Second Chances: As I Am Coconut Cowash

I think that I might have mentioned before how much I hated the Coconut Cowash when I first used it awhile back. It tangled my hair something awful and I took back to Sally the very next day. Looking back, I think that it was my fault and the conditioner took all the blame. lol It was my wash technique that was wrong. I washed my hair going back in one direction, which is a no-no. At 18 weeks post, I will not be making that mistake again. So tomorrow I am going to give it another shot then deep condition afterwards. Hopefully I will have better luck this time around.

Visiting Another Hair Stylist...Yikes

My cousin has been my stylist for as long as I can remember and I love her to pieces. I have gone from seeing her every two weeks to get my hair done to seeing her either when I got a relaxer touch up and when I felt like straightening my hair. This has happened because I couldn't afford to go that often since I wasn't working. I had to take my hair into my own hands and really use the knowledge that I gained being on this journey to having healthy hair. Since taking my hair into my hands I have seen some progress but there is still a long way to go. Now back to the topic at hand. Since I don't go her as often I don't have my standing appointment anymore. I am so tired of wearing my hair in a bun and I am missing my straight hair. I have been trying to get an appointment but that hasn't been working out so well. When I am finally able to get one she has to cancel. She has a good reason for cancelling but I still want my hair done. lol I only trust myself, my stylist, and even my mom, from time to time, with my hair. So me even considering letting someone else touch my hair is BIG step. I have heard really good things about the salon that I am going to next week. I've liked what I have seen on their Facebook page. Ironically, the owner and went to the same college. The salon seems really professional. I hope that they live up to their claims of specializing in healthy hair. They do natural and relaxed hair. I spoke to the stylist who would be doing my hair today when I booked my appointment. I let her know that it's been 18 weeks since I last relaxed my hair and she was a bit taken aback. I don't know if that should be a red flag but I am going to be very vigilant. So I'll definitely do a follow up post about my experience next week. Wish my luck ladies!

Revisiting Avocado Pudding Conditioning Cream

If you can recall I wasn't too sure how felt about Silk Dreams Avocado Pudding Conditioning Cream. The last time I used it I loved how soft and manageable it made my hair but hated that it just sat on top of my hair. I decided to try it out again since I have my lovely steamer. So yesterday, I decided to use it again. This time around the conditioner went on my hair nicely. Although there was still some places that it did just on my hair it wasn't as bad as it was before. Once I got under the steamer the conditioner melted right into my hair leaving very soft but not as easy to detangle. I don't think that I'll repurchase the Avocado Pudding Conditioner. The outcomes are too inconsistent for me to want to continue to buy it.

Aunt Jackie's Curls and Coils: Knot On My Watch Instant Detangling Therapy Review

      


As I stated intro post about this product, I have been using it to help do a light detangle before washing my hair. I lightly spray my hair with water just enough to get it a little damp then I apply a about a quarter size amount to each section. Then proceed to finger detangle. I must say that it does the job pretty well. It goes on very easily. The slip is pretty good. When I come across a tangle it pulls apart pretty easily. My new growth tends to get a bit more tangled sometimes so I add a bit more that area. The tangles are much easier to get out. I still take my time when working them out but it definitely gets the job done. My only con is the sticky feeling that it gets sometimes but it's not a big deal because this does not stay on my hair. I personally would not use this as a leave-in on my hair. I don't care for the dry feeling my hair gets after it the product has dried on my hair. Just let me clairfy, that I have not used this as a leave-in but I have left it on my hair for awhile before going ahead and washing my hair.

My verdict:
All in all I give it a thumbs up. I can't wait to see how it works once I get more new growth in.

Look What I Finally Got My Hands On

I am so happy to finally have a steamer. I posted not too long ago that I wanted one. I ordered the Secura Facial and Hair Steamer through Amazon for 79.99. I ordered it on the 10th and it was delivered on the 13th. I am a Amazon Prime member so I had free 2 day shipping. I had it just in time for my wash day on Tuesday and I think I'm in love. I'll have a more detailed review after I've used it a few more times but I will say that I love how much more the conditioner sank into my hair. I want to steam after each wash day but I'm a bit too nervous to do it. I'm afraid of causing moisture overload. Making sure that I continue to add protein conditioners it should be fine. I think that I will try it out and will keep a close watch on my hair to see how it reacts to it. We'll see.

Book Review

10 Easy Steps to Go Natural Without Cutting Your Hair Off by Nik Scott
*This is going to be a short review*

This book is very short and easy read. I honestly feel like I could have saved my money. This book mainly focuses on the psychological aspect of going natural and a lot of it is pretty repetitive and it's not very thorough. There really isn't much else to say about it. One of the main points that she focuses on throughout the book is referring to your new growth as just your natural hair. She crosses out the phrase new growth numerous times. She wants you stop looking at your new growth as a separate entity and think of it as one head of hair.

