Twisting with Kinky Curly Gel

So I've been seeing a lot of naturals use gel to twist there hair. Well, being that I'm currently on Christmas break and have nothing else to do, I figured I would give it a try.

So, I grabbed the only gel that I brought with me home, my Kinky Curly Gel. I have no idea why I brought this gel because I never use it and don't like to use it. Well, being that I wanted to try twisting with a gel for once I used this gel. After Co-washing my hair, I used my Strawberries and Cream growth lotion as a leave-in. Then I used my whipped ahead butter by Oyin Handmade and the Kinky Curly Gel to twist my hair.

And as for the results:: I DID NOT LIKE IT, Lol... This was my first bad hair day in a while. It didn't look a hot mess, and of course to others it didn't look bad because it wasn't their hair. But anywho, my hair looked curly but messy. I didn't like it at all, but I still wore it lol. My second day hair on the other hand looked FABULOUS. My hair was defined and curly without looking messy.

Im definitely going to try the gel thing again. Just not with this gel. And speaking of gel, I just actually got through making some flax seed gel... Like literally 10 minutes ago. Im going to try this in my hair very soon since the shelf life is not all that long.

What gel do you prefer using in your hair if you do use gel?

Side Note: I'm going to have a giveaway VERY soon so stay tuned for details!!!

Liquefying your Black Soap

In my opinion, Black soap is the ultimate cleanser. You can use it to wash your hair, face, body ((which are my uses)), and also items like your dishes at home or other places around your house! Now I've personally never used it to clean things in my house (actually I have used it to wash some dishes back at school now that I think about it) but I've seen others use it for these purposes and have had great results from it. Plus, its all natural, you can't beat that!!!

Being that I have been using Miss Jessies Curly Meringue, which has a water soluble silicon in it, I've been washing my hair with my black soap instead of Co-washing when I use Miss Jessies. Not that Co-washing won't get the silicone out, I'd just prefer to use my black soap. When I use my black soap I like to liquify it. I believe it lasts a lot longer, and its more useful. Here is how:

1. Boil atleast 4 cups of water.
2. While that water is coming to a boil, I like to take the chunks of black soap that I have and break it down to very small pieces. Make about 3/4 of a cup. ((I eye all my measurements, but I wanted to measure for the purposes of the blog))... Some people also choose to grate their soap, mine isn't that tough or hard so I just use my hands to break it down.
3. Next after finished with the black soap, pour the boiling water in a bowl and add the soap. Put a top over the bowl and let it sit over night or whenever the soap has dissolved. If you do not have a top for the bowl, you can also use plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
4. After the soap has dissolved, your done!!! I pour my black soap into two old suave bottles. You can also add essential oil for smell. I used peppermint eo and geesh does it smell good. I love the smell of peppermints.

Side Notes: I get my black soap from the flea market in my town. You can also cut the ingredients in half if your not making that much!!!

Hope you enjoy!!

Silicones as a Sealant???

Hey to all, hope all is well!! Now... *sighs*... I heard something today that lowkey bothered me. I actually heard it by the same person a couple days ago but just kind of let it go. My bestie just went natural. So as we all are when we first go natural, we are very excited and begin trying new products for our hair! Let the journey begin right??? Lol

Well she calls me up and says she needed help looking for a product ((or something of the sort, can't too much remember exactly)). Anywho, somewhere in our phone conversation she mentions how she read something that said silicones can be used as a sealant to your hair. First thing I thought was HUH?? I've never read or heard this before. I didn't do any research on it bc I figured it wasn't true, but then I had to think on it more....

If you think about it, silicones is what builds up in your hair, right??? Therefore, being that it builds up on your hair strands and follicles, it may actually seal in moisture. But doesn't that yucky! Something that builds up in your hair used as a seal.

Well, I guess what im trying to say is that: say your in the process of moisturizing your hair, then you use silicones as your seal to lock in the moisture for that day. Next day comes, and you decide to refresh your hair by adding more moisture, like water, how is it that your hair will retrieve that moisture if you already have build up in your hair from the previous day you used silicones???? As far as an oil goes, you can use it to lock in your moisture and, depending on the natural oil it is, it contains great healthy benefits for your hair!

So, I actually do believe silicones can be used as a seal to a certain extent... But, to each its own right, I'd just rather use an all natural oil, something that can seal in the moisture, be absorbed by my scalp and hair, then be re-used!!!

What do you think about using silicones as a seal?

A little Truly goes a long way!

So I mentioned that I had recently gotten some Oyin Handmade samples. I ordered a sample pack for a Natural Hair forum that I recently did. And while on that subject, I got some really good comments back about the program. I was told I even convinced a few females to go natural. It was a great experience though, because I actually learned a lot while creating my presentation.

But anywho, back to the reason im creating this blog, so yesterday was my deep condition day, meaning I washed, deep conditioned and did a what? TWIST-OUT!!! All while studying for exams-_-... But, so you might have guessed already that I did, in fact, use Oyin Handmades Whipped Pudding. Now im not about to do a product review on it BUT I did want to mention how small the sample was.

