Today....

Well you guys, 12 am this morning is the beginning of my Birthday! I am feeling nervous and anxious, I've spoken about reaching 20 all my life, and I've finally reached it. It sure does feel weird. I guess it always takes a while for you to 'feel your age'.

I do not have anything special planned but I did treat myself to a rod set. It has been a month since I've last done one, and I want to look pretty on my day. It may look strange though, because I ran out of pink rods, which are the biggest I own, and had to use gray rods for the front. The reason it I say it may look strange is because different sized rods produce different curls, the bigger, the looser the curl, the smaller, the tighter, and so on so forth. Oh and I used Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion, it has been a while since I've used setting lotion, as I had been using Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel for my rod sets, so we'll see. I'll make sure to take pics of the rods, and do before after shots for you all. Anyway, Happy Birthday to me!

Jamaican Black Castor Oil Vs Regular Castor Oil

I have using both Tropical Isle brand Jamaican Black Castor Oil, and Home Health Castor Oil, religiously. I'd have to say that both of them have contributed a lot to thickening my hair, as well as growth.

I started off using Home Health Brand Castor oil, but then became interested in using Jamaican Black Castor Oil, because of all the good results people ere having with it. 


The differences between the two are physical, again, they both help with thickening, and growth, however, it seems many, including myself have experienced a little more growth with Jamaican Black Castor Oil, but I would say it is due to regular Castor Oil having a thicker consistency. It's thicker consistency, means that it takes longer for it to absorb into the scalp. It is also easier to apply.



Another thing that makes them differ, is Jamaican Black Castor Oil is less processed, making it more 'pure', which means that it has more potency than regular Castor Oil.

It is pricier than regular Castor Oil, and from what I have seen, it is not sold in stores. You can find JBCO on Jamaican Black Castor Oil

A 4oz. of Jamaican Black Castor Oil can run you $5.29 USD, the 8oz can run you $9.99, not including shipping. They also have one that is scented with Lavender. I use this kind, it still has the smokey scent the original does,but you can also smell the lavender, I use this kind.

The Lavender is a bit pricier, the 4oz is $6.99 USD, and the 8oz is $11.99. I have yet to order from the Sams website myself, as I have used my BHP credits to purchase from the forum store! It is a great forum, there are raffles for holidays, and you can earn credits daily just by posting, and logging in daily.

Since JBCO is a bit pricey, I mix it with regular Castor Oil. They both work wonderfully! It also insures I do not use a whole bottle, that way it lasts me longer.

If you are on a tight budget, but still want to thicken your hair, I would suggest using regular Castor Oil. It's the economical choice, as it is sold in stores like GNC, and Vitamin Shoppe, you can even use the kind they sell in Wal Mart or drug stores. Whereas Jamaican Black Castor Oil can only be ordered online (as far as I know).

They both work, it is just a matter of preference.

Until Next Time, Naomi~

Two Strand Twists on Dry Hair

Last night while watching a movie, playing with my hair, I decided to twist it. I did not use any combs, or make an parts, except a short one, down the middle. The only products I had in my hair was my oils I sealed with. All mixed in my applicator bottle, which is Lavender Jamaican Black Castor Oil (LJBCO), Africa's Best Ultimate Oil, and Home Health Cold Pressed Cold Processed Castor Oil (HHCO). Since it was an applicator bottle, I did not make parts, just used the nozzle to get to my scalp, Coconut Milk, and  about two quarter sized amount, of VO5 Herbal Escapes Free Me Freesia Conditioner.

It was pinned, and was mostly dry, I twisted by getting a strand of hair, and separating it, and twisting, and rolled the end of my hair around my finger to get it to curl. The whole process probably took 2 1/2 hours, possibly 3, I was not paying attention to the time. It could also be that the twists are small/medium sized as well.

Anyway, this was not my idea to try it out on dry hair honestly. One of my good friends on my home forum said she was thinking about trying it, and I thought it was a good idea myself. Especially being that natural hair tends to shrink as it dries. Doing it on already dry hair, means that the hair would have to stretch! So that is what influenced my decision to give it a try.

My hair still feels moisturized, and it turned out really well for the first time. I really like that I can almost see my true length with these twists as well. I say almost because I feel like natural hair will always have a little recoil to it, and can be stretched further with pressure, like using your fingers or flat ironing/pressing.


Here are my results.

