Nidasii Beauty: Apple Cider Vinegar DIY For Curlista's

Beauties for the past few two months I've been suffering from really dry hair and it took a while for me to finally figure out why. I immediately blamed it on the recent change in temperature. Here in NYC the weather became cold and dry rather quickly this year....at least it did to me.  I couldn't figure out why this was happening. Then it dawned on me. I spent the entire summer in wash in go styles. As most of you may know I'm a Curlista and I have a kinky curly hair texture. During summer months I always gravitate towards wash and go styles. I just wet it in the shower apply moisturizer and either let it air dry or I let it semi dry then let take all my curls and brush them up into a messy yet chic top bun. Like most women I don't have a lot of time to fuss over my hair so I always go with simple routines that don't require much time and attention. Unfortunately I neglected to ensure my hairs PH.

When I finally figured it out I realized that my hairs PH balance was totally out of whack and I needed to restore the balance. So I went back to my tried and true DIY solution of apple cider vinegar and water. This is a common DIY remedy that many of you may be familiar with. It's most often used or noted as a natural hair clarifying cleanser that does not strip hair of moisture, however, many curlistas use it to cleanse and restore PH balance to their hair. Unfortunately, many of us curlistas suffer from dry and frizzy hair because our  curly hair pattern often prevents our hair's natural oils from traveling down the entire length of our hair to the ends. As a result this can create dry brittle hair.

If some of you are wondering why PH balance is so important for Curlistas here's why. Beware this is were I get Geeky as I give a step by step break down of PH. For starters the acronym PH stands for Potential of Hydrogen and it measures how acidic or alkali a substance is. PH has a range of 0 to 14. Any substance that falls into the range of 0 to 6.9 is acidic and anything that falls in the range of 7.1 to 14 is alkali. If a substance has a PH of 7 that means it's neutral.

Now here's why knowing proper PH is essential for curlistas. If you had to take a guess which environment would you think is ideal for curly hair...acidic or alkali? If you chose alkali your wrong! Curly hair needs an acidic environment. Did you know that sebum, the oil produced by our scalp and skin, is acidic? Sebum like our Nidasii products is a multipurpose substance. Not only does it lubricate our hair shafts with oil, that same oil due to its acidic nature prevents bacteria and fungus from finding a warm and cozy home in our hair.

The ideal PH range for most curlistas is 4.5 to 5.5. That's also the range for sebum. When a curlistas hair is at it's proper PH balance it seals the hairs cuticle allowing it to retain its moisture. When hair is alkali its dry, dull and maybe even brittle because the cuticle is open. So, although we apply moisturizers to our hair if its in an alkali state it won't retain much moisture. The appearance of hair that is PH balanced looks very different from hair that's not. The best way I can describe the appearance of  curly hair that's PH balanced is that it appears to be smoother with better defined curls. Where as curly hair in an alkali state appears to be frizzy with less defined curls when dried.

So needless to say after I washed my hair with the apple cider vinegar and water solution my hair immediately felt much softer and smoother. It was like it breathed a sigh of relief after taking a long sip of water. If your hair seems to be dry and dull try cleansing with apple cider vinegar and water. I like to use a 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of water.

Have you ever tried cleansing your hair with an apple cider vinegar and water solution? How was your experience?

Beauty of Coconut Oil for Summer

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Hey Beauties tomorrow, June 21, 2013, is the first official day of summer and that got me to thinking about my number one favorite summer ingredient, coconut oil. The scent alone makes me think all things summer, especially days at the beach! Although its been well documented that if stranded on a desert island with only one beauty product it would my EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil). However, when summer, my favorite season arrives, I like to switch things up a bit and incorporate coconut oil into my beauty regimen. Here’s how.

SKIN: During summer I like to use Extra Virgin Coconut Oil as my moisturizer from head to toe. I especially love the way its natural fragrance incorporates with my body chemistry giving off a refreshingly sweet aroma. Not only does this amazing oil have the ability to absorb deep into skins surface. It also has the ability to naturally prevent burning from the sun. So using it as a moisturizer before applying sunscreen will actually give your skin extra protection against sun burn.

