Natural Hair Check-In

[redwino]

Jun 17, 2015 19:11:55 GMT -5 @246baje said:

Jun 17, 2015 19:05:29 GMT -5 redwino said:

where can I buy the mixed chick kids products?

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_17?k=mixed+chicks+kids&sprefix=Mixed+Chicks+kids&sprefix=Mixed+Chicks+kids

I found the tangle tamer drying too I dilute some of the KC Knot Today and use it as a leave-in. DH was amazed this morning when he did her hair for the first time in a week or so.

Great! Thanks.

[meshaliuknits]

Jun 17, 2015 19:05:29 GMT -5 redwino said:

Jun 17, 2015 19:03:11 GMT -5 @246baje said:

I find the baby shampoo to be drying. I either cowash with mixed chicks kids conditioner or KC Knot today. I use jojoba oil and a smudge of my flaxseed concoction for the frizz.

where can I buy the mixed chick kids products?

Target carries the kids sample packs too if you don't wanna commit

[anonymoose]

Jun 17, 2015 9:04:48 GMT -5 busybodyk said:

I have been rocking a wash n go for the last few weeks. Its been easy since my hair is shorter (had to cut it since it was just ruined with post pardum hair loss) and I've been running regularly. I have never really embraced this look on me because I couldn't stand the shrinkage or having to deal with wet hair and not touch my hair but I've gotten used to it. Also I like washing my hair in the kitchen sink, not the shower so its been quite an adjustment. I wash it about every other day.  I've been co-washing with As I Am coconut cowash and using Kinky Curly Knot Today leave-in and Kinky Curly Curling Custard. Here's my OOTD pic today with my little fro. This is actually day 3 hair. I was running late this morning...

 


As an aside, I adore your shoes! Just the right amount of pointiness. Can I ask what brand/style they are?

[redwino]

Jun 17, 2015 19:49:27 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Jun 17, 2015 19:05:29 GMT -5 redwino said:

where can I buy the mixed chick kids products?

Target carries the kids sample packs too if you don't wanna commit

Thanks. I'll try that first. I need to do a target run this week anyway.

[busybodyk]

anonymoose - Thanks! I love them! They are by Nine West and the style name is Kilianna. I bought them in 2013 but they are available in a few places online. Here's the 6pm.com link: m.6pm.com/nine-west-kilianna

[borinquen57]

Jun 17, 2015 16:39:39 GMT -5 sfy said:

Jun 17, 2015 14:37:48 GMT -5 threejs said:

PDQ - I have no idea how to not post such a huge pic of myself, so will probably delete soon so as not to leave this out there. After relaxing for years, I started getting a sew in last year, hated that, and switched to these crochet braids a few weeks ago. I don't know what in the world to do with my natural hair, but until I can get up enough courage for a big chop, the crochet braids will remain.

ETA: deleted pic. #paranoid

Well, damn!  I thought I was bad.  Totally missed your pic lol.

borinquen57, I like QB products!  There was a time when it was my bae, we're not that tight anymore, but I still like them.

I didn't like the Amla Heavy Cream and the twisting butter, but the other two are great.  Just too much $$ right now. I think I need a salon cut and style and then stick to a good regimen.

[nsuhomer]

I need a good deep conditioner. I haven't loved anything that I've tried, and I need one with NO protein.

Other than that, I've been doing a lot of cold rollersets. If I'm feeling particularly lazy, I'll just separate into 4 sections, ponytail them, and either put a couple rollers in each section or bun each section. It's been making maintenance much easier.

Has anybody tried Hairveda products?

[nsuhomer]

Jun 18, 2015 16:36:53 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Jun 18, 2015 16:27:57 GMT -5 nsuhomer said:

I need a good deep conditioner. I haven't loved anything that I've tried, and I need one with NO protein.

I use Giovanni organics 50:50 balanced. It is not really a deep conditioner, but it is really thick and it has no protein. Finding no protein has been my biggest issue because companies seem to think that everyone's hair loves protein and that it is the purpose of a deep conditioner. Also I like Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose. I mix it with some honey and it is a great deep conditioner. No protein.

