Category Archives: Growth

Apr22

Hello! Awhile back I made a post announcing my unofficial campaign for hair growth (check out this post if you missed it) and I listed a few things I planned on trying out this year to see how much length I could gain. Although health should ALWAYS trump length goals, I feel that I am at the point where my hair is very healthy and I can focus on length. Length and health go hand in hand, if your hair and SCALP are healthy, your hair WILL grow!

So I wanted to use this post to introduce the next topical growth remedy as well as give an update to the last one. I started using Bee Mine’s Mango Sulfur Serum in the beginning of March and applied the serum to my scalp, focusing on my edges, about twice a week (any more frequent it would have been too oily for me). I can honestly say this stuff works! I didn’t do an extensive length check photo shoot like I did when I did my Viviscal update (end of February) too much work lol BUT I do have something I can show you hehe…ok don’t laugh…

I found this random grey hair in my edges lol that shows where the color from my last henna treatment ends lmao!! Hey whatever works! I have only done 2 henna treatments, I posted about my first one mid-february and I did the second treatment that following week which would make it around the last week of February. So the place where the henna color ends and the grey starts is the new growth from the end of February (which was around the start of me using the Mango serum…hopefully you followed all of that and I didn’t confuse you lol).

So I say all that to say, I gained about an INCH of growth in my edges since the end of February! I was actually extremely surprised because I wasn’t even sure if my edges would even continue to grow! I sort of wrote them off in the same category as the hair in my eyebrows—they just stop growing when they reach a certain length lol but I guess I was wrong! They grew! Are are still growing! Check out the EXTREME close-up shots of my grey hair! lmao! I think I am going to keep my grey hair so I can continue to see if my edges are still growing hehe

The Mango serum not only worked on my edges but it definitely worked on the rest of my scalp as well. I noticed I have a new layer of fine baby hairs all over my head, similar to the ones I posted about back in June 2012. That means, the serum stimulated the follicles where I may have had hair fallen out of or where “inactive” for lack of a better word. Either way, it’s doing something making something grow! I also noticed that my new growth is very soft and my curls seem a bit looser! I even noticed growth in my kitchen in the back i.e. the hairs at the nap of my neck lol THIS is amazing because now when I brush my hair up into a bun, I don’t have these random curls wanting to fall back down. They actually stay up and in place.

I will DEFINITELY keep this in my hair growth arsenal BUT I am going to put it down for a little while because…..I will be trying the non-oil version of Bee Mine’s growth serum! (yes, I know, the obsession with Bee Mine continues…)

It’s called the Bee Sensitive Oil Free Hair Serum which is basically and oil-free alternative to their original serum. I am extremely excited about this because it is difficult for me to use oils on my scalp during the warmer summer months because my scalp is naturally oily and I get a lot of build-up so this is PERFECT for me or anyone with similar issues. It was actually created for people with dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis It retails on Bee Mine’s site at $15 for 8 oz. and only comes in the mango scent (which is yummy and juicy smelling). The ingredients are amazing and are what’s most attractive to me but then again ALL Bee Mine’s ingredients are amazing, they are 99% All natural AND organic!! I also love that it is in a spray bottle which means easy application. Oh and read the reviews on the Bee Mine site, 5 star product, AGAIN!

Product Description
Bee-Sensitive ~ Oil Free serum comes to you by popular request for our family members with scalp conditions that prevents the use of oils. We’ve formulated this oil-free hair serum with love to help soothe the scalp and promote a healthy environment for optimal growth. The soothing and healing properties of organic aloe vera juice paired with select herbs can assist in alleviating the discomfort of many scalp conditions. Feel the calming and stimulating and effect of this oil-free serum and keep your hair looking beautiful and healthy. Specially created for those with dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and other sensitive skin conditions. Also great for those wanting growth without the buildup of oil while in wigs, half wigs, braids, lace fronts, kinky twists, etc. Directions: Use daily or every other day for best results.

