FRESH FACE..MY SKIN CARE REGIMEN

Greetings and Blessings everyone!! I hope all is well..

Ok, so I get the question about my skin care regimen lots, lots, lots!! So, I decided to 'blog' about my skin care regimen. Keep in mind, this is what works for me, with my skin type being combination and acne prone..To answer the question, 'yes, I experience breakouts'. Especially a few months after I've given birth (hormones out of control) and if I haven't been eating right, especially mucous producing foods such as cheese, breads (especially if they contain wheat gluten), if I'm stressing over 'who knows what' or during that special time of the month..know what I'm sayin'. I totally believe that what we give our insides reflects what shows on our outsides, so healthy clean eating is a priority and plenty of water (we drink distilled water only..simple and pure H2O, no additives, no chemicals, just water). For more information on the differences between water, check out this awesome video here: Distilled Water vs. Filtered Water . 

So, I have no problem sharing my regimen, but please keep in mind, each person's skin is different and the results may vary as well as the notion of what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. Ok, now that I've gotten the familiarities out of the way..I present my O'Natural Skin Care Regimen.

My Skin Care Regimen:

CLEANSE

 I Can't rave enough about this all natural soap bar from Henna Sooq . The Berhempsu bar is O'Mazing!! It cleanses well and doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped. I love the ingredients and it lasts a very very long time. I simply cut a small piece of the soap, therefore preventing the entire soap from being wet. I take the small piece of cut soap and lather. I apply the lather to my face in upward circular motions (helps stimulate circulation). Rinse (The great thing is that you can use this soap for cleansing the hair and body..You know I like a multipurpose product)

TONE

I make my own toner using natural ingredients I keep in my pantry. The ingredients include:  1 TBSP of Neem leaves to make a tea. I steep using distilled water ( you will use 2oz of the tea for the mixture). 2oz of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). 5 drops of Tea Tree Oil. 5 Drops of Lemongrass Essential Oil. Combine all the ingredients, add to a spray bottle and refrigerate. Once I have cleansed my face, I spray my toner onto my face and allow to slightly dry before moisturizing. Misting a toner onto the face prevents over stripping the face which will cause over oil production when using a cloth or wipe to apply the toner. Toning the face gives the skin a final cleansing, helps to close the pores (especially due to the coolness of the toner from being refrigerated) and protects the skin from environmental pollutants. Toning also helps restore the skin's natural pH levels as well as help remove impurities from your skin keeping infection at bay. 

MOISTURIZE

Again, I can't express enough how much I am a minimalist and love multi purpose products. After I tone my face, I apply a little less than a dime sized amount of my Natty Moist to moisturize my face. I love the ingredients and they work well and do an awesome job for me, especially with ridding my face of hyper-pigmentation, eek. I apply the desired amount to my hands, thoroughly rub the product into my hands then beginning with my forehead and eye area, rub it in, then rub upward from my neck to remaining part of my face (a tip I learned from a wonderful spa). My face feels so smooth, hydrated and soft. Just in case you're wondering, yes, this is the same product I use on my hair for moisturizing as well as my body. I discovered this after hearing testimonies from a few of our wonderful Natty customers and low and behold, it works..For me!

SPECIAL TREATMENTS

MASK

Special Treats that I give my skin are masks and exfoliants. I love, love love this French Rose Clay mask from Evan Healy . Oh my oh my, it leaves my skin baby soft. I combine a tsp of the mask with 1/2 TSP of Bragg's ACV and 1/2 TSP of distilled water and apply to my damp face and neck. I leave the mask on for about 10 minutes and rinse. I follow up with my Toner and Moisturizer. I do this treatment once sometimes twice per week. The mask lasts a very very very long time, so you definitely get your money's worth.

SCRUB

Ooo La La, talk about a treat for the skin. I do an exfoliating scrub on my face at least once per week. I combine simple natural ingredients such as Raw Honey, Organic Brown Sugar and a few drops of lemon juice. Combine all ingredients and ,after cleansing, apply to my dampened face and neck in an upward circular motion for about 1 minute. Rinse. Follow up with my Toner and Moisturizer. Talk about smooth baby bottom skin. It gives my face a healthy glow due to the exfoliant removing dead skin cells. Again, it's all about simplicity. Few products, healthy ingredients.

