Are you someone that drinks a lot of water? Did you know that the most important thing we can do for our body is drink water? In order to achieve hair growth we should drink somewhere between two and three liters of water daily.
Staying hydrated is important for our health. Hydration is also a very important factor that contributes to longer hair.
Here are three ways that drinking water can help you improve your hair growth.
Raise your hand if you've experienced any kind of hair loss. It's happened to most of us and can be normal. Today we will discuss routine hair shedding, why it happens and how much is normal.
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.
Silver (gray) hair happens, so whether you’ve fully embraced your silver crown or are only seeing a few specks of glitter, Donna has some amazing tips and tricks to help you along the way!
How do grays happen?
Let’s get to the root of it (no pun intended). The same element in your skin that gives its pigment (melanin) is also present in your hair. Throughout our lifespan, our bodies eventually stop producing the melanin in our hair and gray hair eventually grows instead. For some, this process begins around the age of 35. As this stage in life begins, the colored strands of hair don’t actually fade to gray. Rather, grays grow after old, colored hair sheds and falls away. That’s why some people begin with a sparkle here or there, with gray slowly replacing their original natural color over time.
So when does gray happen?
There’s definitely a rumor going around that plucking one gray hair will make 3 more grow in its place. We’re here to tell you that this is just a myth.
For most people, the rate at which gray hair grows is very much determined by genetics. Just looking at your parents and grandparents' gray hair growth will be the best way to learn about your future gray hair process.
It’s important to note that gray hair is assumed to be an indicator of stress. However, stress does not directly cause hair to turn gray, but it can cause hair to shed much faster than normal. If you have gray hair already started to show, high stress levels can possibly cause more strands to shed, therefore leaving room for new gray hairs to eventually come in.
Also, certain medical conditions can connect to gray hair including vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid disease, and alopecia. Gray hairs from these conditions are not as common but it does happen, particularly to people who start to see gray hairs at a younger age. Don’t be alarmed! For the majority of people, genetics is the biggest indicator of when and how fast your silver strands will introduce themselves to the world.
How to Transition to Gray Hair
For some, going gray is just a part of the aging process. For others however, they still want to hang on their natural hair color as long as possible. Either way, do whatever makes you happy and comfortable!
The Perks of Going Silver
Let’s be honest, silver gray hair is beautiful. Period! The beauty and entertainment industry have taught us that gray hairs should be covered, but why? Silver hair is 100% natural and beautiful!
Check out our Donna’s Cousins rocking their silver crowns!
On the plus side, embracing your silver strands is easier (and cheaper) than trying to keep up with dying your hair consistently. Just think about it, all that time spent between salon appointments and at home touch-ups can be mentally and financially exhausting, so why not embrace your inner silver crown and take the leap of faith?
If you’re ready to take that leap, here are a tips and tricks to ease the transition:
A Fresh Cut
A TWA, bob or pixie cut can help reduce the competing color contrast between your gray and natural hair strands. You can go shorter than your than your normal look or try something completely different.
If you want to keep your length, then start slow and gradually trim your ends over time.
A Splash of Color
Adding highlights and lowlights can help to smoothly blend in any incoming grays. If you decide to go this route, it’s highly recommended to see a stylist or color specialist beforehand. This will help you choose the best shades that blend and match your new incoming gray strands.
Caring for Silver Hair
As we get older, we produce less oil on our skin and hair. Although it may look and feel like gray hair is dry and coarse, they are just simply less lubricated than before. So whether you decide to cover them or embrace them, silver stands will be thirsty for moisture!
First things first, SHAMPOO!
Product buildup and environmental factors can discolor and dull gray hair, so it’s important to wash your hair. Try using a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser to help remove any build-up that way your silver stands will glow without stripping any oils and nutrients.
You Silver Crown + Conditioner = Best Friends
Guess what? Water and conditioner will be your gray’s best friends! Literally. Using a good, hydrating conditioner will give thirsty grays the hydration they need. Also, bring in a deep conditioner every now and then to your routine for extra moisture.
