Metal-Kink

I've moved....

2011-11-23T13:30:00.000-08:00

To Wordpress. Everything here has been imported to THERE, so nothing is lost! Here is the link: http://kinkyknots.wordpress.com Add it to your blog roll so you won't miss out. ;)

There will be no more posts on this page.

That is all.

It all comes down to go up again.

2011-09-05T22:25:00.001-07:00

I have a confession to make.

I have a problem with BOREDOM. Boredom with MY HAIR.

My problem, as it is beyond hair care, is that I tend to bore easily. After a while of doing one thing, I want to do something else. Unfortunately, this aspect of my life has carrired on into my hair care practices. I've been known to chop off my hair, throw extensions in it, hide it under headwraps, and color it. All out of BOREDOM.

Well, I got bored with my locs too.

Yes, I took them down.

"But WHY?? They looked so nice!" "They were coming along!" "You didn't have to do that!" And so on, and so on. Yes, I KNOW. But like I said: I got bored. And as much as I would've liked to have just thrown a hat on my head and kept it moving, my job (which is under NEW management) DOES NOT allow hats. So I was stuck walking around, wearing the same one or two hairstyles that I could manage at the length that I had, trying to dress it up with accessories and clips and jewelry that either could NOT hold my willful hair in place, OR just fell right out because my locs weren't "mature" enough.

And because my impatience doesn't like the word "enough", I combed them out (much to my fiancee's dismay). Took two days and half a bottle of conditioner.

Obviously, my hair has grown quite a bit over the span of five months. I'm almost at arm pit length from the barely shoulder length I had when I first started. I grew out my old color by several inches. I also have this sudden desire to play with my loose hair MORE. Probably, because I never truly gave my loose hair a real chance in the first place. After the first year, I chopped it out of frustration. Then I decided to grow locs because I was frustrated and lazy about detangling. Tried a new method of just my entire wash/condition routine all together, and thought to myself:

"Okay, loose hair IS NOT that strenuous...just gotta find what works." <-----That last bit right there? I'd totally foresaken as well as forgotten that. Had I demonstrated a little more patience with my loose hair, I wouldn't have been so desperate to loc as a way to ESCAPE detangling. Which is what I was doing: escaping.

So now that the escape is over, the loose hair is here for now. I still have a desire and plan to loc my hair...but not yet. I've found a way to make detangling easier on both me as well as my hair. Found a way to do wash and go's with better results than I ever had. More length equals more styles to try.

And since I'm bored with the brown-ish color I've got going on, I'm going to change hair color AGAIN.

Stay tuned for that, as well as everything new I'm going to be doing to my hair.

Peace.

Current Regimen

2011-06-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

I want to share my current regimen for my locs. I pretty much followed this same regimen when my hair was loose, except for a couple of changes that I made very recently. This is generally what I do to my hair every two weeks, and on the second wash, I'll interlock the roots. This same routine can apply to loose natural hair as well, so feel free to try it (Note: this is much easier if you do it while showering):

1) Cleanse with a diluted shampoo and oil mix. I use the Suave Rosemary & Mint shampoo (in the green bottle), mixed with water (about 70% water, 30% shampoo) in a spray bottle with sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil to help make it less harsh.

I spray my scalp and locs all over. I let it sit for ONLY AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO GET THROUGH MY ROUTINE. No longer than that. This is the first "pass". Rinse well.
I spray my scalp and locs again, this time GENTLY massaging my scalp to make sure it's clean. I also squeeze the mixture through my locs. Rinse well.

2) Hot oil treatment. I keep an oil mix of 1 1/2 oz sweet almond oil, 1 1/2 oz grapeseed oil, 1 oz castor oil and 5-10 drops of the following essential oils: tea tree, rosemary, and lavender. Warm it in bowl or small sauce pan of hot water for about five to ten minutes. It only needs to be warm, NOT piping hot. (You don't want to burn yourself.) I leave this on for about 15 minutes.

Just a note here: some actually LEAVE IN their hot oil treatment, by braiding their locs and letting them air dry. I personally wouldn't do this, as I don't like the "slick" feeling of the oils on my locs. If you have a hand-dryer or a sit-under dryer, by all means, use it to speed up the drying process. (Shouldn't take more than 30 minutes.) If your preference is to rinse after the treatment, do that.

3) Retwist/style IF NECESSARY. For loc wearers, if you don't need a retwist or you've already done a retwist less than three weeks ago, DO NOT retwist. You don't want your roots to be too tight. Use the styling or twisting product of your choice. I switch between my shea mix and EcoStyler gel (the pink). If your hair is still damp from rinsing after the treatment, air dry or use a dryer.

4) After I'm done retwisting, I might spray my locs with my aloe vera mix, but with my hair covered in oil, this isn't really necessary.

My scalp and locs felt great after doing this--I tend to have problems with dry and itchy scalp, and after two days, my scalp is still very moisturized and not dry at all. If you have this issue (and your hair is partial to oils), this just might help.

If you prefer to use a traditional deep conditioner, feel free to use that. Add the essential oils to the mixture, stir, apply and proceed as you normally would.

Feel free to change this regimen to meet YOUR needs.

Enjoy. =)

Homemade: Current Shea Recipe

2011-06-18T15:18:00.001-07:00

As you can probably tell by my older posts, I LOVE shea butter. Can't live without it and in fact, I bought five pounds (yes, FIVE) to restock today. =) I've been using shea butter since I big chopped the first time in December of '08. I've whipped it with mango butter, cocoa butter and aloe vera gel, and a myriad of oils. I use it from head to toe, and it's done WONDERS for both my skin AND my hair. I've changed up the recipe a few times, and this is the LATEST recipe I've been using for the past three months.

--1/2 lb of unrefined shea butter
--3 (large spoons) of extra virgin coconut oil
--Castor oil*
--Sweet Almond oil*
--Grapeseed oil*
--Tea Tree oil (preservative--12 drops)
--Rosemary oil (12-15 drops)
--Lavender oil (10 drops--growth aid)
--Jasimine oil (20 drops--I just love the smell.)

*I eyeball the amounts of these oils based on the amount of mix in the bowl, but generally two tablespoons of each should be enough. Feel free to alter your proportions as well as use essential oils that you enjoy.

Be mindful of getting water into your mix, during and after making it. We all know water can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Keep your mix covered and out of the range of splashing water. Also, keep your mix in a dark (preferably) cool place.

Combine all your ingredients in a large bowl. First, I whip (with a hand mixer) at low speeds to "knock out the bumps" or breakdown the larger pieces of shea butter. When the pieces are small enough, then I whip at the highest possible speed for up to 10 minutes. Whipping LONGER at higher speeds will do two things.

1. Gives you a fluffier, lighter texture
2. Yields more product.

If you DON'T want a fluffy texture, stop when the consistency is smooth to YOUR liking. Either way, this mix will yield enough to fill an 8oz container to the rim. For a CREAMIER consistency, add MORE OIL. For a THICKER, "waxy" consistency, add MORE SHEA BUTTER.

Use it however you like. Enjoy. =)

Product Review: Carol's Daughter Monoi

2011-06-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

Note: These are SAMPLES, not the full size products. The following prices for the full size containers were taken from the Carol's Daughter website:

--Repairing Sulfate-Free Shampoo: $18 for the 8.5 oz bottle.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Coconut Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Shea Butter Glycereth-8 Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus(Sunflower) Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Hydrolyzed Silk, Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Quaternium-91, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance (Parfum)

--Repairing Hair Mask: $29 for the 7oz jar.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Cetyl Esters, Dimethicone, Fragrance (Parfum), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oiol, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Oil, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccaride, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Extrac, Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethiconol, Octyldodecanol, Ceteareth-20, Quarternium-91, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone

I was fortunate enough to get these samples at the Georgia NY meetup I'd gone to last month. That's what they look like. (Yes, that's my guitar in the background and the nail polish is by Mattese, "Explosive Sensation". lol)

The "Monoi" is actually from the "Monoi de Tahiti" oil. This is an oil made by the women in French Polynesia and was used initially for the skin. They soak gardenia blossoms in coconut extract to product an oil that acts as a natural barrier against dehydration that can cause wrinkles and protects the skin against sun and wind damage. Carol's Daughter decided to apply these benefits to our hair and made a myriad of products for them. I won't lie, these products smell GREAT. Truly like flowers and coconuts. I also like the consistency of both products. The shampoo is nice and creamy, and the hair mask has a smooth but THICK texture. A litte like cake frosting, but not as firm. But I'm not a happy camper with EITHER one, and here's why.

I get the shampoo and it lathers up easily, mostly because I DO NOT use a lot of products on my hair. Most I put on it is A) the gel I retwisted with, B) my aloe spritz and C) my oil mix which I don't use that often. ALL of this gets washed out come my wash day in two weeks. Beyond those three things, I DO NOT put product in my hair. There's really nothing TO wash out of my hair, and I do it for the sake of cleanliness.

THAT being said, the stuff lathered up well and I left it on my hair for all of ONE MINUTE because I did this in the shower and I'm trying to get my day started. I rinse, and what do I get?

DRIED OUT. BAD.

It was enough that practically nothing was in my hair to begin with, but COME ON. It felt as if I'd been out in the sun for five days straight with no freaking water! My hair was beyond "squeaky clean". It was the hard, crispy clean where there was NOTHING on your hair at all. When I say I was PISSED, I was.....I won't even get into that! I was NOT HAPPY. After I learned the ingredients, it was clear that this shampoo contains TWO cleansing agents that--though they aren't "sulfates" per se, ARE in the "lauryl/laureth" family. No surprise there.

The Repairing Hair Mask gets a "meh". Now I can't use this as a deep conditioner since I have to contend with the potential for buildup AND slippage. What I did INSTEAD was use it as a retwisting cream of sorts, and it did alright. I applied it to the new growth, smoothed it down the rest of the strand and twisted. It felt nice, and again, it smelled nice. The next day: not only is it dry, but it feels as if I didn't put JACK on my hair. The smell lingered A LITTLE, but that's all.

To be (brutally) honest, I got much more out of that pesky ORS Loc & Twist gel (which I did use and surprisingly enough, my hair didn't flake) or my shea mix. I also don't get dried out to high hell after using my current cleanser, the Nubian Heritage Tea Tree and Lemongrass bar. =/

I'm fairly sure that shampoo would do well for any hair that finds itself with a lot of product buildup, but for ME? Nope. The same for the hair mask. If someone with loose hair used this as a deep conditioner, then they may be able to reap some benefit from this product. I simply cannot (at the moment). I'm giving away both samples to a friend of mine.

With all of the above considered, Carol's Daughter Monoi gets a thumbs down from me.

That's my review, and I'm sticking to it.

Well, well!

2011-06-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

How long has it been? (Four months, genius.) Been a while, hasn't it? Well, suffice to say that I'm still alive (if you're on the Curly Nikki forum or know me in person, you know this already). I'm also STILL loc'ing. That's right, I have not given up on the loc journey. Did some thinking, made some changes, and I have a head of 2 1/2 month old locs that...pretty much look like locs already.

What were the changes you ask? For one thing, the two strand twist deal? WAS NOT working for me. My hair at the crown LOVES to unravel. And while unraveling IS part of the process, all the hard work I put into retwisting would be gone and the twist itself would come undone less than a DAY later. Basically, I went two retwists and ended up looking as if I didn't do JACK.

So, I did some research and went for Braidlocs/Bradelocz instead. There really isn't a lot of science to Braidlocs. You basically start your locs with braids, and interlock at the root (or palm roll). Palm rolling wasn't working for me in the beginning, so I went with interlocking instead. Here is month one:

And here is month TWO (with 2 weeks):

A lot of frizz, but it doesn't bother me too much. If it really gets aggro, I just throw a scarf or a headband on it as a nice distraction. Otherwise, it's just another part of the process...I guess it'd be the "ugly" stage, but I don't find anything "ugly" about frizz and puffy ends. *shrugs* It is what it is, and it'll eventually go away. Much of my hair in the back and a few strands in the front have already lost the braid definition and matted nicely.

