TGHBPSC: Month 3

Ladies, can you believe that we have made it 3 months together? How exciting?! It's been so fun embarking on this journey with you all. I actually owe y'all a length check and I hope to have that posted this week. All in all it looks like I have grown about 2.5 inches of hair and retained most of my length. I am excited to see it stretched.


Last week, for about 2 days, I wore my hair in twists that were pinned up. I took them down in the back, cowashed and applied Eco Styler for my first wash and go in MONTHS. I was super pleased with the results. I LOVE Eco Styler (Olive Oil) and so does my hair! I can tell that my hair has grown because I can wear my puff much lower and it still looks full and big.

xoxo,

Alex

Oyin Saves the Day: Hair Grease Alternative

(image credit)

The above product is a great alternative to "grease" for those of you skeptical about trying DAX, Murray's, Doo Grow or any of the other old school, "not so good for your hair" products. I live by Oyin and I love their stuff. The Burnt Sugar Pomade is an amazing grease alternative and it's all natural. The product is described as:

"Similar in texture to an old school 'hair grease,' This blend of oils, butters, and veggie waxes acts as a humectant and protectant for hair, increasing shine to a high glossy sheen and locking in moisture. It's packed with essential fatty acids to nourish scalp, and actually sinks into your hair and skin for a long lasting, non-greasy feeling. It's great for braids, imparts shine and moisture to loose hair, brushes nicely into the hairline for a glossy finish, and adds luster to locks!" -Oyin

I love the feel of Burnt Sugar, it does have the old school grease feel minus the not so good ingredients.  Burnt Sugar Pomade smells awesome and gives my twist outs definition, shine and softness. The only complaint I have is that my hair will eventually shrink, revert and frizz as the day goes on. I know that is contributed to the natural ingredients, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, I didn't have that issue with DAX because my strands were coated in gook, I know, that sounds bad, LOL! 

So, if you are like "Uh, uh! No way am I trying Dax" then Burnt Sugar may be a great alternative for your curlies! I mean, you can't go wrong with the yummy ingredients it has...

Burnt Sugar contains: castor oil, soy wax, organic virgin coconut oil, mango seed oil, olive oil, unrefined hempseed oil, cocoa butter, broccoli seed oil, and fragrance.

The smell is DIVINE!

What's your grease substitute? Please share below.

xoxo,

Alex

In Review: DAX

Ingredients: Petrolatum, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Lanolin, Castor (Ricinus Communis) Oil, Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Oil, Olive (Olea Europaea) Oil, Bergamot (Citrus Bergamia) Extract, Fragrance (Parfum), D&C Yellow 11 (Cl 47000), D&C Green 6 (Cl 61565)

My experience: First, let me say DO NOT JUDGE ME. Don't go judging me, I don't want nobody judging me *Kevin Hart voice.* LOL, YES y'all I tried DAX and I had a decent experience with it, for those of you who wanted to know. After reading THIS post by Curly Nikki, I had to go out and purchase myself $3 jar. Last week I started tweeting about eventually using it and people went crazy. Some went good crazy and some went "GIRL. Alex, WHAT are you doing?" crazy! I love my natural hair tweeps! Anyways, initially I was super nervous about using it. After reading and re-reading Nikki's post for tips, I decided to jump right in.

How I used it: I used my DAX to twist. I made sure to keep the product AWAY from my scalp. Clogged pores are NO BUENO so if you choose to use this product, stay clear of your scalp. Before applying DAX my hair was clean and damp. I prepped my strands for twisting with lavender water and I sealed with my Safi, Avocado Shea Butter. Be sure to seal your strands first when applying the product. Since mineral oil, petrolatum and lanolin are very heavy, sealing will keep your strands nice and hydrated underneath the DAX. I ended up twisting my hair in about 20 medium sized twists. I kept them for 2 days before unraveling. I must say, Once I took my twists down, I was more than happy with the definition and feel of my hair.  My strands don't/didn't feel oily or weighed down after taking the twists out. The best part of my DAX experience was not having frizzy hair by the end of the day. My hair STAYED defined and soft all day. 