Make Up Free Face:

When rocking a fresh face, sometimes, I will only enhance my brows and add some clear lip gloss. 

MAKEUP CITY FACE:

When rocking full makeup, I will add a bit of concealer to my under eye area to enhance the look of the eye, apply some powder, enhance my brows, add liner, play around with eyeshadow, add a dab of blush and mascara with a nude gloss lip.

POPULAR PRODUCT OF THE WEEK..10% OFF

You guessed it..Our Yummy Natty Butter was our Popular Product of the week last week. Our very first product of our Natty Natural line. So, for the week, our Natty Butter will be 10% off. 

What It Does:

Our wonderful Natty Butter, Infused with Ayurvedic herbs, beneficial oils and healthy natural butters, help to lock/seal in moisture for hair and skin.
*All of our products are crafted by hand using artisanal methods, so product may vary from batch to batch.

Key Factors:

Key Ingredients: 

Unrefined Shea Butter, Avocao Butter, Tamanu Oil

Free From:

Mineral Oil, Petroleum, Silicones, Parabens, Phthalates, PABA

POPULAR PRODUCT OF THE WEEK..10% OFF

That's right, our Natty ACV Hair and Scalp Mist took the lead in popularity this week!! So, for this week our Natty ACV Mist will be 10% off, yay!!

What it Does: 

Infused with Ayurvedic herbs, beneficial essential oils and Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, our ACV Mist helps to cleanse and protect the hair and scalp from buildup and helps to soothe itching and inflamed scalp. Helps to balance the ph in highly porous hair.

*All of our products are crafted by hand using artisanal methods, so product may vary from batch to batch.

Key Factors:

99% Natural

Key Ingredients: 

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, Tea Tree Oil, Lavender 

Free Of: 

Phthalates, Sulfates, Mineral Oil, Petroleum, Parabens, PABA, Silicones

Who Can Use It:

Everyone from babies to the mature. For all hair types

How To Use:

• PRE CLEANSE CLARIFIER: Spray ACV Mist towards scalp. Massage into scalp using balls of fingers to loosen dirt, product buildup and debris. Follow up with your shampoo.
• AFTER CLEANSE SPRAY: Spray ACV Mist onto freshly shampooed and conditioned hair to help protect scalp and close the hair's cuticle, therefore minimizing frizz and aiding in shine.
• AFTER WORKOUT SPRAY: After a workout, spray ACV Mist toward scalp and massage in. After 30 minutes, hop in shower and rinse to clean away dirt, debris and buildup.
• LEAVE IN MOISTURIZER and SOOTHING SCALP SPRAY: Spray desired amount to re-hydrate hair. Follow up with your Natty Moist for extra moisture and Natty Butter to lock in moisture. Spray desired amount to soothe itching and/or inflamed scalp.

INGREDIENTS:

DISTILLED WATER: One of the best known waters for use on the hair, as it is free of microscopic bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa which are present in tap water. It is known as one of the purest forms of water due to the distillation process of freeing it of many of the minerals found in tap water, such as chlorine and fluoride, therefore allowing the hair to achieve softness.

RAW APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is vinegar that is unfilter, unprocessed and undisturbed. So you are therefore able to receive direct benefits from the vinegar that are therefore removed in vinegars that are processed. Apple Cider vinegar aids in ridding the hair of mineral buildup, product buildup and bacteria and fungi found in tap water. It also aids in closing the hair cuticle, which allows the hair to sheen and feel soft and less frizzy. Apple Cider Vinegar also aids in healing the scalp of dry itchiness, flakiness and dandruff.

AYURVEDIC HERB BLEND:

• Aids in reducing hair loss.
• Aids in strengthening the hair to promote healthy full hair growth.
• Aids in ridding the hair of dandruff and psoriasis of the scalp.
• Helps restore sheen to hair that is dry and brittle.

ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND:

• Soothes and heals damaged scalp
• High in antioxidants, which is extremely beneficial in healthy hair and scalp
• Promotes healthy hair growth

FRIZZ..FRIZZ..FRIZZ..LET'S TALK ABOUT IT!

Greetings, Ladies and Gents, I pray all is well with everyone. Ok, so let's chat about a topic that I get oober questions on and I'm quite sure many of us have dealt with..FRIZZ!!! As always, I hope this topic will help shed some light on a popular topic not only in the natural hair community, but, well, almost every hair community.