Even though the sample size was I believe half an ounce, I only used half of that to twist my hair!!! Cool right??? No... Not really??? I just wanted to mention that you never want to over use any products because there is such thing as "Over-Moisturizing". I thought it was neat how I only needed so little to twist my hair. I don't like to buy samples, because in most cases, with the price of just a sample, you might as well buy the product. I can literally get about 6 twist outs with the 3 samples I have!!

Now I know everyone's hair is different, and though our hair is different, mine soaks up EVERYTHING. But a little truly does go a long way. It also helps keep some extra change in your pockets!!!

Marguerite's Magic

So my new fav product allowed my twist out to last 3 days. The only product I used in my hair during these past few days was water:)) And I only used that at night when I re-twisted my hair at night.

I've also been getting a lot of compliments lately on my hair. Someone told me that hair was shiny as well. So if you are looking for a hair butter with great definition, frizz free, and sheen, this product may be what your looking for.

p.s... I will be trying a coil out in my hair with the miss jessies products I just got in the mail and will let yall know ASAP how it goes. Hopefully I get great results because I really liked the one that I saw. I've also been hearing some pros and cons about miss jessies products, so once I use and see how I like it, I will do a review:)))

((me in my physics lab))

A new FAV!!!

So I did a review on Marguerite's Magic by Carol's Daughter and, if I'm not mistaking, I didn't too much care for it. As much as I would attempt to twist my hair with it, I just felt like me and this product weren't getting along well, mainly because it has more of a thick cream consistency than a thick butter like their Healthy Hair Butter. So, I told myself I was going to use it as a leave-in until I finally get rid of it.

Well, a couple days ago I figured I would try using this product as a twist out again and, what do you know, I finally accomplished a twist out using Marguerite's Magic by Carol's Daughter. And, if I might add, I actually loved my results.

This product kept my hair very well moisturized, and honestly, this and my hemp seed oil were the only products that I used! I am currently on Day 3 of my twist out and my hair is still very moisturized. At night, or whenever I re-twist my hair, I only use water to do so and no extra product.

So, if I don't find anything else, I may just continue to use this product as my styler. If only their Healthy Hair Butter smelt delicious, I would make that a staple. Thanks for Reading:))

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Psalm 136:1-3

136:1 Give thanks to the Lord,for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. . . .

Wishing all my Natural Sistahs a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Did something I shouldn't have:-/

Apparently Miss Jessie's has there BOGO sale every Thanksgiving. I'm guessing its because of black Friday, idk. Anywho, I received an email about it from the website, and I must say I was NEVER big on their ingredients, especially because of the silicone I spied.... But let me tell you how curiosity killed the cat.

So, I'm a big fan of sales, so I had to check this one out even though as much times I have been on their website I never give in to buying their products. So, then, looking at the silicone that I always see peeking at me, I decided to go on the Curly Girl website and see if that silicone was water soluble.

And what do you know, it was!!! I swear with me not using silicones and other certain ingredients, it actually helps me save money because if I do see something with an ingredient that I refuse to use, it goes right back on the shelf. But being that this silicon was soluble, I decided why not try it because its on sale. And FREE SHIPPING!!! I can't go wrong with trying this.

So, *sighs*, yes I ordered 2 of Miss Jessies products. And being that it also has mineral oils in it, I'm just going to wash my hair with my black soap!!!

Look out for my review!!!

UPDATE TIME!!

Hey to all...

Just a quick update, so I'm officially 3 months natural and that came with some ups and downs lol. I can no longer just do a "Wash and Go". And when i say this, I mean that how in the past I've been able to just actually wash my hair, moisturize and go. Well, if I just do that my hair will be very ruff and, well, not look so sweet lol. So, I've started using combs. I know, I said I didnt use combs but I have to comb it out a tad after I detangle in order for my hair to look nice. Atleast that way I can just rock a puff.

FORTUNATELY, for me I love doing twist outs. It doesn't take a lot of time to do. And maintaining my twist out is a lot easier than it may look. All I do is re-twist and place on my satin scarf. Since my hair has gotten longer than it was a month before it does not take as long for me to twist my hair also. When i twisted my hair a month ago, it would literally take me an hour. Now, my hair has gotten longer and my twist can be chunkier:))

My hair routine has not really changed. Here you go:

1. Co-Wash: At the moment im co-washing with my conditioners that i am trying to get rid of ((which I actually finally finished one earlier **fist pump**)). But after i finish these conditioners that I do have, Im going to continue to co-wash my hair with VO5 conditioners
- I co-wash twice a week... usually on wednesdays and sundays

2. Deep Condition: I deep condition my hair on sundays... Like I said, im trying to get rid of my conditioners so I'll use anything and then every other sunday i'll make my Avocado DIY Deep Conditioner... This makes my hair super soft, nourished, and strengthened.

3. After a great co-wash, I'll put some oil on my scalp. Not a lot, but since my scalp has been a little itchy from the cold weather, this is a solution.

