I'm Back! With A Series

So I've returned from an impromptu trip to DC for a week. I apologize for not having enough posts to post while I was gone, but I'll plan better for the future....but importantly..I'm back!!

I've decided to take this first full week of August and use it to do a Hair Care Series. For the next five days I will share with you my top 5 hair treatments that I use regularly that save my hair from many awful days. Like my recent dry and knotty hair from a week long of open window driving. I really need to stop doing that, but I simply refuse!

Treatment #1: Coconut Oil. 

I use Parachute which you can find in your local Indian or Asian Grocery Store for around $3-$8. There are many brands out there. Make sure to look for Pure Coconut Oil. 

Coconut Oil is no secret in the hair world. Especially for Indians. It's something we're taught about as we learn our ABCs. It was something we did every few weeks to keep your hair healthy and shiny.  The way we used it as a child has been modified over the years but coconut oil needs to be in your medicine cabinet.

Directions:

Pure coconut oil becomes a solid as it cools so it needs to be heated, either in a microwave or in a bowl of hot water.  It's best to use it when it is warm so that it soaks into your hair and scalp.  Starting with dry, sectioned hair, dip your fingers in the warm oil and massage the oil into your scalp.  Spend at least a few seconds on each small section of scalp working it in and then pulling the remaining oil through the length of your hair. Work this all the way around your head until all your hair is covered in the oil, but not dripping wet.

As a kid we used to keep this in our hair overnight. Tying and wrapping our heads in old bandannas and covering our pillows with old towels, but coconut oil is potent and that smell is hard to get rid of.  The oil won't hurt your hair so you can keep it in as long as you like but doing just 30 minutes to an hour should be sufficient enough on most hair.  To speed up the process you could use some low heat form a dryer on the hair for a while or wrap your head with plastic before washing it out veeerry well with some good shampoo and conditioner.

This may take 2 or 3 shampoos to get the oil out completely. If your hair is very damaged, try for only 2 shampoos and let some oil remain and plan accordingly for your hair styling. Coconut oil can thicken up thinning hair, give you the shine that your hair is lacking and can even calm unruly, mid summer curls. The process might take some getting used to and you'll need to find your own balance of amount of oil and setting time, but with a few tries you will able to see just how much this natural oil helps the health of your hair.