June/July Hair Update: Holy Grail Regimen

I get asked about my regimen a lot.  

“Tell me exactly what you do to your hair.”

And while I always share my routine and products – I mean, I do love talking about hair – I am quick to give my disclosure: what I do to my hair may not work for yours.  

But today, I’m going to give you the Holy Grail method to consistently perfect hair for free.  Brace yourselves.

If you take the time to learn the basic needs of your hair, then the rest is gravy.

Get with that rocket science.  

“Knowing your hair” can only come by fasting & prayer trial and error.  I used to read and hear folks say “listen to your hair” and frankly, I thought it was a bunch of hogwash.  But as I’ve come to learn over the last couple of years (yes, years!), that statement is so very true.  It doesn’t have to take you years to find your groove though.  Keep reading.

I know what my hair likes (oils and creams)…I know what my hair doesn’t like (protein and coconut oil).  I know when to wash with a shampoo (about once every 3-4 weeks or when I know I’ve been heavy-handed with product)…I know when I can get away with just a co-wash (about once a week).  I know when my hair needs moisture (always)…I know when my hair needs a protein treatment (never).  I know which products will net successful results…I know which products will have my hair looking a hot, sticky, unmanageable mess.  And I only know this because I’ve taken the time to try a whole bunch of methods and products to come to these conclusions.

Anything worth having is certainly worth taking the time to obtain, even if in that time you get frustrated.  And believe me; you will get frustrated…a lot.

So, I’m not going to tell you exactly what I do to my hair to achieve my results because over the past couple of months I’ve changed my method and tried different products.  But what I will suggest are some tips to you finding your Holy Grail regimen.

·        Document (mentally, on paper or through pictures…or all 3) what products and methods you used and the results.  

·        Try your method at least 3 times before you write it off as a complete failure, unless you get success on the first try.  Sometimes it’s not the combination of products that you use but the amount of product or the method in which you styled your hair.

·        Don’t use a whole bunch of products in one styling session because then it’s almost impossible to determine what is not working.  My general rule is to use a shampoo and/or a conditioner to cleanse, 1 leave in, 1 styler and an oil.  On the days that I need it, I’ll throw in a deep conditioner.

·        If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.  But if you just have to try something new, only replace 1 product at a time.

·        Have a back up plan if things go south, because they will.  And it will be at the most inopportune time like 5 minutes before you have to leave for work.  My rescue style is a puff.  A large elastic band, some gel to smooth back the edges, a scarf to set the edges in place while I’m driving to work and a little fluff here and there ain’t never failed me yet.  Never!

In closing, and this probably should have been first, stop stressing!  Rome wasn’t built in a day.  Be patient.  If you stay the course, you’ll get there.

Parting shot. I styled my hair last night after a co-wash.  Although my products were the same, I used a different styling method – smaller twists on damp hair, diffused for about 5 minutes and then stretched the twists by pinning them back.  This morning I unraveled the twists, fluffed a little and...

#Winning

Product Pre-Review: Terresentials Lavendar Garden Hair Wash

I learned about this hair product a few months ago on Naptural85’s  YouTube channel here and here. She has nothing but rave reviews about this Terressentials hair wash and I thought that when the time came that I was almost out of my regular shampoo and conditioner, I’d go ahead and give this a try.

Let’s forget the fact that this ‘wash’ is nothing more than mud with a bunch of essential oils in it. It is, however, 100% USDA Certified Organic.  There’s no other product on the market that can claim that, supposedly.  Peruse their website when you get a chance; they have a wealth of information.  But if you do find a product that touts the same, let me know about it in the comments.

I’m not out of my regular shampoo and conditioner but I am, however, tired of my current routine.  Even though I’ve greatly reduced the time in which it takes to wash and style my hair, I need an even shorter process.  If this wash does what Nap85 claims, I won’t have to pre-detangle or deep condition.  Using her videos as a testament to how healthy her hair appears, it works!  This will be a win in my book. *fingers crossed*

The product is not too expensive.  At $10.75 for an 8 oz bottle, it doesn’t break my $2.00 an ounce rule for purchasing products.  But what had me giving this the side-eye supreme was the fact that shipping is $8.75 and the business is only about 60 miles away from my house, in the same state!  I considered driving to the store but with gas being almost $4/gallon, nixed that idea immediately.  Anyway, with shipping, that puts my price per ounce at a little over $2.50.  However, this is (hopefully) going to be a 2-for-1: shampoo AND conditioner product.  To further allay the anxiety of the crazy shipping cost, I went ahead and threw in a body oil (that I didn’t need) – which means I spent more money – to justify the $8.75. Get with that logic.

So the next time I wash my hair, this is the product I’ll use.

