SCALP MASSAGE BENEFITS

A scalp massage releases tension in the forehead and scalp areas, stimulating mental function. It is also a great way to help the circulation to your scalp and can serve as one part of a total nutrition and hair care regime to keeping your hair in good shape. Giving yourself a scalp massage is easy and something you can do to relieve tension anywhere – sitting at the desk at work, sitting in a traffic jam, when watching TV, or preferably, when relaxing somewhere pleasant.

The beauty of this massage is that it can be done anywhere without the need for anything other than your fingers.

The less distractions, the better so that you can concentrate on what is happening. However, there's no harm squeezing this into the ads of a favorite show provided you press the mute button!

Place the fingers of both hands on your forehead. They should meet one another at an imaginary center line of your forehead. Rest the thumbs on your temples; they will provide support.

Apply pressure. Make the pressure firm but light, as you press, then release
Shift your fingers slightly further up your forehead nearer to the hairline and raise your thumbs with them. Repeat the press and release movement.
Keep moving this position up and onto the scalp, bit by bit, repeating the pressure/release movement. Follow the line of the Governor Vessel meridian (see "Tips"); approximately the center of your scalp.

Once you have reached the the base of your skull, return to the front. This time, position your hands about half an inch (1.27cm) either side of the mid-line of your head (in other words, this time your fingers won't be meeting but have a gap either side of the imaginary line across your forehead).

Things You Need

Comfortable place to sit
Essential oil and carrier oil for hair/scalp massage
Shampoo and towel for hair/scalp massage

Enjoy your scalp massages.



with love,

Priscilla
scillaattipoe@gmail.com
www.hairdivaghana.blogspot.com

AFTER MY BIG CHOP (NATURALISTA NOW)

hello people, i know Ive been on hibernation as my friend will say, went to school for a while, but im back. a lot of things have happened to me during these past three months, especially to my hair. lol. well i finally Big Chopped, yes lol three weeks ago and I'm loving it soo much. will upload some pictures of my Natural hair just to show you the few styles ive tried this few weeks. enjoy.

these are the styles ive tried, first picture shows the day i big chopped followed by my first twist and then i tried a twist out without gel.

with love,

Priscilla

fax:
scillaattipoe@gmail.com
www.hairdivaghana.blogspot.com

DANDRUFF (CAUSES AND TREATMENT)

A scalp condition called seborrheic dermatitis. This could also be caused by eczema, psoriasis, or, very commonly, an overgrowth of a yeastlike fungus called malassezia.

Dandruff one of the commonest scalp conditions that has to do with flaking of the skin on our scalp can be very irritating and embarrassing for most of us. most of us have been battling with this scalp condition for several years now. i personally have experience a little flaking under my scalp before. if you are battling with this condition, relax because it can be controlled if not prevented or cured.In this post I'm going to discuss some of the causes, symptoms and treatments to curtail this condition.

Get a mug of tea, chilled glass of water or a drink, relax because i have a feeling this is going to be a lengthy post but very informative. :)lol

For most of us teens and adults, dandruff symptoms are easy to spot.the basic is spotting white, oily looking flakes of dead skin that is seen in your hair and your shoulders when you comb your hair.It also comes with itchy scalp which is not soo cool. for a young woman it can be pretty embarrassing when it is severe because traces of the whitish substance can be spotted in your hair and shoulders as well.

Some of the causes of dandruff are:

Sensitivity to hair care products
Not shampooing your hair enough
A yeast-like fungus (malassezia)
Irritated, oily skin
Dry scalp

Treatment:

wash your hair with a shampoo that has tea tree oil in it frequently. Alternatively get a tea tree oil and add a few drops to your normal shampoo and use.

Apply olive oil under your scalp before shampooing and leave it to sit for about 20 minutes, then shampoo after.

Shampoo your hair with sulphate free shampoo since lauryl sulphate shampoos rips our hair off its natural oils. Example of sulphate free shampoos are hair one shampoo, Aubrey's organic shampoo, Cream of Nature Argan oil Shampoo etc

TREATMENT:

Rinse your hair with Apple Cider Vinegar it also helps to curb dandruff

Replace your shampoo with a handful of baking soda. Baking soda is used in a wide variety of ways, and is reputed to work as a natural dandruff remover.Rub a tablespoon or two of baking soda into your wet hair and scalp. Wash thoroughly after one minute.

