Mini Twist *BREAK*

Mini Twist Time Out

I've been doing mini twists, or small twists rather, since my protective style challenge starting in August....it's time for a break!
I was not feeling spending hours twisting my hair after a long day of pre-pooing, hair steaming, detangling, shampooing, and deep conditioning....forget that!

I decided for the next couple of months, I'm going to wear chunky twists instead.
Mostly because I'm going into my winter time laziness phase LOL
Almost every natural I know has their version of mini twists they are rocking right now so I dare to be different...


These are not the best chunky twist but...they work for me and my hair feels great!

My regimen to get this style, I'm not making this up ladies, this is how lazy I got this time LOL:

Hot oil treatment: (castor oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, tea tree oil, rosemary oil) I put this on my hair, made 10 huge twists, put a shower cap on and a long scarf wrap, went to work for 9 hours, then left it in overnight...SMH

In the am, I took down each twist, put Aubrey Organics GPB Glycogen Protein Balancing conditioner in and twisted my hair back up. I steamed for 20 mins then detangled and shampooed my hair, which was one of the easiest detangling session I've ever had!!!

Then I did a Rhassoul Clay treatment (Rhassoul clay, brazil nut butter, coconut oil) and left this in for a really long time lol

After that, I deep conditioned overnight with Bee Mine deep conditioner mixed with avocado bvtter, cupuacu butter, jojoba oil, and coconut oil.

Results:
My hair is amazingly soft, manageable, and shiny....

*LOVING NATURAL LIFE*

*Happy Nappyversary*

17 Months Natural!!!

In honor of my 17 month Nappyversary today I'm sharing my journey with you!
I BC'd June 10, 2009 :-D

You know, with all the ups, downs, and set backs I've had with my natural hair over the past year, I am still loving this!

November 2009
November 2010
November 2009
November 2010
November 2009
November 2010
November 2009
November 2010
November 2009
November 2010
November 2009
November 2010

I would love for you *Natural Beauties* to share your journeys with me!

Follow my blog & share! :-)

*Small Two Strand Twists*

Protective Styling For Me!
So yes, another set of twists that took me 5 hours, but good thing is these are smaller than the last ones so I'm getting faster! :-)

Since I can't use my homemade shea butter mix for awhile (see my Dry Hair Repair Blog)
I made a new mix which is: shea butter, mango butter, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, and Qhemet's Biologics Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee

This mix is great!!!!

Crazy shrinkage but I'm a happy *Natural* now! :-D

Dry Hair Repair

*Braid Out Nightmare*

Watch for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSStrQTU4OA

I had to wash my hair after a couple of days, I could not take this dryness anymore!

So here's what contributed to my very dry braid out:

After I washed my hair I deep conditioned overnight with Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque which has vegetable glycerin (a humectant) in it...The next day I rinsed then put my leave-in conditioner on which has Castor Oil in it (a humectant). To braid my hair I used Afroveda Curl Define, my hair felt dry but I wasn't concerned at first. The next 2 days I used my homemade shea butter mix (shea butter, mango butter, 100% aloe vera gel, vegetable glycerin, sweet almond oil) and my braids still felt a little dry.

So, I finally unraveled my braids and my hair felt so dry and brittle...Now I know why! With this cooler weather, those humectant products were working against me, I'm thinking I'm moisturizing my hair and I'm getting no moisture what so ever! My moisture/protein balance was way off!

I got a tip from my natural hair idol KinkyKurlyQueen about Aubrey Organics GPB Glycogen Protein Balancing Conditioner so I purchased some and immediately started "Project Dry Hair Repair"

I put the GPB conditioner on and steamed for 10 minutes, product was on my hair for a total of 15 minutes maybe 20
I washed all that mess off with Bee Mine shampoo & V05 Strawberries & Creme conditioner. My hair already felt better...


I deep conditioned overnight with Bee Mine Coconut deep conditioner mixed with Vatika Oil, Cupuacu butter, Avocado butter, and Coconut oil.


My results: SUPER SOFT & MOISTURIZED HAIR



So now I know until spring time next year, I will not be using Vegetable Glycerin, Castor Oil, and Aloe Vera Gel....also will not be using any products with these as ingredients

*Natural Hair Treatments*

Good? Bad? Stop? Go?

How do I fit them all into my regimen???

• Great for chemically treated hair
• Leaves hair soft and restored to a natural state
• Non-flaking
• No petroleum
• Easy to apply

Le Kair Cholesterol Plus Strengthening and Conditioning Cream strengthens, deep conditions and rejuvenates your hair and is enriched with cholesterol, Jojoba Oil, Aloe Vera and collagen. Treats split ends, dry brittle hair and chemically processed hair. Ideal for chemically treated hair

This use to be a staple product of mine during transitioning and even 8 months of me being 100% natural. I loved it! Then, I started doing more research on products and their ingredients, this product has mineral oil in it. I know there's lots of controversy on whether mineral oil is good or bad for your hair, but I didn't take any chances so I stopped using it immediately. Over these past few months, I have noticed that my hair is not as strong as it used to be when I was using this product. I noticed more shedding and even breakage which started me doing herbal henna treatments like Amla, Brahmi, and Cassia for strength.

I would mix the Le Kair with my homemade shea butter mix and leave it in my hair overnight...
Should I start using this again???

