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Minimalist Beauty

living simply with grace, discretion and faith

Minimalist Beauty

Curly Hair Regimen–Fall/Winter 2014

September 26, 2014 by Dawn Michelle

I’ve learned so much about amazing curly hair care in the simplest way this year.  It started at the beginning of the year when I experimented with water only hair washing to discover that my dry scalp also produces natural oils that can move down my dry curly hair strands if I only give them a chance.  The result has been endless moisture to my hair and scalp.  You can read the three articles I wrote about my water only hair washing experience beginning here.

(Image above… My hair in a braid out set with 6 braids–September 2014)

Now that the seasons are changing and I honestly don’t feel like doing daily rinses, I’ve decided to reincorporate the natural hair care routine I enjoyed during the spring.  What is incredible about this hair care routine is that it does not strip the hair of its natural oils and it allows me to style my hair as I would on any other curly hair regimen.  Instead of daily rinsing when doing water only hair washing, I am now back to a regimen of cleansing and conditioning my hair 1-2 times a week and water only hair washing as needed as my hair loves to be fully saturated with water.

Prep

I always do my hair in sections for washing, detangling, and styling.  Lately its consistently six sections, yet it does vary from time to time.  I use large Goody Comfort Flex Updo Barrettes to hold each section as they never tear, snag, or break my hair.  I begin my hair routine starting with the cleansing and conditioning process outside of the shower on dry hair.

Cleanse

Herbal Infused Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

I mix 1 part raw organic apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water and a few drops of essential oil for scent.  I like to apply this to my hair and scalp with an applicator bottle purchased from the beauty supply store.  I massage this into my scalp and do not rinse out until after my conditioning treatment.  I sometimes use raw organic white vinegar when I’m out of apple cider vinegar.  I find that the smell of white vinegar is not as potent and still does the job.  You can read how to infuse vinegar with herbs here.  I use a variety of whatever healthy hair herbs that I have and different ones with each infusion.  Vinegar rinses keep the hair and scalp clean, pH balanced, and healthy.  If you are interested in alternate all natural hair cleansing options then read this article.

Condition

DIY Deep Conditioning Treatment w/ Pureed Organic Banana & Organic Coconut Milk

This simple mix of a pureed banana and coconut milk is the best DIY Deep Conditioning Treatment that I’ve tried to date.  Please note that the banana must be pureed with coconut milk to perfection for this to be fully enjoyed.  Add more coconut milk slowly while blending for the best preferred consistency if needed.  It also helps to strain this mixture to avoid any hassle rinsing.

I apply this DIY Deep Conditioning Treatment to my hair also in an applicator bottle for ease. I leave this in my hair for 30 minutes to an hour before rinsing.  This DIY Deep Conditioning Treatment makes detangling a breeze.  I find organic canned coconut milk at Whole Foods and Sprouts.  I’ve also used the Trader Joe’s canned coconut milk too although it is not organic.  Adding a teaspoon to a tablespoon of oil to this deep conditioner enhances the benefits even more.  You can see alternate all natural conditioning options here.

Detangle

Detangling my hair has become much easier due to having full coverage of my own natural oils from water only hair washing.  I was so surprised by this initially that I used a detangling brush in my hair daily with each rinse.  To achieve maximum hair health, I now gently use a detangling brush on the last two inches of my hair only and finger detangle the rest which is kind of the best of both worlds.  The ends of my hair are usually where the knots form so by clearing the space before finger detangling the process is much smoother.

I finger detangle my hair while rinsing out my cleanser and conditioner under running water.  When I keep my hair in stretched styles such as braid outs especially, this process is always so much smoother. In general keeping my hair stretched and also primarily finger detangling attributes to healthier hair for me.

My hair in a twist out set with 16 twists via Instagram @mnmlistbeauty

My hair in a twist out set with 16 twists via Instagram @mnmlistbeauty

Leave-In

Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil & Organic Castor Oil

With a cooler season approaching my hair must be consistently moisturized to prevent breakage.  Since I am not rinsing my hair daily with water only hair washing, I prefer to seal in the moisture on wash day with an oil mix of organic pumpkin seed oil (a skin care favorite) and organic castor oil.  I’m playing around with oil ratios, yet I am loving these two oils for my hair right now.  Organic hemp seed oil (also amazing for skin) and organic wheat germ oil are two other favorite oils for my hair so I wouldn’t be surprised if they are used as well this season when I get more.  I just don’t have any right now.  I use a small dime size amount of oil per section working from the ends of my hair up.  I never apply oil to my scalp.  I do apply a small amount of oil to my hair to seal in moisture even when I do a water wash now if needed.

