You Must Do Before Sleeping
© Kimberly Ward

These bedtime procedures are a necessity for keeping natural hair in optimum condition

Along with the appropriate moisturizer, shampoos, conditioners and treatment methods, doing the right things before you sleep is important to ensure your natural afro or curls is well looked after.

Twists or Corn-rows Before Bed

Natural hair doesn’t need to be wrapped (using a comb or brush to sweep the hair around the head into a mound) before bedtime because it doesn’t need to be kept straight. The best way of preserving shape and keeping hair strands together is to twist the hair in sections or plait it in corn-rows.

The smaller the twist, the tighter the curls in the morning once they are loosened, but generally dividing hair into fist-sized sections and twisting (by diving each section into two and twisting gently but firmly until you reach the tip) is adequate, as are corn-rows plaited from the front to the back of the head. Both styles keep the hair in shape rather than splayed out all over your head.

In the morning, separating the twists or corn-rows with your fingers is preferable to combing it out. The less use of combs and brushes the better as these can pull out natural hair which is very delicate.

Moisturize Both the Scalp and Ends

Natural hair, especially the ends, needs more moisture than other types of hair. Dry ends lead to breakage so keeping both the scalp and tips well-oiled at night is a must. Light oils (olive or avocado oil works well) are better than thicker ones like Pink Oil, which can just sit on your hair and make it lank and heavy.

Sparse oiling of the scalp followed by a bit more for the ends of each of your twists is recommended before bed time. The average sleeping time of six to eight hours, and the lack of harmful interference from sunlight or winds means nightly moisturizing is the best time for giving your hair the nutrients it needs. Repeat the light oiling for both the scalp and ends in the morning.

Silk Scarves and/or Silk Pillowcases

As you sleep, your hair rubs against the pillow and against itself which can also lead to breakage. This rubbing can be reduced with the use of a silk or satin pillowcase because these are made from softer materials that’s kinder to hair than cotton. The hair oils you’ve put in is also more likely to remain on your hair if you use silk or satin pillowcases.

Because natural hair doesn’t need to be wrapped, you can twist and sleep without a scarf, provided you’re sleeping on a silk or satin pillow case. You may, however, choose to wear a scarf as extra protection, and it’ll also ensure smoother hair in the morning.

There may be other night time routines you find work well for your hair, but doing these three things regularly goes a long way in managing natural hair.

Article courtesy of Kimberly Ward…

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Top Natural Hair Care Products Under $15

The Lupie Chick

Many new naturals are left with a counter full of products for relaxed hair that no longer work on their newly chemical free tresses. One of the most common questions I hear is: “What products will keep my natural hair soft and moisturized?” Well below are a few fav’s that are easy on the pockets and easy to use..

Carol’s Daughter

Carol’s Daughter is one of the most prominent names in natural hair care products, and with good reason. The company produces high quality, nature based products for hair and skin. Recently, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith and others invested 10 million dollars in the company, which has led to an expanded product line and more advanced website.

My favorite Carol’s Daughter product is Healthy Hair Butter, which is a soft creamy hair dress based in shea butter and almond oil, with lavender, ylang ylang, and rosemary essential oils. It smells heavenly, enhances the natural coil of the hair, and keeps it soft. It also provides a gentle hold that will keep your style in place all day. Apply a small amount to damp hair and massage in for best results.

Other Carol’s Daughter products to try: Tui Hair Oil, Hair Milk

Healthy Hair Butter – $12.50
Tui Hair Oil – $8.00
Hair Milk – $10.00
http://www.CarolsDaughter.com

Oyin Handmade

Oyin Handmade is an up and coming natural hair and skin product producer, which is quickly gaining popularity among naturals. The company’s down to earth presentation and personal touch account for much of its appeal – but the products are also unique and what’s better, they work!

initially tried a sample of Greg Juice on my locs, and it was the first product that was able to keep my ultra dry hair moisturized. It is based in spring water, glycerin, and aloe, and kicked up with an essential oil blend that will have your hair smelling great and feeling soft. The product is free of carrier oils, so it is a great alternative for those who find that oils don’t work well with their hair. Greg Juice also works best when sprayed on damp hair, and a little goes a long way.

