December Goals...How did I do?

1. NO NEW PRODUCT BUYS AT ALL - I have goal absolutely crazy with buying products in November. So much so that I am fully stocked up on products for awhile. There is no need to buy anything new to try out...I did it, I did it! Lol I haven't bought a single product this month. Not even to replenish old products. Although, I almost bought some of those TGIN products 2 days into the month. Lol I am super proud of myself.

2. Take Manebolism Vitamins nightly - I'll touch on this in more detail in the future. I have finished my second bottle of Manetabolism.

3. Continue to deep condition with steam at least once a week -  I have been loving using steam during my deep conditioning sessions. I can't see myself using my dryer to DC anytime soon. I have kind off slacked a bit with this. I didn't steam as much I wanted to. Will be back at it next month.

4. Keep my Just Grow Already Journal up-to-date. - I fell off with using my journal for a few months during the year. I have been back on it since August. I believe she will have one for 2014 and I will be purchasing it. Even though I did update my journal I still didn't do after each wash day. I bought the new journal and will be updating it soon.

5. ABSOLUTELY NO HEAT. - I am not a heat basher in the least. I like wearing my hair down to relieve the tedium of bunning so much. As I mentioned before I hate that for some reason when I try to comb through my hair when it's straight that my ends tend to stick together (if that makes sense). So I will take it one month at a time and not use any heat until I get my touch up. I did not get my hair done this month. No heat has touched my hair this month.

I think I did. fabulous job this month with my goals. Lol

How did you do?

Liebster Awards 2013

I was nominated for the Liebster Award and I am totally grateful for that. Candice from Healthy Hair Diary and Sheila from Anything Hair Related were the two lovely ladies that nominated me. My blog started out as way for me to keep track of my hair journey and if it's provided any help to someone out there that's even better. So here it goes.

Both pictures are from Shiela's Anything Hair Related blog

11 Random Facts:

1. I hate critters... bugs are the worse

2. I have never owned a pair of Jordans in my life. Kinda want a pair just because. lol

3. I am a serious chocolate fanatic

4. I have been with my love for 13 years.

5. I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I watch the movies a lot. lol

6. I haven't been to Vegas in my adult years. That will be changing soon.

7. The Bahamas is my dream vacation spot and so is St. Thomas and St. Maarten

8. I haven't worn a 2 piece swimsuit as an adult. *insert sad face*

9. I am an interior designer in my head. lol

10. I have a really bad habit of chewing ice. I've been like since I was a kid.

11. I do not wear makeup. In fact, I don't own a piece of makeup. lol

Candice's Questions

1.       What is your favourite colour? Orange

2.       Describe your hair in 3 words. Healthier, Longer, Soft

3.       What length do you consider long hair? BSL

4.       How many blogs do you follow? A lot. I don't know the specific number

5.       What is your most expensive hair purchase to date? Ummm...Maybe my Shi-Naturals Conditioners

6.       Pink or red nails, which do you prefer? Neither. I like brighter colors. 

7.       Do you have any hobbies, share at least 2? No hobbies. I need one though.

8.       What is your favourite TV series? Scandal of course

9.       Are you left or right handed? Right

10.   Have you ever been to the Caribbean, which island? Jamaica and the Cayman Islands

11.   Do you have any siblings? Nope. Only child here

Sheila's Questions:

1. If someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you say? To not analyze every single thing. It takes the fun out of it.
2. Do you have a hair crush? No hair crush but I am loving Tressedforsuccess, Prettywitty, Onika, Megz, Traycee, and few other ladies
3. What is one of your personal goals for the New Year? To stick to my weight loss journey
4. If money was no object, what would you do all day? Lay on a beach in the Caribbean somewhere.
5. Do you prefer towel drying, blow drying or natural drying your hair?  I towel dry then air dry
6. What's your favorite quote? Don't have one 
7. If you could create your perfect hair product and sell it to others, what would this product promise to do on the description label? (Example: Hair Wonderland: Keeps hair moisturized for days without reapplication)  I would want to invent the perfect detangler
8. Do you have anything on your hair wishlist? Surprisingly No
9. What did your last Tweet/Facebook post say? My last Facebook post said "Alright Matt Forte". The Bears/Packers game is on as I write this. Go BEARS!
10. In a movie about your life, which actor or actress would you like to play your character? Oh wow I have no clue lol
11. What's your favorite iPhone/Android app? I have been playing the heck out of the Simpson's Tapped Out game

Candace's Questions:

1. What is goal length?

2. Who is your favorite sports team?

3. If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where it be?

4. What is one of your hair journey goals for the new year?

5. Who is your go to hair guru?

6. Favorite TV show?

7. What is the one thing you can't go a day without? 

8. What has been the best hair advice you were ever given?

9. What was the concert you ever attended?

10. Which do you frequent the most? Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter

11. How old are you?

I nominate any newcomer to blogging. Since a lot of the people that I follow have already done this.

Croc Clips

I can't keep up with anything. lol Yes I know I am missing 2 clips.

