Friday, May 31, 2019

BIG CHOP! Now What?

Ismail oubarka | 10:29 PM

I still remember the night I big chopped like it was yesterday. All my relaxed hair (the only hair I knew) was in my sink. A bald headed girl stared back at me in mirror and confusion set in. I literally looked like a 12 year old and my confidence was in the sink […]

The post BIG CHOP! Now What? appeared first on Black Hair Information.

from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2KgBLwo

My First Lymphatic Drainage Massage Experience.

Ismail oubarka | 12:39 PM

Not long ago, I talked about how celebrities were all flocking to experience a Brazilian lymphatic massage by a woman who's becoming very popular on IG. These massages seemed to offer more than therapeutic benefits, they also made a drastic noticeable difference in just one treatment. You can imagine my level of excitement to find out that someone nearby offered a similar service.

No need to book a flight to LA!

Today I'm happy to announce that I had a chance to finally experience the infamous lymphatic massage first hand. Here's a breakdown of what I liked about the massage and what I didn't.
I love a good massage. In fact, I once challenged myself to book weekly (or biweekly) massages. I completely understand why celebrities get weekly massages. Real benefits accumulate with continued treatments. When I was consistent, I experienced a slew of benefits that I never expected.

When I first learned of lymphatic massages, I was beaming with excitement. I've spoken about the importance of lymph cleansing via skin brushing and engaging in specific movements (like bouncing on the trampoline). A massage designed with the focus of eliminating lymph toxins is like icing on the cake!

My experience this morning was very similar to other massages I've had....except for one difference...

With this massage, I was instructed to fully undress vs. undressing to my comfort level. I walked in expecting to receive a vigorous massage. But that wasn't the case. Especially on my upper body. She started off using gentle strokes across my back that led towards my underarms (a location with lots of lymph nodes). I paid close attention to her hand movements so I can mimic some of the technique at home.

As soon as she started working the back of my legs, the intensity shifted. She applied greater pressure in an effort to break up the fatty deposits accumulating on the back of my thighs. I definitely appreciated that portion of the massage. I'm convinced that, with several more sessions, that the back of my legs will be beyond smooth. She didn't place as much attention on the front of my thighs so I doubt that I experienced that same before/after results as Flavini's customers who had a noticeable decrease in the size of their thighs.

I did notice an overall difference post massage which I'll discuss later.

The last phase of the massage involved working on my midsection. This is probably my biggest problem area. Like the thighs, she placed a decent amount of pressure as she massaged my tummy in a counter-clockwise motion. I could sense that she too felt that my belly was a problem area. Although I didn't take any before an after photos, I'm pretty sure that my tummy was a bit flatter when I left then when I came in.

When the session completed I received a warm hug goodbye and instructions on how to conduct a tummy massage at home. Although I emptied my bladder just before receiving the massage, by the time I got up from the table, my bladder was already full. I guess the detoxing process had already begun. After I received my final instructions, she left the room so I could get dressed. I looked at myself in the full-length mirror and, maybe it was because of the subtle lighting in the room, but my body looked more toned and sculpted.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this type of massage. It's still relaxing and enjoyable while providing other desirable benefits. If you deal with bloating, cellulite, swelling, or any type of congestion, this massage is for you. At my next session, she'll also do a facial lymphatic massage which I'm really looking forward to.

I'm pretty confident that the benefits from this Brazillian lymphatic massage will only accumulate over time. I paid $85.00 for my session which is a little pricey but, when you think about the possible health benefits, I think it's worth the investment.

One final thought:
This is an intimate massage. A lot of our lymph nodes are located in sensitive areas like near our breasts, underarms and inner thighs. If you aren't comfortable with that level of touching, speak to your masseuse to see if he/she can use alternative techniques.

from BELLEMOCHA.com http://bit.ly/2WjfBRp

Thursday, May 30, 2019

The Best Braid Out Ever On Relaxed Hair

Ismail oubarka | 10:34 PM

Lets face it, stretching your relaxer is one of the key ways you can guarantee healthy maintenance of your relaxed hair. A nice long stretch (longer than 8 weeks) helps you to avoid over processing which as you know, leads to your hair breaking off rapidly. With that said, maintaining two textures isn’t easy especially […]

The post The Best Braid Out Ever On Relaxed Hair appeared first on Black Hair Information.

from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2QFRZQU

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Caring For Low Porosity Hair

Ismail oubarka | 10:34 PM

When I went natural two and a half years ago, all I heard people talk about was hair typing and what products are good for each category. Then I spent months trying to figure out if I am a 4a, 4b, 4c and whatever other number category was thrown at me. I thought, knowing my […]

The post Caring For Low Porosity Hair appeared first on Black Hair Information.

