Summer time hair care and protection

Spring time is here and Summer is around the corner. As the weather gets hotter and as we spend more time outside. We must take extra care when being outside in the sun for long periods. The same way we wear shades for eye protection and sunscreen for skin protection, we need products for hair protection.

Summer is a great time to rock a fabulous head wrap or stylist hat. Invest in 1 or 2 stylish hats to protect your hair from long term exposure to the sun. Visit your local fabric store and make your own head wraps. Beautiful African Headwraps

OMEGA 369 OIL BLEND

Walnut oil (inflammation, fights fungus)

Flaxseed oil (scalp balancer, inflammation)

Sunflower seed oil (stimulant, strength, sun protection)

Mix one ounce of each oil together. 

Store in a dark color glass bottle.

Measure out 1 tablespoon.

Massage oil onto scalp for ten minutes.

Smooth oil completely over each hair strand.

Every other day, 3 times per week.

The key to a successful oil blend is using high quality oils. If you use cheaply made oils you will not reap the awesome benefits, your hair will just be lubricated and glossy. You want your oils to act as nourishment for the scalp and help to heal and protect your hair. Purchase cold pressed, unrefined oils. Coconut oil adds strength to the hair strands, prevents bacteria build up and is anti fungal. Sunflower see oil gives you sun protection. EVOO clears the overproduction of DHT on the scalp. Massage this blend onto your scalp for ten minutes then smooth oil over each hair strand. Do this every other day for awesome benefits. Sunflower oil needs to be used within 3 months of opening, so do not let your blend go rancid.

3 ounces unrefined sunflower seed oil

2 ounces cold pressed coconut oil

2 ounces EVOO 

Apply 1 to 2 tablespoons onto scalp/hair every other day

Give your hair a healthy dose of vitamin D, by relaxing in the sun for ten to 20 minutes. The sun enables the body to produce vitamin D and this stimulates hair growth.  Melanin thrives from the sun. Be smart wear a sunscreen and do not sit in it to long. Find a comfortable warm place to sun bathe. Black people we run from the sun and this is a problem because the sun gives us power beyond what we truly understand. Do your own research on the sun rays and black people. The research will intrigue you. 

SUN PUFFING IT!

Put your hair to the highest point on your head. You can do a top knot or even better a high PUFF!  Finish off your shampoo spa day by allowing your hair to air dry under the warm sun. Grab you some sun tea, ice cream cone or a good book. Then sun puff it for ten to 20 minutes.  

I sun puff it around noon for 20 minutes daily. I sun puff not just for hair growth, but because I work from home and do not get out a lot.  Surprisingly lots of women are low on vitamin D.  The sun protects us from diabetes, cancer, depression and much more. If your energy is low, ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels. Remember start off low and work up towards spending more time in the sun. This is how I do it, decide what is right for you. Remember that some medications you take will tell you to not be in the sun for long periods. Ten to 20 minutes is not considered a long period, just my opinion. You get more than that on a day at the beach. 

MORE INFORMATION ON HEALTHY SUN EXPOSURE

Building your hair care regimen

READ PART ONE TO BUILDING YOUR REGIMEN HERE

The basic products you need in your regimen 

1. Cleanser
     a.  Shampoo (non sulfate)
     b.  Conditioning cleanser (formulated for cleansing)
     c.  Clay washes (make your own or purchase ready made)

2. Conditioners 
     d.  Cream rinses or rinse out conditioners
     e.  Deep Conditioners (moisturizing/protein)
     f.   Deep Conditioner moisturizing (non protein)

READ MORE ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONDITIONERS HERE

3. Leave in conditioner
     g.  Moisturizers (water based)
     h.  Liquid leave ins
     i.   Lotion/cream leave in conditioner
     j.   Pomades/butters (contain no water)

4. A good quality singular oil
    k.   EVOO
    l.    Cold pressed avocado oil
    m.  Cold pressed coconut oil
    n.   Jojoba oil
    o.   Grape seed oil


To start your regimen you only need one product out of each category, in the beginning. Once you get started with your first 4 products, then you want to build on those products. 

BUILDING YOUR PRODUCT STASH

The CoilyQueens Regimen recommends having, 3 of each recommended product. This means 3 cleansers, 3 conditioners, 3 leave in conditioners and 3 different types of oils you love. You do not  want, to depend on one brand of cleanser or conditioner. To often your favorite conditioner will stop working as well as it did in the beginning. Sometimes companies change formulas. You can also develop an allergy towards a product that was okay in the beginning. So if you have more than one cleanser and conditioner, that works for you. You do not have to worry about being caught without having a product that works.

Before you shop remember these tips. 
1. Only use non sulfate shampoos
2. Get in the habit of reading the ingredients before you buy.
3. Starting out purchase the same brand of cleansers and conditioners. 
4. Shop with companies who stand behind their brands. Keep your receipt so you can return it, if after one use it does not meet your liking. 
5. If you are on a budget, save most of your money, for a good quality leave in conditioner. The leave in conditioner/moisturizer is your most important product. READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE
6. Spend your money on good quality oils, from the health food store, grocery store. Be sure they are unrefined or cold pressed. 

Product recommendations for each category 

1a--- shampoo suggestions:
Shea Moisture curl and shine shampoo
Design Essentials avocado shampoo
KBB conditioning cleanser
Cream of nature non sulfate shampoo
Shea Moisture restorative shampoo
Jane Carter's shampoo

1b---Conditioning cleansers
Camille rose conditioning cleanser
Eden BodyWorks conditioning cleanser
As I am conditioning cleanser
Shea Moisture conditioning cleanser


1c---Clay washes
Create your own bentonite treatment DIY HERE


2d---Cream rinses or rinse out or regular conditoner
TGIN triple moisture replenishing condish
Shea Moisture 10-IN-1 Renewal conditioner
Shea Moisture restorative conditioner
Oyin Honey Hemp


2e---Deep conditioners (protein)
Mielle Organic babassu mint DC
Shea Moisture manuka honey intensive masque
Alikay naturals DC
Shea Moisture Blk soap purification masque
ORS replenishing conditioner
ORS hair mayo


2f---Deep conditioners moisturizing (non protein)
TGIN Honey miracle hair mask
Camille Rose Algae renew DC
Camille Rose Moroccan Pear Conditioning Custard
Eden Bodyworks all natural DC
As I am hydration elation
Jessicurl DC Citrus and Lavender 
Aubrey Organics moisturizing  conditioner honeysuckle rose


3g---Moisturizers (water based)
Shea Moisture curl enhancing smoothie
Camille Rose Curliade
As I am double buttercream
Taliah Waajid curling curly cream
Elasta Olive Oil & Mango Moisturizer
4Naturals Afro stretch cream
Cantu Shea Butter leave in
Jane Carter curl cream

3h---Liquid leave ins
Alikay natural lemongrass leave in
Qhemet Biologics alma & olive heavy cream

3i---Lotion/Creamy leave ins
KBB sweet ambrosia leave in
Shea Moisture hibiscus style milk
Cantu curl activator
Ori Essentials Moisturizing leave in conditioner


3j---Pomades and butters
Cantu hair pomade
Qhemet Biologics hydrate twist butter
Aveda Pomade Anti Humectante 


Following these suggestions will help you build a good portion of your product regimen. Remember that a successful hair journey  covers 3 areas: Techniques, mindset and products. This article has helped you cover the products part of your hair regimen. 

Now work on your techniques and mindset about your hair.