The Vegan Cosmetic Diet

Over the passed year or two, I have been trying out my own personal experiment. I wanted to discover the best possible solutions for improving my appearance... other than the typical resolutions like losing weight or eating better.

I believed, full heartedly, that the cosmetics that I was paying hundreds of dollars for (per year), were wasting my time and money.

I also believed that if God (if you believe in God), created this world especially for us to thrive in, then there were resources surrounding us, that would indeed 'heal us' for whatever ails us.

Before I could make a my theory be seen as a FACT. I had to endure the full chemical cosmetic lifestyle for a month or so.

So, I lathered myself up with fragrance induced soaps; oiled

myself up with Palmer's coco butter; fed my hair organic root stimulator hair food... and washed my face up with Ne

utrogena.

Thru that time period. Nothing really seemed to change. The worst part was that because I had been using a few natural products before, my body seemed to be repelling the products. I felt the residue from the soaps; the lotions and hair food. My face broke out, which is rare for me, and I felt either super greasy or super dry. My hair began to develop dandruff. And my skin, started to look really scaly.

During this uncomfortable time period, I continued my

studies on Natural alternatives. Taking classes in Herbology, etc.

When the month ended, I began the full vegan cosmetic diet with confidence.

Unlike, changing from a meat eater to a vegan, there were no withdrawal symptoms.

In fact, there was a rapid change in quality of my skin and hair. My stretch marks and scars, that seemed to never vanish, began to fade. And my hair became silky soft.

After 6 months of being on this plan, my skin looked so radiant, that people were stopping me on the streets to compliment about how beautiful my skin was (both men and women).

My hair, which seemed to take forever to grow (when I used chemical hair products), seemed to explode with length and thickness.

Being inspired by the results, I then took my change a little further... but before I inform you of what it is, here is a back story:

For 5 years, my menstrual cycle stopped, for unexplainable rea

sons. Being 19 when it stopped, I spent so much time and money going to hospitals to figure out why it stopped. But the doctors couldn't find a solution... I just stopped having periods.

If you didn't know, periods are important to have, not only to reproduce, or to clean out toxins out of a woman's body... but to 'balance your hormones.

Without a period, my hormones became extre

mely unbalanced, which then caused a series of problems... the biggest one, being that my body started to swell. My breasts increased drastically, but as they increased they caused an unbearable amount of pain.

I always would go to bed crying because I was in that much agony.

Getting back to my natural cosmetic diet... I started to gain positive side effects from the homemade recipes I was using.

Not only did the scars and stretch marks go away... but my body's hormones began to balance out. And the agonizing pain I use to experience... vanished.

Happily, I can say that my body is back to normal, as if... nothing every happened.

***

Once again, the more and more I discovered, the more and more I wanted to go deeper into my change of lifestyle.

I took my recipes and decided to try out the same recipes with 3 of my friends. And put them on a strict cosmetic diet for a month.

Friend #1: Hair Type/ Asian. Her issue was that she worked a very laboring job (day porter). Because she was very active at work, her hair would become frizzy and greasy, so she would always wear baseball caps, to hide her hair.

Friend #2: Hair Type/ Relaxed. She had relaxed hair, and her issue was that her hair kept breaking, and never would grow. She had to keep cutting it off.

Friend #3: was Caucasian. Her hair was healthy. But not perfect.

I altered the Conditioning solution that I would use for my own hair, for Friend #1 and #2, since it would have been too heavy for their type of hair.

I expected to see results in a week or two. But to my surprise, the next day they came back to me thrilled! And gave me their reports:

#1: I'll be honest, I was skeptical about trying this solution that you gave me. But, when I was in the shower, and started using your shampoo... I could feel a difference in my hair automatically. It was like it was coming to life, or something. I put the light oil on my damp hair, as instructed afterwards, afraid that it would make my hair greasy. But it did! I was shocked. My hair feels soooo soft, and shiny. Thank yous!

#2: I tried out your hair stuff, last night, and... WOW. My hair became super curly in the shower.. but really soft, even under the water. I used the conditioning solution afterwards, and when it dried, my hair became super manageable all of a sudden. It was such a change, it was like I didn't recognize it.

#3: My hair is really soft and manageable. I love it. Wow. When can I buy a bottle.

