Natural Hair Check-In

[meshaliuknits]

I get my hair cut curly. The woman who does it is really good with curly hair. She's a treasure that keeps me from having to trek all the way into Oakland.

[nsuhomer]

Jul 25, 2015 10:19:38 GMT -5 sfy said:

Jul 24, 2015 22:06:56 GMT -5 nsuhomer said:

Was anybody here doing the Maximum Hydration Method? I finally did the seven days last week (it was brutal), but my hair *is* much easier to detangle and my curls have a little extra something going on.

I'm trying to figure out how (if?) I can still do oil treatments/sit under the dryer with the MHM. My hair LOVES a nice oil treatment.

Also, does everybody get their hair trimmed curly or straight? I have always done straight, though I veeerrrryyyy rarely wear my hair straight. However, the front third of my hair has a super loose curl pattern which makes it look longer and scraggly while the rest is curly. It is not the best look.

I'm not doing it, no, but I thought that part of it was doing hot oil and deep conditioning under a steamer or heat cap? Or are you specifically talking about sitting under the dryer, because I would think that would be fine, too. Once you put the product on and the plastic cap, I don't think it matter that much what the heat source is.

I only get trimmed once I'm blown out. I wear my hair straight more than curly, however, and I have layers, so for both reasons, a dry, straight cut makes more sense for me.

There is a deep conditioning component that I'd like to replace with oil, but you don't do a cleansing step after that. I'm thinking it might be too much to not wash out the oil some? Maybe not. I'm gonna try it today.

[nsuhomer]

Jul 25, 2015 11:09:31 GMT -5 @246baje said:

Jul 24, 2015 22:06:56 GMT -5 nsuhomer said:

Was anybody here doing the Maximum Hydration Method? I finally did the seven days last week (it was brutal), but my hair *is* much easier to detangle and my curls have a little extra something going on.

I'm trying to figure out how (if?) I can still do oil treatments/sit under the dryer with the MHM. My hair LOVES a nice oil treatment.

Also, does everybody get their hair trimmed curly or straight? I have always done straight, though I veeerrrryyyy rarely wear my hair straight. However, the front third of my hair has a super loose curl pattern which makes it look longer and scraggly while the rest is curly. It is not the best look.

I was doing a half assed version and it helped but I feel like my results were good enough with the modified version that I have no desire to do alladat fora full 7 days.

Man! It was sososo much! It gave me a good excuse to escape from my kids for two hours a day though. lol

[Queen Mamadala]

My sister just sent me a picture of her newly done box braids with Marley hair. They look awesome on her. Now I want to get them done probably in Sept. My older two also want braids for back to school.

[sfy]

Finally did the bantu knots.  I put my hair in four chunky twists yesterday morning with the plan to make the knots once I was 90% dry.  Well, last night by around 7 or 8, I still wasn't that dry, which clearly means I need to do a porosity control shampoo and conditioner, so I'll do that before I go back to the salon on Friday. Anyway, H wanted to go out so I had to deal with it damp.  I did this, which I think I will do again with a more defined and fully dry twist out sometime soon:




When we got home, I was dry, so I went ahead and did the knots.  Took them down earlier and came out with this, although it's kind of a bummer because I'm heading to yoga soon, so it's going to be jacked by the afternoon.  Anyway, it was a decent trial run, although I know what I'll do differently next time. 

[orangeblossom]

sfy I like it!

[meshaliuknits]

I love the heart to obscure your face.

[sfy]

Jul 26, 2015 15:01:16 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

I love it sfy. I never thought to try a low porosity shampoo/conditioner. I don't even know what that is. I love the color too.

Thanks! I use it occasionally because I have color. I also used it when I was relaxed. I think if your hair is completely chemical free, then an ACV rinse is as much as you want to do to control your hair's porosity, which is just what it sounds like--how porous your hair is. When the levels are out of balance, your hair absorbs water/moisture like crazy and/or fails to retain any moisture. When my hair takes an abnormally long time to dry and it's just hanging onto the water, I usually need to fix its pH levels.

[sfy]

Jul 27, 2015 12:00:52 GMT -5 socratic said:

Wash day! Flat twists for a hopefully successful flat twist out for the holiday!

