Sassy Southern Curls

Tea Tree Oil is a very common essential oil in the natural hair community. I originally bought it to use in a batch of whipped shea butter. I found the smell to be overwhelming though. It has a woody mint like scent. So of course I took to the internet to research additional benefits. I found a slew of usages for tea tea oil with most of them being skin related. Tea Tree oil can be used for skin tags, sunburns, acne, rashes, and even fungal infections. My skin has been suffering because I've gotten lazy about covering my hair at night. Since tea tree oil can be used as a topical oil, I lightly apply it to my face. I do find that the smell is still a bit strong so I like to add it to coconut oil and shea butter. This is a great moisturizer but sometimes my face does feel greasy. I like to apply the solution in the morning and then whip off the access. If it's still cooler where your at, I don't think you'll have this problem.   So if you're having problems with...

Varicose veins are unattractive and can be very painful. I started to get small varicose veins in my late 20’s. Recently though the veins became inflamed and swollen. I work from home and sometimes stand up in front of my computer. This is not good for circulation in the legs. I took to the internet in search for a natural remedy.  Cypress Oil was the number one suggestion for varicose veins.  After reading about the benefits I headed immediately to my Whole Foods and picked up this vial for only $10.00. Cypress Oil is hemostatic and styptic. In other words, it promotes blood circulation. I applied five drops directly to my veins and made a buttercream . Two hours later, the pain had subsided. Right before bed, I applied the buttercream to my legs. When I woke in the morning I was amazed!! The swelling was completely gone, there was no pain and the vein coloring had nearly faded. I've been using essentials for a while but I’m very impressed at how effectiv...

ATTENTION PHOENIX NATURALS!!! I'm excited to be a part of the 4th Annual Natural Hair Expo this year. The event will be at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Phoenix. Tickets can be purchased at   http://arizonainhmdexpo.squarespace.com / .  Not only will you be able to purchase from local business but there will also be workshops, VIP bags, and stylists on location. I will be in attendance selling my hair oil and conducting a workshop on hair regimens. I hope to see you ladies as this wiill be a jam packed event!!!

It’s been several years since I’ve detailed my hair regimen. As my five year hair anniversary approaches, I figured I’d share what I’ve been doing to maintain my healthy curls. Daily Every day I check to see if my hair is dry. I use the L.C.O. (liquid, cream, and oil) to moisturize my hair. I prefer this method over the L.O.C. method as I find that I only have to moisturize my hair only once a week.  I typically wear my hair in twists pulled in a ponytail or pinned in an updo. I only unravel when I have to go to work. Because of my constant low maintenance styling, I’ve been able to maintain my length. Weekly Every week I co-wash my hair. I use all types of conditioners now so I really don’t have a staple product. I finger detangle prior to washing and I further detangle with conditioner. I cannot be lazy with the detangling process or I’ll pay for it later on. Biweekly Every two weeks I shampoo my hair. If I use more product throughout the week, I’ll wash my hai...

I’m kicking off this series with a discussion on jojoba oil. Jojoba oil is often brought up in the natural hair community however I don’t think most naturals really understand the benefits. Jojoba oil (pronounced “ho-ho-ba”)   is extracted from jojoba seeds.   The plant itself produces flowers and is known to grow in North America. The chemical structure of jojoba makes it unique from all other plant-based “oils”.   Jojoba oil is actually a wax ester.  The molecular structure is very similar to the structure of our natural skin oil. (refer to the diagram below) Because of these similarities, jojoba oil is a better alternative for topical application. This all sounds great so what does this really mean and how does it benefit OUR hair? Because of its unique similarities to our natural sebum,   it’s great for applying to the scalp and hair. I’ve been using jojoba oil for three years, which is why I didn’t think twice about adding it...