Natural Hair Spotlight: Meet Kelley and Krystal!

Hey y'all!

So as promised, the month of November will be "Natural Hair Spotlight" month on my blog! I gathered some friends and family and asked them to answer some questions for y'all, and each week in the month of November, I will post the interviews of two of my guest bloggers! This way you can have new references from people on all different walks in their hair journey and they get a chance to share and inspire! I hope y'all enjoy and that you gain some insight from these amazingly amazing naturals :) So let's get started!

To kick things off, here are my interviews from my sisters, Kelley and Krystal!

                                                                       Meet Kelley!!
                                                                 

Name: Kelley  

Age: 25
Describe your “pre-natural hair”: My hair was actually not bad when it was relaxed. It was short, shoulder length but it never grew past that point.
How long have you been natural: I have been natural 3 years this month! :)
What made you decide to return to your curls: My sister encouraged me to go natural after I had stopped getting relaxers due to pure frustration of harsh chemicals and a burning scalp.
Did you transition or big chop: I transitioned for 15 months before I big chopped.
What made you choose one over the other: Honestly, I was afraid to have a TWA. I work in DC and I wasn’t sure if people would find it professional.
How long has it been since your big chop: 1 year and 9 months
How did your friends/significant other/family react to your decision: Everyone seemed to love it! I actually got a lot of great feedback and encouragement.
How do they feel now: They are still amazed at how much my hair has grown, and how fast it grew! My co-workers and friends love seeing my curls stretched out!
How is your natural hair viewed in the workplace/at school/among friends: My natural hair is perceived really well. In fact, I love the excitement when I do something different with my hair. It's fun to see other people enjoy something that makes me unique :)
How do you normally style your hair/what are your go-to styles: My new go to style is wash, cool blow dry and quick chunky twist out. It’s the fastest style I have found so far. I learned the hard way that my 4b natural hair does not like wash and goes.
Are you a “I want to experiment with my hair weekly” kind of natural, or a “Put it in some braids or twists for a few months at a time and call it a day" kind of natural: I am a “put it in a twist out and hope and pray it lasts 2 weeks” type of girl! The less time I spend on my hair the better for everyone haha! The longer my hair grows, the thicker it gets and maintaining it gets even harder. So the quicker the better when it comes to styling. I got micro mini twists and I somehow made them last 3 months. Take down was an epic disaster but it was worth the break.
If you could do whatever you wanted to your hair, what would you do (funky cut, color, etc.): I wouldn’t do a thing haha! I’m too nervous! Besides straightening once a year, experimenting with different styles and cautiously trimming my ends, that’s the most adventures I will be for a while.
What are your must-have staple products/oils: I’ve just discovered Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey. It smells wonderful and my hair loves it for twists. It gets a little greasy but by day 2 or 3 its perfectly moisturized and soft. I will always live by my Eco styler gel. My hair does not like creams, hair lotions or leave ins. It, literally, only likes oils, light gels or pomades.
What is the biggest life lesson you have learned on your natural hair journey: That the natural me is the best me. I used to straighten my hair until my whole house or dorm room smelled like burning hair and filled the air with more smoke than a Snoop Dogg concert. It feels great that I can be myself and face the world with the hair I was always intended to embrace. 

If you could change one thing about your journey thus far, what would you change: Absolutely nothing. Every bad hair day was a lesson learned and another chance to change it up! I got to experience transitioned hair, short hair, and all natural hair. It’s been a delightful, journey filled with ups and downs and a lot of hard work.
What has been your biggest personal gain since the start of your journey: I have gained a wonderful sense of sincerity. I feel sincere when I face the world, like “hey world, this is me, love it or hate. But if you hate it who cares because I love it! :)
Any advice for anyone considering taking the leap into returning to their curls: Oh my grace, jump! Leap! Do it! It’s an amazing journey and if you keep your eye on the prize, on your goals and hair dreams you will make it! Please trust me, it is sooo worth it! :)

Meet Krystal!

