Naturally Obsessed

Hey Ladies! Today I wanted to share with you another fab site that I stumbled upon called www.FlowersFromFatima.com. Fatima creates and sells these gorgeous handmade flower hair clips that you see above. Her pieces can be worn for many different occasions. Dress them up with a chic dress or use them to add pop to a plain tee and jean look. Keep reading to learn more about the young lady behind the brand...

Fatima's inspiration....

"Growing up, my father decided to pursue a family run program for the improvement of our neighborhood. Alone, my family and I turned the neighborhood into a paradise. We attracted exotic butterflies, birds, and positive energy that seemed foreign to the complex and this beauty lasted for many Summers. It was then, 10 years ago, that I found an attraction for natural beauty and have grown to connect with our Mother Nature in all ways possible. In mid-December, my father passed, but his vision and dream of hope lives through my flowers"

Want to know what else is great?? Fatima is now offering a very generous discount of 40% off exclusively to Naturally Obsessed readers. All you have to do is enter "Naturally40" into the promo code box before checking out....and that's it!!  Offer ends on Sept. 21st exactly one week from today, so act fast before the offers runs out. Happy shopping ladies :)

 Product Description: 

An Orchard in a Bottle. Thayers Peach Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera Formula is nectar for the skin. It’s got all the soothing properties you’ve come to love in our Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera Formula Astringents, with a gorgeous, fresh-off-the-tree scent. Thayers Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera Formula Astringents and Alcohol-Free Toners have been soothing, softening, healing and stimulating skin since 1847. Try our hands-on approach. Hamamelis Virginiana? Thayers calls it "The Shrub Of Life". Made of extract from the Witch Hazel shrub (Hamamelis Virginiana) and a blend of other time-tested ingredients - THAYERS Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera Formula Astringents and Alcohol-Free Toners are soothing, natural treatments that cleanse, tone and soothe your skin. Read more HERE.

Ingredients: Thayers Proprietary Witch Hazel, Peach leaves, Orange Flower, Tangerine, Kiwi, Passion Fruit, Vitamin C, Aloe Vera, natural grain alcohol as a preservative (10%) and an Emulsified All-Natural Peach Fragrance

Cost: 12 oz bottle $6.54 @ www.LuckyVitamin.com

My Thoughts: I've been using witch hazel on my face since I started doing the OCM (oil cleansing method) last year. I use it as a toner after cleansing to grab any extra dirt or oil lingering on my face. In the beginning I would use a generic/no name witch hazel from Walmart and it worked fine for my skin...nothing special. When I ran out I decided to look for other formulations before repurchasing the same brand. I stumbled on the Thayers brand while stocking up on conditioner at LuckyVitamin.com and was immediately impressed by the ingredients and product claims. Long story short, I scooped up a bottle and have been using it ever since. The first thing I noticed about this brand was the scent, it actually smells really nice...like peaches lol! My generic brand smelled like rubbing alcohol so this was definitely an upgrade. Another plus about Thayers Witch Hazel is that it not only cleanses my skin, but it makes my skin feel soft and moisturized afterwards. On my lazy days when I have nowhere to go I often and don't feel like doing the OCM, I'll just squirt some Thayers on a cotton ball, swipe my face and be done. It's now a staple in my skincare regimen!

Her fave products...

“Most of the time when I do my hair I wash it and I use two different Aveda products: Shampure and Aveda Damage Remedy,” she said.

 On maintaining healthy ends...

Most of the people I know say ‘Oh I haven’t cut my hair in seven years, it never grows it’s been this way the whole time,’ when really it hasn’t been that way, it’s been grown.”

 “If you get the ends cut solid so they don’t split they’re not going to break and your hair’s going to grow. People who think their hair doesn’t grow, it’s not true, everyone’s hair grows. You are cutting your hair with your hair brush and comb if you’re not getting it cut regularly. The breakage at the end makes you think it’s not growing.”

