Product Review: Herbal Essence Totally Twisted Curl Define & Hold

Absolutely love this product!! It has a very soft and sweet smell. Even better it never dissappoints.

How I use it: I usually use it for my braid outs. I do my braid outs on 70-80% dry hair, moisturize, and then appy HE TT to each strand of hair per braid.

Results:

I have used it for bantu knot outs as well. I would definitely be repurchasing when I am out, and will definitely reccomend it to anyone, looking for an affordable and fabulous product. I picked this up from my local Dollar Store, for about $4.




The Braid Out pictured was done on 70% dry hair.
Moisturized with a mix of Aussie Miraculously Smooth, water, & coconut oil.
Parted hair is 4 sections, did 2 braids per section, applying Herbal Esscence Totally Twisted to each section to be braided.
Rolled each braid end with a perm rod.
Allowed the braids to sit for 24 hours, because I have no life!! LOL

HOPE YA LIKED!

Hair Diary!

Mapping out my plan for my next wash. I think I want to incorporate Aphogee 2 min Reconstructor just to get my protein in , as I have not used it in a while. I dusted my hair, for the first time today, and bc my hair is in layers, there naturally were little sprigs that weren't "raggedy" or "split" but I just cut them as well anyway. It left my hair feeling softer, and it seemed to even move a little easier,Yes I was whipping my hair back and forth. lol.

Also I know I said I would do an entire year with braids challenge, but I have scared myself out of it. I am afraid of breakage so i think I will scratch that, and make it a year wigging challenge...that should be hella easy and problem free lol.

But back to this wash... I just used heat on my hair about 3 days ago, so i think I will stretch my next wash for 2 weeks...unless my scalp tells me otherwise.

In Hairlista Facebook Group we have started up another Castor Oil challenge so I will be doing this twice a week. Have any of you guys ever used MN (Miconazole Nitrate) as a growth aide?? Some of the girls swear by it, and the junkie in me is itching to try it.

Anywho let me get off of here & contemplate this next wash...

CoWash w/ V05 Clarifying Conditioner
Let Aphogee sit for 5 minutes
D/C with Megasilk Hair Mayonnaise (45 min) (That is a protein too...do you think that is too much protein)
Let air dry and wrap up as I will be wigging.


ALSO!!! I am feeling really special now...I pretty much have converted my FB page to ALL THINGS HAIR!!! && at first ppl kinda teased me about it...but that died off and I pretty much get a few likes here and there but nothing much. Well a few weeks ago I found out that a friend began her Relaxed Hair Care Journey bc of MOI!!!! YAYYYYY...and today I posted my last length chk pic and announced that I will be concealing my length until 12/31/2012 and this girl says NOOOOO Don't make us wait that long *blushing* I said "I honestly didn't think ppl were following or even cared lol" and she said "WELL I DEFINITELY DO" awww that just warmed my little heart :-)

Did I Just????

Yes I did.
Yesterday I relaxed my hair...it wasn't planned...and I was only 9 weeks post my last relaxer...I was attempting to flat iron my hair...and noticed that over 50% of my hair was "texlaxed" & I could see the different textures after straightening 1/4th of my hair...so I thought "If I keep stretching while I am already under-processed, then I will eventually just be texlaxed" sooo without a second thought I grabbed my half container of Motions, and went to work. I quickly oiled my scalp with Castor oil, and I had about half an inch of new growth, but because my main target was the previous under-processed areas I applied the relaxer almost all over my whole strand. I then parted each section and slide my fingers over it (thumb & index) to smooth it out. It turned out fairly well...except the last section I did, still looks under-processed when wet, but flat ironing it, it looked just peachy :-)
Next relaxer still set for April...that will be a professional relaxing and getting ends clipped...Im afraid that I haven't much retention, I protective style 100% of the time, but when I am bunning, I still have to brush my hair up in a bun almost daily....and when I was doing the black tea rinses my hair seemed "rougher" and seemed to break more...so I'm really just feeling blahh about my hair right now :-(....I may go get my ends clipped Friday, just to see the damage that was done and get the fear out of the way lol.

RELAX & Let it Grow.

Being apart of many hair forums, groups, sites ect. and seeing many begin their transitions to becoming natural, many motivated by other group members, I often thought of it myself. It truly bothered me as to why I wouldn't do it, aside from the fact that my husband wouldn't like it very much, what was it in me...am I truly dependant upon my hair? Am I victim of "self hate"? When I tell you that this bothered me....IT REALLY DID BOTHER ME!!! lol...Today combing my hair into a high bun it just hit me: "I LOVE CHEMICALLY STRAIGHTENED HAIR!!!" (this is literally the sentence that went through my head) LOL. I simply love it, I love my hair just the way it is. I was relaxed at 5 (nothing to brag about, but it's the truth) this is how I know and love my hair. I stretch my relaxers so I have an idea of my curl pattern or "type", but it just is what it is, I love straight hair. Not to say that I don't like natural hair, bc I youtube natural hair care, follow natural hair care blogs, oogle at women with beautiful natural tresses....but that is where it stops, our hair in it's natural state is extremely beautiful, but I prefer my hair to be straight. I think of it as looking at a woman with huge boobs (I am a 36 B...a small 36 B lol) Sure she looks good in those nice clevage showing shirts, but I enjoy being able to get away with being bra-less sometimes lol, I don't want to carry the weight of those things, and more importantly, I'm happy with my "B cup" even if I may glue a picture of my head on top of a pic of a model with DD's lol.

What I realized is I like the natural "look", I don't have the passion or motivation to be natural, and that is perfectly fine. If anything at all I was becoming a victim of "self peer pressure".

