Curly Hairstyles Part 6

When I did this style on myself at home, I didn’t use any extensions. I also didn’t curl the top of my hair like he said to do at the beginning. I just kind of followed the basic idea of the style and recreated it in a way that fit my personality.

Curly Hair Styles Part 5

 

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this look on me, but I was pleasantly surprised with the finished style. This look is very easy to duplicate and didn’t take long to style.  Here is a picture of what it looked like on me.

Curly Hairstyles Part 4

This is a younger looking hairstyle. Although I think it could be pulled off by some older women too.

Curly Hairstyles Part 3

I wasn't really thrilled with the beginning look of this style but I really liked the finished "evening" look.

Curly Hairstyles Part 2

You can substitute gel for the recommended curling cream in this video if you can't find an ingredient approved curling cream.

Curly Hairstyles Part 1

This is the beginning of a series of posts on different techniques I have found to style your curly hair. Most of these videos are better suited for longer hair. I have medium/ shoulder length hair and some of them did work for me. If you have shorter hair you can do variations of these styles with some success. Be Creative. Play around. It's just hair.:) And by all means let me know how these looks turned out for you.

 

 

This is one of my favorite styles. I have worn it for church, date night, or when I am just plain tired of my look. I always get compliments with this look.

Winner of the Contest

Congratulations go out to Angellike550 for her winning idea! Make sure to check back during the next few weeks as I teach you how to a dress up your curls in different ways and hopefully help you expand your hair “wardrobe”.

p.s. Angellike550 please send me your address via my email link so that I can get your prize off and in the mail right away.:)

New beginnings

Well I haven’t forgot about you but I have had to take a short break to have a baby.:) The newest member to my family was born last Tuesday May18th.  He weighed in at 8lbs 4oz. Not bad if I do say so myself.:) I wish I could tell you some story about my hair and the effect of pregnancy on it, but in all honesty I really don’t think that I had any ill effects. If all my hair starts to fall out I’ll let you know. lol jk:)

With a million things running through my head at the moment I decided it might be fun, and make life a little easier on me, plus spice things up a bit, to ask you (the reader) what you would like to know more about (with regards to curly hair of course). So here I go, I am opening up the floor to your suggestions, and if your suggestion gets picked I will send you  a set of metal clippies and 2 plopping towels as my thanks.  To qualify all you have to do is leave your suggestion in the comment section below and then follow me using Google Friend Connect. If you are already following me using Friend Connect then leave a 2nd comment in response to a different article in my blog archive.

Can’t wait to see what you come up with. Good Luck!

P.S. This contest will close on Tuesday June 1st.

Tip of the week #5

Don’t have time to wash you hair in the morning, but your curls look like a crazy mess! Try spritzing your hair with water and then scrunching a bit of conditioner into the mid shaft and ends with your hands. Let your hair air dry and remember, don’t mess with it until it is all dry.:)

Comb vs. Brush Part 2

In my last article, regarding this subject, I gave an overview of a few different types of combs. I also explained why, I believe, certain combs work better for certain hair densities. In this article I am going to cover brushes. Two specifically, one I recommend using and one I recommend staying away from. Hopefully, by the end of reading both articles you will have a better idea of what you will want to use for your hair care needs, whether it be comb or brush.

The first brush on the list is a Boars head bristle brush (say that 10 times fast), which derived its name from the animal it came hailed from, the boar.

