Back to The Curly Girl Method & Switching to Wetline Xtreme Gel

My new wash and go product line-up

I recently decided to make some major changes in my hair routine as far as my products go.  After using chemical hair dye to semi permanently cover my gray hair, I switched to a sulphate free shampoo.  When I did this, I noticed that my beloved Aussie Moist conditioner was causing a lot more build-up.  This was because it contains a silicone and sulphate free shampoo isn't capable of removing heavy silicones.

This change in my cleansing routine meant that I needed to go back to silicone free conditioners or at least lighter silicone versions that were easier to cleanse out.  I decided to go with my old favorites Tresemme Naturals Conditioner for detangling/conditioning and Paul Mitchell's The Conditioner as a leave-in.  This basically put me right back at Curly Girl status which is fine but what about the gel?

I really like to use a heavy gel after I apply my leave-ins for
extra curl definition and hold.  It also guarantees me a wash and go style that will last a few days.  Normally, my gel of choice is Eco Styler gel.  However, my hair was not liking the product very much lately.  It was like it kept zapping the moisture from my hair no matter what products I paired with it.  The other day I went to reach for it to do my hair, but realized I was completely out.  I usually stay stocked on this product so that was surprising.  Then I remembered that I still had some Wetline Xtreme gel leftover from a trial I did this summer.  It was all I had so I had no other choice but to use it.

My wash and go still has lots of definition
after using Wetline Xtreme gel

I used it three times the first week and I still can't believe the difference!  My hair feels way better than when I use Eco gel and all I have to use is my leave-in conditioner and grapeseed oil underneath.  With Eco I had to also use a third, moisturizing product.  I think it has something to do with how Wetline gel is protein and glycerin free.  I have often suspected that I might need a glycerin free product but it's possible the protein was causing problems as well.  The other plus is that I still get the same curl definition as before.  I am so glad that I stumbled upon this discovery.  I'm pretty sure that my hair is too!

Changing My Hair Routine for the Winter Months

Making changes to my Wash n' Go routine
for the winter months

This is the time of year where we start to make changes in a lot of ways.  Sometimes the drier weather may call for heavier products for the hair and skin.  This has been the case for me lately as I have had to make adjustments to my hair routine to make up for the lack of moisture.  Normally I'm able to do my wash n' go style with just two products.  I like to use my favorite leave-in, Paul Mitchell's The Conditioner with Eco Styler gel (the Argan oil one).  Right around early October I could tell that my usual combo was not working like it did over the summer.  I decided to add a little Castor oil to seal in moisture before applying the gel.  This helped some, but still wasn't quite what my hair needed.

I started leaving conditioner in my hair that I would normally rinse out.   The Tresseme Naturals conditioners worked great for this but sometimes I used the Aussi Moist conditioner.  Both products were thick, rich and gave lots of slip.  The Aussi Moist even worked as a styler on it's own and gave me lots of curl definition.  The only thing though with using conditioner only was that I didn't get as much wear out of the style.  With Eco gel added I could go 4 to 5 days before having to re-do my hair.  With conditioner as my styler, I'm lookin' at two days tops.

I finally settled on applying a little of the Tresseme conditioner to my hair for a moisture boost.  Then I'll apply a little bit of the Paul Mitchell leave-in to each section I'm working on.  I seal in the moisture with a quarter size amount of castor oil for each section.  Finally, I re-wet my hair by spritzing water on the sections before applying the gel for hold.  It's taken me a few weeks to figure this new method out but it seems to be working a lot better for me.  The added moisture makes my hair shrink up more but that's a good thing so I welcome it.

Tresemme Naturals Conditioner Formula Change and Back Again

Old formula and New formula (black label & top)
on the shelves side by side

I never even saw it coming and, up until now, was in denial.  Yes, my beloved go-to, all around
conditioner made a change to its' formulation.  The conditioner in question is from the Tresemme Naturals line.  I've always liked the Nourishing Moisture one but the Radiant Volume conditioner was also pretty good.  The first I heard of the change was a few months ago on an online hair forum.  At the time not many people were aware of it and were still wondering if the conditioner was still pretty much the same.  From the looks of it, the new ingredients list made for a drastically different product and even a change in the consistency.

