It's a Henna  Party! 

H3 Volunteer (Felisha) assisting with Henna Application

This weekend I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of  Healthy Hair seekers regarding the Benefits of using Henna, Cassia,  and Amla  powder in their hair care regimens!  I just love doing these "informational" parties!  3 Sisters Beauty Supply located near my home town does a great job of staying connected to their customers and their healthy hair journeys.  When the owners asked if I would come and speak to their customers about the benefits of using Henna. You know I jumped at the chance!   

Me with 3 Sister's Beauty Supply Store owner

For a Friday Night  we had a pretty good turn out, the women had many questions about the benefits of using henna, Cassia, Amla, and Indigo..  Many of them just wanted stronger healthier hair..

Our lovely group of women

There I am!

Others had questions about how they could successfully cover their grays using Henna, Amla and or Indigo! Everyone's situation was unique. And I welcomed their various questions.  Those who currently has hair that's been previously colored with chemicals wanted to know if it was safe to use henna over it. And if you've been following me you know the answer to this one.  Absolutely. Yes!  If it's Body Arty Quality Henna(and not a compound Henna) It is safe! 

H3 Volunteer Erica!

She's enjoying her beauty treatment! 

Henna is a messy job, but it is also therapeutic and fun! We did approx 13 Henna & Amla treatments for those who wanted to take a chance right then and their, the other women were content with the wealth of information for future use.   It's always good to do your research, harvest your hair and do test runs if you can.  Seek the advice of others who are experienced with using Henna before jumping in.  You can also schedule your own Henna party with me if your are local, or with friends who are very informed if you are distant.  I've been using these treatments for years and they make me and my hair happy!  : )

Me and My team! I love these ladies!

Well that's a Rap!! Until Next time.. Keep it Healthy and Happy!!! 

3 Remedies for an Itchy Scalp

Having an Itchy scalp can be very annoying. Some people may know why they suffer from an itchy scalp, for example they may have dandruff, psoriasis or eczema, and others have no clue!  Whether you know what causes your discomfort or not there are remedies that can help sooth your itchy scalp. First, if you don’t know you have to find out what is causing your scalp to itch.  If you know that you don’t typically have dandruff, and that you have not been diagnosed with a more serious scalp condition, you will have to pay attention to your product’s ingredients and keep a clean scalp.  Some chemicals and ingredients in certain products can cause a reaction called Contact Dermatitis. This means that something you used caused a serious allergic reaction and your scalp responded by flaking up really bad, itching like crazy or both!   There are many reasons why you could be experiencing an itchy scalp but the above mentions are a great place to start.  Below I have listed some simple remedies for soothing an itchy scalp.  

*****

Remedy 1 Clean your scalp:  Products can build up on the scalp causing it to become itchy. You don’t have to wash your hair every day, but you can cleanse your scalp with a mild Apple Cider Vinegar and water mixture; just use a cloth to scrub your scalp.  Apple Cider Vinegar detoxifies the scalp and helps to remove dirt and build up from your scalp. When your scalp can’t breathe, it will become itchy.  (For those of you who wear wigs or weaves, you know exactly what I’m talking about!)  So keep your scalp clean.     

 

Remedy 2 Use Lemon oil:   Lemon is an antiseptic for your scalp, and when mixed with a carrier oil, it can significantly reduce an itchy scalp. I typically use Vatika Oil to massage my scalp because it contains enough lemon for me.  But you can make your own concoction for example Olive oil and Lemon. Olive oil is actually an antifungal treatment when used on the scalp and can be used to fight bacteria, mixing the two together may prove to be a powerful home remedy! 

Contains Lemon Oil

Remedy 3 Ayurvedic Clay Treatments:   Powerful Indian Herbs like Amla, Brandi, Neem Powder, Henna, and Cassia Obovata, all of these treatments are widely used in Ayurvedic medicine to alleviate scalp issues like Dandruff, Dermatitis, and Psoriasis.   

Don’t let your scalp cramp your style! Identify the problem, treat it, and stay consistent. (Of course if you have tried these home remedies consistently and none of them seem to work you should definitely see a Dermatologist or Trichologist for medical advice.)

 Until Next time!!! 