 

Pros:

1. Made out of  natural boar’s hair fibers
2. Soft bristles are attributed with being  useful in moving natural oils down the length of the hair
3. Much more gentle on the hair than their synthetic counterparts.
4. Efficient at smoothing fly-aways

 

Cons:

1. Bristles are densely packed together
2. Does not easily remove tangles
3. Can cause undo stress and damage to the hair strand resulting in breakage.
4. Should not be used on wet hair
5. Causes frizzing and/or  relaxing /straightening of curls

This brush does wonders when it comes to straightening the hair, or when you want a smooth looking style (i.e. a ponytail), but when it come to curls it just doesn’t make the cut. The densely packed bristles do an awesome job of moving natural oils down the hair strand, but when you want your curls to look their best the closeness of the bristles tug away at your beautiful curls leaving them frizzy and awkward looking. Using a boar’s head bristle brush on wet hair is a definite no, no, because that is when the hair is most fragile and you are likely to end up with a lot of split ends. Using it on wet hair also adds a lot of extra bulk and volume to the hair that most  people do not like. In the end, this brush is wonderful for straightening only.

 

The second on the list is a plastic vent brush. This brush must be entirely synthetic and have little plastic balls covering the end of each bristle.

 

Pros:

1. Vents allow for faster drying time when straightening the hair.
2. Fewer bristles
3. Generously spaced bristles
4. Easily detangles dry or wet hair
5. Versatile in use
6. Turned edges aid in “curling” or bending the hair into desired style
7. Fair amount of control when styling

 

Cons:

1. Generously spaced bristles

To be honest, this is my most favoritist tool out of  the whole lot. While yes, it does have many advantages that can be utilized during the straightening process, none of those advantages become disadvantages when using it solely for curly hair. It is comfortable to use, works (in my opinion) as well as a pik in detangling hair, shower friendly (i.e. doesn’t get ruined in the shower), can be used if you want to “straighten” your hair, etc… I really do love this tool! To temper myself a little, I will concede that this may not be the best choice for those curlies with fine to medium fine hair, for the same reasons given with the pik. At the end of the day, if I had to choose just one tool to use, I would pick the vent brush every time. The versatility of this tool, for me, makes it irreplaceable.

I hope that after reading both articles you will me able to make the best choice for your hair and your lifestyle.  What your final preference will be may be different than mine, but that is ok, so long as you are happy with your results.  I should let know now that I only recommend using a comb or a brush to detangle your hair right before your get in the shower. I use my fingers for pretty much everything else. In the end you could decide to just skip the whole comb and brush routine and use what God gave you, your fingers! But whatever you decide make sure it’s what’s right for you.

Product Review: DivaCurl Travel Pack

For about a month and a half  or so I have been trying out the  products found in the DivaCurl Travel Pack*. The pack includes 3oz. size bottles of: No-Poo, The One Conditioner, Angell, and Set It Free.

  Warning!: These products are NOT recommended for those with fine to medium-fine textured hair. They contain no proteins and a fair amount of humectants.  If you have medium/normal textured hair  and choose to use these products but find that your hair is a bit frizzy try adding  some protein into your hair care regime.  That said, these products are perfect for those with medium-course to course textured hair.

During the trial I used all of the products together. I wanted to try to keep my test results as accurate as possible. I normally wash my hair every other day, MWF, so that is what I continued to do.  When dispensing the product into my palm I used no more than a half dollar size of the product, sometimes less, per application. The results of how long the product will last will vary depending on your length of hair and amount of hair. My hair comes to halfway below my shoulders and my bra strap and it is also fairly thick.

I started by cleansing my scalp with No-Poo, using  only one application. I applied the product into my palm and then rubbed my hands together to emulsify it. Then I raked the product from my palms to my finger tips, using,well, my finger tips. I then rubbed the product into my scalp vigorously, using my fingertips, for about 2-3 min. Once I had thoroughly cleansed my scalp, I ran what little product was left on my hands down the length of my hair from scalp to ends.  I let the No-Poo sit on my head while I attended to the rest of my shower duties. When I was done with the rest of my shower I thoroughly rinsed out my hair and turned off the shower. After carefully squeezing (not ringing) out the excess water from my hair, I applied the One conditioner to the palms of my hands and emulsified the product in my palms. I glided my hands over my hair pretending like I was putting in a pony tail, but continued running my hands over the the length of my hair from scalp to ends. Then I ran my fingers back up through my hair  from the ends to scalp, but not on the scalp, to help distribute the product more evenly (I only needed one application).  As soon as I felt that the product had been evenly distributed, I proceeded to apply Angell. Flipping my head over I applied 1 and 1/2 separate applications of  the product to my hair by running my fingers through the length of my hair beginning at the ends and working my way up towards the scalp (of course I again emulsified the product in my palms first). Next, I sprayed several pumps of Set It Free into my hair, on both the under side and top side (my head was still flipped over).  Then I firmly scrunched the product into my hair and followed with my normal hair plopping routine.