I envy having nice enough twists to wear out, mine always look a fool.  Please share the after!  I don't know what holiday it will be there, but have a great one .

[skwcm80]

socratic - it's flat twist out prep day for me too.  

[orangeblossom]

I made my own curl sponge. Here are the results. I may make another one with smaller holes.



This shows the curls and twists better.

[sfy]

Jul 30, 2015 15:08:29 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

I made my own curl sponge. Here are the results. I may make another one with smaller holes.

That is cool, how did you do it??

[orangeblossom]

Jul 30, 2015 15:19:42 GMT -5 sfy said:

Jul 30, 2015 15:08:29 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

I made my own curl sponge. Here are the results. I may make another one with smaller holes.

That is cool, how did you do it??

Thanks.

I just took a car wash sponge, traced it and used my Silhouette Came.o machine to cut out a template. I then used a seam ripper to punch out the holes (can use scissors, but couldn't find mine)

There are lots of videos out there on how to do it. I was being extra, because I have the tools to do it, but the simplest way is, marking the sponge with circles, and then cutting them out.

I'll likely buy a real one (I have in the past), but what's a dollar and some time for me to try my own.

[aqualuv]

This has been my go to style with this crazy heat and humidity.

youtu.be/1XmVOkA5TPE

[sfy]

Jul 30, 2015 16:18:12 GMT -5 aqualuv said:

This has been my go to style with this crazy heat and humidity.

youtu.be/1XmVOkA5TPE

I'm sitting here tonight with two Pippi Longstocking braids, thinking about what I can do to make my hair decent enough to go to my first appointment tomorrow. I'm going to take this as a sign and try this although I'm not sure I can do it. I was really dreading washing my hair and braiding it up for a braid out, though.

Sorry, socratic!

[sfy]

I couldn't do the two flat twists this morning. For some reason, the right side came out great and the left side kept turning into a braid. For fellow Seinfeldians, I "can't go left!" So then I decided to make straight back flat twists, but I was wearing a tank top today, so by the third one, I realized I was giving Queen Latifah as Cleo teas. Ultimately, I just ended up with two braids and then I pinned them up in the back and that was decent enough that I will do it again. For weeks, I've been thinking that my color was fading, but after being blown out today, I see that it wasn't, it just looks much duller when I'm wearing it natural, which is really quite a bummer. I hadn't noticed it before and I'm not sure what to do about that, because I am now planning to wear it natural 50% of the time rather than my usual 20% of the time. I don't want to get brighter color, either, though. Is anyone else here colored?  No pun intended lol, but any tips?

For comparison sake, here is my bantu knot out again from earlier this week and below that is my new blow out. Huge difference!

[sfy]

Jul 31, 2015 20:59:01 GMT -5 redwino said:

Daaaaaammmmmnnnnnn!!! That's some gorgeous hair! There's definitely a difference but the color still looks really nice in the natural pic.

I miss color so much. I went natural because i was having reactions to the chemicals. I gave up color when I gave up relaxing. My red hair is like a long lost lover I'm waiting to return home. Some days I think soon we'll be together again, but then I realize it's not the right time. It may never be the right time again

Thanks ! I feel like it looks so lackluster when I wear it natural. My colorist prides herself on layered tones and all this other nonsense lol, but I think it looks so monotone and even kind of brassy when it's kinky. It's not going to stop me from wearing it natural more, I just wish there was some way to make it look closer to the straight color.

I'd gotten rinses (usually jet black) often in the past, but permanent color only once while I was relaxed. I had to cut all my hair to 2" with the dye and the color, it reacted that poorly. Without the relaxer, though, the color hasn't given me a single issue. You should see if you and your boo can get back together lol. I'm just saying .

[redwino]

Jul 31, 2015 21:35:07 GMT -5 sfy said:

Jul 31, 2015 20:59:01 GMT -5 redwino said:

Daaaaaammmmmnnnnnn!!! That's some gorgeous hair! There's definitely a difference but the color still looks really nice in the natural pic.

