New Style: Waist Length Individual/Box Braids

Hey All!

I know I have not posted in a bit, but I was busy doing these waist length braids I have been wanting to do. My long term goal is WL so I figured dealing with braids this long would be good practice!

Originally I was going for the "Poetic Justice" braids- Janet Jackson wore them in the movie, but mine came out much much thinner.

It took forever- I braided my hair on and off from this past Saturday, until 4am this morning. I used a billion packs of hair. 4-5 some got tangled, so it is hard to say the exact amount used. The type of hair I used is Kanekalon (Kanekalon is a synthetic flame retardant hair- will not burn, so it you can heat style it. ie curling iron) , and the brand I used is Outre, color 1B. Now this braid of hair is super wispy. Too wispy in fact.

It was also was a bit rough, so I did a few cuts handling this hair. It also tangles a lot, it could be the way I handled the hair, but I found it to be very tangly. I paid $1.99 at a local BSS (Beauty Supply Store).

I did not prep it really, just used it straight out of the package.

To prep my hair I did a protein treatment of Egg, Mayonnaise, mixed with Olive & Coconut Oils. I left the mixture in for about an hour without direct heat, with a shower cap. I meant to follow up with Queen Helene Cholesterol Conditioner for moisture, but time got away from me, so I just let my VO5 Moisturizing Milks Strawberries & Cream Conditioner in the shower for a half hour or so.


After that all I did was run some Shealoe through my hair, and called it a night. I started braiding Friday, but did not start for real until Saturday. I went out that day and had a great time out with DH at the Caribbean Festival, then came back home to start up again.

By far this has been the longest amount of time it has taken me to finish braids, but then again these braids are by far the longest I have ever had. I wish I had time frame, but I am pretty sure it took more than 10 hours.

When finished I had to boil some water in a pot, and dip my ends in a few times, take them out carefully, cradling with towel, squeezing them, and re-dipping, until I got the desired results- straight ends.

Oh and I encountered a few tangles, and I had to cut a strand of hair out. Yes, I cried, but I am glad I did not give up, I am super happy with the results.

Here is where I started from...

 More than halfway through...

Finished product!

I love them! Since they are so long, I do not see myself shampooing, or doing it very often, so I will have to invest in a dry shampoo. I plan on keeping these braids in until labor day, if I can help it.

I made a last minute purchase for something to use on my scalp for the duration I will have braids, it is Ginseng Miracle Wonder 8 Oil.

It is mostly natural and it smells pleasant, best of all I do not have an allergic reaction to it. I will use it for a while before giving a true review on it.

I am deciding on whether I should start using my Hairfinity (A Vitamin mixture that helps promote faster growth) or not, I want growth, but not too much, because I do not see myself retouching my roots.

Anyway, this is what I have been up to as of late. Hope you guys like the braids, or at least it encourages you all to try braiding or twisting your hair at home!

~Naomi

New Shealoe Batch (Whipped Method)

Hey All!

I have been out of Shealoe for a good month...or two, and I just decided to stop being lazy and make a new batch.

This batch is slightly different, as I used a blender this time around, so this is Whipped Shealoe, opposed to the Melt & Blend method.

I also opted to use an oil, in hopes that it would help give this batch a creamier texture. The oil I used is Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil. I originally wanted to use Olive Oil, but I am all out!

The Shea Butter I had, was from Halo's Homemade Soaps, it was 1 pound (16oz) and came in a plastic baggy. I have ordered from them before, but through eBay. I know it's their Shea because it has their label on it.  The Shea is of good quality, at least in my own opinion. The texture is smooth, and smells nutty, as it should! I paid $5.50 USD, and the shipping was $5.00, so altogether I paid $10.50 USD. Here is  Where I buy my Shea Butter.

First I put the Shea Butter in the blender, I used maybe 8oz of that, let it mix a bit, stopped it, then added, my Aloe Vera Gel, which I used about 4oz of, stopped once more, and added my Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil, I did not measure how much I used, but I would say I roughly used about 2oz.

So if you have not caught that it's about..
8oz of Shea Butter
4oz of Aloe Vera Gel
2oz of Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil


To ensure everything was getting mixed in I would stop the blender to mix with a fork, scrape the sides, and continue. This process was so quick, I was done in about 10 minutes.

Here's how it looked in the blender when finished

I already started scooping some of it out.

