It's My Hair: Dye Job

I love color. Always have. Dying my hair has been my thing since I was 14. But, I haven't dyed my hair in four years. FOUR! So, to say I was apprehensive is an understatement. I got some great advice from my dope friend Reese. I purchased L'Oreal Technique Excellence HiColor (Browns For Dark Hair Only) in Light Auburn. I got three boxes because I have thick, coarse hair. I also picked up one bottle of L'Oreal 30 Oreo Developer. I parted my hair into four sections. I mixed them in a plastic applicator bottle. I then applied it to my hair starting at the back left fourth. It took a while to apply all of the dye to my entire head. I did not let it sit for long. I rinsed it out with warm water. Then I shampooed and conditioned my hair. Below are my results which I am now ecstatic about. I wasn't that happy about it the day after. But, this weekend, a braidout made me realize how deep my new shade was. In the pics, my hair looks purple but it really isn't. I know that next time, I will leave the dye on longer to get a lighter shade. I am happy with my results. Happy Kenda is happy. Get into my color, honey!

Before:

After:

It's My Hair: Fabulous Results

Since I am having the best week with my natural hair, I decided to write about it. The change in weather has been a plus for this naturalista. I've changed my conditioner for my cowash. I'm still using Suave but not its the almond + shea butter conditioner. I am in love with the smell of it. It works wonders on my hair. I am still enamored with the Obia Shampoo Bar. This week, I've been using the Obia Curl Hydration Spray daily. I love the effect it has on my hair. It gives it a shine and my curls seem to pop more. I love that. So, I two strand twisted my damp hair with Curls Unleashed Curl Cream. I let it air dry for a full day. Then that night, I bantu knotted the two strand twists. I sprayed the Obia Curl Hydration Spray on my hair before I went to sleep. The above picture shows how dope my hair came out the next morning. I couldn't be happier with the outcome. I was having a great hair day.  

The pic below is the outcome of bantu knot out with just using the LOC method. I used the Obia Curl Enhancing Custard as the C (cream) for my LOC.  There was a lot of shrinkage here. Also, my hair wasn't as moisturized as I would've liked. I corrected this the next day by adding the Obia Curl Hydration Spray. It worked like a charm. I am really loving my natural hair this winter. With the weather being cooler, my hair styles seem to last longer. Also, I don't have an issue with frizz either. So, for that, I am thankful. I love that I am still learning more about my hair in its natural state over 2 years later. This started out as a simple quest. One that I believed would most likely end up with me going back to relaxers. I do not see that happening. I'm enjoying my hair in a way that I never did before. I take so much more time with my hair now. It's been a journey that I needed to take for myself. Happy Holidays, Naturalistas!!! 

It's My Hair: Pin-up Into Bantu Knot Out

Let's talk about natural hair. Lately I've been having a lot of fun with my hair. Trying new products and new styles. I have incorporated my Natty CoCo products into my weekly co-wash sessions. The above picture began as a wash and go, which I've grown to love but probably won't be doing again until next year. The weather has changed and leaving home with wet hair is a no no. I cowashed y hair with my trusty Suave Humectant Conditioner. I followed that with the Natty CoCo's whipped Shea Butter and Curls Unleashed Curling Jelly. And, I finished by spraying my hair with water and the Natty CoCo leave-in mist. I was in the bathroom looking for something when I found a back of bobby pins. I decided to see what kind of pin up I could come up with. I used about 20 bobby pins to secure this look. I LOVED it. It was sassy and sexy and new. I wore it like this for a few days. I received a lot of compliments for it. It was a win for me. 

Then, I went from a pin-up to a bantu knot out. This time, I only used the above pictured Natty CoCo products. This was the best bantu knot out that I've done in 2+ years. I was uber excited about my results. I had to document it hence the below pictures. I loved it. It was curly and soft and just awesome. Also, I was sick all week and this bantu knot out was the first thing to make me smile in days. It was also the first day I felt better in about 5 days. This hairstyle was also a win for me. Every where I went I got complimented on it. I love when other natural haired Black women compliment my hair. It's like we're our own sorority. I am currently typing this with my hair in bantu knots because it is the go to style for this week. Can you tell how much I love it? It's been a great few natural hair weeks for me. I couldn't be happier!!

