Journey To Naturality

My Growth/Update

2010-05-25T20:04:00.007-05:00

It has been a while since I have posted. I have been very busy with school and work.

I have experienced quite a bit of growth. I did have to cut b/n 1.5 and 2 inches of my hair when I flat ironed due to split ends. I have neglected my hair a little bit, but here are some comparison pics. The pic located top left is from April of 2009. The others are from May 2010.

I am back on top of my hair game. I have a fresh trim and I am ready to see some more growth, and less split ends.

Hair Goals

2009-08-01T22:41:00.004-05:00

Well, I've been completely natural for almost 10 months! It will be a year before I know it! I LOVE my hair, but it is a LOT of work. A simple routine really isn't all that simple!

But,

I do have a few simple goals. I want to maintain healthy hair. I haven't noticed any split ends in a while and I want to keep it that way. I would like to be mid-back length by my birthday in February (this may be the next time I straighten: I'm just so lazy lol!). Another goal is to find some new hair styles! I also want to try some new products

August 2009 Update

2009-08-01T22:16:00.008-05:00

Hey. I know it's been ages since I've posted anything! I am so bored with my hair! I just don't know what to do with it. I go back and forth from buns to wigs. That's it. I may wear my hair out once every couple of week or so...

I finally checked my length today and I'm about BSL now. I haven't trimmed my hair in a few months, and I haven't noticed many split ends! Must be doing something right! I continue to co-wash/rinse 4-5 times a week using HE Totally Twisted (love this conditioner!). Then I moisturize with HE LTR leave-in and Care Free Curl Activator. Before bed, I spritz my hair with my mix: water, castor oil, glycerine, sweet almond oil, and coconut oil mixed with a little KC Spiral Spritz(love this stuff, too!). I also use my mix to style my hair on mornings I don't co-wash. When I wear my buns, I use Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Styling Gel. It helps slick my hair back, keep the little curlies down, and it is not a hard, stiff hold, and it is not sticky. When I wear my wigs, I just cornrow my hair into 5-6 braids, and spritz with my mix 2 times a day.... I really need more hair styles!

Mini Update

2009-06-07T13:30:00.002-05:00

It has been waaay to long. I've been extra busy with school and work, and I haven't had time to post. This is the first break I've had in a looong time. These summer courses I'm taking are kicking my butt. My hair hasn't received any TLC in about 2 months. I don't even know how much my hair has grown, and I'm usually on top of that. I've just been co-washing 4-5 times a week and using KC Come Clean every two weeks. Nothing spectacular going on. I rocked my bun and pony puff the entire time. I've decided to give my hair a little break. I'll be rocking my mini collection of wigs for the next couple of weeks. I haven't added any new products to my regimen. I've just been sticking to my old favorites, but I am looking into trying the Hair Rules line~

Interesting

2009-04-29T19:41:00.005-05:00

I've been gone for a minute, now I'm back. I hope, anyway. I should be studying for finals next week... I'll get to that later. I have quite a bit that I need to post about, and I will get to that as soon as I can...

In the meantime, here's some interesting info I ran into on the Curls website:

"...You may wonder why you have curly hair. Well, the answer lies in genetics. Within the hair protein compound are sulfide atoms. When the sulfide atoms stay close together, they develop a bond called disulfide bonds. But if they are placed further from each other and yet form the disulfide bond, then these strong bonds will have a tendency to bend the protein, and thus it results in curly mane. If you want to perm it artificially then there are various chemicals and tools available. The perms alter the number of disulfide bonds present in the hair. However, chemically curled hair is not permanent. The part of hair that grows after you perm your hair will not have the curly effect. So you ill have to repeat the procedure after six months or so..."

More Pics

2009-04-07T23:06:00.005-05:00

Just a couple more pics of my hair. It's been up in a bun all day so it doesn't look to good...

6 Months Natural!

2009-04-05T20:28:00.008-05:00

Yesterday marked my 6th month of bening completely natural! My journey is goin well. Here are a few pics of my flat ironed hair. I trimmed about half an inch. It wasn't as uneven as I thought it would be. Here's how my day went:

I washed with KC Come Clean
Conditioned and detangled with HE Hello Hydration
DC'd with Africa's Best Hair Mayo

Applied leave-in: HE LTR leave in

Conditioned/moisturized with: Curls Whipped Hair Cream

Heat Prptector: Fantasia IC Heat Protector and Frizz Ease Heat Defense

I will post more pics once I finish flat ironing my hair...

Tips to a Successful Transition

2009-03-31T13:28:00.003-05:00

Transitioning can be difficult, especially if you've decided to transition without the Big Chop. Dealing with the two textures can be very frustrating. And, you'll experience more shedding. That's just comes with the process. You can also experience breakage if you don't take extra care of the two textures and where they meet. I've come up with a list of a some things that helped me complete a successful transition with out the big chop.

Deep condition- deep conditioning is very important. It helps restore moisture, prevents damage from happening, and keeps hair soft and manageable. When you deep condition, you should concentrate on the line of demarcation, or where the two textures meet because this area is very weak, and you should also concentrate on the ends because they are the oldest part of your hair, and tend to be the driest. I recommend deep conditioning at least once a week

Co-wash- co-washing helps avoid the harsh effects of shampoos and helps keep hair soft and manageable. Co-washing also helps you keep cool during the hot summer months. I used a clarifying shampoo about once a month to rid my hair of any build-up from co-washing.

Detangle in sections- this helps avoid tangles. Also, start detangling from the ends and work your way up the hair with a wide tooth comb. Detangle in the shower.

Keep your hair moisturized- Our hair loves moisture. I moisturize at least twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. I also moisturized throughout the day when needed.

Seal those ends- sealing your ends with an oil helps lock in moisture.

Wash hair in sections- this helps to avoid tangles

Wear protective styles- protective styles are any hair styles that require low manipulation and keep your ends from rubbing against the fabric of your clothes and or furniture.

These are the key things that have helped me during my transition.

My Regimen

2009-03-12T20:23:00.001-05:00

My regimen is very, very simple.

Daily:
I moisturize my hair at least twice a day and I use KC Knot Today and/or KC Spiral Spritz
I sleep in a high pony tail, baggy my ends, and wrap my hair up in a satin scarf

Weekly
I wash with KC Come Clean, condition with KC Knot Today, and moisturize with Curls Whipped Hair Cream

I deep condition every two weeks, no specific product. I just use whatever I may have.

Super simple and my hair has reacted very well to it.

Heat and Damage

2009-03-12T20:19:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately, many of us have experienced the damaging effects of heat: very dry hair, split ends, breakage, etc. Minimizing the amount of direct heat you apply to your hair will help improve its overall health. Here are just a few ways to keep heat damage to a minimum:

1. Always, always use a heat protectant!

2. Use the lowest heat setting possible

3. If you are going to flat iron your hair, let it air dry if at all possible. This helps minimize the amount of direct heat applied to your hair!

4. Deep conditioning also helps protect hair from heat by improving the heat and condition of your hair

5. Wear protective styles. Protective styles are styles that protect your ends and keep manipulation to a minimum.

*If you have split ends, get rid of them! It's much easier and a lot healthier for your hair to do so than to keep mending them with temporary fixes!

Pics: Twist-out

2009-03-06T18:00:00.006-06:00

Here are a few pics of my twist-out, which is a couple of days old... Again, I just washed my hair with KC come clean, conditioned with KC knot today, and I used Curls whipped hair cream and KCCC for the twist-out...

5 Months Natural Update

2009-03-06T10:22:00.003-06:00

It has been 5 months since my BC, and I am still loving my hair! I love the versatility and healthy of my hair, and I really love the fact that my regimen is soooo simple. I am still experimenting with different hair styles. I have mastered the twist-out. It has become a weekly thing since I started using Curls Whipped Cream! The thing I don't like about my hair is the shrinkage... I also used to get tiny knots at the ends of my hair, but lately since I have been wearing a twist-out, I haven't experienced them. I'm not exactly sure how that works, but it does.