My routine as it stands is washing every two weeks with the Nubian Heritage Tea Tree & Lemongrass soap bar. I get the lather in my hands, massage my scalp as best as possible, and let the rinsing take care of the rest. After towel drying for a couple of minutes, I spray my hair with my (still in use) aloe vera spritz (also known as Aloe Gro), a mixture of water and sea salt (to help them dry faster) and add oil to the ends. When I wake up in the morning/get my day started, I either let the steam from the shower soften my hair or I'll spray it.

As far as retwisting goes, I've tried EcoStyler gel, ORS Loc & Twist Gel, and my own shea mix (recipes to come). Quite frankly, I've experienced NO issues with any of them...not even flaking. I'm also not too concerned about buildup, since I've only retwisted TWICE with a "touch up" in the front sometime early last month (staff meeting). Otherwise, I don't add anything else to my hair and what I DO add is water soluble. As often as I wash, whatever I used to retwist will be completely gone by the second washing of the month.

So! That's what has been going on hair-wise. =) Skin wise and makeup wise, that's a whole other story (or two). Both I will get to in the coming days. For those of you who are still viewing my blog for the older posts, THANK YOU! This lets me know that the information I posted is helping someone, somewhere, which is all I could ask for. Stay tuned for more.

Thanks for reading! Peace.

Loc Journey: First Re-Twist.

2011-02-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

So! On Monday I was up early with my Fiancee' for no reason. I decided to take the time and re-twist my hair, since I was going to be fairly busy this coming weekend. These pictures were taken Monday as well. (As posted in my thread on the CN forums.):

I washed my hair with Giovanni Direct Triple Tea Threat Shampoo. I'm really not a -poo person, but I used it when I washed my yarn braids and liked it. I focused mostly on the scalp, and washed twice (to get rid of buildup). I wrapped a towel around my head for ten minutes as I got dressed for the day (I wash my hair in the shower). Here is what I used:

Left to right: small jar of EcoStyler Gel (pink) mixed with my shea mix (more on this in a second), rubber duck bill prongs, and clips. I also sprayed my hair with my aloe vera gel spritz (not shown) both to soften them up and for the sake of hair health.

Here are my twists, post wash:

Left side

Right side.

The back.

Surprisingly enough, none of them unraveled. I twisted each twist in the same direction by doing the finger coil method, since they're not stiff enough for palm rolling yet. I used the EcoStyler/shea mixture both at the root and down the twist. Felt around and separated a few that started to "marry" a the root. Even felt/saw some budding action further up the twist, rather than the ends. Either way, I'm happy about that. Now for the post twist:

Left.

Right.

The back.

I won't be using the EcoStyler/shea mixture anymore due to the potential for buildup. I like the hold, but can't stand the film brought on by the shea butter. For my next twist, I'm going to try using the gel ALONE and see how that works out. Every so often (when money becomes available) I'll order gels from different companies to compare the results. I will also start looking into making my own black soap shampoo (to replace the Giovanni shampoo when it finally runs out.) This took me about two hours, from back to front. Air dried for about four hours and the clips came out. I shook my head and pretty much walked out the door. (w00t for low to no maintenance.)

Thursday will mark ONE MONTH since I started this journey. I won't lie, there WERE days when I started to flip out about the heavy frizz. Then I remembered: just as I grew my hair out, it's part of the process and if the sight of it bothers me that much, thrown on a hat or headwrap and keep it moving. ;)

Now to keep them dry for the next four weeks when I'll re-twist again.

Until then, be well.

The Stash Part 7: Changes (again) and product chatter.

2011-01-22T04:07:00.000-08:00

Last we left off (which was last year), I'd made the decision to keep my products as natural/organic as possible. I've pretty much stuck to that (with some minor exceptions or relapses) since then, keeping a tight leash on my inner product junkie and using ONLY what I have and replacing those things. It's only very recently that I invested in anything new. New items in italics, staples have an asterix(*), products I won't use again have a ~~strike~~.

Organic Items:

**Unrefined Shea Butter x3 lbs
Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar x1 (Had this for a long time, and STILL haven't touched it.)
**Raw Black Soap
**Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gel x1 50%, x1 replacement
**Giovanni Direct Smooth As Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner x1
~~Giovanni Direct Triple Tea Treat Shampoo x1 40%~~

Oils (all of them staples, except where noted)

Clary sage oil x1 50%
Lavender oil x1 30%, x1 replacement
Cinnamon oil x1 80%
Peppermint oil x1 70%
Eucalyptus oil x1 70%
Rosemary oil x1 40%, x1 replacement
~~Sage oil x1~~ (Will not purchase again--I prefer the Eucalyptus and Tea Tree oils.)
Extra virgin olive oil x1
Tea tree oil x1 90%
Extra virgin coconut oil x1 50%
The Palma Christi Castor oil x1 20
Sweet Almond oil x1 80%
Lemon oil x1 80%
Orange oil x1 80%

Stylers:

~~Kinky Curly Curling Custard (4oz) x1 60%~~
~~Afroveda PUR Whipped Gelly x1 90%~~ (Will not purchase again--I can make a hack of this at home.)
~~Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz x1 40%~~
EcoStyler Styling Gel (pink) x1 82oz (Don't ask. >_>)
Jamaican Mango & Lime Firm Wax x1

Other:

Murray's Beeswax x1
Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut conditioner x1 80%

I won't be using the Giovanni TTT shampoo anymore, because I'll be looking into making my own shampoo with the raw black soap. I've done some brief skimming on YouTube, so I'll choose a day to sit down and compile a recipe. That won't be for some time, since my hair won't be loc'd (or at least bud) for quite some time. I am STILL a fiend for shea butter, and the 3lbs I have at the moment is from a 5lb restock I did in November. I also love my oils, and I'm growing more and more fond of ESSENTIAL oils. I add them to my shea mix, I definitely use them in my aloe vera spritzand in a scalp oil I've made (both of which I'll post about another day).

Now for stylers/gels/waxes. To be blunt, I'm not crazy about the Kinky Curly Curling Custard. It does what it's supposed to but it weighed my hair down too much for my liking. The same for the Spiral Spritz, all though it was great to use when I had a TWA last spring/summer. As my hair grew, it wasn't ideal for me to use it. The Afroveda PUR Whipped Gelly I DID like, but with such a simple ingredients list (Aloe vera gel, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, and other oils and powders I can purchase locally) I may as well make my own and save myself $20 plus shipping. This isn't to knock the product nor the company, but let's be realistic: not everyone is on a budget to constantly buy products online (or at all).

Which brings us to that 82oz tub of EcoStyler gel that I bought last summer. >_> That gel, WAS a staple of mine. It served its purpose and cost me a fraction of what I'd pay with a "high end" brand like Afroveda or even Kinky Curly. That tub cost me only $10! (Yes, TEN DOLLARS.) But now that I'm locing, I really don't know what to do with it. I can still use it to re-twist, my hair NEEDS a product with hold. I also purchased the Jamaican Mango & Lime Firm Wax to test, as well as plain old beeswax to attempt to make my own loc butter in the (far) future--should my hair need it. I'm going to look into making my own gel first before I go that route.

I bought the Suave Naturals conditioner again, because I needed a conditioner to replace the Giovanni Smooth As Silk conditioner in a pinch. Now, it'll become a leave-in/moisturizing spritz ingredient (which is how I used it last year).

And that's pretty much it. Next update, I will share the recipes for the scalp oil I made as well as the aloe vera spritz I've been using.

Have a great morning everyone. =)

Loc Journey: Day 7

2011-01-20T12:13:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon everyone.

If you hang around the Curly Nikki forums (where I'm a member), you'll know that I've been considering locs for a while. Well, after having worn yarn braids several times and really enjoying the look, I've decided to go ahead and take the "leap". I'm currently loc'ing my hair, with two-strand twists:

These pics were taken on Day 5. The twists were done last Thursday, 1/13/11. It's currently Day 7, and they've shrunken a bit (due to steam from the shower). These twists were done on clean, damp-almost-dry hair with shea butter without gel. I twirled the ends to help keep them from unraveling. In an initial attempt, I did use gel and DID NOT like the way my hair shrank. So I did them again without it, and I'm happy with the stretched look.

As far as maintenance goes, tonight, I'll clean my scalp with witch hazel and a few drops of tea tree oil using Q-tips. I spritz my hair lightly with a water and conditioner mix, and I LEAVE THEM ALONE as much as I can. I do have a problem with Hand In Hair disease (lol) so it's a trial. But, I have plenty of hats and head wraps I can alternate with to keep that in check. I'm hoping by the end of the month I get some budding action (since when I wore my yarn braids, my hair started to get dense and thicken at the root around week 3 or 4--I wore them for five weeks).

How did I come to this decision, you ask?

Well, to be frank, I grew weary of tending to hair that just REFUSED to be styled or manipulated in anyway. Because my hair was fine and very frizzy, styles didn't last much longer than a day. Wearing a wash and go on a daily basis led to tangles and single strand knots galore. This isn't to say I grew weary of the maintenance--on the contrary. I wore my hair twisted most of the week until I installed my yarn braids. However, I just felt like the fro and the puffs and the twist outs...while they're cute, I want something a little more permanent. I've had enough people whine about it (mostly co-workers), about how I should just stick to braids and keep my hair twisted every week. That my hair is "too good" (insert eye roll) for locs and all the other discouraging nonsense.

THEN I asked them to spend 10 HOURS installing yarn braids--and they shut up.

So the locs are here to stay. =) Definitely excited about this new journey (and looking forward to the low to no maintenance between re-twisting!! =D w00t for being lazy!!) and ready for a new change for the new year. I will most certainly post again with pics at the end of the month and offer before/after pics.

Until next update, have a great afternoon. =)

Homemade Products: Shealoe.

2011-01-18T19:42:00.001-08:00

Good evening all.

To update on a good (and hopefully HELPful note), I want to offer my current Shealoe ("shay-low") recipe. This is basically the same as the Shea-Mango-Aloe mixture I'd made last summer, just minus the mango butter. I've also been using Sweet Almond Oil in the place of Grapeseed, and added additional essential oils for both properties and scent:

--1/2 lb of unrefined shea butter
--About 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel
--4 (large spoons) of extra virgin coconut oil
--Castor oil*
--Sweet Almond oil*
--Tea Tree oil (preservative--12 drops)
--Rosemary oil (12-15 drops)
--Clary Sage oil (10 drops--growth aid, has a bold "wine" scent)
--Cinnamon oil (10 drops--warming oil, stimulates blood circulation--CAUTION: this is a NATURAL IRRITANT. No more than 10 drops.)
--Orange oil (10 drops--I just like the smell.)

*I eyeball the amounts of these oils based on the amount of mix in the bowl, but generally two tablespoons of each should be enough. Feel free to alter your proportions as well as use essential oils that you enjoy.

*About using Aloe Vera Gel: you want to keep your amounts of aloe vera gel LESS than your amount of shea butter, otherwise you'll get a slightly runny mix that you'll have to thicken later on. 1/4 cup for every 1/2 pound of butter should be enough to give a smooth texture without being too creamy or too "waxy".

*Be mindful of getting water into your mix, during and after making it. We all know water can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Keep your mix covered and out of the range of splashing water.

I use this mix from head to toe. The combination of the cinnamon, clary sage and orange oils give a warm, "spicy" scent with hints of citrus that's SO good. (To ME anyway. I love the smell of oranges.) This mix is enough to seal moisture into my hair (and makes my skin feel pretty good). It's also good to use for twists or braids. However, I WOULD NOT recommend using it alone for any "out" styles; use in combination with your gel or holding product of choice if you plan to wear your "out" style for more than a day.

This is also a good sealant for TWAs and fresh Big Chops, especially in warmer/more humid climates. I did use this mixture for the two to four months my hair was very short last summer, and had little problems with moisture. It was also very easy to wash out.

Enjoy and happy mixing! =)

Updates and a new look on the way.

2011-01-10T08:50:00.001-08:00

Hello all!

