subbrock: in search of the perfect curl

goodbye...for now!

2010-02-22T18:17:00.000-05:00

i've decided that i'm going to take a break from all things hair related. goodbye blog, fotki, and discussion boards! the reason being that i just don't have much to say or contribute. i've got a rock solid hair routine, trusty styling methods and products, and quite frankly i'm tired of looking at my hair! i'll still be checking out other fotkis or be glad to answer any questions anyone might have, i just wont be updating for a while.

thanks for being so supportive of me, my family, and our curls!

this curly girl isn't afraid of salons. and here's why!

2010-02-21T23:33:00.000-05:00

after spending years on hair forums and discussion boards, i've noticed that many curlies avoid a trip to the salon like the plague. ive worked at a salon before, so i kind of have a different perspective on things. i dont think salons and stylists are the devil. and i think some of the issues folks have with not being happy with their salon experience is partly their own fault. don't get me wrong, not all of my salon experiences have been filled with puppies and rainbows. but out of the visits that ended in a hot mess, i can admit that i could have avoided it.

i think the key to finding a good stylist is to treat your hair like you would treat your child. you would'nt just drop your kid off at the first daycare center you saw or even one recommended by a friend, simply because they recommended it. but we tend to do that with our hair. we go to some random place and expect things to be okay. it took us God knows how long to figure out how to manage our own hair but we expect a stranger to get it right in the 1st 5 minutes of dealing with it. we don't ask questions, we don't watch how they are with others' hair. we don't tell them what we expect them to do and why we expect them to do it.

sometimes i hear people saying time is money and stylists don't want to spend the time trying to style curly/kinky hair because it takes too long. and they can;t make money if we're sitting in the chair all day. well yes, time=money. but i see it not only as the uneducated stylists don't want to spend the time doing our hair, but alot of times we dont want to spend the money on an educated or skilled stylist. once again, would you drop your kid off at the cheapest daycare in town just because it was the cheapest? or do you look for one that meets your requirements/expectations as well as your wallet?

countless times i've heard people say that they avoid going to a salon because all stylists are scissor happy. whenever you ask for a trim, they always give you a haircut. having worked at a salon and being a customer at a salon, ive seen both sides of the coin. there are some stylists who think scalping you is a trim. but ive also seen clients in denial about their hair. they want to hang onto raggedy ends that they think aren't that bad. i am fully ready to admit, that i have avoided getting a trim this month because i know i'm going to need more than i want taken off. no matter how much i baby my hair, i still get breakage, split ends, and single strand knots. and the longer i go without a trim, the more hair needs to get cut off. i wish i were one of those people who could say i havent cut my hair in a year or more because i just haven't needed to. but i'm not. and i'm going to have to put on my big girl panties and get the trim. if i would have been real about the situation and had it trimmed months ago, i wouldn't be in this situation. and as much as i'd like to blame my impending trim on an overzealous stylist and her scissor happy hands, i know it's my own fault.

some people complain taht stylists won't just look through the hair and trim only the damaged ends (search and destroys) without considering the overall shape of the hair. as a stylist, you can't do that and apparently a lot of people don't realize that. if any of you watch project runway, its kind of like how the designers throw something together when they run out of time right before judging. they sew models into dresses instead of having proper closures, they have pin things instead of hemming them correctly, they glue things on, etc. in real life, a designer wouldn't sell the finished product like that. asking a stylist to do a search and destroy is kind of like asking a designer to glue you into your outfit and then getting upset when they wont do it.

the best salon experience i ever had was this past november. i walked in knowing id pay a pretty penny for my service but it was well worth it. i went to a stylist who was ranked at the salon as a master stylist (they cost the most) and i was very vocal about what i wanted, what i didn't want, and why that was the way it was going to be. near the end she even admitted to me that even though she is the professional and always trusts her own judgement, she valued my opinion because she knew that i was knowledgable when it came to my hair and hair in general. it wasn't the best salon experience because it was the greatest my hair ever looked leaving a salon. as a matter of fact, i left the salon thinking "i cant wait to get home so that i can fix my hair!" but my appointment was for color and the color looked great. it was a great salon experience because i walked out of there with a feeling of trust. i know she will listen to me in the future, she was open and interested in learning how to style my hair, and she knows that i am not in denial about the state of my hair.

haircuts!

2010-02-08T19:55:00.000-05:00

finally, the man got a haircut (given by moi)! we decided to make a day of it and he gave the munchkin her first trim as well.

the man's hair

the munchkin- pre hair trim

daddy did a great job!

the munchkin- post hair trim

i'm bunning it!

2010-01-26T17:35:00.003-05:00

that's right. the wash n go's number one fan, me, is taking a break and wearing my hair up in a bun for a while. i tend to struggle with my hair once it gets to APL (arm pit length) and longer because its just too much hair for me to deal with. wearing my hair up in a bun allows me to ignore my hair (yay!) while still protecting it from damage. on the weekends i wear my hair in a wash n go.

random bunning tips:
- take down the bun at night time/bed time. if i keep my hair up, it wont dry. and if it doesn't dry, my hair mildews. i had to learn that lesson the hard way. :( i'll put my hair into one loose braid at night so it dries out, but it still stays stretched out a bit.
- move the bun around a bit--it doesn't stress the hair as much. if i start with a high bun, then the next day i'll smooth it down to a low bun or vice versa.
- raw shea butter is a bun's best friend! i use it to smooth my (wet or dry) edges down/ i also make sure that i put some on my ends daily. it makes my hair sooooo soft and gives it a nice shine.
- if you have thin/fine hair like me, try using a scrunchy, sock, or donut to create your bun. http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Donut-Bun it gives me the illusion of having fuller/thicker hair.

winter hats for curly kids

2010-01-06T17:05:00.003-05:00

check out www.curlyzebra.com
theyre satin lined winter hats for kids. sweet.

happy new year!

2010-01-06T16:57:00.003-05:00

i hope everyone had a safe and happy new year celebration!

i havent made any new year's resolutions yet, but im thinking of making some hair resolutions.

my hair golas for 2010 are:
- to start treating my hair better. that means regular conditioning treatments and very gentle combing/brushing.
- avoid random hair cutting. :) only get trims and shape ups as needed.
- be healthier! drink water, eat better, and possibly even throw some vitamins in there.

i think these are pretty realistic goals...but we'll see!

perfect curl product: raw shea butter

2009-12-29T22:37:00.006-05:00

winter is here and my hair has been feeling it! my hair has looked pretty nice but has been feeling dry to the touch. ive been doing deep conditioning treatments, being a bit more heavy handed with my conditioner and oil and nothing seemed to work. last winter i had alot of growth and there were two things that i did differently: (1) i wore my hair up alot and (2) i used shea butter. so this year i told my sister to buy me some shea butter for christmas and now im back in business!

for 1st day hair, i applied my leave in + castor oil to my hair like i always do. then i took a few dabs of shea butter, rubbed it in my hands to melt it, and then smoothed it on my hair. my goal was to concentrate it on my ends, but i did apply it all over. it has been a while since ive used raw shea butter so i was hoping that the castor oil combined with the shea butter wouldnt result in a greasy mess. and it didnt. woo hoo! for my 2nd day hair, i took my hair out of the pineapple i sleep in and then applied the shea butter on my dry hair, the same way i did it on my wet hair.

its only been two days, but im starting to remember why i love shea butter so much. its great for sealing my ends, keeping my hair soft, reducing static flyaways, smoothing edges, and its a great skin moisturizer! i even used some on the man's coarse, thick type 2 hair. i used some to smooth his flyaways and to soften his dry, raggedy ends (he desperately needs a haircut).

3 cheers for raw shea butter!

The Sudden Big Chop—Joys and Trials

2009-12-21T14:37:00.001-05:00

The Sudden Big Chop—Joys and Trials

check it out! my story is all the way at the bottom :)

product review and perfect curl technique: kinky curly spiral spritz

2009-11-27T22:44:00.006-05:00

i took a trip to whole foods and of course, made a bee line to the kinky curly products. ive been wanting to try the kinky curly spiral spritz for some time, so i bought some. this is the product description according to the website (www.kinky-curly.com):

The perfect styling product for individuals with fine or wavy hair types.

SPIRAL SPRITZ is a wonderful natural alternative to silicone serums.

This lightweight Aloe based spray is made of all natural ingredients and contains
vitamin B-5 to add moisture to your hair and completely eliminate frizz!

Can be used to style wet or dry wavy hair and provides a flexible hold..

