The blog post offers practical and manageable hair-care tips tailored for busy moms, allowing them to maintain healthy and beautiful hair without added stress. The post provides strategies aimed to help busy moms achieve gorgeous hair without sacrificing time with their families, promoting self-care and well-being amidst their hectic schedules.
Who doesn't love a good protective style?! Protective styles are a great way to give your natural hair a break from daily manipulation and styling, but it's essential to care for your hair and scalp properly while wearing them. Here are some do's and don'ts for taking care of your hair while in a protective style:
Do's:
Moisturize: Keep your hair and scalp moisturized by using our lightweight, water-based leave-in conditioner and a hair and scalp oil that won't clog your scalp.Your hair should remain protected with moisture so it doesn't become hard, brittle and prone to breakage. That defeats the point of a protective style. Keep your hair protected with moisture and moisture retention.
Cleanse your scalp: While in a protective style, it's essential to maintain a clean scalp to prevent product buildup and maintain hair health. Sweet Potato Pie Moisturizing Extra Creamy Shampoo is great as it will cleanse your scalp without stripping natural oils and scalp fresh.
Consider quality of scarf or bonnet: We already know that a bonnet or scarf is great for keeping a protective style nicely wrapped at night. However, make sure to get a good quality bonnet/scarf that is soft and won't rub against your edges. Constant rubbing of a material against your edges can cause hair loss in that area.
Use a hairnet: If you're wearing a wig or weave, consider using a hairnet underneath to protect your natural hair from friction and tension. Try not to over use wigs/weave. Give your hair opportunity to breathe. If you can't stop use, let your hair out while at home.
Keep your scalp oiled: Apply a lightweight oil to your scalp to stimulate follicles for a healthy scalp. One of the goals for a protective style is to allow hair to grow and not be manipulated too much. It starts from within and coming out a healthy scalp.
Trim as needed: While protective styling, monitor the ends of your hair for split ends or damage. Trim them as necessary before and after your protective style to prevent further breakage.
Stay gentle: Handle your hair with care. Avoid excessive pulling, tugging, or tight hairstyles, as these can lead to hair damage. If you have issues with edges, try to not pull protective style away from your edges such as pulling into a ponytail. Let your hair relax.
Nutrient Intake: Make sure to eat foods that support overall hair health such as super foods like sweet potatoes, nuts (almonds and walnuts), green leafy foods (broccoli, collard greens, etc). A great Biotin supplement is our Vegan Biotin Hair Vitamin Strawberry Gummies that has 10,000 mcg of biotin that may support hair, nail and skin.
Hydrate Regularly: Your scalp loves water, even while in protective styles. Keep your hair and scalp hydrated throughout the day by using our Hydration Mist Spray Bottle and mixing a few drops of Strength Hair Oil and/or Leave-In Conditioner mixed with pure spring water.
The Don'ts:
1. Don't leave the style in for too long: Protective styles are meant to be temporary. Leaving them in for extended periods can lead to matting, breakage, and even hair loss. Aim to keep your protective style in for 6-8 weeks at most, depending on your hair type and how well you maintain it.
2. Don't neglect your hair underneath: Just because your hair is in a protective style doesn't mean you can ignore it. Continue to moisturize and care for your natural hair to keep it healthy.
3. Don't use excessive heat: If you're wearing extensions or a wig, be cautious about using heat styling tools excessively. High heat can damage both your natural hair and the extensions.
4. Don't use heavy products: Avoid using heavy creams, gels, or oils that can weigh down your hair and make it difficult to cleanse your scalp properly.
Protective Style Kit:
Strength Hair Oil for stimulating hair scalp and follicles. Great use with braids and twists.
Sweet Potato Pie Collection
Leave-in Conditioner- it is water-based loaded with nutrient-rich ingredients such as vanilla and lemon juice that are great for daily use to keep hair hydrated
Hair & Scalp Oil-great for lock in moisture to keep hair flexible and less prone to breakage
Hair Cream- extra moisture boost and excellent for high porosity hair (hair they dries out easy)
Hope this protective style Do's and Don'ts help you as you go on this healthy hair journey!! We got this! Share any tips that have helped you while in protective styles.
Let's start off with what alopecia is exactly. Alopecia is a medical condition that affects the hair follicles and can lead to hair loss. It's important to keep stress level down as much as possible and know that there are action steps that you can take to help to control either the spread and/or worsening of the condition.
If you suspect you have alopecia, it's essential to take steps to address your concerns and seek professional medical guidance. Here are some steps to follow:
When it comes to hair care, what you eat can be just as important as what you apply to your hair. If you want your hair to have a healthy, glowing look, then it's important to pay attention to your diet. Here are some foods that can help keep your hair healthy and fuel your body:
Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is essential for healthy hair growth and a healthy scalp.
DR Products For All Hair Types...DR Products Best for Kinky/Coily/Curly/Wavy Hair... Can I Use Donna's Recipe Products if My Hair is Relaxed? YesCan I Use Donna's Recipe Products if My Hair is Gray/Silver? YesCan Men Use Donna's Recipe Products? YesCan I Use Donna's Recipe Products if My Hair is Straight? Yes Can I Use Donna's Recipe Products if I Have Locs? Yes Can I Use Donna's Recipe on My Short Hair? Yes Which Donna's Recipe Products Can I Use if I Am Allergic to Nuts?