My last update was in July of LAST YEAR. SHAMEFUL, to say the least. However, a lot of changes (all of the necessary) have gone down and a lot of good has come out it.

As the subject says, updates are coming and a new look for the blog as well. So stay tuned. =)

--Mika

Updates oh updates.

2010-07-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

I've been gone a while, but much has been going on.

I've made a second batch of my Shea/Mango/Aloe mix, this time using LESS aloe vera gel (about 1/3 cup). I also melted the shea and mango butters (GENTLY) and got a smoother result.

As some of you know, I'm a member of the Curly Nikki forums. I'm also taking part in a 6 month growth challenge for TWAs. It's month three of the challenge, and here are my progress pics. I'll only post two here, since the others are a bit large and I don't want to clutter your screens.

This is the 1st of May, beginning of the challenge.

This is the 1st of July.

The regimen I've been using is the same one since my second BC, with the only changes being the products (see Stash posts 4-6). I'm still on a daily routine merely because of the weather (let's be real: IT'S HOT.). I suspect by at least month FIVE of this growth challenge, I'll be twisting and therefore FREE of a daily routine. And hopefully the weather will cool down by then. =( To protect my hair from hot days, I wear a head wrap (though my hair has been MORE than managing with the heavy sunlight).

I've also been toying with Kimmaytube's leave-in recipe. The results, are BEYOND what I expected. I went three days WITHOUT having to re-moisturize (read: WET MY HAIR). This mixture was created with pH balance in consideration; a pH balance of 4.0 to 4.5 is the NATURAL balance for our hair, and it also closes our cuticles. This mix will seal your cuticles to lock moisture (WATER) into your hair. I HIGHLY recommend watching this video, as well as the rest of her videos about pH balance. If you know Kimmay, she's ALL about the facts and she delivers those facts straight up, no chaser, and no BS on the side.

On to other light-hearted news.

Today, is National Afro Day. If your hair is long enough to be fluffed/picked out into a fro, DO IT. Add a flower, or just go RETRO with some hoops. Whatever you do, ROCK THAT FRO. =D

Stay tuned for the following updates:

--Reviews on: Kinky Curly KNOT TODAY (Which I have not reviewed yet.), Afroveda Pur Whipped Gelly, Giovanni Direct Smooth As Silk Conditioner, and Nature's Gate Hemp Conditioner.
--Another Discussion post (or two). Mother has given me some insight, and she doesn't even realize it. (Well she does, but you know mothers: give them some credit, and they'll jack you for more of it! LOL)
--How to deal with the co-workers.
--I'll also share my wash day.

That's about it.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Homemade Products: Aloe Gro and Shea-Mango-Aloe.

2010-06-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

These were made last month; however, I want to share the recipes with everyone.

First is the Shea-Mango-Aloe mix. You will need:

--1/2 lb of unrefined shea butter
--1/2 lb of unrefined mango butter
--About 1/2 cup of aloe vera gel
--4 (large spoons) of extra virgin coconut oil
--Castor oil*
--Grapeseed oil*
--Tea Tree oil (preservative--12 drops)
--Rosemary oil (12-15 drops)

*I usually eyeball the amounts of the other carrier oils (grapeseed, castor, jojoba, etc.) based on the amount of mix I have in the bowl. However, the rest of the measurements are accurate. After I was done whipping it, it looked like this:

I give it the look and consistency of fresh cream. It melts VERY easily and goes on VERY smooth. It also moisturized my skin NICELY. I washed my face with my black soap, added my tea tree oil, put this mix on and went to bed. Woke up with SOFT skin that was NOT too dry at all. (My face was actually quite smooth!) As for my hair, it makes a nice, LIGHT sealant. My hair typically prefers thicker, heavier butters but for the sake of the weather, this mix will do nicely.

Now for the Aloe Grow. Mind you, the ORIGINAL recipe that I found off YouTube is as follows:

--1 cup of water
--1 1/2 cups of aloe vera gel
--5-10 drops sage oil
--5-10 drops peppermint oil
--5-10 drops of eucalyptus oil

*I* added rosemary oil (10 drops), tea tree oil (10 drops), and some KCKT (I used the same mix but substituted with the Knot Today and enjoyed it. Plus, I don't want the Knot Today to just sit in my cabinet.).

Now, since I made the Aloe Gro and Shea-Mango-Aloe I've added both to my daily regimen as follows:

--FIRST: spray the Aloe Gro, massage into scalp.
--SECOND: spray leave-in conditioner mix (KCKT, water, essential oils).
--THIRD: Seal with Shea-Mango-Aloe mix.
--LAST: Double seal with Castor oil.

I've also cut out the KCKT out of the second batch (as of Tuesday). The KCKT works well alone OR as part of my leave-in mix. There's no need to add it to the Aloe Gro, it's too much. I will continue to use the KCKT separately. With the Aloe Vera Gel, I don't really need to use a styler for hold. I tried to use the KCCC on top (smelled WAY too sweet and gave me white residue), as well as the Afroveda PUR Whipped Gelly ("decent" hold, but the additional Aloe Vera Gel dried my hair out). The Shea-Mango-Aloe works fine on its own for relatively decent hold without dryness. If I use either the KCCC or Afroveda, I have to add ANOTHER layer of Castor oil to counter the drying result.

Too much work.

So, here are the recipes. Feel free to try or tweak them to your needs, and share your results! =)

Peace.

The Stash Part 6: Changes and Plans

2010-05-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

It's been over a month since the last update, and I'm actually quite pleased with the changes I've made. Not necessarily with the AMOUNT of products, but with the
NATURE of the products. All are -cone free, sulfate free, and for the most part
CHEMICAL free (with the exception of preservatives, and many of those are vegetable
based). My hair is definitely benefiting from the changes in products.

Italics are new items, strike outs are products I gave/threw away, asterix (*) are staples.

Organic Items:
**Unrefined Shea Butter x4 lbs
Unrefined Mango Butter x1 lbs
**Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar x1 (Still haven't touched it yet.)
~~Desert Essences Throughly Clean Face Wash (Economy size) x1~~
Kinky Curly Knot Today x1 80% (replacement)
**Raw Black Soap
Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gel x1
~~Nature's Gate Hemp Conditioner x1~~
**Giovanni Direct Smooth As Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner x1 50%; x1 replacement
~~Giovanni Direct 50:50 Balanced Hydrating-Calming Conditioner x1~~

Oils:
**Clary sage oil x1
**Lavender oil x1 90%
Cinnamon oil x1 90%
Peppermint oil x1 90% (replacement)
Eucalyptus oil x1
Rosemary oil x1
Sage oil x1
Extra virgin olive oil x1
**Tea tree oil x1 90%
**Extra virgin coconut oil x1 50%
**The Palma Christi Castor oil x1 90% (replacement)
~~Aloe vera oil x1 40%~~
**Jojoba oil x1 60%; x1 replacement

Stylers:
Kinky Curly Curling Custard (4oz) x1 90%
Afroveda PUR Whipped Gelly x1 90%
Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz x1 90%

Other:
Alikay Naturals Essential 17 Hair Oil 20%; x1 replacement*

I've made a STAPLE out of the Giovanni Direct Smooth As Silk Deep Conditioner. I like what it does BY ITSELF; however, I've been adding honey, coconut oil, rosemary essential oil and peppermint essential oil and using it as a deep treatment for GREAT, moisturizing results. It also contains light amounts of vegetable
proteins, eliminating the need to have a SEPERATE conditioner strictly for protein
treatments. I can deep condition AND add protein on a WEEKLY basis as opposed
to MONTHLY, making my hair care regimen lighter and EASIER. (I'm Keeping It
Simple Stupid/Sister/Silly Cow.)

I also purchased the Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gel for three purposes. First, is the leave-in mixture created by Kimmaytube of YouTube reknown. I've used it twice so far, and I DO enjoy it. It's a very LIGHT mixture, employing pH balance as a means to retain moisture in the hair. For more info on pH balance, please see her video series on the subject. For the two times I've used this mix, my hair has indeed, remained soft. In addition to sealing my hair, I have yet to experience dryness. It'll replace the current mix I've been using (KCKT, water, and essential oils. More on that later.)

Second purpose for the aloe vera gel, is the Aloe Grow spray mix. Once my braids are
in, I'll be using this DAILY as a refresh/leave-in spray. I'm not necessarily using it for the growth aspect of it, but because aloe vera is a HUMECTANT. Moisture is
extremely important when it comes to protective styling. Even though your hair is
"protected", it's still prone to dryness. Prevention is key to have healthy hair WHILE its styled and AFTER the take down. Finally, I'm planning on a shea-MANGO-ALOE
mixture. I've never used Mango butter before, but I have heard of good results after
using it alone OR in a shea mix. Again, I want to add the aloe vera gel for moisture.
After using it in the leave-in mix, I'm honestly a little excited about both the Aloe Grow AND this new shea mix. I'll post about these when I make them.

And that's it for now. Stay tuned for more changes and my updated regimen.

Peaces. =)

Pictorial: How To Refresh Matted TWAs.

2010-05-19T07:42:00.000-07:00

For all the ladies who just newly BC'd, or are still in the TWA stages (or continually sport TWAs), I'm going to share how I refresh my hair. Especially after wearing a scarf (for bed) or a head wrap (for lazy days or bad weather). You can also do this to stretch your hair for a couple of days.

You take your scarf off, and what do you get?

Matted, flattened, stuck to the skull curls. Not cute. Nor for work, or for play, or AT. ALL. So, I break out my three go-to items for this.

Left to right: KCKT spray mix (water, KCKT and essential oils); my shea butter mix, and Palma Christi Castor Oil.

Let's get to work! First, I spray all over with the KCKT mix:

Then I run my fingers through it and massage my scalp. If some spots don't respond right away, I'll spray more. And this is what we get:

Revived hair, but still frizzy and dull. Still not happy with it. Then I take some of my shea butter mix:

And get it ALL UP IN there.

I add a little more to the back and sides, so they won't get neglected. Now for the Castor Oil:

I may or may not add a few drops of Lavender essential oil, simply because I like the smell. On days I go to work/run errands/hang out, I'll add either the KCCC (for poppin' definition) or the Afroveda PUR Whipped Gelly (to just set my hair for the day). But for now, I'll just stop here and let my hair air dry. The result:

Here's the back (sorry about the lighting).

The side.

And that's it! Hope you enjoyed this psuedo-slide show! This method will help keep your hair fresh for a couple of days, or just to re-moisturize before you go to bed. I DO NOT recommend going more than three days without co-washing though; you WILL experience some buildup (and you'll definitely feel it).

Otherwise, enjoy! =)

The Stash Part 5: Most recent changes and a quick hair update.

2010-04-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

Since the last Stash post, my hair and I have been going through changes (like Black Sabbath but...without the depression. Or English accents.). This is the stash as of (about) April 15th. Italics are new items, strike outs are products I gave/threw away, asterix (*) are staples.

Organic Items:
**Unrefined Shea Butter x2 x1, replacements x3
**Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar x1
Desert Essences Throughly Clean Face Wash (Economy size) x1
**Kinky Curly Knot Today x1 20%
Kinky Curly Curling Custard (4oz) x1 90%
**Raw Black Soap
Nature's Gate Hemp Conditioner
Giovanni Direct Smooth As Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner
Giovanni Direct 50:50 Balanced Hydrating-Calming Conditioner

Oils:
**Clary sage oil x1
**Lavender oil x1 90%
Cinnamon oil x1 90%
Peppermint oil x1 20%
**Tea tree oil x1 90%
**Extra virgin coconut oil x1 (replacement) 80%
**Castor oil x1 40%
Aloe vera oil x1 40%
**Jojoba oil x1 70%
**Alikay Naturals Essential 17 Hair Oil 50%

Market Items:
**Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner x3
~~VO5 Tea Therapy Revitalizing Conditioner x2 x1~~

Styler:
~~EcoStyler Styling Gel (pink) x1~~

As you can plainly see, I've disposed of ALL the market items. Gypsy (my name for my hair) has decided it would be in her best interest to switch to natural products. So, no more Suave. Or VO5. Or Organic Root Stimulator (the Replenishing Conditioner was the ONLY black hair product I was able to use after returning to my natural hair =( ). Now, I am on the search for the best natural or organic products to tend to Gypsy (who wears the pants in our relationship). Especially co-wash conditioners.

