Life After a Breakup

As many of you know, I recently ended a love-hate relationship with my Tangle Teezer. It was probably one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make in my life...tear. It was so tempting at first that I had to hide it from myself so that I wouldn't use it to detangle. So for the past couple of weeks I have been using my "handleless" comb and my Goody Jojoba Infused Brush. Out of the two, I TOTALLY prefer the Goody Jojoba Infused Brush because it's kinda like the Tangle Teezer in the sense that it can define my curls while I'm detangling. I don't really like the "handleless" comb because it basically picks my hair out...which is why my hair was looking a hot mess when I got back from Vegas. But now I can proudly say that my hair is BAACCCKK !! Lately, I've been trying to get back into doing twistouts...sidenote: I really loved the way my hair looked with twistouts when it was shorter. Hopefully, I can stick with these twistouts and stop doing so many wash n gos and ponytails. 

Click Here to see the " Twistout on Wash n Go Hair" video

My Essentials for Vacationing with Natural Hair

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Sumthin' New

I just posted this pic on Twitter and had to share it with you all too. 

After wearing my hair straight for a whopping 5 days (shame) I'm back to curly with a little something extra.

 

Freetress.

Celtic Girl.

Color 2.

Video coming soon.

The Regimens...

I transitioned for nine months...

I Big CHOPPED on Dec. 13,2008

From 08-Feb. 09
My regimen from this time was pretty much not structured and because of that my hair stayed dry and I wasn't using the right products (even though I thought I was). I was in love with using products like Sunsilk Captivating Curls and Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship because of the way they smelled.


---I co-washed everyday...morning and right before bed.
---I was kinda against shampooing so I shampooed maybe once or twice a month....but I was constantly co-washing so that kinda cleaned my hair
---Whenever I did shampoo I made sure to deep condition and detangle
---I had a bald spot in the front of my head from transitioning so I made a mixture of rosemary oil, shea butter, castor oil, and jojoba oil and every night I massaged that oil mixture onto my scalp and mainly that bald spot. Within a couple of months I saw growth and now THERE'S NO BALD SPOT!!!

====Main products used====

 Sunsilk conditioner and leave in, my shea butter mixture, my hair growth mixture, and that's all I remember

From the end of Feb 09- May 09
By this point I started to see growth and with more growth came more tangles. I noticed that I needed to start detangling more and I needed to do something so that I didn't have to walk in the freeze'n cold in the morning with wet hair.So I started twistin.


---I co-washed no more than twice a week.
---Shampooed once or every other week.
---Deep conditioned everytime I shampooed
---I TWISTED MY HAIR UP EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT AND WORE A TWISTOUT UNTIL FRIDAY....Sat. and Sun. were my off days.
---I started back taking my vitamins and biotin supplements. 
====Main products used====
Cantu Shea butter used for twistouts, and my shea butter mixture

From May 09-Aug 09
During this time I was on summer vacation and didn't feel like twisting my hair up every Sunday night so I pretty much wore a puff or a wash and go.


---Co-washed a lot 
---Shampooed, DC, and detangled once a week or every other week
---Every now and then I wore a twist out.

====Main products used====

Cantu Shea Butter, shea butter mixture, Aussie Moist conditioner, Clean Eco styler Gel, and Giovanni Direct Leave in

From Aug 09-Dec 09

By the time I went back to school my hair grew a lot and I could finally say I had some type of regimen. Because of the amount of growth I had I was able to start doing way more styles. And in Oct I was finally able to get a PONYTAIL...YAY click here to watch the video. 

---Co-washing became more of a style so I didn't do it a lot only for certain styles 

---Shampooed, DC, and detangled once a week

---Every other night I would either castor oil or my Wild Growth oil from Sally's and massaged my scalp

---By Nov. I started wearing medium sized twist as a protective style

====Main products used====

Eco styler Gel, Organic Root Stimulator Lock and Twist gel, castor oil, Wild Growth oil, Giovanni Direct Leave in, and Bed Head Moisture Maniac

From Jan.10

I finally started to find my staple products and finished putting the final stages on my current regimen. There's nothing really major to talk about. 

My current regimen:

---Again I don't co-wash a lot only if my hair is dry, I am about to switch styles, or I just feel like it.

---Shampoo and detangle once a week

---I don't deep condition any more only if it is a protein deep conditioner

---I have trimmed my hair multiple times since I've been natural.... so I guess I trim maybe every 4-6 months

====Current products being used====

Sheamoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Moisture Retention Shampoo, Eco Styler Argan and Olive oil gel, Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding, Pantene Curly Conditioner, and Tresemme Conditioners

Hana Elite Flat Iron

I received the Hana Elite Flat Iron from Misikko.com the other day and used it to straighten my hair. Misikko.com is an online which sales top quality professional flat irons, blow dryers, and many other things. I have never tried to high quality flat iron before but I can see a difference between this flat iron and the other cheap ones that I have tried in the past. To start this flat iron has 100%  1 inch ceramic plates and goes all the way up to 450 degrees. It has an on and off switch, which lights up when it's fully heated (it only took about 15 secs to heat up) and it has a very long swivel cord.