Overall: I'll be honest, I liked the DAX and I may even use it again *gasp*. I really like how it defined my hair and kept my curls from expanding and frizzing. The DAX even fought off my terrible twist out shrinkage! I blame my this experiment on CurlyNikki, LOL! I was supposed to be an "all natural" type of girl... I guess I stepped out and liked it. 

TGHBPSC: Mini Update

I have been really good with wearing my hair up and ends tucked. About twice a week I will wear my puffball with my ends out. Many of you know, I love my puff ball and sometimes I feel like I just need to "see" my hair. Does that make sense? It's been almost a year of protective styling for me. The PS challenge I am hosting will be soon coming to an end *sad face*. Of course, I am going to keep on trucking with it and I am sure a lot of the TGHBPSC participants will too.It's been so fun and those three months have flown by fast! Look how big my fro is in the picture above, it's definitely bigger than it was when I started. The length I am retaining is proof that hard work pays off.

The main point of this little check in post is to share with you my new favorite protective style, the twisted puff bun. I discovered the puff bun not too long ago on Curly Nikki's site and fell in love. The other day I put my own spin on it (I'm sure this is nothing new) I twisted the ends of the puff and tucked/pinned them together. This look was so elegant and pretty! Not only that but it can be dressed up or down.  A tutorial is coming soon! I think you all will love it. Click the jump for some pics.

What's your favorite protective style? Please share the wealth below. 

The Henna Diaries: 1

I forgot how much my hair loved henna. It's been months since I've tried it and I think from now on I will do my best in being consistent with my henna treatments. Now, my main goal for doing henna this time around was to tint my hair red. As many of you know, my fragile strands cannot take dyes so I decided to try other options to tint/color my hair. I left my mix on for about 8 hours, I was hoping that the color pay off would be greater than it was but it wasn't. I will probably have to henna a few more times to see the red I want. I was left with some auburn/red highlights, I like them, a lot! I also have some grey hairs so the henna did a good job at covering those bad boys.  Oh, and my hair may not have been red after rinsing but it sure was soft! My coils were poppin'. I forgot to take a picture of my hair afterwards. I'll be sure to do that next time.

For this henna recipe I used:

Nupur Henna (1/2 the pack)

Conditioner (You can used w/e type you like)

Raw Honey (melt down for 30 seconds)

Vatika Oil (1/2 cup)

Bhringaraj Oil  (1/4 cup)

Cinnamon (1 teaspoon)

Paprika (1 teaspoon)

Passion Fruit Tea (Instead of water, about 2 1/2 cups) 

 I love the way the henna sits on my hair and weighs my curls down. The only downside about henna is the mess it can leave in your bathroom, so used caution and GLOVES! 

Henna Fun Fact: There are many types of henna! Neutral henna, a green powder that smells like freshly cut grass, is neither henna nor neutral.  It is Cassia obovata.  Cassia obovata contains anthraquinones, particularly Chrysophanic acid, a remarkable anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial.  Cassia obovata has a golden dye molecule that will stain dull blonde and gray hair yellow.  It will help damaged hair, make hair full, glossy, healthy.  (source)

Captured Curls: Ngozi

I am so excited about this feature, y'all have no idea! The young lady pictured above is named Ngozi Opara. Now, I have seen Ngozi all over Tumblr for the past few months and had no idea that she was the same Ngozi I went to high school with AND that lives UP THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE! Many of us have changed since high school. My mom actually pointed out, " hey! That's Ngozi from up the street!" I was immediately overwhelmed with happiness and I just knew I needed to have her on my blog. Now, this may sound stalkerish but I drove up the road to her house and left a note for her--I didn't have her number, twitter, ect so I did what I had to do! Don't laugh...LOL

Anyways, I am glad to say I got a hold of the busy bee, Ngozi and she is this weeks beautiful Captured Curls! Pop the jump to read her story, I know y'all will LOVE IT! 