I've used the Giovanni Direct Smooth As Silk conditioner about twice as a deep conditioner (without mixing it) and I like the results. I mixed it with aloe vera oil last week, and I also liked the results. I have yet to use the 50:50 Balanced conditioner, because I'm trying to get through the Nature's Gate Hemp conditioner (which I will review once I finish the bottle).

As for my hair, I let Gypsy do her thing for about two months only to find out that she was...QUITE uneven. I went to a barber shop on a whim to have her shaped, and now she's happy (and so am I). Pictures to be taken and posted.

And that is all, for this quick update. Stay tuned for more product reviews, and a bitch-fest about high-sadity co-worker(s) who don't think before they speak. =)

The Stash Part 4: Changes Abound.

2010-04-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

Alright! Since the last update of my stash, I've used some things and given away others. I've even tossed one or two things. Now I can actually see the bottom of the cabinet under my bathroom sink.

Organic Items:
**Unrefined Shea Butter x2 x1, replacements x3
**Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar x1
Desert Essences Throughly Clean Face Wash (Economy size) x1
Kinky Curly Knot Today x1 30%
~~Nubian Heritage African Black Soap bar 50% used~~
Raw Black Soap
~~Nubian Heritage Almond & Honey Soap bar~~
Giovanni Smooth As Silk Conditioner

Oils:
**Clary sage oil x1
**Lavender oil x1 90%
Cinnamon oil x1 90%
Peppermint oil x1 20%
**Tea tree oil x1 90%
**Extra virgin coconut oil ~~x1 50%~~ replacement x1
**Castor oil x1 50%
~~Advocado oil x1 70%~~
Aloe vera oil x1 50%
**Jojoba oil x1 70%
Alikay Naturals Essential 17 Hair Oil 80%

Market Items:
**Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner x3
~~Suave Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom Conditioner~~ Will not purchase again.
VO5 Tea Therapy Revitalizing Conditioner x2 x1
**Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner (in the bottle) x1 40%
**Organics (not to be confused with ORS) Hair Mayonnaise x1 50%

Styler:
EcoStyler Styling Gel (pink) x1
~~IC Fantasia Gel (clear) x1~~

I gave a co-worker some of tthis stuff (she was definitely grateful for the conditioner). I purchased the raw black soap to replace the Nubian Heritage bar (because though it did help my skin, it's not the real deal) and the Giovanni Smooth As Silk in an attempt to find an alternate deep conditioner that contains protein. I want to get rid of BOTH my ORS conditioner and the hair mayonnaise, after finding out that mineral oil is a CARCINOGEN (chemical/additive that can cause cancer. WTF!?).

I also hope to make my entire stash 100% natural in the long run. Hopefully by the end of the month. More on these plans--and a review of the VO5 Tea Therapy Revitalizing Conditioner--later.

Product Review: Suave Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom Conditioner

2010-04-05T09:07:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: I did not receive this product for free, nor am I receiving stipends for this review.

Price: $2.99 @ my local drugstore (Duane Reade, CVS, RiteAid, Eckerd's); $1.99 at my BSS

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cetyl alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Potassium Choride, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1, 3-Diol, Tocopherly Acetate [Vitamin E Acetate], Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract [Cherry Blossom Extract], Red 4 (CI 14700).

Product description: Nourish the natural beauty of your hair with gentle conditioners and the fresh scent of cherry blossom.

How I used it:
--Co-wash conditioner
--Detangler
--Spritz ingredient

I bought this during my brief Product Junky stage shortly after my second BC. It was on sale (I have a weakness for sales) for HALF PRICE! I couldn't resist! So I bought two bottles, finished the bottles of the Tropical Coconut I was using and then started with the Wild Cherry Blossom.

Hm.

The best way for me to really review this product fairly, is to compare it to the Tropical Coconut. Since CHEMICAL ingredients in the Suave Naturals line of conditioners are the same across the board, so I will focus on the natural ingredients. Primarily, the humectants and moisturizing abilities of the product.

The Wild Cherry Blossom (WCB) contains: Wild Cherry Blossom extract and Vitamin E.
The Tropical Coconut contains: Glycerin, Cocos nucifera (Coconut extract), Vitamin E, Honey, Rosemary, Nettle and Silk Amino Acids.

See the differences already?

Honey and glycerin are humectants--they draw the moisture (water) IN to the hair. The WCB does not contain ANY humectants; it does not pull in moisture in the form of liquid water, vapors from the steam in the shower, or even in the form of HUMIDITY from outside. Rather, it DEPOSITS moisture in the form of Vitamin E. This isn't a bad thing--Vitamin E is very good for our hair. However, if your hair is screaming for moisture and you're not getting enough of it from your conditioner, you're going to have some problems. Particularly if you use this EVERY DAY as a co-wash conditioner.

I've looked up Cherry Blossom Extract (Prunus Serrulata). It seems to be used primarily for soothing properties and/or fragrance--mostly fragrance (combined with Parfum). I could not find any information on the immediate health benefits in regards to hair products, besides calming the scalp. Cherry Blossom extract--and the flowers themselves--range from a very light pink, to a deep, almost red shade of pink. It can and will STAIN whatever it touches pink. Which will explain its...Breast Cancer Pink color (combined with the chemical dye Red 4). As for the use of the product: it goes in nicely. It feels good when you apply it. However, after rinsing it out my hair felt NO DIFFERENT as if I'd rinsed product-free hair with warm water: fairly soft, but not VERY soft. My hair smells nice after using it, but that's all.

This product contains no additional herbs or oils to assist with moisture. I had to ADD an oil (avocado oil) in order to get any real benefit out of this conditioner. There was an improvement, but not by much. It works fine as a spritz ingredient, but for it behave as a humectant and not just a "mix" of water and conditioner, I would have to add Vegetable Glycerin. If I have to do THIS MUCH to get the product to work, then my hair and I are NOT happy.

My verdict?

It smells nice and does serve a purpose as a co-wash conditioner. However, I need my conditioners to be MOISTURIZING. My hair dries very easily--it EATS anything related to moisture. I feel that this conditioner does not do the work I need it to, ON ITS OWN. I still have to use a leave-in spray, THEN moisturize (a lot), THEN seal to keep my hair from drying out over the course of the day (and it still does). If my conditioner can't moisturize my hair by itself, then I can't use it.

In comparison to the Tropical Coconut conditioner, it's LACKING. I plan on giving the remaining bottle away (to my boyfriend, who's been getting into my stash as of late), and finishing off the 40% I have left. Afterward, I will not be purchasing this product again and I do not recommend it as a co-wash conditioner.

That's my review, and I'm sticking to it.

The Stash Part 3: MORE Changes

2010-03-28T20:37:00.001-07:00

Okay. Since last post, I've had to cross a couple of items on my list (which are in bold). Makin' progress, people. I'm makin' progress!! =D

Organic Items:
**Unrefined Shea Butter x2
**Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar x1
Desert Essences Throughly Clean Face Wash (Economy size) x1
Kinky Curly Knot Today x1 30%
Nubian Heritage African Black Soap bar (In use.)
Nubian Heritage Almond & Honey Soap bar

Oils:
**Clary sage oil x1
**Lavender oil x1
Cinnamon oil x1 90%
Peppermint oil x1 20%
**Tea tree oil x1
**Extra virgin coconut oil x1 50%
**Castor oil x1 70%
Advocado oil x1 70%
Aloe vera oil x1 50%
~~Grapeseed oil x1 50%~~
**Jojoba oil x1 70%
Essential 17 Hair Oil (It's here and IN USE!)

Market Items:
**Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner x3 ~~(replacements) x1 40%~~
Suave Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom Conditioner x2
VO5 Tea Therapy Revitalizing Conditioner x2
**Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner (in the bottle) x1 50%
**Organics (not to be confused with ORS) Hair Mayonnaise x1 70%

Styler:
EcoStyler Styling Gel (pink) x1
IC Fantasia Gel (clear) x1

I will give a verdict on the Suave Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom conditioner after about a week of using it.

Otherwise, cheers and goodnight. (Just got in from work. Me + fork = DONE.)

The Stash, Part 2: Changes

2010-03-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

Since my last posting about my stash of products, I went on a bit of a spending spree. Nothing financially massive, but I bought more products nonetheless. It took me back to the initial BC, and how much money I was spending on products "just to try it". I had damn near EVERY product that was geared towards natural, afro-textured hair, curly hair, or ANYTHING that would inspire my hair to look the way I hoped it would. (Except Kinky Curly, which I used until the second BC.) When I learned more about ingredients: what they were, what they did to your hair and the long term effects, I started using them up, giving them away or straight up tossing them into the trash. These days, my products--with the exception of conditioners--are primarily organic/natural.

But I still have A LOT of stuff to wade through, and now that I have short hair again the itch to buy things "just to try it" is growing. I also replace my staples BEFORE they run out. Here is what I have so far, with new items in bold. What I've used, given away or thrown out is lined through. Percents are next to products I'm actually using in mixes or on my hair or skin directly. Double asterix are next to staples.

Organic Items:
**Unrefined Shea Butter ~~x3 1/2~~ x2 lbs
**Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar x1 --It's a replacement bottle. Haven't used it since the chop.
Desert Essences Throughly Clean Face Wash (Economy size) x1 (Shampoo substitute--more on this later.)
Kinky Curly Knot Today x1 30% --Not sure what to do with it.
Nubian Heritage African Black Soap bar (In use, subject to change.)
Nubian Heritage Almond & Honey Soap bar

Oils:
**Clary sage oil x1
**Lavender oil x1
Cinnamon oil x1 90%
Peppermint oil x1 20%
**Tea tree oil x1 (replacement)
~~Extra virgin olive oil x1 20%~~
**Extra virgin coconut oil x1 50%
**Castor oil x1 70%
~~Hemp seed oil x1~~
Advocado oil x1 70%
Aloe vera oil x1 50%
Grapeseed oil x1 50%
**Jojoba oil x1 70%
Essential 17 Hair Oil (the one made by BlackOnyx77...it's already been shipped!)

Market Items:
**Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner x3 (replacements) x1 40%
Suave Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom Conditioner x2
VO5 Tea Therapy Revitalizing Conditioner x2
~~Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner x1 40%~~
~~TRESemme Flawless Curls Conditioner x1 70%~~
~~Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Pack x1~~
**Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner (in the bottle) x1 70%
**Organics (not to be confused with ORS) Hair Mayonnaise x1 80%

Styler:
EcoStyler Styling Gel (pink) x1 (won't be getting through this for a while...might give it away.)
IC Fantasia Gel (clear) x1

I'm looking at this list, and I'm thinking I might need an Product Junky intervention (definitely with the oils and conditioners...). >_>

But, I've been good at restraining myself in the drug store and in Ricky's NYC. I haven't bought anything new (except staples) within the last two weeks. *sigh* It's just getting really DIFFICULT to resist. Especially with the weather on the verge of getting warmer and my hair growing like a weed. I've gotten through/rid of a lot of this stuff so...we'll see how much of this I can get through in the next few months! =)

Homemade Products: Scalp/Hair Oil.

2010-03-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

During my last round of yarn braids (which I will get into in a later post), I had no desire on spending $8 on a bottle of Doo Gro oil from the drug store. I have used it before, and yes, it does work. However, with a pile of oils in my own house spending $8 on a bottle of that stuff (or any money on other products for that matter) is wasteful. So, I just kinda...threw some healthy oils together and came up with a scalp/hair oil.