I miss color so much. I went natural because i was having reactions to the chemicals. I gave up color when I gave up relaxing. My red hair is like a long lost lover I'm waiting to return home. Some days I think soon we'll be together again, but then I realize it's not the right time. It may never be the right time again

Thanks ! I feel like it looks so lackluster when I wear it natural. My colorist prides herself on layered tones and all this other nonsense lol, but I think it looks so monotone and even kind of brassy when it's kinky. It's not going to stop me from wearing it natural more, I just wish there was some way to make it look closer to the straight color.

I'd gotten rinses (usually jet black) often in the past, but permanent color only once while I was relaxed. I had to cut all my hair to 2" with the dye and the color, it reacted that poorly. Without the relaxer, though, the color hasn't given me a single issue. You should see if you and your boo can get back together lol. I'm just saying .

LOL. I'll have to do some research. Maybe we can start courting again

Does your colorist/stylist specialize in natural hair? There's only a few pro stylist who do natural hair near me. I can't rekindle my love affair in somebody's kitchen.

[sfy]

Jul 31, 2015 22:21:33 GMT -5 redwino said:

LOL. I'll have to do some research. Maybe we can start courting again

Does your colorist/stylist specialize in natural hair? There's only a few pro stylist who do natural hair near me. I can't rekindle my love affair in somebody's kitchen.

Ha--yes, ma'am, Bae is about to get that old thang back lol!

Yes, she does. She actually specializes in straight styles for natural hair, but she does natural styles, too. True, not the kitchen...that would not be at all romantic .

[aqualuv]

I bought Curlformers last night so that I could attempt a heatless stretch for my twist out. While the curls weren't perfect since it was my first time, it did the job. I'll twist my hair tonight. If it turns out decent I'll post a picture tomorrow. I think I will use the Curlformers when I want a smooth stretch to my hair. The results were much better than banding my hair after I wash it.

[aqualuv]

sfy Your blowout and the color is gorgeous! Whenever I tried color when I was relaxed it always broke off my hair. I'm too scared to try color again. Especially after Naptural85's color broke off her hair a little bit. I've worked so hard to keep my hair in good shape since my BC that I'm not willing to risk it. I know it's just hair but I'm starting to enjoy my medium length and the styles I can do with it.

[sfy]

Aug 2, 2015 10:09:34 GMT -5 aqualuv said:

sfy Your blowout and the color is gorgeous! Whenever I tried color when I was relaxed it always broke off my hair. I'm too scared to try color again. Especially after Naptural85's color broke off her hair a little bit. I've worked so hard to keep my hair in good shape since my BC that I'm not willing to risk it. I know it's just hair but I'm starting to enjoy my medium length and the styles I can do with it.

I was prepared to give you my "color killed me when I was on the creamy crack too" spiel, but whoa, my eyes got so big when I read about Naptural. I didn't know that. In that case, I won't try to sell it lol. I don't blame you. I am really tempted to BC and not use heat to see what my hair can do without the heat damage I have, but I like having it longer right now. I may reevaluate next year once I'm 40.

What product did you use with the Curlformers?

[Deleted]

Jul 30, 2015 16:18:12 GMT -5 aqualuv said:

This has been my go to style with this crazy heat and humidity.

youtu.be/1XmVOkA5TPE

I haven't tried a flat twist out! Great tutorial. 

[sfy]

Aug 2, 2015 10:25:47 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

sfy I think blonde is hard to figure out on natural hair. It was for me anyway. I ended up cutting it out and basically starting over. I think yours looks cute kinky and straight, but I see what you saying.

I am thinking of trying red.

Oh wow! I've changed the shades a few different times, but I'd probably just go dark again before cutting. I just saw an old picture of me dark and I was feeling nostalgic. My grandmother used to say the black made me look like Elvira , but even dark brown would be fine. For some reason, I just don't want a big cut yet. I've been above the ear length quite a few times (my DH likes me better short) and it's been longer than it is now too, but I'm oddly attached to my current length right now.

I love red. This color is my fave. It's kind of hard to get right from a bottle but I have seen it done well and it's perfect. It would be so cute on you!