Thanks! I like a lot of Giovanni products, so I will have to try that one. I used to use AO Honeysuckle Rose before I was natural, but haven't tried it in years. I will check it out if Giovanni doesn't work for me.

[redwino]

Jun 18, 2015 16:32:47 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Jun 17, 2015 17:59:35 GMT -5 redwino said:

Can I ask about DD'S hair? She's 12 weeks old. When can I start using products on her hair? Right now I'm using baby shampoo, lotion, and jojoba oil. It's fine but a little dry.

Can you try coconut oil? My DD's hair texture is completely different than mine so I have had to do some experimenting. Jojoba oil is really light. She might just need something a little heavier. What is her texture like?

I haven't tried coconut oil because I don't like it for my hair so it wasn't on my radar. I prefer olive oil but that will be too heavy for her hair. Her hair is thin and the curls are 3c ish. The back is straight but it's barely there so I don't worry about it too much, lol.

[redwino]

Jun 18, 2015 17:14:21 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Jun 18, 2015 17:12:05 GMT -5 redwino said:

I haven't tried coconut oil because I don't like it for my hair so it wasn't on my radar. I prefer olive oil but that will be too heavy for her hair. Her hair is thin and the curls are 3c ish. The back is straight but it's barely there so I don't worry about it too much, lol.

She might just need a conditioner then. Or a different shampoo. What shampoo and lotion are you using?

Cerave baby shampoo and baby magic lotion. I didn't know when to start real products. I'm probably shampooing too frequently, every 2 days, so I'll start doing that less often.

[redwino]

Jun 18, 2015 17:43:51 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Jun 18, 2015 17:38:29 GMT -5 redwino said:

Cerave baby shampoo and baby magic lotion. I didn't know when to start real products. I'm probably shampooing too frequently, every 2 days, so I'll start doing that less often.

Yeah that is probably too often. I forget when we started using real products, but we use Curls cleansing cream and conditioner. You can find it at Target. Baby shampoo was drying her hair out too. I use the cleansing cream once a week and conditioner other times mostly to detangle.

I'm a product junkie so I'm making a list. I'll be on the lookout for the cleansing cream. Thanks for the recs.

[barcelonagirl]

I've been using this renpure cleansing conditioner on my kids (age 4 and more recently with my 20 month) for the past couple 0f years and I love it.

[anonymoose]

Jun 17, 2015 20:25:18 GMT -5 busybodyk said:

anonymoose - Thanks! I love them! They are by Nine West and the style name is Kilianna. I bought them in 2013 but they are available in a few places online. Here's the 6pm.com link: m.6pm.com/nine-west-kilianna

busybodyk - Thank you! I'm between a 6.5 and a 7, do they run small or big?
(Sorry I know this is off topic but...shoes...bows...)

[busybodyk]

Jun 19, 2015 19:40:33 GMT -5 anonymoose said:

Jun 17, 2015 20:25:18 GMT -5 busybodyk said:

anonymoose - Thanks! I love them! They are by Nine West and the style name is Kilianna. I bought them in 2013 but they are available in a few places online. Here's the 6pm.com link: m.6pm.com/nine-west-kilianna

busybodyk - Thank you! I'm between a 6.5 and a 7, do they run small or big?
(Sorry I know this is off topic but...shoes...bows...)

They run true to size. Choose whatever size you pick for Nine West shoes to be safe.

[sfy]

Jun 18, 2015 20:43:19 GMT -5 socratic said:

Okay so I decided to get over my funk and do something with my hair...

I prepood with coconut oil and shea butter. Shampooed conditioned and deep conditioned with coconut milk and jojoba oil.

My hair feels sooo nice! Lightly blow dried and put in some flat twists. Crossing my fingers for tomorrow!

Did you end up wearing a twist out? How'd it come out?

[thejackpot]

Jun 23, 2015 17:16:04 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

I like it socratic. Ain't nothing wrong with looking young.

Ditto! 