This is the only hair related purchase I made this month and it was well worth. I saw these clips on the Just Grow Already and Relaxed Thairpy Blogs. The first thing that popped into my mind was I have got to me some of those. I eventually did. These are some the best clips that I have bought to-date. The clips in the second pic will never touch my hair again. They have snagged my hair for the last time. I have noticed that they do not grip my hair well any more. They have been slipping off. That's when I knew it was time to retire those clips. The Croc Clips haven't snagged or pulled out any strands. These clips grip very well and have not slipped off. These are definitely a winner.

I can say with certainty that I won't be using these again

I took a page from Jeni's book and I have been using the Croc Clips to stretch the hair when I air dry. Ladies, when I tell you that this has been a life saver and I am not kidding. Since I have a lot more texlaxed hair and 18 weeks worth of natural hair, when my hair is completely dry it is very puffy. Using these to stretch has made it more manageable. I definitely recommend them.

Favorite Products of the Year

I have tried and tried many products this year. Some stuck around and others are collecting dust in the products graveyard. lol So let's see which ones made it to my favorites list.

Shampoos:

Purgasm's Cocoa and Yogurt Bar




This shampoo bar is great. It gets the job done. It cleanses my hair but doesn't strip it. It's like using a sulfate free shampoo. When I want to clarify my hair I use the Bobeam Cocoa and Rhassoul Bar.

Cleansing Conditioner:

As I Am Coconut Cowash

I rediscovered this product this year. I had written it off awhile ago and decided to give it try one more time. I am so glad I did. Honoraable mention: Eden Body Works Coconut Cleansing Conditioner

Conditioners: 

Hairitage Hydration Pink Grapefruit Punch Conditioner

This conditioner...OMG. lol When I first used I wasn't sure about it but when I tell you this conditioner is the truth...it is. It is my cowash conditioner. My hair feels extremely soft, moisturized, and easy to detangle. It's pointless to say that's a staple. Is still use TreSemme Naturals from time to time. I have no choice. You know why if you saw post about why I bought so many bottles of it a few months back. lol

Leave-Ins/Moisturizers:

Shi-Naturals Moisture Balance Leave-in (Chocolate Scent)

This is the absolute best leave-in ever. Shi-Naturals is such a great product line and will forever (at least while she stills makes them) be in my regimen. I use this leave as my daily moisturizer. Since I am very bad at covering my hair at night this product saves my hair every morning. What I love about it is that my hair never feels weighed down and it doesn't leave build up on my hair.

Hairitage Hydration Soft Coconut Marshmallows

This is another OMG moment. I am currently 18 weeks post relaxer and this leave-in gets the detangling job done. I use it on damp hair and when my hair dries it is left soft and moisturized. It has a soft lime scent because of the lime butter that is it. Great product.

Deep Conditioners:

Shi-Naturals Coconut Creme Conditioner

Shi-Naturals Peppermint Stimulating Conditioner

Shi-Naturals ACV Balancing Conditioner

These conditioners are bar-non some of the best deep conditioners that I have ever used. I find myself using these more often then the other deep conditioners in my stash especially the first two that are pictured above. What I love about them is how well and fast they sink into my hair. They are moisture/protein balanced. My hair always feels soft and moisturized when I use them.

Sealants:

Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum

I still use this product. I haven't deviated from it. It's a great way to put a little bit of protein in your hair but over do it. It has a nice coconut scent to it. Since it's freezing in Chicago, I can't really use Coconut Oil right now.

Gel:

Eco Styler Gel Argan Oil

This gel does a great job of laying down these edges. lol It doesn't flake and it doesn't weigh my hair down either. Two great and rare qualities in a gel.

What products made you favs list for the year?

Hair Inspiration

The video speaks for itself. I wish I had the patience to transition for 36 months. Her name is Alexxhes on Instagram. She recently posted a picture of her cutting her relaxed ends off. So enjoy the video and be inspired.

Wash Day Chronicles (12/18/13) and Hair Myth

It has been a very long time since I have done a wash day post on here. lol So here it goes. Last week, I wasn't feeling up to doing a cowash and deep conditioning session. So I skipped it which is something that I do not do. I am very strict when it comes to sticking to my regimen. When I finally got around to washing my hair it was so dry and bit a harder to detangle. Although I didn't lose a lot of hair after detangling, I can't see myself skipping another wash day. Those mid-week washes definitely help with the manageability of my hair. So let's fast forward to today. Today was a cowash day and I made sure I got it in. Due to laziness, I used one product and one product only, Hairitage Hydration Pink Grapefruit Punch Conditioner. I rinsed my hair with water then applied to conditioner to each section. I then applied a plastic cap and left it on for about an hour or so. I did end up putting my conditioning bonnet on to trap more heat. My hair was so soft and easy to detangle after I rinsed out the conditioner. I applied my Soft Coconut Marshmallow leave-in to help with detangling. Sealed with the Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum. As I am typing out this post, my hair is air drying using the scarf method to slick my edges down some. Overall, it was a very successful wash day.

