asparagus bisque

1 lb. asparagus
2 T. coconut oil
1 T. minced garlic
1/4 c. chopped red onion
black pepper, seasoned salt

Cut asparagus into 1-2 inch pieces. In a saucepan, sautee ingredients on med-low heat, lightly season, and cover. Occasionally check pan for tenderness. Blend vegetables, return to saucepan. Turn heat to medium/boil, and then gradually add water two cups at a time. Simmer on low for 20 minutes.  Season to taste.

acv rinse and homemade protein treatment

Once a month, I am aiming at balancing the ph in my hair and cleaning it from product buildup without a harsh wash. This process, by trial basis only would follow with a HOMEVEDA protein treatment.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) rinse. After many views on YOUTUBE, it is best for 'relaxed' hair to only receive ACV rinses once per month. The current recipe for the ACV rinse for my hair volume is 1 to 4 ratio/using 1/4 cup of acv + 1 cup of water. I poured this into a spray bottle, sectioned my hair into fourths, and massaging acv into the scalp, on one section at a time. My hair was fully saturated before the mix bottle was empty. I then poured the remaining over my hair. The setting time was 10 minutes under a baggy.

After rinsing, my hair did not even look like my hair. I was pleasantly surprised and even for a moment wondered why I had never tried this before! The rinse closes the cuticles of the hair shaft allowing the strands to appear more shiny, as they reflect more light, but also improves manageability. Strands with open cuticles are easily tangled, unmanageable, and can lead to breakage.

Protein Treatment. Following this amazing ACV rinse, I mixed together [1 egg, 2 T soy milk, 2 T coconut oil, 2 T Aloe Vera]. With hair in four sections and using an applicator brush, I applied the treatment from root to ends. Covered hair with a baggy and a satin bonnet, then sat under a HOT dryer on MED temp. for 35 minutes. To remove egg, I co-washed with Suave Naturals Aloe and Water Lily, 2x. De-tangled, and applied the LOC method.

 

I have noticed an immediate marked difference and improvement. I will continue using this 1-2 punch! My hair loves it!

march madness

I can hardly contain my excitement. The daylight is stretching, the weather is warming, the snow is melting...and my workouts are about to get an overhaul. Yep! I've decided to get off of the machines and kick it into high gear. I've decided to push more weight and use the 'assists' aka Smith Machine.

I also noticed that I managed to do quite well on the budget front. I have no idea how. Sometimes I think "put it back, you're over the limit" and then magically the accounting fairy does her thing. I do believe it is a testament to shopping with a list, purchasing sales, and buying in bulk/bag instead of singles, especially with fruit/veggies. I find that if I hit the market too frequently in between major trips, I am more prone to picking up useless or unnecessary items. This does not mean I am free from making interval visits to grab items that 'were not on sale but now are and much needed'.

I am reaching that epic time for replacing my oils and possibly my butters. And there is nothing like sales to push me to the press the button...click! I found a wonderful site "Bulk Apothecary" that has a great price on Avocado Oil and my trusty Castor Oil. I promise the next time I make the BlackTeaOil I will certainly photo op it and post. The oil is amazing! I do plan to bring back the Olive and Coconut Oil. And, yes...my hair is doing amazingly well with the new treatments and Co-Washes! I am in the process of putting together a protein treatment that is scheduled for application on/about the 17th of this month: egg, coconut yogurt, honey, avocado oil...into a nice whipped mask!

Bulk Apothecary Avocado Oil

 

College Basketball brackets, pizza, and the onslaught of rain...

Yes...it's officially March Madness and all that it entails. I recently had an inbox from Cottage Inn promising a year of free pizza for scoring wins on the bracket. Huh? Yes!

hair grease haul

First, forget what you have been told about throwing away 'hair grease'.

When I started this natural hair journey, I was new. The last time I saw natural hair Muhammad Ali was fighting Leon Spinks. Yeah! Some of you folks born in the 80's forward have no idea what I am talking about.  Naturally speaking, the words of the wise are from tested true natural veterans with flowing locs.  Right?

Well, let me tell you a thing or two about ditching what you know once worked on your hair. Not everyone is the same. You will find this on YouTube. Most of the soft luscious wash-n-go girls are 3c and below with hair that shrinks but is fine textured to be manipulated without drying out. For us 4-type folks...uh...we need the twist outs and 'da grease'.

Not everyone is the same, even amongst the 4's. Some do not experience the shrinkage that  I encounter. Some do not like their hair so much that they wear weaves, braids, wigs, extensions, etc. 98% of the time when their hair is not flat-ironed or when doing 'length checks'. Listen up...they hardly blog about the wonderful ways their 4 type hair is styled daily. They hide!

Why? They hide because they are too chicken shit to admit that all of these oils and expensive materials pimped by the natural community for profit are not working for them. They do not want to deflect from the core, so they talk all of this chatter about 'protective styling' and hide their natural hair. Some even duck and run back to the creamy crack. Some, admit the truth and get back to the old ways that worked, which grew thick voluptuous ponies that everyone admired back in elementary school. You remember elementary school? That was the time when your mother still styled your hair, and it was long and thick, before you entered junior high and your poison fingers broke it all off.

My point here is that with all of my 3.5 years natural from a bald head, I started with what I knew. That consisted of the maintenance my mother used on my hair. As I branched out from a smooth bald head to a curly twa (teeny weeny afro) I wanted to see what others were doing with this 'hair' I discovered which was multi-textured. The good part is that I learned. Through this learning I became a product junkie, trying every product that I heard worked. I am not ashamed to say this. You learn by doing. No one sent me free tries so I was left to purchase my 'learning tools'. Sorry, student loan does not cover natural hair styling. Ha!

I will not list all of the products that I tried and tossed. It was a lot. I will tell you that I am ditching more of the stuff that does not work and adding GREASE! That is right. I am not talking about the stuff that you buy in a tiny tub for five dollars, with three trials and you are replacing it. I am speaking about the 1-3 dollar tubs of Bergamont, Castor Oil, and Coconut Oil. Royal Crown was a staple in my home. Some folks used Dixie Peach. Some had hair that just bathed in Dippity Doo (gel).

I know this. I need moisture and I need oil. Conditioner washes are better for me than Shampoo. Leave-ins are the bomb! Cheap Shampoo works! Cheap Conditioners work 10x better than the poos! I did discover a wonderful leave-in by a blogger on the YT. It consists of equal parts: aloe vera, conditioner, oil, and (water...my personal touch). I like my leave-in as a spray. I purchased little bottles to store it in, shake it up before applying, then add my GREASE! Yes sir! I am loving it!

Do you and do what works. Do not be afraid to try. By all means, when the trials fail to give you improved results, do not be afraid to go back home! We are not the rulers of the natural hair world. We do not own you or your journey.