In two weeks, I watched (super happy) as my friends changed. They seemed more and more confident. #1 stopped wearing baseball caps; #2 started wearing her hair down, instead of pulling her hair back; #3 was just.. well, happy. She started styling her hair in a different way, each day. And the added bonus, was that ALL of them has experienced a sudden improvement in the skin quality. Their complexion was much more clearer.

My Conclusion: Chuck the store bought junk, and pick up a herbology book... free your mind, and you may find something quite interesting.

Analyzing A Statement

Straightened Hair

VS

Nappy Hair

The famous claim is:

" Nappy hair is unmanageable and Straight hair is easier to maintain."


I decided to test that theory out... to see for myself if it was true or not.

Below are two charts that shows, on average, what a black woman usually spends on hair products, hair equipment, time with maintaining her hair, and visits to the hair salon. Please, compare:

• [Costing Chart]
• [Estimated Times]

[*Side Note: I do want to point out, the nappy hair product list is very short (it does NOT include afro sheen or any other crap). This is not an under estimate, this is really all that you need to maintain your nappy hair.

The stuff you see in the local store, or on black hair websites, are "unnecessary" products that have been promoted only to make a profit off of the "uninformed" people...

Most African Descendants (from all over the world, especially in the westernized countries) have generally forgotten how to take care of their own hair from years of oppression and insecurities.

So, the 'so-called' Black Hair industry uses that 'lack of knowledge' and insecurities to manipulate people into buying their useless products (that in the long run do more damage than good).

So please don't buy that crap. Just learn more about your hair and then, you'll see what I am talking about.]


To get a general idea we need to know the statistics...

75% of black women in America straighten their hair either with a 'relaxer' or a hot comb. Out of that 75%, about 65% of them wear weaves (extensions, pony tails, full headed weave, etc) as well as get their hair regularly straightened.

Here's a scenario...

Mary, goes to the hair salon every pay day (which is every 2 weeks). Out of the two visits of the month, she only gets her hair weaved once a month. The other visit, she gets her weave removed. Whilst she is there, she gets her regular hair 'touch up'.

For the rest of the month, she self styles her hair with her usual products (Shampoo, Oil Moisturizer, Gel, Spritz, Conditioner, Hair Grease, Setting lotion, Anti Frizz Spray, and curling papers). She usually runs out of her supply about every 2 months.

Mary already, spent $281.42 on her equipment. On her usual supplies she spends $36.32 every two months. On her regular hair salon appointments she spends $420 a month.

So, Mary averages out spending $5257.92 per year on... her hair???


Lets compare with Lisa, who has natural hair.

Lisa also goes to the hair salon twice a month, to get her hair twisted (double strains) for both visits. For the rest of the month, she self styles her hair. Lisa owns the basics as her equipment: two combs, spray bottle (that she fills with water), and a night scarf. She uses only Shea Butter, shampoo, and conditioner as her regular supplies. Lisa usually requires a refill of her products, every two months.

Lisa spent $13.89 on equipment, and each month she spends $110 at the hair salon, as well as $20.48 on supplies every two months.

Lisa ends up spending $1442.82 a year on her hair.

From getting those totals, it is obvious to assume that "Straightened Hair, not Nappy Hair, that is more unmanageable." Or harder to maintain because it averages taking the larger amount of time and money. This isn't to say that natural hair styles don't take a long time. The more eccentric a style the longer it takes to make, of course. But for this example, both the natural and straightened hair styles are fairly basic (e.g. Lisa usually braids back her hair into a cornrow style, while Mary curls her hair into a bobbed hair style).

In the end, however... Once you know and understand your hair, maintaining it would never be a problem. After researching all of this, I have come to realize that not only is the statement not true, but its actually more of a subtle cry of uncomfortably.

Most of us are uncomfortable to step outside the box for a change, which is normal... its human nature.

I hope that this will help you get a larger picture on seeing that going natural isn't as scary as it looks...

***

*On a Side Note: I can't help but think about all those women who have 'relaxed' and weaved their hair for 30 years or so. If they were any thing like Mary, that would mean that they have dumped a total of $157,737.60 (give or take a couple years of price inflation) on... their hair???

That's like a down payment on a house!!!!! ...Or in some places, thats 2 houses!!!!!

I also can't help but think about all those times when my mom, my sister, and I were short on cash. If I realized then what I know now, we wouldn't have had to struggle so hard.