Showing posts with label hair care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hair care. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Decorative Braided Braids
Hi everyone,
Yesterday I fixed my hair in a simple style that still looks very elegant, a low bun accented with a 4-strand braid. My 4-strand braid is made of 4 small braids, and was the perfect match for my lace top.
On another subject, before I washed my hair last night, I tried out the hair mask that I recently pinned on Pinterest. I mixed together 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons honey, and one egg and applied the mixture to my hair. I put my hair in a bun and covered it with a plastic bag, then after about an hour I washed my hair as normal. This morning when I woke up, my hair was perfectly dry, and oh-so-soft, strong, and smooth. I definitely recommend this hair mask, and will be using it again and again on my own hair.
Yesterday I fixed my hair in a simple style that still looks very elegant, a low bun accented with a 4-strand braid. My 4-strand braid is made of 4 small braids, and was the perfect match for my lace top.
On another subject, before I washed my hair last night, I tried out the hair mask that I recently pinned on Pinterest. I mixed together 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons honey, and one egg and applied the mixture to my hair. I put my hair in a bun and covered it with a plastic bag, then after about an hour I washed my hair as normal. This morning when I woke up, my hair was perfectly dry, and oh-so-soft, strong, and smooth. I definitely recommend this hair mask, and will be using it again and again on my own hair.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
My updated hair care routine and favorite products
Hi friends,
Wow, what a week! An editor from the UK's Press Association discovered my blog and contacted me to ask for an interview. Within days people around the world were reading about my hair in online magazines and newspapers like the Daily Mail, Women's Health, Allure and Good Housekeeping, to name a few. How exciting to be able to share my hair story with so many new friends and readers.
The recurring theme in all the articles has been my #1 hair secret~ peanut butter! Some readers are confused at first, thinking that I rub peanut butter into my long hair. So I wanted to clarify my hair care routine and share some of my favorite products. If you have any questions, just pop them in a comment below and I will respond. Thank you, and have a beautiful day <3
Washing my hair:
Shampoo and Conditioner:
I wash my hair twice a week, and my fringe I wash each morning. I love to use Herbal Essences shampoo, especially Moroccan My Shine and Long Term Relationship.
I love the matching conditioners to my favorite Herbal Essences shampoos, and I also have an absolute favorite brand of conditioner called PURA D'OR that is made from all-natural organic ingredients. This conditioner makes my hair super soft and shiny, and so easy to comb out. The shampoo is great, but because it is all-natural it doesn't create the suds that I prefer. This hair product line is known to be anti-hairloss which is another plus.
Oils and Masks:
Before I wash my hair, I take it down from my hairstyle or braid and massage coconut oil into the length of my hair. I never put any oils on my scalp, only on the length of my hair. I concentrate mostly on the sides of my hair and the ends. I use organic, cold-pressed unrefined extra-virgin coconut oil, found in the grocery or food section.
Sometimes I switch it up and use monoi oil from Tahiti. I love the regular monoi oil, and also the monoi oil with ylang-ylang or vanilla. Monoi oil is basically coconut oil that is infused with Tahitian gardenia flowers. The scent and feel of it is amazing, my hair loves it and so do I.
I like to use hair masks on my hair that I can mix up myself using products in my kitchen. I generally use a hair mask once every few weeks. Here are two of my favorite hair masks:
Condition-Wash-Condition:
Now for my washing routine! I wash my hair twice a week, usually on Wednesday night and Saturday night. First I rinse out the oil or hair mask using cool water. Then I generously condition the length of my hair. I never put condition close to my roots or on my scalp, because this makes my hair fall out when I comb it. After I condition the length, I shampoo the top of my head. I never put shampoo on the length of my hair, because this dries it out. The conditioner helps protect the length of my hair while I shampoo the top.
