Rating 3.5 out of 10.

Giovanni Smooth As Silk Conditioner was the conditioner I used for most of the first 12 months as a natural. I liked it when I first started using it so much so that I bought three on my next purchase.

In fact, it was silly to buy three because I'd just heard a YouTuber complain that she thinks they've changed the formula and it had started making her scalp itch. I thought she was just hating on them and as it was working for me, why not stock up? Pure folly!

My next batch proved her hypothesis to be correct. Giovanni Smooth As Silk Conditioner is now:

• Less creamy and no longer feels like silk on my hair
  
• Makes my hair feel a little tangled
  
• After it's rinsed out it doesn't feel bouncy and springy like I expect from a good conditioner.
  

In addition, because this conditioner is for "daily use" it does not deep condition. Daily conditioners are surface acting and I made the mistake of trying to use this for deep conditions when it's not designed for this function.

Because I found Giovanni Smooth As Silk Conditioner useful initially (when my hair was short) it might mean that it just works better for short hair, which is by nature less prone to getting tangled. I would like to hear about your experiences of this product.

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This is me in 2010 and this is me now, I prefer the new look but in order to maintain it I need to keep fit.

I don't do gyms because I think:

• My body gets a better work out outside and plus 
• You save A LOT of money! 

Without protection, however, natural hair takes a real beating in the winter cold: it gets dry and is more prone to breaking. The solution is simple: wear a scarf over your head. 

• If the scarf is too silky it will fall off;
• Make sure it's tight enough not to fall but loose enough not to start damaging your hair line.
  

Oh, and did you know exercise can help to promote hair growth by:

• Reducing the levels of the stress hormone cortisone
  
• Increasing levels of the "happy" hormone serotonin
  
• Improving blood circulation
  

Sweat doesn't have a negative impact on my hair's health or growth so after a jog I don't wash it unless it's my hair wash day, I just rub some hair growth stimulator onto the scalp, fluff my hair out out and style. Job done.

I've just guest blogged at womaninthejungle.com:

Protective styling and defensive hair care management define my hair care regimen. I used to assume that my hair would always be effortlessly beautiful and I paid it very little attention above and beyond a quick weekly wash and condition. 

That all changed early in 2011 when I incurred severe breakage and was forced to pay it lots of TLC; I kicked relaxer to the curb and went natural.

Read the rest at womaninthejungle.com

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Finger combing involves fluffing your hair and detangling using just your hands and fingers. It makes sense that handling hair (e.g. when you comb or style it) will lead to some hair breakage, so the less you comb the better...in theory... 

I have done less and less combing over time based on this theory and until last night I hadn't combed for a month! 
I went cold Turkey, no combing at all, fingers only! Bad idea. Here are the pros and cons:

PROS / ADVANTAGES OF FINGER COMBING

1. Less breakage per session, fingers can untangle stubborn knots a lot more effectively than a comb.

CONS/ DISADVANTAGES OF FINGER COMBING

1. Hair gets more tangled over time if you only use fingers. Fingers can only untangle so much and after you're done some strands will remain wrapped around each other.

2. Lots of shed hairs will stay tangled within your hair and this leads to nasty knots and even more tangling. These knots also make your hair look messy and unhealthy.

3. If you wash and go without plaiting or twisting in a zero-comb regimen, your hair will get massively tangled as it dries. A bit of combing would help to reduce this.

What is the best way to approach finger combing and detangling?

Always finger comb or detangle first.

In fact, you can get by with finger combing only for styling purposes, that said, before or during a wash routine use a wide tooth comb too for the best detangle. Comb gently and very slowly, no rough and rapid movements.


If you're adamant that you want to finger comb only, here's are a couple of tips: 

• Massage the roots slowly and gently to release shed hairs and pull on the strands in order to remove these shed hairs. 
• If you have stubborn knotted balls of hair cut them out with scissors.
  

How about brushing?

I hadn't used a brush on my hair since I went natural in March 2011 (20 months ago) because I was too scared of breakage; but I did so last night and it was a-okay. A simple brush like the one in the picture won't hurt you if you don't use it too often.

If you want a real break from handling hair get a completely protective, low manipulation hair style e.g. plaits, braids, a weave or a wig. 

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THIS LIMITED EDITION OIL SET IS NOW INDEFINITELY OUT OF STOCK

Over the last couple of months Neno Natural has been a little obsessed with trying to conclude once and for all which oils are the very best; our research concluded with the Oil Mega Summary. 

Following that analysis we hooked up with a manufacturer in California to create a pack of high quality oils at a discounted price. The result? Neno Natural's 6 Best Oils for Hair Pack.

Here's a reminder of why each oil made it into the set:

• Argan oil - some call this the "miracle oil" - it has over two times more vitamin E than olive oil; we also discovered that it's the best oil for reducing hair frizz
  
• Avocado oil - one of the most nutrient rich oils alongside argan oil
  
• Castor oil - a top moisture sealant
  
• Coconut oil - an all-rounder, fantastic as a pre-shampoo treatment. It penetrates hair fibres and strengthens from the inside
  
• Jojoba oil - a fantastic scalp nourisher great when blended with essential oils and massaged into the scalp to encourage hair growth; it's the only oil with a similar structure to sebum, the scalp's natural oil
  
• Sweet almond oil - great as both a pre-shampoo treatment and as a sealant
  

How can you use these oil?

• For scalp massage
• For pre-poos
  
• Add to conditioner to give it more slip
  
• To tame frizz (Argan oil)
  
• To seal in moisture
  
• You can either use each oil on its own or blend 2 or more to create your own exotic mix
  

How much is it?
This pack retails at $55 but you can get it directly from us for much less! That's a massive 40% Christmas saving. A single bottle of high-grade, organic, unrefined argan oil like we have here retails at $15, so this offer is great value.

This limited edition oil pack is only available while stocks last. If you order in the next 24 hours you will receive the pack in time for Christmas via Amazon's Free Super Saver Shipping: it's an awesome present for your sister, daughter, cousin, mum and even yourself! :)

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You might also like:
Remember Naturals, Oils Are Not Moisturisers!

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I like hearing perspectives on why other people decided to keep their hair natural and in this video a few girls do that. It's short, sweet and has the added benefit of teaching us a new hair do called "The Pompadour". Enjoy.

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A lot of people don't understand black hair. In fact, many black people themselves don't fully understand it and are only discovering how it works by ditching chemical relaxers, so called "creamy crack", and learning to work their own God-given hair.

Unfortunately, many people that take this route including myself face back-handed compliments, negativity and outright rudeness. This video captures some of that:

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Who founded Dr. Miracle's?

I have been using their acne control system with good success for a couple of years and I know they do hair products as well so I was curious; I had always imagined a skinny black man in a lab coat with a moustache tinkering away to look after the sistas.

Anyhow, I discovered that Dr. Miracle's was founded in 2004, by: 

• Brian Marks, 
  
• Ollie Johnson and 
  
• Richard Lombardi.
  

I can't find an image of the elusive Mr Lombardi but I imagine him to be a Lamborghini-wielding Italian given the last name. My curiosity has mostly been satisfied. I always like to know the story behind the brand.

Dr. Miracle's is a huge brand and has recently tried to move into the production of natural hair products. 

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Hair accessory idea from Aisha of myfroandI.com. She tweets @aishaanndlife.


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