Hey lovelies! So today marks January 1, 2014. The new year is your chance to get a do-over, so make it count! This year, I am setting some resolutions for my hair. Time to pay more attention to the health of my hair since I am challenging myself to grow it out for a few more years.
I've noticed that since I have been natural, I never took certain natural products seriously that can have a great impact on the health of my hair. Maybe not so much natural products, but just doing things for my hair that will benefit it's health and allow it to strive! This year, it is my goal to add 3 things specifically to my regimen to help increase the health of my hair.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar/AV Rinsing
2. Protein Treatments
3. Trimming Ends every 3-4 months
I know, I know! You guys are probably thinking: Where has this chic been? Under a rock? The answer is NO! I have read and researched these three things for years, but never thought they were overly important. I was only trimming my hair 1x per year, but as my hair has grown, I see that it will be necessary to trim it more often. This will help reduce split ends and allow me to retain length instead of suffering from breakage.
The protein treatments I always ruled out because I never thought they applied to me. Well.....they do! My hair suffers from not having the right balance of strength and moisture and I want to fix this! My hair is over moisturized right now and is in need of a treatment. When I snap a piece of my hair in two, it does not snap back after being stretched. It stays stretched out. This means that my hair is over moisturized and needs some protein. I need to pay more attention to this as ideally, your hair strands should snap and shrink back when broken into two.
Apple Cider Vinegar rinses will also be incorporated into my regimen to take the place of clarifying with shampoo. I find clarifying to drying on my hair at this length. I will use the ACV in place of clarifying to remove product buildup and to add shine to my hair.
I am going to do these three things for the next year to see how my hair improves. What are you New Years Hair Resolutions? Comment and subscribe and let me know! I'm always looking for new ideas!!!
Peace
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Twist and Curl LOVE!!!
As we all know, yesterday was Christmas! I was trying to decide what to do with my hair as I didn't want to do a usual twist out. So after some youtube surfing, I decided to go with a twist and curl. I washed and detangled my hair, threw in some twists, and rolled them with perm rods. My hair was the business! It was full, soft, and full of bouncy curls! I have reason to believe that this style will become a signature style for me now that my hair is longer. Let me show you the results!:
I LOVE this style! I got so many compliments and it just felt good! I told yall I was gone get more creative, too bad I didn't create this style myself! So many folks do it so well, I was confident I would too! This attitude is KEY in being natural. Be confident in your hair, it's texture, and what it does! My hair doesn't look like all the results I have seen, but none of those results looked the same either!
Here are two tutorials I used that helped a lot! Love these girls!
Fusion of Cultures:
My Natural Sistas:
Hope this helps all my style challenged folks!
Peace
Here are two tutorials I used that helped a lot! Love these girls!
Fusion of Cultures:
My Natural Sistas:
Hope this helps all my style challenged folks!
Peace
Monday, December 23, 2013
Winterizing My Hair
Hey Ladies. Its that time of year again. The air is dry and cold and the elements are harsh. It's the winter time and she can be super hard on the hair. So in the winter time, I tend to use heavier products on my hair for sealing and moisture retention. I want to show and share with you styling products that have been working fabulous for my hair.
Because I keep my hair in twists, the products I am about to show you are excellent for holding and defining twists. They also do not require you to keep re-moisturizing your hair. These products are extra emollient and rich. I love them. I come back to them every winter. So let me introduce you!
Oyin Handmades' Burnt Sugar Pomade is the business. As you can see, it also comes in sugar berries, but I prefer the burnt sugar. This product is a pomade, very similar to a hair grease. It smells like rich caramel and leaves hair with great shine and seals in moisture. I use this when twisting my hair and my hair is soft and defined. LOVE THIS STUFF
Qhemet Biologics Amla and Olive Heavy cream. Staple of mine for years, along with the Oyin. This product is so rich and emollient, a little goes a long way. This can be a great leave in, styler, or just moisturizer. Your hair will definitely benefit from the ingredients.
