Protective Styling is a MUST! I Tell you I'm loving my Crochet Havana Twists! So, Here's a little insight into how the style was done and how I maintain it :)
Happy Hair Days - Shea Moisture
Wash and Go: Cantu Products
I did a wash and go on Saturday and I am highly satisfied with the level of definition and hold that i had :) I used Cantu products to achieve the look. I washed my hair with Tresseme's Conditioner (For all Hair Types apparently) and washed it out of my hair. Then I took some Cantu Leave in Conditioner and moisturized my hair and coat my curls. Then i put Cantu's define and shine custard onto my sectioned hair. I had to use a small amount as it is a very sticky substance and leaves a lot of residue. After coating my hair with the custard my curls started to become heavily defined (as shown in the photographs). I was satisfied with the hold that i achieved with the product and rocked defined hair for 3 days in a row. I do commend Cantu for creating products that work well with my hair, but i'm still peeved about the level of residue that the product creates. Yes the hold is great, yes my curls are defined, but having giant chunks of dried product in my hair is not pretty. After 3 days of wearing my hair like that, i had to wash my hair to remove the custard residue. Even after intense washing and rinsing, my hair was still covered in residue, so i resorted to brushing the clumps out of my hair. :( I really do love the definition as shown in the photographs, but the residue that is left is just not cutting it for me. All in all the product gets top mark for definition and hold, but scores poorly in the residue department.
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BAKING SODA - Why I Regret Putting It In My Hair
Every time I see a blog post about the wonders of baking soda for your hair, I get upset. I thoroughly regret my decision to ever put that powder anywhere near my wonderful fro. I read a post saying that using baking soda cleans your hair and promotes softness as well as moisture. It also advised me to leave it in for a long period of time. How stupid I feel now! Even though my natural hair journey is supposed to be a learning experience based on trial and error, i could have gone without this error. My hair which was thick and luscious, now feels brittle and weak. This was after 1 use. From afar you may not be able to tell the damage, but my hair is rough to the touch and retains limited moisture.
My hair doesn't even shrink as much as it used to, and i welcome shrinkage... So, I'm going to start the process of rebuilding my hair. I will be more careful this time to stay far away from things that most people rave about. Of course I'm not starting again from scratch, but i will repair what i have and do better. I will start with oil washes and deep conditioners to rebuild the protein and moisture of my hair strands... I will post a photo of my baking soda damaged hair and document my progress. If anyone has recommended baking soda to you, turn them down and warn them of the damage that is being done to their hair.
Hair Care: Deep Conditioning
Conditioning is a very important part of my Natural Hair regimen. I have leant since cutting off my hair that shampoo is the devil and will make your hair feel like the Sahara Desert. Conditioner helps your hair maintain moisture and also helps to remove product build-up without completely stripping your hair and scalp of moisture. After a CoWash or a Deep Condition session, your hair is curly, healthy, and vibrant. I've not tried out much deep Conditioners.... in reality i've used two brands (As I Am & DooGro), and so far i've fallen deeply in love with the 'As I Am Deep Conditioner'. My hair is softer, during conditioning my curls are more defined, and at the end my hair is easier to style and smells great all week. Your deep conditioner does not have to be costly but you should research ones that work best with your hair type to avoid disasters. In addition to conditioning your hair, you should always drink a lot of water which helps to lubirate the scalp and skin
It has been 6 months since i big chopped and my hair is already past my ears and on the tip of my nose. I've been taking care of my hair pretty well in my opinion, and i love that my hair is healthy and I'm not forcing my hair to conform and do what it wasn't meant to do. Deep Conditioning is important to make your hair malleable and flexible for styling as well as detangling. If you've recently started your healthy hair journey... Happy trails to you ♥
Big Chop
Well, It's obvious that i'm weeks late with this post.... but ... i finally big chopped! I did it on Sunday May 4th at approx 10 something in the morning with blue handled tailor scissors. I had a whole lot of hair under there. I really love my TWA which as i have noted before is one big puff of 4C hair. For some reason, people seem to hate 4c hair, but i actually like it and my hair is pretty darn soft. Shrinkage plagues my daily life but it's for the best. I do a lot of flat twists and have come across some pretty great products namely As I am coconut co-wash and Hawaiian Silky. Those are my favorites along with Indian Hemp a grease i use on my scalp. I love my new hair and my new look :) and i hope you like it too. I'm gonna have fun on this journey and i hope i attain the happy healthy hair i want.