[Deleted]

Jun 17, 2015 7:54:49 GMT -5 aqualuv said:

My usual go to is a twist out since my hair shrinks up so much. I went for a trim last Friday and had my hair blown out for the first time since the 2 years, 4 months I've been natural. It was nice to see my length. She braided it and I took it out the next day. I love the braid out too bad I can't braid. Lol! I've been braiding at night in huge braids to try to maintain the style somewhat. It's not the same as Day 1 but I still like it.

I recently watched this wash and go video that Tarenguy posted that I want to try. I've yet to perfect the wash and go without being annoyed at the shrinkage. Here's the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahrs2kTeHLY.

ETA: I still haven't found my holy grail of products. The natural stylist I've gone to twice now wants me to try Pureology and put a clear glaze on my hair since my hair color can be pretty dull at times. I haven't done either yet.

Comparison of big chop v blow out - 2 yrs difference



After I took the braids out before the humidity hit it



A few days later after wearing it out in this crazy heat

I'm finally catching up on this thread. 

This method looks good. I've been thinking that I need to cowash my hair more often, every 2-3 days, so this confirms it.

I don't feel like buying a hooded drier though...I guess I could do it with a blow drier and diffuser? Plus I never use styling gel...need to figure that out too.

But I'm feeling hopeful, so thanks for posting!

[Deleted]

Jun 17, 2015 14:48:04 GMT -5 summer said:

Why do you all have such wonderfully moisturized hair??? Mine is so dry! I don't know what to use! I can't get any decent products here and the African shop is only still selling relaxer products. **weeps**

Girl I feel your pain, I had my mom send me products in the mail when I was living overseas in damn AFRICA.

I swear at least once a week women would ask me, why is your hair natural?

That was definitely not something I was expecting living in the MotherLand lol. 

[aqualuv]

@wandering so I had a little time today to try out that wash n go method. It did not work for me. I don't have a hooded dryer but I have the one that attaches to your blow dryer. My hair still shrunk like crazy. I sat under the dyer for 30 minutes. I decided nope, I don't like it so I washed out the product and did my usual go to twists. I'll take them out tomorrow morning before work. Blah!

[Deleted]

Jun 28, 2015 15:51:18 GMT -5 aqualuv said:

@wandering so I had a little time today to try out that wash n go method. It did not work for me. I don't have a hooded dryer but I have the one that attaches to your blow dryer. My hair still shrunk like crazy. I sat under the dyer for 30 minutes. I decided nope, I don't like it so I washed out the product and did my usual go to twists. I'll take them out tomorrow morning before work. Blah!

Damn. I was going to try it tomorrow.

The salon in the video isn't too far for me, I wonder if it'd be worth it to go. I've been thinking of trying to find a natural hair salon to go to every once in awhile. 

I don't even mind shrinkage that much, just losing my curl pattern right when it dries. Not only for looks but because that's when it turns in to a tangled mess. 

I wonder if it makes a difference if you have a nice hot, full powered drier. Well at least you gave it a shot!

[aqualuv]

Jun 28, 2015 16:07:14 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Jun 28, 2015 15:51:18 GMT -5 aqualuv said:

@wandering so I had a little time today to try out that wash n go method. It did not work for me. I don't have a hooded dryer but I have the one that attaches to your blow dryer. My hair still shrunk like crazy. I sat under the dyer for 30 minutes. I decided nope, I don't like it so I washed out the product and did my usual go to twists. I'll take them out tomorrow morning before work. Blah!

Damn. I was going to try it tomorrow.

The salon in the video isn't too far for me, I wonder if it'd be worth it to go. I've been thinking of trying to find a natural hair salon to go to every once in awhile. 

I don't even mind shrinkage that much, just losing my curl pattern right when it dries. Not only for looks but because that's when it turns in to a tangled mess. 

I wonder if it makes a difference if you have a nice hot, full powered drier. Well at least you gave it a shot!

I would definitely try the salon if it were in my area.

A natural stylist I've been going to said she wouldn't wear a wash n go with my type of curls because they are too small she said. It was much easier when it was shorter. Maybe I'll try again when it's longer.

I saw several YT clips where this method worked for others though so you should try it.

