I’ve been all about treating and caring for my natural hair lately. On top of mastering my wash n’ go style, I have switched up my hair wash routine (updated hair wash blog coming soon). One step that I used to skip in my hair wash routine is a mask, but I recently started applying a hair mask after shampooing and conditioning.
I am going to teach you how to make your own hair mask using a Aloe Vera leaf. Aloe Vera can help with hair growth, dandruff, split ends, deep conditioning, and detangling. This specific mask will help with hair growth providing the proper nutrition and get rid hair problems.
What you’ll need:
Aloe vera leaf. (purchased the leaf from Sprouts)
Pure Olive Oil.
A blender.
Step 1: Cut the skin off.
Step 2: Mix Aloe Vera gel and 3 to 5 tablespoons of Olive Oil together in the blender
To apply to hair, I like to put the mask in a bowl and section my hand into small sections. Using my hands I apply the mask to each section of my hair. I tend to let the mask soak in my hair for 30 + minutes before washing out, with cold water.
Don’t throw the skin away!!!!!! You can use it on your skin.
Aloe Vera can be used to clear up your skin and keep it healthy. So use the skin from the aloe vera leaf and rub it all over your body.
I am really loving using rice water to strengthen and grow my hair. In the little time I have been applying rice water to my hair wash routine I have seen improvement with detangling and shedding. I am exploring new ways to use the rice water for even better results. I’ve tried using rice water as a pre conditioner, letting it sit on my hair before washing. But mostly I use it as a rinse after shampooing and before conditioning. This time I combined those techniques.
To start, I use a spray bottle to apply the rice water to my dry and dirty hair. Part the hair into sections and spray each section. Put on a shower cap and let it sit for 30 minutes or more.
Next, I washed my hair per my usual routine, shampoo, rinse with rice water, condition and rinse again with cold water.
The detangling process was soft and painless. I was able to comb through my hair from root to ends without headache. Pictured (left) all the hair I shed during this hair process.
My wash and go style is getting better and better!
Now that it is Winter, I have changed up my hair wash routine a little bit. I’ve been seeing all the hype about rice water and the benefits it has on your hair. I am always looking for good products and natural remedies to do to my hair so I’ve decided to join in on the rice water trend.
Prepping Rice Water
After watching a few youtube tutorials and scrolling through blogs on Pinterest , I decided to do a rice water deep conditioner before my wash routine. You can also do a rice water rinse, which I plan on trying on the next wash day. To deep condition with rice water, I took some plain rice from the pantry and rinsed it with cold water. Then I took a glass jar and filled the bottom with the clean rice and added water. I closed the lid on the jar and let it sit for about 12 hours. I read that the longer you let the rice water sit the better. But what I was not prepared for is the SMELL. This shit smells horrible. I can’t even explain the smell. It’s legit horrible. I was almost about to throw it away and not use it. But I started reading comments that explained rice water stinks. So I went with it.
I drained the rice from the rice water and put the water in a spray bottle. I sectioned my hair in small parts, and sprayed each part from root to ends. Then, I put a plastic shower cap over my head and let it sit for over an hour.
Coconut water is known as a lightweight hydrator, with the mix of the mimosa flower you get great volume in result.
Love Beauty and Plant is a fairly new brand to the market. I think I first seen it on shelf in Target. When I saw the packaging I was like, ” This cute I want to try it” but it wasn’t in the “ethic” (black girl hair) haircare section. So I thought it may not be a product for my type of hair. I wasn’t in the mood to buy some shampoo and conditioner that I wasn’t sure about —so I stuck to my regular Cantu products. But to my surprise, I received samples of the Coconut water & mimosa flower shampoo and conditioner in my Target Beauty Box. Gladly, I tried it and Loved it! It smells amazing and left my hair feeling soft and easy to comb out. I didn’t have to do much detangling but I think that’s also a result of the rice water.
My Winter Hair Wash Routine
Step 1: Deep Condition with Rice Water
Step 2: Rinse Rice Water out with cold water
Step 3: Condition Hair + Rinse
Step 4: Shampoo Hair + Rinse
Step 4: 1- Minute hair mask + rinse
After washing my hair, I always comb it out and 2 string twist it (if I’m not doing a specific style). Here is what I have been using to style my hair lately…
