Finally Mastered My Wash & Go

Okay, so I wrote a post about my modified wash and go a few days ago. You can see this post here.  Now there are two more times I've tried a wash and go. (not counting my faux wash and go's). Once was about two years ago when I was pressed for time. I had just finished washing my hair and had lost time. Back then my wash routine was about 4 hours. So I had to hurry, apply my leave in conditioner, moisturizer and some gel. I did a high puff and was out the door. Now that's a wash and go! LOL

Last summer for date night with hubby I did a wash and go but it came out crunchy, and I didn't stretch it so there was some shrinkage. But you see, this was a few months after I had my mom cut my hair to about chin length.

Well, over the weekend I did a twist and curl. Saturday night I took my hair down and it was fluffy and curly. Due to the humidity (it rained before we left the house) my hair swelled but it was nice & fluffy. Halfway through dinner it shrank a bit but it was so full and still fluffy. The texture was off the chain!  I absolutely loved it. By the time we came home, it was still nice and so full of moisture and I slept on it. LOL  The next morning I didn't suffer from tangles because my hair was full of moisture. I used ouchless bands to stretch the hair and twisted before leaving the house around 2 p.m.

Well, as you know, it was very humid yesterday and Vi shrank. LOL  So, I'm telling ya, I'm too through with twist outs (for now).  I'm sure if I used some grease or some type of anti humidity product I could rock my twists outs, but I feel the need to experiment more with wash and go's for the next week or so.

Last night I tested another wash and go on my damp hair.  Applying products to sopping wet hair isn't for me. I did the usual method of sectioning the hair. I applied my leave in, then my oil mix. After that I apply moisturizer and then saved my Eco-Styler gel for last. I piled my hair on top of my head and secured it with a few large scrunchies. Also, this made for a great workout hairdo. This is the way I slept.

The next morning I took my hair down, unsure of how it would turn out. You know what...

I'm digging this look. I absolute had no problems with the take down this morning. I spread some oil mixture on my fingers and arranged my hair the way I wanted it, that's it. I didn't mist the hair with water because my hair will shrink to my ears.

I love more volume with my Wash and go's. I had some shrinkage, but not a lot. My hair brushes against my shoulders a little. Today was supposed to be wash day, but I'm going to experiment with maintaining this wash and go tonight. Instead of pineappling, I'm going to mini pineapple in sections to see how much volume I can obtain on the top and sides of the hair.

It's 1 p.m., I've been out in the humidity today but I still have my length and volume and movement. Now for those of you who think us 4c curlies can't do wash and go's, I urge you to take the time and experiment a little. Perhaps it's the products you're using, or maybe you think a leave in and gel is key. I made that mistake last year and I did experience some tangling and SSK's.

Although I slept on my hair Saturday night(morn) I didn't have any tangles or SSK's.  Even now I don't have those worries. My hair remains soft (no gel cast) and I'm really glad I didn't give up on the wash and go.

When I wash my hair tomorrow night, I'm going to put it all up on my head while the hair is kind of damp and rock a cute curly puff top knot for Wednesday.

Peace!

My Recovering Edges

I'm amazed at how well my edges are filling in. Sure it's taken some time but it's totally worth the wait. I know when I had my perm, I resembled Count Chocula with those two little peaks along the headline.   But not now.

Good Lord, I know I'm looking a little rufff, but it's wind down time for me. ; P    I'm just ecstatic over the growth I'm experiencing here so I wanted to do a quick post.  If you're familiar with my blog, you know I don't utilize every oil under the sun. Starting out, I was thinking about it but you know, that's just too much time involved. Bad enough I'm a recovering PJ. LOL

Oils I'm currently using to seal moisture into my hair are Sunflower, Castor, and Olive.  Yesterday was supposed to be wash day for me, but I've been so busy. I had a bit of an itchy scalp so I combined Olive, tea tree, and Neem oil and massaged my scalp and that did the trick. Tomorrow morning after taking Little Chica to the bus stop I'm washing my hair. But right now, I'm just too pooped to pop.  

Til Next time

More Moisture Tips

More Moisture Tips

Hey folks, hope you all are staying warm. I must admit, this winter has been a harsh one. Sub zero temps, etc. It snowed like crazy and I think we have 3-4 inches here in Maryland.

I can't recall a time in my 3 + years of being natural where i've had to struggle with maintaining moisture levels in my hair. 

This is the first year I've considered investing in a humidifier. I plan to get one tomorrow when we're out and about. If you don't have a humidifier there are other ways to infuse moisture into your home for hair, skin, and any sinus troubles you may be experiencing. 

1. Keep a pan of warm water heating on the stove (This really works. I just started this last night.) Honestly, I never thought to do this until I spoke to my Grams last night. Thinking back she always kept a pan of water on the stove. It truly helps. 

