I usually save the type of specificity for direct communications with paying Subscription members.  But people do need basic information on how to best determine the amounts of each ingredient they want to use in their DIY mixes.

I'll give you some basic information on how to determine the best way to figure out the percentages of ingredients to use.

First, though, I have to say this: ingredients like Citric Acid, Grapefruit Seed oil, Rosemary Essential oil, and Vitamin E ARE NOT preservatives!!!  

If you're making something you DON'T plan to keep in the fridge, AND you want to be able to use it for weeks or a few months, you M.U.S.T. use a broad spectrum preservative.

Now that my rant is over, let's continue.

I am currently on a light (lite) conditioner kick at the moment.  I know, I know!

For a while, my hair didn't really respond to lite DIY mixes and preferred heavier, thicker and more substantial DIY and store-bought leave-in conditioners.  

DIY mixes with ingredients like shea butter, and with higher percentages of BTMS and cetyl alcohol, worked very well for me.  These types of leave-ins can be classified as 'thick' conditioners depending on the percentages used.

Thick conditioners often work to add and/or seal in moisture.  I used to think a conditioner HAD to be thick in order to moisturize my hair well.  Well, that's turning out not to necessarily be the case.

Sheryl Underwood must think its 1913 and not 2013.  She dun stepped in it with a lot of people, and not just natural hair chicks either.

Underwood (@sherylunderwood) had some... interesting... things to say about natural, nappy, afro-textured hair.  And while she may try to play it off as just a joke, if you watch the video and the context (and look at the big a$$ weave she's sporting), you may not be laughing along with her.

If you have to use shampoo on your curls, the #1 rule is to dilute it.  

People use store-bought shampoo straight out of the bottle for a number of reasons.  And sometimes you just HAVE to get that product buildup off, especially if you test/review products.

I once heard a natural hair stylist say that she never uses full strength shampoo directly out of the bottle on naturally curly hair.  She always dilutes shampoo with water.  I'm not sure what the ratio is, but it makes senses.

I've been testing out the creation of a hair milk recipe. I know, I know!  Hair milks seem to work best for people with a looser curl pattern.  But that's not even my concern.  My main concern was creating a good consistency for it.

Initially, I kept getting a medium cream -- not too thick but not as thin as I wanted it to be.  

I wanted a true milky consistency. I wanted something loose enough to be put into a spray bottle, BUT which isn't as thin as water.  

Okay, I need to know something.  There appears to be two types of "Rhassoul" clay on the market.

One is a deep red/orange color called "Moroccan Red clay" popularized by the NOW brand.  

Another one is more grayish in color with a slightly muted brown/pinkish hue which reportedly does not stain everything it comes into contact with.

Specifically when it comes to clay for a deep hair conditioner, which clay is the best clay? I'm looking for the best clay for HAIR; the one people brag about which helps to soften and condition the hair.

Maaaaan, how many 'oils for hair' lists have yall read on hair blogs already?  I know, I know! But someone asked me which oils I preferred to use on my hair and in my DIY mixes and why.  So I thought I'd compile a 'best of the best' carrier oil list.  

All of these oils can be classified as emollients which help to improve the feel of hair and can help add sheen to the hair if used in certain amounts.

A few of these oils are on the list of "ceramide containing oils". Ceramides help protect the cuticle layer of the hair and helps to thwart moisture loss.  They are also said to help stop protein loss, making it possible for you to need less protein treatments. Oils that are high in linoleic acid often contain ceramides.

If you don't see an oil listed here, that DOES NOT mean I don't like it.  I just means I like these just a little bit more. Let's get into it!

At twitter, I clicked a link to a Bloomberg Businessweek article dealing with the exploding phenomenon of the natural hair movement created by people who are embracing and purchasing products designed by small business for natural hair.

No wait.... that's what I WISHED the article was about!  What I read was a kinda shallow report about how Target managed to cash in on the natural hair phenomenon and how the company has helped smaller companies.  

The article's bottom line is: "With the help of Target, a handful of small companies have created a fast-growing niche in the U.S. hair-care market."  That's fine. But there's much more to the story than that.

I just ran up on one of the best youtube videos I've ever seen about the issue of natural hair and having REALISTIC expectations for your natural hair. lol!  Honestly, this doesn't just apply to 4c hair. :P

Shoutout to Jouelzy @ youtube.