HAIR: Coconut oil has the ability to provide hair with moisture and shine. Not to mention it’s the number one ingredient most naturalistas and curlistas incorporate into their hair care regimen. I love to use it on my hair during summer for the fragrance. Of course it provides my hair with shine and moisture, however, I like to use a blend of EVCO (Extra Virgin Coconut Oil) and grape seed or almond oil to moisturize my scalp and ends.

How do you incorporate EVCO into your beauty regimen?

Tumblr Tuesday: Curlista Edition

Hey Beauties every Tuesday is "Tumblr Tuesday" here on our blog. Each week we give you a peek at what we're currently posting on our Tumblr page. This week it's all about natural hair.

Nidasii Five Days of Butter: Curlista Tuesday

I'm sure you know body butters are excellent moisturizers for the body. But, did you know they make great styling aids and moisturizers for hair? Check out our five favorite ways to use body butter as a hair styling aid.

1. Smooths edges
2. Tames Fly aways
3. Adds shine to dull hair
4. Seals ends to prevent breakage
5. Helps twist outs hold their shape

Summer Hat Inspiration

Today I'm on a quest to find a cute summer hat. My perfect hat from last summer got beat up pretty bad last year. Actually, I killed it by accidentally placing it under a storage container with all of my spring/summer clothes last fall.



I'm using my girl Jennifer Lopez as my summer hat muse. No one rocks a wide brim, floppy hat better than JLO. A wide brim hat is an essential summer accessory. Not only is it cute and fashionable but it also protects your face from the harmful rays of the sun. As much as I looooove the sun I now realize how harmful the sun's rays are and how they can wreak havoc on your skin. Can you say Photo Damage?

I Love Summer Hats Because.....

They protect skin from harmful rays of the sun

They cover all my frizzy bad hair days...trust me I have plenty!

They dress up any casual outfit making you look pulled together without trying...Summer Chic!


Do you have a summer hat inspiration? Let us know who or what it is!

Double Duty Beauty: Moisturizing Hair Mask

It's official the Double Duty Beauty series is back! This week I show you how I create my own version of a moisturizing hair mask. This beauty recipe also works great when you incorporate it with your favorite conditioner, especially if you desire more of a detangling agent.

Ingredients
Plain Yogurt
1 Whole Avocado
1 or 2 Eggs
Olive Oil

Why Each Ingredient is Great For Your Hair

Yogurt - the natural probiotics found in will draw impurities from the hair & milk protiens will help strengthen the hair

Avocado - a rich in many vitamins like A, B6, C and K. But what makes avocados so great for the hair is the ability of their natural oils to penetrate the hair shaft and thoroughly moisturize hair.

Egg - Eggs contains proteins that strengthen hair and add moisture

Olive Oil - Contains fatty acids that are essential for nourishing hair with moisture

Beauty Recipe Remixx

If you desire more of an intensive deep conditioning treatment for your hair try mixing
one whole avocado or two hass avocados, with two egg yolks and olive oil. Apply this mixture to damp or wet hair and cover with a plastic cap for 30 minutes. When done you should have well moisturized coils.

New Year New Beginings & a Kinky Curly Mane

Happy New Year Beauties! It's the start of a New Year and New Beginnings for us here at Nidasii. So far I'm pleased with how the year is starting out for us. We have a new logo and a new line of products. We also have a new packaging design that I'm sooooo in love with! I cant wait for the official re-launch!

Now, the other thing I'm really excited about is my kinky curly mane!! I've really been showing my KCM (Kinky Curly Mane) some love lately and With just a few more months of TLC I'll have the big curly fro I want so badly!



Are you rockin a New "Do" for the New Year? If you are share your comments & photo's here on our blog or join our conversation on twitter using #nidasiinaturalhair.

