Introducing Monthly Empties - December

I love to see what people have used up during a particular month. When you are a person guilty of having too much stuff it is sooooo intrinsically rewarding to get to the bottom of a container! This is also a quick way to give you guys product reviews for items that you may have considered purchasing.
Here is what I have used up in the month of December:

MAC Graphblack Technakohl Eye Pencil - I somehow lost the crayon part of this liner. It fell out somewhere and I am not sure how that happened. Nonetheless, I had it for a long time before it finally gave up the ghost. I was not a fan of this felt tip liner. It dried out quickly, it does not apply smoothly, and it smudged very easily, even if you set it with eyeshadow. I do not intend to repurchase this product. 

SheScentIt Pomegranate Conditioner - I purchased this product online at SheScentIt.com. I absolutely love this conditioner. It smells yummy and it leaves my hair really soft and conditioned. I like to use this conditioner in the summer because I wash my hair with "conditioner only" at least two to three times per week during those muggy months. When I use the "conditioner only" method I usually rinse my hair, then apply the conditioner and let it sit under a shower cap for about ten minutes while I'm in the shower or while I'm preparing to take a shower and then rinse it thoroughly and continue with life (adding a leave-in conditioner, etc.). It is always over 100 degrees here in Texas during the summer so I usually wear my hair in a bun or ponytail. I plan to repurchase this product but there are other conditioners that I need to use up before doing so. 

Pura Body Naturals Chocolate Hair Smoothie - I received this deep conditioner in a product swap from one of my online natural hair friends (we call each other curl friends). This product is available at the company's website and other online natural hair boutiques. This product smells exactly like milk chocolate, which I enjoyed, but it was just okay in terms of performance for me. I used it both under the steamer and under a shower cap to deep condition. It did not have any adverse effects on my hair and I would not label it as an underwhelming product. However, I do not intend to repurchase this product as I feel that I have other deep conditioners that perform better.

Donna Marie Dream Curling Cream - I love this product and I did a thorough review of it in another post. I purchased this product at donnamarie.com.  I definitely plan to repurchase this product but there are other curl creams that I need to use up before doing so.

SheaMoisture Moisture Retention Shampoo - this is my Holy Grail shampoo! I have repurchased this product several times and I have used it for years. This is one of the only shampoos that I use. I use this product once per week, and a bottle of this lasts me a long time, as a little goes a long way. This product is absent of harsh surfactants that are drying to kinky/curly hair, however it does foam if you are one of those people who have a hard time adjusting to sulfate-free products because of the usual non-foaming properties. This shampoo also has a very strong floral perfume-like scent that does not linger. This moisture retention product lives up to its name as it leaves my hair soft and manageable after use. While I am raving about this shampoo I have to say something important here. The way your hair looks after you have washed, dried, and styled it, is determined by what you do from wash to style. The entire hair care regimen is important. If you use a drying shampoo, prepare for rough, thirsty, less defined hair. If you don't follow your shampoo with a conditioner or if you don't use a conditioner that is appropriate for your hair needs - once again prepare for bad hair days ahead. If you use a styling product that has drying ingredients or that does not agree with your hair, then you will not get the desired styling results. It took me a while to learn about styling products but I found my shampoos and conditioners very easily. You and your hair may not like everything that I rave about so don't get frustrated if you try something that I love and you don't have similar results. Return the product until you find something that works for you. If you are still learning about hair care, I recommend that you buy your natural hair products locally at stores like Whole Foods, Target, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and vitamin shoppe, where you can return them fairly easily. I have worn my hair natural for a few years so I have learned about the ingredients that work best for my hair and I purchase products accordingly, so it is easier for me to find products that I love online. If you are new to haircare, getting into the habit of reading ingredients before purchasing products will save you so much money and storage space. I do not buy any hair products from the traditional beauty supply store, as those products are usually filled with synthetic ingredients that do not work for my hair. I find that products with organic ingredients work best for me. I buy SheaMoisture products at Target and Walgreens and I recommend this shampoo for all hair types and textures (natural, relaxed, etc.)

Pura Body Naturals brazil loc oil - I received this product as a gift from one of my online hair care friends. This oil is very light and can be used on all hair types and textures. I really liked this oil. I used it for hot oil treatments, and for extra moisture after applying my leave-in conditioner. I would repurchase this oil but there are other oils that I need to use up before doing so. This product can be found on the company's website. 

Marie Dean Peach Honey Syrup Deep Conditioner - this is a very pricey deep conditioner at $22 per 8 oz. It smells amazing and has a honey scented dessert-like smell. It has a thick, creamy consistency. It moisturizes my hair very well. I  would repurchase this product on sale but not at regular price, as I have an equally expensive deep conditioner that I prefer to indulge in from time to time. Overall, this is a great conditioner but I have less expensive ones that work just as well. 

