Get Excited!

About a month ago, I made a request for volunteers to try my infused Castor Oil growth aide. After a few minor tweaks to the recipe, I'm happy to say that we're ready to send out samples.

Thanks so much for your patience and an even bigger thank you for being a volunteer. 

It's my hope that my sprout oil helps promote growth as it has for me. 

Now get growing!

Sheeba

Winterizing

It's getting cold. Time to winterize my hair. For those of you who live in more tropical environments, be glad that you can use the same products regardless of the season and have the same results.

Up north, where cold weather takes your life and hair hostage, you have to rotate your products. 

Realtors live by location, and naturalists live by rotation ... corny? Yeah I know, but it made me laugh nonetheless. 

Go ahead and hide your humectants, light oils and butters. It's time to break out the heavier moisturizers and butters. 

Cold weather, while great for wearing a press, can be drying and harsh on your strands. Being that the air is dry, your hair is susceptible to the same condition. 

One thing I notice during winter months is how much dandruff I develop. It's cold outside (0 humidity) and keeping my heat at 80 (I like it hot) makes the air in my house dry as well. So to combat dry scalp and dry ends here are a few adjustments I make to my routine:

1. Hair Grease- I feel like I just cursed. But before you nail me to the wall for this tidbit, let me explain. I 'grease' my scalp weekly and post wash with a pomade that I threw together of mango butter and  moisturizing oils.

Speaking of things I 'throw together,' I recently did something scary. I made a test batch of my infused hair growth castor oil and am sending it out to friends and colleagues for market research. I'm interested in finding out what makes Sheeba grow like she does and then sharing it with the world. I know sooooo many women who have approached me over the years, inquiring about my regimen, growth aids used, etc. So in a few months, I'll know if its the oil, my herbal tea (batch coming soon email sosheeba@gmail.com if you'd like to part of my test group), or mummy's good genes making Sheeba grow so long.

2. Hot oil treatments - help keep your scalp moisturized. An added boost would be to steam your hair weekly to penetrate the hair shaft. 

3. Shun the wash and go or frequent washing completely - this may sound counter intuitive, but wet hair= sick and I don't have time for pneumonia. Honestly since I love hiding my hair, I notice that Sheeba grows more when left to her own devices. 

4. Be careful of winter hats - I have big hair, so berets and such never work for me, but fuzzy ear warmers do the trick. The downside to wearing these cute creations is the havoc they wreak on my edges. If you are going to wear wool or acrylic hats/ accessories, be sure to line them with a satin scarf/ bonnet, or else you can kiss your edges goodbye.

Hopefully this winter will be mild and not produce any (snow) flakes.

Happy growing. 

The Quest

If you've been a faithful reader, by now you're well aware of the fact that I do not like doing my hair. It pains me, yet ironically I'm on a mission to grow Sheeba to waist length (and beyond).

Enter 'The Quest'.

I plan on wearing my hair in a protective style 2-3 months at a time for a full year. This wasn't really planned, I sort of fell into this as my laziness increased, by the time I realized how how long I had hidden my hair, 4 months had lapsed. 

Kind of like finding out you're with child a full trimester in. (Bad reference? Sorry it was the only one that came to mind).

Anywhoo-

This all began in March with 'Sophia' my Brazilian Kinky Curly install (March- mid-May). Then I wore Sheeba in twisted up-dos from mid-May til June. I'm wearing 'Coco' my NHA Mongolian install for all of July, andI plan on welcoming August with Havana twists or faux locs... that'll be a game time decision.

I'm looking forward to doing my hair to not do my hair. You should join me...

Kinky Curly Chicken & Beer

By now you all know that I don't put anything in my hair that I can not eat. But there comes a point in time where one must draw the line, and for me that line was drawn when a friend asked if I put Crisco in my hair.

My grandma's shortening?? No thank you.

I have spent months lurking in forums and reading up on using Crisco as a moisturizer, shampoo, deep conditioner, and etc. but I can not and will not bring myself to slather the white artery clogger on Sheeba. 

I don't want to smell like chicken (I'm being crass. I know the only way I would smell like a 2 piece and a biscuit is if I put used Crisco in my hair) and more importantly, I fear the havoc that would ensue on my skin. I would look like a pubescent 14 year old. Thinking of using the product might even cause a pimple.

No ma'am. No ham. No turkey. 

Now one secret weapon in my arsenal of 'natural' hair products is beer. Yes, you read that correctly. I rinse my hair with beer from time to time. 

This all began years ago after a house party. I throw large game nights in the summer and often have guests bring adult beverages. There's always tons of bottles left over, and being a wine/ brown liquor aficionado, I needed to find something to do with the cases of beer left under my dining room table. 

A few hours of research later, I was standing in the shower giving Sheeba a beer bath. She loves it and may be an alchy. My hair has become super soft as a result of beer rinses.

Beer is made from fermented hops and yeast. Which creates a host of benefits for dry hair. Beer has B vitamins like biotin that promote growth, protein, sugars to strengthen and boost shine, and if wheat based, volumizing properties. The list was enough to make me pop open a bottle and pour away. 

You're probably giving me the grandma side eye and wondering why I'd pour beer in my hair over Crisco. The same reason you use Miss Jessie's versus Carols Daughter... I prefer to. 

I have also read articles speaking to the benefits of beer on your skin. So next time you happen to have a few brews left around the house, or discover an old case in the back of your outside fridge, take a sip and give your hair a beer bath.