4. Moisturize: The moisturizers that I use is either Marguerite's Magic by Carol's Daughter or my Naturalee Hair Care Strawberries and Cream Growth Lotion. I'll Just use a dab, rub it on my hands, and put it through my hair.

5. If Im doing a wash-and-go, seal my hair with an oil, usually hemp seed, and then comb my hair out.

6.If im doing a twist out, I'll grab my hair butter then begin grabbing chunks of my hair and start twisting. Then I'll seal my hair with an oil after I twist.

So there you have it, ENJOY!!!

P.S. I uploaded a Hair Growth Video on YouTube... Just showing how much my hair has grown. Go check it out:)))

Twist Worn Out!!!

So im always looking for new ways to wear my hair!!! Last night I did a twist out and in the morning instead of untwisting my hair, I just put on hair cuffie ((don't know the actual name, lol))...

To be honest, I actually really like it.

Trying something new never hurts, in fact that's how you get to a place where you are most comfortable with your hair.

Thanks and enjoy!!!

Eco Styler Gel

Sooo, back when I big chopped I bought a big jar of the olive oil eco styler gel. At first was some what disappointed because I never used it. But as my hair got longer I eventually did start using it and was actually glad I did but it.
It definitely comes in handy when it comes to slicking back my hair when I wear my hair bows, and head bands. I never really use it for my edges because its never all that out of control. I also use my eco styler gel to make my hair look a tad but more curly. And of course, another benefit is shine.
I know for most people, when they use gels it makes their hair crunchy, and produces flakes. But as long as you keep a good moisturizer in your hair, and do a final seal with an oil. Or that's what I do, and it definitely helps!!!

Curly Gil Method Basics

Hey Everybody,

Sooo, I dont know why I was thinking I did a whole blog about the curly girl method. I just talked about it a little and mentioned that's how i'm building my regimen. So here are the basics:

1. Dry hair = Breaking hair... Our hair needs water and to be moisturized just as our body and our skin does. If we don't keep our hair moisturized, then its more fond to break off and become very damaged. Just like if we keep our skin dry, this leads to problems such as eczema. Our bodies is, on average, 70% water. So if we don't drink wateron a daily basis, we will dehydrate.

2. Sulfates strip your hair of its natural oils and leave your hair very dry and without moisture. We already discovered how important moisture is for your hair with the previous paragraph. Sulfates are very harmful towards your hair. Sulfates are also the same chemicals in dish detergents.
Here is a very good article on sulfates I found:

"Sulfates are used to remove all dirt and grease. While this is perfect for a dinner plate, your head is a different story. Unbeknownst to you, there is an extra layer on top of your skin that is essential to healthy body function. Your scalp produces natural oils called “sebum” which coats your skin and provides anti-microbial properties, vitamin E to the upper layer skin, pro-and anti-inflammatory properties, and acts as a delivery system for antioxidants, pheromones, and hydration to your outer skin cells. Sebum is completely natural and everyone’s body secretes it. The problem is that sulfates do not discriminate between natural, good oils and unhealthy foreign oils and dirt, and therefore removes all of it from your scalp. This leaves your skin dry and irritated and can lead to eye irritation, swelling of the hands, face and arms, tangled hair, split ends and frizzy hair. Prolonged use of products containing sulfates can cause even more serious damage."

The link to this website is: http://usemeproducts.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/what-are-sulfates-and-why-are-they-bad-for-your-hair/
There is a lot more information on sulfates in this article other than what I put up, you should definitely check it out.

3. Silicones are in various conditioners just as Sulfates are in shampoos. Silicones, in a way, does the exact opposite of sulfates. How sulfates srtips your hair, most silicones remain in your hair causing build up. While you may be thinking the silicone can just wash out while your washing your hair, well unless you use a sulfate to wash your hair, then the silicone will remain in your hair. Silicones are mainly non-soluble, and can't be removed from your hair unless you use something that can strip your hair, like a sulfate shampoo.

Here is a list of silicones to avoid and some that may actually be safe to use:

Silicones that are not soluble in water and build up on the hair: Cetearyl methicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Stearyl Dimethicone, Amodimethicone (and) Trideceth-12 (and) Cetrimonium Chloride, and Trimethylsilylamodimethicone. Note: Trideceth-12 and Cetrimonium Chloride are only considered a silcone when both are combined with Amodimethicone.

Silicones that are slightly soluble in water and will build up on most types of curly hair: Amodimethicone, Behenoxy Dimethicone, and Stearoxy Dimethicone.

Silicones that are soluble in water and safe to use (they are not listed with PEG in front of them): Dimethicone Copolyol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Hydroxypropyl Polysiloxane, and Lauryl methicone copolyol

I got this info straight from the curly girl website:
http://thecurlyhairproblems.tumblr.com/cgmethod

So what do I do now,

wash your hair with a no-poo shampoo, or you can just wash your hair with a silicone free conditioner like I do. It keeps your hair just as clean and also moisturized!!! Anytime your looking for a shampoo or conditioner, just look at the back of the label at the ingredients and check to see if there are any sulfates or silicones.

