Food For Thought

I've struggled with hair loss issues for a variety of reasons. Chemical damage, poor handling, dryness have all led to breakage, breakage, breakage. I've also have a small bald patch at the back of my head and a sparse hairline due to improper extension application. If you also suffer from hair loss, you may wonder about ways to help improve your condition. Reading a few blogs and site have led me to the conclusion that food is very important part in the promotion of healthy hair growth. While hair is quite capable of growing regardless of what you do, I believe the health and quality of your hair (strong, shiny, maximum rate vs sluggish and dry) will be influenced by the the types of food you eat. It is also the healthiest and "easiest" option for improving the look of your hair.

What are the top foods that promote hair growth?

When choosing food for hair growth, remember that hair is made of protein; therefore protein-rich foods should make up a high percentage of your diet. The second most important hair nutrient is iron. Each key nutrient below lists the foods that promote hair growth (Where possible always buy fresh organic/free-range dairy and produce):

Vegan/Vegetarians:

• Protein: eggs, bean, cottage cheese, yogurt, tofu.
• Iron: whole grain cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, eggs, dates, raisins.
• B Vitamins: eggs.
• Essential Fatty Acids: walnuts, canola oil, soy.
• Vitamin E: avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil.
• Sulfur: nuts, legumes, garlic, onions.
• High Quality Multivitamin 

Non-vegetarians:

• Protein: liver, brewer's yeast, fish, eggs, beans, cottage cheese, yogurt, tofu
• Iron: liver, whole grain cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, eggs, dates, raisins.
• B Vitamins: eggs, meat, poultry.
• Essential Fatty Acids: walnuts, canola oil, fish, soy.
• Vitamin E: avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil.
• Sulfur: meats, fish, nuts, legumes, garlic, onions.

Green tea may help correct these problematic hormone imbalances; a low-fat diet may also be beneficial. (source)

As you make changes to your diet to help improve hair growth be aware that there are some culprits in our diets that can actually be detrimental to our hair:

• Caffeine
• Sugar
• Fat
• Carbonated drinks

For further information on hair loss and healther ways to promote hair growth please visit the following link http://www.quickcare.org/skin/foods-that-promote-hair-growth.html

                                 

I'm Back!

 Oh man, it's been a minute since I've posted on my blog huh?! Well, it's been an exhausting few months. As I mentioned in September I have been VERY frustrated and stressed out with several things. A small part of that frustration was the ongoing issue with my hair, and I was seriously debating as to whether or not I wanted to continue relaxing my hair. So what have I decided to do with my hair? Well let's just say I have yet to relax my hair. Initially, I kept telling myself I was just going to do a long stretch until I decided what I wanted to do with my hair. However, as the days and weeks went on I was thinking a relaxer was no longer for me.

I enjoy having straight hair, but in truth I just didn't like how flat and lifeless my hair looked (most of the time). I was proud of myself in terms of what I was able to accomplish with consistency and patience (which was a struggle at times), but I just had the same issues time and time again. Achieving great lengths and maintaining it is A LOT of work (I think growing natural hair can be just as hard, but that's for another post). I became EXTREMELY frustrated because it just felt like my hair hadn't budged past shoulder length due to all the breakage I was experiencing, so I am done with the relaxers. I thought about doing a texturizer, but nah....I'm done. So now it's time to embrace the brave new world of au natural. 

As you know, I am all about doing research before plunging into anything. I HAD to do my research. The last time I rocked my natural hair I was in grade school, grade 5 to be exact, and I have since outgrown my pigtails and ribbons. So off into research mode I went. While my hair was safely tucked away in a twisted hair style I was on You Tube, hair forums, you name it gathering information and slowly creep over to the natural side. I was half way there anyway. As you know, as of September 2011, 99% of my hair products are made up of 100% natural ingredients (one of my goals as a relaxed diva). Add over 4 inches of new growth, which is mad thick, and a much better understanding of my hair, I am on my way. I have decided not to do the big chopped (BC) and I am currently transitioning. There are pros and cons for either approach, which I will post. I felt it was the best for me, and would prevent me from going into shock. Lol! I've never been a "jump in with both feet" type of woman, and I wasn't about to start with my hair. I admire woman that can do it though.

So what does that mean for "Diva" and my subscribers? Well, on my end it means very little will change. I have no plans to become a hair nazi, preaching about the many "issues" with relaxers. That's not my style, and has never been. I will continue to provide updates on my progress, challenges I am doing, and provide information that I think people will find helpful. I hope you all stick around as I venture into new territory, but I understand if you don't. As I began my journey in 2009 I found it very important to find women with similar texture and type as my own. Mostly because I thought they were going through similar issues with their hair. But, the one thing I have learned from my journey is that you can get lots of information from almost any woman that cares about hair. Perhaps you'll feel the same way about me. 

