Dabur Vatika Coconut Oil

It Claims / The Hype:
Dabur Vatika Coconut Oil. Dabur Vatika enriched Coconut Hair Oil with added goodness of Henna and Lemon Vatika Coconut Hair Oil is a delicate mix of pure coconut oil with special hair care herbs including henna, amla and lemon. Blended together to strengthen each strand of hair from within, making you look really gorgeous Vatika provides natural nourishment to your hair, giving it body and radiance, taking care of the critical balance of nutrients.

Results on My HAIR:
I love the results I get from this product. It makes my hair wonderfully soft, shiny and makes every strand feel stronger.

Although I love the effects of this product, I must say that I’m not too keen on the fragrance. It smells kinda unpleasant to me, but not too much so that I wouldn’t want to use it. I must say however that I much prefer the smell of the Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil (in the clear bottle). It has a delicious lemony scent which lingers wonderfully in the hair for hours after use. Unfortunately, it has mineral oil listed in the ingredients and it is pretty high on the list! Anyway, slightly off topic there…. I really like this oil. It has natural ingredients and I always get great results from this and great softness on my hair, especially when stretching my relaxer anywhere past 6wks. To me this is not a heavy oil, so long as you are not too heavy handed you can use this even if you have fine strands like I do.

Coconut oil is well documented on hair blogs etc for being one of the few oils that actually moisturize the hair shaft and this is true for Vatkika Coconut Oil, but along with the added benefit of henna and amla which both have strengthening properties for hair.

I sometimes warm this oil and add 5 drops of rosemary essential oil to it and use it as a prepoo treatment.

It is worth noting that this oil will solidify at room temperature, which goes to show that the coconut oil is pure, which is a good thing – although it is annoying when you just-want-to-use-it-now. I never put my bottle in the microwave, I don’t feel comfortable doing that as I feel like I could be ‘cooking the goodness’ out of the oil. I prefer to warm it under hot water or pop it on top of the heater to warm a little.

Another not so great thing about this product is the bottle and the fact you have to pierce the bottle before first use. I found this really difficult to do and kept getting visions of piercing my hand in the process, all for the love of my hair!

Will I Buy It Again?:
Despite the smell and fiddly first opening of the bottle I will definitely will buy this product again. It’s easy to get hold of, isn’t expensive and works like a dream. That surely makes it a keeper in my opinion!

My Rating:
♥♥♥♥♥

Ciao 4 Now!!!

Wash Day 1

I've decided that I will report on my wash day routine, each time I cowash or wash my hair.  As today is my first wash day since starting this blog, I have called today Wash Day 1.

My Hair Today:  

I wore my hair parted from ear to ear and loosely flat twisted the back section and finished with a bantu knot at the side.  I then loosely flat twisted the top section from ear to ear and finishing on the same side of the bantu knot from the back section of hair I then twisted and wrapped the end of the flat twist around the first making a larger knot and then secured with a couple of bobby pins.  This style took me approx 2mins to complete.  This week I have not combed my hair since last Saturday night. 

Pre-Poo Routine: 
I then parted my hair down the middle (Oh dear, I just can't help myself!  I think I have middle part'itius) and detangled in five sections per side. Detangling this way was a breeze and I lost hardly any strands.  I then applied warmed coconut oil to each section, paying particular attention to my ends and then twisted each section.  Once each side was completed, I pinned the sections up so they were not dripping oil onto my skin and clothes.

Wash Routine:
Next to prevent uncessary breakage and tangles, I cowashed my hair in two sections - once I get to 6wks post I wash my hair in 4 sections.  I used Treseme Moisture Rich Conditioner and mixed in a small teaspoon of Roux Porosity Control Shampoo.

I rarely ever apply shampoo to my hair, only usually during the relaxer process and when I am applying the Aphogee Two Step Protein Treatment.  At all other times I cowash as my hair is prone to dryness and then as a result...breakage, shampoo makes my hair DRY.  Anyway, I digress....  Today, by way of publicly contradicting myself, I added a little shampoo for the sake of time as I didn't want to cowash twice.

After cowashing, I applied a quick protein conditioning treatment IC Fantasia Super Concentrated Reconstructor for 1 minute.  I then rinsed and put a towel on my head to soak up the excess water and wore this for 2mins whilst I prepared my deep conditioner.  This week I decided on the DC being a mixture of Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner mixed with 1 x teaspoon of Roux Porosity Control Conditioner/Corrector, 2 x teaspoons of organic Hemp Oil and 5 x drops of Rosemary essential oils.  I then covered my hair with cling film and then let the DC sit on my hair for 35mins under my heated conditioning cap (still in the two sections).  I love this part, I could sit under that cap all-day-long, it's so cosy!

Final Steps:

After rinsing out the deep conditioner and finishing with a cold rinse (brrrrrr, hate that part!), I left the towel on my hair for 5mins and then applied my leave in's to my hair in this order  and still in two sections:

1. Aphogee Green Tea & Keratin
2. Aphogee Provitamin Leave In Conditioner
3. Chi Keratin Mist
4. Herbal Essence Beautiful Ends Cream
5. CHI Silk Infusion

I then sealed with Jamaican Black Castor Oil and also applied a little to my scalp.  I then let my hair air dry slightly then sectioned each half of my head into five sections, detangling each section as I went along and doing a 2-strand twist, adding a little extra JBCO to the ends. 

