Product Giveaway - Warren Tricomi Mousse

Gabby from an NYC p.r. firm passed a few Warren Tricomi products on to me to check out. I will be giving these away for the next few weeks so please stay tuned.

I did use this mousse a couple of times. I wasn't too thrilled with it. But then again, I wasn't too thrilled with the use of mousse back in the day either. My stylist at the time would put a layer on after wrapping my hair. This was during my healthier perming days.

While the weather is still warm I am currently wearing a wavy wash and go. I tried the mousse but don't think it is the right product for my hair (on top of all the gel and/or kinky curling custard that I use).

Anyway, if you would like to try this mousse - please respond to this posting with your hair plans for autumn styling. Are you getting braids, wearing your hair straight, using less heat, etc.

About this product - its 7 oz. and retails for just under $20 bucks. It has extracts of ginger, banana, coconut, lemongrass, etc.

To read more about this item, please check out

http://www.warrentricomi.com/ps_shopping/index.html

This giveaway ends on Saturday, September 5th. This giveaway is only for U.S. residents.

Product Review - Tousle Me Softly Conditioner

Ok, I am totally in love with Hello Hydration. On days when I am at work and feeling kind of yucky, I can turn a certain way and get a whiff of this stuff on my hair and I feel lifted. I LOVE IT.

Anyway, I started seeing lots of advertisements for Herbal Essences' Tousle Me Softly. So I walk in the store and couldn't pass it up.

But what Hello Hydration does for my hair, this doesn't.

HH hydrates my hair and allows my hair to curl, kink and twist up softly. It softens, detangles and lets me comb my hair. Whatever styling gel I apply afterward seems to go on really smooth.

Tousle Me Softly is a good conditioner. It smells nice. Its just not great. My hair needs products that moisturize and enhance my curl and wave pattern.

At first I was a bit upset because I didn't need another product that I wouldn't use but since I like it as a conditioner, I just use it on weekends and save my HH for the weekdays for more consistent styling.

Hair Update - August 2009

My visit last week to the Dominican salon has left me impressed with the condition of my hair. On my last hair update, I was really disappointed that I had been experimenting with many products, styling techniques, etc. And I hadn't felt like there was a huge improvement in the condition of my hair.

Well, I was wrong. My hair is now reaching my neck. Not yet shoulder length but definitely growing. At my visit in May, I had a dusting (light trim). My hair was chin length. So I can honestly say that I've had about 2-3 inches in 3 months. Now, the important part is... why?

First off, I want to say that although I do welcome the length, I am more than happy to have the thickness and health. I don't have a fading hairline. So everyday I look in the mirror and wish that I had gave up relaxers years ago.

Ok, so what happened in the 3 months?

-- I stopped manipulating my hair. I only comb my hair in the shower with lots of conditioner. Then just style and go to work. At work, I added a bit of water and fluffed with fingers throughout the day. At night, I just put on a silk scarf to keep my hair from getting tangled while sleeping. Other than that I don't touch my hair anymore.

-- Daily use of conditioner. I jump in the shower and add conditioner. I leave the conditioner in. I think the water and conditioner added moisture to my hair. Because of this, I've had a less itchy scalp and had to shampoo less.

-- NO Heat. I didn't use any blow dryers or flat irons in the past 3 months. As a matter of fact, I was really bothered with all the heat at the salon - about 20 minutes under the hooded dryer and 15 after removing the rollers.

Now about the daily co-washing, I do get tired of this routine. It does add extra time in the morning but I cannot seem to get 2 or 3 day hair. So this is kind of how I stumbled into my daily routine. Also, with my new growth getting thicker by the day, I cannot comb or style my hair without water and conditioner. I also LOVE Hello Hydration and the smell keeps me going.

I am blessed to have a job where no one cares what my hair looks like. It takes me 5 minutes to get to work. When my hair is drippy at work, I just drape my sweater around me.

What is a concern is what am I going to do when it gets cold? But my husband will probably give me a ride to work so I can still get away with drippy hair.

Also, I think I am moving away from being a hair product junkie. My key products are olive oil which I use sparingly for my scalp and shine. Hello Hydration for a leave-in conditioner. For styling I use gel and I am experimenting with anything I can get in the store. I will have some reviews up shortly about this and other products. For shampoo, I have been using Everpure. I color my hair when I want to experiment with color and when my gray is really coming in heavy. I only use semi or temporary color. And since I have been staying away from the shampoo, my color has been lasting a long time.

I have promised myself that I will not buy another hair product until I get rid of what is in my basket. And I even have replacements already in my basket. When I am done with the olive oil (which stays in the kitchen, actually) I will use the coconut oil. When I use up the Hello Hydration I will try another Herbal Essence conditioner and gel. I actually like their products. I have other products I see online that I would like to try out by my finances are telling me to just experiment with making low end purchases.

And yes, my basket. I went from tossing everything under the sink to using a small basket to moving onto a big basket. My bathroom is less junky looking and my family can now navigate a bit better with my stuff in one area.

So my advice for anyone with a hair dilemma, try cutting back on the heat. It seemed to work for me.

ELF coupon giveaway!

Just got this in an email.

I don't do makeup so I would love to forward this coupon code to someone that would be interested in using it.

I need you to do 2 things -- check out http://eyeslipsface.com

If you like what they have...

Just post a comment here on a helpful makeup tip - how to buy the right foundation for your skin tone, best lip gloss, etc.

Best tip/comment will get a $10.00 E.L.F. gift card.