Hemp Seed Butter is a new found love of mine. This butter has mild, earthly scent but is packed with nutrients. It is very soft and can liquefy if temps are warm. This butter soaks into the hair and works much like shea butter, but is a bit lighter. Love this.
Last but definitely not least is the Aethiopika Hydrate and Twist Butter. This product gives the softest most defined twist outs and braid outs you could ever imagine. The consistency is extra thick and a bit creamy once rubbed between your fingers. This product can definitely be used alone to twist or braid the hair and I promise, you will love the results. This is probably my 2nd year using this in the winter months I am confident I will continue to do so.
Well that's it loves! These are the products that get my through the winter and provide my hair with moisture, nourishment, and awesome definition! Your hair will survive with winter with these gems in your regimen!
Peace
Because I keep my hair in twists, the products I am about to show you are excellent for holding and defining twists. They also do not require you to keep re-moisturizing your hair. These products are extra emollient and rich. I love them. I come back to them every winter. So let me introduce you!
Well that's it loves! These are the products that get my through the winter and provide my hair with moisture, nourishment, and awesome definition! Your hair will survive with winter with these gems in your regimen!
Peace
Hair and Grad School: Regimen and product update
Hello my loves! If you have been following me, you know that I am in my last year of graduate school and life has been hectic. I have been behind on blogging and well....a lot of things, but I am here and I am coming at cha' with some updates! I missed you guys, so I'm back to let you know I still love ya!
So yeah, this semester has been one of the hardest I have ever endured. The stress was high, my personal life is a mess (all a result of being in school), I'm interning 3 days a week, my conceptual paper needed to be approved and printed, and I have a 1 year old at home. You can call me crazy, cause that's exactly how I feel! Despite it all, ya girl earned that 4.0! Paper was approved and printed, and I can breeze through this last semester of school!! And my hair.......
Let's just say, this do has been on the back burner. I have kept up with my regimen and protective styling, but all that trying to be cute and flat twisting and being more creative stuff flew right out the window when things got real this semester!!! My hair stays pretty much in either twists that are tucked and pinned away, or in a bun. Period. Ain't nothing fancy bout' that! But I have been deep conditioning and moisturizing, and all that good stuff, but I changed some things. Here are the updates:
I'm still shampooing and deep conditioning with these:
Holy Grail For Sure!! This stuff is the bomb in my hair. At least this winter it is and it will stay part of the regimen. My hair is super moisturized and looks healthy. The down fall of this product and please pay attention: DO NOT USE GEL WITH THIS PRODUCT! It will leave residue and clumps of white stuff in your hair. It's good for keeping and maintaining twists and twists outs.
My other Holy Grail is this:
So yeah, this semester has been one of the hardest I have ever endured. The stress was high, my personal life is a mess (all a result of being in school), I'm interning 3 days a week, my conceptual paper needed to be approved and printed, and I have a 1 year old at home. You can call me crazy, cause that's exactly how I feel! Despite it all, ya girl earned that 4.0! Paper was approved and printed, and I can breeze through this last semester of school!! And my hair.......
Let's just say, this do has been on the back burner. I have kept up with my regimen and protective styling, but all that trying to be cute and flat twisting and being more creative stuff flew right out the window when things got real this semester!!! My hair stays pretty much in either twists that are tucked and pinned away, or in a bun. Period. Ain't nothing fancy bout' that! But I have been deep conditioning and moisturizing, and all that good stuff, but I changed some things. Here are the updates:
I'm still shampooing and deep conditioning with these:
But the shampoo is definitely a staple. I found that Sally's Beauty Supply sells a salon size bottle of it and I will be adding it to the product shelf once my 12 oz bottle is gone. I have also found that I like the conditioner and will keep it in the regimen, but it works so much better when I add olive oil and honey, heat it up, and apply it. My hair soaks this up! I am still on the hunt for a staple deep conditioning and once this is gone, I will try:
I got this on sale at CVS for like less than $3, so I grabbed it. I will replace the Cream of Nature conditioner with this once that bottle is gone to see how I like it. I will use it till it's gone and decide from there if I will keep it, or go back to the Cream of Nature as a staple. If I don't like it, I will keep looking and continue to rotate the Cream of Nature conditioner.
