Cassia May Be Your Answer To Correct Damage From The Elements And Manipulation

Yeah as I write this it’s the Christmas season; a time usually associated with merriment. Whether you are transitioning, just did your big chop or simply seeking a healthier alternative to caring for your relaxed tresses, you probably have your hands full trying to figure out how to enjoy the festivities of the season, look fabulous for every event on your calendar and still ensure that you see to the health of your hair.

After putting in so much mental effort and making as much progress as you have, it would certainly be a shame to see all that you’ve accomplished become undone because of those sub-zero temperatures.

So even while the buzz of all the excitement sets in, if you are serious about maintaining healthy thriving hair, you must safeguard against damage from the elements and manipulation.

This can be quite a balancing act at this time of the year so perhaps to put your mind at ease a little you may need to be a bit more proactive that just throwing on a hat and running out the door. In fact, a hair treatment that fortifies and moisturizes might just be what the doctor ordered!

Earlier this month we explored the benefits of Cassia Obovata. This post looks more closely at how you might be able to benefit from treatments by making a mix suited to your needs and adding it to your regimen. We will also explore recipes that you might be interested in trying.

Cassia Treatments

The great thing about cassia treatments is that they are so versatile and can be customized to suit each individual. If you know what your hair likes and what it requires, then you can go ahead (with some light research) and throw some things together to create the perfect mix for you.

Cassia* Obovata is an ayurvedic powder that is lighter than henna*. The powder might be really fine or a bit grainy depending on what part of the plant was ground to produce the powder but the benefits are the same.

It is not as permanent as henna* and can be done once per month or more often if you prefer. It produces no buildup on hair when used and it can be mixed with other powders to enhance it’s benefits.

Usually when mixing ayurvedic powders, it may be best to mix the powders in their dried state before adding your binding agents, but if you’ve already got a mix sitting in your freezer there is nothing that says you can’t thaw it and mix it with a fresh batch of paste.

There are numerous recipes for cassia* (so much so, that they all cannot be contained in this post). You might choose to mix the powder on it’s own with just warm water or with herbal teas, coconut* water or even coconut* milk.

If you are a fan of essential oils* or have a specific hair butter you want to use, go ahead as long as it addresses your hair’s need for strength or moisture (it helps to know which you would like to focus on for each treatment).

We advise you to do your own research to decide on the best mix for you. This particular recipe includes:

• 100 grams cassia obovata powder
• 4 tbsp amla powder
• Hot water
• A squirt of conditioner
• Aloe vera gel* from the plant (aloe vera juice* can be used as well or the organic aloe vera powder)
• 2 tbsp coconut oil*

Liberally apply the mix in sections to barely damp hair. The damp hair allows it to spread better but some ladies have gotten the same results on dry hair. Cover your head with a shopping bag, steam cap, shower cap* or what ever comes in handy to trap heat on your scalp so the mix can be activated.

You can then busy yourself with some household chores or errands or just sit under a hooded dryer* for thirty minutes to an hour.

Once the time has elapsed, dunking your head in a sink full of warm water usually does the trick of washing it out (but you can also choose the more traditional shower approach too).

Your hair might feel  a little dry after so you should go ahead and do a DC with heat using a moisturizing conditioner* for about thirty minutes and you should be good to go!

The cassia and amla treatment is a keeper in my book. When I used it instantly there was a noticeable difference in the body of my hair and appearance of my curls. The cassia does a great job at filling in the cracks in the cuticle which results in stronger hair.

It is amazing how these two powders worked together synchronizing their efforts, since cassia* is known to loosen curls while amla is known to tighten them!

Of course, ever the teacher, I have included visual aids chronicling the process for our visual learners LOL! So my fellow HHJ pilgrims, since I had promised that we would have a show and tell of sorts, check out the videos.

In this video DuchessGabrielle shares her recipe for mixing cassia.

Since experience is the best teacher and gives more credibility, I had to try it. This is my take on the cassia and amla treatment.

Ok! We showed you ours, so now it’s your turn to tell us about yours. Do share your cassia* experience in the comments.