REGAL BAL

Braid-Out on dry hair.

2011-10-02T16:37:00.000-04:00

This is a 3 day old braid-out on dry blown-out hair. It's now flat and shrunken but I like it. I try to keep my regimen as simplistic as possible. This way, there isn't much manipulation to my hair and not too many products to weight it down. I had a cut on Friday to shape it out. I cut about 2 inches all over but about 4 inches in the front. My hair had gotten too long and seeing that this is how I wear my hair 99% of the time, it makes sense to keep it shaped. I really don't care much for length right now. It's about waist when straightened. It's now 2 years since my last relaxer and 9 months since cutting off the last of the relaxed ends.
{ Products used - Shescentit Coco Creme Leave-In Conditioner & Shescentit Papaya Curly Souffle. }

Sept 25th

2011-10-02T11:46:00.001-04:00

{ 4 day old braid out.}
Products used - Shescentit Pomegranate Curl Quenching conditioner, Shescentit Coco Creme Leave in Conditioner, Shescentit Papaya Curly Souffle.

2011-08-12T23:01:00.001-04:00

This is last winter. Braidout on transitioning hair. I still had a few inches of relaxed ends. Hair was still a bit wet in this pic. Products used {Shescentit Coco Creme Leave-In Conditioner and Shescentit Macadamia Fixing Gel}

At this time I was experimenting with new products so I can't remember which conditioner I used. I will update with more recent pics and my full regimen.

Should I?

2011-08-12T21:13:00.003-04:00

Wondering if I should restore this blog. It's been a long time since I've posted and seeing that there isn't much going on with my hair other than twist outs and braid outs, what would I talk about?

ETA: So I decided to revive it after all. I won't be able to post as much because I'll be busy, but I miss doing updates and different styles. I want to revisit different types of curl sets such as flexi rods and straw sets. Hopefully this blog can be an inspiration to me to get out of the rut of just braid-outs and twist-outs and try some of the styles I used to enjoy as a relaxed head. And maybe it can be an inspiration to you too.

I had originally stopped posting here because my intention was to create an interactive hair site which was to make it's debut at the beginning of last year. Alas, I was way too busy to do it so it's an idea that though scrapped for the moment, will probably come to fruition at some point.

I also debated whether or not I should keep my old posts. I did delete a few but not the ones that I think are important such as tutorials and natural remedies. A lot of those old posts will be revisited. I know that everyone is enjoying all the natural hair love, but there are still lots of women out there whose hair is still relaxed and I hope they can pick up a few nuggets of knowledge from the older post.

So wish me luck on up-keeping this blog. It's good to be back :)

2009-10-13T22:59:00.002-04:00

Hi Ladies,
I know that many of you read this blog and have emailed me asking for updates. I've been quite busy and haven't had much of a chance to update.
I will be transitioning this blog into a website which will be launched in January. The new website will feature more detailed tutorials, tips and videos. And it's all free!
I will leave this open for now, while the new website is being worked on but I won't be updating any more for this year.

FYI. My hair is doing great. Just got another 10 inches cut. That's about 20 inches of hair cut this year alone. Not to worry, it's still long. I'm mid-back now. Anyway, there are tips here for keeping your hair healthy during the winter so feel free to browse . See ya in January!

Oh and don't forget to visit us at www.shescentit.com for all your hair needs. New products will be out between this month and January. We have giveaways and lots of deals and steals. Be Beautiful!

Revisiting Okra

2009-05-30T20:26:00.014-04:00

After numerous questions about okra ( see previous post here) I decided to give this a try.

Here's what I did.

I boiled 10 baby okras for about 30 minutes.
{boiled okra}

I let it cool for a few minutes then put it in the blender ( It was still hot at this point. Key for helping it to disintegrate). I pureed it for 2 minutes then put it on liquefy for 3 minutes. It literally obliterated into a smooth green slime. Kinda like vomit lol or resembling the consistency of shampoo. There was absolutely no chunks of okra, just smooth slime.

{Pureed okra}

Great isn't it. Makes it easy to rinse out of the hair. Or so I thought.

Now for the test

I started by clarifying my hair. This is an important step anytime you're going to test a new product. You want to start with the cleanest hair possible.

I applied the okra gel ( as I'd like to call it) to my hair section by section.
Left that on for 15 minutes. My hair had a blinding shine to it while the okra was in it. I had a tighter more defined curl pattern too. I combed a small section in front with a wide tooth comb and it detangled easily.
By now I'm all excited...I'm on to something here.
Okra in my hair

Rinsed...and rinsed and rinsed. My hair had decent slip. Not nearly as much as when it was in my hair. It also felt a little coated.

But it felt really strong. A weird softness but strong.

The experimenting continues.

I then decided to create a conditioner using the okra. I made what would normally be a moisturizing conditioner but with the addition of the okra. It instantly turned it into a protein conditioner. My hair felt strong as heck.

I followed it up with Super Soft Honey Rinse for 10 minutes. My hair didn't feel as soft as it normally would.

I sprayed it with Moisture Mist Leave-In Conditioner and allowed to air dry. My hair dried extremely soft...strong but soft.

The Verdict.

Okra - Protein or Moisturizer?

Definitely protein.
It's almost has the effect of silicone or collagen. It coats the hair like a silicone and smoothed the surface. And it added elasticity to my strands like collagen would.

Would I try this again?

Definitely! As a matter of fact I'll try it every week for a month to see if my hair changes in any way.

I would recommend this weekly to someone who has severely damaged hair and needs heavy protein. For hair like mine that can go months without a protein treatment I would say use this every two weeks to once a month.

The results. Air dried 80%...blow dried on medium then mildly flat ironed. I will wrap it after this and it will be silky in the morning. P.S. Between Christmas to now I've cut about 14 inches off. I constantly cut it month by month, getting rid of the over processed hair. 6 inches here, 2 inches there ...that's how I did it. My hair actually behaves like it's natural even though it's relaxed. Makes me want to transition cause it makes no sense to perm anymore.

On Hiatus

2009-03-28T20:39:00.001-04:00

I've taken a break from the blog. I will be back with new tips and tricks but in the meanwhile enjoy the post that are already here.
If you have any questions it's best to email me at customerservice@shescentit.com.

Spotlight on COLLAGEN

2009-01-12T02:38:00.003-05:00

Collagen is a complex structural protein that nourishes your skin, hair and nails for a healthy appearance. It is the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant protein in mammals making up about 25% to 35 of the whole body protein content.

When taken orally it can cause hair and skin to become more elastic, lessening the chance of breakage. When used in your hair it can add softness and luster. As we age, our body produces less collagen so using a supplement is a good idea.

I like Puritan's Pride Brand.

