Make Your Own Spritzzzzzz

Are you experiencing dryness? Would you like to learn how to make your very own hair spritz to moisturize your hair? (say yes,please..lol) Well you are on the right blog post....lol

What you'll need:

• a spray bottle
• water
• vegetable glycerin
• oils of your choice (optional)

This is realllllly simple. Take your spray bottle and put one part glycerin to two parts water. Then take your oil (essential, fragrance, carrier,or the not so pure beauty supply oil. lol) and add a few drops. If you are using essential oils, YOU ONLY NEED 1-5 drops. Essential oils are very POTENT!!! Carrier oils are easier to get away with. Give your mixture a good shake and you're done. I would suggest every time you use the spritz you shake up a little =)

   Happy moisturizing (=

Vegetable or Regular Glycerin

I get a lot questions regarding what to put in their moisturizing spritz and I usually recommend VEGETABLE glycerin. To the average person who dosen't go out and just buy bottles of glyerine everyday, they probably don't know that their is a MAJOR difference between regular glycerin and VEGETABLE glycerin. To start usually you find VEGETABLE glycerin in health food stores and regular glycerin can be found in drug stores. 

VEGETABLE GLYCERIN:

• Made from plant oils only
• Food grade
• Can also be used on the skin as a moisturizer
• ***Make sure you dilute it***

Regular Glycerin:

• Made from animal or petroleum based oils
• Like VEGETABLE glycerin, it's used in a lot of products like soaps but is less natural

Why VEGETABLE glycerin works so well with natural hair?

             VEGETABLE glycerin is a humectant, which means it helps to pull the moisture from the air and retain moisture, and as naturals we need that extra boost in moisture to prevent our hair from drying out. You may also want to consider this, with dryer air VEGETABLE can take the moisture from your hair. I usually use mine in the winter and switch to another humectant for the summer, like honey.

Where to find VEGETABLE glycerin?

             I was able to find mine at www.iherb.com for a really good price. You can also try: Whole Foods, Earth Fare, Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, and like I said before most health food stores.

Is Simple Better???

For pretty much most of April I was SUPPPER busy so I wasn't able to take the best care of my hair, like shampooing, deep conditioning and moisturizing. So I used four main products on my hair the entire time:

• Olive Oil (moisturizer)
• Conditioner (conditioner)
• Eco Styler Olive oil gel (styling aid)
• Water (moisturizer)

Would you guys believe me if I told you my hair actually felt moisturized and soft??? I knew you wouldn't...lol But it really was!!! I would co wash then t-shirt dry it for awhile then applied some olive oil and styled as normal using gel if needed and that was it. Simple, Simple, Simple!

Now don't think I'm recommending this regimen for everyone. Obviously if your hair is dry you may want to add more stuff to it but you guys try it and tell me if it works for you.

Bucket/Experiment List

I recently have been busy thinking of different styles and techniques to try on my hair. Since it's summer and I'm out of school now, I figured it would be the PERRRFECT time to start checking off stuff from the list. So instead of keeping track of them in my head, I decided to document them on here. Feel free to post yours as well in the comment box =)

• Apply gel to my hair while in the shower to see if I get the same definition as when I section my hair off and do
• Complete a whole head of mini braids <<< I did mini twist
• High bun
• Rollerset
• Find an easy everyday style, that doesn't involve a ponytail or puff
• Incorporate more hair accessories
• Be able wear a fedora   <<<< not happenin :(
• Try the cinnamon hair lightener 

I'll update this post if I think of more =)

Avocado Hair Treatment....

FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. But lesson learned!!!

Enough said right?!? This past weekend I was inspired to do an avocado hair treatment from a youtuber. I have tried to do one in the past but I picked the wrong one (don't get the really green ones, make sure they're soft). So after mixing everything up, which I'm glad I did because those chucks would have been a HUGE PAIN IN THE REAR END!!! The consistency was amazing, thick and creamy. The amount of avocado was right on point. The curl definition was unexpected and INCREDIBLE!! Rinsing it out wasn't bad...so I thought!!! After rinsing everything out I co-washed and then looked in the mirror and there it was....hundreds of little pieces of avocado still in my hair. I wasn't really upset then because the youtuber said after you co-wash, detangle, and style those little pieces should fall right out. Umm no not really. I had already detangled a little before I applied the treatment but did it again in hopes of getting rid of the strands. I ended up using two combs, a  shower comb and a smaller toothed comb (not rat tail), and then twisted it up. The next morning I took the twist out...of course that could have been the best twistout in the world but the strands of whatever were still there and weren't planning on going anywhere. So to cut this story short it has been two days since I applied the treatment and the strands are still there :[  I don't even remember seeing them in the bowl when I was blending it.

 There is probably a lot more in there closer to the scalp and under the hair you see here. Click the pic for a closer view.

The sad apart it is that I was supposed to be studying when I was twisting my hair up...lol Normally I research things like this before so this kinda of stuff doesn't happen. I have learned my lesson!!!