Henna Treatment

Body Art Quality Henna & Organic Coconut Milk

I’ve been using henna consistently in my hair since March 2010.  It keeps my hair strong, thick, and shiny.  I’d like to get back to doing monthly henna treatments, but bi-monthly treatments seems to be the latest schedule.  You can read about the benefits that I’ve found mixing henna with coconut milk and the recipe here.  I haven’t used any other henna mix once I discovered how amazing this combination is for my hair.  If I feel that I need a conditioning treatment afterward rinsing henna from my hair, I use the DIY Deep Conditioning Treatment with coconut milk and pureed banana.  I also use organic canned coconut milk for my henna treatments.

Styling

I very rarely ever put heat in my hair and recently got rid of both my blow dryer and flat iron since I never enjoy my hair straightened anyway.  Maybe I will feel differently in the future but I’m not sure about that.  My best curly hair styling methods are braid outs, twist outs, and wash and gos.  Braid outs and twist outs keep my hair the most tangle-free so I will be attempting to set my curls with those two methods the most, yet wash and gos have the least amount of hair manipulation.  I also intend to wear updos and buns to keep my ends protected.

Maintenance

In the evenings I massage my scalp and gently preen my hair.  I add a few drops of oil to my hair at night if needed focusing on the ends.  If my hair is in a braid or twist out, I loosely braid my hair in four braids and pin curl the braids into place.  I then cover my hair with a satin scarf.  If I am wearing my hair in a wash and go I will put my hair in a high loose ponytail and cover the sides of my hair with a satin scarf.

I have finally let go of having perfectly shaped hair and now only trim split ends and single strand knots.  Over the past few years I’ve cut off a lot of length shaping my curls a few times a year.  Since different parts of my hair grow at different lengths some areas would be cut more than others to create a uniform look.  Any overall trims that I do on my hair will be only dusting the ends in very small amounts very infrequently.

Hair Goals

Last spring I cut off more than a few inches off my hair after a serious stress induced hair shedding.  My hair has grown quite a bit since then though, and I feel daily scalp massages and water only hair washing has helped a lot.  I’ve reincorporated deep conditioning treatments to ensure healthy hair as I continue to grow my hair out.  Keeping my hair in an updo as much as possible to protect the ends of my hair will also help me reach my goals of longer healthier hair.  (Hair Goal Update)

Water Only Hair Washing

Water only hair washing has been the BEST thing that I could have ever experimented with and included in my hair care regimen.  My hair has never been this conditioned and is very easy to manage. It even appears and behaves completely differently than when it wasn’t coated with my own natural oils.  I believe the main benefit of water only hair washing especially for dry curly coily hair is to reach full coverage of your hair’s natural conditioning oils for consistent moisture and increased hair elasticity without relying on products which are never as good.

I have found that using water only hair washing exclusively for curly hair care can be a unique challenge in itself though.  Instead of forcing things to work in a particular way, I’ve reincorporated some tried and true methods.  Daily rinsing is important for encouraging sebum production and helping to distribute it through your hair evenly especially when beginning water only hair washing, yet this simple DIY hair care regimen shared today is the best of both worlds for me right now.

How do you modify your hair regimen during colder months, and what has been your experience with water only hair washing if you have tried it?  You can also see monthly updates to my beauty regimen here.

(Images by Dawn Michelle)

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  1. Kate says

    September 29, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    You inspired to try out several organic oil and butters to see what works for my skin and face, My current facial regimen is using organic cerassee tea to cleanse my face or I might drink it. I use different oils from the Amazon region. The oil I will be trying out in the future are watermelon seed oil and marina oil.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      September 30, 2014 at 9:45 am

      Hi Kate,
      Your skin care regimen sounds really good! I wish you the best with it. How is your hair regimen coming? I know you had mentioned before finding a stylist and learning how to better care for your hair.