Keeping it simple...

“Put the conditioner in it, comb it out, then wash out the conditioner. Braid it into four big plats and keep it like that for a day. Then unravel the braids and you have curls that will stay.”

Article submitted by Daisy Raybould- Maintaining healthy hair is unfortunately not as simple as just using shampoo and conditioner. There are a number of things we need to consider and all are equally as important in order to achieve the perfect hair we all desire. These are not complicated or expensive tips however practiced on a regular basis they have proven to be very effective.

Balanced Diet
The food we eat is an essential influencing factor in the overall condition of our hair. A balanced diet is key to healthy hair.

•Water is vital for nourishing the hair and locking in the natural shine making it silky smooth and more manageable
•Eggs contain the hair growth vitamin known as biotin, which also helps to maintain a healthy scalp
•Salmon and nuts contain high levels of omega 3 fatty acids, these acids are responsible for maintaining a healthy scalp and revitalizing dull hair
•Poultry is a great source of protein that can help strengthen weak hair and restore color
•Low-fat yogurt and milk are great sources of calcium, a mineral that is very important for the growth of hair
•Dark green vegetables contain vitamins A and C, which assist in the production of sebum. This oil acts as a natural conditioner for the hair
•Whole grains found in bread and cereals will provide the hair with a healthy dose of vitamin B, iron, and zinc
•Beans, legumes, and lentils are a great source of vitamins and minerals to help strengthen brittle hair

Healthy Scalp
No matter how hard you try, healthy hair cannot be achieved without a healthy scalp. You should opt for a mild form of shampoo with an acid base; this will ensure the hair is protected while maintaining the texture of the hair. It is not recommended that you shampoo every day, as this will further dry out your scalp. Simply wash your hair when it feels dirty.

The scalp must be kept moisturized; this will keep the skin supple and help to stimulate the growth of hair. Try natural essential oils such as jojoba, rosemary or tea tree oil. Use Shea butter for hair to maintain moisture in the scalp. Exfoliate once a week to remove dead skin and massage regularly to improve blood circulation.

Loeski writes...

Hi Shana! Let me start by giving you props for having such a successful blog and YouTube channel! Your natural journey has helped me out a lot, but I'm sure you can tell by the subject line that I'm having some hair issues. Around April this year, I began to notice my hair getting more frizzy and a lot drier. I was doing deep conditions every 3 weeks due to protective styling (mini twists and such) after washes, but nothing seemed to help. I trim my ends once a month, because I have loads of damage and split ends (too much heat on my hair) and I think I may have heat damage as well. I try to talk to people about my hair and no one seems to recognize the big deal because my twist outs and styles "look good" but the frizz and lack of curl pattern are really beginning to worry me. My hair only curls when wet (which didn't used to be the case) and even if I allow my hair to air dry and apply moisturizer it is still dry!!! I  am debating cutting off my shoulder length 4a hair and starting over *insert sad face here*. I don't know what to do! I feel like I have tried everything but to no avail. If you can be of assistance, I would really appreciate it! You are one of my hair idols so whatever you have to say will be taken into consideration with the utmost respect. 
Hopefully, Loeski 

Hi Loeski! I think you've already diagnosed the problem correctly all by yourself lol! From what you've written, it seems your issue is heat damage. You have all the classic symptoms; frizz, lack of curl pattern and hair that is just not behaving as it normally does. Your efforts to treat the issue are commendable, but unfortunately if it's heat damage there isn't much you can do to fix it. The only options you really have is to either grow it out or cut it off. Also the dryness could be a result of the products you're using. Make sure that if it claims to moisturizing, that it is water based (meaning water should 1st on the ingredients list). Try to avoid sulfate shampoos and check to see if your products contain proteins or not. Your hair maybe sensitive to protein which could also be the cause of your dryness. I hope this helps you Loeski and thank you for supporting my blog and YouTube channel. The love is truly appreciated :)
-Shana