Revisiting Shea Moisture Curl Smoothie



Smile- it's definition!



 Man! I used to loovvvvve me some Shea Moisture Curl Smoothie! Back in the day when I frequented Curly Nikki, I was one of the first ones to try it. I tested it out on my 5-inch hair and fell in love. I loved the smell, the definition it provided to my twist/braid-outs, the affordable pricing AND the fact that I could get it on the ground at my local Target. Then one day it stopped working. It seemed that overuse made my hair dry up quite a bit. I attributed it to the fact that perhaps my hair didn't enjoy all of that protein and gave it up gladly. However, I decided to give it another try for no good reason (well... it just kept calling me like Pookie on New Jack City!). I'm glad I did. On Friday night I did a late night twist set using the curl smoothie, passing up all my other faves. I intended to take the twists out the next day but I ended up keeping them in until the following Tuesday (today!). While in twists, I moistened the hair after workouts with a spray bottle of water, olive and avocado oils. Today, I have a good looking twist out. It's super soft, defined, has lots of body and all the peeps love my 8-track (I mean, twist out!). I'm excited though because I enjoy wearing my hair out when I teach Zumba. On a good day, my hair  bounces around just as freely as the rest of me. After class tonight I will probably twist it back up and leave them in until Saturday when I have a photo shoot with a group that I'm in (Che' Marie and Extended Play). I'm excited. I'll post the results later. In the meantime- come on Shea Moisture!

 

Aerial view (ignore those granny grays!)



Let's Play in the Mud!

Thanks to my farm-raised mother, as a kid I always loved to run thru rainy puddles with my bare feet. I developed a special appreciation for pressing my toes into the squishy, coolness of mud and would later enjoy pulling night crawlers from their muddy holes during late nights in my neighborhood. My siblings and I earned money doing the latter from local fishermen and bait stores! While I still don't mind walking into cool wet grass with my bare toes, I'd given up playing in the mud for more girly things like clay. Crafting ash trays and vases from clay was a favorite activity in art class and I always thought I'd pick it up later. While on the back to natural journey, I learned that many naturals wash their hair with mud/clay! If you didn't know there are popular brands such as the one by Terressentials which can be ordered online. But you can also make your own, saving big $$$ just as I did last weekend. I already owned some clay which I use for homemade facials. In preparation, I wet my hair with a spray bottle:

 

Wet hair with spray bottle



You can buy Aztec brand clay at many local health stores, including Whole Foods. Looking around on the internet I found some recipes. When determining a recipe, I sort of pick and choose the ingredients that I know my hair likes or NEEDS. I create my mix based on that information. This time, in the following order and in a plastic bowl (do not use metal as it changes the properties of the mix), I mixed:

2 tbsp Aztec Secret Healing Indian Clay (about $5)

1 tbsp Olive oil

1Tbsp of honey

Essential oils (depends on my hair needs - this time I used peppermint and basil)

1/3 c. of water or aloe vera juice (you can warm it a little for easier mixing). You may use more or less as it should be the consistency of pancake batter.

I then poured it into a bottle (must get a funnel for next time!). I applied the mixture to my hair and scalp which I'd dampened earlier. I saturated my hair with the clay wash and rubbed it into my scalp. The basil and tea tree oils are stimulators, so it felt tingly! After applying, I put a plastic baggy on my hair and allowed the wash to perform magic on my strands!  You can see from the picture that when I finished, I pinned the sections with bobby pins.



Let mud sit for 20 minutes!



Mud applied
























20 minutes later I washed it all out in the shower. Remember- this is actually for washing your hair so you don't need to shampoo afterward. Don't allow the clay to dry on your hair as it will become more difficult to rinse. Thoroughly rinse the clay from your hair with a cheap conditioner. I just took care of it in the shower which is how I lost my eyeshadow and lipstick! LOL



Mud rinsed (ahhh shrinkage!)

Afterward, I applied my leave-in and styled per usual. Now... this "shampoo" really does remove any product build up from your hair. You may not even know that you had any especially if you're using products with sillicones. For me, the wash encouraged my shrinkage (see the pic above) but left my hair clean, soft and shiny. I loved it and will do it once a week as I long ago abandoned shampoos. They leave my hair feeling stripped and dry which is why I mostly co-wash. Below is the twistout I got after styling. It's full of shine, body and bounce!

That's it folks! Will you or have you given mud washes a try? Share what were, or are your results!

Peace and love, naturally!



















