Is this a home-made hair care product list....or a grocery list?

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
Aloe Vera Gel and Juice
Honey
Chamomile tea
Sage
marshmallow root
horsetail herb
mayonnaise (ya'll know I can't stand the taste of mayo)
avocado
banana

You would think that I was preparing to cook up some stuff....but no this is part of my home-made hair care shopping list. I swear I have become addicted to making my own products and have quickly become and ingredient junkie, instead of a product junkie. I really need to stop hanging out over at Nappturality, they are just a bunch of enablers :)

But I must say, my hair...including the raggly relaxed ends are loving the natural ingredients.

My favorite is my "Good for your body from head to toe" Moisturizer.

Shea Butter
Coconut Oil (the solid kind)
Sweet Almond Oil
Caster Oil
Grapeseed Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Patchuli e.o.
Tea Tree e.o.
Glycerine
Aloe Vera Gel

I don't measure anything so each time it's a little different. I start by whipping the shea butter and little coconut oil together. Add a little of the liquid oils until you get a consistency you like. Sometimes I like a thick cream, other times I like it more lotion-like. Add your essential oils. My relaxed hair doesn't like glycerin or aloe Vera gel too much when it is dry, so I reserve those for deep conditioning days.

When I get out of the shower, I put this moisturizer on from head to foot....literally. On hair washing day, I use the same mixture with a little cholesterol conditioner and add glycerin and aloe Vera gel. Put it on my hair, wrap in plastic wrap, put on a skull cap and then wrap in a big fluffy towel and let it sit for at least 2 hours. This past weekend, I decided to condition overnight....and my did my hair love it. My hair is still moisturized, so I haven't had to add the concoction to my dry hair yet. Will probably do it tonight since it has been 4 days now.

I have started using Moe's Hair Growth Oil. (Moe is da bomb. Her MoeSheAloe recipe is all the rave.) Again, my relaxed hair just doesn't like Aloe Vera, so if I do a mid-week wash, I use this a quick conditioner. Can't wait until I'm fully natural to use it.)
Ok, went of on a little tangent there, but I'm not doing any challenges with the growth oil, since I am still doing mini-cuts every other month when the mood hits me. Once I do the BC, I'll porbably join in on one.


The ladies over at Nappturality is great about sharing their hair care recipes, they are all over the forums, but there is a special section for them. Home-made Hair Care Products. Check it you, your hair will love you for it. Ta-ta for now.

Hand-in-fro Disease.....

Man do I have a bad case of it...plus I think it's contagious.

So, I'm just sitting here minding my own business when I feel these fingers running through and massaging my naps. Well, I've got both keys on the keyboard, so how the hell is that possible...did I sprout another arm or something. I look around and a friend of mine (he's got this stealthy way of sneaking up and catching you un-aware) is standing there with his hand buried deep in my faux fro. He grins and says he loves how soft my hair is and can't keep his hands out of it since the first I let him touch my naps.

Well you know the massage was feeling good, so no way am I gonna stop him. But I totally understand where he is coming from. I suffer badly from hand-in-fro disease and have to mentally reprimand myself to keep my hands out of my faux fro (still gots lots of that blasted relaxer on the ends, so I can't claim to have a true fro).

When I got over those first "creamy crack" joneses at the sight of my new growth and really touched and played with the newly developing crinkly texture, I was helplessly hooked. I was constantly playing with the newly forming coils I was finding all over my head. I would do it at my desk, in the car, laying on the couch and watching tv....pretty much anywhere. Addicted for sure.

I did think I was completely and totally nuts...not far from the truth anyways. But then I learned from other nappturals, that this was actually quite common in the nappy world and it had an actually name....HAND-IN-FRO. Now how 'bout that!

Hand-in-fro is the uncontrollable desire to constantly play with the beautiful, nappy texture of one's hair. I can't think of a time when I was fully relaxed, that I wanted to play in my hair.....shoot getting that way cost way too much and that style needed to last. Plus, even though I have always had soft hair....I don't remember it being this soft while relaxed. But then, can anything that has been beat straight with harsh chemicals be truly soft? {Kicks soapbox back under desk}.

Hand-in-fro is not necessarily a good thing. Playing with hair that much can only lead to breakage. I've been lucky so far, that I haven't caused breakage at that fragile place where the fried relaxed hair meets my luxurious kinky coily naps.

Oh, I did mention that it was contagious too, huh. Well we have been taught that nappy hair is brittle, course and dry. Well I have certainly been re-educated. Properly cared for nappy hair is soft, well moisturized without being greasy (you can't fry fish in my hair anymore), and just all around healthy in general. Once folks get a feel of healthy nappy hair, they love it. (I know, I'm always sticking my hands in my Moms fro). Now don't get me wrong, don't just walk up on the street and stick your hands in my hair....it would be in your best interest to actually know me and know whether or not I'd give you rights to do this without asking. I am not totally opposed to strangers asking, if they are polite about doing it.....for the most part anyway.

I have done really well while typing this. Hand-in-fro only twice.