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.

Clarifications

I think that I need to take this time, before we get to far into things, to clarify a few misconceptions.  This blog is dedicated to anyone who has any form of curly hair. The ideas that I will cover in this blog can benefit wavy hair to super tight curly hair, and (wait for it) even those with straight hair! :O (What! Yes, straight haired girls can get away with more but what I share can help them too.) Regardless of whether or not you follow every guideline I give, i.e., no flat irons, you can still achieve amazing results. Maybe even results you thought would never be possible.  My hope is that through our journey together you will learn how to pamper your hair, and hopefully, find pleasure with the hair type that God gave you. Please, feel free to ask questions and leave comments with regards to any of the articles. I want your input because without you I am just talking to myself.

No-pooing

“Huh? What on Earth is she talking about?” (I know that’s what you’re thinking.) If you read CG, then you’ll understand what I am referring to. If not, no, I am not talking about bodily functions. I am talking about ridding certain kinds of shampoos from your hair care diet. Poo, for our purposes, is classified as any shampoo, whatsoever, that contains sulfates. Stay Away From Poo At All Costs! :) (LOL….) Now seriously, you want to stay away from sulfates because they strip away needed oils from your scalp. These oils help provide moisture to the hair and combine with sweat to create the acid mantle. Overly disturbing the acid mantle is bad because it’s what helps to protect your scalp from the elements and harmful bacteria and fungi. (Protection is a good thing. We like that.) You can however, use shampoos made with very mild, gentle cleansing agents. These do not strip away all of the necessary oils, leaving the acid mantle better intact. Cocamidopropl Betaine,Coca Betaine, Disodium Cocamphodiacetate, and Sodium Cocogl Isethionate name a few of these milder cleansing agents. Beware, these milder cleansing agents don’t lather up as well as the sulfates do. This can be rather disturbing to some people who are hooked on bubbles. Don’t fret, your hair will be clean, although, there may be an adjustment period. (Give it a good month before you chuck the idea out the window.) Another concern that has been made is that you do not achieve the same squeaky clean feeling that you once experienced. My only retort to that, is, squeaky clean hair isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Squeaky clean, is an indication that you have stripped off too much of the acid mantle. The long and short of it is, stay away from poo, and don’t over do it with the milder shampoos. Start to do this and you will be well on your way to a poo free life.