Name: Krystal Nicole Butler
Age: 25
Describe your “pre-natural hair”: Relaxed (Thin, weak, damaged)
How long have you been natural: My last relaxer was February of 2012, so I have been without a relaxer for 2 years and 9 months.
What made you decide to return to your curls: After my last relaxer, I noticed that my shoulder length hair was slowing becoming extremely thin and starting to fall out. One day, my (then) boyfriend, Keith, came to my apartment to pick me up for dinner and I opened the door and started crying. As I stood in the doorway, holding strands of my fallen hair in my hands, I explained to him that there was something wrong and I didn’t know how to fix it. He calmed me down and asked me a series of questions: “What do you want your hair to look like?” In between tears I said, “Thick and long and healthy.” “Ok. What can you do to get it that way,” he asked. I thought about what it took for me to style me hair: get it relaxed, wash and condition every week, flat iron (with retouches almost daily) and “moisturizing” my scalp with hair grease. I thought about the burns I would get each and every time I got a relaxer. “What if I stopped getting my hair relaxed?” I asked him. “I think that would be a good idea,” he said. That night I Googled something like, “What if I stopped relaxing my hair?” Since I had chemically straightened hair since before I could remember, I had no idea what my hair would look like without one. A few Youtube videos popped up about “Natural Hair” and the rest was history.
Did you transition or big chop: I transitioned before I did my big chop.
What made you choose one over the other: I chose to transition my hair only because I did not quite know what I was doing. After watching a bazillion Youtube videos of women styling their beautiful TWA’s (tennie-wennie afros) I was ready to start my journey too.
How long did you transition before your big chop: After transitioning for 9 months, I decided to do a big chop.
How did your friends/significant other/family react to your decision: In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving (in 2012) I told my little sisters, Kelley and Kimie, that I was going to big chop. They were extremely hesitant and tried to convince me to “stick it out” and let my hair grow out and then cut it once it was long enough. My boyfriend, Keith, was really supportive. I kept telling him that my hair would be really short and super thick and curly. “You won’t be able to run your fingers through my hair anymore,” I warned. “I always thought it was weird that I could run my fingers through your hair,” he replied. (Since his mother and sister had been natural for quite some time, he was used natural hair and TWA’s.) My Grandmother, or ‘Mema’ as we called her, was my biggest fan. I would call her weekly and tell her about my new growth and how I couldn’t wait for it to be long and healthy. My Mema never liked relaxers so she was thrilled to know that I wouldn’t be getting them anymore. After Thanksgiving dinner, I pulled away from the table, went to the bedroom and starting cutting away! When I went to work the next day, some of my coworkers were not impressed. Throughout the day I heard a mix of positive and not so positive comments like, “What did you do?” and “I liked it better the other way” ; “it’ll look better once it grows out a little” and “you could always put a hot comb to it.” Some of them (those who understood the natural hair movement) had such nice things to say “you look beautiful, girly” and “I love it!”
How do they feel now: Keith and I are married now and he is still a fan of my natural hair. My twin sister, older sister and mother are all natural now! Though my little sister Kimie was already natural, I taught her about natural hair, how to take care of it, and introduced her to lots of styles. I no longer work with the same coworkers I did when I big chopped, but some of them follow my hair journey on social media and ‘like’ my pictures and post really nice comments. Before she passed my Mema would always express how much she loved my hair. “It’s so healthy and full!” she would say every time I did a twist out. Her favorite hair style I had ever done was when I cut my own bangs a few years back when I was relaxed. She would always ask me to cut them again, but I told her I wasn’t going to cut my hair again for a while. I just recently cut my bangs and now I see why she loved them on me so much. I wish she was here to see them now.
How is your natural hair viewed in the workplace/at school/among friends: At work, I get a lot of positive feedback about my hair. I have realized that two strand twist and twist outs are much more appreciated than a stretched out Afro. Almost all my friends love my natural hair and enjoy seeing its versatility just as much as I do.
How do you normally style your hair/what are your go-to styles: I almost always have some sort of twist out or two strand twist. As it gets longer it takes more time to style it this way however it last for as long as I need it to and requires no up-keep throughout the week.
Are you a “I want to experiment with my hair weekly” kind of natural, or a “Put it in some braids or twists for a few months at a time and call it a day” kind of natural: I love to experiment with my hair but since I am very busy throughout the week, I try to do styles that are easily interchangeable. For example: I’ll wash and style my hair on Saturday in two-strand twist. For the weekend I may wear the twist in a half up half down style. On Monday and Tuesday I may wear then in a top knot. On Wednesday and Thursday I’ll unravel the twist and wear them down and on Friday I’ll pick the curls out for an extra large curly fro.
If you could do whatever you wanted to your hair, what would you do (funky cut, color, etc.): I have considered coloring my hair deep red using henna dye, but I really love my natural hair color so I always talk myself out of doing it. If I could make my hair grow to be waist length over night, I would! I can’t wait for it to be long already. I don’t like shrinkage, it drives me crazy, so I would get rid of it. I do really miss my hair length when I initially big chopped. Once I get tired of wearing it long, I will most likely cut it all off and start over again
What are your must-have staple products/oils: Eco styling gel. Although I do not use it as often as I used to, it is a staple in my bathroom cabinet! My hair texture is closer to 4B/C (tightly coiled) so without a little gel, my natural curls are not very defined once my hair dries. Eco does a great job of defining my curls and holding down my ‘baby’ hairs! I use Trader Joes Tea Tree Shampoo and Conditioner (mostly I co-wash and only shampoo if I’ve used a lot of gel or product). I also love the Trader Joes Jojoba oil. Those are basically the only products I’m currently using.
What is the biggest life lesson you have learned on your natural hair journey: The biggest life lesson I have learned is how freeing it is to be 100% natural. It’s crazy to think about when I used to go to the hair salon and hear the stylist complaining about how thick and ‘nappy’ my hair was and how it needed to be fixed. It hurts my heart that those words were used to describe hair that I now know is absolutely spectacular. Black hair, especially in its natural state and texture is amazing. Its ability to take any shape, hold any style, be any length, texture, color and display any mood or expression is something that is unique to men and women of African descent and is a trait that I am proud to posses. Through my natural hair journey I have developed a new found sense of pride in being women of color. It’s difficult to be a minority in almost all aspects of your life and not feel pressure to conform to the majority. As a result of my natural hair journey I have sought to celebrate (not eliminate) my differences and become as comfortable in myself as possible. I love that I have discovered this sense of freedom within my natural myself. It is because of it that if I choose to wear makeup or flat iron my curls, I now view it as an accessory or style verses an improvement or ‘fix.’
If you could change one thing about your journey thus far, what would you change: The only thing I would change about my journey is that I would have started it sooner! Much sooner!
What has been your biggest personal gain since the start of your journey: The biggest personal gain I’ve received as a result of my natural hair journey is the ability to not take negative comments to heart. One day at work, before I began transitioning, a white co-worker of mine said to me that she had always been told that she had “bad hair” much like “black people hair” which she described as coarse, nappy and dry. She then grabbed my hair, rubbed it and said “yep, just like that!” I was always confused by that exchange because at the time my hair was as straight as hers, and soft. I realized then, that no matter what we change about ourselves, sometimes people can’t see passed the stereotypes or assumptions they have engrained in their minds. When that comment was made, I instantly began thinking of more ways to improve myself. Now, when people make a negative comment about my hair, I don’t even get sad or offended anymore. What’s cool about being natural is that it can’t get any better. If people have a problem with my natural hair then they must take it up with God. I didn’t create my hair, I just simply maintain it.
Any advice for anyone considering taking the leap into returning to their curls: Take a deep breath. Do research. And go for it. Your hair is amazingly versatile so take time to figure out all that it can do. The old idea that “straight is the only acceptable/professional type of hair” is dead, so let it go. Dive all in and enjoy the ride! It really is a fun journey :)
Business/blog/social media inquiry info: Follow me on Instagram @KrystalNicoleButler

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Thanks so much for checking out my blog post this week! I hope you gained some insight from these lovely ladies and gained an understanding of the perspective of a fellow natural! Be sure to check out next week's post for two new spotlight features! And don't forget to cast your vote on my monthly poll! It's located on the left side right under "The Purpose". As always, thanks so much for the support!
 
  

Blog Update: Fall, Hair, Fellow Naturalistas, and November Blog Plans

Hey y'all!

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying this amazing fall season! I know I am! I have enjoyed some delicious slices of pumpkin pie and I got my Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks! I did get to go to the North Carolina State Fair, but I didn't have it in me to get a giant turkey leg, even thought they looked and smelled SO good! Either way, I am happy with the seasonal favorites I have been able to enjoy! I have to make sure I get my fix of pumpkin before peppermint comes in and steals the show! Lol

As far as how my hair has been doing, I have been loving how it is adjusting to the weather! My hair has been so soft and beyond moisturized. I have been deep conditioning with a DIY conditioner that I make. I will probably post about it within the next couple of weeks. I have also been doing more wash-n-gos. I used my Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie with my Miss. Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls and I love the results I get. The style lasts for a week and my hair was amazingly soft and hydrated! It is pretty tangled by the end of the week, which makes detangling while cleansing difficult, but it's ok! I have been keeping up with the Curly Girl Method nicely. I haven't used any shampoos, heat stylers, or combs/brushes and I am still adjusting just fine! My ends have been continuing to give me some trouble though. They have been splitting and frustrating me soooo much! But I think what I might do is start doing some keratin and protein treatments. I have had trouble with split ends for as long as I can remember, but I have been paying more attention to them lately by putting more product on them and sealing my ends better. I have also been more careful while finger detangling, but it hasn't fully been enough. The splits aren't high up on my strands, which is good, but I just want my hair to be healthy! If the protein and keratin treatments work, I will write a post and let y'all know which I used and how it worked!

