Saturday, June 11, 2016

PROTEIN TREATMENTS ???


NB: I AM NO HAIR-PROFESSIONAL. THIS IS MY OPINION. I AM OPEN TO LEARN NEW THINGS FROM YOU.
SOURCE:GOOGLE

Most of the time, when I want to understand something hair related I link it to a tree.

Recently I found out that as soon as hair escapes from your scalp it is actually dead. I have my told myself I will not believe that so I am sticking to my tree theory.

Anyway since the hair is already “dead” but we still want to keep it alive, we need to need to care for it like it still has a thousand years to go.  One of these cares is the protein treatment.

Honestly when I started my hair journey it was strange for me, but as time went I realized the importance. 

SOURCE:GOOGLE
In Science we termed Protein foods as body-building foods and they helped with the repairing aspect too. It is not so different from the hair. It strengthens the hair hence reducing breakage from weak, brittle hair.

I usually used protein treatments before and after long-term protective styles. PROTEIN TREATMENTS MUST BE FOLLOWED WITH MOISTURIZING TREATMENTS.

SOURCE:GOOGLE
Protein treatments can be home-made or bought. The most common homemade protein treatments egg treatments. I have tried this a couple of times. I was very much shocked to find out egg treatments did not do as much as we think since they are not super absorbed by the hair.

Protein treatments are very much different in composition, so I agree some would be harsh than others. I personally want to group protein treatments into 3(three) – I don’t know how many groups people give to it. Based on my experiences I would group them under mild, mid-harsh and harsh.

SOURCE:GOOGLE

Guest blogger Susana Tulasi is covering egg treatments which under my category falls under mild. Later post I will review mid-harsh and harsh protein treatments.

Thanks for reading. Please Share, Leave a comment. Leave a smiley.

Monday, June 6, 2016

WHO IS SHE? WHAT DOES SHE DO?


SOURCE: PERSONAL ALBUM
Everyone would like to know, who is Naa Kowah? 
I'm Naa Kowah Quaye. Truly Ghanaian and proudly Ga. I'm a passionate person who pursues her heart desires with so much positivity. Just like any other homosapien: I laugh when the moment calls for it, I smile sometimes, and I frown or even cry once in a while when I'm emotional...lol, but hey that is life. And above all I'm a natural hair enthusiast

How long have you been natural?
This is my 2nd hair journey I must admit. The previous is history but my current is 3years.

Do you have support from the people around?
Hmmm well I when I started this whole natural hair stuff I got ridiculed by relations and friends inciting the common adage 'natural hair isn't for 'kpenkpeshie' heads like u. (That's a Ga word used to refer a tangled mass or hair which is very coarse and difficult to handle). However I was the least bothered (Minaa am3 po- ga saying for i don't care about their opinions). Every now and then I do receive nice compliments about my hair which I do appreciate but don't know if I should term that as 'support '.
Previously my mum who used to discourage me all the time has now returned natural so I don't hear those horrible remarks anymore so now my ears are at rest.  Finally my bae loves my natural hair!*winks*


SOURCE: PERSONAL ALBUM
Why Natural?
OK I remember vividly that I once returned from the salon so angry at myself and the hairstylist. My hair wasn't fully relaxed and to top it all I spent so many hours just to get it done. Also I suffered from scalp burns all the time and suffered severe headaches from those dryers
...So to cut the long story short I decided to transition and return natural. During this journey I fell so much in love with my hair and began to appreciate what Mother Nature gave me.


Natural for life or just for a while?
With chest out and head held up high I proudly pronounce myself to be natural for life!  No turning back.

Your long term and Short term goals
Short term hair goal: I hope to retain at least 3inches to hit BSL by December 2016.
Long term hair goal: Well so long as I live in good health and remain natural I hope to embrace the highest length that my hair growth can offer me but I'm only shooting for waist length

SOURCE: PERSONAL ALBUM

How did you start this journey? 
When I first started the only products I used were Shea butter and just shampoo until turning 1year, It dawned on me that I needed to cater for my hair after attending a natural hair event (Kinks n Curls in 2014) I bought Eya Naturals ' shampoo, rinse out and leave in conditioners. Anytime I shampooed, I conditioned, apply my leave in and seal with Shea butter. 
  
Any bad hair moments?
Hmmm I've tried to keep this memory in recess but every now and then it keeps popping up. My 1st greatest bad hair moment was when I had to chop off all my hair that I grew for 2yrs and start all over again in 2013. I used a cream to soften my hair which unbeknown to me was a texturizer! It made my hair straight and had a severe hair shedding. I was deceived *face drops* but hey life still moves on.  Lol.
Then again sometime last year in my 2nd hair journey, I decided to give the banana treatment a try since I heard and read about how good it was. I was sure I blended the banana very well but didn't sieve it. To cut the long story short I ended up with several banana pieces in my hair. It wasn’t funny at all as I almost finished my bottle of conditioner just to comb these banana flakes out. I got very mad at myself as I had to suffer picking up several banana residues for a whole week. Till now though I love the fact that it strengthened and
moisturised my hair. (Plus it’s stretching and curl enhancing. effects), I've always been leery about giving it another try.