This batch gave me two 8oz batches, yes I said TWO, which I can say that I did not expect in the least. So I am super happy about it!

Here's how the batches came out

Close up of one of the batches

Comparison Melt & Blend- Whipped

So there is a difference in the coloring, as well as the texture. The Melt & Blend batch was a bit thicker, and I found myself having to reheat, and mixing before use. Since these new batches are blended, there is no need to heat or mix.

Another difference is that when using the Melt & Blend Shealoe, I found myself overusing it, and having white residue in my hair from Shea that had not fully blended.

I used new Whipped batch, and I did not get any residue. Though both resulted in soft defined hair.

One last thing that I like about this batch is that it smells nice, as it smells like the Africa's Best Ultimate Oil which smells like baby powder, so perhaps if I used oil when I did the Melt & Blend method, it may have smelled a bit better, and helped with the texture.

I think what also contributed to the last batch not smelling as nice, could have been that the Shealoe was not blended as well. The last batch had a funny smell, and started to go bad.

 I am not saying the Melt & Blend method does not work, it is just that you have to work harder to keep your ingredients blended (reheating & mixing) to get the texture that you desire.

What is great about Shealoe is that it is great for Low Manipulation styling, like Twist/Braid Outs, Bantu Knot Outs, or even Protective styling  like Buns, Two Strand Twists, etc. It also works great as a Moisturizer/Sealant.

I am undoubtedly a fan of Shealoe, especially because it's natural, and so easy to make. Try making your own batch, to see what all the rave is about!

~Naomi

Single Strand Knot Woes/Update

.....And we're back! Hey All!


I wanted to brief you all on my on goings, but blogger had been down for a day or so. As of late I have done my very first set of Flat Twists, which I loved the results of.

I kept it simple, after conditioned hair, I oiled my scalp, I used my Super Moisturizing Homemade Coconut Leave In, sealed with coconut oil, and put my hair into 6 flat twists. I threw on my satin scarf, and untwisted in the morning.

I got the results of a twist out done the regular two strand way, but it turned out a little more stretched, and wavier. I wish I had the pics, I took a couple with my iPhone, but it refuses to send it to my email! So if I can figure it out, or if I do it again, I will take it with my regular camera.

Though I had great results with the flat twist out, I am finding a lot of Single Strand Knots, and I think it is due to my hair being in Low Manipulation styles like twists outs. With that being said, I will be doing a lot more protective styles, and will try to experiment with pin ups. My bald spots kind of make it difficult, but we shall see.


Also speaking of my bald spots, I made a new oil concoction. Not sure how it will turn out but it is a mix of

1oz of Sunny Isle Rosemary JBCO (For growth/thickness, stimulates)
1oz of Hollywood Beauty Tea Tree Oil (Helps with dandruff and stimulates growth)
2oz of EVCO (Strengthens hair, and I have also heard that this helps with stimulation)
2oz of EVOO (Helps with breakage, and adds shine)
4oz of Home Health Castor Oil (For growth/thickness, stimulates)

I was able to measure by using my applicator bottle.  I will be using this oil mixture a minimum of 3 times a week, although I would love to use it everyday. I am hoping this mixture will be a winner. *Crossing Fingers*


~Naomi

How To Achive Second Day Hair

Hey All!


I have been under time constraints lately, so achieving Second and Third Day Hair, had been essential!

The way my Regimen works is

Sunday Wash Day, which entails, prepooing, shampooing, cowashing, deep conditioning, oiling scalp, m & s, and of course styling.

Now whatever style I do Sunday night, whether it is a braid out, twist out, rod set, pony tail, etc. has to last me until Wednesday night, because Wednesday night is when I cowash, and do everything I do on wash day except for washing, and dcing.

How do I achieve this? Pineappling! It works for when your hair is in any curly style like the few I've named, it helps to preserve the curls.

You do this by loosely gathering your hair into a loose high pony, to prevent you from flattening your curls, coupling with your satin bonnet, you can also use a satin scarf, if not worn too tightly.


 I sometimes just gather my hair into two, one either side of my hair. This works as well.

Remember the Braid Out I did a day ago, I pineappled by putting my hair in two

and here is my second day hair.

This method works for me, as I am not one to rebraid, or retwist my hair after a braid/twist out.

Just wanted to share one of my curly methods for my curlies out there!

~Naomi