Wash and rinse your hair, then rub plain yogurt into the scalp, and leave for 10-15 minutes.Rinse and wash again with little shampoo and dry.

Add a crushed aspirin powder to your normal shampoo and use,it is advised you leave the shampoo in your hair for about five minutes before rinsing.

I hope this post helps. good luck to fighting that irritating stuff called DANDRUFF.







with love,

Priscilla
fax:
scillaattipoe@gmail.com
www.hairdivaghana.blogspot.com

WASH DAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2014

Hey peeps, i know i have not been documenting my hair progress and regimen soo much, but trust me Ive turned a new leaf.lol so i have decided to document my wash day on Saturday. Before i begin you should all know that i have been in a protective style (weave on) for close to 5 weeks, which i took off on Saturday.

wash day started by me taking down my weave on and the braid underneath it.since I'm soo lazy when it comes to taking down any form of protective style, i had my hairdresser help me with it. after which she detangled the hair for me, but of course all these were done under my eagle eye watch.lol.

after detangling and combing in sections, my hair was put under running water after which i shampooed with Aubreys honeysuckle and rose shampoo (sulphate free) considering that was the first time using it, i think it was pretty much ok, the only bad thing is i got home only to realize my hairdresser used close to half the bottle of the shampoo, i was soo furious, how could she, aside the fact that it cost a bit much, it took a hell of a time to get that product in Ghana. hmmm. i washed my hair twice considering i hadn't in like six weeks and there might be build ups, i needed it squeaky clean.

i followed this by massaging using my Tressme deep cleansing conditioner,of course i made sure i covered all my hair from root to tips, sat down for about 20minutes then i rinsed it out . i parted my hair dry and waited for it to dry partially ,

I then applied my favorite leave in conditioner American silky straight leave in conditioner to my hair covering all the hair from root to tips. i love this leave in because of the ingredients and the smell is not irritating plus its mild too.

I did the LOC Method ( Liquid, oil and Cream ) method to lock in moisture since my hair is a transitioning hair, t means im dealing with two textures (relaxed and my new growth) which i love soo much.(dancing in my chair) so, for the liquid i used my leave in and then i mixed coconut oil, jojoba, sweet almond and some drops of vo5 Argan oil Elixir. i sprayed my hair with just enough and then massaged it in my hair and combed it.

After taking this picture i realised my hair needed some trim or call it cut, so i asked my hairdresser to cut about 2 inches and trust me i liked the results better than the picture above.
I then followed with my Elasta Qp Olive oil and mango butter moisturiser and then i combed and put my hair in a ponytail. quite a simple regimen.

well the results of my hair below, be the judge. :)

closer look at my new growth. picture above.

with love,

Priscilla
fax:
scillaattipoe@gmail.com
www.hairdivaghana.blogspot.com

FOODS THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY HAIR GROWTH

It is very essential for us to know that healthy nutrition also contributes to the growth of our hair. that aside there are some key foods that enhances the growth rate of our hair. some of these foods are present in our daily meals whiles others are not. i will list a few of these foods and also give some of their nutritional values to the growth of our hair.

LIST OF FOODS

1. AVOCADO

2. LENTILS

3. YOGHURT

4. DRY FRUITS

5. OYSTERS (Plenty of zinc from this)

6. SALMON

7. SWEET POTATOES

8. EGGS

9. WALNUTS

10. SPINACH

The above listed are some of the foods that can promote healthy hair growth. i will elaborate more on a few of these food. their nutritional values and exactly what they do to your hair.

1. SALMON: Rich in omega 3 fatty acids and protein is known to help in healthy scalp and shinny hair.

2. EGGS: First, they’re a good source of protein and amino acids, protein’s building blocks.It is necessary for hair growth and strength.

3. SWEET POTATOES:Is high concentration of beta-carotene, thereby contributing to healthy hair growth, plus a smooth and healthy scalp.

4. WALNUTS: Walnuts have a significant amount of omega-3 fatty acids and also rich in vitamin E. Walnuts also have copper, a mineral that helps keep your natural hair color rich and lustrous.


