Herbalistikal

All things considered, I accept that herbs and roots are my friends. Ginger, peppermint and garlic have truly been there for me in my times of need with simple and gentle assistance with my hair growth and more uncomfortable times when I have a cold or flu. I pick up ginger from the market sometimes for medicinal teas and I use ginger essential oil for my hair products(adding a few drops to some liquid leave-in to stimulate my scalp). I hear also it's good as an anti-inflammatory as well as a good few other uses.

I stood waiting amongst the others in line at the farmers market in Leimert Park this weekend to pay for my fruits and veggies, surrounded by blackeyed pea pods, Thai basil and plums, still with their stems and leaves attached and that distinctive basil scent in the air making me think of spaghetti. A woman came to the side to ask for ginger and she was informed there was no more. I never saw it because me and Samir got there later than usual. I ended up with greens, plums, basil, yogurt salad, goatcheese spread and herbal-sugarcane detox juice. Not to mention giant, distorted Summer squash. What a beautiful place to take my son to see his people and mine on a beautiful day.

'Africa by the Yard'

I've been wearing head-wraps for the past 2 weeks(the kind with the ball twisted in back). 'Figured I'd give my hair a break but realized my weave was even healthier, coupled with my regular health-hair techniques. I got African fabric at the marketplace in Leimert but have yet to put it to use on my head. Many of the traditional African prints are too busy for my style of dress so I guess I am both apprehensive and eager to wear my African head-wrap.

Aah

'Did some hair care and had an oatmeal bath this weekend. My whole body may have said 'aah' to that since it left the water so silky, although it left the tub dangerously slippery. Gotta get a bath mat. My hair is always ready for some good conditioning. I used the DPR-11 by Elasta QP and it was pretty good-peachy smelling. Found out it's cholesterol; like Lekair. Next is Aphogee.

Africulture

Today was pretty funky. Leimert Park had one of their many festivals today.. had to check it out. The music was entertaining and the lines were long. Everything from Black soap to Bean pies were on clothed tables- including beautiful silver and gold jewlery and carvings. African-print everything and sweet, musky aromas mingled with the smokey bbq clouds. I was smudged with some scented oil that I should have gotten, but I did get some Kente clothe to wrap my head with once I take this weave out and condition my hair really good. I may even try the Castor Oil technique. That should give me a break, and I have been thinking of wearing my African wraps again for some style with some dangling earrings while I get my hair healthy. Just a thought. I need a lot of different fabrics to pull it off comfortably since I still have to go to work.

Natural

Washed my hair after working up a 'Black Sweat' dancing, Good time to make use of the hair/scalp leave-in conditioner I crafted by mixing beauty supply products with my natural ones. I put it all in a spray bottle and concentrated on saturating my edges since I'm weaved up. Either way, my scalp said, 'ahh'. Easy to work up a sweat when the weather is hot outside, as it was. I love all dance. Ballet was always a favorite but I like hip-hoppish moves if they are challenging. My work out consisted of just the moves from the late Aaliyah's music video for 'Try Again'. Last week was the 8th anniversary of her death and Ifigured this work out dance reutine was cool in honor of her which I started learning days ago. Two times thru and I have worked myself into sweat beads.

Blogging by Maisha

Footscrub All Around

Finally rememberd to take some to work last Friday. Hope the few enjoyed it-it was good stuff and had Tea Tree oil. I'm thinking I could have made it sudsy but oily is still beneficial to feet. No one spoke on what it was like, no feed back for improvement. As long as it was appreciated, I guess.

Starting Here

I had to do this for a second time because of it being deleted for unknown reasons. My other posts were not backed up but starting from right now isnt too bad. A bath fanatic and a writer who makes natural bath/ body products-that's me. I get really involved ith scents and blends that either have to do with aromatherapy or skin/haircare. What can I say, I love it. Lately it's about my hair and healthy extracts or oils for it's care but I still love my richly scented bath water and it's aromatherapy.