Their claim...
• Promotes radiant skin, gleaming hair and strong nails**
• Helps maintain body collagen**
• Supplies high concentrations of the amino acids Glycine, Hydroxyproline and Proline

So what are you waiting for, pick up a bottle of collagen today!

Conditioning your hair

2008-12-28T20:09:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to talk a little on the correct way (IMO) to condition the hair.

In my opinion, using more than 2 ounces of conditioner at one time is a waste. I know, I know your hair is super thick right? Still, its unnecessary to use more than that. If you apply conditioner the right way, the conditioner will stretch and do its job without you using the whole bottle. Believe it or not, I use less than 2 ounces of conditioner.

Grab a measuring cup. Pour or scoop two ounces of conditioner in.
Part your hair in 4 sections.
Apply a little to each section of damp hair starting at the ends. Work your way up to the roots.
Don't be heavy handed. If your hair is damp it will aide the conditioner in spreading.

Put a plastic cap on. This will generate heat, thinning out the conditioner and help it spread. If you're planning on using heat, no more than 15 minutes on a medium setting is necessary.

When you take the cap off you will notice that all your hair is pretty much covered with conditioner. I will also advise you to part your hair differently each time you condition. This will make sure that all of your hair gets conditioned on a regular basis.

I don't apply conditioner to my scalp. While conditioning the conditioner will seep down to your scalp. Some people apply it like they are applying a perm. Again not necessary but if you're transitioning this may help to get the conditioner on the roots.

Also it's important to remember that slip does not equal moisture. Most conditioners that give amazing slip are usually loaded with cones. Originally your hair will feel soft but all those cones that coated the hair will block out moisture which will eventually result in dry hair.

Last but not least, Protein, moisture, leave in weekly and reconstruct every 2-4 weeks.

ETA : Check your water. Hard water can really counteract a good conditioning treatment. Also, low water pressure can result in build up. You really need a good flow of water to rinse your hair and scalp completely.

Just a little update

2008-11-15T23:48:00.005-05:00

For all the ladies that requested an update picture here it is. This is 4 months after my cut. (See the before pic here) My hair has pretty much grown back. I haven't been doing anything to it other than braid outs and twist outs. I haven't really been deep conditioning but I will begin to do so again seeing that it's colder now and my hair will definitely benefit from deep conditioning.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-01T17:27:00.006-04:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, it's estimated that About 178,480 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2007. About 40,460 women will die from the disease this year. Right now there are slightly over 2 million women living in the United States who have been treated for breast cancer.

If you're worried about developing breast cancer, or if you know someone who has been diagnosed with the disease, one way to deal with your concerns is to get as much information as possible. In this section you'll find important background information about what breast cancer is and how it develops.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in one or both of the breasts. Breast cancer usually develops in the ducts or lobules, also known as the milk-producing areas of the breast.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer). Although African-American women have a slightly lower incidence of breast cancer after age 40 than Caucasian women, they have a slightly higher incidence rate of breast cancer before age 40. However, African-American women are more likely to die from breast cancer at every age. Breast cancer is much less common in males; by comparison, the disease is about 100 times more common among women. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008 some 2,030 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men in the United States.
Above information taken from National Breast cancer month org. To learn more visit them at http://nbcam.org/index.cfm

Join the Total Beauty Total Cure fight against breast cancer. Please visit them at http://www.totalbeauty.com/blogger_BCA_campaign_page for more information and to make a donation.

Come on ladies, join the fight, find a cure!

I was just thinking

2008-08-24T21:40:00.002-04:00

that I really want to keep my hair mid back length and no longer. My hair has grown back a lot and I'm not feeling it lol. I've never liked my hair longer than waist and that's pushing it for me. I'm heading back to mid butt already. I let my hair grow back because of what other people say but think I'm ready to maintain shorter hair. Just thinking, just thinking.

EGGS

2008-08-24T21:18:00.004-04:00

I'm sure that by now, most of us know that eggs are great for your hair. I'm talking topically. As a child, my mom used to put this in my hair, but she didn't know that she was giving it a protein treatment. All she knew was that Eggs work.

Me? I hate the stuff. I don't like eggs, orally, but I love this stuff in my hair! I crack one egg, beat it until it's foamy and add it to my hair over my protein conditioner. I don't leave it on long though. My hair isn't crazy about too much protein and only needs it in moderation, so I leave in on for about 20 minutes before washing it out.

Now here's the bad part. This stuff DOES NOT smell great after you've rinsed it out. Get your favorite smelling moisturizing conditioner and deep condition with it. On my hair, I need to apply a moisturizing conditioner for at least 30 minutes before I'm comfortable that it's moisturized enough. Eggs make my hair super super strong so it's not something I do often.

If your hair is severely damaged, add 1-2 eggs depending on hair length and thickness and 1 teaspoon of olive oil to your protein conditioner to restore it's beauty and health.
And don't forget to moisturize afterward!

TIP: You can add the yolk to your face to firm you skin. Another little trick I learned from my mom growing up. She's a health nut!

2008-07-21T15:22:00.003-04:00

I was really debating on what to write about. I have so many things I want to discuss but so little time. My question is, can our hair be trained?

The reason why I'm bringing this up, is because of how my hair has been behaving lately. I wear it curly most of the time but whenever I choose to wear it straight, it reverts to its curl pattern within 2 hrs of straightening it. I know it's humid here and that contributes to the reversion but my hair just doesn't seem to want to be straight anymore.

Even in the picture below of my hair after the cut, it had already reverted. I had major shrinkage at the roots also.
Now I find that if I'm wearing my hair straight, I can easily wear it that way for a while. No problem. When I do curly or wash and goes, it takes weeks for it to retain its straightness. Even during wrapping, my hair will curl by the time I wake up the next morning.

So can our hair be trained to stay straight? I'm getting to the point where I don't want to fight my curls anymore. I know I had a failed transition but I'm not sure my hair would like being 100% natural anyway. It's already too thick and a bother to deal with. What will I do as a natural?

Castor Oil

2008-07-14T17:03:00.004-04:00

Castor Oil is a vegetable oil that is extracted from the castor bean, though it is not classified as a bean.

Probably the most popular of castor oil uses is as a laxative. When I was a child my mom would give me a small shot glass of this really foul tasting oil to "clean me out". I'm still resentful of that lol.

But for me the best way to use the product is topically. I love castor oil on my hair. I've been sleeping on this oil for a long time. My mom had to remind me that my hair loved castor oil as a child. It gives fine, thin hair body by thickening strands. What I find happens when I use castor oil, is that my hair completely soaks it up causing the strands to 'swell'.

And did I mention that it will leave your hair super soft?

