My Summertime Wash n' Go Routine

The results from
My current wash n' go routine
with my new bangs

Now, we all know that a wash n' go is really just what we say when we wear a style that shows off our natural curls right?  Okay then, with that said, this is what I've been doing for the past few weeks for MY wash n' go (insert smiley face here).  To be honest, the hot, summer-like weather did not hit us Coloradans until mid July.  For that reason, I've only just recently gotten into a routine for my curly hair.

Last month I picked up The Conditioner by Paul Mitchell, which is actually a leave-in.  This stuff leaves my hair so soft and moisturized.  I decided to start using it under my hair gel in place of the Aussie Moist that I was using throughout the winter.  I found out that using too much of the Aussie product led to heavy buildup and dryness.  The Paul Mitchell product is lighter and doesn't have the type of silicones in it that will cause those problems.


Another star in my product lineup is the Curl Love Moisture Milk by Camille Rose Naturals.  It's a creamy moisturizer that always gives me more hang time when I use it on my curls.  I know we should embrace the shrinkage and all but, we are still not friends to this day.  So I appreciate the extra length I get whenever I use this product.

Something else I've started doing to keep some of my length is blowdrying my hair instead of air drying.  Yes, I know it can be bad for the hair but I use grapeseed oil to seal in my moisture.  This is considered a heat protectant.  I can vouch for that seeing as how it saved my curls from heat damage several times in the past.  Also, I usually don't pull out the blowdryer until my hair has had a chance to dry a little.  When I feel the gel in my hair go crisp, that's when I know it is safe to start drying it without causing too much frizz.

My all-star lineup of products
Camille Rose's Curl Love Moisture Milk,
The Conditioner by Paul Mitchell,
Eco Gel and Grapeseed oil

My whole process is pretty simple.  I cleanse and condition my hair and scalp in the shower.  I detangle while I still have loads of conditioner in my hair because it gives me enough slip to detangle with my denman brush.  After that I towel dry my hair.  I know that is another no-no step but I like for my products to soak in to my hair so, the dryer the better.  I apply my leave-in conditioner first and follow up with the Moisture Milk.  I seal both of these in with grapeseed oil.  Finally, I section my hair and spritz it with water before applying my gel.  If I'm going to use my blowdryer, I wait about an hour before blowing out the roots and any damp areas.  Otherwise, I just leave it to air dry.

There you have it!  That is my current wash n' go routine for the summer.  When I think about it, it's really not that different from before but still has a few tweaks here and there.  Be sure to check out my video on how I did my wash and go previous to this.  That's all for now until next time!

In Review: Shea Moisture's Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque

When I first started doing research on how to grow my hair long and healthy, I learned about the importance of deep conditioning.  At the time, I wasn't even sure if I was going natural or not but I knew that I could add deep treatments to my hair routine right away.  For my first time, I simply mixed a cheap conditioner with some extra virgin olive oil that I had in my kitchen cupboard.  It was very basic but effective.  Now, over six years later, I'm still doing deep treatments on my hair to help maintain my tresses.  It is an essential part of my natural haircare routine.

I have played with a lot of different ingredients and conditioner combinations over the years.  Recently, I decided to start experimenting with store bought deep conditioners.  My first one was the African Black Soap Purification Masque by Shea Moisture.  You can watch a demonstration and my first impression review on the product in my Youtube video.  I chose that product for my itchy scalp woes and it did help some with that issue.  This time I wanted to try Shea Moisture's Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque.  This one has always gotten rave reviews so I know I'm late to
the game.

The Rundown

The Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque is recommended for dry, damaged hair.  It says that it helps to, "heal, grow and strengthen" the hair.  Some key ingredients are sea kelp, argan oil, and shea butter.  You can definitely feel and smell the shea butter in this product.  Here is the complete ingredients list:

This product has a thick, creamy consistency

Deionized Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter, Certified Organic), Argan Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Emulsifying Wax, Sea Kelp Extract, Panthenol (Vitamin B-5), Essential Oil Blend, Avocado Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract (Honeysuckle), Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Japanese Honeysuckle), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract (Sage), Equisetum Arvense Extract, Soybean Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil (Carrot)

You can see from the list that this product is all natural.  It is also free of sulfates, parabens and mineral oil.  In the directions it says that you can add olive oil for even more nutrients and a moisture boost.  I picked this product up at my local Target store for about $10 (USD).  I have also seen the line at Walmart, Sally's Beauty Supply and Walgreens drugstores for 
similar pricing.  