OLD INGREDIENTS LIST
Water(Aqua,EU), Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Carprylic/Capric Tryglerceride, Stearmidopropyl Diemthlyamine, Fragrance (Parfum) Lauroyl lysine, Carprylyl Glycol, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi oil Copolymer,Aspartic acid, Distearyldimonium chloride,Persea Gratissima (Avocado) oil, Citric Acid, Alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, aloe barbadensis leaf juice.

 Why change an already good product?  Well, the Alberto Culver company (VO5, Noxema etc.) was recently taken over by Unilever Corporation (Suave, St. Ives etc.).  The new owners of the Tresemme brand decided to change things up a bit.  This was probably an attempt to save money on ingredients.  However, if you head over to the reviews page for this product on their website, you'll find that many people expressed their negative views on the change.

Apparently the new company is listening and started putting the old formula back on the shelves with a minor change to the packaging.  There is now a pump installed on the bottle but supposedly the conditioner inside is the same as before.  I say, "supposedly" because I have yet to compare the current ingredient list with the old version (see above).  Once I get this confirmation then I'll be more than happy to pick up a couple of bottles because this is my staple conditioner we're talkin' about here!

On a side note, over the summer, I found out that my hair absolutely loves Aussie Moist conditioner.  It's very rich and has loads of slip so I will most likely be deep conditioning and detangling with that in the meantime.  It sometimes has a weird reaction with hair gel though so I have to make sure to rinse it completely before styling.  However, I did find out that it works well for conditioner only styling so it's already pretty far up on my favorites list right now.  If I can't find my favorite version of the Tresemme I guess this will have to be my new go-to conditioner.  I'll keep you posted on what I find.

UPDATE 10/2/13-I picked up the old formula recently in a new bottle with a pump on top at Walmart.  Not all stores carry it yet but I'm just glad that my staple conditioner is back on the shelves!

Jumbo Rake Comb Review

When I was talkin' hair with my mother a couple of months ago she showed me a picture of a comb that she was interested in trying.  She checked out a copy of the book, "The Science of Black Hair" from the library and it listed a "rake" comb as a suggestion for detangling natural hair.  I remembered seeing the comb online (probably in a Youtube video) but didn't exactly know where to track one down.  Recently however, I was at the Big Beauty Supply Store in Aurora, and noticed some for sale.  It was by the Annie brand and was called a "Jumbo Rake Comb".   I figured I would grab it for my mom so she wouldn't have to keep looking for it.  I thought that maybe I would give it a try too and since they were only $1.49 plus tax (USD) I bought two.

Jumbo Rake Comb for only
 $1.49 plus tax!

I didn't really know what to use the comb for because I already felt like I had every comb that I needed.  I decided to use it one night when I was twisting my hair up after wearing it in a wash n' go style.  I was surprised at how well the comb detangled my hair.  It's almost like the front end helped to pull apart the tangles but the spacing toward the back end of the comb allowed my hair to glide right through.  When I saw this I decided to try it the next time I detangled my hair in the shower.

My normal routine for detangling is to do it while my hair is soaking wet and saturated with Tresemme Naturals conditioner.  I usually begin by finger combing my hair first which helps me to remove a lot of the shed hair and tangles before moving onto a comb or my denman brush.  So when I tried the Jumbo Rake comb my hair was already free from any major tangles.  Still, I knew that I would be doing a roller set that night so I needed to make sure my hair was thoroughly detangled beforehand.

My twists
used the rake comb
to detangle

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Once again, the comb performed beautifully.  I was really surprised because I didn't expect for it to be any different from my wide tooth comb.  Somehow though having the teeth closer together toward the front and wider in back is what I think makes it a more effective tool for detangling.  It really is able to pick apart at the tangles but the hair glides through.  You'd have to try it to see what I mean.  As for me, I do think that I'll be using this instead of my denman brush because it removed shed hairs but not so many to cause concern.

My Mom's hair sectioned and detangled with
the rake comb

I even tried it a week later when I was straightening my mom's hair.  She is transitioning to natural and has about two inches of new growth.  I applied Paul Mitchell's The Conditioner and a heat protectant to each section of her hair and then detangled with the rake comb.  Her hair was only damp but the comb still did a pretty good job.

I give it a thumbs up and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good comb for detangling.