The point of this mix was to keep my scalp moisturized and healthy between washes. In an 8oz bottle, I combined the following oils:

--Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
--Extra Virgin Olive Oil
--Hemp Seed Oil
--Jojoba Oil
--Castor Oil
--Aloe Vera Oil
--Advocado Oil
--Grapeseed Oil
--Tea Tree Oil (EO)
--Cinnamon Oil (EO)

To be frank...I'm not necessarily sure if it works. In fact, I still have about 80% of it in my bathroom. However! I did notice the condition of my scalp change dramatically: it was definitely moisturized and a lot healthier. As far as GROWTH is concerned, it was not a specific goal of mine (I was expecting it anyway with having my hair in a protective style). Only about three of the oils in the entire mix (jojoba, castor, grapeseed) contributed to growth. The rest was moisture, shine, and general health.

I can say that something good was going on at the time--but I just didn't give myself a chance to really look at/take note of what was going on.

So, this mix--though I'm sure it can help SOMEONE with some adjustments, is still in the testing stages. I can't test it now, because I'm in a hair challenge involving Castor Oil it would be too much oil all at once. In the next four months and once I get some length, I'll consider putting my hair in yarn braids again and dedicate three months specifically to testing this oil mix.

For now, just throw this into the "Question Mark" pile.

But if you feel you can make it work for YOU, then by all means: change it up/adjust it to meet your needs! That's what making your own products are all about. =)

Das Regimen.

2010-03-15T23:13:00.001-07:00

Before my second BC, I had a pretty stable regimen, even during the times I wore yarn braids. I was CONSISTENT with this regimen, and I didn't change the products for crap except for using Herbal Essences Hello Hydration as a detangling cream (won't be using it again--my hair doesn't like it). Especially where detangling was concerned. I tend to shed A LOT, even with regular protein treatments. Nothing wrong with me or my diet; it's just the way I'm built. A steady regimen of cleansing, conditioning and detangling (depending on your length) is a powerful contribution to retaining length and the overall health of your hair.

Pre-2nd BC Weekly Regimen:
--Shampoo with castile soap
--Clarify (if necessary) with Apple Cider Vinegar (aka ACV rinse)
--Detangle with a wide toothed comb and Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut conditioner.
--Deep condition with ORS Replenshing Conditioner for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
--Moisturize with my shea butter mix.
--Seal with my scalp/hair oil mix.

Pre-2nd BC Monthly Regimen:
--Shampoo
--Clarify (if necessary)
--Detangle
--Protein Treatment with Organics Hair Mayonnaise for 30-45 minutes
--Deep condition with ORS Replenishing Conditioner for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
--Moisturize.
--Seal.

AFTER the 2nd BC, there has been TWO changes to my entire regiment since my hair is short:

1) I remove shed hair with my FINGERS. My strands are too short to catch with a comb for now; my fingers get the job done.
2) With the approach of warmer weather, I co-wash two to three times a week (after daily co-washing dried out my hair).

Here is the NEW regimen that I'll be following for now.

Post 2nd BC Daily Regimen:
--Rinse with warm water.
--Co-wash with Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut conditioner 2-3x a week.
--Spray with leave-in mix (water, conditioner, lavender essential oil, hemp seed oil)
--Moisturize with my shea butter mix
--Seal with castor oil.

Post 2nd BC Weekly Regimen:
--Shampoo with castile soap
--Clarify (if necessary) with Apple Cider Vinegar (aka ACV rinse)
--Deep condition with ORS Replenshing Conditioner for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
--Moisturize with my shea butter mix.
--Seal with my scalp/hair oil mix.

Post 2nd BC Monthly Regimen:
--Shampoo
--Clarify (if necessary)
--Protein Treatment with Organics Hair Mayonnaise for 30-45 minutes
--Deep condition with ORS Replenishing Conditioner for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
--Moisturize.
--Seal.

The daily regimen is to keep my hair looking fresh; once it reaches a length where I can start twisting it, the daily regimen will get scratched. I'll also go back to detangling on a weekly basis. I'll also increase the amount of protein treatments from once to twice a month, in an attempt to cut down on shedding. I'm going to be trying some new conditioners soon, so products may get shuffled around as well.

As my hair grows in, this regimen as a whole may change. I'll keep you all posted. ;)

BC to the second power.

2010-03-11T14:32:00.001-08:00

So a couple of weeks ago, I gave myself a second Big Chop....by accident.

I wasn't purposefully aiming for a second BC. (See, what had HAPPENED was) I was going to cut away some old burgandy coloring that didn't go so well in early 2009, about three months into being natural. I didn't want to dye my hair with commerical dyes anymore, and I was considering henna (which doesn't play well with commercial dyes). So I decided to cut it.

Well, I got scissor happy.

VERY scissor happy.

I was cutting at a speed that would've put Edward Scissorhands to shame. (Okay, maybe not that fast.) Next thing you know, I've got a sink full of hair and less than an inch of it left on my head.

And I'm smiling. HARD.

In fact, I was smiling the entire time I was cutting it. It made me think back to my first BC in December of 2008. I was eager to get rid of the relaxed hair; six months was long enough, and if I didn't get it cut SOON I was going to hack it all off myself. My boyfriend, not wanting me to go to a barber shop and walk out with a fade, called up his stylist friend and my BC was done that same night. My appearance wasn't a priority to me. I wanted to get into being natural NOW and keep it moving. I was happy with my hair, but with MYSELF and my appearance? I still had some work to do in that area.

Fast foward a year and two months later, my confidence is at an all time high, and I'm finally comfortable enough in my own skin. So when I cut off MORE than I intended, I said "eh, I'll just even it out". And THIS:

Became THIS:

And I was looking in the mirror, saying to myself "Oh ho. THERE you are." Meaning, I finally saw MYSELF. Everyone else saw ME and who I was. But despite all my newfound confidence, *I* didn't see ME until that moment. I didn't see what everyone else saw: that I was beautiful. I didn't see it for a year and two months. Looking at the pic of my FIRST BC, I was no where near as enthusiastic as I am now. I just looked WEARY from carrying an aesthetic burden, and finally having it lifted from my shoulders.

There was no burden this time, just...a rediscovery. One that probably wouldn't have happened, if I didn't get all nilly willy with the shears.

So for those transitioning ladies out there, young or old, you've got NOTHING to fear. See your BC as a step INWARD to finding YOU. Your natural PHYSICAL beauty may be on display, but as with all things human, it all starts from WITHIN. Look INSIDE and find your INNER BEAUTY.

That will shine brighter and enhance your physical beauty more than any pair of earrings, any color eyeshadow, or any shade of lipgloss.

Product Review: Kinky Curly Curling Custard

2010-03-11T14:28:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: I did not receive this product for free, nor am I receiving stipends for this review.

The image shows both, but I am reviewing ONLY the Curling Custard here.

Price:
8oz $17.00--$20.00
16oz $24.99--$29.99

Ingredients: botanical infusion of water, horsetail, chamomile, nettle and marshmallow, organic aloe vera juice, agave nectar extract, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e), pectic, citric acid, potassium sorbate and natural fragrance

Product description: (per the Kinky-Curly website) CURLING CUSTARD TM gives moisture and curl definition, hold and brilliant shiny hair all in one product!

It reduces bulk, defines & elongates your curls helping them to 'hang' better. CURLING CUSTARD TM will bring out the natural curl or wave pattern you never knew you had!

It is an advanced botanical formula made with ALL NATURAL ingredients that nourish and strengthen the hair. Utilizing the humectant properties of the Agave Nectar, CURLING CUSTARD TM will give weight to your hair, define your curls, remove frizz, provide long lasting hold and shine without ever being greasy, crunchy or drying to your hair.

This high performance product is very concentrated so a little goes a long way.

**TIP- This product is designed to work alone but ultimate curl definition and length can be achieved when used with KNOT TODAY TM as a leave in conditioner.

For best results apply CURLING CUSTARD TM to soaking wet, freshly washed hair. For very kinky and tightly coiled hair use KNOT TODAY TM as a leave-in conditioner then apply CURLING CUSTARD TM to soaking wet hair in small sections. Smooth each section with fingers from root to tip.

Where to buy:
http://www.kinky-curly.com
http://www.curlmart.com
Ricky's NYC (if in the New York/New Jersey/Conneticut area)
Wholefood's
Participating health food stores, beauty supply stores and salons.

How I used it:
--With the Knot Today (which I will not be reviewing until I use it ALONE) for curly fro; alone as a wash and go gel.

Let me say that this gel, is indeed a HIGH PERFORMANCE gel.

The first time I used it (as instructed), I applied a dime sized amount to each section before applying the Kinky Curly Curling Custard. And I was stunned to literally FEEL this product work. The combination of water, the Knot Today and the Curling Custard FROZE my curls in place. The definition and elongation was amazing! This is what I got:

There was just one problem: My hair was hard, a.k.a. CRUNCHY. =( For the four times that I used both the Knot Today and the Curling Custard, I could NOT figure out the right amount of EITHER to keep the crunch at bay. And then, I started to run low on Knot Today.

Being a person who follows the directions on the container/bottle, I refrained from using the Curling Custard until I bought more Knot Today. I never did; I kept forgetting to do so, and everytime I set foot in Ricky's NYC, I walked right past it in favor of something else. Then I reminded myself: it's a gel. Gels typically work with water alone. WATER is what activates the ingredients IN the Curling Custard, to clump your curls and give you definition. When you get the balance of leave-in and product in accordance to your hair's length and density, you CAN get definition and elongation without the hardness or crunch. However, I'm not exactly on a payroll with expenses that'll let me continue to spluge on a $24.99 tub of gel. $12.99 for the leave-in, sure. But $24.99?? Not happening. (Even the $17.99 jar is a stretch for me.)

Stuck with half a jar of product, I decided to start doing wash and go's just to use it up. Got in the shower, co-washed, added the Curling Custard, shook my hair and got out. Lo and behold, I look in the mirrow and what do I see?? DEFINED CURLS. Crunchy, hard, and shrinking like crazy, but defined nonetheless. The second wash and go, I sprayed my hair with my leave-in mix right after co-washing, added the Curling Custard, shook my hair, and got LESS shrinkage. Progress! The THIRD time and down to LESS than 1/4 of the stuff, I sprayed my hair with my leave-in mix, added my SHEA BUTTER mix as a sealer, THEN the Curling Custard on top. I shook my hair, and THIS is what I got:

Lots of defined, spirals, coils, and kinks--especially at the temples, which is the TIGHTEST and most prone to frizz. No hardness/crunch. Not as much elongation as when I used the Knot Today, but not as much SHRINKAGE had I used the Curling Custard alone. This lasted me two days before getting frizzy.

This proves TWO things: the first, is that you CAN use this product ALONE. It's designed to do so, using water as a catalyst for the ingredients to clump your strands and give you an elongated, curly look. The second, is that ALTERNATE LEAVE-INS CAN BE USED WITH THIS PRODUCT. You're not limited to the Knot Today. Though, I would suggest a THIN leave-in conditioner, or diluting a thick conditioner with water and/or oils to prevent flaking.

MY verdict: the Kinky Curling Curling Custard IS a good product--once you find a way to make it work FOR YOU. I couldn't get the hang of using the Knot Today. However, I can get results I'm happy with using my own leave-in and shea butter. But since not all of us can afford to keep plunking down on a pricey tub of gel (and it IS a gel), an affordable alternative may be preferred (EcoStyler, IC Fantasia, Aloe Vera gel, etc). At the end of the day, this falls into the realm of "find/do what works for YOU". I DO recommend trying it at least ONCE, with or without the Knot Today and purchase the smaller container. It could be saved for special occasions or used as a summer product (which would be best if using it for a wash and go).

That's my review, and I'm sticking to it.

Too much of a good thing(s)...?

2010-03-03T06:37:00.001-08:00

As I'm getting ready to start the laundry (I'm off work today), I started thinking of my shea butter mix and ways to make it BETTER. (As if it already isn't good ENOUGH, lol). THEN, I started thinking of when I was strapped for cash and couldn't afford to restock on all of my oils. All I had was extra virgin coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, and about half a pound of shea butter to last me until the next paycheck. Of course, I whipped it and hoped for the best. Turns out, I got a long just fine without a slew of oils that did this, that, the other and then some. At one point, I got along just fine with just shea butter and coconut oil. (I wasn't broke, just experimenting from the ground up.)

