At Nyenzo Natural Boutique, we always em

At Nyenzo Natural Boutique, we always emphasize the benefits of scalp massages to stimulate hair growth (especially with Jamaican Black Castor Oil!) Check out the Week 3 post from Karen Wilson Natural Beauty-Grow Out Challenge to find out more information on the benefits of scalp massages. http://ow.ly/8XC5g

If you vowed to make 2012 a healthier, m

If you vowed to make 2012 a healthier, more active year, you’ll want to check out Black Girls Run! This group will give you the inspiration needed to get started and stay motivated and they have local running groups in almost every state! Check it out! http://ow.ly/8XBMw

Viola Davis (lead actress from the movie

Viola Davis (lead actress from the movie,The Help) looks fabulous rocking her own natural hair…check out the pics attached! (By the way, she’s 47…ahh-mazing!) http://ow.ly/8XBp8

Attention all Natural Hair Models, Makeu

Attention all Natural Hair Models, Makeup Artists and Wardrobe Designers, if you would like an opportunity to be apart of an amazing show, please check out the attached video regarding the Natural Hair Show Model Call in Baltimore, MD. You do not want to miss this one! Contact Jennifer Lord for more information on how you can attend: 443-415-3548 http://ow.ly/8XAY1

Darcy’s Botanicals Vanilla Delight Leave-In Conditioner Review

Now this is a leave-in conditioner to die for. Don’t leave-out of the house without your leave-in!  We HEART Darcy’s Botanicals! They have a leave-in you can believe in! Purchase online today at Nyenzo Natural Boutique for only $12.99.

Why Use All Natural Products? What’s the Harm with MY “Normal” Shampoo?

Why use all natural hair care and skin care products versus your everyday drug store shampoos, bath and shower gels? What’s all the hype and obsession with paraben-free products? You probably scratch your head wondering “whats a paraben anyway?” Well we’ll run down the three reasons Nyenzo keeps it natural and explain what are the 3 main ingredients to avoid and why. The 3 heavy hitters are: parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate and petroleum.

#1 Parabens

Parabens are a class of chemicals used as preservatives that work against bacteria and fungi. They are found in a wide range of different personal care products like shampoos, shaving gels, cosmetics, skin care products, toothpastes, and more.

Parabens (with a completely different pronunciation) in Portuguese means “congratulations”..buuut there will be NO congratulations for you for purchasing products containing this ingredient! LOL All jokes a side, here are a few reasons why:

• One study found parabens in the breast tissue of 18 out of 20 breast cancer patients studied!
• Another study suggested that they may have a weak hormonal effect on the body.
• Other studies suggest they cause allergic skin reactions & interfere with the body’s endocrine system.

#2 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Another dirty name in the game: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) which is probably the most dangerous ingredient used as a detergent in common skin and hair care products.

• SLS is used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, etc. It’s very corrosive & attacks greasy surfaces!
• Studies indicate that SLS penetrates into the eyes, brain, heart, liver..showing long-term retention in the tissues.
• A study also indicated that SLS penetrated young children’s eyes and prevented them from developing properly & caused cataracts in adults!
• SLS may also cause hair loss by attacking the follicle.
• SLS cleans by corrosion. Dries skin by stripping the protective lipids from the surface so it can’t effectively regulate moisture.
• SLS reacts with many types of ingredients used in skin products and forms potentially cancer-causing nitrates!

#3 Petroleum

We used to smear it on our ashy knees and elbows while we were kids, smather our lips with it and some would even put some life into their hair with it. So what’s the harm in it? It worked then, so why not now?

Oh, what we didn’t know then.  Ignorance was bliss. Here’s why we should avoid it today:

• Since petroleum jelly attaches to your cells & can be difficult for your body to eliminate, sometimes causing buildup in various organs!
• The oxygen and nutrients skin needs in order to release toxins and repair itself can be blocked by the “barrier” created by petroleum.

In Conclusion: Keep it Au Naturale!

