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Saturday, December 29, 2012

Do You Need a Mini Chop?

Yes!!!

I did my Mini chop on Dec.12.2012
It was much needed.
When I would finish my twist and twirl my ends, I'd always notice a string of hair straggling and I also noticed my ends were dry and no matter how much deep conditioning, moisturizing, and oil I added it was not helping.
I had come across an article through curlynikki.com and read more about what a mini chop actually is and that's when I decided I would Mini Chop.

This photo is the amount of hair I chopped off...






After, I finished my mini chop, I twisted the sections.





 This was the length after unraveling one of my twist after my mini chop session.



 I decided to do small to medium sized twists, but I also wanted to utilize my cold wave rods, so I through those in my hair.



 When I took the rods out, my hair was really curly so I banded my hair and attempted to stretch my hair...lol. (See what happens when you have too much time on your hands?)



My final results, I loved it!!








I think I chopped off too much at the back in the center area, but I am okay with it, because it'll grow back...lol.




Do You Need a Mini Chop?

 

Friday, December 21, 2012

Cantu Shea butter & Shea Butter mix Twist

Good Day!!!

I had co-washed my hair Sunday (Dec.16.12) and I had just applied some Giovanni direct Weightless leave-in and my oil mix and donned my satin hair bonnet. Each day since, I sprayed my hair with either water and then applied some more Giovanni or I'd use some Curls Lacish Curls 2nd day refresher.

Yesterday, I decided to detangled and section my hair for my twist.

Today, I sprayed each section with Curls lavish curls, smoothed it through, then I sealed it with my oil mix. After, sealing I ran the wide tooth comb through, making sure I had no tangles or knots. Then I applied my Cantu Shea butter Leave in Conditioning repair cream and sealed with my Shea butter mix.

I will post pics of my results.





Real Texture Talk: Raquel Ford Please go check me out on Naturallycurly.com

Real Texture Talk: Raquel Ford

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Prepped for twist!!

Hey ladies and gents,

I wasn't in the mood to manipulate my hair these past few days, so after I had cowashed, deep conditioned, I used my Giovanni's Weightless Direct leave-in and Coconut Jamaican Black Castor oil to seal. My hair remained soft and moist for 3 days.

Today I decided to detangle and pamper my tresses.





Creamy Natural Raw Shea butter mixed N whipped!!

Hello everyone,

I was watching some favorite bloggers and seen Jenell of KinkyCurlyCoilyMe video about her face regimen and her article about African Black Soap.
She details how African black Soap has helped aid in her fight with pimples, acne, and clearer skin. Jenell also discussed where she got her hands on some 100% Raw African Black Soap. Madina on Atlantic ave in Brooklyn NY.
I watched this video a couple of times before and read the article so many times...lol. I decided I was goo to purchase some African black soap, I did and while purchasing the African Black Soap, I purchased (3) 1lb tubs of 100%Raw Shea butter.

I ordered on Tuesday and received my package on Wednesday!!! Wonderful customer satisfaction!!!

I decided to make my VERY OWN SHEA BUTTER MIX(hand whipped)!



Sunday, December 16, 2012

Things I am sticking with....

My HOLY GRAILS FOR MY 4A/B & 3/C hair are:
Co wash: Tresemme Naturals (nourish and moisture)
Herbal Essence (Hello Hydration)

Lo-poo : SheaMoisture Raw Shea butter Retention Shampoo

Clarifying: Pantene Pro-v (Relaxed and natural Dry to moisturized).
Eden BodyWorks Jojoba monoi shampoo

Deep condition:
Curls ecstasy Hair Tea Deep conditioner
Shea Moisture Restorative conditioner
Smooth N Shine Tea tree &Olive oil Deep recovery treatment
Garnier Fructis 3 minute Undo

Leave-in:
Parnevu Extra Dry Leave in
Garnier Fructis sleek N Shine leave in Creme
Giovanni weightless Direct Leave in
Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner

Stylers (I am still experimenting with some others):
Curls Whipped Cream
Roots of nature Whipped coil cream
Shea Moisture Curl&Style Hair milk
Carols daughter Mimosa Hair honey
Curls goddess curls and Curls Cashmere curl jelly
Raw Shea butter and Coconut oil
coconut Jamaican Black Castor Oil


Oils:
Coconut Jamaican black Castor Oil
Raw Shea butter
Coconut oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Grapeseed Oil

Gel:
Ampro Pro Styl Olive Oil Gel
IC Fantasia olive oil gel with sparkle lites



















Fell in love!!! Slippery and stress free.