I will have a pic update at 6 months natural (April 4th), and I may straighten my hair then, but I'm not sure. I don't think I'm ready for the heat.

I also changed my skin care regimen. No more Oil Cleansing Method for a while. I started to breakout heavily a couple of weeks ago and my skin has cleared up since omitting the OCM from my regimen, So I am done with it for now.

Product Review: Curls Whipped Hair Cream

2009-03-05T20:22:00.003-06:00

Promises: Whipped Cream is the perfect product for natural styles (twists, locks, afros & more) for thick, kinky, curly 3c-4b hair! This thick, and ultra rich whipped cream has a warm vanilla cream fragrance that makes you want to eat it! It provides SUPERB curl definition, frizz protection all while providing moisture and sheen. Enriched with natural oils, exotic butters and nourishing extracts and botanicals. Also works great as gel substitute to smooth edges, slick hair, and to hold twists and locks in place.

Directions: Apply to clean hair, while damp. Allow to air dry and style. Great precursor to detangling, twisting, braiding and cornrows. Also, use to refresh dry hair.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Certified Organic Sunflower Oil, Certified Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Cocoa Butter, Polyimide-1, Glyercin, Coconut Oil, Certified Organic Sweet Almond Oil, * Gardenia Essential Oil, Tahitian Coconut Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Avocado Oil, Plumeria Oil, Olive Oil, Sodium Carbomer, Centillica Asiatica, Panthenol, Octyl Palmitate, Polysorbate-80, Soy Tocopherols, Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glyercin, Fragrance.

Price: $18

Pop or Drop: I absolutely love this product! It is amazing! It leaves my hair soooo soft! I love doing twist outs with it. I just wash my hair with KC come clean, and moisturize with KC knot today, then I do my twist out with whipped cream and KCCC. I love it! I will definitely continue to use this. Poppin! Loves it!

Length Check

2009-02-22T16:45:00.004-06:00

Today's Hair Routine

2009-02-21T21:24:00.006-06:00

My hair was in need of some serious TLC. I was really lazy all week and let me tell you, my hair was a matted mess!!! Oh it was painful!!! It took me almost two hours to detangle my hair! I used an entire jar of Garnier Sleek and Shine Fortifying Deep Conditioner, which I will write a review over. I ended up having to cut out a couple of small knots that I just could not work loose. That was a long two hours!!! The Sleek and Shine DC worked really well. I detanlged with the Sleek and Shine, left it on for about 10 minutes. Then I shampooed with KC w Come Clean, and conditioned with KC Knot Today. Then I did a large twist out with Curls Whipped Cream (will write review) and KC Curling Custard. I am air drying right not, but here are a few pics.

Natural Hair and Moisture

2009-02-17T18:19:00.004-06:00

Natural hair loves moisture! Do not be afraid of it! Keeping your hair moisturized is very important. Hair has many pores so keeping it moisturized can be difficult. It's much like a sponge and absorbs nearly everything you put into it, but it can easily dry out.

I moisturize my hair 3-4 times a day. My favorite moisturizers, right now, are Kinky Curly Knot Today, water/glycerin/castor oil mix, and Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave-in. I use the water/glycerine/castor oil mix approximately 90 percent of the time. I mix it in a spray bottle and spritz away. Water is the best moisturizer! I can't wait until summer so I can start co-washing daily!

Other great moisturizers that I have used in the past are Luster's S-curl and Organic root stimulator olive oil hair lotion.

Over moisturizing your hair is possible. Too much moisture causes the hair to become limp and soggy feeling. If you over moisturize your hair, you need to incorporate more protein into your routine.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2009-02-14T18:59:00.002-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope your day is filled with lots of love!

Oil Cleansing Method

2009-02-09T12:52:00.005-06:00

I was really skeptical about using oil to clean my face. Oily skin plus more oil seemed like a big disaster to me. About a couple of months ago, I finally worked up the courage to give it a try. I am quite amazed at what Castor oil has done for my skin! Using the oil cleansing method has really help my skin out a lot. My face is clearer, a lot smoother, and my dark spots have almost completely faded away! I no longer suffer from cystic acne, the really nasty pimples that form under the skin and hurt like crazy. When I do get pimples now, it's only a white head and clears up within a day or two, which is 1 million times better than cystic acne.

How I use the Oil Cleansing Method:

Tools:
Castor oil
Wash cloth
Hot water

I message about a quarter sized amount of Castor oil into my skin, concentrating on my cheeks and chin (these are my problem areas) for about 15 minutes. Then I wet the wash cloth with hot water and place it over my face, steaming my skin and pulling out the impurities. Then I wipe my face and repeat the steaming process usually two more times. Then I apply an astringent followed by a moisturizer.

My skin feels better than ever, and I love it! I use the oil cleansing method every night before bed. In the morning, I rinse my face in the shower. I don't have any pics of my skin before I started using the oil cleansing method. I will post pics of my skin now, and update in another month, as my skin continues to improve.

Hair pics

2009-02-08T22:17:00.004-06:00

Here are some of the latest pics of my hair. This is right after washing with KC Come Clean, and conditioning with KC Knot Today. I love Kinky-Curly!

Not Feeling the Lace Front...

2009-02-08T22:03:00.003-06:00

...at all! When I took it out of the package, I was sooo excited and couldn't wait to put in on! So, I did my weekly wash routine. Then I french braided my hair back, and applied the lace front as the directions stated. I just did not like it. The lace was a little too dark for my complexion, and I am not a big fan of base/foundation. Light reflected off the lace, and that was not cool at all. The hair line was unrealistic, and I didn't really like the fit. Guess it's what you get for the money. I loved the style, length, and color so I tried to make it work, and for $65, I'm going to make it work. Until then i will be rocking my bun...

Any suggestions on how to make it work...?

My Recent Purchase

2009-02-06T19:39:00.002-06:00

I just purchased a couple of new products to try: Curls Whipped Hair Creme and Kinky-Curly Spiral Spritz from Honeyfig.com. I will try these products this weekend and post product reviews.

Lace Front Wig

2009-02-06T19:28:00.003-06:00

I've finally purchased a lace front wig. I want to give my hair a little break. I had been doing a little research on them and finally decided on a synthetic lace front from GoBunnys.com. They are having a sale on their lace fronts. The wig I purchased was the Modacrylic Fiber Lord&Cliff- style TYRA color #2

Stats:

Fall 19"~21" - razor cut style

Lace Front Top Wig Layered warp style

Styles just like Human Hair!

Curling Iron Safe (CAN BE CURLED UP TO 360'F) and maintains its shape! New 100% Modacrylic Fiber, Blends easy for any skin tone, undetectable hairline, simple application

Here's a pic from the site:

I also bought weft hair to add to the wig to make it fuller. Most wigs are too thin for me.

Hair Update

2009-01-24T21:51:00.002-06:00

My hair has been pretty blah this week. I have worn it in a bun all week...boring...I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with my hair next...no clue...well, I'm going to pre-poo over night to prepare for wash day tomorrow. I will update then.

Fold Over Booties

2009-01-24T20:35:00.005-06:00

I am loving these fold over booties at Wet Seal. They come in brown, grey, black, and white and are only $29. I would pair them with skinny pants and a cute top, or maybe boyfriend jeans. They are on my wish list.

JC Nadia Brushes

2009-01-24T18:40:00.002-06:00

I've been using JC Nadia brushes for a couple of years now. I purchased them on Ebay for cheap and they are pretty good brushes. They are durable and the last long. Now, I love MAC, but are my JC Nadia brushes comparable...? I'll never know...nearly $30 per brush at MAC...not gon' do it! LOL! I'll stick with JC Nadia when it comes to brushes!