Of course I forgot to take any pictures of my hair during this time, but my curls were evenly formed and not frizzy. Second day hair was easy to wet and restyle, scrunching a pump or two of my Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel  into my damp hair to ensure a frizz free day. My hair, which was already in good condition, remained soft and manageable. Overall, I give this product a  4 out of 5, mainly because a 5 would be my holy grail of products and also because they are rather costly. Please, let me know if you have used any of these products and what your results have been.

*I was given this kit to test by my local RDA distributor. A perk of being a cosmetologist.  I did not receive any payment, however for my review.

Tip of the Week #4

Emulsify, Emulsify, Emulsify! When putting any product into your hair, or on your skin, remember to always emulsify first. What is emulsification? Well, in the terms of a cosmetologist it is when you rub a product between the palms of your hands.  This  helps with product distribution, product waste/over use, and in some cases preparing the product to adhere to your hair/body. There are a few contradictions to the rule such as shampoo and hair spray. When using these products you would not need to emulsify first.

Blog Roll

Have a blog about curly hair? Have a blog about DIY projects, cooking, sewing, gardening, holistic home remedies, etc... Post your link here and share the knowledge. :) Use the following Linky Tools* to add your homepage URL to the list below. Please only one entry per blog.* 

*A.K.A. MckLinky 
* Abuse of these terms will result in deletion.

Comb vs. Brush Part 1

I have had several inquiries about my choice of using a vent brush. It got me thinking that maybe there are more of you out there similarly wondering about it as well and so I thought I would share my thoughts on the subject of comb vs. brush with everyone.

To begin, I would like to quickly overview the function of  combs and brushes. The purpose of any comb or brush is to help you;

1. Have control when styling
2. Help in the process of removing tangles and loose hairs
3. Aid in the distribution of product and/or natural oils throughout your hair.

Looking at the comb first, we find the pros and cons of the comb vary depending on what type of comb you choose to use. Combs like brushes span the gamete and, because of that, I believe that some should not be used on your curly hair. For the purposes of this article I will refer to 3 different types of combs. First is the handy dandy hair dressing comb/cutting comb.

Pros

1. The tightly packed teeth of this comb makes it excellent at grabbing,  gathering, and controlling hair.
2. Helps to make a nice smooth surface needed for cutting, making ponytails, braiding, etc. 
3. Aides well in back combing to provide lift at the root of the hair*
4. Can help pull out dirt and debris from hair

Cons

1. The tightly packed teeth can pull on curly hair and cause excessive pulling, discomfort and even breakage.

 

Some of the same reasons that this comb is a stylists best friend are the same reasons that you would want to steer clear of it in your own personal use, if your hair density ranges anywhere from a medium amount to thick and plentiful. Of course,  if you want a nice tight ponytail or braid (everything has a time and a place right?) this comb would make an excellent choice.  As a side note; if you have less than a medium amount of hair you may not run into any problems using this comb due to the mere fact that your hairs are not as densely packed.

The second comb is called a wide tooth comb or a vent comb.

Pros:

1. Multi purpose
2. One half of  the comb has wider teeth to better aid in picking out tangles from wet hair.
3. Opposite side of the comb is used for added control of hair when styling or cutting.