It's My Hair: I Won Curls Unleashed!

I have long said that the power of Twitter is an amazing thing. It can connect you to people you never would've known. It can introduce you to new products, websites, writers, artists and thoughts. I have found some amazing people/things because of it. I've purchased items from small businesses that I would not have found if not for Twitter. I've won a few contests because of it as well. That was the case a few weeks ago as well. On April 10th, I won the above Curls Unleashed products through a giveaway by Ebony magazine (@EBONYmag). The question was simple for a natural chick like me. I was the first person to tweet with the correct answer. I LOVE free things. And, free products for my natural hair journey makes it all even better. I couldn't wait to get the product and try them out.  

Curls Unleashed is a company that offers 7 products for natural hair. They are: Lavish in Lather Sulfate-Free Shampoo, No Restrictions Moisturizing Conditioner, No Boundaries Leave-In Conditioner, Let It Flow Shine & Define Mousse, Set It Off Curl Boosting Jelly, Second Chance Curl Refresher, and Take Command Curl Defining Creme. I won 6 of the 7 (plus a great cup). Also, I will be buying the leave in conditioner to try it out. Let's review them. 

• Lavish in Lather Sulfate-free Shampoo - I haven't used shampoo in months. So, I was curious to try this. I love the way it smells and the feel of it. It has more than enough slip so I felt like all of my hair was covered. I did notice that my hair felt a little dry. My hair and scalp felt so clean afer I was done. 
• No Restrictions Moisturizing Conditioner - This smells amazing. I kept it on under a plastic cap & the dryer for 25 minutes while I was on the phone. So, it was kind of a deep conditioner. It felt great after I washed it out. I felt like this product definetely moisturized my hair.
• Let It Flow Shine & Define Mousse - This was one of my faves. I loved the way my hair felt after applying it. The look was great too. 
• Set It Off Curl Boosting Jelly - The smell is not a great one. The product works though. I love the look it gave my hair. I didn't have to use a lot to achieve the look. I just am not a fan of the scent. 
• Second Chance Curl Refresher - Very dope product. Used it on 3rd day braid out and it revived my curls. 
• Take Command Curl Defining Creme - I do not like the smell of it. But, I loved the way it made my curls look. This was also a fave. I know I will be using this on a daily. 

All in all, I've had a great first experience with this line. My hair felt soft and  manageable for days after the inital use. I am proud to say that Curls Unleashed is a win for this naturalista. I love getting free things. This was right up my alley. I am really happy with the way this line worked with my hair. I will be blogging about it soon when I try a new hairstyle. Natural girls, if you haven't tried Curls Unleashed, please do. Get into it. 

It's My Hair: Products Review

The natural hair movement is a huge deal. There are literally thousands of products being offered to us naturalistas. It is so easy to get confused & frustrated to figure out what works & what's crap. I want to discuss 3 products I've recently tried & how they worked for my hair. First is Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I learned pretty quickly that less is more here. It worked wonders for me. It's thick & provides great coverage. It smells good enough to eat. It gave my hair a more defined look to my curls, which is a great thing. I couldn't be happier with this product. I'm going to try other products by Shea Moisture.

Before I began my natural hair journey, I spent a ridiculous amount of time researching. I read all the popular hair blogs and watched all the youtube videos. I was well informed. One product that was mentioned a lot was Eco Styler's Olive Oil Gel. It seemed to be a stable. It was a product I've avoided. I am not a fan of gel. It has never been a product I've liked. So when I received an email from Sally's that the ESOOG was on sale, I decided to give it a try. The 32 oz is on sale all month for $3.49. That was a price I couldn't pass up. I do not know why I avoided it for so long. I am a fan. It works so well. It does not get hard or flaky which I was afraid of. I love the fragrance of it as well. It's a great product for me to use when I wear my hair in a bun which is usually once or twice a week.