Kourtney, Kim, Khloe

2009-01-24T17:54:00.003-06:00

I am a huge fan of Keeping up with the Kardashians, and sisters Kourtney, Kim, and Khloe look gorgeous in this pic, hair make-up and all.

MAC Attack!

2009-01-24T16:31:00.003-06:00

So, I was in the mall today, in search for some good sales (like always), and I found myself in the vicinity of the MAC counter, so decided to stop by and take a look (there couldn't be any harm in that, right?). So I rode up the escalator, walked to the other end of the mall, passed by Charlotte Russe, Body Central, and Wet Seal, took a left, a right, then another left, and there was MAC! I didn't plan on buying anything, just looking, but....I couldn't help myself, so I picked up some of my faves....

...Orange, Contrast, Goldmine, Bronze, Trax, Carbon, Mythology, and Humid. I didn't buy anything else, but I went home happy!

More Kinky Curly Pics

2009-01-18T13:06:00.005-06:00

Week Two of using Kinky Curly products

Kinky Curly Pics

2009-01-16T19:06:00.006-06:00

Here are a few pics of my hair after using Kinky Curly Come Clean, Knot Today, and Curling Custard for the first time.

Product Review: Kinky Curly Curling Custard

2009-01-16T18:49:00.003-06:00

Promises: Insatatly transform thick, dry, frizzy hair into silky spirals and wonderful waves. This advanced fromula will eliminate frizz, define curls, provide long lasting hold, lock in moisture, give brilliant shine. Used regularly, curling custard will help maintain your hair's moisture balance and reduce breakage resulting in longer healthier hair. The high performance product is fromulated with all natural ingredients and will not change your natural hair texture

Directions: Wash and condition hair. Rinse and squeeze excess water from hair with hands. Apply curling custard to wet hair with fingers. smooth through sections from root to tip. Let hair dry naturally. TIP: To acheive ultimate curl definition and length. Knot today may be used as a leave-in conditioner before applying Curling Custard

Ingredients: Botanical infusion of water, horsetail, chamomile, nettle and marshmallow, organic Aloe Vera Juice, Agave Nectar Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Pectin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate and Natural Fragrance.

Price: $24

Pop or Drop: I have found my ultimate curl defining product! I have waited so long for this! I washed with Come Clean and Conditioned with Knot Today, then applied the Knot today as a leave-in. Then I applied Curling Custard as directed. My hair new felt or looked so good! Poppin

Product Review: Kinky-Curly Knot Today Conditioner

2009-01-14T20:40:00.002-06:00

Promises: Can't get that comb to glide through your hair? Well KNOT TODAY! This creamy herbal conditioner is enriched with botanical extracts and is designed to smooth the cuticle and to remove knots, snarls and tangles from thick curly hair.

Directions: Apply generously and work through troubled sections with a wide toothed comb.

Ingredients: Organic Mango Fruit Extract, Organic Slippery Elm, Organic Marshmallow Root, Organic Lemongrass, Cetyle alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol and Natural Fragrance.

Price: $12

Pop or Drop: I used this after shampooing with Come Clean and my hair was soooo easy to detangle. My comb glided through with such ease. I was amazed, and it smelled really good. This is definitely going to be a part of my regimen! Most definitely poppin'

Product Review: Kinky Curly Come Clean shampoo

2009-01-14T15:07:00.004-06:00

Promises: You know all the grimy stuff you've put on your hair. Here's your chance to COME CLEAN. Allow this exclusive blend of organic plant and fruit extracts to gently clean your hair and scalp of dulling build-up while maintaining it's proper moisture balance. perfect enough for everyday use.

Directions: Message into wet hair and scalp. Rinse well. Follow with our Knot Today Conditioner.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Organic Mandarin Orange fruit, Organic Marigold Flower, Organic White Willow Bark, Organic Sea Kelp, C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Price: $12

Pop or Drop: This natural shampoo is amazing! I will never go back to using sulfates again!! This did not leave my hair stripped at all! It felt so moisturized and clean. I can't believe I waited so long to try this. Definitely poppin'!

Kinky Curly: Update

2009-01-14T14:42:00.002-06:00

So, I received my Kinky-Curly order last week, and I had a chance to try them out over the weekend..... I am in LOVE!!!......Will post product reviews shortly....

Kinky Curly

2009-01-05T21:06:00.004-06:00

I finally order from Kinky Curly. I just purchased Come Clean natural shampoo, Knot Today conditioner, and the Curling Custard. I'm so exciting to try them! I just order them from Honey Fig about 30 minutes ago.

Revisited Hit: NTM Silk Touch Leave-in

2009-01-05T20:47:00.003-06:00

So I came across my bottle of NTM Silk Touch Leave-in yesterday after pushing it to the side to try some new and different products. I loved this stuff! i can't believe i ever stopped using it! N E way, I washed my hair with CON Ultra Moisturizing shampoo, conditioned with HE Hello Hydration, and applied a little HE LTR Leave-in and some NTM Silk Touch Leave-in. My hair turned out great. It was soft, manageable, and easy to detangle. Here are some pics.

3 Months Natural

2009-01-04T14:05:00.005-06:00

It has been three months since I went natural. I transitioned for 10 months with mostly wigs and buns (I tried braids, but I couldn't keep them in longer than a week). Here are a few pics of my hair.

My Products

2008-12-28T11:37:00.005-06:00

Here are a some of the products that keep my hair looking great (in my opinion), and I absolutely love them. I gotta have my HE hello hydration and totally twisted conditioners as well as the LTR leave-in. I love Herbal Essences. I cannot live without my jilbere shower comb. In the green spray bottle: my shea butter, glycerin, coconut oil, castor oil, and water mix, which I use daily to moisturize my hair.

I just added Annie soft twist rollers and the Vidal Sassoon hot air brush to my collection. The soft twist rollers are so easy to work with and the hot air brush isn't as harsh on my hair as a blow dryer

My Wish List

Adjustable heat ceramic flat iron
Hooded dryer
Curl formers

Sulfate free shampoo (Kinky-Curly)

Kinky-Curly curling custard

My First Flexi Rod Set 2

2008-12-28T10:58:00.003-06:00

Ok, so my flexi rod set did not turn out the way I wanted it to. In fact it looks like I did nothing to it, just a wash-n-go. I didn't have time to let it dry completely, so this is what it looked like after I removed the rollers.

I'll have to set aside more time when I attempt to try this again.

My First Flexi Rod Set

2008-12-27T12:45:00.005-06:00

So, I did my first flexi rod set today... I washed my hair with CON ultra moisturizing shampoo, conditioned with HE TT, then applied HE LTR leave-in and Elasta QP Mango Butter to my ends. I used 18-20 jumbo Annie soft twist rollers in 10". Here is how the set turned out

It was much easier than setting with magnetic rollers, but still needs a lot of work. I will be back to post the results.

2008-12-26T19:59:00.011-06:00

I decided to blow out my hair today and dust my ends. I felt that it was time for a little trim.

Here is a pic of the blow out. I co-washed with HE HH and applied HE LTR leave-in and Fantasia IC hair polisher heat protector. I let my hair air dry for about and hour, then I used a hot air brush by Vidal Sassoon to blow it out. My hair is still uneven from my BC in October.

Then I sectioned my hair into 10-12 braids and then snipped off the scraggly ends. Although this isn't the best way to trim, it was easy and simple. I want to even out my hair in April of next year

This is all of the hair I trimmed away.