Castor oil contains healing properties. I even use it on my scalp after getting burned during relaxing. It healed the burn by the next day! The germicidal, insecticidal and fungicidal properties of Ricin and Ricinoleic acid present in the oil protect the scalp and hair from microbial and fungal infections, the two prime causes for hair loss. In addition, the fatty acids in it nourish hair and prevent the scalp from drying by retaining moisture.

Try using it on dry cracked heels! Yes, I love Castor Oil.

A cut

2008-07-14T16:44:00.007-04:00

As I reported, I cut off 8-9 inches of my hair. In the picture above It's been three weeks since the cut and my hair has already grown quite a bit . It has also grown out the blunt look (My hair grows really unevenly)Even though I cut this much hair every year, this is the first time that I actually regretted it. :(

I think it's because I wear my hair curly most of the time, I get a lot of shrinkage and my hair really felt a lot shorter.

Also I noticed that my hair texture is so much coarser since using castor oil. It feels a lot stronger too so I definitely recommend it for people with fine hair.

This pretty much how I wear my hair everyday. Easy simple styling. Doesn't take up much time and it lasts for about 3 days until I wash again.

Ramblings

2008-06-16T17:04:00.006-04:00

Before I begin...in the picture furthest right, you can see how much shorter my nape is than the rest of my hair. (click on pic for larger image) FYI it's grown a lot. The women on my father's side of the family all have that problem. And before you blame the creamy crack, no it's always been like that, even as a child, fully natural and having great hair care.

I've pretty much been neglecting my hair. When I mean neglecting I mean, not deep conditioning and lots of manipulation. For the past 3 weeks, I've been washing my hair daily. Not on purpose. I get into the shower and the water just calls me. So I either do a quick twist out, wash n' go or a blow out.

This weekend my poor hair was calling for a deep conditioning. So I conditioned with Nadia fortifying masque for 45 mins, then the avocado conditioner for about 2 minutes. I used just a little green grape leave in and fantasia ic heat protectant serum (I prefer it over chi SI which tends to make my hair dry) and blew my hair out, flat ironed and that's that. It feels like I revived it. It's thick and bouncy.

I've also been experiencing some shedding. This is my shedding season so I expected it. I don't really plan to do anything about it because I don't notice a marked difference in thickness. This is just how my hair is and I've embraced it.

Oh did I mention that clarifying with baking soda is great! I do this once every two weeks.

WOW! I thought I'd have more interesting things to report about my hair but I guess not. lol

All in all, I've been washing everyday and my hair has grown. My family doesn't see me with my hair straight much so when I do straighten it, they're shocked at the length.
I plan to cut about 8 inches soon. Just can't decide if to do layers or go blunt. I love the look of blunt hair when it's straight but I mostly wear my hair curly so layers might be best.

Oh and I'm allowing my hair color to fade back to it's natural color.(I'm a natural blond) . I've noticed that when I dye my hair black, dark brown or whatever, my skin tone changes. Meaning that the dye was bleeding all over my skin. I did a facial scrub using sugar, oatmeal, baking soda and glycerin. That's when I first noticed how different my skin looked. No more rinses for me!

About a month ago

Spotlight On Water

2008-06-15T18:03:00.006-04:00

Vitamins and supplements

2008-06-15T15:48:00.005-04:00

It's shedding season for me. So I've started taking my vitamins again. Here's what I'm taking.
Biotin
Iron
Fish, flax and Borage oil. ( My mom swears by this. She's nearly 60 years old and her hair grows faster than mine)
Here's a little Info on these Vitamins

Iron
Overview:
Iron has been used for therapeutic uses for thousands of years. It was used by the Egyptians to cure baldness and by the Greeks it was used in wine to restore male potency. It is the most plentiful element on earth and it is an essential trace mineral for humans. Two-thirds of the iron present in the body—about 3.5 g to
4.5 g—are in the blood and the rest is stored in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and muscles.
Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, myoglobin and a cofactor of several essential enzymes. Of the total iron in the body, 60 to 70 percent is stored in hemoglobin (the red part of red blood cells—a component of myoglobin, an iron-protein complex in muscles. When the muscles work harder this complex helps in getting them extra energy.

How This Mineral Works in Your Body:
Transports oxygen and contributes to the storage of oxygen in the cells
Prevents and treats iron-deficiency anemia due to dietary iron deficiency or other causes
Stimulates bone-marrow production of hemoglobin, the red-blood-cell pigment that carries oxygen to body cells
Forms part of several enzymes and proteins in the body
Essential for protein metabolism
Assist in the production of thyroid hormones, connective tissue and several brain neurotransmitters
Maintains a healthy immune system
May help alleviate menstrual pain
May stimulate immunity in iron-deficient people
May promote learning in children with iron deficiency
Many women, of child-bearing age, with heavy menstrual flow and women with long or short menstrual periods (common in teenage girls)
Anyone with inadequate caloric or dietary intake or increased nutritional requirements
People over the age of 55
Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Those who abuse alcohol or other drugs
People with a chronic wasting illness
Those under excess stress for long periods
Anyone who has recently undergone surgery
Athletes and workers who participate in vigorous physical activities
Anyone who has lost blood recently such as from heavy menstrual periods, an accident or long-term, undetected gastrointestinal bleeding
Vegetarians with inadequate dietary intake
Infants from 2 to 24 months

Where This Mineral is Found:
Bread, enriched, Mussels, Egg yolk, Oysters, Fish, Red meats, Garbanzo beans (chickpeas), Seaweed, Greens, Whole-grain, Lentils, Liver,Molasses ( blackstrap), Dried fruits,Poultry,Enriched cereals, Soybean flour, Flour

**People with normal iron levels in their body absorb about 10 percent of the food iron consumed from food; however, an iron-deficient person can absorb about 20 to 30 percent.

Biotin

Functions Biotin

Biotin is present in the skin, hair, nerves and bone marrow. Its enzymes play a vital role in carbohydrate, fat, amino acid and protein synthesis for energy provision. Biotin enzymes also bind to histones that are an important part of DNA synthesis. This means that biotin probably plays a role in DNA replication and transcription. Biotin deficiency causes skin, nail and hair loss. It may also result in weakness, depression, hallucination, numbness, fatigue, irritation, rashes, loss of appetite, and even depression.

Biotin in food

Biotin is found in various food stuffs in generally lower amounts than other water-soluble vitamins. Biotin containing food products include bread, brown rice, bran cereals, egg yolk, yeast, nuts, beans, peas, cauliflower, liver, kidney and fish.

Flax Seed

This is one of my Mom's favorite supplements. She puts a little in her cereal, oatmeal or shakes in the morning. Her hair grows exceptionally fast, a fact that is astonishing due to her age. Personally, I just prefer to take a pill so I just recently started taking Nature's Bounty Fish,flax and Borage oil. 12oo mg. I like the fact that I can take 1 table 3 x a day and I'm good to go. However, I rarely take the required amount. I' usually end up taking only 1 pill a day. It's too soon for me to notice if I'm getting extra growth with it but I'm confident that I'm getting some benefit from taking it.

