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.