Happy Nappy Hair Essentials

This blog isn't meant to be a 'hair diary'. Its purpose is just as its address states: a spot of everything. As I previously posted, however, I am increasingly interested in attaining some hair goals about which I have only been lazily dreaming. I need to take and post a few pictures of my hair but the few times I remember to I don't feel like it. So lazy! Anywho, the first step in healthy growth is maintenance and products. I've been surfing a lot of natural hair blogs recently and can recall a few from way back in the day when I dabbled in promoting growth. I judge the advice of other natural beauties by 1) the tone of their blogs and 2) the growth / thickness of their hair. Plus, is their routine doable? Can I reasonably see myself on the maintenance path upon which they set themselves? Once I answer those questions to my personal satisfaction I go about trying to emulate, then divine how well it works for my particular locks.

Most fashion a weekly maintenance routine involving conditioner or co-wash (though some still stick by shampoo, usually a trusted brand); moisturizer; and twists for gentle styling purposes. Also, monthly deep conditioning to provide thorough tress nourishment. The latter dovetails nicely with advice my mother has given to me: condition, condition, condition! It really is important. I worry sometimes about not keeping to a weekly routine but for me, the problems come when too much time passes between hair treatments. That's when I'm liable to forget or put it off once I do remember. Besides I love playing with my hair -- more so than when it was relaxed. Back then I admired length but didn't touch; now I fondle my curls (ew! dirty!) all the time!

Doable routine? Check. Now it's time for the product. Qhemet Biologics is bandied about natural circles much to my delight. I discovered them several years ago making the various good notations a 'squee' moment. I won't lie -- initally I was attracted by their Ancient Egyptian bent (its my faith); even the company's name 'Qhemet' is a translit. variation on Egypt's ancient name. Back then I bought one product, their rosemary and mint clarifying shampoo. I very much liked the effect of the product on my hair which felt very clean after use and the mint invigorated my scalp. I looked forward to washing my hair just because the product was so awesome. It was the first thing I looked for as I scoured their site again. Discontinued. Bummer. Somehow I found something else to buy (like that's hard), three somethings.

Castor & Moringa Softening Serum
Indian Macassar Conditioning Oil
Amla Oil Nourishing Pomade

From my readings castor oil (which is contained in the serum) is hella good for Black hair, as is Amla Oil. Nowhere had I read much positive or negative about Macassar oil but I liked what the site had to say about it so I gave it a whirl.

March 7: I decide to twist my hair and start a winning routine. The past year of once-monthly deep conditoning had repaired my damage hair but I'm ready to get aggressive. I wash my hair with the original Mane 'n Tail shampoo. It's got all the not-so-good stuff in it my nappy head is supposed to avoid, like sulphates, but I have no alternatives and need a guaranteed clean. I follow that with the Castor & Moringa Softening Serum. Its uses are varied -- it can be a leave-in, a hot oil treatment or an oil rinse (moringa has cleansing properties); I use it for the latter. Lastly, the Cream of Nature Conditioning Reconstructor which I leave in while I shower before rinsing. My mother and I have sworn by the brand, Cream of Nature, most of my life. Out of the shower I gently comb through my damp hair. Working in sections, I apply the Indian Macassar Conditioning Hair Oil, twisting as I go. Afterwards I take dabs of Amla Oil Nourishing Pomade and run it along the exposed scalp and hairline.

One week later: my hair has been soft for a week now, not just for a day or two. I'm quite pleased with that result if not with the heavy oil residue. I resolve to skip the oil rinse, leave it for the deep conditioning phase. Also, I have apple cider vinegar or ACV. It works as a clarifier, de-gunking hair and scalp of product. Every natural blog swears by it. It doesn't leave the same pleasant feeling QB's mint shampoo did but as long as it does its job I can live with it. ACV is a pre-wash step. No shampoo this week (or ever if I can help it)! Just the reconstructor. Post shower I follow the same routine as the week before -- gently comb, macassar oil and pomade for scalp. My hair isn't as soft as it was previously. It's still hella softer but not as soft. The ends especially feel dry. Hmm.