Our skin is a living breathing tissue that protects the body & absorbs substances that come into contact with it. If you use skincare products made with chemical preservatives, these toxic chemicals may be absorbed into your body. To stay healthy inside and out make a wise choice and purchase natural hair care and skin care products at Nyenzo Natural Boutique!

Tags: natural hair care products, paraben free, parabens, petroleum, sodium lauryl sulfate

Bee Mine’s Bee Hold Curly Butter Review

Recipe for Great Hair … You are What you Eat

We’ve always heard: you are what you eat! This is so true..but did you know that this even applies to your skin, nails and hair?! Yes, what products you apply externally have a great deal to do with the vitality of your hair, but what goes in your mouth is equally important in your quest to healthy hair! The same can be said of skin and nails but today we will focus on hair since thats typically every gals #1 concern. Sorry, you must put the fried foods down.. as hard as it may be. Hellooo – you have natural hair, you need to nourish it with natural foods!

“What should I eat” you are probably wondering? I will run down some top foods for a luscious coif. The list is long but I’ll keep it short and sweet:

5 Fab Foods for Healthy Hair

1. Salmon – High in Omega 3 Fatty Acids which help support scalp health. Good substitute for this is ground Flax Seed for vegetarians.
2. Dark Green Vegetables – Spinach, Kale, etc. Good Source of Vitamins A and C, Iron and Calcium. Vitamins A and C helps your body produce sebum which is secreted from your hair follicles as a natural conditioner.
3. Beans – Yes, theyre also good for your heart..the more you eat em the more you.. you know the rest! Protein protein protein plus iron, zinc and biotin all make for strong healthy locs.
4. Nuts – And NO not heavily salted ones, sorry ladies. Walnuts, cashews, pecans, and almonds are good sources of zinc. Without zinc in your diet, you hair will tend to shed!
5. Whole Grains – Put the Wonder bread down! Whole grain breads and cereals are good sources of zinc, iron and Vitamin B- all essential  for healthy hair!

Have a hard time downing dark green veggies like I do? Here’s a new recipe thats great for your hair and your waist line…

Ever Heard of a Green Smoothie?

Does it sound gross to you? Well when I first got word of this..it did to me as well, so I understand. But a green smoothie can actually be really yummy.. and it will make you feel o so fabulous. Check out this recipe I found.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 – 2 cups loosely packed baby spinach
• 1 banana (a frozen banana will give you a thicker consistency, but non-frozen works, too)
• 1 cup milk of choice (dairy, non-dairy, vanilla non-dairy, etc.)
• 2 cubes ice
• sweetener of choice (honey, agave, etc)
• You could also add berries, but the smoothie will no longer be green in color
• Other additions: flax seed, chia seeds, etc.

Directions:

1. Place spinach, banana, milk, ice and sweetner in the blender.
2. Cover and blend until banana/ice is processed and smooth, about 1-2 minutes.
3. Enjoy!

Bee Mine’s Deja’s Hair Milk Review

Okay so I mixed it up a bit today. Several people who’ve only met me with natural curly hair said they could never ever imagine me with straight hair. I wore my hair straight (but unstyled) in this review to kill the curiosity and to show the versatility of the product…which states that it can be applied to dry or damp hair as a moisturizer and is good for ALL HAIR TYPES and braids and weaves as well. Very interesting. So in this review I feature Bee Mine’s Deja’s Hair Milk simply as a moisturizer for my dry straight hair. In my next review I will use Bee Mines Deja’s Hair Milk as a leave in conditioner on my damp natural curls and apply it along with Bee Mine’s Bee Hold Curly Butter. Stay tuned…

Jamerican Shampoo Bar Review

Shampoo bars are all the rage! Just in… Jamerican Shampoo Bar! It is currently available at Nyenzo Natural Boutique and coming soon to www.nyenzo.com. It was mentioned in the video that it is available online, however currently it’s just available in the boutique. Sorry for any inconvenience that may cause ladies!