Recent Random Hair Pics July 09-April09

Since I began my hair jounrney, my hair has become shinier, stronger, thicker, longer and much healthier overall. More updates to come in DEC.

LAAATEE I know: A look back on the befores...

10th GRADE!! HAIR-CARE IGNORANT BUT YOU COULDNT TELL ME NOTHING!


THE BIRTH OF HEAT-STYLED NATURALS (JAN 2009)





BANANA CLIP MARCH 2009




MARCH 2009 (hit APL)

MY HAIR JOURNAL (started in Sept 2008)

I wish I had better starting pics but ...

I Spy Some Healthy Hair Care.

Ain't love grand?- You know the love between a black woman and her head tie.

While ignoring the criminal beside her, I noticed RiRi's strategically placed scarf. The positioning indicates special attention to the hairline. I did wonder how she managed to keep her edges intact with that high maintenance hair of hers. Ursela sure doesn't travel around with her and daily heat would be disastrous. So the secret is in the scarf ladies. I wonder what the bedding fabric is because her ends... lemme stop! lol.

Thumbs up to RiRi for some healthy hair care, hopefully some healthy relationships will follow?

Do you guys cover your entire forehead with your head tie? I couldnt do it. My skin would breakout from the oil.

Product Review: Redken Smooth Down Butter Treat.

Redken Smooth Down Butter Treat (not to be confused with Redken Smooth Down).

The promise: > Ultra-rich, cream treatment> Provides intense, deep moisturization> Delivers super, long-lasting conditioning, nourishment and control> Leaves hair streamlined, manageable and shiny.

My experience: After leaving this treatment on for a couple of hours without heat while I cleaned, my hair was very soft after rinsing. I didn't think it would be because the consistency of the conditioner isn't buttery at all. It's very light in comparison to the moisturizing conditioners that I normally use. My hair was also much easier to detangle and I lost less hair than I usually would on wash day. I would say this product delivers on it's promises without the use of the exaggerated adjectives like "ultra-rich", "intense" and "super, long-lasting".

I haven't invested in the normal retail size. The sample is $4 at Ulta. I cant be certain whether my positive experience with this product is due solely to it's efficacy because I also cowashed on that day rather than my normal shampooing. So... Idk. If you've tried it, I'd love to know your experience.

Give Good Face

We spend so much time, money and effort on our hair, but it's also important to invest in the preservation and beauty of our skin. Some of the many things we do for our hair (products, vitamins etc.) can inadvertently effect the health of the skin. So finding the right products and regimen for our skin is just as necessary.

My version of skin care was soap and water, twice daily, for a very long time. After watching some videos from one of my favorite youtubers, RiceBunny and learning that she started using anti-wrinkle cream at 8-I had to know more. Now, I'm learning more about my skin, moisturizing, DIY facials, diet and I'm starting to see a difference. (Link to skin typing here)

This wonderful article from cnn.com is a great starting point:

Overwashing, overapplying, and product overkill won't improve your skin. Rein in your regimen to get real results.

Want beautiful skin like model Megan Gale? Don't overdo it, experts say.

Cleansing and exfoliating

You don't need to wash or scrub as often -- or as vigorously -- as you may think. "Many women go overboard here, figuring it will make their skin look better if they do both more frequently," says dermatologist Leslie Baumann. "But that only damages the skin's natural barrier and creates dryness and irritation."

Combination skin

How often: Wash your face twice a day, and gently exfoliate once or twice a week; this is enough to keep skin balanced and encourage cell turnover, according to experts.

What to look for: A mild cleanser that isn't too rich or too drying, says Mary Lupo, a dermatologist in New Orleans, Louisiana. Use an exfoliant that contains gentle particles or acids to remove dead cells without abrading your skin.

Where to find it: Cleanser -- Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash, $6 at drugstores. Exfoliant -- St. Ives Elements Microdermabrasion Scrub, $7 at drugstores.

Dry skin

How often: Cleanse skin at night, when it's dirtiest. Rinse with cool water in the morning to help maintain natural oils. If skin is flaky, exfoliate once a week, says Lisa Donofrio, a professor of dermatology at Yale University.

What to look for: A cleansing oil or creamy wash that has moisturizing ingredients, such as glycerin. If you have sensitive skin to boot, avoid products that contain fragrances or alcohol, which can irritate.

