Ok, so the title to this post is a bit dramatic. Haha. But, I've always been kind of a comb snob. I've been through countless combs and comb brushes that have flimsy bristles and that generally don't do anything for my hair. Because of this, I adopted the mentality that a cheap Target/Wal-Mart comb would not get the job done and I had to get combs at a higher cost from specialty stores.
Well. I was wrong.
Meet the Goody "Detangle & Dry" value pack.
Disclaimer: I do not own this image.
Never would I ever have bought these if I hadn't clumsily forgotten to pack my regular comb in my overnight bag this weekend. This is what I normally use to detangle my hair. It's a comb that I got from Sally Beauty Supply over 8 years ago, and I can't remember the brand or anything else about it. It's super sturdy throughout and gets the tangles out of my hair like a dream.
When I realized I left it at home, I ran out to Target to grab something (anything) to get me through the weekend. That's when I found the Goody value pack mentioned above. I was skeptical because it was super cheap and vent comb brushes have left a sour taste in my mouth before. But,it worked like a charm to detangle my hair in the shower! Don't get me wrong, it still can't touch my tried and true Sally's Beauty comb, but this was a cheap and functioning alternative. I was able to get a decent twist out out of it! =) So moral of the story is, don't judge a comb by it's price. Lol! Or the store it comes from.
I know Christmas is now around the corner, but I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!
As for our Thanksgiving hair. My sister in the yellow dress is wearing a braid out, my sister in the black cardigan is wearing a bun with a flat twist, and I am wearing a twist out. =)
Happy Thanksgiving again, and I hope yours was as delicious as mine!
It was brought to my attention that this company, Queen Style Hairs Co., (which sells wigs,) was using my photo on their website claiming I was wearing a Brazilian remy Lace Front from their store. I never gave Queen Style Hairs Co. permission to use my photo in any way, shape, or form and especially not for advertising purposes and monetary gain! This made me upset. Not only because they were infringing on my portrait rights, but also because they were clearly lying to consumers! After looking through their other products, it became increasingly clear to me that this company does not use many (if any) authentic photos of their own products, but uses photos of celebrities an normal girls claiming they are wearing this product. Girls will log on to their website and see these images thinking that they are ordering a wig that looks like the one in the photo, when it is NOT! Keep in mind all of these wigs sell for triple digits in American money, and some of them are listed for upwards of $380! This is completely unethical.
I sent the online store owner a private message asking her to remove any and all images of me from anywhere they were used on her site. I also filed a complaint with the host website (alibaba.com) to inform them that one of their vendors was using my images without consent and falsely advertising their product. Alibaba responded to my complaint in a timely fashion and assured me they would remove the content if no counter complaint was filed and no action was taken on the part of Queen Style Hairs Co. However, when I went back to the link where my image was featured, I found that my photo had already been removed, and replaced with a photo of Mae AKA "Natural Chica." I'm 99% sure this photo of Mae is also being used without her permission and this STILL indicates false advertisement of their own product. Sickening.
All this is to say that this company, Queen Style Hairs Co., is completely fraudulent, and I'm sure there are other sites like this out there. "Buyer Beware" whenever ordering online! Do your research! And steer clear of this company!
I know it's a whole new month now, but still, here is an update on how I wore my hair for Halloween. This year, my boyfriend and I decided to return to a themed couples costume. Our mutual love of The Walking Dead tv show prompted us to go as two of its characters: Rick Grimes and Michonne. Two very awesome, very badass individuals.
Rick & Michonne Disclaimer: I do not own this image.
As you can see, Michonne wears locs, which I obviously don't have, but are very essential to portraying her character in costume. I had previously purchased a wig of locs when I was Lil' Jon for Halloween in high school one year, but I had left it at my mom's house and there was no way I'd be able to get it in time for this year's events. So what's a girl to do?
I created faux locs! How, you ask?
I gave myself a straw set! Then I simply removed the straws and left the curls chunked instead of separating them like I normally would. This was the result once I slapped a headscarf on it:
Pow! Faux locs!
Side-by-side with the TV character:
Disclaimer: I do not own the image on the left.
And here is my full ensemble:
Can't forget my boyfriend:
Disclaimer: I do not own the image on the left.
Lastly, two couple shots:
We took our costumes to Zombie Walk Long Beach which is a really fun annual Halloween music & art festival where everyone attends dressed in their Halloween costumes - particularly as zombies! Our costumes definitely were recognized among all those zombie enthusiasts. We had multiple people and groups of people stop us to ask for pictures! Overall fun! Thanks hair, for adding the finishing touch! =)
Today, for the first time, I was really digging my hair as soon as I stepped out of the shower! I would consider this my "true" wash and go, though the more defined look is what comes to mind when the term "wash and go" is used. It's kind of a chunky, piece-y fro & you can definitely see my multiple textures!
Check it out:
However, while I like the look, I still haven't grown the balls to do a product-free hairstyle and then walk out the house as is! Plus, it's still super hot in LA lately and wearing my hair down didn't sound too appealing. I still liked it in a high puff though!