Measurements:

1 Haas avocado

2 tbsp coconut oil

3 tbsp mayo

1 tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup water

This was another treatment I used during my first 6+ months of being natural.
My product junkie kicked in and I stopped doing this treatment.
I honestly believe my hair was a lot stronger and healthier when I was doing the avocado treatment and using the Le Kair overnight every 7-10 days.
Should I start doing this again???


So...I stopped my regime above and started a new one with these: Cassia, Amla, Brahmi, Shikakai
I did research on all these and got tips & advice from other naturals, so I decided to give them a try. I love the results I get from using Cassia and my hair feels very soft after a treatment and my curls are loose which is great! I add tbls. of the others to the Cassia to get a really good conditioning, strengthening treatment and a well cleansed scalp.
Only difference is I don't feel like these are strengthening my hair honestly...maybe I'm crazy and they really are and I just don't notice it but, that's just my personal opinion. I'm sure it's all fine, I just seem to have a ton of shedding that I didn't have before.

I do this treatment every 4 weeks
Should I continue???

Rhassoul Clay Treatment:

1 cup of Rhassoul Clay Powder

3/4 cups of hot water (add water slowly)

1 tsp of melted Brazil Nut Butter

2 tbs of Bee Mine Deep Conditioner

1 tbs of Coconut Oil

I got this amazing recipe from *KinkyKurlyQueen*

I've only done this treatment once for 1 hour but my hair felt GREAT after! I wished I could have left it on longer but I was in a hurry. I did the set of small twists I am currently wearing right now after this treatment and my twists have been very moisturized. I need to try this again in order to give a honest opinion about it but so far I like it.

My problem is all of these treatments have their benefits and have worked very well with my hair type and texture. If I continue with ALL of these treatments, how in the world am I going to fit them all in??? I have no idea?!

This is what I've come up with:

Hot oil treatment for 20 minutes then finger detangle

Add conditioner then Huetiful hair steam for 10 minutes

Co-wash or shampoo (shower detangle)

Then....

Avocado treatment for 1 hour every wash?

Cassia treatment for 3 hours every 4 weeks?

Rhassoul treatment for 3 hours every 6 weeks?

I don't want to manipulate my hair too much and cause more shedding or breakage so I figure less is better.

I don't know???

Good? Bad? Stop? Go?

I need advice ladies!!! Please help...

*Product Junkie In Remission*

Being A Product Junkie Was Fun But.....
*EXPENSIVE*

I'm officially done ladies! I've tried my fair share of products and I finally found what works best for my natural hair, here's who made the cut and why:

Co-washing: V05 Strawberries Moisture Milk

I have used this conditioner since transitioning and there has been no other conditioner to do a better job of cleansing and softening my hair for detangling. It's cheap, cheap, cheap! $.99 to be exact, sometimes on sale for less! I mix olive oil and peppermint oil in the bottle and my scalp feels wonderful during and after co-washing, gives me that scalp tingle and fresh clean feeling I love. Vital Plus Herbal Organics did not make the cut...it's also good for co-washing but it's $3.50...why pay more for something when I can get the same results for less $$$.


Pre-poo Conditioners, Deep Conditioners, & Leave Ins:
Giovanni, Aubrey Organics, Bee Mine Products

All of these products leaves my natural hair very soft, moisturized, and conditioned.
You know how you use a certain product and after awhile it does nothing for you anymore?
These are not one of those products! I have used these consistently and I get the same results every time...these are keepers!

As my pre-poo conditioners: Giovanni Smooth Deeper Moisture..Bee Mine Balancing Avocado Cream..

As my deep conditioners: Bee Mine Bee.U.Ti.Ful..Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose..
These will be mixed with my homemade shea butter mix and left in for overnight conditioning.

As my leave in conditioners: Giovanni Direct Leave In..Bee Mine Deja's Hair Milk

Who did not make the cut? Giovanni Hair Reconstructor..Giovanni 50:50 Balance..Aubrey Organics White Camellia..Kinky Curly Knot Today..Dessert Essence (All conditioners)..Trader Joes Nourishing Spa..
Some of them were very expensive and not worth it, some just didn't impress me, and the others I can live without because I have products that do the same thing for less $$$.

Moisturizers & Butters:
Qhemet's Biologics, Unrefined Shea butter, Mango Butter, Safi Hair Care Products

I used Qhemet's products from day #1...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
Shea butter and mango butter is the biz!!!!! Enough said...
Safi Hair Care's Avocado Shea Butter and Curl Clouds have always left my twists soft and moisturized. Love her products! Will continue to purchase...

Who did not make the cut? Kinky Curly Curling Custard.. Oyinhandmade Juices & Berries..Afroveda Curl Define..Bee Mine Juicy Spritz..Bee Mine Curling Butter
Again, either these products were too expensive and not worth it, or I have products and my own homemade creations that work better for my natural hair for less $$$

I will continue to use my long list of oils & essential oils, herbal hennas (Cassia, Amla, Bramhi), clays (Rhassoul) and I will always try new hair recipes, but with my staple products only.

I will not be purchasing any new hair products other than my staples.
I want my hair to get use to my staple products and my consistent regimen. I feel like my hair is confused right now and doesn't know what's going to happen from one wash to the next....no more of that.

I've used up so many conditioners with my Huetiful Hair Steamer (LOVE IT) and I'm using other products I don't want anymore as quickly as I can, once everything's gone, I will be free! LOL