Made with ingredients straight from the kitchen for natural nourishment all over.
A delicious creamy smoothie; but, for the hair and skin!
Summer is approaching, which means we want to let out natural hair down and show off our healthy glowing skin! This hair and body smoothie is perfect for treating winter dryness and reviving our natural glow! The best part is, just like a regualr smoothie this can be made with ingredients already in your kitchen. When making DIY treatments, the ingredients and measurements can be altered to treat YOUR HAIR & SKIN the way you like it!
Ingredients
1/2 cup Fresh Aloe Vera – Aloe Vera is a miracle plant for the hair and skin! It soothes razor burn, bug bites, eczema, sunburn, dry skin, acne, dry skin, dry scalp, dry hair, split ends and much more! It’s the superstar of this smoothie for sure!
1/2 cup of Coconut Cream ( I use Native Forest Brand) – Coconut cream acts as a natural moisturizer and conditioner.
1/4 cup of Raw Honey – Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it draws in moisture from the environment. Long lasting moisturization paired with its ability to add shine makes honey a perfect addition to this smoothie!
1/4 cup of Extra Virgin Olive or Coconut Oil – a good oil brings the benefits of conditioning and nourishing the hair & skin as well as sealing the hair strands & skin to lock in all this MOISTURE and LOVE.
1/2 cup of Fresh Strawberries (about 4 small strawberries) – Strawberries are high in antioxidants and vitamin C which makes them good for boosting hair growth and glowing skin.
Instructions
Wash & cut the outside leaf of the Aloe Vera on both ends and both sides.
Then, cut as closely to the leaf as possible to retrieve only the clear Aloe Vera Gel from inside.
Rinse and place the chunk of Aloe Vera Gel into a bowl of spring water for 20 minutes ( make sure the Aloe is completely submerged). This step is extremely important in order to remove the somewhat poisonous part of the plant called Aloe Latex (Yellow Liquid between the gel and the leaf) which can cause itching and extreme irritation to the skin !!!!
Place all your ingredients into a blender & blend until you get a smoothie consistency.
Hop in the shower, wash, & shampoo as usual.
Apply the smoothie to CLEAN hair making sure to cover the hair from root to ends.
Twist hair into two or more twist and cover hair with a plastic shower cap to trap the steam.
Allow the smoothie to sit in your hair for around 10 minutes.
While waiting proceed with shaving, a body scrub, dancing, singing or whatever you wish.
About a minute before rinsing your hair, apply the smoothie onto the body and smooth into the skin.
Rinse your hair and body very thoroughly making sure to get all of the smoothie out.
Detangle hair whilst washing out the smoothie allowing the water and gravity to assist.
OPTIONAL: If you have thin, fine, or straight hair you may need to do an extra shampoo to remove access moisture or simply reverse the steps by apply the smoothie first, then shampoo, and conditioner after. For my thick, long, curly, & kinky headed kings and queens a thorough rinse will suffice.
Proceed with your regular hair and skin routine!
For my thick, long, and 3C/4A curly crown I proceeded to dry my hair with a microfiber cloth, massage my scalp with some castor oil, and apply a small amount of castor oil to my ends as well. I then moisturized my body and let my hair air dry for the remainder of the day!
This Smoothie made my hair and skin extremely soft and nourished. It left my wash and go hair so fluffy and bouncy yet deeply moisturized with a nice shine!
Nala Asa Shakur
Nala Asa Shakur formerly known as Tyler A. Norman is the CEO & Founder of The All Natural, Hostess of the world wide podcast, #TTALK , and author of Love Starts Here. She’s a creator & healer serving through various facets of artistry. Her forms of expression range all the way from visual & performing arts, kitchen alchemy, to creative writing and directing. Through her work and her rising movement, #Naturalisthewaytoglow™, she inspires and assist others with self-love, holistic healing, and finding a true inner glow.
The perfect DIY deep conditioner for moisturizing, strengthening, repairing damage, and adding shine to your natural hair!
The best part is, this quick and easy deep conditioner can be made with ingredients already in your kitchen. When making DIY deep conditioners, the ingredients and measurements can be altered to treat YOUR HAIR the way you like it! Plus, you won’t have to worry about any unwanted extra ingredients that may do more harm then good to your hair. This DIY deep conditioner is perfect for a naturalista wanting to use the power of nature to nourish her beautiful CROWN!
SAY HELLO TO HEALTHY NATURAL HAIR!
Ingredients
1 Ripe Avocado – Avocados are packed with vitamins A, C, D, E, and B6 to nourish the hair strands and add shine! They are also a fatty fruits which is perfect for moisturizing all hair types. This smooth and creamy ingredient softens the hair and tails frizz too!
