Dominican Blow-Out: Yay or Nay

So, after years of debating whether or not to go for it, I decided a few weeks ago to get my very first Dominican blow-out. Typically, I straighten my hair a few times a year, but it was a disaster the last time I tried. My hair has just gotten too thick and too long for me to successfully straighten my hair myself.

 

Ends were curled with a flat iron. Not my style, but...

It's been more than two decades since a professional had touched a single strand on my head. So, having my hair washed loose was a little unnerving. But, she scrubbed my scalp really well AND deep conditioned under the dryer, so her washing technique allowed me relax a little.

Very impressed with how smooth and shiny my hair is.

After my hair was washed and conditioned, detangling started and that's where I really have issue. Never, ever, ever in my life has a hair dresser detangled my hair beginning at the roots, but this one did. And, she was merciless and ruthless about it. By the time she got to the last section to be placed on the huge purple rollers, I think she was tired of detangling because I know that section wasn't completely detangled before she put it on the rollers. 

A back view of the loveliness.

Once rolled, I had to sit under the dryer for about two hours. And, I had to sit perfectly still as my head barely fit under the dryer. Thank God I'd brought a juicy book with me to read or I would've died from bordeom. 

 

First Week: I love my pony tail!

OBI Natural Hair Care Update

As promised, I gave OBI Natural Hair Care's Curl Enhancing Custard a full week's try before issuing my final review. (drum roll, please!)

Big, big fail for me, but...

As I mentioned before, I knew I was in trouble as soon as I dipped my finger in the jar...the consistency was all wrong for my hair. Curl Enhancing Custard is like a thick version of Kinky Curly Knot Today which I've repeatedly tried, but could not like. Also, when my hair fully dried, it was hard, crunchy and extremely dry. I'm used to having soft, moisturized hair.

OBI Natural Hair Care's Curl Enhancing Custard is really designed for the style-conscious. If you only want a product to hold your locks in place or don't want someone's hands running through your hair, this is the product for you. I think this stuff could actually stand up in one of those wind test tunnels!

If you aren't style conscious and your foremost concern is having healthy hair, run from this product! Obviously, I'm of the latter ilk, putting health over style every single time so Curl Enhancing Custard is a no-go for me. Yes it held my curls all week without reapplication, but that's all it did. Perhaps the worst part was the thick white paste it left between my fingers when I began detangling. Way too much product build-up and it'd be super nasty if a devout cowasher used this product. GROSS! This gets one coil down!

So, today I skipped my weekly deep conditioning steam treatment and washed my hair loose...twice...with two different commercially-made shampoos to ensure I got all of this goop out of my hair. Now, back to the drawing board with my own Wash Day Bounce Butter for soft, shiny, weeklong curls!!!!!!

Ayurvedic Treatment and Co-Washing are a Go!

Forgive me if this is a little herky jerky, but I'm writing this while watching POTUS speak during the DNC.

Anyway, last week, I decided to try this co-washing thing again. I've always been a co-wash naysayer, but let me explain why, first. All of the co-washing methods I've seen and read about use cheap conditioner, sometimes diluted with water. Personally, I need and want to have a clean scalp, and I know conditioner can't do the trick. A lot of co-washers say they don't like shampoo because it's too harsh or strips the hair. While whatever shampoo you use might have a higher than desired pH balance, if you're of that ilk, water naturally reduces your hair's pH level as you rinse out the shampoo. Second, conditioner closes the cuticle so how can you get your hair clean if the cuticle is closed?! Last, ALL hair experts agree that if you co-wash regularly, you MUST wash your hair with shampoo at least once a month...but don't let me go off on that tangent 'cuz that's really gross when I think about it. All I have to say is if you wouldn't dare wash your clothes with just fabric softener or take a shower/bath with lotion, why would you wash your hair with conditioner?

With that being said, I had tried a sample of As I Am Naturally's Coconut CoWash a while ago and really enjoyed it, so last Sunday, I broke down and ran to my local Sally's to (gasp!) buy a full-size jar. HINT: Even the instructions on the jar advise co-washers to shampoo their hair periodically, LOL!

Just $7.99 at your local Sally's!!!

So, in keeping with my regimen, I spritzed my hair, gently detangled with my trusty old Mebco Detangling Shower Comb, applied the Coconut CoWash made 10 loose twists on each side, clipped them to the top of my head and slid under my Huetiful steamer! Honestly, my hair never felt better! I was tempted to do a WnG, but I don't have the right hair type to even attempt to pull it off, but still...

Trippin' off my good hair high, I decided to make a potentially new Wash Day product so I pulled out my stash of Ayurvedic herbs and one other special ingredient to create a moisturizing Ayurvedic hair mist! 