      Reply
  2. Kate says

    September 30, 2014 at 6:01 pm

    I never found a curly hair stylists in New York. Recent,y, I went to an organic salon in brooklyn so they suggest for me to grow out my relaxer. My current stylist is someone’s who only does chemically straightened/ hot tools hair. Now I’m trying to get in shape and grow out my hair. I have a short haircut right now. The stylist at the organic seems to care more about hair health. My current hair regimen is to wash with an organic shampoo and deep condition with blackstrap molasses and 1tbsp of oil. My leave in for my hair is muru muru butter for frizzy hair.
    The oils I use in my hair are for curly hair, ungurahua, pequi oil, acai oil, and organic ojon oil from Brazil. The lady that I order from gives me recipes for curly hair on etsy. She was really helpful. Im allergic to aloe vera so I have to make my own stuff now. I been experimenting on my new growth lol. My goal is try avacado or banana in the future. Yeah it’s going to be a journey. Sorry for all the info and typos.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      September 30, 2014 at 7:53 pm

      Hi Kate,
      I’ve big chopped my hair four times for different reasons so I’ve never transitioned. It does take a lot of patience and delicate care dealing with two textures of hair. The hair stylist at the organic salon sounds like a keeper if her focus is on hair health versus styling alone. I wish you the best on your transition and definitely keep doing your research and make it a priority to learn what’s best for your hair. <3

      Reply
  3. Temeka says

    September 30, 2014 at 6:07 pm

    This seems like a good regimen. I’ve still mainly been doing WOW. Sometimes I use ACV when there’s too much sebum, but I don’t rinse daily. I’m doing once a week. I love being able to easily detangle my hair. I love doing twist outs and it lasts long. It also has more definition than before. I’m also still doing the same for my daughter. She’s in ballet though and has to wear a bun so I’ve been using aloe gel to slick her ponytail down and it works. It leaves it so shiny. She hates when I use the ACV tho lol. Our hair is so soft now. I love it.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      September 30, 2014 at 8:00 pm

      Hi Temeka,
      I really appreciate you sharing your hair update (and your daughter’s) using water only hair washing. I think that rinsing daily is mainly necessary in the beginning to reach full coverage of your natural oils, yet it is definitely a trial and error though as we are all unique. Having soft fully moisturized hair which usually gets the reputation for being dry and unmanageable is definitely the biggest bonus of water only hair washing for curly/coily hair!

      Reply
  4. Kate says

    October 1, 2014 at 5:10 am

    Thank you for responding to me. This is the first salon where the beautucians did not complain or pray over my hair. My hair is very thick with lots of volume. People complain about doing my relaxed hair when it is short. My hair use to be very long but I cut it, a little above my hair. The goal is to transition to healthy hair and find someone who gives good hair cuts.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      October 1, 2014 at 10:28 am

      Hi Kate,
      Having thick hair is a blessing! I wish you the best on your transition and with learning how to care for your hair. I don’t think anyone can truly know your hair better than you can, yet it really helps a lot to have a hair stylist to know how to treat your hair especially well when you see him or her.

      Reply
  5. Bakura says

    October 2, 2014 at 12:24 am

    Hi Dawn,
    I teally love your natural, effortless look. Your hair looks so pretty! can you use henna on ends to prevent damage?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      October 3, 2014 at 11:26 am

      Hi Bakura,
      Thank you for your sweet compliment! I use henna to strengthen all of my hair. You can see my henna mix here and another article on henna basics here. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  6. keisha says

    October 2, 2014 at 7:15 pm

    i haven’t graduated to WOW yet but i’m slowing working towards it if only to see how my hair does. i would love to see a collage of sorts to see how your hair has grown by only doing the WOW method.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      October 3, 2014 at 11:45 am

      Hi Keisha,
      You can see another photo of my hair that I took this past April when I cut a lot of it off after a tragic shedding experience here. I’ve been pretty much growing it since then. It was when I saw this picture that I noticed that my hair had grown significantly. It’s not a length check photo, yet after that experience I didn’t want to monitor hair growth through measuring or taking photos. I guess over the next few months more growth will be evident, yet you can grow out your hair by many different healthy hair practices. There is definitely not only one way.

