So You Want to Be a "Knotty Girl"?!!

Why do i want to go natural?

  I asked myself that question the first time i went natural, for me it was just the fact that i was tired of perming. I was "texlaxing" for years and decided I  was ready to go all out. I've always loved big hair and standing out in the crowds. The first time I went natural I didn't know HOW to rock my natural hair so I rocked it straight with the help of dominican blowouts. I still suffered, cringing everytime it started to rain, or I started to sweat in a crowded nightclub. My friends would say to me "Deb..your hair is GROWING!!" Meaning it was getting large and poofy. Yet still I insisted on rocking my perm-free straight hair.

   NOW that i am on the journey AGAIN, i have come back ready to handle all hair situations and embrace my big,poofy,kinky,natural mane. I've researched a WHOLE more and i am loving the results of my transitioning hair. I decided doing the "big chop" wasn't for me so opted to long term transition meaning I will cut about an inch of my hair every two months.




1) I STOPPED using shampoos with sulfates, cones, and parabens! Instead opting for organic shampoos and adding a little of my favorite oil to the bottle.
2) I pre-poo EVERY shampoo day
3) I co-wash at least once a week which has helped tremendously with keeping my hair manageable and my new growth soft and lush.
4) I ALWAYS deep condition!! ALWAYS! Every week i make sure i deep condition, if I don't I can definitely feel and see the difference in my hair when styling.
5) Take pictures. It keeps you motivated seeing how far you've come and how much more you have to go before reaching your hair goal.
6) Try to stay away from hard bristle brushes and small tooth combs as they can cause some serious breakage. I don't even have a one in my house...actually I am lying,i have one but lost it somewhere and can't find it but it doesn't matter anyways because I don't use it. I use wide to combs or my paddle brush.


Well, those were just a few of my little tips, I could go on and on and on in this post but I will save some more tips for later ;-)



 

The Huetiful Hair Steamer

I WANT! I WANT! I WANT!!
 
   The Huetiful Hair Steamer "restores moisture 5x better than conditioner alone"! At least that's what everyone says. I've watched the videos on YouTube, read reviews, and I have gotten physco about this steamer! Its on my Xmas wish list, I've been mentioning it in conversations with my mom, anything to get the point across. At a whopping $114 its just not on the top of my list right now so i am hoping i will receive it as a Xmas present or at least get someone to go half on it with me lol. If I don't get it for Xmas I will break down and buy it before New Year's and i PROMISE i will do a review :-)
 Here's a little more info on it:

Cost: $114.95 INCLUDES FREE SHIPPING
Product: Huetiful Steamer

The Huetiful Steamer is specifically designed for the unique needs of curly and wavy hair, restoring moisture 5x better than deep conditioners alone, opening up the cuticles of your hair to allow any conditioner you choose to penetrate better and work more effectively, bathing your hair with warm ozone enriched mist to replenish moisture lost from chemical treatments, and reducing breakage and split ends caused by dry hair.

 

Aloe Vera Gel for your Hair

        

                                                           

           A few months ago I used a Dominican product and left it in my hair over night, it was some type of "deep conditioning" treatment so i thought it would be OK. Well, i was WRONG! When i got in the shower and rinsed it out CLUMPS of my hair was coming out! The hair from the nape of my neck was just about gone, i asked around and a guy at my job said "Use pure Aloe Vera gel, my wife uses it to slow down shedding".

            I went all over Panama searching for an Aloe Vera leaf with no luck. The next day my co-worker was dropping me off and said "You do realize that your neighbor has a million Aloe Vera plants growing right here don't you?". I immediately asked my neighbor for a leaf and applied it to my scalp for the rest of the week.

           The results........soft hair and no more shedding!! I have since added Aloe Vera gel to EVERYTHING lol. I made a mixture of Shea butter,Castor oil, and Aloe Vera gel and use it as a moisturizer. I also make a mixture of conditioner, Aloe Vera gel, jojoba, Castor oil and use this as a leave in. Don't miss out on the benefits of Aloe Vera, you will be VERY pleased with the results :-)

Brushing and Breakage

Yes, brushing and even combing your hair to often can cause horrible damage/breakage to your hair. African American hair cuticles don’t lay down like our Caucasian brothers and sisters. Our hair cuticles are raised and when you constantly pass a brush through your hair day after, day after, day your hair is catching on those cuticles and causing you to tug a little more.

Yes, Caucasian people can brush their hair constantly without a problem because their cuticles lay flat. Keep that in mind next time you reach for that “bristled bandit”, you’ll think twice about passing it through your hair.

My TOP 5 FAV conditioners for "Co-Washing"

  Co-Washing? What does that term mean? Well co-washing is simply washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. I co-wash my hair around 2-3 times a week. There are many benefits to co-washing:

•  Keeps your hair moisturized
• Your new growth stays soft and easier to handle
• Scalp is always clean (which is good for growth)
• Doesn't dry your hair out

I could go on and on and on lol. In the hot heat of Panama i enjoy co-washing my hair and do it as often as i can. Here are my top FAV conditioners, in order:

1. AUSSIE MOIST- WALGREENS,TARGET,WALMART
2. ORS REPLENISHING OLIVE OIL CONDITIONER-WALMART,LOCAL B.S.S.
3. GIOVANNI SMOOTH AS SILK-WHOLE FOODS,SELECTED WALMARTS
4. HELLO HYDRATION-WALGREENS,CVS,TARGET,WALMART
5. VO5 MOISTURE MILK-DOLLAR TREE,WALGREENS,CVS

There are a few others i dabble with every now and then, i am a "conditioner collector" lol
Have a good one lovelies!

Natural Hair Crush of the Week:MARSHA AMBROSIUS

 

MARSHA AMBROSIUS (formely of Floetry)

Not only do i love her heavenly voice but i ABSOLUTELY LOOOOVE her Lush Locks!

Those stockings are on my list!

She has lost ALOT of weight hasn't she?!! Look at the before and after, I need to know her secret! lol

HALLOWEEN AND HAIR!!

**MY FIRST POST YAY!**


Ssssooo EVERYONE that knows me knows that i ABSOLUTELY LOOOVE HALLOWEEN!  Xmas,New Years, Valentine's Day they don't get me as hyped up as Halloween. This year i was trying to decide what i wanted to do with my hair. I thought about a wig and last year i wore a half wig. Then i decided i would wear my own hair. I did a Bantu Knot Out with Shea Moisture and Kinky Curly Custard and it held up pretty nicely...what ya think? I was celebrating my birthday on halloween because i was in the u.s. visiting on vacation for a week. I split half of my time in memphis and the other half in atlanta. My friends were awesome for throwing me a little birthday bash!

Heres my costume from 2009,I was the sexy nutcracker lol
The wig i have on is "Yasmin" by Outre(loove this wig) :

Have a good one guys!! Muah :-D