After shampooing the top of my head, I rinse everything out in cool water. Then I condition the length of my hair a second time, and when I'm finished in the shower I rinse my hair once again in cool water. I always try to keep the water as close to cold as possible, because hot water damages my hair. I use a fistful of conditioner each time, and just a small amount of shampoo. With shampoo, a little goes a long way. With conditioner, a little extra never hurts :-)
After I wash my hair I gently twist the length to wring most of the water out. Then I wrap my hair in a towel and leave it for 15 minutes or so. This lets any remaining conditioner soak in and makes my hair easier to comb out. I use a wide-tooth comb on my hair and start to comb from the ends of my hair and slowly work my way up to the top of my head. I never use a brush on my hair, but I do use a round brush on my bangs. I have a rat-tail comb that I use to make parts when I'm fixing my hair.
While I'm combing out my wet hair, if the ends feel at all dry or stiff I rub in a little rose oil or jojoba-argan oil. During the week if my hair feels a bit dry, I rub some rose oil or jojoba-argan oil into the ends and comb it through the rest of my hair.
I like to wash my hair in the evening so it can air-dry all night long. I drape it across the pillow and over the side of the bed so the air can reach it as I sleep. Usually by morning, my hair is dry. If I ever wash my hair in the morning, it will still be a bit damp when I put it up in a bun or braid, and usually it never dries completely no matter how many days pass.
Heat, and curling my wet hair:
I use a hair-blow dryer on my bangs each morning. I have a flat-iron hair straightener that I use to straighten my length before length pictures, but I only use it a couple of times a year. If my length pictures feature braid waves, I don't use it at all. (On a side note, I have never dyed my hair. My strawberry-blonde hair color is completely natural. I also don't use highlights, even natural ones. I notice if I'm out in the sun a lot, that my hair does turn a bit more blonde especially around my face. My eyebrows and eyelashes are naturally blonde.)
Generally I don't usually have a problem with tangles. But if I ever do have a tangle that I am having trouble combing out, I have a bottle of Johnson's No More Tears Detangling Spray that I use. It works great and does the job properly.
To curl my hair, I wash it in the afternoon then roll it up in socks while it is still wet, like I explain in this post. By the next morning, my curls are dry and ready to show the world. In the island humidity my curls don't last long, but they are beautiful and fun and I love them.
Trimming my hair:
I think that long hair looks longer, thicker, and healthier when the ends are even. Fairy-tale ends can be gorgeous, but personally I prefer long hair to have an even, straight hemline. I trim my bangs when they begin to hide my eyebrows, about every 3 or 4 weeks. My length gets trimmed when it starts to wrap around the comb as I'm combing it out, which means I've hit floor-length. Or I get it trimmed if the ends begin to look uneven or a bit scraggly. My mom is my trusted designated hair-trimmer. I stand in a kitchen chair, and she gently and evenly trims the bottom to make my ends even once again. The most I've ever had taken off at one time was about 4 or 5 inches. I was a teenager at the time and had been over-parting my hair which made my hair develop a "V" shape in the middle. My mom cut off the ends of the "V" to make my ends even, which is why she had to take off a few inches. Normally she takes off anywhere from 1/4 inch to 1 inch or hair at a time.
My hair reached knee-length when I was a teenager, and later in my early twenties it began to reach ankle-length. I prefer ankle-length, and keep my hair trimmed here. My goal is to have hair that is thick and even all the way to the ends, with very little taper. Regular trims and coconut oil work wonders on keeping my hair thick and healthy all the way to the ends.
Fixing my hair:
Most of my blog is dedicated to the many ways that I fix my hair, but I will just add that I do use hairspray on my bangs and on my finished braids and hairstyles. I use a little bit of hair gel on my signature side bang.
When I style my hair, I prefer to use a variety of small clips rather than lots of bobby pins or a single large clip, as I feel the small clips hold my hair in place better and carry the weight evenly without tugging and giving me a headache. I try to avoid tight ponytails, and love to use the large soft hair ties that I got from Claire's in Japan to make loose low ponytails that I can easily turn into a bun.
My #1 hair care secret: Peanut Butter!
