Hair Products Update: Staples

Last year I did a post about my Plan B hair products but I wanted to do an update on what I've been doing since then. As of now, I am happy with my regimen and wanted to share my absolute staples at the present time. As a minimalist I have to say this is too much and I hope to narrow this down even more in the near future. We'll see! .-_-

Shampoo:  Soo-Ae Zin Shampoo, Giovanni Tea Tree Shampoo, Jason's Biotin Shampoo

Conditioner: Soo-Ae Zin Treatment, Aussie Moist Conditioner, Jason's Biotin Conditioner, Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Smoothie

Deep Conditioner: Aussie Moist Deeeeep Conditioner, Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Smoothie, Homemade Hair Mask

Leave-in: Grapeseed oil and Giovanni's Direct Leave-in

Styling: Thicker Fuller Hair Root Lift and Bodifying Spray, Brocato Holdon Styling Gel, and Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter

Grapeseed Oil: Nectar From Above

Grapeseed oil is my number one favorite oil. Checkout all the benefits this oil can do for you!

Fun Facts

• Full of antioxidants which help to slow down the aging process
• It helps to stop some of the enzymes that destroy collagen, elastin and other connective tissue
• Packed with vitamin E as it's good for topical use and ingesting
• Natural heat protectant for your hair
• Cholesterol free
• Has linoleic acid and omega-6 acid
• Has one of the lowest levels of saturated fat 
• Helps to clear up acne! It won't clog pores and is great for sensitive skin and oily skin
• Locks in moisture for both skin and hair
• Grapeseed oil is a great undereye "cream" and anti-wrinkle "cream"
• Good for the circulatory system and  helps to reduce varicose veins and spider veins
• Can be used to fry, bake, lubricate a squeaky door, etc. 
• Can be used to remove make up

How I Use Grapeseed Oil

• I use grapeseed oil to moisturize my hands after I wash them with handsoap. While it's still wet I rub it all over my hands and then pat dry. Who needs lotion? 

• Sometimes I store it in the shower and apply it to my wet body. Layering lotion or a body butter afterwards will provide amazing moisture especially in the winter months.

• Oil in the shower can be dangerous so a good alternative is to add about a tablespoon of grapeseed oil to your lotion or body butter (per application) for extra hydration.

• When I'm removing my makeup I slather grapeseed oil on my eyes and wipe away with a soft tissue. Like magic, my heavy eye liner melts away.

• I add grapeseed oil to my leave in conditioner when I detangle my hair when it's wet. I also use it to lubricate my hair when I'm unraveling braids or twists. It adds great shine and softness.

• Because it's a natural heat protectant, I add a little oil before blowdrying and before flat ironing. It's also fabulous at taming flyaways. Check out my post on how I straightened my hair.

• At night, sometimes I seal all of my eye creams and eye serums with a dab of grapeseed oil . When I wake up my eyes seem more perky and definitely hydrated. 

Grapes:  Photo by Dan

Bottle of oil: Photo by m_bartosch

Shiny Straight Hair

I recently flat ironed my hair. I hadn't flat ironed my mane in seven months and I wanted to do something new. I was very pleased with the results. After washing my hair I did a final rinse with cold water because it closes the cuticles and I find that it helps me achieve a really straight sleek look. I then applied Castor oil and Grapeseed oil to my hair avoiding the scalp. My scalp is already oily so all it needs is shampoo. Castor oil is thick and sticky and Grapeseed oil is very light; I find combining them is the perfect mix for me. It gets absorbed so quickly and the condition of my hair has improved since using this mixture. I then applied the Tresemme Heat Protective Spray and Blow dried my hair in sections until it was damp and then twisted each section and blow dried my hair the Michelle Phan way. I also blow dried my hair with my head upside down for added volume. Check her out below. Skip forward to about 2:50min to see how she blow dries her hair.

I then flat ironed my hair in very small sections and glided the iron away from my face slowly instead of gliding the iron downward. After I finished, I used a little Grapeseed oil to achieve extra shine to my mane. And voila!