Scalp Exfoliation with Brown Sugar

*WARNING: 'journal entry-ish' post, conclusions to follow*

Experiment conducted: 02/02/11

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup Yes to Cucumbers Colour Care conditioner

2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil

1 tbsp sunflower oil

1 tsp Aubrey Organics Green Tea Clarifying shampoo

I mixed these ingredients in a little plastic bowl, applied to my scalp, rubbed vigorously through all sections (about 6) for about 3 minutes – no water had touched my hair or scalp.  Scalp felt as though it was being exfoliated, whilst hair felt oily.  Unsure if my hair was really clean, I decided to put some water (about 100ml) into a colour applicator bottle and added a squirt of clarifying poo.  I squirted this micture on the roots of my hair, then used the pads of my fingers to clean the scalp as usual.  Hair instantly felt like poo was in it, (felt rougher, sudded up).  No rinse.  Decided to add Aubrey’s White Camellia conditioner and 'buffer out' the shampoo (add conditioner on top of shampoo before rinsing).  Smoothed condish from about 1 inch from roots, all the way through to tips.  Plaited hair back up, rinsed thoroughly with lukewarm water.  Took pics of AMAZINGLY CLEAN SCALP – could feel the difference while rinsing.  Took each plait out and applied AO WC with tbsp castor oil in sections, sat under heat cap for 25 minutes. Rinsed out deep conditioning mix, plaited hair (25 plaits) after moisturising with Afroveda’s Curl Define.  I also added QB AOHC to the very ends before bed.

New Year, Old Me! (Weight loss Journey)

Something doesn’t look quite right does it?  Well, seeing as I have no interest in joining the ranks of new year resolution enthusiasts (read ‘people who make big and wowing claims for the new year, and undoubtedly failing by mid-Feb’), I am taking my own view on this.  So what’s the problem, and how’m I gonna fix it?  Well, the problem people is that I am turning into a fatty – or at least WAS.

Well, I wouldn't say I’m ‘big boneded’ (LOL, love that excuse-laden term), but rather 'blessed' with a generous helping of hips and derriere, small waist and a healthy appetite.  When I was about 21 I noticed a few extra pounds gathering in my midsection.  Instead of waiting til my waist totally disappeared, I started a rigorous cardio exercise regime and started eating more ‘healthy’ foods in the appropriate portions.  I’m only 5”1 and a bit, and at my lowest weight I arrived at 9 stone / 126 lbs (which according to the charts I was obsessed with at the time) put me at a healthy weight - to family and friends I was apparently too skinny.  Anywho, fastforward a few years, up to two weeks ago in fact, and the reaction to the weight I saw when I hopped onto the scales … ? Good Lord, absolute horror!  Anyway, seeing as I’ve done the weight loss thing before, and am a self-proclaimed health food nut, I am going back in search of MY perfect bod again.  My body inspiration is myself circa  6 years ago.

I’ll be posting updates about what I’m eating, what exercise I’ve done and hopefully how much weight I’ve lost!

Be well! 

Pooks

Winterizing My Hair Regimen

"Where's your tam?!!"  The words of my father as I was growing up, horrified that I was going out into the cold without a hat. 

Coming back from 3 months in a tropical climate (we're talking 28-30 degrees celsius erryday!) in November last year, I was horrified at having to endure snow and freezing temperatures back home in the UK.  I don’t like the cold at the best of times, so I was really going through…

Nowadays, a hat (with satin bonnet underneath) is my head/hair’s best friend.  Tightly coiled hair is renowned for being dry - some of that is pretty much inevitable because of the way our hair twists, turns and bends, it's very difficult for oil which the scalp naturally secretes to travel down the hair shaft.  Dry cold weather on top of that?  Take cover! 

Just before the big freeze commenced, my hair was in between protective styles, so I went on the offensive and put in some mini-braids (my natural hair only). 

How I am ‘winterizing my hair regimen’ to protect from the cold outside and dry harsh heat of central heating at home is:

• upping my M&S (moisturising and sealing) game
• consistently double protective styling, and
• covering my head 90% of the time whether I'm indoors or out. 

So far, it’s been working quite nicely to help me retain moisture.  Donning hats like this in dodgy weather also gives you a great opportunity to get in undercover deep conditioning sessions.  #hair tip

Introducing my baby...

Every new acquisition of mine, something I love, gets dubbed my new 'baby' - my latest phone, my first car, my laptop... and now, my blog - ta daaaah!  (Did you hear the music?  I did..)

Writing a song is…. well... it depends really.  If you’re a natural lyricist, they can just roll off the tongue onto a waiting page.  A singer? A melody may just come bubbling up out of you, sending you running for something to record it onto (this is how it happens to me usually). 

There are sad songs, there are songs that help you vent frustration, songs which celebrate all things happy and positive, songs that create more questions than they answer, and songs that just take a snapshot of something current – no commentary, no analysis, just ‘this is what it was today’.

This blog is where I’ve chosen to share some of my love songs; love songs to natural (tightly coiled, kinky, curly) hair, my faith in God, also uplifting words and music, food / health information, weight journey updates, and anything else I feel like sharing.  Natural hair thoughts, good days and bad, experiments, musings, milestones, all that good stuff.  Welcome to my new online home!

Peace and love

Pooks

PS -  Hair Story  |  Fotki  |  YouTube