I'm not a daily mister, but I did mist my hair with my new concoction while twisting my hair with my Bounce Butter. It's too early to tell, but I think I'm on to something!!!!!!!!! Not only does my new concoction contain a wonderful and sweet smelling humectant, it's filled with multiple herbs to strengthen the hair's root and shaft, promote gloss and sheen, ward off the greys, cleanses and conditions the hair, stimulates hair growth, corrects scalp issues, thickens the hair, prevents hair loss...Need I say more? Are you as excited about this as I am?!

Before and After

Three years ago on July 4, my hair was in pitiful shape. While it wasn't subjected to chemicals, it was brittle, dry and damaged due to ye' old blow dryer and hot comb. Heat protectant? What was that? Detangling? Moisturizing? I didn't know jack! And the proof is in the pudding! Just look at that thin, frizzy hair! It would grow, but as soon as it hit my shoulders, it'd either break off or I'd burn it off. Lots of trimming back then!

July 4, 2009

I struggled along for another year with my head lookin' a mess until I got sick of straightening my hair. I remember it was a hot, humid day. I was closed up in the house with the A/C on. I'd just finished straightening one side of my hair, but when I got ready to do the other side, the first half was already starting to frizz! Seeing that my efforts to get my hair bone straight were futile, I packed up my straightening equipment and decided to wear my hair in its natural state. Almost three years later, I have this!

May 20, 2012

Now, over the years, I had worn my hair natural, but I had no idea what I was doing and there were only two companies that made natural hair products. And, those products could only be obtained via the Internet or catalog. With my decision to go natural full-time, I did my share of YouTube and blog research, but only about 10 percent of what I found actually gave me the results I wanted which prompted me to go rogue!

Most of the year, I stick to twists. On occasion, I straighten my hair a couple times a year. I deep condition with my steamer before washing my hair with shampoo every week. I oil my scalp. I only comb/brush my hair once a week. Product is only applied to my hair once a week and it has to be 100 percent natural ingredients. When I sleep, I pineapple in a stocking cap.I only style my hair once a week.

I don't worry about eating healthy, unless it's for weight control. I don't take hair vitamins. I don't cowash or oil wash. I don't trim my hair, well, maybe once every couple years. I don't spritz my hair with water unless it's my wash day. I don't use fancy or expensive ingredients in my hair products. I'm not a product junkie. I don't switch up my hair styles-I wear two basic styles all the time.

Some people are shocked by the hours I spend on my hair on my wash day, but it balances out since I don't do anything to my hair throughout the week except to fluff it up in the mornings and go. Besides, my wash day is kind of like my zen moment and I love doing my hair. I can't wait until it's time to wash it again! While I'm very pleased that my hair is the healthiest, thickest and longest it's ever been in my life (even under the bi-weekly care of a hairdresser), I'm not done. I'm aiming to just let it grow solely so my twists are a few inches past shoulder length. Perhaps when I'm older, I'll forgo my regimen and hiding my grey, and just grow me some long silver dreadlocks. Being a former dread head, though, I do realize that they come with maintenance of their own kind. 

How's it going on your own hair journey?

Brushes, blow dryers and wigs...Oh My!

Wow, so it's been eons since I've posted anything, but I needed to regroup. Now that I'm back, I'm delighted to share a few new things with you! 

I used to abhor the idea of brushing my hair, wet or dry, and have not brushed my hair in more than 15 years (I've always used a wide-tooth comb). But, I swallowed my fear and (gasp), bought the Denman D-3 brush! 

Just last week, my hair was a tangled, nappy mess after undoing the tight, tiny braids I'd put in my wet hair. I couldn't even get my detangling comb through my roots! So, I whipped out my Denman, took a deep breath and was shocked. The Denman glided through my snags and snarls like a hot knife slicing through cold butter. And, not a single hair ripped or snapped! It was an amazing experience and I look forward to adding this to my weekly arsenal of hair maintenance tools! Might I add that this brush also is super easy to clean as the rubber bristle pad just slips right in and out.

I also added this nifty gadget to my maintenance arsenal-the Solano Willie Morrow's Unbreakable Thermo Blow Dry Nozzle Hair Drying Dryer Pik (ain't that a crazy name?!).

I haven't tried it yet, but I will when it's time for me to straighten my hair. It's made of rubberized plastic so I'm pretty sure it won't break. Note: this attachment comes with three adjustable nozzles so it's sure to fit my or your hair dryer. Sadly, I think my hair's become too much for me to do an effective blowout with my trusty old roller brush. Farewell old friend.

But, I won't be blow drying any time soon as we here in Michigan are finally fully ensconced in a white winter wonderland. So, for my protective style (another gasp), I've resorted to wearing Miss "La Jay!" I had to make her a little larger to comfortably fit my head, but so far, I am really digging her even if she does cause a few bad hair days.

On another note, Wash Day efforts have temporarily been placed on hold. But, all is not lost and I hope to rebound from a less than shaky start this spring.