Benefits and Uses of Castor Oil

Many have used and are using Castor Oil in their hair regimens for the past few years when it became well known to help with the hair.

Black Castor Oil (from Haiti)

Castor Oil is a vegetable oil from the castor bean.  The oil contains a lot of appealing things that would make it attractive to use in a hair regimen and beauty regimen.  Another great thing about this oil is that it has healing benefits too.

The oil is usually clear to a dark brown color.  It comes refined and un-refined too which all depends on how the oil was extracted from the beans.  Unrefined in my opinion is better because the properties are not manipulated or stripped from the oil.

Castor Oil has proteins, Vitamin E, anti-fungual and anti-bacterial properties.  The benefits are not only limited to the things mentioned, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Here are some reasons why this oil is great for a healthy hair regimen:

It Adds Shine:
Castor Oil coats the hair shaft, seals in moisture to make the surface silky and smooth.  It is also a great oil to use for hot oil treatments before you wash your hair.  One down side is that if you use it too much or too often, it can weigh your hair down, cause build up and leave your scalp and hair very oily.  Also, let us note, that if the oil coats the hair to seal it, it can slow and/or prevent split ends.  One of the ways to do it, is to mix the oil with a lighter oil for even distribution.

It Helps In Hair Loss, Dandruff & Circulation:
Because of the anti-fungual and anti-bacterial properties the oil has, which I mentioned above...this oil has a high amount of chemical compositions of fatty acids with ricinoleic acid.  With that said, many bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections can be healed using it the oil.  And with the different infections being combated, it fights hair loss to allow the hair to grow.

Castor oil also helps to increase circulation, makes the hair follicles strong and stimulate hair growth.  If hair loss is hereditary, I will go on an assumption that castor oil may not stop hair loss.  In cases of alopecia and post partum hair shedding, this oil can be a great benefit to help restore the hair. Those who are experiencing dry scalp and a lot of dandruff, it also works wonders since it is an amazing moisturizer.

Helps To Thicken the Hair and Moisturize It:
Because castor oil can get rid of bacteria, fungus and stimulate growth do to it's natural properties, it will help make room for the hair to for grow.  Those negative things will block areas of your scalp to suppress and hinder growth.  Using it for hot oil treatments, to massage the scalp and to moisturize will help the hair tremendously in so many ways beside thickening the hair.

My family have always used Haitian Black Castor Oil (HBCO) for years.  The way I know it was used, was of course...for the hair.  Other ways included: Used as a laxative, for massages, for healing and to get rid of skin infections.  It was not until a few years ago, I implemented this oil into my and my children's healthy hair regimen when Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO) became well known in the hair world.  The oil is not new, it has been around for years and years from generation to generations.

I experienced post partum shedding twice, but used it during the second, because I was on a hair journey at the time.  It helped me a lot in moisturizing my scalp and to stimulate growth in those areas. I do not feel that it will "make" your hair grow, but it will "remove every hindrance" such as the bacteria, fungus, dry scalp, to allow and make room for the hair to grow and retain length.

I use it for hot oil treatments once a month when I shampoo my hair.  I'll lightly massage it onto my scalp during the week and/or as needed.  On my children, I have a Shea butter mixture that includes castor oil and extra virgin coconut oil to use on their scalp, edges and even on their hair ends.

There are several hair sites online that do sell Black Castor Oil.
(KISS Sponsor: Jamaica Oils)

How do you use castor oil in your hair regimen?

** Please Note: Do your research on anything that you use including oils on your hair and skin.


By Sdestra 
(KISS Guest Blogger)
Thank you for reading!

God bless!

Help In The Fight Against Cancer

Many of you know I lost my grandmother  in 2005 to cancer and my Mother is a cancer survivor...

I'll be participating in the Annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk For Women. I'm committed to the fight to end women's cancers, because we've all known and loved someone affected by this disease. Let's work to protect the women in our lives: our mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, wives and friends.

You can help in this fight by making a donation on my behalf (Traycee Simmons). Your donation will help fund important research into the cause and cure of women's cancers, prevention, education, and support services for those women battling cancer and their families.

I can't wait for May 11th when I will join with thousands of others who will run or walk to raise funds for ground breaking research, provide diagnostic services and support women facing cancer. Every step and every dollar brings us closer to the ultimate Finish Line - an end to women's cancers.

Keeping It Simple

Lately I have really been keeping it simple. I wear my hair in

 two braids to sleep and keep them in throughout the day . If I

have somewhere to go I just un braid my hair and I have a

fabulous braid out lol. Doing this keeps my hair protected 90%

of the time yet its super cute. My hair is loving it !!!

I'm on a braid out frenzy again

Updated Makeup Collection and Organization

I change my set up again. I think I'm just addicted to organization.  I was looking for office ideas for small spaces and notice that all of people was using the space under their stairs. I loved the idea and decided to move my vanity downstairs and use it for my workspace and vanity area. I'm in love with my set up and it makes things so much easier when I do clients out of my home .

Still not done . I need to look into some decorative pieces and I'm mounting a small monitor on the wall for my apple mini.