HHG!

My Long Absence and Other News

 It's been a minute since I've posted a blog and there are several reasons for that. The two main reasons have been frustration and stress. I'll be honest. For some time now I have been seriously debating as to whether or not I want to continue relaxing my hair because I have just been so frustrated with it. As soon as I hit my stride I have a setback, and not a small one, a huge setback. I know everything takes time, but I am just so frustrated with feeling like I am starting from scratch whenever I hit a snag. I have had to cut--yes cut my hair at least three times in the last year due to breakage and uneven ends. Due to this issue I thought I made up my mind regarding my hair. I even went as far as to post my decision last month, but took that post down because I thought it might have been premature. Regardless of what I decided, at the present moment I am wearing my hair in braids to give it a break. If nothing else my hair will benefit from this very long stretch. In the meantime I am also reading the "Science of Black Hair", which I will be reviewing in a few weeks. So far it has taught me a lot about black hair, highlighting some of the issues I seeing with my hair. It is well worth the read if you have the time.

In other news...after several attempts I have finally made a hair moisturizer that I am happy with. I am happy because this has been a long time coming, almost a year! I tested it out on a twist last week and it felt a little heavy at first (I am heavy handed), but when I took my twist down my hair turned out pretty good: defined and well moisturized. It actually felt a little more moisturizing that the usual moisturizer I use (I did a side by side comparison).

So what does this mean for me now? Well basically that I can save my money while providing my hair with exactly what it needs. Not a bad thing at all. I think the final push I needed to get it done was the inspirational words of this natural sista on You Tube. Similar to her, I believe making your own products can be very rewarding. The best thing about it is you know exactly what is in it, and you can tailor your products to your own hair needs. And here's the best part: it cost a fraction of the price of so many all natural products on the market now--and mine IS all natural. Hearing all these points made by this young lady reminded me of the various reasons I attempted to make my own hair products in the first place. It was definitely the final push I needed to dust off my scale and go back to the drawing board. I'm glad I did because it was a big success. I have no plans to sell my moisturizer, I simply made it to meet my own needs.

Helpful Hair Acronyms and Definitions

Throughout my hair journey I have come across a lot of different hair sites full of beautiful black women that have manage to grow and/or maintain their hair. The greatest thing about all of this is the fact that they have been more than willing to help others, exchanging information about products and techniques, as much as they can. The one challenge I have had is trying to figure out all the hair lingo that these women throw around. I think most of these hair divas assume that everyone knows what they are talking about when they throw around letters like NTM, HE LTR and BSL (I know, I know, I've am guilty of it too). Speaking from experience, it took me a hell of a time trying to figure it all out, and when I first started out I was a little intimidated. Too intimidated to speak up and ask questions--which may be the reason it took me so long to figure it all out LOL.  So I thought it would be beneficial to create a "short" list of most of the possible acronyms that are used on hair sites. It will definitely help you navigate the various hair sites with more success, and if nothing else, at least help you understand my post a little better.

HTH (Hope this helps)!

Acronyms:

EL – Ear Length

NL – Neck Length

SL - Shoulder Length

APL – Arm Pit Length

BSL – Bra Strap Length

BSB - Below Shoulder Blade

MBL – Mid Back Length

WSL – Waist Length Hair

NG – New Growth

BC – Big Chop

DC – Deep Condition

NTM – Neutrogena Triple Moisture

MNT - Mane N Tail

CW- Conditioner Wash

CWC - Conditioner, Wash, Conditioner

ACV – Apple Cider Vinegar

CON – Creme of Nature

BSS – Beauty Supply Store

PJ – Product Junkie

Slip – When the comb easily glides through the hair

IMO – In My Opinion

HHG – Happy Hair Growing

BHM – Black Hair Media

LHCF – Long Hair Care Forum

EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil

EVCO – Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

JBCO - Jamaican Black Castor Oil

DIY – Do It Yourself

HTH - Hope This/That's Helps

ETA - Edited To Add

HE - Herbal Essences

HE LTR Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship

MMF - Mizani Moisturefuse

MHF - Mizani Hydrafuse

MKF - Mizani Kerafuse

SE MS MT Silk Elements Mega Silk Moisturizing Treatment

SE MC Silk Elements Mega Cholesterol
M&S - Moisture and Seal

MT - Mega Tek

MN - Miconazole Nitrate

EO - Essential Oil

SAA - Silk Amino Acid

S&D - Search & Destory (Method for Triming off Spilt Ends)

LOTD - Look Of The Day

ALS - Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate

SLS - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Cones - Silicones

AOHSR - Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner

AOGPB - Aubrey Organics GPB Conditioner

Definitions:

Baggying – Applying your moisturizer and then applying a plastic bag over the hair to trap the moisture in. You can either baggy your ends with a small sandwich bag or you can full head baggy with a plastic shower cap. This is very helpful treatment for those with dry damaged hair and dry ends. 