And I’ll report back with results in 3 parts: 1^st use; 2^nd use 1 or 2 weeks later; and then final take.

Wish me luck!

Anyone out there tried this?

March/April Hair & Styling Update

There’s really nothing new going on in the world of my hair.  I still haven’t done any protective styling and as a result, I have encountered my share of knots.   I’m really not that concerned because the knots are concentrated at the very ends of my hair strand and can easily be snipped off with a good pair of shears.

I’m pretty sure I snipped of about 1/8” of hair about a week ago when I was retwisting my hair for bed.  The ends were feeling a bit rough.  That little snip made a world of difference in the appearance of my twist-out the next morning.

Last night I detangled, washed and deep conditioned my hair (after 3 weeks!), blow dried it and twisted.  I blow dried in sections using grape seed oil as my heat protectant.  Once dry, I applied the Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque as a leave in then broke the larger section into smaller ones.  I used a mixture of Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding, aloe vera gel, Garnier Fructis styling gel and some {silicone-mineral oil-olive oil leave in moisturizer} representing itself as a ‘natural’ product.  This concoction was born out of no full supply of any styling product (gasp, how’d that happen?!). I smoothed that mixture on each smaller section and twisted.  When all was said and done I had about 40-50 small twists.  Now, I don’t usually do this many twists but I wanted a lot of definition initially so that my twist out can be just right by the weekend.  After completing the twists I applied a satin scarf to prevent shrinkage and then a bonnet to protect the twists that were hanging out of the scarf.

This morning I strongly considered keeping the twists in for work but couldn’t figure how to style them.  So while driving to work, I untwisted.  LOL  I had already applied a light oil before leaving the house.  I did minimal separation or fluffing because it was raining and I didn’t want to promote additional frizz.

Side note: that styling concoction…#winning.  I got a nice, soft hold with good definition.  I’m really not that concerned these days with the evil ingredients in the styling product.

Here’s a really terrible phone camera pic of the results.  Note that I haven’t really done anything to my hair – no fluffing, no pinning, no styling and minimal separation.  It’s just…hanging.  

Product Review: A Final Word on “Curls”

I’ve written about the Curls products here and here.

I used the products that I purchased with my own money once again; this time, following the instructions to the letter.

I detangled and clarified my hair, ridding it of any product build up.  I then applied the cleansing cream to each section of hair and worked it through.  Bleh!  My hair still didn’t feel quite right.  I expected it to feel soft.  After the rinse, I applied the conditioner to my hair, added a plastic cap and sat under the hood dryer for 25 minutes.  I rinsed my hair with cool water.  Again, still didn’t completely like how my hair felt and I'm pretty sure it's because of the protein content in the conditioner.  I sectioned off my hair, added a bit of leave in conditioner along with some gel and braided each section of hair for a braid out.  I don’t like braid-outs on me either, by the way.

I really want to love these products but I just don’t.  Maybe I'm using the wrong things for my hair type. And because of the price, I'm pretty sure I won't be trying any other products from this company unless, of course, someone recommends something that's really working for them.  LOL - PJ for Life!  I am happy, however, that they work for others and will find somebody to give them too. 

Any 4B ladies out there that use Curls and like it?  If so, what are you using?

Still Growing and Styling Update!

Whew, Lord.  I’m back to blogging.

The last month has been a doozy.  Although I ‘m not going to share the details here (or maybe I will) of what has happened; let’s just say that I really missed blogging.

On to hair…

In an effort to not be a slave to my hair, I’ve changed up my regimen so that I can now wash and style my hair during the week so as not to clog up an entire Friday night or Saturday afternoon.  What have I done differently, you ask? 

I’ve been blow drying my hair.

*GASP*

We should never say never when it comes to things in life; even hair.  I’m pretty sure that I was on a “no heat” type challenge not too long ago but I had to be completely honest with myself; for the winter months, it’s just not that practical.  Further, I don’t want to have to wear twists in my hair for a full day (usually Friday night through Saturday) to allow my hair to completely air dry. Also, the more stretched my hair is, the fewer knots I get.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.  LOL

Anyway, last Thursday evening (8:00PM!), I detangled, washed and conditioned my hair.  I then parted off in random sections, applied some whipped shea butter and grapeseed oil (for heat protection) and blow dried each section on the low setting until the hair was just about dry.  I applied a leave in conditioner and broke the larger section down into smaller ones and twisted, adding a dab of Garnier Fructis Body Boost Gel for a little hold. 

Friday, I was able to wear my hair “out” to work and I am very pleased with the results.  I’m rolling with this process for now.  I have noticed that my hair is growing quite nicely as well; although, I’m in desperate need of a haircut so that my hair can have shape.  Not sure if the length is a result of the blow drying (probably is) but I’m going to have to look for a styling alternative because my “bangs” are getting in the way. 