My Experience

Recently I reached for this product before and after applying direct heat to straighten my hair.  Normally, I would use my Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor for a light protein boost before and after heat use.  I believe that this product definitely worked in a similar way.  My curls appear to be just as a healthy now as they did before I straightened my hair.  The shea butter in this product tends to stay on the hair after rinsing so I used it a couple days before flat ironing.  Then, I cleansed my hair with a clarifying shampoo followed by a moisturizing deep treatment just before straightening.  This way my straight hair felt lightweight without any heavy buildup.  

My curls after using the Deep Treatment Masque

I wore my hair straight for about ten days and clarified again to remove the silicone from my heat protectants and oils.  Then I used the deep treatment masque again to bring my curls back.  This worked like a charm in that regard.  

I always, always, always use my Tresemme Naturals Conditioner (the aloe one) for a quick pop of mositure after using a strengthening treatment such as this.  It gives my hair the softness and manageability I need to detangle and style my hair afterwards.  

Overall, I would say that this product is definitely a keeper.  I do look forward to using it in the same way the next time I decide to use heat or when my curls need a protein 
pick-me-up.

Onyx Box Opening January 2015

Recently I was sent the Onyxbox for the month of January.  What's this you ask?   It's a monthly  beauty subscription service that is geared towards women of color.  Previously, the box has featured items from Shea Moisture, Cargo and OPI nails and a host of other beauty brands.  So naturally I was excited to see what was in this month's box and I was definitely not disappointed.

There are so many natural hair brands out there who offer hair products for our textured tresses. A service like the Onyxbox allows you to try before you buy.  Inside this month's box were items from Woman to Woman Naturals, Anu Essentials and Beija Flor.  This is my first time trying products from these brands and I am interested to see how they work on my hair.

WATCH MY REVIEW FOR THE MAY 2014 ONYX BOX HERE

I already tested out the Creme Brulee Moisturizer from Beija Flor on my hair which is currently straight.  It did not cause my hair to revert but left me with soft hair that smelled like cinnamon.  The Anu Essentials line is one I've heard of on Instagram.  There appears to be a small sample packet of nearly every product they offer in this month's box.  Then there is the leave-in conditioner by Woman to Woman Naturals.  It has a citrus scent which will make for a nice mid-winter pick me up.

But wait, there's more!  The wintery dry climate of Colorado has left me with dry skin.  I was glad to find the Cracked Heel Stick Soap by Luxuriant in this month's offerings.  It says that it cleans and exfoliates so there may be hope for me yet!  Lastly is the Golden Ticket Nail Sugar by Cinapro.  To date, I have never seen a nail polish product with a light up cap.  Where have I been?

One of the best features about the Onyxbox service is that you can head over to www.weareonyx.com and shop the collection of goodies offered.  There you can also sign up to receive your own monthly beauty box.  See website for details.

Note:  This box was sent to me courtesy of WeAreOnyx for the purpose of this review.  I am not affiliated with www.weareonyx.com and/or any of the brands mentioned above.

Natural Hair Now--Stores Are Taking Notice

NEW Product Display at Sally's Beauty Supply
geared towards Customers with Natural Hair

When I started transitioning in the summer of 2008 (well relaxer stretching that led to transitioning), there wasn't a lot of products available locally for natural or curly hair.  That was fine by me because thanks to YouTube and online hair forums I found a lot of information on how to make my own.  I learned all about making whipped shea butter, sulfate free shampoo and hair oil mixes.  I pretty much tried everything.  Then one day I discovered a natural hair product line called Kinky Curly.  On YouTube ladies were raving about the curl definition the Curling Custard gave and did tutorials on how to use it.  It also had natural ingredients so I thought it would work great for me.  Then I saw the price.  This is where I started shakin' my head.  Just because the product stated it used all natural ingredients meant I had to fork over thirty bucks?!  No maa'm, I didn't feel the need.

Loads of Curly/Natural Hair products now
available at Walmart

Since then there have been lots of other products lines that have come onto the scene.  All of them using the words, "natural," "curly," and sometimes "organic," to hook new customers.  The thing that made me really start considering paying for one of these products, was the availability.  Yes, I'm that lazy person who doesn't really want to go through the process of ordering something unless I KNOW it's the bomb.  I remember though stopping dead in my tracks the first time I saw Miss Jessie's, Kinky Curly and Shea Moisture hair products in my local Target store.  Seeing the items every week while doing my regular shopping was very tempting.