My Regimen

2008-12-25T12:00:00.002-06:00

My current regimen is as follows:

~Every Two Weeks~
pre-poo with castor oil, coconut oil, shea butter mix
shampoo with CON ultra moisturizing
condition with HE HH or HE TT
detangle with Jilbere
apply shea butter, castor oil, glycerin mix as leave in or Care Free Curl

~Every other week~
pre-poo with castor oil, cocnout oil, shea butter mix
I co-wash with HE HH or HE TT
detangle
apply shea butter, castor oil, glycerin mix as leave in or Care Free Curl

~Daily~
Moisturize shea butter, castor oil, glycerin mix
Spritz hair with mix throughout the day
Sleep in shower cap and satin scarf (or baggy ends)

My Hair Goals for 2009

2008-12-24T19:13:00.003-06:00

It’s important to have goals in life and to work towards achieving those goals. Goals are what keep us going. Once you achieve one goal, you can’t wait to set and achieve another one, whether school related, life, or hair care.

Here are my ‘hair’ goals for 2009:
Maintain healthy hair
Retain all of my length
Achieve APL (when straight) by April 2009

Ultimate ‘hair’ Goal:
Achieve thick, healthy MBL (when straightened) hair- by February 2010

Product Reviews: Smooth N Shine curl activating creme gel

2008-12-20T18:55:00.007-06:00

Promises: It's all about silk! Silk n' Curl Creme gel is a silk protein therapy formulated with silk amino acid and conditioning polymers, created to offer the moisturizing benefits of a creme and the strong holding power of a gel...a winning combination for perfecting curly styles, shapes and defines your natural curl pattern, so curls are frizz-free, in control, and look their silky best!

Directions: Apply evenly to towel dried hair, and style as desired. Perfect for restyling.

Ingredients: water, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate, hydroxypropyl, bis-hydroxyethyldimonium chloride, polyquaternium-11, silk amino acids, panthenol, aminopropyl dimethicone, amodimethicone. hydrolyzed wheat protein, lactic acid, hydroxypropylcellulose, butylene glycol, isolaureth-6, octoxynol-40, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, fragrance, linadol, hexylcinnamal, citronellol, butylphenyl methylpropional

Price: $3

Pop or Drop: I wasn't too much impressed with this product. I did smell really good and it wasn't sticky like other creme gels, but I did not get the results I wanted. I used it a couple of times after washing and conditioning my hair. The results weren't any different than using my care free curl activator. I have not used it for restyling, but I will give it a try. Right now I am on the fence about this one.

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Curly Hair Tip: Mircofiber Towels

2008-12-20T18:02:00.004-06:00

Every curly girl needs a microfiber towel. Why? They do not cause frizz like terry cloth towels, which create friction. They help speed up drying time, which cuts down on blowing drying time, and the are also much lighter than regular bath towels.

Amazon.com

Hair Pics

2008-12-20T17:13:00.010-06:00

It's been almost 3 months since I did the BC, and I've really had time to enjoy my natural hair and find out what truly works and what does not. I love my hair, and I am very happy with my routine and the overall health of my hair right now, of course I am always looking for ways to improve my routine.

Here are a few pics of my hair taken about a couple of weeks ago.

This is roughly how long my hair is. I haven't straightened it in a few months, so I'm not sure exactly how long it is.

I plan on straightening it in February and trimming my ends

Product Review: Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Conditioner

2008-12-20T16:38:00.003-06:00

My laptop is finally up and running! I am so happy! It's been out of commission for almost a month, and I have much to write about!

Promises: Just quench your curls and waves with my high intensity hydration. my replenishing formula fused with french lavender and jade extracts replaces vital moisture, lays frizz down for sleek spirals and keeps them bouncing freely. Now that;s definition of a good curl

Directions: message my creaminess in. Feel it hug your curves, rinse me out. Got spring fever, yet?

Ingredients: water, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearamiodopropyl dimethylamine, lavender flower/leaf.stem extract, crassula argentea leaf extract, glutamic acid, fragrance, bis-aminopropyl dimethicone, benzyl alcohol, edta, propylene glycol, methylchloro-isothaizolinone, methylisothaizolinone, citric acid, ext. violet 2

Price: approx. $3 for 17 OZ

Pop or Drop: This is a really good conditioner for curl definition. It's super moisturizing. It hydrates my curls and leaves them soft and bouncy, just as promised. I wash or co-wash depending on my schedule, then I apply the HE TT and detangle with my jilbere. Then I let the conditioner sit on my hair for 5 minutes, rinse most of it out, then apply a leave-in when my hair is at least 50% dry. I will definitely keep this apart of my regimen.

1 Year Relaxer Free!

2008-12-04T12:46:00.009-06:00

Today marks the day! I have been relaxer free for 1 year, and I have also been natural for 2 months! Time sure does fly when you're having fun! I've learned a lot about my hair, what works and what doesn't work. What's good for my hair and what isn't.

I haven't been paying a lot of attention to growth. I can't really see much growth due to shrinking, but I have noticed that my hair rarely breaks. I haven't dealt with any breakage since about a week or two after my BC. I think my glycerin and oils mix has helped a lot. (will provide recipe in a later post)

I took a break from my wigs this week and I have been rocking a bun/pony puff

Here's a pic of my pony puff... I am in need of an edge up!

`

Product Review: Jilbere de Paris shower comb

2008-11-29T21:09:00.002-06:00

Promises: Evenly distributes conditioner through wet hair. Nylon ball tips are extra gentle on scalp. 12 wide-spaced teeth easily detangles curls and snarls. Convenient arched handle for easy hanging. Ideal for use when hair is wet. Nylon ball tips help comb glide easily through hair without damaging scalp. Jilbere de Paris has offered superior, top quality products for over 30 years and continues to set the benchmark for professional styling products.

Usage Tips: Use immediately after shampooing to detangle wet hair. Apply conditioner to hair and comb through for even distribution.

Price: < $2

Pop or Drop: Definitely poppin'! No comb works as well as this one does on my hair. It glides so smoothly through my hair a detangling is a breeze. I use this comb once a week to detangle my soaking wet, conditioner drenched hair.

Product Review: Care Free Curl- Curl Activator

2008-11-24T12:27:00.006-06:00

Promises: Activates and moisturizes in one easy step. Restores curls, smooths hair and adds sheen; while the silk moisturizers soften and help prevent breakage. Leaves hair feeling silkier, looking livelier...never greasy or stiff

Directions: Apply small amount to palm of hand. Rub hands together, then apply evenly over entire head. Message thoroughly. Gently comb or pick through hair to evenly distribute and detangle. Style as usual

Ingredients: Aqua/Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polyquaternium-11, Stearalkonium Chloride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Propylparaben, Parfum/Fragrance, Dimethiconol, Wheat Amino Acids, CI 19140/Yellow 5, CI 15510/Orange 4, Silica.

Price: $4-5

Pop or Drop: I first tried this product about a month ago and I loved it! I still love it! It leaves my curls super soft and bouncy! I use it to moisturize my hair after I shampoo or co-wash and condition. It has really helped with my frizz problem. I absolutely plan to keep this in my routine! Definitely poppin!

Hair Update:

2008-11-23T19:02:00.005-06:00

So I have been absent for quite some time. I have been busy with work and preparing to go back to school in January..... well, I am back.... first, I have an update on my hair...

I have been washing once a week with CON Ultra Moisturizing shampoo,

Conditioning with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration,

Detangle once a week with my Jilbere shower comb,

And applying which ever leave-in I feel like using at the time.

I have been wearing a wig as a protective style and plan to do so most of the winter, so my hair stays in 4-5 french braids throughout the week until wash day.... I moisturize my hair daily with a glycerin, conditioner, and castor oil/coconut oil mix..... My hair feel and looks great and I am very happy with it.

I have had time to try a few products and I will write a review over them soon.....

And here are some pics....there isn't much variation from the last set.....