[aqualuv]

Aug 2, 2015 10:24:47 GMT -5 sfy said:

Aug 2, 2015 10:09:34 GMT -5 aqualuv said:

sfy Your blowout and the color is gorgeous! Whenever I tried color when I was relaxed it always broke off my hair. I'm too scared to try color again. Especially after Naptural85's color broke off her hair a little bit. I've worked so hard to keep my hair in good shape since my BC that I'm not willing to risk it. I know it's just hair but I'm starting to enjoy my medium length and the styles I can do with it.

I was prepared to give you my "color killed me when I was on the creamy crack too" spiel, but whoa, my eyes got so big when I read about Naptural. I didn't know that. In that case, I won't try to sell it lol. I don't blame you. I am really tempted to BC and not use heat to see what my hair can do without the heat damage I have, but I like having it longer right now. I may reevaluate next year once I'm 40.

What product did you use with the Curlformers?

Lol, I was surprised that happened with her. She's on a mission to grow her hair back. It didn't break off a ton but you can tell she's lost some length.

I used Jane Carter's setting foam and Shea Moisture's shea butter transitioning milk. It was my first time using both and I like the results. The Curlformers were super easy to use. I'm a novice when it comes to styling my hair. Basically before my BC I relied on my hair stylist to do everything with my hair. All I would do at home is wrap it and that's it.

[sfy]

Aug 2, 2015 11:11:05 GMT -5 aqualuv said:

Aug 2, 2015 10:24:47 GMT -5 sfy said:

I was prepared to give you my "color killed me when I was on the creamy crack too" spiel, but whoa, my eyes got so big when I read about Naptural. I didn't know that. In that case, I won't try to sell it lol. I don't blame you. I am really tempted to BC and not use heat to see what my hair can do without the heat damage I have, but I like having it longer right now. I may reevaluate next year once I'm 40.

What product did you use with the Curlformers?

Lol, I was surprised that happened with her. She's on a mission to grow her hair back. It didn't break off a ton but you can tell she's lost some length.

I used Jane Carter's setting foam and Shea Moisture's shea butter transitioning milk. It was my first time using both and I like the results. The Curlformers were super easy to use. I'm a novice when it comes to styling my hair. Basically before my BC I relied on my hair stylist to do everything with my hair. All I would do at home is wrap it and that's it.

Ugh, that sucks.

Okay, thanks. I was thinking foam, but I do not trust my styling intuition at all lol. I also live at the mercy of stylists. On another note, shea butter transitioning milk seems like something I need to get to know.

[skwcm80]

Gorgeous hair, sfy!!

All of these pics are making me want to do something other my normal twist out.

[twohearted]

Jul 31, 2015 15:50:06 GMT -5 sfy said:

I couldn't do the two flat twists this morning. For some reason, the right side came out great and the left side kept turning into a braid. For fellow Seinfeldians, I "can't go left!" So then I decided to make straight back flat twists, but I was wearing a tank top today, so by the third one, I realized I was giving Queen Latifah as Cleo teas. Ultimately, I just ended up with two braids and then I pinned them up in the back and that was decent enough that I will do it again. For weeks, I've been thinking that my color was fading, but after being blown out today, I see that it wasn't, it just looks much duller when I'm wearing it natural, which is really quite a bummer. I hadn't noticed it before and I'm not sure what to do about that, because I am now planning to wear it natural 50% of the time rather than my usual 20% of the time. I don't want to get brighter color, either, though. Is anyone else here colored?  No pun intended lol, but any tips?

For comparison sake, here is my bantu knot out again from earlier this week and below that is my new blow out. Huge difference!

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I looove your hair! I actually really like the color with it styled curly. It's gorgeous both ways though.

[nsuhomer]

Jul 26, 2015 8:21:28 GMT -5 sfy said:

Finally did the bantu knots.  I put my hair in four chunky twists yesterday morning with the plan to make the knots once I was 90% dry.  Well, last night by around 7 or 8, I still wasn't that dry, which clearly means I need to do a porosity control shampoo and conditioner, so I'll do that before I go back to the salon on Friday. Anyway, H wanted to go out so I had to deal with it damp.  I did this, which I think I will do again with a mo

[meshaliuknits]

Oooh, Target had sample sizes of the Mixed Chicks products! Also, I just spent like $30 on hair products between me & the kids.