Why Is Her Hair Longer Than Mine? We Went Natural At The Same Time!!

I don't know how many times I've heard or saw this question.  I would definitely have my MacBook Pro if I was given $5 for every time I heard it!  LoL.  Have you asked this question, whether to yourself or out loud?  What was your answer?

Kinky's Castor Oil Challenge #1 (Third Check In)

Hey Kinkies!  So we are six weeks into our castor oil challenge.  Nine Kinkies, including myself, decided to use castor oil and see if it aided in hair growth.  The original post, with the challenge details, can be found here.  Here's some results so far:

Kinky's Castor Oil Challenge #1 (Second Check In)

Hey Kinkies!  So we are four weeks into our castor oil challenge.  Nine Kinkies, including myself, decided to use castor oil and see if it aided in hair growth.  The original post, with the challenge details, can be found here.  Unfortunately, we have not had as much participation as expected but the show must go on... Here's some results so far:

Kinky's Castor Oil Challenge #1 (First Check In)

Hey Kinkies!  So we are a few weeks into our castor oil challenge.  Nine Kinkies, including myself, decided to use castor oil and see if it aided in hair growth.  The original post, with the challenge details, can be found here.  Here's some results so far:

So, I'm Natural... Do I HAVE To Use 'Natural' Products?

Survey says: It's your hair, it's your choice!

Now, don't get me wrong, I strongly encourage the use of products that are all-natural.  Why?  Because they not only aid in the health of your hair but it also affects the overall health of your body.  Remember, the products that you put on your hair, skin, and scalp ultimately end up in the blood stream.

So, is using natural products the way to go?  In my opinion, YES!  I suggest using products that are, for the most part, natural, limited in the amount of chemical additives and synthetic ingredients.  So Kinky, are you talking about all of the products found at beauty supply stores, online, and big stores like Target and Walmart?!?  No, I'm not talking about those 'natural' products full of synthetic ingredients.  I'm also not talking about those products that are targeted towards us naturals, yet don't have an ounce of a 'natural' ingredient in it (and if it does, it's not in the top five ingredients).  I'm not talking about the over-priced 'natural' products with ingredients that you can barely read, let alone pronounce.  I'm talking about the natural products that come from the earth.  The butters, the herbs, some oils...  Those are what I encourage others to use and what I strive to use for me and my daughter.

With that said, I know that there's some naturals, male and female alike, out there that still swear by the mineral oils, the sulfates, the parabens, the silicones, the TEAs, etc.  And your thoughts Kinky?  Do you (and your research) boo!  As long as you are aware and thoroughly informed of what you're using, how you're using it, and the potential effects, then all I can honestly say is, to each their own.  Certain gels, shampoos, conditioners, and stylers have the aforementioned types of [not so good] ingredients in them.  Are there alternatives to them?  Yes.  Should you try those natural alternatives?  Definitely!  Is it a guarantee that your hair will come out the same way if you start using all-natural ingredients?  Possibly (I refuse to make that guarantee and then y'all blame me saying, "Kinky told me X.Y. and Z...").  So, take a chance!

This is not a ploy to have certain companies shut down as they don't truly make all-natural products.  I'm also not here to publicly bash certain brands.  I just want to say: be warned Kinkies!!  Just because the label says it's natural, or organic, doesn't mean that it is!  Hell, feces are natural, would you go around using it in your hair?  (I truly hope that no one answered yes or even thought about it.).  Now, that may be an extreme example in some eyes, but you get the point right?!?  [insert nodding in agreement here.]  Good!

I know that I touched a bit on what some consider natural (or unnatural) in my blog post called You Ain't Natural.  However, today I just wanted to elaborate on the use of certain ingredients while living your 'natural' lifestyle.   I say do your research and make the decision ON YOUR OWN of what products you will use in/on YOUR hair.  If you're like others who ask me what to use, please understand that I would  suggest the all-natural alternatives for continued, long-term use.  However, please continue to use your discretion with what you use on your hair, your skin... Please also understand that what works for one, may not work for another.

I hope it helps!

Feel free to also check me out on Facebook, Kinky Kinetik, Twitter, Tweet Kinky and YT, KinkyKinetik.

~Keep it Kinky~ 

Do You Know The Length Of Your Hair?