The selection for Curly and Natural hair products has probably tripled since then.  I even found a full display of products once only available online in Walmart!  Even Sally's is trying to catch some notice by moving these products from the back of the store towards the middle (where the other products for "ethnic" hair began).

If I were newly natural right now, I would probably be a total PJ  (a.k.a Product Junkie).  The displays in stores hold so much styling pomade, cremes and whipped concoctions that it must be really hard filtering through all of that.  Thankfully though I have gotten past the stage of trying things out to see what works.  I pretty much know what works for me and I'm sticking to that.  Still, I just find it funny how stores spent years practically hiding hair products for us somewhere in the back or on bottom shelves and now they're on full display.

What do you think about stores changing it up in the hair product aisle?  Are they viewing Natural Hair as a trend to make money from or is this going to last?

Updated Hair Regimen and Products List

I was looking through my blog the other day and noticed that I still had my old regimen from Fall of 2010 up.  There were lots of products listed that I haven't used in ages so I figured it was time to update it.  Here is my current regimen and products list.  I may make some changes (I always do) but this is what is working for me right now.

NOTE: where products are bulleted I just use one of the items listed

Pre-Cleanse

I part my hair in 4 sections and apply conditioner prior to cleansing with shampoo or conditioner.  This helps to stretch out my shrunken hair and remove any shed hairs.  This step also helps with detangling.

Shampoo-1-2 times per week

• Elasta QP Creme Conditioning Shampoo 
• TheraNeem Naturals Moisture Therapy Shampoo (sulfate free)
• KeraCare Dry & Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Moisturizing Shampoo
• Neutrogena Triple Moisture Cream Lather Shampoo

Co-wash-1-2 times per week

• Suave Naturals Coconut Conditioner
• Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner

Rinses-After Shampoo

• Oil Rinse-I use grapeseed, olive or coconut oil.  I sometimes do this in place of deep conditioning.  This step also helps with detangling.
• Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse (ACV)-I do this step after using shampoo to help my hair get back to a normal pH.  I either do the rinse before or after applying conditioner

Detangling Method

I detangle while my hair is soaking wet and saturated with conditioner.  The hair is parted in four sections.  I start by finger combing and then use a denman brush on each section.  I do this 2-3 times per week when wearing wash n' go's or once per week if wearing stretched styles.

Deep Conditioning Treatments* 1x per week 

• Hot Oil Treatment with Coconut, Olive or Grapeseed Oils
• Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture conditioner with Honey or Olive Oil added

 *I do most of my treatments under a hooded dryer for 40 minutes

Moisturizers*

• Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
• Aloe & Veg. Glycerin Spray (homemade)
• Paul Mitchell "The Conditioner" Leave-in
• Garnier Fructis Leave-in (for heat styling)
• Hollywood Beauty Olive Creme

To Seal Ends*

• Coconut Oil mixed with Castor Oil
• Olive Oil
• Shea Butter
• Grapeseed Oil

*I apply Leave-in conditioner after each wash for moisture.  After that I moisturize when needed.

Curl Definers

•  Eco Gels-The Pink version and Argan Oil (red)
• Kinky Curly Curling Custard
• Curls Unleashed Take Command Curl Defining Creme (trial)

*I always use my Paul Mitchell The Conditioner Leave-in under a curl definer for added softnes and moisture

Styling*

Roller Sets, Curly Braidouts,  Wash n Go's, Puffs, Buns, Banded Ponytails, Flat Twists, French Braids

*Currently taking a long break from heat styling

Henna-Once every 3 months

I have started doing the 2 step Henna/Indigo process which gives me a natural black tone  

What I add to my Henna mix

• Green Tea and Water (enough to make it the right consistency)
• Olive Oil (usually add this right before application)
• Lemon Juice (when I want more color)

I sometimes add powder to darken the hair and maintain curls.  For my Indigo mix I only add water and a little salt.  For each step (henna & indigo) I make sure to co-wash after rinsing out.  This helps to keep the hair soft.