Trust me, it works... and my hair is actually very curly!!!

For any other information about the curly girl method, go to http://thecurlyhairproblems.tumblr.com/cgmethod and you'll learn more about it:):)

Carol's Daughter Product Review!!

I uploaded a video on YouTube for my review on the Carols Daughter Products that I use.... Check it Out!!!

ITCHY SCALP...UGH!!!

Ok... SOOOOOOO

My scalp has been very itchy lately. Especially in the very back of my head. This could mean alot of things like hair growth, dry scalp, not hydrated enough and etc. Well I saw this video on youtube about itchy scalp called Curly Girl: Dry Itchy Scalp. And i found this video to be very interesting and informational. Especially since im doing the CG Method. Check out the video, here's the link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huFFiMUr4FE

So since I already have rosemary eo, im going to take that and my olive oil and massage it on my scalp and see how that helps. I will keep you updated:):)

By the way im 2 months natural today... GO ME!!

2 Month Twist-Out

YESSSS, I DID IT!!
Attempted my first twist out last night and received great results this morning!!!



It looks much better up front!! And, even though it took a while to twist the first night, the second night didnt take that long at all. I was so excited that i accomplished my first twist out!!

This is what I did:

1) On freshly co-washed hair i applied some of my hemp seed oil then blew my hair out.
2) I then grabbed a small section of the front of my hair and used a little of my Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque and a tad bit of shea butter and began twisting my hair.
3) I continued to do this throughout the rest of my hair until i was finished.
4) I slept with my satin bonnet that night and untwisted my hair the next morning!!

I ordered two other products in the mail, which are Carol's Daughter Marguerite's Magic from ebay and Strawberries and Cream Hair Lotion from the website www.naturaleehaircare.com/ ...
So I will have product reviews on these soon:):)

 

Deep Conditioning

DC is my favorite part of the week, lol. I deep condition on Sundays, and mostly do it later during the day and let it condition through out the night. This is great for any hair type helping to prevent your hair from drying and becoming damaged. 
The great thing about DC is that you can do it whenever and however, and it restores nutrition to your hair. And you DON'T need heat. The plastic cap provides the heat needed.  Especially if you use two. I use plastic Walmart bags or other grocery bags then put on my monkey hat on and let my DC work its magic!!
I think my favorite DC to use that is homemade  is my deep conditioner I
use with avocados. Here are the ingredients:
1 Avocado
2 Tbsp of honey
2 Tbsp of Hemp seed oil ((or any oil of your choice))
This is all I use, and after its usage my hair feels its softest ever. Avocados also have some of the best nutrients and vitamins for your hair. I try to do this every other Sunday. The Sundays between those I like to use my Natures Gate biotin conditioner, it gives my hair a tingle that I like lol. Idk if its the peppermint smell or what but I love it.
Other ingredients that are great to use with DC are:
Banana baby food
Cucumbers ((blended of course))
Eggs ((for protein))
Mayo ((not miracle whip))
Apple cider vinegar ((clarifier))
Essential oil of choice
Carrier oil of choice
These are just some things others use. I've also seen oats and strawberries!

My Pics:(

Hey everyone...

So apparently my pictures arent showing... Im going to have to go back and re-post the pictures or something... UGH!!!

Will do this very soon though!!

BLOW OUT ON NATURAL HAIR!!

Hey ladies,
So im almost 2 months natural and I figured it was time for me to do something other than my usual to my hair. I love my wash and go's but after a while you. start wanting to do something different. So, I decided to do a blow out to my hair.
I know what your thinking.... Heat right??? Or maybe not, but when I think of a blow out I think of heat, and that's something I promised I wouldn't do to my hair for a while. But, I wanted something different, so I still did a blow out, BUT I used the cold air instead.
Here's what I did:
1) I started of with Co-washed hair, or if you already washed your hair you can simply wet it with your handy dandy spray bottle
2) My hair is so short that detangling is not something that I have to worry about, but make sure you don't forget to detangle
3) Next I add my favorite oil ((and the only oil I use)) hemp seed oil and my conditioner im using as a leave in which is Aubrey Organic Island Naturals conditioner... A little truly goes a long way for this conditioner
4) I then take my blow dryer and a comb to blow dry my hair using the cold air button.
If your hair is not all the way dry then that is perfectly fine bc you don't want to fully dry your hair anyways. I was happy with my results because this is the look that I try to go for when I do my wash and go's. Sometimes after a wash and go I'll pull at my curls all day for my curls to loosen. But after 2 days I missed my natural curl pattern so I Co-washed and there it was. I wore the blown out look for 2 days and enjoyed it.
Thanks for Reading!!!

My Henna Experience!!

Hey yall,

so i know its been a while ((more like over a month since i last blogged)), but i haven't forgoten about yall. In fact i have been recording vidoes for you-tube but i havent been posting them because ive been so busy with school. BUT, anywho, i wanted to share my henna experience with yall.

So basically Henna is something some naturals use to color their hair. Some people use it for the great conditioning benefits it has. Another benefit, if it is a benefit, is that it loosens your curl pattern just a tad. It also gives your hair somewhat of a color in the sun.


