Hopefully you had a chance to do my oil treatment for dry hair! If not, check out my video on Youtube- channel MissDanetha.
Below are the ingredients that I used in this particular treatment and their benefits.
Castor Oil:
This oil is derived from the castor bean and seeds from the castor plant. Typically it is used as a laxative to relieve bowel cramping. It is also a lubricant used to soften the skin and hair and can be used as a topical treatment for inflammation. When it comes to hair, it coats the hair shaft and smooths the cuticle layer, sealing in moisture and leaving the hair soft. If you have dry skin, this oil can also soften and smooth rough skin areas. **Some say that it is not good to use this oil in an oil treatment more than 1x/month. I have coarse hair that tends to dry out easily, so I include it in my treatment every couple of weeks. You can substitute this oil with olive oil**
Vegetable Glycerin:
This has a rich, oily texture but is water soluble. I add this to most of my treatments to give my hair additional shine as well as to mosturize it. I also use it daily by add a few drops in my water spray bottle. I spray it on my hair as a daily moisturizer. **Glycerin is NOT the same as Vegetable Glycerin**
Coconut Oil:
Enough can not be said about this particular oil's benefits. Adding it to your diet will help to reduce cholestorol levels, balance digestive levels and increase metabolism. It is also wonderful for your hair and skin. It consists of 90% saturated fats which helps to maintain shine in your hair and promotes growth. Often it is used to nourish damaged hair and is commonly used in the Indian sub-continent in their hair products.
Orange Oil:
This is an essential oil. It has a light, citrus scent and gives your hair a wonderful smell. It is also used in perfume and household cleaning products.
Hope this helps!!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The View- "Drop Dead Diva" 7/9/09
The ladies of the View had yet another wonderful show. Sexy, sexy LL COOL J was a guest. He is just too delicious for words!! Throughout the talk he did his signature lip-licking...okay, let me get to the topic hand.
Margaret Cho was another guest today. She has a new show, "Drop Dead Diva", about a thin, popular blond girl who dies in a car accident and is reincarnated as an insecure, brunette lawyer who has a thicker frame. The show examines the way society views some traits as beautiful and dismisses others. Cho admits to dealing with similar pressures and turned to anorexia and bulimia to cope. Growing up, she was told that she was not beautiful and did not feel accepted in the entertainment world because of her looks.
This is definitely a show that I will be following. It premieres this Sunday at 9p on Lifetime. Societal definitions of beauty have plagued all communities, especially the black community. Light-skinned vs. Dark-skinned, Good hair vs. Bad hair, the list goes on and on. On a personal note, I have always been told that my grade of hair needs a relaxer. Every since the age of 6, I have covered my natural hair with chemicals, weaves and extensions. There is nothing wrong with experimenting with different hair styles, but it becomes a problem when you use them to cover your natural self because you do not feel that it is beautiful. Within the last couple of years, I have come to terms with my darker skin and have embraced its beauty. No longer do I crave to have Beyonce's yellow glow or her straight, silky hair. My chocolate brown skin is glorious and my nappy curls are heavenly. But, it took me too long to reach this stage in my life and some older than me have still not reached this mountaintop.
It is so important to feel a sense of validation. Whether its from your family, friends, community or the media. ALL aspects play a role in developing your self-esteem. When the media does not reflect your physical traits in a positive light, a part of you feels unwanted and undesirable. I hope this show helps to address this issue. Much thanks to The View in continuing to give props to lesser known entertainers' endeavors and their quest to affect some of our social ills. Look out this Sunday night for my blog about "Drop Dead Diva"!
Margaret Cho was another guest today. She has a new show, "Drop Dead Diva", about a thin, popular blond girl who dies in a car accident and is reincarnated as an insecure, brunette lawyer who has a thicker frame. The show examines the way society views some traits as beautiful and dismisses others. Cho admits to dealing with similar pressures and turned to anorexia and bulimia to cope. Growing up, she was told that she was not beautiful and did not feel accepted in the entertainment world because of her looks.