xoxo,

Alex

CharBaby's Hair

If you have been following me for a while, you know my gripe with letting CharBaby wear her hair out. It's hard to manage if the right product isn't used and a lot of products do not work for her because of her super fine type 3 hair. Today we tried something new on her strands, Miss. Jessie's Curly Pudding! This product works well on my dry hair for styling but terrible on my wet hair for wash and go's. Char's wet curls, on the other hand, LOVED it! We used the product on her soaking wet hair and it really helped maintain her definition. I'd even say that the curly pudding helped reduce some of her shrinkage.

Char and I made a vlog earlier today with us chatting about her "hair out" experience. Pop the jump to watch. Miss. Jessie's Curly Pudding is a win for CharBaby!

In Review: Pura Body Naturals

As many of you know, I had the chance to go to the Koils by Nature event last weekend with a few of my friends and fellow bloggers. While I was there I came across the Pura Body Naturals booth and decided to take advantage of the 3 (full size products) for $20 special they were having. Not too long ago I purchased a sample of the Cupuacu Hair Butter which I loved, so seeing the booth and the GREAT deal offered I had to restock. 

I purchased the following:

Cupuacu Hair Butter (4oz)

Murumuru Moisture Milk (12 oz)

Chocolate Hair Smoothie (8oz)

The main reason why I LOVE these products is because the ingredients are wholesome and natural. I also like that the scent choices smell great without being over powering. I made video on my experience with the line along with a quick flat twist out tutorial. Click the jump to watch!

Hair Porn: Goapele

Video Credit

Words cannot even begin to explain how much I love this woman. Her voice, her hair, her look--Goapele is amazing. Many of you know, when I get my cornrowed up-dos Goapele is my hairspiration hands down! If you haven't seen the above video, PLEASE, check it out. I'm sure you will love it. This head of hair is to die for.

xoxo,

Alex

Nighttime Routine

**try to ignore my shiny forehead. LOL, it comes with the territory* 

A lot of you have asked how I maintain my thick, type 4 hair while sleeping. I finally made a video to give an answer, sorry it took so long! When I am not wearing my hair in a PS, I try my best to keep it stretched. Since my hair is so coily it's hard to keep my strands from knotting around each other. What I've found that what works best is chunky flat twisting my hair before bed with a little bit of water. 


Since I have been wearing my hair in protective styles for the past 8 months or so, I have seen a incredible difference when I wear my hair out and stretched. Many of you also want to know if I re-apply product every time I re-twist, the answer to that is no. The only product I may use is shea butter, on my ends only. Applying the shea to my ends helps seal in the moisture of the water and prevent knotting that may occur. The video is under the jump, I hope you find it helpful! Please read the description box for details.

Natural Hair is Not a Fad Event

I really had a ball today at Koil's by Nature's "Natural Hair is Not a Fad" event! I bought some goodies and made a quick haul video to share with you ladies. You can find the video under the jump! The earrings above can be found HERE by the way. 

Dee, Jocelyn of Curly Nu Growth, Me.

The Bigger the Hair...

Over the past 2 years of being natural, I have encountered a lot of different reactions to my hair. Some people "ohhh," some people "ahh," and some may even reach out their hands to touch, BEFORE ASKING but most of all people stare. Not that, "Oh, chile what has she done with her hair" stare but the "I want to ask her about her hair" stare. I don't mind natural hair admiration at all, I am guilty of hair stalking too. I personally have hairgasms over locs. The feelings I get when I see beautiful, clean, freshly twisted locs are beyond me. So much so that I am seriously contemplating loc'ing my strands but that's for a later post...

Any who, I wanted to know from y'all if people stare at you and your hair when out in public. Are they good stares, confused ones or the "oh" stares? Share your stories below!

Happy Friday!

xoxo,

Alex

Captured Curls: Simona

Please, introduce yourself!

