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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque: Redux
As you guys remember ( or may not remember), I tried the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque...and wasn't particularly impressed by it.
I mean, as a deep conditioner, it did its job of moisturizing my hair but it left no slip! I pretty much felt -meh- about the product.
Lately, however, I have been trying to get rid of products that I have stocked up in my bathroom ( I admit--I am a product junkie) and I realized that I have a tiny bit of this product to use up. On the label, the directions indicate you can use the product as a leave in moisturizer. So, I have been using it in that way for about a week or so.
Let me say that I think I like this product more as a moisturizer and less as a DC. It leave my hair very soft and moisturized (something that I wasn't really expecting given my previous experience). So...ladies...I am somewhat eating my words. Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque may be so-so as a DC but it makes for a good moisturizer!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The Art of Blowdrying (It's Really Not That Tricky)
The weekend I had the urge to wear my hair straight for a day or two. Crazy right? What's even crazier is that I decided to straighten my hair...by myself....after being out in the sun for the better part of the day. Can you say tired!?
Anyway, I am learning that there is an art to blowdrying your hair. Back when I was younger and didn't know any better, I would blow dry my hair using a regular blow dryer (not a ceramic/tourmaline one) with a comb attachment that you can pick up at Wally World. I wouldn't detangle my hair beforehand thinking that the comb attachment will do the job and I definitely didn't put any product in my hair. I can't tell you have many comb attachments I have broken using that method.
The end result of all that poor hair styling? Big, poofy blow dried hair. I looked like Alex the Lion from Madgascar.
I never really quite knew what to do with my hair after those blow drying sessions. SMH.
Well thank goodness for knowledge!
I found that proper blowdrying consists of 3 things:
1) the correct tools
2) the correct products
3) the correct technique
On Saturday, after washing and DCing my hair, I applied Kinky Curly Knot Today (moisturizing leave in), Aphogee Keratin and Green Tea Restructrizer (I spray this on my hair whenever I'm using heat), and One N Only Argan Oil (heat protectant) to my hair. I then proceeded to blow dry my hair w/ my FHI blowdryer using the method that Salon Cabelo describes (yes with the Denman brush and everything):
The result? Non poofy, non cottonball like hair. If I wasn't trying to go for a bone straight look, I could have stopped at the blow drying.
The point of thishorrendously long post is this: when blow drying your hair it is important to have the right tools. However, it's equally important to use the right products for you hair (I know for me I have to have a great leave in and a great heat protectant. Otherwise you can forget it) as well as a great technique. Once you get those three things in a magical, glitter driven configuration-you will have perfect blow drying results every time! :)
Anyway, I am learning that there is an art to blowdrying your hair. Back when I was younger and didn't know any better, I would blow dry my hair using a regular blow dryer (not a ceramic/tourmaline one) with a comb attachment that you can pick up at Wally World. I wouldn't detangle my hair beforehand thinking that the comb attachment will do the job and I definitely didn't put any product in my hair. I can't tell you have many comb attachments I have broken using that method.
The end result of all that poor hair styling? Big, poofy blow dried hair. I looked like Alex the Lion from Madgascar.
I never really quite knew what to do with my hair after those blow drying sessions. SMH.
Well thank goodness for knowledge!
I found that proper blowdrying consists of 3 things:
1) the correct tools
2) the correct products
3) the correct technique
On Saturday, after washing and DCing my hair, I applied Kinky Curly Knot Today (moisturizing leave in), Aphogee Keratin and Green Tea Restructrizer (I spray this on my hair whenever I'm using heat), and One N Only Argan Oil (heat protectant) to my hair. I then proceeded to blow dry my hair w/ my FHI blowdryer using the method that Salon Cabelo describes (yes with the Denman brush and everything):
The result? Non poofy, non cottonball like hair. If I wasn't trying to go for a bone straight look, I could have stopped at the blow drying.
The point of this
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The Vitamin B Experiment
Happy Tuesday everyone!
Three days ago Recently, I've had to start taking a Vitamin B supplement for non-hair reasons (nothing major but let's just chalk it up to the fact that being a girl can suck sometimes). This current development has me thinking. As some of you may know the B vitamins are great for hair growth. In case you forgot, let me tell you what B vitamins do:
Biotin – This vitamin produces keratin that prevents hair loss and hair graying.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)-activates vitamin B3 and vitamin B6
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)- Allows scalp blood circulation.