      Reply
  7. Kisha says

    October 4, 2014 at 5:20 am

    Hi Dawn, I’m loving WOW! Thanks for the inspiration. I have been deep conditioning with banana and olive oil or wheat germ oil here and there as well. Your regimen sounds great. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      October 5, 2014 at 11:37 am

      Hi Kisha,
      It’s kind of surprising how incredible your hair can feel with such a simple hair care method. I’m glad that this is working so well for you. Keep us posted!

      Reply
  8. Chris says

    October 5, 2014 at 4:15 pm

    Hi Dawn,
    Still loving all the awesome info you are giving us! By the way your hair is gorgeous.
    In the cleanse portion of your regimen; do you apply the apple cider vinegar to wet or dry hair? How effective do you find the apple cider vinegar at removing the castor oil from your hair?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      October 6, 2014 at 8:54 pm

      Hi Chris,
      Thanks! I apply the diluted apple cider vinegar to dry hair. I don’t use much oil in my hair and I find that this cleanser and the banana/coconut milk conditioner is the perfect combination for my hair. <3

      Reply
  9. Myesha says

    October 7, 2014 at 8:40 pm

    Thank you for sharing. Though I visit a lot of health and hair blogs this is by far my fav. I always feel inspired and safe here as other websites tend to be a bit prideful and make me feel less than for what I have. You always have kind responses and artful pictures of your hair and skin that inspire not try to be flashy. I love bentonite clay mixes and banana deep conditioning. I can’t wait to venture into henna and wow soon. God bless:)

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      October 8, 2014 at 6:47 pm

      Hi Myesha,
      Your comment really made my day. I’m really glad that you enjoy Minimalist Beauty so much and that you love the bentonite Clay hair wash and banana deep conditioning treatment too! Wishing you the best of everything! <3

      Reply
  10. Gina says

    October 9, 2014 at 3:06 pm

    Dear Dawn. Thank you so much for sharing your regimen with us. I’vebeen natural for 3.5yrs now, but have absolutely nothing to show for it, because I keep cutting it because it’s been like straw. I’m thinking I might have to relax it, because it’s been an absolute nightmare for me! I had almost waist length relaxed hair for years, and it was very thick and full. But having gone natural now my low-porosity VERY protein sensitive hair, doesn’t appear to like anything! As you rightly said in one of your articles, that conditioners, no matter how natural they are leaving a coating on your hair. So I tried my much preferred NATURAL method of using both Rhassoul and Bentonite clays to wash my hair for weeks, with infused herbs, and ‘conditioning’ with herbal rinses, and my hair always feels puffy and straw like afterwards. The best my hair has felt, is as you said when I tried WOW. Beautiful soft Shiny Hair when washing, but it dried dull, and didn’t like nice at all when dry. I was thinking if shaving it off tomorrow AGAIN, and retry WOW, but as I have very thick coily hair, I think I may have to seal in the water with an oil. Now will that affect my WO washings I want to know, as the hair with the sebum on it will still be underneath. And I like the sound of your regimen above, but isn’t the Banana and Cooconut Milk MORE protein?!!! And do you use a plastic cap with this conditioner on please, and if so for how long? As you’ve probably guessed I’m VERY fed up with my hair now. When I look on YouTube most girls have hair nearing their waist, and mine, not through choice is just about an inch. So thanks in advance for your help.

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    October 9, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    Ok Dawn, I’ve just re-read the article, and see that you leave the Banana/coconut milk in for 30-60 mins. But I still need to know if you use a plastic cap for that please. And also please clarify. Above you said that you don not rinse out the water and ACVinegar mix, ‘until AFTER your conditioning treatment”. So you plonk the conditioner on top of the cleanser? That doesn’t sound right to me. But if that is the case, then please do let me know ASAP, because I really want to give it a try before I go to the Barbers, and see if I notice any improvements. Thanking you so much, fot being such a wonderful example in natural hair care.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      October 9, 2014 at 3:41 pm

      Hi Anonymous,
      I apply the herbal vinegar rinse to my hair and scalp, then the banana conditioner only to my hair immediately afterwards, and keep them both in my hair for 30-60 minutes before rinsing. Covering your hair with a conditioning cap or whatever you have in hand prevents your conditioning treatment from getting on your clothing. One of my readers mentioned using a swim cap as it was an ecofriendly alternative to plastic, yet I haven’t gotten one just yet. Let me know how this works for you if you try it. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  12. Myesha says