5. SPINACH: It is rich in beta carotene, foliate, iron and vitamin C which helps keep the hair follicles healthy and scalp oils circulating.

voila, i hope this post is helpful to you. incorporate them and let me know the results. please feel free to leave a comment, suggestion,question or contributions in the comment box below.

Cheers Diva,s.





PICTURE COURTESY: laurenconrad.com


with love,

Priscilla
fax:
scillaattipoe@gmail.com
www.hairdivaghana.blogspot.com

TEA RINSING AND BENEFITS

On an average women shed 50-100 hairs a day. it is important to note that hair shedding is different from hair breakage.
shedding is when your hair comes off with this whitish bulb like substance at the root end, breakage is different does not come with the whitish bulb like substance at the root of the hair.one of the basic things that have been discovered to reduce hair shedding is TEA, Yes normal tea that we all love to drink. tea has a lot of goodies, it contains vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K,. but of course these vitamins don't come in one tea but various ones.

TEA RINSING

Tea rinsing is simply pouring steeped tea over your hair after a wash.
it has been discovered that pouring steeped tea over your hair after washing yields results that aid in healthy hair growth.
In this post i will list some of the benefits of tea rinsing and how to do a tea rinse.




BENEFITS

> Increase hair growth from the caffeine

> Reduced shedding

> Reduce breakage

> Maintains hair color

> Strengthens hair


TYPES OF TEA'S YOU CAN USE

1.Chamomile tea
2.Nettle tea
3.Rosemary tea
4.Green Tea
5.Black Tea (high in caffeine)
6.Sage tea
7.Burdock

PROCEDURE

1. Brew 1-2 teabags hot water and allow it to cool. (For high caffeine teas stick with just 1 teabag).

2. let the tea steep and cool.

3. pour in an applicator bottle or a jug

4. Section your hair and prepare for wash.

5. shampoo your hair.

6. spray or pour the tea on your hair.

7. leave it to sit for 5-10 minutes or more if you want.

8. Rinse hair with water

9. Deep condition your hair


NB** Conditioning your hair is very important because teas leave your hair feeling dry afterwards.

Tea rinses can be done monthly or as and when you need it.

Also note that all these tea have their own benefits that they give to the hair. will do a different post on it later, since I'm feeling kind of lazy today.



with love,

Priscilla

fax:
scillaattipoe@gmail.com
www.hairdivaghana.blogspot.com

HOT OIL TREATMENT BENEFITS

Most of us dont seem to know what Hot oil treatments and the benefits it gives to our hair, in this post i will discuss what it is, the benefits, and the whole procedure. i hope this post will be useful to us all. we should also know that some of the few saloons that know of this treatment and its benefits charge a bit for the treatment, i advice you do it yourself if you can.

This post is to give you an insight as to how adding a regular hot oil treatment to your hair routine can benefit your hair.
We all will agree that, with all the stress placed on our hair by styling, weather patterns, coloring, blow-drying, straightening ,it is only natural that all these things strips our hair of its oils and the strength of our hair. One of the best ways to put back nourishment and shine in our hair is giving it a little TLC, in the form of HOT OIL TREATMENT.

HOT OIL TREATMENT is a treatment used to give hair moisture as it gives the look of conditioned hair without having to condition every day.

THINGS YOU NEED:

Any natural oil (coconut oil, virgin olive oil, jojoba oil,etc)

A shower cap / steamer

An oil bottle / dispenser

Hot water


STEPS IN DOING HOT OIL TREATMENT:

1. Pour any oil of your choice in a bottle / dispenser

2. Place it in the hot water to warm the oil

3. Massage the warm oil in your scalp and the hair strands

4. Cover your hair with the shower cap and leave on for 20 - 30 minutes

5. Wrap your hair with a hot towel and allow it to sit for 20 minutes.

6. Wash your hair and style

NB: Alternately, place hair under a clean shower cap, processing cap, or plastic bag and either sit under a heat cap or steamer for 15-20 minutes, or just allow your body heat to nourish your hair during the treatment.

