Marula Oil

 

What is Marula Oil?

Marula oil is extracted from the kernels (nuts) of the Marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea), from the Anacardiaceae family.  Marula oil is traditionally used in cosmetics. in food as a cooking oil, and as a meat preservative and to treat leather.

Another great natural nut from the Motherland of Africa, the Marula Nut!  It is comprised of monounsaturated fatty acids and its natural antioxidants makes it a stable oil. Marula Oil is 10 times more stable than Olive Oil!  Its fatty acid monounsaturated break down is as follows:

• Oleic Acid (70-78%)

Polyunsaturated fatty acids:

• Linoleic Acid (4.0-7.0 %)
• Alpha-linolenic Acid  (0.1-0.7 %)

Saturated fatty acids:

•   Palmitic Acid ( 9 - 12%)
•   Stearic Acid (5.0 - 8.0%)
•   Arachidonic Acid (0.3 - 0.7%)

Background Information:

The Marula Nut has been used by the Tsonga people of South Africa and the people of Mozambique as a moisturizing body lotion for women and they also used it as a massage oil for babies.  Women also used Marula Oil instead of water to clean themselves.

In its oil form, Marula oil has been an important part of the African diet.  It has been widely used by the people of the Inhambane Province in Mozambique, Owambo, in north central Namibia, Northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and the Zvishavane district of Zimbabwe.  The seeds are dried than moved to a mill where they are then pressed to gather the Marula Oil.

Marula Oil was also used in the diets of the Bushmen and Bantu tribes.  The oil from its kernels were also used to preserve meat by the Venda, enabling them to preserve their meat up to a year.  This wonderful Marula Oil is considered a delicacy and used in a variety of traditional and updated African dishes.

http://www.skinstore.com/p-18380-marula-the-leakey-collection-omega-rich-pure-marula-oil.aspx

$78.00 for 1.69 form the Skinstore.com

Application:

Some women add two to three drops to their regular bottles of lotions, moisturizers and facial products.  Can be applied to your natural tresses while damp or dry.  Facial breakouts from the oil has been reported, so test product first before fully applying product on your skin.

Final Thoughts:

This oil is also considered an anti-aging product because of its composition of antioxidant properties.  It is an expensive oil but you only need a few drops of the concentrated versions.  There are cheaper versions available which are usually less concentrated.  The oil has a mryiad of using starting with being a cooking oil  to that of a cosmetic agent.

As always, when visiting, please subscribe to my blog and leave your comment!

Until, next time...Happy Curls to You!

©Copyright 2012-11 Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks - All Rights Reserved

Curl Kit -- Curly By Nature

 

Something new for natural curly, wavy, and kinky ladies to try!  Again, while perusing the naturalistic world, I came across an item called the CurlKit!  

It has a subscription cost of $20 a month.  The subscription cost is taken out of your account on the 15th of the previous month and the items are received around the 7th day on the following month.

The package will include a random assortment of 6 to 9 products (some will be samples and some will be full size product), along with some literature for naturals!

The link for the CurlKit is:   http://www.curlkitshop.com.

The following is from their website:

We’re a mix of natural hair and online experts but above all we’re consumers like you and understand how overwhelming and confusing it is to navigate the endless quantity of natural hair products on the market. Despite the huge number of products it is still difficult to find quality products for the woman of color. That is where Curlkit comes in. There has to be a better way to discover products. Curlkit eliminates the need for endless trial and error and wasted money.

Their on-line site sells products from Jane Carter, Not Your Mothers, Honey Beez, Coco Curls, and African Pride!

I'm planning to subscribe for next month.  If you are already a subscriber, please leave a comment or a review of your experience.

Until next time...Happy Curls to You!

©Copyright 2012-11 Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks - All Rights Reserved

Hair A, B, C's for Curly Hair

Feeling Streaky?!!! -- Bold Hightlights

Ask CurlyNIkki: How Can I Highlight My Hair Without Damaging My Curls?

Curly Nikki

I was researching "new hair trends" and came across this article on popular Naturalista Curly Niki.  The picture is from an article from Essence, found at the following link:  

http://www.essence.com/2012/11/01/ask-curlynikki-how-can-i-highlight-my-hair-without-damaging-my-curls/

The article is in result to the following question:

"I'm anxious to try bold highlights -- think bright bold or purple -- but I don't want to use chalk or any chemical dye in my hair.  Any Suggestions?"

