I was a little nervous about making Hummus for the first time but it came out really well and it was really quick and simple. If you want to make Hummus at home instead of buying it in the store, check out the recipe below:
Give it a try and let me see your creations on social media by using the hashtag #veggiecurls Continue reading “Homemade Hummus”
As with any journey, transitioning to from relaxed to natural presents its own unique challenges. While everyone’s experiences are different, it can be helpful to see how others have navigated through the process. It’s been a little over 5 years since I transitioned, but I can remember a time when I was struggling to figure out what to do with 2 different textures on my hair.
I often hear; “I tried the natural thing for a minute and it didn’t work.” I’m a believer in the fact that everyone shouldn’t do the same thing but I’m also a believer that God didn’t make any mistakes when creating you as you are naturally. So if you’re considering going natural or already in the process, check out these 5 mistakes to avoid.
Overuse of Heat
I know when I was transitioning; I would sometimes flat iron my hair multiple times a day to blend the two textures. That is the one thing I regret not knowing prior to starting this journey. Overuse of heat can and will ruin your curl pattern and damage your hair. Try blending the two textures with styles such as twist outs and bantu knots and just use a roller to twist the ends of your hair that may still be straight.
Continue reading “Transitioning From Relaxed to Natural – 5 Mistakes to Avoid”
I had the opportunity to go to Atlanta last week and visit my amazing friends. While I was there I had a lot of great food that fit within my vegan diet. Check out my favorite eats from my travels to Atlanta.
Aja Restaurant and Bar
3500 Lenox Rd NE #100, Atlanta, GA 30326
PAD KING VEGETABLES
12 seasonal vegetables, tofu, rice noodles, sweet soy
*This was by far my favorite dish of the trip
Café Sunflower
5975 Roswell Road Atlanta, GA 30328
Sweet and Sour Soy Chicken
Battered and fried soy chicken with onions, bell peppers, water chestnuts, broccoli and pineapple in a fruity and spicy sauce with brown rice.
*Café Sunflower is an all vegan restaurant. You can’t go wrong with anything on this menu.
Many women feel that their hair growth has come to complete halt. I’ve said this many time before but the fact is, unless you have a medical condition, your hair is always growing but you may not be retaining what you’ve grown. In other words, just as fast as it grows, it breaks, creating the illusion of stunted growth.
Here are three things to consider:
Lack of Moisture
Because our strands have twists, bends and curls, it’s much harder for the natural oil, sebum, to travel the entire length of the hair shaft from root to tip. Remember the only form of moisture that exist is water. So be sure to apply a leave-in or oil on your hair every few days or as your hair needs it, paying special attention to the ends (oldest part of your hair). Hair that is properly moisturized will have a nice elasticity to it and will be less likely to break, thereby allowing you to retain what you grow. Those whose hair may have low porosity may need extra help with steam or products that will help open up the cuticle to allow moisture in.
Poor Diet
Be sure you’re drinking plenty of water and limit your fast/junk food intake. If you eat nothing but junk, your hair/scalp is gonna reflect that. Water plus a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables will help your hair to thrive.
Fall is quickly approaching and I know many people like to consume fruit that are in season. I realize, for some that picking out produce can be a little intimidating! What do you look for when choosing fruit? How do you know when a certain fruit is ripe?
Some of the fruit that are great in the fall include cherries, pears, apples, cranberries, plums, grapes, key limes, kumquats, passion fruit, pineapples, and pomegranates. Below are tips for picking out 5 of the most popular fruits for fall.
Pineapple
Picking out pineapples can be tricky. They are a fruit that stops ripening as soon as they are harvested and they are coming to us from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Honduras and Mexico. (Sidenote: If you ever have a chance to go to Puerto Rico or one of the countries mentioned, make sure you load up on Pineapples! – They are the best you will ever have!)