Singin' in the Rain with Gotye at Red Rocks Ampitheatre

Red Rocks Ampitheatre in
Morrison, Colorado

Here in Colorado it is pretty much common knowledge that Red Rocks Ampitheatre is one of the best places to take in a live show.   This week the hubby and I made another trek up the winding ramp that leads to the open air venue surrounded by massive red rocks to see the musician, Gotye.  The weather was not the best but fun was had by all once the show started.

There were two opening acts before the much awaited headliner.  After warming the crowd up with a couple of tunes,  Gotye (a.k.a Wally) remarked, as most singers do, at how the altitude made singing a challenge.  Still,  he managed to hit all the notes in perfect pitch.  The show was full of beat driven tracks such as, "Easy Way Out," and, "Thanks for Your Time."

Prior to the show this week of course I kept thinking, "what am I gonna do with my hair?"  With the venue in mind it was a no brainer.  A Wash n' Go was pretty much my only option because there was the chance it might rain.  I decided this before realizing that I was completely out of my staple styler, Eco Gel.  That's when I remembered that I still had some Kinky Curly Curling Custard (KCCC) I bought a long time ago.  I couldn't remember all of the do's and dont's for using this product so I went online to check which leave-ins it paired well with.  I found a video on YouTube explaining how the Tresemme Naturals conditioner I love so much works as a leave-in under the KCCC.

On the way to the concert rockin' my curly fro-
So excited!

Before applying the products, I co-washed my hair with Suave Naturals in Coconut flavor.  Then, with my hair still dripping wet, I applied the Tresemme conditioner in sections. After that, I used very little of the gel on each of the sections and wet the hair before raking it through.  I noticed some crazy curl definition right away which usually means tons of shrinkage.  This was what I was going for though and was happy with the final result.  The next day (the morning of the concert) I re-wet my hair to reactive the curls.  I ended up with a coily afro that was a lot of fun to wear.



At the concert there was plenty of wind and rain throughout but I didn't have a care in the world because my curly fro held up just fine.  Which left me with plenty of headspace for remembering all the words to, "Heart's a Mess" and "Save Me," my two favorite Gotye songs.

Waiting for the show to begin

Red Rocks all around

Natural Hair Style--The Corkscrew Braidout

I'm finally all finished with my Corkscrew Braidout video. When I blogged about this style a few months ago, I realized that the process may be easier for other naturals to follow if I just illustrated it in a video on my channel. This has become my go-to style for special occasions because I don't have to use any heat to get a fluffy, curly look. The other reason why I wanted to get this tutorial up is because I noticed that there aren't that many videos on natural hair styles that use setting lotion as the main holding product. I never thought to use it for a braidout but it works great while leaving the hair soft and lightweight. I'm just glad to have finally found a braidout method that is pretty much fool proof and delivers every time.



 
See more of my videos on my channel "mitchellzee" on Youtube.com

Dry, Itchy Scalp Woes

I have Psoriasis and always have a rough time with it during the winter months.  It causes dry patches on my skin and flaky, dry scalp.  It can be really embarassing because my kinky, curly hair clings to everything which makes the flakes harder to get rid of.  I was in a minor car accident recently and since I'm having trouble with my back, I thought it would be easier to wear my hair straight.  I figured, I can oil my scalp and keep those flakes under control. 

I tried this theory out and boy was I wrong!  Not only did I see more flaking, but the itching was out of control!  I flat ironed my hair twice this month so that means five days of no washing each time I wore it straight.  I have come to the conclusion that until my scalp issue is under control, I have to wash my hair and scalp more frequently.

Sulfate free Shampoo to remove buildup
and Castor Oil to treat my dry scalp

For the first wash after wearing it straight, I knew I would have to oil my scalp one last time so that I could soften those flakes a bit (gross...I know).  Then I applied coconut oil to my hair to prep it for the shampoo I was about to use.  I washed with Everyday Shea's Moisturizing Shampoo in Lavender which is sulfate free.  Afterwards, I deep conditioned using my new favorite, Tresemme Naturals Conditioner with Aloe and Avocado.  I put on a plastic cap and sat under the dryer for about 30 minutes.  Already I noticed a big difference in how my scalp felt.  After detangling, I dried my hair with a t-shirt, oiled my scalp with Castor oil and applied my leave-ins.  Then, I just wore it pulled back in a simple braided bun.