Take a look!

Quick Pic and Curls Update

Here’s a February picture of my hair.  I’m still experimenting with loose hair vs. protective styling for the winter and this is just a regular twist-out which is my staple style.

I’m 4 days post Curls usage and I don’t like the way my hair feels.  And looking at this picture, I'm not all the way kosher with how it looks either.  Nothing has changed in my routine except for those products and my hair feels a teeny bit crunchy and is not as stretched as I'd like it to be.  I suspect it’s the protein in the conditioner but I’m going to give it one more try this weekend, with a couple of modifications, to confirm whether I like the Curls line or not.  I really want to like it because if I don't, I’ll have to give the products away.

Have you used anything new on you hair lately?  Did you like it?  

I've Been Steaming!

My hair, that is.

I first heard about “steam treatments” almost 3 years ago – at the beginning of my “going natural” journey – from a distant cousin who lives in Texas. The harsh water in Texas was wreaking havoc on her hair leaving it dull, brittle and lifeless.  She flew to Atlanta at least once a month (thanks to buddy passes) so her stylist could resuscitate her hair.  Part of the process was spending time under a steamer.  

Fast forward about a year and I started hearing more about hair steamers.  I hadn’t quite gotten a handle on my own hair (even after a year long transition and a couple of months being completely natural) as it related to having a good moisture level.  My hair continued to feel dry and brittle to the touch.

I figured I’d try the steamer to help me out.  I didn’t purchase the Huetiful Hair Steamer  because every time I went to the site to order, they were out of stock.  So I trekked over to ebay and found an Ion Facial and Hair Steamer shipped from China.  The picture looked the same as the Huetiful and the seller had a high rating, so I took a chance and purchased it...for less, I might add.  Ten days later and it was delivered and worked just fine.

A few people have asked me about the benefit of using a hair steamer.  My response: “Using a hair steamer is like deep conditioning...on steroids.”  I personally think steaming is better than using a plastic cap and sitting under the hood dryer and that’s mainly because I loathe sitting under hot, dry heat.  You sit under the steamer without a plastic cap so the steam is in direct contact with your hair and opens the hair cuticles which allows the conditioner to penetrate better.  Steamers are also said to help prevent breakage and split ends.  And the booklet that came with my Ion steamer states that the steam is also an effective scalp cleanser. 

There are quite a few reviews on the internet and I’ve yet to see anyone say that it isn’t a good investment.  However, don’t go broke trying to purchase one.  We’ve been deep conditioning without steamers all this time and our hair has been doing just fine.  And let’s be honest, we all go into these product purchases with the intention of being consistent in our use and it doesn’t always happen that way.  *raises hand slowly*

2 ways I justified my purchase:

1. I had some unexpected mad money that wasn’t earmarked for anything else.
2. I calculated cost per use.  Regular salons charge anywhere from $10-25 extra for a steam treatment.  Using that rationale, the steamer has paid for itself many times over.  Plus, I don’t go to the salon.

Have you used a hair steamer?  Thinking about getting one?

A Quick "Curls" Product Review

I’ve adopted the rule that a lot of naturals adhere to these days to avoid product junkie-ism: don’t purchase a new product until your current one is gone.

I’ve been without a shampoo for 3 weeks (which means I hadn’t washed my hair in 3 weeks; can you say “trifling”) and decided to purchase the Curlicious Curls Cleansing Cream since I had read so many great reviews about it.  I was feeling extra adventurous when I went to my local beauty supply store and decided to get the Curl Ecstasy Hair Tea Organic Conditioner to go along with it.  It seems that these products are part of a system and since I had been gifted step #4 by a friend, I figured I was well on my way to a moisture-rich, luscious curl experience.  By the way, step #3 is a moisturizer and curl refresher for 2nd day hair.  I didn't bother purchasing this because the best moisturizer is water and I have plenty of that at home.  Ha!

Anyway on to the review...

The Cleansing Cream

I’m not that impressed.  I wasn’t weirded out by the lack of suds but my hair seemed to feel a bit stripped and there was no slip.  I checked out the website and saw this note: if you are a first time CURLS customer, use Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo to get rid of product buildup of other products so that you get the best results from our products.  Oh…

The Conditioner

Instead of being happy Cathy and grabbing this conditioner like it was the last one available on earth, I should have read the ingredients label first before throwing down my cash on the counter.  This conditioner has soy protein and my hair doesn’t do well with any type of protein.  For deep conditioning (which I needed), the instructions specifically say to apply a plastic cap after application and use with heat for 20-25 minutes.  This can also be used for co-washing.  I wasn’t too impressed with this either.  Full disclosure: I wasn’t feeling well when I used this conditioner and the thought of sitting under a dryer for ½ hour was making me sick to my stomach.  So instead, I kept the plastic cap on for an hour.  Upon rinsing, my hair didn’t feel moisturized.  It could have been the lack of applied heat and it could’ve been the protein).