    October 13, 2014 at 1:15 am

    hi Gina or anonymous I’ve had the problems you are having and I think you may want to look in to the quality of your water . I have hard water I recently found out and started rinsing my hair after conditioner with distiller water I would bring to shower. It made a world of difference also you may have buildup that you want to use a chelating shampoo or hard water treatment for ( Malibu c hard treatment ) to get ride if minerals etc in your hair from hard water one time. Another addition could be use of steamer to lift your cuticles for better conditioning process. I love aketafitgirl on YouTube bc she uses natural products and uses acv and a clay wash to cleanse her hair and it looks great. Don’t give up 🙂

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      October 14, 2014 at 1:04 pm

      Thanks for sharing Myesha!

      Reply
  13. Dawn Michelle says

    October 24, 2014 at 3:39 pm

    Hi Gina,

    I wish I had seen your comment sooner but I somehow didn’t. To add to Myesha’s advice it is possible that you may have product buildup. Sometimes when my hair isn’t behaving it needs clarifying. Apple cider vinegar and bentonite clay usually do the trick. Apple cider vinegar rinses alone help too.

    Try not to compare your progress with others. It helps with the patience needed to learn and nurture your own hair. Also look into your diet and make sure that you are getting the needed nutrients to grow your hair. Our hair is the LAST thing to get nutrients so it is very helpful to eat lots of organic and whole foods. Avoid processed food too.

    With water only hair washing I actually like adding a tiny amount of oil to my hair more regularly than doing oil rinses now. It helps with manageability and keeps my hair shiny. The natural oils from my scalp alone can sometimes make my hair seem dull even though it is soft and conditioned.

    Lastly take note if any of your hair care practices are contributing to breakage. Look over your hair tools to see if they are seamless and hair friendly. Also take note if your hair responds better to keeping it stretched or wearing it in its natural curl pattern. I hope this helps some and don’t give up.

    Reply
  14. nina says

    October 24, 2014 at 5:27 pm

    Lovely and effortless! I cannot find those Goody Updo Barrettes on the ground on the west coast. Where do you find them? Just Amazon?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      October 26, 2014 at 6:21 pm

      Hi Nina,
      I’ve had these barrettes for awhile now and I no longer see them in stores either. I plan to purchase a few more I guess online now. Still going to keep my eyes open for them locally as well. <3

      Reply
  15. Ryou says

    October 28, 2014 at 1:07 am

    Hi,
    I have been using natural products for my hair for about two years now. Recently, I have read that mineral oil is non greasy and can seal moisture more effectively. I’m aware that mineral oil is derived from petroleum, but is it very harmful? It seems like it would be hard to remove without using sulfates. Are there any natural oils similar to mineral oil?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      November 1, 2014 at 2:37 pm

      Hi Ryou,
      I would avoid mineral oil since it is derived from petroleum while producing gasoline. I have been loving castor oil for my hair. I tried it alone applying small amounts to wet hair and it doesn’t leave an oily feel and seals in moisture like no other. There are other light oils you may enjoy as well like jojobs oil. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  16. Anonymous says

    November 2, 2014 at 1:30 am

    Yeah, I was skeptical about it too. Do you use castor oil straight? It is kind of thick…. How is lanolin for hair?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      November 3, 2014 at 4:59 pm

      Hi Anonymous,
      I use a dime size amount of castor oil to each section of wet hair before braiding. It is my only leave-in when I use one. I have been enjoying castor oil lately on its own. I don’t have experience using lanolin though. <3

      Reply
  17. Ryou says

    November 2, 2014 at 1:33 am

    Yeah, I was skeptical about it too despite the results. So castor oil works about the same? Is it ok to use the laxative kind of castor oil? Also, do you apply it straight? It is pretty thick….

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      November 3, 2014 at 5:03 pm

      Hi Ryou,
      If you can’t get organic castor oil look for a hexane-free cold-pressed castor oil sold at health stores. It is a thick oil yet it keeps my hair feeling soft. I apply it in very small amounts. <3

      Reply
  18. Naya says

    November 5, 2014 at 11:03 pm

    Hi Dawn Michelle!

    Found myself back on your blog as I’ve once again returned to an all natural and 100% DIY hair & skin regimen. I’ve been thinking about incorporating henna treatments into my regimen again but I was wondering, do you still co-wash after the initial rinse? I did that as well in the past but I don’t really use pre-made conditioner in my hair anymore.