I have also fell in love with this!:
Holy Grail For Sure!! This stuff is the bomb in my hair. At least this winter it is and it will stay part of the regimen. My hair is super moisturized and looks healthy. The down fall of this product and please pay attention: DO NOT USE GEL WITH THIS PRODUCT! It will leave residue and clumps of white stuff in your hair. It's good for keeping and maintaining twists and twists outs.
My other Holy Grail is this:
This is the BEST conditioner for detangling And YES, I do own this big, dumb, pump bottle of this conditioner. I bought this in the spring and it is just now getting down to the bottom. This bottle was around $7, you can't beat that. The amount of product you get for the price is also a huge reason why I love this so much. I do cheat on it sometimes with Tresseme and I am going to have an affair with Aussie Moist because I have heard good things about it. I like cheap conditioners I can buy in large quantities that work great because I go through a lot of it. From detangling to co-washing. I use a ton more conditioner than shampoo, so price, size, and quality is important!
Consider yourselves updated. I will be back before winter break
Sunday, October 6, 2013
How I am facing my hair challenges! (breakage, pjism, protective styles, length retention, etc)
Hello Loves! So my protective styling is going well and I hope that my hair responds. But WAIT......
I must confess that last week, I wore a twist out for like 2 days....but I washed it yesterday and flat twisted it up!
I digress! I am twisted up again and looking to be more creative with my hair. So I challenged myself to this protective challenge and it is definitely a challenge! But my hope is to:
1. Improve my edges and grow out the short sections of hair in the middle. I know I complain about my thick hair, but I'd rather it be thick and healty, than thing and breaking and falling out!
2. Retain some length. So I have never been into long hair, but I am challenging myself to deal with my hair instead of cutting it. Cutting has always been my answer, but I am going to grow my hair and deal with the length!
3. Improve the health of my hair. Constant mainipulation kills my hair and my ends always end up a crunchy mess as a result. I want to protect my ends and allow my hair to heal.
4. Improve my parting and flat twists skills! Enough said. I suck at this and it needs help. I don't want to pay to get my hair done, so it is best I perfect the craft myself!!!!
5. Use up my products and develop a better regimen. I don't like my hair do's to get old or too frizzy, so I will try to do my hair weekly. I am thinking I will shampoo every other week and co-wash in between. The co-wash in between is only if my hair needs it to create a new style. I will clarify whenever I decide to switch up products and will protein treat every six weeks.
Plus, as you know, grad school has become quite demanding and I really only have time to devote to my hair once a week. I don't want to neglect it terribly and end up with hair in bad shape, so protective styling is my key. I will post pics of what I have come up with later, but right now I am at the library, supposed to be working on my theoretical framework, but instead I am updating my blog!!!!
So for the month of october, this is what I am using and doing to my hair! My regimen is as follows:
1. DC on dry hair using Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment and Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil.
2. Shampoo with Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture and Shine Shampoo.
3. Condition and detangle with Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Conditioner. Rinse.
4. LOC: L-Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream, O-my own blend of grapeseed, coconut, olive, and flaxseed oil, C: African Prides Olive Miracle Maximum Strenghting Moisurizer Lotion.
5. Syle with African Pride's Shea Butter Miracle Bouncy Curls Pudding.
So far this has been okay for my hair, but I am trying to get rid of the African Pride products. They work okayfor me, but I am still on the hunt for a good line of leave-in, moisturizer, and styling products. These products do moisturize, but I feel a dryness after a few days and I don't think they will stand up for the entire fall and winter.This is not my fave, but it will work in a pinch. I would repurchase again if need be, but not at this time! I think they are better suited for spring and summer when there is more moisture in the air!
Pics to come soon, until then......Peace!
I must confess that last week, I wore a twist out for like 2 days....but I washed it yesterday and flat twisted it up!
I digress! I am twisted up again and looking to be more creative with my hair. So I challenged myself to this protective challenge and it is definitely a challenge! But my hope is to:
1. Improve my edges and grow out the short sections of hair in the middle. I know I complain about my thick hair, but I'd rather it be thick and healty, than thing and breaking and falling out!
