How to Be Swell (Beauty): Got Lye? Get Ceramides!

Beloved readers, I learned in my bone-laxed and texlaxed days that ceramides were my hair’s best friend.

Increasing ceramides in my regimen and hair, allowed me to reduce the number of protein treatments it needed, gave it greater elasticity, made it more supple, and allowed it to better hold a wrap or curl.

What are ceramides?

Ceramides are fatty lipids that act as “glue” or “Cement”. Ceramides cement together the little “scales” that make up your hair’s cuticle. The relaxing and texlaxing process, COMPLETELY STRIPS HAIR of ceramides, which is why this is incredibly important to the regimens of relaxed and texlaxed ladies.

This is great for natural hair too, I might add. Especially, for color-treated naturals and those that straighten often.

A great, cheaper source of ceramides that takes out the “Middle Men” of many commercial products is Wheat Germ Oil.

As with other oils, it is important to make sure your oil of choice, whatever the brand is unrefined and organic, to get all of its yummy benefits!

I made quickie “Ceramide Treatments” using a cheap conditioner and a healthy dollop of Wheat germ Oil, using:

2 T Wheat Germ Oil

4 T Conditioner (I use a Suave conditioner for this, any “cheapie” conditioner will do)

1 T Organic Agave, Honey, Maple Syrup or Black Strap Molasses

I mix these all together (you may have to warm your honey before mixing, depending on the brand) and apply it liberally to my hair. I pop on a shower cap and leave it on for at least an hour before rinsing thoroughly. That is it.

Caution: Be careful to keep this off of your face if you are acne prone. It is every comedogenic!

If you have allergies to wheat or gluten, DO NOT USE THIS!

*http://www.hair-science.com/_int/_en/topic/topic_sousrub.aspx?tc=ROOT-HAIR-SCIENCE^HAIR-SCIENTIFIC-ENIGMA^CERAMIDE-TO-PRODUCTS&cur=CERAMIDE-TO-PRODUCTS

*http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/DOCKETS/95s0316/95s-0316-rpt0275-04-Udell-vol211.pdf