UPDATE:

2008-11-11T13:19:00.003-06:00

It has been a while since I've last updated. It has been over a month since my BC. I will post pics soon, and I have more product reviews on the way, including some products I have chosen to revisit. Stay tuned.

Update: Hair Pics 20 days natural

2008-10-24T09:58:00.003-05:00

Here are a few pics of my hair:

I haven't been doing too much to it, just doing co-washes or rinsing my hair about 4 days a week and mositurizing when needed. Trying to find a staple moisturizer.

Product Review: NTM Silk Touch Leave-in

2008-10-24T09:37:00.008-05:00

Promises: Moisturizes for instant an lasting improvements to hair texture and manageability. This silky leave-in cream melts effortlessly into strands, moisturizing while diminishing fly aways, and frizz with lasting humidity protection. Hair stays naturally soft and touchable all day- no flaking, heaviness, or stickiness. The advanced formula helps improve hair quality with every use. Contains UV filters.

Directions: Shake well. Apply to damp hair. Dispense a small amount into palm, then spread between hands to form a thin layer. Gently work cream downward throughout hair with fingers, concentrating on ends and outer layers. Do not rinse. Style as usual.

Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Polyquaternium 37, Cetrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Meadowfoam Seed Oil (limnanthes alba), Olive Fruit Oil (olea europaea), Sweet Almond Oil (prunus amygdalis dulcis), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, PPG 1 Trideceth 6, Phenyl Trimethicone, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Fragrance

Price: around $5

Pop or Drop: At first sight, I thought it would do nothing for my hair, but boy was I wrong! This product did what the bottle claimed it would! I was very surprised. I rinsed my hair and scalp with warm water and I applied about 2 quarter sized portions to my hair, then detangled with my fingers, spreading the product throughout my hair. Then I let my hair air dry. Once, it was dry, my hair felt super soft and moisturized and it lasted all day! I didn't feel the need to spritz my hair with my moisturizing mix until b4 bed. I love this product! It's a keeper! This is definitely poppin'!

Product Review: Silken Child Silk Moisturizing Creme

2008-10-18T22:04:00.004-05:00

Promises:Silken Child Silk Moisturizing Creme: a daily reviver of moisture balance, shine, and manageability. Silk amino acids, Shea butter, olive oil, and coconut oil to help protect hair from breakage and eliminates dry, lifeless hair.

Directions: apply a small amount to the palm of the hand. Rub hands together and apply from roots to end. Style as desired. Can be used on wet or dry hair.

Ingredients: WATER ,CETEARYL ALCOHOL ,COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL ,CYCLOMETHICONE ,OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) OIL UNSAPONIFIABLE ,CETYL ESTERS ,ARACHIS HYPOGAEA (PEANUT) OIL ,SORBITOL ,RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL ,PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL ,POLYACRYLAMIDE ,C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN ,DMDM HYDANTOIN ,HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE ,METHYLPARABEN ,PROPYLPARABEN ,FRAGRANCE ,BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER) ,SILK AMINO ACIDS ,LAURETH-7

Price: $3.49-3.99

Pop or Drop: This product smells great and I love the consistency. I used it after co-washing with Suave Humectant. I applied it to my wet hair and my hair felt somewhat moisturized and soft. I wasn't too impressed, but it was OK. I probably won't buy this again, but I will try it on my flat ironed hair. It is a lot easier to work products through my hair when it's straight. So, I'm gonna have to drop this one.

Product Review: Denman D3 Classic

2008-10-16T10:57:00.004-05:00

So, I finally got a Denman (d3 classic, the only one available at my Sally's) After hearing mixed reviews about it, I had to try it out for myself. Well, I actually like it. It really does make my curls pop. I use it when my hair is soaking wet and loaded with conditioner. First I de-tangle with my wide toothed comb, then I use the Deman to help define my curls. (I tried using just the Denman and it wasn't pretty) Then i rinse out some of the conditioner, and I'm ready to do. My hair is dripping water down the back of my neck all morning, but my curls are super bouncy afterwards!

I really like this brush, and for only 7 dollars, I think it was a pretty good investment.

Changes to Regimen

2008-10-16T10:28:00.002-05:00

After being natural for only 12 days, I can tell that my biggest challenge is most likely going to be keeping breakage at bay. I have noticed some breakage over the past week or so. Not enough to worry, but more than I'd like to see. I am now back to wearing wigs as my protective style. I just picked up a really cute one (will have pics soon)

Here are a few other changes I have made to my regimen:

I use shampoo only once every two weeks, maybe longer if i feel that I can do without.

I baggy my entire head with a shower cap after moisturizing and sealing my hair (usually 5-6 times per week. This has really helped my control breakage.)

I now do daily scalp messages for at least 20 minutes with Doo Gro thickening oil (no mineral oil)

I try to use as little manipulation as possible. When I first BC'ed, I could not keep my hands out of my hair!

I really don't use heat that often except for every 3-4 months for length checks. The last time I flat ironed was July 27, 08 and I don't plan on doing so again until January after 3 months o being natural for my first length check. I will also trim my hair evenly b/c I know it's messed up.

So, I cut it all off!

2008-10-04T22:15:00.005-05:00

I finally did it! I decided to BC tonight. I had just finished washing my hair, and I just decided to cut it all off! Snip, snip. It was actually a lot harder than I thought it would be. I thought I was ready, but when I put those scissors to my hair, I had seconds thoughts, but it had to come off sometime. So, I just did it! It feels really good. I'm excited about my lil 'fro.

I just sectioned it off spritz each section with my water and Giovanni direct leave-in and cut away the relaxed ends! That's it. It's frizzy in the pics, and I know it's probably pretty jacked-up and uneven, but it feels so good!

Now, it's time to do it all over again! Time to inch my way back past APL! I'll probably wear a lot of wash 'n go's, and I know my regimen will change a bit, but I look forward to greatness! I have a couple of product lines I want to try: Miss Jessies and Blended Beauty, and any thing else that will help enhance my curls, so it's back to being a product junkie!

My Goals:
Maintain Healthy Hair
APL by October 2009

My Hair Challenges:
No heat until February 2009

No-Heat Ways to Style Your Hair

2008-10-04T10:41:00.005-05:00

The frequent use of heat can damage open the cuticles of your hair. Some conditioners can remedy the open cuticles, but too much heat or very high temperatures can cause the cuticles to open so far that they cannot be fixed, and damaged cuticle layers cause breakage. But heat can be a good thing, like deep conditioning under a hooded dryer. The heat from the hooded dryer opens the cuticle and allows the conditioner to penetrate the hair shaft, which helps repair damaged hair.

If you absolutely cannot live without your curling irons and flat irons, use them on the lowest heat setting possible and always, always, use a thermal protectant.

Here are a fews ways to style your hair without using heat:

Roller, rod, or straw set instead of use curling irons.

Braid-outs and twist outs also give you a wavy, curly look.
Setting hair with extra large rollers can also give hair a flat ironed look
Use hooded dryers as opposed to hand held ones
Wrapping your hair at night keeps it nice and straight

Update on Hair Stats:

2008-10-02T10:22:00.004-05:00

Here is an update on the status of my hair, my hair care goals, and hair challenges. I am 10 months post relaxer! (officially 10/4/08)

Current Hair Goals:

BSL by July '09
BC on August 4, '09

Current Hair Length:
Approx. 1.5 in below APL

Current Hair Care Challenges:
DC/NT challenge
No Heat until December
Hiding my length

Update: Hair Pics

2008-09-29T18:13:00.005-05:00

These are the most recent pics of my hair (9/27/08). I've gone back to washing once a week (CON Ultra Moisturizing) and co-washing once or twice a week (Suave Humectant or HE Hello Hydration) and moisturizing with HE Long Term Relationship and Elata QP Mango Butter and sealing with AB herbal oil. Other than that, I haven't been doing to much to my hair, just leaving it alone and hoping for the best. My daily protective style is a bun, everyday and all day. I have been sleeping in 1-3 large braids, pin them up and wrap with a satin scarf. The co-wash only regimen worked for a while, but started to cause too much build-up and I had to clarify every couple of weeks, and I hate clarifying shampoos. They really strip and dry my hair out and detangling is a nightmare, no matter how much conditioner I use. With weekly washing, I usually only have to clarify my hair once every 6 or so weeks.

