Product Junkie Rehab

It's been almost 3 years since I transitioned and 2 years into my natural hair journey. Over the course of that short time being natural I have developed a bit of a problem collecting hair products. I don't even know how this even started it just slowly crept in like a bad fart on an crowded elevator. When I was relaxed I never was into buying and spending money on products. I was like a guy if was cheap and gets the job done I bought it. I think since being natural I discovered a love for my hair that I didn't have before. Let me be honest for a minute here and make this statement . I HATED BEING RELAXED!!!! I only stayed relaxed because it was all I  knew outside of wearing braids and a ponytail. I'm so glad I made the change from relax to natural. No more chemical burns, long noise salon visits, and spending $60+ just to have my scalp burned off every 6-8 weeks (so don't miss those days). After getting rid of one problem I kinda developed another. At first it started by me not knowing what products worked for my hair, because I didn't know the basics  of natural hair and the whole hair typing thing. Once I grasps the basic knowledge about natural hair, then finding out the different kinds of products and how to properly use them for my type of hair things got a lot easier. I started to find a few staple products some not so nice products. Then something created a spark in me that I never had before. The more I researched the more I was interested. The more I was interested the more money I was spending on products. Fast forward I was hooked on trying every product that caught my eye, especially if it was on sale with a coupon marked down in the clearance section type of product. I was watching YouTube product hauls and reviews like they were hardcore porn movies. I looked up one day and notice my bed room was dominated by an organized prison for hair products. They were every where!!! In my closet, in a costume trunk, in a plastic 3 tier container, in the bathroom cabinet, almost a year worth of curl kit boxes and in the shower. I've tried giving some of it away and there is still too much left. So I have to face the music. I am Girl Friday and I am a product junkie. I never thought I would of seen the day I admit I love products because I love my hair. I've been doing pretty good lately using up stuff but still I find myself buying things. At least its things like conditioners that I use up in no time and things to make deep conditioners with. I've been only trying to buy things when I have to or are things that I really use on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. I plan on giving away most of the hair products I have left to newly natural women since I know how hard it was for me starting out. So here are a few tips I'm learning on my road to product junkie recovery.

Product Junkie Recovery Tips

• Clean House- Sort through all your products if it hasn't been used at least 4-5 times in the last 6 months put it in a box to be given away. Most likely your not gonna use them, some one else could.
• Inventory-Make a list of all the products you use by category (Shampoo, Conditioner, Deep treatments, Leave-ins, Moisturizers, Stylers, Oils, Tools, etc) By doing this you know exactly what products you use in your regimen and won't wonder or purchase other products.
• Restrictions&Limits- By setting up ground rules you only use what products you have and only buy what you need.
• Fighting Temptations- When getting the urge to walk down the isles of the supermarket hair section 

1. Stop and turn around you have plenty of products at home you can use.
2. Look but don't touch you won't buy it if you don't touch it.
3. Take mental inventory of products and come back to them when you use up products you already have at home.
4. If its a product you use REGULARLY and its on sale its ok to stock up on but not ok to horde (No more than 4-5 bottles of a product at one time)
5. Always keep a list of the products you NEED not WANT on hand when your out shopping.

• Recover Slowly-Take your time it's a process we are creatures of habit. A "PJ" addiction is just like any other addiction you can relapse if you don't take the steps needed to control it. 

Today's Modern Food: It's not what you think - Part 2

2011 Vegetarian/Vegan Documentary/Film Myths and Truths about Vegetarianism

A 2011 documentary about the myths and truths to Vegetarianism. In this video it explains everything there is needed to know about the benefits to being a vegetarian and why it is a healthier choice from the way the modern world eats in today's society.

The L-O-C Method

 The rise of natural hair awareness (trend or not) has sparked many questions from natural haired woman. The most frequently asked question being, "How do I keep my hair moisturized?". I think alot of woman relaxed or natural have come across this issue more than once in their life time. It's a "hair thang" that alot of woman from all walks of life have to deal with, but mostly black woman. The lack of retaining moisture will bring any naturalist to their knees. Most woman in general run out and try to buy or find any miracle product that will promise or ensure their hair will be fully packed with moisture. Which sadly becomes a lost cause and another product to bury in the product stash grave yard. Maybe it isn't just what you pt in your hair, but how you your using the products. Which leads my to the topic at hand. The L-O-C Method (Leave in, Oil, Conditioner) I first came across this method my first few months post big chop (Dec 20 2011) after transitioning for 7 months. After watching so many youtubers explain and break down this unique and easy method for retaining moisture. The "L-O-C Method" is simply applying certain products in a general order on wet or dry hair.

(The Break Down)  L-O-C

 

1. Leave In
2. Oil
3. Conditioner

Leave in conditioner acts as the foundation product that helps continue the conditioning process which soften, detangles, and makes the hair more manageable.