I also wanted to give a quick shoutout to a couple of naturalistas who have shown support for my blog! Be sure to support them and check out their natural hair journeys!
Talk Tresses
Alexandria Bland
Thank you so much for the support, ladies!! It means a lot! Y'all are so awesome!

For the month of November, I plan on doing a Natural Hair Spotlight month. I want to interview some friends and loved ones in order to talk with them about their natural hair and their journey. Just so that my blog will have the perspective of people other than me! So that is the plan! Hopefully y'all will enjoy it! And in between those spotlight posts, I will still continue to do product reviews, etc!

I hope y'all are doing amazingly well and that you have an awesome and safe Halloween!

Fall is Here!! New Look and All!

Season's Greetings! :)

Ok y'all! So we are officially getting into the holiday season and I have to say this is my absolute FAVORITE time of the year!! I love the weather, the cheer, the joy, the leaves changing colors, seeing pumpkins everywhere, the return of pumpkin spice flavored EVERYTHING, and just being close to and spending time with all of my friends and family!

I literally start listening to CHRISTmas music on the 1st of November and I get into the spirit of fall and Halloween by watching Hocus Pocus, every Halloween movie on Disney Channel, and getting into new movies on Hallmark! This time of the year just brings so much joy to my heart, so I wanted to apply that joy and happiness to my blog! So during this season, I will be changing up the look of my blog to tie in with the season we are in! This is my way of spreading a little holiday cheer and love! :) So from now until February, be prepared to see fun changes on the blog as far as the background, color scheme, fonts, and poll questions go!! Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, CHRISTmas, New Year's, and Valentine's Day...here we come!

Transformation Tuesday!!!

Hey y'all!

So I was scrolling through my phone the other day looking through my photos and I came across some that I took last October while I was still in school. When I first looked at them, I didn't realize that I had taken them almost a full year ago! I have deleted so many photos off of my phone in the past 2 years to make room for apps, music, updates, etc., so the timeline of my photos is not very lengthy because there are many gaps in the time. So when I came across these photos I took last October, it didn't occur to me how old the photos were until I looked at the date they were taken on. Looking at the photo, I could tell that my hair had definitely grown, but it wasn't too obvious to me how much it had really grown. I spend my days on Pinterest and YouTube looking at photos and tutorials from women who have crazy long hair! So my impression of my hair is that it's short, mainly because the length of my hair doesn't even come close to some of the naturals I have seen! So when I saw my photos in my phone, I wasn't floored because I didn't think my hair had gotten too much longer than that, but I knew it had obviously grown. 

This time last year, my hair was short because I had just done my big chop only 6 months prior. Even now, my view of my current hair length is that its still pretty short. However, I decided to test out just how much my hair has grown my doing a compare and contrast photo. I remembered I had done a twist-out to achieve the style in the picture from last October, and, lucky me, I just did a twist-out the week before last and took photos! So I put the two pictures side-by-side and I was amazed! The amount of growth I saw in my own hair was crazy! My jaw literally dropped and I was over the moon!

October 23, 2013 - September 20, 2014

The reason I decided to post about this is because I needed to share my realizations. Through this moment I had, I realized a couple of important things:

1.) You should always take photos of your hair and your journey! This is the only way you will be able to go back and see just how far you have come on your natural hair journey. You don't have to post them to social media! They can be, and should be, strictly for you! In times of discouragement where you feel like you're done with your hair and you don't want to bother with it anymore, or the shrinkage is getting to you and you feel like your hair just isn't growing, it's great to have those photos as motivation so that you can see just how far you and your hair have really come!

2.) Don't get wrapped up in hair types, fellow curly girls, or naturalistas. Your hair is BEAUTIFUL! I know it's easy to get on YouTube and see women with long natural hair and then wish your hair looked like theirs or wish you could skip this awkward hair length phase you're in! However, I came to the realization a little while after I did my big chop that being natural is for me! It's about embracing all of who I am and who God created me to be! It isn't about having a title or being part of an exclusive group. It's about being confident and it's about owning ALL of who you are! Watching tutorials is great because they help me to see just how diverse my hair is and can be and it shows me that I have options! It's also the Best Buy for products! I get to see how products work and learn about them without having to spend the money, which is great! But it is important to remember that while it is okay to admire the beauty of another natural's hair, that admiration should never result in you feeling less about yourself or your hair! I admit to having had felt this way before, but I am at a point now where I can appreciate the beauty of another woman, but still walk in confidence with who I am and know that I am beautiful. And to me, that's what truly makes a woman beautiful. Being able to be modest and appreciate the beauty we all have without having an attitude about it, and still know that we ourselves are a divine creation as well.

So, that was the real point of me writing this Transformation Tuesday post. I wanted to inspire you to love your hair! I wanted to share my latest experience and let you know how dangerous it is to lose sight of your own beauty. I was so wrapped up in wanting hair like the naturals I see on Pinterest and YouTube, that I couldn't even see the growth and beauty that was taking place within me and my own life and with my hair. It's so important that we love our hair and that we love ourselves! We need to focus on who we are and on our own personal growth and be proud of that! That's what being natural is really all about anyway! :)

Product Review: Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Conditioner

Hey y'all!

This week, I'm going to review the Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Conditioner for y'all! I purchased this product from Target for $10.

Now, I'm usually very up to date with what is going on with Shea Moisture. They are my favorite line of hair care products, so I like to keep up with them to see what new things they have going on. However, I didn't know about this product before I purchased it. I always go to the hair care aisle when I go to Target because I am always in need of more of my staples! I came across this collection on the shelf and was a little surprised. I hadn't seen too many posts or much publicizing about this product, so I didn't know they had this new collection out.

I'm still not sure if it is an official new collection from Shea Moisture, or if it is a limited time or special addition type of thing. However, I decided to try it out and give a review of it anyway. All I can say is that I hope they keep it and make it an official part of their line because I LOVE it! In addition to this conditioner, they also had a shampoo and a masque. I decided to try the conditioner because I had just bought the Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Masque, and I already had enough shampoos at the time.

A great thing about this product is that "10% of the sales goes to women-led businesses, to support communities that supply ingredients for [Shea Moisture] products, or to support The Sofi Tucker Foundation."

The main ingredients present in this collection are:
-Manuka Honey: anti-infammatory properties soothe the scalp and helps create and moisturizing barrier
-Mafura Oil: high levels of beneficial oleic acid helps replenish oils stripped from hair
-African Rock Fig: contains antioxidant Vitamin C, which helps keep hair looking vibrant.

This Intensive Hydration Conditioner has a recipe that is geared towards dry hair. This conditioner allows for easy detangling, helps make hair more manageable and infuses hair with intense moisture and shine-enhancing nutrients. It has an intense blend of restorative oils (shea butter, honey, mafura, and baobab) that nourish and condition hair that is dry and/or brittle. The African Rock Fig also plays a role in increasing hydration while protecting hair from environmental influences. The intense hydration this conditioner supplies will leave your hair soft, shiny and easy to style!