2. Retain some length. So I have never been into long hair, but I am challenging myself to deal with my hair instead of cutting it. Cutting has always been my answer, but I am going to grow my hair and deal with the length!
3. Improve the health of my hair. Constant mainipulation kills my hair and my ends always end up a crunchy mess as a result. I want to protect my ends and allow my hair to heal.
4. Improve my parting and flat twists skills! Enough said. I suck at this and it needs help. I don't want to pay to get my hair done, so it is best I perfect the craft myself!!!!
5. Use up my products and develop a better regimen. I don't like my hair do's to get old or too frizzy, so I will try to do my hair weekly. I am thinking I will shampoo every other week and co-wash in between. The co-wash in between is only if my hair needs it to create a new style. I will clarify whenever I decide to switch up products and will protein treat every six weeks.
Plus, as you know, grad school has become quite demanding and I really only have time to devote to my hair once a week. I don't want to neglect it terribly and end up with hair in bad shape, so protective styling is my key. I will post pics of what I have come up with later, but right now I am at the library, supposed to be working on my theoretical framework, but instead I am updating my blog!!!!
So for the month of october, this is what I am using and doing to my hair! My regimen is as follows:
1. DC on dry hair using Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment and Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil.
2. Shampoo with Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture and Shine Shampoo.
3. Condition and detangle with Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Conditioner. Rinse.
4. LOC: L-Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream, O-my own blend of grapeseed, coconut, olive, and flaxseed oil, C: African Prides Olive Miracle Maximum Strenghting Moisurizer Lotion.
5. Syle with African Pride's Shea Butter Miracle Bouncy Curls Pudding.
So far this has been okay for my hair, but I am trying to get rid of the African Pride products. They work okayfor me, but I am still on the hunt for a good line of leave-in, moisturizer, and styling products. These products do moisturize, but I feel a dryness after a few days and I don't think they will stand up for the entire fall and winter.This is not my fave, but it will work in a pinch. I would repurchase again if need be, but not at this time! I think they are better suited for spring and summer when there is more moisture in the air!
Pics to come soon, until then......Peace!
Monday, September 23, 2013
My Second Henna! I know, I'm Late!!!! Protective Style Challenge for me!
Forgive me for my tardiness all! My last year of grad school has begun and I have been crazy busy! I did Henna my hair again sometime last month and my hair is doing really well. I like the effects of he henna and all, but honestly yall, I just don't have time for it right now! Straight up! But here is what I will say about my henna experience:
1. My hair is overall healthier
2. There is a nice reddish brown tint to my hair
3. I think I get the same results as everyone else by just mixing my henna with brewed green tea
4. Henna is a PAIN to rinse out! Very long process and requires A LOT of clean up!
5. It reduces the shedding of my hair and make my hair a bit shinier and healthier
6. I will definitely re-visit my henna journey....maybe next semester when the hard stuff is over and it's time to graduate!
PROTECTIVE STYLE CHALLENGE!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, so as I expressed above, I just don't have time for my hair. I still want to keep it healthy and moisturized though. I am really trying to grow my hair out and regain some of it's thickness. So until December, I am in protective style mode. Today is the beginning of this challenge. Here are the dynamics of this challenge:
Peace
1. My hair is overall healthier
2. There is a nice reddish brown tint to my hair
3. I think I get the same results as everyone else by just mixing my henna with brewed green tea
4. Henna is a PAIN to rinse out! Very long process and requires A LOT of clean up!
5. It reduces the shedding of my hair and make my hair a bit shinier and healthier
6. I will definitely re-visit my henna journey....maybe next semester when the hard stuff is over and it's time to graduate!
PROTECTIVE STYLE CHALLENGE!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, so as I expressed above, I just don't have time for my hair. I still want to keep it healthy and moisturized though. I am really trying to grow my hair out and regain some of it's thickness. So until December, I am in protective style mode. Today is the beginning of this challenge. Here are the dynamics of this challenge:
- The idea is to retain length and keep hair moisturized and protected.