Cons:

1. Hairs could be pulled and or broken if care isn’t taken to keep them out of the tightly packed section of the comb.

This comb would be the perfect choice for someone looking to save some money. The wider teeth make it a good choice for those with a medium amount of hair that want to use it’s multi-purpose styling control benefits. However this is not the best choice for those with thick hair because the teeth on the wide end may still be too close and cause excessive pulling and damage. For those with thin hair this comb may be over kill, because the teeth on the wide end may be spaced too far apart to make it useful in accomplishing the job it is needed to do. Thus, making it a waste of your money.

Comb number three is a most commonly called a pik. There are many different versions of this comb but this picture provides an image of what is most commonly found and used.  

Pros:

1. Excellent at detangling hair
2. Few teeth that are widely spread apart
3. Nice big handle

Cons:

1. Widely spaced teeth
2. Gives little to no control when styling in ponytails or braids
3. Designed for only one purpose

Best choice for those who have medium to thick hair. The wide spacing of teeth make detangling a breeze. There are so many varieties that you can easily find one that is ergonomically correct in the handle area (which basically means it is comfortable to hold and put less stress on your body). While it will separate the hairs of those with fine to medium fine amounts of hair, it will not be as effective at removing loose hairs that can contribute to tangling (of course, that may not be as big of an issue for you as for those with thicker hair).

While I am aware that there are still more choices of combs available to the average consumer hopefully my review of these 3 different types will make it easier for you to pick the best one for your needs. Don't go rush off to the store yet though, because in my next article we will be discussing different types of brushes and you might decide you’d rather use a brush than a comb. 'Til next time…:).

*I try to stay clear of this practice unless I am doing an updo for a very special occasion. It causes too much damage and breakage to be used on a regular basis.

 

To protein or not to protein...

Previously, in my list of Do's and Don'ts I talked about what kind of ingredients to look for in a shampoo, conditioner, or gel. I have learned since writing that article that it is necessary to be somewhat more discriminating when picking out the right products for your hair. It is not enough to just simply find the right ingredients, but to know which ones work best for your hair texture.
   How do you find out your hair texture? Easy. Separate a single strand of hair from the rest and run your forefinger and thumb over the length of it from scalp to ends. If, when you run your fingers over the strand of hair and you feel hardly anything or nothing at all, you have fine textured hair; if your hair feels like a strand of quilting thread then you have coarse textured hair; if your hair feels like it is somewhere in between, you have "normal" textured hair. Be warned, it is possible to have two different textures coexisting on the same head of hair. For example I have both normal and coarse hair mixed throughout my hair.
   What does it mean? Well, it tells you more adequately what the composition of your hair is. Those with coarse hair produces an abundance of protein but lack an equal amount of moisture giving it the characteristic wiry, thick texture. On the other hand, those with fine hair are blessed with a healthy helping of moisture but have a scant amount of protein which gives the strand a light and thin feeling. Normal hair has a balanced amount of moisture and protein allowing it to be more versatile than the other two textures.
   Why does your hair texture effect what ingredients you should look for? To put it plainly, you want your hair to be balanced. When you naturally have too much protein in your hair you don't want to add more because it throws off the balance even more, vice versa for overly moisturized hair.
    In conclusion, those with fine hair should look for products that contain proteins and stay away from moisturizing ingredients such as oils. Coarse textured individuals should steer clear of any kind of protein* in their hair care diet, while adding a healthy dose of moisturizing ingredients. Both protein and moisturizing ingredients are tolerated well by those with "normal" texture, so these curly heads can be a little less picky when looking for their products. This statement should be tempered by the reality that even these individuals can find that they have a sensitivity to either protein or moisture.
    Unfortunately, what this all means is that reading labels will seem to others to be your new favorite past time. :) However, I promise you that the extra effort will be well worth your time. Happy hunting.....I mean shopping.;)

*The only exceptions to this is immediately following a chemical service.