Product Review - Hello Hydration

Although I love all the hair blogs and forums... sometimes all the information can put me in overload. But I have to peep and see what is up with everyone else because I've gotten some really great hair care tips and learning about quality products.

This is one of them -- Hello Hydration.

I had really started to step away from traditional conditioners and was just using deep conditioners after shampooing once a week.

Once I started using Kinky-Curling Custard, I would just use whatever leftover conditioner was around.

Well, this stuff is fabulous. I use it everyday. It makes my hair soft and easier to comb without tangles. I just pour it in my hands, rub my hands together and rake it though my wet hair. I then use my large toothed comb to evenly distribute it throughout my hair. My hair then starts to form these waves and curls.

On days where I don't have to go to work, I like to just leave it in without any gel and air dry. My hair smells great and feels so soft.

So if you are looking for a great conditioner, this is it. Its in all the drugstores and is reasonably priced.

Hair Update - July 2009

Well, I've been on a break. For some reason, I haven't been in the mood to write. I think because I had to refocus a bit.

I was thinking back to how frustrated I was last year at this time. My hair was relaxed at the time and breaking off. I kept thinking how many more haircuts and trims was I going to get to try to justify all the hair damage?

Well anyway, here I am now and.... I was again disappointed with my hair. I was thinking that I haven't made any progress. But I was wrong....

I bought a large basket for all my hair products. And I realized that my progress - although I originally thought was slow (length-wise).... was really coming along.

I had to break away from my bad hair habits. I also had to stop thinking that my hair would magically grow back and look like it did when I was a young girl (who was active, ate right and had a mom that took care of her hair).

My hair is growing slowly and its thicker and healthier. My husband has even started to call me 'kinky-curly' and assists me when I am applying my hair gels.

And speaking of gel, my favorite kinky-curly custard which love has run out. And I'm too cheap to buy more! I used up the jar in 2 months! I used to just use a bit of it but then I really got into styling my hair with it and would use it daily and get heavy handed with it.

I love the results and that it lasts all day... but I have moved onto using other drugstore hair gels. I will order some more or just look for it when I get to NYC.

I've also started using conditioner on a daily basis and I love it. I wish I had started this from the beginning. I'm really loving my soft, wavy, kinky, curly hair. As soon as my kitchen (back nape hair) grows in more, I will definitely big chop for an even defined look. I am tired of my relaxed ends trying to blend in with my natural hair.

Anyway, I see that I am still learning and growing with my hair. I am sticking with certain staple products that work for me. I still get excited going down the hair care aisle but I am sticking to a budget and waiting to rid my basket of some of its products first.

So please stick with me -- I have products that were sent to me that I will be giving away on here and still look forward to hearing from others about their hair and other topics - the good, bad and ugly!

Peace

dont just buy the flowers at the funeral - try beforehand!

ok, recently we have had a string of celebrity deaths. i've actually just been getting my news from the internet because I can't take the tv broadcasts of the same old stuff over and over.

anyway, i think what really astounds me is that although we are in constant contact with our people - via cell phones, twitter, email, etc. we can now be contacted anywhere at any day or time and i wonder how many times we are actually telling the people we care for that we love and appreciate them in our lives.

at age 42 i have very few family members living. so its ALWAYS important for me to tell my kids that i love them and am proud of them. not just on the day my son received his writing award. but today when he met me at work as he was going for his run. my other son struggles in school but he really did make an effort to complete all his school work this year and cares about his grades more than previous years - for that - I am proud of him. all in all, my kids are good kids. they dont have girls in my house while i am at work, not drinking or smoking. i am proud that they have their own healthy interests and are positive young men. i dont hesitate to let them know they make me so happy and i want to continue this bond that we have as they get older.

i also try to remember my friends' b-days, send them emails to check up on them especially now. my various friends have bought houses and have small children and i know the economy has them a bit spent. so sending a friendly email just to tell them i am thinking about them - i hope helps their spirit and lets them know that they can also let me know if they need anything (maybe not $$, but a reference, advise, plan a visit, etc.)

but life is not easy. especially for african-american people. yes, even in this day and age. we work harder, live harder and are a very proud group of people. but we have got to stop showing all our love to people after they have passed on. we have got to step up and love each other in the present - while we are alive and kicking.

but where is the support? when are we going to support, guide, educate and congratulate, while we are alive and not just on holidays and at funerals....

so please try to reach out to your own people. invite a sister over for tea. volunteer to braid your cousins hair, call up your aunties. give your partner/mate a hug to show them you love them. tell your co-worker you like her shoes, accompany your kids on a school trip, volunteer at your church, youth league, etc.

also, try to remember that there are many people who distance their selves from communities of color. see it for what it is. many of these celebs that we constantly see in the media are pushing products; for us to buy. yes, us cash strapped consumers should remember to buy/see their crap. these celebs do not care about our people in the drug war, dangerous communities, limited career opportunities, lack of decent housing, etc.

recently at an awards program at my kids school - i heard a very moving story about LL Cool J. he was contacted about a teenage girl several years ago that was dying. he not only visited her here in upstate ny but sent a limo to pick her up from here and took her to NYC to have an evening out on the town.

i am a fan of his now (and not only because we are both from Queens)!

but this is what I am talking about. you are supposed to use your talent, fame $$ to help others.

i still find it incredible that Brad Pitt is the only major celeb still caring and more importantly rebuilding Louisiana....

so before we go and celebrate others (people we dont even know) try to celebrate yourself, your people and community.