New Textures! Yes!
Don’t be alarmed when your grays come in and they look and feel different than before.That’s completely okay! It’s normal for grays to grow in with a completely different hair texture. This happens because the slowed oil and less melanin production affects the chemical structure of your hair. As your silver strands grow in, whether you decide to fully embrace them or color them, you may need to switch up your styling routine by using styling products that provide more moisture. You can also use Donna’s Strength Hair Oil to provide that extra nourishment for your scalp.
How do I Fix Discolored Gray Strands?
A good clarifying shampoo can remove product build-up on your scalp, but it can also help prevent hair discoloration. Even an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse every now and then will remove any brassiness or yellow discoloration in gray hair.
Embrace your Silver Crown!
Going gray is an inevitable part of life. While we encourage you to embrace your silver crown, it's understandable that some are just not ready or want to, and guess what? THAT’S OKAY!
If you think about it, gray hair is a part of your healthy hair journey, and learning to care for them is simply the next chapter. Exploring new and exciting ways to learn how to love and care for your new shade can be a freeing experience. When you’re ready to, embrace the silver strands and show the world what you’re made of!
Have you ever walked into a beauty supply store, overwhelmed with the huge variety of hair products and didn’t know where to start? Don’t worry, at some point in everyone’s healthy hair journey, we’ve all been there. Understanding hair product labels is not always easy…I mean, what’s even the difference between a leave-in conditioner and deep conditioner? If I leave a regular, rinse out conditioner in my hair for a longer period of time, does that make it a deep conditioner?
Well, Donna is here to help you understand product labels and find the right products for you. Choosing the right conditioner for your hair type is crucial to maintaining a healthy hair routine.
Rinse Out Conditioner
A classic rinse out conditioner is generally applied on wet, freshly washed hair after the shampoo step. Since the shampoo is there for cleansing your hair, a conditioner is used to rehydrate, strengthen, and protect the strands.
This conditioner can be used daily as a “surface conditioner” for about 1-3 minutes. Rinse out conditioners smooth the cuticle to detangle and help tame frizz.
Is a Rinse-Out Conditioner for Me?
To ensure your hair is healthy, you should condition your hair every single time you wash it. If you’re not using a deep conditioner (will talk about this shortly), it’s recommended that you at least use a rinse-out conditioner. It is important to apply conditioner correctly to enjoy all of the benefits. So try sectioning your hair into 2-4 parts, continuously add water, detangle from tip to root, let it sit for 1-3 minutes, then rinse with cool water.
Deep Conditioner
A deep conditioner is a hair treatment that is used once a week and usually has a thicker consistency, requiring you to leave it on for a longer period of time, typically around 10-30 minutes (depending on the instructions). Deep conditioners consist of beneficial ingredients that can penetrate the shaft of the hair and nourish the cuticles on a deeper level. Deep conditioners typically have a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid, providing long lasting effects. These effects can be amplified by adding heat.
For those with low porosity hair, the hair should be freshly shampooed to raise the cuticles, and heat should be added to help the ingredients penetrate deeper into the strands. Those with high porosity hair also benefit from adding heat to the strands with thick deep conditioners as well to help infuse as much moisture into the highly porous cuticle. Not sure what porosity level your hair has? Check out our blog “Porosity Level 101”.
Is a Deep Conditioner for Me?
It’s universally recommended that you incorporate a deep conditioner into your healthy hair routine. Your frequency of use depends on your hair type, and overall health of your hair. If you have fine or thin hair, a couple times a month is recommended. If you have dry or brittle hair, you should consider using a deep conditioner every wash or every other wash.
Leave-In Conditioner
A leave-in conditioner is a light-weight water based cream that is meant to be used after both shampoo and (rinse out or deep) conditioner. Just like its name, you leave it in and don’t rinse it out, It works best when hair is damp to help retain moisture. Compared to the deep conditioner and rinse-out conditioner, the leave-in is the lightest form, so they don’t weigh the hair down.