Works great to smooth, moisturize and re-fresh 2nd day hair and remove frizz on all
hair types.

**TIP - Use SPIRAL SPRITZ TM to reactivate your style when you do not wish to re-wet and re-style your hair with the Curling Custard TM. Spray lightly when using to refresh your style. A little goes a long way!

the first time i tried it i detangled/brushed out baby girl's dry hair. i sprayed the spiral spritz in my hands, smoothed it onto her hair and then combed to reclump her curls. fail. it looked like a bird's nest.

on my second attempt i wet her hair and added her leave in, then i smoothed on the spiral spritz like i did the first time. the result was beautiful ringlets with a gentle hold (which ive been looking for).

id compare it to a gel, rather than a hair refresher or spritz of any kind. its great for anybody who is looking for definition, frizz busting, and hold. i havent the foggiest idea on how to use this stuff on dry hair, but if i figure it out, i'll definitely report back. despite that, i still like this product. kinky curly has done it again!

giving thanks

2009-11-26T14:51:00.005-05:00

happy thanksgiving!

i love thanksgiving for two main reasons: (1) im a big fan of stuffing my face with my family. that way i dont feel bad when i go back for seconds or thirds. or even when i unbutton my pants and sit in a turkey coma at the table. and (2) it marks another year of me going natural. i didnt exactly plan on going natural, so i dont have an exact anniversary date. i just wanted to chop off all my hair and start over, which i did. a few days later (thanksgiving day) i made my sister cut my hair even shorter and ive been living life as a curly ever since.

6 years have passed and i finally feel like i have "regular" hair now. im not stressed out about length and how fast my hair will grow. ive managed to get over wanting a different texture and im no longer searching for products that will deliver an unattainable result. ive gone through my styling obsession period and ive settled on being perfectly content with wash n gos. i dont obsess about every ingredient nor do i attempt time consuming hair rituals and routines. i know one lather with a sulfate shampoo wont totally destroy my hair. ive relocated my flat iron from the bathroom to the linen closet in the hall. im not afraid of stylists and i know theyre not all out to get me. essentially, my life no longer revolves around my hair. it is what it is. i am not my hair, but my hair is me.

celebrity curls i love: janet jackson

2009-11-16T17:55:00.003-05:00

im not going to get into whether or not this is her hair via growing it herself or the beauty supply store :) i just love seeing janet rock this look. i love curly hair on janet, period.

pics from mediatakeout.com and x17online.com

just discovered the webcam and these are my favorite pics

2009-11-15T21:52:00.002-05:00

i think these pics are funny...and to relate it to hair, this is my second day hair. i put it in a pineapple (loose high ponytail) last night and slept on my trusty satin pillowcase. when i woke up this morning, i took my hair down and my hair was ready to go!

long time, no see!

2009-11-15T20:55:00.014-05:00

not much has been going on with me and my hair. im still in the process of growing it back out to BSL (bra strap length) and i can proudly say that ive stayed away from any random haircuts. and we all know thats a huge accomplishment for me!

ive started using gel again, just to switch up my look. my hair doesnt look too much different with or without gel, but using it does give me a tiny bit less shrinkage and a bit more control. in general, ive started using a bit more product in my hair. i had just been using elucence mb conditioner + castor oil. i would just mix the two in my hands and rake it through my hair. most recently ive been using the same conditioner and oil, but ive been adding a bit of veggie glycerine to that mixture. its been raining ALOT recently, so i figured it would be a great time to use glycerine. after i mix the conditioner oil and glycerine, id apply my gel. ive been shingling the products through--first the conditioner/oil/glycerine and then the gel. all in all, it still takes me less than 10 minutes to do my hair, but by the end of the day i still have a controlled look. at night if i go out, i can fluff my hair to get the volume i like, without frizz or humidity being an issue. here are some recent hair pics:

the first and third photo are at a packed club. without gel, my hair would just be a shrunken poof. i constantly had my hands in my hair and it looked that good thanks to good ol' fantasia ic gel w/ sparkelites.

moving on to the munchkin. i flat ironed her hair (bad mommy) just to get an idea of how long it was. she looks just like a geico caveman with straight hair, so thank God her curls finally came in (she was born with straight hair and didnt get curls until late in her infancy). as you can see in the pics, i didnt try to get her hair bone straight. just one swipe of the flat iron. i did it right before she went to bed and then i wet her hair first thing in the morning. i love her curls!

the munchkin stumbled across a great hair moment as seen in these pics:

i had given her a bath and used burts bees super shiny conditioner as her rinse out. then on her towel dried hair, i applied herbal essences long term relationship leave in split end protector for long hair and combed it through. she ran off to jump on our bed, took a nap, and then woke up with this gorgeous hair. the long term relationship leave in is something i use in her hair once a week. i use it sparingly because it makes her hair feel product-y and stiff if i use too much. i like for her hair to move, so i prefer to use only a small amount.

i think thats all thats been going on with our hair recently. i am considering coloring my hair again. i have a gift card to a local salon and spa so im deciding whether or not im just going to go for color or use it to try some ojon products. either way, i'll keep you posted!

celebrity curls i love: corrine bailey rae

2009-10-10T00:56:00.005-04:00

there was a thread about this on nc.com (http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/showthread.php?t=87598) and her hair looks amazing!

here is a pic from her myspace page:
My Photos Photo Gallery - Photo 12 of 12 by Corinne Bailey Rae - MySpace Photos

product review update: herbal essences UPDATE

2009-10-10T00:43:00.003-04:00

i have been using herbal essences none of your frizzness smoothing leave in creme since early august on the munchkin. i do like the results, but the other day i noticed a small rash on the back of the little one's neck exactly where her hair hits her neck/back. im left to believe its the herbal essences products that are causing the rash. i dont know how long its been there, but i do know that she has extremely sensitive skin. so if anyone else has extreme sensitive skin and also has the itchies, this may be the culprit. its bittersweet becasuse i did enjoy how her hair looked with herbal essences and the price is excellent, but i was always a bit uncomfotable with the mass amount of chemicals in their ingredient list. i will be switching back to more natural products for the munchkin.

i got my hair trimmed again...

2009-10-10T00:36:00.004-04:00

it was lacking shape and it was time to clean up my ends. yes, im still growing out my hair, so thats why i waited so long to get a trim. but it came back to bite me in the end because my ends were horrible so i had to get a bit more than i wanted taken off. if i stretch a curl at the nape of my neck, it reaches my collar bone. i feel like ive been at this length FOREVER! maybe its due to all the cutting i do to it though. this is the 100th time ive had scissors put to my head since i declared that i was growing my hair out. my mom says im rebellious. im starting to think shes onto something. why else would i keep cutting my hair even though im insisting that im growing it out????

ponytails

2009-10-10T00:26:00.004-04:00

ive said it a million times an dim going to say it once more: i suck at hair styling and further more, i dont like it even if i were good at it. but i wanted to spice up the munchkin's ponytails. so i did brigitte bardot inspired side pony (deep side part, teased a bit at the crown for a bit of height). simple. age appropriate. super cute.

i love this look on wavy/loosely curled hair.

for the second twist on a regular pony, i just wrapped a small section of hair around her ponytail and bobby pinned it in place. it looks twice as cute when done on pigtails!

celebrity curls i love

2009-09-22T20:17:00.004-04:00

TATIANA LONDONO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

for some weird reason i was watching HGTV this weekend, when i saw an ad for the show the property shop. i dont know what the show is about and to be honest, i really dont care. i just know that her hair is amazing!

for more on tatiana, check her out on hgtv.com (http://www.hgtv.com/tatiana-londono/bio/index.html)

product review: yes to carrots hair and scalp mud mask

2009-09-22T19:58:00.005-04:00

i had heard alot of good reviews about yes to carrots hair care line from the wonderful ladies at http://www.naturallycurly.com but never felt inspired to give it a try myself until now. i decided to go with their deep treatment because you can never have too many deep conditioning treatments!

i must say, i was pleasantly surprised. it has great slip (and i can honestly say i cant think of another deep treatment that is slippery), melts tangles away, and it left my hair feeling super soft. i usually like to add a bit of veggie glycerine, oil, and honey to my dt's but i didnt have to add anything to this mask to feel the results. i know once i do add the glycerine/oil/honey mix, my hair will be ecstatic. its inexpensive ($13?), is easy to get a hold of (got mine from target), and it worked well on my curls as well as the little one's, so i definitely reccommend this product!

here is the product info directly from the yes to carrots website (http://www.yes-to-carrots.com/?CategoryID=428):

C is for Hair Care
Hair and Scalp Moisturizing Mud Mask

250ml - 8.45 fl.oz

Experience gorgeous hair like never before with C is for Hair Care.

