Wen returned!

So I used the Wen for two weeks, wasn't impressed at all, so it was returned. I really liked the Fig smell. I really wanted it to work for my hair, the results on TV are impressive, it was kind of disappointing, even though I know all products don't work for all hair types. I did layer in some castor oil after the first usage, because my hair felt a bit crunchy once dry. As long as my hair was still damp, I actually liked it; but my hair just doesnt respond well to a full week of wash & go, a couple of days are the max before I start to get knots. I also felt a deeper conditioning is needed, more then just the Wen.

Trying something different....

Trying something completely new for my hair tonight... To give some background on where it came from:
This natural at my job, her hair was just fierce Thursday!!!Big sexy to the utmost!!! I asked her what she did to get it like that, & she said hairspray. 'Hairspray? details girl!!!she gave me details and since i was planning on going out Saturday clubbing, I decide that would be the perfect setting for me to get me some big sexy hair!

•  shampooed with Hair rules
• conditioned with Hair rules
• sectioned hair into 6 sections
• detangled & twisted, here are some progress shots


 
• left alone overnight
• in morning undo one twist at a time
• get Aussie hair spray out & blow dryer
• finger out each twist & hit with hairspray
• blowdry while stretching hair
• continue with each twist
• mine wasn't as big as my coworker, I think the hair needs to still be damp some to get the biggest effect and mine was completely dry in some sections
• here's the outcome:

Living Proof - It might be the truth!

I have been watching Living Proof demonstrations on QVC since it launched, but decided it wasn't for my hair, especially at that price. I have enough products as it is! BUT THEN....it was at the beauty supply store for less than half price! Yes, less than half price! Meaning I could try it for a whopping six dollars...and if I liked it go back & buy all the bottles left!
So I purchased the No Frizz Styling Treatment for thick to coarse hair, which is normally $26!

http://www.livingproof.com/buy/no-frizz-wave-curl-treatment
I shampooed my hair & deep conditioned as normal.  I didn't use anything but the styling treatment on my hair, no leave-in, no oils.  After sectioning in quarters, I applied a generous amount to each section.  I wasn't crazy about the smell, but it didn't linger on my hair after blowdrying.  The comb out had some glide, I had no tangles ( but I don't tend to have tangles anyways).  I proceeded to blowdry the sections & was impressed.  My hair just seemed almost silky, it just released the kinks & curls with little effort.  This was probably the fastest  & easiest blowdry I have done since being all natural.  Afterwards, I twisted my hair with a dab of the treatment. 

This is my twistout the next day:

I really liked the outcome and given our high humidity my hair didn't frizz out like it had been.  This product is a keeper for me....I can't wait to try it with a straighten!
P.S. I did go back & buy another bottle!

Fantasia Olive Styling Gel with Sparkle Lites Twistout

Ladies, do you ever look at your hair stash & think I have too much stuff!!  I have been thinking that when I look into my hair product bin for months.  I haven't purchased any new hair products in months because I always think about my bin full of hair products!  So I decided to start trying out my stuff(..so I can buy new stuff LOL)! 
Decisions, decisions, what shall I try?  The Fantasia Olive Styling Gel with Sparkle Lites!  I bought this because it was alcohol free & enriched with Olive, Aloe & Silk Proteins.

So I had washed my hair last night, put a baggie on & went to bed.  This morning, I dampened my hair ends which were dry & put some Suave Humectant Conditioner & Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Conditioner on it; sat outside in the wonderful morning sun for a natural heat cap. 

• BWC for my leave-in
• Castor oil for sealing
• Fantasia gel for twisting styling

So I did about 16 twists & let it air dry overnight.  Here is a shot during the undo process, I really like my texture:

Other shots after separated a bit:

Closer up texture shots:

Overall review: I did like the gel for twisting, my hair wasn't hard or crunchy, no flaking.  My hair definition held up well given the high humidity levels all week.  My hair did seem drier than usual by Day 4, so even alcohol free gel could not become a weekly go to product.  I definitely will be doing it again though.

Blowout Twistout

So I rocked my blowout for one day LOL, then I decided it was just too much.
I decided to do some chunky twists.  I used some castor oil with Devacurl Set It Free.

The humidity has persisted resulting in shrinkage & frizziness as soon as I hit the door.  Anyway here are my results:

A Big Blowout

Since we finally had a few low humidity days in the forecast after weeks of high humidity, I decided to do a blowout.  I pulled out my Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Blowdryer, the straightening attachment gets my hair straighter than my regular blowdryer.
My regimen this week:

• Giovanni 50/50 Shampoo
• Combo of Giovanni Tea Tree Conditioner, Giovanni Smooth As Silk Deeper Conditioner& Rasta Locks Island Oil with heat for 20 minutes
• Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer
• Alba leave-in conditioner( I forgot and left my bottle of BWC at work)
• Detangle
• Avocado Oil for sealing (just a light touch of the ends)
• Giovanni Straight Fast Elixir

....ok, that's a lot of stuff when looking at it all lined up....
anyways here is the outcome...I was really amazed at HOW BIG IT HAS GOTTEN!!

I was definitely doing the hair shaking dance!  It is something how it gets bigger in appearance first instead of longer.

Summertime Bantu Knots

So after over a month of wet twistouts, I was wanting something less... bulky.  But the humdity today is off the charts, so I knew almost any blowdrying efforts would fruitless unless I did a tight bun & tied my hair down with a scarf.  After some thought, I decided to do Bantu knots after blowdrying as that would keep my hair stretched out...or so I hoped!
My regimen this week:

• Giovanni 50/50 Shampoo
• DC with ORS pack & Motions CPR
• Leave-in BWC
• Sealed with Shea Oil (YES LIQUID SHEA OIL)
• Applied Fantasia Frizz Buster Serum
• Blowdried each section about 75% dry
• Applied just one spritz of Set It Free to each section
• Twisted section in knot.....
• For some reason today, the knots were loosening, so I used a hairpin on each & every one of them.


• Of course, I had to remove the pins for sleep, but my hair was staying in place by then.
• In the morning, I took them down, but a few spots were still not 100% dry, so I went to work like this LOL:


• Pics to come of work fluff out

Chunkier Twists

This week I decided to try slightly bigger twists to see how my hair would turn out.   Where I usually do 4 twists on each quarter, I did 3 twists on each quarter instead. I did everything else the same:

• shampooed & DC with heat
• BWC for leave-in
• sealed with castor oil
• blowdried each quarter
• separated in three sections
• spritzed with Devacurl Set It Free & twisted
  
  

It came out pretty much the same, less definition, but pretty much the same, I think....does it look any different to you?

Twisting My Bantu Knot Out

So, I don't know if I am the only one in favor of doing cheat twists for twistout, but it is wonderful timesaver for me!  I know most people like to start from squeaky clean hair for most styling, but it works for me.  I don't use a lot of product in my hair if I am even considering doing a cheat twistout.
This is my week old Bantu Knot Out today, in need of TLC:

I spritzed with Jasmine water, put a touch of Castor oil on the ends, detangled, spritzed with Devacurl Set It Free & twisted my hair:

Twistout in the morning:

Not too bad for a short cut!  Does anyone else ever just moisten & restyle after a week?