This is definitely a show that I will be following. It premieres this Sunday at 9p on Lifetime. Societal definitions of beauty have plagued all communities, especially the black community. Light-skinned vs. Dark-skinned, Good hair vs. Bad hair, the list goes on and on. On a personal note, I have always been told that my grade of hair needs a relaxer. Every since the age of 6, I have covered my natural hair with chemicals, weaves and extensions. There is nothing wrong with experimenting with different hair styles, but it becomes a problem when you use them to cover your natural self because you do not feel that it is beautiful. Within the last couple of years, I have come to terms with my darker skin and have embraced its beauty. No longer do I crave to have Beyonce's yellow glow or her straight, silky hair. My chocolate brown skin is glorious and my nappy curls are heavenly. But, it took me too long to reach this stage in my life and some older than me have still not reached this mountaintop.
It is so important to feel a sense of validation. Whether its from your family, friends, community or the media. ALL aspects play a role in developing your self-esteem. When the media does not reflect your physical traits in a positive light, a part of you feels unwanted and undesirable. I hope this show helps to address this issue. Much thanks to The View in continuing to give props to lesser known entertainers' endeavors and their quest to affect some of our social ills. Look out this Sunday night for my blog about "Drop Dead Diva"!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Inner Thigh Workout
Hey guys
Hopefully you had a chance to do my quick 6 minute inner thigh workout. If not, GET ON IT! Its really quick so you can do right after your cardio, in the morning or right before you go to bed.
Key things to remember while doing it:
1) Keep your core engaged- imagine a string pulling your belly button to your spine.
2) Do the movements slowly- really concentrate on squeezing your inner thighs as opposed to going as fast as possible.
3)Do not slouch while doing these exercises- this will ensure that your core is engaged and takes the stress off of your lower back.
If you would like to add intensity to the workout:
1) Use ankle weights- I use 1 lb. weights.
2) Increase the weight of your dumbbell- in the video I use a 5 lb. weight
3) Lengthen the exercise to 90 seconds. Be careful to not do it too long- you want to make sure your form is intact! You can even do the 6 minute work twice!!
If you would like to decrease the intensity:
1) Use your own resistance and eliminate the dumbbell. Imagine the air is really thick as you do the workout.
2)Decrease the workout to 45 seconds per exercise.
3)Go at your own pace! If you need a break, take it. Do not work through pain. Lactic acid is ok, but an intense pain is not!!
Hope you all enjoy :)
Hopefully you had a chance to do my quick 6 minute inner thigh workout. If not, GET ON IT! Its really quick so you can do right after your cardio, in the morning or right before you go to bed.
Key things to remember while doing it:
1) Keep your core engaged- imagine a string pulling your belly button to your spine.
2) Do the movements slowly- really concentrate on squeezing your inner thighs as opposed to going as fast as possible.
3)Do not slouch while doing these exercises- this will ensure that your core is engaged and takes the stress off of your lower back.
If you would like to add intensity to the workout:
1) Use ankle weights- I use 1 lb. weights.
2) Increase the weight of your dumbbell- in the video I use a 5 lb. weight
3) Lengthen the exercise to 90 seconds. Be careful to not do it too long- you want to make sure your form is intact! You can even do the 6 minute work twice!!
If you would like to decrease the intensity:
1) Use your own resistance and eliminate the dumbbell. Imagine the air is really thick as you do the workout.
2)Decrease the workout to 45 seconds per exercise.
3)Go at your own pace! If you need a break, take it. Do not work through pain. Lactic acid is ok, but an intense pain is not!!
Hope you all enjoy :)
Monday, July 6, 2009
The View- Sarah Palin 7/6/09
Finally, my ladies are back after a long vacation! All of the women did their own thing for the last 10 days and we certainly missed them. Barbara was not there today, doing work in Vietnam.
So...alot was discussed today. Ranging from the number of high profile deaths these past few days, Governor Palin resigning to Governor Stanford's affair, etc. They also had Larry Miller on today as a guest. I usually side with Joy, but her feelings on Michael Jackson and his heavy media coverage totally rubbed me the wrong way. But, anywho, I still love you Joy!