Yayyy!!!

I finally found my STAPLE co-wash conditioner. I have been going through so many different products and nothing has ever been like this yet! I am so happy and relieved.

When I Big chopped back in March, I read many stories, forms, and blogs. I felt I had an arsenal of information on products, on hair type, and accessories.

Well, HOLD UP....I know if you have thought about going natural then you definitely should know about "Herbal Essence Hello Hydration." This is one of my most favorite co-wash conditioners yet.
But, last night I decided to co-wash using a new found love of the natural hair community, "Tresemme Naturals - nourishing Moisturizing Conditioner." This conditioner had so much slip and assist with detangling! I was in pure natural Hair Maven Heaven!!!

I had my hair detangled in the amount of 5-6 minutes! Usually it takes me 6-7 sections for 20-30 minutes to DETANGLE without hurting my beautiful tresses. I was able to really comprehend what others have praised and discussed for so many months.
I am not ever letting it go!!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Cold Wave Rods (yellow and pink)

Good night.
Today I kept thinking about what I wanna do to my hair, I kept thinking and thinking. Then I started watching some YouTube videos and decided I wanted to use these new items I purchased!

I cowashed my hair with herbal Essences Honey I'm Strong! And then I rinsed. Next I used Garnier Fructis 3 minute Undo. I used my wide tooth console shower comb and detangled each section. Then I did my shower stuff....
I rinsed the conditioner out completely.
I followed up with Parnevu leave in for Extra Dry Hair, then I applied my oil mix.
Now, following those steps I thought again what do I want to do to my hair?
I chose to do medium twist, then changed to small/medium twists and added the cold wave rods to the ends.

After I had oiled my hair to seal in my leave in, I use Curls Goddess curls to help with definition and hold.

I cannot wait to see my results!!!






Monday, December 10, 2012

Hard water or soft water???

I was stumped so I decided to figure out what is "hard water," which everyone I see references.

Here is a nice link which gave me a better understanding: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/wsstat01b.pdf

"Predominantly soft water in NYC!!!"

12 days of Giveaway!! Link Below

 Good morning,
I should have been made a post about the giveaway, but I've been posting to so many of my other interests like curlynikki.com
I am happy to have found her site, because she is very inspirational, very diverse, and loving (yes all this through the web)! I can definitely say I feel like I know Mrs.Nikki, like we go way back...lol.
Check out not only the giveaway but the informative tabs at the top of her page!! Mrs.Nikki has phenomenal stories of "regular" curlies like myself and then she has celebrity curly stories, but the most fascinating is her tale bits of her family life. I enjoy it all. And I know you will, too....so click below, head over, and enjoy. (Oh, and comment) 




http://www.naturallycurly.com/giveaways/Winter-Giveaway/st/50c5fcb9894904.84085694

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sa'mani's Protective style...lets see!!

Yesterday I was bored. So I decided to do something curly Nikki does, I smothered her hair in coconut oil and twisted it for the night...oh and I finger detangled.

Today Sam came out the shower and her hair had gotten wet, so I decided to try a 3 strand twist, especially since she has length.

I sprayed some Roots of Nature Remedies Mango butter & Cupuacu oil on sectioned hair, used an "Afro comb" and 3 strand twisted!!

I will post pics of the turnout...

Sunday, December 2, 2012

The Many Uses of Coconut Oil

The Many Uses of Coconut Oil

I currently can preach about coconut oil. I first used coconut oil for sealing my leave-in conditioner in my Wash-N-Go routine. Then I after seeing how the coconut oil kept my hair soft anf moist,I kept it in my routine. I use coconut oil for wash-N-Go styles, twist, twist outs, to oil myscalp and for shine.