Ingredients
Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Herbal Infused Purified Water, Ayurvedic Herbs, Select Herbs, MSM, Fragrance, Paraben & Formaldehyde Free Preservative. 99% Natural & Organic

Like all the other hair growth remedies I have tried so far, I am going to try this for one month without using anything else on my scalp so I can see how well this product works on it’s own. The main ingredient in the oil-free serum is aloe vera juice which is known to promote hair growth as it is a natural astringent. This also means it is perfect for oily scalps. It also contains my beloved ayurvedic herbs, I don’t know exactly which ones but they are all amazing either way. And last, it contains MSM which natural sulfur, the same thing in the other Mango serum. Sooooo it’s basically a bomb combination of hair growth greatness lol

I plan on using this each time I twist my hair, probably 2-3x a week and I will check back in with you all on this in about a month!!

Mar1

Growth : : Bee Mine Mango Serum with Sulfur

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Lauren

Growth : : Bee Mine Mango Serum with Sulfur

I have been DYING to try this!! I got this about a month ago with my other Bee Mine goodies that were sent to me but I had been waiting to finish my Viviscal trial before I started using this. You know how hard it is to see this bottle every day and not use it!? Lol well the day has finally come :o)

It’s the Bee Mine Mango Serum with Sulfur. It’s a 100% natural and organic hair growth serum and retails on the Bee Mine website for $16 for an 8 oz bottle. It comes in Mango scent and also in the original Strawberry Kiwi Scent. You can also buy this from CurlMart but only in the Strawberry Kiwi scent. Bee Mine ALSO has this serum in a No Sulfur formula (for those with allergies to sulfur or with relaxers or other chemical services) as well as an Oil-Free spray formula which I think I will add to my “Hair Growth To Try” list. Bee Mine has a growth serum for everyone! Bee Mine even has all of their products in trial sizes! I love how Tracey, the owner, keeps the customer needs in mind. So you can buy the smaller size, see if you like it (which you most likely will), then buy the larger size! :o)

The serum is actually their signature product, the owner Tracey, began losing her hair awhile back due to health complications so she created her own remedy. She started off making it for family and friends which turned it into a business! I need to ***SIDEBAR again to rant about Tracey lol. I can’t say anything but amazing things about her because she is a BEAUTIFUL spirit, the light in her shines BRIGHT! She is SO helpful, SO kind, just an amazing being (I can only imagine what she’s’ like in person!). That alone makes me want to support her and her business, the fact that her products are AMAZING makes it that much better. She is a living testimony that when God has his hand on your efforts, you will succeed. Just check out the reviews on her site, she has so many and they are all 4 star or above (ALL the serums have 5 stars!). I am just in awe by her!! :o)

Product Description
This is one of the Original Serums if you are not allergic to sulfur or have any health problems this would be the one for you. How to use: Please perform a patch test prior to full use. Shake bottle prior to each time. Apply sparingly to scalp only a little goes a long way. Massage thoroughly throughout your scalp concentrating on the areas that need it the most. You will need to use a moisturizer on your hair after each use to make sure during the process any Serum didn’t get on your hair.

If you are doing any chemical service to your hair such as a perm, relaxer or dye job please stop using the Serum 7 days before the chemical service and shampoo prior to the service and wait 7 days after the service and shampoo before you start using the Serum again. Enjoy and use consistently for healthier stronger hair.

Ingredients
100% Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape Seed) Oil, Select Ayurvedic Herbs, Sulfur Powder, Essential Oils, Fragrance (Phthalates Free) & Vitamin E Tocopherol Oil.

The serum looks and feels like a regular oil (since it is oil based) and has a juicy mango fragrance added. I will admit that it does have a slight sulfur scent but you can’t smell it after you’ve had it in your hair for awhile. It is nothing intolerable or overbearing. It is meant to only be applied to the scalp and it’s also recommended that you moisturize the strands of your hair after because sulfur may be drying for some people but some even say the serum makes their new growth really soft and manageable! So i guess you will have to pay attention to how your hair responds best to it.

