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Category Archives: Apple Cider Vinegar

Wash Day – All About The Hair

After focusing on my scalp last week i was looking forward to spending a bit of time on my hair this week. I was due a shampoo so got out my Aubrey Organics Desert Herb Shampoo, which is an all natural sls free shampoo. I wanted to make sure my hair was loved up and glowing by the end of the session so here is what i did:

  1. Hot Oil Treatment – I sectioned my hair into four and applied Avocado oil to each section and then twisted the section. Put on a plastic bag and left it for about an hour.
  2. Shampooed – Once only, focusing on my scalp and making sure it was clean. I always wash my hair in sections because it stops it from tangling and that’s why i start off with twisted sections right at the beginning, for this purpose.
  3. Detangled – Using a cheapie conditioner (Vo5 Silk Elixir). One section at a time applied conditioner, untwisted  and detangled, first using a wide tooth comb and then followed with a Denman Brush. Rinsed and re-twisted each section before moving on to the next.
  4. ACV Rinse – I didn’t want the cheaper conditioner coating my hair strands and reducing the effect of the deep conditioner. It’s sole purpose was to aid detangling so i wanted to make sure i got it out whilst also giving my scalp a subtle kiss and saying i haven’t forgotten about you ;-p. I used about 1/8 – 1/4 cup acv to about 1 litre water and poured over my hair, massaging my scalp for a few seconds before rinsing.
  5. Deep Conditioned – Using J/A/S/O/N’s Sea Kelp conditioner, honey and macadamia nut oil. Untwisted, applied conditioner and re-twisted. Put a plastic bag over my head and then sat under my dryer hood for about 20 mins (was way too tired to go any longer). Then i let it cool down to body temperature before rinsing.
  6. Rinsed – with cool water without taking down the twists to ensure hair stays detangled.
  7. One section at a time, untwisted, applied leave-in conditioner, Shea Pomade and hair oil to my ends and then oiled my scalp with the Shea pomade massaging it in well before cornrowing. So i end up with four cornrows ready to air dry.

One thing i did notice today was how my hair felt after shampooing. I’ve been co-washing mostly and using other cleansing methods such as the Indian herb powders so this is my first shampooing in a month. My hair felt quite squeaky and dry after shampooing which i’m not sure about. Aubrey’s is definitely a good brand to use so am not questioning that. I guess that i’m now seeing how my hair reacts to different things which is really interesting. If i had shampooed every week i’m sure i would not know how it’s really making my hair feel as that’s all i would know. Now i have deviated and tried something new i can see what effects it really has on my hair. I will definitely leave the shampooing to once a month and co-washing and cleansing with herbs the rest of the month as my hair felt good after each session. However my hair was beautifully clean after shampooing and ACV rinsing so i know my DC really penetrated deep into my hair without any obstacles. I will never shampoo without doing a DC, as I think they go hand in hand. A rinse out conditioner just won’t cut it.

My hair feels smooth, soft and well moisturised and i’m well pleased. 

 

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Serious Scalp Loving

I decided today to focus on my scalp as it’s still slightly irritated. So i got out my Aloe Vera Gel and castor oil for a pre-poo treatment before co-washing.

Here’s what i did:

  • sectioned my hair into four and applied Aloe Vera Gel liberally to my scalp and massaged it in running my hands over my strands to pull the gel down into my hair.
  • Applied Castor oil to my ends and covered my hair with a plastic bag.
  • After an hour i rinsed and co-washed with herbal essence hello hydration and detangled each section with a wide tooth comb, re-twisting each section.
  • Final rinsed with ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) 1/4 cup to 1 litre water and rinsed out with cool water.
  • Then took down each twist, spritzed with the spritz mix, applied my homemade Shea pomade and finished by applying my hair oil mix onto my ends.
  • Used the Shea pomade to ‘grease’ my scalp and then braided each section into a cornrow to air dry.

The aloe vera gel made my scalp tingle so i think it was working well. I left the ACV on my hair and massaged my scalp for a minute or so before rinsing. I’m tired of the oily neck, ears and forehead i get when i oil my scalp with the oil mix, so i used the pomade instead. I’ve found it works better for my scalp. It’s extremely dry (my scalp that is) so the heaviness of the pomade lasts longer on my scalp and really seals it preventing dryness for a few days. But what i’ve noticed by doing this is that my hair strands feel less moisturised without the oil. It seems to have kept in all the moisture from the spritz and pomade. So now i apply that to my hair alone.

Next time i’ll make a few changes to this by doing the following.

  • Use a different oil to treat my hair instead of the castor oil. Castor oil is so thick that people use it to seal the moisture in. It didn’t penetrate my hair shaft as it’s so thick, so it left my hair feeling no different at the end of the pre-poo treatment. I’ll probably use either Avocado oil or olive oil.
  • I’ll do a deep conditioning treatment after the ACV rinse as it left my hair a little stripped. ACV is good for treating the scalp but it is also a natural clarifier so it will take off all the product on your hair. So i will need to re-condition my hair after to put back all that moisture.

I must admit now that my hair has dried it feels soft and moisturised so i guess no harm done. Even so, next time i’ll definitely deep condition.

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

  • Cider vinegar contains alpha-hydroxy acids, is an antiseptic and balances pH
  • It closes the hair cuticle preventing product build-up and leaves the hair shiny and smooth
  • You should use a cap full or one tablespoon mixed into two cups of lukewarm water as an after shampoo clarifying rinse
  • Its also good as an in-between wash rinse to get rid of itchiness.
  • It discourages the overgrowth of yeast-like fungus known as malassezia furfur that sets off dandruff.

I’ve already listed the benefits of Aloe Vera in a previous blog. I bought my Aloe Vera Gel from Holland and Barratt.

 

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