Some of the benefits listed for flax seeds are as followed.

The benefits of flax seeds are numerous and include constipation relief, clearing up acne, smooth skin, they assist in building muscle and burning fat, they're good for heart health and they might even help with depression and arthritis
Flax seeds are high in Omega 3 oils. Omega 3 is not something the body produces on its own. Drink plenty of water when using ground up seeds or chewing the seeds. Be sure to keep the flax seeds refrigerated. And never heat flax seeds as that may cause a chemical breakdown in the seeds and could be even carcinogenic as a by-product.

2008-06-15T14:50:00.003-04:00

Transitioning

2008-05-26T13:22:00.005-04:00

Ok ladies, I know it's long overdue that I update this blog. I've been pretty busy and had to put this aside for a while.
I promised some of you that I'd give you tips on transitioning (at least on my transition)

First let me start off by saying that I'm no longer transitioning. I touched up at a little over 8 months. I had probably about 11-12 inches of new growth, which would have been enough for me to do the big chop. Fact is, I just couldn't let go of my length just yet. My hair was at the bottom of my butt and I would have felt completely naked with hair so much shorter.

Also, with such a busy schedule, there wasn't much time left in my day for dealing with transitioning hair. Because I'm someone who rarely wears my hair up, I was literally washing it daily to keep it looking great. I'd wash it, do a twist out and head to the gym. My hairstyle would be completely ruined. Then I had to do it all over again.
--------------------------------------------------

Anyway going those 8 months without a touch up wasn't as difficult as I thought I de-tangle. And when washing, I'd section my hair in 5 sections (2 in the front, 3 in the back) and apply conditioner to each section (I used hair clips to keep the hair sectioned off.)

I had to be extra gentle when de-tangling because of the two different textures and I didn’t want the hair to break off at the line at demarcation.

Deep conditioning is key. It helps the strands to stay strong and supple.
But what really helped me, was Nadia Avocado conditioner. I can’t live without this. It made my new growth really soft and silky allowing the new growth to blend well with the relaxed hair.

I did mostly curly hair. Twist outs, braid outs, flexi rods and rollersets. A word of caution. When wearing your hair curly during a transition, DO NOT leave it in too long. It will tangle terribly. I do find that wearing the hair curly during a transition is better than wearing it straight. It's very little manipulation and your hair still looks great and full.

But as I mentioned earlier working out is the enemy for transitioning hair. If you work out everyday, then a big chop might be best for you.

I feel it might be a little hypocritical give tips based on a successful transition seeing that I didn't make it to the end lol but I hope that those simple tricks will help someone.Here is an example of a style I did during my transitioning attempt/long stretch!

2008-01-28T15:37:00.002-05:00

I'm having a bad day but my hair is doing great! :)

Twist out...see instructions on how to

Flexi-rod set

2008-01-25T15:52:00.002-05:00

I started with a wash and roller set 8 days ago. I deep conditioned using Shescentit Fortifying hair masque. After rinsing it out, I added Green Grape Leave-In conditioner and a tiny amount of serum and set it on large Grey rollers.

I just either wrapped at night or rolled it in a bun using Seyani Hair Butter every other day. By day 6 I still hadn't gotten a chance to wash it so I added a little of the Hair Butter and rolled it on 8 purple flexi-rods.
This pictures is day two of that set so yes, I'm now on day 8 without washing. I'll probably keep it for another 2 days because it really looks great and it'll be a shame to wash it out.

Relaxer Tutorial

2008-01-18T01:06:00.000-05:00

I've put together a comprehensive tutorial on how to correctly relax your hair. Sorry there are no pictures at this time, but I have to wait until my sister does a touch up to get some so I'll add the pictures at another time.

Always plan ahead.

Don’t shampoo your hair for a few days prior to relaxing.

Try not to scratch your scalp if you're planning to relax. tough I know but you'll only end up with chemical burns where the skin is broken.

Do a reconstructive treatment a week before you’re p

lanning to relax. Also you want to do some kind of porosity control treatment to make sure that your hair has the right ph balance. If the ph of your hair is off, it can affect how the relaxer takes leaving your hair under-processed.

Get your tools ready.

You’ll need -

A wide tooth comb,

Rat tail comb

Gloves

Hair clips

Oil or conditioner

Something to base your scalp with. Some people use petroleum jelly, even oil. Note that basing your scalp will get product on your new growth and will slow down the process of the relaxer. (with is a good thing in my humble opinion) But for those who don’t have tender scalps and want that super straight look, basing the scalp is optional.

Apply a small amount of oil or conditioner to the length of previously relaxed hair. Don’t let the oil or conditioner get on the new growth. This will prevent hair from processing if relaxer cream overlaps.

Part hair in 5 sections. Two in the front and 3 in the back. (your nape being one section)

Using the rat tail comb, start applying the relaxer to NEWGROWTH ONLY moving swiftly through that section. You should never apply relaxer cream to hair that has been previously relaxed. And don't let the relaxer cream get on your scalp.

Note: Every time you do a relaxer touchup, you should start at a different section. Starting at the same point every time will lead to the hair in the section being over processed.

Never start at the nape. Your nape (along with your hairline) is the most fragile area on your head and more susceptible to damage.

Go through each section swiftly. When you get to the front, do not apply relaxer to your hairline. That’s the last place you should apply the cream to.

Now go back to the back and do the nape area. If you’re going to go over the section to smooth, use the back of the rat tail comb and smooth quickly.

Never comb your hair with the teeth part while relaxer is in your hair.

Now you can apply the relaxer cream to the hairline and smooth.

Do not leave relaxer on your hair longer than it says on the box. Most heads don’t even need to leave it on for that time anyway.

Rinse out the relaxer with warm water. Part your hair and let the water spray hit your scalp to help get all the relaxer out. Very gently make small circular motions to help loosen relaxer from the hair shaft.

Always, always use a neutralizing shampoo or conditioner on your hair immediately after rinsing to return your hair to the correct ph.

Try not to do relaxer touch-ups sooner than every 8 weeks.

2008-01-10T22:58:00.001-05:00

I'll give you guys updates in a few days and finally post that relaxing tutorial that I've been promising for awhile.

Recycling your products

2007-12-16T14:48:00.001-05:00

You’re excited to try a new product. It works great for your Mother, Sister, Aunt, your best friend, Oprah. You rush out and purchase it and horror of horrors; it turns your hair into a dry bushy mess. Don’t be quick to chuck that product.