Here is how I used this product:
I sectioned my hair into four parts. One section at a time, I applied the conditioner to my wet hair while detangling. I also made sure to massage my scalp to remove build-up and to promote circulation in my scalp. I then wrapped each conditioned section into its own small bun and secured each with a hair tie, then moved onto the next section. When I was done applying the conditioner to all four sections, I placed a plastic cap on my head and then wrapped my silk scarf around my head and the cap. The bottle says to let the conditioner sit for 3 minutes, but I tried that one time before and I didn't feel like I got all of the hydration and softness I needed, so I decided to leave the conditioner in for 30 minutes this time around. After the time passed, I rinsed the conditioner out section by section with cool water in the shower. I allow the water to run down the section of hair I'm focusing on while I massage my scalp and detangle, making sure I am thorough in rinsing out all of the product! After I have completely rinsed a section, I twist that section up and put it back into a small bun, and then move on to rinsing out the next section. After all of my sections are rinsed of conditioner, I wrap an old t-shirt around my hair and allow it it soak up all of the excess water. I style, and then that is it!

So, I have to say that I was VERY impressed with this product! When I first pumped the conditioner out of the bottle, I was extremely nervous because it is a pretty think conditioner! I am not a fan of thick conditioners because, in my option, they don't provide enough slip on my hair for me to be able to detangle effectively. However, I let it go and applied it since the product promotes manageability and easy detangling. To my surprise, this product slid through my hair very well! I was definitely able to detangle with it and my hair was very manageable! After I rinsed out my hair, I found that it was extremely soft! My hair was beyond hydrated and intensely shiny!

I would definitely give this product a 10/10! It did everything it said it would do, so I am very satisfied with this conditioner! I also love this because since I have embraced the Curly Girl Method (check out last week's post for more info), this conditioner adds more hydration and aids in supplying the nutrients to retain that moisture and protect my hair. I definitely feel like besides using this conditioner to nourish dry hair, I think it can do wonders for those who follow the CG Method because of the ample amount of moisture the conditioner provides. I know I left this product on my hair for 30 minutes, but if you don't have that much time, then you do not need to leave it on for that long. Personally, I think 10 minutes would have done the trick, but I had the time to sit and let it work through, so I decided to see what would happen.

:)

Have you tried any of the products from the Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil collection? Did you love the collection? I'd love to hear your stories and thoughts! Leave them here! And don't forget to participate in my monthly poll question and as always, thank you so much for the support! Feel free to share the link!

 

Curly Girl Method: Check-in

Hello!

For my post this week, I decided to let y'all in on how I'm feeling so far about adapting to the Curly Girl Method. I adopted the method about a month ago, and already, I have seen such a difference in my hair! I can't wait to share my results with y'all, but before I do, let me first give y'all some background info!

Background

The Curly Girl Method is a method for embracing natural hair that was developed by curly hair advocate/expert and owner of DevaCurl products, Lorraine Massey. One of the main purposes of this technique is to increase the moisture in your hair by eliminating the use of silicones and sulfates from your hair regimen.

The purpose silicones serve in hair products (mainly conditioners) is to create a barrier on hair strands that allow for them to glide past each other, making the hair appear to be more sleek, less tangled, and easier to manage. However, not only do these barriers keep moisture from getting to your hair, but many of these silicones that are present in various conditioners and hair products are not easy to wash out. Some are easily dissolved by water (water soluble), while others are not (water insouble). These insoluble silicones can only be cleansed and removed by sulfates, which are mainly found in shampoos.

Sulfate is an ingredient that removes buildup from the hair and scalp. This doesn't sound too bad, but it can actually be very harmful for natural hair. Among the things sulfate strips away from the hair and scalp is sebum, the natural oil our scalp produces that is meant to nourish the scalp and hair.

Now, we all know that conditioning follows shampooing, right?! So that means that you shampoo your hair to get rid of the silicones, but then you reapply more of them when you use your conditioner. So now, those silicones are likely to remain in your hair until the next time you shampoo. What are the damaging effects of this, you ask?!

This water insoluble barrier prevents moisture from getting to the hair. Since natural, curly hair tends to be drier than naturally straight hair, these silicones can do a lot of damage. Moisture is the number one must-have for all curly girls! Whether it be in the form of water, humectants, or water-based products, it is so, so, SO important to keep natural hair properly moisturized. If your hair is depleted of moisture, then it could lead to the dreaded "d word"...DAMAGE! Loss of moisture and deprivation of moisture can result in dry, brittle, damaged hair, and that isn't a good look on anyone! Not to mention that if you strip the oils from your hair with your shampoo, and then place a water insoluble barrier on your hair from your conditioner, your hair could have little-to-no access to moisture, which could lead to more damage, dryness, and potentially breakage.

So what the CG Method proposes is that in order to increase the moisture in your hair, you cut out or significantly cut down on these silicones and sulfates! This is why the CG Method is sometimes referred to as the "No Poo Method." With this practice, you do not use shampoos to cleanse your hair. You only use silicone-free co-wash (a mild cleansing conditioner with no lather) or conditioners to cleanse your hair. Some people, like myself as of now, take to a "Modified" CG Method where if you feel like your hair has a lot of build-up, then it is ok to use a sulfate-free shampoo to cleanse your hair. However, those who closely follow the CG Method prefer to strictly stick to conditioners and co-washes for cleansing.

In my opinion, it is important that if you get rid of one, that you also get rid of the other. If you decide to stop using sulfate shampoos, but still want to keep using your silicone conditioner, remember that you won't be removing those silicone barriers at all. Every time you apply that conditioner, you will just be coating your hair more and more with those silicones, making it even more impossible for moisture to get through to your hair. And if you decide to eliminate silicone conditioners, but keep your sulfate shampoo, then you are applying that harsh chemical directly onto your hair. As I mentioned before, sulfate strips your hair of its natural oils, which is terrible for curly hair because it needs every drop of moisture and oil that it can get to stay healthy. So to keep it simple and to keep your curls happy and healthy, if you decide to stop using products with silicones, then take the extra step to remove sulfates from your routine as well and vice versa.

The CG Method also calls for the elimination of heat styling tools and other styling tools. Finger detangling, wash-n-go's, and treating your hair and curls as is is the preferred way of using the CG Method. Combs have the tendency to pull, pop, and snap the hair and can add unnecessary pressure on the strands when styling or detangling. Both of these instances can lead to breakage, which of course, is very damaging. Also, we all are familiar with heat damage and the effects it can have on the overall health of your hair!

 What does the CG Method mean for me?