Hey Kinkies.  Below is a chart to help you in determinining what 'length' your hair is classified as.  As you look at the chart, I want you to ask yourself: am I more concerned about length or the overall health of my hair.  I want to remind you that just because your hair is long, it does NOT mean that it is healthy!  You could have heat damage, split ends, a strand of fairy knots... Lord knows what else.  

I used to focus on how long I wanted my hair to be (you know that image of long, flowing hair that TV helps to embed in our brain?!?)  Now, I focus on the health of my hair.  With healthy hair comes great length!

Hope it helps Kinkies... Make sure you check me out on Facebook, Kinky Kinetik and as always...

Keep It Kinky!

How You Doin'? Naturals...

Awright!!  So, that was said in my Wendy William's voice.  Why?!?  Because I absolutely LOVE her!!

On today's show (1/9/12), Wendy said something to one of her audience members that REALLY made me smile.

A woman and her mother-in-law were on the show and the woman asked Wendy what she should do as her mother-in-law would not put a relaxer in her gorgeous, healthy appearing hair.  She stated that she wanted to get a chemical relaxer to keep her hair straight as she is now working out (we ALL know what happens when we sweat and/or gets our natural hair gets wet).  Wendy replied with: keep it natural as long as you can!  ...Stay natural as long as you can!

Being natural (now) and hearing the message from someone such as her, who touches so many other women's lives... I could only cheese (smile) and have 'aww' moment.  DID YOU HEAR WHAT SHE SAID LADIES... AND GENTS?!?  What a message!!  To those who consider going back to the creamy crack... do as Wendy said and KEEP IT NATURAL AS LONG AS YOU CAN!  Your hair will thank you... trust me! ;-)

And to Wendy  - in my opinion - that was some of the BEST advice given... EVER!!

In case you care to know, here's my history with Wendy... a sure friend in my head...

I've listened to Wendy back when she was on the radio.  She always 'said it like she meant it...' and as of today, she's still saying it like she means it on her live TV show.  I relate so much to Wendy as not only do I also say it like I mean it (which gets me in trouble sometimes - I'm learning though) but I also give good advice (as I've been told).

But anyways, I also had an opportunity to not only be in the audience of her show, but also ON the show (From G's to Gents - six week sneak peek - with Mr. Bentley).  The picture below is of me on that very day... and look at Wendy's pic, we're [almost] posing twins!!

Thanks for reading and as always... keep it kinky!!

Check out Kinky on Facebook --->  Kinky Kinetik

K-Y Jelly... Not Just For Sexing!

So when I say I JUST saw a post about this, I literally JUST saw a post about using K-Y as a hair moisturizer.  I ran right over here to talk blog about it!

Now, I know I already talked about using Monistat on hair and I said thought I had seen it all.  Apparently, I was so WRONG.  (If you didn't read that post about the Monistat, click --> My Scalp Has A Yeast Infection) Some people are literally using any and everything for growth and moisturizing their tresses.  My question is why?

Is hair growth THAT important that you want to resort to usage of Monistat?  Is your hair THAT parched that you have to use lubrication?  Hmm, probably better off using mineral oil... at least it seals in moisture.  (Disclaimer: I do NOT support the usage of mineral oil... I was just being a bit sarcastic.  Please, please, please think of what you are putting in our body.  Know that the stuff noted above will seep into your hair shaft and scalp and travel throughout your body.   Are oils, water, butters and other products geared towards hair NOT enough?

Anyways, just ranting for a bit.  To each their own.  As always - keep it kinky!

You Ain't NATURAL!!

So, there's continued talk among the natural community on what being 'natural' is defined as.  In the past week, I think I have read at least a dozen posts about what is or isn't 'natural.'

While perusing the web and looking for other's definition of natural, I found the following definition by "Unique": your unaltered God given hair as it grows through the epidermis from follicles deep within the dermis.  Not chemically altered, colored, curled or straightened by relaxers, texturizers or other chemical agents and is also free of any and all extensions.

Well Kinky, what are your thoughts?  For the sake of the blog and my fan page, I will be somewhat politically correct.  Based on the definition above, as well as the thoughts of others that I have encountered, you're not natural if:

~you color your hair,
~you wear weaves, wigs and/or extensions,
~you were adopted,
~you don't eat organic,
~you use sulfates, parabens, 'cones, etc.,
~you don't use 'all natural' products,
~you don't remember the date you started to transition and/or did your big chop,
~you're not of African American descent,
~you straighten your hair with a hot comb and/or straightening iron,
~you wear polka dots on Friday,
~you transitioned instead of doing a big chop, and/or
~you don't wear your hair in an afro.

