Mixology 102: The Recipes

Did you miss the Mixology 102 workshop last month? Check out the ingredients for the mixes we made!
 

  Impromptu makeover during the break

The EXPERT Mixologists at work!

 Shopping at Newark Natural Foods

Flaxseed Gel
½ cup of Flaxseed
2 cups of Boiled Water
1 Essential Oil for Scent or Need




Flaxseed Spritz
½ cup of Flaxseed
2 cups of Water
2 cups of Green Tea
1 Essential Oil for Scent or Need
¼ cup of Carrier Oil of Choice (Coconut, Olive Oil, Jojoba, Almond, Grapeseed)


Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
1 cup of water
1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

Bentonite Clay Treatment
1 cup of Bentonite Clay
½ cup of Apple Cider Vinegar
¼ cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tbsp. Honey
1 container of Chobani Yogurt




Daily Moisturizer
¼ cup of Aloe Vera Juice
½ cup of Coconut Water
¼ Vegetable Glycerin
2 tablespoons each of two carrier Oils of Choice (Coconut, Olive Oil, Jojoba, Almond, Grapeseed)
10 drops of 1 Essential Oil for Scent or Need
1 tablespoon of ACV

Henna
1 package of Henna
1 cup of Green Tea
¼ cup of Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tbsp. of Honey
Two Carrier Oils of Choice (Coconut, Olive Oil, Jojoba, Almond, Grapeseed)
1 container of Chobani Yogurt or ½ cup of your favorite non-protein conditioner

Avacado-Banana Deep Conditioner
1 banana
1 soft, well-ripe avacado
2 Egg Whites
1 container of Chobani Yogurt or ½ cup of your favorite conditioner
½ cup of Mayonnaise
¼ cup of Olive Oil
2 tbsp of Honey


Brown Sugar Scalp Scrub
4 tbsp of brown sugar
2 tbsp of your favorite conditioner, yogurt or coconut milk
1 tbsp of honey

 

All attendees took home their own Brown Sugar Scalp Scrub

Don't miss our future events! We had such a great time!

For the full picture gallery, please visit http://denaturalistas.com.  

Cravin' for Curlformers

I'll admit (co-founder Tywanda here) that I wasn't initially hit with the CurlFormers bug.   I watched from afar as my fellow sister naturalistas were adorning neon-colored, mesh-like worms in their hair and raving about its ability to form our natural kinky, curly and wavy tresses into satin smooth Shirley Temple curls that mildly resembled the type I use to achieve with a spiral curling iron in those 'b.n.' (before natural) days.

So I just watched.  Maybe even tilted my head to the left a little while watching ya'll maneuver this crochet-needle hook looking contraption up the mesh worm's belly only to then snatch and pull your hair back through.   I chalked it up as TOO. MUCH. WORK!  My head hurt to watch it!

I'd stick with my wash and go's.  BUT! The truth of the matter is as my hair began to grow longer ... my detangling parties started running into overtime and I was not winning.com (in my Tamara Braxton voice).   I needed to find other ... dryer ... way to stretch and style my now shoulder length natural.  Wash and go's can't ALWAYS be my 'go-to' style.  As my business partner, Latoya, would say 'le sigh.'

So as luck or coincidence would have it, one eve while having a beauty night craving (don't act like ya'll don't do it!), I fixed the itch and found myself smack dead in the middle of Sally's with mini shopping cart in tow.  I'd grabbed some Witch Hazel astringent, some Vegan hair color, the new As I Am coconut co-wash and LO AND BEHOLD, those darn neon wormies were staring me DEAD IN THE FACE.   They were laughing at my wash and go ---- almost heckling my tangling strands of 3b/3c goodness.

I was feeling froggy so I leaped ----- and purchased the plastic kitten and kaboodle looking bag.  Hmpft! I'll show these wormies who the boss is!  I was nnneeerrrvvvouuuuss.  I had at least an hours worth of work in head of me.

1. Co-washed my hair with As I Am Coconut Co-Wash <--- it's mild, you'll love it!
2.  Color my hair with Vegan red hair coloring <--- looking like a red head in the sun!
3.  Deep Condition my hair with Oyin's Honey Hemp Conditioner <--- I left it in, that's optional
4. Spray Oyin's Berry Leave In Conditioner <---- I <3 leave in's as moisturizers
5. Detangle <--- the 1st key to successful 'worming' or CurlFormer technique
6. START WORMING!!!

don't I look nervous?

After I got all 40 worms in my head, I wrapped it with a bonnet and went to sleep (it wasn't the best night's sleep but BEAUTY is PAIN or something like that?

Day 1

Well honey, did they SURE SHOW ME!!!!  Ummm ..........why didn't ya'll tell me!!?!?! Ok ... why didn't I listen!?!  I feel like that old school epic fail Rio infomercial that was turning sistas heads green and leaving them baldhead BEFORE it went belly up.  I'm shaking my head full of Shirley Temple's like it just had the flyest Just For Me, Motions perm in AMERICA.  The above picture with my new fly lipstick is day 1.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRc56JPWJZg&sns=em

Want to see more?  Watch the youtube video of my Day 2.  I decided to reapply my Curlformers using my Oyin's Leave In Conditioner, Moisturizing Cream and homemade mixture of oils/butters to seal and worm my head up again!  Tonight ... I'll forgo re-worming and try to preserve the curls with a satin cap.  Tomorrow I plan on rocking a 'Curlformers Out' by pulling pieces of the curls apart and making it have more volume.  Let's see how many days and how many ways I can rock these Curlformer curls. 

Don't believe me? Watch this video!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRc56JPWJZg&sns=em

Tips To Using Curlformers

1. Make sure hair is extremely wet before starting.
2. Be meticulous in detangling from tip to root and all the way through to ensure smooth curls
3. Apply products such as moisturizers, oils, a setting lotion or so to aid in smoothing and moisturizing the hair as it dries.
4. Try to get the 'needle-hook' as close to the scalp as possible and hold the Curlformer tip opening as close to the scalp to maximize length and structure of curl.
5. Allow enough time for hair to completely dry.

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?