The above-noted picture is her answer to the question!  Bright, bold, beautiful color that is vibrant, temporary, wearable, and fills that color void for excitement.

This great idea came from a Blogger by the name of FroEnvy and this is her Blog site:  http://froenvy.blogspot.com.  It is an alternative for Kinky, Coily, Curly  and Wavy Naturals to apply vibrant color to their tresses.

Fro Envy with Purple Streak in Front

Directions:  

1. Take a section of hair and smooth on eye shadow cream.
2. Style hair, as desired.

To Remove:

1. Saturate the strands with Coconut or Jojoba Oil (or oil of your choice).
2. Run fingers down the strands to remove eye shadow creme.
3. Use a damp Tee Shirt or soft fabric to remove any leftover creme (optional).
4. Wash or Re-style Tresses

It's like coloring your hair with crayons!

The type of eye shadow that Fro Envy using is pictured below.  The process or application can be a little messy.  You must also remember that the application of shadow will be temporary.  Since oils remove make-up and most of us naturals apply oils to our hair as a nightly routine, the oils will also remove the color streaks from our tresses and you may also have to deal with the transference of the shadow to your bonnet, satin cases, and linens.

 This is a Trend of the Season idea.  Try it and send me your pictures!  Got to go, off to the make-up counter!

©Copyright 2012-11 Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks - All Rights Reserved

Hatsome Hat Company

http://www.hatsome.com/

I came across this company while looking for different styles of hats to wear during the Fall and Winter seasons.  As always, there is always a new find on the internet.  The company's name is Hatsome!

Hatsome gives your four reasons for purchasing one of their hats:

Why Lined Hats

Why Satin Lining:
The satin lining in HatSome's hats creates a smooth barrier between your hair and the raw material of winter hats.
If you are wearing a hat for 3-4 months of the year,  you should make sure that your hair is good hands.

Here are 4 reasons why your hair will love HatSoMe's silk and satin lined hats.
1.     Moisture, Moisture, Moisture
HatSome lined hats help your hair retain its moisture and keeps your hair looking just as shiny as when you put your hat on. This is highly recommended for anyone with dry or chemically treated hair.

2.     Hair Breakage, Be Gone!
Those strands of hair left behind in an unlined winter are not a welcome sight. The lining in HatSome hats creates a barrier between your hair and the hat’s material. This completely prevents your hair strands from being intertwined with the knits of the hat’s material that can often lead to hair breakage.

3.     Hat Hair? What’s that?
The smooth silk and satin material that lines HatSome hats help to keep your hair style looking just as great as when you first put on the hat. 

 4.     Fear Not the Shedding Hat!
Some hats like to leave a lasting impression …. in the form of shedding fiber in your hair! Good news is that with HatSome lined hats, you can enjoy many styles without worry. 
So check out our online store.

Hats are a great accessory and proof of your styling savvy!  These knit hats are easy to store and on warmer days, easily thrown into your tote or handbag.

My Hats on to you!

©Copyright 2012-11 Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks - All Rights Reserved

Winter Styling

Style:  FlowArn; Price:  $15.00

Styling for those Winter Months

The winter months are upon us and for those of us on the East Coast, it means that it is time to cover and protect those luscious tresses.  

There are so many styles and colors to choose from.  Your sure to find one that will fit your fancy!

Also, consider lining your knit hats with a silk scarf or bonnet to protect your hair from unnecessary rubbing on the inside of the hat accessory of your choice.  The rule remains the same for wool hats.  Yes, they can be strikingly adorable but wool hats and scarves have the tendency to pull and rub out your hair with consistent wearing.  Line them, if possible.

This style of covering adds a little sass to your style while covering the circumference of your head against the winter winds.

This winter grey adds interest to your face while allowing your tresses to cascade from the back.

Whatever your style, color choice, or shape a hat is a winter blues friend!

Happy Curls to You!

©Copyright 2012-11 Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks - All Rights Reserved

Curly Hair Growth Chart