Daily Archives: September 18, 2012

July-August GOC Update: TerrificLady (#6)

Standard

July Update
Not much for my July update.

I hennaed my hair again on July 21st. Afterwards I, applied my home made moisturizer/conditioner to my hair for 1 hour. The moisturizer/conditioner ingredients are as follows:

  • Shea Butter
  • EV Olive Oil
  • EV Coconut oil
  • Tea Tree EO
  • Avocado butter
  • Little bit of Shea butter leave-in conditioner
  • Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil-Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion
  • Aloe Vera Gel

I mix it all together with a stick blender.


I also try trimmed/dusted my ends, because they are very dry. I took off about 1/4 to 1/2 inch most areas. I am sure I miss some areas, but thats ok.

I used flexi rods again too!

My hair still has quite some single strand knots and breakage, especially around the edges. I am not sure what is causing it, but I hope that when I can get my hair in one, I won’t manipulate my
hair too much.

August Update
In August, I purchased quite a few items! First, let me tell you that I am super happy that I finally bought my own camera, since my old one went kaput back in April/May. I received it on August 16th.

On August 11th, I did a henna/indigo treatment and used a conditioner mixture again that consisted of honey, 3000 IU of Vitamin E, EVOO, tea tree EO, Mizani Moisterfusion and Olive Oil Hair Mayonaise.

I noticed my edges getting thinner. So, I also bought some new products like Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO) and Wild Growth Hair Oil. I started using them about a week ago, however I am using the JBCO at the left side front edges and the Wild Growth Oil at the right side. I just want to experiment and see if and which side grow faster, maybe in 3 months.

Right side edges; left side edges.

I received grapeseed oil I ordered on Amazon and I finally travelled to the States at the end of August and visited the Sally’s store in Miami. I bought 2 Shea Moisture products at Target to start using in September: the Curl Enhancing Smoothie and the Deep Treatment Mask. I will update you on the result when I use any of them.

And since I was going to be in the States, I order henna and indigo to last me hopefully a year and it was delivered to the hotel where I was going to stay before I reached it. Took less than a week compared to one month last time.

I dusted/trimmed my hair again on August 26th, because I found my ends to be very frizzy. Don’t like the feel of it.

On August 26th, I did a conditioning treatment with Mizani moisturefusion, honey,grapeseed oil, coconut oil and tea tree EO. My God, this is the first time my hair came out super soft and tangle free. For me, this was the best result from a (deep) conditioning.

I also tried to get my hair in one finally, with the help of Eco Styler Gel. Lol.

Ohhh, how can I forget?! I bought a flat-iron :-)! It’s a Solia. I used it the same day I deep conditioned my hair. I find it difficult to flat-iron my hair myself, therefore I simply tried to loosen the curls/coils some. Didn’t like the outcome, however my hair was easier to handle.



See TerrificLady’s initial GOC Submission and prior updates here:

Initial GOC Submission
April Update
May Update
June Update

Advertisement

Crystal’s HairStory

Standard


Describe yourself in 100 words or less.
A loving wife and mom to two little girls. I love Jesus, my hubby, my girls and my coupons. I am an auditor by trade, a couponer by choice and a curly girl by grace. I am a new blogger as well. My blog is about my hair and couponing.

How long have you been natural and why did you chose to go natural?
My last relaxer was December 2008. I decided to go natural partly out of being cheap. You see, I have two little girls and I didn’t want them to see me getting relaxers and start asking me for one. I refused to pay for three females to get relaxers. Besides, after my girls were born and I saw their GORGEOUS hair, I thought, “Well they are my babies, so they had to get this beautiful hair from me.”

Did you transition or big chop?
I transitioned. I don’t like short hair (on me).