As you probably already know, my favorite secret to healthy long hair that grows fast is...peanut butter! I eat a spoonful or two of peanut butter every day, usually mixed into my Slim-Fast milkshake that I have for breakfast and again in a second Slim-Fast shake at nighttime. The chocolate shake combined with a spoonful of peanut butter is a delicious combination, like a Reese's Pieces peanut butter cup but in a glass. The protein in the peanut butter helps my hair stay healthy from the inside out, and also helps my hair grow faster and thicker.
Thank you for reading about my hair care routine and favorite products! I'm so excited to share hair tips and pictures with my friends around the world.
Wow, what a week! An editor from the UK's Press Association discovered my blog and contacted me to ask for an interview. Within days people around the world were reading about my hair in online magazines and newspapers like the Daily Mail, Women's Health, Allure and Good Housekeeping, to name a few. How exciting to be able to share my hair story with so many new friends and readers.
The recurring theme in all the articles has been my #1 hair secret~ peanut butter! Some readers are confused at first, thinking that I rub peanut butter into my long hair. So I wanted to clarify my hair care routine and share some of my favorite products. If you have any questions, just pop them in a comment below and I will respond. Thank you, and have a beautiful day <3
Washing my hair:
Shampoo and Conditioner:
I wash my hair twice a week, and my fringe I wash each morning. I love to use Herbal Essences shampoo, especially Moroccan My Shine and Long Term Relationship.
I love the matching conditioners to my favorite Herbal Essences shampoos, and I also have an absolute favorite brand of conditioner called PURA D'OR that is made from all-natural organic ingredients. This conditioner makes my hair super soft and shiny, and so easy to comb out. The shampoo is great, but because it is all-natural it doesn't create the suds that I prefer. This hair product line is known to be anti-hairloss which is another plus.
Oils and Masks:
Before I wash my hair, I take it down from my hairstyle or braid and massage coconut oil into the length of my hair. I never put any oils on my scalp, only on the length of my hair. I concentrate mostly on the sides of my hair and the ends. I use organic, cold-pressed unrefined extra-virgin coconut oil, found in the grocery or food section.
Sometimes I switch it up and use monoi oil from Tahiti. I love the regular monoi oil, and also the monoi oil with ylang-ylang or vanilla. Monoi oil is basically coconut oil that is infused with Tahitian gardenia flowers. The scent and feel of it is amazing, my hair loves it and so do I.
I like to use hair masks on my hair that I can mix up myself using products in my kitchen. I generally use a hair mask once every few weeks. Here are two of my favorite hair masks:
Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, and Egg Hair Mask
For my ankle-length hair, I mix together 2 tablespoons coconut oil, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and two large eggs. I whisk these ingredients together in a mixing bowl, then carefully apply the mixture to the length of my hair. I try not to apply the mask too thickly on the bottom of my hair, because the eggs have a tendency to make my ends dry. When I've finished applying the hair mask, I pile my hair up into a bun and cover my hair with a plastic grocery bag. I let this sit for about an hour, then I wash my hair, being careful to first rinse out my hair thoroughly in cool water.
Mayonnaise, Honey, and Milk Hair Mask
For my length, I mix together 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, 1 1/2 tablespoons honey and 1 1/2 tablespoons milk. I stir the mixture together till it looks like a smooth salad dressing or conditioner. Then I apply this hair mask to my hair, concentrating mostly on the length but especially the sides and ends. I pile my hair into a bun, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then I wash my hair, being careful to thoroughly rinse my hair first in cool water, get get the mayo mixture completely out of my hair.
Condition-Wash-Condition:
Now for my washing routine! I wash my hair twice a week, usually on Wednesday night and Saturday night. First I rinse out the oil or hair mask using cool water. Then I generously condition the length of my hair. I never put condition close to my roots or on my scalp, because this makes my hair fall out when I comb it. After I condition the length, I shampoo the top of my head. I never put shampoo on the length of my hair, because this dries it out. The conditioner helps protect the length of my hair while I shampoo the top.
