Daily Archives: February 22, 2012

Feb22

Mini-Hairscapader HairStory Questions

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Do you have a mini-Hairscapader in your house? Wanna share his/her story?! Well then, get on it!! Answer the questions below and e-mail your responses, along with 5-6 pics, to me at hairscapdes@gmail.com.

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What’s your child’s name and age? Tell us a little about her/him.

How do you care for her/his hair? What products do you use, how often do you wash/condition, what techniques do you use (i.e., how do you detangle), etc.?

Do the same products that work for you work for your child’s hair?

What is a typical style? Do you employ protective styles? If so, how often?

What challenges do you face with your child’s hair?

GIRLS: Have you ever relaxed/texlaxed your daughter’s hair? Why or why not and, if you relaxed her hair, what prompted the decision to return to natural?

or

BOYS: Do you have plans to cut your son’s hair at some point or particular age? Please explain why or why not.

How does your child feel about her/his natural hair?

Anything else that you’d like to add?


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Feb22

Rece’s Final GOC Update

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by Rece (Fifth Wave) of A Hair Story

Over the past month or so, I’ve done a few different buns. I usually find a style I like and I wear it for the entire week. I must say that, although I’ve been bunning, I fell short this month when it came to moisturizing my hair.

To end the Grow Out Challenge (GOC), I figured it would only be right if I did a length check.

It’s funny because, in the beginning, I was dying for my hair to grow. I would have done a length check every week if I could. Nowadays, I’m not that interested in doing a length check. I think it’s mainly because my hair has reached a length where I have more options.

Before we get to the pics, let’s keep in mind that I trimmed my hair twice (maybe three times) during the GOC. It was so necessary! My hair would have really suffered if I waited until now to trim it. Of course I wore the same melon colored shirt to keep it consistent.

I’d say it looks like about 2 inches of growth. Maybe a bit more.

After I did my length check, I blow dried my hair a little and I trimmed it AGAIN. I am at the point in trimming it where I don’t have to trim as much. For some reason, the right side of my head was very bushy at the ends, moreso the back than the front, which is what prompted me to trim it. Weird, because I sleep on the left side.

I’ve enjoyed the GOC and seeing everyone’s hair progress. Don’t forget about me. I’ll still be chronicling my journey over at A Hair Story.

XOXO,
Rece

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If you would like to see all of the updates of any of our GOCers, just enter their name in the “Search” box on the right ——->>>>! The results will return all of their updates (and guest posts) since the beginning of the GOC!! See where it all began and how they’ve progressed over the course of the challenge!

Feb22

Mini-Hairscapader: Kai’s HairStory

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Prepare to fall in love all over again ladies … and, all you baby fever having ladies like me? Hide your ovaries!!

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What’s your child’s name and age? Tell us a little about him.
My son’s name is Kai and he is 3 1/2. He loves animals and puzzles and cars … typical boy stuff, lol. He is the smartest kid I know (and I’m not biased because I’m his mom … the boy is a genius).

How do you care for his hair? What products do you use, how often do you wash/condition, what techniques do you use (i.e., how do you detangle), etc.?
Normally, I wash his hair once a week, usually on sundays before the school/work week begins. I begin with undoing the style he had for the previous week and slathering some sort of conditioner on his hair prior to shampooing. I then shampoo, apply a conditioner and detangle with the Denman Toddler D89 (amazing brush btw).

We mostly use Shea Moisture products, the Curl Enhancing Smoothie and the Shine and Hold Mist. For shampooing, I normally use the Suave Kids 2-in-1, because it has awesome detangling properties, prior to conditioning. But lately I have been using Cara B Shampoo. It does the job naturally without the harsh chemicals. For conditioning, I use whatever is closest to me, most likely Tressemme Moisture Rich or Suave Shea Butter Almond conditioners, anything with a ton of slip. Although, I’m really looking into starting to use more natural products. For styling, it’s either the Curl Enhancing Smoothie or Bee Mine Curly Butter. I don’t usually add additional product throughout the week, because his hair is in braids. But, I do spritz it every couple of days with the SM Shine and Hold Mist or Cara B Hair Mist.