6. Wash and rinse your hair thoroughly.


BENEFITS OF THE TREATMENT:

1. Treating yourself to a hot oil treatment with coconut, olive or jojoba oil will add that extra healthy glow to your hair

2. Hot oil treatments made with natural oils protect hair and make it healthy and manageable.

3. Repair damage and maintain healthy hair.

4. Refresh dull and dry hair.

5. Condition a dry scalp.

6. Softens and moisturizes your hair.

NB: please note that you can use more than one oil, alternatively you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to any (See my post on carrier oils) here. carrier oil of your choice
Now that you know the benefits of hot oil treatment and how to do it, i suggest you add it to your hair care routine and enjoy luscious, silky hair and healthy hair.
This treatment should be done once a month.

Don't forget to leave a comment or any questions on how your hot oil treatment went.

Priscilla

scillaattipoe@gmail.com
www.hairdivaghana.blogspot.com

THE GREEN HOUSE EFFECT ( HAIR GROWTH TECHNIQUE )

The Green House Effect (GHE) is described as trapping the heat from your body with a shower cup or a rubber wrap. this tecnique produces heat which helps to produce more sebum that help to feed your hair to enhance its growth rate. This method can be done between three (3) to five (5) times a week before going to bed, its an overnight method.
The three basic things you will need to do this method are

1. shower cup/ rubber wrap
2. scarf (Silk)
3. oil (of your choice)

once you've got the above mentioned things you are good to go.

1. Apply any natural oil of your choice
2. Put your hair in a pony tail , braids , twist etc
3. Cover your hair with the shower cap. please note that you can use more than one shower cap for more warmth
4. Put a scarf over the shower cap to secure it in place. you can wear a bonnet on top of it just to give you the needed warmth.
5. Remove the plastic cap and scarf the following day and allow your hair to air dry a bit and then moisturize and style.

NB: Please note that the idea is to trap in as much warmth as possible to achieve the needed result. also note that your hair should feel damp and not wet when you wake up. If your hair is relaxed and you want to maintain the hair straight please remember to star by scarfing your hair first before wearing the shower cap and top up with another scarf to keep it in place.



Now, to some the benefits of this method:

The GHE stimulates hair growth and has been proven to double and even triple the normal growth rate according to the inventor of this technique named Meeka Jael who Is the head of the social network Real Queen, she advocates the use of natural product and others who have tried it.

1. It stimulates hair growth
2. It helps keep dryness in check
3. It makes it easier to seal in moisture
4. It softens the hair and makes it manageable

” From doing the Green House Effect I’ve managed to average an inch of hair growth a month which is double the average hair growth rate which is 1/2 inch per month” Meeka Jael.

ive started this growth technique and cant wait to see the results. let me know if you have tried it and how it worked for you.
NB: IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATIONS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, LET ME KNOW. You can Email or drop a comment and i will gwt back to you. cheers.



with love,

Priscilla
fax:
scillaattipoe@gmail.com
www.hairdivaghana.blogspot.com

ESSENTIAL AND CARRIER OILS FOR HAIR GROWTH

Since essential oils and carrier oils are key in growing healthy long hair, i have decided to do this post to educate us on what they are, their uses , benefits and side effects.

NB: Please note that pregnant women should not use essential oils, High Blood Pressure,kidney problems,Hypoglycemia. please consult your doctor before using essential oils.

Essential oils are oil is a natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic odour of the plant or other source from which it is extracted. Essential oils are used with carrier oils always.

Another type of oil for hair is called carrier oils. The oils are called carrier oils because they carry the essential oil onto the skin. Carrier oils are also known as base oil or vegetable oil they are usually derived from seeds or nuts. Carrier oils are best used as natural and unadulterated as possible.

Below are a list of some essential oils that promote hair growth

>Cedarwood Stimulates scalp and hair follicles and also used to treat hair loss and dandruff

>Peppermint it promotes hair growth by stimulating circulation of blood

>Chamomile helps scaly scalps and psoriasis and also conditions scalp

>Clary sage clarifies scalp and helps heal scalp problems such as psoriasis

>Lemon Helps balance natural scalp oils and also good for dry scalp and dandruff

>Thyme it Stimulates blood flow and also Invigorates scalp to help with hair loss

>Burdock improves scalp conditions and combat hair loss

>Tea tree is good for the treatment for dry scalp, dandruff and lice

>Lavender Helps balance natural scalp oils and scalp treatment for itchiness and dandruff

>Rosemary good for treating dandruff and also promotes hair growth

>Eucalyptus Antiseptic nature helps treat Dandruff.

