Rehairducation

My Leave-in Conditioners and I

My Leave-ins

Despite how it looks, I really wasn’t shoving hair products up my nose…….

Hello ladies

How are we all doing? I hope you are being good to yourself and your hair.
I decided to write this blog post because I am often asked when and how I use my leave in conditioners.  I may be wrong but I get the impression that ladies who are new to hair journeys get slightly confused between leave-in conditioning and  moisturising and sealing and at what stage on their wash day to do either.

I have written posts about leave-in conditioning and moisturising and sealing previously.  In this post I will be addressing leave-in conditioning in a more practical way.  I will be sharing what my staple leave-in conditioners are, how and when I use them in my regimen. What I hope to achieve by sharing my approach is to give one example of how leave-in conditioning can brought into a hair regimen.

Before I get into it,  ladies please note that products which make my hair feel great may have a different effect on your hair and vice versa.
Our hair reacts differently to various products and this is why it is important to not focus too much on what other people are using.  It is okay to experiment with recommended products but always be guided by how a product makes YOUR hair feel before deciding on whether to carry on using it in your regimen.

 

MY LEAVE-IN CONDITIONERS


Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer (Protein)
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How I discovered this product

I discovered Aphogee a few months before I began my hair journey.  It was during the phase when I was experiencing severe breakage and even my work mates at the time noticed my hair was disappearing.  I was talking to one of them about my hair woes and she mentioned that a product line called Aphogee was great for hair breakage.  I initially bought the two step treatment and the Keratin and Green Tea Reconstructor.  The two step treatment didn’t seem to do much for my hair but immediately  I sprayed on the Keratin and Green Tea Recontructor my breakage reduced instantly.
I loved the fact that on my wash days and for a few days afterwards my breakage was reduced.
Although I made some mistakes with this product (mainly spraying on too much which caused my hair to feel extremely brittle) I learnt how to use it correctly and it has been a permanent part of my regimen for over 5 years now.

When do I use this product?
On wash days after shampooing and deep conditioning.

How I apply this product
After shampooing and deep conditioning my hair in box braids, I unravel and detangle one box braid and spray 2 to 3 pumps of the Aphogee on my palms and apply it to the section that I have just detangled.  I apply it from root to tip ensuring my ends get a good share of the product.

Why do I like this product
The simple answer is that it works well with my hair.  It makes my hair feel strong and smooth.  I like that it contains a lot of hydrolyzed proteins.  This means that the protein in the product has been broken down so that it is small enough to be absorbed and/or bind to hair cuticles.
It is very light and non greasy so it tends to leave my hair feeling bouncy and fluffy.

What I do not like about this product
Using too much of this can lead to really dry and brittle hair which breaks easily.

 

 

Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Cream (mild protein)cantu

How I discovered this product

I had seen a few good reviews of this product across several hair blogs. I was stocking up on hair products and noticed the leave-in on one of the shelves.  On a whim I decided to try it.  It was love at first application.  This product has been a staple of mine for about 4 years.

When do I use this product
I use this on my wash days and during the week for moisturising my hair.

How do I apply this product
On wash days: after applying the Ahpogee, I apply a mixture of the Cantu Shea butter and Luster’s S-curl to the section of hair that has just been detangled.  I apply the mixture from root to tip.
For moisturising and sealing – I apply a mixture of the Cantu Shea Butter and Luster’s S-curl to my hair in sections from root to tip and seal with coconut or olive oil.

Why Do I Like This Product
Like I noted above, I fell in love with this product at first application…why??? Because it made my hair feel super super smooth.  I like the consistency of the cream, it is light and non sticky or greasy.  It leaves my hair feeling hydrated, soft and smooooooooth.
My sister in-law and niece who are both natural love it too.

What I do not like about this product
I initially used the Cantu to moisturise daily without mixing it with any other product but I noticed that by the third or fourth day my hair would feel a little coated and …weird.
When I use this product mixed with s-curl I do not have this problem.

 

Luster’s S-Curl “No-Drip” Curl Actor

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How I discovered this product
Similar to the Cantu Shea Butter, I had seen the product being used by several ladies on hair  blogs and decided to try it.  I was aware of s-curl before my hair journey but thought it was strictly for people with Jherri curls.
I hated it at first but when mixed with my cantu shea butter I really like it.

When do I use this product
I use this on my wash days and during the week for moisturising my hair.

How do I apply this product
On wash days: after applying the Ahpogee, I apply a mixture of the Cantu Shea butter and Luster’s S-curl to the section of hair that has just been detangled.  I apply the mixture from root to tip.
For moisturising and sealing – I apply a mixture of the Cantu Shea Butter and Luster’s S-curl to my hair in sections from root to tip and seal with coconut or olive oil.

What Do I Like about This product
I like that it is makes my hair feel very well moisturised.
When I am deep on my stretch I love that I can spray it on my new growth and it softens my new growth really well.  I also like its consistency: it is very light and non greasy.

What I do not like about this product
When I use it on its own daily to moisturise and seal, it tends to make my hair feel mushy and limp by the third day. However when mixed with cantu shea butter I do not experience this.

Additional Points

On my wash day after applying my leave in conditioners,  I air dry my hair and then moisturise and seal either on the same day or maybe the next depending on what I think my hair needs….and how tired I feel.

