Regrowing Thin Edges And Bald Spots Caused By Alopecia With Essential Oils

Contents: What’s Going On? Avoid Braiding Avoid Ponytails Or Tight Updos Avoid Harsh Chemicals Using Essential Oils To Regrow Your Hair Final Considerations What’s Going On? Thin edges caused by traction alopecia used to be a rare condition in black women up to 20 years ago but with the large scale popularization of weaves, it […]

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ASC Hairvolution Event

7th of October 2017, 12pm – 9pm Icetank, 5-7 Grape Street, London, WC2H 8DW This All Shades Covered event will celebrate all things hair and beauty with inspiring talks, celebrity hairstylist demos & beauty treatments by WAH Nails, Bam Brows and MDM Flow. There will also be a mixer & DJ set from Mercedes Benson […]

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Review: Soultanicals 'Fro Despair Vitamin Hair Repair

So many great ingredients make 'Fro Despair a powerhouse for natural hair.

So, I typed a post to a DC I used to see,
Saying that I chose a new condish with whom I wanna be, 
And I apologize if this blog post gets you down,
Then I CC'd every DC that I bought around town...

Somebody tag Andre3K and let him know I ain't got no sense! 😂

I am completely, utterly, and hopelessly obsessed with 'Fro Despair Vitamin Hair Repair. I'll tell you why - but first, let me break down how we got here (and why I dedicated the opening verse of Int'l Players Anthem to it lmao).

Y'all know I've been ride-and-flourish ('cause I don't want nothing related to them to EVAH die) for Soultanicals since my transitioning days. Ayo is incredibly blessed and gifted at what she does, and the handcrafted hair and beauty products she creates are nothing short of a blessing in a bottle. I fell truly, madly, deeply in love with Afrotastic Curl Elastic in mid-2015, and I've got the blog posts to prove it:

• Christina's Choice 2015 Best Deep Conditioner + Deserted Island Pick
• Christina's Choice 2016 Best Strengthening Deep Conditioner
• Self Care with Soultanicals featuring Afrotastic Curl Elastic
• 15 Black-Owned Swaps for Your Favorite Natural Hair Products

Suffice it to say, Afrotastic Curl Elastic and I were meant to be together. 

But then, the strangest thing happened. Through my 7 Days of Self Care with Soultanicals series, I was introduced to 'Fro Despair Vitamin Hair Repair on Day 5 of the series, inspired by tending to my home garden.

It was love at first detangle.

The slip is off the chain.

I was immediately conflicted - like, am I 'bout to sit up here and cheat on Afrotasticbae? If I had to choose sides, who do I pick? 

By the time I reached the end of the 'Fro Despair bottle, I knew. And by the end of this review, you'll know too!😂

Cost
$16 for 8oz (but I highly recommend the 32oz for $40. ESPECIALLY during the $25 salon size sale. #wortheverypennyandthensome)

Where to Buy

Exclusively at www.soultanicals.com. My prayer is that eventually, this deep conditioner will enter Target in the way that Afrotastic has done.

Ingredient closeup. Yes, there's even MSM!

Active Ingredients

• Water infused with Horsetail, Rosemary & Sage: Herbal infusion that promotes growth, strengthens the follicles, and staves off hair loss by stimulating blood circulation.
• Biotin:  A water-soluble vitamin,  vital for the body's normal processes such as synthesis of protein and conversion of food and stored fats into energy. It's also a major role player in maintaining the health of the skin, nails and hair.
• Organic SuperGreens (Spirulina, Wheatgrass, Barley Grass, Oat Grass, Chlorella, and Alfalfa): This combination of superfood algae and grasses work in tandem to help slow and reverse signs of aging and damage while nourishing the scalp to promote healthy hair growth
• Behentrimonium Methosulfate: Gentle surfactant made from non-GMO rapeseed (canola oil), and is one of the mildest detangling ingredients out there. It doesn't cause buildup or irritation to the scalp.
• Cetyl Alcohol: Considered "fatty alcohol" -- NOT to be confused with drying alcohols such as ethyl. Acts as a lubricant, thickener, and emollient and gives conditioner its velvety feel without making hair greasy. Also used to keep product ingredients from separating.
• Organic Olive Oil: Olive Oil is rich in high levels of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which is good for hair growth. Both mono-unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E are good for moisturizing, protecting and nourishing hair. Olive oil makes hair grow stronger and its emollient properties prevent hair loss.

