Sunday, February 28, 2010

my corn rowing is getting better

So today I did my cowash and started with the front of my head with two imitation corn rows for my protective style for the week. I am improving yall! Pretty soon I might be able to stop calling them imitation cuz they are starting to look like the real deal. lol. I got so excited I decided to do my entire head this time instead of my usual box braids. I have 8 corn rows in all. see the pics for how it turned out.
Front view


back view
Today's regimen:
Cowash/detangle - Generic Value Brand version of Nexxus Humectress Conditioner
Leave in - Infusium 23
Oil - Africa's Best
Sealant - Organix Coconut Oil split end mender

My going out styles

So I have posted a couple pics of my protective styling in my posts but I thought I could probably show off some of my going out dos, give ppl some ideas. the one thing i love with my natural hair is that its got so much body and texture u can basically just pin it in any interesting shape and its bound to hold and look good. love it. the versatility is out of this world so the possibilities and styling options are endless. I'm enjoying rocking new interesting styles. I'll post and describe as they are created.

bantu knots for a knot out style

side view of knots
front view of bantu knot out pinup style. the knot out gives a nice wavy texture and then I pinned up my hair in four sections. two sections pinned back in front. the middle of my head was pinned forward and spread in a fan. the bottom was rolled up like a french roll and pinned into the fan. i put two decorative pins in the front to define my part.
side view (kindof lol) of pinup. see the nice texture?!
did another pinup, this time two strand twist in the back and on top and flat twists on the side. rolled the front and sides into a french roll and then swooped the ones n top and pinned in the roll. topped it all off with a flower.
front view of flat twist pinup
im in the vagina monologues this year and this is an experiment with my bantu knot out hair second day. i did a roll in the front coming to the side then put half my hair in a scrunchy very loosely and left the bottom open. Ill prob braid my hair and do this with a braid out for the play.
simple braid out from my week old protective style
another braid out style from week old braids. did a pompadour in the front with the rest of my hair pulled back and left open
side view
another braid out style. this time, just one side pulled back with a pretty flower
view of teh other side
front view
another braidout. half pompdour half curls on the top, all the rest pulled back into a curly pony
pompadour side view
curls side view

braid out leaking out of tam

wash and go

straw set

head wrap

slick back and scarf

modified curlisto method

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Recent forays into new products

Hi Folks!
It's been a while! honestly, I have been so busy and at the same time I have been procrastinating a lot. But I am still fighting the good fight. Anyway, I have continued with my regimen, with some changes in products because some of my old stocks finished off. One disappointment has been the Nexxus Emergencee. I guess Nexxus has a new formulation because my old bottle ran out and when I used the new one the results are totally NOT what I have come to expect. I definitely don't get the curl definition and shine I used to get with the old bottle. see pics below to see for yourself. so disappointing. I might have to scout a new product to replace this one.

                                                                   Old Nexxus Results
                                                                 New Nexxus Results
I also tried two new shampoo samples. I tried Fekkai Apple cider vinegar clarifying shampoo. Mess! lol. Had my hair dry and feeling like hay like I hate! Then I tried Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo. OMG! I think I love it even more than my Pantene. It's amazing! Curl definition, detangling and moisturising, I love it! Makes me want to try the Long Term relationship shampoo. will have to wait. I also tried the Generic Value Products version of  Nexxus Humectress Moisturising Conditioner. It was aite, not blown away by it but it is cheap and would make a good cowash I guess. Probably wont get this again. I also FINALLY got my hands on some ecostyler gel. All I can say is I see why everybody swears by this thing. it is amazing! hold is great with no flakiness and it doesn't dry out my hair. I also found some Redken Extreme antisnap which I had tried in sample size before and loved. It was too expensive. but this weekend I found the bottle that normally retails at $17 for $12 so you know I bought it! lol. and I still love it.

My next experiment is going to be henna. Some time ago I spotted a pack henna treatment at Walgreens so I'm going to see if i find it this weekend and try it. I'm kind of lazy so I don't really want to do the mixing thing but we'll see. I'll report back when I do.

Other than that, my hair seems healthy. It really loves baggying. I swear, I didn't baggy consistently for a two week span and you could definitely tell the difference. I have also noticed that my shedding has increased just a little bit but I attribute that to the winter. My strands are strong and I don't really see much breakage and it is definitely growing.
                                                       Frontal View of Hair length
                                                            Back View of Hair Growth

My Current Regimen:
Shampoo: Pantene Hydrating Curls Shampoo
Conditioner: Generic Value Products version of  Nexxus Humectress Moisturising Conditioner
Protein Treatment: Nexxus Emergencee
Deep Conditioner: Le Kair Cholesterol
Leave in: Infusium 23/ Redken Extreme Anti-snap
Oil: Africa's best ultimate herbal oil
Sealants: Pink Oil moisturiser/ Organix coconut milk

Cowash every weekend. Shampoo, Deep condition and protein treatment every two weeks. Moisturize and baggy every night!