FRIZZ...WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?

• I define it, in simple terms, flyaway hair that has been lifted from the normal curl, wave, or coil. It's the hair that, so to speak, 'goes against the grain of the masses.' What it is not, is  hair that is naturally curly, wavy or coily  paired next to a picture of the same person with straightened hair. It's where hair that normally clumps, waves  or coils fail to do so. You may also experience frizz when shorter pieces of hair separate from the normal curls, waves or coils. See my examples below of my hair when experiencing low and high frizz:

FRIZZ...WHAT CAUSES IT?

• Harsh handling of the hair (harsh combing, brushing or styling techniques)
• Improper or Lack of Moisture
• Dry Styling (styling hair that lacks moisture or that is not damp or wet)
• Humidity (especially when using stylers, moistrizers or leave ins containing humectants: glycerin, honey)
• Certain product ingredients (because humectants attract moisture to the hair it can cause swelling which causes the hair to dry and frizz. It's best to use products that contain humectants as leave ins during cooler months)
• Over manipulation and constant touching of the hair (guilty me!)

FRIZZ..WHAT CAN HELP?

• Go easy when styling the hair. When undoing styles such as twists for twist outs or braids for braid outs, be sure to coat hands lightly with a butter or oil to minimize frizz. 
• Check your ingredients and be mindful of humectants during warmer and hot months. If you do use products containing humectants, you can follow up by using anti humectants such as products or raw ingredients such as; shea butter, mango butter, castor oil, coconut oil, olive oil, to name a few.
• Try to eliminate excessive 'HIH' (Hand In Hair) Syndrome..that's a hard one for me too
• Keep hair moisturized. Check out my step by step on a moisturizing tip that has helped me and many naturals keep our tresses properly moisturized.

Remoisturizing old hair in 5 simple steps

Step 1: grab your favorite moisturizer (leave in conditioner, moisturizing cream, spray mist, water). I alternate between my Natty Moist and Natty ACV Mist as my moisturizer of choice.

Step 2 - 3: Working in sections (if the hair is long enough) apply moisturizer to your hair making sure to coat each strand. Then apply an oil, butter or your Natty Butter to seal/lock in moisture.

Step 3: be sure to moisturize your edges and ends as well. They can become dry and brittle leading to breakage

Step 4: twist, braid or apply any protective style of your choice. Nice moisturized, sealed and protected hair. I wear my hair in this manner throughout the week allowing me to retain moisture, minimize breakage and retain length due to its low manipulation.

Step 5: cover and protect at night with a silk or satin scarf, bonnet or pillowcase.

Step 6: When unraveling for styling, be sure to apply some butter or oil to your hair to undo any style. This way, you minimize the amount of frizz and friction caused. AND, as a bonus, you may get a few days worthy of rocking your favorite style!

Natty products available at NattyNatural

My Tresses

For the most part, I experience low frizz by following my moisturizing routine, using products with great ingredients and practicing low manipulation styles. Keep in mind, though, even keeping hair in protective styles such as braids and twists for a long period of time can create not only frizz but the potential for the hair to 'loc'. As mentioned above, I make sure when unraveling my twists, I apply my Natty Butter onto my hands, rub in to melt, then unravel my twists or braids for a great twist out. I also keep my ends nice and moisturized and trimmed. So, again, I hope this helps..Have a Happy Natty Day!!

POPULAR PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: 10% OFF

NATTY MOIST-LEMONGRASS 

That's right, our Natty Moist in Lemongrass took the lead in popularity this week!! So, for this week our Natty Moist multi purpose conditioner will be 10% off, yay!!

What it Does: 

Our hydrating Moist, infused with Ayurvedic herbs, is beneficial for helping to repair dry, damaged and over processed hair. Our Moist can also be used to hydrate and soothe dry skin.
*All of our products are crafted by hand using artisanal methods, so product may vary from batch to batch.

How To Use: 

• PRE-POO: Place hair into 4 to 8 sections. Working one section at a time, apply an ample amount of MOIST to hair and thoroughly work in to detangle and soften hair. Leave on for 20-30 min. Shampoo
• MOISTURIZING LEAVE IN CONDITIONER ON CLEAN WET HAIR: After shampooing, using an old T-shirt or microfiber towel, soak up excess water. Apply desired amount of MOIST to hair. Follow up with your Natty Butter to lock in moisture.
• For Skin: Apply as little or as much to hydrate and soften skin.
• MOISTURIZING DRY HAIR: Apply desired amount to dry hair to rehydrate and soften hair. Follow up with your Natty Butter to lock in moisture.

