Treating your Hair with Molasses

Beautiful hair is a sign of good health and vitality. My research has indicated that molasses has proved successful as both internal and external hair treatment to improve health and help with growth as well as combat grey hair. 

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   Molasses

   • This is a thick syrup obtained from the third boiling of a sugar syrup, generally from sugar cane (although it can also be made as a by-product of the processing of sugar beets or grapes). There are three grades of cane molasses: mild or barbados, also known as first molasses; dark, or second molasses; and blackstrap. For the rest of this article, the term 'molasses' is used to refer to blackstrap molasses from which most of the sucrose has been removed leaving trace amounts of vitamins and significant amounts of minerals.
     
     
     The many vitamins and minerals in the molasses gives the syrup a dark color and distinct flavor. Though well known as an alternative sweetener other usages besides promoting healthy hair include acne treatment, iron supplement, and improved energy. These benefits are achieved because molasses contains dense nutrients including; iron, calcium, manganese, copper, magnesium, and potassium. Thus improving our intake of nutrients may help to improve hair growth and the addition of molasses to the diet offers a great way to get these essential vitamins and minerals. The intake of molasses can:
     

     1. Reverse Grey Hair because molasses contains copper which facilitates the production of melanin that assists hair pigmentation, and
     2. Assist Hair Growth since molasses is full of B vitamins, which play a crucial role in healthy, growing hair.

   
   

   Molasses as a Topical Hair Treatment

   • Many people have used molasses as a topical hair treatment to smooth and improve the overall appearance and texture of the hair. It is recommended that you massage the molasses into your hair, covering with a shower cap or some plastic wrap and leaving in for about 1 hour. Then rinse out the molasses. This treatment should improve the condition of your hair.

     Dried out hair? Try the Molasses Intensive Hair Conditioner:
     3 tablespoons cold-pressed sweet almond oil (but you can substitute whichever oil you have, we use Jamaican Virgin Coconut Oil)

     3 teaspoons molasses 

     aloe gel (or aloe vera juice)

     
     

     Whip together oil and molasses. Add aloe, and stir to form a smooth paste. Dip hairbrush into mixture and apply to clean, dry hair. Cover your head with a plastic shower cap and warmed towel to trap moisture and body heat. Leave on for 30 minutes and rinse with warm water, finishing with a brief tepid rinse. (Others have recommended rinsing throughly and then doing an apple cider vinegar rinse.) Allow hair to air dry for deeply-conditioned hair! Don't have time to do it at home? Come down to BEAUTIFUL EARTH  and get this deep conditioning treatment!

     
     

     Overall, the use of molasses should make your hair feels simultaneously stronger and softer. You should have no problem combing through your hair or rinsing the molasses from your locs. There is no after smell. Enjoy!

100% Jamaican Virgin Coconut Oil: Our Wonder Oil

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THE WONDER OIL 

Coconut Oil is of special interest to us because it has healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil and is extensively used in traditional medicine. Only recently has modern medical science unlocked the secrets to coconut's amazing healing powers. Once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, it is now known that the fat in the coconut is a unique and different from most all other fats and possesses many health giving properties. Indeed, Coconut Oil has been described as "the healthiest oil on earth." 


Studies in India have been done on how effective various oils are on treating damaged hair. The study compared mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil. Their results:

The findings clearly indicate the strong impact that coconut oil application has to hair as compared to application of both sunflower and mineral oils. Among three oils, coconut oil was the only oil found to reduce the protein loss remarkably for both undamaged and damaged hair when used as a pre-wash and post-wash grooming product. Both sunflower and mineral oils do not help at all in reducing the protein loss from hair. This difference in results could arise from the composition of each of these oils. Coconut oil, being a triglyceride of lauric acid (principal fatty acid), has a high affinity for hair proteins and, because of its low molecular weight and straight linear chain, is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft. Mineral oil, being a hydrocarbon, has no affinity for proteins and therefore is not able to penetrate and yield better results. In the case of sunflower oil, although it is a triglyceride of linoleic acid, because of its bulky structure due to the presence of double bonds, it does not penetrate the fiber, consequently resulting in no favorable impact on protein loss. [Rele AS, Mohile RB (2003), 'Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damage,' Journal Cosmetology Science, 54 (2): 175-192.)

At BEAUTIFUL EARTH we use cold pressed virgin Coconut Oil because this process produces oil with the least amount of processing so that the natural vitamin E, antioxidants, and fresh coconut essence are retained. For daily use, virgin cold pressed Coconut Oil will give you the greatest amount of lauric acid for your money. There is the added benefit that this oil is grown and processed in Jamaica!

BENEFITS FOR THE HAIR 
Coconut oil is one of the best sources of natural nutrition for hair. It is one of the oils that help in the lubrication of the hair. It softens the hair and conditions the scalp. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair.  It is very useful for damaged hair due to its ability to strengthen it and it is also a wonderful oil for dandruff.

The oils and proteins in Coconut Oil work well to help keep hair from losing protein, which is one of the major contributors to hair breakage and hair loss. When used at least two times weekly, in addition to a stimulating scalp massage, it has been found that coconut oil can help to stimulate proper circulation and keep the scalp moisturised. 

HOW DO WE HARNESS THE BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL? 

This can be done in two ways. First, for people interested in growing their hair longer and thicker, it helps to keep the hair well moisturised and the hair shaft strong. This will prevent breakage of the hair and allow it to grow longer and thicker without looking damaged. It can also be used as a very effective hair conditioner daily, to help keep hair strong and damage-free. At BEAUTIFUL EARTH we retail 100% Jamaican Virgin Coconut Oil and our signature Coconut & Lemongrass Hydrating Oil that clients can use daily to keep their hair strong and itch-free. These products can also be used on the skin because the molecular structure of coconut oil allows for easy absorption through the skin, giving it a soft, smooth texture. It makes an ideal ointment for the relief of dry, rough and wrinkled skin. Psoriasis and eczema suffers often see great improvements in these distressing conditions. We use Jamaican Virgin Coconut Oil in several other products for these very properties, including our Anti-Itch Neem Oil Treatment.  

Anti-Itch Neem Oil Treatment
100% Jamaican Virgin Coconut Oil
Coconut & Lemongrass Hydrating Oil

Second, for those interested in stopping hair loss and encouraging new hair growth, the hair growth benefits of Coconut Oil can be effectively harnessed when used warm with a scalp massage. The massage itself helps to stimulate the circulation of the scalp and hair follicles, which will make it easier for the hair follicles to absorb the valuable nutrients provided by the coconut oil, nutrients which are necessary to re-grow hair. At BEAUTIFUL EARTH we provide the following treatments using 100% Jamaican Virgin Coconut Oil: 

* Coconut Oil Hot Oil Treatment which softens the hair and conditions the scalp, providing the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair.

* Honey & Coconut Hot Oil Treatment which provides super hydration and strengthening of the hair.

* Soft, Shiny Hot Oil Conditioning Treatment which saturates the hair with moisture  and benefits naturally fine hair and damaged or dry hair caused by colouring, blow-drying, straightening, or other styling stresses.

* Anti-Itch Neem Oil Treatment to help relieve dry and itchy scalp, dandruff,and the symptoms of scalp psoriasis, as well as giving you silky, shiny, stronger hair.

These can also be used as deep conditioners, depending on the client's needs. Additionally, these products are available for the client to take home and continue the treatment.