Black Hair Myth #845 lol

*Relaxers can be striped from the hair..*

This is FALSE! There is no way, shape, or form that you can strip the relaxer from you hair. The structure of the hair has been permanently altered. No product can return your hair to it's natural state. You have to cut the relaxed hair off (either transitioning or big chopping) in order to return your hair to it's natural state. What prompted this part of the post is a video I saw that was posted today. The young lady wanted to give tips on how to prevent shampoo from stripping relaxers. It kind of made me cringe a bit. Although I do enjoy this person's videos, I don't watch for hair care tips. I had to comment on this video just because I didn't want her to give out misinformation and false hope especially to a newbie. I hope this helped someone.

The Mane Choice Manetabolism Healthy Hair Vitamin

I have, in the past, refused  to take vitamins. I just wasn't interested in them. Over the last 3 years or so, I have seen ladies take biotin, Hairfinity, and other hair, skin, and nails vitamins. Although I did look into buying biotin, at one point, I chickened out because I was afraid of getting really bad breakouts like I had read about. I deal with that enough on my own. I don't need the help from a vitamin. lol I'd buy regular multivitamins but would never finish the bottle. The only multivitamin I finished was the Target brand gummy vitamins. But I gave in and decided I was going to try them out. I was going to go with Hairfinity because of all the good results I was seeing being posted not only from the company themselves but from a few you tubers. After seeing some good results and also wanting to support a black owned small business, I went with You tuber CourtneyNaturalHair's Manetabolism Healthy Hair Vitamins.

I decided to buy a 4 month supply of the vitamins in order to see how much I really benefited from them. She had a 50% off Black Friday Sale and got 2 more bottles. I will have a total of 6 month supply. One bottle is already done. I do have a starting pic, although it was taken about 2 1/2 weeks after I first started taking the vitamins. I won't post any length check pics until I have finished the first 4 bottles. By then my stretch and no heat challenge will be over. Look here for more information on the vitamins. It is recommended to take 2 capsules at night right before bed because the body absorbs it better during that time. I usually have a little snack beforehand as well. Afterwards, I drink a full bottle water to help prevent any breakouts. I haven't had any problems with breakouts so far. Yay me. lol I think after I am done with these I might give Hairfinity a shot. We'll see.

DECEMBER 2013 GOALS

I haven't done any goals in awhile because I never really meet them. lol But I am going to try my hardest to meet the goals that I set for myself for the month of December.

1. NO NEW PRODUCT BUYS AT ALL - I have goal absolutely crazy with buying products in November. So much so that I am fully stocked up on products for awhile. There is no need to buy anything new to try out.

2. Take Manebolism Vitamins nightly - I'll touch on this in more detail in the future.

3. Continue to deep condition with steam at least once a week -  I have been loving using steam during my deep conditioning sessions. I can't see myself using my dryer to DC anytime soon.

4. Keep my Just Grow Already Journal up-to-date. - I fell off with using my journal for a few months during the year. I have been back on it since August. I believe she will have one for 2014 and I will be purchasing it.

5. ABSOLUTELY NO HEAT. - I am not a heat basher in the least. I light wearing my hair down to relieve the tedium of bunning so much. As I mentioned before I hate that for some reason when I try to comb through my hair when it's straight that my ends tend to stick together (if that makes sense). So I will take it one month at a time and not use any heat until I get my touch up.

***Another Black Friday Sale Alert***

I know I have mentioned this before but it has been officially announced. Hairitage Hydration will be having a Black Friday Sale. Details in the pic above. (Pic is courtesy of Hairitage Hydration's Facebook Page) I'll be putting in one last order for the Sticky Honey Hash Conditioner. After that I will be fully stocked on these products.

*Please Note That All Orders Placed on Black Friday and after Will Take Up To 5 weeks To Ship Due To The Number Of Orders! (from HairitageHydration.com

I must say just like my Shi-Naturals products, these are well worth the wait.

Black Friday Sales and other Ramblings

• Those infamous Black Friday Sales are underway for a lot of small businesses. I have already made a few purchases. I got a few things from the Shi-Naturals 25% off sale I posted. I also purchased some more Soft Coconut Marshmallow and Pink Grapefruit Punch from Hairitage Hydration. 16 oz bottles of each. She had a 40% off Pre-Black Friday sale. I am hoping that she really is having an actual Black Friday Sale on the 29th (code:goblack35). I want to try the Sticky Honey Hash Conditioner. For more info on other Black Friday Sales check this link: http://www.maneobjective.com/2013/11/sale-alert-black-friday-cyber-monday.html 

• I have been in serious product junkie mode. I have been buying and buying products. lol Time to take a step back, after Black Friday, of course. I have a few more things to get before I go on a strict NO BUY for a very long time. Here are the last of products, I plan to get. After these purchases, I will be fully and I mean fully stocked on products. Silk Hydration: Mocha Silk Infusion (Time to stock up), Purgasm Shop: Cocoa and Yogurt Shampoo and Body Bar, Hairitage Hydration: Sticky Honey Hash Conditioner This will definitely be hard but I don't need anything else. It's time to start using up everything that I have. Which will start a new series of posts for me, Product Empties. lol            
• It's time for another No Heat Stint. I have stated before that I didn't like how heat makes my ends feel but I was tired of bunning and decided to get my hair done once a month. Which was fine but I like and prefer how soft and moisturized my air dried hair feels. So from now until I get my touch up in February or March, I will not be using direct heat on my hair. Also, I am contemplating getting major trim. These bone straight ends are working my nerves.  

