Make Your Own

So during my hair journey I became really interested in natural hair products and also making my own. I started YouTube-ing again and I found a YouTube page by Naptural85. She is AMAZING! She has so many hair style and product ideas. Anyways, I got this hair gel recipe from her. It gave me very nice curl definition but I couldn't handle the slimy consistency.

Curls Unleashed!

Curls Unleashed is my second favorite brand of Curly hair styler I have used their leave-in conditioner, it has a nice light feel with no hold.

I also love their Curl Defining Creme. I use this as a stand alone product right out of the shower. (Pictured below)

Twist Outs

My oldest daughter has so many different hair textures that if she wants to wear her hair down  it isn't as simple as a "Wash & Go". I did some research and YouTube-ing and I found that twist outs were perfect for her hair type.

First you need freshly washed hair and some type of curl sealant (cream, gel or mixture of both). I leave the hair partially damp and I do flat rope twists to get the twist out style I desire.

Then pull each twist over the head to the opposite side and pin it down with a bobby pin. I do this to lengthen the hair. Finally, I place a silk cap over the head before bed. I have always done this as an over night hair style. The next morning I carefully untwist and separate the hair. It's like magic!

What I have done to try and preserve this style for more than 24 hours is to simply re-twist the hair at night using the same pattern already formed and using the silk cap.

Also, pictured below is a Twist Out and end trim done on my younger sister's hair.

Pictured below is my most recent twist out done in December 2014. My eldest daughters hair is so dry, I think next time I will try a pomade when I do her twist out.

Protective Styling

Protective styling is an excellent way to make it through a rough week when you don't have time to style your hair daily, it's also a good way to reduce hair loss and cope with those hot summer days. Here are some protective hair styles that I have experimented with on my daughters' hair.

Products & Kids!

Here are a few products that I have tried on both my daughters' hair.  In the first picture Paul Mitchell " The Conditioner" is the hair product used on Mya's hair.

Sarah's hair above in 2012.

Sarah's hair now in 2014.

Stevie managed to get a piece of the action as well.

Products!

Here are a few products with pictures that I have tried and liked on my hair type.

Save The Curls Movement- Overnight Protection

This is called the Pineapple bun, the apple bun or just a bun plus many other names. You just pull your hair straight up and loop it into a bun once or twice directly on top of your head, loosely so you don't cause hair breakage. This keeps your curls from being flattened because no one sleeps on top of their head at night, just the sides. If your hair is dry it might do you well to mist a little water on your hair first or even apply a little product.

Another style you could try for more dry hair could be two or more hair plaits or braids. My daughter's hair is pictured below.

Finally, after you have given your hair some type of protective style for the night, you need to either cover your pillow with a silk pillow case or my favorite the silk cap or bonnet. There lots of silk caps, wraps, bonnets, everything to chose from, it all depends on what you want to do with your hair.

It helps to save your hair style, reduce frizz and reduce hair loss. Happy hunting.

Sleek & Shine

I was in Walmart some years back and at the time I was short on cash so I decided to give the Garnier Fructis line another try. This time, I avoided all of their products that said CURLY because a few years back I tried their Curl Shaping Spray Gel and it DID NOT do well on my hair type. Anyways I looked at all of the  hair qualities that I wanted, like hair that wasn't FRIZZY. So I decided to try Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Intensely Smooth Leave-In Conditioning Cream. The results were marvelous!

Oh baby! The best part of all was that it was only $3 for a 10 fl oz bottle! Anyways I tend to wear this when I want bigger hair that I still have some control over.

Tightly Curly

This book changed my ENTIRE prospective on how I should treat my hair. The author really opened my eyes to hair and scalp education that many people take for granted. I'm not going into details except briefly on what I pulled and still use from this book whether relaxed or curly.

 The Denman Brush, EVERY curly girl should have one of these! It is made in a way that allows it to be flexible and "give" with your hair so you don't have breakage and it does a wonderful job of defining your curls after you have added a styler.

The author Teri is serious when it comes to saving her money and researching products she uses in her hair. She has actually found some regular retail conditioners that can be used as a leave-in and styler all in one. From the list of conditioners that she listed I choose Tresemme because it came in a large affordable bottle and it was very rich/thick. It worked wonders! You have to at least stick with it and follow her detailed instructions in order to  get the desired look you want or her look, if you have that hair type. Teri also has a website that she constantly updates with different conditioners and also removing conditioners when harmful chemicals have been added. Below are pictures of my hair while doing her "Tightly Curly Method" which can be modified one hundred times over depending on your hair type.

Curls Gel-les'c.....is it a gel or a serum?

Is it a gel or a serum?? Well it's both and it's my absolute favorite curly hair styling product from my FAVORITE curly hair line. This weightless styler along with Quenched Curls Moisturizer or Lavish Curls Moisturizer is a must have!

The PROFESSIONAL products can be found at www.curls.biz. The creator of this line also made a less expensive version(I call it their own generic) that is sold in Target and a few other retail stores .One difference being that the retail store brand is labeled differently and is not 100% organic. Their own non 100% organic version was created so that the Curls lined could be affordable to all women.

So if you take a look at the list above you will see the retail brand or non 100% organic CURLS offered at Target(which still contains SOME organic ingredients). The professional line sells shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer and styling products as well plus many more products. The shampoo in target is not 100% organic and has a different name from the Professional organic version. For example, the standard shampoo at curls.biz is called "Curlicious Curl Cleansing Creme"  sold for $15 and the non 100% organic shampoo is called "Creamy Curl Cleanser" sold for $9.99. Again BOTH products are made by the same woman.

I have only tried the professional shampoo and conditioner so I can't compare them to the non 100% organic versions. I have tried both the professional Quenched Curls Moisturizer and the non 100% organic Lavish Curls Moisturizer. I cannot tell the difference between the two honestly....except in price. Curls Gel-les'c is so PHENOMENAL  that it does NOT come in a non 100% organic version! I have tried the professional Curl Souffle Curl Cream which is also really nice for a light hold. And finally I have used the non 100% organic Goddess Curls Curl Gel which gives an radiant shine, it's blinding almost!

Curls Moisturizer(doesn't matter which one) and then add CURLS Gel-les'c equals pure magic! Whatever the case, it is so worth the money! (Use of CURL Moisturizer and Gel-les'c pictured above and in the very first Big Chop posting as well)


Pictured below is a picture that I uncovered where I used the Curl Moisturizer and Curls Souffle Curl Cream.

Also, pictured below is another picture that I uncovered where I used Goddess Curls Curl Gel.

Natural Hair Journey 2010

In 2010 I did the big chop and started my natural hair journey. I was natural for 3 years before I decided to relax my hair again all because I started to miss my straight hair. That was a MISTAKE! Now my hair is damaged and my ends are damaged. I noticed all of the small things after educating myself on natural hair and the damaging effects of chemicals. However,  it was not until I relaxed my hair again last summer that I realized no matter how good my hair is, it is NOT meant to be relaxed. I have started transitioning again. So far it has been 6 months since a relaxer and I plan on cutting my hair next summer when it has some length. I dare not do the big chop right now...I couldn't deal with the awkwardness during my first year of teaching. The pics that I will be posting today show my hair in 2010 when I first did the "BIG CHOP". I will also be posting pics from the past three years of hair products and styles that I have tried that may or may not have worked on my hair type (mainly 3B with a mixture of 3A and 3C). If you are wondering about my ethnicity, I am one half African American, one fourth Puerto Rican, one eighth Italian, and one eighth German. I will continue to post these older pics until I can update you with my fresh head of natural hair once again.