This week: ACV, then the conditioning reconstructor. I leave it for longer this time before rinsing. Back to the castor & moringa! I rub it through my hair, then rinse. The same post-shower routine applies. I've gotten better about the amount of the macassar oil I use. No heavy oil residue so far ^^. My hair is back to being super-soft but the ends seem drier by comparison. Not dry-dry, just relatively. Enter the pomade. I bought if for scalp use but it's also meant for styling and softening dry ends. It does the trick. Oh, another thing -- the pomade instructs usage 2-3 times a week which I have been doing to keep that scalp moisturized.

I'm not sure I'm wedded to these products. I suppose that means I'm not in love with them. So far they've performed as expected. There's been minimum breakage, so yay! I'm eager to try it a few other products but it's good to know I have sure-fire fallbacks.

Happy Nappy

I've taken real pride in my hair lately. My hair, my crown, I have abused and ignored it for many years only occasionally raising a hand to my tender 'fro to braid it. After an abbreviated flirtation with a wig (blame my mother) it has been nothing but conditioning and cornrows for this girl. Releasing my hair once a month for a thorough shampooing and deep conditioning -- in conjunction with the light condition and rinse week-in and week-out. Each month of strong growth and minimal breakage had me sit up and take notice: if I'm good I can get the rocking 'fro I've always wanted! It's a 'duh' moment to be sure but there is a persistent myth in the Black girl community which says natural hair can naturally take care of itself. No one actually says that out loud; in fact, if asked we'll give the opposite answer but its a whisper in our heads that won't die an ugly death. I blame relaxers for the ugly rumor; they know after we see the mess we make out of our hair we'll run scared to the perm.

For full disclosure: there's nothing I won't blame on perm, nothing! It broke my hair from the first moment my mama tried it on me and since my mom was (is) a great believer in the perm, she never laid the blame at its door. Rather, it fed a deep-seated paranoia about the fragility of Black hair in general and the fear I (and she) would never reach her goal of shoulder blade-length hair; her dream, not mine -- from five through sixteen I was just along for the ride. Look, Black hair is fragile, at least more than most but not so much that it easily breaks when it's growing like weeds from one's skull! I stopped relaxing at sixteen and never looked back. So yeah, I hate relaxers. Besides I'm really suspicious of the origins of it all. I asked myself, why would I / should I relax my hair? Do I really like it, and if so, why? How do I want to wear my hair? Which styles do I like? Those questions led me to my 'fro which, at the time, was no more than a long restful pause between perms.

I'd do extensions -- love me some extensions -- in-between but here in Texas, on the outer outskirts of a major city, there's an awful lot of price gouging going on! I'm used to it now, my military tour having taken me to Alaska and it's dearth of skilled, reasonably priced braiders. I'm originally a Jersey girl and am too used to relatively cheap, fast, professional and good; there was too much available competition per square mile and so no price gouging. When I'm older the plan is to lock my hair and my anticipation of that day is so eager I may not wait.

For the most part I want my hair thick and wild, a carefully constructed unruliness. To that aim I'm taking my hair with a much firmer hand. I bought some stuff from Qhemet Biologics: hair oil rinse; leave-in conditioner; a moisturizing pomade for the scalp and general styling. I like mom-and-pop, particular stuff meant specifically for Black hair. I am well aware that a lot of off-the-shelf product is very good for Black hair. Suave, for example, is a great and very cheap shampoo and conditioner. A few years back Pantene came out with a hair-care line targeted for Black hair, for which a cry of "YES!" was let out. But I like to patronize when I can (or remember) these brave, home-made souls. Do your research, of course, but for the most part the owners and product-makers test out their stuff on their own kinky tresses before imparting it to the world.

Back to my hair! I did my hair in twists for the second time in my life, only this time without the extensions! I used my Qhemet Biologics for the first time and my hair feels baby soft. I'm pretty happy and pleased with the results. Ah, I can feel the new growth already! Cross your fingers for this nappy head!