Moisturizing, softening, detangling, shining, volumizing… need we go on??

C is for Hair Care contains extracts of organic carrot, organic pumpkin & organic orange, rich with Beta-Carotene, Alpha-Carotene, Vitamin E and other enzymes that keep your locks in tip-top condition.

Key Ingredients

Extracts of organic carrot, pumpkin, orange & honey contain Beta-Carotene and Vitamin E to keep your hair moisturized and full of shine.

Instructions

Apply to towel-dried hair and massage thoroughly. Leave on for 12-15 minutes (no cheating!) and rinse with lukewarm water. Use 1-2 times per week.

Tips

For maximum nourishment use twice a week, concentrating on roots and scalp.

Ingredients List

Water (Aqua), Silt (Maris Limus), Dead Sea Water (Maris Aqua), Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Oil, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacin, Dimethicone, Algae Extracts (Rhodella, Dunaliella, Spirulina), Ipomoera Batatas (Sweet Potato) Extract, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Juice, Daucus Carota (Carrot) Organic Extracts, Daucus Carota (Carrot) Juice, Panthenol, Chamomila Recutita (Chamomile) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Juice, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Fragrance (Parfum), Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Oil, Apple Vinegar (Acetum), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Daucus Carota (Carrot) Seed Oil, Cetrimonium Chloride, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Peel Extract.

patting myself on the back

2009-08-25T22:58:00.002-04:00

im still styling challenged, so i was super excited when i managed to do 2 braids on the munchking. it took me almost 2 episodes of dora to complete, but i did finish and boy was i proud!

perfect curl technique: smoothing every curl

2009-08-25T22:45:00.004-04:00

recently, everyone has been talking about teri from tightlycurly.com and her smoothing every curl styling technique. if youve been living under a rock, and i say that with love :) and have no clue what im talking about check out the website and the video:

i tried it for myself and i have mixed reviews. technically i didnt style my entire head this way because i have neither the time nor the patience to smooth every curl. so i shingled in my products (elucence mb conditioner+ castor oil and fantasia ic gel w/ sparkelites) and just smoothed the defiant curls and rogue areas of frizz. all in all, this styling technique did as promised. my curls were defined.

pros:
- defined curls

cons:
- takes too long for my liking
- if you prefer a voluminous look, this is not for you

i think if my hair ever gets to be teri's length, this will definitely be a perfect curl technique.

product review: mixed chicks leave in conditioner/styling cream

2009-08-17T13:10:00.005-04:00

a while back i posted an email i received from an acquaintence singing the praises of the mixed chicks product line (http://subbrock.blogspot.com/2009/04/mixed-chicks-products-testimonial.html). now im not trying to knock anyone's hustle, but the major thing that turned me off from the mixed chicks line in general is their marketing strategy. i personally feel like theyre capitalizing on mothers (white mothers in particular) of bi/multiracial children with curly hair. but i guess thats a-whole-nother issue...

i had the opportunity to sample their shampoo, leave in, and deep conditioner but i decided to go only with the leave in (the shampoo has SLS). i tried it on both myself and the munchkin.
pros:
- it smells yummy
- it has an element of hold to it
- left munchkins hair shiny and frizz free
- definitely gave our hair some bling (munchkin had blinging curls that lasted all day. mine were blinging at first but once my hair dried 100% no bling)
- depending on where you live, you can get it locally

cons:
- hate their percieved marketing strategy
- the ingredients are definitely not CG friendly. the shampoo has SLS, and both conditioners contain non water soluable silicones. the leave in has emulsifying wax (my hair hates waxes) and multiple parabens. many chemicals ive never heard of are listed in ingredients.

baby girl's hair styled with leave in + curl keeper:

my hair styled with only the leave in (no oils or gels added). i used my modified braid out technique (http://public.fotki.com/subbrock/2009/winter/pony112.html)to style instead of my usualy wash n go.

you can get mixed chicks products at www.mixedchicks.net (check their store/salon locator to see if they have a retailer near you) or www.curlmart.com

product review: herbal essences none of your frizzness smoothing leave in creme

2009-08-17T12:51:00.004-04:00

the little one and i went to the beach and i realized that i had left her/the man's leave in (generic paul mitchell the conditioner) at home. so i was forced to buy something (anything!) from the grocery store. i decided upon herbal essences none of your frizzness smoothing leave in creme.

pros:
- cheap
- love the smell
- leaves her hair very soft
- lightweight

cons:
- the ingredients. it contains dimethicone (im not opposed to this silicone)and its no where near natural. most of the ingredients are chemicals ive never heard of. also, it contains 5 different alcohols.

im still on the fence about this one. like i mentioned before, it left her hair extra soft even after full days of swimming in the salty ocean water and chlorinated pool water. but im worried that over time, the silicone and alcohols will leave her with a hair disaster. im going to finish this bottle and possibly repurchase one more time before i give it my seal of approval/disapproval for the munchkin. my hair gave it a seal of disapproval. too light to be effective on my dry 3c coils.

here is her hair with the none of your frizzness leave in + curl keeper:

the pics are kind of crappy but i wanted readers to note (a) the lack of frizz, despite the fact that we're at the beach and (b) the bling aka how shiny her hair is.

link to product info: http://www.herbalessences.com/us/collections/none_of_your_frizzness/creme.jsp

product review: burt's bees super shiny conditioner

2009-08-17T12:37:00.004-04:00

ive tried burt's bees conditioners on my 3c curls and in general, theyre too light to do much for my hair. but ive been on a quest to find great products locally, so i decided to revisit burt's bees for my daughter's 3a/b curls.

ultimately, i went with their super shiny grapefruit & sugar beet conditioner because it does not contain protein.
pros:
- relatively inexpensive
- can be purchased locally
- natural/CG friendly ingredients
- leaves the munchkin's hair unbelievably soft
- good for co-washing

cons:
- doesnt "melt" tangles away
- not heavy enough on its own to tame frizz

im not in love with it, but i dont hate it either. if youre still experimenting with products, its deinitely worth a try.
here is a pic of baby girl's hair using the super shiny conditioner:

for more info, check out this link to the product info at burtsbees.com: http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/hair-conditioners/super-shiny-grapefruit-sugar-beet-conditioner.html

fotki update

2009-07-31T18:09:00.003-04:00

laziest blogger ever checking in :)

i added some new pics of my hair (as well as the munchkin and the man) to my fotki. check it out....

http://public.fotki.com/subbrock/

perfect curl products: standing the test of time

2009-07-16T00:21:00.009-04:00

ive stated before that im not a product junkie (at least i think i have) and the main reason that im not a pj is because i use products that stand the test of time. i might tweak my routine a bit every so often, but ive seriously been using the same products for years. and the ones ive just fallen in love with keep on working their magic!

generic paul mitchell the conditioner- as far as ive been concerned, this has been the man's product. i dont mess with it and it doesnt mess with me. well, we were running low on my beloved elucence moisture balancing conditioner and i decided to give old paul mitchell a go. i mixed it with some castor oil and applied it to my hair as usual and i was pleasantly surprised at how well my hair held up. soft, moisturized, but light.

baby girl is also running low on california baby calming conditioner and is completely out of kinky curly knot today so i desperately needed to use something as her leave in. i gave the paul mitchell a try and it made her 3a ringlets sooooooooo soft. like buttah. this may be one of her new staple products.

its a great price and you can buy it at sally's. woot woot!

castor oil- castor oil can do no wrong as far as im concerned. if youre working with 3c/4a/4b/cnapp hair and havent tried castor oil thus far, what are you waiting for????? one of the beautiful ladies at naturallycurly.com started this thread after my recommendation: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/showthread.php?t=80691 thank you SBB for the shout out.

curly hair solutions curl keeper- looser haired curlies, if you havent tried curl keeper yet, what are YOU waiting for???? :) this is an HG product for about a blabillion wavies/curlies. type 2s/3a/3b please try this stuff if you havent already! and tighter curlies, it wont kill you to give it a whirl either. curl keeper is my daughter's HG product. if youve read any review ive written about this stuff, i always mention how you can revive and refresh the product by rewetting the hair. well this is a pic of my daughter's 2nd day hair:

oh yeah. 2nd day hair on a two year old. and id like to mention that this is her hair as shes playing in a tent that is misting water. humidity is no match for curl keeper (thats because glycerine is one of its ingredients)! i gave her a bath the night before and put in a leave in + curl keeper and the next morning i spritzed it with detangling spray to get the rouge tangles out and voila--gorgeous curls.

ouidad climate control gel- i love this stuff. and foxycus is enjoying it too: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/showthread.php?t=80565

more celebrity curls i love

2009-07-16T00:13:00.004-04:00

two words: laurie berkner

if you have a little one or have had a little one in recent years, i probably dont have much explaining to do. and if you do have a rugrat, you probably feel like youre going to gouge your eyes out if you hear the song "googlehead" one more time as well...or is that just me? :) seriously though, laurie berkner and her band a great for small kids. and while my daughter is bouncing around to the music, im mesmerized by her wonderful hair. i cant help it---i love curls!

i found this pic of her on her website http://www.laurieberkner.com/ told you her hair was awesome....

subbrock hair pics

2009-06-27T23:04:00.005-04:00

here are some pics of my hair as well as the munchkin's that i just uploaded to the fotki.

http://public.fotki.com/subbrock/2009/summer/

http://public.fotki.com/subbrock/2009/baby-curls/

bravo curlies!

