Back from big trip to Florida

Sorry I didn't write more this past week, but I have been recuperating from my trip to Florida. First, I would like to give a big thanks to all those who made my stay enjoyable and memorable. There is a certain group of curlies, you know who you are, that made me feel right at home and taught me so much more about the joys of being curly. I reserve my biggest thanks to Tiffany, the genius behind the website Live Curly Live Free, for teaching me her techniques for cutting curly hair. Tiffany truly has the heart of a teacher and is most inspiring in her passion and drive for helping curly heads everywhere learn how to take better care of their hair. I am excited to use my new found knowledge to help those in my area achieve beautiful results for their curls. Via La Curls!!

Tip of the Week #3

Give your hair a final rinse in cool water at the end of your shower. It helps to close down the cuticle leaving it flat, soft and shinny. What girl with curls doesn't want shinny hair? Also very good for the skin, because it helps to close down the pores that expanded open with the hot water. Closed pores are good, because that means that dirt has a harder time finding it's way in. Which hopefully means you will have fewer breakouts.:) If you are too chicken to place your whole body beneath the stream of cool water you can use a detachable shower head to rinse your hair only or a large cup that you fill with water from your stationary shower head.

Big Trip!

I’m am very excited today, because tomorrow I will be flying to Florida for the weekend. Who wouldn’t be excited to go to Florida?:) However, I am not going for personal reasons. I am going there to take a curly hair cutting course. This trip has been in the plans for months now, but one thing or another came up and got in the way. Well, no more! The tickets are bought, the bags are almost packed ;) and there is nothing standing in my way this time. Isn’t it awesome to see a goal you have been working on come to completion?

Tip of the Week #2

Don’t  rub you hair dry with a towel, like you would a dog. That will only rough up the cuticle making it look frizzy. Instead, use an old t-shirt or paper towels to gently blot out excess water from your hair. This technique helps to keep the cuticle smooth and doesn’t disrupt the curl pattern as much.

Co-washing part 2

Sorry this took so long to post. This video proved itself to be harder to make than I had originally anticipated. May pain, though, is your gain. :)

Co-washing part 1

Co-washing is one method of cleansing and moisturizing successfully used  by curly girls. In this method conditioner is substituted for shampoo when cleansing the scalp. Although strange in its concept, it is possible to achieve cleanliness with this method. Reasons for using this method range from a desire to completely avoid any shampoos; to mere curiosity. While I do not currently use this method, I have in the past, and can speak from first hand experience of its effectiveness. Why did I stop? Mainly, because I wanted to try something new (when I find a new method or product that interests me, I  try it.)
You  must purchase  conditioners that contain absolutely no silicone or any silicone derivatives. Silicones are not water soluble and WILL build up on your hair shaft. Over time the silicone begins to weigh down the hair, and makes it feel “a kind of funky” that you never want to experience. Silicones coat the hair shaft in such a way that lets no moisture in or out. This is bad because, once the hair has used up what ever moisture was trapped in, no new moisture can gain access. No moisture = dry brittle hair (remember the silicones are building up on the hair with each co-wash). As explained in the article Do’s and Don’ts, the only way to fully remove them from the hair is with a sulfate based shampoo.
Once you have picked out the proper conditioner you can begin to put this method to the test.  I will share with you, in co-washing part 2, the method of application I found to have the most favorable results.

Tip of the Week #1

Help keep your curls, or long locks, from getting matted or tangled while you sleep by placing your hair in a loose ponytail on top of your head. Now, if you don't mind the occasional odd stares from those close to you, you could also sleep with you hair in an old fashioned night cap. For those with short hair, and also those with long hair, sleeping on a pillow covered with a satin pillowcase will work as well.