Key Factors:

98% Natural

Key Ingredients: 

Ootanga Oil, Cupuacu Butter, Shea Butter, Tamanu Oil

Free From:

Silicones, Mineral Oil, Petroleum, Phthalates, PABA, Parabens

Natty Natural products available at www.nattynatural.com

NATURAL HAIR AND POROSITY..THE INSIDE SCOOP

Greetings, Chicas/Chicos..I pray all is well with everyone. Here is a topic that, along with so many other topics of natural hair, that has been a challenge for some to deal with..and that is POROSITY.
It's a topic that can keep us happy when we understand and O'So frustrating when we don't. Understanding the porosity of our hair, helps us to better understand products to use, how to use those products and how to care for our hair overall. So, let's dive into the topic a little and see if we can shed some light on the subject.

WHAT IS POROSITY

• Porosity refers to the condition of the cuticle layer of the hair.  The 3 types of porosity levels are: LOW, HIGH and NORMAL.

HOW TO TEST YOUR HAIR

• Place a freshly washed, product free strand of hair in a cup of water (cool water is fine) and wait for the show. Leave the strand in the water for about 8-10 minutes to see if the strand stays on top or floats to the bottom.

POROSITY LEVELS

• If the hair quickly sinks to the bottom of the cup, you have HIGH POROSITY hair. 
• If the hair floats somewhere towards the top or in the middle, you have NORMAL POROSITY.
• If the hair floats at the top for a long period of time, you have LOW POROSITY hair.

POROSITY..THE INSIDE SCOOP

HIGH POROSITY: 

• This type of porosity means the cuticle has been exposed to severe amounts of damage, either through environmental exposures, overuse of heat, harsh combing/brushing or chemical processes (relaxers, texturizers, colorants). The strand of hair floats quickly to the bottom of the cup of water due to the weight of the water becoming too heavy to float. Another sign of highly porous hair is that it loses moisture almost as quickly as moisture is applied. A hair, under a microscope, that is highly porous, resembles the gaps of swiss cheese, displaying large holes in the hair follicle. 

CARE THAT HELPS:

• For naturals who do have highly porous hair, thicker butters and products with oils are great because they can serve as a protective layer and help seal the cuticle. Henna and Protein Treatments are great because they temporarily fill the gaps/holes in highly porous hair. Apple Cider Vinegar rinses are also helpful as they help to close the cuticle and protect the hair from any contaminants. Protein and deep conditioning treatments are extremely useful for temporarily patching the gaps of highly porous hair. Keeping in mind that these are 'temporary' fixes, it's best to focus on keeping the new growth healthy, minimizing or abstaining from the use of heat and chemical processes simply because once the hair is damaged due to the treatments, it cannot be permanently repaired. With hair that is highly porous, dry detangling may work best with the application of a butter or oil to help with slip. Finger detangling is also a great option because our fingers can feel for knots and tangles easier than a detangling tool. Though a detangling tool is great, a great practice is to finger detangle first, then proceed to use tool of choice, such as a wide tooth comb or brush. With regular trims and being mindful of the information above such as the protein treatments and deep conditions, this will definitely make highly porous hair more manageable.

NORMAL POROSITY:

• This is the happy medium. It means that the hair allows for easy moisture inside the cuticle and it holds moisture for long periods of time making hair less susceptible to breakage. It's a very desirable and low maintenance type of porosity. Be aware, regular chemical processes and excessive heat use can change the hair's porosity over time. Healthy ingredients, regular deep conditions, moisturizing and little to no heat will help keep normal porosity hair at it's best.

LOW POROSITY:

• This type of porosity is not as bad as it may seem. This type means that the cuticles are tight and pretty resistant to opening up for moisture. With hair that is of low porosity, many times it may feel as though product is sitting on top of the hair instead of thoroughly penetrating through the hair. The benefit of having low porosity hair is that once moisture is able to penetrate the cuticle, it holds on to it very well...the key is just getting the moisture inside. 