What is hair porosity? Hair Porosity - A term that describes the ability of a strand of your hair to absorb and retain moisture (water) through the cuticles of the hair strand. All natural hair types have some level of difficulty allowing water to penetrate the strands via the cuticle. Some cuticles have an easier time
Stress and anxiety is running rampant in our society. Let's jump in for 6 tips to help with stress and anxiety. Take action on one or two of these today. Yes? Very good!
1. Turn Off the News and/or Wifi.
We can't consume everything. It weighs on us. Take time to walk away from taking it all that the news offers and get some fresh air. Be present in the moment.
2. Take a break from social media
Take a 24 hour break from social media to just spend time with you. There is no end to social media. Therefore, it's important for you to intentionally take a break and enjoy what is in front in front of you (family, pets, garden, plants).
3. Do something new
It can be a new thing you want to cook and you're doing it without a recipe or trying a new exercise for the first time. Doing something new will force you to concentrate more of being in the moment. A new thing will keep you in the moment versus being on autopilot.
4. Call a loved one you haven't talked to in a while
This is such a great form of therapy to talk to someone and go down memory lane. Having this nostalgic feeling will put your body in a relaxing state of mind.
5. Meditate.
Meditation and breathing exercises are so beneficial to getting you back in balance and centered. When you are worried or anxious, just 60 seconds of breathing will bring you back to the present. Most times when are heart rate accelerates, we are not in imminent danger, we are just taking our minds to "what if". Meditation allows you to be in tune with your current state.
6. Begin/Start back up Journaling.
Journaling forces you to slow your thoughts down by having to write them. You can't go a mile a minute because writing takes time and thought. You are able to express how you truly feel with writing things down and not rush your thought process. It's also so much fun to look back at your journal from where you came. You get to read about things you may have forgotten and have a great time reflecting from where you were at that time.
7. Get a massage
There are so many benefits of getting a massage including
Reducing stress and increasing relaxation
Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension
Improving circulation, energy and alertness
Lowering heart rate and blood pressure
Improving immune function
You can go to a professional massage therapist or massage yourself. Your local pharmacy or dollar store usually have massagers that can assist. Give yourself a nice scalp massage with Donna's Recipe as well. The natural oils in Donna's Recipe help alleviate stress. Lavender in particular has been known to help with mental stress and exhaustion.
Ok, let's get to work. Select one or two of the tips above and let us know in the comments which ones you are going to commit to today.
Hey Family!
Remember those big dreams and plans you used to have way back when? Let’s talk about them. It’s so easy to get distracted or discouraged, especially when life throws endless curveballs your way or when we let the opinions of others in. Before you know it, you wake up one day asking yourself where did the time go and regretting the things you didn’t do. Maybe your confidence about pursuing these dreams have been shaken or maybe you feel it’s too late. Well, I want to remind you that as long as you still have air in your lungs, it’s never too late! Those dreams and plans can still be realized! It may look a little different now than it did back then and maybe you’ll have to tweak a couple things, but there’s still time.
One good thing that comes from being delayed is, you now have more wisdom and knowledge. You have fresh eyes and life experiences to see your dreams through. You may also have more access to resources. You don’t need to make it all happen in one go, but you do need to take just one step.
Grab a journal, and write that dream down.
I know from experience that looking at your entire dream can be overwhelming and anxiety inducing. So underneath your written dream, I want you to write one thing that you can accomplish in the next day(s), week(s), or within one month (don’t allow yourself to go beyond a month). It could be something as simple as making a phone call, doing some research, or assembling a team of trusted people - to something as big as applying for that loan, looking for a new job that will allow you the freedom to work on your dream, writing that manuscript, or starting therapy to figure out what’s stopping you from pursuing those dreams in the first place. Nothing is off the table. Once you’ve accomplished that first step, check it off, and write down another one.
Put that step on your calendar.
Give yourself a deadline and make it happen!
Find a trusted friend or mentor to hold you accountable.
If you have someone expecting an update from you, you’re more likely to make it happen. share your dream or plans, but make sure it is with someone who will encourage and push you. Someone who will believe in you.
Surround yourself with people who are where you want to be.
Watch the TedTalks, go to the conferences, or YouTube “how to”. Reach out to people on social media. If you can see it, you can absolutely achieve it.
Remember that every setback is a set up for something even better.
Don’t give up. Try again or attack from a different angle.
Lastly, HAVE FUN.
Your dreams should be something you enjoy doing - something you can be proud of that gives you purpose and your life meaning. It will be harder to accomplish them if you are dreading getting up each day to go after them. It won’t be easy, but it should be enjoyable.
Don’t be afraid to dream big. I’ve heard time and time again, “if your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.” Aim high, because regardless of if you make it to what you envisioned or not, I promise you, you’ll be much further than where you are now. Be brave, tune out the naysayers and your negative inner dialogue. Affirm yourself, take a leap of faith, and start now.
What is one dream that you are committing to taking steps to actualizing? Let us know below! And once you complete your first step, come back and write “I Did It!”. See you on the other side of your dream cousins!
XO,
Ashley
