Taking Down Braids & Mini Review- Suave Shea & Almond Conditoner

After having my hair in pixie braids for the past two weeks, today was the day I decided to start the process of taking them down, and boy was it a process! I really started Saturday night, did not take a lot out, I'd say a quarter or a little less than that. All in all, I'd say it took 7 hours give or take. I coated my hair in Castor oil, and conditioner, to soften my hair, so I'd have less of a chance of my hair knotting up on me, plus it gave my hair a little slip (easy to run through) which was well needed.


I also started to miss my hair, I started to forget what it was like to have 'loose' hair. I took some quick pics so you guys could see how big my hair looked! I think it is because it was stretched.

I went about my regular wash day routine, which I had to forgo last Sunday (my wash days are always on Sunday) because I did not want to get my braids frizzy, so I mainly just rinsed and sealed my ends during those two weeks. I'm trying to finish up my VO5 Moisturizing Milks Strawberries & Cream, because I'd like to try Suave Shea & Almond Shampoo, and I don't want to feel guilty for buying something I don't necessarily need. I'm going to get it soon though, probably some time this week.

Anyway, I do have Suave Shea & Almond conditioner, I've had it for a couple of weeks now, so I decided to give it it's debut today, I've only used it once, but I'm in love! It's the perfect combination of VO5 Moisturizing Milks Strawberries & Cream Conditioner or Herbal Escapes Free Me Freesia, and Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner.

Mind you I have not ran a comb through my hair in nearly two weeks, when I cowash I use a wide tooth comb to detangle, I generously applied Suave Shea & Almond to my hair, of course wet hair, because I just finished shampooing, put my hair under water, and went to work, of course there were a couple of kinks, but it detangled them beautifully. I was literally able to run my fingers through my hair afterwards, so that is a major plus! Pleas remember that what my hair likes, yours may not!

I do find that 'testing' products are the best way for you to figure out your hair's likes/dislikes

I also love the ingredients! Of course it's not completely natural, but the majority of it is good stuff.

Suave Shea & Almond Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice [Aloe Vera]*, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil [Lemongrass]*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil*, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower/Leaf Extract*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract*, Dimethiconol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Dipropylene Glycol, Potassium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, PEG-150 Distearate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

This is only based on one use, but this condition is great for cowashing! it has a creamy texture, and has a nice light scent! I will definitely continue to purchase. It's also very fairly prices. Depending on where you purchase you can find it anywhere from $1.80 USD, $4.00 USD. I find that Wal Mart has the better deal, as you get more bang for you buck, as you can get a 32 ounce for $2.49, whereas if you buy at, lets say, Rite Aid, you have to pay $3.49 for a 14.5 ounce bottle.



I am deep conditioning as we speak with Organic Root Stimulator (ORS) Replenishing conditioner, mixed with little Jarrows Formula brand Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil ( I am experimenting to see how this oil can be used best), with a cap, for a little over an hour.( I purchased this coconut oil because it was on sale, and I was always interested in using coconut oil. It also was on sale which made me purchase. However, it is not Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, and does not have a scent, but so far I do like it. It gives my hair shine, and it's good for sealing my ends.)

I have to go rinse, and I think I will put my hair in chunky twists, and use this new 'leave in' conditioner, I just created, I don't want to tell you all what it is until next post! I will let you know what's in it, and how I used it, and all that good stuff! I will also be sure to include pics!


Until Next Time, Naomi~
                

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 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

Kinky Twists

I thought it would be nice to share my experience with doing my own Kinky Twists with extensions. (Ignore the expression in the picture lol) I did them over the course of two days, but in actuality, it only took 8 hours to put in. It was my first time doing them myself! But I have done individuals twice before, so I guess you can say I had some form of practice. To prep myself, I watched some kinky twists tutorials on Youtube.
Videos that inspired me were by,
HiZcREATION09 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pLTn_ynX7w,
and BeautifulBrwnBabyDol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jHPzALwwgk

There were a few others, but I can't quite remember which ones.

I brought my hair at a regular beauty supply store, and the brand I used is by FreeTress Equal, and it is called Marley Braid. I used color 1. I brought 3 bags/packages of hair, but I only used two.
I did them medium sized. The hair is pretty soft, and I cut it in half, because I did not want the hair to be too long, and I curled the ends with perm rods. I started them off as a braid, and then twisted. I liked the results. It is possible to do these styles at home! All you need is some patience, and time, and you can save yourself some money, and give yourself a break in the process!

Until Next Time, HHG to All, Naomi <3