Braid Out Using Eco Styler Custard

Corkscrew Braidout using
DIY Eco Styler Custard

When I discovered how well my little recipe for Eco Styler Custard worked for my wash n' go, I never really thought of using it any other way.  This was until I recently revisited my Corkscrew Braidout method for an easy no heat style.  That's when I decided it was time to put the custard to the test.

Normally when I do the braidout I start with stretched hair so that I'll have more length and bounce.  This means pulling my hair back and letting it airdry for one whole day before starting the braids.  I just didn't want to be bothered with all that this time so I did the style on damp hair right after I washed, conditioned and detangled.

I pretty much followed the same Corkscrew Braidout method I used in the video (link below).  However, this time I decided to use Paul Mitchell's The Conditioner for my leave-in.  Then I applied the custard to each section of my hair before braiding and curling the ends.  I didn't worry about sealing my hair with oil because the custard mixture already has castor, coconut and grapeseed oil in it.  I also switched to smaller grey perm rods because they give me more of a spiral effect than the medium size rollers.

Check out my YouTube Video for the 

CORKSCREW BRAIDOUT

The back

I was really surprised with the results.  My hair was very soft to the touch and moisturized.  I've been wearing the style for three whole days without applying any other products.  I haven't seen any weird product build-up and it still feels pretty soft.  I re-braided a few sections that started to look a little fuzzy at the end of day two.  This was because I just slept on it as is one night.  Otherwise, I've just been pineappling my hair at night to help keep the curls in tact.

Small grey rods to roll the ends vs. the larger pink rods
both from Sally's

I'm really thinking about wearing my hair like this more often.  I get to have the big, curly hair I love while keeping my hair stretched.  The bonus is that my ends stay smooth which means fewer single strand knots.  It's a win, win if you ask me.

FIND MY DIY ECO STYLER RECIPE HERE

3 days later still lots of curls and softness

Review-The Hair Stopper

The Hair Stopper
at Walmart for about $4.50

I recently bought an item that I thought would help with the shedded hairs that collect in our bathtub. This may not be very pleasant to discuss but I still thought I would share my experience with a product called, the Hair Stopper.  My husband has long straight hair and washes it almost daily.  I like to co-wash a couple times each week and also detangle my hair while under the running water of the shower.  I won't go into detail but we were in need of something to help with the hair that kept building up in the tub.  I found the Hair Stopper at Walmart for about $4.50 USD and was really hoping that it would work for us. 

How it works is you're supposed to remove the little grate that already covers the drain in the tub.  Then insert the Hair Stopper, which says it should fit most household drains, into the drainage hole.  It ended up fitting so I figured all things were a go.  Did it work you ask?  Well, let's just say that it did stop. . . the WATER from going down the drain!  I felt like I started out taking a shower and ended up wading in bath water.  I mean what gives?!  I tried to tweak it a little but it still acted like a plug and not a catch-all.  I planned on returning it later that week, but of course, my crazy dog, Grover, thought it would make a great chew toy.  Needless to say, it's back to the drawing board on this one.

Sale This Week at SamsBeauty.com!

I just found out that the already reasonable shopping on SamsBeauty.com is going to be even better this week with their 4th of July Sale.  Some things are still "Buy 1 Get Free," even though it says Saturday and Sunday only.  I've been browsing through the Synthetic Lace wigs on sale and there is a lot to choose from.  Other items include jewelry, cosmetics, skincare and hair products.  I got the heads up from one of my favorite YouTubers Dezi1016 in a video where she is talking about some of the things that are for sale.  There's even a clearance section.  Check it out!

Click here to see Dezi1016's video

Shea Moisture Products at Walgreens



Shea Moisture Products
Now available at Walgreens stores



All the hair forums and blogs are buzzing about the Shea Moisture line which is now available at Walgreens stores.  The drugstore chain is doing a BOGO this week on all of the items in the line so if you've been thinking about trying it out, now is the time! 

Prior to this, the Shea Moisture line was only available at Target stores or online at Target.com.  The products are made with natural and organic ingredients and are very affordable with each item going for $9.99 USD. 



Shea Moisture's
Dandruff & Dry Scalp Elixir



Even with all of the excitement on this promotion, I still wasn't too sure that the Walgreens in my area would have the Shea Moisture line stocked yet.  So tonight I decided to stroll by the hair aisle just to check and see if they had it.  There wasn't any Shea Moisture to be found.  I figured that maybe this Walgreens was a little bit late but then I stopped by the new items near the door and found a very small display with maybe five items from the line.  There were only one or two of each item.  I'm hoping that there will be some Curl Enhancing Smoothie left when I get around to shopping this Friday.  I already told my husband that I'm gearin' up for a product haul this week so look out Walgreens, I'm comin'!