What's on your Black Friday list?

Shi-Naturals Black Friday Sale

Despite my product junkie syndrome, I still love and adore my Shi-Naturals. I might use other products but her products NEVER failed me. She has quality products that are handmade and natural products. Check out the Shi-Naturals website and the sale. I also have a post on here that talks about the products that I use.

http://shinaturals.bigcartel.com/

As I Am Coconut Cowash vs. Coconut Shea All Natural Cleansing Cowash

You all know how much I am loving the As I Am Coconut Cowash conditioner (AIACC). It is my staple weekly cleanser. I have seen the EDEN Body Works Cleansing Co-wash (EBWCC) before but never gravitated toward. After seeing some positive reviews on it, I decided to buy a bottle and do a comparison of the two.  Let's get to it.

How I use them: I part my hair into 3 sections. 2 on the side 1 in the back. I apply it to the new growth first and then the length of the hair. After it has been applied to all 3 sections. I rinse out the conditioner.

Price @ Sally Beauty Supply:
As I Am Coconut Cowash: 7.99 for 16 oz
Eden Body Works: 7.79 for 16 oz

Consistency:

The consistency of the AIACCW  thick creamy consistency. It smooths onto my hair very nicely. The EBWCC consistency is thinner then AIACCW but it also smooths onto my hair very easily.

How are they at cleansing:

Both cleansers cleanse my hair very well. My hair feels clean but does not give my hair that straw-like feel. They also give my hair a good amount of slip and leaves my hair feeling soft. There really isn't too much else that I can say about these conditioners. They are great at what they do. In my opinion, you can buy either one of these and get the same results. Since my results are the same from both conditioners, I'll stick with my As I Am just because it's what I have been using the longest.

New Product Buys

I have been on a products spending spree during the time that I haven't been blogging. These are just the new products that I decided to try out. Well  2 of the three are new and one is a long lost love. lol So let's get to it.














(1) Bee Mine Luscious Balanced Cream Moisturizer (Coconut Cream): This moisturizer is the long lost love
that I mentioned. When I first decided that I wanted to give natural products a try, this was one of the first lines that I tried. I fell in love with their moisturizers. This moisturizer has a very smooth consistency that leaves my hair moisturized and soft. This moisturizer is on the expensive side but it so worth it to me. It lasts a long time since a little bit goes along way. The wonderful thing about this moisturizer is that it is moisture/protein balanced. Price: 18.97 for 8 oz

Ingredients: Distilled water, Hydrogenated Persea gratissima (Avocado) Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil (and) Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Emulsifying wax, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Paraben & Formaldehyde Free Preservative & Fragrance (Coconut Cream - CC) (Island Mango - IM or Original Scent). 

(2) Qhemet Biologics Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee... I have seen a lot of good reviews on this product but never really wanted to give it try until now. After seeing how great this product product detangles in a few videos I decided to give it a try. I haven't used it just yet. I want to see how it really works when I get further into my stretch. It has a very airy and whipped consistency. Almost like icing. The smell is so yummy and chocolatey. I love chocolate scented products. Price 18.00 8 oz, 32.00 16 oz

Product Description and Ingredients (via website): 

Product Description Restores manageability, softness and elasticity to normal to very dry hair. Smooths cuticles, improves combing ability and reduces breakage. Please note that you may need to soften the CTDG by sitting the bottle in hot water or sticking it in the microwave for 20 seconds for easier dispensing. In jar as of 5/11/13. Key Ingredients: Contains pure, prime pressed Cocoa Butter to smooth, soften and seal in moisture, Horsetail, Nettle and Barley to strengthen and condition and sulfur rich MSM to nourish follicles and support growth. Enhanced with carefully selected mild and eco-friendly detangling actives, it instantly restores manageability, pliability and elasticity to matted and tangled hair. Does not contain mineral oil, lanolin, silicones, parabens or artificial fragrances. Natural Dark Chocolate scent. Directions: For tangled hair that is damp or dry, divide hair into 4-8 sections. Apply a moderate amount to the entire length of one section at a time and work through with fingers. Use a wide toothed comb to comb through from end to root as hair is instantly softened and detangled. For use as a conditioner, rub a small to medium amount between palms and work through wet, damp or dry hair. Leave in. This product has an initial consistency of a medium viscosity cream but will thicken into a stiff solid cream over time. This is not indicative of a formula change and will not affect performance.

