All natural products hair journey!

Today, I have finally found my happy place. My quest for healthy hair has been misconstrued with images of silky long curly hair,  that hardly mimics my texture.  The media has perpetuated a predetermined standard of silky thick curls that most natural girls dream of, but what if the realty of you hair is not so defined curls, dull tones, and short hair. Does that mean that your hair is unhealthy,  or even worst not pretty! As I decided to embark on the "only natural products" journey,  I began to analyze what I was trying to achieve,  and have realistic expectations of my hair. For years I have only been able to grow my hair down to my arm pit, and the ends were always thin. After finally realizing that my hair was breaking just as fast as it was growing,  I got the courage to cut the split end and now I have healthy shoulder length hair. My next step was to use the right products. Keeping my hair moisturized,  was my goal, but most of the products I used, worked well, but at the end of the week, I had major build up. I was also still Confused about all of the different chemicals, even in the good brand. So that brings me back to my journey.  I have incorporated only natural products in my hair regimen such as, goat milk prepoo and wash, coconut milk and aloe vera leave in, and my favorite aloe vera juice with rose water, jojoba oil, and rosemary oils spray. For 3 weeks these products are all I have been using. And to be honest my results are not shiny, and silky looking curls, my hair is full of not shiney, undefined curls but my hair is thick and moist and healthy.  I would slather half of the container of my store bought products to get shiny, crinkly curls, and while I had great wash outs and braid outs, I still saw lots of breakage in the sink. I can say that my hair is softer, and I am experiencing less breakage with my homemades. Next we we will talk about each homemade,  and look at results.

Clean Eating

Well there’s a new Sheriff in town, and he’s called clean eating! Every week there is a new sensation floating around the web, promising lost of weight and healthy living through diets and lifestyle changes. For a while I tried to get into the Vegan lifestyle, always finding myself lacking time, innovation and desire to keep up with the veggie only diet! But if you know me, I am always looking for a lifestyle change that incorporates healthy eating and that encourages living life to the fullest! As I geared back up to loose 20 lbs and get my body in shape for the summer, I followed many body builders and fitness models, who declared a clean eating life! I thought.” Clean eating? What is that, washing your food thoroughly so that you get rid of the dirty fats and calories?”, I chuckled, but it was something new that I could definitely follow!

Clean Eating is eating for the sake of nourishing your body with food as close to it’s natural state as possible eliminating high sodiums, sugars and preservatives. There are no fancy meal plans, points, numbering systems, or calorie restrictions. When you begin to replace the processed, fried and unhealthy foods from your diet with whole grains, fruits, veggies and lean protein, your body will respond in amazing ways. Your muscles will respond to the added lean protein by growing which will speed up your metabolism.  Your body will respond to the whole grains by regulating itself. Your body will also rid itself of water weight caused by excess sodium that is in processed foods. Your Hair will respond to the Iron-rich protein, which can boost the production of keratin in the body and improve the health of skin, hair and nails. Liver, fish and lean meats build keratin in your body.

Here’s how to get started

1. Eat  Lots Of Plants – Eat food that is straight from nature. (Some people say “as close to the way nature made it as possible”. But I think that leaves too much wiggle room – in my humble opinion) Eat mostly foods that are off a tree, bush, plant or vine, and you’ve pretty much got it covered. The idea is to stay away from anything that humans (food corporations) have altered in any way.
2. Include Meats - Eat meats that are whole and straight from the butcher. Don’t buy pre-packaged meat products because you never know what’s in them. When possible, buy whole meats and grind them yourself. You’d be surprised what’s in ground turkey meat! You can also select a few turkey breasts and ask that the butcher grind them for you. Many butchers are more than willing to accommodate.
3. Enjoy Grains - Eat grains that are still complete and haven’t been broken down into “glue”. Stick to brown rice, whole wheat and other whole grains.
4. Read Labels I don’t know how many breads I’ve picked up at the store that say they are whole grain. But when I take a look at the ingredient list, white flour is the second ingredient after whole wheat flour!
5. Eat Fewer Ingredients. Try not to purchase foods that have more than 3-6 ingredients in the ingredient list. And be sure you recognize each and every ingredient. If you find a “mystery ingredient” such as “spices”, contact the company! Ask them what they consider to be spices. If it’s anything other than honest-to-goodness herbs and spices, avoid it! And remember, if you can’t pronounce it, it probably shouldn’t go into your body.
6. Eat 5-6 small meals per day. This may seem like a lot at first. But remember, you are eating smaller portions. If you really have a hard time with this, prepare your regular three meals and a snack for the day, and divide lunch and dinner in half. You’ve instantly got 6 small meals!

Look out for Recipes that encourage clean eating and healthy hair growth!