Me & MHE Magazine

Hello!!! Just wanted to let you know that I'm in the latest issue of MHE Magazine. I've been in the last several editions and will definitely be in the next one coming up, so please check me out, check them out, like them on Facebook and please purchase copies in Publix stores locally (Atlanta) and online everywhere else.

I've done all twisted styles in the past, and even in the current edition (it's called "Curlfriend"), but next time I'm mixing it up with a style on loose natural hair. Do you have any suggestions?  

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Unknown banana clips, mature, Mhe Magazine, natural beauty, natural hair, tutorials

Rosemary and Grey Hair - Part II



Twists streaked with silver

 Rosemary...I was hoping for a fast moving solution to what seems like an insidious problem. And writing about it must have increased the speed of my going grey. It's now doing it one, two and three strands at a time, and if I cut it out I would have a 1/4 gash in the front of my hairline! I did some research about the topic to see if there was a natural solution to changing my hair fate and rosemary came up as the most common remedy. I know I could cover it in a few minutes or hours, but I'm not ready to experiment with henna or hair dyes since it may affect my hair's texture.

In February I did a post about rosemary and its purported abilities to slow the growth of, and possibly even reverse my silver streaks. A little more than a month ago I finally began my quest to darken my hair. I added it into my routine in what I hoped to be a simple and effective way; mixing rosemary essential oils in with the oil I use on a daily basis.




Grey - after Rosemary



Grey - before Rosemary



























My usual hair regime consists of the daily steaming of my hair in the shower, dampening it every few days, and co-washing or washing as needed. After I get out of the shower I generally oil my hair with whichever oil I favor at the time. I prefer coconut oil in the summertime, but I will intermittently add or substitute grape seed or olive oil. I also then seal my hair with either my own Shea butter mix or some other Shea-based product every few days. To add my rosemary to my mix, I included one part rosemary essential oil to two parts grape seed and olive oils. It turned the oils into a dark greenish-brown mix that I thought would absorb into my hair shaft along with the grape seed oil. After three weeks of doing this on a daily basis, my hair looked no different. I then moved on to putting the essential oil directly on my largest patch of grey, but I saw only the merest hint of my hair darkening.

I've now moved on to more aggressive tactics.

Ground Rosemary and Sage

 

My current process is a Rosemary and Sage Tea. My recipe is as follows:

1 Tbsp. Ground Rosemary

First Batch

1 Tbsp. Ground Sage

2 Cups Boiling water

Large bowl or pitcher

Water to cool

Coconut oil

Plastic cap

Pour the powder into cheesecloth, a teabag, or a very fine mesh (stockings folded over several times will work). Secure the cloth (like a teabag). Pour boiled water into the bowl or pitcher. Seep the cloth in the boiled water as you would a tea for at least 5 minutes. The water will become a very dark brown. You can cool the mixture by either adding water or letting it sit until it has cooled. I coated my hair with coconut oil; poured some of the mixture over my head (and soaked my ends in the mixture for a few minutes); covered my hair with my plastic cap; and went to sleep. You can leave the rinse in overnight as I did, or for about half-an hour at a time before rinsing it out.

In the stories that I've read, people tended to in spray the tea or pour it on the hair on a daily basis, letting it soak in for 15-30 minutes then rinsing it out, and over the course of several weeks, their hair darkened to its original color.

I've added a coconut oil base because I wanted to pair the rinse with an oil that can penetrate the hair shaft, but you may wish to delete that step. I'm also going to try the tea as more of a paste (using less water) to see if there needs to be a higher concentration of rosemary/sage to water ratio. I have not seen any difference thus far, but a strand of grey hair that I allowed to soak in the left-over tea did turn a golden brown by the next day. I'm hopeful and I will keep you posted.

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Unknown coconut oil, maintenance, mature, recipe, rosemary, sage, silver

Rosemary and Grey Hair - Part I

Toni Morrison - grey isn't so bad!