I used the Rainbow Henna just to see what it will do for my hair. It did not give my hair a brighter color, but one day when i was taking pictures of myself i did notice a brown tint/shade in my hair in the light.


Moral of the story is, if you want to color your hair, dont use henna. But if you want to use it for all the other benefits it has then you might find to love it. Me personally, i was mainly looking for something without chemicalls to color my hair, so i came across henna. But do your own research!!! It doesnt hurt to try henna either =) And for more info. DEF. check out my video on Henna:):)

My Wash and Go Routine

HEY YALL....

So basically when you have a TWA thats as short as mine, there really is nothing you can do with it!!! So wash-n-go's are pretty much start story of my life right now. Not that im mad about it because I LOVE  MY TWA!!!

So this is what im doing with my hair::

1) I Co-wash my hair every wednesday and sunday(or i try to wait it out that long). My main go-to conditioner when I co-wash is my V05 Clarifying Conditioner. If Im not using that then I use one of my other hair conditioners that im testing out to see if i like or not.
- I don't shampoo my hair at all... trying to go with the curly girl method. And might i add that my TWA curls very good. No need for gel.

2) I deep condition my hair once a week with my Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque and sometimes i mix it with my Nature's Gate Biotin strengthening conditioner. I usually do this on Sunday nights and rinse it out in the morning.

3) I also do a hot oil treatment once a week on tuesdays with my Hemp Seed Oil. And I let that sit in my hair throughout the night and co-wash morning.

4) Every morning i re-wet my hair, if its not already wet from a co-wash. I use my water spray bottle that also contains some drops of rosemary essential oil. After that I simply add a little bit of my hemp seed oil, then some conditioner as a leave in. AND THATS IT!!!

Sometimes i may also use gel but only on my edges, my hair curls great without it so when i did add a curl defining cream, and kinky curly cutard (both at separate times) i didnt see much of a difference so i just go without it. But im still going to do more trial and errors with the gel to see how it goes!!

Life with the TWA

Thought I'd let yall know that I absolutely LOVE my TWA guys lol.. Let me share my experience first...
So I planned on getting my big chop the day that I left for school. I've been trying to picture how it would look on me before actually going in lol. But I just decided that if I didn't like it I would just get it braided! So I went to the salon and was more than ready to go ahead and get it over with. The beautician took me to the chair and before chopping my hair off, she was telling me the different options I have instead of jumping into the BC.
She showed me plenty of hair styles, and I did like them, BUT I just wanted to get it over with lol. So, she chopped it off and I was more than happy with the results. Im not even in a rush for it to grow, in whiching I know it will. But I feel that with me not bring in such a hurry for growth, I can be more patient!
I also love the fact that I don't have to do anything to my hair. Just wake up, spritz, and add some oil and my conditioner as a leave in. AND THAT'S IT!!!!
Lol, well that's pretty much it, just taking things day by day and keeping my self busy with my RA training!! Can't wait for growth...
If you haven't checked out my youtube channel, go check it out and subscribe!!! ====> SweetnNappy16

MY BIG CHOP!!

I FINALLY DID IT AND IM VERY SATISFIED WITH MY RESULTS!!!

If your not subscribed to my youtube channel go ahead and suscribe bc i have plenty of videos coming very soon!!

Silicones and the CG

Hey yall:):)

So if you've been keeping up with my blog you'd know I was thirsty over some conditioners a couple days ago!! I went to walgreens and purchased "Yes to Carrots Conditioner", and two of the Organix conditioners.

SOOO whats my Point??? ((your probably thinking))

WELL... I was always curious as to what exactly the Curly Girl Method is!! So i did some research about that. And, being that I already told myself I didn't want to use shampoos any more, i figured why not begin to build my regimen around this process.

What does this have to do with the conditioners I was so thirsty about and ended up buying??

APPARENTLY, The Organix conditioners are FULL of silicones!! AND, if you know anything about the Curly Girl Method, Silicones are a NO NO. Because they build up in your hair due to their non-solubility. Meaning they build up and most you can't get rid of unless you use a sulfate shampoo. Sulfate shampoos are also not good for your hair because they sstrip your hair, making it dry and removing its natural oils in the process. And i'm lowkey upset about it because I really wanted to try them both. I happened to look at the ingredients not too long ago and saw an ingredient with the -xane ending. Then i saw Dimethicone -__-!!

If your interested in learning more about the CG method, then do your own research and look it up. Especially if your like me and trying to build a successful regimen with great products for your hair!!

Thanks for reading!!

