Protective Styling Summer 2016

So I decided to go into detail about what protective styling I have done over the last couple of months.

I wear wigs that I made with lace closures or silk base closures. That is the most convenient protective styling for me. I made these wigs probably last year and the year before last. I have had one of them since 2013 as well. one is a Brazilian curly which I had the longest since February of 2013, I have wavy from November 2014, and I have kinky curly that I rarely wear but I have had it since last year. I also have several half wigs I do not wear since I have gone natural and do not plan on straightening my hair and they are straight.


Now why wigs?

It is what I call get up and go hair. I can take it off at night preserve whatever style it has and throw it back on after I am dressed for work. I also find that I can change up my style midweek with a different wig. Styling one while I wear the other one.

I also can see them down if I would like and have a more secure hold. I say this because on my cruise vacation I was jet skiing and decided not to see it down and almost lost my baby off the beach in St Lucia. I would have been heartbroken. I would have sewn it down but each day I was alternating wigs with each island so I could style set during the day.

Maintenance?

Wigs are not low maintenance when they are made of human hair. They need to be treated the same as what is growing out of your head. Washed, cowashed, conditioned, and loved. I do that with each of my wigs! I recommend investing in a satin pillow case I find that the bonnets make my head extremely hot if I have my wig sewed in overnight.

Sticking to wigs?

I am trying to find a protective style that is not so harsh on my edges. I have found that the thread around or Bobby pins have created tension around my edges and they have thinned quite dramatically.

Well dolls when I decide on my next protective style I will let you know.

Ciao 😘

Hair Update

I have been wearing my hair in cornrolls and wearing my wig sewndown. Wh oh is I haven't had any hair posts. Currently going through some type of set back where my hair refuses to cooperate.

Friday I will be doing a cherry Lola treatment followed my a severe deep condition/hot oil treatment and follow it up with a bentonite clay make and see if I can get my hair to work itself out.


I will also try to record or take pictures of each step and what products I use so stay tuned. Also I am part of a Facebook group called Woman Crush Wednesday's where we discuss beauty tips if anyone is interested in hair, skin, makeup, etc let me know unwell get you added. Every Wednesday will be a live video to discuss different topics.


Well dolls I'm headed to bed. Until Friday.


ciao😘

Date night Hair pinch! How I saved my hair for a random date.

Hey Dolls!

So I had my wash day during the week last week and after overnight conditioning did not style my hair. I put some leave in went to work with a puff the got dry throughout the day but had no plans after work other than to style my hair so no big deal.

Well my boyfriend (new romance) sent me a text me right before my lunch break that he wanted me to come over so we that could go to dinner.

This was a nightmare not only was my hair not styled but it was also crunchy and dry.

Mentally I brain storm a way to solve my hair problem.

Option 1. On my lunch go home do some braids and throw on my wig, see it down and be good to go.

Option 2. Pull out my handy spray bottle and hydrating hair butter from my over night bag (I always keep and over night bag in my trunk in case of emergencies).

I decided with option 2, because trying to get home prepare my wig which was still suffering the effects of ocean water would be entirely too much. Trying to get back to work during rush hour would make me even more late than trying to style it.

So I went to our public restroom and proceeded to prep my hair for a twist out. I knew it wouldn't be the most defined and gorgeous twist it but I was hoping for a fluffy yet curly fro that if it came out too bad I could throw my snappees on in my go to Afro puff style. So I did probably 15 large twist, I spritz with water so they were damp and not soaking and applied the bitter before twisting. I always finger coil the ends to get the best curly ends possible.

So I had four hours of work left plus a 35 minute drive to his house. My hair was not fully dry but dry enough to unravel and there was one spot that hadn't dried much at all however I made it work.

Here are the results and this is the following day after I separation in 4 pineapple ponytails to preserve overnight. It was so big and fluffy and actually had more definition than I expected. It also was extremely moisturizer and I was able to wear for 4 days before retwisting for the holiday. 

Snappee Review

These are a naturlista must have!

Let me repeat that for you.

*clears throat*

 THESE ARE A NATURALIST MUST HAVE! Let me start off by saying I am not being paid for or being compensated in anyway by my opinion. I purchased these on a whim and because they were created by this black owned business.

What are they? Snappee is a hair tie that has revolutionized my hair game. It is an adjustable hair tie that you can snap together or snap by itself.

How to use them? It is really simple wrap it around your hair and snap it together. For a larger Snappee just snap two Snappee hair ties together and then follow first step of wrap and snap.

It is literally that simple, now what make it revolutionary you ask.

1. No snagging (with my hair). Its is this soft cloth material that doesn't pull at my hair, get tangled, or pull out moisture.
2. You get 3 for 10.99 which seems crazy when you could get several packs of hair ties at this price but for these its like having a hand band, rubber band, ponytail holder all in 3 little snappees.
3. Achieving desired style were so much easier. My curls get very dense and are hard to pull in a puff but not with the snappees, I was able to use one and two depending on the desired look I was achieving.
4. They are comfortable to have in. I never get the pulled to tight feeling because essentially you can snap them together if they are too short. 
5. They come in a variety of colors so you are not limited to black or brown. You can match you hair or match your outfit with these babies. I ordered the black so that they would match my hair.

Here I have two snappees in pigtails. This is my go-to with older twist outs.

They can be purchased at http://www.snappee.com/. When you get to the site the typically offer you a discount code for your first purchase. I went ahead and inserted the infomercial to provide more information.

Current Hair products for June 2016 Natural Hair care

I am going to walk you through my current wash day routine to date and what is currently working for my hair, as it changes every couple of months.

Step 1: Pre-poo/deep condition with Conditioner
So I start off with dry dirty hair and I apply a conditioner lately it has been is the New Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Curl Nourish for Dry, Curly Hair {Target $2.99}.(see below picture) I put this on my dry hair in sections and finger detangle prior to shampooing. I usually leave this in my hair and sit under my hooded dryer cap (attachment for my dry) for about 30-40 min. It makes detangling so easy and adds extra nourishment to my tresses.

Step 2: Shampoo
Next I Shampoo out the conditioner using Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Sulfate Free Shampoo {Amazon has for $10 but it is available at local beauty supply stores}. After I apply the shampoo and continue to finger detangle I massage my scalp with a scalp massager{$2.99 at local beauty supply} to lift any grit from my scalp and promote blood flow.

Step 2: Deep Condition or Condition
So depending on the day of the week I will condition with Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Moisturizing and Detangling Conditioner as I am applying continue to finger detangle and put into section. I then place my hair in a plastic cap and bonnet and sit under hooded dry anywhere between 1hr-2hr. If I am deep conditioning I use Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque which I leave on my hair over night covered with plastic cap and satin bonnet.


Step 3 Rinse conditioner and prep for styling
After rinsing out the conditioner I prepare my hair for styling by spraying with water and olive oil mixture, Depending on what type of style I am doing I would use True by Made Beautiful Hydrating hair butter for twist outs or braided styles. If I am doing a wash and go I use Kinky Curly Knot Today Detangler as my leave in (diluted with water) and Kinky Curly Curling Custard or Eco Styler Gel Argan Oil. I do not care for the eco styler as it leaves a nasty residue after a couple of days but it gets the job done when applied in a shingling method.


FYI: This is what works for my hair and may work for yours, every couple of months I tend to switch up what I am using so my hair does not get used to it and they not properly react to and with the seasons changing I will need something heavier for Fall/Winter.

Ciao, xoxo