(3) Hairitage Hydration Pink Grapefruit Punch Conditioner: I wasn't familiar with this product until I read about a few products from the Just Grow Already and Relaxed Thairapy blogs. My curiosity got the best of me after reading their positive reviews. I bought the previously mentioned conditioner and another product that you will read about shortly. When I first tried this conditioner, I wasn't sure how I liked it. The consistency of it was weird. It was like lotion, for lack of a better word. Secondly, when I applied it it felt like I wasn't putting anything on my hair at all. I did feel my hair soften and the tangles melt away. I fell for this conditioner after the second use. Again, it sunk right into my hair quicker than any other conditioner has. Which causes me to use way more than I need. But the softness and the ease of detangling are very good after using it. I've used it as a cowash but next I plan to use it as a deep conditioner. The scent is very light and fruity. Also doesn't linger for too long after rinsing. This conditioner is defintely a keeper for me.     

Price: 13.00 8 oz 

Ingredients (according to packaging): Hibiscus Infused Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Shea Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Coconut Oil, Glycerin, Mallow Extract, Frangrance, Germall Plus

Description: This conditioner adds softness and moisture to the hair and also helps repair the hair to make it stronger.

Hairitage Hydration Soft Coconut Marshmallow Leave-In: I have only used this Leave-In once but I am liking it so far. It softens my hair and detangling was a bit easier. The consistency is very creamy and light. The lime essential oil scent is very prominent in the bottle that I received and I really like it. After applying the leave-in to my damp hair and detangling, I let my hair air dry for awhile. When it was completely dry my hair was soft, moisturized, and smelled so pretty. lol  Price: 15.00 for 8 oz 

Ingredients: Purified Water infused with Marshmallow Root, Lime butter, Castor Oil, Irish Moss Infused Coconut Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, BTMS-50, Germall Plus,Lime and Tea Tree Essential Oil

To use: Distribute throughout the hair. Finger comb out tangles or use a wide-toothed comb.

Have any of you tried these products? What are your thoughts?

Co-Washing

When I first started my hair journey, I was confused about what exactly the point of co-washing or conditioner washing was. My thinking was that conditioner was suppose to put moisture back into the hair after shampooing. Not to cleanse the hair like I have read over and over again. Well a lot has changed over the past few years since I started my hair journey. I have broken down co-washing into two catagories.

1. Instant Conditioners:

 

The conditioners pictured above are just a few of the conditioners that are used to add moisture back into the hair. I have seen a lot of ladies, especially in the beginning of my hair journey, that only co-washed their hair. That is not the case. The purpose of these conditioners are to add moisture back to the hair that shampoo has taken away. Nothing more, nothing less. They will not, I repeat, not CLEAN YOUR HAIR. These conditioners are great for quick washes after working out. Just rinse your hair with water to remove as much of the sweat as possible, add the conditioner, and rinse. Also, if your hair is feeling a bit dry use them to add a boast of moisture. I have also seen people use them to deep condition with. If you do that and it works, more power to you, but the molecules of these types of conditioners are not small enough to penetrate the hair like conditioners that are designed specifically for deep conditioning. Your hair isn't getting a true deep condition with these. These conditioners are very thin in consistency and because they care also water based they wash away pretty easily.

2. Cleansing Conditioners

Now if you want conditioner that are suppose to cleanse these are your best bet. 

The last couple of years or so have brought on a myriad of natural products. Clearly companies have been keeping a very very close eye on hair boards, you tube videos, and blogs to see what is going on in this booming hair journey world. As a result, cleansing conditioners have been added to plenty of hair care lines. They are used by ladies who are saying no to drying shampoo and opting to use these products to remove build up from their hair but still keep their hair moisturized. I use the As I Am Coconut Cowash regularly but I still use something to clarify my hair every once in awhile.

Cowashing is a very helpful aspect of our hair journeys but it is also not a MUST. If co-washing's not for you then don't do it. Do what you feel is best for your hair. 

BonBons Cheveux Hard Candy Bonnets

*http://store.bonbonscheveux.com/*

I first heard about BonBons Cheveux bonnets from Babilon Kay on YouTube. I entered into her giveaway contest and lost. lol I also enter into Virtuous Athena's giveway and lost that one too. So I decided to go ahead and spend the money myself. I bought the plastic lined Hard Candy Bonnet called Birthday Cake (pictured above) and also a regular bonnet. But this post is about the hard candy bonnet. The bonnets come in different colors and prints. The hard candy bonnets are pricey. Like 30 bucks pricey but if used on a regular bases: worth the price. I will be getting my money's worth now. 

I revisited this bonnet because I didn't feel like steaming my hair today or sitting under the dryer even if it was for only 10 minutes. So instead of grabbing a plastic cap and my hair wrap I went for the bonnet and I'm glad I did. I forgot how much I liked this thing. It fits very snug on my head and traps heat very well. I just rinsed the inside of it with water and wiped it down to clean it. Just that simple. My hair felt like I gave it a mini steaming session. I will not be purchasing another plastic bag to deep condition with. On days that I will not be steaming, I'll use the bonnet.  