2009-06-23T17:25:00.009-04:00

im a reality tv junkie, so of course i spend alot of time watching shows on bravo. the fashion show (thursdays at 10 pm on bravo) has a few of my favorite curlies and here they are in no particular order:

daniella- she has beautiful loose curls naturally, but when shes not sporting those she tends to wear her hair curled like in this picture. gorgeous and talented.

merlin- im not entirely sure hes a curly to be honest, but this man is too awesome/hilarious not to be mentioned.

reco- yes hes bald, but i know under all that scalp is a curly dying to get out! im rooting for this diva to win.

lidia- im not sure if shes a natural curly, but she always wears her hear curled. on her final episode she had the most beautiful drool-inducing curly side ponytail. i loved it.

issac mizrahi- what is there not to love about issac???

and not to be forgotten, teresa (and her cute curly daughters) from the real housewives of new jersey!

www.bravotv.com

product review: pureology essential repair split end correcting treatment

2009-06-23T17:07:00.003-04:00

i recently recieved a sample of pureology's essential repair split end correcting treatment and i like it. i dont have any split ends, but i could see myself using this on a regular basis based off of how great my hair felt and looked after using it. i applied it to clean wet hair and then applied my regular products on top of it. the result were curls that were shinier and more defined than they usually are.

here is the product description from their website:

Intensively nourish distressed hair and help seal split ends while protecting colour vibrancy. This reparative leave-in treatment delivers deeply penetrating protein-rich soymilk and pure biotin for extra fortification, thermal protection and defense against damage. The exclusive AntiFadeComplex® maximizes colour retention.

Organic Botanicals:
Chamomile and Olive Oil
Ingredients:
AntiFadeComplex®
Advanced Repairing Micro-Emulsion Technology
Natural Ingredients:

Soymilk and Biotin
Signature Aromatherapy Blend:

Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, and Rosewood
How to use:
Apply evenly through damp hair. Style as usual. Do not rinse.

it has a really light fragrance...its so light that i have to intentionally sniff the product to smell it (yay!) and even though its part of their anti fade line, id still recommend it to those without color treated hair. the full ingredient list does have a few parabens as well as a water soluable silicone. but if that doesnt bother you, then id say definitely give this product a try. good stuff.

http://pureology.com/systems/essentialrepair/splitend-correcting-treatment

"shes going to hate her curls when shes older..."

2009-06-03T22:37:00.002-04:00

everyone loves to see a child with curls, so its no wonder everytime i am out with the munchkin someone compliments her ringlets. more often than not, it goes like this:

"oh i love her hair! she has the most beautiful curls. too bad she'll hate them when shes older..."

there is a 50/50 chance the person will follow it up with:

"people with curls always want straight hair and straight haired people always want curls."

i do get where theyre coming from when they add in the second part. it seems like the philosophy of the grass is always greener on the other side is just a part of human nature. but it always makes me wonder. granted, its always a straight haired person who says it, so maybe they too are a slave to their flat iron or know someone who is. but i cant help wonder why they would say that to me, a curly adult. obviously, i dont hate my hair if im sporting my kinks in their full glory. sometimes i do tell the person that i doubt that she'll hate her hair since both her dad and i are proud curlies.

i know the comment in itself is very innocent and those who tell me dont mean any harm at all. but the more i hear it/think about it, i realize how powerful my role is as a parent. its up to us (her dad and me), as well as my extended family to let her know that her hair is beautiful and that there is no reason to wish she had something else. for anyone reading this who knows a young curly, please do everything in your power to let them know just how wonderfully perfect their curls, kinks, and frizzy fuzzies are.

im an idiot

2009-06-03T22:35:00.003-04:00

so i got highlights quite a while ago and its about time i had a retouch because my roots are getting out of control.

and im an idiot because it took me this long to realize i had forgotten to lighten my eyebrows!! so for all of you dark haired ladies who love to color, please be smarter than me and remember to lighten your brows ASAP.

:)

summer products part 2!

2009-05-21T11:35:00.006-04:00

redken didnt discontinue my favorite product after all, they just changed the name! woohoo! so here it is, redken color extend sun sparkling shield leave-in smoother.

Helps provide water-resistant protection against UVA/UVB rays, chlorine and minerals while creating a sleek, polished finish.

WHY IT WORKS:
Water-resistant formula helps protect hair from UVA/UVB rays and the absorption of chlorine and minerals
Nourishes and conditions
Creates a sleek, polished look with multi-dimensional shine

KEY INGREDIENTS:
HYDRA-SHIELF COMPLEX
SoplexylTM - Prevents UV Damage
Mango Oil - Replenishes Moisture and Vibrancy
Ceramide - Repairs and resurfaces

Redken’s exclusive Interbond Conditioning System and advanced Hydra-Shield Complex with Soplexyl™, a patented UV filter, provide powerful protection while restoring lost moisture and luminous shine.

How To Use:
Apply to damp or dry hair. Leave in. Reapply throughout the day or as needed. Recommend to clients who swim and need to protect their hair from the sun, chlorine and minerals.

i love this stuff! and it even has little flecks of mica in it for extra bling. doesnt get much better than that...

summertime product!

2009-05-19T19:15:00.008-04:00

summer is almost here! i usually dont switch up my routine or products much with the exception of something to protect my hair from the sun. in the past i had used redken's uv rescue. they had an awesome oil spray. but to my dismay, the uv rescue line has been discontinued. *sad face*

last year i used ouidad's sun sheild leave in conditioner for myself and for the little one. here is the product description from the website (http://www.ouidad.com/Sun-Shield-SprayIn-Beach-Conditioner):

The sun is not only dangerous to your skin but it can also wreak havoc on your hair—causing its color to turn or fade and drying out already thirsty curls. Sun Shield/Beach Pool Spray from Ouidad protects against sun damage with effective UVA/UVB blockers, which form an invisible breathable shield to lock out the elements. Spray on prior to sun exposure and any time by the pool or beach when you want to create softer, smoother, shinier curls.

Also effective against damaging environmental factors like wind, salt and chlorine, Sun Shield’s blend of special proteins and amino acids seal in moisture and nourish hair while shielding from overexposure to the drying and stiffening elements common to outdoor activity. Now you can love being outside and love your curls!

i'm a fan and i will be repurchasing. so if youre looking for something to protect your curls from all that summer fun you'll be having, give it a try.

cool hairstyles for little girls

2009-05-19T19:08:00.003-04:00

i came across this blog full of cute hairstyles for girls, so i thought i would share!

cutegirlshairstyles.blogspot.com

celebrity curls i love

2009-05-11T16:44:00.006-04:00

i saw the may cover of ebony and was so excited--not because of beyonce, but because of her hairstyle! i love big curls and big hair, not to mention this is my dream hairstyle (if i ever get married, this will definitely be my wedding hair).

taylor swift always has gorgeous waves. not to mention, i cant help but to admire a young superstar who doesnt give into the pressure of straightening. now back to drooling over taylor's amazing hair...