Where to find it: Cleanser -- Laura Mercier Purifying Oil, $40, www.sephora.com; or CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, $11.50 at drugstores. Exfoliant -- Your safest bet is to use a wet washcloth.

Oily/acne-prone skin

How often: Lather up two to three times a day (as needed) but never more; overwashing kicks oil glands into overproduction. Exfoliate once or twice a week, but skip this if you have acne; the friction can make it worse.

What to look for: An oil-free, non-comedogenic foaming cleanser that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to prevent breakouts. The scrub should contain mild acids to keep the pores open and clean.

Where to find it: Cleanser -- Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser, $7 at drugstores. Exfoliant -- Bioré Pore Unclogging Scrub, $6 at drugstores.

Sensitive skin

How often: Wash once a day if your skin is irritated by nearly everything or if you have eczema or psoriasis; twice a day if your skin is dirty. Forget about exfoliating, as it's too abrasive for your skin type.

What to look for: Hypoallergenic and fragrance- and soap-free cleansers. Calming ingredients, like green tea, chamomile, feverfew, and aloe, are a bonus. As a general rule, the fewer ingredients in a product, the better.

Where to find it: Cleanser -- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser ($19.50, www.laroche-posay.com). Apply with your fingers. "Think of the way you'd touch a newborn," says Barbara Reed, a Denver, Colorado, dermatologist.

Portion control

• Use a quarter-size amount of cleanser on most skin types.

• A dime-size dollop of scrub will do.

• A pea-size dab of cleanser is plenty for sensitive skin. Real Simple: Best facial cleansers

Moisturizing and protecting

No matter what your skin type, moisture is important. "If your skin isn't hydrated, it can't protect itself from the free radicals that cause damage, discoloration, and wrinkles," says dermatologist Leslie Baumann.

Year-round daily sun protection is also a must. Fortunately there are moisturizers with SPF available for every complexion.

Combination skin

How often: Each morning, apply moisturizer with SPF after cleansing your skin. Reapply if you're spending more than 30 minutes outside, as sun-screens break down in sunlight over time.

What to look for: A medium-weight lotion with skin-protective antioxidants, such as green tea, coenzyme Q10, and vitamin C, and broad-spectrum sun protection with an SPF of 15 or higher.

Where to find it: L'Oréal Paris Revitalift UV Daily Moisturizing Cream with Mexoryl SX SPF 15, $22 at drugstores; or Clinique Super-defense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer Dry Combination, $43, www.clinique.com.

Dry skin

How often: To help seal in water, apply moisturizer with SPF once a day, right after cleansing, while your skin is still damp. Reapply at midday if your skin begins to feel tight, and use a cream at night.

What to look for: A rich cream that contains antioxidants, plus hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or ceramides. "Hyaluronic acid and glycerin bind in moisture, and ceramides prevent water loss from the skin," says Donofrio.

Where to find it: Dove Pro Age Day Moisturizer SPF 15, $14 at drugstores; or Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15, $10.50 at drugstores.

Oily/acne-prone skin

How often: Moisturize every morning. Oily skin needs the right type of moisture and lightweight, non-comedogenic sun protection. Reapply as needed, since blotting away shine can remove sunscreen.

What to look for: An oil-free, featherweight lotion, serum, or gel with antioxidants. If you're acne-prone, avoid products with cocoa butter, cinnamon, or coconut oil, as they can trigger breakouts, says Baumann.

Where to find it: DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew SPF 15, $38, www.ddfskincare.com; or Clean & Clear Soft Oil-Free Day Moisturizer SPF 15, $8.50 at drugstores.

Sensitive skin

How often: In the morning, apply moisturizer to skin that has been dabbed dry. Ingredients penetrate wet skin more deeply, which is often a good thing, but this can irritate sensitive skin.

What to look for: Fragrance-free lotions or creams that contain anti-inflammatories, such as chamomile, green tea, feverfew, and caffeine. Avoid lipoic acid, as it can be irritating.

Where to find it: Eucerin Redness Relief Soothing Moisture Lotion SPF 15, $14 at drugstores; or Dermalogica Super Sensitive Faceblock SPF 30, $45, www.dermalogica.com for locations.