First Impressions: Silk Hydration Leave-In Conditioner by L. Jones

I have been following LaToya Jones' blog for a little while now. She is a stylist based in Birmingham, AL who recently introduced her very own product line. I wasn't really looking to try out her line but the leave-in caught my eye. Her line is called Silk Hydration by L. Jones and aside from the Leave-In Conditioner, her line includes a clarifying shampoo, moisturizing treatment, and a daily conditioner.

I've only used this product a couple of times but I must say that I'm liking it so far. The first time I used it I co-washed with my TreSemme Naturals Condtioner. Then deep conditioned under my steamer with Shi-Naturals Coconut Creme Conditioner. After t-shirt trying for about 10 minutes or so, I started detangling my hair in four sections. Going section by section, I sprayed the leave-in on my hair and started detangling. I like that it is in a spray bottle but I don't like that it doesn't spray in a mist but I can just switch that out. Anyway, once my hair was completely air dried, my hair was very soft and smelled really nice. It smells a fruity. It sticks around for awhile but it's not strong at all. I've had some serious hand-in-hair syndrome this week. lol I'm going to do a follow up post on this product once I am a bit further into this stretch to see how it works when it comes to detangling. Right now detangling is pretty easy since I am 3 weeks post. The consistency isn't too thin or thick, it's just right.

Latoya's Blog and Webstore:
http://www.latoyajonesblog.com/
http://www.latoyajoneshair.com/apps/webstore/

Here are the ingredients, the direction, price, and description:

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-7, Fragrance, Cyclopentasiloxane (and) Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aloe, Panthenol

Directions: Spray on wet hair and comb through. Do not rinse. Style as usual.

Price: $12.00

Description:
This leave-in conditioner is used to add extra moisture and body to the hair.

Hair Growth Myth...Does you hair grow faster when natural?

I follow the Healthy Hair Journey Facebook page. I really enjoy the tips and pics that they post on a daily basis. Yesterday they reposted the picture of CourtneyNaturalHair's that showed her 4 year growth comparison. Of course, you had your naysayers who said that her hair was a weave for various silly reasons. Some ladies said that natural hair grows quicker than relaxed hair. I personally don't believe this. Your growth rate doesn't magically speed up because you aren't relaxing your hair anymore. A good percentage of ladies transition or big chop because they didn't know that you have to put in work to keep up with your relaxed hair. Now because of this they experience breakage that keeps their hair at the same length for years. I was one of those ladies but I decided to stay relaxed and work on my hair. Others, like I said, go/return natural and experience great length retention. Not because they are natural but because they have been TAKING BETTER CARE OF THEIR HAIR. If they had put the same amount of time and energy into their hair when it was relaxed as they do now that is natural they would more than likely have the same results. This is my opinion but ladies what do you think? Does natural hair grow faster than relaxed?  

30 Day Healthy Living Challenge

I have been trying to loss weight and better for as long as I can remember. I start and stop my weight loss so much that it's ridiculous. I've even gone as far as to get a personal trainer for a bit. My issue is food. I eat whatever I want when I want. Knowing that it's bad for me. Fruits and veggies are not a staple in my diet and my body is showing it. It's time that I take seriously take charge of my weight and life style. I turned 30 week and I don't want to continue to look and feel horrible. Although I would like to be 5 pounds lighter by the end of the month that will not be my main focus. I tend to get discouraged when I focus on the number on the scale. Below are the goals that I want to meet by Oct 1.

1. Eat breakfast daily....I have never been big on eating breakfast but that will change. I will start getting up early enough to make sure that I am able to fix breakfast.
2. Make sure that I have fruit and veggies everyday
3. Exercise 4 times a week
4. Drink 4-5 bottles of water daily...drinking water hasn't been an issue for me but it can get better.
5. Utilize Myfitnesspal daily
6. Take my lunch with me to work...I work in downtown Chicago where the food choices are limitless. lol I tend to pick the not so great choices. Doing this has also taken a toll on my bank account because everything is more expensive downtown.
7. No sweets...I am a self proclaimed chocoholic. I love me some chocolate.
8. Make sure to have a 1 protein shake a day.
9. Limit my cheat day to Saturdays ONLY.

Feel free to join me in this challenge if you like. Time to get it together.

It's that time again... Monthly Goals

So I haven't been that great at sticking to my goals but I am determined to get my act together and stick to them, So here are goals for the month of September.

1. Deep condition twice a week
2. Use my steamer once a week
3. Limit my heat usage - don't use it at all if I can.
4. Try braid outs and twist outs at least once this month
5. One No new product buy ONLY
6. Workout 3-4 days a week
7. Eat more fruits and veggies

Do you have goals for the month?

