Hair Update - Looking back a year ago

I started my blog last year with the idea of sharing my thoughts and ideas. I had hoped to not only write about my hair but to also bring up topics like politics, movies, etc.

But since I took on a new job as of early this year, I realized that I cannot discuss a lot of topics I would like. I am way too jaded, biased and leery to write about government and politics (at this time). As far as movies, I watch plenty and don't have the time to get my thoughts down.

So since I became really intrigued about my incoming natural hair, I thought I would focus on my hair and experience with transitioning. This was a huge step for me. I had my first relaxer at age 19, my last relaxer was at age 41. So I literally had to reacquaint myself to doing my own hair.

You see, even though I dont have pics up and post regularly, I am really trying to share my true honest opinion of what I am experiencing with my hair. If I get a product from a p.r. firm, I post that. If I make a purchase, I post that also.

I also do not post too often because I try to give products a chance to work. I don't want to share bad information. If I shampoo one evening and I didn't care for the shampoo, I can't share that right away. I may have been too tired to have really formed a decent opinion. So I really try to use a product a few times to get the best results and then I share.

I just looked at my earlier posts of my transitioning and saw how far I have come. Along with fighting off my urge to relax my hair, I did know to increase the conditioners but I still would sit under the dryer.

I now do things I never thought I would, like wash and go's. Although I loved the results of other sisters that would do this, I NEVER thought I would run out the door with drippy hair. I NEVER thought I would purchase something as pricey as KCCC, much less love it (I still like it but have found other products that get me satisfying results). I also NEVER thought I would find drugstore products that I LOVE.

Anyway, I realize that I am having a ball playing with my hair. It is not the length I would like it to be (past my shoulder would be desired). But I am glad that after a year, I am in the right direction. I am not afraid to try different products. Most importantly I am not a slave to my hair. I am letting it do its thing while I work on what I need to do (increase exercise, drink more water, vitamins, correct my diet).

What is up with my hair now? After having a lot of straight hair come out last month, I decided to go back to my wash and go's. I do it daily. I comb though my conditioner, use a shine spray and that's it. On the weekends, I shampoo, deep condition with a cap for about 10-30 minutes, rinse, apply my leave in conditioner and that's it. I no longer use a towel on my hair (except when coloring or when I was at the salon). I have also decided that I will be laying off of the salons. I don't mind spending $$ on products when I have cut back on spending $$ going to the salon.

I have a full and thick hairline, what a difference from my relaxed hair. My hair in the back is thick and growing. I still have straight ends from my last perm. But it all blends in after I style it. I've learned that the most growth I've had was when I stopped using heat. I use products that feel good and give me results. I don't pour over ingredients (not sure how wise that is). I think that most of the commercial products are much superior to the products of back in the day. I also think that depending on your hair and what you want to do, its really an individual choice. My mom used Prell, conditioner, hair grease and sponge rollers on me when growing up. Besides the conditioner, none of these items are recommended for healthy hair even though my hair was really healthy, thick, swinging and past my shoulders.

So whoever is reading this, enjoy, continue to stop by, contribute and share. I look forward to it. Also, do what works for you and don't stress. It is just hair. And to quote Chris Rock, "its whats inside your head that is important". And yes, I saw Good Hair and will write about it soon.

Product Review - Moroccanoil Products

What a great set of products!! I wanted to really give it more than a week to review but I kept dabbing in the products and am impressed!!!

I have only been using these products for a week but I have to say that I love them.

I've been reading the reviews for these products with alot of skepticism.

Why?

Because I am tired of reading rave reviews about products that are supposed to be top quality and aren't. Then I pay decent money (which means more than drugstore prices) to expect some results and then nothing. I really don't mind paying a few bucks for some hair products in CVS, but when I keep reading over and over about certain items, I get a little curious and then I get caught up in the hype. And being let down... sucks.

The last quality item that I have enjoyed was Kinky Curly Custard. It was pricey but worth it. I was very happy and very pleased with my results.

What is great about Moroccanoil products is they have this Argan Oil (which I have never heard of) in all of their products. All of their products smell the same. Its a woodsy, musk scent. Men can use it too without worrying about smelling too sweet or feminine. I enjoy a sweet scent but I can live with this since it offers such good results on my hair. Also, the musk smell is easy going and light. It isn't overbearing and won't mix with other scents.

I have be experimenting with olive and coconut oil for the past year and didn't think I would find anything better besides another natural oil. Not that these aren't good oils but I am very heavy handed and they are very oily. I would get oil all over the place (even my clothing). When I had relaxed hair I even tried the Doo Gro oils, which didn't leave me impressed at all (they were just a bit too thick and I didn't get any great results). So trying another oil wasn't at the top of my list.