CARE THAT HELPS:

• With low porosity hair, it's best to incorporate ingredients that are of a more alkalinic nature. Adding a little bentonite clay (pH of 8.3) to you conditioner is a great trick. Also, for those with low porosity hair, the use of heat while deep conditioning is extremely helpful. Tools such as heat caps or a steamer are a great way to help lift the cuticle to aid in infusing moisture into the hair. With low porosity hair, make sure, when applying product, that the hair is wet or damp, then seal in the moisture with a butter or oil. 

My Hair:

My hair is a great mix of normal and low porosity. Feel free to check out my regimen here to see how I have managed to achieve and maintain healthy moisturized hair. Education, trial and error has truly helped me to understand and care for my hair and with that, I hope to help others throughout their journey by sharing my experiences. As always, I hope this helps, feel free to share your hair's porosity and how you care for your hair.

My O'Natural Regimen (2013)

Greetings, Greetings, Greetings, Ladies and Gents. I pray all is well with everyone. Ok, so I'm updating my regimen and wanted to keep you all abreast to the goings on of my world of O'Natural hair. Not much has changed, but I feel it's always a great thing to keep you all updated. As always, I love to stress that my regimen is not the end all be all, so always tweak the method for what is convenient and what works for you, or simply use my regimen as a guideline. As always, I hope this helps.

MY UPDATED REGIMEN (2013)

• PRE POO: Products of Choice: Natty Moist, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil or Sporty Afros Ayurvedic Oil . I usually choose my Natty Moist for my pre poo method and if I opt to do a hot oil treatment, I will use the Sporty Afros Ayurvedic Hair Oil. For my Pre-Poo Method and the benefits of this method, check it out here .

 

• CLEANSE: Products of Choice: ( I must say, I have a few items that I love to alternate and cleanse with: Dudu Osum Black Soap Shampoo, Terressentials Pure Earth Wash, Bobeam Shampoo Bars, or Chagrin Valley Ayurvedic Shampoo Bar (any of these items work extremely well for me and my family). I will also do a special treatment using Bentonite Clay. Feel free to check out my Bentonite Clay Treatment. All of these items are known as Clarifying cleansers which are great for removing buildup from the hair and scalp. Buildup is one of the key things that cause dryness and ultimately breakage to the hair. Due to the natural products that I use, I do not accumulate much buildup, so I cleanse about every 2-3 weeks using one of these preferred cleansers. When absorbing the excess water from my hair, I ALWAYS use an old t-shirt versus a towel to dry. Towels create dryness, cause frizz and increases friction in the hair, which can lead to breakage.

 

• IN BETWEEN CLEANSE (LIGHT CLEANSE): Products of Choice: Natty ACV Hair and Scalp Mist . With my Natty ACV Scalp Mist, I spray a nice amount onto my scalp to ensure that I keep my scalp clean and protected from dirt, debris and other contaminants. Since ACV is a mild clarifyer, it helps keep the product buildup at bay and allows me to stretch my actual need for a thorough (clarifying) cleanse for 2-3 weeks. It's especially awesome after a workout for helping to remove sweat buildup. I simply spray the mist, massage into my scalp and either leave in or hop in the shower and allow the water to rinse away the dirt.

 

• DEEP CONDITION: Product of Choice: Natty Cupuacu & Rhassoul Deep Conditioner: Talk about a yummy treat for my tresses. I absolutely love treating my hair to my chocolatey smelling conditioner. I deep condition my hair each time I do a thorough cleanse. I opt to use my conditioner with a steamer or heat cap due to my hair being of 'low porosity'. The heat helps to lift my cuticle and ensure that my tresses retain its due moisture. After conditioning and rinsing, I mist my Natty ACV Hair and Scalp Mist to help close my cuticle back. This helps to protect my hair from dirt, debris and other environmental contaminants. Also, when the cuticle is closed, it gives the hair a smoother (less frizzy) shinier appearance.

 

• MOISTURIZE: Product of Choice: Natty Moist leave in conditioner or Natty ACV Hair and Scalp Mist : After Cleansing and conditioning, I will use both my Natty ACV Hair and Scalp Mist and then my Natty Moist as my leave ins. Throughout the week when I need to re-moisturize my hair, I will apply my Natty Moist and/or Natty ACV Hair and Scalp Mist to hydrate my hair. Any time I finger detangle, I apply a thorough amount of the Natty Moist or thoroughly wet my hair with my Natty ACV Mist. For my how to video on using these two products, check it out Here .

