Color Treated Hair

Permanent coloring:

Permanent hair coloring works by lifting your hair cuticles and allowing color to deposit into your hair strands. Coloring your beautiful tresses will only actually strip away some the protein built up within your strands and make your hair weaker and much more vulnerable. This will indeed leave your hair dry, brittle, breakage prone and unable to hold moisture well. I would suggest sticking with darker tones.

Protein reconstuctors/ Treatments

A protein treatment, also known as a reconstructor offers a much more intense treatment than a regualr protein conditioner which tends to also supply moisture. When using this product you usually will need to use heat, such as a hiar dyer for maximum penetration to your hair strands. A protein treatment works by deeply penetratining the hair shaft which will leave you with a much longer and more dramatic effect. This treatment will last anywhere from 4-6 weeks, but depends on, first, how many time you wash your hair and two, how much damage your hair has. However, if your hair is extremly damaged and very dry this actually works in your favor. The only sole purpose of a protein treatment is to increase the strength and add additional structure to you hair strands.

*Caution!!: If you use too much of a protein reconstructor/treatment, like more than the amount intended on the bottle ( usually every 6 wees) the hair will have already satisfied it's protein requirements and will result in "over rigid, dry hair that breaks easily at the slightest touch." When using a protein treatment I stress that it MUST be followed up with a deep moisturizing conditioner or a step two moisturizer that the product comes with. For example, ApHogee has a 'two step protein treatment' followed by a 'Balance Moisturizer' that work together to restore the hair's proper elasticity and prevent hair breakage.

Here's a little bit of a conversation I had with one of the customer reps. from ApHogee.

"If you are experiencing moderate hair breakage, I would recommend using the Two-Step Protein Treatment and Balancing Moisturizer process.  This is a specialty process developed to stop hair breakage.  It should be done once every six weeks.  When using this process, it is very important to follow the directions. We do not specify a number of minutes.  The treatment should stay on your hair until your hair gets hard like a rock.  This is the point when the protein bonds to the hair.  The reason we do not specify a number of minutes is because different settings on dryers, different people with different hair lengths and thicknesses can take different amounts of time. Following is a copy of the directions: "

 GENERAL DIRECTIONS: Shake well before use!

1. Gently cleanse hair with ApHogee Shampoo for

Damaged Hair. Rinse thoroughly and towel blot dry.

2. Apply enough ApHogee Treatment to thoroughly saturate

hair and comb blend through with a wide toothed comb for

even distribution.

3. Leave hair uncovered, DO NOT use a plastic cap. Seat

client under medium heat dryer, with high airflow.

(Alternatively, a hand dryer may be used, but hair SHOULD

NOT be agitated while drying.)

NOTE: When ApHogee Treatment is dried into the hair, the

hair becomes extremely hard. DO NOT comb or brush hair

while ApHogee Treatment is dried and in the hair.

4. Re-wet and gently rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Remove all excess dried protein. Towel dry.

5. Apply ApHogee Balancing Moisturizer to hair and scalp.

Leave on for 2 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

At home Spa Day with the Girls: Tropical Hair Mask

We got banana, cantaloupe, avocado, wheat germ, yogurt and vitamin C. Now that's a mouth full! This mask will nourish the hair and make it feel soft and healthy. Avocado is so moisturizing for the hair as well as wheat germ. Vitamin E strengthens the strands of your hair while the cantaloupe and banana provide vital nutrients to the hair. Throw yogurt into the mix and you got the perfect pH balance. Now I'm really not sure if i'll eat this or put it in my hair.. I'll probably end up doing both! It will resemble a smoothie in texture and in taste.


                                                                                   Tropical Hair Mask!
Total time: 10 minutes

Here's what you'll need!

1/2 banana
1/4 cantaloupe
1/4 avocado
1 tablespoon wheat germ oil
1 tablespoon yogurt
Vitamin E capsule



Blend all the ingredients in a blender on High for 1 minute. Leave on for about 8 minutes and rinse out. Follow up with a good shampoo.

At home Spa Day with the Girls: Whipped cream facial

You've read it right, I'm going to tell you how to make a whipped cream facial mask.

Whipped Cream Goodness

Here's what you'll need!
Total time: 5 minutes
2 tablespoons finely ground powdered oats (you can coffee grind whole oats or blend in a blender)
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons warm whipped cream
2 drops tea tree oil

Combine the whipped cream and honey in a small bowl and stir well. Next, add your powdered oats and stir. Add your tea tree oil and stir again! Stir until you have a very smooth blend. When done apply to your face for 15 minutes, rinse and follow up with a moisturizer. Store any extra in the fridge and add a dash of Vodka to preserve it for a few extra weeks. You can double up on ingredients to make enough for everyone!