1/2 Ripe Banana – Bananas have similar benefits to avocados as they increase shine to the hair. They are full of natural proteins which repair damage hair strands, improve texture, and prevent future breakage!
1 Tbsp of Raw Honey – Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it draws in moisture from the environment. Long lasting moisturization paired with its ability to add shine makes honey a perfect addition to this DIY deep conditioner!
1/4 (or more) Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Olive oil brings the benefits of conditioning and nourishing the hair as well as sealing the hair strands to lock in all this MOISTURE and LOVE.
2 Tbsp of Irish Sea Moss Gel(optional) – Irish Sea Moss is super supplement with 92/102 minerals in the entire body! This ingredient is optional but will add a SUPER BOOST of vitamins and minerals to this DIY deep conditioner!
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a blender (I use a blender with individual cups).
Blend until a smooth and creamy texture is reached.
Transfer to a glass container or whatever container is easier for you to apply to your hair from.
Usage
Wash, conditioning, and detangle hair is usual.
Apply the DIY deep conditioner to wet hair making sure to smooth the conditioner throughout the entire crown. Focus on the ends and damaged areas.
Twist hair or place hair in a bun.
Place a plastic cap over hair.
Leave in for 15-30 min (sit under a dryer if you wish).
Rinse hair with COLD water.
Style as usual.
HELLO HEALTHY NATURAL HAIR!
Use this DIY deep conditioner as needed for shiny, soft, long, and strong natural hair!
Be sure to share this recipe with our other natural hair sisters!
Nala Asa Shakur
Tyler A. Norman who now goes by Nala Asa Shakur is the CEO of The All Natural as well as the author of Love Starts Here. She’s a multifaceted creator & healer serving through various forms of artistry. Her ways of expression range from being an author, philosopher, model, holistic health guide, creative director, to a Kitchen alchemist . Through her work and her movement, #Naturalisthewaytoglow™, she inspires and assist others with personal growth, self-love, holistic healing, and finding an inner glow.
A new morning practice for natural health and beauty!
What is Oil Pulling?
Oil pulling is an ancient form of Ayurveda; detoxification. It has been used for several years India for its natural health and beauty benefits! it is the act of swishing oil in the mouth similar to mouthwash. Only this practice last 10-20 minutes and come with many more benefits!
Benefits
There are many benefits to oil pulling including:
Clear skin
Reduction of bad breath
Natural teeth whitening
Gum strengthening
Plaqueremoval (Swishing the oil for up to 20 min removes plaque and bacteria on and in between teeth.)
Hormonebalance
Detoxification (The mouth holds tons of toxins and bacteria that enter the body if not removed; oil pulling removes those toxins. In the process of removing those toxins from the mouth, oil pulling can also balance bacteria in the gut.)
How To
First thing in the morning on an empty stomach take a capful (approx. 1 tbsp) of oil and swish the oil around in the mouth (similar to mouthwash) for about 20 minutes. Stretch, listen to affirmations, make your bed, or hop in the shower to pass time!
When 20 min is up DISPOSE OIL in a trash bin NOT THE SINK (will clog drains).
Brush teeth as usual.
Oils to Use
There are tons of oil that can be used for oil pulling; the most popular are coconut, sunflower, and sesame oil. You can use one of these oils, mix them all together, or even purchase an oil specifically for the cause.
The pulling oil I use is a combination of both oils with added peppermint oil for a fresh taste!
Tyler A. Norman who now goes by Nala Asa Shakur is the CEO of The All Natural as well as the author of Love Starts Here. She’s a multifaceted creator & healer serving through various forms of artistry. Her ways of expression range from being an author, philosopher, model, holistic health guide, creative director, to a Kitchen alchemist . Through her work and her movement, #Naturalisthewaytoglow™, she inspires and assist others with personal growth, self-love, holistic healing, and finding an inner glow.
Looking back at this point in time, my hair was fried, I’ll be honest. The crazy thing is, I didn’t even know it back then. To me, this was getting closer to that ideal image of beautiful hair. I was blind to the fact I was destroying my hair to fit European beauty standards. With every pass of a flat-iron and damaging relaxer, I was demolishing my natural curl pattern and erasing genetic blessings. Not only was I disrupting the physical nature of my hair but the spiritual too; all of its essence and internal energy. Spending money to be like someone else while destroying myself, all to be apart of a beauty a standard. Becoming further distant from the true definition a beauty; loving myself and all that I come with.