Kinky Curly FYI

For a long time those of us with kinky, curly & kinky curly (me) hair textures have been told sleeping on satin pillow cases will reduce breakage & allow hair to retain moisture, but, did you know it may also reduce signs of aging. Some dermatologists have discovered that sleeping on cotton pillow cases may increase the appearance of lines & wrinkles.

What's your take on this?

What Do You Use in Your Hair?

Hey Beauties!! I hope your enjoyed the weekend. It's Monday and I have a new post to share I hope you enjoy it.

This weekend before heading to my nieces birthday party I met up with a few friends that are helping me plan a spring event. As I leaned into great each one with a hug they all said "uummm your hair smells good....is it coconut?" and I said yes. The thing that puzzled me was I have been putting coconut oil on my hair for a few years now when I wash or cowash and they just noticed the aroma? I think I must have gotten a little heavy handed when I applied it to my hair that day. In a rush to get out the house and my hair still damp I slathered the creamy coconut oil into my hair and let it drink up its oily juices while I pulled it back into a neat bun. It's no secret that I love, love, love coconut oil. So I wanted to share this video I found last year although its two years old.

Have a great day......20 more days to spring!!!

Things are a changing

Hey, I hope all of you are doing well this Monday. It's a new week so make it your greatest. Well, Im trying to make this blog greater by switching things up a bit and adding a new weekly feature all about curly hair. Yes, I'm trying to break away from some of the humbrum blogging, yes, I said humdrum. Before I became a Product Junkie Entreprenuer, I was and still am a Clinical Researcher. So, by nature I love to do research and share knowledge. I hope these new Kinky Curly posts will inspire conversations regarding all forms of tightly & loosely coiled curly hair. I even plan on breaking down the ingredients commonly found in these products and what effects they actually have on the hair. The purpose of these posts will be to inspire conversations and share knowledge!! As always, this blog is all about the beautiful people that take a minute or two out of thier day to read what's going on with or at Nidasii, so please send us any questions you may have

What do you think about the weekly "Kinky Curly" posts? Is this something that interests you?

Kinky Curly Tip #4

Todays Kinky Curly Hair tip was supposed to be about protien. But, after yesterdays scenario, I'm going to switch gears and write a quick post about coconut oil. I hope you enjoy it.

Yesterday while I was out and about, OK I was really at the gas station filling up my tank and buying gum, when the woman standing behind me said "your wearing a lovely fragrance; it has a soft hint of coconut". At the moment I instantly became emabarrased because all I could think about were the days when my mom would braid and grease my hair then send me off to school with my entire head smelling like a jar of hair food!! Some of you reading this post know just what Im talking about. But, I remembered my manners and thanked the woman for her kind compliment. Little did she know that it was the EVCO ( Extra Virgin Coconut Oil). The night before I applied the EVCO to my hair and scalp with the intentions of washing it out the following morning. However, the following morning I was running a bit late so I pulled my hair into my favorite hairstyle....the pony tail....LOL...and proceeded with my day.

Here are 4 reasons why I use EVCO:

1. Hydrates hair and scalp
2. Defines my curls
3. Absorbs quickly into hair locking in nutrients
4. Excellent oil to use for Pre-poo (application of oils to hair & scalp before shampooing)


Is EVCO part of your haircare regimen? If so let me know. Do you hate it or love it?

Why it Works

I recieved two questions about yesterdays blog post "Nidasii Kinky Curly Hair tip #3". Although they read the post they did not leave the comment at the blog. Instead, they sent me a Direct Message on Twitter. They both asked the same question. They wanted to know "why/how" the glycerine & water mixture makes the hair soft.

So here it is. I explained how it works, now here's why it works. This tip works because glycerine is a humectant, that abords moisture from the air. When glycerine is mixed in a soloutioun of water and sprayed into the hair it's quickly absorbed into the hairs cuticle making it plump and juicy. When the cuticle is hydrated in its natural curly state defined curls are sure to follow.

Do you have any questions? Please keep sending your questions and comments wether it's here on the blog or on Twitter keep sending them!!