This whole process through to this stage took me all evening, but is broken down as follows:

Pre-poo = 90mins (normally only do this for 30-60mins)

Cowash = 15mins

Deep Condition = 30mins

Products & Detangling = 10mins

I then left my hair to air a little more before sectioning into five parts and putting each section into bantu knots before going to bed and letting my hair dry completely.  Nite Nite x

Ciao 4 Now!!!

I Can't Believe My Mum Just Said That....!

Whilst visiting my mum yesterday and updating her on my hair (as I do probably waaaaaay too often) she came out with a comment that shocked me.

I was showing her that I hope to be at full thick APL by December 2011 and then full thick BSL by December 2012, which is my ultimate goal length.  Following this little revelation the exact words from her mouth were ....

"Well...good luck with that.  It would be nice, but black people can't grow their hair long like that!"

I was shocked.  I'm sure I have shown her the YouTube posts at the beginning of my HHJ which have inspired me over the past 5 months and there she was being a disbeliever!!!

Shocked and stunned, I frog-marched her upstairs and pointed her to YouTube and a post by Nunaavane is a slide show of her 2 year hair journey.  I must say, Nunaavane has really inspired me as her starting hair length and texture are very much like mine.  So in the beginning, I thought if she can do it.......well so can I!  When I showed my mum her video she seemed impressed, by her hair growth.  I then showed her Miss Kibibi's YouTube posts, mainly to show the length and thickness of her hair.  My mum couldn't believe how healthy, long and thick her hair was.  She even questioned if she had "a hair piece stuck up in there".  Honestly!  Miss Kibibi's hair is totally gorgeous and 100% growing from her scalp!  She has amazing thickness and length and is another fantastic inspiration!

I am now more motivated than ever to grow thick healthy hair.  Now I have another reason to achieve my goals.......namely to prove my mother wrong!  I too will grow healthy longer hair, whilst living in the UK.

I love you mum, you disbeliever you!   Now start using that Jamaican Black Castor Oil that I gave you weeks ago and keep it up, then you too can grow thicker, longer hair!!! x

Ciao 4 Now!!!

Oils I Use On My HAIR

Argan Oil

This is a new adition to my collection.  So far I am liking it but haven't been using it long enough to have a clear opinion of it.

Avocado Oil

This oil is amazing.  I'm always surprised at how soft it makes my hair feel.  I use this in the early weeks post relaxer.

Vatika Coconut Oil

I love this oil!!!  Not so hot on the smell of it but it works a treat.  Lovely for pre-poos and also sealing in moisture, especially later into my stretch.

Jamaican Black Castor Oil

I love this oil.  I've only recently found a supplier in the UK.  This stuff is brilliant, makes my hair feel incredibly soft.

Castor Oil

Great when used on the scalp and hair.  Makes your hair feel so soft.  I also like to add this to my conditioners.

Ciao 4 Now!!!

Protective Styles

Protective styles are essential when trying to retain length and thickness in your hair, especially in the winter months.

I currently use two french braids down either side of my head (which I only learnt how to do about three months ago!) as my staple protective style, usually when I am around 6wks post relaxer.


At the moment I am 2wks post relaxer and and protective styling my hair by doing two loose bantu knots behind my ears and securing with a bobby pin in each side.  I love this style, it takes no time to do in the morning and it's easy to maintain my moisturising and sealing with oil routine twice a day. 

One thing I have noticed however, is that where I have been consistently parting my hair down the middle of my head, the hair in the middle of my nape is not growing as quickly as the hair on either side.  Way past time to start switching up those protective styles methinks.....ho huuummmm!  The trick with protective styling is making sure that you don't overdo the same tension points.   For me with my penchant for 'symetrical styles' my tension point is the middle of my hair, so from now on, I will be trying out some new protective styles and see what new creations I can come up with....

Ciao 4 Now!!!

 

Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-In Cream

It Claims / The Hype:

For all day conditioning, softness and manageability.  This silky leave-in cream melts effortlessly into strands moisturising while diminishing flyaways and frizz with lasting humidity protection.  Hair stays naturally soft and touchable all day - no flaking, heaviness or stickiness.  

Results on My HAIR: 

Amaaaaaaaaaazing product!!  Does exactly what it claims to do.  I love using this leave in as a moisturiser.  When I blow dry I use this twice a day to moisturise and then seal with a light oil such as grapeseed oil or argan oil.  I also use this as a leave in after washing my hair, but it is better when used as a moisturiser.  This stuff smells devine and leaves a lovely clean fragrance to your hair for a short while after using it.  It's incredibly light, although can make the hair feel a bit damp if too much is used but it soaks into the hair quickly if you are a little heavy handed.

Truly wonderful stuff.  This is one of my favourite products by far!!!

Will I Buy It Again?:

Most definitely although it's not easy or cheap to get hold of in the UK.  Unfortunately no BSS's seem to stock this product here in the UK which is a real shame because it's great.

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Ciao 4 Now!!!