I have tried co washing it out and shaking it out but nothing seems to work. I guess I'll just have to keep picking them out when I see them. Any suggestions??? 

Party, Party, Party...

 Can you say BUSY!!! March and April have been INSANE for me...Besides the mountains of work, projects, and events going on at school, my family has thrown two big parties. One in March and the other this past Saturday (April). But all the work put into it both, were sooooo very worth it.

 

This event was my dad's birthday, 70's Soul Train theme. You can't see but I have on high waist bell bottoms =)And of course I was SUPER excited to rock MY OWN afro puffs to the party...a lot people actually came up to me and asked if I had on a wig..lol Oh and that's my boyfriend with his unshaped afro...lol

Okay these 3 pics are from my aunt and uncle's anniversary party. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT DRESS!!! Thrift store $$$. The look I was going for with my hair was the cinna-bun hairstyle inspired from many youtube ladies...but it wasn't as defined as their but it was still cute =)

Life Before High School Graduation...

I received a comment basically stating that it is hard to go natural while in high school (oh and thanks for reading) Well I have to agree with you on that one...lol And I went to very small high school so I can only imagine how a bigger and more traditional high school is :/ I can remember trying to go natural in high school and the responses that I received were not good. One girl (who I've known since middle school) constantly asked me when was I going to get a relaxer. After a months of telling people my plans, I ended up getting one. I really wish I didn't listen to my peers because I LOVE BEING NATURAL!!! But I sometimes think that going natural when I did was best time because the natural hair community was starting to grow a lot more than when I first wanted to go natural. But today with the thousands of women and even men sharing their experiences, there is no way you can be confused about how to do something. Asking questions and experimenting with my own hair were the best ways of discovering what my hair likes and dislikes. As far as people's opinions on natural hair or my hair... there's not much I can do other than try to educate them on it...because I'm pretty much going to keep wearing it the way I like it (=

Summer Regimen

Co-Washing and LOTS OF IT!!! The only problem I have with co-washing is that my hair seems to tangle more but I like doing it because my hair stays moisturized even days after co-washing. 

 

Okay for us beach and pool goers, it is important to make sure all those chemicals from the pool and the dirt from the sea get out of our hair, so make sure you are shampooing, co-washing, and then of course deep conditioning. Follow that up a moisturizer and seal it with an oil.

Oh and make sure you're drinking plenty of WATER!!! I know I will....I've seen what kind of damage it can do (my hair sheds like crazy when I'm not drinking enough water and eating right).

That's pretty much...keep it simple...and have fun (=

PS. By the way, I will definitely be using my mango butter and oils like coconut and olive oil for the summer... I'm soooo ready for this semester to be over and my vacation to start.

Protective Styling...I think not!!!

Soooooo basically I haven't been following all of my hair resolutions. What seemed to be a good idea at the time, is now a complete failure. I'm just going to give up on trying to do long term (2-4 weeks) protective styles for the winter/spring time. My original plan was to wear two strand twists for AT LEAST 2 weeks but I just haven't felt like it... I'd rather experiment with hairstyles and hair products. Since I made that video I've been doing various styles, like ponytails, curl defining, braidouts, and hats. The main two styles I've been wearing lately are the defined curled look and the GOOD OL' ponytail (but not just the traditional pulled back ponytail). This time last year I was wearing my hair pulled back EVERY FREAKIN' SINGLE DAY!!!! You guys don't know how boring that was! But it was all worth it because now I have a pretty decent length to do most styles. The good news is that I have been sticking to the other resolutions: moisturizing more often and taking care of  the ends.

Define-A-Curl

 

A highly requested video for how to get your curls to pop!

Trimming is NOT Hard...

Since I've been natural I've only trimmed my hair once....and that was back in November 09'. I was REALLY surprised how simple and easy it was. Here's what I did:

-Washed my hair.

-Applied my twisting product to the hair.

-Detangled.

-Twisted it up in somewhat small sections.

-And snipped!!!

I also get those suckas often when I'm either styling or chillaxin with my hands in my hair...lol

When I was relaxed, I had soooooooooooooo many split ends, it was INSANE!!! So trimming is very important to me and also because we curlies get those annoying knots on the ends of our hair, so we have to get those out!!!

Transition Pic #2...

 Here is another picture from when I was transitioning. Okay here's the story behind this here hair... I started transitioning April of 08' and then cut my hair (by myself) in early May. And I LOVED IT!!! But then it was time to go to college, so I figured that since I was SUCH A GREAT HAIRCUTTER I would do it again. Unfortunately, that time I was not as lucky and ended up messing up my hair. I was cutting my hair while it was wet and forgot all about the new growth, so one side of my hair was up to my ear while the other was about to my shoulder. I tried and tried to fix it but continued to mess it up. After a day of crying and disappointment, I was able to schedule a time with a hair stylist. Thank the Lord she was able to do something with that crap. So my first year of college was kinda hard because I was self-conscience of how my hair looked short. And not to mention I was transitioning so I didn't want to put too much heat on my hair and majority of the time my hair was pulled back into a ponytail :( But I'm glad those days are over...now I'm just LOVING MY NATURAL HAIR!!!