Portion control

Use a nickel-to quarter-size amount of moisturizer with SPF for face coverage. Real Simple: Seventeen affordable moisturizers

Treating and troubleshooting

Nighttime is best for targeting fine lines, blemishes, and discoloration. That's when the skin repairs itself, and the sun isn't around to degrade the active ingredients in the treatments. Careful and consistent use of effective products (most also provide moisture) will gradually yield great results.

Combination skin

To keep it smooth: Four nights a week, use a cream with retinol, a potent, tried-and-true wrinkle reducer. Try: Philosophy Help Me Retinol Night Treatment, $45, www.philosophy.com.

To clear it up: Use a 5 percent benzoyl peroxide or 2 percent salicylic acid gel nightly. Try: B. Kamins Medicated Acne Gel 5, $26, www.bkamins.com; or Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Gel, $8 at drugstores.

To even tone: Retinol evens tone, but for darker spots, at night use a formula that also has skin-lightening licorice, kojic acid, soy, or vitamin C. Try: RoC Multi-Correxion Night Treatment, $25 at drugstores.

Dry skin

To keep it smooth: As dry skin can be sensitive, apply gentle retinols every other night with a moisturizer. Try: Avène Rétrinal Cream .05, $56, www.skincarerx.com. Other nights, just moisturize.

To clear it up: Heal blemishes using a moisturizing 2 percent salicylic acid treatment or a sulfur-based salve once or twice a week. Try: AcneWorx Gentle Moisturizing Clear Acne Treatment Gel, $20, www.amazon.com.

To even tone: Slather on a rich cream that contains skin-brightening ingredients, like coffeeberry extract, each night. Try: RevaléSkin Night Cream, $99, www.skincarerx.com.

Oily/acne-prone skin

To keep it smooth: Nightly use of a retinol gel or serum softens fine lines (skip it on nights you treat blemishes, as below). Try: Replenix Retinol Plus Smoothing Serum 3X, $56, www.skincarerx.com.

To clear it up: Oily skin can take a 5 or 10 percent benzoyl peroxide gel twice a day, says Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, a dermatologist in Danville, California. Try: Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10, $5 at drugstores.

To even tone: Each night smooth a thin layer of a lightweight vitamin C serum over your face to gradually lighten any discoloration. Try: Avon Anew Alternative Clearly C 10% Vitamin C Serum, $20, www.avon.com.

Sensitive skin

To keep it smooth: Every third night, apply a mild retinol (see dry skin). Or use peptides nightly on lines. Try: Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Moisturizing Treatment, $18 at drugstores.

To clear it up: Treat blemishes with a 2 percent salicylic acid treatment and follow with moisturizer. Try: Exuviance Blemish Treatment Gel, $16, www.exuviance.com. Avoid benzoyl peroxide, which can be irritating.

To even tone: Consider a nightly application of a lotion with a gentle lightener, like a niacin derivative or vitamin C. Try: NIA 24 Intensive Recovery Complex, $110, www.skincarerx.com.

Portion control

• A pea-size amount of a retinol cream is adequate.

• A dime-size dollop of a skin brightener or moisturizer will do the trick.

• A sunflower seed--size dot of an acne salve is all your spots require.

Remember her?

Kim Wayans?!? I was shocked to say the least. Her hair looks fab, she looks fab. Why has she been ghost all these years though?

Celebrity Corn-Rows

Is this the unofficial "I actually have hair" style for the usually wigged up celebs these days? OK, gelled up corn-rows it is!
Cute.

41 days

This is a fist full of hair next to my mouse. It's the result of 41 days of braids.
As I was taking the braids out, I glided down my hair with my hands to remove shed hair. I pre-pood with oil overnight, mixed Nexxus Therappe with Suave conditioner and water and shampood in sections. Then I added about half a tablespoon of baking soda to a large glass of water and poured that over my hair, waited a minute, then rinsed. Then, I did an ACV rinse similarly. I followed with a hard protein treatment using Nexus Emergencee for 10 minutes. After that, I mixed the Aura conditioner with some coconut oil and honey and DCed for half an hour. Next, I applied Lustrasilk and the GVP version of Paul Mitchell The Detangler over my hair, detangled with a wide tooth comb and rinsed.

I'm now rocking a 3/4 wig and I'll post pics soon. I'm due for a trim because it's been over 4 months since scissors have touched my hair. I haven't encountered any splits, my hair has basically been in protective styles 98% of the time, even when straight. But I have to confess that I haven't exactly been consistent with the daily moisturizing and sealing. It's so easy to get lazy when your in a protective style...