Protein Free?

No - contains brown rice protein

Curly Girl Friendly?
Yes!

The Good
WHERE DO I BEGIN?! Seriously, 'Fro Despair is life giving. It's literally like a green juice shot for your hair and scalp. First of all, the ingredients are freakin' stellar. I could be totally wrong, but I've yet to see any brand pack so many greens into a deep treatment. And it's not just a "very bottom of the list, just a pinch in there so we can claim it on the label" amount, either. 'Fro Despair is literally green, and you can see the flecks and grains of green powder without putting your face all up in it.

Consistency-wise, 'Fro Despair is creamy like Afrotastic, but not quite as thick. It's very spreadable, but not at all watery. And the slip? Off theeeeeeee charts. It's so easy to use, and I'm deeply appreciative. The last thing I want to do on wash day is fight with my deep conditioner. The fragrance is a toss-up. My first bottle (back in July) and my re-up (September) both have a deeply green and grassy fragrance - which played quite nicely into the whole "SuperGreens" theme (and made me feel like I was doing my hair major favors).

I don't EVER want to run out of 'Fro Despair.

But then I got another 8oz bottle with the grassy essence played way down in favor of a fragrance that I could only describe as something I'd grab from the cat selling oils and incense on Crenshaw (is he still there? Or did gentrification get him?). It's a yummy fragrance that I definitely enjoy. But I like the grassy vibes, too. I'm not sure if this was an error, or if the fragrance is changing for more commercial appeal - but I'm good either way. Just don't change the formula, Ayo!

The real win is how ah-MAY-zing my hair feels after I rinse. Soft, baby smoove, like buttah, and STRONG. Soultanicals has definitely cornered the market on moisture and strength with 'Fro Despair. It literally does not get any better than this.

This is peak deep conditioning, people.

The Bad
I couldn't point out something wrong if I wanted to. You don't buy liters of products you aren't passionate about.

The Bottom Line
Loaded with as much slip as it has greens, 'Fro Despair is literally Amazing Grass and the best of what Pressed Juicery has to offer - in deep conditioner form. While I think everyone and their cousin TeeTee could benefit from the goodness that 'Fro Despair has to offer, it works best on hair that is damaged, distressed, color treated, weak, brittle, or just in need of a strengthening boost.

In short, 'Fro Despair has joined the rank of the Holy Grail. Just don't be surpised when Christina's Choice 2017 rolls around.

My most recent Fan Friday haul from September. About $140 worth of products for under $70! #allthiswinning

Would I Buy it Again?
I'm buying 3 when the Soultanicals Black Friday sale rolls around, if quantities permit and without regard for what you might be tryna put in your cart. Set your alarm and act accordingly. 😂

Have you tried 'Fro Despair yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

from The Mane Objective http://ift.tt/2hR4Xxy

[Try This] The ACV + Pink Salt "Super" Scalp Scrub

A few weeks back I ranted about the need to focus on scalp health now that winter is approaching. Promptly after writing that article, I picked up a bottle of Hawaiian Silky's Vinegar Scalp Rinse.  I love the stuff.  To make it even better, I add a little peppermint and tea tree oil for the cooling sensation and to stimulate hair growth.

I thought I had my scalp regimen down packed but, last night I stumbled on a product that I absolutely have to incorporate on wash day.
Our friends at dpHUE have come up with a scalp scrub that seems to embody all the ways of healthy hair.  First, they start off with a base of pink sea salt.  Most body scrubs are sugar based but Himalayan pink salt might be a better choice for several reasons.  Not only does this unprocessed salt contain a slew of trace minerals that are essential for the body, it might also be beneficial to the actual hair strands.