I'm still going strong with the DC/NT challenge. I really feel like trimming my hair, and I really don't know how much longer I can hold out!

Hair Progress

2008-09-23T11:59:00.001-05:00

I haven't posted any pics of my hair in about three weeks. (I've been trying to hide my length throughout the DC/NT challenge) Overall, I think my hair has improved tremendously, I haven't noticed a big change in length (i haven't really been looking for one either), but my hair is healthy. Healthy hair is the most important 'hair goal' I have set for myself. I do plan on posting some pics of my hair this weekend and give more details on my progress.

Bad Oils

2008-09-20T16:13:00.004-05:00

Mineral oil, petroleum, and lanolin are sealants that can block moisture from getting to the hair and scalp. Some conditioners, styling products, and even baby oil contain these oils.

Product Review: Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave-in Conditioner

2008-09-20T14:48:00.003-05:00

I really liked this product. It worked well with the Hello Hydration conditioner and helped keep my hair feeling soft and moisturized. I also liked that it comes in a pump dispenser. It did everything that the bottle said it would. It provided my hair with good slip. I was still able to comb through my hair after it was dry.

Price: $3-4

Product Review: Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing Conditioner

2008-09-20T10:03:00.005-05:00

This is a great conditioner. I used it for the first time this past weekend, and it left my hair feeling unbelievably soft and moisturized. I first pre-shampooed with AB Organics Hair Mayo, then I shampooed my hair with CON ultra moisturizing shampoo, then I used Hello Hydration to condition and my hair was very easy to de-tangle. Detangling is always the moist difficult and frustrating part of wash day, but this product made it so much easier.

Price: $3-4

New Products

2008-09-18T13:35:00.004-05:00

I'm always in search of some new products to try. My hair absolutely loves moisture, so I buy mostly moisturizing products. This past weekend I decided to try out a couple of products from Herbal Essences. I bought the Long Term Relationship Leave-in and the Hello Hydration Conditioner. I have tried both products and I will post a review for each shortly.

Herbal Shampoo

2008-09-13T08:59:00.005-05:00

Here is more from the herbal hair care article on Care2.com. This is the recipe for herbal conditioner.

HERBAL HAIR CONDITIONERS

Herbal hair conditions help make hair more manageable and often impart a smoother and softer texture. They are especially good for those who cannot live without hot rollers, curling irons and blow dryers.

Jojoba Conditioner

Ingredients
1 cup rose floral water

1 tablespoon jojoba oil

10 drops vitamin E oil

To make:
1. In the top of a double boiler, gently warm the rose water.

2. Once rose water is warm, add jojoba oil.

3. Pour the mixture in a blender and add the vitamin E.

Blend at high speed for 2 minutes.

To use:

1. Wet hair with warm water.

2. Pour the conditioner onto your hair and scalp, massaging in thoroughly.

3. For damaged hair or extra conditioning, leave on for several minutes, perhaps while bathing. 4. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

5. Shampoo lightly and rinse again with cool water.

From care2.com

Herbal Hair Care

2008-09-13T08:48:00.004-05:00

This is a article I retrieved from Care2.com. It was an article on how to make herbal shampoo, but I extracted the list of herbs and how each can help enhance your hair and address any special needs your hair may have.

Dry: Comfrey root, avocado, elder flowers, orange blossoms.
Normal: Dandelion, horsetail, clover.
Oily: Watercress, strawberry leaf, white willow bark, lemon grass.
Ethnic: Comfrey, nettle, cherry bark, olive oil.
Shine: Egg, raspberry, nettle, vinegar, quassia.
Manageability: Yogurt, cherry bark, beer.
Softness: Cherry bark, burdock root, olive oil, marjoram.
Dandruff: White willow bark, birch bark, comfrey, nettle, peppermint, vinegar.
Growth: St. John’s wort, nettle, sage, basil, rosemary, onion juice.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients
2 tablespoons liquid castile soap
1 cup spring water
¼ cup fresh herbs (2 tablespoons dried)
1 teaspoon almond or apricot kernel oil
2 drops essential oil

To make:
1. Place herbs in a clean 10-ounce glass jar with a lid.
2. Boil the spring water and pour over the herbs.
3. Cover and let steep for 10 to 20 minutes.
4. Strain the liquid from the herbs into a bowl.
5. Add the liquid castile soap and almond or apricot kernel oil and mix thoroughly.
6. Scent with essential oil and mix again.
7. Bottle in a plastic container with a spout or a clean recycled shampoo bottle.

Yield: Approximately 24 shampoos

Check out the original article here.

My Regimen: Revised for the DC/NT Challenge

2008-09-08T18:17:00.002-05:00

~Shampoo at least once every two weeks
~Co-wash 2-3 times a week
~Deep Condition once a week
~Pre-poo before every shampoo and co-wash
~Moisturize twice a day, before work and before bed (spritz with cond. and water mix when needed.
~Absolutely no heat
~Search and destroy split ends when necessary
~Baggy a few nights a week

Not too much has changed. I really feel like trimming my hair up a bit, but I think I can wait until the conclusion of this challenge

Product Review: Elasta QP Mango Butter

2008-09-08T13:27:00.004-05:00

Wow! Is pretty much all I can say about the smell. It smells like candy! Oh so sweet. I lOVE the smell of this stuff. It's so thick and rich, so a very little will do. I used it after washing with CON ultra moisturizing, conditioning with suave humectant, and deep conditioning with NTM daily DC. I only used it on my ends and I love it. They stayed moisturized all day! I will definitely continue to use this. Great buy for only $4-5.

Product Review: NTM Daily Deep Conditioner

2008-09-06T18:00:00.009-05:00

I really liked the consistency of this product. It's thick and creamy and it smells fantastic. My hair felt really soft after rinsing and detangling was a breeze. I could actually comb through my hair for the first time in a long time. I wish it come in a larger size because the 8 oz. will probably only last for two weeks. I am very satisfied withthis products. It works great and it's inexpensive (about $4-5) I will definitely keep this in my routine.

I Love Your Blog!

2008-09-05T17:36:00.005-05:00

My girl Todoni over at Love for Fitness, Fashion, Beauty, and Hair left me a comment on my blog to nominate me for the "I Love Your Blog" Award. Thanks bunchies Todoni! I am really happy to be nominated. Thanks so much to all of my blog buddies for their love and interest in my blog!

The Rules:

~The nominated is allowed to put this picture on their blogs
~Link to the person who hearted you
~N0minate at leat 7 other people and link to them
~Leave a message on those peoples blog to make them aware that they are nominated

I nominate:

Love for Fitness, Fashion, Beauty, and Hair

The Coarse Hair Diary

Hair-A- Mania

K.I.S.S - Keep It Simple Sista

Hairlicious

Southern Tease

Healthy Textures

1 Year Anniversary of My Healthy Hair Care Journey

2008-09-04T19:31:00.009-05:00

On this day last year, I made the decision to take better care of my hair. I was tired of facing a comb (and floor) full of hair that didn't seem to grow past shoulder length. It doesn't even seem like it has been that long! But, I am so glad I decided to do a lot better! Over the past year, I have learned sooo much. When ever someone comes to me with a question concerning hair care, i can go on and on and I feel very confident thanks to all the message boards and forums!

Here are my one year progress pics.

