Last week, my aloe vera juice (AVJ) to seal experiment didn’t go so well. I suspected that this was due to my concurrent plopping experiment (see here if you missed it). So, this past Saturday, I decided to try it again. Here is how wash days (yes days, that’s not a typo) went.
- On Thursday night, I pre-pooed and finger detangled with Vatika oil, placing my hair in 6 twists. I donned a baggie and hit the sack.
- Friday morning, I placed the twists in a low bun and slicked the edges with some Sofn’Free Mold & Hold Wax for work.
- Friday night, I untwisted each section, applied Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose conditioner directly over the Vatika oil and retwisted. Again, I donned a baggie and hit the sack.
- Saturday morning, I hit the shower and washed with the last of the Terressentials Mud Wash (TMW) Left Coast Lemon. I untwisted each section, one by one, to wash and then re-twisted.
- I got out of the shower and finger combed, then used a wide tooth comb, to detangle each section.
- Finally, after I combed each section, I raked Kinky Curly Knot Today (KCKT) through it, then AVJ.
My hair took about 4-5 hours to fully dry, but it was huge once done!
Now, a few observations and additional notes.
- I am really digging this dry hair deep conditioning before washing as it means I don’t have to get back in the shower or use the sink to wash the DC!!
- My hair was very tacky when I used the TMW this time. It was tacky during the wash and the post wash detangling session, which is why I resorted to the wide tooth comb after finger detangling. Last week I used the DevaCare No Poo and my hair detangled like a breeze. Not sure if it was the products I used this past week, but I did NOT like the feel of my hair. I will say that I didn’t use any conditioner after washing and I also didn’t do a cool water rinse. So, the omission of those steps may have impacted my results. Next week, I’ll try this again with the TMW Lavender Garden and a cool final rinse to see if I have the same problem. I’m trying to eliminate the rinse-out conditioner step to see if I can use the TMW alone.
- I should have re-wet each section of my hair prior to applying the leave-in and AVJ as my hair was only barely damp by the time I got to the right side. Fran indicated her hair has to be very wet to get the best results.
- Once my hair was fully dry, I used a little JBCO to smooth and seal as I felt my hair looked too dry without a little oil.
- Before bed, I oiled my scalp with Wild Growth Hair Oil (white bottle) and applied a tiny amount of the Wild Growth Light (yellow bottle) to the length. Then, I placed my hair in 8 twists and put on my satin bonnet for bed.
- On Sunday, I used some Eco Styler Olive Oil gel, a satin scrunchie and a few bobby pins to place my hair into a big, low bun. I’ll probably wear it in a bun the rest of the week, unless I have time to put it in twists.
In other news, last week was a complete fail in regard to my exercise and diet regimen. It was a very sad week due to an unexpected and deeply impactful loss. I had time to work-out, but I just didn’t do it out of stress and emotional exhaustion. I really need to stop allowing those things to take me off the course though, as exercise often helps one cope with stress and it’s just another excuse. Well, today is another day to get it right.
Finally, I saw Avengers this weekend … TWICE!!! OMGosh, no spoilers, but it did NOT disappoint! If you are a comics/cartoon/superhero fan, I think that you’ll probably enjoy it. I can be the harshest of critics with these type of movies, but I was very pleased. Guess that’s no surprise since I already said that I saw it twice … and on the same day. I think it falls somewhere between X1 (about which I was mostly ambivalent) and X2 (which I LOVED). That’s all I’ll say as I don’t want to give anything away for those who haven’t seen it yet. But, if you haven’t seen it yet … what are you waiting for??? Oh, wait, I do have one more thing to say … stay until the end of the credits. That is all.
Dang, I forgot to show my Avengers ID! I might have gotten in for free!!
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hairscapades 
LOL! I saw The Avengers too! I liked it, although I was a little lost in the beginning.
Your bun is HUGE!!!
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Hi Shelli! I can’t wait to see the movie – my boys are drooling, but the princess? Not so much. Gotta find her a playdate. Question on the AV – I use the Aubrey Organics gel to seal my daughter’s hair – but I can’t tell from what I’ve read and heard (from Fran, too) if I am just to apply it to her ends or entire head? She has VERY dry 4a/b hair and I’m trying to build up moisture. Ok, off to try to put all of my hair (5 months transitioning, long texlaxed combo) into a bun like yours. I wish I could get it as big as yours – love it. Guess I need to try a banana clip to spread this hair out! Have a great day!
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I want to see it!! I think we are going to our free movie to see it tomorrow!
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I have tried the AVJ procedure and I really like the results. I deep conditioned first and then used the TMW after rinsing out deep conditioner. Next I applied my leave-in on wet hair and then sealed with the AVJ and JBCO on the end. The results I really liked.
As for the movie, Shelli you need to email me the ending after the credits. My son, his friend and I went to the 10pm show by the time it was over I was running home to my bed. I thought it was a really good movie and I am glad I got to contribute to make it a high grossing success.
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I think the tacky feeling may be some buildup from all the other products you are using. Did you do the full detox? I’m on day 3 of the TMW detox and when I used it before, I definitely had a gross tacky feeling after using but that was when I was using all sorts of things in my hair. I’m not sure, but that’s what it sounds like to me. Sorry for your loss :-(. Stress is no joke and don’t feel bad, I fell off (and rolled down the hill) with my exercise and eating, but imma get back on next week as soon as I finish my last final! That ginormous bun is bangin!!!! 🙂
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Sorry for your loss.
Haven’t seen the Avengers movie not sure if I will go.
I have finally mastered the wash n go. I’ve been doing the cg method and I enjoy it. I now know how to keep my hair moisurized and what conditioners and leave -in conitioner works. I just need to find a inexpensive alternative to KCC besides making flax gel . That’s a pretty cool feeling to master something. Also Fran has a new video up, love her tumblr and vids as well.
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Thanks Nadia. If you like superhero movies, you should totally go check out Avengers!! In regard to Fran’s new video, the one on her twists? I’ve been trying to watch that one for the last two days, but haven’t had the full time to watch it!! I had actually specifically asked her about doing a tutorial on her twists on one of her posts on BGLH a couple of weeks ago. She told me then that it was coming in a couple of weeks. I need to see how she does the front as I always have a problem with how the front lays. I don’t know how to hold the hair as I twist so it doesn’t look weird when I try to style the twists into updos.
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I saw it twice this weekend too! Midnight show Friday and then again on Sunday ^_^ Definitely worth the 2nd viewing ^_^
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YES!!!! Right Autumn??!?! The second time, I picked up things I missed the first time around!!
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I love using AO HSR like that! I always wet my hair before I applied it from tradition. I read an article one day that said the key to getting the best out of your products is to read the directions *slaps forehead* Doh! Every since then I was able to use it that way and now I noticed I don’t have to DC as much since my
Hair is more moisturized. I used to DC weekly now I’m down to 2/3 a much needed accomplishment as a grad student.
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