A while back I wrote about how adding a pinch of salt to my conditioner made my hair so soft, manageable and moisturized that I could hardly believe it.  This is a little-known secret that can be a life savior for dry hair.  If any salt remains on my hair following the scrub, I wouldn't be freaked out because it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

Pink salt based scalp scrub sounds amazing enough but dpHUE took things to the next level by adding ACV and a slew of other hair loving ingredients like aloe vera, avocado oil, a coconut-derived cleansing agent, and more.  So this scrub exfoliates, nourishes and it's pH balanced.  What more do you want?

Of course, I want to get my hands on it as quickly as possible but I already have most of the main ingredients on deck.  Next on my agenda is to create a quick DIY version to try at home.  If I love the results, I may want to scoop up the "commercial version" to see if I notice any difference.  I'm sure many of you have similar ingredients at home as well so why not give this a try on wash day.

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Your Favorite Instagrammer Probably Buys Likes.

I know, I couldn't believe it either.

Yeah, I said it.

Truth be told, this post really isn't about all of that (kinda is, kinda isn't). I just said that to get you to cliiiiiiick (Ma$e voice)

I just said that to get you maaaaad! Image source

(Don't act like you don't remember that line from Phone Conversation, before Cheat on You on the Harlem World album. Don't play me.😂)

Today's post is inspired by a few things. One, my honest feelings. Two, the fact that my Detoxing from Social Media post was the most-read from the Self Care with Soultanicals series. And three, my girl Ijeoma (aka Klassy Kinks) wrote a post of her own, which pretty much confirmed that I needed to purge these thoughts if I had any hopes of moving forward with new energy in October.

So grab a glass of your finest tea, coffee, or wine (I don't judge) and settle in.

I'm about to get real.

Fun fact: I took these photos in the yellow sweater back in January, playing around. It's almost like I knew some tomfoolery would be afoot.

The Problem with Instagram
If you've been within 200 feet of an influencer, then you've heard about the fallout of Instagram's many algorithm changes - from killing organic reach to putting your timeline on shuffle mode. The honest truth is, everyone's hurting - but Instagram is a business. And owned by Facebook, at that. 

Snapchat ain't turning a profit no time soon (Google it), but that's another subject for another time.

I bring up the business aspect to say, that Marky Mark and the FaceBunch are in it to make money. Period. Instagram is a pay-to-play economy. Yes, you can try your hand at beating the algorithm with comment pods (more on that later) and such, but gaming the system doesn't work in the long run.

To truly succeed at Instagram in 2017 and beyond, you've got two options - put in the work to build an organic following, or pay to let Facebook do it for you. But some influencers across all genres, and non-creatives with a general thirst for attention and validation have created a third and fourth route, of Joanne the Scammer proportions.

Pods, and Purchased Likes, Oh My!
Full disclosure - I just left the 1 pod I was in like, two days ago.

Engagement pods were created in an effort to "beat" the Instagram algorithm by tricking it into thinking your post is poppin', because in theory, the more people organically engage with a post, the more visible it becomes on timelines, explore pages, etc.

In theory, engagement begets increased visibility, which begets more followers, which begets more sponsored collaborations.

The problem with this model is that ultimately, it doesn't work.

As someone who works in marketing by day (I'm a Copywriter & Account Manager), I'm always A/B testing something - blog content, posting times, copy, images, and more. You can best believe I A/B tested the efficacy of comment pods. Now, my experience is based on 1 pod. There are influencers out in these e-streets in 15, 20, 30 pods but that's not my business, or my lane.

And by the way - this is NOT an e-dragging of the pod participants in any way, shape, or form. I honestly believe I was in a great pod - and had the chance to meet some of these ladies in real life. They're dope creatives, and their work deserves to be seen.

Now back to this A/B testing. I found the law of diminishing returns alive and well in my posts that I selected for pod support. Meaning, that over time, engagement steadily declined. Sure there were outliers and anomalies, but the general trend was stagnant or declined engagement, even as my number of followers went up. The kicker? My non-pod supported posts either performed at level or above the podded ones.