I really LOVE this flat iron because I could get away with just one pass but I chose to do about 2 passes for an even straighter look and I used the comb chase method while I flat ironed. I set the temperature between 250-302 degrees which was hot enough to get my hair straighter than the other flat irons I have. 

Overall, I would recommended this flat iron to naturals or anyone else who wants to straighten or even curl their hair. Oh and by the way you can this flat iron on sale $118 now (normally $204) with free shipping.

Pros:

-heats up fast

-100% ceramic plates

-it's pink =)

-long cord

-definitely worth the price

Cons:

-none =)

Ceramic Flat Irons:

http://www.misikko.com/flat-irons.html

Professional Blow Dryer:

http://www.misikko.com/professional-hair-dryers.html

Best Flat Irons:

http://www.misikko.com/best-flat-iron.html

Mom's Hair w/Eco Styler Argan Oil Gel

Here is my mom's hair with the Eco Styler Argan Oil Gel just applied. 

She BIG Chopped June 10'.

This is what it looked like after I diffused majority of it.

Thanks Mother Nature.

After wearing my hair straight FOR ONE WEEK...so disappointed =( I decided to go back to curly today. In the past two days it has been raining here but all that didn't bother my hair until I put my shea butter mixture in my hair yesterday. The problem with that mixture (and I knew what it would happen) is that it has glycerin in it. I wish would taken a picture of my hair yesterday but I was sooooo embarrassed. After being outside for less than 5 minutes my hair poooofed up so big that it looked like I just blow dried my hair and didn't style it. But I love that mixture with my straight  hair because it moisturizes and adds shine. So today I just decided to wash it since I would probably only be wearing it pulled back in a ponytail for the rest of the week. But all that doesn't matter now since my hair REVERTED BACK....YAY!!! 

After wearing my hair pulled back into a bun my hair calmed down...a lot.

This picture was taken today before washing.

So I'm going to try to rock a braidout this week...wish me luck =)

Just Random

As you can tell from the pictures...I straightened my hair AGAIN (totally had no plans on doing it). Last Thursday night I washed my hair, did the 2 Minute Reconstructor by Aphogee, detangled, and was left wondering what I was gonna do with my hair. I've been wanting to do a braidout lately while also trying to stick with the styling options from the last post but by the time I finished washing I was too tired....I literally went to sleep right after doing all that. But I woke up at 5:00 am with this random urge to straighten my hair...so I did lol. Last time I straightened my hair I made a video and many suggested that I use a hot comb. Well I tried and let's just say that would have taken me forrrreverrrrr to finish....I only had 3 or so hours to do my hair. So I just used the flat iron.... comb chase method. Oh by the way this time went by soooo much faster because 1. my hair was already somewhat dry. 2. and because it was dry I was able to blow dry it better.

Products used:
-Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Fortifying Shampoo
-Aphogee 2 minute re-constructor
-Tresemme conditioner
-SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie

- Chi Silk Infusion

- Flat iron: Vi Sasson 

- Some other heat protectant that I can't think of the name

Will it Work?

Every time I have good hair days with twistouts or wash n gos (defined curls) I always tell myself that I'm gonna start wearing my hair like that more often...of course that usually doesn't last long. But in the last few months I have to say have been rockin' some successful twist n curls and wash n gos (defined curls) and I've wondered if I could really keep my hair healthy and in those styles. I have found that those styles are kinda like my protective style because I'll wear them for like a week. In addition there's less manipulation involved,it's versatile because I can always pull it back into a ponytail or something, and it's good for my edges because I don't have to brush them a lot.

Old Twist n Curl

Old Wash n Go

So what do you all think??? Will it work...I'm going to see and keep you all updated. 

Having Soft Hair Isn't All That Great...

Lately I have been defining my curls a lot (that's a whole other post) and using my two favorite product combinations, Sheamoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Eco Styler Olive Oil. Before I started using the Sheamoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie with the Eco Styler, my hair would have a little crunch to it but that hold would slowly go away after like three days. But now that I have found a product that will cut down on the amount of hold it seems like my hair is just too soft to get multiple days out of it and it frizzes up much easier. Now I'm torn between having soft-bouncy hair or stiff-crunchy hair. Take a look at these pics:

Giovanni/Eco Styler:

Sheamoisture/Eco Styler (2nd Day Hair):

What's a girl to do???

