Monday, November 28, 2011

He Asked!!!



If you've been following my blog than you know that Caleb and I have been together for a while now. We started out in a long distance relationship, and we both decided that in order to give our relationship a fighting chance that we needed to be closer.

Well it worked!!!!!

I'm so happy

Natural Hair Diary: Month 9

Hey Dolls,
In the 9 months that I have been natural I have learned a lot about my hair. I’ve learned what it likes and what it doesn’t, but most importantly I’ve learned that my hair is good hair!
My hair has never been healthier than it is right now and I attribute that to using this first 9 months to actually get to know my hair. I have spent countless hours looking up ingredients, watching YouTube videos and combing through forums and blogs all that I could learn how to properly care for my natural hair. Now that I know how to achieve and MAINTAIN healthy hair retention and length should come naturally, please pardon my pun!
When I started my hair care journey with a relaxed head, I was so worried about growing my hair longer I jumped on every “quick grow bandwagon” imaginable and saw very little growth. So I knew that when I first BC’d that I would have to take a different approach to this whole healthy hair thing. If I wanted to one day become a hair inspiration for some elses journey.
This video is basically all the things I’ve learned in my first 9 months of my natural hair jounrey. Hope you enjoy watching what I’ve learned!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Yet Another Post about Kinky Twists!



I just wanted to share my fave new way of styling my kinky twists! it reminds me of


Anyway here's where the original inspiration came from:


I just tweaked it a bit because I didn't really like the swoop bangs with the twits but I might have to revisit this when I take the twists out, just gotta figure out how to acheive this look with shorter hair, but I think I can come up with a few things!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Winter Hair Regimen

This is long overdue But this is what I will be doing this winter to my hair! I will probably update this post once I get my Terresentials Mud Wash in but until then here you go!!1

This winter I plan to keep my hair in protective stlyes 90% of the time.

Here’s a quick rundown
1. Kinky Twists for 4-6 weeks
2. Let my hair rest for 1-2 weeks in between installations
a. Wash/co wash once a week
b. Wear hair in twists to for stretching 5 days
c. Enjoy hair in a low manipulation style for 2 days a week

Let me break it down!!

Here’s a video on my Kinky twist regimen:


While my hair is out in between installs :
WashDay Week 1:
DC on dry hair adding and egg to my condtioner for protein
Rinse
Clarify my scalp to remove any excess bulild up
Oil rinse
Apply a rinse out condtioner to remove any excess oils.
Apply leave-ins/ moisturizers and seal
Let hair air dry in medium size twists to prevent SSKS and to stretch hair slightly
Keep hair in twists 5 days were hair out 2 days(twist out, braid outs, puffs, bantu knot outs)
Spritz hair every few days to keep it moisturized

WashDay Week 2
Dc on dry hair
Rinse
Oil rinse
Co wash
Apply a rinse out condtioner to remove any excess oils.
Apply leave-ins/ moisturizers and seal
Let hair air dry in medium size twists to prevent SSKS and to stretch hair slightly
Keep hair in twists 5 days were hair out 2 days(twist out, braid outs, puffs, bantu knot outs)
Spritz hair every few days to keep it moisturized

WashDay Week 3
Video for kinky twist pre-install prep


Product Rundown*I’ll add links to product reviews as I write them*
= holy grails

Leave-ins
Kinky Curly Knot Today
Giovonni Direct Leave-in 
Oyin Handmade Hair Dew
Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp

Moisturizers
Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding
Bee Mine Luscious

Spritz
Oyin Handmade Jucies and Berries
Bee Mine Juicy
Spray Bottle(Leave-in, H2O ,Oil)

Stylers
Eco Gel Argan Oil
Bee Mine Bee Hold Curly Butter
Oyin Handmade Shine and Define


Sealants/Oils

Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade
Coconut Oil 
Conditioners(dc= deep condtion, ro= rinse out)
Bee Mine bee-u-ti-fu (dc)
Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp(dc, ro)
Yes to Carrots Daily Pampering  (dc,ro)


These are all products in my current stash, but most are just sample sizes! After using them up I will decide what I want to purchase full size bottle of and what I can live without.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Date Night



Just wanted to share a pic of my hair from our last date night! Obvii this was before I installed the kinky twists but it was on Caleb's camera so I didn't even know they existed until recently. It's really just a failed twist out turned into a puff with one of my fave hair accessories!

Peace
So Much Love
E

p.s. I ordered my mud wash!! yay me

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Naptural85/Terressentals Mud Wash

Hey Dolls,
Sorry I been MIA for the last few days but I've have been thinking of seriously re-vamping my regimen, which is why I've been holding off on posting my updated one! I think I might just go ahead and post my current reggy, since I've already written it, and update it along the way.