As time passed, the curly hair trend began running it’s course. Celebrities like Christina Milian played as the pretty girl in movies; she was straight poppin’ in Love Don’t Cost a Thing. I saw the look wanted the same attention. So I hopped on the trend too (barely). I further began manipulating my strands to resemble other girls. I used flexi rods, curlers, and curling irons to achieve some sort of a curl pattern. Still blind to the beauty I had previously damaged.
Embracing My Own Beauty – 2014
If I could narrate my own journey I’d ask when was this girl going to stop ignoring her own beauty by manipulating her hair to look like someone else’s? I was doing the most to create a replica of a projected image, searching for visual appeal in everything outside of myself.
Similar to the Film Nappily Ever After with Saniyah Lathan, it took a salon disaster and all of my hair nearly falling out for me to start making a change in my perspective. After seeing the condition my hair had gotten to, I knew I could no longer use chemicals nor heat or my hair would never reach health. I decided to go natural.
The Transition – 2014/2015
When I first started my transition phase, I refused to do the big chop. For me I still wanted my hair to be somewhat nice looking, and because I was still swallowed up in conditioned ideas, I associate beautiful hair with length. So, I held on to my length during the beginning of my transition. I worked with two different hair patterns; my new growth and my dead ends. Due to this inconsistency in texture, there were only few hairstyle suitable; buns, braids, twist outs, and flexi rods.
Shoutout to natural hair gurus on YouTube and Pinterest because ya girl was lost. This was all so new to me, so, I dedicated my free time to watching tutorials of natural hair. Searching ways to make hair grow, tips for transitioning hair, products for natural hair, and tips for getting rid of a relaxer. At this point I wasn’t aware that the only way to get rid of dead hair was to cut it off! Still, I followed different regimens like oiling my scalp nightly, using natural hair products, and the inversion method. To my surprise, I began seeing growth!
How I Transitioned
Oiling scalp nightly with castor oil and olive oil
Using ONLY natural hair products (parabean free, alchohol free, sulfate free, natural ingredients etc.)
Using protective styles (BUNS, braids, twist etc.)
Drinking a TON of water
Taking vitamins
HYDRATING then MOISTURIZING (hydrating is using water or water based product; moisturizing is sealing the hydration in with an oil or butter)
Satin scarf /satin pillow case while sleeping
Deep conditioning once a week
Continuing to learn about natural hair
The BIG CHOP – 2015
After my new growth reach a desirable length I decided to let those dead ends go. Not so much the big chop, but a medium chop. Which still took a lot of courage out of me. With new hair came a new Tyler.
I like to refer to this time period as trial and error. My hair had been relaxed for the past 7 years, little did I know there was so much more to learn about natural hair. The thing is, everyone’s natural hair is completely different. What works for someone else, might be horrible for the next person. So, I sampled different regimens to figure out what would work best for me. I tried out deep conditioners, various combs/brushes, leave in conditioners, smoothies, gels, and oils. Then, I tried different techniques like finger detangling, shingling, air drying, and defusing. Not to mention, I had to figure out what order to perform these regimens and how often.
Bleach – 2016
My hair had grown tremendously in the past year and I was so content with how well I was taking care of it.
Then, college happened.
Seeking attention from the wrong crowd; I searched for a way to stand out and feel as though I existed. My hair seemed so plain and well.. natural. So, I went for something to make me pop out a little more; purple hair it was. I assumed my hair was healthy enough to withstand the change and proceeded with bleaching and dying my hair. Immediately after washing the dye out I noticed a difference. My hair was almost lifeless; lacking bounce with the texture of straw.
As time went on, I nourished my hair to as much strength as I could with frequent hot oil treatments and deep conditions. For a while, I was happy with my looser curl pattern; it was longer and looked more “mixed”. Sort of like the idea I was going for when I first desired curly hair. I still wasn’t understanding the concept of going natural. It wasn’t just about having curly hair, but having NATURAL hair. Accepting and loving the hair that natural grows from the roots of my head.
Cut it – 2017
Because I was still trying to manipulate my hair to look and be like someone else’s, I had to start over. My curls no longer bounced back when I brushed them and my ends were bone straight when wet. I realized the bleach was still considered a chemical that damaged the natural curl pattern of my hair. The purple had to GO.
After the cut, there was a freeness unleashed. Letting go of those dead ends symbolized me letting go of old parts of myself. Releasing old beliefs and ideas about my hair. Those heavy and brittle strands on the end were old energy no longer serving me. Only weighing down my crown; preventing transition and growth. If a flower didn’t let old petals fall, it would never grow newer and healthier ones. It was time to start fresh and welcome a new me on this journey again.