**Please note that Pure essential oils have a wide range of therapeutic benefits. The method applied can effect the results you receive and for that matter no essential oil should be applied undiluted to the hair. always mix a few drops with a carrier oil.


Below are a list of some carrier oils that promote hair growth

>Coconut Oil also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair and it softens the hair and conditions the scalp.

>Olive Oil “extra virgin” oil helps in preventing as well as curing hair loss

>Jojoba Oil , jojoba rapidly penetrates down to the scalp and hair shaft, and readily loosens, dissolves and cleans all hardened build-up under the scalp caused by products leaving the hair follicles clean to continue with their functions.

>Avocado Oil It is full of vitamins that your hair needs like vitamins A, E, D and potassium.

>Vitamin E Oil contains valuable antioxidants that help to keep the immune system up and improves circulation to all parts of the body, including the scalp

>Castor Oil nourishes hair and prevents the scalp from drying by retaining moisture.


NB: How to use both oils. 15 drops of essential oil to an ounce of carrier oil. An ounce is equal to two (2) table spoons.


Measurements/conversions (volume)
30 ml 1 fl oz 2 table spoons full
15 ml 1/2 oz 1 table spoon full
5 ml 1/6 oz 1 teaspoon
1 ml 1/30 oz 1/5 teaspoon


Now to where you can get Essential oils in Ghana.
Relish - osu near old american house
supermarkets koala, max mart osu and 37
Afro obsession. online shop

let me know if you have any questions or comments, i will be glad to help.
HAVE FUN USING YOUR ESSENTIAL AND CARRIER OILS AND LET ME KNOW HOW IT WORKS FOR YOUR HAIR.

Love

BASIC HAIR CARE TIPS 101

As women our HAIR forms an integral part of our appearance. As the saying goes a woman's hair is her pride and glory.it is also an indication of a persons health,beauty and youth. Most women love long, natural healthy hair but think it is impossible to grow long hair in Africa. It is very possible but i must admit this is hardwork and achievable only if you pay adequate attention to the needs of your hair like you do to other parts of your body and the results will astonish you.

Most of us women leave our hair care in the hands of other people all in the name of saloons. How many of our saloons in Ghana actually give us informed professional advice on how to take care of our hair after we have left the saloons and are in our homes ? Has it occurred to us that maybe many of these "HAIRSTYLIST" don't even know a lot about what they do? How many of us take it upon ourselves to research about how to keep our hair healthy even though we claim to be literates ? if we can't take care of our own HAIR who will ? Please note that this post is not meant to discredit anybody, i just want to draw our attention to the fact that if we can't take care of our priced possession(HAIR) do you think another person can or will?
Ladies lets do well to take care of our Hair. YES WE CAN. lol :)


I have listed below a couple of hair care tips that can aid and help in your journey to a healthy long hair.


Never shampoo your hair without using a conditioner.

Trim your hair once between 6 to 7 weeks to avoid split ends and bounce up hair.

Avoid pulling back your hair tightly as this weakens the root and it breaks easily.

Stimulate circulation of blood to your hair follicles by massaging your head with oil's that contains vitamin E.

Applying pure (virgin) coconut oil helps the hair to grow faster and healthier.

Regular Deep Conditioning treatments keep your hair in good shape.

Use heat protector products when styling your hair with heat.(flat irons and hair dryers).

After shampooing and before applying a conditioner, gently blot your hair with a towel to remove excess water. This helps the conditioner to penetrate your hair and prevents it from slipping.

When De-tangling hair, be sure to use wide tooth combs to avoid hair breakage.

Do hot oil treatments at least once a week to give your hair moisture and strength.

Always cover your hair with a satin or silk scarf before bed or alternatively sleep on satin pillow cases.cotton ones rip the hair off its oils and causes static hair growth.

Use of natural products like Amla,Castor,Argan, reeta and Shikakai are beneficial to hair growth.