 

Staying within my olive oil category, I picked up the Olive Oil Moisturizing Sheen Spray. It was on sale as well. It's new to me because I have not used it before. I haven't really used oil sheen in about a year. I dyed my hair recently and needed some shine. This was a good choice. It smells wonderful and gives me the shine that I was looking for. It is also really light. It does not make my hair feel heavy or weighed down. That is always a great thing. These are the three new things I've started to use on my natural hair. My hair is stronger and thicker now. I love that. I'm still learning what works for me and my hair. That is the journey itself. I just want to share my finds with any other natural hair ladies. 

It's My Hair: Simplifying My Routine

 I've read too many blog posts and magazine articles about natural hair. Some women use a ridiculous amount of products in their hair. And, that may be fine for them. I have learned that less is more for my hair. I don't need a lot of products coexisting in my hair. It makes it to heavy and unmanageable. I like simple and easy. My hair regimen has gotten considerably smaller. There has been a lot of trial and error. I have used things that didn't work. And, found products that I love and still use. I did not become a product junkie like most naturalistas I know. That makes me happy. And, it keeps my money in my pocket. That is always a great thing. The above picture is me last weekend. I am 17 months post relaxer. This is one of my go to styles. IT's my version of a braid out/twist out. It lasts for about 5 days. I love it. 

I have gotten my routine down to the bare minimums. I co-wash with Suave Humectant Conditioner for Dry Hair. I love the thickness of the conditioner as well as the coverage it gives me. The smell is awesome. And, the price is easy on the pockets. I just purchased 2 28oz bottles for $5.00 @ Target. That's a hell of a deal in my book. I follow that with Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-in Conditioner. For the size, it can be a bit pricey but it's worth it. I use Cantu's Shea Butter Leave in Conditioning Repair Cream. I have blogged about my love of this product before. It's still a staple for me. Kera Care's Essential Oils is another daily product for me. The oils give me shine and moisture. 

I also have started to use a mixture of butters and oils as a daily moisturizer. I made it myself which makes me love it even more. I combined a bunch of butters (shea, coca, kokum, almond, mango, avocado) with a few essential oils (coconut, sweet almond, and grapeseed) into a mix. I love the way it smells and feels on my hair. It is helping my hair grow. The only other products I use are my spray bottle filled with water and glycerin. My hair thanks me. It is healthy and strong and natural. I still hate how long it takes me to air dry my hair. But, I have no other complaints. My natural hair journey is becoming easier. I'm still excited about it. 

It's My Hair: Shrinkage Sucks

It's that time again. I have to discuss my hair issues. The one thing that I cannot fight is shrinkage. Shrinkage is the pits. I love this look. I love the way my hair feels. But, this shrinkage is awful. I have not fully grasped the concept of stretching my hair yet. I've worn this hairstyle a lot in the last year. But, this is the first time that I have truly experienced shrinkage. If the hairstyle wasn't cute, I would really be over shrinkage. I have said time and time again that this journey is about relearning how to manage my hair. I haven't been to a beauty salon in well over a year. The only people who have handled my hair are my sister and I. I've done this almost all by myself with only the help of Youtube natural hair vloggers and natural hair blogs. This has been a journey of faith and love. Even on a bad day, I am still loving my hair in its natural state.

The only thing I am upset about is that I didn't do this sooner. But, I also don't think I was mentally ready to do it before a year & a half ago. So, the weather is rather chilly and my hair reflects that. I washed it and braided it wet. This is something new as well. I usually get it braided damp or dry. I see a huge difference in the outcome. I like this look better as far as the texture. I do not like the shrinkage. My hair looks so short and it isn't. But, it is what it is. I'm just happy that it looks good. No bad hair days this way for a while. Have any of you dealt with shrinkage or stretching your natural hair? If so, what worked for you? Tell me something good. This is where I am right now with my hair. And, I'm happy with my progress. I think I will be cutting the last of my relaxed ends off next month.

