Hair Babble: Postpartum Hair Loss

 Sometime in July I noticed an increase in the amount of my hair falling out , after checking a few strands and determined that it was shedding and not breakage.

Quick Tip: Shed hair has a white bulb at one of the ends.

My plan of action was protective styling in the form of twists. The purpose was to reduce daily manipulation. Note that the protective style does not eliminate the shedding, it only reduces manipulation.

My weekly regimen was:

Weekly:

1. Cleanse (shampoo or co-wash)

2. Deep condition (protein treatment every 2 weeks, a protein treatment must always be followed with a moisturizing deep conditioner)

3. Apply leave-in conditioner and air dry

4. Twist hair: using Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Curling Souffle Gel

Every 2 or 3 days: Moisturize by misting hair with either water and oil mix or Curls Hair Moisturizer.

When I took down my mini twists even though I was gentle on my edges I realised that the edges are thinning :( For the edges I will be applying Jamaican Black Castor Oil.

What's going on with your hair care journey, do share your challenges and victories too.

You can send me an email: bibakehinde {at}  gmail.com

Update: The Curly Belle Interview

Hi,

Just a quick one to share the link for my interview featured on The Curly Belle.


Please read, comment & share!

The last few months have been pretty busy for me; post partum hair loss has kicked in and I have had to adjust my regimen once more. I am currently in protective styling mode, to reduce manipulation of my hair.

I will be posting more in the coming weeks.

Happy hair growing!

Product Review: Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie

Ingredients:

The first five ingredients are:

• Deionized water
• Butyrospremum Parkii (Shea Butter)
• Coco Nucidera (Coconut) Oil
• Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
• Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter

The product is all natural and does not contain any bad ingredients, it has;

• No Parabens
• No Phthalates
• No Paraffin
• No Gluten
• No Propylene Glycol
• No Mineral Oil
• No Synthetic Fragrance
• No Animal Testing
• No PABA
• No Synthetic Color
• No DEA
• No Animal Ingredients
• No Sulfates

Watch out for the glycerin content depending on your weather conditions (winter or high humidity).

Consistency: Thick, Creamy 

Review/Verdict
Some reviewers complain about it not defining twist outs and braid outs, while for some others it works for the same purpose often in conjunction with a hair butter. I did not try it as a stand alone product for a twist out or braid out because I purchased it for use as a moisturizer.

With this product I moisturize once a day as it does a good job of keeping the hair moisturized without being greasy. For use on relaxed hair, I would advise not be heavy handed as it can weigh the hair down. While transitioning, I found it useful for buns and slicked down styles/updos. Currently I use it for my wash and go styling in conjunction with the Curling Gel Souffle, it however does not produce amazing curl definition for my Type 4 hair.

It works great on wet or damp hair. While I was transitioning I ised it on dry hair and it does a great job that way. 

Where to purchase:

I bought this for N2,900 at Olori (the price has increased due to the exchange rate)

The Kinky Apothecary 

Sizzelle

A Little Update

Hi there!

Where have I been you may be wondering?

Well, 2 weeks ago on the 24th of April we welcomed our little Princess to the world.

We feel incredibly blessed to have her, and finally I have a little naturalista! Yaaay! Someone to try out cute hairstyles on :)

I'm adjusting to having a newborn and 2 active boys but hope to be back blogging regularly soon.

I have my hair in kinky twists which I had installed a week or two before my due date. I'm missing my hair now but I need my family settled into a regular schedule so I can carve out some hair care sessions. How's your hair journey going? 

Happy Hair Growing!

Love,

Beeba x

My Thoughts on the Max Hydratiion Method

In my first post on the Maximum Hydration Method, I shared details of the regimen and my results from the 7 day jumpstart challenge recommended by Pinkecube. As promised I will be sharing my thoughts on this method. Kindly note that these are my views and I am still researching the method and love to read and hear thoughts on the method from other ladies.

The approved products dilemma

I am currently in a phase in my natural hair journey where I want to explore products in the bid to find what works perfectly for me hair.  The recommended products are however quality products that contain all natural ingredients avoiding sulfates, silicones, parabens, drying alcohols etc and I guess these are worth trying anyway.

There is a list of ingredients to be avoided however I am wondering if I should avoid them just because they did not work on someone else’s hair. I do not believe my hair is protein sensitive, for example, and also I live in a humid (very humid) city and glycerin pulls moisture into my hair and not out of it. The use of styling products that are glycerin free is useful for defined twist-outs and braid-outs in humid conditions.

Where is the place of protein in all this?

