Put your hair on a SCHEDULE!!

Some people may say that I'm a little nutty when it comes to the well-being of my hair.  A few of them may be right.  AnyWho, I believe in having my hair on a schedule because its like a child; It does right when it acts right, and it acts right when its disciplined.  No I won't punish it by wearing a weave if it doesn't cooperate.  No it won't be on "time out" if it sheds a little.  But yes it will get a little more TLC if it starts to show out.  Because that's what we all crave, LOVE!!  *Hops off soap box*  Now back to your regularly scheduled programming...
Oh wait, I forgot to tell you my regimen...
I wash on Sundays and Wednesdays, but sometimes if I go out or if I've sweated a little too much, I'll make an exception.  I usually DC at least once a week, and I clarify each time I wash.  I also use my ACV rinse every time I wash, which helps with my dry scalp.  Keeping it on a schedule helps me control what goes in it, on it, and around it.  And if something doesn't work, then I know what to do or not to do.  This will also help you see how much its grown, and how healthy its become.  Have a Happy Hair Day!!

New color for the fall...

In the past I was known for dying my hair whenever the moment hit me.  Some took bets to see if my hair would fall out of my head (Ha, I showed them, lol).  I now dye my hair twice a year, lighter in the spring, and darker in the fall (because the urge to dye never really goes away). And I usually just rinse my hair in the fall to keep from adding more bleach (usually Bigen, or this time i used Adore).  I almost dyed it this time, though. (I really really did).  I saw a beautiful Loreal color and I wanted to try it, but I chickened out, maybe because I didn't want to look like a pimped out Rainbow Brite.  And I know that don't have the patience to dye it from one color to another if I don't like it (with hints of green, inbetween).  Now, the only thing about using Bigen is because it dries your hair out if it is used excessively, or it may make it a little dull.  But the upside is that it colors your hair wonderfully.  The Adore is great because its a semi-permanent that washes out as time goes on, so you can kinda color your hair as much as you want without any recourse.  Sit under the dryer with a little cap on, and wallahhh, a beauuuuutiful fall color! Subtle but effective!!

Ode to the ACV Rinse...

Apple.  Cider.  Vinegar.  Is the bizness.  Period.  Yes it smells to high heaven, but the benefits far outweigh the short stint that you have to smell the stuff.  It removes any buildup in your hair and scalp and it seals the cuticle so that your hair shines through.  Here's what I do:  I put a capful of the vinegar into about a 12 ounce applicator bottle.  I usually use room temp or directly out the cap water.  After DCing my hair, I rinse the conditioner out and then pour in the solution, making sure i get my scalp (you can do this either in the sink, or in the shower, but be careful not to get it in your eyes), and massaging it in.  I then rinse with lukewarm water and wala!!  The hair is still extra soft from the dc, but now it also extra shiny because there isn't any leftover residue in it.  See what you can find in your cabinet.  Maybe I'll use honey this weekend and show you those results.. hmmmmm...

Oh My Gawd, Becky Feel My Hair!!

This stuff right here, this stuff right here girls, is the holy grail of deep conditioner!!  *Cue holy angels singing*This is the best $8.99 that I have ever spent on conditioner.  First it smells awesome, which is a plus, but I put it in my hair and I immediately felt the softness.  After leaving it in for almost an hour, I rinsed and it still felt like buttah.  Next I will be trying the shampoo, and see what kind of awesomeness comes out of that bottle!!!  (BTW I know trying the conditioner before the shampoo is weird, but I am far from normal!) Happy DCing!!

Black Tea Rinse = No More Shedding

I know that some of us have an excess of tea bags in the cabinet that will probably never see the light of day past their expiration date.  But that is when I learned that they could be used for other things, like a black tea rinse.  My hair sheds when the seasons change (i swear its like a tree), and I want to hang onto as much of my tresses as I can.  So I heard about this from the ladies at LHCF, and I decided to try.  I shampooed and DC'd first, then used 3-4 huge black tea bags and let them steep for several hours.  Then I took the mixture and poured into an applicator bottle so that it would be easier for me to apply it to my hair.  I applied it, over my deep conditioner (which I had had in for a couple hours) and let it sit for maybe another two hours.  Rinsed it out and whala!  No loose strands!!  The caffeine in the tea also stimulates the scalp, which promotes hair growth.  Two gold stickers for me!  Deep conditioning is a must because the tea acts as a protein treatment and may leave your hair a little hard, and if your colored, it may darken it slightly because of the potency of the tea.  Another thing is that you can make a big batch, using more tea bags, and store it in the fridge to use at a later time.  How cool is that?  And directly from your cabinet!!