My Hair & Henna

Henna, is definitely nothing new to the natural hair care world. There is a TON of information on the web about Henna, along with plenty of women’s recipes, regimens, and their experiences.  For those who don’t know, Henna  is simply a natural strengthener that will deposit a low red dye content on the surface of your hair.   Henna, basically coats and protects the hair strands.  The color isn’t too noticeable on dark hair, unless you’re in the sun.  But, if you begin with a lighter base color, the red tones can be very vibrant.  Henna has been a part of my healthy hair regimen since 2009. I began using it on my transiting hair, I loved how strong and silky it made my hair, and the color was a nice plus!   When I was relaxed my hair strands were very weak, they would snap immediately in a tension test, but after I started using Henna, my hair became as tough as nails!

Relaxed

Transitioning

Throughout my journey I’ve changed my regimen with Henna to adjust to my hair care needs.   When I first went natural, I used Henna every other week! Like many of us, I  honed in on someone else’s regimen and their results.  Let’s just say that was a NO Go for this head! My hair became so dense and dry that I could barely separate it when styling. (For women with finer hair, more density is wonderful!) Because of this, I soon saw Henna as my enemy and stopped using it for 8 months!

(Henna on left/Cassia Right)

Early Henna Days 

After some serious deep conditioning  treatments, at least twice a week, the softness and pliability returned to my hair.  But after reviewing photos from earlier in my journey, I noticed that my henna"less" hair was lacking vibrancy it had when using Henna once a month. My hair looked healthier with it. (to me anyway!)  So I made the decision to bring back an alternative to Henna, Cassia Obovata.   I began using Cassia and Amla treatments because it has the same benefits, and didn’t make my hair feel dense.  The coating is temporary, so I stick to my once a month strengthening regimen with Cassia and Amla.  

Henna"less" Hair

After a year of using Cassia, I started to miss the color and permanent binding strength from Henna, so it was time to give it a try again but not full strength. I mixed Henna with Cassia, loved it!  I also have done Henna Glosses(Henna and Conditioner) and my hair does well with those too.  

In all my experimenting, I’ve finally found my perfect balance with Henna.   I’ve learned that because my hair is already thick and coarse that too many Henna treatments will dry my hair out.  My natural hair thrives when I use Henna about twice a year (not full strength).   I also use my Cassia and Amla treatments monthly.    My lesson:  Don’t be so quick to give up on a good thing, (and Henna is a VERY good thing) just figure out how to make it fall in line with the chemistry of my hair.    If you would like more information about Henna please visit Hennaforhair.com, or email me!

Until Next time!  

Cassia Obovata: Herbal Wonder

Cassia Obovata: Makes Hair Stronger, Fuller, Healthier

Post Cassa & Amla Treatment

Cassia Powder

Please Contact Me at healthyhpyhair@gmail.com or 817-504-9321 if you are interested in this Natural Hair Treatment for yourself!  

Cassia Obovata It is derived from a flowering desert plant, also known as "senna." It  has been referred to as neutral henna; however, cassia is not true henna. Cassia does not typically add color to the hair.

Like henna, Cassia Obovata strengthens the hair shaft, improves overall health, and adds lots of shine. Cassia Obovata will make damaged hair silky thick, and lustrous. It will also keep your scalp healthy, improving dandruff. 

Cassia Applied to Natural Hair

   

I typically will do a Cassia and Amla treatment once a month.  For me, when I neglect to do this treatment my hair can tell!  Cassia, like Henna deposits a coating on the hair strand which coats  the hair cuticle making it smoother,fuller, and stronger.  Hair that is chemically processed, or  naturally curly/kinky can greatly benefit from Herbal hair treatments like Cassia, because these hair types are more prone to breakage. 

 Colored Treated 

 Natural Kinky-Curly Hair

By adding Cassia Obovata to my monthly hair regimen, I give my hair and advantage in growth retention in that, my hair is more resistant to breakage and excessive shedding. Also with Amla as an added benefit it creates a healthier scalp for my hair to grow out of! It also defines my hair's natural texture keeping it Thick, Healthy, and Strong!

Pinned Sides

                                              Pony Puff

                                 

 Cassia Obovata treatments should be applied every 3 to 4 weeks to enjoy the maximum benefits.