Since around September 2012, 3 months after I started transitioning, I have been using Shea Moisture shampoos and conditioners. Their products do not contain any silicones or sulfates, so adjusting to the CG regimen, with regards to eliminating sulfates and silicones, was not difficult. However, even though I do not use products with silicones or sulfates, I kind of wanted to try my hand at cutting out shampoos altogether. Originally, I wanted to follow the CG Method strictly, meaning absolutely no shampoo and only using co-washes and conditioners for cleansing. However, after a couple of days of thinking about it, I decided that I love my Shea Moisture African Black Soap Shampoo too much to give it up, so I decided that I will only use shampoo once a month and co-wash/deep condition any other time my hair needs cleansing! So I guess you could say that I have taken on a "modified" CG Method! However, I do plan on phasing shampoo out altogether overtime. By the end of 2014, maybe sooner, my goal is to operate strictly by the CG Method.

I also decided to take on the practice of finger detangling, so I have done away with my combs and brushes! Well...I still have them, I just don't use them :) I thought this would be difficult, but it really hasn't been so far! For washing, I section my hair into 4 sections, apply my conditioner one section at a time while finger detangling and massaging my scalp to loosen any product build up. I then rinse the conditioner out in the shower section-by-section. I make sure to keep my hair in sections after rinsing out the conditioner to help the detangling and styling process outside of the shower go much smoother. Also, it gives me more control of my hair. I still use all of my normal staples (minus the Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Repair Creme) because none of them have any silicones or sulfates, so I really only adjusted how I treat my hair instead of what I treat my hair with.

Why did I decide to go Curly Girl?

My biggest inspiration for making this transition to going CG was my favorite naturalista, Jess aka MahoganyCurls! I have always admired how amazing her curl definition is! When I started following Whitney aka Naptural85's blog a little more, I noticed how amazing her curl definition is, too! Then, I realized what the two of them have in common: they both finger detangle instead of using combs and brushes, and they both prefer to co-wash. Jess doesn't use combs or shampoos at all, and Whitney will use both of them every now and then, but mostly not. It seemed a little silly to me at first that finger detangling and avoiding shampoos could aid in defining your curls, but after I did some research on other women who practice the CG Method, almost all of them said that going CG and finger detangling resulted in a more defined curl pattern. So, this is the main reason I decided to go CG! I love the textures in my hair (3A in the front, 3C in the crown, and 3B everywhere else), so I want to be able to have better definition so that I can wear a super cute wash-n-go and be able to just see my curls pop when I style them! 

Besides curl definition, I noticed that when I would comb my hair, it was very easy to try to rush through it. I would find myself tugging and pulling in all directions sometimes, just trying to get through it all! I am certain that that is what contributed so much to my hair getting damaged and splitting the way it does. I would hear some of my hair strands snap and I would comb at my hair instead of comb through it. So this past month, I have really been focusing on taking my time to give my hair the care it needs so that it can grow healthy and pretty! I have put the combs and brushes down so that I can feel out each tangle and softly pull them loose with my fingers instead of being so harsh!

Results so far

I am DEFINITELY seeing some major results already! My curls are becoming more and more defined, my hair isn't shedding anywhere near as much as it used to, my hair is so full of moisture, softer than ever, and I am noticing less and less breakage. I am loving this change so far and I can't wait to see what changes will continue to happen the longer I utilize this practice.

:)

Do you stand by the CG Method? Did you try it and then realize it wasn't for you? I wanna hear about it! :) Leave your thoughts and stories here along with any questions you have! I hope you found this post helpful! And as always, thanks for taking the time to read and support my blog! Feel free to share the link! And don't forget to participate in my monthly poll question! :)

For more information on The Curly Girl Method, check out Lorraine Massey's book, "Curly Girl: The Handbook"

 





DISCLAIMER: The CG Method will not loosen or change your curl pattern. It only has the potential to enhance the curls you already have! Do not take on this method expecting that you will end up with a different or looser curl pattern. Like I said, this is a method that is meant to increase the moisture in your hair. Results of this increase in moisture could be more shrinkage, due to the enhancement of your curls, and softer hair.

NEXT WEEK ON THE BLOG: Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Conditioner review!

UPDATE! Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Styling Lotion

Hey y'all and Happy September!

As promised, I'm back with an update on the Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Styling Lotion. If you read my product review I posted last month about this new collection, you will recall that I LOVED the masque, but I wasn't a huge fan of the styling lotion. It smelled great, and I loved the consistency of it, but I wasn't loving how it made my hair feel or the result I got from styling with it. But because I love the Shea Moisture line so much, I couldn't give up on it quite yet. With this being said, I tried the Styling Lotion out again last week, and this time, I loved the results I got! So here is my updated review on the Jamaican Black Castor Oil Styling Lotion.

This new collection from Shea Moisture is for natural, chemically processed, color treated, or heat styled hair. The lotion has a special blend of oils at its base that restores moisture and shine to dull, damaged, or chemically processed hair. The Jamaican Black Castor oil, organic Shea Butter, and Peppermint all aid in healthy and strong hair growth by working together to protect hair from the damaging effects of heat styling and increasing the hair's resistance to breakage.

Day 1 curls

For styling, I decided to try my go-to curly girl style...a twistout! I co-washed my hair using the Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Conditioner (will review in 2 weeks). After rinsing out the conditioner, I finger detangled and applied the Styling Lotion to my hair. I wanted to see how well this product worked on its own, so I did not use any oils or any other products on my hair for styling! After applying the Lotion, I twisted my hair into two strand twists. I had a total of about 20-25 twists when I was all done. I allowed my twists to air dry, which took about 6 hours total. I was wanted to take them out, but because I wasn't going anywhere for the day and I didn't want to waste a style day, I left them in overnight! So that night I applied a little bit of the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Reconstructive Finishing Elixir to my twists. Because this product is used for styling, it has a slight hold to it to ensure lasting styles. With that hold comes a slight crunch, and because I like soft, loose twistouts, I used the elixir to get rid of some of that crunch. The next morning, I took the twists out, separated, fluffed, and styled!

Day 2 curls

I have to say, I liked this product MUCH better this time around! My hair was extremely hydrated, soft, and my twistout was very defined, but still full, which I loved!! The only thing I didn't necessarily love was that the product left a slight residue that made my hair feel a little like how your hands feel after you play with Play-Doh. I felt it most on my roots while my hair was drying, and then while I wore my twistout, each day that residue feeling became more and more prominent. It was never unbearable or out of control, it just didn't allow my hair to shine as much as I expected. It was almost like there was a powdery matte finish on my hair, and I wasn't a fan of that.

Day 3 curls

Either way, this product gave me great hold! My twistout lasted for 4 days, which, literally, has never ever happened before!! My twistouts usually frizz up, are way out of control and beyond tangled by the end of day one! But this product gave me such a great hold that I didn't have to touch my hair for 4 days, which was amazing! At night, all I did was put my hair into a loose ponytail at the tip top of my head (a pineapple) and slept on my satin pillowcase.
 