READ MY REVIEW on Shea Moisture's Conditioning Curl & Style Hair Milk

Back to Basics: The Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

I was never really a big fan of doing Apple Cider Vinegar Rinses when I started out on my natural journey.  I kept reading how it worked as a clarifier.  I even watched (and understood) KimmayTube's videos on pH Balance and knew how it worked to close the hair cuticle.  Still, no matter how many times I tried, it just didn't seem to do anything for my hair.  Then I found out about the Organic Apple Cider Vinegar by Bragg's.  I thought maybe that would make a difference but it still seemed like nothing was happening.

My hair after an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
(detangled with the Denman Brush)

Recently, I decided to get "back to basics" and start washing my hair more often.  I don't want to use shampoo everytime so I sometimes co-wash and then follow that with a vinegar rinse.  At first, I kept getting the same blah response.  Finally, by accident I think, I poured more vinegar into the container than usual.  Then, I filled it the rest of the way with water from the shower head like I always do.  I could tell right away that something was different.  I could feel the conditioner slipping down my strands.  It was actually removing all of the extra and giving me a clean feeling without leaving my hair stripped.  I left it in for a few minutes before doing a lukewarm rinse.  When I got out, I noticed how soft and fluffy my hair felt. 

I honestly couldn't believe how good my hair looked.  I didn't even want to put anything else in it because I was afraid to mess it up.  Now, whenever I do an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse, I always make sure that I'm using enough vinegar.  I always eyeball it but I would say it's at least a 1/4 cup (at the bottom of a tall water bottle) and then I fill it to the top with regular water.  I'm so glad I decided to try it again.  It definitely works for me...finally.

Review: Shea Moisture Conditioning Curl & Style Milk

Shea Moisture's Curl & Style Milk
for Thick, Curly Hair

I've been hearing so much about the Shea Moisture line and have been wanting to try it out.  All of the products are made from natural ingredients which is a plus.  The haircare items seem to be targeted mostly at people with curly or even kinky hair.  Since they carry it at my local Target store I thought I would finally give it a whirl.

Now remember, my guidelines are the following:

• It has to be affordable (the amount vs. the price)
• It needs to be easily accessible (if I can get it locally this is a plus)
• It has to work for my hair (kinky, curly), my husbands' straight hair (in most cases) and our kids' 3b/3c curly hair

I most recently purchased the Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Conditioning Curl & Style Milk.  I paid $9.99 USD for an 8 oz./237 ml. size bottle.  The texture is a lightweight, creamy consistency and, in my opinion, has a strong pina colada fragrance.  Since this line is geared towards curly hair, I'm not expecting my husband to rave about it but he has been known to dabble in my products.  As for me and my kids, it worked differently for all of us.  My twins have fluffy, big curls that have a satiny feel (3b).  This product weighed their hair down and made it look a tiny bit greasy.  (I normally use Giovanni Direct Leave-In to moisturize their hair and will continue to do so once this runs out.)  My oldest son has longer (3b/3c) hair and, while this made his hair soft and easier to manage, it did not provide enough hold for his curls to last all day.  His hair tends to get really puffy without something to weigh the curls down. 

For my hair which is a 4a/4b texture, I was really happy with how soft my hair felt after using it.  My hair definitely felt moisturized and more manageable.  Another plus was how much softer my hair felt when I used it under my Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel.  The only thing I didn't like is how fast I was going through the product.  We were already halfway through the bottle after a little over 1 week.  Once I saw this, I started to reach for my Palmers Coconut Oil Replinishing Hair Milk instead in order to save on this product.

Overall, I think the Shea Moisture Curl & Style Milk is great as a leave-in type moisturizer that makes the hair soft and manageable.  However, I have achieved similar results by using my Aloe Vera/ Leave-in Conditioner spray and sealing with oil.  Follow that with the Palmer's to make the curls pop and I'm good to go.  I probably won't purchase this product again based on the little amount you get for the price.  I'm happiest with products that work for all of us and our different textures so getting more for less is a huge factor.  Still it's worth a try if you're looking for a good water based moisturizer and the price falls within your budget.