It's My Hair: 15 Month Check-In

My natural hair journey is in its 15th month. Wow!! I'm so very excited to still be here...sticking to it. I started here, wondering, contemplating even taking the jump. It took me almost a full year to commit to it. And, here I stand, 15 months later. I can say that my hair care regimen has been very low-key the last 6 weeks or so. I have still been pre-pooing my hair, deep conditioning it and wearing it in a bun. And, also putting oil on my scalp and lightly rubbing it through my hair. Easy breezy. Simple hair care. I am not into a whole lot of fuss when it comes to my hair, natural or permed. I crave easy. My hair is thick so easy works best for me. I rather not think a whole lot about what is going on with my hair.

A few days ago, my younger sister did my hair for me. She used some new products in my hair that i am now in love with. It is Joico shampoo and conditioner. Great product for natural hair. It smells incredible. It also left my hair so soft and shiny. I also sat under the dryer in rollers to give my hair some body. She finished by flat-ironing my hair. I have been wrapping it every night with my silk scarf. I feel brand new. If you didn't know my hair was natural, you would think I just got a fresh relaxer. It looks amazing. My hair is almost at the same length it was when I began my journey. I am on a length journey as well as healthy hair journey. It seems to be going in the right direction. I'll be back soon with more natural hair tales.

Get Into It: As I Am

I refuse to be a product junkie. I refuse. I will not buy things just because they promise to help work wonders with my transitioning hair. I heard that this new company "As I Am" had some great products to offer. I went on the website and I ordered the samples. I only paid about $3 for it. There are 10 products total offered. The prices range from $8 - $28. Great products at a great price are always a great thing. The products are available online.

Once my samples arrived, I was excited to try them out. So this past Sunday, I dove right in. I used 4 of the 10 products. The only thing I used that wasn't in the box was my Kinky Curly Knot Today. This is a must for me to help detangle my hair. My results after this cowash were very, very good. I loved the way my hair felt, looked and smelled afterwards. That signifies to me that these products are here to stay.

- Coconut CoWash - is amazing. It smells wonderful. It got my hair totally clean. I loved the way my hair felt during and after.
- Leave In Conditioner - is lightweight and fragrant. My hair felt nourished after apply this.
- Moisture Milk - is a great daily moisturizer. Since I've been transitioning, moisture has been an issue. This solved that problem. The smell is awesome.
- Twist Defining Cream - was used before I put flexirods in my hair. The outcome was great.
- Smoothing Gel- is by far one of my favorites. I used it to smooth down my edges. It worked like a charm.
- CoCo Shea Spray - was a little weird to use. I'm sure it will be better in the bottle it comes in. Again, the smell was awesome and it left my hair shiny and soft. I kept touching it.
- Double Butter Cream - is awesome. I loved the feel of it on my hands before I even put it in my head. After applying, I was more than impressed with it.
- Curling Jelly - I used along with the Twist Defining Cream for my first attempt of a twist out.


In my sample box, were 3 other produts that I haven't used yet. They are the Hydration Elation moisturizer, Curl Clarity Shampoo, and the Cleansing Pudding. I cannot wait to wash my hair and get into these products as well. I have a feeling that As I Am will become a go to product for me during the rest of this journey. As a transitioning naturalista, finding new products is always a task. I have learned that every thing isn't for every type of hair. I have been lucky that I have had a pretty good run with products. Adding these As I Am products to my stable is a must. They work and they are affordable. I love the smell of each product. Products that make this transition easier are the little things that make me smile. Being able to deal with my own hair in a better, more efficient way. If you are transitioning, I suggest you give them a try. Get into "As I Am" natural products.