I am also beginning to incorporate coconut oil as a pre-poo treatment...

The brand I have been purchasing is Tropic Isle Coconut Jamamican Black Castor Oil (CJBCO). I purchased mines from the local beauty supply and amazon. com. http://www.amazon.com/Tropic-Isle-Living-Jamaican-Coconut/dp/B004IM8A6W/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1354506403&sr=8-7&keywords=Tropic+Isle

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Henna

I just picked up my package from www.mehandi.com for Ancient Sunrise Henna (body art quality henna) RED.
This Henna states for dark hair it will not color my hair, but will give me highlights in the sun.

Henna is used to help make hair stronger, add color(varies), thicker, and glossy!
Right now it is 4:24pm and I am going to begin mixing my Henna!

I will keep everyone updated!!

Also check out www.curlynikki.com for more!!!





Today is a wash n go...Curls products only

Tuesday night I washed my hair with Pantene Pro-V Relaxed and natural shampoo(needed clarifying badly). Then I used Curls Creamy curls to rehydrate my curls.
Secondly, I applied the Curls Coconut Curlada conditioner and massaged through my entire head. Bi allowed the conditioner to remain for 10minutes while I showered. I rinsed the conditioner out with like warm water because I wanted the cuticle to remain open for the next step.

When I rinsed the conditioner out, I curls Creme brûlée and Tropic isle Coconut Black Castor oil. Put a plastic cap on, tied a scarf on top and went to bed.

The following day I kept my scarf and plastic cap ON.
At the night I took the plastic cap off and rinsed my hair with cool water, I applied the Curls Coconut Curlada conditioner and finger detangled.

Next, I rinsed the conditioner out with Luke warm water. Then, I applied my sample of Curls Ecstasy Tea Conditioner in sections throughout my hair, I put a plastic cap on applied 2 minutes of heat(with cap ON). Then I put my scarf on and went to bed.


This morning I rinsed the conditioner out with cold water and applied Curls Goddess Curls (scrunched in sections)!!










Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Article: DEEP CONDITIONING (Am I doing it right?)

How to Properly Deep Condition Natural Hair

Posted by CURLYNIKKI |
by Susan Walker of Earthtone Naturals

Deep conditioning is an extremely important practice for many naturals and as a result there are various ways women deep condition their hair. But what is the proper way to deep condition the hair? Why are some methods more important than others and what is a complete waste of time. The purpose of this article is to sift through all of the information to give the real truth about this process, and how to get the results your looking for.

What is conditioning?

What you’re trying to accomplish with conditioning is to restore or maintain the elasticity of the hair so that it’s better able to withstand combing, brushing, cleansing etc. without too much damage. Conditioning can also improve the appearance of the hair causing it to appear healthy.  Conditioning in general should accomplish the following:
  • Ease combing (both wet and dry)
  • Increase softness to the hair
  • Minimize flyaways
  • Reduce the porosity of the hair
  • Improve the manageability of the hair
For the most part, a regular moisturizing or hydrating conditioner is able to give these results. However if you hair is damaged then deep conditioning should be a part of your regimen. Damaged is any condition where one or more of the hair structures – the cuticle, cortex, medulla, etc. – are physically or chemically altered so much that they are unable to return to their original state. Cuticles can become cracked and frayed, the hair shaft can become cracked damaging the cortex and medulla, and the hair fiber can be exposed and unprotected in extreme cases. Common causes of hair damage include that from regular hair care practices such as mechanical manipulation, to extreme processes like chemical altering. Once hair has been damaged there is no way to repair it. The only way to rid the hair of damaged areas is by cutting. What products actually do is temporarily improve the state of the hair to make it look, feel and perform like hair that is healthier, as well as prevent future damage. Damaged hair typically has the following characteristics:
  • Loss of elasticity
  • Breaking hair
  • Dull-looking hair
  • Dry and brittle
  • Highly porous
  • Split ends or mid-shaft splits
  • A lot of tangling
What type of conditioner do you need?

