Winter Empties 2016

This post is way past due but I wanted to show you the products I finished during the winter. I'm still working on downsizing my stash and only keeping the essentials/staple products. 

1. Mielle Organics Adult Healthy Hair Formula (x2)- You guys know I'm a huge fan of Mielle Organics. I've been taking the vitamins since September and my hair has really thrived. I like to take my vitamins first thing in the morning with breakfast. I plan on writing another update sometime soon.

2. Mielle Organics Detangling Co-Wash- This has been my go-to co-wash for several months now. It leaves my hair clean and makes my curls pop! I'm hoping Mielle will make a bigger bottle of this co-wash down the line. #agirlcandream


3.  Mielle Organices Babassu Oil and Mint Deep Conditioner - There are so many reasons why I love this conditioner. It leaves my scalp clean and my hair smooth, moisturized and healthy.


4. Juara Candlenut Body Creme- Because of my sensitive skin, I usually stick to using natural oils or fragrance-free lotions to moisturize my skin. But, when I got this cream in my FabFit box in the fall, I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did. I feel like a million bucks after using this cream and I haven't had a reaction to it. When I used up my free jar, I searched the internet and bought my own jar. I need to do some more research and find out where I can score this stuff locally.

What are your winter empties? Are there products you loved? Any products you wouldn't purchase again?

 

Wash Day| Curls, Curls, Curls!

Hey everyone!

I know, it's been a little over two weeks since my last post. But, life has been a little crazy. We wrapped on Grimm season 5 last Thursday and I have been basking in my new found freedom. Anyway, over the weekend I went to my natural hairstylist Cher'e for a killer style for the Grimm Season 5 Wrap Party. Here are the details from this Saturday's wash day.

Relaxing underneath the hooded dryer

One of the main reason why I love going to the salon every 6 weeks or so is to give myself a break. Don't get me wrong. I love taking care of my hair but sometimes it feels good to let someone else do it. So when I first learned about the wrap party, I knew that I would be visiting Cher'e for an epic style for the night 

As much as I love the results of the perm rod set, I'm not sure how often I rock the hairstyle. When I first arrived at the salon I was treated to a shampoo and a deep conditioner treatment. In order to make the process go a little faster, Cher'e used the tension method to partially blow dry my hair. She knows that I'm #teamnoheat so she only used the blow dryer for a limited time with a very low setting. The goal of using the blow dryer wasn't to get my hair straight but to have a little stretch to my hair. If you have air texture like mine, than you know that once water hits our strands, it shrinks to about 75% of it's actual length.

 Unfortunately, the thickness of my hair resulted in several hours of applying the perm rods into my hair. Cher'e is a champ and braved the many hours it took to set my hair, My one attempt at the roller set resulted in a less than desired result and I have sworn off doing it again, After Cher're finished setting my hair I sat under the dryer for about 35-40 minutes.

I have to admit I was a little nervous. The only time I wore the perm rod set was when I tried to achieve the look on my house. Let's just say the hairstyle left more to be desired. It was during that funny/horrifying ordeal that I decided that I would never attempt perm rods by myself. 

Day 2 hair

The plan is to keep these curls for at least a week, maybe more if I can swing it. So far to preserve my curls I wear a bonnet every night and apply EVCO in the mornings.

How was your #washdayexperience? Did you try anything new?

Wash Day | Detangling without a Comb

Happy Resurrection Day/ Easter!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend with friends and family. This week marks our last full week of filming and next week will be a shorter week. I can't believe we made it to episode 22! It's been a long season. Anyway, I wanted to wear twists but didn't have the energy to do smaller ones today. 

Here's a recap of today's wash day:

Pre-pooed with my Aloe Vera Juice and Vegetable Glycerin and The Antidote by Tangles and Beyond. I added heat by using my Hot Heads Cap for about 30 minutes. 

Co-Washed with  Detangling Co-Wash by Mielle Organics.  I always wash my hair in four sections and only use the the pad of my fingers to work it into my scalp. I also focus on the ends of my hair as much as possible. - I used up the last bit of my co-wash and need to order some more asap

 Protein Treatment with GPB Balancing Protein Conditioner by Aubrey Organics  for two minutes.

Deep Conditioned with Babassu Oil and Mint Deep Conditioner  under my Hot Head cap for about 35 minutes. Instead of using my Eternally in Amber comb, I used my fingers instead. I carefully worked my fingers through my hair. This deep conditioner has a lot of slip, so it made finger detangling a breeze.

T-shirt dried my hair for about 10 minutes. Then I let my hair hair dry for another 10 minutes or so.

Freshly washed hair without any product

Another pic of my hair without product

Back of my hair

I ended up doing bigger twists in my hair. I'll probably wear this style the rest of the week and the beginning of next week. 

This week's #WashDayExperience theme is Favorite Lazy Hair Day Hairstyle. When I am being lazy and don't want to do anything to my hair, I rock a high puff. It's quick and easy to do. Now that my hair is longer, I really have some volume to my puff. My hair gets tangled very easily so I normally don't wear the puff for more than a day or two.