"What products do you use?" This is a question I get a lot on my YouTube channel, so I thought I'd make a video to answer it.
In addition, I thought it might be helpful to include a review of these products for anyone interested in why I like them so much. So here goes!
Organix Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner
Disclaimer: I do not own this image.
Why I love it: The shampoo smells great and it's silicone-free so it's very gentle on my hair. It lathers really well with a small amount of product, so it lasts long as it does its job. It's amazing because you can really tell a difference between this shampoo and cheaper-quality, harsher shampoos. As for the conditioner..I LOVE it. It has a lot of slip so it's perfect for detangling my hair inside the shower. It also leaves my hair feeling super soft once it's all rinsed out. This conditioner is also a huge difference from conditioners that don't hydrate or moisturize nearly as well. Again, the ingredients here are not harsh and it still does exactly what it's supposed to. The price for both of these is not bad, and as I showed in the video, I can generally find the conditioner in double the size for the same price, which is awesome! In addition, these products are very easy to find. I've gotten them everywhere from Wal-Mart to beauty supply stores, and grocery stores to Target.
Where it could improve: Honestly, I've got nothin'. Haha! If only they could make the bottle even bigger!
Why I love it: Smells sooooo good. Really, I love the way this smells, and I love my hair smelling that way too! After a wash, I rub this into my hair once I'm out of the shower and it keeps my hair really soft throughout the day. I've purposely had days where I leave it out of my routine just to see if it really makes a difference in how soft my hair feels..and it does! The product itself is a thick, creamy consistency, but it's not heavy on the hair at all. I've found that this works well alone even as a sort of setting lotion. If I put some in my hair before I twist/straw set it, this product alone will help the style hold the next day, even without gel. I discovered that on accident once when I ran out of gel and decided to try using it alone! This is another product that's easy to get anywhere. I usually get mine from Wal-Mart. Considering how long the product lasts me, I think the price makes it a very good value.
Where it could improve: It doesn't mix well with everything. When I use it in combination with some gels, it leaves white streaks or clumps in my hair. You need to experiment to find out which products can be used with it without leaving streaks/clumps. Also..you have to be really careful with how much you put in your hair. If you put too much, it will be impossible to blend in and you will have to squeeze it out of your hair.
Kinky Curly Curling Custard
Disclaimer: I do not own this image.
Why I love it: I'm so glad I found this stuff. I tried product after product to create the perfect defined curls and this was the CLEAR answer. It's like magic for my curl definition. The consistency is on the thinner side and it feels jelly-like between my fingers. It smells pretty good and goes on easy as there's no struggle to get it to coat my curls. It leaves some crunch after it dries, but I like the crunch...it keeps my curls defined longer. And the longer I wear the wash and go, the less crunchy my hair becomes. I just can't say how much I love this stuff enough. However, there are some downsides:
Where it could improve: This isn't that easy to find. My local Wal-Mart doesn't carry it and neither does my local beauty supply store. The only place I've consistently been able to get it is Target. And in my small hometown, the nearest Target is 20 miles away. Also, the price... is just...yuck. This stuff is a little expensive for my frugal taste. It also doesn't last very long. With all my hair, I can get probably get only 3-5 wash and go uses out of each jar. =/
Dark and Lovely Au Naturale 10-in-1 Styles Gelee
Disclaimer: I do not own this image.
Why I love it: This works pretty much the exact same way as the Kinky Curly Curling Custard (KCCC.) Smells good. Leaves a little crunch. Thinner consistency with a jelly-like feel. Curl-defining magic. As I stated in the video, the main difference is the ingredients. The KCCC touts all natural ingredients, while this product includes natural ingredients, but also includes some that are not (like alcohol.) The price of this is great though..almost half the price of the KCCC. I think the ingredient difference might be where the huge difference in price comes from. (This is also comes in a smaller jar, but not by much.)
Where it could improve: It's hard to find, at least for me. I've only found it at a beauty supply store and have yet to see it at your average department store. A con might also be the ingredients if you're a stickler for using all-natural stuff. ...That's not me.
Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel
Disclaimer: I do not own this image.
Why I love it: This stuff is awesome for setting my hair in twists or straws to wear a twist out or straw set the following day. It also works great to slick back my hair and edges if I want to wear my hair in a puff or bun. I have not tried using this for a wash and go yet. It doesn't really have a smell and it's a thick gel. The ingredients are hair friendly and if you just look around the internet, you will quickly find this stuff is a favorite among many naturalistas.
Where it could improve: My local Wal-Mart doesn't carry this. Annoying. Other than that, I think this is a good value and have no other complaints.
IC Fantasia Hair Polisher Styling Gel
Disclaimer: I do not own this image.
Why I love it: I didn't mention this in the video, but I use it a lot. This works just like the Eco Styler. Really. They're so much alike that I'm not going to write much here. The price of this is also fair and comparable to that of the EcoStyler. I will say that this is easier to find than the Eco Styler...that's the reason I bought this in the first place. I went out to buy EcoStyler and couldn't find it, so I picked this up and was pleasantly surprised by the almost identical results for my hair.