This two pics were taken towards the end of my transition.

Amazed...

OKAY!!!! I just had to come on here and post this....My puff was HUGE TODAY!!!  I just couldn't keep my hands out of my hair and I couldn't stop look in the mirror. I'm still trying to figure out where did all this hair come from...lol And this is what you can I guess call an old wash and go?!?!

Products used:

-IC Fantasia (clear)

-Beyond the Zone Leave in Conditioner
-pantyhose 

Corinne Bailey Rae

I am really really really diggin Ms. Bailey Rae's new look =) Her hair is big, thick, and gorgeous  ...and I love it!!!

Oh and she sounds really GREAT during her performance!!!

Here's My Theory

Lately I've been trying to figure out why there are people out there who either don't understand natural hair or just too SCARRRRED  to go natural. Yeah I'm sure it has something to do with the media and the opinions of our loved ones and those we DON'T even know. But here's my theory...which can be added to that list. Hairstyles. I think it also has to do with hairstyling....I've talked to many women who want to go natural and ask me what are some hairstyles they could wear other than a fro. But natural hair is not just afros (it can be but it doesn't have to be). There are soooo many things we can do with our hair. Those who work in a professional setting you can do updos, ponytails, buns, and so much more. Those who like to party, party, party you can braid it, push it off to the side, wear it wild, or even just put to little hump in it. And of course you can wear those styles wherever you want...but there just some suggestions. Since I've been natural, I've worn more styles than I ever did with relaxed hair. It all depends on how you decide to wear it. That's why I try to post pics and videos of styles I wear to help get rid of those negative deceptions of natural hair.

Curls everywhere...

Lately I've been wearing my hair out and defined. Why?? Because I've finally figured out the trick to getting it do what I want it to do...well kinda do what I say. Here is a picture of my hair 3 days after applying the gel.

Products used: I started out using Proclaim Curl and Activating Gel on the bottom but then I couldn't stand the smell so I switch to IC Fantasia Gel (clear). Oooohhhh and I detangled with my NEW Conair Jojoba Infused Brush =) (the other reason why I wanted to do my hair) 


Second picture was taken the day after the first one!

Hair Jewels.

As I explore new styles, I have found that I really love hair accessories. And one of the main places I get mine from is Forever21. They have trendy hair accessories at a decent affordable price.
Here are some of my faves I just randomly picked through. Accessories are great for everyone transitioners, twas, and even the long big hair don't care ladies =.)

Items in this set:
Jewel Strip Hairclip, $4.80
Disco Glitter Headband, $3.80
Zipper Floral Bobby Pins, $3.80
Floral Sequin Hair Clip, $3.80
Large Blossom Hair Clip, $3.80

The Results are In...

Thank you guys so much for participating in my poll!!! I know it ended a little sooner then it was supposed to but something happened in between switching templates for the blog. Luckily, I've been watching closely. So now I have an idea of how many relaxed, transitioners, newly naturals and naturals I have reading the blog. Once again thanks so much for voting and continuing to read The Golden Sparkle = ]

Mimosa Hair Honey First Application

Ok. Ok. Okay girlies! I just finished using the Carol's Daughter Minmosa Hair Honey. So far I feel like this is the beginning of something BEAU-TI-FULLLLLL. The hair honey feels a little like the pomade (click for last post) and also looks exactly the same. The scent is not as yummy but as I sit here typing this post I can still smell it. Don't get me wrong...it doesn't sink!!! But any whoo...I used it to twist my hair up tonight. YOU GUYS MY HAIR WAS/IS SO SUPER SHINY!!! I have not seen my natural hair have this much shine since I've been natural...even with tons of oil in it. It feels good and looks good. I'll keep you guys posted.

I think I may just have to purchase the whole hair care line now. 2/2

Carol's Daughter Kizzi Styling Pomade

OMGosh you guys I recently started using the Kizzi Pomade from Carol's daughter and I must say I absolutely love this stuff. I had this product sitting in my product tub for a good little minute. One morning I wanted to try using something a little different than gel to slick back my hair for a puff...and there it was.

To start, the scent is GREAT!! It smells like mangoes. The consistency is somewhat like a hair grease maybe a little thicker but the great thing about it is that it melts within the first 5 seconds of putting it in your palms. After applying the product to my hair I noticed that my hair had a soft hold and felt moisturized. By the end of the day my hair was still in tack. Ooohhh yeah!!

How I applied: Before applying the product I sprayed a little bit of water near my edges. Then scooped out about a dime size of pomade into my palms. Before I could even start rubbing my hands together the product had started to melt. Then I applied it as if I were applying gel.

One thing I will say, is that if you apply this stuff everyday (which you probably don't need to) you will get product build up...especially if you