 

• SEAL: Product of Choice: Natty Butter: Hands down, no matter the oils or butters I have tried, this is my absolute favorite product to seal/lock in moisture for my hair. It is extremely important to understand that butters and oils are not 'moisturizer' but instead to understand that they are 'sealants'. A sealant is like a protection in that it locks in moisture to prevent it from escaping so quickly. To seal my hair, I 'first' apply a moisturizer of choice (my Natty Moist or Natty ACV Mist)..Then, I apply my Natty Butter to lock in the moisture. Using this method has helped me keep my strands moisturized and healthy, minimize breakage and retain length. I normally do not have to re moisturize my hair for about 2-3 days. 

 

• TRIM:  It is very important to keep those ends trimmed. While building your regimen, you may incorporate how often you wish to gradually trim your ends as you draw closer to returning completely natural. This time can range from 1/4 to 1/2 inch per month, two months or a little longer time period. If you are not comfortable trimming your own hair, it is very important to find a stylist that specializes in natural hair care and have them trim your hair for you (one who understands trimming vs. cutting). I normally trim my hair every 2-3 months removing about 1/4 inch of hair from my ends. This has helped keep not only my ends but overall hair healthy and thriving. 

 

• PROTECT: Item of Choice: Satin/Silk Scarf, bonnet and/or pillowcase. One of the key factors of retaining moisture into the hair is protecting the hair at night using fabric that help hold in moisture versus removing moisture from the hair. Cotton absorbs moisture from the hair. Silk and satin help to retain moisture. After I moisturize my hair, I cover it with my silk or satin scarf and sleep on my satin pillowcase for extra protection.  

ADDITIONAL VERY IMPORTANT FACTORS

• DIET: I always stress that healthy clean eating is one of the major factors of achieving and maintaining healthy hair. We must remember, what we put into our bodies affect what comes out of it. Our diet consists of a pescatarian diet, which includes some fish, plenty of fresh fruit and green leafy vegetables. I also incorporate tons of herbal teas such as Dandelion (cleanses the liver), Organic Moringa Leaf, Green Tea, Chamomile, Chai Tea and others. I don't take vitamin supplements as I've always felt that the best way to receive needed vitamins and nutrients is directly from our food source.
• WATER INTAKE
• EXERCISE: Because exercise helps with blood circulation, it's an extremely factor in overall health including healthy hair.

 

TOP TIPS FOR TRANSITIONERS (updated)

Greetings, Chicas/Chicos...Let's Talk TRANSITIONING
Oh, to chop or not to chop, that is the question..

Many times as we ponder the thought of returning to our natural crowns, we dabble in thought of whether we wish to chop all of our hair at once or not chop all of our hair at once..Well, either way, we support your decision and are here to help. For those who wish to keep more length and not chop their hair all at once (known as a Big Chop or BC) and rather, wish to gradually trim their relaxed or straightened ends and slowly transition into returning completely natural, here are some tips that may help.

TRANSITIONING TIPS

TIP 1: DETANGLING: 
When detangling the hair can be a task fit for a surgeon when handling hair of two textures and carefully avoiding or minimizing breakage. The key to easier detangling is ALWAYS detangle hair when wet and slippery with conditioner. Pay special attention to the line of demarcation (the line where the new growth meets the relaxed or straightened ends). Also, if the hair is long enough, detangling while the hair is in sections, then twisting or braiding, helps keep the hair from re-tangling. Many transitioners have found success with first finger detangling, then using a wide tooth comb, such as a Jilbrere Shower Comb or detangling brush to detangle. 

TIP 2: DEEP CONDITIONING/PROTEIN TREATMENTS: 
These treatments should be a transitioners best friend!! A balance between protein and deep conditioning is key to minimizing breakage. With protein, it is used to strengthen the hair, 'temporarily' repairing the hair that is damaged from chemical treatments, colorants and heat use. Be mindful, protein treatments have a tendency to make the hair feel harder than usual, which is why it is very important to follow up with a deep conditioner afterwards to soften the hair once again. You can choose commercial brand protein treatments, henna (works much like a protein treatment and does an excellent job of strengthening the hair. Be sure to look for BAQ or Body Art Quality Henna as it's the easiest to rinse out) or a DIY (Do It Yourself) protein treatment. Protein treatments can be done bi-yearly. Also, incorporating Ayurvedic herbs into your remedy helps to strengthen hair. Check out some DIY Ayurveda treatments here: Let's Talk Ayurveda. Deep conditioners are best as regular treatments, such as weekly or at least bi-weekly. 

