Knitting Season

Almost finished knitting up my scarf

During the warmer months I don't tend to think very much about knitting.  For me, I always reach for my yarn when the first sign of fall hits.  As always, I have a long list of projects on my brain especially this close to Christmas.  Let's face it though, my dream of knitting everyone in the family a hat and scarf set is probably not gonna happen at this point.

My Crocheted Beret
Completed last year

For right now, I'm finishing up a replacement scarf for myself with a neat little yarn I picked up at an estate sale a couple of years ago.  Once that's done, I'm moving onto knitting Harry Potter themed scarves* for my kids.  The twins are in first grade so I can get away with knitting something a little shorter in length but I'm sure my oldest would like his full scale.  His will be in the colors of Slytherin house.  I guess my Griffindor scarf will have to wait until after the holidays because I'll be really busy until then.

This leaves me with very little time to knit or crochet up a nice beanie for when my hair is still in braids on cold mornings.  Whenever I do a braid out my hair is sometimes not completely dry until the afternoon.  For this reason I just keep it braided up while I take the kids to school.  For now, I'm using the beret I crocheted last year but I want to change it up a bit.  Also, it would be nice if I could just wear french braids as a protective style under a cute beanie a few days each week until I reach my goal length.  I'm really pushing for APL (still!) by New Year's but I've got to start wearing my hair up more.

Up Close

Luckily, I just found out about a good deal on crocheted beanies at Forever21.com from NaturallyObsessed.net (natural hair blog by Kinky Curly Queen of YouTube fame).  She mentioned that some hats on the site were priced as low as $5.50 so I'm gonna jump on it before they're gone.  As far as crafting goes, it looks like it'll be a cup of tea, a movie and some knitting needles every night until the holidays if I want to get those scarves in.  Happy Crafting!


* CLICK HERE If you want to find out more on How to Knit a Harry Potter Scarf

Henna and Indigo Results

I finally got around to ordering my indigo so that I could cover my burgundy hair color with something a little more modest.  I'm sure the bright red henna'd hair I had before is appealing to some but it was not my cup of tea.  I wasn't quite ready for the lengthy two step process where you henna first, rinse out and then apply indigo for a jet black result.  Instead, I mixed one package of Godrej Nupur Henna (50g) with 100 grams indigo.  I ordered the indigo powder from Butters-n-Bars.com which is the same online store where I get my raw unrefined shea butter.

I kept the henna mix pretty simple as always and just mixed it with a mug of strong green tea to help the dye release.  I added enough water to give the mixture a smooth, almost pancake batter consistency and let it sit overnight.  The next day, when I was ready to apply it, I mixed the indigo into a paste with just plain water and added it to the henna.  I don't add oils anymore because I read that it can slow the dyeing process.  I applied the "Hendigo" to my hair like a clay mask and covered with plastic wrap.  Then I waited for four hours before rinsing and then co-washing several times to get it all out of my hair.

The application took very well to the majority of my hair but left my grey strands with just a tinge of color.  I'm planning on doing another application to the roots and grey hairs sometime this week 'cause I don't need everybody knowin' how old I'm getting.  If my greys are still too obvious afterward I may reconsider dyeing my hair all black with the two step process.

My stubborn grey strands are still noticeable 

I like the reddish brown tone in the sun

Review: Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-In

New version vs. the old
Now has Argan Oil

Early on in my Hair Journey, I heard a lot about this product in the online Natural Community.  I decided to try the leave-in conditioner by Garnier Fructis because I liked the fact that it had a creamy consistency.  The spray formulas I used before just did not seem to work as well on my natural hair.  For a long time this product was my go-to leave-in on days when I did a roller set or straightened my hair because it gave my hair a lot of slip.  A few months after doing the BC, I started learning about silicones and how they can cause build-up that is only washed away by using a shampoo with sulfates in it.  At the time, I was trying my best to stay away from sulfates so I decided to stop using this product but still kept it in my product bin.  You know the one I'm talkin' about. . . that bin that holds all of those un-used products until you get around to using them again or trading with someone else.

Later, I went back to the product (saved from the bin!) after I found more information on silicones and how some are heavier than others.  The only silicone in this product is amodimethicone which is a light silicone that is actually considered (by some) water soluble because of the way it reacts with water.  Since I now like to use a clarifying shampoo to get rid of build-up occasionally, I know that this ingredient is not going to cause any problems for me.