Let me just tell you realizing this has lifted a TON of weight off of my shoulders, I just felt a huge rush of "joy" go through me, with the simple realization that it's okay to love realxed hair.

People joke(or seriously) call it "Creamy Crack", they speak of how bad it is for your hair...but how many of those people smoke, drink, eat junk, don't exercise, and are over weight (not saying that all natrualistas are, I just mean ppl in general) but my point is not everything we do is good or necessarily "healthy" for us, but we do what makes us happy, and either deal with the consequences, or compensate to balance out the pros with the cons.

That's my "Ah Ha" moment for today, and it felt so good I just had to write a post on it.
HHJ Ladies

Give Myself A Hand Clap!!!

So I just ran across this pic which was taken in April this year....I hadn't done much to my head since then so I hadn't noticed that even from then up to know I have gained a lot of my length back!! IDK whether to say my hair grows fast or not, but I am pleased with its growth rate before my HHJ, so that only makes me even more excited to watch its growth now that I am on my journey!!!

*Oh btw I had just finished working out thats why Im so sweaty!

Look Of The Day & An "Ah Ha" Moment

Soooo I had a lazy day :-/ When I got home from work I moistrized and sealed my hair...also I massaged my scalp, but I was too lazy to re-twist it, so I just threw on the bonnet....woke up for work, moisturized again and threw it in a sloppy bun!!!
You can't really see it in the pic but I have two 2 strand twist criss crossing up in the back...just to be creative.

My HHJ has truly lifted my self esteem. I remember when I felt obligated to wear weave to look decent...but here I am 15-16 weeks post relaxer and 3 weeks post weave!! (thats on a daily basis, like work, shopping ect) I still wear wigs to parties and such...but I am so happy...It just feels good to be taking care of my hair, so what if it isn't "fly or flashy" it is on its way to restored health, and most importantly IT IS NOT NAPPY!!! LOL My aunt ran her fingers threw my twist out the other day to be surprised that her fingers did not get caught up or blocked hehehe...I used to feel so plain jane, or uncomfortable if I pulled my own hair back because it wasn't long or exciting, but today I'm just having an "ah ha" moment and can't stay out of the mirror :-)) all is well in the land of hair!!! I just have to get back on my water game...I've been slacking.

Lastly I want to thank all of you, my fellow "Hairlistas" for blogging and sharing your journey, if it wasn't for me stumbling upon your blogs, I would not have the motivation or education...and I'd still be in a rut...Our hair truly is our crown...OUR hair...not the indian's hair or horses lol and I'm not knocking weave, bc I am a former weave-ologist...lol but still take care of your hair underneath. Caring for my hair now has changed my whole world, and i am NOT over exaggerating.
In MY HEALTHY HAIR JOURNEY'S blog she states that she is "Loving her hair!" When I 1st saw her blog and saw her length, I assumed that is why she loved her hair...who wouldn't, and I thought, I can't wait until my hair grows, and I can love my hair too lol....As stated before I am about 15 weeks post relaxer, new to this journey, haven't even been a month in, no length checks or any of that and I can truly say that I am loving my hair!!!! I feel so foolish to embark this journey so late, but better late than never...and if it wasn't for you ladies, I still wouldn't know which way to go...as the saying goes "When you know better, you do better"
Hope you all had a good morning, afternoon, and evening...nighties dolls :-)

Hair Journal Entry #2

So today I co washed with V05 Milky Moisture (I alternate between that and Hair One), DC with Roots of Nature Recontructor Conditioner, I then used a boar brush to distribute the conditioner...LESSON LEARNED...BIGGEST MISTAKE EVERRRRRR I thought the boar brush would be safe, equivalent to using a wide tooth comb but from the little balls at the end I could HEAR my hair snapping, breaking :-( I was so sad.

Not alot came out in the brush (afterwards I checked to see if it was alot of hair in the brush) but just knowing that I was breaking my hair really hurt my soul. But like any new adventure you have to learn by trial and error, I will definitely be purchasing a wide tooth comb ASAP!!!

Hair Journal Entry 1

So today I went and got more supplies, all inexpensive drug store products for now, since I hadn't really prepared for this, but excited to care for my hair NOW!!!

So I went and got V05 for a co-wash, altho my ultimate goal is to switch to WEN or Hair One. I've heard good about Hair One, a cheaper alternative to WEN, so I will see if Hair One works for me 1st. Hopefully it will.

I also got more Roots of Nature Shea Butter Oil, I've been using that and I like it. I can use it to seal.

I also have Optimum Oil Therapy 3-in-1 Oil Moisturizer, will try this as a moisturizer because Roots of Nature, moisturizer left my hair feeling really heavy and greasy. IDK maybe I put to much on it.

I'm really trying to pay attention to my hair now.

So I co washed today with the V05, and moisterized, & sealed. I also mixed all of that in a spary bottle with spring water just to mist as needed.

I had to work tonight tho so I couldn't leave it out, so I braided it. I know having 4A hair is fragile, and I hated having to braid it wet because I could literally feel some of my shafts breaking :-(

So I do not plan on co-washing again until Sunday. So I will leave my braids alone until then, unless oiling scalp or misting.

But I will say also that afterwards, my hair/head felt so light and tingly and just happy. I guess from the new found attention. Usually I just lay around the house all day, hair all over my head, throw it in a short pony and toss a wig on it. It would be dry, brittle...I just didn't care :-(. She was a happy head today :-)

I plan on getting long box braids pretty soon, so I can just leave my hair alone and let it grow.