... It think I may eat this one :/. Yikes!

At home Spa Day with he Girls: Lip Smacking Good Recipes!

 We Canadians and I'm sure other parts of the world have some brutal winters. These brutal winters often and never fail to stay away, dry out our skin and especially our lips. Now us girls know that our lips are so important, for crying out loud, their on our face! It's what people are bound to look at, especially if your a chatter box like me :). This recipe is great to use before going to bed or just when you are waking up. Besides all that moisture that is in the recipe the sugar will act as an defoliant to rid of any unwanted flakes.

So here is a recipe that will keep your lips smooth, irresistible and crack free!

Honey Fusion!
Total time: 5 minutes
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
1 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Mix all the ingredients together (add more olive oil if too thick) in a small bowl and apply to lips. Keep on for 20minutes and then rinse off. Now put some natural gloss on and your finished!

At home Spa Day with the Girls!

My best friend called me yesterday and told me she wanted to plan something with girls, but wasn't exactly sure what to do. I thought about it for a minute and suggested; restaurant? 'No, been there-done that' Movies? 'Boooring.' Ah-ha! Spa? However, that idea was followed by my friend declining, because of all of us being in a position to hold onto the extra coins. Damit! What are we going to do that involves relaxing, penny pinching and still having a ball? Immediately I thought to my self, "of course!". We could do an 'at home spa day'. That way we can sit at home, gossip, drink wine, keep ourselves on a budget and look cute.

I have so many ideas and I though I could share some of them with you guys, so that you can do the same with your girlfriends. Here's our itinerary:

Step 1: We're going to start by setting the mood. By creating one area in your home that has a relaxed feel will tell your guest where everything is going to happen. In that space you can gather, eat and hang out. Offer everything from signature wines, water, iced-teas, and finger foods! Be sure to have some mellow music playing. It can be instrumental or even my favorite Shade.

* Light unscented or scented candles but, be sure to make sure it's a scent that everyone would like. This will create a very tranquil and peaceful feeling.

* Provide flavored ice cubes. Simply grate the peels from a lemon, lime or an orange  and place the shavings inside the ice cube tray. Fill it up with water as usual and add a few drops of juice from each fruit. This will offer a tint of flavor. 

* Take any extra juice from your fruit and put it in the sink filled with Hot water. Soak washcloths inside the water for 20 minutes and then squeeze out any excess water. Throw them in the dryer and you have scented towels! 

* Either hire an esthetician (if you have the funds) or decide who will take on the roll. Maybe even the hostess? Give massages. Take turns giving one another foot and hand massages, facials and pedicures.

Step 3: Create the menu! Have a selection of things for your friends to choose from including, finger foods, smoothies and fruit. Include the drink list as well and offer teas and coffee. (you can be creative and use construction paper!)


Step 4: Create a playlist. Put together a playlist that can have everyone relaxing. (Buy a dollar blank cd and burn it off your computer!)


Step 5: Set up the facial area. Make sure you have your area near a sink and next to a mirror to hear that 'wow!' factor


Step 6: Buy small take home bag. When you guys are done making your masks, scrubs, lotions, facial cleanser make sure you have little bags that your friends can put their creations in. You can even add loofahs, sleeping mask and small tin candles. (you can buy cheap containers and bottles from the dollar store)

Spa days are fun and a great way to bond with your friends. Everything i've mentioned can easily cost you under $50-$60 dollars and if you have 5-6 friends that's $10 dollars each to get suppies and ingredients! Ask everyone to bring a bottle of nail polish and you've got yourselves a date!

Next: 4 different recipes you can do with your girlfriends!

(#3) Moisturizing & (#4) Protein Conditioners

Moisturizing Conditioners:

I wasn't joking. There are a lot of different conditioners that support your hair in different ways. A moisturizing conditioner works by increasing the actual moisture and stretch in your hair . It smooths the cuticle down and softens your hair, which will improve it's manageability and take away the frizz.

Protein Conditioner:

Protein conditioners can range from a selection of being very light to extremely rich. Protein conditioners work by temporarily rebuilding the cuticle of the hair shaft by rebuilding or filling in the missing links that are weak When used, the hair retains the strengthening properties of the protein conditioner for about 7-10 days. However, the actual strengthening properties greatly depends on how much damage your hair has and how frequently you use it. Now, I don't want you to get protein conditioners and protein reconstructors confused. Actually, regular protein conditioners usually have a more moisturizing element than a reconstructor . Do take precaution however with black natural hair, it sometimes is very sensitive to protein conditioners so try it and see how your hair may or may not like it.