Naturally Obsessed

Hello Naturally Obsessed Readers,

It’s TheHeartfeltHoney and I’m here with this week’s Food For Thought: Pumpkin! I am going to be honest with you all. When I thought to use Pumpkin as a food for thought I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to find very much information on the benefits of Pumpkin on hair. Needless to say, I was wrong!! Surprisingly enough, Pumpkin whether directly applied topically or ingested is great for hair.

According to ehow.com, Pumpkin seeds contain the fatty oils with linoleic acid and oleic acid, both known to prevent cancer-causing cell production. They are also an excellent source of vitamins A, B6 and C and nutrients such as zinc, magnesium, calcium and iron. Most beneficial to those suffering from hair loss, the seeds contain cucurbitin, a unique amino that may be responsible for Pumpkin seeds' effects on hair growth. Pumpkin is also considered a ‘super food’ by many researchers because it is so rich in arytenoids which are fat soluble substances found in many plants. There are more than 50 arytenoids are found in Pumpkin.

So, how can we use Pumpkin to improve the quality of our hair and skin? Ingesting Pumpkin is an easy and tasty way to help retain hair. Eating two hands full of Pumpkin seeds a day you increase your zinc intake. According to Source 5, a reduced level in Zinc in the body can result in poor hair growth and dandruff. You can find Pumpkin seeds at your local convenient and health stores. They come in a variety of ways including dried, shelled, salted or roasted. If you are looking for another use for those Halloween Pumpkins, try this fun recipe from ehow.com for roasted Pumpkin seeds and there is always the classic Pumpkin pieJ

We can also reap the benefits of Pumpkin by applying it externally. The oil from Pumpkin seeds is believed to effect testosterone and androgen levels in the body. Lack of androgens in the body is believed to be a primary cause of hair loss. You can also purchase Pumpkin seed oil at your local health food store or online by visiting Amazon.com. Also visit BellaSugar.com for a fun and easy Pumpkin facial mask.

I found so many wonderful ways we can benefit from Pumpkin during my research that I decided to compile a short list of them here for you via HairLossSupplements.com:

*Research has been done on the benefits of arytenoids and it is found that foods like Pumpkin can decrease the risk of cancers including lung, cervical, colon, breast, bladder and especially skin cancer, since arytenoids are known to protect the skin (and eyes) from the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

*One 13-year-long study also noted a strong positive relationship between a diet high in carotenoid-rich foods and a decreased risk in heart disease.

*Beta carotene is not only a powerful antioxidant, but it is also considered an anti-inflammatory, which prevents the buildup oxidized cholesterol on blood vessel and arterial walls (atherosclerosis), thus reducing the risk of stroke or heart attack.

*There are no known side effects to eating Pumpkin or taking it for medicinal purposes. It is recommended however, that when purchasing products for their healing properties, the seeds contain 30 percent of the unsaturated fats (linoleic and oleic fatty acids).

I hope you enjoyed this post. For more fun ways to easily incorporate Pumpkin in to your diet check out ehow.com. Until next time, I wish you all peace and light. For more from me visit me at my YouTube channel TheHeartfeltHoney or at HoneyCee.blogspot.com.

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I've been getting this message a lot and my response is...nothing much! I've been kind of lazy to be honest, especially with my hair. As far as styling goes, it's braid outs all the way. Takes me about 30-45 minutes to set my hair in braids and after a day it's dry and ready to be unraveled and fluffed. I get a cute style without the tangled fuss. In the picture above I set my braids using Cantu Shea Butter Leave In on wet hair. I purchased this jar a few months ago for Niecey poo's hair, but her hair didn't like it too much. While going through my product stash, I came across it and decide to give another go on my hair. Loved it! The pic above is actually 3rd day hair, it still hair nice shine and definition. Most importantly it still had it's softness.