Other Oyin Handmade products to try: Honey Hemp Conditioner, Shine & Define Styling Serum

Greg Juice – $9.00
Honey Hemp Conditioner – $9.00
Shine & Define Styling Serum – $5.50
http://www.OyinHandmade.com


Burt’s Bees

Take one look at the funny looking guy with the scruffy beard on most of Burt’s Bees products, and you may not guess that this line of products works great for black natural hair. Upon closer inspection, the line includes several products that are well suited for the chemically challenged.

The Rosemary Mint Shampoo bar is perfect for those of us with thick hair and a lot of it. It provides much better control than liquids that end up all over the bathtub floor, and allows you to get into all the little nooks and crannies between your coils, locs, or braids. It’s 99% natural, and the peppermint acts as a scalp stimulator and aromatherapy experience all in one. You may need to use this shampoo bar a few times to get the full effect, as it will gradually remove all of the product build up that may be in your hair. It will leave your hair just about squeaky clean, so follow up with a light oil to rehydrate your coils.

Other Burt’s Bees products to try: Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet Shampoo and Conditioner

Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar – $6.00
Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet Shampoo – $8.00
Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet Conditioner – $8.00
http://www.BurtsBees.com

When you are newly natural, you may have to try many different products to find out what works best on your unique tresses. This process can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. Look at it as a fun and exciting part of your natural journey – the above suggestions are a great place to start. Try purchasing sample packs from websites or stores, so that you can try small quantities of various products as you determine what works best for you. Visit http://www.Nappturality.com’s Swap and Sell Board for discounted or free-to-swap products. Enjoy, and try not to become a product junkie!

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Loc Maintenance Oils-Essential & Others

The Lupie Chick

What Oils Are Good

In a previous article regarding loc maintenance, I mentioned several oils — essential and otherwise — that can be good to have in your loc maintenance arsenal. Included in the list were:

Jojoba Oil: A carrier oil; closely emulates the natural oils produced by the sebacous glands

Sweet Almond Oil: also a carrier oil

Rosemary Essential Oil: assists with hair growth; should not be used by pregnant women

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: used for hot oil treatments; can be a carrier oil

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil: very aromatic; used to stimulate

The following herbs, which can be purchased as essential oils as well, should also be considered as part of your hair care regimen:

Chamomile: used to bring out the highlights in lighter colored hair

Horsetail: has a high silica content which helps relieve dry, brittleness; very moisturizing

Mint: stimulates the scalp

Nettle: a stimulant and helps with dandruff

Sage: used in hair rinses to remove dandruff; helps to restore color to hair that is graying

Thyme: treats oily hair and dandruff

You must be very careful in your use of essential oils. Improper or overuse of essential oils can have adverse affects on some. Please be sure that you fully understand the use of essential oils before incorporating them into your natural hair care regimen. There are plenty of resources out on the Internet that can assist you in learning the proper use and storage of essential oils.
One of my readers asked if all the oils listed needed to be used and how should they be used. This article is in response to her questions, and also to further elaborate on how these can be incorporated into your hair care routine.

Carrier Oils

Carrier oils are healthy oils used as a base for other products. They “carry” the essential oils which are added to them to your hair, scalp and skin when a recipe calls for an essential oil to be infused or diluted. Two carrier oils that are great for your locs and natural hair are jojoba oil and sweet almond oil.

Jojoba Oil: Jojoba oil mimics the natural oils that the scalp’s sebacous glands excrete. However, care should still be taken to not over-use this or any other oil. Over-use will cause build up, resulting in dull, grayish locs that attract lint and dirt. This isn’t what we’re aiming for! Use a small amount of jojoba oil in your misting bottle to keep your tresses moisturized. Adding some ylang ylang for fragrance, as well as it’s uplifting properties will invigorate your hair and mind.

Sweet Almond Oil: This light, penetrable oil is also a great carrier oil. It also can be used in your misting bottle to moisturize. However, I suggest you use either jojoba or sweet almond — not both in the same misting bottle. Please remember that this oil is extracted from almonds. Those with nut sensitivities/allergies should be aware.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Although not recommend, extra virgin olive oil can be used as a carrier oil. It is a much heavier oil than jojoba or sweet almond, and therefore is not recommended for this purpose. Extra virgin olive oil is best used as a hot oil treatment, which would be thoroughly rinsed from your tresses, and as an ingredient in conditioners that will also be rinsed out of the hair.

Essential Oils

I cannot stress enough that one must understand the proper storage and use of essential oils. Misuse of these products can cause ill effects. Please read, learn, and understand all precautions of using any essential oil you may choose before incorporating them in your recipes and spritzes. The Internet holds a wealth of information and guidance on this subject. One site that I have used in the past is http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com. I am in no way associated with this site other than being a customer.

