Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse, Not-so-Bantu Knots and a hair adventure

Shooo! What a title! 

But before I take you on this ride, please take a look at the blog entry done on Apple Cider Vinegar to shed some light on what we will discuss. 

On Saturday, I had bit of an adventure, lots of fun washing and relocking my hair at home. I did my very first Apple Cider Vinegar rinse. Here is the mix:

• 2/3 quart (4 oz.) Apple Cider Vinegar - I used Bragg's Apple Cider
• Just under a quart of cooled boiled water

Here are after-shampoo and rinse photos:

After washing my hair with Avalon Organics (I forgot my Shea Moisture Retention Shampoo by my mum), I then poured in the ACV Rinse onto my scalp in stages, making sure that every part of my head was saturated. Once that was done, I towel-dried my locs for a bit and sat in the natural air (it was a really nice and sunny day). The Avalon Organics Tea Tree Treatment would not have been my first choice, as using it without the Shea Moisture tends to leave my locs just a little crunchy. So that is what happened. Nothing bothersome though, but, I do believe that if I had washed using the Shea Moisture, the result would have been different.

Before relocking, I did my Dr. Miracle's Nape and Temple Balm massage and followed that up with a few spritzes of BB Stimulating Growth Oil.

The second bit of my adventure happened when I reloc'd using a combo of my Organic Root Stimulator Loc and Twist Gel and the BB Firm Locking Gel. The results of that have been fine so far. I had no real special reason for doing it. It was just a quick thought that came into my head.

Now, the piece de resistance goes to my Not-so-Bantu Knots. Take a look!

I was going out so I really could not keep them in to form as well as I would have liked. I had to keep many of them in with pins, too :) :) I dried for more than 30 mins but some were still dry at the root. And, this I felt badly about. Even my loctitian always advises to dry my hair properly so as to avoid stinky smelling damp locs. I am told that this smell can linger forever after consistent washes and not drying the locs properly. Mine are okay though. But will be careful when I do D.I.Y at home.


When I took them on Saturday night, there were not that many with a bend. But what is cool is that today those same ones are still bent :)

Not-so-Bantu Knots down

My Observations

• A source recommend using a 75 mls (2.5 oz.) to a quart of water. And another still suggested using boiling water. I used just a bit more :) 
• My locs are BLACKER!! And I mean really BLACKER! I like it actually!
• My scalp feels clean and relaxed, for lack of a better word. Wish I could find the words to explain exactly what I mean. Remember that the properties of the ACV work at removing product build up and gunk from the scalp and hair shaft, and also closes the hair cuticles. So, maybe that explains the feeling. 
• I will try the Bantu Knots a later date when my hair is a little longer :)
• Be sure to spend more time drying my locs to avoid a smelly head of hair

Today (Monday Nov 7) I actually got comments about how nice my hair looks, about them being much fuller and softer. Do I attribute this to the ACV Rinse? Maybe :)  Yes, actually I do. Primarily because I feel it and see it, too.

Out on Saturday

What do you think? Have you ever tried an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse? 
How was your experience?


Drop us your thoughts, looking forward to reading your posts!

Accents for your locs ~ Loc jewelry

February 2011

If there is one thing you can say you know about me is that I LOVE to have loc jewelry in my hair. In my hair photos, you will see that at least 95% of the time my locs are adorned with either a red copper coil and/or a few of my glass loc coils or gems. 

In an earlier post, I would have introduced you to fellow Barbadian, Jamal of Crystal Forms in a Loc'd Entrepreneur Business feature. He is the guru when it comes to glass blowing and not only making stunning glass pendants, etc but the many glass loc jewelry many of us women wear here in Barbados. Since then, I've also done a loc and natural hair accessory feature on Ms MiMi of Tomoka's Twists (who also graciously sponsored my first giveaway this summer) and Sarah of Sarenzo Beads.

If you are still looking for ideas on how to adorn your locs, you can check out this post done by Loc'd Life Magazine's blog site. 

Or, visit the featured websites by clicking on the links below:

New Bein' ~ An array of hair jewelry ideas with shipping options

Art Fire ~ Handmade hair accessories sold by a collection of artists. You will also find gorgeous earrings and other knick knacks

Loc Jewelry by Dr LaTonya Lonnise ~ coils and beads

Loc Jewelry ~ Locties, beaded loccuffs

The ideas are limitless! And, if you are like me and have a desire to try to make them yourself, go right ahead! Get your fashion flow on and invest in some beautiful hardware for your locs!

Product Review ~ Humphrey's Witch Hazel and Madina African Black Soap

This post has been long in coming. And, I had been wondering if I should still follow my usual format when doing product reviews. Why you ask? I was hesitant given that both products I had to discontinue using due to the horrible effects on my skin. In addition, I did not want to have a negative effect on anyone's opinion of the products.


With that said, I will summarize what happened.


Madina African Black Soap w/Shea Butter and Aloe
I used this soap consistently for 7 weeks, both morning and evening, in an effort to ease the black heads I had been experiencing on both the right and left cheeks of my face.


As you can see from the picture, it is light green in colour. What you might not be able to pick up, are the small grainy flecks in the soap. The fragrance is quite subtle and the lather is rich.


While still using the soap, I had several breakouts and my face just looked a mess. Hence why you have seen no shots from me recently. Has been kinda depressing. It was not overly drying so that was a plus. My skin just began to look worse. 


Humphrey's Witch Hazel
This astringent is not new to me as I use it to clean my scalp between washes. Growing up, we used it at home for the scrapes and minor scratches we would get whilst playing. However, it was recommended to me as a facial astringent this time around to help with the breakouts. This would have been around weeks 6 and 7 of using the Black Soap.


In this instance, I found the solution too drying on my skin and it made me scratch my face after use and even well into the day. I just could not stand it anymore and I stopped its use.


My Decision
To never use again. It's not worth using the Soap for the issues I had. Nor, will I use the Witch Hazel again as a facial astringent.


So you see, I did not want to cast a bad light on these products for anyone. My skin condition is not yours, so I hope you will not let this post deter you from trying these products.


Thanks, everyone!

The DL on ACV ~ A Buzz report

Bragg's brand of ACV

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

Apple Cider Vinegar + ACV Rinse

This is one process/term that definitely caught my attention once I began reading and getting an education in things natural for hair and skin. I know of the Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar brand and, I know people have used it as a part of their regimen when dieting to suppress their appetites.  But, as the light bulbs came on, I was glad that I kept on asking questions of folks here and digging for more and more information on Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV).

So what is ACV, you ask?
Apple Cider Vinegar is made through a process of fermentation, that is, when yeast and different bacteria have been added to apple cider (to break down its sugars), it causes the liquid to sour or to ferment. ACV is also yellow-brown in colour and may be sold unpasteurized and unfiltered; and possesses excellent health benefits.

On the Bragg's bottle pictured above, you will see it says: "With The Mother". Don't get worried now! No human or animal mums were used in the production process. The "Mother" in this case, refers to the harmless grain-like substance/residue found mostly at the bottom of the bottle. You might find some of it floating around at the top, as well. But a good shake will cause everything to come together nicely.