Ex: "I was ready for the over flow of new growth natural hair that I had, I was ready for the styling changes that I needed to do."

After awhile this got annoying but I understand where she is coming from.

If you are having a hard time wrapping your mind around going natural and you need a bit of mental kick this book is for you. If you are looking for more of practical approach, techniques, and tips you will not find it here. I was one of those people who was looking for more specific tips since she transition for a little over a year. Since I am not planning on relaxing/texlaxing anytime soon and those types of tips would definitely have been helpful. Although the book was a pleasant read it wasn't what I was looking for.

I'm Sick Of Buns

YES YES YES... It is time to put the buns to the side for a hot second. My hair has been in buns and ponytails since I got highlighted at the end of March. I am on a no heat challenge as well until the end of June but that's being put on hold as well. That'll be 9 weeks of bunning and no heat. I have decided to go to the shop and get my hair straightened for Memorial Day Weekend. I think I want a wet wrap. It's time to have some fun and enjoy my hair. I'll try to keep it straight for about a week then I'm back on track until the end of June/early July. I know that I can switch it up with twist-out, bantu-knot outs, and braid outs but these bone straight ends are saying otherwise. I'm excited to let someone else do my hair and to wear it straight for a bit.

New Read

I have been interested in reading some hair care books lately. The first I read was Ms. Kibibi's book, The 5 Hair Archetypes. Her book was very informative and very detailed. She broke down what the 5 Archetypes or hair personalities are. Here is the description: The book has COLOR photos, flow charts, QR codes to video tutorials, text boxes and much more! In The 5 Hair Archetypes, Sharifa Barnett details the innovative model for understanding your hair based on your current routine. The hair archetypes, or hair personalities, categorize women based on their hair habits, and share anecdotal stories of real women and Sharifa's own experience as that archetype. You can take The 5 Hair Archetypes Quiz to identify your current archetype. Sharifa dispels the most common hair myths and challenges you to reconsider your explanations for not having the hair of your dreams. This book also provides practical information for building a regimen that will yield results in 21 days, including: - Suggested regimen for each archetype, - Discussion on common hair problems and simple solutions, - A guide on properly using extensions to retain length, and much more! The 5 Hair Archetypes takes a comprehensive, systematic approach to hair care that will teach you how to achieve your hair goals.



Next up on the list is the "10 Easy Steps to Go Natural Without Cutting Your Hair Off" by Nik aka Long Hair Don't Care on You Tube. Since I want to stretch for as long as I can and even go natural eventually, I think that this book could probably help with that. I'm calling it a long stretch because calling it a transition sounds so official. lol Also, I don't want to call it a transition because if I feel like the condition of my hair is going downhill I would go ahead start back texlaxing because big chopping out of the question. I will be checking this out to see if there are any useful tips.

Aunt Jackie's Curls and Coils: Knot On My Watch Instant Detangling Therapy

Now that I am stretching long term, I need to keep the tangles and knots to a bare minimum. I have been pretty successful with that so far but I feel like it can be better. I have seen the Knot On My Watch Instant Detangling Therapy at my local beauty supply but never really paid much attention it. I start my detangling process in the shower and then continue it when I apply my leave-ins. I've even tried detangling before I wash by spraying either the Moisture Balance or the Protein Balance Leave-Ins on dry hair. That uses up too much of my leave-ins. I went to the beauty supply and picked this up. It has this really pretty peachy smell to me and the consistency is very thin. I really want this to be a successful long tern stretch, I hope this help with  detangling. I'll be using it on Wednesday when I co-wash. Stay tuned for a first impressions post. Also, this product is sulfate free. paraban free, has no mineral oil, and no petrolatum

Here is the description and ingredients from the website:

Have no fear! Your hair has its own personal Super Hero, guarding against tangles, knots and unruly, tresses! With the power of its "silky slip," Knot On My Watch helps the comb glide through hard-to-manage hair, leaving it tangle-free and protected from breakage, while restoring a healthy moisture balance.   Use as often as needed on wet or dry hair.  Great detangling solution for all hair types and textures.  

Use it: Apply a generous amount throughout hair, concentrating on areas that are more prone to tangles and knots.  Comb through with a wide-tooth comb. Do not pull tangles.  Apply more to difficult areas and gently comb in small sections, starting from the bottom of strands, moving upward, until comb glides through hair from roots to ends. Follow with CURL LA LA Defining Curl Custard.

INGREDIENTS: Aqua (Water), Propylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, PEG-150 Distearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Glycerin, Parfum (Fragrance), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Lanolin Oil, Polyquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearalkonium Chloride, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, d-Limonene, Hexyl cinnamic aldehyde, Linalool, Amyl cinnamic aldehyde, Lilial,Benzyl alcohol, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Cinnamic alcohol, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, CI 17200 (Red 33), CI 19140 (Yellow)