SweetnNappy:):)

My Conditioners

HEY TO ALL:):)

Soooooo, I bought some new conditioners today, smh!!! Lol, I just put that bc I sort of didn't need them BUT I've been eyeing the ”Yes to Carrots” for a while now. I checked online on walgreen's and the one right down the street from me had then in stock. So while I was out on a quick run this morning, I decided to stop in.
While I was looking for this product, I happened to see that there was a BOGO (buy one get one free) on some other products like the Organix in the picture. So I bought all three, Lol. I almost feel like I have too much conditioners and becoming some what of a junkie. BUT at the same time I do feel like I need to try out different products to see what works for me!!
And plus, I have been wanting to try the Organix also. Im in love with the smell, lol. And I got two for the price of one!!! You CAN'T go wrong with that, and I also got the Yes for Carrots $1 off thanks to the lady who worked there:):)
This other pic is just a pic of all the conditioners I have. The Naturals lavender conditioner is my fav. thus far!! But reviews on them all coming soon!!
If you have used any of these, tell me how you like them!!! :):)
SweetnNappy!!!

Look what i Got:)

JUST GOT THESE IN THE MAIL **excited voice***

Hemp seed oil ((Pure, Organic)), and Rosemary EO ((not in the pic))!!!

Got these offline because I found them for a great price((esp. the EO)). But I can't wait to try my hemp seed oil on my hair. I did alot of research on this oil. I told myself that I don't want to go out and try and buy every single, or majoirity of, carrier oils. Ain't nobody got time for that, Lol. But I picked this oil as my main oil, and if I like it I will continue to buy it. I also have castor oil, evoo ((mainly for deep treatments)) and apricot kernal oil ((but I use the apricot kernal oil for my face)).

Once I get results I will def. post a review:):)

Growing LONG Natural Hair!!

SOOO, I downloaded this app yrsterday called the Natural Hair Community, which I strongly recommend downloading if you have not already because it shares very valuable information that includes anything and everything pertaining to natural hair. While I was reading some articles at work ((my job was that dead/boring)) I came across this article about how to retain long natural hair. I found it very interesting, so I took some notes and decided to share with you all what i learned because I have yet to come across any of this information just by watching youtube channels.

So here are a few tips::

1.) How to comb your hair - The reason why us as naturals use wide tooth combs to detangle our hair is because using a smaller comb is damaging towards out hair. We have to remember that our hair is very very fragile. Especially at the ends because that hair is the oldest. But the BEST way to comb your hair without pulling out your hair is to finger comb/detangle your hair. This is no secret that some use their fingers to comb out their hair, but finger combing is alot better for your hair.

2.) Massaging your scalp - The best way to stimulate hair growth is by keeping the blood circulating in your scalp area. There are oils that do this job. But say its not in your area as far as being affordable, you can give your scalp a daily 5 minute massage. By massaging your scalp once a day for 5 minutes, you keep the blood circulating, stimulating hair growth. And plus, IT FEELS GOOD!!

3.) Protective styling - I used to think that by protective styling, people meant twist outs, bandtu knots, cornrows, and etc((and some people probably did mean this lol)). BUT protective styling actually means what you use in your hair, like products, to keep it protected from getting damage done to it. For example, if your looking to putting heat to your hair, whether its flat ironing it or blow drying it, a protective style would be the products you use to protect your hair from the heat causing heat damage. Another good example of protective styling would be products you use during the winter, or even before going swimming.

4.) Does Biotin truely work - In this article, i read that biotin in some cases for some people may not even work. It is said that your body only intakes a certain amount of biotin daily. This amount includes the amount of biotin that your body already produces. If you take biotin and your body has already has its daily amount that it will intake, then the rest will simply be flushed out. I've seen where plenty of naturals take biotin and says it works. I take it myself and still will continue!! I do see my hair growing, but when i read this it totally made since. I don't believe this is saying that you shouldnt take biotin because it doesn't work. But you should watch how much you take, because if your taking multiple tablets your probably waisting your money. But, then again, whatever works for you:):)

5.) PROTEIN - Protein makes your hair stronger and healthier. Make sure you are intaking protein in your diet and nourish your hair with protein treatments how ever much she needs them.. Your hair LOVES IT!!

6.) Sealing your ends - Sealing your ends is very important when trying to grow long natural hair. Think about it!!! Like I said before, your hair is very fragile. Your ends are the oldest parts of your hair. If you don't protect and take care of your ends then growing long natural hair will be very difficult.

7.) SATIN is a MUST - Make sure to always keep your Satin scarf around. Even if you need two, Lol. It prevents your hair from breakage, frizz, and being damaged!!!

8.) Your diet - Keeping your body in shape, healthy, and hydrated is just as important as doing the same for your hair. You cant eat junk food all the time and expect to have healthy hair. Remember: your body will protect, hydrate itself before it sends nutrients to your hair. So make sure your giving enough to your whole body. Eat lots of veggies and fruits because that's where alot of our vitamins come from. Also your meats and beans for some protein. And while your at it, keep up with making sure you get your daily vitamins in your diet. Even if that means you have to take vitamins.

Other than the tips that I gave, there's also the obvious like keeping your hair Moisturized:):)

**This is my own summary from the article I read and took my own notes on based on an article written be Natural Hair Community. If you want more info, Research!!**

GREAT CARRIER OILS FOR HAIR!!