    In sum, I would give this product a 9/10. I loved the lasting effect of the Lotion, the consistency of it, the smell, and the hydration I got! What I didn't love was the emerging powdery residue it left behind. However, this isn't something that will keep me from purchasing this product again. There is a serum that is also a part of this collection that I would love to try! I think it may help with the residue feeling and even the crunch that came up while my twists were drying. Overall, I definitely think this product does what it says, so I'm happy with it!

:)

Have you tried any of the products from this collection?! Love them or hate them? Leave your story in the comments along with any questions you have for me! I'd love to hear them! And as always, thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog!

For a walk through on how I do my twistouts, check out my blog post on the review for Cantu for Natural Hair Define & Shine Custard here!








ON THE BLOG NEXT WEEK: I'm trying out the Curly Girl Method (CG Method)!!! Find out why, learn more about it, and see what I think so far!

*Photo from Google images

Product Review: Cantu for Natural Hair Define & Shine Custard

Hey y'all!

I'm back again for another product review! This week, I will be telling y'all about the Cantu for Natural Hair Define & Shine Custard. I bought this product at Walmart for $6. The reason I decided to try it was because I really like the Cantu for Natural Hair line. I have tried their Hair Lotion as well as their Coconut Oil Shine & Hold Mist and both have become staples of mine. I definitely trust the health of my hair to this line. The Cantu for Natural Hair line does not have any sulfate, silicone, parabens, or mineral oil in their formulas. These products that I've used so far are very light. They do a wonderful job of moisturizing and hydrating my hair, they don't result in a lot of build-up, they work well with with other hair care brands, and as an added bonus, they smell like coconuts! Like I said, I definitely trust the health of my hair to this line because it has not yet given me a reason why I shouldn't.

Originally, I went to the hair care aisle to get the Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curling Gel Souffle. I have tried this product numerous times in the past, but I could never seem to find an effective or good way to use it. Despite frustrations with the product, I decided I would give it another shot. However, when I got to Walmart, I saw that they didn't have any of the Souffle, but what they did have was the Cantu for Natural Hair Define & Shine Custard. I opened the lid of the jar and saw that the consistency of it was pretty close to the Souffle and that the two products offered similar results. The Cantu product was also about half the price as the Souffle, so I figured it was a win-win. Also, like I mentioned before, I trust this brand, so I had no problem venturing off to buy it instead of waiting and picking up a jar of the Souffle from Target at the next opportunity. If the custard was made by another company that I don't really use, such as Carol's Daughter or Kinky-Curly, but it still was only $6, I can't say that I would have purchased it. I'm not saying that these brands are bad or that they are not brands to trust. I'm saying that I am not as familiar with their products as I am with Cantu. So for me, the ability for me to try this product stemmed from the trust I already had with the brand.

The Cantu for Natural Hair Define & Shine Custard is a product that helps elogate curls while providing a hold strong enough to make styles last. It is filled with moisturizing ingredients that quench the thirst of dry curls and adds definition as well. Some of the ingredients include shea butter, coconut oil, aloe vera, jojoba oil, avocado oil, and mango seed butter.

I used this product for two different styles:
1.) Wash-and-go
2.) Twist-out

Here is what I did to achieve both styles:

Wash-and-go:
I co-washed my hair using TRESemme Naturals Radiant Volume Conditioner. After I rinsed it out, I sectioned my hair into four parts and detangled. Then, I applied a little grapeseed oil to each section and also made sure to focus a little more oil onto the ends of my hair. The directions of the product say that you need to apply the custard to soaking wet hair, so after the oil was applied to each section of hair, I used a spray bottle filled with cold water to spritz my hair so it would be wet again. I do not spray my hair with the nozzle being on the stream spray. I only ever mist my hair because it allows for better coverage of the area. Also, I only sprayed the section that I was working on at that moment. I didn't re-wet my entire head at once. I took one section, took out a smaller section of hair, spritzed that smaller section with water, and then detangled a little more so that I could bring out my curl pattern. I then took a little bit of the custard and smoothed it through my hair. The hardest part of doing this was having to remind myself not to rake my fingers through my hair, but to just smooth the custard through. Because I had already detangled, there was no need to rake my fingers through. I did slip up at times out of habit and raked, but for the most part, I did do a good job of not raking. I took into account that my hair would be rubbing up against my clothes and it would probably end up causing frizzy ends, so I added a little extra custard to the ends of my hair so I could create a stronger barrier between my hair and my cotton dress. I followed these same steps all over the area of my head that needed it. Because I was doing a half up bun-half down style, I did not use the product on my entire head. On the section of my hair that was going into the bun, I used my Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie as my styler and to seal in the grapeseed oil. I also used some of my Eco Styler Protein Gel to slick my hair up into a bun.

I was satisfied using this product for a wash-and-go. It was easy to apply, and a little bit went a VERY long way! My hair was very shiny and I could tell that it was beyond hydrated! This product has a lot of slip because is has that silky, jelly type of feel, so I didn't need to use a lot of product for my styling. Though satisfied with the product I noticed some major differences between my day one curls and my day two curls:

Day 1: When my hair was still wet, my curls were elongated. However, once it fully dried, I had no elogation and a whole lot of shrinkage. I did not see any kind of curl elongation in the end result on the first day. I also had a layer of crunch on my hair, which I wasn't too fond of. Also, because my hair shrunk up so much, scrunching out the crunch wouldn't have done anything as far as making my curls loosen or anything. It still would have been that kind of fluffy fro. Part of this could have been due to the fact that I raked the product through accidentally, so my curls separated, making them smaller and tighter, which resulted in my fluffy slight-afro. So I'll take some of the blame on that one!
Day 2: I slept with a satin bonnet on my head and kept the back part of my hair in a loose pony tail. When I took my hair down the next day, by hair was SUPER full, soft, fluffy, and still very moisturized. I still didn't have much elongation, but because I had so much fullness, I didn't at all mind it.

In summary, I liked the results of my day two curls much better than my day one curls. What I'll do in the future is probably style my hair with the custard on Sunday afternoon so that I can wear it super cute on Monday and Tuesday! I didn't mind my day one curls too much and I can't say that I'll ever use this product again as a legitimate wash-and-go, but I wasn't a huge fan of the crunch and the shrinkage. However, next time I will try using a little less of the custard to see if that makes a difference in the amount of crunch.

Twist-out:
I followed the same steps I did when doing my wash-and-go up until applying the product. After I re-wet the smaller section of hair that I got from one of the four larger sections I made, I sprayed some of my Cantu for Natural Hair Coconut Oil Shine & Hold Mist onto my scalp and the small section of hair. I combed it through for even distribution, applied a little bit of the custard and then proceeded to put in a two strand twist. I did about 5 or 6 twists in each of the four sections of hair. I like to do chunkier twists for twist-outs because the style comes out less defined and much fuller, as opposed to doing smaller twists and getting a more defined, yet not as full, twist-out. Because the front of my hair has a much looser curl pattern and my two strand twists don't normally hold, I did two flat twists in the front. I allowed my hair to dry fully before I went to sleep. When I woke up the next morning, I separated my twists, and fluffed my roots.