roni's hair story

2009-05-04T11:27:00.007-04:00

*roni is the one responsible for turning me onto castor oil. whoot whoot!*

Hello, my hair story has a few turns and twists. First, I had been natural my whole life until 10th grade, that's when I started getting relaxers. Before then,I was getting the straightening comb starting at 11 years old. My hair was to my hip, until 7th grade, that's when it was to my waist. I would go to my friend Cheryl's house(she was a licensed beautician that did hair out of her home and only charged $20.00!) and get my relaxers done. I had my hair cut for different styles, but it was never no shorter than BSL. It was the 80s and we all did crazy things with our hair. Cheryl kept my hair healthy and thick with the relaxer, and I continued to go to see Cheryl throughout high school, she used a Dudley's relaxer and it never broke my hair off. Well,I went off to college and didn't get anymore relaxers. My relaxer grew itself out,and by the summer for my second year of college, Cheryl had moved, and I began going to a salon that my mom found. My hair wasn't really damaged and she trimmed it up abit and put it in a style. I also had another relaxer put in and got my hair dyed twice burgundy first and then red, it was Flyy. Well,towards the end of my sophomore year of college, my hair began to split very badly,so I ignored it, I didn't get another relaxer anymore after December 1987. Well, my hair really started to look bad and started coming out.When I finished my sophomore year,I went home and started cutting,but it got progressivelt worse. So,I went to a white salon and they said that my last beautician shouldn't have combined the relaxer and the color together, and that I was going to have to cut my hair down to my head. So,I got the Big Chop in May 1988, down to my head. I looked in the mirror and I just started crying. I paid and tipped them, but I cried all the way home. I felt ugly and unfeminine. I had never had short hair before, or hair that short before,so it was a pretty big deal for me and my self-image at the time. My fiance told me that I was still Sexy and Beautiful and that my hair would grow back and he still loved me. So,I rocked the big earrings, the make-up,and the sexy clothes during the summer like I always do. I was using a product that contained kelp and seaweed for a leave-in conditioner from Sally's, and that grew my hair back pretty fast, plus, I was deep conditioning my hair for 25-30 minutes everyday. My hair grew back longer in time for me to start my junior year of college and I started blowdrying my hair and putting hair grease in it. It finally got to my shoulders and I was happy with that.
So, I just kept DTing and taking care of it. Well, my fiance's mother was getting married for a 3rd time when I finished up my junior year of college and I got another relaxer because I was the maid of honor. However,I didn't put anymore relaxers in my hair after that one time.I was finally in my senior of college and just wore my hair down or up and put hair grease in it. It didn't break off badly or split like it did when the salon put it in. My hair was longer,and I decided to grow my relaxer out. So,I finally got up enough natural hair and was able to cut off my relaxed ends and have a decent ponytail by the end of senior year. So,I started using gel, I can't remember which kind,but it kept my hair moisturized.I had to do an internship before I graduated in August 1990 from college with my BS degree. My hair took off fast during the summer, it was APL and very thick. I rocked puffs, and used the good old banana clip which made my hair look even longer. So, I vowed to keep my hair curly no matter what,I was enjoying it, especially the puffs on top of my head. Well,January 1991 came and I discovered I was pregnant with my 1st child who is going on 18. I went to Sally's and found a gel for extra dry hair called LongAid Curl Activator and it became my staple hair product. My hair grew like a weed while I was pregnant and it was back down to my waist before I had my 1st child,a daughter. So, after I had her, I started using Dax pomade in my hair,it made it straight and lie down. The reason being is because Sally's had taken LongAid Curl Activator out of their stores and was no longer selling it. So,I used the Dax pomade from Fall 1991- Summer 1995.I had my second daughter in Fall 1994, I was still natural and my hair had gotten past my waist. So,when I was pregnant with my 3rd child, my son, I got put in a kiddie relaxer in June 1995, I never had relaxed hair with my other pregnancies.I enjoyed the relaxer and would hot curl my hair too. In 1996, I decided to stop relaxing again and go for natural. My hair had gotten thinner and was no longer looking good, so I began cutting it slowly. Finally,I took the plunge after I got a good amount of new growth growing in and had my hair cut into a short bob January 1997, but I was still able to make a ponytail.I was still blowdrying,until I got tired by Spring of 1997, and started using gel and this product called Parnevu Leave-In Conditioner for dry hair, it helped mend my hair back completely and it grew like a weed again down to my shoulders.Well,we'll be up here all day if I continue, LOL, so I'm going to fastforward into 2000, when my hair reached APL, and I found LongHairLovers.com and learned to grow my hair really long. I learned which supplements to take and how to treat my hair like a fine piece of old lace, etc. I was placed on medications so I doubled my vitamin/supplement intake.
Well,I've been completely natural for 12+ years with no desire to return back to relaxers or any kind of chemicals. The last time I flat-ironed my hair was Christmas 2006 with my CHI ,it has been sitting in the closet ever since. I started using this gel called Proclaim Curl Activator gel back in 2002 and it has been my staple since and keeps my hair moisturized and no split ends or breakage problems. I also use castor oil because it keeps my hair moisturized for days and I don't have to reapply it until it's time to wash and condition my hair. It makes my hair shiny too and frizz-free. I feel it has also helped in the health of my hair. I use different leave-in conditioners, LongTerm Relationship by Herbal Essences is my current staple. I wash and condition my hair once a week, then I apply my leave-in, castor oil, and gel when I get out of the shower, and then I detangle. Detangling is easy because I start from the ends of my hair and work my way up,and it doesn't take long. I put my hair in a ponytail and braid it and then I bobbypin it up to the top of my head with the ends tucked underneath, put on a doorag(that has saved my hair for 12 years too) and a satin bonnet and lay a towel on my pillow case and go to sleep. I only apply products to my hair once a week. I'm proud to say that I reached a little past tailbone naturally curly from me taking care of my own hair and staying on my supplements. This is the longest my hair has ever been and I'm very happy with it. Currently,it reaches 37 1/2 inches measuring from the front hairline to the ends. I use Lemongrass & Sage shampoo with essential oils to wash my hair and Rosemary& Mint conditioner with essential oils to condition my hair once a week,they keep my hair healthy. I want to thank Jennifer Bahney on LongHairLovers.com for helping me on my journey to very long beautiful hair, I use to be a member there,but now she sells hair products,vitamins,etc. She is a licensed Trichologist and I trusted her advice and judgement. I'm proud to be naturallly curly and chemical-free and plan to stay that way forever. I'm just letting grow as long as it will get.Thanks so much for listening to my story.

~RONI~

hair stories

2009-05-04T11:20:00.003-04:00

happy monday!

today im going to do something a bit different. im going to possibly start posting people's "hair stories". i wanted to do something a bit different than the average profile of someone with fabulous hair because i dont know if its helping us or hurting us. i think its great to admire someone, but alot of times with hair, it seems like many of us feel like if we take on someone's hair regimen/routine, then our hair will magically turn into theirs. and that just doesnt happen! but we can continue to learn and take suggestions from others to get the most out of our hair.

i would love to take submissions from anybody interested in sharing, regardless of hair texture, length, age, styling preferences etc. just leave a comment/message if youre willing to tell your story.

so without further adieu, let the story telling begin!

you really want to know what i think?

2009-04-27T21:33:00.003-04:00

please, love your hair.
love it for what it does, love it for what it doesnt do.
love it because God chose it just for you.
so treat it right, let it know how good it looks, and dont forget to let everyone else around you know how fab your hair is!

mixed chicks products: a testimonial

2009-04-19T14:37:00.002-04:00

an acquaintance sent me this email so i decided to post it here. ive never used mixed chicks products so i cant add to the testimonial, but if anyone else has, feel free to leave some feedback!

I just bought this stuff yesterday & I should be on an infomercial! It is the bomb!! I did [baby girl's] hair last night & when we woke up this morning she still had beautiful soft ringlets & not big crazy hair. [Cousin], I'll let you try some on [your curly kid]. [Subbrock], I don't know what you are using in [munchkin's] hair, but I wanted to let you know about this in case you hadn't heard of it. I've spent almost 4 years looking for a product that works like this. Please pass this website along to anyone that it can help!!

http://www.mixedchicks.net/

shiny hair a la subbrock

2009-04-19T14:12:00.003-04:00

a few days ago, someone asked me what i do to get my hair so shiny because her daughter who has natural 4a hair always has dry, frizzy looking hair. to be honest, i really didnt know where to start because there are so many different answers on why my hair is shiny. and here they are:

- my hair is healthy. healthy hair has a tendency to have much more bling ability (i totally just made that term up) than non healthy hair. so that means keeping my hair moisturized, getting trims as needed, and avoiding doing much damage to my hair.
- product, product, and more product! and im referring to quality, not quantity. there are some products out there that make my hair so shiny, its ridiculous. things like veggie glycerine or products with glycerine as a main ingredient, oils (particularly castor oil), gels (kinky curly curling custard, fantasia ic gel w/ sparkelites, ouidad climate control gel), and other "stuff" (ouidad clear control pomade). i do avoid products with non water soluble 'cones in my everyday styling products because even though they give a great shine to my hair at first, the buildup is a nightmare.
- color. i would be lying to myself and everyone else if i pretended like coloring my hair had nothing to do with how shiny my hair looks. after a fresh dye job, its always particularly glossy looking because thats what the color is supposed to do--deposit color and give a shine boost. of course, as the color fades, so does the shine. *color is not something i would ever recommend for a young child. ever.*

so thats what keeps my hair shiny. what about you?

the man and his hair

2009-04-12T21:05:00.004-04:00

this is the man's ponytail. he's threatening to cut it all off and dontaing it to locks of love. i must say i will miss the mane. when we first met almost 3 years ago, his hair was a bit longer than ear lobe length. hes a big fan of the same light oil blend i use (i havent told him about castor oil yet) and paul mitchell the conditioner as a leave in. he shampoos no more than once a week and after applying his leave in, brushes his hair with the denman.

haircut pics!