    Reply
  19. Dawn Michelle says

    November 6, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    Hi Naya,
    I use a DIY deep conditioner after henna usually a mix of coconut milk and pureed banana. I’ve also done oil rinses and yogurt and pureed banana after rinsing out the henna. All of these mixes have worked very well for me. I haven’t used a store bought hair product in a very very long time. <3

    Reply
  20. Ayesha says

    November 28, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    Hi Dawn,

    I just want to say a great big thank you for introducing me to WOW. I LOVE your blog and have been following it religiously for months now. When I first read about WOW, I was a little skeptical. Then when I read you raving about it, I finally thought well if Dawn loves it, there must be something to it. I had already been following your herbal care air routine so the transition wasn’t too big a leap. I’m six weeks into WOW and I LOVE it. I can’t stop touching my hair lol! It’s never been this soft yet its strong and my scalp is soooo happy. I still will do the henna/coconut milk every month or so and every week I do a fenugreek or ricewater condition followed by diluted hibiscus-infused coconut vinegar rinse. Thank you Thank you Thank you. You’ve been such a positive light this year.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      November 29, 2014 at 11:35 pm

      Hi Ayesha,
      I’m so happy that water only hair washing has been working so well for you too! Your regimen sounds great and I completely understand what you mean about not being able to keep your hands out of your hair because it feels so soft! Thank you so much for your comment and your sweet words. Best wishes!

      Reply
  21. Melody says

    January 3, 2015 at 12:45 pm

    Hi Dawn,
    I love your site. Thanks for providing such amazing info in a straightforward manner. I’m thinking about starting the WOW method but it’s winter now and I’m concerned about walking around with wet hair everyday. Do you let your hair air dry or use a microfiber towel or something? Would it be possible to rinse and preen at night and then sleep on damp hair instead? Also, last question, are you still using flaxseed gel for twist outs and was-n-gos? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      January 4, 2015 at 6:08 pm

      Thanks Melody!
      When you aren’t using synthetic hair care products it no longer takes 3-6+ hours for your hair to dry after a water only hair washing session. My hair usually dries in 30 minutes to an hour. If you shower in the evening 1-2 hours before you go to sleep you should be good. I always air dry my hair. As for flaxseed gel I only use it if I have an excessive amount of sebum on my strands and I want it to wash away during my next rinse. Flaxseed gel is awesome for removing a sufficient coat of your natural oils from your strands when needed. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  22. TJ says

    January 12, 2015 at 10:40 am

    Hi there-

    Just started WO washing, I am one week in. What’s your take on using a marshmallow or slippery elm rinse in the WO regime. Do you think it will strip the sebum?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      January 13, 2015 at 1:42 pm

      Hi TJ,
      Marshmallow root should be fine. I haven’t tried slippery elm since I started incorporating water only hair washing into my life. I know that flaxseed gel does strip your sebum yet sometimes if you have too much sebum it is a necessary simple hair cleanser on water only hair washing and great for detangling too. Water only hair washing has changed the game for me 100% so I hope that you enjoy the benefits too!

      Reply
  23. TJ says

    January 14, 2015 at 1:48 pm

    Dawn Michelle-

    Thanks for the info. I really want to do this and will stick with it but I seem to not be producing much sebum going into my second week. 🙁 So I haven’t seen the benefits just yet. Will keep you posted. And thanks for sharing your journey will us!

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      January 16, 2015 at 3:05 pm

      Hi TJ,
      It took me a full month to reach full coverage of my natural oils. You are going through the transitioning period. Use small amounts of oil especially on your ends during this process. I’ve found that using small amounts of oil has been helpful for me this entire year on this journey. It takes time to find what works best but I found it so much better than using tons of products. Best wishes!