As the regimen is focused mainly on moisture infusion and most of the products do not contain moisture, I have been wondering about protein treatments which I feel are vital for healthy hair. The Cherry Lola treatment acts as a moisturizing & protein treatment and it is recommended to be done every 2 weeks. I wonder if this will be enough to maintain the balance? I am still inclined towards using protein reconstructing conditioners as I believe they are vital for healthy hair. As usual for this I will focus on how my hair feels and needs; if I need to use of reconstructing conditioner I will choose one with natural ingredients.

The Baking Soda debate

Okay, so the use of baking soda for hair is quite controversial due to the pH of baking soda and there is a post on the MHM website addressing baking soda concerns. While the method states to dilute the baking soda with water and/or conditioner, I wonder if anyone has tested the pH of the resulting mix to determine the safety for hair use. My main concern is the long term effect on hair and due to this I will no longer be using baking soda on my hair (I used this for the clarifying step during the 7 day challenge). 

Issues with itchy scalp
I experienced itchy scalp some days into the regimen and I am unsure if the culprit was the baking soda or bentonite clay. I was able to remedy this by applying jojoba oil to my scalp.

The Time Factor
Initially when researching the method, I thought phew! how time consuming!!! However, there are several time cutting methods that can be utliized and this involves basically doing each step for the minimum amount of time, for example
Step 1: Clarify -15mins
Step 2: Cowash/Deep Condition/Detangle 30-45mins (incorporating heat) The length of time for detangling depends on hair length and technique
Step 3:  Clay Rinse 15mins (mix clay enough for 2-3 applications ahead to save time)
Step 4 & 5: Leave In & Gel application (I think this depends on individual technique although if you are shingling section by section for optimal definition it can take 20-30 mins)

It is recommended to repeat the regimen every 3-5 days not every single day as is the misconception by some. 

Curl Altering Claims
Some opinions have been expressed that the method alters curl patterns, however this is not true. I always noticed how my curl pattern would be expressed when conditioner was applied but after rinsing out the conditioner the pattern was no where to be found except I re-wet my hair by misting with water.  

The use of conditioner and for this method,clay enhance the existing curls and the styling method captures the curls to retain this. The claim of this method however is that once the hair is fully hydrated and retaining moisture there will be curl definition from root to tip.

Could this be my new regimen?

I am currently exploring whether or not to continue MHM because I know in a few months I will not have the time to jump into the shower several times to rinse my hair and reapply products. The options I am considering are;

- Continue MHM until I reach what is termed Maximum Hydration then switch to a modified curly girl method.

- Adopt a regular curly girl method with curly girl approved products but incorporate clay rinsing /mask once a week.

- Have one wash-day and do the MHM on that day; other days will be a simple cowash.

-Adopt a regular regimen but periodically do a 7 day moisture infusion challenge which will basically follow all MHM steps and use approved products (I think this can be adopted after protective styles or when one's hair is feeling dry).

Finally; Is it worth it???
Yes, I believe the method is worth trying but I advise that you research all aspects, especially ingredients that are controversial. It is important to know why you are using a particular ingredient and it's effects on your hair.  I would recommend this method for ladies who just big chopped as the hair is particularly dry at this point.

I am pretty happy to have stumbled on this method and glad I had the time to actually try it out. I will continue to follow the MHM regimen for the rest of this month and reassess my schedule and regimen. (I will be having baby number 3 next month y'all; a girl!!!) 

I would love to hear your thoughts on the method; do you think it's a bandwagon worth jumping on, is it worth the effort and time? Do share!

Hair DIY: Avocado, Olive Oil and Honey Mask

Hi everyone!

Today I will be sharing information on a DIY hair mask I tried last week using avocado. This is a simple mask with few but highly nourishing ingredients.

This article from Livestrong highlights the benefits of avocados for hair growth when eaten or used as a hair conditioner; it is beneficial for hair growth by protecting and strengthening the hair. Avocados are high in vitamins B and E, which work at the cellular level to protect and strengthen hair. As a conditioner/hair treatment avocados makes hair less dry and prone to breakage, due to the high fat-content.

The recipe I used was from Back to her roots and is shown below; 

INGREDIENTS

1 ripe avocado

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons honey

2-3 drops essential oil (optional)

DIRECTIONS

• Cut avocado into 2 halves and scoop out the flesh
• Blend avocado, honey and olive oil until all avocado bits are gone ( I did not blend but mashed the avocado and I found that I had very few bits of avocado particles left in my hair after rinsing).
• Apply the mask to the hair in sections, ensuring that all strands are well coated.
• Cover hair with shower cap for 30-45 minutes.
• Rinse out avocado mask and proceed with styling.

MY RESULTS

Unfortunately I did not take any pictures throughout the whole process :( . While applying the mask to my hair I immediately noticed the slip of the mask which is great for detangling hair. After rinsing my hair felt soft and well moisturized.