Remember, everyone’s hair is individual, especially black hair. In my family it’s 5 of us siblings and not one of us share the same texture of hair. My hair hates Nexxus Humectress with a passion, but my sister’s hair loves it. Not because a product works well for someone says it’s going to work well for you.

There are reasons why products won’t work for your hair.

Maybe you need to clarify. Previous product buildup can affect the way a new product works. Clarify your hair, then try it again.

Maybe there is just one ingredient in that product that your hair hates. Or not enough of another. It may work if you mix it with another product. Let’s say a conditioner leaves your hair dry and difficult to detangle. Add a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of oil to the conditioner before applying to your hair.

Maybe a Hair butter or lotion is too heavy for your hair. Why not use it as a pre-poo?

Have oil that your hair doesn’t like? Try using it as a pre- poo also. You can always add more of the kind of oil that your hair likes.

Or, it may be too heavy if you’re wearing your hair straight but it’ll be perfect for use if you’re doing a braid-out, twist-out or wash n’ go.

A change in the weather can affect how a product works for you. A product may work well in one State or Country and be garbage to your hair in the next.

Tap water can also be a culprit. The characteristics of your water can determine how well (or poorly) your shampoo and conditioner works. Also, if your house water is chlorinated, mineralized or fluoridate, it can also have an effect on your hair

Other ways to use products that your hair doesn’t like.

Use shampoo and conditioner as shaving gel when shaving your legs.

Oils can be used on your skin by itself or you can mix it with your moisturizer.

Hair butters can be used on your skin as a substitute for body lotion. In fact, they may be gentler for your skin than a product that made for skin.

And wait a few months, try that product again and you may be pleasantly surprised to see that it now works like a charm.

FEATURED HAIRSTYLE

2007-12-14T08:38:00.001-05:00

TIA MOWRY

As a huge roller setting fan, I couldn't help but to fall in love with this hairstyle. It has all the elements of what I like. Length, sleekness, shine and curls.
And the best part...it's super easy to achieve by most. A side part looks great on most face shapes and you don't have to have super long hair for this style to work.

How to achieve it

*Start with a good wet roller set for sleekness and body. Use a setting lotion (diluted) for soft hold.
*After taking the rollers out, part hair in sections and flat iron your roots. (No need to turn the flat-iron up high though)
*Add a dab of daily moisturizer, glosser or serum (which ever you prefer)
*Pin curl your hair so that curls can keep their form.
*Unroll pin curls, part hair to the left side (or right). Brush the left side backwards and use a clip to hold in place, or tuck behind ears.
*Sweep the right side over face and gently finger comb.

Note: For these celebrities to get their hair to look like this, chances are they used a large barrel curling iron to reshape curls after taking rollers out.
And used some kind of holding spritz to keep the curls in all night.

We'll eliminate those steps for our hair's health.

P.s. You can always weave it!

Decisions, decisions!

2007-12-14T07:31:00.001-05:00

Miss Ethiopia

I woke up this morning, re-thinking my decision to transition to natural. My hair is seriously kookie.

It's almost like there's an invisible line drawn straight down the middle of my head that divides the different textures. The right side of my hair appears to be something more like 3c/4a and the left seem to be more 3b. The left side grows downwards, the right side grows up, so there is always major shrinkage on the right.

I've always known this, and it gave me trouble while fully relaxed. As a natural, my hair would always look uneven, even though it's not. Right now if I blow my hair out, before flat-ironing, I have about two...yes two...inches more of shrinkage on the left than on the right. Odd huh?

What to do....what to do? Decisions, decisions!

In the mean while, I look at Miss Ethiopia's (I'm not sure what year) hair (pictured above) and daydream that someday my hair could look like this.

Oh I forgot to add I'm now 17 weeks into my transition.

Clarifying

2007-12-13T22:07:00.004-05:00

If you're applying any kind of product to your scalp, be sure to clarify your hair at least once every two weeks. Clarifying your hair removes build-up that can leave your hair dull and lifeless.
Apply clarifying shampoo to hair. Lather up, making sure to gently massage shampoo into your scalp. When rinsing it out, part your hair so that the water hits the scalp. Do it section by section, to make sure that all the gunk gets washed out.
This technique also gives you a gently massage and stimulates your scalp.

A simple way to clarify is to Mix 1 teaspoon baking soda with about 1 teaspoon shampoo. Lather up, wait five minutes, then rinse.

I like Pantene Pro-v clarifying shampoo. Your hair still feels soft after use and doesn't feel stripped.

Be warned, if you have color treated hair, clarifying will remove some of your color.

Okra -Who Knew

2007-12-13T01:04:00.002-05:00

A little Story

The time - Summer of 1982
The place - Deep in the countryside -Guyana, South America.

It's common for Indians to have lice...Yes I said it. I grew up mostly around Indians and lice was a parasite that seemed to plagued them. As kids, we assumed it was the coconut oil that attracting them so much.

Well, I caught lice. They'd crawl all over the top of my hair because my hair was too thick for them to breathe beneath the surface.

I was spending the summer with my grandmother on an Island -Leguan. There wasn't all those fancy shampoos and conditioners that are available today so my grandmother swore she knew what to do to get rid of the lice.

Okra...leaves and vegetable crushed together. She'd massage it into my hair like you'd do with shampoo, leave it on for about 30 minutes then wash it out.

She'd do this once a week and before long, I was lice free.

The amazing thing is, that summer (2 months to be exact) my hair had an amazing growth spurt. It was already long but when I returned home, everyone was shocked at how much my hair had grown.

My grandma said it was the Okra. I'm not sure if it was the okra or the extra attention but she swore that Okra grows your hair. Okra - who knew?

I found this while browsing the Internet

For adding bounce to your hair, boil horizontally sliced okra until the brew becomes maximally slimy. Cool it and add a few droops of lemon and use this as the last rinse and see your hair spring back to youthfulness and jump.

It also leaves hair very soft and moisturized for days!

Better stock up on your Okra ladies!

Tea And Your Hair

2007-12-12T22:53:00.004-05:00

Did you know that you can use tea to color your hair?

Brunettes, use a rinse of black tea for rich dark shine to your hair.

Blondes can use a rinse of Chamomile tea to bring out your natural highlights.

Other uses

After washing your face, uses a cool tea rinse to help with acne. Tea has great astringent properties.

Don't toss your morning tea bag, put them in a plastic baggy in the refrigerator and use them on your eyes to relieve puffiness or freshen them up after a late night.

And for our lighter skin Sistas...For a temporary look of summer sun kissed skin without the UV rays, you can brew up a bath of plain black tea and soak for 20 minutes.