      Reply
  24. kiah says

    March 22, 2015 at 3:29 pm

    How do you deep condition? Do you use a heat cap, a steamer, or plastic shower caps?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      March 23, 2015 at 6:11 pm

      Hi Kiah,
      When I deep condition my hair I usually just apply the mix and cover with a plastic bag if there is one in my place or just put a towel around my neck while it is in my hair. If you find that using heat helps with your conditioning process then go for it. It is more about what works best for your hair needs. <3

      Reply
  25. Tanya says

    April 15, 2015 at 7:40 am

    Hi Dawn! Since you don’t water rinse every day anymore, how do you keep your hair moisturized in between wash days? So you spritz with water and then seal with oil, or just use oil?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      April 17, 2015 at 1:02 pm

      Hi Tanya,
      I’ve honestly been playing around with different techniques as well as making sure my hair is deep conditioned with my DIY deep conditoner mentioned. It is about finding what works best for your hair and its needs. If your hair needs to be rinsed daily for it to stay moisturized go with it. With this regimen it is a modified water only routine as I found that using water only was not enough. I shared an update here. I hope this helps!

      Reply
  26. Regine says

    October 19, 2015 at 9:24 am

    Michelle, did I read somewhere that you no longer use raw shea butter to style/curl up your hair because you were breaking out? Well, after having successfully used your recommendation to use raw honey for my face and henna/indigo for hair, I decided to give a second try with the raw shea butter (which you talked about in one of your old posts a couple of years ago). I used to wonder how come it does not work on my hair since so far all of your recommendations have worked well on me. D) So just this week I decided to give it a try (in lieu of my beloved Kinky Curly gel product). After I washed my hair, I applied the Kinky Curly Knots Today (leave in) and then after melting some shea butter in between the palm of my hands, I spread it all over my hair partly combing it through with my fingers and partly using the prayer method. Oh boy, the end result (after my hair dried a bit and the “whitish” color of the shea melted into my hair) was similar to the end results with Kinky Curly but really soft soft hair. I loved it. The only thing though is that it took an hour or so for some of the shea to melt into my hair. Some of my hair strands were a bit whitish or greyish. But the next time I melted the shea in a double boiler and I did not have this problem. Then to refresh on subsequent days, I wet my hair again very briefly under the shower (maybe 30-40% wet) and I reapply a tiny bit of shea using the prayer method. Thanks so much for such a great idea; and I am sorry if you somehow had to give it up to your skin breaking out (?). As always, you are an inspiration. Thanks! Regine

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      October 20, 2015 at 1:44 pm

      Hi Regine,
      I’m so glad that you have been loving shea butter. I have learned a lot about my hair this year. Although I was at first disappointed that I couldn’t use shea butter (yes it did break me out even whipped with high linoleic oils), as long as I keep my hair hydrated, using a DIY hair gel is all I need to maintain any style. To prevent the whitish appearance that you mention form using shea butter, whip shea butter with other oils that you know your hair loves. Shea butter can be so amazing for dry curly hair.
      Best wishes!

      Reply
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living simply with grace, discretion and faith

I met a woman the other day who openly shared some I met a woman the other day who openly shared some of her challenges with motherhood.  Motherhood is intensely challenging, beyond humbling, and at times you just want the day to be over then realizing that you’ll be back at it the next day.  It never ends and there isn’t much reprive.  It’s been on my heart to share some encouragement to any mother who will read this.  I pray this will bless you in some way.  The link is in my profile!
🌻 #motherhood #encouragement #humility #minimalistbeauty
Fenugreek seeds, also called methi seeds, have a m Fenugreek seeds, also called methi seeds, have a multitude of medicinal properties along with being a prominent spice in many cultural dishes.  For starters, fenugreek seeds are packed with protein for strengthening strands, mucilage for moisturizing and soothing the scalp while detangling the hair, and most importantly nicotinic acid which may minimize hair shedding while soothing scalp issues.  Fenugreek seeds are also anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal which is beneficial for soothing a dry irritated scalp as well as high in iron. 🍂

These little seeds are a win win for natural hair care and can be used in various ways.  I’ve used fenugreek seeds in my beauty regimen on and off for years.  Today I wanted to share four easy ways you can incorporate fenugreek in your hair regimen to promote healthy hair growth.  The link is in the profile. 🍂

#diyhaircare #naturalhair #minimalistbeauty #sponsored @mountainroseherbs
God is so good! We move on FRIDAY. This picture God is so good!  We move on FRIDAY.  This picture was taken before they removed the bricking which was VERY NOISY to say the least.  We haven’t been completely able to avoid the beginning of the construction process, but I honestly think it’s a good thing.  This way we can remain GRATEFUL throughout the entire process.  GRATITUDE during LIFE’S IMPERFECTION develops CONTENTMENT.  That is one thing I work on daily.  If you missed our “We’re Moving Again” testimony it’s on the blog. 🌿🍁🍃

