Watching the Hair Grow

 Teen K's hair is for sure growing back. I am kind of at a lost of what she should use in it. I am going to do some research on that. One more thing to look into but, oh so worth it! For the mean time it has just been left alone except from occasional coconut oil and washing.

I can tell her hair is getting ready to either lift off the scalp or begin to grow downwards. Looking at these pictures makes me know it is time to start some type of routine because the hair is here!

This is the hair when she just did the big chop which was almost eight weeks ago.

Box Braids

I wanted to do a style on KD that would last over a week. I went to the style I knew would last the longest from my experience and that was box braids. They have been in since last Saturday, so about five days and they still look really good.  I did want something a bit fun so I added a few beads to the ends. I will be taking those out and moisturizing her ends and letting them hang free for the rest of the time the box braids are in.

DIRECTIONS FOR BOX BRAIDS:

Wash hair with sulfate free shampoo (aveeno)

Condition with Hello Hydration

De tangle with Knot Today leave in

Work coconut oil threw out hair

Grab small sections and braid using pure Shea butter on each braid

I am very excited that after two months of treating her hair right it now falls in beautiful ringlets to the ends. I can really tell her hair is happy!







It still has lots of frizz but, I am starting to think that is just part of her hair type. My hair is also really frizzy...so maybe it is just time to embrace it until I am proven otherwise.

Freshly washed, no product





The box braids are growing on me. I must say they have not been my favorite style. I feel like they always come out a bit scalpy but, I am also going to learn to embrace them because they are a great go to style that I can depend on lasting over a week.

Wash and Go

Last night I got information on doing an apple cider vinegar wash on planetgreen.com. I mixed a little in with my shampoo because that is what they recommended for dry hair. ACV is claimed to be good for dandruff and removing residue from your scalp and hair, amongst other things.  After washing I conditioned with Hello Hydration then deep conditioned over night with Cantu Leave In and coconut oil.  This morning my hair was shiny and seemed moisturized. Because of time restraints I decided to wear a wash and go.  I rinsed out the Cantu, towel dried and added in some more Cantu as my styler.

My hair is for sure growing and I just hope to keep it in the best health possible!

For me, the test of the wash and go is, "will it poof ?"  After air drying for a few hours I experienced some shrinkage and some poof, but not much.

It looks nice, healthy,  and I love the natural wave that is showing itself from the root. Still need to research on how often to rinse with the ACV.

Small Twist Update

This is day four for Baby KD's two strand twist. I have been using Knot Today and Shea Moisture Curl Style Milk. The top is a bit more frizzy than I would like it to be but, top up styles seem to be working really well.




The two styles in purple are from day five.  The frizz does not look terrible at this point. I am though considering if it should stay in another week.

Love these bows that match her dress. They were found in a pack of four for only one dollar at my local flea market.

Natural Hair Product Exchange

My friend and I do a weekly fitness day where we eat a healthy meal, go to the gym, enjoy some wine and mostly share tips and ideas.  She is recently going into natural hair care research!! Its a beautiful thing! She had alot of products as do I . Today we brought all our products together. Some items were complete give aways and all others were available for sampling. She picked up small containers with lids and labels from the local dollar store.  It was a really fun time! I ended up walking away with FIVE products I had never used.  I am so very excited. I have been wanting to try the other Shea Moisture products. I was able to leave with the Hold and Shine spray as well as the Curl and Style Milk.  I also am trying Aveeno sulfate free shampoo, pure Shea butter and Cantu Leave In. This is very exciting because we all know how expensive products can be just to not be satisfied and leave a almost full bottle behind. I have great plans for these newest additions in the near future. Stay tuned for reviews!!

Still hanging with the braids!!

A Good Hair Day

It was time to style and wash Baby KD's hair.  I went with my usual wash routine that I have established works for her hair.

ROUTINE:

1. detangle hair with fingers
2. wash hair with sulfate free shampoo (current Aveeno sulfate free)
3. condition with Herbal Essence Hello Hydration
4. Ring out hair with hands
5. go to a comfortable sitting place
6. finger detangle with coconut oil and begin to part for banding style with leave in (current Knot Today)              

fresh washed no product

banded

bands taken out

This is how the entire process looks after the wash routine.
Usually when I take her bands out her hair is dry. This time around I used Knot Today as a twisting agent. The next time around I will use it during the banding process with the coconut oil. Hopefully this combination will do well with keeping it moisturized.

My newest purchase is the Kinky Curly Knot Today. I used it on KD's hair when I twisted. The reason I am choosing to band with it and not style with it is because it seems to be a wet product. Putting it on each section caused the hair to curl up and defeated the banding purpose. BUT, her twists are sooo soft. I did make a daily spray mixture with this, coconut oil and water.   I used it on her this morning and her hair stayed moisturized all day. 

I set out to do mini twists....so, I parted in four and did one square at a time.  These are definitely not mini twists.  They are however more twists than I ever did on her.

I have found my new love in this style.  They are so soft. I am hoping they will stay in and looking fresh for two weeks. I don't know how likely that is, but we sure are going to try.  I am still struggling with a night routine. I still haven't found an item that will stay on her head the whole night. I also have not purchased a silk pillowcase. 

Big Chop Update

December 2, 2011

December 11, 2011

January 12...6wks since cut

Three Strand Twist Out

This is the result of a three strand twist that was put in about 5 days ago.  The product I used was Curl Feather Sheen by Soft Sheen Carson. I feel as if I need a layer of moisture with this product. But I must say I really like the hold factor. This style will stay in for one more day then we will do her hair wash routine and I will attempt to do mini twists. (well, as mini as my patience will allow me). Check back for update.

Three Strand Twist

Baby KD has been out of school for Winter break the last three weeks.  She had a really cute three strand twist out for the New Year. I really enjoyed that style but, need to find a product to hold the hair and moisturize at the same time, (is that possible?).

For her current style I detangled, washed, conditioned and banded it the night before. I then used the Feather Whip Curl Cream and coconut oil to style it.

I used this on KDs hair and like it much better than I did on mine.  I do wish it had more sheen.

This is a product I will use for her again. It has a very nice hold factor for her texture and causes the hair to hang down. 

I got the idea for the headband type decoration from Beads, Braids and beyond.  I still find I refer to that blog for the inspiration for each of her styles. Looove it!!

The rubber bands I used were from the Proclaim brand that was purchased at Sally's Beauty Supply.

Last Day of 2012

Today was a rushed day which is exactly like every other important day.  I did a three strand twist out on Baby KD's hair. I actually liked this style much more than any other twist out. I cut the rubberbands out. Proclaim rubberbands sold at Sallys Beauy Supply are very good rubberbands.  I seen maybe three strands of hair during the whole take out process from her scalp to her ends.  This is GREAT from my past experience of removing small rubberbands after a week long stlye.

I then sprayed water/coconut oil mixture threw her hair and lightly seperated some of the twists.

I have not been taking the best care of my hair in the last few days. I just been wearing it in my natural texture, not moisturizing and just pinning back the sides when I go out. To bring in the new year I wanted to step it up a bit. I wanted to make a statement to myself that this year I will take care of my whole self and present myself at my best as often as possible.

For this style I did three flat twists around my head comming over to the side. I then attemted to twist the hair that was left out with Shea Moisture Curl smoothie and olive oil Eco Styler Gel. Due to lack of time I had to take the twists down and they were still wet. I still thought this was a cute style.