Protein Overload?? + UpCrown Funk (UpTown Funk Parody)

Is it just me or has this month flown by? It has been a great month hanging out with friends and getting more work in the film industry in Portland. I haven't shared a lot about my hair routine as of late but,for the most part nothing has changed. Well, that was true until last Sunday's wash day.

Rocking a twist out before wash day

For the past few months my go-to protein treatment on wash day was ApHogee Intensive Two Minute Keratin Reconstructor. My hair has done really well with this light protein treatment. But, I have thought about switching it up and trying something new. So, when a fellow blogger posted about a protein treatment that she loved, I figured why not give it a try. The treatment didn't sound to intense and also didn't have any parabens or sulfates.

              

I co-washed with my normal SheaMoisture Co-Wash and applied this strengthening masque after. I made sure to really work it into my hair and left it on for 10 minutes (per the directions).  I followed up with my go-to deep conditioner (Tangles & Beyond Deep Moisture Conditioner) for 30 minutes.

I didn't know what to expect once I finished my wash day routine. But, I assumed since I did a deep conditioner my hair would be soft and manageable. Instead, my hair felt hard and was unmanageable. The only thing I could do to salvage it was to twist my hair. Imagine my surprise when even my twists didn't work. In the end I had to pin up my "twists" for an updo. So, my question is: What did I do wrong? Was it the masque or my choice of deep conditioner that caused the hard hair? Please give me any suggestions or advice on finding a new protein treatment.


Whitney aka Naptural 85 is one of my favorite hair bloggers because of her advice and tips for easy natural hair care. I also love her fun approach to sharing info with her subscribers. For some reason, I missed her UpCrown Fun parody but when I came across it yesterday on YouTube, I knew I had to share it with you. Enjoy!


        


~Adventures of a Nappy Chica

Completing the Pack: How We Became Pooch Parents to three rescued dogs

As some of you may know, the hubby and I are dog parents to three Pit Bulls. But you might not know the story behind all three of the rescues. 

In 2009, my husband and I were in a rut. We were both in school and were looking for a way to become more active. My future mother-in-law suggested that we get a dog.  After talking about it, we decided it was a great idea.

While we were looking for a dog to adopt, it just so happened that my husband’s boss found a dog on her property in Northern Kentucky. She knew that we were thinking of getting a dog and she couldn’t keep him, so she suggested that we give it a try.

But there was only one catch: he was a Pit Bull.

I have to admit that when we heard that, we were a little nervous. At the time, I didn’t have a lot of experience with dogs, let alone Pit Bulls, as my family only briefly had two dogs when I was a child. My husband, on the other hand, grew up having dogs and other animals in his family, but he wasn’t familiar with Pit Bulls. Ultimately, the thought of the dog not finding a home troubled us, and we agreed to give it a try. Once we met Chancho, I knew right away that we would keep him, because he was fun-loving, playful and affectionate.

Now, I would be lying if I said that first year with Chancho was smooth sailing.

We definitely had our ups and downs. There were many, many times we felt a tad overwhelmed and unprepared to be dog parents.

Our man Chancho, chillin' out

To read more about our journey with Chancho and our other two dogs, go to Strong Is Our Sexy.

Old Faithful: Three Strand Twists | The #WashDayExperience

Summer is here and as always I'm looking for easy no fuss hairstyles. Before yesterday's wash day I rocked a half down, half faux updo. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures but I will share pics next time. Although I love wearing my hair out my hair gets extremely tangled. Which is why I'm only wearing my hair out once or twice a week.  Anyway here is a recap of yesterday's #washdayexperience:

                                           

Pre-Shampoo: Hair Trigger for 45 minutes . I like to do a little finger detangling during this step. Plus, this leaves my hair so nice and soft after.

*My hair has been shedding a lot recently. Has anyone else experienced this lately? Is it because it's summer? I swear I'm finding little hairs everywhere. Lol.

Co-Wash: Shea Moisture's Cleansing Cowash Conditioner

Protein Treatment: ApHogee Intensive Two Minute Keratin Reconstructor for 2 minutes.

Deep Condition: SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque + Tangles & Beyond Deep Moisture Conditioner for 35 minutes under a plastic cap. I had a little bit of the Deep Treatment Masque left and decided to mix it in with the Deep Moisture Conditioner. Once I started using it again, I realized how much I love this conditioner! I started to use the Denman brush to detangle but opted for my wide tooth comb instead. With all of my recent shedding I thought it would be more effective.

ACV Rinse: I sprayed the rinse in my hair and massaged it into my scalp for a couple of minutes.

Tea Rinse: For this week's tea rinse I used three bags of Earl Gray (my gray/silver strands on the side have been laughing at me recently) and two bags of green tea. I usually pour the mix over my head and repeat until it's gone. But this ends up being so messy and I'm not sure if I get all the black tea in my hair. I'm going to go back to putting the tea rinse in a spray bottle and applying it that way. #nomess #nofuss . I apply a cotton t-shirt on my head for about 15 minutes to catch any excess liquid.

Leave-ins: SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil and SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

 

I think this might be my best three strand twist. Before I started twisting, I put my hair in five sections (front, middle, back and one for each side). Instead of waiting until the end I did the front section first. Then I did the sides, the back and finished with the middle section. And guess what, this made the whole twisting process so much better! I know, some of you probably already do this, but hey, this was a breakthrough for me. Lol.

                    How was your wash day? Join the link-up and share your #WashdayExperience

10 Cool and Creative Summer Date Night Ideas

Summer is here and I'm back from my unplanned hiatus from the blog. May was crazy with all the moving (in Monterey) and then to Portland. I just needed some time to take it all in. But now I'm back :). Now that summer is here it's time to spice up your date nights. With the beautiful weather there are tons of fun and creative things you can do with your honey. Not sure where to start? Here are a few fun date night ideas to try with your sweetie.

1. Go to a brewery

Nothing says summer like sipping an ice cold beverage and relaxing on a patio. Head to your local brewery to learn about the great brews in your area and don’t forget to sample something from their menu! 

Don’t know where to start? Most breweries have “flights” or samples of their beers served in small tasting glasses. This lets you sample the types of beers they brew before you commit to one.

If you’re not a beer drinker, head to the nearest winery to enjoy a nice glass of wine while touring the grounds. 

2. Plan a game night outdoors

Take game night to a whole new level by bringing it outdoors.  Find your favorite childhood games like Twister, Monopoly, Uno or new games like Cards Against Humanity and Heads Up and have a fun night of competition. Make it a double date or a couple’s night by inviting your friends and family.

You can even find outdoor-friendly games like Giant Jenga nowadays!

3. Have a Picnic

Take your lunch or dinner and head to your local park, backyard, the beach or your favorite outdoor location. Be sure to pack your sunscreen and a blanket to get cozy while you eat. If the weather isn’t cooperating, enjoy your picnic indoors.

4.  Host a Barbecue or Bonfire

Grilling is one of my favorite parts of summer. It is a fun and a relative easy way to enjoy great food. So grab your favorite food and drinks and fire up the grill! Not a grill master? Opt for a nice relaxing bonfire with s’mores and your honey.

To see the rest of my summer date night ideas, visit Strong Is Our Sexy.