I won’t comment on step #4 because it isn’t even marketed for my hair type.  But all things considered, it did help with the definition of my twist out…I think.

I’m not going to totally give up on these products because I didn’t clarify, I didn’t use the conditioner exactly as stated and mostly because these products weren’t cheap.  I’ll report back again the next time I use them (as instructed) to see if I have better results.

Can I make a quick comment on the ingredients list?  I’m honestly giving Curls the side-eye because some of those ingredients don’t even sound all the way kosher.  For some reason when you market a product as “created with certified organic ingredients”, I feel you should be able to easily pronounce said ingredients.

Have you tried the Curls line?  How did you like it?

10 Rules to Control PJism

When I decided to stop chemically processing my hair 2 years ago, I ran through a good amount of products searching for "THE ONE" that would make my hair act right. Woe to the newly natural diva that is trying to find just the right product combination that makes her hair smell like roses, shine like glitter, render her tresses soft as cotton whilst giving her 4-day hair. It’s hard, I tell you. Very, very hard.

Enter the PJs…product junkie-ism.

When I finally found my perfect most acceptable hair care combo, I took stock of what was on my shelves. I counted more than 50 products.

Whoa!

To find what products work for you, you do have to try a lot of stuff. But once you’ve settled on your go-tos, it’s time to reform the product junkie that you have become.

Since I haven’t met a beauty supply store or product aisle that I didn’t like love, I’ve devised 10 simple rules for purchasing hair products on a whim.

1. Set a time limit. It is easier to exercise restraint when you know that you only have 10-20 minutes to browse. The longer you wander, the more prone you are to dropping items in your basket.

2. Always enter the store with a budget in mind and stick to it. This is easier said than done, but try. My rule: I don’t pay more than $2 per ounce for any hair product. If it’s an accessory, I don't spend more than $10. I will modify this rule and reward myself if I have exercised restraint on previous trips or if I have mad money. Example: I had $40 to pay for my boys’ haircuts last week but they had their own money and paid for it themselves. So…I purchased Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding on a whim since I had the extra cash. Did I love it? Yes…and no. Details later.

3. Don’t browse for products when you are out of your normal go-to stuff. If your standard products aren’t stocked on your shelf at home, you’ll get amnesia and rationalize why you NEED to try that new deep conditioner when you know good and well that your standard does the trick. You know the saying, “Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry?” Same rationale.

4. Always visit the clearance or discontinued section, if one is available. You’ll be pleasantly surprised what you find most times and can end up getting more bang for your buck.
   
   

5. Don’t discount the “cheapie” drug store brands or shy away from “cones” and other “bad” ingredients. My hair loves some of the “no-no” ingredients that a lot of naturals say you should ban. Conversely, I’ve purchased some all natural stuff that did nothing for me. Do you.

6. Don’t purchase products that have ingredients that your hair does not like no matter what kind of recommendations you get from your girlfriends, message boards, you.tube videos, commercials or print ads. What’s my “no-no” ingredient you ask? Protein. My hair was feeling dry and wiry for quite some time and I couldn’t figure out why. I started reading the labels of all my “natural” products and quickly found a common denominator…protein. No matter how high or low on the product list if I see it listed, I don’t buy it. I tested my rule and bought something anyway because protein was daggone near the end of the list and I still got the dry, wiry hair.
   

7. Do your research prior to entering the store. This way, you won’t be overwhelmed by all of those choices. Browse and have fun, but having a little knowledge on some brands will assist you into easily picking them or passing them up. If you’re a stickler about 100% natural products, why are you looking at other stuff?
   

8. Exercise buyer’s remorse BEFORE you buy. If you put a lot of stuff in your basket, 5 minutes before your allotted time is up, think rationally and start weeding things out. I’m generally an impulse shopper. I love throwing things in the basket. But take stock of everything you put in your basket right before you head to check out and consider the cost. Do you really need yet another decorative flower…in black?
   

9. Don’t use a shopping basket. This limits how much you can carry and ultimately, limits how much you buy.

10. Take a small child or pesky teenager along with you. If I’m at a store with my teenage boys or with my hungry niece, the minute they see me v-lining for the product aisle eyes begin to roll and deep sighs commence. Those gestures alone let me know that they’ll be nagging and complaining while I browse yet AGAIN and is usually the one thing that will make me scrap my plans and move on.

Anything to add?