Which made me ask, when is too much of a good thing, TOO MUCH? I guess the proper question to ask would be, is EVERYTHING we add to our mixes NECESSARY? Do we REALLY need FIVE different oils that promote growth? Do we really need THREE different brushes to scrub the toilet? Or TEN DIFFERENT SPONGES to wash the dishes?? (Okay, I'm going overboard, but you get the point right?)

The answer is generally "no", but accompanied with the desire for that extra "oomph" for those who want it. Nothing wrong with that. But if the "oomph" is already there, do we we really need MORE?

To put this to the test (again), I'm going reduce my mix to the BARE minimum: shea butter, coconut oil, and a third oil which I haven't decided on yet(I'm leaning towards castor oil). Shea butter already has growth and moisturizing properties. Coconut oil is good for moisture and penetrates the hair strand. Castor oil is an excellent sealant, and is known for growth and thickening the hair.

I'll start this after I finish using my current mix (as posted previously). As for the rest of my oils, they'll go into a scalp oil mixture which I'm still testing. More on that--and a regimen post--later.

Now I'm going to ask the boyfriend, when is TOO MUCH LAUNDRY TOO MUCH?? >=| (He generates so much damn laundry...)

The Stash.

2010-02-25T11:53:00.000-08:00

It's the name we give to anything we're hoarding. Be it money, food, alcohol, cigarettes..little grean leaves that make you feel good (or paranoid), we ALL have a stash of something.

In the Natural Community--especially Product Junkies--we have a stash.

OF PRODUCTS.

Conditioners. Deep Conditioners. Protein Treatments. Shampoos. Low-poos. No-poos. HI DEF--poos. Stylers and fliers and gliders and all kinds of stuff. Just hiding out in our homes, in some descript or non-descript location. Some of us have a mere drawer. Others have a bin. Others still have taken over the space under the bathroom sink (like me). And if you're anything like the (in)famous Product Pusha Woman, Richeau of YouTube reknown(whom I love for her reviews)...you've got A CLOSET.

(Yes, she has a CLOSET. She's even shown it in one of her older videos. Her stash, is MADNESS!)

Regardless of where we hide the goods, we got 'em--and it's A LOT of products. And to be fair, here's a list of what's hiding under MY bathroom sink:

Organic Items:
--Unrefined Shea Butter x3 1/2 (I buy by the pound, and mix 1/2 a pound at a time)
--Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar x1
--Desert Essences Throughly Clean Face Wash (Economy size) x1
--Kinky Curly Knot Today x1

Oils:
--Cinnamon oil x1
--Peppermint oil x1
--Tea tree oil x1
--Extra virgin olive oil x1
--Extra virgin coconut oil x1
--Castor oil x1
--Hemp see oil x1
--Advocado oil x1
--Aloe vera oil x1
--Grapeseed oil x1
--Jojoba oil x1

Market Items:
--Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner x2
--Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner x1
--TRESemme Flawless Curls Conditioner x1
--Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Pack x1
--Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner (in the bottle) x1
--Organics (not to be confused with ORS) Hair Mayonnaise x1

Styler:
EcoStyler Styling Gel (pink) x1

Yes, all that is hiding under my sink. That's my stash. Looking at the sheer amount of stuff, I could almost claim the title of Product Junky. o_o This list however, was slightly longer. ...Okay, A LOT longer. >_< Thankfully due to a second Big Chop and giving away some stuff, this list might not get any longer. (Keyword: MIGHT. After three months, IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG!!) I'm trying to use what I have before I get anything else. Looking at this list? It'll be quite a while...

But the point of this entry is, well, products. WE GOT LOTS OF IT.

What's in your stash ladies? (Alright you PJ's, fess up!! LOL)

Homemade Products: Shea butter mix #3, and Castile Soap --Poo

2010-02-25T11:49:00.000-08:00

For the next round of recipes, I'm going to share the THIRD incarnation of my shea butter mix AND a shampoo mix I found on YouTube. (I forget the username of the lady who created it, but it's fairly simple). This new mix came about after researching Hemp Seed Oil and Grapeseed Oil, both of which are excellent for moisture. I also decided to add Cinnamon essential oil*, which is a WARMING oil--it stimulates blood flow to the skin. Without further ado:

What you will need is*:
--1/2lb of raw, unrefined shea butter
--two large tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil (for texture)
--1/4 cup of jojoba oil
--1/4 cup of castor oil
--1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
--1/4 cup of aloe vera oil
--1/4 cup of hemp seed oil
--1/4 cup of grapeseed oil
--ONE large tablespoon of honey
--10-12 drops of essential oil

*I typically "eyeball" the amount, but for the sake of being precise these measurements are the BASE amounts of each ingredient. Tweak it to your needs.

*Cinnamon (Cassia) essential oil is a NATURAL IRRITANT. Used in small amounts, it can stimulate blood flow in the skin and scalp, causing a "warming" feeling that can be quite pleasant (it's used in massage oils, hint hint ;D). However, higher amounts CAN result in a BURNING sensation. You will not be PHYSICALLY burned by this oil, but the feeling IS rather annoying. (It'll also give you red splotches on your skin that WILL go away after wiping the area with water or a damp towel.) So be careful with this oil! lol

Combine your ingredients in a plastic or glass bowl. Whether you melted your shea butter or not, product to mix your ingredients and store in plastic or glass containers.

I use this mix on my hair and skin as well. Again, no buildup a co-wash cannot take care of. BUT, this mix CAN become a bit "waxy" due to the amount of oils in it. Every so often (about a week or two) you may want to consider using a low or no--poo to cut down on buildup. Enter, my shampoo mix using Castile Soap.

Castile soap is an ORGANIC soap made from unrefined oils and has the consistency of water. It's EXTREMELY concentrated. Where sulfates STRIP the hair and scalp, castile soap DISSOLVES oil, dirt and buildup, which is easily rinsed away with water. The result is "squeaky clean" hair that is NOT stripped, but STILL very dry. Hence diluting with water and adding oils: to cut down the drying effect of the soap WITHOUT losing its cleansing power. You CAN use castile soap on its own, but remember: a little will go a long way. Two to three squirts SHOULD be enough to CLEANSE thoroughly.

Whether or not you combine water and oils with your castile soap, it is IMPORTANT to deep condition after ANY form of --pooing or cleansing, to replace the moisture that was lost.

As far as the MIX is concerned, an 8oz bottle OR an empty shampoo bottle (typically 8oz or as large as 12oz) should be enough. As I said before, a little goes a long way to get the job done. Regardless of the size of the bottle, you want to keep the water content higher or equal to that of the soap. (Ex: 50/50, 60/40, 70/30) Leave enough room to add oils of YOUR choosing. I used jojoba oil, castor oil, advocado oil, extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil. If there is just one oil you enjoy using, then by all means, balance the mix accordingly. I added 12 drops of peppermint oil for scent. Shake before using. The consistency WILL be thin: don't worry, and don't go nilly willy with it! It'll do what it needs to do. =)

Regarding BRANDS of castile soap: the one *I* am most familiar with is Dr. Bronner's (who's expanded with different SCENTS). However, there are other brands of castile soap you can try/use. Just make sure that it's made with 100% natural ingredients. A review of the Dr. Bronner's soap will be posted at a later date, since I've found a substitute for it (in a regimen post).

That's it for now. Stay tuned for more mixes and recipes.

Discussion: Health vs. Length?

2010-02-13T20:23:00.001-08:00

My mother and I were on shaky ground for the better part of a year. Recently, we've been slowly getting back to good terms. I got a look at her for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I was APPALLED at the state of her hair. I'd never seen it so stringy, dry, brittle and UNCARED FOR. As if she just "let it go" and ran a comb through it every so often. I made my dismay known to her, and suggested that she visit her stylist friend to help get her hair back into shape.

Instead, she gets ANOTHER relaxer.

It gets worse.

The second time I see her after that, her hair is in total disrepair. She runs the comb through it, and it comes out in not just clumps, but PILES. =( I scolded her a bit about getting the relaxer in the first place without getting some sort of protein treatment or deep condition FIRST, then chose to do it MYSELF. Which brings us to today.

I give her a deep condition/protein treatment, and took note of the amount of DAMAGE. (It was BAD. REALLY BAD.) I tell her that she'll have to chop A LOT of her hair off to reach the healthier parts of the strand. She says:

"NO. I can't do that, I look bad with short hair. Just take off the ends. It'll be fine."

I take a handful of hair that not only sheds, but is CLEARLY damaged and show it to her in the mirror. I said "Mommy, this is damn near FIVE INCHES OF DAMAGE!! You can't be serious!"

She frowns and says, "Mika, I'm NOT COMFORTABLE with short hair."

"What's more important: long, DAMAGED hair? Or short HEALTHY hair that will GROW LONG again?" She says nothing, but her frown remains. She ain't budging. Having long hair is still more important to her. More important than most things deemed high priority. Her side of the family is the same way: length = beauty. If it isn't long, it isn't attractive. If it's short, something's wrong with it. A total crock, of course. But you can't tell THEM that. >_> Oh no.

Which brings me to the point of this post.

As we all know, healthy hair WILL grow regardless of its length. It could be as short as an inch, or as long as waist length--your hair's health plays a role in growth. Now if your hair is damaged, even stressed by whatever means (excessive heat, hair coloring, poor/lack of good maintenance) you'll loose your precious growth to the BREAKAGE that occurs. And then some; if left to do its own thing, the breakage CAN and WILL spread. Which is what was happening to my mother: her armpit length hair was breaking BADLY. Without a chop above the breakage point, it would only get worse.

But she refused to chop it off, because she favors the LOOK of long straight hair. Nevermind if it's falling out. As long as it's long and sleek, she's happy. I cut her hair to about shoulder length, with the threats of cutting it shorter (to do away with ALL the breakage) if the didn't start taking better care of her hair.

I can go on and on about the implications regarding this situation. It's obvious she prefers a European appearance (and knowingly so--she's from Panama, and is totally aware of the heavy European influence regarding ideals of beauty and general appearance in the BULK of Latin America.). And there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with having a preference. We ALL have a preference, myself included.

But my question is, is the LOOK of something more important than its CONDITION? Just because the car LOOKS good, doesn't mean it's got ALL of its parts. Just like a man who LOOKS as though he's got it together, doesn't mean that he's NOT a few marbles short of a complete bag.

Just because someone's hair LOOKS nice, doesn't necessarily mean it's in the BEST CONDITION. And this is across the board, be you man, woman or child REGARDLESS of skin color. Today, my mother's hair is looking INFINITELY better than it did yesterday. But it's still in bad shape--because she prefers how sleek it looks over its general health. And as long as it's...well, LONG, she couldn't care less if it was falling out at the root. =( *sigh*

Feel free to weigh in ladies.

Homemade Products: Shea butter mix #2

2010-02-11T16:50:00.000-08:00

To continue with my recipe collection, this second shea butter mix came about after I experienced SEVERAL failed mixes with the Curly Buttercreme hack. This was due to my melting my shea butter almost or to the point of no return. =( I then discovered that when using Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, you don't need to melt your shea butter because the thick texture of the oil helps to soften it. After that impromptu lesson, I was back on the ball but decided to leave out the cocoa butter (because it was getting costly to replace with every failed mix.) I also looked up the health benefits of other oils and honey, and the following mix is a result of my research at the time.

What you will need is:
--1/2lb of raw, unrefined shea butter
--two large tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil (for texture)*
--1/4 cup of jojoba oil
--1/4 cup of castor oil
--1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
--1/4 cup of aloe vera oil
--ONE large tablespoon of honey**
--10-12 drops of essential oil (optional)

*I typically "eyeball" the amount, but for the sake of being precise these measurements are the BASE amounts of each ingredient. Tweak it to your needs.

**Honey is a great humectant and moisturizer. However, it IS a sugar: too much will leave you (if you choose to use it on your skin, which you CAN) and your hair feeling sticky. Not cute. One large tablespoon is more enough to get the benefits without ending up with a sticky mix.