Today, my focus was on the Sarah Palin convo. I watched the press conference the day after and wanted to play tic tac toe on my wrist- WITH A BLADE. J/K, but I seriously tried to take her at face value but the whole speech was so irritating. It was way way way too long. A sweet 5 minute- I love you Alaska, but I gotstago, Peace!- would have sufficed. The long, drawn out history lesson about Seward and Abe Lincoln, good freakin grief! And don't let me get started on the sports analogy! Thank you Elisabeth for recognizing the fact that the analogy could have been "tighter" and really made no kinda sense. Next time Palin, ask our President to jot a few notes for you before you get in front of the camera. Just saying....
However, some valid and interesting points were made in her speech. Like,the debt that Alaska has had to endure (some $2 million) used to defend Palin in allegations. I believe most, if not all, of these allegations have not been substantiated. Joy speculated that maybe Palin left her post 16 months prior to its conclusion, because she needs to generate additional income to support her children and pay $500,000 in court fees. If that's the case, well I can't fault her. Others have speculated that she is gearing up and prepping herself for a run for the presidency in 2012. She didn't say that in her speech, but politicians are clearly notorious for leaving out elephant-sized details. Look at Hillary and her "last minute" decision to run for office. Yeah, anyway. If this is case, I DEFINITELY agree that Palin needed to step away and prep herself if she wants even a sliver of a chance of competing with President Obama. However, while I do not fault her, I am a little dissapointed in a governor leaving her position prior to election. In the words of Eddie Murphy in the move 'Life', there will be consequences and reprecussions. Time will tell if these are negative or positive.
So...alot was discussed today. Ranging from the number of high profile deaths these past few days, Governor Palin resigning to Governor Stanford's affair, etc. They also had Larry Miller on today as a guest. I usually side with Joy, but her feelings on Michael Jackson and his heavy media coverage totally rubbed me the wrong way. But, anywho, I still love you Joy!
Today, my focus was on the Sarah Palin convo. I watched the press conference the day after and wanted to play tic tac toe on my wrist- WITH A BLADE. J/K, but I seriously tried to take her at face value but the whole speech was so irritating. It was way way way too long. A sweet 5 minute- I love you Alaska, but I gotstago, Peace!- would have sufficed. The long, drawn out history lesson about Seward and Abe Lincoln, good freakin grief! And don't let me get started on the sports analogy! Thank you Elisabeth for recognizing the fact that the analogy could have been "tighter" and really made no kinda sense. Next time Palin, ask our President to jot a few notes for you before you get in front of the camera. Just saying....
However, some valid and interesting points were made in her speech. Like,the debt that Alaska has had to endure (some $2 million) used to defend Palin in allegations. I believe most, if not all, of these allegations have not been substantiated. Joy speculated that maybe Palin left her post 16 months prior to its conclusion, because she needs to generate additional income to support her children and pay $500,000 in court fees. If that's the case, well I can't fault her. Others have speculated that she is gearing up and prepping herself for a run for the presidency in 2012. She didn't say that in her speech, but politicians are clearly notorious for leaving out elephant-sized details. Look at Hillary and her "last minute" decision to run for office. Yeah, anyway. If this is case, I DEFINITELY agree that Palin needed to step away and prep herself if she wants even a sliver of a chance of competing with President Obama. However, while I do not fault her, I am a little dissapointed in a governor leaving her position prior to election. In the words of Eddie Murphy in the move 'Life', there will be consequences and reprecussions. Time will tell if these are negative or positive.
Launch of YouTube Channel
Hey guys!
I just wanted to announce that I am launching my Youtube Channel tomorrow, July 7th entitled Miss Danetha. My channel will focus on skin care, fitness and my natural hair care journey. There will be two episodes every week- "Tone Blast" Tuesdays and "Natural Beauty" Thursdays.
"Tone Blast" will be a short 5-7 minute workout that you can incorporate after your cardio to tone a specific area. The first episode we will work on Inner Thighs. "Natural Beauty" will focus on hair and skin care primarily using natural products and items found in the kitchen. The first episode will be an overnight oil treatment to restore moisture in your hair.
After each episode I will blog additional information about what I talked about that day.