Where it could improve: None! I really like this product. if you ever have a hard time finding EcoStyler, give this a try. =)
Well, that's all for now! I hope this post is helpful to someone out there!
Until next time!
As I was browsing through the #naturalhair hashtag on Instagram, I ran across some photos of naturallytash, a girl with gorgeous colored curls. If you've been following my blog, you'll know that colored curls is something I've wanted to play with, but something I've avoided for multiple reasons: high costs of getting it done professionally, maintenance of uncolored roots, commitment to a color for an extended amount of time, and the damage the harsh chemicals can cause to my own natural locks. I toyed with the idea of temporary color, but many of them require that you bleach your hair in order for the lighter colors to show through. So when I learned exactly how naturallytash achieved her gorgeous colors, I was ecstatic!
Her secret is this: she uses eyeshadows and blushes to add temporary color to her hair! Yes, you heard correctly: eyeshadows and blushes. She even coined the term "hairshadowing" to describe her method. I found her on YouTube under the moniker "TashNaturally" and watched her tutorial at this link:
Then I had my boyfriend run out to the store and buy me 2 different cream blush colors.
I used Maybelline Dream Bouncy blush in "Plum Wine."
Disclaimer: I do not own this image.
The end result was pretty and subtle purpley highlights throughout my hair:
Day 2:
I am in love!
My mind is going nuts coming up with other colors I want to try: blue tips, blonde highlights and lowlights. I can't wait to keep experimenting. This is exactly the sort of solution I longed for; something easy on the wallet, pleasing to the eye, and non-damaging to my hair! I love that it will come out as soon as I wash it because all I want is to try different things and have fun with color over the summer. =)
Thanks naturallytash!
Compare that to the length I had at 18 months post-relaxer (the angle makes it look longer than it was, but it was a little over collar bone length here):
And 23 months post-relaxer (mid-chest length):
Side by side comparisons @23 months vs. 30 months:
I've been toying with the idea of coloring my hair in April/May for the summer months. I think it would be a fun change and now is the time to do it since I am just about to finish my credential program and I won't be teaching until fall. So, if I don't like it, or decide on a color like RED, I don't have to worry!
I like blonde, but I photoshopped a blonde/caramel brown fro on my head, and meh...
It's kind of cute, but I think it's also a bit much for my medium-brown skin tone!
So, maybe some highlights instead? My issue then, is that I'll be damaging my hair again. And part of the reason why I stopped getting relaxers was because I wanted to end the cycle of damage. So I'm not to keen on re-introducing harsh chemicals into my regimen.
So what I'm left with are two options I'm considering.
1) Try multiple applications of henna.
(I've done this before and I love the red tint in the sun and subtle reddish-brown hues indoors.)
2) Try Manic Panic's line of vegan Semi-permanent dyes.
(They do not contain ammonia or peroxide like permanent dyes, and they wash out after several shampoos.)
Both options are non-damaging on my hair and don't require the commitment of permanent color.
The downside here, is I won't get my blonde/highlights, but I can still play with warm reds, jet blacks and deep purples. And that's all I really want: something different and fun for summer!
So in the within the next two months, my hair may be in for another change!!
Until next time! =)
Disclaimer: I do not own this image.
PS. Here's the lovely lady who's hair I borrowed. ;)
If you recall, two years ago, at the very start of my transition, twist-outs (and braid-outs) were fail after fail on my hair. I would try them and they would unravel at the bottom and leave me with straggly ends or without being able to keep a twist in place at all.
Not anymore!
Now that I'm 100% natural, my twists stay put all night and don't unravel.
I only used two products that my boyfriend so graciously gave me for Christmas to finally try out! He knows I am dying to try new products, but don't want to blow the money that every product junkie does. So this was much appreciated! The Kinky-Curly Knot Today and Spiral Spritz(plus water of course!) were the only things I used to twist my wet hair.
My first successful twists are below:
This process took 20-30 minutes, half the time of my usual straw sets.
Then, I slept in them and let them air-dry overnight.
This was the result of untwisting and fluffing with almond oil in the morning
(which also took no longer than 20 minutes) :
My second attempt was successful as well. I actually like this look better because it is even fluffier. I think this is due to the fact that I used almond oil to separate the twists for the first attempt, and dry fingers to separate the twists for this second attempt:
Overall, I LOVE it! This is so much simpler and quicker than the straw set. I think I have found my new back-up style for nights that I don't want to spend the longer time to do a straw set (40 minutes to twist and untwist vs. 2 hours to straw set and remove/untwist straws.) I wish I had tried this out way sooner..like as soon as I cut off my relaxed ends! Don't get me wrong, I still adore straw sets. But this is a great alternative and I'm sooo glad I finally gave it a shot!
I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. Have a great week ahead!
Until next time! =]
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