SOURCE: PERSONAL ALBUM
What is your Regimen?
Well I really do not have a strict regimen that I follow. What I do is anytime I shampoo I follow with a deep condition treatment (a combo of my conditioner,  aloe Vera gel honey and any oil I have i.e. EVOO or EVCO) when I run out of aloe gel  I simply use conditioner and oil with or without honey depending on how I feel lol. To keep my hair moisturised I spray daily or every other day with my aloe Vera and water mix or sometimes I use my diluted rinse out conditioner (VO5) Days on which I'm lazy I just refresh with a mist of water. Sometimes I prepoo with my conditioner plus coconut oil which is moisturising and makes detangling easier for me.

Do you have any favorite products? And why
At the moment my all-time favourite product is Alberto VO5 moisturising conditioner (moisture milks) it's got loads of slip for easy detangling. It does just what it says... 'Moisturising '. I can't go without mentioning my loyal ingredients, shea butter which seals in moisture and aloe Vera gel that soothes my scalp and keeps my scalp itch at bay. And oh my love and hate affair honey which also adds moisture but I hate the fact that it lightens my hair color.

SOURCE: PERSONAL ALBUM
Tell us about your current journey (your favorite protective style, your hair life… everything)
Though I've had some pretty bad hair days I must say my hair journey has also been fun.  I've had the opportunity to know my hair better than before and been able to switch things up to suit the needs of my hair. My favorite protective style is kinky twists. It gives me the chance to wash my hair anytime I want without messing it up since its texture almost matches my hair. My favorite natural hairdo is the puff or a bun with twists at the front. I find it so easy to do and maintain plus it's stylish as well.
 
Any Role Model?
I'm my own role model. When I look into the mirror I see a vibrant young lady who has come so far to appreciate her God-given hair. Despite the pit falls and that ugly and most regretful moment when I had to chop off and restart all over in 2013, I  NEVER GAVE UP. So yes and I repeat I'm my own role model. That notwithstanding, I also admire the likes of Ama K Abebrese,  Mz Vee , Becca and the few other celebrities who are naturals like Moi. 

Advice to Naturalistas out there
SOURCE: PERSONAL ALBUM
At this juncture, I implore other naturals out there to be CONFIDENT in their kinks and curls. Appreciate and value your hair. Always remember all heads of hair are never the same.  What may not work for you may be someone’s Holy Grail. Don't compare your hair or journey with others because we are all different. Last but not least don't get discouraged by bad hair moments or any hateful remark about your hair. Whenever you feel like giving up, remember what has kept you that far and move on. Always remember, our natural hair is beautiful! It does grow! It's our heritage! Let no one take it away from you.

Do-it-yourself Egg Treatments with Susana. (0.5)!!!


SOURCE: GOOGLE
SOURCE:GOOGLE

Home remedies are one of my favorite solutions to hair problems and eggs seem to be quite the powerful ingredient.

                 

There are several benefits to using egg in your hair as they’re packed with vitamins and protein which can help cure some common hair woes.
SOURCE: GOOGLE
If you’re unsure which part of the egg you should be using; egg whites or egg yolk for your hair and scalp, they’re both beneficial depending on what you want to cure. The yolk, rich in fats and proteins, is naturally moisturizing, while the white, which contains bacteria-eating enzymes, removes unwanted oils.
 Eggs leave no side effects that you need to worry about.

             
This post tackles benefits and uses of egg whites.......
                   


SOURCE: GOOGLE
STRENGTHENS THE FOLLICLE
1. Using egg white for the hair on a routine basis will help in strengthening the follicles of the hair and treat hair fall and breakages in a few weeks. Mix the whites with olive oil or sweet almond oil or any oil you would prefer. Apply to damp hair and leave on for 30 minutes. DO NOT apply heat. This is one of the major benefits associated with egg white that you would love to dwell on.



                     





FOR VOLUME AND SHEEN
SOURCE: GOOGLE
Hair looking too dull? Looking for an easy way to get that bling back in those tresses?  Having troubles like thin hair and want that luscious volume? Eggs whites have your back with perfect volume and luster for the hair but only in a case where you use it regularly.
                     


Eggs and lemons are the two main ingredients needed for achieving this goal successfully. An egg and juice of one lemon should be mixed into a smooth paste and applied on the hair for the next 30 minutes. Follow it with your regular shampoo rinse. Along with volume in the hair locks, you also get a sheen and softness as extra benefits.



INSTANT TREATMENT OF DRYNESS
SOURCE:GOOGLE
    
In the list of benefits of egg white for hair, missing out treatment of dryness is just criminal. Mixing the egg white with a cup of good quality skimmed milk and rubbing it gently on the hair strands and the scalp is one of the right ways to get rid of dryness. This should be done for the next 30 minutes and then shampooed as usual.






A FEW THINGS TO TAKE NOTE OF :
  •   Do not use hot or warm water to rinse the egg white from the hair. This can cook the egg instantly and make it hard. It will be really difficult for you to rinse it completely from the hair after. 
  •    Avoid all kinds of contact with the eyes, nose and mouth. Egg white is known to have bacteria in them that can lead to an infection. 
  •  Also, make sure you wash your hands properly after using it for the hair treatment.