My conclusion? The pod life ain't for me - but not just because I found it ineffective.

It started to feel disingenuous.

When I collaborate with brands, I do so because I believe in the products. I want them to grow and prosper. Heck, I want to grow and prosper. But forced engagement does nothing to help either. Solicited likes does not equal blog clicks, and does not equal sales for the brand. It's like buying flowers for yourself and hoping your ex notices. The truth is, he probably won't care, and you've wasted time and energy that could be better spent elsewhere.

It's basically like...buying likes.

Yes, Buying Likes is a Thing, and You'd Be Surprised Who Does it
I know, you scrolled down here thinking I was dropping Instagram handles and screenshots. But I've got plans for heaven and y'all ain't gon' make me petty myself out of the rapture. No ma'am.

I will say this - there are plenty of Instagrammers (and businesses!) buying likes.

Yes, businesses.

Never mind that businesses buying likes is the epitome of hustling backwards. Let's get into why buying likes is fraudulent AF and almost pushed me out of the blogosphere completely.

Hey there business owner, you do know buying likes doesn't mean they're buying product - right? #helpfultips

For the longest time, I was having an existential crisis with The Mane Objective. I felt like I wasn't poppin'. Like my Instagram wasn't growing how I thought it should be. Like there was some magical "it factor" I lacked. Was my hair not big enough? Do I need to hire a photographer to take photos of me pretending to do stuff? Should I post pretty pictures of me brunching with girls I don't really like? Am I not taking advantage of the cool street art in LA to stand in front of for selfies?  Is it because I don't know how to wing eyeliner (or put it on at all, for that matter)? What was I missing?  Did my curls need to be blonde to get noticed? Is it because I don't have those long claw nails that I can't for the life of me figure out how people wear and function daily? Should I start practicing whatever it means to "slay"? WHAT AM I NOT DOING?!

I like to pretend I'm too prideful and above the fray, but I was really in my feelings y'all. Seeing people who I thought were peers soar ahead of me. Watching chicks come out of nowhere and all of a sudden jet set around the world with brands and land exclusive partnerships.

I was on full Bitter Betty mode, in spite of what God had already done for me (ain't that some mess). I used to legitimately stress - like how am I still getting slept on? I've been blogging since 2012, and 20K+ followers is ALL I can get?

Issa conspiracy.

Then I learned, that not all is what it seems in the land of perfect selfies and great hair days. Some folks are really out in these e-streets buying likes, and faking the funk all the way to the bank.

As if the Instagram Rapture of 2014 wasn't a thing.

And here I am, trying to complete with folks that are literally buying their way into brand partnerships, and compromising the integrity of influencer relationships for all of us. If you want to be able to spot fake likes on IG, read up on Klassy Kinks's thoughts. She breaks it down pretty clearly.

Thank God for reflection and redirection, because ya girl was about to throw in the towel. Like, I legit planned to hang up my hat (and even take down all my posts so nobody could steal more of my content), and shut it all down. I was literally about to throw The Mane Objective in the trash.

And then, Samuel told me I was being stupid. In those exact words.

He reminded me that I don't blog for Insta-fame. That I've got an entire audience that's been rocking with me since day 1, and to ghost on them would be hella disrespectful (I agree). He also reminded me that despite what the social media numbers say, my blog performs. It's full of content that I've poured YEARS into creating.

He asked me one question - why did you start blogging in the first place? The answer was the same that it has always been - to help people by sharing my own journey with natural hair. To show the ups, downs, good, bad, frustrations, triumphs, and blessings as I learn about my hair and leading a healthier lifestyle.

And at the end of the day, it's mine. I own it. It's my own little slice of internet real estate. Actually, I've got a couple of slices - but that's another story for another day.

I can't say the same about Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or anything else. I don't own any of those platforms, or my content on them for that matter. If Instagram disappeared today, what would I still have? My blog. If YouTube ceased to exist, where does my content still live? Right here.

I had to fall back from obsessing over houses built on sand.