Now, on to the product review.  Like I said earlier, the product has a light, creamy consistency.  It has a citrus scent with apricot which is pleasant and not overpowering.  Garnier Fructis recently introduced a new formula that includes Argan Oil which is a plus.  I would say the new and old forumulas have the same scent but the new one does seem to be a tad richer in consistency.  I tend to lean towards products that are affordable and easily accessible so this one fits the bill on both counts.  You can find it at Target, Walmart, Grocery and Drug Stores for about $5.00 USD.  This is one of those products where a little goes a long way.  I use it on wet hair as a moisturizer and then I seal it in with my Olive Oil/Coconut Oil mix before stretching my hair with braids or a bun.

Claims to give lasting smoothness and
frizz control

To apply it, I part my hair down the middle (front to back) and apply about a quarter size amount (sometimes more) to each side.  The product tends to last me a long time this way.  I like to use it when I blow dry my hair with the comb attachment because it has a lot of slip.  Using this also makes a big difference for those times when I want to pull my hair into a bun using my denman brush. . . believe me!  Please note that it does not play nice with Eco Styler or IC Fantasia gels (white flake reaction alert!).  For this reason, I use my Suave Naturals in Coconut flavor when I do wash n go's with gel.

The product claims that it can provide, "Intense smoothing for long-lasting frizz control & shine".  In my experience, I believe that it does give my hair a lot more manageability than when I style with another product.   I'm always surprised at how easy it is to smooth the product through my hair.  This is helpful when I'm trying to avoid frizzy hair because I don't have to manipulate my strands very much to apply it.  Overall, I think it is a great product for natural hair because it adds moisture to the hair while also making the hair more pliable.  It gets a two thumbs up and is a staple that I will not do without.

What My Hair Has Been Up To

I know I haven't been posting very much lately but I wanted to share some of the styles that I have been rockin' the last few weeks.  I have actually been wearing my hair straight a little more which I think is coming to an end this week.  At least until I can get my hands on a flat iron that has a heat dial so I can adjust the temperature setting.  My FHI Technique G2 straightens really well but only has one setting...400+ degrees!  I know that a lot of you are thinking why use heat in the first place?  I know, it can be damaging but, I'm one of those Naturals who likes to use it occasionally.  Anywhoo, enough of the straight talk and on to the pics. . . Enjoy!

Corkscrew Braid Out
at the Denver Art Museum

Flat Twist Up Do
My current favorite during the week
to keep my hair protected

Corkscrew Braid Out
with Satin Scarf Headband
with Eco Styler Gel on my edges

Corkscrew Braid Out
Back View

Straight Hair in August just
before Trim

Wash n' Go at City Park

Biking with Natural Hair

My Bike Helmet
with Flat Twists Underneath

My family and I love going on outdoor adventures.  This summer we have been doing a lot more bike riding together.  I always make sure that the kids wear their helmets but I haven't really been into wearing mine. 

That was until I noticed nearly every other adult on the bike path wearing theirs.  At the very least they had on a cap for sun protection.  So I decided it was time to get out the old bike helmet.  Never mind the fact that it makes me look like Kazoo from the Flintstones.  Safety first, right?  The only thing I had to figure out though was what to do with my thick, curly hair underneath. 

When I go for a bike ride in the morning, the solution is pretty simple.  My hair is usually in twists or braids from the night before so I just wait until after the bike ride to take my hair down.  This means shuttling the kids to school while wearing a satin scarf on my head but hey, I know I'll be cute later on in the day, so that's alright.  I don't even bother removing the scarf because it protects my hair while under the helmet.  Another option is after a braid out when my hair is more flexible, I can get my hair to "lay down" under the helmet without too much of a fight using bobby pins. 



Flat Twists under Helmet
Back View

 Other times though when my hair is up in a bun or puff, the helmet doesn't really work.  Still, in Colorado you really can't get away without some type of sun protection.  The high elevation here can make for some serious sun exposure so I still like to wear a visor and leave my hair up on top of my head like in the pic below. 

So there you go Natural Hair Queens and Curly Goddesses...now there is no reason not to rock your head gear while on your bike ride.  Be safe and happy riding.

Rockin' the Bun with
My Visor