Sunday, November 13, 2011

The 411 on Biotin for Healthy Hair by Tanya Walters

We at deNaturalistas LOVE to get a guest blog post from one of our favorite deNaturalistas and reknown sister loctitianm, Tanya Walters, of BeautiLocs by Tanya.   Enjoy her insight on the benefits of taking Biotin as a supplement.  Take it away Tanya! :

Oftentimes, clients come to me with hair growth issues. The reasons are many … sometimes they are growing out relaxers, sometimes medication has taken their hair out, sometimes they have (or someone else has) unintentionally damaged their hair, and sometimes it is the result of poor nutrition.
As we all know, the food we eat provides us with vitamins which keep us healthy. Therefore, the diet you follow plays a very important role in keeping your hair in good condition. If you do not receive all the vitamins you need with your daily food intake, you may begin experiencing hair problems. Sometimes, those who eat a good balance of vitamins have other health issues that can hamper the distribution of vitamins in your body, which may result in your body not being able to absorb nutrients properly.  So review your food regimen with a health care professional before actually using any specific supplement to promote hair growth. There are many vitamin supplements available on the market that you can use to get the proper amount of vitamins every day. Taking vitamins in larger quantities than needed may also have negative effects on your health.
Biotin, a member of the B-vitamin family, is a naturally occurring substance found in the body. Its purpose is to strengthen muscles, bones, tissues hair and other cells. So this helps to keep your hair thick, healthy and of course, maintain its’ growth. The relationship between biotin and hair loss is being studied as a way of regenerating thinning, weak or brittle hair in men and in women.
 You must get enough biotin in your daily intake to prevent hair loss and to increase the growth of new hair. If you are experiencing thinning hair, make sure your nutritional intake includes liver, sardines, salmon, egg yolks, and beer yeast. Plant sources of biotin are cauliflower, bananas, carrots, beans and mushrooms.  Foods rich in biotin and/or biotin supplements may be just what you need to restore your hair.
Disclaimer: It is advisable to consult a physician before starting a vitamin supplement program.
Tanya Walters RN is a certified Sisterlocks Consultant located in the Bear, Delaware area.  Visit her online at www.locjewls.com, sisterlocs@comcast.net or by phone at (302) 981-6580.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

I DECLARE Healthy Hair... Find A Hair Twin

Early in your journey, it is very easy to get inundated by information.  There is YouTube, blogs, tumblr, and of course... deNaturalistas!  Everyone talks about the new IT product, the new IT styling technique...and you find yourself aimlessly running to the store or in your bathroom trying something "new" out. I don't know about you. But early in my journey, my head was spinning. I didn't even know a tenth of what I know now about hair typing.  So it was very difficult  to differentiate between the products and techniques that would work for me.

Today, I can tell whether or not something will work for me... no matter the hair type of the person recommending the product.  But early in my journey, I was totally lost.  And before I became well versed on everything hair, I tried a little trick that I'm about to let you in on...

I found a hair twin!  I found someone who not only had hair that visually was similar to mine, but when they described their hair it sounded like mine too.  And if something worked for them, then it would probably work for me too!

My hair twins are Safiya a.k.a. bronzeqt and Nikkiemae.








Who is your hair twin?  How has she helped you learn about may or may not work for your hair? 


Sunday, October 16, 2011

I Declare Healthy Hair Challenge: Finding Products For Your Hair



Early in my journey, I found myself aimlessly trying products.  A product would be all the rave on YouTube, I ran to the store.  I loved someones results, I picked up every product they listed. (Even if they clearly stated that they just used what they had... and showed no affinity to the product.) Soon, I had a cabinet full of products that I didn't like, barely used, and hated the results.  It was then that I back tracked and learned to assess my hair's needs. 

Your natural hair journey is very a personal, and individualized experience.  Since no two heads are alike, each person's hair journey will involve some trial and error.  But thanks to the week one challenge, you are already one step ahead.  During week one, all of the naturalistas took the time to assess their hair.  You learned about your texture, curl pattern, porosity, density, and elasticity.  Now that you have a better understanding of your hair's needs, you are better equipped to find products to fill in the gaps of your hair regimen.

 Here are some tips to help you find products for your hair:

(1)  Assess your hair and research products to address those particular needs.  For example, if you are having problems sealing your ends, then consider various butters and oils to address that problem.

(2)  Read the labels of the products you currently own. Which of your products do you love?  Which products do yo you hate? What are the first five ingredients of these products?  Equipped with this knowledge, you can learn which products to give a try and which ones to avoid.

(3) If a product you own doesn't work for you, try an alternative use or adjust to meet your needs. Search a product on YouTube, you will often find alternative uses.  I tried SheaMoisture Deep Treatment Masque. As a conditioner, it doesn't have a lot of slip so I normally add a cheapie conditioner and/or coconut oil for detangling.  I LOVE it even more as a daily moisturizer. 

(4)Find your hair twin. Why should you subject yourself to ALL  the trial and error?  Find someone on YouTube, a blog, and/or in person who has hair that is similar to yours.  And I'm not just talking about visually similar to yours.  Consider how they describe their hair type including all aspects of hair typing.

(5) Be an informed consumer.  Learn the benefits and the expected results of certain ingredients. 

***  As you try new products this week, Nassie's Hope, LLC  by Stacy Brown is offering a 15% discount! Stacy is an active member of the Delaware Naturalistas facebook group.  At "A Natural Hair Love Affair", she was not only a vendor but also led the Mixology 101 workshop.  Her etsy shop features all natural hair, skin, and skin products. All natural essential oil, witch hazel, vegetable wax, oils. Economically priced items what will heal and soothe your mind, body, and spirit.

 
Do you have any additional advice for those on a search for products?