I'll probably never have the respect or adulation that influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers and subscribers get - even though my blog traffic is legit. But I'm at peace with it.

My Path Forward
I spent a lot of time trying to "make" my Instagram pop. For a while, I tried to do things like everyone else - showing off my hair, posting video clips with cool covers, obsessing over hashtags, joining a comment pod, posting only at peak times, trying to organize my feed, and more.

I stopped just short of makeup and fancy photos of me sipping lattes at hipster coffee shops.

But in all those things, I was getting further and further away from who I am, and why I joined Instagram in the first place. I had become calculated and methodical, attempting to compete with chicks who either weren't thinking about me, or were too busy buying likes to be concerned with my feed.

To invoke 808's Kanye, I was worried 'bout the wrong thangs. The wrong thangs.

After disappearing from the 'Gram for a few days, things started to click. There's nothing wrong with wanting to see growth and progression. There's nothing wrong with wanting to reach more people. But I had to do it the right way, and for the right reasons.

Smiling more because there's a sense of freedom that comes from being who you are authentically, and not who people think you are on social media. #issaword #betruebeyou 

Instead of hacks, trying to beat the system, corny gimmicks and those awful loop giveaways where you have to follow 95 random international people, I'm turning inward and challenging myself to step my game up. To become a better writer. A more creative photographer. To enhance my current knowledge of SEO. To break away from the pack while leveraging new opportunities on and off social media. To make sure that I'm helping, inspiring, and educating by sharing the totality of my journey. To continue to walk in authenticity.

Even if those things don't bring more followers, more likes, and more readers - I'm good with that. Why? Because the end result is a more dope version of Christina, and time spent working on yourself is never wasted.

Dassit.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments - influencers and community members alike. How are you feeling about the current trends in social media? What are you longing to see that everyone is ignoring? Speak ya mind!

from The Mane Objective http://ift.tt/2hNAZe4

How to Clear Brain Fog So You Can Accomplish Anything You Want.

If you're someone who enjoys my motivation articles, chances are it's because you wish to fill your life with inspiration/motivation.  Perhaps you're developing some clear goals you'd like to reach.  The big challenge we aspiring goal achievers face is maintaining enough motivation to move from desire into action.

One big obstacle to goal achievement that folks rarely talk about is brain fog.  In my opinion, brain fog is a huge contributor to that feeling of helplessness that keeps you stuck in the same place.  I've suffered from immense brain fog, in the past and also times of mental clarity.   There is a world of difference between the two.  When my mind is clear, I easily take action on things that I've been putting off for months.  This past weekend, I came to the conclusion that I must be an active participant in creating clarity of mind at all times. Because this is so important, I put together a list of the best ways to clear the mind so I never fall into the brain fog trap again.
The worse part about brain fog is that it sometimes feels like normal if you aren't aware of the symptoms.  I'm guilty of allow weeks or months to pass without realizing what's happening.  Actually, I do notice it, but I don't treat it as if it's a problem.  I just think things will get better on their own. But it rarely does unless I act to stop the forward movement.

Some of the signs I notice when I'm dealing with brain fog include:

• A feeling of laziness and not wanting to do much.  Because I work for myself, these days are even more destructive because I could spend an entire day doing mindless activities in front of the computer.  When I have a string of unproductive days, I know that brain fog is taking over.
• Allowing my external environment to become messy/cluttered.  Whenever I have a clear mind, the first thing I want to do is clean & declutter.  Just like Eddy from Limitless. 
• Forgetting information and frequently losing my train of thought (even in a middle of a sentence). 
• Low physical energy.

Those are my most obvious symptoms.  While it's happening, I tend to blame it on the natural effects aging.   It isn't until I'm out of the fog that I realize that it had nothing to do with my age.  This weekend, I realized that I was operating in a hazy state for quite a while.  Now that I'm on the other side, I can tell you what is contributing to me newly clear mind.  

