I started a “Healthy Hair Challenge” almost six months ago, in an attempt to nurse my hair back to health, after a long battle with color damage. Here’s what went down:

I ended up removing the color damaged hair. I was tired of  it. My hair looked pretty good, but it didn’t feel quite right. I knew my hair’s potential, and I wasn’t going to get there holding on to the last five inches of Feria color damaged hair. What a relief!

I’d originally thought I would avoid all heat. It sounded good, and I’m well aware of the risks that come with heat straightening. I preach about it,  often to deaf ears. However, my hair does better, with  the occasional use of a blow dryer/flat iron, particularly my ends.  It greatly reduces the number of knots I get.  So, when I decided to avoid heat altogether, I noticed an increase of knots (shortly after a trim, so I knew it wasn’t because my hair needed trimming). My #1 go to product for heat protection? Kerastase Ciment Thermique

I also discovered ayurvedic powders, cassia and henna. Henna is probably the best “conditioner” I’ve ever used, as far as increasing the strength, thickness and manageability of my hair. I have this really “rough” patch of hair, near my crown. It’s the driest/crunchiest area on my head, and henna made a noticeable difference, after just one application.  Amla, brahmi  and maka  (along with henna) are a regular part of my conditioning regimen.  That little “crazy sore scalp” section of my head is gone. AyurNatural Beauty is my source, for henna, cassia, indigo and herbal powders. The customer service is top-notch, and shipping is super fast!

As far as internal changes, I’m drinking more water and taking a multi-vitamin regularly.  I’m trying to eat better, as well. My stress level has gone down, and I’m much more relaxed.

So, after six months of TLC, I can say my hair has definitely improved!  My gallery pics show the last two months of the challenge. For those of you who “ran” with me, I hope you had the same positive results!

A Nappy Girl

Yep…today I hit the 47-year mark. WOW! I’m almost 50 years old. Time flies, whether you’re having fun, or not..once you pass 30.

I had to work today, and I had a birthday party at work. My cake was phenomenal, don’t you think? It was tasty, too. The bottom layer was sour cream white cake, with peanut butter cream and strawberry preserves…”PBJ”. Delish…beyond words!   The Cake Box, did a wonderful job.

The top layer was red velvet, with cream cheese filling. I didn’t care for that one as much. Almost EVERY time I order any chocolate type cake, it’s  a tad dry. It seems difficult to make a really moist chocolate cake. I’m not a cake baker. I bake pies.

Anyway…it’s good to still be in the land of the living, and in good health and spirits. Once again, God has seen fit to let me see another birthday. Praise Him. I give thanks!

A Happy Nappy Girl

Hey all you “Ayurvedic Nappturals”!
AyurNatural Beauty is having a store-wide 15% discount (see site for code).
There’s  also a weekly giveaway contest, open to Twitter, Facebook and blog subscribers, thru April 2nd.  Orders over $60 ship free!

Ekua  ships fresh, and she ships FAST!!! You know I quick shipping.
I’ve purchased the Hesh powders: Amla, Brahmi and Maka.

Be sure to stop by the site, and subscribe to win!

Here’s to happy, nappy hair!

A Nappy Girl

Oooh…so much, so little time.  The site revamp is coming very soon. I’m still trying to find a new font.  Decisions are tough.

Beauty by Donna Marie created Super Butter Creme… more whipped, creamy, buttery stuff for kinks and koils!  I have a feeling I’m going to really this stuff.  I just know it.

I’m going to host another giveaway. Yep

See ya’ a little later…

A Nappy Girl

Well Y’all,
It’s time for my last post of 2009.  I thought long and hard about just what to say, and I decided to talk about the “friendly reminders” God sent me this year:

• Tomorrow is not promised.
  I experienced the death of a co-worker and a beloved uncle.  We all take for granted that “tomorrow” will come, and we’re not promised the whole day.
• Everybody will get old, if they live long enough.
  There is such contempt for the elderly. The haughtiness of youth deceives folks into thinking that “old” is something that will never touch them.
• Your sin will find you out.
  You can’t run and you can’t hide from God. We think we’ll never get caught and we think that the grace God extends to us (time to repent before our sin is exposed) is not actually God at all, but our ability to be “slick” and evasive. Yeah, you may be slick,  but you ain’t greasy.
• The world is growing more wicked, with every hour that passes. We need to fast and pray.
  So much evil and wickedness…in the church too. We should be on our knees.
• Whatever you sow, you reap. You reap more than you sow, just like a single seed becomes a…tree.
  That applies to both good and bad sowing, so…sow wisely.  If we really understood (and believed) this principle (especially when it comes to reaping bad stuff, from bad sowing), we would do better, as human beings.
• The tongue is such an unruly member!
  Some of us have to have the “last word”. We talk too much, and our tendency to always have to “speak our mind” is going to cause our demise.  Know when to be quiet, and save your marriage, keep your job and your sanity. When there’s too many words, transgression is close by.

….and finally: God is good
He’s good even when we don’t think He’s good. His mercies are abundant, and new every morning…without them, we would be consumed. He doesn’t deal with us according to our sins, nor does He reward us according to our iniquities.

As we say “farewell” to 2009, let us look forward to another year…full of opportunities to pursue God and His will for our lives.

God bless you! Happy New Year!

A Nappy Girl