Please subscribe, rate and comment!!! Hope you all enjoy :)
I just wanted to announce that I am launching my Youtube Channel tomorrow, July 7th entitled Miss Danetha. My channel will focus on skin care, fitness and my natural hair care journey. There will be two episodes every week- "Tone Blast" Tuesdays and "Natural Beauty" Thursdays.
"Tone Blast" will be a short 5-7 minute workout that you can incorporate after your cardio to tone a specific area. The first episode we will work on Inner Thighs. "Natural Beauty" will focus on hair and skin care primarily using natural products and items found in the kitchen. The first episode will be an overnight oil treatment to restore moisture in your hair.
After each episode I will blog additional information about what I talked about that day.
Please subscribe, rate and comment!!! Hope you all enjoy :)
Friday, June 26, 2009
All Natural Baby!
So...I am officially natural! I cut off the last bits of my relaxed hair today. My final relaxer was last summer and I wore a weave while I transitioned. I took out my final sew-in in January of this year and have slowly been removing my relaxed ends. My hair was damaged and I made the mistake in the beginning of getting my hair flat ironed regularly. The hair stylist really did a number on my head the last time I had it flat ironed back in February. I had a lot of heat damage and finally my hair is healthy and gorgeous! I have stayed away from heat except for using a diffuser a couple of weeks ago. I will be documenting my journey on my YouTube channel- YourBestSelf. I look forward to sharing whatever tips I come up with and learning from other women who are also rockin their natural beauty!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Thank you Michael Jackson
Words cannot express my deep sense of loss today when Michael Jackson passed. He is a legend, an icon, a musical genius, and most importantly a human being. A human being with an extraordinary gift that touched people ACROSS THE GLOBE. Thank you for all the memories. Thank you for breaking down racial barriers in music. Thank you for all of your contributions. Thank you Michael Jackson, thank you.
Minority Complex aka Bougie
Judge Clarence Thomas is at it again. Drawing up more controversy with his decision in the Supreme Court’s latest case. A 13 year old female student in
The Supreme Court ruled today, 8-1, that the strip search violated the young student’s constitutional rights. Which judge voted against this ruling…our dear friend Clarence Thomas. Oh Clarence. You never cease to amaze us. His reason behind his decision was that by ruling in favor of the student, the Supreme Court “second-guesses the measures that educators take to maintain discipline and ensure the health and safety of the students in charge.” Really. So, making a pre adolescent girl expose and humiliate herself assists the school in its fight to maintain order?
If you aren’t familiar with Clarence and his desicions, allow me to give you a brief synopsis. He is the second African-American judge to serve on the Supreme Court. At the time he was being considered, back in 1991, African-American and Civil Rights committees opposed his appointment including the NAACP, Urban League and National Organization for Women. Many felt his ultra conservative views would undermine the efforts and progress made by civil rights activists. He vehemently opposed affirmative action and some felt he would try to reverse the Roe V. Wade decision.
Just before his appointment, Anita Hill accused him of inappropriate sexual advances. Clarence referred to his hearings as "a high tech lynching for uppity blacks." Ain’t that funny? From a man who chides African-Americans for using their race as a “crutch.” He also believes that affirmative action in higher education should be removed because it gives “average” minority students the false sense that they can compete with their white counterparts. “These overmatched students take the bait,” he wrote in 2003, “only to find they cannot succeed in the cauldron of competition.” We won’t get into the fact that this is how HE got into
So, lets fight to integrate schools so that these “overmatched” students can be privy to same the educational opportunities from a early age. But no! In June of 2007, he shot down the idea to integrate schools in
An acquaintance of mine suggested that he suffers from minority complex, which is derived from the inferiority complex. “In such situations, the patient tends to heed of all things he or she would be unexpected to do or say. Through this action, the subject feels as if this strategem of 'you thought you knew what I was going to do...but I didn't do that...HAHA!' is a reflection of their intelligence, when in reality it just foreshadows a mental break down and a trip to the 'minority complex' therapist.' Seems to me like this a scientific term for bougie. The black friend from the block that forgot all about you once they moved to white surburbia, put their kids in private school, joined the country club and became a chief justice on the Supreme Court.
Check out the NY Times article- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/us/politics/26scotus.html
The View- "Don't Spit in the Air" 6/25/09
“Don’t spit up in the air, it’ll come back down to ya..”