I have to emphasise that my way is not the only way.  It’s what I have learnt works for me and I would love to know about what works for you.  What are your leave –in conditioners, what do you like about them and how do you use them?

I am still planning on uploading a video at some point.  I just have to figure out how to overcome a few network issues.
In the interim the next blog post will be about the top 6 changes I made to my hair care habits which  helped me “grow” my hair.  I hope you’ll come back soon to see what they are.

x

Lade
Learn | Change | Grow

FOOD FOR GROWTH

Hello ladies

How are we all doing?  I hope your hair journeys are still going well.  It has been so lovely to meet some of you when I am out and about in Lagos.  Life is still pretty busy for me but I realise now that I simply have to work harder on all fronts including blogging.

It is so easy to get caught up in hair products and hair care techniques that sometimes we forget that what we eat and how we treat ourselves affects our hair growth and hair loss.  I am certainly guilty of this and perhaps this blog post can remind us all about the many benefits of having a good diet.

 

HOW DOES OUR DIET AFFECT HAIR GROWTH

Following on from my blog post about exercise and how it helps to encourage hair growth, I would like to discuss in this post the even more important topic of healthy eating and why it is essential for a lush head of hair.

The stronger and healthier the strands of hair we grow, the easier it will be for us to prevent the hair from breaking.  When we don’t eat right even though hair growth may continue, the strands of hair we grow will be weaker and thinner than what they ought to be.  Also our hair is likely to grow slower than it should when our diet is poor.

If I am honest my diet isn’t always the best but I certainly notice that when I go through one of my healthy lifestyle phases my skin looks good, I feel great and energized, my hair grows faster and my shedding reduces as well.
My biggest challenge is that I always fall off the wagon and end up going off my healthy lifestyle regimen.  I am just not consistent.   However I am always keen to get back on track.

Below are some of the foods we need to include in our diet to help our  bodies stay healthy and encourage it to grow some beautiful and healthy head of hair.

 

FOOD FOR HEALTHY HAIR GROWTH

 

Protein

The majority of our hair fiber is made of  a protein called keratin.  Not eating sufficient amounts of protein will result in slow growing and weaker hair strands.
Our bodies produces proteins however there are some proteins which our bodies cannot produce such as amino acids which have to be provided from the food we eat.
To encourage hair growth and strength, make sure you eat a protein rich diet.
Good sources of protein include, beans, lentils, nuts, eggs, fish, yogurt, poultry and meat.

Vitamins

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is needed for healthy cell division.
Our hair grows when the cells at the base of hair follicles divide and increase in numbers.  The older cells get pushed up, keratinized and become a hair fiber.  Lack of cell division will result in slower growing hair.
Vitamin A also helps our bodies produce make sebum (our hair’s natural oil).  Lack of sebum can lead to dry hair and scalp.
Sources of vitamin A include carrots, broccoli, spinach,  sweet potatoes, mangoes, spinach, dark leafy vegetables, milk cheese, eggs, etc.

Vitamin B

A diet which is low in vitamin B-complex can lead to hair loss and hair thinning. Vitamin B helps with tissue growth and repair.
Foods rich in vitamin B include beans, peas, carrots, bran, nuts, poultry, peanuts, almonds, whole grains, salmon, avocados, cheese, etc.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant.  It helps in the production of collagen, which helps our bodies absorb iron. It also facilitates the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of our bodies.
A diet that is poor in vitamin C can lead to dry, brittle hair and weak hair that will break easily.
Natural sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits, tomatoes, bell peppers , berries, kiwi, broccoli, etc.
Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects our bodies against free radicals. Free radicals can slow hair growth and cause premature greying.
Antioxidants like vitamin E neutralizes free radicals and keeps you and your hair healthy and vibrant.
Good sources of vitamin E include  Avocados, peanuts, kiwi fruit, spinach, tomatoes, pepper, carrots.

 

IRON

Irons function is to carry oxygen from our lungs to various parts of our body including our scalp.
Iron deficiency can lead to the growth of dry and dull hair.  It may also lead to an increase in shedding rates.

Good sources of iron include Lentils, kidney beans, green leafy vegetables, soybeans, bran, red meat, poultry and fish.        


OMEGA 3

Omega-3 fatty acids are fats that help to keep our scalp and hair hydrated.   Omega 3 helps to increase our  hairs elasticity and strength. It therefore helps to reduce breakage.
Our bodies do not produce omega-3 on its own and so it must be obtained from our diet.
Food rich in Omega 3 include salmon, tuna, kale, broccoli, seeds and nuts, etc.

I I hope this post gives us another reason why we should all try to eat better ( and drink more water too).  Personally I am keen to reduce my shedding rates and I truly believe that improving my diet ( on a more consistent level) will help me achieve this.
What are some of the reasons you want to improve your diet: to increase the speed of your hair growth, reduce shedding or just to be healthier overall?
The next blog post will be all about leave-in conditioners.  From some of the comments and questions I get it seems some ladies are not sure of when exactly and how to use them.  I will also be sharing what I love about my staple leave in conditioners and how I use them.

I may be wigging it at the moment but my leave in conditioners are still essential in my fight against breakage.

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Seeing clients and still wearing my Hair by Type 4 “Runway” wig

 

I hope you have found this post helpful and that you’ll be back soon.  happy hair journey.

x

Lade

Learn | Change | Grow