The type of conditioner you use for your hair will depend on your hair texture and the state of your hair. For example, fine limp hair will need a conditioner that can increase body and thick, dry hair will require a conditioner that can be used for softness and moisture. Reconstructors containing a lot of protein should be used on hair that is fine, limp and damaged. Moisturizing deep conditioners with a lot of oils, emollients and moisturizers should be used on hair that requires softening or is very dry. If your focus is on real deep conditioning then the type of product you use will be important, as well as how that conditioner is used on the hair. In order to get the best results enough of the conditioning agents must bind to the hair and sufficient amounts of active ingredients must penetrate into the cortex of the hair. This occurs under one or a combination of the following situations:
  • High pH
  • Heat
  • Time
So in the context of deep conditioning let’s take a look at the factors necessary to properly do so.

High pH

A higher pH results in cuticles that are more open. Hair is most vulnerable in this state but it’s also a great opportunity for the conditioner to really penetrate into the cortex of the hair rather than if the cuticles are closed. Cuticles are typically opened when hair is relaxed or chemically processed in some way. For natural hair, the cuticles are typically not really open unless the hair is very porous or damaged in some way. Using baking soda and castile soap (which are high pH ranges) for cleaning can result in the cuticles opening. I don’t have any experience with either one of these cleansing agents to recommend how to properly use them and as a result, time and the use of heat with the conditioner will be discussed in order to maximize conditioning results.

The amount of time the conditioner is left of the hair

The longer the contact between the conditioner and the hair, the more the conditioning agents can bind to the hair, and active ingredients can penetrate into the cortex. Every ingredient in a conditioner has its own ability to adsorb (adhere) to the surface of the hair and/or penetrate into the hair. Many factors depend on the use of high or low molecular weight proteins, the use of oils with long or short fatty acid chains etc. The key ingredients that can stick to hair like the surfactants, hydrolyzed proteins and polyquats will do so within a few seconds of applying the conditioner. If left on hair for longer the more they will be absorbed. In general the conditioning effect is present for up to 25-30 minutes. After this time absorption of active ingredients has reach its maximum and there is no real added benefit to leaving a conditioner on the hair after 30 minutes.

The Use of Heat

As the hair increases in temperature the possibility of the conditioners penetrating the cortex also increases. What temperature are we talking about? The hair should be at about 60 degrees Celcius (about 140 degrees Fahrenheit) which can be achieved at the medium setting of an electric heat cap.
In Part 2 of this series we’ll take a look at the ingredients you need to look for in an great deep conditioner and the steps you should take to get the most out of your deep conditioning.

How to Properly Deep Condition Natural Hair II

Posted by CURLYNIKKI |


How to Properly Deep Condition Natural Hair Part 2: The Ingredients and the Methods
by Susan Walker of Earthtone Naturals

How do you know if your deep conditioner is good or not? Do you rely on price? Not necessarily as an expensive product doesn’t mean the product is good, nor does a cheap product mean it doesn’t work. So what should you look for? The answer to this question is to become ingredient savvy. Having an understanding of ingredients will help you determine, at least at first glance, if a deep conditioner is going to be effective for you or not.

Ingredients that attach onto to the hair

Remember we discussed the fact that conditioning agents ADSORB to the hair? ADSORBING means that the ingredients attach to the surface of the hair. This phenomenon is responsible for helping to soften the hair, temporarily repair the hair, smooth the cuticle and reduce flyaways. The main types of ingredients you’re looking for are cationic surfactants, cationic polymers, emollients, oils and silicones.

Surfactants are molecules that have water-loving and water-repelling segments. There are many uses for surfactants and they are mainly used for their cleansing ability. Surfactants can carry a positive charge, negative charge or no charge. However, when it comes to conditioning, cationic surfactants - or those with a positive charge - are extremely important. Since hair carries a relative negative charge, if you use a cationic or positively charged surfactant it will be attracted to the negatively charged section of the hair and bind to the surface of the hair. The surfactants will also form a film that smoothes the cuticle resulting in reducing static, tangling and improving softness. What are some main cationic surfactants? Behentrimonium methosulfate, behentrimonium chloride and cetrimonium chloride. Other ingredients that adsorb are conditioning polymers like the polyquaterniums and cationic guar gum. Lastly emollients such as cetyl and cetearyl alcohol, some oils and silicones also have the ability to attach to the hair and convey benefits.
 