Notes

• The mask can be used on relaxed, transitioning or natural hair
• If you have longer hair you can double the ingredients
• You can buy avocadoes in Nigeria at your local fruit seller, they call it 'Pear'
• The avocado to be used should be ripe or even slightly over ripe (should be soft to touch)

Will you be trying this mask or any other? Do share!

Happy Hair Growing!!!

Max Hydration Method: My Experience

I came across the Max(imum) hydration method (MHM) through a post on one of the hair care forums and I was immediately curious upon seeing the results some ladies were reporting. Details on the method can be found on the official website or on the blog of Ms DeeKay who is quite passionate about the method and provides information on the method regularly.

What exactly is the Max Hydration Method!?

The way I understand it, the Max Hydration Method is a hair care regimen that aims to infuse moisture and hydrate the hair until it reaches the point of optimal hydration. It was originally designed for low-porosity, type 4C hair, but can be tweaked for high porosity hair as well.

Basically, low porosity hair does not absorb moisture easily so the regimen uses methods that open the hair cuticles to let in the moisture and help it stay in. 

Source: www.maxhydrationmethod.com

MHM is a five-step regimen and the steps are;

Pre-Step: CHERRY LOLA CARAMEL TREATMENT

 It is recommended that this is done on the first day and every 2 weeks thereafter. It is a modification of the original Cherry Lola Treatment and the Caramel Hair Treatment. On the days it is done, it replaces Step 1 of the regimen.

Step 1: CLARIFY

This step involves the use of baking soda or Apple Cider Vinegar on the hair to clarify.

Step 2: Condition/Co-wash/Detangle

This step involves the use of conditioner on the hair; heat can be applied through the use of a steamer or warming up the conditioner. The conditioner may also be left in overnight. 

Step 3: Clay Rinse

The clay rinse step involves the application of a clay like bentonite or rhassoul clay mixed with other items like honey and olive oil.

Step 4: Botanical Leave in conditioner

Leave-in conditioner is applied in this step

Step 5: Botanical Gel

A botanical gel is applied and this serves as a seal for the moisture and is the final step of the regimen.

**Note that there is a list of approved products for this regimen as it involves avoiding certain ingredients**

My experience

I started the 7 day challenge completed it over 10 days as I had to skip a number of days because other things came up and I could not make the time for the regimen. I did not do the Cherry Lola Caramel treatment as I did not have all the ingredients ready and was eager to jump in to start the regimen. I am quite pleased to have been able to complete the challenge and sticking to it, I sincerely thought I would be able to do only 2 or 3 days!

My routine was to Clarify in the evening using baking soda and conditioner, leave that in for 15-30 minutes, rinse and then apply the conditioner. I would then leave the conditioner in overnight. The next morning I would rinse out the conditioner, apply the clay mix (bentonite clay, honey, olive oil and ACV) leave that in for 15- 30 minutes before rinsing. My styling was a wash and go for the entire period, so I applied the leave in conditioner, sealed with olive or coconut oil and that was it.

I used only the approved products excluding the gel which I did not purchase (Kinky Curly Curling Custard is the approved gel that is readily available in Lagos, although it is expensive). The products I used are;

• Baking soda (purchased from Yem-Yem Supermarket, Unilag)
• Apple Cider Vinegar (purchased from De-Prince Supermarket, Gbagada)
• Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner (online purchase from Olori)
• Bentonite Clay (Natural Nigerian brand, online from Olori)
• Kinky Curly Knot Today (online purchase from Sizzelle)

My Results

I usually have my hand in my hair a lot, but even more so while I was on the challenge, I kept checking for the coils and to see how my hair was feeling.By day 3 my hair was feeling more moisturised, although the real test for me will be how long between washes this feeling lasts. I hope the pictures below can give an idea of the changes in my hair as I progressed with MHM.

Dry hair before MHM

MHM Day 1 (after Clay rinse)

MHM: Seeing a difference

Dry hair after 7 day MHM chalenge

From the pictures you can see that while some curls/coils are starting to form it is not uniform across all my hair strands. It is explained that not all hair strands will reach Maximum Hydration at the same time and you can say you have achieved maximum hydration when all hair strands clump together from the root to tip.

The journey to maximum hydration is not a fast one and the 7 day challenge is just a jumpstart. Following the 7 day challenge, it is recommended to redo the steps every 3 days and not to go beyond 5 days before going through all the steps.

RESOURCES

MHMFull Regimen

CherryLola Caramel Treatment

Ms Deekay: MHMApproved Products List

Dubaidee4c

  Next up: My thoughts on the method