How to Make a T-shirt Towel

Before                        
    
After
     
Traditional terri cloth towels rough up your hair’s cuticle causing damage, tangles and frizz. The flat surface of the t-shirt helps keep the cuticle of the hair closed thus minimizing frizz, tangles and damage.
Items needed:

• Old large or x-large t-shirt
• Scissors 
• Pen
• Needle and thread or a sewing machine already threaded.
• Minimal sewing knowledge

Directions:

1. Lie the t-shirt flat on the ground or table.
2. Cut off arms

    3.   Cut along the side seams on both sides.
      4.  Open it up and lie it flat on the table. If the sides are cut choppy that’s ok you can fix it at the end.
     5.  On what was the front side of the t-shirt draw a straight line across the width of the shirt about 1 in. below the bottom of the collar.
      6.  Repeat on what used to be the back side of the shirt.   

      7.  Using scissors, cut along the front line. Repeat on the back line.

       8.  Place both halves with right sides together. Matching up the “collar” edges together and the bottom edges.

       9.  1 in. below the “collar” area sew a straight line across the width of the t-shirt. If you are sewing by hand, sew back over the line three times. Reinforcing the line will  help to ensure that it will remain tight through many washings.

       10.  Enjoy the look of your frizz free curls or straight hair with the help of your newly made t-shirt towel .
 
*After sewing the t-shirt back together I decided to straighten up the sides by re-cutting them so the finished product looked nice and neat.

How to Plop Your Hair With a Flour Sack

Yet another video for your educational viewing pleasure. Enjoy and please feel free to leave feedback.

My Story

Looking through my posts, I saw that I never really shared how I came to be where I am now, in terms of my curly hair. Here is my Reader’s Digest history. 

When I was but a wee baby….. j.k. :)  I won’t go that far back, but when I was a child everyone loved my hair. It  was soft, bouncy, and had beautiful loose ringlets, somewhere along the way that changed.  Honestly, as I grew up I was a bit of a tom boy. After about 2nd grade, when I needed the most help, I wouldn’t let  my Mom touch my hair. My hair became a long thick mess of waves and curls. I was a kid though and to an extent I didn’t care. Although, all the taunting and teasing did make me very self conscience about my hair over time. 

Through my preteen and teen years my hair was a series of bad haircuts that either grew out ugly or (when I was lucky) grew out well.  In 8th grade I began “straightening” my hair (I used the big barrel curling iron technique). When I became annoyed with dealing with my hair I  turned to perms to try to achieve “ the perfect curl”. The hairdressers never listened to me, and I almost always ended up looking like a poodle, or exactly the same but with trashed hair from the chemical process. Needless to say, I dreaded going to the hairdresser. It is ironic that as my career of choice  I choose be a cosmetologist. I was drawn to it admittedly for selfish reasons. I wanted to know how to style my hair; to know how to keep my crazy bush in check.


Amongst all the useful tips, tricks, tools and techniques I was introduced to, the  flat iron quickly became my favorite. My hair looked gorgeous, only it was straight. :( I continued to fight my curl for years. There were a few tricks that I was taught that helped me wear my hair “naturally” curly, but only if I wanted to devote 1- 1 1/2 hrs to making the curls look presentable. They never looked good the next day, so I rarely justified taking the time from my family to style it curly. My straightened hairstyle was always good for about 2-3days, so it seemed worth the effort to me.  A big draw back to straightening my hair was that I was always in fear of sweating or the weather. There was one special occasion that I spent 2 hours straightening my hair, but because the weather was very humid and misty by the end of the night my hair was in loose ringlets (that did not look good). 

By the time I had my 3rd child I was done. I was tired, my time was stretched thin, and I wanted to have a more “wash and wear style”. It was then that I finally began to find answers to my questions in a book. Three years later and I am still digging to find out more on curly hair but the results thus far have been extraordinary to me. My hair is curlier than it has ever been, I don’t spend hours on my hair and, most importantly, I have embraced me.  I wouldn’t go back and make the slightest change to my story, because it has made me who I am today.