The bottle has a little flip nozzle at the top which makes it easy to apply somewhat, I still think I may pour it in a needle point applicator bottle to make it even easier and give me bit more precision. It is not a thick oil so a little goes A LONG way! I made a mistake my first use and went a bit over board and had an oily forehead, neck and ears lol!! definitely user error and I also forgot that your head warms up the oil which was why it traveled down from my scalp. I will now just use a few drops in each section lol Oh and I will be applying this 2-3 times a week—basically the same time I re-twist my hair up at night. You can use this daily but my scalp naturally gets oily and I have to wash my hair once a week.

I have never used a product with sulfur so I was really intrigued by it, especially since I have yet to see someone say it did not work for them (unless of course they were allergic to it which is why you should definitely do a patch test first!) and NO this is not the same sulfur in the Sulfur 8 hair grease from back in the day lol. The kind of sulfur in the Bee Mine Serum is great for hair growth because it enhances your natural growth when it is used in conjunction with a carrier oil, which in this case is the coconut oil, grapeseed and sweet almond oils. I believe this sulfur is methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) which is an organic sulfur that actually occurs naturally in the body! (who knew!) It helps grow bone, hair, nails, tissues with keratin base, so it makes sense that this would help grow hair!

I also REALLY love that this serum contains ayurvedic herbs and essential oils which have ALL helped contribute to hair growth for me already so I am hoping the sulfur gives my hair and even large boost!

So there you have it, my intro to the Bee Mine Hair Growth Serum! I will report back on my results in about a month and let you know how it works! In the mean time, go to Bee Mine’s online store and check out the reviews! If anyone wants to join in on this challenge me go for it and let me know! :o)

Feb26

Growth : : Viviscal update

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Lauren

Growth : : Viviscal update

Hey ya’ll!

About a month ago, I posted about my challenge to see how long my hair could grow this year and I provided a list of remedies I planned to try out throughout the year. I listed the natural oral supplement, Viviscal, as one of the things I wanted to try and I just finished my first 30-day supply (check out my intro post on Viviscal here). I made sure I didn’t use any other growth remedies (except drinking my teas and doing a couple ayurvedic treatments) at the same time so that I could attribute any difference to the vitamins.

I DEFINITELY noticed a difference in my hair!! Not so much in the growth department, it says you need to take it for 3-6 months to really see a difference in growth BUT I can’t begin to tell you how much thicker my hair is! It’s a lot thicker and much denser. I can really tell most when I’m doing my hair, especially in the shower. I was amazed, since Viviscal nourishes your hair from the root up, it’s like it was like my strands all got collagen injections and plumped them up lmao!! So as a result, my hair is much stronger, has more elasticity, it’s fuller and has more bulk to it. I also feel like my roots are much stronger as well. My hair and scalp don’t feel so fragile and tender anymore. It just feels much healthier overall.

Another thing I noticed, although not related to my hair, my nails were a LOT thicker! My nails aren’t really brittle or anything to begin with but they have become even stronger! When I polish them, it looks like I have on gels and they kept their shape for a long time without me having to file them. I am ALWAYS working with my hands so having a chipped nail or two is common for me. So yea, this helps with nails too! :o)

If you are considering trying an oral supplement, PLEASE be sure to check out the labels/ingredients and make sure you don’t have any allergies and are not nursing or pregnant. Not all supplements work with everyone’s body chemistry. My results may be different from the next person’s. Some people may experience more growth than thickness in the first month or maybe no difference at all! This is not a miracle pill but it could give your hair a little boost :o)

I am in no hurry to reach a certain hair length, so my hair growth challenge is just a fun thing to see how long this sutff on my head can grow. As with all things, you have to have patience and consistency since our hair all grows at a different rate. I feel like this is something I would need to take long term to really see GROWTH but the health of my hair outweighs the importance of growth any day.