LaterZ.

Heat-Styled Natural: Alicia Keys

Just when you thought straight hair went into hiding...
Alicia Keys broke out the flat-iron and sported a sleek, split down the middle, heat-styled hair do for the White House Correspondents Dinner.

The middle part never did quite fit me. I always opt for a slated part at the side.

If you didn't get to see the Prez's speech, you can check it out here. It was surprisingly funny unlike some of the usual cornball jokes that get recycled in Washington DC.

Joy Bryant's Summer Hair Tip

From her Q&A with AOL Black Voices
Q: Can you share some of your summer hair care secrets?
A: "I don't really have any hair secrets. I just think that some sort of pomade should always be handy." There are a variety of great pomades for our hair, including Kizzy "Stay-Put" hair pomade by Carol's Daughter. You can use this awesome product to give your hair moisture and shine.

I've seen Joy in wigs, weaves & phony ponies, but I'm pretty sure she's natural. Several people have said her hair always looks a mess and some say it's simple, fresh and natural. You be the judge.

Cheaper Alternative: Aura Rosemary Mint

The Aura Rosemary Mint line can be found in Sally's where the generic value products are located. It is supposed to be comparable to Aveda Damage Remedy.

Both lines tout Jojoba oil as a prominent ingredient. Aura is only 5.99 for 13. oz., but I got it on sale for 4.99. Aveda DR is about $24 for 8.5 oz. No Aveda. Hell no.

I like the smell and the tingling sensation from Aura. I can't give a full review yet because I've only used it while in braids. So look out for that.

Oprah's Ear-Tuck

*Ok, so this is just an excuse to post another pic of Lady O's fab hair*

I Was Blind, But Now I See.

How many of us don't think twice about where the money we spend on our hair supplies ends up? Probably most.

In an article about "Taking Back the Black Hair Care Industry", Mika Pettigrew talks candidly about our responsibility, as consumers , for letting the now Korean dominated black hair care industry slip through our hands. She writes:

"In 2004, sales of black hair care products exceeded $1.7 billion, as reported by Mintel International Group, a consumer research company. This figure does not include the synthetic and human hair additions that have gained tremendous popularity in recent years... Korean immigrants “get it” and have gotten it for decades, and now have almost complete control of the industry in 2007. They are sizing us up, assessing our needs, crafting and passing out the products. We, in turn, loyally tithe our dollars to strengthen their communities. It is time to consider the roll we play in the crisis within the Black hair care industry, by examining the choices we are making as it relates to us individually, the Black hair care industry specifically, as well as strengthening our communities and preserving our culture in general."

---When I think about that money going towards the employment of their family, to educate their children and to strengthen their communities it makes me angry-not at them, but at us (including myself) for so blindly spending our hard earned dollars and at the few black-owned beauty supply store owners who I've come into contact with whose service and product selection were less than stellar. You know, the communities where these stores are prevalent sure could use that money. African-Americans can surely benefit from controlling the black hair care industry. Mika continues:

"In the early 1900s, Black-Americans controlled the industry with the likes of Madam C.J. Walker, a manufacture and distributor of Black hair care products, and Anthony Overton, a manufacturer of Black beauty aids as well as a magazine publisher and president of a Black-owned bank...The period between the Great Depression and the civil rights movement was vital, as the industry proved its resilience to economic and social turmoil growing out of racial discord. This was critical since Black manufacturers in the Black hair care industry managed to emerge from the Great Depression while other institutions disappeared. The industries staying power did not go unnoticed. Manufacturers of Black hair care products became the focus of public discourse during the civil rights movement.
The years from the civil rights movement to the early 1990s proved to be pivotal for the industry. Black manufacturers began to lose ground to large white conglomerates prior to the Korean take over, and economic barriers were reproduced for Black professionals in the industry."

---Now, Ive never been a racially sensitive militant conspiracy theorist but to me this sounds like something was stolen from us.

Fun Fact: Madame C. J. Walker, touted for inventing the relaxer, made history as the first female American self-made millionaire. She created thousands of well-paying jobs for African-American women, promoted giving back to African-American communities and she was a major financial contributor to many charities and black initiatives. She was the pioneer of the, then African-American controlled, black hair care industry and I'm sure she's rolling over in her grave at the state of the industry today. SMH. Hopefully, in the near future, products by black owned businesses like Oyin Handmade and Karen's Body Beautiful will become more accessible.