Goodness.  Did I miss anything?

Well how do YOU define 'natural' Kinky?  I feel that you are natural if you do not get a perm, relaxer and/or texturizer... or use any other 'chemicals' to alter your hair texture.  Now, there are some that say that coloring your hair not only changes the color but the texture too.  However, I did not experience this when I colored my hair, and I used henna, box color and a mixture from a stylist/colorist before (not at the same time of course).

I think it is fine to wear weaves, extensions and/or wigs.  However, you may just need to use caution if/when you do.  The usage of weaves, extensions and/or wigs can help when doing protective styles.

I do prefer to use all natural products on my hair, just for overall health reasons.  So no, I don't use parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum/petroleum, silicones, etc.  If you do and that's what makes you and your hair happy - then so be it.  I guess I would rather that than you use a relaxer.  Just please do your research on what you do use [on your hair].

Some of the other statements above were added for comic relief and to show how big of a deal some are making out of what natural is or "ain't."  Opinions are like hair follicles, everyone has SOME!  LoL.

But on a serious tip (old school right), if you don't have a relaxer, perm or texturizer, regardless of whether you choose to, or not to, do the above things, then I, Kinky Kinetik, still consider you natural...  What you do, feel, know, think and/or believe makes you happy, beautiful and confident being a natural, then so be it!  Whatever YOUR definition of natural is is what YOU will have to live with and accept.  What I, or anyone else says possibly does, but shouldn't really, matter when it comes to what you define as 'natural.'

As always, keep it kinky!

Feel free to also check me out on Facebook, Kinky Kinetik, Twitter, Tweet Kinky and YT, KinkyKinetik.

Long Hair, Don't Care?!? Uh, Well You Should!

So, thanks to Lil' Wayne, men and women alike are going around shouting 'long hair, don't care.' Contrary to belief, you SHOULD care!!

Some women may be obsessed with long hair.  I can admit, that I DO want my hair to be long... just as it was when I had a perm.  However, I do also want it to be healthy.  The thing some fail to realize is that just because your hair is long, it doesn't mean that it is healthy!  At what LENGTH will you go to, just to say you have LONG hair? (pun intended) Your LONG hair can be dull, dry, lifeless and have SPLIT ENDS!!

What causes split ends Kinky?  How can I prevent them?  Some causes of split ends can be:

~Brushing and/or back-teasing you hair,
~Combing hair while it is dry (especially AA hair),
~Not conditioning (and moisturizing) your hair,
~Chemicals (perms, dyes, etc.),
~Not trimming when needed,
~Your clothes (yep, your hair can snag on shirts, sweaters, hats and scarves), 
~Excessive use of heat, and
~Trimming with inferior scissors (household or kitchen scissors that are dull).

What can I do to prevent split ends Kinky?  You can search AND destroy!!

Besides doing the opposite of what is listed above, you can do a search in destroy.  A S & D is when you take portions of your hair at a time and trim off fairy knots and split ends.  Some may elect to do this as opposed to actually trimming their hair entire head.

Well I ain't trimming my hair!!  How will it GROW if I keep cutting it?!?  To be honest, you really SHOULD cut those fairy knots and trim those split ends.  Why you ask?  Because they are making matters worst for your hair.  And yes, your hair may still grow with the split ends; however, you also risk the 'split' traveling up the shaft of your hair. You risk your beautiful tresses breaking.  You risk those split ends affected the other strands on your naturally, beautiful hair.

So kinkies... I say go for it, trim those ends, do a dusting, search and destroy!!  It seems that that's the only way to get rid of split ends.  Some products out there, such as Nexxus ProMend, allege that they repair split ends as follows:

My only thing is, I have to see it to believe it... I don't know of any PROVEN product, or protein treatment, that repairs hair as above.

If not interested in dusting and you're not sure of how to go about trimming your hair, try using the picture below as a model.  I've actually watched YouTube videos and know of people that use the method below.  A few nights ago when I twisted my hair, I cut the ends based on the same principle.

Here is a picture of some types of split ends:

I hope that the information above has helped you in some way.  Feel free to comment as well as let me know if I missed anything.

