The New Morrocco Method Offices

That's right! Team MM is no longer at the castle and we have YOU to thank for the move to a larger office space.  Business has been growing thanks to our amazing customers, and we have moved to new offices in sunny San Luis Obispo, California. With our new offices, we have more chances and more opportunities to make sure you are happy with your order, our service, and the final product:  your amazing, natural hair.  With offices upstairs, and manufacturing, production and shipping downstairs, we are all here to make sure everything done at MM is done with integrity and great service! [gallery link="file" ids="6922,6921,6883,6914,6887,6886,6912,6885,6884"] In fact, we are so proud of our amazing customers that we will be hosting a Customer Appreciation Week the week of September 16 after the launch of our new website.  So stay tuned for some serious flash sales lasting only 24 hours and make sure you become part of the Healthy Hair Club to get weekly deals and insider coupons!

Protective Styles for Natural Hair

There are many reasons to protective style for natural hair, especially if your hair is dry and prone to breakage. [caption id="attachment_6748" align="alignright" width="300"] Scroll down to see Nicole's video on protective hairstyle![/caption]

Pros for Protective Styles

• Gain length due to less manipulation and breakage from daily styling
• Easier to care for daily
• Less damage from the elements (extreme weather)
• Prevent split ends

Even if your natural hair is in a protective style it doesn't mean you can ignore it! If you do not properly take care of your protected natural hair, these cons might apply to you.

The Cons

• Damage from lack of moisture resulting in brittle dry hair
• Tight, scalp pulling styles cause thinning of the hair line and possible hair loss
• Leaving a protective style in for too long can cause build up from shedding hair and dirt, which means a tangled knotted mess

In order to avoid the cons there are simple things that you can do:

• Oil your hair every day so it does not collect dirt or become heavy. It's good to use something like our Euro Oil or a Jojoba all natural oil.
• Keep to your natural hair routine! If you shampoo once a week or twice a week and condition daily, do so. It is extremely important! Maintain your deep conditioning routine as these are vital for your scalp and hair.
• Avoid keeping your protective style in longer than three months. Some protective styles, like braids can be left in up to six or eight weeks. To go any longer than that may cause serious build up from dirt and shed hair. Weaves, caps, or synthetic hair, like wigs can be used for two or three months. To do so safely requires keen attention to the health of your hair and scalp.
• Be careful not to stress the scalp with too much tension and not to keep it from drying out. The scalp is the most important part. Keeping your scalp clean and healthy is important to growing long, beautiful natural hair.

Here are a few of the many options available for protective styles for natural hair: [caption id="attachment_6749" align="alignright" width="300"] The Two Strand Twist is a protective style that is easy to do![/caption]

• One strand twists, two strand twists, mini twists, Senegalese twists (Check out MahoganyKnots doing twists with the Styling Dragon Pomade!)
• Box braids, single braids, braids with synthetic hair, Marley braids, up-do braids,
•  Bantu knots, loose buns, corkscrew braids/twists,
• Hair extensions, sew-in synthetic hair (partial, weave, full weave, wig cap) quarter or half wig (quick to put on and take off),  full lace wigs or v-part wigs.

http://youtu.be/VFMv3Wyf-3I

Cool Kid Plants: Lemon Verbena

[caption id="attachment_6531" align="alignright" width="225"] Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora)[/caption]

Lemon Verbena

While walking a garden you may notice the sweet smell of lemon wafting through the leaves and branches. Chances are you have wandered past an ancient herb that has been used as a medicine for eons, and has an equally long history in many cultures' folklore. Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora) is a wonderful herb that has a strong, delicious lemon scent and taste, making it a wonderful addition to any garden. A tea of lemon verbena will soothe anxiety, reduce fevers, calm head and stomach aches, fight off infection, and is full of Vitamin C. Long ago, Greeks tucked lemon verbena leaves under their pillow to give them "sweet" dreams. While in ancient Rome, people thought lemon verbena inspired love, and drank the tea as a love potion. So, whether you are heartsick or flu-sick, the delicious smell and taste of lemon verbena will raise your spirits and get you feeling better. --- Welcome to our newest guest blog series, Cool Kid Plants! The third Thursday of every month, the Education Coordinator of the non-profit San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, Lindsey Collinsworth, will spotlight a plant with amazing properties and interesting folklore. We are super excited to have her and look forward to learning about the benefits of "cool kid" plants!