I hung white curtains to block off that space when I''m not working and it looks very nice. It brings the room together. Then it also works as my back drop when I'm filming :)

Elasta QP Intense Fortifying Conditioner

I'm  absolutely  in  love with this conditioner . It leaves my hair super soft for days after I deep condition.  I don't even have to moisturize every night. Just put a little coconut oil in my hair and go. That's how moisturized and soft my hair is while  using this. I'm very impressed with Elasta QP products

Elasta QP Intense Fortifying Hair Conditioner repairs brittle, damaged hair with maximum moisture and leaves it soft and manageable. Silk Protein enriched for adding strength and elasticity. Natural olive oil-derived Squalane adds emolliency and moisture. Elasta QP Intense Fortifying Hair Conditioner is perfect for chemically 

treated hair to replace strength and moisture. Integral part of hair maintenance system for all hair types

Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Quaterium-18, Olive oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Biomide, Coconut oil, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Biotin, Vitamin F, Avocado Oil, Guar Hydroxypropytrimonium Cholride, Methaylparaben, Imidazonlidinyl Urea, Propylparaben, Parfum, Benzophenone-4, Hydrolzyed Silk, Mint balm, Tea Tree Leaf, Ginseng root, FD&C Yellow No. 5

Post Partum Hair Shedding: Is It Normal?

My daughter, MadiMel and I (2005)

written by guest blogger Sdestra

The first time I went through Post Partum Hair Shedding, I was disturbed, bothered and even upset.  I was warned by many women I knew, including my mother by backing it up with horror stories and myths.  But I was not "educated" as to why it was happening about 4 months after giving birth.  My edges were gone and I had a severe widow's peak to match.

Let us fast forward to the beginning of my hair journey.  I started learning how to care for my and my daughter's hair which led me to educate myself about hair care, products and techniques that would help to gain and maintain healthy hair.  In the process, 
I learned more about Post Partum Hair Shedding too.  Thanks to my husband's awesome idea of having another child, we became pregnant and I was already armed with knowledge.

I had found and visited the site American Pregnancy Association to read more about Post Partum Hair Shedding.  It was more understanding because every thing that was laid out in the article made a lot of sense.

Here is what I gathered from reading about this "normal" issue that some women have after giving birth.

Telogen Effluvium is when there is excessive hair shedding from the resting phase that is caused by numerous factors including childbirth which is being discussed here.

With an average person:  Most of your hair is growing at one time and about 10% of it goes into a resting phase.  The hair that are in the resting phase eventually falls out which is then replaced by new hairs.  

With a pregnant woman:   Due to the rise in hormones during pregnancy, "more than an usual amount of hair" goes into a resting phase.  An average of 40-50% of women are affected, but it is only temporary.

I can assure that some of you who had given birth, experienced thick and luxurious hair.  Because of our friend estrogen, who plays a big role in the delayed process of the resting phase; roughly 3-4 months post delivery, the body's hormones tries to reach a point of equilibrium.  While your body is trying to get back to it's normal pre-pregnancy state, the hair that went into the resting phase falls out....almost all at once in a short period of time.  Remember that I mentioned earlier....during pregnancy, more hair is in a resting phase.  Therefore, more hair will shed.  This is the reason why it seems as though some of you and including myself had tumbleweeds of hair on our bathroom floors after having our beautiful blessings of joy.

Pros: This is only temporary.  It does not happen with every woman after child birth.  Keep in mind that every woman is different and every pregnancy is different.  There are those who never experienced it at all.  For example, my friend Traycee, of this great hair blog, never experienced Post Partum Hair Shedding after giving birth to any of her sons; whereas, it has happened to me...twice. 

Other things that can cause excessive shedding due to hormones:

* Discontinuation of most contraceptives
* An abortion
* Miscarriage/stillbirth (Missed Abortion)

If you experience Post Partum Hair Shedding, here are some things that has worked for me which I hope works for you as well.  Most of the things mentioned below should also be done during pregnancy too.  I also posted a short Video about it too.

• Patience
• Accept and deal with it
• Using methods as to not cause stress to the hair: no tight ponytails, cornrows and other styles alike
• Protein treatments: to keep the hair I have on my head strong
• Moisturize my scalp and edges with Castor Oil
• Cowashed more, to keep the hair moisturized
• Detangling the hair once a week: This helps to remove the shedded hair so it will not cause the hair to be become more tangled.
• More protective styles (this keeps to help from over manipulating the hair)
• Exercise
• Taking vitamins (prenatal or regular supplemental - be sure to consult doctor)
• Drinking water and having a healthy diet
• Stress less: Organize yourself better, keeping away from negativity and handling it accordingly, allow faith to help you focus your energy on important things

What other things might you suggest?  What was your experience(s) with Post Partum Hair Shedding if you went through it?  How did you maintain your hair?

(Please Note:  I am not an expert nor a doctor. Everything written above is due to things I have read, researched and which helped me understand what I was going through.   If your hair shedding persists, please see a professional because there may be other underlying factors/causes.)

By Sdestra (KISS Guest Blogger)
Thank you for reading!

God bless!

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