Braid-Out – Braiding your hair in sections while hair is still damp or dry. When the hair is unravelled hair will have volume and definition. You can wear this style up to 2-3 days with little to no touch ups.

Breakage - Broken pieces of hair without the white bulb. This can be caused by too much moisture (dryness) or protein (lacks elasticity). It can also be the cause of poor hair care.

Carrier oil - Known as base oil or vegetable oil, is used to dilute essential oils (e.g. Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Castor Oil, Jojoba Oil, Grapeseed Oil etc.) These oils can also be used to seal/trap moisture in the hair or moisturized the scalp.

Clarifying - Clarifying your hair is always a good idea to remove the build-ups some products leave on your hair which can make your hair dull and lifeless. Clarifying can remove the chlorine swimmers get on their hair. A Simple clarifier could include: mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with 2 teaspoons shampoo. Lather, wait 5 minutes, rinse and condition. OR you can use 2 tsp of ACV mixed into 2 cups of warm water, pour it on your hair, wait 2-3 mins, rinse and condition.

Co-washing - Washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. This minimizes how much moisture and natural oils are stripped from the hair.

Cuticle - The cuticle is the thinnest layer. It is transparent and consists of overlapping scale-like cells. It protects the cortex from chemicals.

Low Porosity has tightly bound cuticle layers that lay flat. It looks healthy, is very shiny as it is able to reflect light much better. It repels moisture and is hard to process since it is resists chemical penetration. This type of hair tends to be "protein sensitive" and requires more moisture based products (leave ins, conditioners, etc) because the protein bond are rarely disturbed or lost. Too much protein may cause hair to become rigid and break.

Medium/Normal Porosity has cuticle layers that are looser and open and close with little effort. It allows the right amount of moisture to enter the hair shaft, while preventing too much moisture from escaping. This type of hair requires a balance of protein and moisture to be maintained. 

High Porosity has gaps and holes in the cuticle, which allows too much moisture into the hair causing it to frizz and tangle easily. Moisture also escapes the hair much easier as well, leading to dryness and breakage. This type of hair requires more protein to help fill in those gaps and holes. It is also important to use leave in conditioners and seal with oils and butters to trap the moisture within the hair. 

Deep conditioning – Allows you to replace moisture and protein to hair strains after the hair has been washed. Deep conditioning with a conditioner specifically formulated for specific hair issues will help revive dull lifeless hair, giving it more strength, elasticity, moisture, softness, and shine. It's good to deep condition at least 1x per week.

Dusting - A very light trim. Cutting only 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. Good idea if you don't want a full blown trim.

Hair Type
1
Straight hair. There is absolutely no curl pattern in the hair. It is completely straight. Straight hair is very sleek and shiny because there is no curl pattern, which allows the light to reflect off of the hair giving it a shiny finish. 

2a, 2b, 2c

Loose curls and wavy hair. Type 2 hair can be categorized as 2a/2b or 2c. Basically, 2a hair is fine, while 2b hair is medium. 2c hair is thick and coarse with a frizzier look. This hair type has a natural “S” curl pattern as it hangs.

3a, 3b, 3c

Thicker, medium curly hair. Type 3 hair has a tighter curl pattern. It can be categorized at 3a/3b and 3c hair. 3a hair types have a looser curl pattern, while type 3b hair has a tighter curl pattern and type 3c hair has a tightly curly look and may look slightly kinky. When wet, type 3 hair shrinks quite a bit. But it is not as shiny as straight hair because the hair cannot reflect the light as easily. Type 3 hair is very springy. If you pull on it, it bounces back into its original curly state. This type of hair can sometimes be a challenge to straighten, especially 3c hair. 

4a, 4b

Kinky, tightly coiled hair. 4b is the thickest. Type 4 hair is a lot kinkier than the type 2 and 3 hair types. Although this hair type is much coarser and appears thicker than other curly hair, it can be quite fine. Type 4a hair has an “S” pattern, while type 4b hair is more wiry with a zig-zag pattern. Type 4c hair needs to be moisturized regularly & treated gently.

