Koils-n-Kinks

Let's face it ladies, as naturals, I feel that we are expected to show that we are "doing something" with our hair. We can't can just walk around all fro-y and puffy, but that would  mean we aren't taking the utmost care of our manes. I mean...really, who(#mefor1) would want to walk around like that? Big bushy fro's have absolute  no  sex appeal (I really miss mine) #beenremovinglocs4-2weeks. These styles are nothing new to the natural world, but this is how my hair looked when I was on the water only method. I never really stopped, but I wasn't rinsing much since I was trying to let my hair loc up. One day I'll post my braidlock story. As for now, check out the shine and definition I achieved while styling without product.                                                               ...

Okay, I know I've been taking a break from this blogging thing, it's sooooo easy to "forget" about it. It in no way means that I have stopped experimenting with new methods of hair care. I am so in love with Naptural85 , she is my ultimate hair inspiration. I love how simple her routine is and how easy she makes it look, because I have found it to be a lot harder to find what works well for my hair. If I can get the moisturizing thing in control, I feel like we could be hair twins!! I have almost kicked the product junkiness. One thing I have learned recently is that I cannot, I repeat cannot do the Wash and Go. As much as I would love to, my ends say NO, NO, NO. My recent trials with it has left me with weathered ends that badly need trimming. So sad. Everyone knows about Kimmaytube and her success. I originally started off watching her, but everyone knows about Kimmaytube. Her channel can get kind of long winded, I like short, simple and sweet. The one item ev...

This is the second time usin Silk Elements Kera Minerals treatment on my daughters hair. Loved it even more this time!! I had to read up on blow drying and flat ironing tips!! WET: DRY:

photo courtesy of GoldMedalHair.com I decided to use my last packet of Power Gro Herbal Tame over the weekend. This time, I did not have the conditioner they suggest you use because I used it during my second attempt , so I just added warm water and Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil. Maybe I should have used apple cider vinegar (ACV) instead? Adding ACV to henna is supposed to help with clarifying and acidity, so that the product takes better to the hair shaft. Maybe next time!! I applied little scoops of the mixture to my 2 week old, freshly washed twists, this used less than 1/4 of the mix. Since I had so much left over, I have decided to do it weekly to see if my hair becomes more manageable when it's "out". I then washed out the mix, conditioned, applied Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk leave-in, sealed with my shea butter and followed with ECO Styler clear gel. The shrinkage was ridiculous the next day, but what can you do? Freshly washed, l...

On Oct. 2, 2011, my 2 year anniversary came and went. I didn't take pictures or measure length because my hair was in mini-twists. About a week and half later I removed them and did a deep conditioning using Naptural85's Greek yogurt deep conditioner recipe. I liked it alot. It made my hair feel smooth and frizz free, but I did it on dirty hair. Since I had to do major detangling I thought I would trim my ends, which they desperately needed. Too many fairy knots and splits to be considered as retained length, so I said "BYE BYE BYE"!! After removing the wrecked ends, my strands measured 8.5 inches give or take 1/8 inch. That really depressed me, well not so much, but I did lose half an inch since June. It made realize that I really needed to take care of my ends better, so my new mission is "Hide my Ends till Feb". I have no clue how I will achieve this. For the style below, I shampooed with NTM, then used Naptural's conditioner, then moisture/sealed wit...

Labor Day weekend!! Woohooo! What more can you ask for at the end of summer?! Cook-outs, parades, county fairs, and in my city, Taste of Madison!! Can't wait! After having the trees braids in for six long weeks, I had to take them out. Even though I loved having them, I could not shampoo thoroughly. I could have had them for two more weeks, but I couldn't stand it, and I missed my fro'. Funny isn't it? I'll give them another try in about a month or so. Well, after removing the hair and braids, I used HairOne cleanser (WEN knockoff), then twisted it up for a twist out using Naptural85's method. I just really admire her. I also used the cleanser as a leave-in, sealed with my homemade shea, then set with ECO styler gel.

I have been getting my hair braided for years. Box braids, micros, kinky twists, weaves, cornrows. Last year I stumbled upon "tree braids" while online, and fell in love with them. They look like free flowing hair, almost like a weave, but without the sewing or the dreadful glueing. You can choose any type hair, and do many styles. Checking out the style on my way home I live in Madison, WI, and there are a handful of African braiding shops. They are always booked, and they are always small, and as always, PRICEY!!. I have never been afraid to spend some dough and spend some time on getting my hair braided up, but I have developed a small problem. Socializing, that alone, made me keep my distance, thus not being able to get my beloved tree braids!! That and the fact that I couldn't find any info on tree braiders for my area. I finally stumbled across someone who can do it, from their home!! Yay!! Let me tell you, it took me a good week to call her and make my a...