Flashback to a high puff I wore to work a couple of months ago.

                 How was your #WashDayExperience? Don't forget to join the link-up!

           
               

Deep Conditioning Tips for Wash Day

Happy first day of spring! I'm excited for spring because that means we're one step closer to better weather here in Portland. Last week I styled my hair in chunky twists but my Thursday, I wanted to let my hair out. I thought about my washing my hair today but, honestly after the long work week I didn't have the strength to do much to my hair. So, instead I retwisted my hair in mini twists today. I'll keep them in for the work week and I'll probably wash my hair Friday or Saturday.

Showing off my mini twists

       

Striking a pose again

Now on to the reason of my post: Deep Conditioning Tips for Wash Day:

1. Apply deep conditioner in sections - I got this particular tip from Jen of Just Grow Already. Like Jen, I apply my deep conditioner to my ends first and then work it through the rest of my hair.  Working in sections makes the process easier and allows me to focus on each individual section.





2. Add heat to the mix- When I started my healthy hair journey (at the time I was still relaxing my hair), I realized that using heat when deep conditioning helped it penetrate my hair. It also left my hair feel soft and moisturized. Now as a naturalista, I have implemented the same idea to my wash day routine. My go-to heat source is my Hot Heads Conditioning Cap. I normally wear the cap anywhere from 30-45 minutes.

Throwback  of me in my Hot Heads Cap

3. Boost your deep conditioner with oil(s)- Adding oils is another great way to boost the benefits of your conditioner and also provides you with more slip. I've only done this a few times with Jojoba Oil and it definitely stepped up my conditioner game.

What are some of your favorite deep conditioning tips/hacks? Don't forget to share your #washdayexperience!

Wash Day | Detangling Tips

I originally planned on wearing my recent low manipulation style for two weeks, but after one week I decided to take it out. I wore a curly afro on Saturday and then a big puff this morning before I started my wash day process. I have to admit I really didn't want to wash my hair today. The past week was really busy and I didn't have the energy to do my hair. But, with my work schedule Sunday was the only day I could get it done, in between my best friend's visit from NYC.

Pre-pooed with my Aloe Vera Juice and Vegetable Glycerin and The Antidote by Tangles and Beyond. I saturate my hair with the Aloe Vera Juice and Glycerin before applying The Antidote to my strands.  I added heat by using my Hot Heads Cap for about 30 minutes. 

Co-Washed with  Detangling Co-Wash by Mielle Organics

 Protein Treatment with GPB Balancing Protein Conditioner by Aubrey Organics 

Deep Conditioned with Babassu Oil and Mint Deep Conditioner  under my Hot Head cap for about an hour--not on purpose.

After a weekend full of Portland sightseeing and eating with my bestie and husband, I was not thrilled about doing mini twists in my hair. Instead, I opted for big chunky twists for the week.

My big chunky twists.

Detangling Tips

Here are a few of my detangling tips that I've learned throughout my natural hair journey

My detangling go-to products and tools

1) It all starts with the pre-poo session- For me the pre-poo part of the wash day is my first step in handling tangles and knots. I like to finger detangle and search for any shed hairs or tangles in my hair. Recently, I've found that wetting my hair with water, Aloe Vera Juice and water (in my hand dandy blue spritz bottle) before applying The Antidote works wonders for my hair. In addition to removing shed hairs, my pre-poo concoction leaves my hair soft and moisturized.

2) Find a deep conditioner with good slip- Another great tip to make detangling a smooth process on wash day, is find a good deep conditioner. Hopefully, deep conditioning is already a big part of your natural hair care regimen. On wash day, I apply my deep conditioner and sit under my Hot Heads cap for at least 30 minutes. The added heat and slip from my conditioner makes my "official" detangling better.

3) Make sure you have the proper detangling tool- Yes, I'm one of those naturalistas that only uses combs on wash day. I like detangling with my Eternally in Amber comb with my deep conditioner still in my hair. I love the combs from Eternally in Amber because they don't snag, rip or tear out my hair. Whichever detangling tool you use (Denman brush, comb, etc.) make sure you choose something that won't damage your tresses.

4) Choose a good Leave-in Conditioner - I think a good leave-in conditioner is just as important as your deep conditioner. I have really thick, coarse curls that love to get tangled when wet. So, you guessed it even after I detangle my hair can still sometimes get tangles during the final rinse stage. Instead of detangling with a comb AGAIN, I use my leave-in conditioner from Tangles and Beyond. This sweet smelling leave-in, melts my tangles almost instantly without a comb and has become a lifesaver. 

What are some of your favorite detangling tips or tricks? Join the #WashDay experience and take part in the March Themes. 

               
     

Wash Day | Dry Scalp Remedies + A New Low Manipulation Hairstyle

Happy Sunday everyone!

I hope you're enjoying March so far. I'm holding out hope that we'll have an early spring/summer here in Portland, but I'm sure that won't happen. Anyway, let's get into this week's #WashDayExperience theme: Dry Scalp Remedies.