Rosemary: This essential oil has been noted to assist with hair growth. I recommend using weekly/bi-weekly. Some have been known to use daily; however, excess use may cause side effects. Rosemary is not recommended for use by pregnant women or those who may think they are pregnant.

Thyme: Used to control oil and dandruff, incorporating a weekly spritz of thyme can promote the healthy production of oil, while preventing dryness to the point of dandruff.

Nettle: Also used for the treatment of dandruff. This essential oil is known to promote hair growth.

Sage: Another remedy some use for dandruff control, sage is also known as a color restorative to hair which is graying.

Chamomile: Chamomile is known for its benefit to light colored hair — it enhances the natural highlights without chemicals.

Horsetail: Hair that suffers from brittleness can benefit from the essential oil, horsetail, via a bi-weekly spritz. The high amount of silica present in horsetail helps to soften and condition dry, brittle hair.

Adding a drop or two of Mint essential oil to any one above in your misting bottle will energize your scalp. Mint is a scalp stimulant, and stimulation is of course beneficial to blood flow and a healthy scalp.

How To Use

The question posed by the reader is “do we have to use them all and how?” The simple answer is “no.” However, there are some things one should consider…

If your hair has multiple, different symptoms of stress such as severe dandruff and brittleness, you may opt to treat one symptom at a time. This will ensure that you can accurately determine if the method you have used to treat the problem is working for you. It should help also to curb any instances of making one symptom worse while trying to alleviate another.

Let’s say you are having trouble with both brittleness ane dandruff. I would think that the first remedy you would like to attempt would be to get rid of the unsightly dandruff. So you would institute in your regimen methods that alleviate dandruff — a good, moisturizing natural shampoo known for its properties to combat dandruff. Then you would choose one of the essential oils mentioned here (or another that you have learned of elsewhere) which have properties that alleviate dandruff and, following proper care and handling instructions, infuse that essential oil in your spritz bottle or other recipe for your hair. You would stick with this regimen for at least 30 days in order to see if it resolves the dandruff issue. If not, you may have to try a different essential oil which is conducive to combatting dandruff.

Once you have gotten the dandruff problem under control, then you turn your concentration to the brittleness factor. Infuse a few drops, handled properly, in sweet almond oil and spritz your hair with this mixture once a week. I would not recommend using it more than weekly, else you may find yourself with a build up problem since this is an oil-based spritz and not water-based. Make sure to thoroughly spritz your tresses without saturating them. A gentle massage down the length of your locs will help ensures your tresses can easily benefit from this moisturizing spritz.

Now that you have both problems under control, you want to adjust your regimen to a “maintenance” level to avoid product build up or the adverse affects of over-use of your essential oils. Any product that is over-used, whether it contains essential oils or not, can be damaging to your hair, scalp, and or self. Never overdo it. Moderation is key. Maybe your maintenance can be as simple as a once a week spritz with the essential oil that combats dandruff, daily water spritzing, every-other-day spritzing with a water + humectant such as organic honey, and bi-monthly deep conditioning hot oil treatments with extra virgin olive oil.

I also suggest a bi-monthly ACV rinse (apple cider vinegar), especially if you are putting product in your hair daily (essential or other oils, herbal remedies, etc.). This will prevent product build up and dull looking locs. The rinse is easy enough to make and use yourself — one-part ACV with three-parts distilled water; while holding your head over a large bowl placed in the sink, pour the ACV rinse over your tresses making sure they are all saturated, repeating the process until all of the rinse is gone then rinse hair thoroughly with luke warm water.

Let’s Recap

No, you do not have to use all of the oils mentioned here in your regimen. Choose the oil(s) that will treat the condition(s) you are dealing with or the oil that will produce the benefit you are looking for (i.e., more sheen, softer locs, aromatic scents, etc.). Use of too much product can cause build up. And, again, please be sure you know the proper use and handling of any essential oil you choose. Know if there are other ingredients that you should not mix a particular essential oil with.

You must educate yourself on what you put in your hair before putting it in there! From Nature with Love is an excellent resource for information on the proper use and handling of essential oils. Do some research and learn what is best for your tresses.

Most importantly — Listen to your Locs! They will speak to you. They will tell you what they need and what they are getting too much of. They want to thrive for you. Help them become the beautiful head of natural hair that you have envisioned for yourself throughout your loc journey.