Hair Steps: 1 month

Hey,

So guess what, my hair just turned one month today!!!!

Yay…

It has grown maybe just half an inch or so. But glad with the progress whatsoever. Am so glad that my hair is looking really healthy too and I have been getting the “you have good hair” comments, to which I usually reply you do too!!! You probably just have to take care of it better.

I have notice however that my hair is growing funny, sort of like a baby's, in that its growing a lot in the middle and not enough on the sides and at the back. I have to figure out something to do about that. I have also being experiencing minor breakage and the hair is a bit tough.

The thing however is that I have not come up with a proper hair care regimen as of yet. I have just been observing the hair to see how it behaves so I can come up with a good regimen. So now that I have done that in the past month, I will be coming up with a regimen by the end of this week which I will share with you. I definitely know it will involve a lot of conditioning, co-washes, treatment and a trimming when I get to my sixth week, as I notice now that my barber didn’t cut my hair well as I have some stray strands popping out…. and they are bone straight!

At the moment I have just been combing my hair out as it is really low maintenance. But over the weekend I was playing with my hair (fingers in hair syndrome) and started doing little finger coils, which actually ended up looking really cool and wore them the whole weekend. I went to a birthday party and I got complimented for them. Cool!!! On Monday as I was going to work I uncoiled them and had like a coil-out or something… and it came out cool too!!! So I went to work with it, but my head became itchy and I washed it when I got home and pap… my coils went away. And unfortunately I didn’t get any photos !!! But planning to repeat the routine this weekend and this time I will share the outcome.

Anyway so yes, my hair which is like an inch and a half now can manage little styles like coil-outs and cornrows?

Live, Love,Laugh,

Its only Natural

Natural Toto

INTRODUCING: Natural Toto’s Pure UNREFINED Shea Butter

Well guys, I am super excited to announce this piece of GREAT news. In my quest to not only provide a forum for naturalistas, I thought it a good idea to also provide solutions whenever I can.

I am thus extremely happy to announce to you the launch of Natural Toto Pure Unrefined Shea Butter.

The Shea Butter is from Northern Uganda and will go on sale starting from next week, Monday 8^th, October, 2012. The first batch is packaged in 100g container which will sell for KShs.400/ (Kenyan Shillings); with the 200g going for KShs.800/.

So guys, place your orders now to beat the traffic, and get your Natural Toto Unrefined Shea Butter in time.

For order or enquiries, get to us via email: naturaltoto@gmail.com  or send me a message on our facebook page.

Below find pertinent information on Shea Butter; one of nature’s wonder plant and find out why it is an essential product for any man/woman or baby out there.

What Is Shea Butter?

Shea Butter is a yellowish or ivory creamy fat extracted from the nut of African Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). In African language it is referred to as Ori/Nkuto/Nku in West Africa and Mwooyo in East Africa. The Shea tree is regarded as “The Tree of Life” and it grows to a height of approximately 60ft and may live up to 200 years. The tree produces its first nuts at 20 years and reaches full production at 45 years (Teaches you a thing or two about the importance of trees huh?).

Where Does Shea Butter Come From?

Shea Butter is found in Africa, mostly West Africa, in a region stretching from Senegal to South Sudan. Some of the countries it can be found in include, Benin, Ghana, Chad, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Guinea, DRC ç (West/Central Africa) and Uganda, Ethiopia, South Sudan ç(East Africa). In most of these countries the destruction of Shea tree is forbidden due to its economic, health and social benefits. GOD BLESS AFRIKA!

What Is Shea Butter For?

Shea Butter has many uses, from beauty purposes to medicinal to nutritional. In short it can be termed, a God given miracle worker. Some of its uses are; cooking, making cosmetics such as oils, conditioners, lip gloss etc, used in making medicines, used in making soaps, sometimes used as a substitute in making chocolate, making candles, Wax proofing walls of huts in some parts of Afrika, used to unblock nostrils if suffering from sinuses and also used to condition wood when intending to make traditional African drums.

Types of Shea Butter

There are two types of Shea Butter, West African Shea Butter (Vitellaria Paradoxa) and East African Shea Butter (Vitellaria nilotica). The West African Shea Butter contains a large amount of Vitamin A which is good at preventing wrinkles and stretch marks, while the East African Shea butter contains lower amounts of vitamin A but is higher in Olein (liquid part of the butter) which makes it more softer and fragrant and it absorbs better into the skin due to its lower saturated fatty acids. This and the fact that East Africa Shea butter is rarer makes it more valuable.

Classification of Shea Butter

Shea Butter is classified into 3.

Unrefined Shea Butter

This is the all natural/unaltered/undiluted Shea butter, it is creamy ivory/yellowish, and it has no additives nor preservatives and no chemicals. This is raw Shea butter as extracted from the Shea tree, usually using only water. It retains all the vitamins and nutrients from the Shea nut, including its nutty smell that disappears after application.