TIP 3: MOISTURIZE..BUT DON'T OVERMOISTURIZE:
It is oober important to keep tresses moisturized, as natural hair can become a bit dry. However, this can be a double edged sword as the hair that is relaxed or have the straightened ends can become water logged easily therefore making the hair weak and break easily. Transitioned hair usually fair well being moisturized every few days or weekly (each person will vary). Remember, over moisturizing transitioned hair can create weakness leading to breakage.

TIP 4: STYLING:
When styling hair with two textures, it is of the utmost importance to handle with kid gloves. Remember that line of demarcation is very fragile. Using styling tools, such as wide tooth combs and brushes designed for detangling are key. Treat transitioning hair very gently..I repeat, treat very gently. Protective styles, such as twists, braids, plaits, buns are great for transitioners and minimizes the amount of daily styling applied to the hair. There are a plethora of amazing styles for transitioners such as Twist n Curls, Bantu Knot Outs, Flexi Rods, Perm Rods because they do a great job of blending the two textures.

TIP 5: REGIMEN
Ok, now while I don't encourage you to follow someone else's regimen exactly, I do encourage regimen building that suits your needs. Building a regimen is helpful with understanding products and helping to understand what may or may not work for you..this way, when you have completely transitioned and returned to natural, you are more comfortable with what works and have a better understanding of how to care for your tresses. Though your products may or may not change, the consistency of how you care for your hair may not and as the days go by, you will be more comfortable with maintaining your hair. Building a regimen also helps with aiding your hair in becoming used to your regimen that is comfortable for YOU. 

TIP 6: TRIMMING
It is very important to keep those ends trimmed. While building your regimen, you may incorporate how often you wish to gradually trim your ends as you draw closer to returning completely natural. This time can range from 1/4 to 1/2 inch per month, two months or a little longer time period. If you are not comfortable trimming your own hair, it is very important to find a stylist that specializes in natural hair care and have them trim your hair for you (one who understands trimming vs. cutting)

TIP 7: PROTECT AT NIGHT
Very important tip is protecting the hair at night. Covering hair with a stain (especially charmeuse satin) cap, scarf or pillow is extremely helpful for retaining proper moisture and minimizing breakage. If you feel your satin scarf, bonnet or pillowcase alone are not enough, double up. You can cover your hair with a scarf or bonnet and sleep on a satin pillow for a double dose of protection. 

TIP 8: DRYING THE HAIR
When drying the hair from cleansing, try using an old t-shirt to dry instead of a towel. Towels can be very rough on the hair and cause friction on the hair leading to dryness and breakage. Once you have rinsed your hair, cover with a t-shirt, just as you would with a towel and leave until hair is just slightly damp. Complete your regimen as normal.

TIP 9: RESEARCH
Research, research, research!! The power of the internet can be an awesome tool for seeking out what other naturals have been through in regards to achieving and maintaining healthy hair. It's also helpful for learning what may or may not work for your hair and how to become creative with how to style your hair. Sites such as Youtube, Facebook, Blog sites, Instagram and Pinterest, to name a few, have been extremely helpful with helping many on their journey to returning to natural. The power of networking with others who have returned to natural is extremely helpful with the fear and frustration of the journey.

TIP 10: DON'T STRESS AND LOVE YOUR HAIR.
Remember, you hair is only an accessory of you. There is no such thing as bad hair, no matter who has tried to define it. Each person will have different results of styles, regimens, hair growth, etc, but the beautiful thing is that we are all unique. Yes, you may deal with shrinkage. Yes, you may deal with breakage. Yes, you will definitely deal with shedding (natural part of the growth cycle). Yes, you will deal with not being able to master every style or a particular style...And all of that is A-OK! Get excited about Your hair texture, no matter what texture it is..Remember, there is NO SUCH THING as bad hair and don't allow the definition of society nor others convince you that there is. Never lose site of how beautiful you are.

As always, I hope this helps..Have a Happy Natty Day!!