What has me considering this change you ask? NAPTURAL85! She Is the definiton of a natural! She only uses 100% natural and organic products, most of which she makes hershelf. She also uses terressentials mud wash, which thanks to her, the ladies on LHCF and google maps I almost jumped in the car and drove the 45 min to on of their B&M flagship stores! Not only is Napturals hair long and lush, but it's among the healthiest looking head of natural type 4 curls that I have ever seen!!

The only thing that stopped me is that I am currently rocking my kinky twists and I knew if i physically had the mud wash in my possession I would for sure be tempted to take these bitches out TONIGHT!

Anywho I will keep you ladies posted!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Myth Buster: You Can’t Use Glycerin Based Products in the Winter!

I’ve always been a bit confused about the whole glycerin in the winter time thing. I usually just avoided it in the winter months because that’s what I have always heard, but my recent obsession with Oyin Handmade has caused me to question my thinking. I recently purchased a sample size of their Juices and Berries and I was worried that I couldn’t use t because it contained glycerin.

MYTH: Since glycerin draws moisture from its surroundings if you use it in the dry winter months it will have to take moisture from your hair!

FACT: Glycerol (or glycerin, glycerin) is a simple polyol compound. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations. Glycerol has three hydroxyl groups that are responsible for its solubility in water and its hygroscopic nature. The glycerol backbone is central to all lipids known as triglycerides(wiki)

In lamens terms this means that glycerin has 3 water groups (oxygen and hydrogen atoms, as in the O and H in H2O) that all work together to draw moisture from the atmosphere. This is where the myth comes from because it’s reasonable to think that if there is little to no water in the air, it will take it from the next best thing, your hair. This would probably be the case if you were to just use glycerin alone, but if the product you are using is mixed with water then the glycerin has the water it needs to saturate itself thus leaving your hair moisturized! Just make sure that the amount of water is greater than the amount of glycerin(as is with the juices and berries) and you will be all set!
Still not sure about glycerin here’s a tip I picked up from Jamyla at Oyin * apply your favorite glycerin product/concoction just before you shower. The moisture from the steam will give you sensational moisture! Seal it in with your favorite sealant and volia you are good to go.
This hair myth has been offically BUSTED!!!

***Disclaimer all hair types don’t react the same to all products, Just like some products/techniques work for some it may not work for others give glycerin a try if it’s still not for you on to the next one!*****

Here are a few links that may also aid in your research:
The Natural Mane
Curly Nikki
Oyin Handmade

Saturday, November 12, 2011

APL by 2012

So this is a challenge on LHCF that I am going to join! Through out my journey to natural hair I haven't really been too concerned with length as much as I have been with over all health of my hair, but now that I am a year into it I really want to buckle down and focus on growth.

Here are the challenge guidelines(copied from LHCF)

Join the challenge by clicking "thanks" on this post and I'll add you to the list.
The challenge will officially begin on December 31, 2011 and run til December 31,2012.
The challenge is open to join at any time. No cut off date!
Post pictures with updates, PS ideas, and and anything else hair related that you'd like to share.
STAY POSITIVE!! We're all on a HHJ so let's lift each other up and help out whenever we can.
***Update Dates***




March 31st
June 30th
September 30th
December 31st

For challengers wanting to join, after thanking this post answer the following questions.


Good luck everyone!!!

~Current hair length--5 1/2 inches(NL)
~Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Loc'd--- Natural
~APL goal month---Dec 2012
~Current Reggie and styling choices--- kinky Twits
~What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL? keep protective styling be more careful with detangling. Only wear my hair in stretched styles to prevent knots.
~Post a beginning picture

How I install Kinky Twists!!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Product Junkies Unite! Holy Grails, Staples and the rest!

Ok dolls I figured it would be interesting to do a post how I grade my products! I judge most hair products in kind of the same way I judge perfume, which is even if it smells good (or if my hair responds well to it) I probably wont repurchase it unless I absolutely LOVED it.

Now the reason I say that is because there is soooo many great products out there that I want to try I don't see the point in spending more money on something that I only like when something LOVE could be just a click away! Now some people will say that trying new products all the time is not being consistent to your regimen but I say products DO NOT MAKE YOUR HAIR LONG! Routines, Techniques and Knowing what YOUR hair likes and doesn't is what helps you retain length!!!

Lets be clear, I'm not saying go out and buy everything and rotate your products daily, i'm just saying that when I run out of something I only like i'm going to replace it with something else! Let me break it down...