After shampooing the top of my head, I rinse everything out in cool water. Then I condition the length of my hair a second time, and when I'm finished in the shower I rinse my hair once again in cool water. I always try to keep the water as close to cold as possible, because hot water damages my hair. I use a fistful of conditioner each time, and just a small amount of shampoo. With shampoo, a little goes a long way. With conditioner, a little extra never hurts :-)
Combing and drying my wet hair:
After I wash my hair I gently twist the length to wring most of the water out. Then I wrap my hair in a towel and leave it for 15 minutes or so. This lets any remaining conditioner soak in and makes my hair easier to comb out. I use a wide-tooth comb on my hair and start to comb from the ends of my hair and slowly work my way up to the top of my head. I never use a brush on my hair, but I do use a round brush on my bangs. I have a rat-tail comb that I use to make parts when I'm fixing my hair.
While I'm combing out my wet hair, if the ends feel at all dry or stiff I rub in a little rose oil or jojoba-argan oil. During the week if my hair feels a bit dry, I rub some rose oil or jojoba-argan oil into the ends and comb it through the rest of my hair.
I like to wash my hair in the evening so it can air-dry all night long. I drape it across the pillow and over the side of the bed so the air can reach it as I sleep. Usually by morning, my hair is dry. If I ever wash my hair in the morning, it will still be a bit damp when I put it up in a bun or braid, and usually it never dries completely no matter how many days pass.
Heat, and curling my wet hair:
I use a hair-blow dryer on my bangs each morning. I have a flat-iron hair straightener that I use to straighten my length before length pictures, but I only use it a couple of times a year. If my length pictures feature braid waves, I don't use it at all. (On a side note, I have never dyed my hair. My strawberry-blonde hair color is completely natural. I also don't use highlights, even natural ones. I notice if I'm out in the sun a lot, that my hair does turn a bit more blonde especially around my face. My eyebrows and eyelashes are naturally blonde.)
Generally I don't usually have a problem with tangles. But if I ever do have a tangle that I am having trouble combing out, I have a bottle of Johnson's No More Tears Detangling Spray that I use. It works great and does the job properly.
To curl my hair, I wash it in the afternoon then roll it up in socks while it is still wet, like I explain in this post. By the next morning, my curls are dry and ready to show the world. In the island humidity my curls don't last long, but they are beautiful and fun and I love them.
Trimming my hair:
I think that long hair looks longer, thicker, and healthier when the ends are even. Fairy-tale ends can be gorgeous, but personally I prefer long hair to have an even, straight hemline. I trim my bangs when they begin to hide my eyebrows, about every 3 or 4 weeks. My length gets trimmed when it starts to wrap around the comb as I'm combing it out, which means I've hit floor-length. Or I get it trimmed if the ends begin to look uneven or a bit scraggly. My mom is my trusted designated hair-trimmer. I stand in a kitchen chair, and she gently and evenly trims the bottom to make my ends even once again. The most I've ever had taken off at one time was about 4 or 5 inches. I was a teenager at the time and had been over-parting my hair which made my hair develop a "V" shape in the middle. My mom cut off the ends of the "V" to make my ends even, which is why she had to take off a few inches. Normally she takes off anywhere from 1/4 inch to 1 inch or hair at a time.
My hair reached knee-length when I was a teenager, and later in my early twenties it began to reach ankle-length. I prefer ankle-length, and keep my hair trimmed here. My goal is to have hair that is thick and even all the way to the ends, with very little taper. Regular trims and coconut oil work wonders on keeping my hair thick and healthy all the way to the ends.
Fixing my hair:
Most of my blog is dedicated to the many ways that I fix my hair, but I will just add that I do use hairspray on my bangs and on my finished braids and hairstyles. I use a little bit of hair gel on my signature side bang.
When I style my hair, I prefer to use a variety of small clips rather than lots of bobby pins or a single large clip, as I feel the small clips hold my hair in place better and carry the weight evenly without tugging and giving me a headache. I try to avoid tight ponytails, and love to use the large soft hair ties that I got from Claire's in Japan to make loose low ponytails that I can easily turn into a bun.
My #1 hair care secret: Peanut Butter!