This product is best for keeping hair soft and shiny, and helps prime your hair before styling.
Is a Leave-In Conditioner for Me?
Leave-in conditioners work well for anyone that’s looking to strengthen and hydrate their hair while making it more manageable for styling. You can also add Donna's Recipe Strength Hair Oil with your leave-in conditioner in between washes to continuously keep your hair hydrated. However, it works best for those with low porosity hair. Leave-in conditioners are light enough to be absorbed by low porosity hair making it the perfect moisturizer.
It’s important to understand the purpose of all conditioners in order to build a healthy hair care regimen. It’s best to experiment with a leave-in, rinse-out, and deep conditioner in order to find the recipe for healthy, nourished hair.
Guest Writer: Ashley Lewis
Hey Family!
Let’s talk, “Stress Breakage”. This is when high levels of stress hormones causes your hair to break off or fall out.
For a long time I wasn’t aware that I had this issue, but I kept finding sections of my hair with strands half the length of the rest of my hair. This mainly occurred in the mid-scalp region of my head and was only noticeable when I attempted styled that area of my hair.
Stress and anxiety can have so many effects on the body, some we automatically notice like breakouts on our face and others not so much, like a patch of hair in the back of your head (what the hack!?). Depending on how much stress you have going on in your life, this will determine the magnitude of the effects.
The good news is, there are plenty of ways to manage or reduce stress, and most of them won’t break your pockets! I know this may not be easy for everyone but, adding in some form of self care could be extremely helpful. Find something you can do consistently that brings you peace and calm. Meditate, take walks, listen to music, even if it’s just five minutes of silence throughout your day, do it! Scalp massages are also a huge help. Grab your Donna’s Recipe Strength Hair Oil and give yourself a ten minute scalp massage. This will help to stimulate your scalp and hair follicles, which assists with blood flow and hair growth.
Lastly, be consistent with your hair care routine and be sure to include a great deep conditioner into the process! Exercise, take your Donna’s Recipe Biotin Hair Vitamins Gummies, and drink lots of water!
We all experience stress at some point in our lives, but if there is something you can do to help it and also help your overall well being, I say let’s make it a priority!
Guest writer: Arnita Champion
Have you never wondered how to keep your protective hairstyles “protected” while having it last as long as possible? Here's a few tips and tricks.
Protective hairstyles are indeed ‘heaven-sent’ but they can look like they went through A LOT after the first two months if you don’t take care of them.
Sometimes we tend to forget that our protective hairstyles need to be protected as well. Just like our natural hair, braids or locs can get matted, tangled, dull and even smelly after the first two months. Have you ever experienced the above? Many have.
PROTECTIVE STYLE TIPS
TIP #1:
On my washday, I start by cornrowing my faux locs all the way to the end. I wash my hair in the shower instead of the sink, so it takes the weight and pressure of my wet locs off of my neck, and it allows the shampoo and conditioner to flow all the way to the ends of my locs.
When I wash my cornrowed locs, my scalp is exposed so that I can “get into it” with my shampoo and conditioner. I pay attention to saturating my locs by squeezing the products into my locs and gently sliding my hand down my locs so that the product is evenly distributed.
Keep in mind that when you rinse your product out, make sure to put the shower head on full stream assuring all of your product is out of my locs.
Also use a leave-in conditioner. However, I still rinse out some of the leave-in just to make sure it doesn't look like dried lotion in between my locs. That is not a good look.
Washing my faux locs while in cornrows protects my faux locs from fraying, tangling or getting matted.
TIP #2:
After washing my locs I saturate them from top to bottom with a foam styling mousse. This lays down those “wild flyaways”.
TIP #3:
For the finale, I drizzle and massage Donnas Recipe Strength Hair Oil on my scalp between my cornrows. This is a must! Honeyyy, your scalp and hair is going to love you for it!