Combine your ingredients in a plastic or glass bowl. Whether you melted your shea butter or not, product to mix your ingredients and store in plastic or glass containers. Because of the amount of oils, you might find yourself filling a 20 OZ JAR with this mix, so prepare to stock up!

As before, please be careful about adding or accidentally getting water into your mix. Honey is considered to be a natural preservative, but it won't keep your mix from spoiling down the line. Make sure your skin is completely dry before applying, or place the container out of the way when applying to your hair.

If you choose NOT to add an essential oil, you will have a mix with a "nutty" scent which is mild and will fade once your hair dries. If this is still a turn off to you, feel free to add an essential oil of your choosing. I used this mix on both my hair and skin for a long time; BOTH benefited from the oils added this time around. My hair stayed soft, and my skin--once riddled with acne scars--smoothed out and even firmed up a bit. (Also good for smoothing stretch marks!) Again, no buildup that a co-wash couldn't take care of.

Stay on the look out for my latest re-incarnation of this mix, and other recipes to come.

Product Review: Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner

2010-02-11T16:24:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: I did not receive this product for free, nor am I receiving stipends for this review.

Price: $2.99 @ my local drugstore (Duane Reade, CVS, RiteAid, Eckerd's); $1.99 at my BSS

Ingredients: Water (Aqua); Cetyl Alcohol; Cetrimonium Chloride; Potassium Chloride; Fragrance (Parfum); Distearyldimonium Chloride; Disodium EDTA; Glycerin; 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol; Methylchloroisothiazolinone; Methylisothiazolinone; Propylene Glycol; Silk Amino Acids; Honey (Mel); Nettle (Urtica Diocia) Extract; Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) Extract; Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Extract

Product description: "Replenish the natural beauty of your hair with this special formula combining humectants and vitamin E. Enjoy the fresh scent of coconuts as this formula helps nourish each strand. Say yes to beautiful without paying the price.

How I used it:
--Co-wash conditioner
--Detangler
--Spritz ingredient

I discovered this conditioner totally by accident, while trying out random conditioners. Coconut milk and coconut oil have done wonders for my hair in regards to moisture, so I make it a point to purchase or make products containing either one. It's become my staple for the following reasons.

My hair does not do well with products that have a thin consistency--I've gone through numerous bottles of thin conditioners, because my hair absorbs a lot of product. I have to use THICK, HEAVY products. The consistency of the Suave Naturals conditioners is perfect for my needs; I use it as a co-wash conditioner for days I just need a quick style, or even as a detangler. This conditioner also plays nice with my oils and adding honey for extra moisture (I'll post about
modifying products at a later date). The smell is sweet, but by no means overpowering. It'll fade to almost nothing by the time your hair dries.

I use this conditioner on sopping wet hair, in the shower. I either detangle with my wide tooth comb, or saturate my hair with it for a co-wash. After rinsing, my hair is moisturized and you can definitely FEEL the difference. You can also dilute this conditioner in water with an essential oil for a quick burst of moisture throughout the day. My hair is definitely at its softest after the use of this conditioner, and has been for the seven or so months I've been using it.

My verdict: I ENJOY using this conditioner, and I HAVE made it a staple. Not merely because of what it does for my hair, but because of the price--it's $2.99, cheaper in some stores. And let's be real: a bottle of Curls Coconut Sublime Conditioner (which I do love) is $17. You know how many bottles of Suave I can get with $17?? A Mo-Fo is BROKE these days! And for those of us who are natural and on a budget, we can't always throw around $17 on ONE bottle of conditioner. Much less $12 or even $10. Especially if your hair is as greedy as mine is.

Basically, if you need a conditioner that will do the job for a fraction of the price, try the Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut. There are also OTHER conditioners in this line, but the Tropical Coconut seems to be the most popular in the Natural Community.

******************

Now a quick blurb on product ingredients. Many of us Naturalheads who use strictly organic products will take issue with the chemical ingredients listed. It's important to know that when companies such as Suave, Garnier and TRESemme list their ingredients, they do so based on the AMOUNT ranging from MOST (at the top) to the LEAST (at the bottom). It should also be mentioned that even the most harmful "sounding" chemicals are actually PRESERVATIVES and
ANTIBACTERIALS to extend the shelf life of your products. Some of the names that "sound" like chemicals, are actually the TECHNICAL names for natural ingredients. (Example: Tocopheryl Acetate--sounds scary right? Guess what: it's Vitamin E.) Moral of the story? DO YOUR RESEARCH. If a name of an ingredient in your product sounds suspect, look it up. As an informed consumer, you can make a CONSCIOUS decision about what to use on your hair and body.

You're also less likely to fall prey to fancy advertising and marketing. (Yes, Miss Jessie's. I'm talking about YOU.)

******************

That's my review, and I'm sticking to it.

Homemade Products: Shea butter mix #1

2010-02-04T16:12:00.000-08:00

I created this mix as an alternative to the Miss Jessie's Curly Buttercream when I first went natural over a year ago. I was eager to get away from the absurd prices--my pockets aren't that deep to keep buying a product that costs damn near $35 for just 8oz. And considering the reasons mentioned in the previous post, I needed something that my hair wouldn't complain about.

Enter Mix #1--the Curly Buttercream Hack.

What you'll need is*:
--1/2lb of raw, unrefined shea butter
--1/2lb of raw, unrefined cocoa butter
--two large tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil (for texture)**
--1/4 cup of jojoba oil
--1/4 cup of castor oil
--1 large tablespoon of vegetable glycerin
--10-12 drops of peppermint oil

Combine your ingredients in a large glass or plastic bowl and whip. If you melted your shea butter, whip it with a whisk. If using a hand mixer, start with a low setting to break down the larger pieces of the shea and cocoa butter (softened by the coconut oil). When the butters are soft enough, increase the setting and whip until the texture is smooth to your liking.

*I typically "eyeball" the amount, but for the sake of being precise these measurements are the BASE amounts of each ingredient. Tweak it to your needs.

**When using coconut oil with your shea butter mix, you DO NOT have to melt your shea butter. Seriously, you don't. The coconut oil softens the butter and gives it a creamy, whipped look and texture (best achieved with a hand mixer--a cheapie from a value store is good enough).

This mixture will smell JUST LIKE the Curly Buttercream, and moisturize JUST LIKE the Curly Buttercream but the appearance will NOT be the same. It have a whipped buttery look, not a creamy one--this is due to the absence of Deionized Water. If you like, you may add FILTERED WATER to this mix but DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST. Water can actually shorten the lifespan of your mix, if it's not countered with a preservative of some kind. Even drippings from our hair and bodies can cause a mix to turn (it's happened to me twice) so be careful!

This mix became my daily moisturizer, and my hair was definitely softer as a result. No greasy buildup, and a mere co-wash was enough to clean my hair. I applied my mix generously to dripping wet hair, styled and let it air dry.

Stay tuned for other re-incarnations of this mix, and other homemade concotions. ;)

Product Review: Miss Jessie's Baby Buttercreme

2010-02-04T13:53:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: I did not receive this product for free, nor am I receiving stipends for this review.

Price:
2oz $9
8oz $25-$32
16oz $60

http://www.missjessies.com
http://www.rickysnyc.com
http://www.curlmart.com
(Websites charge tax, shipping and handling.)

Also available at certain BSS or salons.

Ingredients: deoinized water, acetylated lanolin, beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter carbomer 940, fragrance, castor oil, dilaurate laneth 15, glycerine, glyceryl stereate, hydrolyzed animal protein, imidazolidinyl, jojoba oil, baneth 15, mineral oil, methyl paraben, milk protein, panthenol, paraffin, PEG-400, PEG-100, stearate, petrolatum, propyl paraben, treithanolamine, vitamin E, wheat germ oil

Product description: "The Sweetest Baby Buttercreme Period." Honestly, the first baby buttermilk created to hydrate dry, parched curls, kinks and waves. Locks in moisture. Superb shine, excellent lightweight coating. Will help cut down frizz. A great detangler for knots and kinks. Fortifies and strengthens dull, lifeless curls. This marvelous milk will smooth out and condition your curls, kinks and waves and will give your hair more elasticity and spring. There's bounce in this baby's every buttery ounce.

How I used it:

Two-strand twists
Puffs

My first run with Miss Jessie's resulted in me making a hack of the Curly Buttercreme to avoid the ridiculous prices (as shown above). Second run resulted in me giving away the jar of Curly Meringue (too sticky, heavy build up). This third run with the Baby Buttercreme has confirmed that I am just not meant to use this product. At all. For any reason. Let me explain.

While this product DOES soften my hair, the buildup and the film FROM that buildup is horrendous. I applied it the same way I would my shea butter mix: in sections, on dripping wet hair. What I got instead of soft cotton-ny hair, was mildly greasy hair with a coating that only hot water and Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), even a shampoo could break up. And as a person who typically gets water in their hair two to three times a week (including wash day), this is BAD. A co-wash is fine, since I'm not necessarily losing out on moisture. However, -pooing of any level more than once a week is a negative for my hair. So based on buildup ALONE, this product is not for me.

The smell is a bit overpowering for me, as well. It's a cross between cake and baby powder, which isn't inherently bad but a nuisance when it's all over your linens and clothing. Then of course come the ingredients...

The primary ingredient many take issue with is mineral oil, which is derived from petroleum--good old crude oil. It's a synthetic that is used as a SEALANT to give shine and lock in moisture. Also in contention are the Parabens listed (many of which are believed to cause headaches, even cancer with prolonged usage). Not to mention what I just found out about hydrolized animal protein. Just that alone...ew.

Clearly I have a bias against this product. From the price range to what it does to my hair and what's IN the product itself. I made a conscious decision to try this product again, just to see if my hair would react differently--the first two times, my hair was fairly short. My hair is much longer now, nearly triple its original length immediately after my Big Chop. My hair behaved NO DIFFERENTLY than the first two times: a greasy, sticky, hot mess that needed to be shampoo'd and clarified EACH AND EVERY TIME I used this Baby Buttercrap.

While there ARE those who benefit from the use of these products despite its ingredients, I simply AM NOT ONE OF THEM. Not if my hair demands a thorough washing every time. I will be giving this stuff to someone who can use it. Either at the NYC meetup this weekend, or to a co-worker who might be able to use it as a moisturizer for her own hair. She does have relaxed hair, but I've read/heard of our relaxed sistas using Miss Jessie's. Perhaps she can benefit from this more than I can.

Bottom line? I'm staying away from this stuff. FOREVER. I am never straying from my shea butter mix ever again.

That's my review, and I'm sticking to it. (And my butter.)

Staple Products...?

2010-01-22T14:21:00.000-08:00

The word "staple" gets thrown around a lot in the Natural community. Usually in reference to products or recipes that one falls back on or uses consistently for extended amounts of time. In less words, it's your "never fail", "tried and true". Without it, it's like Batman and no Robin. Peanut Butter, no jelly. Kool Aid, no sugar. ;D They're the products you swear by, and wouldn't trade them for anything. Not even the latest product on the market that promised to define your curls IN ADDITION to clean your house and train your pets could make you give them up.

MY staples are:

* Raw, unrefined shea butter (styler, moisturizer)
* Oils (aloe vera, advocado, hemp seed, EVOO, coconut, jojoba, castor, grapeseed, peppermint) (sealants, ingredients for my shea butter mix)
* Vegetable glycerin (humectant that I add to my mixes)
* Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap (shampoo)
* Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut conditioner (for co-washes and deep conditions)
* Organics Hair Mayonnaise (protein treatment)
* Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar (clarifier)

The oils sound like a lot, but they go into my shea butter mix (I'll post the recipe at a later date.) as well as a scalp oil and sealer for my ends. I'm also not paying a lot of money: I buy my shea butter and oils both in bulk, and all at ONCE (from a Muslim wholesale shop in my area) so I don't have to spend additional money replacing any one item. All else, I buy from the local drugstore, and health food store.