I put all of my hair products into 1 of 4 categories

1. Products my hair hates!



I usually like to try a product 2 times before I put it into this category. I work hard for my money so before I give or throw it away I want to be sure there is nothing worth saving about it. If I still can't work it into my regimen then I usually just give it to my mom and sisters because between the 4 of them someone will probably like it.

2. Been there done that products


these products are generally the ones that I won't repurchase. These are the ones that my hair doesn't hate but they also are not ones my hair loves. I rotate them in weekly/monthly etc just to get my moneys worth but I wouldn't ever buy them again. On to the next one!

3. Staple products



These are products I really like. They are major players in my current product stash and I may or may not re visit them in the future. I get good results with these products but I still think the grass might be greener on the other side!

4. Holy muther' fukin' Grails



these are the only products that I will absolutely be re purchasing. My hair LOVES these products and I always get great results from using them. I will always have a bottle of theses products in my stash and even if I do from time to time try out other things I will always go back to them.

So you see there is nothing wrong with being a PJ you just have to be able to recognize the true diamonds in a see of coal and keep it moving!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Kinky Twist:: part 1 DC and Detangle

I was inspired to do this little series by one of my beautiful transitioning cousins. Since I'm one of only 2 naturals in my family extremely large extended family questions about natural hair usually defer to me.

So i started to thing what tips would I give to a transistioner to help them along ,and my number one piece of advice is find a style that you like and that makes you feel like yourself. If you don't feel cute you won't want to last long in your transistion.
Kinky twists are a great protective style and the first video in the series is all about what to do before you actually install the hair.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

9 Months Natural!!!

Here is my updated length check!

Date Night Hair!





Here are Just a few pics of my hair from date night! It's growing so much

Saturday, November 5, 2011

I Will Tangle No More


I know I said before that the tangle teezer didn't negativly affect my hair, but that was like 3 inches ago! Now that my hair is getting longer I have been noticing fairy knots like crazy.

At first I was contributing them to my styling methods. I had a really lazy hair summer! So when I started noticing the knots and splits I trimmed my ends and I put my hair in twists.



I wore twists for about 5 weeks then I took them down and started right back with the Tangle Teezer. And again I started to notice the knots! So not wanting to think that it was the tangle teezer I scoured the internet looking for a soultion, low and behold I ran across a blog post about how the TT was known to cause SSKS(single strand knots)

So in conclusion I dusted my ends AGAIN and I put the TT aside for now. I plan on doing twists again soon as a protective style for the winter and also as a way to bounce back from this little setback. I am just trying to hold off on doing them until after my new products came in but we'll see!
Oh p.s I’m having a great hair day!!!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Product Update.

I know I was supposed to come back with an updated hair regimen, but I am still in the process of re working my regimen for the winter months. So instead I decided to share with you what is currently in my stash. I say currently because I just made a itty bitty(Literally. I ordered a bunch of sample sizes) product haul from Oyin and Bee Mine.

*Side bar* I am in love with the idea of sample sizes esp. when I am ordering products online. It's the best way to find out what you like without spending a fortune on a product PLUS SHIPPING. Whats even better is I don't like it, i'm only out a few bucks and I don't mind so much letting it collect dust or even tossing it. I think more companies should offer samples. PLUS if I do end up liking the product I just get samples to travel with instead of buying those plastic travel size containers that I can never fill without wasting a TON of product! *steps off soapbox*

Anyway, I only have a few products in rotation because this summer I spent most of my extra money on building my make-up collection.(SMDH the budget is so tight I was forced to choose!) So what end up happening is I only replaced HG products and used up my stash from my PJ days.

I actually got some great results and my hair has been growing rather nicely. I guess thats why they are my Holy Grails tho right?



*products left to right* (** denotes HG)
**water&EVOO|**Coconut Oil|Eco Styler|**Direct Leave In|Soft sheen Carson Mango oil& Cupuacu Butter|
Not Pictured|ORS Creamy Aloe Shampoo|Deva Curl Heaven in Hair


I have basically only been co washing unless I have a lot of build up from the ECO gel, which is where the ORS comes in. I use the Direct leave-in on my wet hair before styling and seal with coconut oil. When i am wearing twists or I have my hair slicked back for a bun I will spritz with water and run coconut oil thru gently. I don't to much use the Mango Oil unless I'm doing my twists on dry hair/ or re-twisting for a twist out. I haven't decided if I am going to do a full on review. It's an ok product but it's really nothing special. And that is really all I've been doing. Now that my hair is starting to grow out I need to come up with some new styles!
Peace
So Much Love
E