Hair Regimen

Many of you have seen my post on Facebook on the people I stalk. As much as I love these women and children, what I have come to learn is that my hair is my own. Yes... I would like it to have defined curls, shoulder length hair, and have my hair behave all the time, but it is the hair that I was born and blessed with. So please take this into consideration as you read my regimen and those of others out there. What works for my hair may not necessarily work for yours. Take your time in learning about your hair, what works, and what doesn't work.

My regimen changes depending on what is going on in my schedule and also on the weather. 

Things I do not change:
1. Use pH balanced products (my hair loves pH of 5.0)
2. Use organic products (see why in Natural/Organic Fever post)
3. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

Summer/Spring

• Every day - moisturize by spritzing water and sealing with oil mix
• Every week or every 2 weeks - wash, deep condition, use kimmaytube's leave in conditioner recipe (see below)
• Monthly - henna (see how to below)
• Styles - bantu knots, twist/braid out, wash & go (most of the time)

Fall/Winter

• Every day - moisturize by spritzing water & aloe vera juice mix and sealing with oil mix
• Every week or every 2 weeks - wash, deep condition, use kimmaytube's leave in conditioner recipe 
• Monthly - henna
• Styles - protective styles (twists, plaits, braids, flat twists)

Kimmaytube's leave in conditioner
2 TB Aloe Vera Juice
2 TB your favorite leave-in conditioner
2 TSP Jojoba Oil
2 TSP Castor Oil

Henna

• I mix Jamila henna powder with conditioner, honey, and green tea.
• Using gloves, I place the henna into sections of hair and massage it into the section to make sure each strand is coated.
• Pile all the hair on top of my head then cover with plastic cap or bag for at least 4 hours. Most of the time I sleep with it on.
• In the shower, I rinse most of it out with water then use a cheap shampoo to wash out whatever is left. The conditioner that is already in the henna mix makes this rinsing process easy.
• Deep condition (very important) for at least an hour
• Use kimmaytube's leave in conditioner and style.

Winter Protective Styling

With the rain and cold air moving in announcing the approach of winter, I had to find a way to protect my curls. Then I came across yarn braids on You Tube and I thought "Why not?"

Here is what you need.

Yarn, lighter, rat-tail comb, scissors

Make sure you use 100% acrylic yarn  because wool yarn will lock your hair.

Cut the yarn to your desired length, For my shoulder length yarn braids, I wrapped the yarn around my ironing board and cut one end to form the braids. 

Before braiding I moisturized my freshly washed hair and the yarn using water and sealed with coconut oil and castor oil. I made parts in my hair using the rat-tail comb and braided with 3 strands of yarn. 

Another option is braiding with 2 strands of yarn which makes smaller braids.

Almost done!!! YEAH!!

Knot the ends of each braid and use the lighter to burn the ends. And here is the final product. 

Yarn braids without ends burnt

Yarn braids with burnt ends and half held back

I like the yarn braids because they are so light and look like dreadlocks. I think I will keep them in for 6 weeks.

TWA Hairstyles

I am loving the versatility of my natural hair. Check out this post periodically for styles that I am rocking.

1. Flat twists and twist out                                                                          


a)

Finger Coils Revisited

I didn't like the way the finger coils turned out the first time I did them. So this time around I took my time doing the finger coils, using Kinky Curly Curling Custard (KCCC). I sealed in moisture using a shea butter and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) mix before rewetting hair and applying KCCC. So far finger coils have lasted and this is day 3, with 1 work out session.