2009-04-12T20:59:00.006-04:00

so this past thursday i went for color and ended up getting another cut too.

im seriously loving this cut. i feel extra sassy! i styled my hair with elucence moisture balancing conditioner and castor oil. before i get color, i always do a extra moisturizing deep treatments and this time i did a protein treatment before my appointment (i usually do it after). my hair feels amazing, better than ever and i think its all due to the castor oil. my friend who has amazing hair recommended it to me years ago, but im just now trying it. i will add her hair tips/story/pics sometime in the near future. but anywho, 3 cheers for castor oil!

im going back later this week to get my color lifted even more, the previous henna and indigo treatments i did before were very hard to lift. of course, i'll post pics.

hope you had a happy easter!

exciting news for piedmont north carolina curlies!

2009-04-11T20:06:00.002-04:00

whole foods in winston-salem has kinky curly curling custard!

$26.99!

whoo hoo!

Finding a Curly Stylist with Ouidad

2009-04-03T08:50:00.002-04:00

FINDING A CURLY STYLIST

For curly-haired people, a great stylist and a fantastic cut is essential to having beautiful hair. If you are unable to visit the Ouidad Salon or a Ouidad Certified Salon, here are some tips for first, finding the right stylist and then how to talk to your stylist about your cut.

Finding the perfect hairstylist:
Word of Mouth - Definitely the best form of recommendation. When you see someone who has your hair type, ask where they get their hair cut.
Reputation - Call a salon in your area that has a great reputation. Describe your specific hair concerns to the receptionist and ask them for a stylist recommendation. Also, be sure to describe what type of cut you are looking for - trendy, classic - this will also help them to point you in the right direction.
Curly Hair - Look for a stylist that has curly hair so he or she already understands some of your needs.

Talking to your stylist: At your first meeting a great stylist will have a consultation with you to establish a mutual understanding of what is going to happen to your hair. Don't just surrender to your stylist!

Your stylist should ask you:
-Your hair likes, dislikes and challenges
-Your daily routine and lifestyle
-Your ultimate hair goal (If they don't ask, be sure to tell them!)

You should also ask about:
-The cut that you both agree upon
-The options with the cut - Can you wear it both straight and curly?
-How much time will you need to devote to styling?

Also, be sure to fess up to any hair crimes including abuse of color, straighteners, blowdryers, etc. Confessing these crimes will help your stylist better understand your hair's condition and recommend a treatment plan.

Finally, if the day comes when you need to leave your stylist simply tell them you need a change or that you would like to try someone new. Just be sure not to leave on a bad note - you want to leave the door open in case you decide you want to return in the future.

Check out ouidad.com to sign up for this monthly newslwetter and to find a ouidad certified salon near you!

perfect curl technique: rinsing upside down

2009-03-21T19:40:00.004-04:00

somewhere on naturallycurly.com i read that rinsing your hair upside down provides better clumping. over the past 3 days ive been experiementing with this process and for the moment its changed my life! since my hair cut, ive had to spend more time styling my hair than im used to. and one issues i was having was getting good clumps of curls. now that i have the rinsing upside down thing perfected i just had to share! this is what i do:
- in the shower, wet my hair completely. shampoo, co wash, rinse out a dt, condition or whatever i need to do. using a wide tooth shower comb, detangle my hair.
-after detangling im ready to rinse. flip my head upside down and rinse out hair making sure not to touch my hair too much. i dont want to disturb the miracle of curl clumping!
-once my hair is rinsed completly, i squeeze out the excess water (still upside down). once im out of the shower i flip my head upside down again and briefly wrap a cotton t-shirt or my microfiber towel around the length of my hair and squeeze out any more extra drippies.
- now its product time. i apply my products with my head still flipped over. the key is to get work enough product through the first time, so im not fiddling with my hair too much. so for me i mix some elucence mb conditioner and oil and smooth it into my hair. no raking it through because that will disturb the clumps. next i use a small bit of shea butter and concentate that on my ends. lastly, i apply my gel (aubrey organics mandarin magic jelly).
-now its finally time to stand upright!
- once my hair has fallen into place, i touch up a few of my frizz prone areas with my fingers. for me its the very top of my hair (canopy?) and the hair right above my ears. i basically just smooth/rake each individual curl clump with my fingers to smooth down the frizz that i know is soon to come.
-air dry and wait for the fabulousness to begin.

once my hair dries its moveable, the curls are defined, and have the perfect amount of volume. i might just make a youtube of this one day because im in love with this technique!

product review: jane carter solution, devacurl, lush

2009-03-16T20:20:00.007-04:00

like many curlies, im constantly on the quest for even better products than what i already have. in general, im disappointed with my new finds and realize that elucence moisture balancing conditioner is truly my HG (holy grail) product. but that never seems to stop me from trying. here are a few things ive tried recently:

jane carter solution twist and lock

product description: This lock cream will help to re-moisturize your locks while adding shine to your hair. If you twist or lock your hair, this product was created for you. Once you use it, you will wonder why you haven't been using it all along. No longer do you need to use bee's wax or that gooey brown gel. Twist and Lock is made with natural butters for shine and a light polymer for hold. Mix with Nourish & Shine for best results. Twist & Lock does not flake or leave residue. It does not attract dirt and dust and it rinses water clean.

my experience: i dont like it. i initially bought this product because i was looking for a daily moisturizer i could use on my dry (as in not wet) hair. granted i neither wear my hair in locs nor twists, but i figured the products wouldnt know. it didnt leave my hair noticeably shiny and it doesnt leave my hair feeling moisturized either. it does leave my hair feeling product-y. it also has a VERY strong herbal smell. i think it stinks. the best results i ever had with it were when i applied it to my damp hair. my hair did feel soft and moisturized once it dried. not sure if i should try to sell it, give it away, or chuck it out of the window while im driving to get another product. if anyone has any insight on how to make this product work for me, please let me know!

deva curl one condition

product description: It's all in one! This super-rich conditioner will keep the moisture level of hair and scalp balanced to perfection. One Condition restores, hydrates and neutralizes detergent and product residue with the fresh scent of lemongrass.

my experience: not completely sold. ive heard good things about this conditioner, so i decided to give it a try. as a conditioner, it doesnt really qquench my thirsty curls. but when i use it as a deep treatment, im fairly satisfied with my results. as i sit here now im using it as a dt. i melted a bit of honey, olive oil, veggie glycerine, and shea butter together in the microwave. then i added the one condition. while the mixture was still warm, i put it on my hair and then put on a plastic cap. i'll rinse it out in about 30 minutes. i did let the man try it out (coarse, thick, dry hair) and he said it left his hair feeling like straw too. ive used it on the munchkin and it works beautifully on her hair (fine strands, dryness isnt an issue for her). this conditioner does contain amodimethicone. so if youre on a strict CG hair diet, youre going to want to skip this product. i wont repurchase, but im not kicking myself for trying it out either.

lush seanick solid shampoo bar

product description: Orange blossom scented shampoo bar makes limp, lifeless hair buoyant. Don't let Seanik's compact size fool you. This little puck of joy buffs and shines like no liquid can. A couple of swipes worked up into a lather to moisturize the scalp, breathe life into the lifeless, and shine your hair like a champ. Economical and easy to use, Seanik's citrus and seaweed combo enriches and enlivens while its fragrance entices all who cross your path. Now proudly SLS-free.