Summer Styles

Alright ladies, summer is not officially here, but you can't tell by the temperature outside right now in Atlanta.
Even this heat-styled natural knows when to retreat. The summer months are usually the months that my flat-iron doesn't see much action. I'm going to continue with protective styling and hopefully I'll see some significant length retention. I have braids in right now and I hate them. I haven't had cornrows since... years ago. I was debating the idea of getting a short cut sew-in, but I don't know how to do it myself and I have trust issues when it comes to stylists. I'll most likely opt for a half-wig. I retain a lot of length with them.

How will you be wearing your hair? Braids? Twists? Sew-ins? Wash-n-go? Buns? Wigs? Or are you lucky enough to not have to worry about it?

Conditioning tip: Got Frizz?

Try a Cholesterol treatment.

Apply the treatment liberally, cover with a plastic cap and go under a heat source for 15-30 minutes then rinse thoroughly.

Fine and thin hair types should avoid using cholesterol treatments as they tend to weigh the hair down.

She's One of Us.

After years of mostly protective styling, Oprah declares, "no I'm not wearing a weave" via twitter. Loves it!

Click here for the article and video in case you missed it.

Great Read: Chee Gates on Being Natural.

Every black girl I knew—whether she was ebony-skinned or the color of butternut squash—wanted the same thing I did: hair that hung silk-straight. Our collective desire was rooted in the self-deprecating mentality that kinks were gross and had to be concealed, if not corrected. Straight hair promised romance, laughter, abounding beauty. If I wanted to be happy, I had no choice but to unravel every nap on my head. There was only one method that would do it: I'd have to get a perm, also called a "relaxer."

That first perm is like a black girl's bat mitzvah. It's a coming out—a rite of passage into womanhood. What's different is that the initial relaxing doesn't happen at any set age. And waiting too long could retard a girl's social progress. Here's why: Before your hair is relaxed, you're viewed as a child. (Or even a dope. Or you aren't viewed at all.) Because being invisible doesn't jibe with an only child whose astrological sun is in Leo—I could barely wait ten minutes to be in the spotlight—I got my first relaxer before I was even old enough to wear deodorant, thinking it would accelerate my path to stardom.

I was a follower—mimicked whatever was deemed of-the-moment.... Click to continue reading Being Natural.

It's Major: Deep Conditioning

It has preventative and restorative functions. It's a necessity. Period.

The greatest change in the manageability and elasticity of my hair is most definitely due to deep conditioning consistently.Having been dependent on a hairdresser for many years, I thought of deep conditioning as a special extra $20 treatment that I only had to do once a month. It was only recommended to me once a month. At home, conditioning was using the partner that came with the shampoo on sopping wet hair for the 2-3 minutes directed. The use of sulfate-laden shampoos and heat-styling tools should always be preceded by and followed with a conditioning treatment that provides moisture and strength appropriately.

The most difficult thing initially will be recognizing when your hair needs a specific treatment i.e oils, moisture, protein or cholesterol. That's why it's important to become an expert on our own hair and not a just copy our hair idols.

I thought I knew how to deep condition when I first started this journey. I was wrong. Mimicking my old hair dresser did nothing for my hair. Here's what I changed:

-Give the DCing process it's due respect: I hop out of the shower after squeezing out excess water, lightly pat with a towel and apply conditioner in sections. This is one of the best tips that I've learned. Removing the excess water allows the conditioner to penetrate better and applying it in sections ensures that I haven't neglected patches of hair.

-The cold water rinse: It closes the cuticles and helps to seal in the moisture.

Make sure you have a deliberate and effective deep conditioning experience. :)

BTW, Shout out to CHAKA who so wonderfully pointed out that the header had been misspelled for months. Smh @ anyone who saw and didn't say anything lol.

Also, if you emailed me, I'm currently going through them so be patient with me. AND if anyone has any tips on how to get over a guy in 24 hours, it would be greatly appreciated ::sniffles::

Product Review: GVP Paul Mitchell Detangler

Get this! Lol. I bought this conditioner and it was like the greatest aha moment ever. All this time I've been missing out on slip.
I used it while I was detangling after I deep conditioned. I didnt wash it out. I used a pea size on small sections. My hair stayed soft and detangling was a breeze. This is a definite staple for me. It's $4.99/ 3.99 with the club card.