I still don't have a staple leave-in conditioner, which is just ONE MORE item I'd like to add to the list. (Recommendations are appreciated!) But other than that, I have what I need.

Except for two 8oz jars of Miss Jessie's Curly Baby Buttercreme. (Wanted to give this product another try. Ew. There'll be a review on that another day.)

AND Kinky Curly Curling Custard and Knot Today (which I'm on the fence about re-purchasing for the next sentence).

AND a 32oz tub of the EcoStyler styling gel (the pink one), that I plan on using some time this year once I figure out which oil will work best with it. I'm leaning on castor oil because of its texture. I'll have to experiment to see.

Moral of the story: staple products will never fail you. Find out what your staples are, and always keep them on hand. In other words, find what works for YOU and KEEP IT!

Discussion: Relaxed vs. Natural debate. (Again?)

2010-01-20T13:04:00.000-08:00

*sigh* I was really hoping to save this for a later post, but the forums at CurlyNikki got me thinking.

Relaxed vs. Natural: is one really better than the other?

In a blunt, straight with no chaser answer, NO. One is not better than the other. One does take a little more work to take care of; relaxed hair is essentially stripped to its bare bones, and requires more "nursing" to maintain it. But does that make it less attractive than natural hair? Absolutely not.

As for natural hair: let's not front ya'll. WE HAVE OUR DAYS. Hair's feeling like hay, frizz is out of control, twist out looking like a puke out, or maybe we're just friggin' TOO LAZY to deal with our hair at the moment. Product build up, product PRICES. Failed mixes. Wash and go looking like a wash and NO. You know what I mean. Does it mean that natural hair is less attractive than relaxed hair? Absolutely not.

In all reality, what we have here is a trend of "you" vs. "me"--akin but not equal to gang rivalries. Bloods vs. Crips. Latin Kings vs. MS-13. The city vs. suburbia. High rise apartment vs. two story flat. Light skinned vs. dark skinned. Long hair vs. short hair.

Relaxed hair vs. natural hair, and militants on both sides screaming "either you're with us, or you're against us". Sounds familiar. (Sounds like my family. *half joking*) But the real debate going on between either camp is NOT whether one is more attractive than the other. The debate, is whether or not natural hair is HEALTHIER than relaxed hair?

I already know that someone is going to say "yes", and others will say "no"(mostly relaxed sistas) and will use the arguement of natural hair being "harder" to tend to and/or just flat out looks bad. There are natural sistas who will argue that relaxed hair IS damaged hair no matter how well you treat it and will continue to BE damaged until you stop doing it. Lots of bias, right? Absolutely.

YouTube user Kimmaytube left a comment on the video of a young lady who was venting about the response she received about her decision (keywords here: HER DECISION) to return to the relaxer. Here is the comment, in italics and in its entirety:

I think the word "healthy" should be thrown away as it relates to hair, since hair is dead. The better term in my opinion is "well preserved" because keeping the hair on your head is all about maintaining it to preserve the strands.

Can relaxed hair be "preserved"? Absolutely. But it will take even more effort than natural hair because much of your cuticle has been dissolved.

I support any black woman working to maintain her REAL hair. So do your thing, whatever makes YOU happy! Peace.

And you know something? ...I kinda agree.

Once the strand extends from the follicle, it's dead. Kaputsky. The cuticle though, is still INTACT. Relaxers dissolve the bulk of the cuticle--which contains keratin--in order for the hair strand to lay flat. However, the cuticle of the strand MUST BE TREATED in order to maintain the strands on your head. The cuticle of natural, virgin hair IS NOT DISSOLVED and retains its keratin content--giving us naturals our curls, kinks and coils. However, the cuticle of the strand MUST BE TREATED in order to maintain the strands on your head.

The common thread here, is that the THE MAINTENANCE is the ultimate factor in whether or not the hair can be considered "well preserved", as Kimmaytube put it. NOT if the hair has been natural for "x" amount of years or if you do "xyz" after getting a relaxer. I've seen damaged hair on both ends, and *I* can attest to damaged hair both when I was relaxed AND as a natural. Better MAINTENANCE freed me of damage in BOTH instances. Going natural HAS NOT made me exempt from damage. I highly doubt going back to the relaxer (which I don't plan on doing, ever) will alleviate me of frizz. My hair is too fine for that.

But to get to the point of this entry, relaxed hair IS NOT better than natural hair. Natural hair IS NOT better than relaxed hair. One may be more "accepted" than the other, but "accepted" does not equal "better" or "healthier". Especially in a society where we as a people are damned if you do, damned if you don't.

So up with this natural vs. relaxed foolishness, and just TREAT YOUR HAIR WELL. We got enough to deal with as it is; fighting each other about the hair on our head is the LAST thing we need to do.

Product Review: Oyin Juices & Berries

2010-01-16T14:05:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: I did not receive this product for free, nor am I receiving stipends for this review.

Price: $10 @ http://www.oyinhandmade.com

Ingredients: Purified water infused w/ horsetail, lavender, nettle, roses & chamomile; organic flaxseeds; organic aloe vera juice; vegetable glycerine; essences of lavender, sweet orange & ylang ylang; grapefruit seed extract; citric acid; fragrance; & love!

Product description: A nourishing herbal leave-in, this oil-free blend of vegetable moisturizers and herbal essences feeds hair and scalp like a salad! It softens loose hair to ease detangling, and a quick spritz helps refresh thirsty locks, twists or braids—with humectants to help draw moisture from the air. A juicy, fruit-scented twist on an Oyin classic.

How I used it:
--For twists/braids: dilute in water and spay each section before twisting
--For puffs/fros: spray straight from the bottle
--Out-styles: finishing spray

I ordered the Juices & Berries on a total whim. I waited my prescribed two weeks for my order to be filled and shipped, and I immediately set to using it (along with the Honey Hemp Conditioner) the day it arrived. I was on the hunt for the “perfect” conditioner and leave-in, and decided to try my luck with Oyin.

I LOVE the smell of all things sweet. The J&B smells like those SweeTarts candies, if anyone can remember those. Made my hair smell GREAT. I used it mostly during the summer, when I wore my hair out more often than in twists under a headwrap or in braids(currently growing my hair out). And it DID stay true to its word: it helped my hair stay moisturized due to the humectants in the product. However, the effect was MINIMAL. If anyone from NYC is reading this, then you KNOW how bad the summers can get here. The sun is a BEAST and has dried my hair out on more than one occasion. And that’s with a good helping of my Shea Butter mix and a little jojoba oil as a sealer.

The J&B just didn’t cut it, and here’s why:

My hair is FICKLE when it comes to humectants. The weather has to be “just right” for my hair to respond to them. Meaning, it has to be just humid “enough” and just warm/cool “enough” for humectants to have ANY effect. The summer was NOT the best time to use a humectant, as the air wasn’t humid “enough” and was too warm. My hair dried out as a result. The same for when the weather started to cool down in late October: my hair dried out because it was too cool. When I stopped using the J&B as a finishing spray entirely, my hair did better. In fact, my hair does better PERIOD with the least amount of humectants possible. I get along great with a cheapie bottle of conditioner with glycerine alone as a humectant. The additional humectants from the J&B made matters worse during the Summer and would make them infinitely worse during the Winter.

This isn’t to say I’m utterly disappointed in the product: knowing that my hair only responds to this product at certain temperatures made me aware that as the seasons change, certain products in my arsenal has to change. The Oyin J&B is one of those. But because I’m searching for products I can use ALL YEAR, I’m less inclined to buy it again. (The Honey Hemp conditioner is another story which I’ll share at a later time.)

Bottom line: The Oyin Juices & Berries spray is not FOR ME. However, I definitely recommend it to those who live in a more stable climate, one that’s not as prone to season changes as NYC. They can benefit MORE from the humectants than I can.

That’s my review, and I’m sticking to it. =)

Homemade Products and You.

2010-01-14T01:53:00.000-08:00

For some of us, homemade products are a part of our hair care arsenal. Whether you're transitioning, newly natural (a few months) or natural for some amount of time (from a year to their entire lives), if you use a homemade ANYTHING on your hair, chances are your hair is thriving. This isn't to say that the hair of those who use products that contain some amount of chemicals AREN'T thriving. I've seen some real KICK ASS natural hair, and the ladies in question could be using only TreSemme or Marc Anthony or another "market" brand product. However, it goes without saying that products lacking in chemicals (as in ingredients that are NOT plant/vegetable derived) can be better for us. Not merely for our hair, but for our bodies as well. Remember: the SCALP is still SKIN, and skin ABSORBS directly into the bloodstream. Being mindful of what we're putting into our bodies helps us make better decisions about what we buy and make.

Enter homemade products.

Now, some will say "oh, I'm no good at that stuff" or "it's easier to BUY it" or "I really LIKE this product so I keep buying it". All that is fine; at the end of the day, we have to do what works for US as individuals. What works for one, won't work for the other. Some of us can rely strictly on homemade products. Others need the weight of -cones to keep certain styles. But like anything else in life, you won't know until you try. Especially if you're on a budget and can't necessarily afford a jar of Kinky Curly Curling Custard or...ANYTHING by Miss Jessie's everytime you run out of it. Great products for those who use them, but can be hard on your wallet even with discount sales.

Homemade products can save you tons of money, once you get your ingredients and recipes down to a science. For a lot of us, it starts as simple as water and vegetable glycerin with a few drops of an essential oil. If you're like me and you're impatient, you'll go for the gusto and make a hack of the Miss Jessie's Curly Buttercreme (which I no longer make). Either way, I saved myself a whole lot of money on products in general. I make my own shampoo, sprays, oil and shea butter mixes. I could make my own conditioners, but I have to worry about the ingredients going bad (because I'm not always home) OR being eaten by a bottomless pit I have for a boyfriend. So, the only money I spend is on my detangling/co-wash and deep conditioners and my Apple Cider Vinegar which I use to clarify.

There's also the health benefits that come with using homemade products. Eggs contain protein, as does wheat germ. Advocado, aloe Vera, shea/cocoa/mango butters all contain HEALTHY fatty acids that feed the hair and scalp. Jojoba oil is a close match to the scalp and hair's natural sebum. Castor oil is good for growth and a sealer for your ends. Essential oils like Peppermint or Rosemary are not only good for your hair and scalp, but they smell nice too. And everyone wants to smell good right? ;)

This isn't to blast products that aren't homemade or contain chemicals. Like I said--some get by just fine with market products. It's about finding what works for YOU. But next time you wash your hair, get some coconut milk, an advocado, mix it up, and coat your hair with it. Let it sit for an hour, and then rinse it out.

You just might like the results. (And save $5 to $20 on deep conditioner in the process.)

Introductions?

2010-01-13T20:54:00.000-08:00

I'm by no means new to the "blogsphere" (damn these pop culture terms). I've had a LiveJournal for upwards of a decade, so I've got the blog game down to a science. But a blog about natural hair? New territory for me.

But since I was featured on Curly Nikki the other day, I figured, "Eh, why the hell not?".

So here we are. My name is Mika. And I'm a Metalhead. I've been natural for a year, after SIXTEEN YEARS of being relaxed. Goes without saying that I feel 100% liberated of any "pressure" to look a certain way from the neck up. I'm happier with my appearance now. My hair fits ME and who *I* am. Straight hair--though I looked nice with it--wasn't ME. I wanted nothing to do with it anymore. So, off it went on December 30, 2008.

Fast forward a year and a couple of weeks later, here I am with a full head of natural hair that gets me a helluva lot of play when I go to shows. The men AND women(!) just GRAVITATE to me. My boyfriend can't keep his hands off. After trial and error, I found my product staples and I stick to them. I have my favorite products to use. I have recipes to make some of these products. I know how to style my hair and it takes me no time at all to achieve most of them. I read a lot on the forums that the first year of being natural is a year of LEARNING. 2009 was a good year in that respect. Armed with good info and better knowledge OF my hair, 2010 will be even better.

Pull up a chair. Sit down. Rock out. Jump in the pit. Everyone is welcome. We may come from different walks of life, but we're all on the same Natural Journey.

All that being said, welcome.