I was in loooooooove with the results I got from my twist-out! My hair was so flowy, my curls were actually elongated, my hair was full, shiny, and wasn't at all weighed down. I LOVED it! The only flaw was that the product did flake. It was quite annoying because you could see white streaks of flaky product in my hair, and no mater how many times I would try to shake it out, it didn't really make a huge impact. Once again, I blame myself for this occurrence haha! While twisting my hair, I got super lazy towards the end and started using more of the custard than I know I should have. I stopped eyeballing the amount I was using and just used whatever I happened to scoop up. But I know now what will result from that, so I will be more careful. And I know this was the cause because it only flaked on the top of my hair, which was the last area I did. So minus the flaking, I absolutely loved the results I got using the custard for a twist-out!

 :)

Overall, I have to say that I definitely loved this product! I can't say that I am content with just using this and have lost my desire to try the Shea Moisture Curling Gel Souffle again. From what I remember, the Souffle has more of an oily jelly feel to it, so I think that it would solve the issue of flaking that I had with using the Cantu. But I was still happy with the product and would easily buy it again!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to leave them here and I will respond!

*image from Google Images

Product Review: Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Treatment Masque and Styling Lotion

Hey y'all!

So as I have mentioned before, I am a HUGE fan of Shea Moisture products. They have done wonders for my hair and skin and have allowed my hair to grow and to be as healthy and strong as it is now. When I found out that Shea Moisture was releasing a new Jamaican Black Castor Oil collection, I was so excited! Once it was out, I went to CVS to get some as soon as a I could! Not surprisingly, there were very little products left to choose from by the time I got to them. It seems that everyone was just as determined to get their hands on this new collection as I was! However, I did manage to pick up a jar of the Treatment Masque and Styling Lotion so that I could review it for y'all!

The main 3 ingredients included in the masque and lotion are:

-Organic Shea Butter: deeply moisturizes while conditioning hair and scalp
-Jamaican Black Castor Oil: loaded with reparative omegas that promote healthy hair growth
-Peppermint: stimulates the scalp (improves circulation of blood in the scalp)

The reason I was so excited to try this collection was because of the castor oil and the peppermint. I have read so many great things about castor oil and its ability to thicken hair and allow for healthy hair growth and I love the smell and cool feel of peppermint!

Before I give my review, here are the steps I took in washing, deep conditioning and styling:

1.) Shampooed with Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention shampoo (lather, rinse, repeat)
2.) Sectioned hair into 6 parts and applied Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Treatment Masque to each section while detangling with a wide tooth comb. Covered hair in plastic cap for 30-45 minutes and rinsed out with cool water
3.) Applied a small amount of grapeseed oil to each section and detangled
4.) Parted hair for twists and applied Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Styling Lotion to each section for twisting.
5.) Added a perm rod to the end of each twist to secure to ends

    

While trying out these products, I was pleasantly surprised by a few things! As I added in my previous post, I am a big fan of the Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque, so a lot of the comparisons I made were to this product. So here's what I thought of the products I tried from the new Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil collection:

Strengthen, Grow & Restore Treatment Masque:

Smell: 9/10 - Very light, mature scent. Similar to the African Black Soap scent, but more subtle and warm. It kind of reminds me of a warm vanilla and brown sugar smell. I really like it!

Texture/Consistency: 10/10 - Thin and spreadable. Once I applied this product to my hair, it was immediately soaked up due to its silky nature. I actually prefer a thin, silky deep conditioner because it allows me to detangle much easier, so there is less tug and pull on my hair. As I mentioned in my last post, I always add extra virgin olive oil and honey to my Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque so that it will be thinner and spread easier. I was happy that I didn't have to do this with the Black Castor Oil Masque. This product glided through my hair so easily. Also, because it spread so well, I didn't have to use a whole lot of product in order to deep condition.  I have barely made a dent in the amount of product in the jar, which is very surprising. I have a lot of hair and the 12 oz jars usually give me about 3 deep conditions. Because of the silky consistency of the Black Castor Oil Masque, I can see this lasting for about 5 or 6 deep conditions, which makes me very happy! I did feel a subtle cooling sensation on my scalp from the peppermint. Though it wasn't as much as I was hoping for, it most certainly wasn't a deal breaker.

Hair's Reaction: I definitely think my hair loved this product. After I rinsed the masque out after 30 minutes, my hair was left feeling super soft, extremely bouncy, hydrated, and light. I think this product is amazing and I can definitely see it becoming a staple of mine!

Strengthen, Grow & Restore Styling Lotion:

Smell: 10/10 - It smells just like the Treatment Masque, except for the fact that it is a little warmer. It has more of a vanilla smell to it, which makes it a little more pleasant and sweeter to me.

Texture/Consistency: 10/10 - It definitely has the feel and texture of a hair lotion. It is silky in the way that it is very smooth, yet thick in the way that it doesn't absorb directly into your hair. I liked having to smooth it in and work it in myself. Because I had to do this, it made this product great to use for detangling. Also, it was easy to style with. It didn't cause any knots or tangles, and my hair didn't clump together at all!

Hair's Reaction: I think my hair liked this lotion a lot! I wouldn't say that my hair fell in love with this product, but I definitely think it that it was really, really good! Like i said, I love the consistency of this product. The lotion is very, very light, which I love! My hair wasn't weighed down at all, which is something I always check for first and foremost. Something I did notice was that my hair wasn't very soft after it finally dried. It wasn't unbearably dry or crispy, but it didn't have the bouncy and soft feel that prefer. As far as styling goes, I tried doing flat twists all around my head using this lotion, and sadly, it turned out to be very unsuccessful. However, I don't blame the lotion and this didn't alter my view of it either. The style didn't work out partly because I did the twists on wet hair and my hair doesn't do well when I try to style when it is wet. Also, not all of the twists were fully dry when I took them out which was also a big no-no haha! With that being said, I know this product could be beyond amazing, so I'm going to keep trying it out and finding the ways to use it that will make it work best for me. I am a big fan of hair lotions, so I am looking for new ways to try to incorporate this one into my hair routine. When I find success with a certain technique/style, I will surely let y'all know!

:)

Overall, I'm actually very satisfied with this new collection. The two products I used were very light and smelled yummy! I definitely think that this collection has promise and will not disappoint. Like I said before, Shea Moisture has continuously worked wonders on my hair, so I have faith that I will be able to find a way to make the Styling Lotion work for me. I really would like to be able to get the Leave-in Conditioner, because I think that it will work well with the Styling Lotion and maybe allow for more successful styles. However, they were sold out of it when I went to CVS. I will try to go back soon to see if they have re-stocked it. Rest assured that when I get my hands on some, I will post about it! 