my experience: ive used this shampoo for nearly a year on my daughter with wonderful results. its long lasting--im still on the same bar that i bought last july. its vegan. it does contain a sulfate, but its a gentle sulfate (sodium coco sulfate). for the first time i finally used it on myself and i had the same great results as my daughter: bouncy, shiny, soft, clean hair. very awesome. the closest luch store is about an hour away from me, but i like this shampoo so much id be willing to make the drive or pay for shipping. and that says ALOT since im not made of money!

bad ass blogs

2009-03-16T20:16:00.002-04:00

im not much on the science behind curly hair because im not a scientific person and it bores me. but i do appreciate those who really get to the nitty gritty of curly hair via science/chemistry/physics/math/osmosis/what-have-you. so here are two blogs that are very awesome (if you havent already found them):

http://jillipoo.blogspot.com/

http://livecurlylivefree.blogspot.com/

enjoy!

cool hair video

2009-03-09T22:09:00.003-04:00

im a big fan of short, easy, hair tutorials. this video is by trenell, who has awesome hair. its a how to showing a creative, yet simple spin on the ponytail. it would look great on any hair type (curly, wavy, kinky, straight) so give it a try!

my haircut

2009-02-25T18:06:00.012-05:00

i got my haircut yesterday and i love it!

i forgot to take a before pic, so this pic was taken earlier this month to give you an idea of what my hair looked like before:

and this is what it lookes like now:

i have a hair appointment tuesday...

2009-02-23T00:07:00.002-05:00

and im so excited!

since i havent colored my hair in a long time (and i may stay away from color for a while), i desperately need a change. best case scenario: i get a cute angled bob. most likely to happen: i'll just get my hair shaped up a bit.

in my opinion, having a definite haircut or shape adds sooooooo much to the overall appearence of hair. its been quite some time since ive had a trim, which is usually when i get my hair shaped as well, so my layers have grown out. and that reults in having triangle shaped hair for me. not a good look. im definitely going to post before and after pics to show just how much improvement a shape/style can give curly hair. the best part is that its so subtle and you dont have to lose any length.

i can't wait!

winter hair secrets by ouidad

2009-02-15T20:44:00.003-05:00

Winter Curl Secrets by Ouidad

With winter here, I find that many clients' curls are not performing at their best. Here are some of my tips for taking control of winter dullness.

Use Deep Treatment every two weeks particularly during these cold months - it's my curls best friend. Moisture lost due to winter weather is restored.

Letting your hair dry naturally before you head out into the cold is always ideal, but if you must use a blow dryer due to time, make sure that it is on the low setting.

Add a leave in conditioner, such as Moisture Lock, to your routine. It's great for the dry weather. It makes my hair soft and keeps the moisture in on daily basis.

Shampoo once less per week than your regular routine - your scalp has less oil in the winter, so your hair can be shampooed less frequently.

Static can cause hair to expand and have more flyaways. Combat static throughout the day with Botanical Boost spray in conditioner. It gets rid of the flyaways and adds more moisture to the hair to keep your style all day long.

Finish with a few drops of Shine Hair Glaze - it eliminates the dullness so hair looks healthy and shiny.

http://www.ouidad.com/

don't forget to deep condition!

2009-02-11T01:25:00.003-05:00

i am the first person to admit that i am horrible when it comes to being consistent, following rules, schedules, routines, etc.
what can i say, im a free spirit!
so needless to say, ive been slacking on my deep conditioning treatments. ideally, i would do them at least once a week but its been much much much longer than that since i had done one.
this evening though, i decided to get back on track and do a deep conditioning treatment.

i used mop extreme moisture and mixed it with a bit of my oil blend. i spritzed my dry hair with a bit of water and then applied the conditioning mixture. next, i parted my hair in 5 sections and detangled with a comb. this also helped distribute the conditioner more evenly. after i finished a section, i twisted it up into a little bantu knot (a little bun). after i finished my whole head, i pretty much went on about my business. for an extra conditioning boost sometimes i will put a plastic cap over my hair and then cover that with either a towel or a knit cap so that my body heat aids in the deep conditioning process. after about an hour i hopped in the shower and rinsed out my hair. my hair feels amazing! im going to force myself return to once a week deep conditioning.

at least once a month i deep condition the little one's hair as well, either using mop extreme moisture or jessicurl weekly deep treatment (which i love for myself as well). on bath day i'll wet her hair as soon as she gets in the tub and then put on whichever deep conditioner i plan on using. then right before she gets out of the tub i rinse her hair. since i dont heat style or manipulate her hair too much, the 5-10 minutes of conditioning time still makes her hair even soften than it already is.

for an extra extra boost i will add oil, honey, and even vegetable glycerine to my deep conditioner before i put on my make shift heat cap (the plastic cap/towel combo).

so please dont be like me and remember to deep condition regularly. your dry thirsty hair will thank you!

not so perfect curls

2009-02-02T17:45:00.009-05:00

most of the time people post pics of their decent to great hair days. i decided to switch things up a bit and show you our bad hair days. the reason being, is ive looked at tons and tons of pictures of people and said "wow, they have gorgeous hair" or "whoa, shes beautiful," thinking it wasnt something i could attain because my hair didnt look like that at the time. finding the right products and routine makes all the difference.

i'll start. this is my hair last weekened. i refused to detangle it for at least 3 days and wore it in a bun/ponytail the entire time because i didnt feel like dealing with it.

the man:
im not exactly sure what happened to his hair. maybe he fell asleep on the couch so he didnt have the beenfit of sleeping with his satin pillowcase.

the munchkin: the first pic is before i found products that actually enhanced her curls. back then i was just using detangling spray and no styler or leave in conditioner. the second pic is her morning hair. notice how the curls are still in tact, due to sleeping on satin.

just because you dont wake up with perfect curls, doesnt mean you cant attain them!

3 strand twists

2009-01-26T17:14:00.004-05:00

due to a recent thread on the 4a board at naturallycurly.com, i was inspired to try 3 strand twists on the munchkin. i remeber doing these on my friends' hair back in the day, so i didnt need to watcha tutorial, but here is my favorite tutorial:

this is how the munchkin's hair looked with her 3 strand twist pigtails:

perfect curl products: kinky curly

2009-01-26T16:36:00.011-05:00

my little girl had an awesome hair day using kinky curly knot today conditioner and kinky curly curling custard.

here are product descriptions of both products directly from the website (kinky-curly.com):

KNOT TODAY TM is a creamy herbal conditioner and detangler designed to smooth the cuticle and remove knots, snarls and tangles from thick curly textured hair.After washing hair, apply KNOT TODAY TM generously and work through troubled areas with a wide tooth comb.Can be used as a regular rinse out conditioner for wavy hair or as a leave-in for thicker curlier hair types.An excellent product to use after removing braids and extensions.**TIP- When using this product as a leave-in, apply in the shower and rinse with a little water to evenly distribute the conditioner.

CURLING CUSTARD TM gives moisture and curl definition, hold and brilliant shiny hair!You get Moisture + Hold + Shine in one product!An all in one product which will simplify the styling process!This high performance product is very concentrated so a little goes a long way. It reduces bulk, defines & elongates your curls helping them to 'hang' better. CURLING CUSTARD TM will bring out the natural curl or wave pattern you never knew you had!It is an advanced botanical formula made with ALL NATURAL ingredients that nourish and strengthen the hair.Utilizing the humectant properties of the Agave Nectar, CURLING CUSTARD TM will give weight to your hair, define your curls, remove frizz, provide long lasting hold and shine without ever being greasy, crunchy or drying to your hair..**TIP- This product is designed to work alone but ultimate curl definition and length can be achieved when used with KNOT TODAY TM as a leave in conditioner.For best results apply CURLING CUSTARD TM to soaking wet, freshly washed hair.For very kinky and tightly coiled hair use KNOT TODAY TM as a leave-in conditioner then apply CURLING CUSTARD TM to soaking wet hair in small sections. Smooth each section with fingers from root to tip.

ive never used knot today as a rinse out conditioner, and until i started typing this post, had no clue that you could even use it as a rinse out conditioner! ive always used it as a leave in for the munchkin and her 3a/b curls with great results, as you can see below. to achieve this look i started with clean wet hair and applied the knot today conditioner. i combed it through to make sure it was evenly distributed. next, i took a small dab of the curling custard (too much will make the hair crunchy) and rubbed it in my hands and raked it through her hair with my fingers only--no comb. then we air dried.

i got a little envious of my daughter's awesome hair day so i figured id give the knot today and curling custard a try. ive used the curling custard several years ago, and really liked it. but i never repurchased because i found fantasia ic gel w sparkelites (its cheaper and i felt like i had similar results).

for my 3c coils, i started with clean wet hair and raked the knot today through. no comb. then, i parted my hair in three sections, from ear to ear. starting at the bottom section, i raked the curling custard through with my fingers once again, and braided the section of hair. i did this until all 3 sectoins were braided. after about 5-10 minutes i released the braids. this modified braid out helps clump my curls together more. after unbraiding i usually shake my head a bit because i like fuller hair. i try not to touch it too much, if at all, because the hair is still wet and i dont want excess frizz. once my hair dried, i wasnt sure if i liked the results. i definietly need more moisture than what the knot today seems to be able to deliver. my hair felt kind of dry. in the past ive used the curling custard on top of a heavier conditoiner (elucence moisture balancing conditioner) and my hair didnt feel as dry. i was also pretty haphazard with my application because i wanted a more voluminous look, which i got. here are my results:

im going to revist the curling custard one last time to see if i can get the amazing results i had in years past, but i will say farewell to the knot today (for myself, not for my daughter). i would love to try the rest of the product line, but i'll have to save up my pennies before that happens :)

for those interested in purchasing kinky curly products, they can be bought online and in some whole foods stores. check the website to see who's selling it near you!

no 'poo: it will change your life!

