Coconut Milk for Moisture

I know the idea of using Coconut Milk for your hair is a bit out there, but I thought, since Coconut Oil is so moisturizing, why can't the milk be? So last week in the supermarket I decided to grab a can of Coconut Milk, can't remember what brand I used.

Anyway I was really eager to try it so I decided to incorporate it in my wash day, to mix with my deep conditioner. I think I mentioned this in a previous post, but since Coconut Milk is a liquid, it made my deep conditioner a bit runny. So in all honesty I could not truly say that I had fabulous results from using it with my deep conditioner. My hair felt stronger though.

I used it again as a leave in, again, drippy, so I mixed it with conditioner, this is all after sealing with Africa's Best Ultimate Oil, and put my plaits in. Results were posted in last entry, my hair came out super soft, and shiny, could have been the oil, or the milk, or the combination, who knows, but I think it is great as a leave in!

I used it again as a leave in, after sealing, mixed with VO5 Free Me Freesia, and just pinned my hair in three sections, as I had errands to run today, and tossed on a hat. I have also taken a nap with no scarf or bonnet, and my hair still feels soft and moist.

It is definitely something to try if you are willing to experiment! I love it, so it will become a part of my regimen!

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

Do You Prepoo?

For those of you who are not familiar with what to prepoo means, I will explain. Prepooing is a method of providing moisture for your hair before you shampoo. Shampoo tends to strip the hair of it's moisture, leaving it dry, but prepooing before hand aide's in helping hair retain moisture.

You can prepoo with as little or many products you like. You can prepoo with things like honey, which helps give hair shine, or castor oil, which helps aid in thickening hair (or at least makes hair appear thicker), or your cowashing conditioner, pretty much anything you prefer.

It is something you have to try at least once, just to see if you like it! I mean why wouldn't you, moisturizing, and strengthening hair, who doesn't want that?!

Just wanted to share a process I incorporated into my regimen.



Until Next Time, HHG to All!

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

Review of V05 Moisturizing Milks Shampoo & Conditioner, Strawberries & Cream.

 

V05 Moisturizing Milks( with Soy Protein) Shampoo and Conditioner can usually be found at any drugstore, or supermarket, and comes in 15FL bottles.

 I first purchased V05 Moisturizing Milks Shampoo & Conditioner, simply because it was cheap, which I purchased for 99 cents each (at CVS), my being frugal, has helped me find a true gem!

The Shampoo has a slightly thick consistency, and is a bit creamy in my opinion, which I love. It smells of Strawberries, as it should. It leaves my natural 4a/3c hair soft and smelling good.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Fragrance (Parfum), Glycol Stearate, DMDM Hydantoin, Polyquaternium 7, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Guar Hydroxypropyltriminum Chloride, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Red 40 (CI 16035), Red 33 (CI 17200), Red 4 (CI 14700), Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Soy Milk, Panthenol, Fragaria Vesca Leaf Extract (Strawberry), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Niacinamide, Biotin.

Rating: 5/5! Only wish it came in a bigger bottle.