Took it upon myself to share the different, yet most common, carrier oils for natural hair..
Mind you if you are newly natural/transitioning, you DON'T have to go out and purchase every one of them. Just find one, two, or maybe even three that work best for your hair ((i'd suggest two lol)) and use them. Experiment with a couple, but don't spend money on every one, especially when some of them participate in doing the same thing!!!

Jojoba Oil: It regulates the sebum produced on the skin, as the oil can control the greasy texture of the skin. On dry skin type, the oil acts as a moisturiser. Mix a little quantity of jojoba oil with your regular moisturiser and this works wonders on your skin and your hair. This oil is what most naturals use and love. Although a little pricey, a little goes a long way with this oil.

Castor Oil: Regular usage of castor oil is purported to increase hair growth, reduce or prevent damage and breakage, treat dry hair conditions and condition and moisturize hair and scalp. The oil can be used to prevent hair frizz and/or split ends. It is also a very thick oil that gives great shine to hair.

Avocado Oil: Good for moisturizing dry, brittle, and damaged hair. This oil is beneficial for hair that is frequently chemically processed (if you use relaxers, hair dyes, and perms you have chemically processed hair). High in nutrients such as amino acids and vitamins A, B, D and E, avocado oil is good if you need to create a restorative hair care regimen or treatment to help repair and support hair and scalp health. This oil is the best to help feed hair follicles and helps protect hair from free radicals.

Coconut Oil: A light oil in its liquid form but also said to weigh the some hair types down (Limp, straight hair) Coconut oil is able to penetrate more layers of skin than other oils, which allows it heal the scalp and penetrate the hair follicles. For the hair, this oil can bind itself to weak spots along the hair shaft and help reduce protein loss, thus providing temporary strength. This temporary strength will help you avoid hair breakage during styling

Sweet Almond Oil: The almond is full of omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6 plays a large role in growth and development and stimulates hair growth, as well as skin regeneration. Sweet almond oil has trace amounts of omega-6 and still provides many benefits to hair and skin. Sweet almond oil strengthens the hair and moisturizes the scalp. Placing a small dime-size amount in your hand, dip your fingers into the oil and rub it into the scalp. Use a circular motion to stimulate the scalp.

Grapeseed Oil: Grapeseed oil can be used as a hot oil treatment. This deep oil conditioning benefits the hair by normalizing the scalp. Your hair will be soft and shiny. It moisturizes the hair and scalp, making hair supple reducing brittleness, breakage and helping to protect the hair ends from splitting. Also helps with Dandruff.

Hemp Seed Oil: Hair, skin, and nails are all formed from the same line of dermal cells, so it is no surprise that people who use hemp oil report thicker and shinier hair, softer skin, and stronger nails. Since hemp seed oil is nearly identical to our own lipids, it is capable of penetrating our cells and lubricating the surfaces between them. It is used to nourish not only dry skin but blotches and lesions as well. It can detoxify the skin and even out skin tone. You can safely use hemp oil as a skin moisturizer without worry of it clogging the pores. This is a great oil and said to be an alternative to fish oil, but even better. This oil contains plenty of vitamins and minerals that no other carrier oils contain. I haven’t seen a lot of naturals use this one, but I ordered mine offline a couple days ago and absolutely can’t wait to try it:):)

Olive Oil: Another favorite for naturals, Olive oil is a convenient, readily available carrier oil that also has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains flavonoids that protect skin cells, inhibit histamine and reduce allergic reactions. It nourishes and restores elasticity to the skin. Many, like myself, use olive oil for deep treatment purposes. Leaves hair feeling extra moist and soft.

Wheat germ Oil: A valuable source of Vitamin E, wheat germ oil is derived from the heart of the wheat kernel. It contains fatty acids, is high in protein, nourishes and softens the skin. The Vitamin E in wheat germ oil is a powerful antioxidant.

These are not all of the carrier oils, there are indeed PLENTY MORE where these came from. But as for the main carrier oils that naturals use that are great for sealing, and moisturizing hair, these work perfectly!!

One oil that is not on here is Apricot Kernel Oil. I don’t see a lot of naturals that use this oil. Most naturals use Sweet Almond Oil instead, in which is supposed to be like an alternative. I DO, in fact, use Apricot Kernel Oil. BUT, I mixed it with raw, unrefined cocoa butter and use it for my face((after I wash my face with black soap)), which I find very nourishing and not oily at all.

The information done for these oils was done by my own research, mostly from Livestrong.com. Also, do your own research!!!

WHAT CARRIER OILS DO YOU USE THAT WORK BEST FOR YOUR HAIR??

Having SUPPORT!!

Its such a GREAT feeling when you have the support from people close to you when you make big decisions. I was thinking when I got up this morning that instead of waiting when i go back to school to get my BC, that I would get it next week wednesday instead!!!

Thats when i got excited about the idea and decided to go ahead and do it. Therefore, I wanted to tell the big dawgs (my parents) about the decision i made and THEY ARE FOR IT!!!! I dont know, lol, just having support from the fam just makes it even better.