Ingredients that penetrate into the hair

Some ingredients can penetrate into natural hair at a temperature of about 35 degrees celcius. This corresponds to the temperature that would be reached if you applied conditioner to your hair and covered it with a shower cap. These ingredients include hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed silk protein, coconut oil, cetrimonium bromide, panthenol, some silicones. Many can penetrate in between the layers of the cuticle and into the cortex of the hair. Each ingredient has its own time for penetration ranging from minutes to hours. This time can also depend on the condition of the hair often with damaged hair resulting in faster penetration than hair that is not damaged.

So what are the best steps to deep condition curly hair?

1. Shampoo with a product containing negative surfactants or cleansers. Rinse the shampoo from the hair and then apply the conditioner with positive surfactants. This is the best method for getting the most amount of conditioner to adsorb onto the hair, while allowing the maximum penetration of key ingredients into the hair. The reason you want to shampoo the hair first is that high carries slight negative charge which is enhanced with the use of shampoo with a negative charge. Opposites attract so when hair with a negative charge encounters the positive charge of the deep conditioner there will be more adsorption onto the hair and better penetration of active ingredients. It’s important to rinse out the shampoo because if not, the negative charge of the shampoo could interfere with the ability of the conditioner to adhere to the surface of the hair.

2. Apply enough conditioner on the hair to completely cover and saturate the hair. Put a plastic cap over your hair and then apply heat for up to 30 minutes. The time the conditioner is left on the hair combined with the application of heat increases the penetration of some ingredients into the cortex. If you don’t have a heating cap you could theoretically use a hair dryer or blow dryer or, steam or boil some towels in hot water, carefully remove them from the water with gloves, remove excess water and wrap your head (covered in the plastic cap) with the towels for the required time. The point is that the warmer your hair is, the deeper the penetration into the hair and the more effective the conditioning treatment.

3. Rinse with cool water. Cool water helps to seal the cuticle.

After you have effectively deep conditioned your hair it should feel softer, moisturized, shiny and more manageable. If your conditioning treatment results in this then you’ve definitely found a product to keep. If it doesn’t then get rid of it, read the ingredient list and invest in a product that is really going to do something for your hair.

Beware of overconditioning!

Some women love to leave a deep conditioner on their hair for hours at a time for various reasons. While conditioning is good for the hair, too much of a good thing is not necessarily better. Conditioning for hours at a time can result in softer hair and this likely occurs because of a change in the keratin forming a different configuration than normal. Hair that is softer will be weaker and more prone to breaking if manipulated. This change in keratin is temporary and your hair will return to its stronger state but you'll need to be careful how you handle it until it does.

http://www.curlynikki.com/2012/11/how-to-properly-deep-condition-natural.html

Friday, November 16, 2012

Bantu knots using Curls products

Hello,

I had done some chunky twist a few days ago and today it was DONE!! So, I decided I want use the Curls samples I requested. I used the Curls Lavish Curls moisturizer to refresh my dry twist out. I made sure to saturate my hair with the moisturizer. Then I rubbed nickel sized amounts of Curls Whipped Cream into my hands and applied through y hair, around the hair line, and in between various sections. I used a rat tail comb parted my hair into 4 sections. I use scunci elastic ties to hold the sections in place. I applied whipped cream and sprayed lavish curls moisturizer to each section then I detangling each section by section. After I had completed each section, I took some pure sweet almond oil and applied to each section ( I separated the section into two and applied oil).

I attempted to stretch my hair some and tied the sections off again with my elastic bands. I waited about an hour or so for the hair to be damp.

And then section by section I made two strand twist and wrapped it into a Bantu knot with Curls Cashmere Curls jelly. I am going to unravel on Monday and share my results of Curls whipped Cream, Cashmere Curls Jelly, and Curls Lavish Curls moisturizer.