[sfy]

Before I go down a YouTube rabbit hole later today, any type 4 naturals do Bantu knots? If so, what products do you use?

[Deleted]

Jul 3, 2015 8:30:31 GMT -5 sfy said:

Before I go down a YouTube rabbit hole later today, any type 4 naturals do Bantu knots? If so, what products do you use?

I don't really use product or anything special when I do knots or twist outs. I haven't found anything magical that make them last longer. But honestly I haven't really experimented with anything new recently. When I first began I tried the Eco styler gels, and a bunch of other things.

Now I just do my usual leave in conditioner, olive oil and coconut oil....2 strand twist and knot them up. Big key is to make sure they completely dry, which obviously takes longer since they're in knots. I usually need a good 12+ hours for that and I think your hair is longer than mine.

[barcelonagirl]

Because of my love for the Cantu Leave in Cream I also picked up their moisturizing curl activator cream. Great slippage! Although it seems to dry a little stiff but I guess that's control?

[sfy]

Jul 3, 2015 9:23:48 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Big key is to make sure they completely dry, which obviously takes longer since they're in knots.

So true. Thanks .

I did twists last night and took them down today. It looks decent, but I just really like the look or something with more curls.

[redwino]

Jul 3, 2015 12:03:11 GMT -5 barcelonagirl said:

Because of my love for the Cantu Leave in Cream I also picked up their moisturizing curl activator cream. Great slippage! Although it seems to dry a little stiff but I guess that's control?

This is my favorite product. It does dry stiff but it doesn't make my hair too hard. I use it for my twist outs and braid outs because I prefer the way it makes my hair feel compared to gel.

[sfy]

Jul 4, 2015 6:53:53 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

sfy I don't use anything special for bantu knots. You just want to make sure the strands are as smooth as possible. Most important your hair needs to be completely dry when you take them down. This is why I don't really do them anymore because my hair is so long it takes forever to dry.

Here is one I did a while ago

This is cute!

The smoothing is why I ask about products, because I've gotten better results depending on the products I used, largely because some help with the smoothing more than others. I just don't remember which ones I preferred anymore, I haven't done them regularly since I first transitioned and that's been forever.

[Deleted]

Jul 4, 2015 7:44:38 GMT -5 @246baje said:

Jun 28, 2015 16:07:14 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Damn. I was going to try it tomorrow.

The salon in the video isn't too far for me, I wonder if it'd be worth it to go. I've been thinking of trying to find a natural hair salon to go to every once in awhile. 

I don't even mind shrinkage that much, just losing my curl pattern right when it dries. Not only for looks but because that's when it turns in to a tangled mess. 

I wonder if it makes a difference if you have a nice hot, full powered drier. Well at least you gave it a shot!

Have you tried the Max Hydration method? It is lots of work but I think it helps with maintaining curl definition when dry.

I'll look it up!

[orangeblossom]

Jul 5, 2015 11:59:17 GMT -5 @koko said:

Ok I need help. I only wear WnGs, because I'm a lazy bitch. And my curls clump great right out of the shower after a cowash, but by the time I apply my leave in and oil, they're breaking up/frizzing out. I think I need something I can just spray in my hair to avoid manhandling it. Any suggestions?? Something with a good moisturizing agent in it.

Check out Cantu's Leave In Conditioning Cream or their creamy hair lotion.  Some people's hair can't take the whole LOC process.  The leave in conditioning cream takes the place of that.

Also, I like Kericare's Natural Hair Textures product line.  The LIC has great slip, and I like the curling custard.

[redwino]

Jul 5, 2015 12:20:11 GMT -5 @koko said:

Jul 5, 2015 12:18:05 GMT -5 socratic said:

Can you dilute you leave in add the oil and put it all in a spray bottle?

Not sure....I use Oyin Hair Dew and jojoba oil. I feel like the Oyin probably wouldn't dissolve....

I was going to suggest what socratic suggested too. I'd probably try making a small batch before going out to buy something new.

When I first went natural back in 2008, many of the hair boards were recommending S-curl activator as a leave in. It definitely kept my curls moisturized but I felt like I was living in 1986.