3 Years Later

Three years ago this month I unofficially started my hair journey. At that time I had no idea what a hair journey was. I just knew that I was tired of NL length hair. I decided to wear sew-ins for a year not realizing that what I was doing was considered protective styling. In 3 years time, after much trial and error with products and techniques, I have made my initial long term goal of BSB.

Here are a few of the things I have tried over the last 3 years on this hair journey that didn't stick around:
1. Pre-pooing - After awhile I just didn't feel like it was doing anything for me.
2. Deep conditioning overnight - I would do this once a week but I got scared that I would cause unwanted moisture overload. So I stopped. Also, it was just uncomfortable to sleep like that.
3. Tea Rinses - I wasn't even shedding that much but once I watched Traycee's video on tea rinses I went to Walmart and bought the same tea she used. I did it a couple of times it was cool but it wasn't something I felt I needed to continue to do.
4. Oil Rinses/hot oil treatments - Just too damn messy
5. Caruso Rollers - I suck at using rollers any type of rollers for that matter
6. Oils - I bought Avocado, Almond, Jojoba, Grapeseed, Apricot, Jamaican Black, Coconut, Peppermint, Tea Tree, and Lavendar Oils. I used them to seal and for hot oil treatments. Just didn't care for them after awhile. The only one that stuck around is coconut oil.
7. So many different products. One N Only Argan Oil line, Garnier Fructis moisturizer, Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship, Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor, Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner, and many many more. All though I am still a bit of a product junkie, I have found my staple products in Shi-Naturals and Silk Dreams.
8. Coconut Oil pills
9. Honey- Messy and unnecessary
10. Baggy Method
11. Growth Oils

Trial and error is a big part of hair journeys and it can get a bit pricey. Through all of that and a whole lot of patience, hopefully you'll find what your hair likes. Like I said I was able to make it to BSB and working on BSL then eventually MBL.

I know a few of you have seen these pics throughout my blog before but to someone who hasn't looked at my older posts, here are my before and after shots.

july 2010

Aug 2013

                                     

60 Day Hair Steaming Challenge

So I was checking my YouTube subscriptions and saw this challenge posted from Traycee from KISS. I will definitely be participating. I already steam once a week and I think that it would be fun to be apart of. I will be using my Secura Hair and Facial Steamer. I know that I haven't done a review on it but just know that I am loving this steamer. My only complaint is a common one, you can't really get the nape of your hair. I have to constantly change positions to make sure that section gets some TLC. I will try to post weekly after I have steamed showing what conditioners I used and how my hair feels after each session. The challenge officially starts September 3. I will be starting a day early since that will be my first time washing and deep conditioning my hair after texlaxing. Check out the video and let me know if you are going to join the challenge as well. Operation Full BSL is underway.

Texlaxed @ 30 weeks post

As I stated in my last post. I went ahead texlaxed my hair. I went to shop and got it done. I must say that I am very pleased with the progress that my hair has made since starting my hair journey in 2010. Going from shoulder length to where I am now is a wonderful thing. I still have some things that I need to work on with my hair but I'm not stressing over it. I also had a little trim. Which is okay seeing that I am tired of my bone straight ends. I can't until I wash my hair next week to see how the relaxer took. I hope it's not too straight.

So I think I made my decision

I am sticking to texlaxing. I was going to wait until January to make a decision but I changed my mind. I'll go natural somewhere down the line but I'm tired of the extra puffiness and shrinkage. Most importantly, I am tired of dealing with my new growth. lol I want to have easier wash days for a little a bit. This stretch has been rather smooth. Much better than I could ever imagine actually. But I'm over it. So come August 22, I will be starting another stretch. For how long? Who knows. I am going to continue with my original goal of having healthy relaxed hair. I want to be among the many ladies who have achieved what many outside of the hair journey world deem impossible. I was contemplating going natural because I love how full and thick natural hair is when straighten. I wanted that mainly because my bone straight ends were haunting me. lol Anyway, nothing about my regimen is changing and I'm still well on my way to making it to full BSL.  

Can relaxed and color treated hair coexist?

Yes it can but it all depends on how you maintain it. Is it recommended? No. Having double processed hair takes a lot of work to maintain. Work that very few know about or want to put in. If you have damaged hair don't go near the color, permanent ones at least. Rinses might be better for ladies who are nursing their hair back to health. Working on getting your hair healthy is top priority. I tried to have color treated and relaxed hair once before and it wasn't successful. My hair was constantly dry despite going to the shop every two weeks. She was telling me that my hair needed to be kept moisturized but wasn't telling me what to do about it. After that stint with highlights, I decided to leave it alone. Fast forward to 2013 and here I sit with relaxed and color treated hair. Some stylist will tell you to pick a chemical. If you want relaxed hair then don't get color and vice versa. Here a just a few tips to help you if you decide you want both. 

