Here’s Why You Have Dry Hair in Colorado

woman with side view of curly hair

Back in 2009 I did the big chop.  I transitioned for nine months before finally cutting off all of my relaxed ends.  I was left with a teeny fro and started experimenting with all sorts of hair products.  At that time there were only a few online resources like blogs and hair forums.  There were Youtube videos but not anything like the hair tutorials we have today.

Everyone talked about what worked for their natural hair and I found it odd that a lot of those things didn’t work for me.  I finally realized that people who lived in other climates had different hair issues than what I faced here in Colorado.

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Deep Conditioning with ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner

Spring has been outrageously unpredictable here in Colorado with snow coming at us only a few days before Memorial Day.  The nerve!  Thanks to all of the back and forth in temperature and my kids being sick, I fell ill recently and hadn’t felt up to doing my hair.  Well, of course I was styling my hair but I hadn’t given it that much needed TLC it deserved.  I knew that I was due for a deep conditioning treatment so I figured I would grab a couple of those conditioning packets while at the grocery store.  I opted to buy the larger bottle since we’re heading into swimming season soon and my hair will need it then too.  The product I’m talking about is the ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner.  

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Drugstore Product Haul and Review: Hair, Skincare and Makeup

I finally pulled out the old camera and whipped up a brand spankin’ new video for my Youtube
channel.  I love drugstore products whether it be for hair, makeup or skincare so I thought I would share my thoughts on a few of them.  Some of the items mentioned are new to me while others are ones that I consider staples.

I’ve been on the hunt for a jet black eyeliner for creating a winged liner or cat eye look.  I have bought more than a few products that just didn’t quite fit the bill.  I am so pleased to have finally found something that not only looks amazing but stays on until it’s time to take it off.  I mean who wants to walk around with only one winged eye right?

I’m also looking forward to the summer months and getting my skin in shape is on my to-do list.  In the video I explain how I use my favorite drugstore scrub to get rid of that pesky winter skin.  I also picked up a body butter by Shea Moisture which looks promising.

CHECK OUT MY LATEST YOUTUBE VIDEO
PRODUCT HAUL/REVIEW:  HAIR, MAKEUP & SKINCARE

For hair, I found a few items at Sally’s Beauty Supply, which is one of my favorite stores.  I also headed over to Target and repurchased a staple conditioner for me and my boys.

Lastly, but mentioned first in the video, are the foundations I’ve tried and what I’m using now.  Drugstore foundation has come a long way.  Still, I sometimes have trouble finding something that works for my skin.  I talk about some of my foundation trials in the video.

As you can probably guess, I love to shop for things that I can find locally and affordably.  Maybe one day I will spread my wings and graduate up to bigger and better products.  However, today is not
that day.

5 Signs Your Natural Hair Needs a Protein Treatment

A few weeks ago I realized that my hair needed a protein treatment.  This may contradict what we are told in the Natural Hair community where popular belief is that natural hair doesn’t need additional protein.  A protein treatment is often used to give added strength to hair strands.  A lot of people think that since natural hair is free from chemicals that alter the texture, then the protein core is safe.   However,  there may be other times when a protein treatment is needed.  The following are things that I look for when caring for my own natural hair

woman with natural curly hair

1.  Excessive Shedding

When the hair sheds you’ll find full strands of hair with a white root bulb on one end.  Shedding is considered normal at a rate of 50-100 strands of hair each day for most people.  However, you may notice a drastic change in your rate of shedding that continues for a prolonged period of time.  A protein treatment may aid in reducing the amount of shedding.*

2.  Breakage

As I stated above, a protein treatment can give added strength to hair strands which in turn helps to protect the hair from breaking.  If you are seeing small pieces of hair breaking and it’s not shedding  then this may help.
WATCH ME USE THE
APHOGEE 2 MINUTE KERATIN RECONSTRUCTOR
PROTEIN TREATMENT ON MY CURLY HAIR

3.  Change in Hair Texture

This can happen after using heat.  The higher the temperature the more damaging the heat can be.  For this reason you may find your hair is not curling back up or reverting back to your normal texture.  I have experienced this several times and I always turn to a protein conditioner to see if that helps.  If not, the damage may be permanent but at least the protein gives the hair an added layer of protection.

4.  Excessive Split Ends

A few split ends here and there can be considered normal.  It’s when you’re seeing a significant number of splits that you should be concerned.  This calls for a trim and then maybe a light protein treatment to strengthen the hair and prevent further damage.

5.  You Use Direct Heat and Hair Color

Some naturals are relaxer free but use hair dye and direct heat to alter the look of their natural hair.  These can potentially lead to damage (cuticle layer damage or porosity issues) that can cause dryness and breakage.

What to Use for a Protein Treatment

A protein treatment can be made at home with mayonnaise, eggs, coconut milk and or avocado.  There are also store bought conditioners that claim to fortify the hair with added protein.  Look for things that say, “Strengthening” or, “for Damaged Hair”.  This means there is protein in the ingredients list that may be helpful for hair that is dry, damaged and/or breaking.   I like to apply a light protein conditioner to my hair and sit with it covered by a plastic cap for about twenty minutes.  Remember though, anytime you use protein treatment on your hair it must be followed by a moisturizing deep treatment.  Too much protein can make the hair feel brittle so the moisture will help to balance things out.
NOTE:  If your hair is sensitive to protein then this may not be an option for you.

*Excessive hair loss can also be a sign of stress or a deeper health issue.  It may be best to seek professional help if the condition does not respond to the use of protein or other at home treatments

Check out my video on how I do a diy protein treatment.