Good bye wash-n-go's, Hello protective styles!

This is a combo post. Previously, I've discussed my weight loss journey and hair separately but the truth is- they're connected. During the last month of summer I primarily styled my hair via wash and go's (wngs) because it seemed that my journey of working out and getting fit was causing me to wash or rinse my hair almost daily. I sweat like nobody's business when I teach Zumba and most of it comes from the head and shoulders (don't judge me). Wearing scarves and pin-ups do not help the matter. When I try to go to sleep, the sweat on my scalp causes the itchies and as a result, I get no sleep. So, wash and go styles were in my best interest all summer! I figured- if it ain't broke, why fix it!

In September I decided to exercise a minimum of 30 minutes per day thanks to a FaceBook challenge from MTV Real World cast original- Kevin Powell. I already teach Zumba 2-3 times a week but I decided to add some layers to my workout regimen. With this plan in mind, I completed my first walk/run in September. I use the Ease Into 5K application (formerly known as C25K. Check it out if you can and are interested in running. It's pretty cool). During the months of August and September I would rinse or co-wash (using As I am Coconut Co-Wash) after my workouts, add leave-in conditioner, EcoStyler Pink and head out. By the end, I'd begun to squeeze out the excess water and conditioner (learned this from vlogger ShidaNaturals, whom I LOVE) before adding the gel. This sped up my drying time and lessened shrinkage. Since I was working out in the evenings, I would just wait until the morning to do the entire process again. NOW... it is pretty cool outside and wash and go styles are no longer practical. Venturing from the house with wet hair isn't the best idea. I have no interest in getting sick or drinking that icky blue stuff that's supposed to ease symptoms so I can get some rest. No sir/ma'am- I'll take my sleep without sickness or medication for all the money, Alex!! So, I've decided to mostly keep my hair in protective styles all fall and winter. I'll primarily wear twisted pin-up styles (similar to the one shown above), co-washing or rinsing at night so that my hair will be dry in the a.m.

Ultimately, this plan will assist my workouts versus hinder them. My workouts are now a priority and not a secondary thing that can be skipped at whim. Being natural has helped me maintain this thought process. A lot of this is mental. When I was relaxed- I wasn't relaxed at all. Before every workout I was so uptight about messing up my hair especially if it was freshly done! With that concern long out of the way- I have other worries. Soon enough I'll have to bring my entire workout inside to the gym but right now I soooo enjoy the outdoors (can't believe I'm saying that!), the brisk, fresh air and the sun. My journey includes caring for my entire self and sticking to it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy for and about myself. It makes me proud of ME for making self care a priority. You only get one you. I can never say enough to you or me- Take care of yourself, head to toe, inside AND out. Moreover, don't let a little thing like hair get in the way.

~PEACE and LOVE, NATURALLY

I Found the Magic Styler (for me): Living Proof Nourishing Style Cream Review

Feeling rather lazy, I decided to skip my usual Sunday regimen of washing, deep conditioning, twisting my hair. Instead, I laid on my pillow and went to sleep with visions of a wash and go in the morning. Before though, I prepped my greek yogurt treatment and placed it in the fridge. This morning, I wet my hair, put on the treatment and went about prepping my clothes and making my morning smoothie. After 20 minutes or so, I jumped in the shower and rinsed myself and my hair (used As I Am Coconut Co-Wash). I then immediately applied my leave-in Paul Mitchell The One Conditioner to prep for styling. Normally I just apply EcoStyler Pink and leave. On a whim (and because it was mean-mugging me from the counter), I decided to add the Nourishing Styling Cream by Living Proof.

I stumbled upon this product thanks to my husband who works at Sephora (he does the work, I get the perks). It managed to make it home last month amongst a bag of other goodies. Aside from reading the front rah-rah about not having any oils or heavy silicones, I ignored the ingredient list. As snobby as I am about products, I trusted sight unseen because I liked the feel of it on my hands. It's very light and creamy without being too heavy. I initially tried it out on my twist sets with pretty amazing results (definition and stretch without first drying my hair).