As you probably already know, my favorite secret to healthy long hair that grows fast is...peanut butter! I eat a spoonful or two of peanut butter every day, usually mixed into my Slim-Fast milkshake that I have for breakfast and again in a second Slim-Fast shake at nighttime. The chocolate shake combined with a spoonful of peanut butter is a delicious combination, like a Reese's Pieces peanut butter cup but in a glass. The protein in the peanut butter helps my hair stay healthy from the inside out, and also helps my hair grow faster and thicker.
Thank you for reading about my hair care routine and favorite products! I'm so excited to share hair tips and pictures with my friends around the world.
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Length pictures after a new DIY hair treatment
Hello friends,
Last night I tried out a new DIY recipe for hair, and it was amazing! This morning my hair was so silky and soft, also very straight and full, a look that I love in length pictures. Here's what I did:
I mixed together about 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 1/2 tablespoons milk, and 1 1/2 tablespoons honey. I stirred these three ingredients together until smooth. (The consistency was similar to conditioner.) I put this mixture on my hair. (I still had several spoonfuls left in the bowl when I felt like I had applied enough, so I didn't use quite the entire amount.) Next I piled my hair into a bun and clipped it in place, and let the conditioning mask soak in for about 30 minutes. After that, I washed my hair as normal, making sure I thoroughly rinsed out the DIY hair mask before I went on to Condition-Wash-Condition with Herbal Essences Moroccan My Shine shampoo and conditioner.
Later when I combed out my wet hair, I hardly lost any hairs at all in my comb. My hair was very easy to comb out, and it smelled great. (I hate the smell of mayonnaise but I'm willing to endure it if it helps my hair. Thankfully there was no mayo smell in my clean hair.)
If you're looking for a way to straighten your hair without heat, try this hair mask and see how it works for you. Here are length pictures from this morning, after using this DIY hair mask the night before.
Last night I tried out a new DIY recipe for hair, and it was amazing! This morning my hair was so silky and soft, also very straight and full, a look that I love in length pictures. Here's what I did:
I mixed together about 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 1/2 tablespoons milk, and 1 1/2 tablespoons honey. I stirred these three ingredients together until smooth. (The consistency was similar to conditioner.) I put this mixture on my hair. (I still had several spoonfuls left in the bowl when I felt like I had applied enough, so I didn't use quite the entire amount.) Next I piled my hair into a bun and clipped it in place, and let the conditioning mask soak in for about 30 minutes. After that, I washed my hair as normal, making sure I thoroughly rinsed out the DIY hair mask before I went on to Condition-Wash-Condition with Herbal Essences Moroccan My Shine shampoo and conditioner.
Later when I combed out my wet hair, I hardly lost any hairs at all in my comb. My hair was very easy to comb out, and it smelled great. (I hate the smell of mayonnaise but I'm willing to endure it if it helps my hair. Thankfully there was no mayo smell in my clean hair.)
If you're looking for a way to straighten your hair without heat, try this hair mask and see how it works for you. Here are length pictures from this morning, after using this DIY hair mask the night before.
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Sleeping with wet hair~ how I dry my hair without heat
Hi friends,
It's Saturday night again and I just finished washing my hair. I thought it might be fun to write a quick post on how I deal with wet hair, and let it air-dry.
It's always helpful if I can wash my hair at least an hour or two before going to bed, so my hair is not quite as damp when my head hits the pillow. On nights when my hair is wet, I try to make sure I sleep on my side, or at least with my head turned to one side. My goal is to make sure I'm not sleeping on top of my hair, because it will never dry that way. I try to spread my hair across the pillow and over the side of the bed, so it gets the best chance at air-drying. Usually by morning my hair is dry.