Humectants – Attract and retain moisture from the air (e.g. Glycerin, Honey, Sorbitol, Propylene Glycol).

Leave-in Conditioner – A way to further condition the hair after you have rinsed out your conditioner. It helps to detangle the hair leaving it soft and manageable. Some leave-ins provide thermal protection for styling afterward.

Line of Demarcation - Where the natural hair and relaxed hair meet. This location can be very delicate so be very gentle when stretching.

Low Manipulation - This is any style that require less upkeep or restyling. The less manipulation the better because it minimizes breakage which eventually leads to longer hair. (e.g. wash n Go's, twist outs, braids, braid outs etc).

Moisturizing – Applying a moisture based product to dry hair to reduce breakage and increase elasticity in the hair. You can use a water-based or cream based moisturizer 1-2x per day.

Over-lapping - Applying relaxer to already relaxed hair instead of just focusing on the new growth.

Over-processed - Leaving the relaxer on too long, resulting in a bone straight/limp appearance.

Pre-poo – Preparing your hair prior to shampooing. You do this by adding a natural oils into the hair . You can do this overnight or 30-40mins before you shampoo. This helps to minimize the damage that occurs when you shampoo or clarify your hair. 

Protective Styling – Wearing your hair up in a style that protects your hair from manipulation and outside elements (e.g. buns, wigs, extensions, rolls etc).

Relaxing Bone Straight - Allowing the relaxer to "relax" the hair to it's fullest potential, making sure the hair strands are as straight as possible.

Relaxing Straight- Allowing the hair to get straight. But not bone straight.

Sealing – Using a natural non penetrating oil to lock in the moisture after you've moisturized the hair (e.g. Jojoba, Argan, Castor, Safflower Oil). By using an oil over the moisturizer will allow your hair to stay moisturized longer, especially if you have high porosity hair.

Stretching – Prolonging the time between relaxers. Instead of relaxing at 6 wks, relax every 8, 10, 12 wks.

Texlaxed/Texurized/Texturizing - Not letting the relaxer break the protein structures of the hair to the point of being straight . Basically under processed on purpose. Gives your hair some "texture".

Under-processed - Waves, curls and kinks are still present in the hair after a relaxer. The relaxer did not process/penetrate the hair enough.

Shedding - Strands of hair with white bulbs on the root. Hair goes through a natural shedding period, so if you're taking care of your hair and it suddenly starts shedding a bit, don't be alarmed. If you are worried, try using Garlic. It helps to stop the shedding.

Moisturizing Shampoo - have a cloudy, creamy or pearlized consistency and thicker in texture than clarifying shampoos.

source
source

Welcome Divas!

Welcome and thank you for checking out my blog!

So what is "Mane Diva" all about? Well it is my personal blog charting the trials, tribulations and progress of my hair journey, amongst other things. I decided to start this blog for a few reasons. Aside from trying to dis spell the myth that "black hair just doesn't grow" I guess I was frankly getting fed up of growing and losing my hair. I have come across some great blogs, forum and video posting of women that have taken charge and control of their hair and I want to join the club!

So here I am, jumping on the blog band wagon--yes, but making my blog unique in the following ways:

1. The main focus on this blog will be the use of natural products wherever possible even if you relax your hair. I believe it is possible to achieve long healthy hair while also minimizing the use of harsh commercial chemicals found in most products on the market.
2. It will be accessible for relaxed, texturized and natural hair beauties. I think everyone can benefit from using natural hair products. 
3. It will include the real trials and tribulations of my journey. Let's be honest, sh*t happens and most blogs out there show the "prettier side" of hair growth. While this can be very inspirational to a "newbie" like me, I think seeing and hearing about the difficulties someone encounters can be just as informative as the successful outcomes. I appreciate all of the blogs currently out there, because I have found them very inspiring, but how many times have you seen someone with hair that is bra strap length or longer talking about their regimen (e.g. protective styles, air drying hair, etc) and wondered "gee that's great and all, but I want to know how I can achieve all my hair growth goals and still look cute with EL hair or shorter?!"

So there you have it. That's "Mane Diva" in a nutshell. You'll find I'm a little crazy, but I like to have fun. I hope you enjoy the journey, and welcome once again.


Happy Hair Growth!

*(ETA: As of June 2011 I have decided to go natural. I continue to use natural products, but even in my relaxed state I have found many of the products I have mentioned on this blog very beneficial for my hair). I hope you find it helpful.