 #testimony #sharewhatisgood #godisgood #godisfaithful #godmakesaway #minimalistbeauty #simpleliving
Friday mornings are my busiest mornings of the wee Friday mornings are my busiest mornings of the week.  I make muffins for Saturday’s breakfast (either corn bread, pumpkin, or banana bread muffins) to have with fruit, a big crockpot dinner for the weekend (beans & rice bowls, lentils and sweet potato stews, or a big veggie and red potato stew) to serve with bread, tortillas, grains, and/or salad depending on the dish, and I’m usually putting orders together to go out for @iamazuha today too.  All the while I’m also making other food for the day. 🍂🥧🍁

Friday’s are crazy because of the usual responsibilities, but mainly because I really want to relax a bit over the weekend.  Over this past year I’ve worked really hard to create systems to make working from home and being a homemaker easier.  Homemaking really is like running a small boutique bed and breakfast hotel.  It takes planning ahead, having a solid system, financial planning, commitment, and a lot of love.  I’ve been learning to really enjoy this process.  Just like everybody else I’ve been baking more this year than ever.  Very rewarding. 🍂🥧🍁

Wishing all of you a beautiful and blessed weekend! 
💞Dawn Michelle
We’re MOVING again! With everything going on wi We’re MOVING again!  With everything going on with the world wide pandemic, I’m seeing the importance of sharing anything good that the Lord is doing in your life with others.  We need HOPE.  We need to share the JOY of walking with God.  The testimonies of glorifying God would just add encouragement that I know I need.  I LOVE hearing of God making ways out of no way, giving us more hope and FAITH. 🌿🍂🍃

I was initially praying to God for ways to endure what we were about to go through while somehow someway making it nice for my family during the process.  But God was already orchestrating a new way for us to not even have to endure it at all.  Read my testimony on Minimalist Beauty... (link in profile) 🌿🍂🍃

If God has done ANYTHING in your life no matter how small PLEASE share it in the comments below.  We all need to hear what’s good!  The news shares otherwise, but we can create a space here of good testimonies.  Please share below and I pray you are having a blessed day. 🌿🍂🍃

Much love!
#testimony #sharewhatsgood #godisgood #godisfaithful #godmakesaway #minimalistbeauty #simpleliving
We could all use an IMMUNE BOOST right now.  Here’s a simple juice recipe that I make for just that.  I call it SPICY APPLE JUICE and my three (almost four) year old drinks it up no problem! 🍎 

I simply juice 2 WHOLE medium/large APPLES (3 small apples pictured) + 3 CLOVES of GARLIC in a slow masticating juicer for one immune boosting serving.  Yes I do include the core as it has many health benefits. 🍎 

After having my 1st official winter back on the east coast last year, RAW GARLIC was how I made it through without getting sick at all while caring for sick family members. 🍎 

Since then I juice garlic in many of my juice recipes or mince up multiple cloves as dinner toppings for chickpea pasta, beans and rice bowls, and stews.  What I LOVE most of all is hearing my son say, “More Juice?” Proud Mama!!!! 🍎

#immuneboost #juicing #juicerecipe #simplenutrition #healthyliving #minimalistbeauty #minimalistbeautyeats
I started wearing linen clothing because it’s ex I started wearing linen clothing because it’s extremely practical.  Linen is one of the most environmentally friendly fabrics on the market.  Linen is also considered the world’s strongest natural fabric.  After tiring of purchasing new clothing every season for my heavily worn small capsule wardrobe, it just made sense to look for mid and heavy weight linen garments that could be worn year round and layered that actually lasted. 
🍃

Linen clothing can last up to 2-3 decades if properly cared for.  I’ve made some mistakes along the way, but have finally found a simple method for caring for my linen garments. (Link in profile.)
🍃
#linenlover #minimalistbeauty #sponsored @mountainroseherbs
I stopped using henna, I tossed my comb and brush, I stopped using henna, I tossed my comb and brush, I wear hair buns 95% of the time, and my hair care routine only got simpler with only two “products”. All the details plus why I really cut my hair last spring on the blog.  Much love!  #minimalistbeauty #curlyhairroutine #naturalhaircare

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