Do the same products that work for you work for your child’s hair?
Kai’s hair is definitely a different texture than my own, so some of my staples don’t work well with his hair. But one line that I love that works for both of us is Shea Moisture. His hair loves that stuff.

What is a typical style? Do you employ protective styles? If so, how often?
His hair is usually in some type of braided style. I recently started to become better at cornrowing and have tried different techniques and styles that I have seen online. I also occasionally leave his hair loose a la Jaden Smith (RIP to that gorgeous mane of his). This is reserved for special occasions or pictures because in true toddler boy fashion, he rolls around on the ground, sweats and gets something stuck in it, which ends up causing a hot tangled mess at the end of the day.

What challenges do you face with your child’s hair?
I think the most challenging thing is picking styles that don’t look “girly” as he is mistaken for a girl ALL THE TIME. I also have gotten a lot of slack from other parents who don’t approve of boys having longer hair, my own family members included.

Have you ever relaxed/texlaxed your child’s hair?
No, I have not because a) he’s a boy (not that that has stopped Katt Williams) and b) I don’t relax my own hair. I prefer his natural hair because I feel like it fits his personality.

Do you have plans to cut his hair at some point or particular age? Please explain why or why not.
I get asked all the time (ALL THE TIME). I actually did cut his hair a few days after his second birthday and regretted it very soon after … like, almost immediately. He just didn’t seem like himself afterwards (that was probably all in my head). I decided to grow his hair back out, which in the long run worked out because he had that bald patch in the back like a lot of babies. After the haircut, his hair was able to grow out evenly. I still get asked when I’m cutting his hair and my answer is, “When he lets me know.” I don’t fuss over it or make him feel as though he needs it to complete him. It’s just another part of him that he thinks is “handsome.”

Anything else that you’d like to add?
I started a blog to help other parents of boys who aren’t quite ready to cut their hair or don’t plan on cutting it anytime soon. The blog is called Hair & Heart: www.hairandheart.wordpress.com.

Feb22

Flaxseed Gel (FSG)

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Early in my discovery of this little online natural hair community, I came across the acronym FSG on a thread on naturallycurly.com. I think I was in search of something to enhance my curls. Anywho, it took a little digging, but I learned that FSG stands for flaxseed gel, a natural and nourishing alternative to commercial gels.

via LiveStrong.com

Flaxseed oil, derived from the seeds of the flax plant, is rich in essential fatty acids, which can be beneficial to your health in a number of ways. In addition to helping with skin disease, cholesterol and digestive problems, flaxseed oil may also assist with hair growth and the replenishment of brittle hair or dry scalp. While evidence supports the use of flaxseed oil to promote healthy hair, there is no solid proof of its effectiveness.

Why Flaxseed Oil Helps Hair

One of the reasons flaxseed oil can promote hair health is because it is rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are known to support scalp health, while a deficiency can result in dry scalp and dull hair, says Jim White, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, according to “Men’s Health.”

Flax seeds also contain lignans, disease-fighting compounds that may help fight hair loss. But because lignans are found in the shell, whole seeds are a better source than oil.

As an alternative to the oil discussed primarily in the article, you can also make a natural hair gel by boiling flaxseeds and straining them to use the resultant “goop.” To further enhance the beneficial effects of this little DIY gel, you can add essential and carrier oils and/or aloe vera gel and, if you want to enhance your curls, try adding a small amount of  MSG/Magnesium Sulfate (i.e. Epsom salts). However, you’ll want to be careful with this last additive as it can be drying for some, especially if too much is used.

Want to see how it’s made? Naptural85 demonstrates her flaxseed gel recipe and techniques in this tutorial.

via Naptural85 

Not much of a DIYer, but love the idea of a natural gel? Check out this naturallycurly.com thread that piqued my interest in 2010 and led me to the highly sought after FSG made by Botticelli Babe, which spawned her Esty shop, Botticelli Botanicals.

As to my experience with flaxseed gel? Well, I tried making it one time in the fall of 2010 with flaxseeds I already had in my fridge. I think that I boiled the seeds for too long as the gel was very thick and a little hard to distribute. I never revisited making it again … but out of sheer laziness. However, I’ve read so many good things about it that I’ve been thinking about trying it again in late spring/summer for my WnGs.

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Do you use or have you tried FSG? What is/was your experience with it? What’s your recipe?