How To: My Spray Bottle Mixture *REQUESTED*

Hello lovely ladies!

The past month has been so crazy! The workload at school has been so intense; I’ve literally been buried in my books. Postgraduate studies are no joke! Nevertheless, I’ve come up for some air and blogging is definitely refreshing. I’m back with a bit of a quickie, a couple of ladies asked me to share my spray bottle mixture and I thought this would be the perfect time to share it with you guys because I’ve been using it religiously these past few weeks.

My hair has been in my favourite protective style (loose twists), and in order for me to keep my hair in shape, and retain length, I have to ensure that my hair stays moisturized. Just because your hair is tucked away in a protective style does not mean you ignore it! Especially so for us 4c girls who have extra dry hair which is prone to breakage. Enough talking, let’s dive in! Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Aloe Vera Juice: There are tonnes of benefits of adding AVJ to your hair regimen. It helps pH balance your hair, it closes the hair cuticles to help maintain moisture, it promotes hair shine and can help with dandruff and overall scalp health. (I think I may just dedicate a whole post to all its benefits.)
2. Conditioner: I use my favourite Suave Naturals conditioner. It has great slip, I use it for detangling, co-washing, pre-pooing, as well as mixing my leave-in conditioner. Its completely optional, you don’t have to include a conditioner in your mix but I choose to because I feel like it adds extra moisture to my hair and makes if soft and fluffy when re-moisturizing. I also like the scent it adds to the whole mixture.
3. Olive Oil: Such a staple in my hair care regimen. Olive oil, like coconut oil (both which my hair cannot survive without) penetrates the hair shaft and cuticles to nourish and moisturize delicate strands form within.
4. Castor Oil: This is one of my favourite oils to use in my hair mixture because it helps prevent a dry and itchy scalp (which can help you maintain your protective style for longer) Castor oil is also known to help with hair thinning and hair loss
5. Spray Bottle: Well duh! Without it this post would be pointless. I got mine from Super Cosmetics a     while ago (4 years to be exact) so I’m no too sure about the price. It’s served me well as you can see

I start of by cleaning out my spray bottle. The mixture usually lasts me about two weeks. I don’t like to keep it longer than that because I feel that the fresher the mixture, the more it does for my hairs’ health. (Plus it does go off. A water-oil based mixture in a closed bottle for all that time is a recipe for disaster)

Once the bottle is clean, I start off by adding the oils. I pretty much eyeball the mixture as you can never really go wrong. Feel free to experiment and substitute ingredients as suits you best.

I add Olive oil…this is my second favourite oil after coconut. My hair loves this stuff I tell you! The reason I don’t use coconut oil in this mix is because it solidifies when cold and can clog the spray mechanism, so steer clear! Of all the oils used, I am most generous with the amount of olive oil I add to this spray mix because it helps me combat dryness, and maintain high moisture levels.

Next I add in a bit of castor oil. Castor oil is very thick and heavy so a little goes a long way. Feel free to add any other oils that your hair may love (Argan oil, Avacado oil, Jojoba oil, Tea Tree oil…) Personally, after trying a myriad of oils and spray recipes, I have found that my hair responds best to these two oils. Give your hair what is asks for right?

I then add in aloe vera juice. I am very generous with it as well, adding about a cap full. AVJ helps to balance the hair’s pH, closes the cuticles so that you lock in all the moisture, as well as promotes shine and healthy hair overall. I’ll definitely do a more detailed post on AVJ and why I think you should incorporate it into your hair care regimen.

This next step is completely optional, you are more than welcome to add your water and use the spray mix as is. I choose to add about a tablespoon of my conditioner. First of all, because I love how it smells and gives my hair that added freshness. But also because it leaves my hair feeling so soft and fluffy. Some argue that this may cause product build-up, but I make sure to use Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) every time I wash my hair to ensure that I leave no product residue in my hair.

Lastly, I fill the spray bottle half way (I don’t make a full bottle because I don’t want it to last more than two weeks. Freshness is EVERYTHING!)

Give it a good shake and spray on! I hope this guides you in developing a Spray bottle mix that meets your hair’s needs, do try it out and let me know what you think!

P.S: To seal in the moisture after I spray my hair, I use my whipped shea butter mix to ensure that all this good moisture is locked in. If you haven’t already read it, click here for my hair moisturising regimen which features this spray mix.

Happy Nappy Hair,

Yvette Kemi