Today, I co-washed and applied leave-in conditioner.  I used Coconut Oil to seal and then Palmer's Coconut Oil Replenishing Hair Milk to define my curls.  I then did a simple puff and let it air dry. 

I'm going to continue with this process of co-washing each day through the rest of the week and see how it goes.  It's possible that my usual washing twice per week routine is what my hair and scalp likes best.  I can't seem to go more than 3 days without wetting my hair or else major itchies.  Hopefully this works and will get me back on track.  

Wintertime Wash n' Go

This time of year is always very harsh on my hair and skin due to the dry climate here in Colorado.  I decided to start doing deep conditioning treatments twice a week for added moisture during the winter months.  The wash n' go style is perfect for this because I'm usually done with the style after two or three days.  Plus, I've been reading and watching how other naturals noticed significant growth while wearing the wash n' go because of the more frequent washing.  I tend to believe that a clean healthy scalp is one contributing factor to this but also the introduction of moisture multiple times per week.  Thing is, it's winter in Colorado!  Leaving the house with wet hair is not happenin' right now.  

Instead of waiting until the spring to rock my curly fro, I looked at a few videos by one of my favorite naturals, anaturalbeauty3.  She's been natural for 2 years and is currently residing in Cali.  Her video on her night time routine illustrates how she puts her curly hair up at night to stretch it out.  I sent her a message asking how she went about reviving the style in the morning.  She replied back that she scrunches her hair with Shea Moistures' Curl Enhancing Smoothie to wake up the curls.  This was a light bulb moment!  Once I realized that there wasn't any need to leave the house with a dripping wet head I was on it. 

The Curl Enhancing Smoothie product is not available locally so I decided to try my Palmers Coconut Oil Replinishing Hair Milk.  I thought it would work because of it's creamy, but wet texture.  I know it plays well with Eco Styler Gel so it was worth a try. 

After a few attempts, I was able to come up with a routine.  The trick is to apply my usual products for my wash n' go in the evening.  Once it has air dried for a couple of hours, I use the diffuser to get my hair completely dry.  This sets my curls before I wrap it up.  Then, just like in the video, I pull my hair back and secure it with a hair tie.  Any short strands can be pinned down.  I then wrap it with a satin scarf and put on my satin bonnet.  In the morning I just take my hair down, scrunch in some product and that's it.  I'm so glad to have found this method because it has resulted in hair that is soft, moisturized and easy to style.

CLICK HERE To See how I do my wash n' go

Review: Tresemme Naturals Conditioner w/ Aloe Vera and Avocado




 


Tresemme Naturals Conditioner
in Aloe and Avocado



I'm constantly on the look out for good conditioners that are budget friendly.  Since I co-wash, deep condition and detangle my hair on a weekly basis, I end up going through a lot of conditoner.  Thing is, it also has to be something that my husband feels comfortable using as well.  Let's face it, his hair is way longer than mine and he is just as concerned about his tresses as I am (well maybe not that much).  This rules out anything that will leave him smelling like pina colada when he leaves the house.  We're also picky about the ingredients so, no silicones. 

I was glad to find that Tresemme has a new Naturals line where the conditioners are silicone free.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid to use silicones.  I just prefer to co-wash with something that is silicone free for a nice clean rinse that doesn't leave anything behind.  I picked up a 25 oz. bottle of the Tresemme Naturals Aloe Vera and Avocado conditioner for just under $5 USD.  I was surprised to see that it had a thick and creamy texture; not watery.  This has proven to work really well as creamy base for my moisturizing deep conditioning treatments.   It has a mellow citrus scent that doesn't offend (I'm sensitive to scents that are overpowering).  Co-washing with it is similar to using a VO5 Moisture Milks in that I can feel it defining my curls while adding slip to each strand.  I would say that detangling with it is about what you would expect from any conditioner in this price range (i.e. Aussie Moist, Sauve Naturals etc.) 

Overall, I consider this an excellent value for the amount of product you get.  The fact that it doesn't have a bad reaction when I use it as a leave-in under Eco Styler gel has put this on my staples list.  The Naturals line can be found at Target, Walgreens and Walmart.  We are currently workin' on our second bottle of the Aloe and Avocado conditioner.  It's a winner in my opinion and is definitely worth a try.