• Compare to: Paul Mitchell The Detangler
• Detangles instantly
• Smoothes and softens
• Adds instant shine
• Diminishes static

The promise: For medium to coarse and chemically treated hair. Used daily, GVP Conditioning Detangler will leave your hair smooth, soft, shiny and static free. Helps to protect hair from harmful UV rays. An extremely moisturizing, fast detangling conditioner.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Isododecane, Isohexadecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Bisamino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl PG-Propyl Dimethicone, Algae, Aloe Barbedensis Leaf, Anthermis Nobilis (Chamomile), Henna, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary), PEG-12 Dimethicone, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Staiva (Carrot) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance (Parfum), Hexyl Cinnamal, Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Orange 4 (CI 15510), Red 40 (CI 16035)

Hair Plans

This week was not a good week for straight hair in Atlanta. It's been raining and when it wasn't raining it was drizzling, and if it wasn't drizzling it was foggy. I've had enough of the duck and cover. I knew I was over it when I got out of the car without opening my umbrella first.

Right now, I'm doing a pre-poo with Lustrasilk Shea Butter ($2.79). If one of my favorite bloggers endorses a cheap product, I'm likely to give it a try. For now, I can say it smells good and oddly familiar! That probably means one of those hairdressers I was paying $50 for a press back in the day might have passed this off as a $10 added treatment. SMH. Review to come.

What are your plans for your hair this weekend?

P.S- If you frequent Sally's, be sure to get their club card. I've only used it twice and it has paid for itself already.

Just Show Them.

In one of my previous posts I alluded to my mother's notion that hair doesn't grow after a certain age. Every female in my immediate family (including yours truly) is stubborn, so why did I take it upon myself to have a pointless debate with my mother over the hair on my head? Why did I attempt to educate the wrong and strong on the science of hair care? Never again.

She can roll her eyes at my product reserve, continue to point out the time I spend on my hair on wash days and keep talking that old school smack. I'm over it. I don't need a cheerleader or her approval.

My hair is in protective styles 98% of the time. Only I'll know how many inches I've gained, how much the breakage has decreased, how much stronger and thicker it has gotten and the reduction in split ends.

I'm going to hush. I realize the mere mention of hair brings about diarrhea of the mouth for me. Anyone who isn't a hair care enthusiast may understandably get annoyed, so I'm just going to let the progress speak for itself. Rant over.

Who doesn't love a bun!?

How old were you when you fell in love with the Ballerina bun? It's quite possible that the woman who delivered me was wearing a bun when I was pulled out of the womb, because I cant remember a time when I didn't love a bun.

The bun is so versatile. High, low, centered, tight, loose, messy-from the gym to the ballroom, a bun always works.

The bun for growth challenge on LHCF is very popular but for me it's not practical. I would have to brush the hell out of my thick wet hair to get a somewhat decent natural bun. If I do it on fresh, sleek flat ironed hair I would achieve great styles. But, who flat-irons their natural hair to put it in a bun? Nobody-not immediately at least. When I try a bun on week 2 flat ironed hair, it comes out okay, but I can feel the stress on my hairline from having to pull it back tight. By then, my hair would already be a little fuller. Also, when taking down the band I notice a few strands of broken hair. I think that's where some people run into problems with buns and ponytails.

Rock that gorgeous bun, but if you notice your hairline receding and strands without the bulb coming out when you take your hair down, you should let that bun go:(

Wish List: Emu Oil

For the past few weeks, I've been looking through online sites that have 100% pure Emu Oil, because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to find it in any store close to me.
I've seen sites with 4 0z. for about $9, but after reading some reviews from disgruntled customers complaining about "watered down" product, I decided not to get it.

One of my favorites sites Honeyfig.com unveiled the oil in it's list of new products. However, I was less than excited after seeing the price tag of $26.00 for 1.7 oz. I'm sure this is the real deal.

The promise: Use lightly as you need very little to reap the benefits of it's high concentration of Omega 3-6-9. Improve the look of fine lines, wrinkles, dry hair and dryness caused by eczema and psoriasis, the natural way; as this is the best pure Emu oil that is available on the market. It is unlike other emu oils that are found, as it goes on light and is absorbed easily into the skin, system and/or hair.

Someday...