Curl Envy

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Flax Seed Hair Gel

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I've been looking for a more natural hair gel to use since lately I've been styling my hair in a low pony or a bun for my Zumba classes. 

Low pony

Bun

I've seen some youtube videos on homemade flax seed hair gel. After watching Naptural85's Do It Yourself: Homemade Natural Hair Gel with Flaxseeds video, I think I will try to mix up a batch myself.  I found a recipe online at fromnaturewithlove.com that I'd like to use. 

Flax Seed Hair Gel Recipe 

Ingredients: 

2 Tbsp Whole Flax Seeds
1 cup water
Pure Aloe Vera Gel, if desired
Few drops of essential oil for scent

Instructions: Bring water to a boil. Stir the seeds into the water and reduce heat. Simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until a gel-like lotion is formed. Strain through a fine strainer or cheesecloth into a small bottle. Add essential oils and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. If desired, you can add some pure aloe vera gel for its moisturizing properties. Fill the bottle with flax seed gel until bottle is about 3/4 full, then fill to the top with pure aloe vera gel. Gel will not flake or make the hair hard or crunchy. Safe to use everyday.

Avocado for the Hair

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Avocados contain many essential antioxidants, oils and nutrients that moisturize the hair.  It act as a protective antioxidant for hair follicles.  It provides vitamin E which improves circulation to the scalp and nourishes the hair.  Copper, which acts with zinc to promote hair growth.  Avocados especially provide essential fatty acids to improve texture and to prevent dry hair.  Here are some hair recipes containing avocado I found while surfing the net.

Avocado Deep Conditioner

Ingredients
1 small jar of mayonnaise
1/2 avocado

Directions
Peel avocado and remove pit. Mix all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl with your hands until it's a consistent green color. Smooth into hair being careful to work it to the ends. Use shower cap or plastic wrap to seal body heat in. Leave on hair for 20 minutes. For deeper conditioning wrap a hot, damp towel around your head over the plastic, or use a hair dryer set to a low to medium heat setting. 

Avocado Hair Masque

Ingredients

1 avocado

1 egg yolk 

1 tablespoon of olive oil

Directions

Wet hair with warm water then use the fingertips to massage the scalp.  Mix one mashed avocado, the yolk of an egg and a tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl.  Be sure to use force when mixing to ensure the ingredients are completely mixed.  Apply the mixture to the scalp first and then down towards the ends of the hair. Separate hair into sections and then massage sections in an up-and-down manner for ease of penetration into the scalp.  Place a plastic cap over the head.  Add heat with a dryer for 20 minutes.   Rinse the treatment from the hair completely, followed by shampooing and conditioning hair. 

NOTE:  The treatment should be applied from root to end for normal hair and half-way through hair for oily hair.  For normal hair, once the treatment is applied, it should be separated into sections and massaged into the scalp.  The treatment should stay on the hair for 15-20 minutes under hot heat.

Recipes found on:

longlocks.com

divavillage.com

Healthy Recipe: Raspberry-Avocado Smoothie

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Ingredients: 

1 avocado, peeled and pitted

3/4 cup orange juice

3/4 cup raspberry juice

1/2 cup frozen raspberries, (not thawed)

Directions:  Puree avocado, orange juice, raspberry juice and raspberries in a blender until smooth. Pore in cup and enjoy.

Nutritional Facts:

Per serving: Serves 2; 249 calories; 14 g fat ( 2 g sat , 9 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 32 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 3 g protein; 7 g fiber; 14 mg sodium; 625 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus:  Vitamin C, fiber, folate, potassium

Recipe found on eatingwell.com

Hot Oil Treatment Recipes

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Here are some hot oil treatment recipes found on longlocks.com

Jojoba Hot Oil Treatment

Ingredients

2 teaspoons jojoga oil
1 teaspoon organic soybean oil or organic sunflower oil

Directions
Combine ingredients then warm gently on low heat. Test temperature on inside of forearm. Massage mixture into hair.Wrap hair in a hot towel or cover with shower cap or plastic wrap for 15 minutes. Shampoo & rinse out. Recipe may be doubled for very long hair.

Rosemary Hot Oil Treatment

Ingredients
1/2 cup of organic dried rosemary

1/2 cup organic soybean oil or organic sunflower oil

Directions
Combine ingredients and heat until warm. Strain through a fine strainer or cheesecloth. Coat the entire head and hair with the oil mixture, working it through to the ends. Wrap hair in plastic wrap and wrap in a warm towel. Leave oil on hair for 15 minutes. Wash hair until oil is completely removed. 