I also recently tried a new washing/detangling method. The recent events("drama" lol!) on YouTube had me going through older vids of others and I came across KimmayTube's "Updated Wash & Detangle Routine" video. I won't detail the whole video here, because you can watch it by clicking the link, but she has a method of applying her shampoo, lather up, squeeze out the suds and then apply the conditioner on top of that. Then of course rinsing it out. I tried it the other day using Elucence Shampoo and Conditioner and it worked like a charm. The only thing I did differently was I used a Castor and Grapeseed Oil mix instead of Ex. Virgin Olive Oil like she did, prior to applying the shampoo. Have you tried this method yet...thoughts??

Also, lately I've been having a terrible itch to flat iron my hair. The MaxiGlide just keeps calling my name lol! My plan is to not straighten my hair until early next year, hopefully I can stick to it. To satisfy my craving I'll be tiny twisting my hair up in a few weeks. Tiny twists will give me the length fix and a much needed break from detangling that straight hair would. We'll see how it goes...

How has your weekend been so far?

About Me....My name is Constance Marie. I went completely natural on April 5, 2010 after transitioning for 10 months. I must admit that I LOVE being natural and I wish I would have done it sooner. I enjoy being natural so much that I started blogging about my journey after becoming natural on my blog at http://elegantnatural.blogspot.com.

Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?

I live in Tuskegee, Alabama—a predominately black town—and the natural community is average here. I see more naturals on the campus of Tuskegee University, however; the residents in the city seem to have a majority of relaxed/chemically altered tresses.

When and why did you decide to go natural?

As aforementioned, I did my Big Chop on April 5, 2010. I went natural because I realized that I needed to accept myself fully and stop conforming myself for others. Once I embraced my God-given beauty I have really moved forward in life with confidence and I love it.

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision?

My sisters and parents were very supportive of my decision. Two of my sisters were already natural and recently, my other sister just did her big chop. My mother has also stopped getting relaxers. So we are truly a family going natural:-)

My current hair routine....My current hair routine is fairly simple. Every Sunday I will either co-wash or shampoo. Then, I apply a conditioner for my leave in (this method was suggested by Teri LaFlesh of “Curly Like Me”). I will then twist my hair. After my hair is completely dry I will oil my scalp with essential oilsand apply EVOO throughout my hair—while it’s still in the twists. For the rest of the week, I simply sleep with a satin bonnet and oil my hair every other day. Very simple.

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?

My hair goal is to obtain significant length in 2-3 years, maintain my thick hair, and have healthy/strong hair. The steps I am taking to achieve these goals are having little to no manipulation of my hair. I never comb/pick my hair. I only detangle it once a week and this is done while the hair is soaking wet with conditioner. I never use heat or a blow dryer on my hair. I also use a very limited supply of products because I do not want to overload the hair. Also, I only use oils on my scalp. I avoid sulfate shampoos or any other products that may dry out my hair and make it prone to breakage/damage. I also make sure to seal my ends with a shea butter/EVOO mixture I made.

Describe your favorite natural hair style.

My fave style is twist-outs.  I put the twists in once a week after co-washing or shampooing it. After I apply my conditioner as a leave-in, I begin to individually twist my hair throughout my head. After the hair is completely dry I take the twists out while sealing my hair in ends, simultaneously. I then separate the twists for fuller look. To maintain the style for the remainder of the week, I sleep with a satin bonnet. The next morning, I take the bonnet off and gently tug the hair to re-shape it.

Curly girls have more fun because....we are embracing the natural beauty given to us. By doing this, we show that we can appreciate the uniqueness given to us by our Lord and choose to not conform for others.

About Me...My name is Lybra. I am a free spirited artsy type. I make jewelry, paint pictures, and try to see life through the eyes of others.  To others I am friend, auntie, sister, Wifey, and so on.

Where do you live? How's the natural hair community there?

Originally I am from Washington, DC; a true city gem. LOL. But I have uprooted myself and moved to West Palm Beach, Florida.  The natural hair scene here is very much lacking. Most of the women here are holding on tight to the weaves and relaxers.  But I do see a few natural women sprinkled in here and there and it warms my heart. I have inspired two girls whom I work with to go ahead and do the big chop. So I guess you could say I am starting a movement =).