And of course....drinking it.
Like fruit and vegetables, tea is rich in antioxidants. (In tea these are known as flavonoids). Antioxidants in the diet may help the body in its management of free radicals – highly reactive substances capable of causing damage to body cells. So healthier cells equals healthier hair growth.

Check out Allnativetea.com

Natural Ingredient of the season -HONEY

2007-12-12T21:58:00.001-05:00

Honey is a natural Humectant. It draws moisture from the air to your hair. It definitely one of God's perfect foods.
According to the United States National Honey Board and various international food regulations, honey stipulates a pure product that does not allow for the addition of any other substance.

It contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3 all of which change according to the qualities of the nectar and pollen. Besides the above, copper, iodine, and zinc exist in it in small quantities.
For added moisture mix a tea-spoon of honey in with your conditioner. Be sure to rinse hair thoroughly with warm water.

Winterize your hair!

2007-12-08T00:07:00.004-05:00

Winter can be brutal to our tresses! We must take great care that our hair does not fall victim to those harsh temperatures and elements.

There are simple steps we can do to make sure that our hair survives the colder months.

* Shampoo your hair less. If you have not be using an ultra moisturizing shampoo now is the perfect time to make the change .

* Condition, condition, condition. Now is the perfect time to get those deep moisturizing treatments going. Once a week you should sit under the dryer with a deep penetrating moisturizing conditioner for about 15 minutes. Look for conditioners containing panthenol as it gets inside the hair shaft to help keep cuticles moisturized.

*Apply a great leave in conditioner before blow-drying to protect hair from getting further damaged from styling tools. It will also coat the hair to help reduce static and fly-aways. If you have static electricity in your hairbrush, spray styling product directly on to help equalize. A fabric softener dryer sheet can also be run along the top layer of hair to control fly-aways.

* Seal in moisture with a good oil or butter. Your hair needs as much moisture as it can possibly get now. Choose a butter or lotion containing Shea butter for optimum moisture.

*Inside heat is very drying and can dehydrating your strands. This contributes to static electricity, so when using your styling tools, try to turn the heat down to a low setting . With less humidity in the air, you don’t need as much heat to dry, smooth and control your hair.

* Now is the time to take your supplements. And drink lots of water!

*Hatting it? Hats will rob you hair of moisture and cause breakage, especially around the hairline. Wearing a satin lined cap can eliminate this problem. You can also wear a satin or silk scarf under your hat.

* Clip your hair up whenever you can, especially if you're wearing wools coats. Friction with wool, will dry out your ends and cause severe breakage.

* Remember, the best moisturizer for your hair is water! So don't cut down on those washes. You should be washing your hair twice a week. Try to air-dry your hair at least once so that you're not putting too much heat in your hair.
Don't know how to get your hair straight while air drying? Then wear it curly. Do a braid out, twist out or bantu knot set and rock it for a few days.

A revamped regimen!

2007-11-27T20:20:00.001-05:00

So now I've completely revamped my regimen. I no longer use most of those products mentioned on the page below but I will leave it up there because it's what I used to do.
I now use mostly my own products because I found out my allergic reactions were due to several chemicals in mainstream hair products.

My new regimen is pretty simple

Wash twice a week using my own shampoo and moisturizing conditioner.

Deep condition once a week using Nadia Fortifying Hair Masque.

I usually either, roller set, blow dry and flat-iron on a low setting, do a twist out, braid out or flexi-rod set. (Just depending on my mood). When I flat-iron, I use chi silk infusion on my hair. I'm currently switching between Nadia Moisture Mist leave-In and Nadia Green Grape leave in ( this one I use for roller sets)

I moisturize every other day using Seyani hair butter. Especially if I'm wearing my hair curly. It keeps my hair from becoming tangled.

When I'm wearing my hair curly, I usually seal my damp ends with either Eve avocado oil or Seyani hair butter.

I massage my scalp sometimes using Deshani scalp elixir (I'm not consistent with this cause I'm lazy. I'm transitioning and trying to optimize growth so I can get through this process faster)

I do a pre-poo treatment once a week using Jehan Pre-poo oil though I find that my hair doesn't need it. I'm now only going to do this when I'm going through a dry hair spell.

I trim every 4 weeks now that I'm transitioning to get rid of the relaxed ends

I do a reconstructive treatment once a month and clarify once every 2 weeks.

I take a centrum multi-vit and eat a pretty balanced diet.

A lil update

2007-11-09T23:05:00.001-05:00

Before flat ironing

After a blow out and trim.

I've been trimming to regain some of the thickness lost due to severe shedding this last year. I'm just about 12 weeks post touch up here. I do have a little shrinkage at the roots but not so much that it makes a difference.

I plan on trimming every 4 weeks to gradually trim the perm away so my hair shouldn't be getting any longer now.

Here I pre-pooed with my pre-poo oil (Nadia for Jehan pre-poo). It was a breeze to detangle in the shower. My roots were so soft. I shampooed, added a conditioner concoction and left that on for about 10 mins. Used a little leave in and chi silk infusion serum. Sealed with Nadia avocado oil. Then I blew dry on warm and flat ironed and used a little of my hair butter on my the entire head. (couldn't capture the shine in the pic).

This should last until my next wash. I won't have the need to reapply any product to my hair but I will use a tiny bit of the butter on my ends as need be. It's getting colder now so I'm going to be conscious of keeping my hair moisturized.

I'm officially transitioning

2007-11-06T23:50:00.002-05:00

I've finally decided to transition out to natural. This is a great undertaking for me. I've been thinking of doing this for years. I never really thought I could do it but I've changed my mind. Last year when I was losing globs of hair, I tried to stop using products with harmful chemicals but I found it difficult to find them and expensive for the ones I did find. So I pushed that aside for a while. It was never far from my mind though.

I actually now feel like I can do this. Once I apply my pre-poo oil to my hair and scalp, my roots stay moisturized. I'm now almost 12 weeks post-relaxer and that's a big deal to me.
I get a lot of growth every month so it's really hard for me to go past 8 weeks. Today I slathered on my hair butter on my hair and roots and boy ,my roots are sooooo soft and silky. This sealed my decision to transition.
Now I have to revamp my entire regimen and products. I'm using a lot of my own blends on my hair and I'm mixing up more stuff. I hope that within the next 6 months, I'll be completely using my own products.... well with the exception of chi silk infusion of course( I love it)
Wish me luck. I'll keep you guys updated with techniques and products as I journey through my transition.