I would continue taking Viviscal right away but I do have a few other things I would like to try first :o) (stay tuned for those!) I want to try each remedy on its own to be able to assess what really works for me. I also want to see if it’s one of those things where as soon as you stop taking it, the benefits revert. I will give it another month to determine if the results revert. If they do not, I will definitely purchase Viviscal and continue to taking it regularly!

Ok PLEASE forgive these photos of me lol taking length check pics is not the easiest task lol I had to bend and twist a bit. I probably should have done this when I first started taking Viviscal but like I said, I didn’t notice much growth….just thickness and health. So anyways, please disregard the bare face, chunky chunks and pale skin due to the flash lol…please proceed!

To give you an Idea of my starting point, here’s a pic of the longest part of my hair about a month ago. I can say I maybe got 1/2 – 1in of new growth…

Here’s my hair at the longest point in the very back of my head. Its about to my bra strap, right below my shoulder blade. My hair is cut into layers to it has different lengths all over.

I got a little nifty and figured I would put a pink line in the pics so you can see where the piece of hair I am stretching is starting from my head. It’s hard to tell otherwise. Sorry I didn’t have a ruler or anything, that would be just too much work lol I already had my boyfriend doing enough by taking the pics lol

So this pic is from the middle of the back of my head to right at my shoulder blade.

This shot looks so dumb lol but anyway, this is the length from directly at the top of my head (the crown) down, falls a little below my shoulders. I know you can’t see the strand I am stretching but it’s in there, I promise lol Why does the flash make my hand look white though? o_O

This one is from a little above the middle of my head but more to the side, kinda above my ears. Bout two inches below my shoulders. Sorry my hand is blocking the ends of that piece.

Another silly looking shot lol this one is pretty self explanatory — my hair in the front. It’s about 4-5 in below my chin, to my armpits/right above my cleavage. You can see how my ends are so much thinner than my roots because that’s where my damaged hair from dying it awhile back is. At least its growing out and I can just keep trimming off those damaged ends.

The shot below is the lower side part of the back of my head, so I pulled it from the back over my shoulder. About to my armpit again.

Here’s the exact middle of the lower back of my head, pulled over my shoulder. The longest part of my head.
viviscal_results_length_check5_lacocobella

Here’s the front side, pulled this piece about two inches from my center part.

Here’s the immediate sides, right above my ears. It’s a little below my armpit. This part amazed me because I ALWAYS had/have problems with my edges and this part of my head, especially when I had a relaxer. I guess because the sides are always on the pillow when I sleep, it’s right where my scarves are tied, and back when I used to wrap my hair when wearing a relaxer, it had that tension from being brushed up or down (if that just made any sense lol). Either way, I am glad my edges are thickening and actually growing!

So there you have it, the ins and outs (front, backs and sides lol) of my head. Stay tuned for my next growth product….I will refer back to these pics as the starting point for that!

Jan25

Growth :: Viviscal Introduction

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Lauren

Growth :: Viviscal Introduction

*waves* Hiiiii!!!

Yesterday you may have seen my post about my inspiration for growth this year and the first new item on the “To Try” list is Viviscal.The sample I was sent is a drug-free, oral dietary supplement that helps with thinning hair (which I am trying to remedy at the crown of my head) and also promotes existing growth which I seem to have going on hehe :o).

I’ve heard/seen lots of reviews on this supplement so I am curious to see how it works for me! The recommended intake is 2 tablets daily for a minimum of 3-6 months, I only have a one month supply so I’ll see what happens within that one month. I was happy to see that this product contains biotin which I have taken in the past. Oh and it supposedly helps grow stronger, longer nails…I’ve never had a problem with my nails but hey, can’t hurt :o) You can buy it from their website for $49.99 and online on sites like drugstore.com for $39.99.

Product Description
Nourishes thinning hair and promotes existing hair growth* from within. At Viviscal® we understand hair. Statistics show that a whole range of factors, including stress, hormonal changes, overstyling, poor nutrition, age, menopause, post-pregnancy, and medication can impact on the health of the hair and hair growth with one in two women and men experiencing the distress this can cause at some stage in their lives.