V05 Herbal Escapes Free Me Freesia Review

I'm sure that you all aware that whether you are relaxed, texlaxed, transitioning, or natural, hair needs moisture! So it's always a great idea to follow cowashing (to cleanse hair by using conditioner as you would while shampooing, ie. saturate hair, rub scalp, and make sure it gets on hair and ends, and detangle while rinsing. This helps hair stay moisturized and clean in between washes) with a leave in conditioner.

Now I have never invested in an actual leave in conditioner, but double my cowashing conditioners as leave ins. I have not experiences film or build up using cowashing conditioners, but up until now, I have always used VO5's Moisturizing Milks Strawberries & Cream, which I absolutely swear by. However, VO5's Free Me Freesia, also does a great job at leaving my hair feeling soft and moisturized. Now if you have ever used Alberto-Culver Products, you would know that their conditioner, is a bit thin in consistency, so it something that you cannot use sparingly, which I feel is fine, because if it's price, it is 99 cents at CVS and some drugs stores, but some try to Charge 1 (USD) dollar and change, so I always try to get it where I can get it for the cheapest.

I was long due for a shampoo and cowash last night, as I had been using Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel, for a good portion of the week, for shingling, and slicking my hair down for pony tails. So I shampooed and cowashed, and used Alberto-Culver's VO5 Free Me Freesia, as a leave in, and decided to put my hair in chunky twists overnight, with a satin bonnet. My hair felt like silk in the morning! Very soft, but not mushy, smells great, if you like the smell of lavender/floral , and it helped my hair hold some curl! The ingredients are pretty decent as well, better than some more expensive products, in my opinion.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Stearalkonium Chloride, Stearoyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Glycerin, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Extract, Freesia Refract Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Biotin, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Ascorbic Acid, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Benzophenone 4, Disodium Edta, Dmdm Hydantoin, Fragrance (Parfum), Ext. Violet 2.

 This product will definitely be a staple in my arsenal! 5/5!

 Until Next time, HHG to All! Naomi <3

Wash Day/Regimen

I love wash day because it gives me a chance to feel pampered and baby my hair! To me it is like going to the Salon, because it takes hours to get to the results I want (by choice) but in the comfort of my own home, which is the best part! Who like sitting in a salon for 3-4 hours? Not Me! lol

 My wash day comes once per week, and that is the day my hair gets the works. Everybody does not have the same washing ritual, whether natural, relaxed, or texlaxed. Some people wash once a week like me, some people twice a month, or once a month, so it varies depending on the person an the hair type.

I decided on once a week because I found that after two weeks my scalp is dirty, and hair is limp, and packed with product I have been adding over the days. Plus it starts to itch then lol.

I start by prepooing. Prepooing is a lot like deep conditioning, except that it is done on dry hair before Shampooing. It depends on my mood, but I do oil only prepoo's, and conditioner prepoo's. For my oil only I use Home Health Castor Oil, and Africa's Best Organics Ultimate Herbal Oil. For my conditioner prepoo I use V05 Tea Therapy Calming Chamomile with a few drops of the same oils I use in my oil prepoo. I like to leave it overnight with a plastic cap, if not done that way I do my prepoo a couple of hours before I plan on shampooing, same method.

I then rinse, and then do my Cayenne Pepper Treatment for an hour or two, rinse, then shampoo. I clarify 1-2 times a month using V05 Herbal Escapes Clarifying Kiwi Lime, if I clarify I use the matching conditioner to cowash, if not I use V05 Moisturizing Milks Strawberries & Cream.  Cowashing can be done in between wash days, as it helps keep your hair moisturized and clean. When I am not using my clarifying shampoo, I am using my moisturizing shampoo, V05 Moisturizing Milks Shampoo Strawberries & Cream. I tend to wash my hair in one big bunch, some braid their hair in plaits and wash their hair in sections. 

I then deep condition using one of my three conditioners which I alternate, Africa's Best Hair Mayonnaise, which I use as my protein, Organic Root Stimulator Replenishing Conditioner as my in between, meaning it contains both protein and moisturizing ingredients, and Hollywood Beauty Olive Cholesterol, which I use as my moisturizing. I believe Mineral Oil is an ingredient in the (bolded) conditioners I use, but I does not bother me if it is far down in the list of ingredients. Many people try to stay away from mineral oil, and petroleum in products, because it is said to coats, and acts as a barrier, but it works fine for me. I have great results using all three of these conditioners.

After, I seal with my mix of Home Health Castor Oil, Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil, and Lavender Jamaican Black Castor Oil. I put pure LJBCO on my balds spots and edges.

Sometimes I use V05 Moisturizing Milks as a leave in, and then I style!