DIET

Recently, I've made a few minor tweaks to my diet.  I was developing a habit of heading to the local convenience store several times a week to pick up multiple packets of pumpkin spice flavored madeleines.  I would often eat them as a snack on an empty stomach thereby giving my body a rush of sugar on the regular.  Pumpkin flavored pastries taste amazing but wreak havoc in the body.  I'm sure my blood sugar levels were all over the place.  I, then decided to eliminate sweet snacks for the time being and get back to eating healthy salads again.  It wasn't long my mental clarity started coming back again.  

Often when I binged on sugary snacks, I was well aware of the physical changes occurring in my body as my sugar levels changed dramatically. I could actually feel the effects.  But I thought that feeling was only temporary.  Little did I know of the long-term effects that were infiltrating every area of my life.  Now that I know better. I have to do something about it.

BLOOD FLOW

One huge factor to having a clear mind is adequate blood flow to the brain.  I wear a Fitbit step counter every day and looking back at my results, I realize that there were so many days where I only got the bare minimum number steps in.  My lifestyle was extremely sedentary which means that my internal circulation was lacking.  Exercise increases oxygen blood flow to our extremities including our brains.  I get my best ideas while on walks or bouncing on the trampoline.  Both activities are great for ramping blood flow. The combination of incorporating regular walks again combined with healthy eating made a huge difference in my level of mental focus. 

NUTRITIONAL ENHANCEMENT

I should mention another tactic that I've used in the past to clear my brain fog.  This year I experimented with taking B vitamin shots with the hopes that it would support healthy hair & nails.  An unintended side effect was a huge increase in my energy levels and my ability to get things done. Suddenly I felt like I was carrying around an internal source of motivation with me at all times.  I got so much done.   Eventually, I graduated to a B6 & B12 shot and got similar benefits.  The good thing about the shots is that I didn't have to change anything else. So whenever I'm looking for a quick way to boost energy & clear the mental cobwebs, this is my go to.

MEDITATION

No article on improving brain function would be complete without mentioning meditation.  Meditation sharpens my mind like none other.  This practice has been a lifesaver over the years.   My only problem is in staying consistent.  I kinda have to be motivated to do it on a regular basis.  But if  I don't meditate regularly, I miss out on the amazing, brain powering benefits.  I think back to the times when I worked up to meditating 30-60 minutes a day. I felt unstoppable!  One of the keys to how I stayed consistent was using a meditation disk that lasted approx 30 minutes.  When I could no longer hear the faint music in the background, my session was complete.  I'm definitely bringing that practice back into my morning ritual as a daily practice.

PRACTICING THE ART OF FOCUS

I put this one further down on the list because it's kinda hard to do when you have a really foggy mind.  Basically, this is when you intentionally carry out tasks with a high level of focus (no multitasking) until the task is complete.  For extra points, you try to avoid engaging in a bunch of random thoughts while doing so.  You work single-handedly (and single-mindedly) on everything you do.  I practiced this a couple of years ago for a few weeks, and let me tell you, I have yet to replicate the type of results I got during that time.  It was as if I was reaping the results of hours of mindful meditation but I hadn't actually meditated.  I was "acting as if" and it worked out incredibly well. 

Other tactics that helped bring me out of a mindless state include:

• Cleaning & clearing out my environment.  When our surroundings are clear, we think better.  
• Changing your environment (working from a different location, driving a different route to work, going for a walk after work instead of heading straight home).
• Being close to nature.  This helps our mind to slow down when there isn't as much mental stimulation. 

If you want to accomplish anything in life, you need the help of your mind to rev up your motivation.  With 3 months left in the year, we have to enlist the power of our brain in order finish the year strong.  Start with nutrition and pair it with activities that bring blood flow to the brain. The sky is the limit from there. 

from BELLEMOCHA.com http://ift.tt/2xbwdJi

They Say Natural Hair Is a Trend That is Ending…

Contents: Say What? Why All The Talk About The Movement Ending? What’s Their Evidence? What’s The Fuss About? We Made A Difference Say What? Rumour has it that natural hair is a trend that is ending. I feel all kinds of ways about this. In the first place, yes we are trending but this is […]

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