Pineapples are usually shipped to grocery stores slightly under-ripe. The leaves on top of the pineapples are the best indicator for picking the perfect pineapple. If the leaves pop right off, the pineapple is past its prime. The leaves on the crown should look green, healthy and fresh. You also want your pineapple to feel plump and firm. If it’s soft and squishy, it’s probably past its prime.
Wash day rolls around and you sigh in preparation for a few hours of prepooing, deep conditioning, washing, conditioning, styling, and drying – all in the hopes of a perfectly defined mane. Here are a 3 tips to help you get the most out of your curls on wash day.
Deep Conditioning– You’ll achieve the best definition on healthy moisturized hair and I always get the best hair days after deep conditioning treatments. If my schedule permits, I deep condition at least once a week. Invest in an in-home steamer, to get the most moisture and penetration from the deep conditioner. Also, make sure your deep conditioner has the ingredients to provide a protein moisture balance that’s right for your tresses.
Finger Detangling – This helps me to not only achieve better definition but also improves length and volume retention. I have bigger and longer hair when I religiously opt for my 10 digits over any brush or comb. As far as detangling, it’ll take a bit of practice to master the technique. Just remember to do it in small sections, working from the ends up in a gentle manner. Don’t pull or rip at your hair, but gently remove shed hair and tangles. I suggest starting on wet hair that’s soaked with conditioner in the shower. The power of the shower stream and slipperiness from your conditioner should make finger detangling a cinch.
In many recipes eggs act as a binder and/or a leavening agent. A binder helps hold the recipe together, while a leavening agent helps baked good rise. The infographic above shows a variety of ways to replace eggs. Ground flaxseed is my usually choice for replacing egg, especially when making pancakes and waffles. I warm the water first and let the flaxseed soak into the water for a few minutes. I’ve also used applesauce and banana in baked good and they both worked well. If you need an egg substitution for a lot of eggs like for a quiche, try pureeing some tofu. Puree 1/4 cup of tofu per egg.
Women are constantly asking me for tips on how to grow longer and stronger hair. The fact is, unless you have a medical issue your hair is growing. So it’s all about creating habits that will allow you to keep the hair already of your head and prevent it from prematurely breaking off.
Below are 7 things you can do to improve the health of your hair for longer, thicker, stronger hair.
Continue reading “7 Habits for Longer, Thicker, Natural Hair”
I’m starting to cook through a great vegan book called “Vegan Vitality – Your Complete Guide to an Active, Healthy, Plant-Based Lifestyle” by Karina Inkster. This is the first recipe I tried from the book. It was quick, simply, and delicious.
Give it a try and let me see your creations on social media by using the hashtag #veggiecurls Continue reading “Smoked Paprika Hash Browns”
If you want longer or bigger hair, there isn’t a magic pill to take. You have to focus on keeping the hair already on your head healthy. There’s not much you can do to force your scalp to grow hair faster, but you can focus on hair care habits that prevent breakage. Here are three important things to do to handle your coils with care.
1. Hold your hair while you comb or brush
Remember when your head would jerk in the direction your mom ferociously brushed it? Don’t relive those tortuous moments! Since our natural hair coils and springs back into place when we let it go, it’s even more important to hold the section of hair we’re detangling. You want to detangle your hair from ends to root, so hold your fingers a few inches above the ends, detangle, and then move up a few more inches until you’ve reached the root.
2. Sleep with a satin scarf or pillow case
Maintaining healthy natural hair is all about moisture. It’s easy for our coils to snag on rough fabrics, so switching to a softer textile like satin or silk will prevent your hair from snagging.
3. Try protective styles
I’m not a huge fan of protective styling. I figured since I grew this hair I need to wear it out whenever possible. But protective styling is a great technique to prevent breakage. The more we tousle our hair around, the more opportunities we have for tangles and breakage. Try to fight Hand In Hair Syndrome and opt for twists, braids, buns, etc.
How do you prevent breakage with your natural hair?
Veggie Curls 