My little brother, who is currently a senior in high school, even had an input and said he's been thinking for a while that I should get it done! Idk how he came to thinking that. Maybe because this whole summer ive been doing nothing but watching youtube channels and other naturals' hair stories. LOL

But, Ive decided that the 1st of August it is! Feeling great about this decision and more than ready!!!

Check out my youtube channel: SweetnNappy16
^^^especially if you want to see my BC, because I will be posting it on there:):)

Thanks,

SweetnNappy!!!

Learn something new Er'day!!!

Transitioning… My learning phase

((yes, my summer job is at the movies LOL))

I would be LYING if I said I haven’t spent my transitioning phase as my learning phase. And most of it was not on purpose. I have learned a great bit while transitioning, and I know once i fully go natural I will continue to learn even more. To name a few: using products without sulfates, parabens, etc., using REAL shea butter and making sure its unrefined, not using a microwave to heat up your products, great carrier oils, what TWA actually meant (LOL), chipped nails being a no no for natural hair and PLENTY MORE…

Therefore, I felt the need to share this info piece by piece (meaning not all at once) with newly transitioners/naturals just like me…

First things first… what to look out for when shopping for products!!!

Many naturals don’t care whether their products are organic, natural or sulfate free, and so on… AND THAT’S FINE!!! Everyone is different, so no one is going to go the same way about doing things when it comes to going natural and using certain products… BUT for those of you who would like to only use organic and natural products then this blog is just for you…

HERE’S THE 411::

Parabens: Parabens get a bad rap due to being labeled Xenoestrogen. These agents mimic estrogen (female hormones) once inside the body. Many researchers and Scientists believe that estrogen disruption can lead to malignant tumors in breast tissue.

Phthalates: Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors and estrogen mimics. For this alone, one would want to avoid them where possible. They've also been linked to metabolic disorders and hepatocarcinogenicity. You can also check out www.nottoopretty.org for more info.

Gluten: Said to result in hair loss especially in people who are gluten-sensitive. So not only watch for gluten free hair products, but also food that contains gluten.

Mineral oil: this is not necessarily a bad product for your hair BUT, it does cause your hair to become pretty dry. And lets be honest, as a natural, Who wants DRY HAIR?? So if you do use products with mineral oils, make sure to keep hair moisturized and don’t use too often. But with that being said, do what works best for your hair.

Petroleum/Petrolatum: pretty much the same thing as mineral oil. While is does give your hair great shine and slick it prevents your hair from being able to breathe. Prevents moisture from penetrating into the hair shaft, clogs pores, and, eventually, dries your hair out.

Sulfates: harsh chemical which damages hair by dehydrating the sebaceous glands and strip the scalp of essential oils and natural oils which can lead to hair loss. Can also make color treated hair fade away with every use. For more great info check out www.buzzle.com

Here’s some to name a few, you can also keep an eye open for synthetic colors and other synthetic items. I was going to put a description of alcohols on here but not all alcohols are bad. Personally, I try to stay away from them but do you boo booJJJ

Protection is a MUST!!

So this is my protective style for the time being. Just some braids, this is called a long bob... I know, nerdy right lol. Playing around in Claire's!!! But will be keeping this in up until the 2nd week of August. Hopefully I will get by BC right after taking this out!!

Why the Transition!!!

FINALLY... LOL!!! Yes, I am transitioning and as of right now I am currently going on 3 months post relaxer. Unfortunately, this is, in fact, my second attempt at transitioning and going natural.
But i have in fact learned that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, thats what some of us need is a first failed attempt.
But anywho... So at this point, your probably wondering the main reason at why I decided to go natural which is pretty much the main reason for this blog post. But even if your not, i will answer the question anyway, lol. But I am going natural mainly because all the damage that my hair has gone through with continous relaxers. Some of the damage could be from me not taking good care of my hair, BUT im pointing the finger at the creamy crack lol..
As far as the damage, i dont even know where to begin. As I compare my hair to how it was the first couple of years that i've had relaxers, it's gotten so much weaker and so much thinner, mind you ive been natural since my sophomore year in high school. So i'd say i've been getting relaxers for about 5 years now. My hair has split ends after split ends. Now i know everyone has split ends, but for mine even after i get my hair trimmed it still splits right after getting it cut. Id have to get continuous trims instead of every three months. Everytime i wash my hair, its rediculous how much hair i have in my hands rather than on my head (if that made any since). I don't know if it was stress from school or what, but either way i am OVER IT.
Also, i got my hair done in kinky twists a couple years back. After keeping them in for about 2 months, i took them out and noticed how much of my edges were gone. Yeah, im not going back to her again!!! But ever since this incident it has yet to grow back like how i know it could. Which leads to the fact that I am going natural...
This is how my hair looks now. Its called a Frohawk!!! But being that its been almost 3 months post relaxer its looks ”ratchet”, Lol.
Another reason I am going natural again is because I just want my hair to be healthy again. I also need to start learning how to take better care of it. I cant continue to treat my hair the way I do for the rest of my life... Next thing ya know, i will be bald headed-_- Lol
Thanks for reading,
SweetnNappy