You are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!

The Bible tells us in Psalm 139:14 that we are “… fearfully and wonderfully made”. We have unique and distinct personalities, traits, looks, likes, and even hair texture and skin types.

When I was younger, I would ask my friends or classmates what products they used on their hair or skin because I liked how they looked. They would share the product brand and I would spend money buying the product, but it did not look or give me the same results.

Interesting, sometimes, the products would make me itch or cause irritation. It did not work for me. I went through this for years and wondered why it did not work for me, like it did for them. It was not until I realized that God said, I am fearfully and wonderfully made. What works for them might not work for me. My hair texture and skin type are different.

There are people who have allergies to, i.e., tree nuts, shellfish, milk, and eggs. If you are allergic to these foods, I would think you would try to avoid them by not eating them, in their totality or if they were in certain foods, correct? I remember a birthday celebration at work. The cake was beautifully decorated. However, the cake decoration contained nuts. One of the coworkers was allergic to nuts and had an allergic reaction to eating the cake. Thankfully, we were near a hospital, and he was rushed there to be treated.

If you know you are allergic to certain ingredients, would you trust to have these ingredients in your hair or skin products? I wouldn’t buy or use them.

I had to figure out what hair or skin care products work for me. I would also hear women rave about a skin care product how it worked for their hair or skin, just to buy it and it had an adverse effect on me. I was invited to some skin or hair care events to help support a friend or family member, just to store the product away, because when I used it, it made matters worse. In fact, I had to purchase hydrocortisone or take an allergy medication to combat the effects. Even now, I regret trying some hair and skin care products because of what it did to my hair and skin.

It took time for me to realize that the product was not designed for me. Yes, I tried many hair and skin products until I found the one that complemented how God created me. I will not share the products I use because they might not work for you. You might have to do your own “trial and error” until you find the one. However, the best way to understand what works for you is to go to a dermatologist who is a specialist on hair and skin or a hairdresser who can do a Hair Analysis test of your hair. Obviously, there is a cost. You might be surprised that there might be ingredients in your current hair or skin care product that are working against you. Also, this could save you some heartaches or regrets.

I learned through these tests what I should and should not put on my hair and skin. Before purchasing a product that is advertised or someone else uses, check the ingredients to see if they would work for you. Whether natural or chemical ingredients, some could cause irritation or discomfort. Do not ignore the signs of brittle hair or skin irritation.

I remember I was at a skin care event where the skin care person put products on our skin. I felt the difference and change on my skin and the product was not good for me. Others loved how it felt on their skin. Also, I recall another woman mentioned, it did not react well with her. Do not ignore it when your body is telling you what you put on your hair, skin or even what you are eating does not agree with you. Unfortunately, I have used hair care products that itched my scalp and thinking by me scratching it when it itched was okay. No, it is not okay, my body was telling me there is something in this product that was not good for my unique and distinct hair and scalp (skin). Get in the habit of reading the ingredients and even if there are names that you do not know or recognize, Google to find out what they are and if there are any side effects.

Instead of your body absorbing the ingredients to bring nutrition to your hair or skin. Your body is busy trying to fight off what is toxic to you or what is not good for you. The toxins are not just chemicals, as previously mentioned, they could be natural ingredients that do not agree with your body makeup. Just because it is good for someone else doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Know your own hair and body. Give your body a break and let it work for you and not against you.

I recall purchasing a natural deodorant. The natural ingredients in the deodorant worked for me. It was a deodorant for women and men. Since it worked well for me, I decided to purchase one for my husband. He could not use it. The deodorant made his arm pits itch. This was an indication that although the natural ingredients were right for me, they were not right for him. Because we are all, “fearfully and wonderfully made”. There are some deodorants that advertise on TV or the internet, that made my arm pit “raw” and sore to the touch. Even some hair care products did the same to my scalp. It was causing bumps on my scalp that itched.

I had to use care to get my arm pit back to normal and when I found a natural deodorant that worked, I stuck to it.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made, that includes your hair and skin. I must stress what might work for someone else perhaps might not work for you. Don't ignore the itching or discomfort.

This is not to say that some products that other people use will not work for you. This is to make you mindful of what works and does not work for you! Because you are as Psalm 139:14 says, “fearfully and wonderfully made”.

Once you find the ingredients that work with your unique and distinct hair and skin, you will be amazed at how your hair and skin will thank you.

Seasons Change - Spring 2023