            I’m “The girl with the big hair” as most people like to refer to me as, however I am Simona to most! The girl you would never know is from Ghana. I’m an Afropolitan in love with all things PR, campaigns and special events! I love to host events, parties and networking extravaganzas! Also I’m a Howard University lady!

What is your current hair care regimen? 

            I wash my hair and deep condition weekly, but I use leave-in conditioner daily. It helps my hair stay nourished, and keeps my curls looking fresh.

What is your hair type and what works best for your texture?

            I have very thick curls, therefore I like to make sure my curls not only look bouncy and full, but is and looks healthy as well.  For my hair I use products that are geared towards natural and curly hair.  Products like Miss Jessies , Mixed Chicks or Cantu. Miss Jessies Curly Meringue and Curly Pudding is awesome! Curly Meringue is my favorite, it has sweet scent and softens my hair. Cantu leave in conditioner is definitely a good one, and Mixed Chicks shampoo and deep conditioner is amazing! I combine all three products.

What reaction did you get when you first decided to go natural?

              Well people fell in love with the big hair, and when they realized that I no longer had the straight hair , they got used to it! Now I don’t think anyone remembers what I look like with straight hair! Even I don’t!

 Did you BC or transition, if so when or for how long?

   I definitely did not BC because I have a lot of hair and it’s long, and I was not willing to part with Momo ( that’s what I call her), so I transitioned. I could not imagine the BC! It took like 6 months to transition. I had to find the right products, to figure out what worked best, what made it look dry, what made my hair sticky and frizzy. It was a process but now I am used to it and I love it!

What makes you love your kinks, curls and coils?

        What I love about it is that it is MINE! It’s unique and it fits my personality. It’s wild, carefree and loveable however what I particularly love is the attention grabber and a conversation starter quality. I have built many fabulous relationships because of my hair and I find I am more memorable with her. It’s the best accessory! I don’t know who runs the show, me or my hair?!

 Where can we find you on the web?

    Follow me on twitter @missnoce but definitely check out my blog www.missnoce.com.  I am the CEO/Founder of L’Afropolitan PR & Special Events, so check that out www.lafropolitan.com.

Anything EXTRA you want us to know?

         I love meeting new people and establishing new relationships! You’ll find me at most networking parties, Broadway plays, or the girl behind the scenes of a major event!

Today's Hair: Flat Twist Out

How I achieved this look:

Step One: Part Hair in 3 large sections.

Step Two: De-tangle each section with a with a wide tooth comb.

Make sure your hair is wet or damp to avoid breakage while combing.

Step Three: Divide each section into 3 parts. 

Your sections should be large enough to hold 3 flat twists each.

Step Four: Apply product to your strands before starting to twist.

I used Oyin Handmade's Shine and Define with a little whipped pudding.

Not sure how to flat twist? Click HERE to learn.

Step Five: Distribute product evenly to strands by finger combing or using a Denman brush and start twisting.

Step Six: Seal ends with a heavy product like Shea butter and allow twists to set overnight.

I used my Safi Hair Care's Hairsicle Cream

Step Seven: When taking down the twists make sure your hands are lightly coated with oil to reduce frizzies.  Coconut oil is perfect for taking down twists/braids and it penetrates the hair shaft for added moisture/shine.

Step Eight: Style as desired. I left mine alone, middle part and all. 

:o)

Isn't that definition to die for?

xoxo,

Alex

Feeling Moody in Fall Giveaway!

Now, this giveaway is a tad different and I am excited to share it with you all! If you follow me on Twitter, you know that Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I love scarfs, layers, jackets, boots, ect. With that said, Sarita of Feeling Moody reached out to me and offered to sponsor a giveaway. Once, I checked out her online store, I literally fell in love. Not only did I want everything but I bought one of her hand-knit cowls in a beautiful pumpkin color. I LOVE IT and I knew y'all would love her items too. You will be entering this giveaway to win Sarita's "Confident" collar in brick-red, pictured above.