As always, thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog and product review! I hope you found it helpful! If not, feel free to leave any questions you have! I am always happy to answer them!

*image from Google Images

Favorite Products!

I just wanted to give a quick review of a few of my absolute must-have products!

Cowashes

For those who do not know, "cowashing" is cleansing the hair by washing it with conditioner instead of shampoo. Many naturals take to this practice because of the damaging effects that shampoo can have on hair as far as drying it out, etc. I do still use sulfate free shampoos to cleanse once a week, just because I like knowing that I'm completely getting rid of any and all buildup and starting off with a clean slate. I usually cowash my hair once or twice a week, depending on how my hair is feeling and looking. If I have some product buildup, if my hair is dry, or if I want to do a wash-and-go, I will cowash.

V05 Herbal Escapes Clarifying Conditioner

I love to use V05 conditioners to cowash, first and foremost, because it is cheap! Haha! I find it at every Dollar Store I go to, and I can also find it on sale at various super markets for only about, 80 cents or so! They only last me about two or three cowashes because it is such a thin product, so it takes more to cover my hair, but it's worth it! Like I said, I can sometimes cowash my hair twice a week, so I don't want to spend a lot of money on my cowashes. V05 conditioners are loaded with great vitamins, they smell great, and they create a lot of slip in the hair with allows for easy detangling. V05 conditioners contains vitamins E, H, C, B5, and B3.

   

Shampoo

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo

I absolutely LOVE the African Black Soap line of Shea Moisture products! The shampoo in particular does such an amazing job of cutting through any and all product buildup and giving you that fresh, clean slate! Depending on how much buildup I have in my hair, I only need to shampoo my hair once with this shampoo. I do not need to repeat. After rinsing the shampoo out of my hair, I can glide my fingers over the top of my hair and feel that silky, sleek clean, and I love it! I also use the Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and I love that one as well! I use it if I don't have as much buildup and need some extra moisture. The African Black Soap Shampoo contains plantain enzymes that calm itching and irritation, tea tree oil to remove buildup, and willow bark extract to exfoliate and detoxify the hair and scalp. The reason I love Shea Moisture products so much is because they contain no sulfates, parabens, or mineral oil, and they are made with certified organic ingredients. I will also note that Shea Moisture shampoos are the ONLY shampoos that I use. I purchase all of my Shea Moisture products from Target or Walgreens and they range from $10-12. However, both of these stores are constantly having sales on Shea Moisture products, so I try to make each bottle/jar last in-between sales.

Deep Conditioner

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque

Because I only wash my hair with shampoo once a week, whenever I shampoo, I also deep condition. I love to use the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque because it is very thick and hefty. It goes onto my hair very easily and it makes my hair soooo soft! I usually mix in some extra virgin olive oil and honey to make it a little thinner to that it glides through my hair a little easier and helps retain more moisture.

I section my hair into four or six sections, apply the product, and then cover my hair in a plastic cap and let it sit for about 45 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

The Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque contains sea kelp which seals and smooths the hair cuticles, argan oil which restores shine and promotes elasticity, and shea butter which deeply moisturizes and conditions the scalp.

Leave-In

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner

I use the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner as a leave-in and detangler for my hair. I have found that it makes my hair super soft and smooth, and it defines my curls like crazyyyyy!! I have a lot of hair, but my individual hair strands are incredibly thin, so they get weighed down by product super easily. Literally, anything can and will make it clump. However, when I use this conditioner as my leave in, my hair isn't weighed down at all! It is light, curly, and full of body! It also doesn't have a fruity smell, so it's perfect to use in the spring and summer time because I won't get chased down by bees! Haha! It does a great job of taming frizz, and moisturizing my hair, so it's perfect to use for my wash-and-gos.

Stylers

Eco Styler Protein Gel

Ok, so I literally looove me some Eco Styler gel! I'm pretty certain that every naturalista has a jar or two of this amazingness stashed into their bathroom! It is the perfect all around styler! I use it to get a sleek look for pony tails and high buns, I use it for my twist outs, two strand twists, wash-and-gos, you name it! What's so great about this line of gels is that there is such a wide variety for you to choose from. My favorite to use if the Protein gel, but they also make gel with olive oil, argan oil, and chamomile. And best of all, they are all alcohol free, which means they won't dry out your hair, which can lead to breakage!

The reason I love the protein gel the best is because it is easy on my hair. Like I mentioned before, by hair gets weighed down very easily, so I need to use products that are lightweight but still hefty enough to hold the look I'm trying to achieve. This gel is a level 8 hold out of 10. It is strong enough to hold my hair in place for high buns and pony tails, and yet it's soft enough to give my full, bouncy curls when I do a perm rod set! Also, it doesn't flake at all, which allows me to be as versatile as I want when trying new styles within the same week! I have used full jars of the argan oil, olive oil, and the krystal gels as well. I liked them, but not nearly as much as the protein gel. They are all level 10 holds out of 10, so they were a little too strong for my hair. I would often times end up with a hard shell on my hair when I would use the krystal gel to slick my hair back into a pony tail or bun.

I always keep one or two large jars of Eco Styler at all times! Each jar usually lasts me around 8 or 9 months! I buy mine from Sally Beauty and they cost about $4.75 each.

Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

The Curl Enhancing Smoothie is without a doubt my favorite styling creme! I use it for twist outs, two strand twists, cornrows, and more! It makes my hair unbelievable shiny, and smells amazing! It also does a fantastic job of defining my curls.The only problem I have with this product is that I still get a lot of frizz and shrinkage when I use it as a wash and go, so I make sure that when I use it, it is as a stying aid in twists or ponty tails, etc.

Oddly enough, this product makes for a great stretching aid and sealant as well! What I usually do is after washing and deep conditioning my hair, I section my hair, apply my leave-in, apply my oil (usually extra virgin olive oil or almond oil), and then seal everything in with the Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I then put my hair up into two buns and let it sit overnight. When I wake up the next morning, my hair is shiny, stretched out, smooth, and ridiculously soft! The Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie contains coconut oil which hydrates and protects hair while reducing breakage, silk protein which soothes hair for a soft and silky feel, and neem oil which controls frizz and adds shine.

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Again, these are a few of my absolute favorite hair products! This is not the complete list of all of my staples, but it is somewhat of a condensed version for this post. No matter what, I always have these products in my product bin and I am constantly finding new ways to use them! They are the base for my styles and the overall health of my hair! Yes, I do use other products from time to time as well, but they don't always make it onto my official "always have to have these products" list. These are some of my constants and the ones I feel best recommending the most.

What are some of your favorite products? Have you tried some of these and they worked wonders, or are you still trying to figure out the best way to use them?! If so, let me know! Comment with any questions or comments you make have and I'll respond!

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you found this helpful! And to read my full list of must-have products, check out my "Staple Hair Products" tab!
 

*All images are from Bing Images*