Maintaining Healthy Hair- 2018
After two rounds of damaging my hair I finally understood and applied the true concept of natural hair to my life. I learned more about my hair including: its history, the curl pattern, and the porosity. I began admiring details; the way each curl created a spiral pattern as it grew, resembling the curvy essence of femininity. I honored the dedication of taking care of it, knowing that the most sacred things in life are cared for. I began to fall in love with my luscious strands. I understood the history, the meaning, the time, and energy it needed. I loved it and it loved me back.
I researched continuously; on the way finding out my ancestors used gifts from the earth to charge their crown. Which then resulted in long and beautiful hair. I gained an understanding of what my hair liked and my hair needed; trying some amazing products along the way. In this year I even cut my hair again, not because of health concerns but because it’s a symbolic release of energy.
Loving Natural Hair – Present
Natural hair is not just wanting bouncy curls, or an afro, and any other form of vanity. Natural is hair is more than what’s on the outside, its’ whats on the inside. My natural hair journey was apart of my journey of self-love. In fact, it was the first step in my journey. Going and staying natural was the first step in loving my true self. This step lead to a lifelong journey of continuously finding love deeper within myself. Becoming and sharing my authenticity with the world. Despite how long it took for me to get there, I finally stopped comparing my hair and my entire essence to others. I began loving myself as is. Then, understanding the power of my own self love; the power behind the perception we have of ourselves.
It helped to compare my hair to a plant. When it is not rooted, watered, nourished from the inside out, and loved, it does not grow. Just like plants, we are ( including our hair) made from tiny cells which are each living organisms. Those cells listen, they feel, and condition themselves to perform according to what we feed them and the mind which controls them. When you speak kind words to plants, they grow faster. Our hair is the same; when we brush our hair speaking or even thinking thoughts of it being annoying or ugly, desiring to change its nature, and not appreciating the beauty its expressing to us, the cells are listening and conforming to match the energy of our thoughts. When we feed those cells abundant life force energy from within our vessel, they thrive. Ultimately having a HEALTHY head of hair, whether that be short or long, all boils down to maintaining a healthy physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional energy. Our hair is an outward reflection of our internal growth. Meaning healthy natural hair is more of a lifestyle than a quick fix. #naturalisthewaytoglow
Make your hair routine a sacred ritual. A time for showing yourself love and care. A time for infusing gratitude and high vibrations into your crown. Begin admiring the creative detail. Speak kind words to your hair; tell it you you appreciate it, and you accept it. Feed it healing foods from within, drink your water, and LOVE YOUR HAIR UNCONDITIONALLY. Then, watch your hair thrive into the beautiful plant it is.
My hair type: 3C, 4A
Porosity: Low
Routine: pre-poo with oil, shampoo, condition, detangle, deep condition (1 hour with heat), apply a butter and/or gel, apply a light oil to seal, and air dry. Repeat 1X per week and oil scalp 5-7X per week.
Looking for a simple and easy yet nourishing DIY hair conditioner? This is the perfect recipe for my kings and queens who want all things natural! Skip the access toxic chemicals found in over the counter conditioners and even SAVE YOUR COINS with this Easy Avocado Hair Conditioner. All ingredients are simple, easy to find,…
The best part is, this quick and easy deep conditioner can be made with ingredients already in your kitchen. When making DIY deep conditioners, the ingredients and measurements can be altered to treat YOUR HAIR the way you like it! Plus, you won’t have to worry about any unwanted extra ingredients that may do more…
Whether your’e going for a soft, fluffy, and defined Wash & Go, a smooth slick back pony, or nicely swooped and laid edges, this DIY Flax Seed Gel is the perfect natural hair hack! It’s super quick and simple plus it’s made from natures pure ingredients; making it that much more fitting for the NATURALS!…
Does your hair need a revival of shine, bounce, and that silky smooth feel without all the extra chemicals, dyes, and who know what? This Hot Oil Treatment is perfect for you! Made from ingredients found in the kitchen and outside; this is Mother Nature’s way of spoiling you with the luxurious and effective treatment…
Summer is approaching, which means we want to let out natural hair down and show off our healthy glowing skin! This hair and body smoothie is perfect for treating winter dryness and reviving our natural glow! The best part is, just like a regualr smoothie this can be made with ingredients already in your kitchen.…
Tyler A. Norman who now goes by Nala Asa Shakur is the CEO of The All Natural as well as the author of Love Starts Here. She’s a multifaceted creator & healer serving through various forms of artistry. Her ways of expression range from being an author, philosopher, model, holistic health guide, creative director, to a Kitchen alchemist . Through her work and her movement, #Naturalisthewaytoglow™, she inspires and assist others with personal growth, self-love, holistic healing, and finding an inner glow.