Refined Shea Butter

Refined Shea Butter is processed in factories, mostly to increase amount to be sold. The Shea butter is filtered and loses some amount of its vitamins and nutrients. It is usually lighter in color and odorless.

Highly Refined Shea Butter

This is highly processed Shea Butter, the process involves mixing with many chemicals, bleaching, deodorizing, heating in high temperatures and it looses most of its nutrients. It is usually white in color and has lost the natural smell.

How is Shea Extracted?

The extraction of Shea Butter is time consuming and can take 1 day to just get 1kg of the Shea butter.

• First the fruits are harvested, then they are cracked to extract the nut by crushing and boiling. The nuts are then pounded or crushed by machine or pestle.
• The crushed nuts are then roasted and pressed to extract the Shea Butter.
• The Shea butter extract is then boiled in water until the butter rises to the surface and is scooped into containers.

No chemicals or synthentic agents are needed for the process.

What are the Benefits of Shea Butter?

Skin Benefits

• Shea butter completely absorbs into the skin leaving no greasy residue.
• Aids in treating skin problems such as dry skin, psoriasis, burns, blemishes, eczema, wrinkles and stretch marks.
• It softens and moisturizes skin.
• It is anti-inflammatory and stimulates renewal of Cutaneous cells.
• Contains vitamin A, D, E, & K which slow skin aging process.
• Contains phytosterols that help in skin regeneration and protection.
• Relieves skin discomfort from skin rashes especially diaper rash.
• Reduces razor irritation when used as a shaving cream.
• Helps to prevent feet crack on the heels.
• Helps in the healing of skin wounds.
• Acts as comfort on sun burns or skin peels.
• Prevents formation of stretch marks.
• Prevents scaring of wounds.
• Restores elasticity of skin.
• Reduces/Prevents Acne.
• Evens out skin tone

Hair Benefits

• Protects hair from weather damages such as winds, humidity, extreme dryness and repairs such damages.
• Restores hair moisture and vitality.
• Maintains the luster and productivity of hair.
• Eliminates irritation of scalp after chemically processing.
• Acts as a moisture sealant for hair.
• Revitalizes and repairs breakage and split ends and promotes hair growth.

Well, place your orders now to get your Shea Butter on time.

Reference:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/264480-what-is-shea-butter-good-for/#ixzz28JZcmc8m
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shea_butter

Live, Love, Laugh,

Its only Natural,

Natural Toto

Transitioning: From Relaxed to Natural

I have previously told you my hair journey, and for those that have followed they can tell you that I have never relaxed my hair. However even though I cannot speak from an experience point of view, there have been tips that I have gathered from my research and forums that I have been part of in terms of transitioning.

Well, growing up, from my primary school all the way to college, most of my friends had relaxed their hair and so, from them I also learned a thing or two about relaxed hair, things that can help me give you tips if you want to transition from Relaxed hair to Natural.

Transitioning mainly means moving from one state to another, and in the hair circles it means the process of moving from the relaxed state to a natural state.

So you are asking how do I transition?

Well its really not that hard, and there are two ways you can go about it:

1. Transitioning with Big Chop

The first way is you choosing to cut of your hair to start afresh aka the Big Chop. To do this you can either cut it all off, or you can grow your growth (hair that is not chemically altered) to a certain length you would be comfortable with, an inch or three and then cutting the rest off.

2. Transitioning without the Big Chop

The second way is if you grow out your growth, while avoiding the retouch and trimming your ends every 4-6weeks untill all your relaxed hair has been cut off.
Both this methods however come with some underlying rules/tips to help you transition healthily and grow a beautiful natural mane.

Here are 5 tips for transitioning:
1. Stop Using Chemicals - If you decide to go natural, stop using chemicals in your head completely  there is just no two ways about this.

2. Stop Using Heat - Second to chemical damage, heat can really ruin your hair by altering its texture and deriving your hair off of its moisture. And worst of all is that it is irreversible! As Nappturology 101 put it, Heat is Natural hair worst enemy.

3. Wear Protective Styles - In order to protect your hair from harsh weather conditions, breakage and tampering, invest in protective styling, do stylish cornrows, twists and buns. You can also do braids but I find relaxed hair to be really fragile so it may damage your hair line.

3. Deep Condition weekly - Deep conditioning helps replenish your hair with moisture and makes your natural hair softer and reduces breakages.

4. Limit Combing - Combing the hair increases breakage so it would be ideal if you could learn how to detangle with your fingers instead of a comb. If you have to use a comb ensure its wide tooth comb.

5. Trim your ends every 4-6 weeks - Ensure you trim your ends regularly especially if you are planning to transition without the big chop. This helps you cut off the relaxed edges and leave you with a natural mane.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. As I have never relaxed my hair, there are some things I might have missed. Please Share your tips with me on how you transitioned from relaxed to natural in the comments below.

Live, Love,Laugh,

Its only Natural

Natural Toto