- Wash/co-wash and condition/deep condition as often as you normally do. For me, this is about every 2 weeks. I am considering for the next few months only shampooing once every six week and co-washing in between. Just to keep my hair from possibly drying.
- Find a good moisturizing routine that will fit YOUR hair. For me, I will be doing the following: Leave-in (Cantu), oil (personal oil blend I am using consisting of coconut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, and flax oil), moisturizer (whatever I choose at the time but for now I will be using up my African Pride Olive Miracle Strengthening Moisturizer), and a styler (African Pride Shea Miracle Bouncy Curls Pudding...it's almost all gone and want to use it up). When I check back in, I will let you know how these products work and if I am sticking with them or using something different.
- Keep hair in a protected style a minimum of 3 out of 4 weeks in the month. Styles can include twists, braids, weaves, buns, etc.
- We will stay in protective mode until March....that's 6 months! Then by the spring we can see how much progress we have made with length retention and hair health!
Peace
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Absent....But I'm here!
Hey loves! I know I have been missing for a while, but I wanted to let you know that I am here!!!! So let me tell you....
I moved from Indiana to Georgia last month. I am working on my master's and have one more year of school to complete. I am studying at Clark Atlanta University, but took last year off when I had my daughter. Well, I am back to finish! Sorry it has been a while since I posted, but I am now all moved in and settled and ready to continue to blog! So what has happened in my absence you say, well, let's see!
1. I have not henna'd again, but I plan to this weekend!
2. I have discovered that Bantu Knot outs are not for me! I don't know if I just don't have a good technique, if I need to do them on blown out hair instead, or if my hair just doesn't like them! But I will tell you, it will be a while before I try those again!
3. Havana Twists!!!! My new loves! Had a set...can't find the pic, but they were dope! If I find it later, I will definitely post it!!!!
4. Products I have feel in love with are: Cantu leave-in repair cream (no pic), African Pride Bouncy Curls Pudding (love for twist outs!), and Hemp Seed butter!!!!!!!!! And I revisited a holy grail and am glad I have it in stock...Qhemet Biologics Aethiopika Hydrate and twist butter!
4. I like braid and curls along with my twist outs! Twist outs are my holy grails, but I finally did a good braid out/curl, and I am in love!!!
Sorry I have been away for so long, but I am back! Just wanted to update you and say hey! I am still alive and still blogging!!!
Peace!
I moved from Indiana to Georgia last month. I am working on my master's and have one more year of school to complete. I am studying at Clark Atlanta University, but took last year off when I had my daughter. Well, I am back to finish! Sorry it has been a while since I posted, but I am now all moved in and settled and ready to continue to blog! So what has happened in my absence you say, well, let's see!
1. I have not henna'd again, but I plan to this weekend!
2. I have discovered that Bantu Knot outs are not for me! I don't know if I just don't have a good technique, if I need to do them on blown out hair instead, or if my hair just doesn't like them! But I will tell you, it will be a while before I try those again!
3. Havana Twists!!!! My new loves! Had a set...can't find the pic, but they were dope! If I find it later, I will definitely post it!!!!
4. Products I have feel in love with are: Cantu leave-in repair cream (no pic), African Pride Bouncy Curls Pudding (love for twist outs!), and Hemp Seed butter!!!!!!!!! And I revisited a holy grail and am glad I have it in stock...Qhemet Biologics Aethiopika Hydrate and twist butter!
4. I like braid and curls along with my twist outs! Twist outs are my holy grails, but I finally did a good braid out/curl, and I am in love!!!
5. Umm, I think that's it! It has been a journey over the last month, but I am back! I will be doing another Henna this weekend, and will definitely post about that! This will be my second one! The first one didn't give noticeable results, but I noticed! My hair is the color it was when I was a kid playing in the sun.....a dark reddish brown and I can't wait to see the results of the second henna!Sorry I have been away for so long, but I am back! Just wanted to update you and say hey! I am still alive and still blogging!!!
Peace!
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