But this stuff is light as a feather, goes on smooth and does of great job on softening the hair. I'll review 2 products today.

Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray - Remember the oil sheen sprays that you use after styling your hair? That is what this is. What makes it different? You just need a few pumps, you hair has a great, light protective sheen and shine to it. It totally enhances your style. This can be used daily. I would recommend this to anyone - natural, straight, curly, permed, etc.

Moroccanoil treatment - This alcohol free oil treatment has many uses. You can apply it to wet/damp hair or dry hair. It can go on the scalp. It also enhances your style with a nice sheen and softness. What is great is that after applying you wont even have greasy/oily hands. It totally soaks up into your hair and scalp without any heaviness. This can also be used by all - natural, straight, curly, permed, etc.

Please check them out on their site to view all of the products, the other benefits to your hair, vitamins and their trade-free agreement. The website has a salon selector so you can purchase them or have your stylist use them at your next visit.

These products are so worth it!!

Moroccan Oil Products - Yay!!

Ok, so the thing I have really enjoyed out of my whole transitioning process is trying new products.

I was going to slow down a bit with the reviews because, really.... how many conditioners can one person try? But when I check my blog stats, everyone comes into my blog looking for product reviews!

Well, I was lucky enough to get my hands on a most raved about set of products; Moroccan Oil. Thank you Anne for sending these items to me to try out!

I have shampoo, conditioner, styling cream, deep conditioner oil treatment and shine spray.

I will be using all of these and letting you know how well they work on transitioning hair.

After washing my hair this weekend, I haven't done anything to it besides using a drop of olive oil and putting my hair in about 10 twists and wearing my silk scarf in the evening.

In the morning, I use a bit of shea butter (applied lightly on my hair) and lightly comb. That's it.

Since I just received the MO products, I've tried the Shine Spray and Styling Creme a couple of times. And I can't give a full review now, but I really like the way my hair feels.

I am not a product person. I don't like my hair to feel weighed down and heavy. I shouldn't have to touch my hair and feel like I want to shampoo it right then and there. I also like the scent, its smells nice and not overwhelming. Also, my hands weren't oily after applying to my hair.

These products seem to soften my hair and give it a bit of shine. So I already give the styling products a big thumbs up!!

I can't wait for the weekend to try the shampoo and conditioner!

Feel free to check out their site for details on ingredients, usage, etc.

http://www.moroccanoil.com/index.php

Hair Update - October 2009

well, i should really call this hair update... how my transition ended!!!

Now I haven't had a relaxer in my hair since June 2008. If anyone has followed my blog, I have am kinda lazy as far as hair care is concerned.

I really do not see myself spending hours on my hair. Now, I will run out and buy products to see how well they can get me into my transition.

Well, for the summer I've just had a hands off approach to my hair. Just conditioner, some deep conditioning, some color (temporary only) and just a bit of shampoo. This did my hair some good. I noticed such a difference in the feel and length of my hair.

I also had my hair blown out twice at the Dominican salon. I have always loved getting my hair done from the Dominicans. I love the way my hair would have body and bounce.

So, I go in September to get my blow out. I was trying to prepare myself to go once a month or so with the fall and winter months coming up. But as I am getting my hair done, I am not happy with the heat. I got a trim to even my ends and my hair looks good but I no longer feel the same way about straight hair. My funky looking wavy, kinky hair looks way more fun and different.

Now this weekend, I decide to wash my hair. My scalp was kinda gross. So I deep conditioned with a plastic cap for 2 hours and shampooed twice. To my surprise, what did I see in my hands as I was rinsing? MY HAIR!!

It looked as if someone pulled a lot of weave from my head!!

What was a switch, was although I was alarmed, I wasn't panicked. I looked in the mirror, grabbed my robe and ask my son did my hair look different. He said no. My hair looked like a cute short shaggy chin-length bob.

I looked at the hair and realized that this was all straight. It is my damaged permed hair from the midsection of my head. This was probably the oldest hair on my head. The weird thing about this... is that my hair looks better. Its even too, like I cut it.

My feelings are very different from last year this time.

Last year I was so tired of being a slave to my hair. Actually a slave to perming my hair fully knowing that my hair was being damaged more and more.

Today, I fully understand that my hair is fragile. It must be cared for. I must stay away from heat as much as possible. I must be patient if I want length and healthy hair.

And most of all I really love my new hair that is growing in. I have faith that I can take care of it without relaxers. And I am having fun with my hair. I really enjoy using new products to see how they work on my hair.

So here is to new hair, stronger hair, and not being a slave to straight hair!

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.