My New Products

2008-09-03T19:29:00.003-05:00

I purchased a couple of new products today. NTM daily DC and Elasta QP Mango Butter, which smells great! I haven't tried these products out yet, but I will have a review within the next week or so!

General Tips for Caring for Your Curls

2008-09-03T19:16:00.005-05:00

General Tips For Caring For Your Curls

Step AWAY from the brush! - There are a few basic guidelines for making the most of your curls! The main one is PLEASE don't brush your curls. Brushing dry curls will turn them into a huge mass of frizz, and brushing wet hair can cause breakage. All you really need to adequately detangle your curls is a wide tooth comb and a quality conditioner.

Do regular deep treatments - Most curly hair can really benefit from doing regular moisturizing deep treatments. If you color treat your hair or heat style it regularly, you should do it once a week, leaving the conditioner in for at least 30 minutes. Our Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment works better with heat, and lots of curls have come to swear by the

Satin Pillowcase - Many curls have found that using a satin pillow case really helps them keep their curls in top form. The smoothness of the fabric lets your hair glide softly across it, helping to keep the curls well formed and frizz to a minimum.

Protein Sensitivity - If you find that your hair has become brittle, parched and looking like straw, you may be experiencing the drying effects of too much protein. While some protein is good for your hair, it’s best in moderation. If your hair is very healthy and not color treated, you may not need any protein in your hair “diet”. If one of more of the products you use daily has proteins in it, and you find that your hair has become brittle and dry, you may try eliminating the protein for a few weeks to see if that makes any difference. Use a rich protein-free conditioner like Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner and you should see your hair regain its softness soon.

From JessiCurl.com

[in pic: beyonce knowles]

Deep Conditioning/No Trims Challenge

2008-09-01T13:29:00.005-05:00

Today is the offical start of the Deep Conditioning/No trims challenge. (Healthy Textures) I decided to celebrate with a pre-poo using AB hair mayo and a co-wash with Suave Humectant. I am very excited about this challenge and can't wait to see the condition of my hair aftwewards! In addition to the DC and no trims, I will not be using any heat until after December 1, which is the end of the challenge.

[my big frizz ball]

5 Secrets to a Great Weave

2008-08-31T17:28:00.004-05:00

I ran into this article at Essense.com. I thought it was great so I had to share.

1. Choose the right texture
2. Buy human hair
3. Cut it into shape
4. Customize the weft
5. Handle with care

Essence.com

Click on the link for the full article

Deep Conditioning/No Trim challenge pics

2008-08-31T17:07:00.008-05:00

Here are a few pics from the DC/no trims chanllenge on Healthy Textures. The offical start is tomorrow.

Avocado and Lemon Deep Conditioner

2008-08-30T10:01:00.004-05:00

- Mash one avocado mix with one-tablespoon lemon juice, and one tablespoon of pure aloe until it becomes a paste.

- Comb through hair with your fingertips.

- Cover hair with a plastic shower cap, then a towel.

- Leave in for at least 30minutes

- Rinse and shampoo

Dandruff Free

2008-08-27T11:51:00.004-05:00

Before I decided to take better care of my hair, I had the worst dandruff imaginable. I had flakes everywhere, and it was really embarrassing. I felt that I could no nothing about it because I thought nothing would work. I tried many of the specialty shampoos and treatments and I was still plagued by huge white flakes until I started using Doo Gro Growth Stimulating Oil on my scalp. Within a week or so, I noticed a huge difference. My scalp wasn't itching all the time and I noticed a decrease in dandruff. This was truly a relief for me. I used the oil for about 3 months. I no longer use it today and I am still itch and dandruff free. Maybe the oil helped, maybe it was increasing how often I washed my hair, (which was only once a week when I was using the oil) but there is nothing like being dandruff free.

Shampoo-Free

2008-08-26T20:43:00.005-05:00

I've been on this no-poo/co-washing kick for 16 whole days now. This is the longest I have gone without shampooing my hair since I've started my healthy hair care journey. The last time I used shampoo was August 9th, and I can say that my hair has improved. I have experienced virtually no breakage and the extra moisture has been really good for my hair. The plan was, of course, to see how long I could go without shampoo and to see if I'd get any good results. This weekend I plan to clarify and then I will start another 2-3 shampoo-free weeks.

Reasons to go Natural

2008-08-23T15:49:00.007-05:00

Why go natural? Everyone has different reasons for transitioning to natural. I personally decided to go natural because, i was tired of depending on relaxers and it was just time for a change. I had been relaxed for as long as I could remember and I've never really experienced m natural hair. Following are a few reasons to go natural from Natural Hair Care Guide.

1. Exposing your scalp to chemicals on a regular basis is not only bad for your hair it can be bad for your health.
2. Once you learn to maintain your hair at home you will save money on salon visits.
3. You have more styling options.
4. There are many ways to wear a straight look without harming your hair.
5. You will learn to appreciate a part of yourself.
6. You will set example for your children that their hair is beautiful.
7. If there was ever a time when natural hair and styles are becoming more accepted it is now.
8. It takes less energy to embrace what you have than to fight against it.

[In Pic: Sabina Karlsson (model)]

Product Review: V05 Moisture Milks Passion Fruit Smoothie

2008-08-23T15:27:00.005-05:00

Well, I'm a little late with this review. I used this product about two weeks ago during a co-wash. I purchased it after hearing about it on a few blogs and hair care websites and forums. There were some pretty good reviews on it. Overall, it was pretty good. It provided my hair with good slip, so detangling was quite easy. It smelled really good and it was only $1. I'll continue to use this product, especially when I feel the need for some extra 'smell good' for my hair!

So, I've trimmed my hair.....

2008-08-22T17:20:00.007-05:00

..in preparation for the deep conditioning/no trim challenge (Healthy Textures). I trimmed a little bit more than I anticipated. I was just so happy to see some of those relaxed ends go. I ended up trimming about an 1" or so. So, I'm probably just at APL now. I only have 3-4 inches of relaxed ends to go. My next trim will be after the DC/no trim challenge which ends December 1. I plan to take off about another inch then.

Product Review: AB Organics Deep Conditioner

2008-08-22T17:09:00.007-05:00

So, I finally got around to trying this product the other day. Overall, it was a pretty good experience. My hair felt soft after using it, and it did a good job moisturizing, but I wasn't too crazy about the smell, and it only cost $3-4. I like the results I get from using the hair mayo much better, but this is something I will keep in my routine for a while.

Heat=Damage

2008-08-20T11:10:00.006-05:00

Unfortunately, many of us have experienced the damaging effects of heat: very dry hair, split ends, breakage, etc. Minimizing the amount of direct heat you apply to your hair will help improve its overall health. Here are just a few ways to keep heat damage to a minimum:

1. Always, always use a heat protectant!

2. Use the lowest heat setting possible

3. If you are going to flat iron your hair, let it air dry if at all possible. This helps minimize the amount of direct heat applied to your hair!

4. Deep conditioning also helps protect hair from heat by improving the heat and condition of your hair

*If you have split ends, get rid of them! It's much easier and a lot healthier for your hair to do so than to keep mending them with temporary fixes!

Longing for BSL hair

2008-08-19T21:31:00.009-05:00

I have finally achieved my goal of APL. I am really excited! This is the longest my hair has been in years! It is also the healthiest my hair has been ever. I have learned so much about my hair over the past year. It isn't breaking like it used to, it's moisturized, and I am retaining length like never before. Experimenting with many different products has been the best part! Now, I am looking to achieve healthy BSL hair by July/August, right around the time I want to BC. That gives me about a year to achieve these 5 or so inches I'm longing for. My other challenges include: No heat for 12 weeks (over October 20) and I have joined the DC and no trims challenge on Healthy Textures.