How did others (family, friends, colleagues) react to your decision to go natural? What was your response to them? How do they feel now?
No one had any reactions and, if they did, I didn’t care. One cousin told me I needed a relaxer and I told her I didn’t. Other than that, that was it. My mom stated she liked my hair better straight, but I think that was because she has seen me with straight hair for so long. But, as long as my hubby liked my hair that was all that mattered … and, of course, my girls.

What is/was your biggest hair challenge/obstacle? How did you overcome it or what are you doing now to try to address the problem?
I really have no challenges regarding my hair. My left side has looser curls, so it looks like it is cut asymmetrically, but it isn’t.

What do you love most about your natural hair and/or about being natural?
I love the freedom. I can swim and work out and not be worried about my hair.

What is your current regimen? Has it changed in any major way since you first went natural?
I follow the CG method. I just started this in July 2012. I like it so far. I do wash and go’s, although I am going to do some banding tonight to do a length check. When I first went natural, I tried everything I thought everyone else was (minus henna, I’m too lazy for all that). I tried sealing and using oil. But I have oily and sensitive skin, so the oils had to go. I even went back to using grease on my scalp at one point, but that was too messy as well. So now the CG method is for me. Easy Peasy (as my girls would say. LOL).

What are your Holy Grail and staple products?
I love Mixed Chicks sulfate free shampoo. I love their deep conditioner as well. I also love Tresemmé Naturals Conditioner and Eco Styler gel. I have been using Eco since 2009 and I LOVE it. My cousin told me about it and I WON’T use another gel. I use all of the Eco Stylers except the brown gel. I don’t do brown gel.

What is your “go to” style? Do you wear protective and/or low manipulation styles? If so, how often and why?
My go to is a wash and go. Although, prior to the CG method, I did twist outs all the time, because I was trying to keep my hands out of my hair. I would twist my hair and wear it in twists all the time. I would wear the twists in a ponytail or however. Then I would take them down only when I felt like it.


How often do you cut/trim your hair? How do you cut it (salon, DIY, straight, curly, in twists)?
I last trimmed at Easter, so I think it is time to do it now. My stylist straightened it to cut it and I haven’t been back because, now that I follow the CG method, I don’t want it straightened to get cut. Because I wear my hair curly, think it should be cut in its curly state. But I was trimming it about every 3 to 6 months.

Has going natural impacted other areas of your life (i.e. health & fitness, style, environmental consciousness, etc.?) If so, how and in what ways has it affected your lifestyle?
I save money and that is the most important thing. Because I am a couponer, I can get my products at a very low cost, even the expensive items such as Miss Jessie’s (when I used those products) and Mixed Chick. They are now sold in Target and I know how to work my deals. LOVE IT!!!

Do you have a “hair crush?” If so, who?
ME!!! Not to be conceited, but I LOVE my hair. Actually, my hair crush is my 4 year old, C. I love her hair so much.

Who do you follow online (i.e. blog/website, Youtube, Fotki, etc.)?
Curls2Envy.com
Afrobella
eclecticmanure.com

Where can we find you online?
Website: www.crystalscurls.blogspot.com
Facebook: Crystals Curls

What advice would you give someone who is contemplating going natural and/or becoming discouraged with their natural journey?
Like Nike: Just do it.

Anything else that you’d like to add?
Thanks for letting me share my journey with you. Your Blog is AWEsome. Be blessed.

“Fake It Til You Make It”

Standard

Yesterday, you may have noticed this lovely little updo in the pictures that I shared from the One World, Many Naturals Natural Hair Expo. Well, of course when I saw it, I had to ask how it was done! The beautiful “model,” Brittany of Herbalocity, graciously obliged by providing me with the name of the YouTuber and video that inspired her style.

via ImmaDstarra

You’ll note that the inspiration style included a swoop. But Brittany advised me that she was in a rush that day, so she just did the twist, bun and kept it moving! And, it still turned out beautifully. Just goes to show that you can give you own twist out of creativity, serendipity urgency or necessity and still come away with beautiful results!!

Have you faked it until you made it or would you?