1. Make sure to keep protein in your hair. You can do hard protein treatments once a month or every other month. Or you can do like I do and use protein based products weekly to help keep some strength into your hair.
2. Moisture. Color dries the hair out and can cause unwanted breakage. Deep condition your hair often. When you do deep condition do it with heat i.e steam or a dryer to make sure the conditioner penetrates the hair shaft. Make sure that you are keeping up with moisturizing and sealing your hair. Do hot oil treatments. Anything that aides in keeping moisture in the hair is very beneficial.
3. Lay off the heat. Constant heat usage will do nothing to help the health of your hair. I'm not saying don't use it just use it very seldom.
4. When getting your hair colored don't go more than 2 shades lighter than your natural hair color. Doing so makes the hair more weaker. (From LaToyaJonesblog.com) 

Making sure you stick to these tips will help you to successfully have double processed hair. I am not a licensed stylist. I am just sharing the tips that have helped me to keep my relaxed and colored hair on my head and not on the floor. Thus not loosing any of the progress I have made on my hair journey.

Wash Day Chronicles: Sunday, August 4

On this wash day I decided to try out two new products. Something that isn't really recommended in the healthy hair care world. This was my first day since I straightened my hair a week and half ago. My first step was washing my hair with the Cleansing Pudding. I parted my hair into 4 sections then proceeded to apply the cleanser to each section. In the instructions they suggests that you leave it on for 3-5 minutes so it can really clean the scalp. I didn't do that in fear that it might leave my hair feeling a bit dry. After rinsing that out I toweled dried my hair for a bit then applied the Shi-Naturals Peppermint Stimulating Deep Conditioner. I sat under the steamer until it cut off. Rinsed and proceeded to detangle and air dry. Overall it was a good wash day.

On to the introduction of the new products. lol

As I Am Cleansing Pudding

We all know just how popular the Coconut Cowash is from this line. I decided to go ahead try out the Cleansing Pudding. When I went looking for reviews on this product I saw very few. I gave it a shot anyway. This is their clarifying conditioner and it does just that. My hair felt really squeaky clean but also with a slight dry feeling. This product smells exactly like the Coconut Cowash but has a slightly thicker consistency. I don't think that I will be repurchasing this product. It does what it's suppose to do but I'll stick with the Bobeam Cocoa and Rhassoul Clay bar. The clay bar clarifies my hair but leaves it feeling soft. I prefer clarified/soft hair over clarified/slightly dry hair. Coconut Cowash will be the sole As I Am product in my regimen.

Price:
$17.99, If you have a Sally Card it's $16.19 (16 oz)

Product Info:

• Promotes healthy environment for hair growth
• Cleanses hair of residue and product build-up
• Moisturizes as it cleanses
• Soothing scalp treatment

As I Am Cleansing Pudding is a rich sulfate-free creamy moisturizing beauty bath for your hair! Contains a special blend of natural ingredients, including saw palmetto and phytosterols, that helps to eliminate DHT build-up from the scalp.

Rids scalp of excess sebum, environmental impurities and shedding scalp debris. Promotes healthy hair growth from the follicular level.

Directions:
Wet hair thoroughly. Rub a liberal amount of As I Am Cleansing Pudding within palms and distribute throughout hair. Lather product through hair and massage into scalp. Carefully detangle hair with a wide-tooth comb.

Leave on 3-5 minutes in order to eliminate shedding scalp debris. Rinse well. Repeat only if necessary to remove excessive product build up.

Ingredients:
Key Ingredients: Tangerine, Aloe Vera, Castor Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Saw Palmetto and Phytosterols

Aqueous (Water, Aqua Purificada, Purified) Extracts: Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine)¹, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol², C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Cetearyl Alcohol², Polyquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Glycerin¹, Phytosterols¹, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract¹, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice ¹, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil¹, Poyquaternium-10, Piroctone Olamine, Potassium Sorbate, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance/Parfum, Limonene.

Shi-Naturals Peppermint Stimulating Deep Conditioner
Price: 18.00

This peppermint stimulating conditioner is a combination balancing conditioner. It adds moisture and protein, plus the powerful peppermint for hair growth. Together with the Peppermint Stimulating Shampoo. Packs a powerful combo for growth and healthy hair.

How to use: Apply generously from root to end. Apply plastic cap. Wrap towel around head or sit under a hood dryer or steamer. Process 30-60 minutes without heat, 15-30 with heat.

Ingredients: Distilled water, btms, natural peppermint oil, almond oil, castor oil, hydrolyzed protein, silk protein

*This is a moisture/protein balanced conditioner*

ph balanced - 16 oz

I am loving this conditioner just like love all the other Shi-Naturals conditioners. I touched on how my hair felt a bit dry after using the Cleansing Pudding. As soon as this conditioner touched my hair I felt instant softness. This conditioner is thick and creamy. It soaks right in my hair. It does have a strong minty scent but it doesn't linger for long. If you are sensitive to smells you can always ask the owner to tone down the peppermint scent. Your scalp will have the cool/tingly feeling from the peppermint oil. I know that this conditioner is a bit on the pricey side but it is definitely worth it. After steaming my hair and rinsing, my hair was left soft, moisturized, and minty fresh. lol Overall, this product is a keeper.