HAIR FOOD: BLACK BEANS

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Hey guys!! In an effort to take better care of the body I have, I've been incorporating more Meatless days in my diet.  So out of a 7-day week, I have 2/3 days where I eat nothing but fruits and vegetables.  As a result, I've fallen in love with black beans!!

I tried them once or twice and wasn't impressed so I put them on my "If I never eat these again, I'll be cool" list.  One day I decided to try them out just because and doggone it, that did it.  I had Black Bean tacos with Feta cheese!! YUMMO!!!  Ever since, I've been putting them in just about everything from tacos to quesadillas to salsa salads. 

Of course, with eating all these beans I'm sure that it has to have a positive affect on my hair growth. And it does!  Black beans are rich in protein which of course our hair is made of.  Black beans are really good for stimulating hair growth.  The protein from the beans will give the shaft of your hair more strength, and will reduce the probability of damage. 

Here's a couple of recipes I've been munching on:

Black Bean Salsa

Veggie Quesadilla - with zucchini and various bell peppers added

ENJOY!!  So eat up!!

SUMMER HAIR ROUNDUP

Hey All!!  Here's how I've been rocking my hair this summer so far. 

My side puff:

I saw this video and immediately fell in love with  it.  It kinda reminds me of a semi-Princess Leia look. Just me? Ok.

Here's my rendition of it.

 

This is where I just started playing with my braids (about 2 weeks in).

Jumbo Twists to the back:

Side Swipe:

 Few Braids pulled back and to the side:

HAPPY STYLING!!

MONISTAT FOR HAIR GROWTH???

 

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Blame this post on my beloved BFF :)  So she calls and says "Hey, have you ever heard of using Monistat to grow your hair?"  I was COMPLETELY stunned.  I mean I had a SERIOUS pause.  I said "No" and she says that ladies actually use it to grow out certain parts of their hair.  So y'all know I had to do some digging to figure out what on earth she was talking about.

So.  The PC term is Miconazole Nitrate.  It's an antifungal agent used mostly for yeast infections, which as a lady, I'm sure you know or know about and is pretty much the part I cannot get past.  But anyway, it inhibits the growth of common fungii i.e. dandruff, and is a good oxidizing agent.  This is the supposed reason it makes your hair grow fast.  According to eHow, it is believed to work because the nitrate provides oxygen to the hair by relaxing the blood vessels in the body and scalp and allowing more oxygen into the scalp's capillaries. Nitrates widen the blood vessels, which improves blood flow. Blood circulation and blood oxygen levels directly stimulate the hair follicles, which leads to hair growth.  Interesting.

I got the concept from reading articles, but of course as a bonafide YouTuber, I had to get a visual.  I was thinking there would be a few vids, but turns out this is a hot topic and there are plenty for your viewing pleasure.  Can't really say I was surprised though.  Here's what I found:

**disclaimer - excuse the errors, she does give a good breakdown**

I'm all about using additives such as Vitamins and Jamaican Black Castor Oil to grow your hair, but this is a bit extreme for my taste.  No shade at the ones who've done it.

So tell me people, would you try this if it means that you can reach your hair goal sooner than later?  Have you tried this, did it work for you? SPILL SPILL SPILL!!!

For your continued reading pleasure - Strange Beauty.

DO YOU PROTEIN TREAT YOUR HAIR?

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Hey All!! I hope everyone is having a fantastic hair experience this summer!! I got box braids because I was just tired of my hair and I couldn't be happier about it. Before I put my hair up, I cowashed and did a serious DC. I didn't do a protein treatment because by the time I thought about it stores were closed.  I haven't had one since March :(

So I got to thinking about my regimen and length retention (since I really want to make my goal this year) and thought "How often should I be incorporating a protein treatment? Our hair is mostly protein, so adding a treatement has to help with retention I'm sure." (My logic)

I normally get a treatment every time I get a trim (3 months). But now I'm thinking I should make it sooner. I've scoured some sites and everyone has their own routine - some weekly, some biweekly, some monthly.  I've reasoned, it depends on your hair. You have to find the right balance for your hair.

I'm still researching this topic, but I want to hear from y'all. Have you incorporated protein treatments in your regimen? And if so, how often? 

THAT'S ALL THE HAIR YOU GOT?!

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So I had a convo with one of my male friends and here's how it went:

Him: 'How long have you been natural?' 
Me: '5 years.'
Him: 'That's all the hair you got?!' 
Me: 'What do you mean?'
Him: 'I mean why don't you have more hair than that? Shouldn't it be down your back or something?' 

Now.  I could've flown off the handle and been offended by what he said BUT having asked myself this same question several times in my journey I understood where he was coming from.  He expected my hair to just grow out the wazoo and be down to my butt with the snap of a finger.  I did too - TOTALLY UNREALISTIC.  

As we all know, my hair is Type 4 all the way and shrinkage is a B! round these parts, so you could definitely be fooled by thought of not having a lot of hair, especially if you're in my category.  However, after 5 years of being natural, I've come to some hard realizations about my hair.  

It took me the longest to accept the fact that my hair does not grow fast. It just doesn't. Don't like it. Wish it were different. Oh well.  It's genetics.  I can't expect to have long flowy hair when my mother and father don't.  I definitely got my thickness from them.  I wish I could've gotten my grandma's genes too..Hair was long, but very fine.  Imagine that..Thick BSL hair naturally *wishful thinking* I digress..

I've also had to swallow the pill that the majority of the time, Foxy does what Foxy wants to do when she wants to do it.   Enough said. 

I didn't like these facts, but hey what could I do?   I could wallow over my hair not being a certain length or I could accept them for what they are and deal with what I have.  I am so glad chose the latter.

I love Foxy's kinks and curls - in all her thick and dense glory. It may not be super long like my muse, Corrinne Bailey Rae, yet, but it's getting there.  So when people come up to you questioning why your hair isn't like this or that, pay them no mind.  Don't be discouraged, your hair is gorgeous! Embrace it ALL!!

GREAT AMERICAN BRAID OUT- BOHO STYLE

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Hey guys!! Another Summer Natural Hair staple of mine is the Braid Out.  It gives me the big hair I crave! Here's a cute little twist on the Great American Braid Out for big and fabulous hair!

And you can always take some fabric and twist or braid it to make a cute DIY hair accessory or buy one already braided and ready to go.  I'll be trying this version for an event I'm going to soon.  So check back for the update :)

Happy Styling!!