Itty Bitty Twistssss

Finally after two and a half days my mini twists are done. It was hard in the beginning but I got through it (had a little accident with the wii...lol) 

Products used:


*Yes to Cucumbers Leave-In (revisting and it seems to be great for these twists)
*Sweet Almond oil


Done on dry stretched out hair. I also didn't wash my hair before I did these because I had just shampooed my hair like 4 days before but I co-wash the day before twisting)

Shrinkage.

The other day I did a video on the new technique I use to define my curls. As I watched the video over I noticed how much longer my hair was when I first applied the gel than when it dried (this is nothing new). But for some reason I am always shocked to see how much shrinkage there is when I do stuff to my hair. So looking at the amount of shrinkage in the picture above, that must mean that when my dry hair starts to touch my collar bone my wet hair is going to be way somewhere on my stomach =) Umm I'm a little excited about that.




I know that's random but I just thought I share that with ya'll...lol 

Wedding Hair...

The tutorial for this hairstyle will be uploading soon. Here's a sneak peek of what you'll see....

Oh and by the way I'm not engaged or even close to getting married as my boyfriend would say...lol

Review for Taliah Waajid Curly Curl Cream

Goody Jojojba Brush Works Great on Straight Hair TOO

You've heard me rave about this brush before and this time it just keeps getting better and better.  The Goody Jojoba Infused Brush is great for your curly and amazing for you straight hair. Since I've been wearing my hair straightened lately, this brush has become my best friend. I still don't think it does much for adding shine but it sure does smooth the hair down and remove tangels wonderfully. 

It's Straight Baby!!!

I finally worked up the confidence to straighten my hair. Thanks to anautralbeauty3's video which basically said DON'T BE SCARRRED!!! You guys have no idea how many videos I watched about natural's who straightened their hair. From that I found that using the comb-chase method (i think that's how it goes) really works!.

Products used:

-Suave Shampoo

-Organix Pomegranate and Green Tea

-Giovanni 50:50 conditioner

-Chi Silk Infusion 

Meet Alisha....

How long have you been natural?

I got my last relaxer in November 2008, and got my first big chop on May 9, 2009. Then I got my second (accidental) bc in July of 2009. Altogether I have been on my natural hair journey for 21 months now!

What do you use?

I use a lot of product all depending on my mood. I use KCCC for my wash and go's. For my puffs, I use Eco Styler gel. Other various products include Dr. Bronner's castile soap for shampoo, and Giovanni's Direct Leave in. For my co-washes I use Yes to Cucumbers, Yes to Carrots, and/or Suave Professionals Humectant Conditioner.

What's the best part about being natural?

The best part about being natural is the versatility! I can do some much! My hair is stronger! I found that when I was relaxed, I have mainly one style, a wrap. Now I can do puffs, wash and go's, twists, twist outs, and the list goes on! I love it!

What regimen have you found to work best with your hair?

I like using KCCC because it last for a while. When I use it I wash my hair once a week. For the first few days I can just stretch it out while its dry (without too much frizzing) then the remaining for days I freshen it up with the KC Spiraling Spritz or just water!

How do you rock your natural hair?

I really just wear playful fros. I also like to wear my puff (classic)! It's the prefect way of keeping it simple and it doesn't take much thought, plus, my little puff is steadily growing (I'm so excited)!

What's your signature style?

A curly fro. I love finding new ways of pinning my hair in different styles.

Do the DO.

Here's another variation of one of my favorite hairstyles. 

How it's done:
----Either stretch your hair or wet it up so that you can flat twist. (NOTE: if you don't know how to flat twist you can do the tuck and roll)
-----Then part your hair down the middle.
-----Next start to flat twist your hair going down on one side your hair until you reach the nape of your neck and STOP. Don't twist all the hair. 
-----Repeat the same steps on the other side.
-----Next grab the two twists and the loose hair left out in the middle and put into a ponytail.
-----Then start to roll the the ponytail upwards into a bun. Hold the bun in place and pin that sucka down :)

And there you have a quick and super cute protective style.

Ravishing Red!!!

Thursday night I colored my hair a FIRE red color....not really :\ I put a rinse in my hair because I'm too chicken to put permanent color in my natural  hair...because of past experiences with coloring. 

EX #1: When I was in high school I decided to highlight own hair. The outcome=EPIC FAIL. Due to the embarrassment I felt after months of wearing the highlights, I decided to go to a professional and get my hair colored JET BLACK w/bangs. 

Of course since it's a rinse you're really not gonna be able to see much of the color in the pictures (you can see a little. But you can definitely see the color in certain light. I've used this brand before but with a dark brown color but this time I have to say I absolutely love the color and my next little color experiment will be henna.