Viviscal Extra Strength dietary supplements are scientifically formulated with the exclusive marine complex AminoMar™ which helps to nourish thinning hair and promote existing healthy hair growth* from within. These nutrients help nourish your hair during the Anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. Only Viviscal supplements contain the proprietary marine complex AminoMar™ (450 mg per serving).

Viviscal Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 supplement; Recommended servings per day: 2 (equivalent to 2 supplements);
Serving per box 30 days (60 supplements); Tablet weight: 768 mg

Amount per serving	Amount	% Daily Value**
AminoMar^TM Marine Complex	450 mg	†
Vitamin C (from Acerola Powder and as Ascorbic Acid)	59 mg	98%
Niacin (as Niacinamide)	12 mg	60%
Biotin	120 mcg	40%
Iron (from Ferrous Fumarate)	10 mg	56%
Zinc (from Zinc Oxide)	11 mg	73%
Horsetail (stem) Extract	36.7 mg	†
Millet seed extract	7.5 mg	†

Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Maltodextrin, Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose, Silicon Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Artificial Orange Flavoring, Modified Starch, Glycerol. CONTAINS FISH INGREDIENTS (SHARK).

I will be sure to post my progress with Viviscal after I use up my 30 day supply and do another mini-review of the next hair growth item in a month or so! I am excited for this challenge. Patience is a virtue and I consider myself a very patient person so I am just going along with the ride and seeing where it takes me. :o)

Jan24

Goal for Growth 2013

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Lauren

Goal for Growth 2013

Hey girlies!

The other week I posted a pic of the length of my hair as of January 2013. My growth was a SUPER shock to me because I rarely check the length of my hair and my shrinkage makes it difficult to tell. So my main focus for last year was to focus on the health and my SCALP to help re-grow in the hair that was falling out. I will of course ALWAYS focus on the health and scalp but I was so inspired by the length I had gained that I was hey! I really CAN grow my hair long! I was convinced that my hair reaches a certain length and then plateaus but I proved myself wrong lol

So I say all this to say, I am going to try and keep going! Who knows, maybe I can get my hair down to my WAIST! ***fingers crossed*** lol I really want to focus on growing out these annoying layers and really nourishing my edges and my center part/crown more than anything.

So I am preparing an arsenal for this challenge.Check out a working list of some things I plan to try/continue:

Viviscal — I’ll be posting a mini introductory post tomorrow
Bee Mine Mango Serum with Sulfer — I am going to start this after I finish one month of Viviscal; I’ll do an intro post when I start (check out the reviews on their website!! Excited!!)
Jamaican Black Castor Oil — I probably won’t start this for a couple months but I will put it on the list for now since a few of my readers suggested I try this; I’d mix this with my EO’s
Herbal Rinses — Never done these before so I need to see what its about! I was told to try catnip!!
Continue Drinking Herbal Teas — A reader of mine suggested I infuse the teas in my spritzer mix so I will be doing this too! (thanks lady!!!!)
Continue Ayurvedic Treatments — (neem, brahmi, shikakai, amla and more! I want to try some new powders along with my ole faithfuls. On my “to try” list is bhringraj, hibiscus and I think I may give in and try henna……
Stimulating Brown Sugar Scalp Scrubs — added 1/29

If you know of any other remedies that really help with growth PLEASE post in the comments below!

As I find any other “Hair Growth” remedies I will be sure to share the wealth with you guys. Just remember, health is always first for me and then growth usually comes along after that! :o)

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***PLEASE READ— I don’t know what it is but God has blessed La Coco Bella SO MUCH ALREADY this year! I told you 2013 is going to be a great year! Not just for my blog but all around, this is just a sliver of what is going to happen this year!! So far, I’ve received a slew of products to try out and share with my readers!! It was like the floodgates were opened for some reason. I’m really excited to share some of these awesome finds with you guys! It’s hard sticking to just one post a day lol