2. Run a steaming hot shower for at least 5 -  10 minutes. (I don't recommend taking an extremely hot shower, although it does feel good. But, it does dry the skin out.

3. Fill glass bowls with water. To decorate, add flowers, pebbles. The water vapors will release into the air, making it more moisturized. 

4. Get one of those indoor water fountains. They're calming when you hear the water running and it's another way of putting moisture into your dry atmosphere.

Maintaining My Wash and Go

Happy Martin Luther King Day!  We're just hanging around the house, relaxing on this gloomy, yet beautiful day. Today was supposed to be a wash day for me, but I'd like to sport my wash and go a little longer. I'm quite pleased that my hair is maintaining it's moisture level. Below are a few pics of how I rocked my hair Saturday.

* UPDATE 05/05/15

I need to say, I'm loving my hair!! In these photos, I basically stretched the hair the night before by using large chunky twists. I honestly don't feel like standing up and twisting or braiding in small pieces anymore. I'd like to eliminate that process all together. The pictures below are from Sunday evening. I had an afro puff earlier in the day because it was raining cats and dogs out, but I had to take my hair down and play with her for a bit. And you know what? I'm really learning to finally embrace my shrinkage. You see, I'd always pin Violet up with bobby pins, but it wasn't until a few weeks ago I learned I was really causing breakage by trying to "tame her."

Right now I'm sitting here with a plastic cap on my head. I just moisturized with some hair milk and mini pineappled with some ouchless scrunchies. I have those beautiful little clumped ringlets that you get from a wash and go. All I needed was to replenish the moisture.

Last Wednesday was wash day for me. I used Curls Unleashed sulfate free shampoo and ORS Replenishing Pak as a deep conditioning treatment.  I added some warm Neem, Tea Tree and Rosemary oil into my conditioner, combed through until every strand was saturated and sat beneath the dryer in my plastic cap for 25 minutes.  (Instead of using heat for deep conditioning I now steam my hair) This is a very important step in the moisturizing process.

After rinsing conditioner and oils out, I proceeded with an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse and my curls popped. Yes, I'm still using hair grease to seal moisture into my hair.  (*Update - I'm currently not using hair grease to seal my hair * )

Honestly, I'm having beautiful results. I no longer have single strand knots and my hair is retaining moisture so much better. Anyway, I proceeded with Shea Moisture curl milk (my leave in conditioner)  on sopping wet hair, sealed that in with a bit of Castor Oil, applied Black Dymond moisturizing cream (product coming in Spring 2015)  and then used some home made flax seed gel on top of that, then I finally sealed with Royal Crown hair grease. I like applying my styler and grease last.  This is basically using the LOC method on my hair with the gel last.  I wanted to ensure my hair would be 100% moisturized with the castor oil and grease. With the method above, I only need to re-moisturize every 2 - 3 days and my wash day time is cut down. I just got so tired of doing twist and braid outs every night. Plus, so much twisting and braiding on a nightly basis isn't good for the hair. Way too much manipulation.

I let my hair dry 80% then I twisted into semi large chunky twists to elongate and added some perm rods on the ends. If i don't stretch my hair with wash and go's, I'll have a TWA, and that's not the look I'm going for. I like showing my length off. Next time I try this method, I'll post some pics of the process.

So many people believe us 4c natural chicks can't do wash and go's. Yeah we can. It all depends on the strategy we use to achieve that look. Another process I like to use is sectioning the hair, spritzing it with water and adding some gel to it. Gently twist the hair and the next day, Voila. You'll have a stretched wash and go. So far, I'm not experiencing any knotting, either.

* Wash and Go's need to be infused with moisture on a daily basis in order to prevent tangling and knots. *  

Check out my newest post for a DIY conditioning treatment that's sure to moisturize your thirsty strands! 

http://curlsense.blogspot.com/2015/05/diy-coconut-milk-honey-olive-rosemary.html

Three Years Natural!

GM All! I'm happy to say that today is my three year anniversary of being natural! I've been wearing wigs for the past few months and here are the results of my wash and go. I'm also in need of a protein treatment, I'll be doing that this weekend. 

Now I must say my hair has endured A LOT of mechanical manipulation since September 2013 in my efforts to stop shrinkage. Unfortunately, I've discovered that parting my hair for twists and braid outs resulted in some thinning at the roots. I notice my hair doesn't have as much volume as it did this time last year and that's VERY disappointing to me. So, the goal is, no more braiding or twisting the hair. I'll use my homemade gel and flexi rods/perm rods to give Violet some body. 

Later on I'll compile some pictures from my cell phones and upload them to youtube for the year 2013 to highlight my natural hair journey. Til next time folks!!

 

Black Dymond Naturals and Wig Making

Hey everyone, I've been protective styling for a minute now. Originally I started in September with an afro textured wig, but it didn't hold up as much as I would have liked. Check out the number I created in this video. Please note, this is not a tutorial, I'm simply modeling my creation.