My hair is naturally straight, and since I started using coconut oil it naturally looks straight and full. This means I don't need to use a flat-iron to make my hair look its best before wearing it down, which is wonderful since I'm always afraid that a flat-iron may damage my hair. I confess that I do blow-dry my bangs every morning, after washing them with a little shampoo. My bangs are the only part of my hair that get
After washing my hair, I like to keep it wrapped in a towel for about 20 minutes or so, sometimes longer. This helps soak up the excess water and makes it easier to comb out. I only ever use a wide-tooth comb on my hair. I have a favorite plastic wide-tooth comb that I have used for 10 years or more, it is the most perfect comb EVER and cost me $1. I've tried other combs but always go back to this one after the first or second day. I guard it with my life! hahahaha
Thank you for following my blog! If you have any questions or comments just put them below. I hope you have a beautiful weekend.
(This anime picture by PargaFarn seems a perfect illustration for this subject :-)
It's Saturday night again and I just finished washing my hair. I thought it might be fun to write a quick post on how I deal with wet hair, and let it air-dry.
It's always helpful if I can wash my hair at least an hour or two before going to bed, so my hair is not quite as damp when my head hits the pillow. On nights when my hair is wet, I try to make sure I sleep on my side, or at least with my head turned to one side. My goal is to make sure I'm not sleeping on top of my hair, because it will never dry that way. I try to spread my hair across the pillow and over the side of the bed, so it gets the best chance at air-drying. Usually by morning my hair is dry.
My hair is naturally straight, and since I started using coconut oil it naturally looks straight and full. This means I don't need to use a flat-iron to make my hair look its best before wearing it down, which is wonderful since I'm always afraid that a flat-iron may damage my hair. I confess that I do blow-dry my bangs every morning, after washing them with a little shampoo. My bangs are the only part of my hair that get
After washing my hair, I like to keep it wrapped in a towel for about 20 minutes or so, sometimes longer. This helps soak up the excess water and makes it easier to comb out. I only ever use a wide-tooth comb on my hair. I have a favorite plastic wide-tooth comb that I have used for 10 years or more, it is the most perfect comb EVER and cost me $1. I've tried other combs but always go back to this one after the first or second day. I guard it with my life! hahahaha
Thank you for following my blog! If you have any questions or comments just put them below. I hope you have a beautiful weekend.
(This anime picture by PargaFarn seems a perfect illustration for this subject :-)
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Half-Updo for super long hair
Hi friends,
Yesterday I wanted to have my hair frame my face, but I didn't want to wear it down at full length. My solution was to put it up in this half-updo fashion using my favorite hairclips. The result lasted all day long until I took my hair down at night.
On Saturday evening, I used my favorite hair mask before washing my hair. I mixed 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons coconut oil and 2 tablespoons olive oil, and applied this mixture to my hair. I piled my hair up in a high bun and covered it with a plastic grocery bag. I let this sit for about an hour, then washed my hair as normal with the Condition-Wash-Condition method. My hair was so strong and thick, and if I may say so, lovely, after doing this hair mask. I absolutely recommend it. You can even half the recipe if you like, and do everything 1x instead of 2x.
Thank you for visiting my blog! I hope you enjoy my posts as much as I enjoy sharing them with you.
Yesterday I wanted to have my hair frame my face, but I didn't want to wear it down at full length. My solution was to put it up in this half-updo fashion using my favorite hairclips. The result lasted all day long until I took my hair down at night.
On Saturday evening, I used my favorite hair mask before washing my hair. I mixed 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons coconut oil and 2 tablespoons olive oil, and applied this mixture to my hair. I piled my hair up in a high bun and covered it with a plastic grocery bag. I let this sit for about an hour, then washed my hair as normal with the Condition-Wash-Condition method. My hair was so strong and thick, and if I may say so, lovely, after doing this hair mask. I absolutely recommend it. You can even half the recipe if you like, and do everything 1x instead of 2x.
Thank you for visiting my blog! I hope you enjoy my posts as much as I enjoy sharing them with you.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
New for January 2016~ my hair-care routine and favorite products
Hi friends,
I thought I would start the new month (and the new year) with an updated post on my hair-care routine and favorite products. Thank you so much for following my blog! I hope you have a lovey 2016 full of beautiful days and wonderful memories.