Here are the rules to enter

1. Must be a follower of the Feeling Moody Twitter & The Good Hair Blog

2. Tweet Feeling Moody saying "I love Feeling Confident"
3. Leave your twitter name and email address in the comment box

Deadline to enter is 10/18 at 6pm
GOOD LUCK!

Unbearable Itching...

So much for my plan of keeping my braided up-do for 3 weeks. I really wanted to and they still looked pretty good after a week BUT my scalp was on fire. I have never had the itchies that bad in my life. I'm not sure what the problem was but I had to take them down and wash my hair. Like a really good wash! My scalp was filthy. 

To be honest, I was really bummed that I had to take my braids out. Not to mention taking out teeny tiny braids isn't my favorite thing to do. It took forever and I experienced a lot of single strands knots which are a pain in my backside, LOL! I am seriously considering making a shirt that says "Death to Single Strand Knots!" Would that be obnoxious? 

Anyways, as you can see from the photo my hair looks clean and huge! I love seeing my bush and all her glory, especially when she is freshly washed and conditioned. My hair is naked, detangled and ready for styling in the picture above. I decided that this week, will be once again, a front bun turban week. I ended up flat twisting my hair with Oyin's Hair Dew and my Safi Hairsicle Cream. I will probably allow my hair to stretch in the twists until Thursday before taking them down.

My was regimen last night was simple. I used KBB's shampoo and I tired to specifically focus on my scalp. I detangled with Suave's conditioner before rinsing both the shampoo and conditioner out. I like to add conditioner over my shampoo sometimes to get some extra slip and to distribute the products evenly when my hair/scalp is really dirty.

Peep that shrinkage! 

xoxo,

Alex

Review: Shea Moisture Purification Masque

Where to Buy: Target, Walgreens

Price: 12oz/$9.99

Ingredients: Deionized Water , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut) , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Mangfera Indica Seed Butter (Mango) , Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado) , African Black Soap Extract , Sea Salt , Cetyl Esters , Kaolin Clay , Grapeseed Oil , Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Jojoba) , Behentrimonium Chloride (Conditioner) , Salicylic Acid , Salix Alba Bark Extract (Willow) , Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil (Neem) , Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil (Tea Tree) , Sorbitol Esters , Aloe Vera Leaf Juice , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) , Rosemary Extract , Salvia Officinalis Extract (Sage) , Plantain Extract , Lonicera Caprifolium Flower and Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle and Japanese Honeysuckle)

My Experience: After hearing so many great reviews about the above product I decided to go ahead and give it a go. I've walked passed Shea Moisture's Purification Masque time and time again in Target but didn't really think twice about buying it. Well, I was convinced to pick up a jar when the #NaturalHair ladies on Twitter were going crazy about it. I must say, I can see why they loved it so much. This product smells so good and I love the consistency. The slip is amazing and it really soothed my itchy scalp. I used the masque as an overnight deep conditioner. I hadn't DC'd in quite sometime and I really needed to give my hair some T.L.C. On freshly washed hair I applied the masque generously in sections, covered with a shower cap and wrapped my hair in a turban. I swear, after rinsing this product out of my hair, my strands felt like pure silk. I should have purchased 2 jars.

Overall: I will be buying this again and I love it. If you are looking for a good DC try this. Shea Moisture's products are a favorite of mine next to Oyin Handmade and this masque will be added to my staples list.

Trim x Take Down

Now, before y'all jump on me for trimming... I NEEDED IT. You will be able to see how dreadful my ends were in the video, LOL. I only snipped a little so I don't think it'll drastically change my length when I do my next length check for the TGHBPSC. 

Many of you want(ed) to know how I went about trimming the bush. Well, it's simple. I got this tip from a fellow YT natural. All I do is chunky twist my hair and snip the dead/splitting ends. When I say "snip" I mean it. You only need to cut the ends that aren't coiling/curling up.

Super easy and simple. Once the protective style challenge is over I will make an in depth video on how I trim my whole head. So, be on the look out!

xoxo,

Alex