Vitamin B5 (Panthothenic Acid)-prevents hair loss and graying.
Vitamin B6- prevents hair loss and helps in the formation of melanin to give hair it's color.
Vitamin B12-prevents hair loss
Cool, huh?
Being the scientist I am, I want to do an experiment to see if me taking a Vitamin B supplement has any effect on my hair growth (I'm particularly interested in what Vitamin B3 can do).
So, here's the plan: I will take my Spring Valley Super B-Complex daily for 3 months or until I run out (but I shouldn't run out since certain factors dictate that I need to take them). Each month, I will do a length check to see if there are any drastic differences in hair growth. Hopefully, it will help you guys to decide if you should believe the hype regarding supplements!
Biotin – This vitamin produces keratin that prevents hair loss and hair graying.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)-activates vitamin B3 and vitamin B6
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)- Allows scalp blood circulation.
Vitamin B5 (Panthothenic Acid)-prevents hair loss and graying.
Vitamin B6- prevents hair loss and helps in the formation of melanin to give hair it's color.
Vitamin B12-prevents hair loss
Cool, huh?
Being the scientist I am, I want to do an experiment to see if me taking a Vitamin B supplement has any effect on my hair growth (I'm particularly interested in what Vitamin B3 can do).
So, here's the plan: I will take my Spring Valley Super B-Complex daily for 3 months or until I run out (but I shouldn't run out since certain factors dictate that I need to take them). Each month, I will do a length check to see if there are any drastic differences in hair growth. Hopefully, it will help you guys to decide if you should believe the hype regarding supplements!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Earrings (and things)
Happy Friday lovelies!!
This week has been so busy for me now I'm back in the swing of things in lab. I just wanted to stop by and just fill you in on what has been going on.
As you know, I have been bunning for the majority of the summer. There's nothing wrong with that right? It's a great protective style and it's low manipulation. Everything should be good, right?
WRONG!!!
I have found that buns have the tendency to make you look like Plain Jane if you aren't careful. And we all know what happens if you look like Plain Jane, right? You get bored with bunning and then you're on the hunt for another protective style. So, I have decided to start accessorizing more to get rid of this bunning boredom. I figured a good place to start would be with earrings. I have 2 piercings in each ear (got my ears pierced as a baby and again at 16) and I barely wear earrings. I need to change that. Although I have just started to really wear earrings on a daily basis, I am finding that they add much needed oomph to basic, boring buns (hooray!).
I just want to show you a few pics of my buns w/ earrings. Keep in mind that my earring collection isn't extensive (yet!) but I plan on adding more earrings as the months go by!
*SN: Sheesh. I need to expand and get some gold earrings, huh?*
This week has been so busy for me now I'm back in the swing of things in lab. I just wanted to stop by and just fill you in on what has been going on.
As you know, I have been bunning for the majority of the summer. There's nothing wrong with that right? It's a great protective style and it's low manipulation. Everything should be good, right?
WRONG!!!
I have found that buns have the tendency to make you look like Plain Jane if you aren't careful. And we all know what happens if you look like Plain Jane, right? You get bored with bunning and then you're on the hunt for another protective style. So, I have decided to start accessorizing more to get rid of this bunning boredom. I figured a good place to start would be with earrings. I have 2 piercings in each ear (got my ears pierced as a baby and again at 16) and I barely wear earrings. I need to change that. Although I have just started to really wear earrings on a daily basis, I am finding that they add much needed oomph to basic, boring buns (hooray!).
I just want to show you a few pics of my buns w/ earrings. Keep in mind that my earring collection isn't extensive (yet!) but I plan on adding more earrings as the months go by!
*SN: Sheesh. I need to expand and get some gold earrings, huh?*
Monday, August 15, 2011
Look of the Day (8/15/11): Top Knot Bun
Happy Monday lovelies!!
I just wanted to stop by quickly before work with my look of the day! I was feeling incredibly lazy during my wash day yesterday so I wanted a style that was quick, easy, and allowed me to air dry. Enter the top knot bun. I put a little leave in on my hair (I've been using Kinky Curly Knot Today lately. No particular reason....just for kicks), added some gel, and tied my hair up for the evening. I just had to remove my scarf this morning.
Check it out:
Note: a) pics are taken to the side you that you guys can see the bun! You can't really see it if you're looking at me dead on b) there is no flash b/c the primer I'm currently using doesn't photograph well :/
Well what do you think? What look are you rockin' today?