1) Trimming
I keep my hair trimmed evenly across the bottom, since personally I like the idea of an even "hem-line" as opposed to fairy-tale or tapered ends. I think that even hair looks longer and healthier. My mother trims my hair for me when it starts to look uneven across the bottom, usually once every few months or so. She is even more careful than I would be to take off just a little bit at a time. My hair reached ankle-length several years ago. Although it could grow much longer I prefer to keep it trimmed at ankle-length. My main hair-growing goal is to have hair that looks thick all the way down with as little taper as possible.
4) Apple cider vinegar rinse
Every 2 or 3 months, my hair needs a clarifying rinse from all the oils and conditioner I use. After washing and conditioning my hair, I use an apple cider vinegar rinse. To make this, I just add a spoonful of apple cider vinegar to a big glass of water. After washing out the conditioner the second time, I pour this vinegar rinse over my whole head and the length of my hair, then quickly rinse my hair with cool water. This apple cider vinegar rinse makes my hair very soft and shiny and oh-so-nice.
5) Combing my hair
I only ever use a large-tooth comb on my hair. I do use a round boar-hair brush to style my bangs, and a rat-tail comb to make parts when I am braiding or to comb out my braid tassel.
I try to be very careful when combing out my wet hair, to start at the bottom and work my way up to the top. Sometimes if I am having trouble with tangles or it is taking me a long time, I use my favorite "No More Tangles" detangling spray.
6) Drying my hair
Of course as anyone with long hair or thick hair knows, it can take a while for your hair to air-dry! I blow-dry my bangs every morning, but never use the blow-dryer on my hair. I wash my hair at night and let it air-dry while I am asleep. If I happen to wash my hair in the morning, I will usually put it in a bun while it is still wet to protect it throughout the day, then sleep with it loose at night so it can air-dry.
Thank you for taking the time to read such a lengthy post! If you have any questions or comments, just leave them below. Happy hair-growing, my friends :-) <3
I thought I would start the new month (and the new year) with an updated post on my hair-care routine and favorite products. Thank you so much for following my blog! I hope you have a lovey 2016 full of beautiful days and wonderful memories.
1) Trimming
I keep my hair trimmed evenly across the bottom, since personally I like the idea of an even "hem-line" as opposed to fairy-tale or tapered ends. I think that even hair looks longer and healthier. My mother trims my hair for me when it starts to look uneven across the bottom, usually once every few months or so. She is even more careful than I would be to take off just a little bit at a time. My hair reached ankle-length several years ago. Although it could grow much longer I prefer to keep it trimmed at ankle-length. My main hair-growing goal is to have hair that looks thick all the way down with as little taper as possible.
2) Oils
Last year I discovered the joy of coconut oil for hair. I absolutely love it! A few hours before washing my hair, I take it down from my hairstyle for that day and apply coconut oil to the length. Since I live in a warm climate year-round, my coconut oil is always in liquid form~ so nice. Sometimes instead of coconut oil on my hair I use monoi oil, an infused perfume oil from Tahiti made by soaking Tahitian gardenia petals in coconut oil. When I get in the shower I rinse the oil out of my hair in cool water, then condition-wash-condition as usual.
During the week I put different types of oils and oil mist sprays on the length of my hair, concentrating mostly on the ends. This keeps my hair looking healthy and shiny and helps it not to be dry. These are my favorites:
3) Washing my hair
I use the condition-wash-condition method and wash my hair two times a week, except for my bangs which I wash and blow-dry every morning. My favorite brand and the only one I ever use is Herbal Essences. I prefer the red bottles "Long-Term Relationship" or the blue bottles "Moroccan My Shine." Although the golden "Honey, I'm Strong" is very nice, too, as well as the pink "Touchably Smooth."
After rinsing the coconut oil out of my hair, I condition the length to protect it and shampoo only the top. I use a fist-full of conditioner and a small not-quite-palm-size amount of shampoo. I rinse all that out with cool water, then condition the bottom again. I leave that conditioner on for several minutes before rinsing my hair one last time in cool water. I never wash my hair in hot water.