I what is called low manipulation styling, which means to style without direct heat. Styles such some featured on my blog, and others such as braid/ braid outs, (two strand/flat) twist/ twist outs, bantu knot outs, puffs, pin curls, roller/rod sets, etc.

Every once in a while I may do a protective style, which is styling that keeps ends protected. Such as individuals, and kinky twists, but you can also do buns, pony tails, wigs/lace fronts, cornrows, etc. This type is styling is suppose to help in retaining length.

My low manipulation styles usually last me two to three days. Unless it is wash day, I then cowash, seal, and style again!

I find that it is good to have a regimen to know what products works for you, and to know what treatments your hair may need throughout the week. Remember it is different for everyone, and some products may work for others, may not work for you, so it is trial and error, but at least it gives you a chance to get to know your hair!

Until Next Time, HHG to All! Naomi <3

Shingling, Mini Product Review

Not sure if you guys know, but, today was hair day! I prepooed with V05 Tea Therapy Calming Chamomile, mixed with a couple of drops of Home Health Castor Oil, Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil, and Herbal Infusions Hair Mayonnaise. The concoction was mixed in my spray bottle, and I put it through out my hair, and put on a plastic cap which I left on for about two hours.

Then I did a cayenne Treatment ( I have to remember to take a pic of!) and left it on for close to two hours as well. Then I washed with Miracle 7 Color Protect Shampoo. I never tried it before, nor is my hair colored, I got it free with my sally's order, I guess to replace the fact that they did not ship my Roux.

Anyway, the Miracle 7 Color Protect Shampoo was pearly white, and thick, and had a really nice lather. My hair did not feel stripped after using it, it actually felt soft. I do not know how good it is as far as maintaining color treated hair, but my hair felt clean, so I am pleased, but I would not purchase this product only because it is pricey in my opinion. From Sally's it is $12.99 USD for a 10 ounce bottle. I would give it a 4/5 based on it's cleaning ability, not as far as protecting/preserving color on color treated hair.

After Shampooing I followed with my Hollywood Beauty Olive Cholesterol (moisturizing dc) I left it in for an hour with a cap, and rinsed and detangled. I then put LJBCO on my bald spots, and then used my applicator bottle to put my oil mixture to seal. (mixture of Castor oil, LJBCO, and Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil).

Then I used New York Style Gel (14 X-treme hold) which I purchased for $1.19 USD from a store called Conway, in New York City, to shingle. Put it throughout hair, and then combed through. I blow dried my hair, did not dry, it is actually still drying. Anyway here are the results.

Until Next time, HHG to all! Naomi <3

Two Strand Twist out Results

I did super tiny two strand twists last Saturday, and decided to untwist them today. I was planning on doing a prepoo subsequently. But I liked the way it looked, so I kept it for the look of today. I did not use any products to untwist, just used my fingers, and slapped a headband on, and the results were that in the picture.







I ordered the Ion Color Brilliance Spray Bottle and  Sally's Wide Tip Color Applicator Bottle, of course they take forever to get here, well, at least in my opinion. So the applicator is what I expected, I like that it has the liquid level on the side, so measurements are done easily. I am not too sure if I like the spray bottle though, the tip screws off, so it's really a cap, and the spray is not really forceful, it kind of just comes out in glops, but I only tried it out with water, so I suppose we'll see.


What really ticked me off is that I also ordered Roux Mendex conditioner, which was 99 cents, which is why I jumped at the chance to purchase it, even though I have not used it before, purely the junkie in me lol. Anyway, order gets here, and it is not in the package, but it it's place is two sample packets Miracle 7 Color Protect Shampoo. (Didn't even have the nerve to send me the conditioner) I was not charged for it, but in the payment sheet, it stated that the item was not available in their warehouse, and is no longer offered on their website, I have got to say, that I am a little bummed, because I was looking forward to trying it out, but I guess I'll be trying out the shampoo next wash day.


Until Next time, HHG to all! Naomi <3

Two Strand Twists on Natural Hair

Not sure if I mentioned in my previous post, but after conditioning, and all yesterday I used Redken Curlwise14 to see if it could define my curls, which it was not too bad at doing, although it left my hair a bit crunchy.

(Results of Redken on natural 4a/3c Hair)


Playing around with my hair a bit I ended up making small twists, and decided to keep doing them since I liked the way the looked. I still had the Redken in my hair from earlier, and this helped give my ends a bit of a curl.


(Two Strand Twists with Redken)

 Until Next Time, HHG to All! Naomi <3