I just wanted to stop by quickly before work with my look of the day! I was feeling incredibly lazy during my wash day yesterday so I wanted a style that was quick, easy, and allowed me to air dry. Enter the top knot bun. I put a little leave in on my hair (I've been using Kinky Curly Knot Today lately. No particular reason....just for kicks), added some gel, and tied my hair up for the evening. I just had to remove my scarf this morning.
Check it out:
Note: a) pics are taken to the side you that you guys can see the bun! You can't really see it if you're looking at me dead on b) there is no flash b/c the primer I'm currently using doesn't photograph well :/
Well what do you think? What look are you rockin' today?
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Hair Boredom/ Look of the Day: 8/11/11
Happy Thursday ladies!
Well, it has been awhile since I last posted. I have been having a bit of hair boredom lately. I mean, it's too hot to straighten it and I'm too lazy to do a flexirod set. So, I have been washing DCing and bunning. The bunning is driving me to frustration since I usually bun with my hair all the way back. This would be all well and good if the front part of my hair would get some 'act right' and not want to look jank all the time.
As a result of all these factors, I am bored with my hair.
In an effort to add some spice into my (hair) life, I'm trying to jazz things up a bit. Since I bun a lot, I'm trying to wear earrings more (so I don't look so plain). I picked up some great ones at Forever 21 and Rue 21. I also purchased some beanies for the Fall. I'm also trying to style my hair so that my hair isn't straight back when I bun.
Today, I am rocking a side bun/ flat twist. I think it's pretty cute. Take a look:
* I purchased the earrings from Rue 21 *
: Sigh : Hopefully this is the first step in getting me out of my (hair) funk :/
Well, it has been awhile since I last posted. I have been having a bit of hair boredom lately. I mean, it's too hot to straighten it and I'm too lazy to do a flexirod set. So, I have been washing DCing and bunning. The bunning is driving me to frustration since I usually bun with my hair all the way back. This would be all well and good if the front part of my hair would get some 'act right' and not want to look jank all the time.
As a result of all these factors, I am bored with my hair.
In an effort to add some spice into my (hair) life, I'm trying to jazz things up a bit. Since I bun a lot, I'm trying to wear earrings more (so I don't look so plain). I picked up some great ones at Forever 21 and Rue 21. I also purchased some beanies for the Fall. I'm also trying to style my hair so that my hair isn't straight back when I bun.
Today, I am rocking a side bun/ flat twist. I think it's pretty cute. Take a look:
* I purchased the earrings from Rue 21 *
: Sigh : Hopefully this is the first step in getting me out of my (hair) funk :/
Friday, August 5, 2011
Thank God You Can't Eff Up a Flexirod Set...
Le sigh.
I went to a hair salon to actually get my hair styled for the first time in a long time yesterday. I wanted to share in a girls day out w/ my mother and her friend so I figured I get a rod set.
And I regret it.
Lawd, I saw everything from people who don't need relaxers at this moment in time getting relaxers pulled through the entire length of their hair to the shampoo girl being entirely too rough with folks hair. I saw combing from root to tip with a small tooth comb, too. Basically, everything that could be done incorrectly-was. And don't get me started on the condition of some of the hair tools. SMH.
The poor hair care practices that I witnessed in that salon was enough to keep me away from salons. No one in that shop had hair past NL and if they are frequenting that salon I understand why. Oh and don't get me started on what their advice for weave care was ("come to me every month or so and I'll wash and style it for you"). I am just disgusted.
So for the rant but I've been holding that in since yesterday.
I went to a hair salon to actually get my hair styled for the first time in a long time yesterday. I wanted to share in a girls day out w/ my mother and her friend so I figured I get a rod set.
And I regret it.
Lawd, I saw everything from people who don't need relaxers at this moment in time getting relaxers pulled through the entire length of their hair to the shampoo girl being entirely too rough with folks hair. I saw combing from root to tip with a small tooth comb, too. Basically, everything that could be done incorrectly-was. And don't get me started on the condition of some of the hair tools. SMH.
The poor hair care practices that I witnessed in that salon was enough to keep me away from salons. No one in that shop had hair past NL and if they are frequenting that salon I understand why. Oh and don't get me started on what their advice for weave care was ("come to me every month or so and I'll wash and style it for you"). I am just disgusted.
So for the rant but I've been holding that in since yesterday.
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