TIP #4:
After washing your locs, while your hair is still in cornrows, sit outside and let the Vitamin D from the sun get into your exposed scalp. Vitamin D from the sun plays a vital role in the creation of new hair follicles. Our hair follicles are the tiny pores from which new hairs grow. New hair follicles help your hair maintain its thickness and prevent existing hair from falling out prematurely.
TIP #5:
Another way I preserve my faux locs is to wear them in different up-do hairstyles. Styles like pony-tails, buns and even hair wraps and scarves. By doing so the ‘wear and tear’ on the ends of my locs is minimal.
TIP #6:
As a personal trainer and pro-athlete, I am very active, so keeping my faux locs looking marvelous and not matted is key. When I workout I sweat a lot, and I am often on the floor executing a lot of mat-exercises. Seeing that my locs are long, I pin them in buns so that dust and dirt particles can’t easily get into my hair. Once I’ve finished my workout, I lightly spritz my scalp and locs with a mixture of warm water/witch-hazel and let them air dry.
The beauty of the cornrows is that you can rock your cornrows for about a week if you can tie them down at night with a scarf.
Quick recap:
*Wash your locs in Cornrows on Wash Day
*Wash your hair in the shower instead of the sink
*Saturate your locs with shampoo and conditioner from top to bottom
*Use your Favorite styling mousse
*Use Donnas Recipe at least 2-3 times per week especially on wash day.
*Try to air-dry or sun dry your locs to get that Vitamin D on your scalp
*After you workout, lightly spritz your scalp and locs with rose water and warm water
*To protect the ends of your locs, wear “up-do” styles or head-wraps and scarves
*Tie your cornrows up so you can rock them for at least a week.
There you have it…my tips that will allow you to rock your faux locs for a while! Try them and see if it does the same for you.
Guest writer: Arnita Champion (Content creator and Professional Fitness Trainer)
IG: @beachamp_ifbbpro
Summer is the season of equal parts joy and frustration of our natural hair. It’s joyful to enjoy the warm weather by wearing curly hairstyles that are more casual than your winter norm. But it can also be a time of frizz, unintentional damage and curl unruliness. Just like our skin, our hair is directly exposed to weather conditions, especially the sun, temperature, and humidity. Hair, being a protein fiber, may undergo physical and chemical changes with the changing environmental conditions. As we move into summer, consumers are frequently engaged with outdoor activities, such as traveling, swimming in pools, or the ocean. Exposure to these weather conditions can affect the health of our hair. So! Here are some helpful tips for nourishing, hydrating and controlling your curly hair. Learn how to take care of curly hair…all summer long!
Interaction of solar radiations with the hair fiber
What does this even mean? Well, solar radiations possess enough energy to initiate the degradation of hair protein and color fading. Hair proteins undergo chemical reactions by absorbing light energy from solar radiations and as a result, various chemical bonds in the hair structure are broken. This weakens the structure of hair fiber, hair becomes fragile, loses its strength, and surface properties are completely changed. In other words, the more you stay outside directly in the sun, the more possibility of hair damage.
Just like we need sun protection for skin, our hair needs the same protection. Before stepping out, please ensure you have applied a leave-in conditioner that contains organic natural solar protectors. A leave-in conditioner protects your hair against photodamage, preserves its structural integrity besides improving hair lubricity. A well-balanced leave-in conditioner should not contain any synthetic UV blockers or silicones.
Hair Color Fading
Besides protein loss, intense heat and solar radiation can also fade hair color. Natural virgin (non-chemical treated) black hair becomes brown and even gray with continuous repeated exposure to the sun. Hair contains melanin colorants responsible for our hair color. However, under summer conditions, melanin undergoes degeneration by breaking its various chemical bonds and converting melanin into smaller molecules that come out of hair fiber during the washing/rinse off cycle.