Remember that your basic hair care routine should consist of the following:
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Deep conditioner
• Protein treatment
. Hot oil treatment

Incorporate these tips in to your hair regimen and let me know how it works.
NB: IF YOU NEED ANY CLARIFICATION ON ANYTHING PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY COMMENTING AND ILL GET BACK TO YOU.

Love

GOING NATURAL WITHOUT "BREAKING HEART'S"

There are lots of people who admire NATURAL HAIR and wish or want to go natural, but are always scared of "STARTING ALLOVER AGAIN" Yes we are scared of starting from scratch, how family and friends are going to embrace our new look, whether or not it will suit us, whether we are ready or not, these and a lot of questions deter us all. well, i must say its not your fault because all most of us know concerning going natural especially from chemically relaxed or treated hair is "the big chop" what most of us don't know is that there are other options aside big chopping (cutting the relaxed hair). For the purpose of this post we are going to look at one of the safe ways to go natural from relaxed hair. this wonderful method is called TRANSITIONING. It simply means Passage from one form, state, style, or place to another. for the purposes of this post it means moving from or passage from CHEMICALLY RELAXED HAIR to NATURAL HAIR over a period of months (depending on the individual) as you grow your NATURAL HAIR. please note, it means you are automatically doing away with chemically treating (RELAXING)your hair to make way for your NEW GROWTH. Now that we are clear about what it means to transition, we will move straight to some TIPS on transitioning.

1. It is not advisable to set a time that you will rock your natural hair completely at the initial stage.it is advised that you allow yourself some time between 4 to 8 months to big chop your hair that way you would have had enough new growth to work with.

2. Find your go to hairstyle, this tip is necessary because you will be working with two different texture of hair (relaxed and natural) and if care is not taken you will loose your hair to breakage. also know that the LINE OF DEMARCATION (where the two hair textures are joined) is very fragile so you need low manipulation hairstyles to protect the hair.

3. Keep your hair MOISTURIZED at all times. Please MOISTURE MOISTURE MOISTURIZE. Note that Water is one of the basic moisturizers you can get and be sure to seal in with any OIL.Use a lot of moisturizers.

4. Always DE-TANGLE only when hair is wet and conditioned to avoid a lot of shedding and do it with a WIDE TOOTH COMB.

5. Avoid or cut down on HEAT USAGE . Instead of Blow Drying or Flat Ironing, AIR DRY your hair.

6. Gradually Cut down damaged ends. Get a trim every month or two.

These are just a few of the tips i compiled. i hope this helps you to take that bold decision to go Natural. who says you cant have it all, enjoy both of the two worlds (relaxed and natural)till you make up your mind. note that the good thing about transitioning is, you can always go back to relaxed if you change your mind before the big chop. cheers.
Love

COCONUT OIL FOR HAIR

Coconut oil is not only great for your hair but also has a lot of health benefits. for the purposes of this blog I'm going to limit the benefits of this great oil to HAIR GROWTH. Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm. It has various applications in food and medicine. according to the coconut Research Center " The scientific name for coconut is Cocos nucifera. Early Spanish explorers called it coco, which means "monkey face" because the three indentations (eyes) on the hairy nut resembles the head and face of a monkey. Nucifera means "nut-bearing." now enough of the scientific stuff. the benefits of the oil to the growth of our hair is our main concern on this forum, so im going to jump straight to that, aside that it is the most effective hair conditioner, . Coconut oil slows down hair loss. . Coconut oil prevents hair breakage and split ends, contributing to hair length. . Coconut oil adds luster, shine and softness to the hair. .it promotes the scalp health helping it fight against problems like lice and dandruff. .it also helps with the re-growth of damaged hair. HOW TO USE COCONUT OIL FOR YOUR HAIR NB: It is advised to warm the oil before using it in anyway .it can be massaged under the scalp and then the strands of your hair as well .you can use it for your pre-shampooing to minimize damage and breakage. .it can also be mixed with Shea butter as a moisturizer for the hair .it can also be used as a sealant when doing your LOC Method .it can also be mixed with your regular shampoo for washing the hair to retain moisture. .it can also be used for your hot oil treatments. .use coconut oil after shampooing to prevent split ends. these are a few of the benefits and uses of coconut oil. incorporate this amazing oil im your hair regimen and let me know how it works for you. good luck with that fabulous hair treatment with coconut oil.