Reshma Henna Review

I recently found Reshma Henna at a local Indian grocery store. After hearing about it online, I thought I would try it out. For 200 grams the cost was only three dollars. I figured if it worked I was definitely going back to buy more. Well, it not only worked, it also rinsed out a lot easier than the henna I used in the past.

I combined 100 grams Reshma Henna with about 50 grams Amla powder which is a great conditioner. I also had a little Moroccan Henna leftover from my Hennasooq.com order so I figured I would use the rest. The resulting color definitely covered my stubborn greys but was still very burgundy red. Indoors it still looks dark but you can really see the red tone in the sun. I was hoping for a different result because amla is known for darkening but, oh well.

On other occasions I combined Indigo with my Henna for a brunette color. Somehow I was still ending up with a more reddish auburn. I may end up going black by applying the Indigo to my hair after I've rinsed the henna. I've heard that this 2 step process will also give the best gray coverage. Either that or I'll give the henna/indigo mix one more go but this time using more indigo.

Braiding My Own Hair

When I was researching what styles would work best for my transition into Natural hair, I found that wearing braids would be a good choice. Here's the thing...the last time I had my hair in braids was when I was 10 years old. My mother used to braid my hair 1 to 2 times each week. I had never gone to a stylist to have it braided.

I had heard all of the horror stories of people getting their braids done and it hurting so bad the first couple of days. Then there was the cost. I was not interested in spending tons of money to have someone else do them for me. I learned about the "Crown and Glory Technique" at Growafrohairlong.com. There were lots of women who were using this method to grow their hair by wearing it in braids a couple months at a time. Here's the kicker, they were all braiding their own hair with professional results in most cases.

I found a twenty minute video on the site that explained how to do braid extensions yourself. I was amazed to see how easy it was (or at least in the video). It showed everything from how to select the hair to how to finish the ends. The tutorial took all of the mystery out of doing extensions. So, I watched the video a few times and headed to my local bss. I was so confident that I didn't even ask for help from a salesperson.

When I got home, I started prepping the hair, carefully following the instructions in the video. Once the hair was ready I got started on my first few braids. Thank goodness I started in the back. I quickly found out that it would take a bit of practice but I finally got the hang of it. I probably worked for 5 hours that night and then another 3 the next morning (after taking my son to school with an Axel Rose scarf on my head..lol!). When I finished, I was so proud of my hair (and I did it for under $30 bucks!).

Thing is...after two months, I just couldn't take those braids. It was the worst feeling not being able to see my hair. Also, since it was my first time, I was constantly having to re-braid sections after each wash. Sadly, I haven't done them since. Now, when I want a braided style, I just work with my own natural hair which is a lot less work. I still use some of what I learned in the video. I get asked by my subscribers on YouTube how I manage to get them to look so neat in back. I just say, "It's easier than you think," and direct them to the site.

New Multivitamin for Hair Growth

I joined the "Ultimate Hair Growth Challenge," on K.I.S.S. at the end of August.  It lasts for 6 months and only requires two things:

1.  Use a growth aid 2-5 times per week

2.  Take a multivitamin every day

At the beginning of the challenge, I was on the tail end of a bottle of Women's One a Day vitamins.  I can't say too much about them as far as hair growth because I didn't notice any difference while using them.  I also kept having an upset stomach whenever I took them.  The hair challenge gave me a good enough excuse to start looking for

something new. 

I wanted a vitamin that would give me the minerals I need along with some natural elements.  So I headed to one of my favorite Natural Grocery stores called Vitamin Cottage where I often shop for supplements and natural hair care products.  The prices are reasonable and they have a pretty good selection.  I settled on the Women's One Food Based Multivitamin by Rainbow Light.  It is gentler on my stomach (as the bottle states) and is made with things like kale and spinach juice, organic spirulina, probiotics and enzymes.  So far, I prefer it over my old vitamin because with it being easier to take, I'm keeping up with it better.  I can almost swear that my nails are growing faster so that tells me it may a good choice for my hair growth challenge.  My first length check is at the end of October so we'll see how it goes.

Easy Cheesecake Recipe


 




 

For our 10 year Wedding Anniversary, the hubby asked if I would make a cheesecake for dessert.  I thought, "Why not...It's been a while since I've made cheesecake".  Normally I just use the recipe on the back of the graham cracker box but, the one I picked up didn't have one.  So, I searched for a recipe online the night before the big day.  It was too late to head out for any last minute ingredients.  After reading a few recipes, I figured out that I could probably pull something together using what I had on hand. 

The results...an easy cheesecake recipe that was good to the last slice.  Try it and you won't be dissapointed.

Natural Style-Flat Twist-Out




 

While I was transitioning, I learned how to flat twist my hair by watching videos on YouTube.  At first, the technique eluded me and it seemed like I could never get the twists right.  I was always starting each one over and over.  I kept at it and now it is one of my favorite styles.  The only thing I haven't quite figured out is how to get them to dry faster. 

This weekend I decided to do some flat twisting once again for a soft wavy look.  One thing I figured out is that if I twist in rows from the crown and go back towards my nape, I end up with pretty little spirals that fall down around my face. 

Another tip I picked up over at CurlyNikki.com is to secure each flat twist with a bobby pin so that it doesn't unravel.  Sometimes I use rollers on the ends for a Twist n' Curl or just leave the ends out for a faster drying time.