Twist out with LP Style Cream

Even after the twist out, I wasn't ready to judge because I teach Zumba most evenings. As a result of the workouts, my hair often looks great during the day but comes off as a freak when you see it at night. :D 

I've tried many cream-based products that proclaimed to enhance curls but did very little for my hair alone. It was like adding absolutley NOTHING. The other products also didn't mix well with gels which I've always seemed to need for hold or risk the shrunken-brillo-pad-effect by the end of the day. This is why I resorted to gel and conditioner only styles. My only complaint was major shrinkage after it began to dry. When I added the Nourishing Styling Cream this morning, it was like my hair finally surrendered. The heavens opened and music began to play as my curls bowed down, even while wet. Well, actually the music was just my cellphone telling me it was time to get up and out. But seriously, I think the heavens did open. The styling cream seemed to elongate my curls rather than cause them to withdraw. For the first time in forever, I thought that perhaps I did NOT have to apply EcoStyler afterward. But I chickened out and did it anyway. After all, 8 hours is a long time to go around work looking like a Crunchy Side-Show Bobbi with no spray bottle! Either way, as soon as I came out the bathroom to grab the gel, the husband said my hair looked longer and asked what I did differently. Still pretty wet at this point...



Wet hair with the cream added

Later, a natural friend at work asked me what I did today and when I told her it was a wash and go, she repeated "wash and go-ooo?!" in a very shrill voice! And right then, I knowed there was a God! Normally, I try to fluff my hair after it dries to make it bigger but with this product, it stayed pretty elongated without help. Most notably, it elongated most of my hair and not just the bangs which usually hang without much effort. Unfortunately, the back of my hair ALWAYS shrinks and it couldn't change that particular fact. But-- we'll see what happens after a few tries. Here's a pic after it dried today..: It's almost as big as my twist-out hair which is no easy feat!

 I'm going to try it again tomorrow without the gel just to see what happens. This is a fairly pricey product/line developed by a group of founders who used the studies of an MIT professors and his colleagues who were looking to develop beauty products in more innovative ways. I like what they have done so far. Stay tuned!

Have you tried Living Proof products? Which ones and what do you think?

Treating my stomach and hair to yogurt goodness!

I enjoy pampering as much as the next eyeglass rocking diva (you know… because girls with glasses rock!). My pampering does not end with the occasional waxing, pedi, mani and/or massage. I also love to deep treat my hair when I’m at home chillin’. Due to my professionally done color treatment as well as the level of frizz and single strand knots I experience I feel the need to be the Buzz Lightyear of natural hair. I am willing to go “to infinity and beyond!” with my hair care techniques.

Since I’m already on a quest to lead a healthier and more active lifestyle, there are certain items I always have on hand. A main food item I keep on hand is Greek yogurt which I use in fruit smoothies and as a breakfast staple. Greek yogurt has protein and keeps me full for longer periods of time. Along the way, I’ve read a few ideas of using yogurt as a hair mask. I saw on curlynikki.com earlier this week that she used Greek yogurt as a cleanser. It stuck in my brain because I work out at least 30 minutes a day (participating in a 30-day fitness challenge) and my hair and scalp sweat regularly. I don’t always feel like washing and sometimes I want to do more than co-wash. Either way, I know that I want to care for my color-treated hair and scalp at all times.

So, last night after teaching Zumba I felt determined to do a yogurt treatment in lieu of my usual co-wash. I wanted to combine it with a scalp massage. Rather than do them separately, I wanted a mix that would allow me to deep treat, cleanse and boost scalp health. Here are the ingredients I used and why:

ü      ½ cup of full fat Greek yogurt (Smoothes and hydrates strands)

ü      1.5 Tbsp of organic honey (conditions, imparts shine and helps with moisture retention)

ü      1 tsp of cold-pressed castor oil (Promotes growth and as a pore cleanser on my face so...)

ü      1 tsp vitamin E (Slows down the aging process (gray hair!) and improves blood circulation to the scalp)

ü      5-6 drops of Basil essential oil (promotes growth by stimulating hair follicles, boosts hue of hair color)

I mixed it all in a small bowl and put it on my hair for 30 minutes. I made sure to create parts and allow placement on my scalp. I then massaged it into the scalp for a few minutes before waiting out the rest of the time with a plastic cap. I rinsed in the shower and made sure to get it all out. I followed with a quick conditioner wash using hello hydration to make sure I rinsed all of the yogurt out. I understand it can cause quite a stink if any is left behind. My hair felt great and the curls were clumped and ready to go. Afterward I used one of my random leave-ins and a styler for flat twists. This morning my hair looks and feels great, has a nice sheen, and quite a bit of body despite the dreaded shrinkage monster (cue horror movie music). I’m pleased and will do this once a week although next time I might go lighter with the basil because the husband gave the smell 2 thumbs down. Hated it! :D