When and why did you decide to go natural?

I've attempted to go natural on three different occasions.  I guess the third time is the charm because this time it stuck around. In may 2009 with the help of my Boyfriend, I Big Chopped. There were so many reasons why I went natural. Overall, I wanted healthier hair and I suffer from dry scalp issues and, the relaxers always burned my scalp and left it flaky and itchy.  Shortly before going natural I really started to focus on my health more.  I became Vegetarian and started to do periodic system cleanses.  I learned that the chemicals in Relaxers have no business in the body and I decided it was time to rid myself of them.  Also, I wanted to get to know the real me.  I hadn't seen my natural hair texture since I was very young.  Growing up my hair was so thick and curly that my mom would relax just to manage it better.  I never wore it free because she would corn roll it every week but I think it was a task for her in it's natural state. I've seen pictures of her Fro from the seventies but my hair is much thicker than hers was.  

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision? If not, how were you able to move forward?

My first two attempts were not met with much support at all.  My best friend at the time would always say things that made me self conscious about my hair. And another friend at the time who was going through the journey with me ended up relaxing so I just went on ahead an did the same.  I was completely unaware of the huge resources online at that time.  My third attempt came after losing my mom.  I decided to really take a look at who I was and who I wanted to become.  My boyfriend was really supportive.  He loves natural women so he really gave me the push I needed.  During my growth process I realized that the more I did things without considering what the outside world thinks the easier it was.  People eventually accepted it.  My brother and Dad are still warming up to the idea though.

Describe your current hair routine. I deep condition once an week and I co-wash every few days.  I use a sulfate free shampoo whenever I feel build-up. After washing depending on what I'm feeling I use shea butter to either braid it for a braid out or twist it for a twist out.  Sometimes i leave the braids or twist in for a couple of days before I take it down.  Every day to refresh my hair I spray with a mixture of avocado oil, rose water, vegetable glycerin, and water. On my scalp I use "Nature's Blessings Hair Promade" every few days to avoid it becoming dry.  Every night i tie my hair down with a satin scarf.

Do you have any hair goals? If so, how will you achieve them?

My main goal is healthy hair but I also want to allow it to grow to it's full potential.  To maintain length I am careful when I comb through it and try not to manipulate it too much.  I also take a supplement from Dherbs for Hair, Skin, and Nails.

What's your favorite natural hair style?

I love twist outs.  They seem to last the longest and as the curl it creates loosens, I am able to get a few extra days out of it if I pin it up or put in in an Afro Puff. When my hair is wet after co-washing, I separate it in sections.  I use shea butter and a little of Giovanni LA Natural hair gel to twist. I allow it to dry over night and separate in in morning.  I can typically get 4 or 5 days out of that.

Curly girls have more fun because...we are free from the rules of what our hair should look like.  The style possibilities are endless.

Hey Naturally Obsessed Readers!

I’m back with another “Food For Thought” for you all this week and this one is a little creamy. This week’s food: Yogurt. So what is in this healthy dessert that can also benefit our hair? According to Katie Did over at DailyGlow.com, Yogurt contains enriching elements like zinc, calcium, lactic acid, vitamins B1, B2, B-6 and B-12, protein, and yeast. It also has rich deposits of friendly bacteria that boost overall health as well as that of the hair and skin. It is made through milk fermentation and bacteria that changes milk from a liquid to a semi-solid. The consistency of yogurt is important here because it is used as the base in many homemade hair conditioner recipes.

Much to the curly girls delight, Yogurt spreads easily along the hair shaft coating it with nourishing ingredients. The protein in Yogurt strengthens hair strands which aids in hair retention. According to Crunchy Betty, the fatty acid in lactic will help to shine and smooth tangled hair, making it easier to comb, and leaving your hair soft.

