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!!! 

 Meet Candace.  Her hair is simply gorgeous and she knows how to show it off!   She is a three time naturalista that has learned plenty about what her natural hair needs, and does not need when it comes to coloring.   She has chosen Demi -Permanents to color her beautiful natural hair, and it continues to flourish!   Lets hear what she has to share  regarding her journey with color. 

Candace, Why did you choose to color your Natural hair?

I've gone natural  three times. The first time, I chose to color my hair blonde. I felt because my hair was relaxer free it would be strong enough to handle blonde.  I also wanted a fun look for my coils. I've also colored my hair a shiny black this third time around, to cover my grays and to add sheen. 

Candace's Color Choices

What kind of color did you use? 

For the blonde I used a permanent color, L'Oreal Feria High. And for the black I used a Demi-Permanent rinse by Redkin, this color was done in a salon.

What would you say are some cons to coloring your natural hair if any?

 With the lighter colors your cuticles have to be lifted, so it can really cause the hair to become dry ,brittle, and fragile. 

With a dark color, if you use a permanent instead of Demi, the roots and colored hair will be a stark contrast. Meaning the roots are very noticeable as the hair grows out.  I have no Cons when using Demi-Permanents, with Demis, the  color line blends with your roots as it grows off. 

What do you love most about your hair color?

When I wore the blonde, I loved that it was fun.  With my dark hair, I love that my hair looks shiny and its soft! 

Do you think you will continue coloring your hair? 

 Yes! I will  continue using my Demi- Permanents, and I will only color it dark. 

Candace, what advice would you share with naturals who are contemplating coloring their natural hair?

Please don't try it at home!  Use a professional colorist.  If you go lighter, you have to condition your hair twice as much.   

Well, we'd like to Thank you  Candace for sharing your color story with us!  I simply love your hair, and no matter what the color, you wear it well!   

( If you would like to know more about using Demi Permanents as your coloring choice, please check out my blog post on "Choosing to Color Your Natural hair part 1) ..

Until Next Time, keep it Healthy and Happy!  : )

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!  

Choosing to Color Your Natural Hair: Part 1

After 2.5 years of being  natural, I've suddenly become interested in hair color?! Never thought this would happen, but there is something about seeing natural curly,coily, cottony hair texture in color! It's beauty in color can not be denied.  But, I haven't  considered a chemical color for my own textured crown until now. Yes, you read right, I've been considering "chemically" coloring my natural hair.  Now me being the healthy hair enthusiast that I am, this sudden interest in color has put me in major research mode.  Of course we don't have to be hair scientists to understand that once you chemically treat your hair that you are putting your hair at risk for damage. But, if you  are curious about coloring your natural hair you should definitely take time to research  your options. Also consider the amount of  maintenance your processing choice will need to keep your hair as healthy as possible. 

Below I have listed coloring processes/options that many undergo. This can be used  as a guide to make the best decision ....

  

Henna/Henna and Indigo: A natural option for coloring your hair. Henna is a plant derived from Eastern countries. This plant naturally releases a low red-orange dye content when mixed with an acidic liquid. The color deposits on the surface of the hair, and is permanent. The color that each person receives from henna varies based on your current hair color.  When covering henna with Indigo, you can achieve a rich black color. Because this coloring process is natural and safe you can do it as often as you like, but must be sure to use a deep moisturizing conditioner immediately following.  For more information visit hennaforhair.com

Permanent Coloring:   Is needed if you want a drastic color change. This process involves using a hydrogen peroxide and or ammonia as its base. These ingredients lift the cuticle layers to allow color deposits that can not be washed out. This process strips away some of the protein from your hair, making it weaker and more vulnerable to breakage. Frequent deep conditioning with protein and moisturizing conditioners is recommended.  (If you are at all concerned about the overall health of your hair, you should see a professional Colorist for a consult before undergoing this process.)

Semi/Demi Permanent Coloring: This includes partial penetration hair color as well as a deposit-only color.  The color from this process does not last as long as the permanent, because the molecules are too large to enter deep into your hair shaft.  Semi- perms are not effective at lifting or lightening  hair color.  Also with Demi coloring, there are no visible color line as the hair begins to grow out, your natural hair color and the color from your demi blends, and color appears more natural. There is no hard color line.      

Temporary-Color Rinses:  This process of all the "chemicals" have been  labeled as the safest because similar to semi/demi the molecules are too large to enter the hair's cortex.  Instead this color or glaze only coats the outside of the cuticle layer(similar to Henna) but this will only last for 10 to 15 washes.  This will only enhance your natural color by making it darker, richer, or glossier, it will not lighten... 

*Benefits of coloring: A wonderful change in our cosmetic appearance, and depending on which process you choose, color can protect your hair from sun damage(primarily the darker colors). Coloring with Henna will also thicken and strengthen your hair.

  

*Disadvantages of coloring: With permanent coloring,  cuticles are lifted and hair is more prone to damage. If not properly cared for hair can become dry and experience breakage. Vibrant colors can become dull and lack luster tempting one to use color too frequently. If choosing Henna, the process can be messy and time consuming.

*Helpful pre-coloring tips: Be sure the current state of your hair is as healthy as it can be. Seek a consult with a professional colorists before undergoing a chemical process. Have him/her do test patches before committing to color your entire head of hair. If you are interested in a permanent color but afraid of a full commitment you could opt for a few highlights to see how those areas will react to being colored.

*Hopefully this post provided you with some helpful information in making a decision to color, if you were contemplating it.   In Part 2,  I will  highlight a few naturals who have undergone coloring their natural hair, and their experiences. They will also offer advice to those who are curious about coloring their natural hair.  

*Primary source used: The Science of Black Hair 

Until Next Time....