I stand corrected on Baking Soda!!!!

I feel kinda dumb... BUT I can't leave my sistas in the dark on this one.

BAKING SODA FOR HAIR = NO, NO!!

I totally said in a previous post that Baking Soda and water was a good alternative to shampoo. This is wrong information ladies.  I used baking soda myself for about 2 months and I stopped using it because it was giving me headaches and my hair texture sort of changed. Well I just thought it was due to the "exfoliating power" of this substance. So I decided I would just use it once a month. That turned into never because I totally fell in love with ACV (apple cider vinegar). Well since then I can say that my hair has been slightly different but I definitely didn't attribute those changes to the baking soda. Ha! Guess what? NOW I can and here is why.

1. Baking soda is a base that is too low to apply on our hair. On the pH scale it is around an 8. (Keep in mind that 7 is neutral). Well anything in your hair past a 7 is bad! (Below 4.5 for that matter also) So nothing too acidic and nothing too basic. According to the definition of a base, it can strip the skin of all protective surface skin oils meant to help waterproof the skin. This leaves skin red, irritated and inflamed and vulnerable to further environmental challenges. In addition, it is said to make the hair feel more ply able, easier to manage, softer and looser curls, etc. Well that's because its slowly decomposing and disintegrating your hair! Of course you cannot immediately see these effects, but I promise its happening. Also, if you aren't neutralizing the base with an acid, this base NEVER stops working. All that time, its eating away at your hair and scalp. (Hence why I had bad headaches!!!) I cannot stress this enough, One of the most beneficial treatments hair can have is to be acidified.
2. Baking soda is not a natural substance, its a chemical substance. Want an even better interpretation of why this is so bad?? Check this out, I was blown away. Now, the pH scale is based on a logarithmic equation meaning that each step on the scale is a 10x difference. For example, Battery Acid is 10x more acidic than Lemon Juice. Therefore Battery Acid is 10,000,000 times more acidic than a Water (which is neutral). Get it? A very simple explanation right. The normal pH for hair when it is in water is 4.5-5.5. Okay well when you put baking soda in your hair, you are adding a substance that is 1,000 times more basic than your hair! And to take it even further, when you put a LYE RELAXER in your hair, you are adding a substance that is approximately ONE BILLION times more basic than your hair!!!!
   

SO just say NOOOOO to baking soda!! RUN for your LIFE! lol. Okay that was super dramatic. But seriously ladies, this is a no, no. I stand corrected. Please feel free to research it for yourself. But I guarantee that you will find that its all bad. I listed a few links below from kimmaytube. She is a natural on youtube and has a whole lot of helpful information. If you want more detail watch those two clips. **disclaimer: she is not apostolic so I don't own responsibility for anything she says lol** Its clean but I just gotta add that. I don't want to promote worldliness whatsoever. But I do feel that she has honestly done her research! So- again,

Just say NO to baking soda!!

Are You Taking Your Hair on a pH roller coaster ride?

Using pH balance to properly care for your hair

List of Sulfate Free Shampoos

The Long Hair Community Sulfate-free shampoo list

Finally got my free Suave

A few weeks ago I requested a sample of the Suave Shea Butter and Almond Shampoo. It finally came and I can't wait to try it.

I frequently post link to free samples on the CurlyNikki Forums. Come join the fun and get your freebies.

Product Recycling

This is not what you expect.....LOL

I had a huge bottle of Mane N Tail and I really don't like it. It's not bad but it's not great and therefore is a waste of my time. So I gave it away.....to the dog :) Hey, it's made for horses (an animal) so I figured using it on the dog (an animal) would be fine. So far is okay and not smelling. Anything that helps his body odor I love!

TYSON

(Pitbull)

Shampoo Day!

First thing first....I needed to file my nails. I had some little ridges that I know would have sliced right through my strands.

Prepoo: I separated my hair (with my fingers only) in four sections and applied coconut oil to the entire length, starting about 1/2 - 1 inch from my scalp. Then I braided each section. I left this on overnight. I wore a plastic cap under a hat(for going out in public) until I was ready to wash. I love hats :)

Shampoo: I shampooed once focusing on my scalp with Suave Tropical Coconut Shampoo. I used my Roots Only applicator to apply the shampoo directly on my scalp. After shampooing I noticed that my hair was a lot softer than usual. I think the coconut prepoo had a lot to do with that.

