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:

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.

Click here to watch a video about my hair on Facebook

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.

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. 

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.

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

Updated: My Hair-Care Routine and Favorite Products

Hello friends,

     Since writing my first post on my hair-care routine and favorite hair products I have made a few changes, so I thought I would share an updated version.  Thank you so much for following my blog!  I love sharing hair pictures with you, as well as hairstyle videos on my Youtube channel.

     I will start with my favorite brand of shampoo and conditioner. I love any and all Herbal Essences, especially Honey, I'm Strong, Touchably Smooth, and Long Term Relationship.  Sometimes I mix it up and use one kind of shampoo with another kind of conditioner.  I like to buy the regular size shampoo but the extra-large size conditioner.  But even when I do this, I still manage to run out of conditioner first!

     To wash my hair, I use the C-W-C method that I learned on the Long Hair Community.  This stands for Condition, Wash, Condition.  I usually wash my hair in the shower two nights a week.  First I get my hair wet with cool water (I never use hot water on my hair because that can damage your hair).  Then I condition the length, from about my neck down.  I never put conditioner on the top of my head near my roots, because this makes my hair come out easier when I comb it and I certainly don't want that!  Then I shampoo only the top of my head, never the length, because shampoo on the bottom of my hair causes it to dry out.  The conditioner on the bottom helps protect my hair from the shampoo on the top.  I rinse all that off, and then condition the bottom again.  I leave this conditioner on for several minutes, then rinse it off quickly so there is still some conditioner remaining on my hair.  Not enough to make it heavy or leave build-up, but just enough so my hair feels smooth and slippery.  (I explain how I wash and condition my hair in my video on a high fishtail braided bun.)

     I wrap a towel around my wet hair and leave it wrapped up for about 10-15 minutes.  Then I take the towel off and spray my hair all over, top and bottom, with No More Tangles leave-in conditioner.  This miracle product can be found in the baby section of Walmart, and my hair loves it!  It can be used on wet or dry hair, so during the week if my hair starts to get tangled when I'm styling it I will stop and spray it with NMT.  I comb my hair out with a big tooth comb.  I never use a brush on my hair, only my favorite big-tooth comb that I have had for years.  I do use a round brush on my bangs, and a rat-tail comb to make parts when I am braiding.

     Like I mentioned before, I usually wash my hair at night and let it air-dry all night long.  To avoid getting a wet pillow, I sleep on my side with my hair flung out behind me.  I have a stand-up fan on high pointed at my head :-)  When I wake up the next morning my hair is almost always dry.  I wash my bangs each morning and blow-dry them with my hair-dryer that has a round brush attachment.

     Every 4-6 months, I rinse my hair in an apple-cider vinegar rinse like I learned on the Long Hair Community.  This works great to clarify my hair and remove any build-up from all the conditioner I use.  There are many methods, but I have found that a spoonful or two of apple-cider vinegar in a big glass of water works best for me.  After washing my hair with the C-W-C method and rinsing out the conditioner one last time, I dump the glass of vinegar-water over my whole head and work it quickly through my hair with my fingers.  Then I rinse my hair off very well in cool water.  After this apple-cider vinegar rinse, my hair is so smooth and shiny, and very easy to comb out.  But I can't do it too often or the ends of my hair get dry.  My favorite brand of vinegar is Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar.  It is all-natural and works wonderfully!

     My favorite kind of hairspray is Suave non-aerosol Max Hold.  I use it on my bangs and also on my hair after I finish braiding or styling it.  I try to avoid getting any hairspray on my clips or jewelry.

     As for trimming my hair, I have let it grow as long as floor-length, but I soon cut it back to ankle-length.  I prefer to keep the ends of my hair even and straight across the bottom, but also relatively thick all the way down.  I don't like an obvious taper or fairy-tale ends, because I think a person's hair looks thicker and healthier when it is even and straight at the hemline.  I know many people feel otherwise, and fairy-tale ends can be very pretty!  But for me I prefer my hair to be even and as thick as possible all the way down.  When I was a teenager, I had developed a "V" shape in the middle of my hair because I was always parting it to make double French braids.  I had it cut up as far as tail-bone length to get rid of the "V" and it grew back very healthy and even.  I think you shouldn't be afraid to trim off a few inches in your hair-growing journey, if doing so will help you have healthier hair in the long run (no pun intended :-)  I use sharp hair scissors on my length and special trimming scissors on my bangs.  My bangs (and eyelashes and eyebrows for that matter!) grow very quickly.  It's probably from all the shampoo for long hair!

     I use so much conditioner that I rarely have trouble with split ends.  If I notice my hair is getting uneven across the bottom, or that the ends look a little scraggly, then I know it is time for a trim.  I get my hair trimmed every 4-6 months, or as needed.  I trim my bangs about every 6 weeks or so.  When they start covering my eyebrows or get in the way of my mascara wand, I know it's time for a trim!  I trim my bangs myself but I have to have help with my hair.  I stand on a chair so someone can trim it for me :-)

     My Micronesian friends use coconut oil on their thick, black hair, but I do not use it myself.  I will post their hair-care tips separately.  Also, because I live in Micronesia, I use rainwater.  This is absolutely the best for my hair!  If you live somewhere where you possibly can, I highly recommend washing your hair in rainwater.  It is very soft and just what my hair loves.

     One more final hair-care tip, and perhaps the most effective one: I eat a spoonful of peanut butter every day.  My aunt's hair-dresser told her years ago to eat peanut butter so her hair would grow faster.  My aunt told me and I tried it, and found out that the secret worked!  When I eat peanut butter, my hair grows faster and is stronger and healthier.  I like to put a spoonful of peanut butter in my Slim-Fast milkshake every morning.  It tastes so good, just like a Reese's peanut butter cup!

     Thank you for taking the time to read my hair-care post.  If you have any questions or comments please leave them below.  I love hearing from you!  And keep an eye on my Youtube videos, because I try to mention different hair-care tips from time to time.  Thank you, and have a beautiful hair day!

My hair clip collection

Hi friends,

Thanks so much to Les Cheveux de Mini for your kind comments on my previous post~ I took this picture in your honor!  I keep my clips and hair bands in perfume boxes, usually stacked neatly on my shelf with my make-up but now on my bedspread for you to see.  Also included in the pic are my favorite Grah-Toe hair fork,  my combs, and (yes, I admit I use it for my bangs!) my hair dryer.  The round biscuit tin was a gift from a friend in Germany; I keep my bobby pins, barrettes, and ponytail holders in it.
     A lot of friends have asked where I get my clips from.  Most of the jeweled clips are from a local store here on my island; I think they came straight from China.  The rest of my clips and hair bands came from different Ross stores or Macy's.  A few of the fancier clips and forks are from an on-line store called Sophia's Style.  They have a lot of nice hair things for reasonable prices.  Of course, Claire's is always full of fun stuff!  My silk flower hair bands are from their on-line store.
     As always, thank you for following my blog!