Oil works as a sealant for the hair shaft and nutrient for the scalp. Oils vary in uses and benefits research which oil works best for your personal preference, seasonal weather and health.

Conditioner (moisturizer) is used to soften, strengthen and moisturize the hair making the hair soft, shiny, and healthy.

This is the only method I personally used that really locks the moisture in my hair. I've tried different ways but this simple 3 step method is a sure way to keep the moisture in my hair longer. Another key ingredient is picking the right product for your hair texture, porosity and hair type.

 

"The List"

"The List".... You know the list every woman has one. A certified "Do or die" grocery list of things that she wants in or out of a man. Don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with having a list. There is a big difference when that list is as long as your arm and is filled with some unneccesary "illegal substance" that would cause more harm than good in finding a mate. Nothing's greater than a woman who knows what she wants in a man. That's just a sure sign that she knows who she is, what she wants, and how she want it. Eventually every woman (some mostly with age)will know what kind of mate they want to find, attrack, and settle down with. Knowing what part of the list is important, what part is negotiable and what part is just a filler, sorta speak. Even I myself have compliled a list. It helps me think and organize my thoughts and vision in a physical (ink&paper) form of what my over all idea of the "perfect mate" would be like.

The 3 min list exercise

One technique I use to help guide me through this list was not sitting around making a a shopping list worth of stuff from ideas that just bounced out my mind onto the page. I sat down with a pen and pad and timed myself as I made this list 1 min to write all the important things I NEEDED in a mate. 1 min to outline the important qualities, negoitable qualities, and the fillers that I didn't need but noted with in the list. Then taking the last min to look over the list made arrange things a neccesary. By doing this exercise you allow your self to think about the most important things needed in your mate. After I finish the exercise I keep this list some where special (i.e. in a diary) to remind me from time to time. I do the same thing with my life goals (long and short term). It's ok if you don't complete the list in the time frame OR you missed writing a few things on the list. You can always make a new list and thats the best part of this exercise. The fact that your focused enough to write anything down was a big step in the right direction. You can always make another list, which you should do from time to to see if anything changed. The biggest key point to know in all is KNOW WHAT YOU WANT!!! Trust me it will save you a lot of time, tears, and heart break. Even in my 24 years of life on this earth I'm glad that I went through a lot of my bad and some time short lived relationships. I haven't had many relationships, but since taking a step back (2 1/2 years) and looking at how I was dating/who I was dating allowed me to think and understand more about what I needed and wanted in a mate. I've been using this exercise for every area of my life for past 3 years and it has helped me in those time when I need to see my thoughts on paper instead of letting them float around in my head taking up room. This a great exercise for both males and females who need a step in the right direction. Stay posted for my next exercise..........

Morning Star Product Review

In the name of all things good never in my life have I thought that my love of great food would lead me to the vegan/vegetarian commercial products in all places Walmart. After years of battling my digestive issues with IBS, I've managed to figure out a few ways to ease the very uncomfortable and occassionally embarrassing problems associated with this condition. I took to the web in search of ways to dilute my little big problem. I ran across information about adapting to a vegetarian diet will help stablize the symptoms of IBS. So over the last few years I have been doing a vegetarian detox sort of speak until I was ready to full commit to the life style. Now on to the MORNING STAR PRODUCTS I was walking down the frozen food section of my local Walmart store and saw a very small selection at the time of vegetarian/vegan friendly food. At the time I was a renewley wed to the vegetarian/pescatarian life style and wanted to try my had at some quick fix food products. I first tried the Morning Star Black Bean Burgers. They were soooo good even my southern down home country kitchen cooking mother was so impressed with my "Hippie Burgers she asked for more. A few months later I stumbled across some thing new in the now growing vegan/vegetarian friendly food section at my local walmart. Since summer is right around the corner and I live in Memphis,TN (The land of bbq and fried food) I felt a little sadness in my tummy about missing out on my favorite BBQ goodies. Until I saw the Morning Star Riblet. OMG there aren't enough words to explain the explosion of joy that came over me when I bit into this riblet. It was so yummy and I enjoyed every bite of it. The sauce was delicious,it wasquick and easy to make and only costed about $4.00 2-pak unit (for healthy food that's cheap). I decided to eat it on whole wheat bread since I don't care for white bread much. This product reminds me so much of the imfamous Mc Donalds Mcribwhich. IT TASTES JUST LIKE IT!!! Can you say product clone anyone. I'm so glad that I dont have to miss out on my favorite summer grilled goodies. They even make hot dogs and chicken nuggets of course they are Vegan/Vegetarian friendly. So I'm such as super fan of Morning Star products now and I can't wait to try some more products from this company. I'm definitely stocking up the freezer next time.