Deep Condition: I like to do an Oil Rinse after shampooing but since I am starting the Castor Oil Challenge I didn't want to overdo it with the oils so I deep conditioned with Lustrasilk Shea Butter Cholesterol that was mixed with Olive oil, Rosemary EO, and Peppermint EO.

Right now I have my hair in two braids just resting, I didn't do anything special to it.

Just apply some conditioner prior to braiding and left it alone to air dry.

Styling: I have been wanting to try this style I saw on Essence.com for a long time. I think that is will allow me to reach my scalp with oiling this week so I gave it a shot. Pics coming...

Oil Rinse Pictorial

Hopefully this will answer a lot of questions about this treatment. This is how I do it:

Oil Rinse Pictorial

Shampoo Day~Dec 2009

My cold weather regimen calls for shampooing once a month. I have noticed a big difference this month with my hair and how moisturized it felt the entire month. So now, I am going to clean off some of this build-up and try out the shampoo portion of my regimen.

Cold Weather Shampoo Routine:

1. Pre-poo with warmed Olive Oil
2. Shampoo with Suave Tropical Coconut Shampoo (trying to get rid of it so I can try something new)
3. Oil Rinse with Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil (I will be using Giovanni Triple Tea Tree Treat as the conditioner for this oil rinse)
4. Final Rinse with cold water
5. Protective Style

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Tips for Health and Growth: Part 1 Shampoos

SHAMPOO
All shampoos are not created equal. Harsh sulfates found in some shampoos can strip all the natural oils from your hair. Stripping leads to dry hair and dry hair leads to breakage.
Some of those harsh sulfates include:
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
TEA Laureth Sulfate
TEA Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Some sulfate free shampoo brands:

Avalon Organics
Ingredients: (for Grapefruit & Geranium Refreshing Shampoo) Aqua (Purified Water), Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit. E), Sodium PCA, Panthenol (Vit. B5), Beta-Glucan, Arginine, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Extract(1), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract(1), Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract(2), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract(2), Barosma Betulina (Buchu) Leaf Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Starch Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Alcohol(2), Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
EO

(this one has a sulfate listed, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, which is a coconut derivative-a safer alternative)

Ingredients: Purified Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Vegetable Glycerin, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate & Sodium Lauroamphoacetate & Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Panthenol, Hibiscus (Rosa Sinensis) Extract, Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica) Extract, Dry Hair Complex [Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia) Fruit Extract, Avocado (Persea Gratissima) Fruit Extract, Fig (Ficus Carica) Fruit Extract, Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum Graecum) Seed Extract], Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein, EO® Organic Herb Blend [Organic Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis), Organic Chamomile (Matricaria Recutita) Extract, Organic Calendula (Calendula Officinalis) Extract, and Organic White Tea (Camelia Sinensis) Leaf Extract], Stearyl Dihydroxypropyldimonium Oligosaccharides, EO® Essential Oil Blend [Lavender (Lavandula Officinalis) Essential Oil, Orange (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis) Essential Oil, Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis) Essential Oil], Honey, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitmain A), Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate Key Ingredients: Honey, Fig, Fenugreek, Avocado

Pure & Basic

Ingredients: Salicylic Acid 2% Inactive Ingredients: Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Isosteareth-20, Soyamidopropyl Betaine, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Polyquaternium-7, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Linoleamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phos- phate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Epilobium Angustifolium (Canadian Willow Herb) Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens (Cypress) Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Botanical Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate.

Giovanni’s

Ingredients: Aqua (purified water), Rosemary (Rosemarinus Officinalis) Oil, Nettle (Urtica Dioica) oil, Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris) Oil, Birch Leaf (butela alba) oil, Chamomile (anthemis nobilis flower) oil, Clary (salvia sclarea), Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia), Coltsfoot leaf (tussilago fargara), Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium) oil, Mallow (Malya Sylvestris), Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) oil, Soybean Protein (Glycine Soja), C12 - 14 olefin Sulfonate (coconut derived), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Tocopherol (Vit. E), Trace Minerals, Citric Acid (corn), Sodium Hydroxymethlyglucinate, Sodium Chloride Sea Salt, Grapefruit Seed (citrus derived)

Want to know more about any ingredient in a product you use: Household Ingredient List

Clarifying Shampoo

Many of us use a clarifying shampoo to remove build up. These shampoos also contain sulfates, however they are gentle and when used properly (like once a month) will not damage your hair. Polyoxethylene Fatty Alcohols

PEG 80

Sorbitan Laurate

Decyl Polyglucose

Cocamidoprpyl Betaine

Sodium Myreth Sulfate

Sodium Laureth Sulfate