There is nothing more attractive than confidence, once she sees her own beauty, everyone else will.
― Habeeb Akande
Beau·ty
/ˈbyo͞odē/
Noun
Synonyms: Life, Creation, Nature, Flowers
Definition: You
We, along with all other creations are expressions of the universe; down to every detail. The way the sky resembles a watercolor painting at sunrise and set, the way our body brilliantly functions, the way flowers bloom, and everything aligns perfectly in the cycle of life. Life, creation, nature, and flowers are inherently works of art; masterpieces of infinite forms. Because we fit in with the oneness of these energies, this is only a reflection of us. All the beauty we see in the most awes-trucking flowers is the same beauty we posses.
You don’t need a mirror to see your beauty. Your reflection is painted all over the cosmos.
-Eternal Sunshine
Antonyms: Comparison, Standards
We tend to associate beauty with a certain standard; a standard that continuously changes every decade. But, we can’t keep chasing a moving target of beauty standards; we will never hit it if it keeps changing.When we chase a standard and attempt to transform ourselves to fit that idea, we run away from ourselves. Dimming our own beauty. The secret is, the chase never stops, trends keep coming and going no matter how much we keep up. The longer we keep running toward an idea of beauty, the further we run from the real definition. Distancing ourselves even further from an idea whilst harming ourselves physically, mentally, and financially during the process.
HERE is a link to a video series on 100 years of beauty… how it has and will continue to change.
Were stuck in a revolving door around these ideas of what beauty looks like not realizing we all have it. Not just a few people who look a certain way that align with the trends of makeup or current pop culture; that is an idea which has been conditioned in us. That’s us allowing our thinking to be constructed under one mind. Being spun around in revolving beauty trends. This one mind had us desiring the same hair, lashes, style, eyebrows, and attitude. Pretty soon we will all look, act, and think the same. Theres nothing beautiful about a society with a lack of uniqueness. I mean yes, trends are a thing. All I’m saying is, if we were the only people who could see ourselves, would we still portrait ourself the same?
Beauty is not just something we only see with our vision. The eyes can only see a small inkling of beauty; luckily, we have more senses than that and beauty can pleases all them. We can energetically sense a beautiful spirit, we can feel beautiful skin, art work, and textures. We can smell a beautiful scent and hear a beautiful tone in a instrument or a voice. It can describe every part of us, every part of nature, the details in a flower, and stretch to the night sky describing the trillions of stars we get to experience the slightest bit of. How can we define something that stretches so far out beyond us and comes back to describe something within us down to one ideal standard?
Beauty appears when something is completely and absolutely and openly itself.
― Deena Metzger
Be Your Own Beautiful
We have to stop letting society control our definition of beauty and just be us. Not like her on Instagram; like us. Healthy, thriving, and self-love filled us. The moment the universe started a trillion atoms bonded, organisms grew, people met, your parents came together so you could be exactly who you are. That’s the beauty of it all. Were all completely different expressions of beauty; no one is the same. Learn to love yourself including everything you come with; your emotions, your depth, your color, the texture of your hair, the lines and curves which create your silhouette, your story, and you will be beautiful. Acceptance and authenticity is beauty.
Think about the saying when you look good you feel good. Now, flip it around; when you feel good, you look good. We are flowers; we must be nourished and watered from within to blossom on the outside. The energy of self love is so strong that when a person truly believes they are beautiful everyone else sees and feels it 10 times more. That’s beautiful.
We are art. We must embrace the beauty in us, believe it, flaunt it, enjoy it, dress it up, and love it always. Never be made felt weak or less serious because of it. Beauty is power, influencing, and attracting; divine feminine energy.
Remind yourself daily how beautiful your spirit is.
Remind yourself daily how beautiful your mind is.
Remind yourself daily how beautiful your emotions are.
Remind yourself daily how beautiful your body is.
Remind yourself daily how beautiful your skin is.
Remind yourself daily how beautiful your hair is.
Every morning say “I am beauty” and believe it.
Nala Asa Shakur
Tyler A. Norman who now goes by Nala Asa Shakur is the CEO of The All Natural as well as the author of Love Starts Here. She’s a multifaceted creator & healer serving through various forms of artistry. Her ways of expression range from being an author, philosopher, model, holistic health guide, creative director, to a Kitchen alchemist . Through her work and her movement, #Naturalisthewaytoglow™, she inspires and assist others with personal growth, self-love, holistic healing, and finding an inner glow.
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