Lavender Hot Oil Treatment

Ingredients
1/2 cup organic soybean oil or organic sunflower oil

5 drops oil of rosemary

10 drops oil of lavender

Directions
Mix all ingredients well. Warm slightly and apply the mixture to damp hair. Wrap hair in plastic wrap and apply a hot towel for 20 minutes. Shampoo.

Hot Oil Treatments

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The Benefits Of A Hot Oil Hair Treatment

A hot oil hair treatment, homemade or store-bought, can be an inexpensive luxury with a variety of benefits.  Everyday environmental issues, including temperature changes, pollution and humidity, as well as regular brushing, and the use of hair products such as curlers, steamers, straighteners and dryers, can result in damaged hair.  Brittle or dry hair can result from environmental issues, over cleaning or product use; breakage or split ends can result from the use of hair products to achieve the desired style.  No one is immune - dry or damaged hair simply is a part of life. 

To temporarily repair the damage, a hot oil treatment can help.  Most store bought varieties require heating, massaging the oil into the scalp and hair, followed by a gentle rinse.  Homemade oil treatments can be made with a mixture of common household oils, such as soybean oil or olive oil, and even the use of mayonnaise.

All oil treatments need to be used with caution as any hot mixture can result in surface or first degree burns.  It is always a good idea to test the temperature of the oil on the inside of your wrist before applying to your scalp.  Too hot for your wrist?  Let it cool.

Read more HERE....

Article found on Essortment.com

Curl Envy

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Exercise of the Day: Supermans

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Target Body Part:  Back, Butt/Hips, Shoulders
Primary Muscles:  Trapezius (Traps), Erector Spinae, Anterior and Medial Deltoids (delts), Gluteus Maximus (glutes)
Secondary Muscles:  Serratus Anterior, Quadriceps (quads), Hamstrings Lie face down on your stomach with arms and legs extended. Keep your neck in a neutral position. Raise both your arms and legs about 5-6 inches off the ground (or as far as you comfortably can). Hold for 3 seconds and relax. Repeat.  Exhale as you lift your arms and legs and inhale as you lower them back down. Article found on ACEFitness.org Read more HERE.

Exercise of the Day: Upward Facing Dog

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Target Body Part:  Abs, Back
Primary Muscles:  Erector Spinae, Rectus Abdominus (abs), Transverse Abdominus, Obliques

The upward facing dog strengthens the arms, wrists and abdomen and increases the flexibility of the spine.

To maximize the benefits of this exercise and reduce the potential for injury, it is important to control your movement speed, carefully monitoring for any symptoms of pain in your spine or hips.  Be sure to differentiate the feeling of tightness from pain. 

Article found on ACEFitness.org
Read more HERE.

Honey for the Skin

Here is a picture of the natural honey soap bar that I purchased from the Sugar Boutique.

Honey is known to be a natural antibacterial and has natural healing properties that have shown great results for those dealing with Acne. The soap has a natural sweet scent and a creamy lather that just leaves a soft luxurious glow to your skin.

The Sugar Boutique

I visited a wonderful little soap and candle bakery called the Sugar Boutique in my neighborhood.  I have acne prone skin and I've been searching for a more natural way to treat my skin.  I purchased a natural Honey soap bar to help with my acne.  I've shopped there before and purchased the Super Shea cold pressed soap.  The owner Melanie is a sweetheart and very informative.  Her products are wonderful and best of all they are all natural.  If you're in the Tampa Bay area check out her shop.  If you're not in the area check out her etsy shop online. 

Coconut Oil for Hair

Coconut oil is one of the oils I use to seal in moisture.  I love it and the many benefits it provides for my hair.  I found this article on organicfacts.net.

Coconut oil is very popular and very preferred as hair oil worldwide. Let us find out why.

Since their childhood, people living in most of the coastal areas of the world, more specifically in the areas where coconut grows in abundance, such as in the Indian Subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines etc., know the one and the only, the sweet smelling coconut oil as their only hair oil. 

Coconut oil has been in use as hair oil for ages and it has shown remarkable results. Certain components in it keep the hair strong, vitalized, nourished and protected from effects of ageing. Let us see those components and their effects on hair.

Read more Here!

Steps to Growing Hair Longer

This is a topic that never gets old.  Alot of you all want to know how to grow hair longer and retain that length.  Here are some tips that may help stop hair breakage and increase hair growth.  I hope some of these tips help.

 
Step 1: Use a gentle shampoo.

Step 2: Use protein treatments to rebuild hair structure and strength. 

Step 3: Use deep conditioners. 

 

Step 4: Use water and oil based moisturizers correctly.

Step 5: Use a wide tooth comb.

Step 6: Use a satin scarf/ pillowcase for sleeping.

Step 7: Limit heat styling, and use thermal protectants. 

Step 8: Wear protective styles. 

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