from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2QuoXmY

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Betty Bangs And A High Bun Tutorial On Natural Hair

Ismail oubarka | 10:36 PM

Retro or vintage hair styles are probably the coolest kinds of styles you can rock when trying to get out of a style rut, they are great on old or stretched hair. Retro hair is kind of an ode to hairstyles that were popular before our time, whatever time that might be. So If you […]

The post Betty Bangs And A High Bun Tutorial On Natural Hair appeared first on Black Hair Information.

from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2XcWVPA

Monday, May 27, 2019

5 Ways To Optimize Your Hair’s Strength

Ismail oubarka | 10:34 PM

Why is the hair that is all over the bathroom and on the sink considered gross yet when its on your head its all kinds of cool? Weird right, I mean either way its dead but for some reason when it is unattached from our heads it becomes an entirely different specimen, something to be […]

The post 5 Ways To Optimize Your Hair’s Strength appeared first on Black Hair Information.

from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2K8LUv1

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Stylist Feature – Renika Darity

Ismail oubarka | 10:34 PM

Introduce yourself and which salon if any you work at… My name is Renika Darity aka the Hair Killa and I work at Jordan’s Salon & Day Spa in Valdosta Georgia. How long have you worked as a licensed cosmetologist (or equivalent in your country) and where did you study? 10 years and Wiregrass Technical […]

The post Stylist Feature – Renika Darity appeared first on Black Hair Information.

from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2WsoY0m

Try This // The Pre-Swimming Treatment that Protects Your Hair from Chlorine.

Ismail oubarka | 7:04 AM

I would love to learn how to swim. But one thing that's prevented me from taking the plunge is the harsh effects of chlorine on the hair. And chlorine is just half the battle. There's also the concern of having the hair strand over-expand from too much exposure to water.

I don't wanna risk it.

But, on the other hand, I'd love to have a pool in my back yard so that's even more incentive to learn to swim.

What about my hair?

I can only imagine the possible long term damage from spending extensive time in chlorinated water day after day. What can be done? Is there any way to sidestep the potential damage?
Apparently, there is. All we have to do is adequately prepare and protect the hair. Years ago, I purchased ION's swimmer shampoo to see if it would help remove hard water buildup from my hair. Honestly, it didn't do a great job of dealing with hard water. I can't imagine it being a viable option to protect the hair from chlorine.

What we need is a solution that offers a highly protective barrier against chemicals. One that can also prevent the hair from becoming oversaturated with water. Prepping the hair with conditioner seems logical but it's essentially ineffective. The problem is that most conditioners are designed to rinse away with water. The chlorinated water will strip the conditioner. Oils are another option but many of them will absorb in the stand (partially or fully).

We need something stronger!

The only thing that will save our hair this summer from chlorine and salt water is the all mighty shea butter.

I recently experienced the preservative power of shea butter. After wearing a protective style for around 3 weeks, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my hair was still perfectly moisturized. I never experienced anything like it. So when I heard that women were successfully sealing their hair with shea butter before swimming, I wasn't a bit surprised.

Even without the use of a swim cap, people are happily frolicking in chlorinated water without any concern of long-term damage to their hair follicles. Unlike conditioner and oils, shea butter does an excellent job of staying put. Water has a hard time permeating the strand because of the maximum coverage that shea butter provides. If you've ever used a pure shea butter product to style your hair on a humid day, you know that it does a wonderful job of preserving styles in unfavorable conditions. If you don't have any shea butter handy before a swim, the other alternative is to coat your hair with products heavy in silicones like leave-in heat protectant serums. As you know, silicones also coat the hair and provide a protective barrier. Typically, we avoid cones because the buildup prevents moisture from penetrating the hair. But, in the case of swimming in salt or chlorine, that's exactly what we want. I may experiment with both but I like the idea of using an all natural alternative(shea butter).

Basically, once your swim session is over, you wash your hair as normal and you'll notice that there's no dryness, stiffness, or crunchiness from being exposed to pool chemicals. Your hair is perfectly intact. Also, shea butter has an SPF rating of 6 which means that it could provide a little protection for your hair even if you plan on being poolside all summer. If you've ever spent an entire day outdoors, you might notice your hair dries up quickly. A little whipped shea butter on your strands might just be the perfect summer hair essential.

from BELLEMOCHA.com http://bit.ly/2YUwzSZ

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Stylist Feature – Iciameka Evans Baker

Ismail oubarka | 10:29 PM

Introduce yourself and which salon if any do you work with… Hello! I am hair stylist/MUA Iciameka Evans Baker at Traci J’s Trendsetterz Beauty Salon in Valley, Al. What is your specialty, relaxed, natural hair, locs or anything special? I am currently under an apprenticeship under Traci Jefferson, owner of Traci J’s Trendsetterz Beauty Salon. […]