Product Review: Organix Moroccan Argan Oil

"It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you, without a dope beat to step to!  It has been hectic the last few months, but my current goal is to at least post once a week.  Minimum.  My hair is constantly on my mind (pun intended) so why isn't my blog?  Ok, back to the matter at hand.  Organix.  *Le Sigh*  I really don't like to discredit a whole line or even a partial line of products but as wonderful as they say it makes your hair, but it comes up a little short in my book.   I purchased the shampoo, conditioner, and the weightless healing dry oil.  Bottom line:  It made my hair hard as a rock.  As in combing it was not an option, and I had to put additional products in it just to make it work.  Some of the ladies at the LHCF swear by this stuff, but it wasn't for me.  It's even sulfate free!  I won't return it because I got such a great deal on it (buy one get one half off at Ulta), but I may mix it with something to make it work for me.

Relaxer 101

First, I am not a professional (I am in my own mind, but I digress), so take these things as advice but not from an expert (again, all in my head).  When working with chemicals you have to be careful that you are not allergic to them, nor will they take out your hair.  Here is a list of the things I use:  Good fitting latex gloves, rattail comb, clips, relaxer, oil, neutralizing shampoo, clarifying shampoo, moisture shampoo, deep conditioner, and leave in conditioner.  I do not have a specific relaxer that I use.  One, because they do mostly the same thing, and two I'm cheap and I add things to it.  Things you say?  Why yes, let me explain.  I have a dry scalp some seasons, and I tend to scratch the aforementioned scalp.  To combat this I one, base my scalp with oil (which is a combo of coconut, walnut, jojoba, argan, and evo oil) from an applicator bottle, then I put 1/4 cup in my relaxer.  Now how special is that?  What this does is add barrier to my scalp to keep it from getting those nasty burns.  It also allows me to leave it in a bit longer (I usually have it in there from 10-15 minutes).  Here are the steps I take.

1. Apply a liberal amount of oil to your scalp and let it sit 10-15 minutes
2. Part your hair in 3rds, or 4ths, and clip them.
3. Put gloves on and apply conditioner to your already permed ends, to prevent overprocessing
4. Mix relaxer with 1/4 cup of hair oil
5. Apply your perm to wherever your hair needs it first ( i do front-back then alternate)
6. Wait for however long it takes to get the desired straightness, but don't process over 30 minutes
7. Rinse it until its gone, then rinse it some more
8. Wash with neutralizing shampoo, rinse, repeat
9. Wash with regular shampoo, rinse
10. Wash with clarifying shampoo, rinse(you only need to do this once, and it should get the remaining residue out of your hair
11. Wash again with neutralizing shampoo, rinse (you should see that the suds are no longer pink)
12. Wash with regular shampoo, rinse
13. Give your hair a good oil rinse, and comb it thru, let it sit for maybe 10 minutes, rinse
14. Apply conditioner until fully saturated, put under a conditioning cap or dryer for 20 minutes, cool rinse
15. Spray with leave-in conditioner, use as much as you need according to length of hair
16. Style as usual

It may seems like you washing your hair quite a bit, but you have to get the relaxer out of your hair.  If you don't it will be hard and crunchy.  Which isn't something you want.  A relaxed and moisturized head is a happy head.  Happy Relaxing!!

Viva la Creamy Crack!!!

Some call it a relaxer, some call it a perm, I call it the holy grail of hair care: The creamy crack.  Now don't get me wrong, rocking a natural is phenomenal, but it just isn't for me.  I want my hair to be so straight that even if the wind is blowing 1/2 a mile an hour, my hair will move.  I honestly tried the no chemical regimen, and got almost to the 6 month mark, but when I stepped off the plain in San Antonio in my 5th month of post-relaxer, two inches of roots shriveled up and sweated, while my ends were as straight as the day was long.  I looked like a wet spider monkey during mating season.  AKA a hot a** mess.  So shout out to the chemicals, which make my follicles oh so fine, and stay tuned to my next post that explains in detail how I relax my hair.  Viva la Creamy  Crack!!

It's finals week!!!

So I have been off of my routine, but stay tuned next week for more ideas in hair care!!!!! Ciao!

So my new flat irons have come in the mail...

And they FRIED MY HAIR!!!!  Unhappy would be putting it mildly, furious would too, but livid describes how I felt after I finished straightening my hair with the Babyliss Pro's.  First, the temp gauge kept blinking, but I assumed that this was what it was supposed to do (no manual).  Secondly, it was uber hot in my apt, so instead of doing my hair in the bathroom, I did it while on the couch, to keep from sweating out my hair.  When I saw what condition my poor tresses were in I almost cried.  All of the protein treatments, deep conditioning, and babying my hair for the last couple weeks, down the drain.  What did I do?  I contacted the seller and explained the problem, but I made sure that I did it as tactful as possible.  I love my soft hair, but it looks like I have to start all over......

Redken All Soft vs Joico Moisture Recovery

I was all too excited when I got my liters on sale for $14.99, but the excitement waned too soon when I tried them.  Being the savvy shopper that I am, I read the comments first to make sure that I was getting the best product for my hair.  Here are my reviews:

Redken All Soft
Pros:   Great price, smells awesome.  Didn't leave a buildup or dry out my scalp.
Cons:  The shampoo didn't leave any softness to the hair after it was washed.  So I thought that maybe the conditioner would do its job.  Sadly it didn't.  My hair was so hard that I had to put in a second conditioner to smooth my tresses out.