Every 2 or 3 months, my hair needs a clarifying rinse from all the oils and conditioner I use. After washing and conditioning my hair, I use an apple cider vinegar rinse. To make this, I just add a spoonful of apple cider vinegar to a big glass of water. After washing out the conditioner the second time, I pour this vinegar rinse over my whole head and the length of my hair, then quickly rinse my hair with cool water. This apple cider vinegar rinse makes my hair very soft and shiny and oh-so-nice.
5) Combing my hair
I only ever use a large-tooth comb on my hair. I do use a round boar-hair brush to style my bangs, and a rat-tail comb to make parts when I am braiding or to comb out my braid tassel.
I try to be very careful when combing out my wet hair, to start at the bottom and work my way up to the top. Sometimes if I am having trouble with tangles or it is taking me a long time, I use my favorite "No More Tangles" detangling spray.
6) Drying my hair
Of course as anyone with long hair or thick hair knows, it can take a while for your hair to air-dry! I blow-dry my bangs every morning, but never use the blow-dryer on my hair. I wash my hair at night and let it air-dry while I am asleep. If I happen to wash my hair in the morning, I will usually put it in a bun while it is still wet to protect it throughout the day, then sleep with it loose at night so it can air-dry.
7) Healthy hair from the inside-out
Probably the best hair-secret I could share is to eat a spoonful of peanut butter every day. I have done this faithfully for years, and can honestly say that peanut butter makes my hair healthy and strong, and also makes it grow fast. My hair and I love peanut butter!
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Thank you for taking the time to read such a lengthy post! If you have any questions or comments, just leave them below. Happy hair-growing, my friends :-) <3
Monday, November 16, 2015
New hair video on Youtube: How I use coconut oil
Hi everybody,
Yesterday I made a new hair video, this time explaining how I put coconut oil on my hair before washing it. I absolutely love coconut oil, it conditions my hair beautifully and makes my hair very easy to comb out when it is still wet after I wash it. I also talk about my favorite shampoo and conditioner to use, and explain my method of condition-wash-condition. I hope this video is helpful! Now that my hair is nice and clean, I'm sure I'll have more hairstyle pictures to post in a little while :-)
Yesterday I made a new hair video, this time explaining how I put coconut oil on my hair before washing it. I absolutely love coconut oil, it conditions my hair beautifully and makes my hair very easy to comb out when it is still wet after I wash it. I also talk about my favorite shampoo and conditioner to use, and explain my method of condition-wash-condition. I hope this video is helpful! Now that my hair is nice and clean, I'm sure I'll have more hairstyle pictures to post in a little while :-)
Click here to watch my video on YouTube
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
French Braid combo~ and getting ready for Redhead Days!
Hello friends,
Yesterday I got a package in the mail from Holland, with my new beautiful blue t-shirt for the Redhead Days in Breda, just a month away! I had seen this braid combination on Pinterest and liked it so much I decided to try it myself. I made a lace rope braid on one side only, then braided the rest of my hair in an Elsa-style French braid. It's funny how just that added rope braid dresses up this look so. Thank you for coming to see my post!
On another note, a friend suggested I try olive oil on my hair, so I did that last night before I washed my hair. I put olive oil on my hair (not on the top nearest my scalp, but on the length and definitely at the ends.) I left it for about 30 minutes or so, then washed my hair as usual (condition-wash-condition). The results seem to be very good, my hair is shiny and soft.
Yesterday I got a package in the mail from Holland, with my new beautiful blue t-shirt for the Redhead Days in Breda, just a month away! I had seen this braid combination on Pinterest and liked it so much I decided to try it myself. I made a lace rope braid on one side only, then braided the rest of my hair in an Elsa-style French braid. It's funny how just that added rope braid dresses up this look so. Thank you for coming to see my post!
On another note, a friend suggested I try olive oil on my hair, so I did that last night before I washed my hair. I put olive oil on my hair (not on the top nearest my scalp, but on the length and definitely at the ends.) I left it for about 30 minutes or so, then washed my hair as usual (condition-wash-condition). The results seem to be very good, my hair is shiny and soft.
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