Yogurt also acts as a gentle cleanser, working to clear the pores of your scalp and eliminating dandruff. Like tomatoes and banana, Yogurt also strengthens hair follicles. Crunchy Betty tells us that the enzymes in yogurt will combat dandruff and help soothe an itchy scalp. Hair that is dry or worn from styling would really benefit from a Yogurt hair mask. Visit ehow.com to try their fun, easy, and curly girl friendly homemade Yogurt conditioner.

Not only is Yogurt good for our hair, but it can also work wonders for our skin! It helps reduce black and white heads, lightens dark spots, and shrinks pores. For a few good face mask recipes visit Tips4.net and Bukisa.com. I actually plan to try a few of the recipes myself:) I hope you all enjoyed this post and I look forward to sharing the benefits of pumpkin with you all next week. As always, I wish you all a peace and light. See ya in the next post!

If you would like to see more posts from HeartfeltHoney please click this link! http://naturallyobsessed.onsugar.com/tag/food+for+thought

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Product Description: "A styling product that without damaging the hair can loosen the tightest of curls and soften course wiry hair preventing you from having to use harsh chemical relaxers. EXTENZZ™ is the ultimate non-chemical curl styling relaxer. By using the correct combing techniques, EXTENZZ™ allows you to manipulate your curls into a looser, well defined, FRIZZ FREE curl without the look and feel of heavy oils". Silicone and Sulfate free.

Ingredients: Aqua, Lecithin, VP/VA Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Panthenol, Silk Amino Acids, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract Sodium PCA, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Straw Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract (Sea Kelp), Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyquaternium-37, Trideceth-6, Parfum, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-11, Oleth-20, DMDM Hydantoin, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Isoceteth-20, Oleyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol/Ceteareth-30, Cetrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyquaternium-7, Disodium EDTA, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Isopropyl Myristate, Benzophenone-4, Polyquaternium-10, Polyacrylamide

Cost: 8oz bottle for $21.00 @ CurlMart.com

My Thoughts: (See Video)

via Essence.Com

Absolutely Gorgeous!!!

Back when 106th & Park was about something, hosts Free and AJ graced my television everyday after school. Never paid too much attention to AJ, it was Free who grab attention of young teens, male and female. Her outfits were on point, the shoes always fierce and the hair ever changing and bold. Back then natural was not a big deal to me...not much of a thought either. However, I admired her look and the confidence she had to be on tv everyday completely owning a look that most women in the industry hid. When I think about it now, back then that was something rare to see. The bloggers over at Naturally Me recently wrote a post about Free and her natural hair, and Free responded with a bog of her own!

Here's a few excerpts for Free's blog that I found interesting....

So here's the background on my hair: I was born with a head full of it (in more ways than one)! My hair is a mixture of my DNA, strong and stubborn in parts (especially on top of my head), soft and curly in other spots, which makes me what hairdressers call an "interesting head". Here's the real on my background: African American, Indian and West Indian.

What does that have to do with my hair? Everything. Because I can wet and it'll get curly, but as it dries up it just rises up to that afro (even when I don't want it to). If I want a straight look for a night (and I mean one night, because the humidity will curl it right back up)I use a blow dryer, flat iron and hairspray to keep it down as long as I can, but I promise you in the AM my hair will be on it's way back to afro.

Now I am a fan of weaves and wigs, especially in this entertainment business. If you don't take care of what GOD gives you will have nothing left. So helllll yeah I weave sometimes and wig sometimes, all depending on my mood. You'll know how I'm feeling any day if you look at my hair. Daring, conservative, funky, crazy, soft, sexy, rebel, even the "Pepe Le Pew" looks work for me. You know why? Because it''s just hair, it's mine, whether it's all mine or not and I shall do whatever I feel like with it....Hmmph!

Free goes on to address mother's with multicultural or highly textured children, as well as an unnamed female entertainer who told her once that she(Free) looked so much more feminine with straight hair....Oh No She DIDN'T lol! Read the rest of Free's blog here http://www.freesworld.com/2010/08/27/turning-heads-with-my-hair

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