Side Part Swoop Rod Set

I decided to do a rod set yesterday, but wanted it to be a little different from usual, as I do rod sets usually on a weekly basis.

I went about my regular regimen, my cayenne treatment, cowash with VO5 Herbal Escapes, detangled with a wide tooth comb, deep conditioned with Organic Root Stimulator Repenishing conditioner(in the bottle), sealed wtih Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil, without doing parts, added LJBCO on spots and edges, and then began to start the process of rod setting my hair.

I made a side part, and used Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel  and a tough bristle brush, to slick the front parts down. I then used Motions Foam Wrapping Lotion, with a couple of drops of Africa's Best Ultimate Oil in my hair in sections. Then used (pink, I forget what size) cold wave rods, which I believe were Salon Care, or Diane Brand.

I put my rollers in vertically, and it took me about an hour to complete sealing, and rodding, and I slept with the rollers overnight, and I took them out this morning.

This was the results!

Hope you like it, and maybe try it at home for yourselves!

Until Next Time, HHG to All! Naomi <3

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

Part II of, Why Use Cayenne Pepper?

I have been meaning to post a picture of the mixture I use to give you guys an idea of what it looks like, in paste form, I almost forgot again, when I used half of my batch up lol. I use to make a batch for the week, but in order to keep it fresh, I left it out unopened, and it would dry out a little bit, and I would have to add water to get it to turn into a paste again, but I figured doing that to a batch 1-2 times over would ruin the potency, so I only make enough for one use. It can be covered if stored in the fridge, but if you leave it out, it cannot have a lid on, or else the batch will get moldy lol.

I like my paste to be on the thick side, because I found if it is made to watery it will run. The batch depicted in the picture is consisted of only ground cayenne pepper, and water. I find that it is stronger this way, because I get more of a tingle, to me that indicates that it is working. If you do not want it to tingle you can add an oil. I sometimes use olive oil, canola oil, or castor oil. I also like adding paprika, when I remember too.

If you are wondering why I use cayenne pepper for hair growth, check out part one of this entry!


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

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.