Updates

2007-10-20T17:44:00.000-04:00

I will be doing my Hair updates (pictures) around Thanksgiving when I do my relaxer touch up :)

Shedding (Dealing with it)

2007-10-17T23:06:00.001-04:00

Last year July, I suddenly started shedding in massive amounts. At first I panicked. I even cried a little (yes I did). It was extremely traumatizing for me.
At first I thought that I had done something wrong. But when I stopped to think, I realised that I hadn't used any new products or done anything different to my hair. However, I had recently suffered from a sever flu and had lost a lot of weight due to Atkins diet. Both of these factors could have contributed to my sudden bout of shedding.
I got some advice from the ladies of LHCF to try Alter Ego Garlic Conditioner.
I purchased it out of desperation and used it as directed. My shedding slowed down. It didn't stop. Nor do I think it should stop completely. Shedding is natural so it's normal for us to shed.

According to the experts, it's natural to shed up to 100 strands in a day without going bald. Well that seems like an awful amount of hair to me. After losing about 5 strands (that I noticed) a day, I was now losing about 40. I actually counted them.
On wash days it's would be worst. I lost so much hair in the shower, then I'd lose more hair during drying and styling.

After having success with the Alter Ego, I decided to take it a little further. I added a teaspoon of garlic juice to my conditioner and applied it to my roots. It stank but my shedding slowed down even more.
Tip: Try a really great smelling conditioner to eliminate the garlic smell. VS so sexy will do.
Eventually it stopped completely but about 6 months later, it started again.
My conclusion is that because my hair is long, I probably will shed more than shorter haired ladies. I'm sure that I've lots of strands that have reached terminal time and have no choice but to fall out.

I've since been using the Alter Ego Garlic conditioner whenever my shedding gets bad and it helps. My only disappointment is that it last only last for a few days. But I have to admit that I don't do the treatment as often as I should so I'm sure I'm not getting the full benefits of this product.
I would definitely recommend it. It also leaves your hair feeling strong and my roots straight and manageable.

Tips
While going through a shedding period, try not to manipulate your hair much.
Don't wash your hair more than once a week. It seems to aggravate the shedding.
Try to wear your hair up to prevent hair from falling into food and everything else. You'd find hair in the strangest places.
Try not to shampoo your scalp too often. I found that when using shampoos especially those containing SLS (sodium laureth sulfate) my shedding intensified.
Make a trip to your Doctor. Sudden excessive shedding could be something more serious than just seasonal.

Causes of Shedding
Disease. Diabetes, lupus and thyroid disorders can cause hair loss.

Poor nutrition. Having inadequate protein or iron in your diet or poor nourishment in other ways can cause you to experience hair loss. Fad diets, crash diets and certain illnesses, such as eating disorders, can cause poor nutrition.

Medications. Certain drugs used to treat gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems and high blood pressure may cause hair loss in some people. Taking birth control pills also may result in hair loss for some women.

Medical treatments. Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy may cause you to develop alopecia. After your treatment ends, your hair typically begins to regrow.

Recent high fever, severe flu or surgery. You may notice you have less hair three to four months after events such as an illness or surgery. These conditions cause hair to shift rapidly into a resting phase (telogen effluvium), meaning you'll see less new hair growth. A normal amount of hair typically will appear after the growth phase resumes.

Infancy. Newborns often lose hair during the first several months of life. This baby hair (vellus) is eventually replaced by more permanent hair. It's also common for babies to lose a patch of hair on the back of their heads from rubbing against mattresses, playpens and car seats. Hair will grow back once a baby begins to spend more time sitting up.

Childbirth ( The dreaded postpartum shedding). Some women experience an increase in hair loss several months after delivering a baby. This is because during pregnancy the hair is shifted into an active growth state that then goes back to baseline soon after delivery. This increased hair loss usually corrects itself.

Hair treatments. Chemicals used for dying, tinting, bleaching, straightening or perming can cause hair to become damaged and break off if they are overused or used incorrectly. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair too tightly also can cause some hair loss. This is known as traction alopecia.

Scalp infection. Infections such as ringworm can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally regrows. Ringworm, a fungal infection, can usually be treated with a topical or oral anti fungal medication.

Conditioning

2007-10-16T16:38:00.002-04:00

Conditioning, in my opinion, is the most important step to maintaining a healthy head of hair. This is what I do.

Once a week, I pre-poo with Nadia Fortifying Masque. I find that my hair doesn't need really heavy protein so I can mix it up for added moisture.

I find that if I add about a dime size amount of Jehan pre-poo oil to my hair the night before I get incredibly softer and shinier hair as a result.

I spray my hair with a little water to dampen. The best thing to do is to work out with the conditioner in your hair. Your body will generate heat and moisture with the help of the plastic cap. It literally steams your hair. It's the best thing ever. However, make sure to put a terry cloth head band on to stop oil from dripping on your face. Your pores are open and more susceptible to getting clogged.

I put oil in my hair (I make my own mixture)

I let this sit for an hour with a plastic cap on my head.

Then I step in the shower to rinse it out.

I part my hair in 5 or 6 sections and apply Nadia Jojoba Hemp conditioning shampoo to my hair.

I then begin to detangle each section with a wide tooth comb.

When hair is completely detangled, I apply a moisturizing conditioner.

I put my plastic cap back on.

I leave this on while I shave my legs, pumice my feet etc.

Then I rinse and style as usual

Mid-week moisturizing conditioning treatments are a little different.

I apply a mix of moisturizing conditioner to my hair.

Put on a plastic cap and sit under the dryer for about 10 minutes on warm.

I leave it on for another 10 minutes.

I Shampoo and detangle in the shower

After shampooing, I add a moisturizing conditioner like Nadia Avocado conditioner for about 1-2 mins and rinse.

Wash N' Go

2007-10-16T15:05:00.002-04:00

Products

Garnier Fructis curl and shine leave in

IC heat protectant serum

John Frieda dream curls spray (I've tried others and they work pretty much the same)

Mousse (optional)

What I do

I wash and condition in the shower. I don't try to detangle my hair. It helps it curl up more.

I apply the leave-in and dime size of serum to hair and allow to drip dry.

When hair is damp I apply the curl spray and scrunch.

I scrunch periodically as it's drying.

You could use mousse for more defined curls.

To Maintain

I sleep in a silk cap

The next day, spray with leave-in and scrunch or use mousse and scrunch.

I re-wash every other day.

Flexi-rod set

2007-10-16T12:28:00.001-04:00

Tools

Flexi rods (there are different sizes)
Bobby pins
Hooded dryer

Products

NTM Leave-in conditioner (any creamy one will do)
IC heat protectant serum
Oil (My own blend)
Victoria's secret so sexy mousse ( for hold)

What I do

Wash and deep condition hair

Applied serum to prevent frizzing

Air dry about 80%

Apply NTM leave in and a few drops of oil

Section hair

Apply mousse to tiny section

Roll on rods, starting at bottom and rolling upwards in a spiral motion.

I clip the top of the rods down on my scalp to keep from bending rods to keep them in place.