Oh, dear Elizabeth. Yet again, she is too busy chomping her gums to hear the wise advice from Joy. Elisabeth has either lived an extremely sheltered life OR she is completely out of touch with reality. Honestly, I wish I could live in Elisabeth’s world. Where everything is either black or white, right or wrong and the choice between the two is as easy as choosing between laying in bed with an awful cold and spending the day relaxing on the beach. But, as you mature and experience more life situations, you will realize that more often times than not, that there are endless mitigating factors that affect your choices.
I used to think like Elisabeth. So, I don’t hate her and what she represents. I used to think that everything was so easy. You want better grades- Just study more! You want to lose weight- Just get up and go run! You drink too much- Just freakin stop drinking! C’mon people, I used to say, life is not that complicated. If you want to do something, just do it! Then, I realized I had flaws. I realized for every black or white decision, there are 101 gray subsections under each decision. Elisabeth must not consider these gray subsections when she is so quick to judge a person’s decision or inability to make a decision.
The topic today…Gov. Mark Sanford. The guy who left his state to go to Argentina to visit his mistress, with whom he has had an affair for the past year. He says the relationship started innocently via email, 8 years ago. Elisabeth immediately labeled the man a “dirtbag” who just needed to choose between his lover and his wife with 4 sons. He is “disgusting” for dragging them through this ordeal over the past year. Well, Elisabeth- is it really that easy to choose between your “hot”, emotionally supportive lover and a life that is comfortable and familiar? This guy also spoke out against Clinton and said the President’s infidelity reduces the level of trust from the public. 10 years later- he’s in the same boat.
“Don’t spit up in the air, it’ll come back down to ya.” Thank you Joy. I really hope nothing scandalous rocks Elisabeth’s white picket fence, apple pie world. I don’t think she could handle it. Seriously, Elisabeth, we all wish life was simple. But IT IS NOT. Take a couple hours of your time and watch the movie Traitor with Don Cheadle. Hopefully it will open your eyes and you too will realize that LIFE IS COMPLICATED. Period.
Oh, dear Elizabeth. Yet again, she is too busy chomping her gums to hear the wise advice from Joy. Elisabeth has either lived an extremely sheltered life OR she is completely out of touch with reality. Honestly, I wish I could live in Elisabeth’s world. Where everything is either black or white, right or wrong and the choice between the two is as easy as choosing between laying in bed with an awful cold and spending the day relaxing on the beach. But, as you mature and experience more life situations, you will realize that more often times than not, that there are endless mitigating factors that affect your choices.
I used to think like Elisabeth. So, I don’t hate her and what she represents. I used to think that everything was so easy. You want better grades- Just study more! You want to lose weight- Just get up and go run! You drink too much- Just freakin stop drinking! C’mon people, I used to say, life is not that complicated. If you want to do something, just do it! Then, I realized I had flaws. I realized for every black or white decision, there are 101 gray subsections under each decision. Elisabeth must not consider these gray subsections when she is so quick to judge a person’s decision or inability to make a decision.
The topic today…Gov. Mark Sanford. The guy who left his state to go to Argentina to visit his mistress, with whom he has had an affair for the past year. He says the relationship started innocently via email, 8 years ago. Elisabeth immediately labeled the man a “dirtbag” who just needed to choose between his lover and his wife with 4 sons. He is “disgusting” for dragging them through this ordeal over the past year. Well, Elisabeth- is it really that easy to choose between your “hot”, emotionally supportive lover and a life that is comfortable and familiar? This guy also spoke out against Clinton and said the President’s infidelity reduces the level of trust from the public. 10 years later- he’s in the same boat.
“Don’t spit up in the air, it’ll come back down to ya.” Thank you Joy. I really hope nothing scandalous rocks Elisabeth’s white picket fence, apple pie world. I don’t think she could handle it. Seriously, Elisabeth, we all wish life was simple. But IT IS NOT. Take a couple hours of your time and watch the movie Traitor with Don Cheadle. Hopefully it will open your eyes and you too will realize that LIFE IS COMPLICATED. Period.
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