2009-01-20T21:41:00.003-05:00

dealing with dry, frizzy curls and waves? have you heard about the 'no poo routine (aka CG or curly girl routine)?
if you have no clue what im talking about, get ready for the best kept secret amongst curlies and wavies...
ditch your shampoo! if youve never herad of this before, then youre probably thoroughly grossed out and/or confused. so here is the extremely short explanation of why many of us are on a no 'poo routine.

most shampoos contain sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (sls). sls is a harsh detergent which is known to strip curls and waves of much needed moisture. you know how your hands feel after you wash them with hand soap--dry, crackely, and screaming for some hand lotion? thats exactly what yor hair is going through each time you use shampoo with sls or other harsh sulfates. and as a matter of fact, the main ingredient in hand soap is, sls! the same with laundry detergent. which is why most of us have to use a fabric softener after we wash our clothes.

here are a few more articles about sls and why you should leave it alone:
http://www.hairlossbuddy.com/20/sodium-lauryl-sulfate/

http://www.healthy-communications.com/slsmostdangerousirritant.html

http://www.jasoncosmetics.com/sodium_lauryl_sulfate.html

drop the shampoo (or at least find one that is sulfate free) and give the 'no poo routine a try. follow the link for a crash course in the CG routine, courtesy of naturallycurly.com: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/all-about-the-no-poo-routine-2

for the kids

2009-01-19T16:36:00.003-05:00

running out of styling ideas for your little girl? well check out videos from kaylenasmommy at youtube. ive never seen such creative (and rather simple) hairstyles!

http://www.youtube.com/kaylenasmommy

beauty tip: how to find the perfect nude gloss/lipstick

2009-01-14T23:51:00.002-05:00

in the january/february 2009 issue of women's health magazine, they suggest matching your lipstick/gloss shade to the color of your gums to get the perfect nude lip...

who woulda thunk???

ulta is having a sale!

2009-01-14T23:48:00.001-05:00

friends and family 20% off your entire purchase!

now through january 19

www.ulta.com

3c perfect curl technique: shingling

2009-01-11T12:17:00.006-05:00

products and tools used: elucence moisture balancing conditioner, fantasia ic gel w/sparkelites, comb, denman d3/d4 brush, duckbill clips, ponytail holder

this technique takes a little bit more time than i would like to normally spend on my hair, but it yeilds perfectly controlled, defined curls. its a foolproof method for getting great curls. the process is very similar to the shingling method at missjessies.com (http://missjessies.com/pdf/HowTo-Dominga.pdf)

-start with wet or damp hair. since im using heavy products i like my hair to be not soaking wet because it takes even longer to dry.
- beginning at the nape of the neck, make a part from ear to ear using the comb. apply conditioner and detangle with comb.
- smooth a dab of gel over the detangled section of hair. *im much more heavy handed with the gel when im doing the back section of my hair because the texture back tere is tighter and frizzes much easier*
- using the denman, brush the section of hair. make sure you go from root to tip. if i dont start as close to the roots as possible, i get puffy roots.
- wrap ponytail holder loosely around completed section. put duckbill clip at the end of completed section. *this not only helps keep the completed sections out of yor way, but also serves to help stretch out and weigh down the curls created by the denman*
-continue this process until entire head is completed.

the product combo i used is not necessary to yeild the same reults. i do recommend using a heavy moisturizing conditioner to be able to stand up to the gel. and heavier or stronger hold gels do work best for me when i use this technique. depending on your hair's needs, you can also incorporate oils or butters to provide extra moisture or seal your ends. to cut down on drying time, a diffuser or hooded dryer can be used.

to get the most out of this style, at bedtime pull the hair into a loose ponytail at the very top of the head (aka "pineapple"). sleep on a satin pillowcase. in the morning, take down the ponytail and refresh the look with the spritz of your choice (regular old water, water/glycerine combo, leave in conditioner spray, etc).

3A perfect curl combo

2009-01-10T22:06:00.007-05:00

i used california baby calming conditioner and curly hair solutions curl keeper to get these perfect ringlets.

its taken me a while to get the hang of curl keeper, but with her hair type the keys to getting good results with it are raking it through her hair and to use it sparingly.

here is what i did:

-start with clean wet hair.

-apply california baby calming conditioner and comb through hair to make sure that it is evenly distributed.

-put a small amount of curl keeper in palm of hand and then rub hands together. rake the product through with fingers, not a comb or brush.

*ive found that when i use too much curl keeper and/or comb it through her hair, it makes her hair straight. with a fine haired curly, start off with an amount that looks like its not going to be enough so you dont weigh the hair down and prevent it from curling*

-air dry

why i like california baby calming conditioner:

- its all natural/good ingredients

-its rich enough to moisturize her hair without weighing it down.

-does double duty, it can be used as a regular wash out conditioner AND a leave in

-easily accessable and decent price. its available at target and other stores that sell natural products.

why i like curly hair solutions curl keeper:

- ingedients (no parabens, no protein, no silicone)

- good price

- combats the frizz without making her hair look like it has product in it

-great shine

-doesnt need to be reapplied daily. can be refreshed by spritzing with water, detangling spray, etc.

click here to buy curl keeper:http://www.curlmart.com/Curly-Hair-Solutions-Curl-Keeper-p-28.html

where to start

2009-01-09T23:46:00.003-05:00

i can credit 3 resources for the majority of the information i have learned on how to care for my curls:

1. http://www.naturallycurly.com/ the greatest website for curly hair EVER! there is alot of information over there so take your time and try not to be overwhelmed.

2. http://www.nappturality.com/ this is the first website i found on how to care for my hair. this site is a great resource on how to care for tightly coiled ethnic hair.

3. Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey. A good book that gives you the basics on how to care for curls.

welcome ladies and gentlemen

2009-01-09T23:35:00.002-05:00

ive finally done it. ive created a blog.

to be honest, ive had this blog since 2007and never posted in it until this very moment due to fear. fear of what? fear of being another annoying person with a blog!ive been typing and deleting this paragraph for at least 15 minutes now because im not sure how to start this off.

so here we go...im in search for the perfect curl. and to be honest its not just me. its my daughter's and her father's hair as well. and i guess youre in on the search too if you're still here!let me tell you a little bit about myself and my family.ive been natural since 2003. ive been obsessed with learning about taking care of my hair ever since then. when i look back on some older pics i think "wow. my hair looked amazing!" since becoming a mom and having my priorities shift away from myself, ive had to change my hair routine to be alot less no fuss. and thats how i find myself, in search for the perfect curl (again).
i currently work at a salon. this is the beginning of my 2nd non consecutive year there. so im surrounded by hair at work too.

we have 3 different hair types (http://www.naturallycurly.com/hair-types) in our household and they go as follows:
me- classic 3 c. my strands are very fine and i dont have that many of them. my hair looks thick, but its not at all. dryness is my main issue.
the man- 2a/b. he has coarse, thick hair. his main hair issues are dryness and frizz.
the munchkin- still a mystery. very fine hair. with the right products shes a 3a. some days there seems to be almost no curls at all. her main hair issue is frizz.now that we have the basics out of the way, let's go in search of the perfect!enjoy. i know i will.

oh yeah, im no technical genius. so this blog will not have all the bells and whistles as other blogs. sorry folks.