Hair's A Secret: Strong Enough For A Man, But pH Balance For My Hair?

When you think of pH, the first thing that may come to mind is that old Secret commercial where they claimed that their deodorant is strong enough for a man but pH balanced for a woman.  Aside from thinking deodorant, you should think HAIR!! Yep, hair!

What is pH?  pH is the "potential of hydrogen," or the measure of how acidic or basic (alkaline) a solution or substance is.  pH levels range from 0 - 14. 

There is a scale that one can use to determine how acidic or alkaline/basic a given substance is.  If the pH is measured at 7, such as in distilled water, it is neutral. If it goes above 7, like for bleaches and detergents, it is considered basic or alkaline. If the pH is measured below 7, like for vinegar and lemon juice, it is considered acidic.  The pH on the hair and scalp is usually about 4.5 - 5.

How does pH affect hair?  pH affects the health of your hair.  As such, you need to be mindful of the products that you use on your hair.  Some people may use baking soda to raise their pH level.  The use of apple cider vinegar (ACV) may help hair to be more resilient, smoother and stronger.  If using baking soda on your scalp, you need to understand that it has a high pH level (and isn't natural).

In order to clean the build-up that is on hair and scalp, shampoo has to be acidic.  Shampoos can range from a pH of 4/4.5 to around 8.5.  Permanent hair dyes contain alkaline chemicals such as ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, which can penetrate hair strands to their cores, or the cortexes. As a result, the production of melanin, which is responsible for your natural hair color is affected. Because permanent hair coloring can be highly basic and may have corrosive properties on hair, it is not always a recommended option for people who want to maintain healthy and strong tresses.  (Man I wish I knew this before I died my hair!  Next time I will try some henna...)  Perms have a pH of 11 - 14, while texturizers may be in the range of
8 - 11.

Should I care about my hair/scalp's pH level?  Yes as it helps to keep bacteria and fungi off of our scalp.


I found the following summary on a reply about pH levels of hair:

~pH 2.0: hard; smooth; not resilient; breaks easily
~pH 6.0: not as hard; smooth; very resilient; resists breaking
~pH 10.0: rough; not very resilient; tends to break easily
~pH 12.0: very rough; not resilient; tends to break very easily

As read on other sites, pH for hair is generally good at a level of 4.5 - 5.5.  Products with a pH level of 4.5 - 7 is noted to be good for our hair.

As per information that I gathered from YouTube vlogger, Kimmay:

~ACV is safe when diluted to 4 pH,
~aloe vera juice is 4 and good for a leave in conditioner or water bottle spritz,
~after wetting hair, use an acidifier within the pH range of 4 - 6 to close the cuticle (4 - 5 may be more effective), and
~the safe range for washing hair is a 4 - 7 pH (no harm done).

If you want to test the pH of products that you use, the plastic strips are better to use than the paper strips.  the pH strip can be pricey and they do very when it comes to the level of pH testing (basically, not all strips go to 14). 

Given the above and Kimmay's awesome hair growth, I may try to consider pH and my hair a bit more.  What about you?  What are your thoughts?

My Scalp Has A Yeast Infection!!

OK, so maybe the title was just to grab your attention...  My hair doesn't have a yeast infection and neither does my scalp, but does that mean I shouldn't use the product below?

 

Hmm, I'm guessing not!  However, there are some women out there that believe that the active ingredient, Miconazole Nitrate, is the answer to hair growth,  I know, I know, weird right?!?

Now, when I thought I had heard every tip possible to grow natural hair, I run into this information.  Normally I'm an optimistic, willing to try some things at least once; however, I cannot say that my product junkie-ism will allow me to go to the nearest pharmacy and buy a box of the above.  And after buying said product, proceed to open it, put it on my scalp and go on my merry way.  Nope, can't do it, won't do it!

I read that mixing your yeast infection cream with an oil and applying it frequently to your scalp will help in hair growth.  I've also read that the same regimen will also cause headaches in some.  (I guess that's the stimulation helping with the hair growth).

They say don't knock something until you try it but err uh ummm... I am knocking, pushing down and stomping the idea of using yeast infection cream on my scalp.  I think I would rather stick to Castor and other oils that aid in healthy hair growth.

Is this 'insane in the membrane?'  Are we as a people that obsessed with hair growth that we would go to such heights (or lows rather) to achieve hair length?  What do you think?