Sat under dryer for about 15 mins

I took to rods out before my hair is completely dry because if my hair dries it's more difficult to unroll them from the rods. Taking the rods out before it completely dries also helps with shrinkage.

Sit under dryer until hair is completely dry.

Pick hair apart for desire results.

Tip Be very gentle when picking hair apart. Hair won't frizz if handled well. The longer your hair is, the more careful you have to be. Putting a touch of moisturizer or oil on your fingertips help your ends to pull apart without breakage and frizzing.

Blow-drying

2007-10-16T11:48:00.001-04:00

Tools

Wide tooth comb
boar bristle brush
Round brush
Clips
Blowdryer
Flat-iron

Products

Nadia Moisture Mist leave-in
Ic heat protectant serum
Chi-silk infusion serum

What I do

I detangle in the shower with a wide tooth comb

After washing and conditioning I apply leave in and IC serum over that.

I allow my hair to air-dry to about 90%

I blow it on low until completely dry. Sometimes I use the brush to grab my hair so my roots will be straight but I find it's not necessary if your hair is 3c and above.

Sometimes I will use a round brush on my ends for a little bump.

I part my hair in 4 sections and apply 1 tiny drop of chi-silk infusion to each section.

Then I roll each section into buns just to keep it out of my way

I start flat ironing starting from the back.

I grab small sections at a time to ensure it's straight. (My flat-iron is usually on the lowest setting)

I run the flat iron on the hair but I stop about 6 inches from the ends.

After the entire head is done. I turn the iron off then part the hair in two and bump the ends.

I find that I don't have to flat iron my ends. To get it straight I can either just wrap it with a little oil on the ends or I can spray it lightly with leave-in and roll it on magnetic rollers.

Wrap for preservation. I wrap for a couple of days then I give my hair a break by rolling it into a bun at night and wearing it wavy until my next wash.

How I rollerset my hair

2007-10-16T08:23:00.003-04:00

Results of a rollerset.

I've been doing my own rollersets for nearly 18 years. It's my favorite way to wear my hair. I love the body and bounce it creates and it seems to trap moisture in. For me it seems to last a lot longer than just a blow out. My hair would look shinier and healthier for the entire week.
Tools

Wide teeth comb

Medium teeth comb

Rat-tail comb

Different size magnetic rollers depending on hair length or size of curl wanted.

Roller clips

Hooded hair dryer

Big clips to clip up hair while you work

Products

Nadia Green Grape leave in conditioner
Ic heat protectant serum (pink bottle)
Water in a spray bottle

What I do

Part in 5 sections to add leave-ins and serum

I roll the nape section first because it helps me to fit the rollers in better

If I'm planning on wearing my hair backwards I do the following

Then I part mohawk style and clip each section up

I part a small section, spray it with water and start rolling backwards, making sure to keep the hair taut. Clip into place

I roll the entire middle section with smaller rollers in the front and bigger ones in the middle and back.

Next, I part the left side of my hair in two and roll the back section. Sometimes I may end up with hanging rollers, here I use the rollers with the snap on covers. (I'll add pics later to illustrate what I'm talking about.)

I then move on the the left front sections and roll downwards.

I then do the same on the right side of my head

If I'm going to wear my hair with a side part

I part from ear to ear in the front

I make the side part in the front that I'm planning to wear and start rolling downwards towards the direction of the ear. Then I move towards the back and either roll mohawk style (with bigger rollers) or do four rows with the purple rollers ( I have a big head)

Tie with a hair net to hold rollers in place

I sit under the dryer until I'm fully dry. Sometimes I sit there for an hr., get out from under the dryer and do something else for a while. The hair keeps drying by air. Then I'll go under the dryer for another 1/2 hr. just to make sure it's completely dry. I then turn the drying setting to cool and sit there for another 10 minutes to close my cuticles.

After hair is completely cooled, I remove rollers.

I flat iron my roots on setting 1. If I want to keep my curls, I roll them on three big rollers mohawk style and tie with a silk scarf at night.

For a straight look, I wrap and tie with a silk scarf.

Tips

It's important to keep the hair soaking wet for a smoother silkier set.

Keep hair super wet by spraying each section with water as you roll.

Make sure your ends are soaking wet and that they lay flat and smooth on the rollers. This will ensure that your ends will be frizz free.

I use the wide tooth comb to detangle, then use the medium size comb to smooth hair.

Then I use the rat tail comb for even smoother hair. If not comfortable using rat-tail comb, you can always eliminate that step.

Do not overdo it with products. I find that with rollersetting, a little product goes a long way.

Using a oil, or serum on your hair, especially your ends, will lock moisture in. I never add any moisturizer to my hair until my next wash.

Last but not least, always take the rollers out when hair is completely dry and cool.
(Pic will be added of hair in rollers)

Twist out instructions

2007-10-15T10:58:00.003-04:00

Tools needed

Bear claw clips
snap on clips
small rollers for ends of hair.

Hooded hair dryer (optional)

What I do

After washing I add Nadia Moisture Mist leave in and a little ic serum to my hair.

I air-dry until 80% dry.

I add the moisturizer to my hair and seal it in with Oil. If not, then I'll end up with frizzy hair. My hair stays moisturized for up to 6 days without putting any products in it.

I part hair in small sections starting from front ( I do Individual twist because my hair is too long for cornrows) and I braid about an inch of hair. That helps my hair to lay flat against my scalp so I won't have poofy roots.

I take one of those little clips (in the pic above) and clip where the braided part ends ( to stop it from unraveling while I add the cream to that rest of the strands. You have to remove the clips when you've completed that twist.

I do the twist, tight but not too tight. The VS creme helps to hold the hair in place and will stop the twist from unraveling and I finish the rest of my head.

I do the same for each section until I've completed the entire head. It takes me about 45 mins to complete.

I roll the ends on the little blue rollers if I want a looser curl on the ends and on perm rods if I want a tighter curl.

I air-dry the rest of the way if I have time. If I don't, I sit under the dryer on a medium setting for 30 minutes.

Unravel twist. I add a little moisturizer to my fingertips when unraveling ends so that they won't snap. If your hair is long, take extra care in unraveling twist or they can become tangled.

Pick apart for desired look.

Maintainance

At night, I pin it up mohawk style, then clip it kinda in a cross wrap. That way I'm not sleeping on my curls.
The next morning, I just pick apart and go.
Tip
If you have dry or frizzy hair, you can always use a moisturizer or some oil sheen spray.
I find that if my hair does become frizzy I can just spray it with leave in, add mousse and scrunch for a more wash n' go kinda look.

ETA: I no longer use the VS creme. I prefer my hair to be soft instead of having some hold to it. I love combing out my twist outs and I can't do that if it's stiff.