Hair fibers colored with temporary or permanent hair color undergo photo-degradation even quicker and the color only lasts a few days during summer. Your hair needs protection to minimize color fading and this requires customized and special formulations designed for summer times. Hair experts suggest staying away from shampoos with sulfates, because they can easily dissolve hair colorants and accelerate color fading. Instead, rely on moisture based shampoos and leave-in conditioners as they inhibit water uptake, minimize frizz, and forms a courting at the hair surface minimizing color bleeding.
Chlorinated Pool Water & Ocean Water
Swimming pools are regularly treated with chlorine to control mold and bacterial growth. Chlorine treatment maintains the quality of pool water and keeps it suitable for swimming. However, chlorine molecules can get absorbed by the hair during swimming and can turn blonde hair into a greenish color. This may initiate chemical reactions on the hair’s surface which accelerate under the sun.
The same situation happens with ocean water, as it contains a significant level of inorganic metals, calcium and magnesium. These metal components can alter the physical and chemical properties of hair.
Now how do we avoid this problem? It’s highly recommended to use a moisture balancing conditioner or leave-in conditioner before heading to the pool or beach. This minimizes the chance of having chlorine penetration of metal binding with hair. Also to protect your hair, mist your hair with water and applying a few drops of Donna’s Recipe Strength Hair Oil. Filling the hair with moisture instead of water will prevent it from swelling. After swimming, cleanse your hair with a clarifying shampoo, followed by a moisturizing conditioner.
Sweating
The scorching heat during summer causes you to produce an unfortunate amount of sweat. Human sweat debris can form deposits on the scalp’s surface and hair shaft leaving an undesired aesthetic feel and odor. To help remove these materials from your hair, use a clarifying shampoo, then follow with a deep conditioner to hydrate your hair restoring its natural gloss and texture.
Eek! Itchy scalp AND flakes?! Must be dandruff, right? Maybe, maybe not.
Is it dandruff or is your scalp just dry? Dry scalp and dandruff can look similar but are caused by different conditions. If you look a lil' closer, you'll discover a few things that set them up apart.
As similar as these conditions may seem, knowing the difference between them will help you understand how to treat your itchy, flaky scalp.
DRY SCALP
A dry scalp is caused by your sebaceous glands being unable to produce enough natural oils to keep the skin on your head moisturized. As a result, the top layer of skin on the scalp dries out and begins to crack and shed into tiny little white flakes. And the itchiness? Well, just like the skin on other parts of the body, once the scalp gets dry it can get irritated and itchy. Another common sign of a dry scalp is dry hair. The lack of sebum not only deprives the scalp of moisture but the hair shaft as well, leaving ends feeling and looking dull and rough.
WHAT CAUSES DRY SCALP?
Cold, dry climates
Over-shampooing
Drying products (hairspray, styling gel, etc.)
Dehydration
DANDRUFF
Dandruff is caused by a condition called seborrheic dermatitis which causes the scalp to become oily, red, and scaly. Normally, the skin cells on the scalp multiply when you need more of them and then shed off and die but with dandruff, the skin cells multiply and shed faster than usual. The best way to tell if it is dandruff is by the flakes. Due to the oiliness and overgrowth of skin, dandruff flakes are often larger and sometimes yellow.
WHAT CAUSES DANDRUFF?
Most people believe that dandruff is caused by poor hygiene. Although a dirty scalp and hair can certainly aggravate and contribute to the condition, the true culprit is a fungus called Malassezia. It can be found in every head of hair, but some people have more of it than others which is what causes their skin cells to multiply quicker.
How do you treat itchy, dry, flaky, scalp?
If you suspect that you have a dry scalp, be sure to use a gentle and moisturizing shampoo that will not further dry out your scalp and hair. Always be sure to follow that up with a silicone-free conditioner and styling products that help to keep your hair hydrated.
Massaging oil into your scalp is also a great way to prevent it from getting dry and flaky. The Donna's Recipe Strength Hair Oil Jojoba Oil (plus other amazing ingredients) which simulates the texture and consistency of the natural oil your scalp produces, making it less likely to build up on your skin/scalp and clog your pores and hair follicles.