The post Stylist Feature – Iciameka Evans Baker appeared first on Black Hair Information.

from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2HDSmZd

Friday, May 24, 2019

Super Defined Shiny Flat Twist And Curl Using Flaxseed Gel

Ismail oubarka | 10:29 PM

When I first saw Samirah Gilli’s new video on my YouTube timeline I was amazed at how bouncy her hair looked; so I had to watch it. Her super defined and shiny flat twist and curl style is everything and more. Her hair looked so shiny and full, it’s just simply amazing. I have not tried […]

The post Super Defined Shiny Flat Twist And Curl Using Flaxseed Gel appeared first on Black Hair Information.

from Black Hair Information http://bit.ly/2WoCwd4

How to Transform Your Travel Experiences Into a Lifestyle

Ismail oubarka | 8:38 AM

Last year I experienced some roadblocks that prevented me from traveling. I had a close family member suffer a medical emergency and much of the year was dedicated towards the recovery process. Thankfully, things are finally back to normal. Once my schedule began to free up my very first thought was to take a short getaway.

Traveling is awesome. I wish I could do it more often. One day, traveling will be a more frequent part of my life. But, until then, I've developed a plan to infuse my everyday life with elements that mirror my travel experiences. In doing so, my life will have a similar vibe to an exotic getaway.

Here's how I'm transforming my life to incorporate elements from my most recent vacation.
Honestly, I'd love to take 5-6 mini getaways a year. But time constraints are an obstacle. Not to mention the costs associated with constant travel. Since the frequency of my trips is limited, I decided to create a strategy to increase the impact of each adventure.

Thanks to the advent of Airbnb, I can rent out beautiful accommodations for a fraction of the cost of staying in a similar place in the states. Instead of a small hotel room, I prefer to rent out an entire villa! I purposefully chose places that look similar to what type of home I would love to live in. For me, where I stay isn't just a place to sleep, it's a vehicle that will allow me to live out an intention.

For instance, I've have a thing for modern backyard designs that feature a beautiful plunge pool. My dream is to one day have a saltwater plunge pool where I can lounge and work from my laptop. When I traveled recently, the one requirement when looking for accommodations was that it had an outdoor sanctuary with a small, modern pool.

It felt incredible to wake up every morning and experience the sunrise from the turquoise pool. Having my husband there only enhanced the experience. For months I told him I wanted to update our back yard to a modern aesthetic but he couldn't visualize it. Being there in the flesh really helped him to see where I was coming from. Over the next year or two, our goal is to eventually transform our yard into a vacation worthy oasis. Ideally, I'd like to feel like I'm on vacation every time I step out into my own backyard.

The backyard transformation will be a lengthy/costly process. In the meantime, I've already begun to incorporate other smaller elements from my vacation into my life. For instance, the villa had modern furnishings and style elements. We fell in love with their amazingly comfortable couches and quickly found the identical model online (in various colors). They had clear serving bowls that I really liked so I purchased a few of them for our kitchen. Every time I use those bowls, I'll remember the experience of eating fresh ceviche and chips poolside with my favorite person.

One thing I love about going on vacation is the change in environment. Our days often consist of reliving the same day over and over again. In all honesty, my environment doesn't change much during the week. Unless I do something about it, nothing will change. The solution involves making a conscious effort to place myself into environments that raise my feel-good vibrations. I don't necessarily have to fly to another country for a much needed change in scenery. All I have to do is visit a different part of town. There's a lot of development happening in my city but I don't take time to visit those areas and explore. This has to change. I could create a micro-vacation by spending part or most of the day in an area of town that I don't frequent. I can explore new neighborhoods, try new places to eat and surround myself with people that I don't normally interact with it.

As you're planning for your summer getaway, think about all of your favorite aspects of vacationing. Why are you choosing that destination? What are the fondest memories from your last trip? Are there certain elements that you can incorporate in your everyday life? If you love the extra fluffy robes from a high end hotel you stayed in, why not treat yourself to that same feeling of luxury at home? If it's adventure that you seek, take a look at things to do locally that will stimulate your sense of excitement.

Let's not wait until that once a year vacation to experience memorable moments. Work to design a life that you don't have to take a vacation from.

from BELLEMOCHA.com http://bit.ly/2WZZe8E

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Are You Saving More Money Now That You Are Natural?

Ismail oubarka | 10:48 PM

Even though I would like to hear your thoughts on this, I understand this is a question that I can only answer from a personal standpoint. I think the best way to answer it is with a simple comparison on how much I spent prior to going natural and now. I don’t think it’s fair […]