But the main thing I wanted to share is that I really want to express my deepest gratitude to the people/companies who have trusted me to share their products with an audience they may not have reached before and to introduce my readers to products/brands they may not have ever heard of before. I truly hope for a positive/successful pay off for ALL of us :o)

I want to again reiterate that I am NOT paid for ANY of the product experiences I post or associated with companies in any way. Blogging for me is in no way a self-seeking venture or about “getting free stuff”, etc. I sincerely want to share some of the great things I’ve discovered out there for our hair because I know how difficult and discouraging having natural hair can be at times…and if it helps a small business grow then that’s an added blessing and I am humbled to be a beacon to help make that happen! God always has a purpose for everything and I keep him in the center of all that I do so perhaps this is just part of his will (you know he’s a mysterious like that lol).

Any way, I know I don’t need to explain myself but I wanted to lol because in the next few months, you will see quite a few posts that mention I was given/gifted products and I don’t want you to pass any judgement :o(

Sooooo keep checking back for lots of product experiences!!!!! Thanks ladies (and gents if you’re out there!) :o)

Jun30

Wanna see my baby hairs?!

Posted on June 30, 2012 by Lauren

Wanna see my baby hairs?!

I know I keep talking about how I was losing hair, it was falling out, blah bla blah, and I’m sure you’re like uh I can’t tell, well I CAN!! dangit….

Anyway, here’s a picture of what the hairs look like growing in all over my head. The hair is about 2.5″ and really fine, like baby hairs lol I started my “re-growth mission” last November. Not the fastest growth rate but hey, it’s growing and healthy :o)

I was amazed at how much hair I actually did lose because these baby hairs are ALL over my head. I was like dang! So ladies, if you are noticing an excessive or increased amount of shed hair i.e. the hair in your brush/sink/shower, you may have some hair loss issues going on. It is actually very common in women too so don’t over look it. It took me a couple years to realize the increase because it was so gradual. Thanks to my Essential Oil concoction and Ayurvedic treatments, my hair is growing back :o)

NOTE: If you have sudden or severe hair loss GO TO YOUR DOCTOR! There may be some other underlying, auto-immune type issue going on in your bod. I don’t want anyone coming back mad at me lol do whatchu gotta do, k?

…patience = progress :o)

Apr22

I Take Biotin

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Lauren

I Take Biotin

I have taken biotin on and off for about 5 years but recently started taking it every day for the past couple of months. It is a nutritional supplement that has several benefits. It is super cheap and super accessible. I got this bottle from my local Targé (Target). I think it was like $7 bucks or somthin like that.

Biotin supports healthy hair and nails

There are so many products on the market that claim to promote hair growth and reduce hair loss. If you’ve ever read the ingredients in those products, biotin is one of the main ingredients. Biotin helps metabolize proteins and because hair and nails are composed of proteins, it makes sense that biotin can help in the creation and growth of hair and nails. If you have thinning or brittle hair, you may have a biotin deficiency. Biotin is also known to help prevent hair loss and grey hair.

Metabolizes carbs, fat and proteins into energy

I don’t really take biotin for this reason but hey, couldn’t hurt, might help. If you are trying to lose weight and exercise regularly, biotin can aid in converting fat and carbohydrates into energy thus increasing endurance. It also has been known to ease fatigue because your metabolic system will be more regular.

There are some other benefits of taking biotin but those are the main reasons I take it. For people who prefer to get their daily dose of biotin naturally from whole foods, here is a list of foods rich in biotin (as you’ll see, it’s mostly foods high in protein):

Green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli
Fish
Chicken
Eggs
Milk
Red meats (especially liver)

I am not taking biotin for miracle growth or anything like that but rather for the overall health of my hair. Health is what will make your hair grow. I have noticed that my hair has become a lot healthier in conjunction with a good regimen and taking time to treat my hair well. I don’t think taking biotin by itself will be the miracle to long, healthy hair, you have to take time to nurture it. It is only a supplement, therefore, it should supplement whatever else you are doing to take care of your hair :o)

— Have you noticed improvement in your hair since you’ve taken biotin?