The first several months after I big chopped, I dealt with having a dry and itchy scalp. It took some time but I found some remedies that work for me. Here are a few of my tips for alleviating a dry scalp.

My first line of defense against a dry scalp

1) Aloe Vera Spritz - I picked this particular tip up from HealthyHairJourney72 and tailored it for my own needs. What I really like about this spray is that it is filled with natural oils. I find that natural oils work better on my scalp and provide the best moisture for my strands. To see what I include in my Aloe Vera mixture, click here (* since that post I have also included the White Peony Ultra Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner ).

2) Mint Almond Oil- I absolutely love this oil! I pour a little in my hands and apply it to my scalp. What I love about this oil is that it's lightweight and gives my scalp the moisture it needs. It's also a great sealant oil for the LOC method.

3) Bee Sensitive Oil Free Hair Serum- This is another one of my favorite dry scalp remedies. This hair serum is designed for those with "dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and other sensitive skin conditions". The serum helps "calm the scalp and promotes a healthy environment for optimal growth". It can be used daily or every other day. Read my review of the serum here.

4) Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar (with the Mother)- I have to thank The Mane Objective for this dry scalp remedy. Before using this I had problems with dandruff. Once I incorporated an ACV rinse to my wash day routine (I dilute it with water), my dandruff  has been under control. I like to use this as the final rinse on wash day and I really massage it in my scalp to remove product buildup. I love the way my scalp feels after my ACV rinse.

Yesterday, I stopped by Studio Six Nine Hair Design for another low manipulation hairstyle. As much as I love doing my own hair, I love treating myself to a little pampering. I wanted to try a chunky twist hairstyle for my next low manipulation hairstyle. I've tried doing chunky twists on my own but I haven't been happy with the results.

Chunky twist inspiration

 Usually Cher'e comes up with a style once I get to the salon, which is fine by me. Lol. This is the first time I actually had a hairstyle in mind. And like always Cher'e delivered a cute hairstyle. I plan on wearing the twists the rest of the week and then wear a twist out.

How was your wash day? Don't forget to share your #WashDayExperience!

Product Review: Detangling Co-Wash by Mielle Organics

Price: $13.99 for an 8 fl. oz bottle 

Where I bought it: www.mielleorganics.com
*Mielle Organics is now available at Sally's (selected cities). Be sure to call your local Sally's to see if it's in stock at the location. If your Sally's doesn't carry it, make sure you let them know you want Mielle Organics sold at the store.

Why I bought it:  My original go-to co-wash conditioner was Shea Moisture's Coconut & Hibiscus Co-Wash but I found myself wanting to try something new. My hair was still thriving with Shea Moisture but I felt like it was time to explore other options. Plus, I wanted to try the hair products after falling in love with their vitamins.

Product Description: Our Detangling Conditioning Cleanser is for thin, thick, curly, hair removes impurities without stripping hair of natural oils. Lightweight moisturizers soften and control frizz . Made with detangling properties making it easier to detangle while co-washing. Made with natural and certified organic ingredients. Smells wonderful. Designed to strengthen, lengthen and moisturize hair. Can be used daily and notice how you will have less breakage and shedding. Made with pure natural oils and natural preservatives. Gently helps with tangles and knots. "- description from website

Directions: Apply to the scalp and ends of the hair and gently massage all throughout the hair to cleanse the hair of natural products. Use in between shampoos.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Cocos Nucifera (coconut oil), Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, ButyrospermumParkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Cetyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica (Abyssinia) Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Kernal oil, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum (derived from the guar bean- thickening agent), Hyrdolyzed Silk (Silk Amino Acids), Potassium Sorbate, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Phthalate-Free Fragrance, Tocopheral, Citric acid

How I use it: I use this c0-wash once a week on wash day. I apply it to my scalp and add a little extra to the ends of my hair.

What I love about it: This Detangling Co-Wash has a soft, lightweight consistency. The fragrance is light and smells like berries to me. It is not overpowering or strong at all, for those of you sensitive to fragrances.  

Unlike other co-washes I've used before, this co-wash doesn't cling to my scalp. It's so gentle on my scalp, that sometimes I find myself questioning if I've used enough. After I wash out the co-wash, my scalp feels clean but not stripped. My hair is also soft and 

my tangles or knots melt away.

 But, one of my favorite things about this cleansing co-wash is that it brings out my curls. I can honestly say that I've never experienced that with another co-wash. 

What I don't like:  I wish this came in a bigger size. I'm able to get about a month/ month and a half from a bottle. It's not an expensive co-wash but it adds up (when you include shipping costs). Hopefully Mielle Organics will introduce a big pump bottle for this co-wash.  

Final thoughts: I started using this co-wash in October and my hair loves it! If you're looking for a co-wash cleaning conditioner that is lightweight, you should check out Mielle Organics. This is definitely one of my staple products and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  Any reviews or opinions expressed about items in this post are my own personal views. I purchased all items with my own funds and have not received any compensation for writing my opinion. I have no connection to the products or brands mentioned in this post.