I am going grey. I know it, it's been coming for the past ten years. My paternal grandmother had a head full of beautiful white hair, that according to my father, she'd had since her early forties. I know that he was greying in his thirties, and my barely older sister has been dyeing her hair for years. I've seen them creeping in from my temples, and they are now growing in an unruly patch right in the front of my hair.

I've been talking about covering the grey - possibly with henna, possibly with dye off of the shelf, or even painting the greys with those dye sticks. I, however, haven't done anything because I've been a combination of lazy and scared. I don't know if the texture of my hair will change, I don't know if I'll want to keep it up, and to tell the truth, sometimes I think I'm OK with going grey now.

I say all of this, but I've also been researching the effects of rosemary essential oil and rosemary and sage rinses on grey hair. Supposedly the regular spraying of rosemary oil on the grey hair and scalp or regularly dousing of the hair with the rinse can stop and possibly even reverse the hands of time. I'm going to do a few more features on this topic with recipes and pictures. Stay tuned!

Rosemary plant

Toni Morrison image via thebuddingintellectual.blogspot.com

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Unknown maintenance, mature, rosemary, silver

CURLFRIENDS: Delores!

Hello Everyone...I want you to meet one of my earliest and dearest Facebook friends, Delores!!! This silver fox has a beautiful spirit, and a gorgeous head of hair. She is an inspiration for mature naturalistas, and has helped me envision my hair's future.

Delores' signature style

Why did you decide to go natural?

After 30 years of perming and straightening and many years of coloring my pre-mature grey hair, my super fine 4c coily, dry strands started looking thin and scalpy. More importantly, I developed a skin sensitivity that was made worse by the chemicals and preservatives in hair products. I had no idea what to do with my hair, so I watched many, many YouTube natural hair videos and visited natural hair sites, and then jumped into the natural hair pool with roller sets and braid outs.

What stage of life were you in when you went natural (personally and or professionally) - student, working, in a relationship, parent?

I did not go natural until age 61 and wish I had done it years earlier; but as Maya Angelou said, “when we know better, we do better.”

What's the best compliment you've received on your natural hair?  

My husband’s compliment that he liked my natural hair better than my straight hair was the best compliment; but I also enjoy compliments that I get from various age groups, especially “mature” women who want to stop coloring their grey or go natural and ask about the process.

Do you have a tip for new naturals?

Yes, my advice is to not give up when the going gets tough!! I didn’t like dealing with two textures when I was transitioning, so I had all of the straight ends cut off, and it left my hair various lengths of 2, 3 and 4 inches in different spots all over my head. The white hair around my temple screamed “old lady” to me, but I stuck with it and after my hair grew out, I fell in love with the color pattern of my hair.   I was extremely hair challenged, so if I can do it—anybody can do it!!

Do you feel like you are part of the natural hair community?

Yes I do.  Thank goodness for the young naturals’ videos, blogs, Face book posts, forums, and hair sites and the sharing and support that exists among naturals of all ages. At one time I felt we mature naturals were on the periphery of the community; but articles and forums topics about mature naturals are increasing.  I have found that no matter what the age, hair is different and it’s still a matter of experimentation and trial-and-error to find what will work for one’s hair.

Do you feel like your natural hair has influenced other parts of your life?

It definitely has – as I began shopping at Whole Foods for hair products, I became more interested in healthier foods and natural organic products for my face and body.

What are your top three hair products or tools?

I have spent hundreds of dollars on products, but my skin and scalp sensitivity limits the products that I can use and not react to.  After much experimentation, I have now settled on four indispensable products:  water; KC Come Clean Shampoo; KC Knot Today Leave-in Conditioner; and a creamy homemade blend of Shea butter, an oil such as EVCO, avocado or almond, Vitamin E oil, and a few drops of an essential oil for fragrance. I apply those products and braid my hair every night and wear braid outs during the day--except on the one or two days per month when I try a simple braided updo style from your book (One Hairstyle, Thirty-one Ways)  in order to give myself a break from braiding. 

If you would like to friend Delores on Facebook - please click here.

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Unknown Curlfriends, mature, products, silver