Joico Moisture Recovery
Pros:  Great price, smells uber wonderfully wonderful.  The shampoo softens and leaves hair manageable, and the conditioner conditions just like it should.  Didn't leave a buildup or dry out my scalp.
Cons:  I wish I had of gotten another set for the price.

Overall it was a good experience and I'm not knocking Redken, it was just not for my hair.  Joico worked better and I'm pleased with my results.  

So I'm about to do it again...

I have a coupon from Ulta (click here for coupon) that will enable me to purchase one more set of shampoo and conditioner liters that are on sale.  I've did my research and I believe that I'm gonna get the Redken All Soft.  Hopefully they still have some left when I get out there....

What have I purchased in the last month? You don't wanna know... (Products and Reviews)

Okay maybe you do...

Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment

Aphogee Balancing Moisturizer

Pro:  Love this stuff because it works to repair the breakage, dry brittle ends, and shedding.

Con:  It’s a little runny and it smells funny.

Blue Magic Mango and Lime, Argan Oil Leave-In Conditioner

Pro:  It works great in the hair if your roller setting, or if your natural.  Also great in the kiddies hair as a deep conditioner/daily moisturizer.

Con:  If you mainly wear your hair straight, it may be a little heavier than your used to.

Elasta QP Crème’ Conditioning Shampoo

Elasta QP Scalp Stimulating Shampoo

Elasta QP Intense Conditioner

Elasta QP Leave-In H2

Elasta QP Breakage Control Serum

Pro:  The Crème’ shampoo is the bizness!!  It conditions without using conditioner!  Love it Love it Love it!!  I’ve only used the Scalp stimulating shampoo once, but it was effective.  The Intense Conditioner softens the tresses impeccably, and the H2 adds needed moisture.  I haven’t tried the Breakage Serum.  And everything is reasonably priced too!

Con:  None. Zip.  Null.

Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo

Joico Moisture Recovery Conditioner

Pro:  It bought liters of both, because they were on sale.  They retail at $29.95 per, and Ulta had them for $14.99 a piece.

Con:  I haven’t tried them yet.

One N Only Argan Oil Treatment

One N Only Moisture Repair Shampoo

One N Only Moisture Repair Conditioner

Pro:  If I could have purchased stock in the Argan Oil (Moroccan Oil) when it first was introduced, I would have.  This is a staple, and you only need about a quarter size when the hair is still wet, and about a dime every couple days to add shine and softness.  And the conditioner is definitely adds moisture and shine to the hair.

Con:  I wasn’t thrilled about the shampoo because it made my hair so dry and I couldn’t really comb it wet.  

My hair journey...

So for the last month or so I have been purchasing and trying all sorts of hair products; trying to find the one that is right for me.  First, let me give you my hair background.  I received my first relaxer at 10-11 by my sister, who i adore, but she burned the heazy out of my scalp.  Fast forward a few years and I was doing my own hair, and doing it badly.  Between the ages of 19-26 I experimented with every natural (and some unnatural) color known to black hair.  I even cut it all off and grew it out a couple times.  In December of 2009 I decided to go natural, transitioning with the relaxed/damaged/colored hair on my head with the new growth.  That didn't fair too well.  I should have "big chopped", but I was afraid and was left with a mess that didn't look or feel like what i was used to.  So in May of 2010 I relaxed again, then got a cut up to my ear, which grew out, but I missed my color so I colored again.  And cut again.  But this time it was into a nice bob right at the nape of my neck, and that was 3 months ago. My hair is growing, one side preferably over the other for some reason, and I've been blessed because it is getting back to some normalcy.  Even with my color...

Joico Product Review

So I was reading about the wonderfullness (yes that's a word) of Joico K-Pak Reconstruct.  It retails at around $30 for a liter of either the shampoo or conditioner, but Ulta has a sale going on now for 12.99 - 14.99, plus I had a coupon.  So I get it home, and although I just washed my hair two days prior, I was anxious to use it.  So I washed , rinsed, washed again, and put the conditioner in for probably 5 minutes.  My hair was a little dry and didn't have the slip that I normally has with a great shampoo.  I wrapped it wet and let it air dry overnight.  In the morning I unwrapped it and noticed dry flakes coming from my scalp as I combed, no biggie though, because my hair is still soft and manageable.   In the end I liked it, but because I've been battling a dry scalp all summer, and had just got it under control, I couldn't risk a setback.  It's cool though, they took it back and I got the Moisture Recovery instead.  I'll use it tomorrow night and give results.  I may even post a pic or two...  

P.S.  I'm not knocking the Reconstruct at all, it just wasn't for me.  It probably is great for those with oily tresses or those who need to get the healthy back in their hair.  

Greetings!!

As I sit here reading the Long Hair Care Forum (LHCF) like its the holy grail for hair info, I thought to myself that I usually talk about hair to anyone that will listen.  Mainly my sisters and bffs.  So why not blog about my experiences, get everything out, and maybe help someone with some info in the process.