UPDATE: Giovanni Direct Leave-in Conditioner

2008-08-19T21:07:00.010-05:00

So, the last time I posted about Giovannni direct leave-in conditioner, you learned that I wasn't at all impressed. I first used it a few days ago on my 'not so clean' hair (i had washed it 3 days prior) and it left my hair feeling stiff. But I tried it again this past Saturday on my co-washed (suave humectant) hair and I got totally different results. My hair wasn't stiff at all. It actually left it feeling quite soft. I used the Giovanni on my relaxed ends, but I used my staple leave in (ORS olive oil hair lotion) on my NG, and I sealed with AB herbal oil. It left my hair super soft and moisturized! This product is a keeper.

[please excuse the picture. i was looking a little rough. it had been a long day]

Organics Olive Oil Deep Conditioner

2008-08-19T11:55:00.005-05:00

So, I was eyeing the olive oil DC by AB the other day when I somehow ended up in the beauty supply store again... I've tried a lot of products by them and I'm usually impressed. I love their hair mayo, herbal oil, and braid spray. So, I did a little research on the olive oil DC (well, posted a few q's and got a few answers and replies), and I've decided to give it a try. Why not? I picked some up today and will give it a go either tonight or tomorrow evening. I shall return with a product review!

Product Review: Suave Humectant Conditioner

2008-08-16T21:45:00.006-05:00

This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship! I'm glad I picked this up today...I used for co-washing and my hair was so easy to detangle. I practically did no work. It was beautiful! It smells good, detangles, leaves hair soft, and it's about $1...can it get any better? We shall see...Next week I'll review on V05 moisture milk...

Replenishing my Conditioners

2008-08-16T21:06:00.005-05:00

I found myself on the shampoo and conditioner aisle at wal-mart yet again, so I decided to grab a few conditioners for my co-washes. I got Suave Humectant conditioner, which I am going to use today, V05 Moisture Milks in passion fruit smoothie, and Suave Naturals in refreshing tangerine. All cheapies of course. This will be my first time trying Suave Humectant and V05, but I love Suave Naturals. I got stuck on tropical coconut for a while, but I decided to switch up the scent.

Avocado Deep Conditioner

2008-08-16T11:32:00.003-05:00

I've been getting into homemade hair care lately and searching for more natural ways to take care of my hair. I found a similar version of the following recipe at ThriftyFun.com

Ingredients
1 small jar of mayonnaise
1 avocado

Directions
Peel and pit avocado. Mix all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl until it's a consistent green color. Smooth into hair being careful to work it to the ends. Use shower cap or plastic wrap to seal body heat in. Leave on hair for 20 minutes. For deeper conditioning wrap a hot, damp towel around your head over the plastic, or use a dryer set to a low to medium heat setting.

I can't stand the smell or sight of mayonnaise, so I mix an avocado with conditioner and amla oil (which I need to buy more of)

Product Review: Giovanni Direct Leave-in

2008-08-16T11:14:00.004-05:00

I finally received my Giovanni leave-in the other day. I wasn't really impressed. It smelled great and everything, but it didn't wow me. I didn't get the results I had hoped for. It left my hair sort of stiff, not really dry or anything, just stiff, kinda like the stiffness I get after using a moderate to heavy protein treatment. I used it on damp hair, not washed, just damp from spritzing my hair with water, which I do daily. I'm gonna try it again to day after I co-wash, and see if I get better results.

Giovanni Direct Leave-in Conditioner

2008-08-13T18:06:00.002-05:00

I just bought some Giovanni leave-in the other day after hearing so many good things about it. It also has some really good ingredients, mostly natural. I'm going to add this product to my regimen and hope for some of these amazing results. I should be receiving it within the next couple of days. I had to order it online. None of the stores in my town carry it, but I did get a really great deal at vitacost.com. I got two 8.5 oz bottles for $9.28, that's only $4.64 per bottle, and shipping and handling was only $4.99! This was far less expensive that any other online store I checked out. Well, when I finally receive my product, I will be back with a product review.

AB Organics Hair Mayo

2008-08-13T18:00:00.003-05:00

I love this product so much that I had to do another post about it. I works wonderfully for my hair. Especially when I saturate my hair with it and let it go to work overnight. After rinsing it out in the morning, my hair feels super soft and tangle free. It's amazing. My hair has never felt this soft before I started using it, and my hair stays soft.

Transitioning Tips

2008-08-06T17:49:00.006-05:00

Transitioning can be difficult, especially if you've decided to transition without the Big Chop. Dealing with the two textures can be frustrating. You'll experience more shedding. That's just comes with the process. You can also experience breakage if you don't take extra care of the two textures and where they meet. I've come up with a list of a some things that have helped my along the way.

Deep condition- deep conditioning is very important. It helps restore moisture, prevents damage from happening, and keeps hair soft and manageable. When you deep condition, you should concentrate on the line of demarcation, or where the two textures meet because this area is very weak, and you should also concentrate on the ends because they are the oldest part of your hair, and tend to be the driest. I recommend deep conditioning at least once a week

Co-wash- co-washing helps avoid the harsh effects of shampoos and helps keep hair soft and manageable. Co-washing also helps you keep cool during the hot summer months

Detangle in sections- this helps avoid tangles. Also, start detangling from the ends and work your way up the hair with a wide tooth comb

Keep your hair moisturized- Our hair loves moisture

Seal those ends- sealing your ends with an oil helps lock in moisture

Wash hair in sections- this helps to avoid tangles

These are the key things that have helped me during my transition.

.::.My Daily Moisturizer.::.

2008-08-02T16:03:00.007-05:00

I absolutely love Organic Root Stimulator. I've tried just about every one of their products and they all work really well, but am I especially in love with the Olive Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion. I love the way it smells and it keeps my hair moisturized throughout the entire day. I like the consistency. It's not too thick, nor is it really watery. It's perfect for my new growth and my relaxed ends. I rub a little of this on and seal with my Amla/Herbal oil mix in the morning and just before I go to bed. I'm not giving this up anytime soon! I also did a previous post about this product.

Product Review: John Frieda Frizz Ease Curl Around Conditioner

2008-08-02T15:34:00.006-05:00

I received a sample of John Frieda's Frizz Ease Curl Around Daily Conditioner in the mail along with the shampoo and serum in the mail a few weeks ago, and I have just gotten around to trying it out. I must say that I am quite impressed. It really moisturized my hair and defined my curls and left them super soft. Without those unsightly relaxed ends, I'm sure my hair would have looked gorgeous. I had never tried any John Frieda products before, so I really didn't know what to expect, but it works very well. This is something I might definitely use once I BC.

.:.:.:.Mya.:.:.:.

2008-07-31T18:42:00.003-05:00

I absolutely love Mya's hair in this picture. Is it all her? I'm not exactly sure, but it looks nice. Her make-up is fab as well.

.:.:.:.My Condtioners.:.:.:.

2008-07-30T19:29:00.003-05:00

Here are my instant and co-washing conditioners. The first one is Intense Moisture by Tresemme. There's only a small amount left in the bottle. I'm trying to finish it, and I don't plan on buying it again. The second is a cheapie. It's Energizing Citrus Conditioner by White Rain Naturals. I got it for $1. It smells pretty good and it works well. The last one is by far my favorite. It's Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut. I love it. It smells great at it is so moisturizing. It leaves my hair feeling soft!

.:.:.:.My Shampoo's.:.:.:.

2008-07-30T18:43:00.003-05:00

Here are my favorite shampoo's. Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut is my clarifying shampoo. I mix this with water in a spray bottle and spray it on my scalp and hair. I only use this every 4-6 weeks. CON Ultra Moisturizing (used to have the green label) I use this shampoo weekly, sometimes using the same spray bottle method I use when I clarify. And CON Detangling. I'm in the process of using what's left of this shampoo. Once I do so, I don't plan on buying anymore.