Mac brush cleanser - this is my Holy grail brush cleanser. I purchased this product at the MAC Cosmetics counter. I have had this cleanser for months and tried to use it sparingly, but since I started picking up more freelance jobs it has ran its course. I have tried other brush cleaners, but of the ones that I have tried this one is the absolute best. It works well to clean your brushes when you're doing makeup for a large group and are in between clients. This cleanser thoroughly cleans and disinfects the brush and dries it very quickly. I also use it as my daily brush cleanser at home, as I only deep clean my personal brushes (with dish soap and olive oil) once per week or every other week depending on frequency of use. I have already repurchased this product and I do not plan to ever be without it, unless I find something comparable in price that works better. 

The Natural Hair Struggle Is Real

I suppose I should start off by telling you guys my hair story. If you do not care to read it just skip down to the pictures! For those of you who are curious about my strands, I will begin by saying that I have had long, thick, healthy hair for most of my life. I wore my hair natural or pressed during my childhood and at age 13, I made the decision to get a relaxer to fit in with my peers who did not have to worry about their hair reverting when the gym coaches required us to stay outside and run in spite of light rain. "Your hair will be so much longer relaxed", they said. (We know the power of shrinkage too well). I was all about flaunting my length so it seemed like a great idea! By the time I reached age 15, after nearly two years of getting re-touches every eight weeks, I experienced breakage in my crown. I am talking extreme breakage, where the hair in some places was 3-4 inches in length. That has always been a problem area for me, even to this day, that is the driest, most coarse part of my hair. I spent ages 10th and 11th grade in various braided styles to give my strands a break, in hopes of achieving the same hair health that I had in my pre-relaxer days. I started relaxing my hair during my senior year, and I ran into the same breakage issues. When I left for college, I started wearing microbraids/freestyle braids and wore them up until my senior year. My crown grew back but my hair was not as long and thick as I hoped it would be. During senior year, I wore my first sew-in and instead of perming my perimeter, I would have my friend relax my entire head and braid it up and sew it in. Needless to say, I broke my crown again! I started wearing braids and weaves and in November 2008, I got my last relaxer. I got a really short layered haircut (see below) and I had never seen my hair so short (it was a little past my shoulders in the back) and it seemed thin. I did not say "I am going natural" because I stereotyped natural hair as afros and being militant and low maintenance. I decided that I would wear weaves and braids for the rest of my life. Fastforward to February 2010, and I discovered makeup tutorials on YouTube, and as I was watching a young lady's channel, she had a video entitled "My Hair Story - Through Hell and Back". As I listened to her tell her story, I related with her issues of breakage and improper haircare practices, etc. She shared her products and regimen and I decided that I would give relaxers a try again and immediately booked an appointment with my long time hairstylist. When I arrived at the salon, I got nervous and decided to get it flat ironed. I was impressed by the length and health of my hair and knew then that I needed to continue the journey. I educated myself on haircare by watching vlogs, reading blogs, and participating in online communities. I parted ways with my relaxed ends September 2010 and here we are August 2013 and I am still living the lye-free life! When I am tired of my hair, I get a sew-in. I recently got my hair straightened last month and suffered heat damage in the nape area, so straightening is not a frequent option for me. I have posted pics below of various hairstyles that I have tried, along with pics of my hair during various stages of my journey. I plan to update this blog with product reviews and tips/techniques, so if you are interested in hair care stay tuned.

 

November 2008 - My last relaxer and my first major haircut

 

 

February 2010 - 15 months post-relaxer, flat-ironed and trimmed

 

 

September 2010 - the day after my big chop, my very first twistout. I remember using Yes to Cucumbers leave in conditioner. I never repurchased that product.

 

 

February 2011 - you could not tell me that this was not the best twistout ever! I used SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Kinky Curly Curling Custard.

 

 

 

 

 

The beginning of 2012. I am not sure what products I had or what my technique was during this particular day, but I remember raving about Saravun Castor cream around this time of the year. I probably twisted it the night before and put the top half up in a hair zing and slicked my edges with a pomade such as Hairveda Almond Glaze or MyHoneyChild Hair Grease.

 

 

 

Spring 2012 - A braidout with OHM hair pudding.

 

 

 

Spring 2012 - Things at work were slow so I was able to work out a lot during this time, and lived in buns and ponytails. Bun Life! I usually slick my edges with Claudie's Hair Revitalizer hair gel when I want it this smooth.

 

 

 

Protective style - summer 2012. My first and last time ordering kinky curly hair from AliExpress. It only lasted two weeks and I paid $200 for my sew-in so guess who was so upset!

 

 

 

Summer 2012 - my hair bounces right back after a sew-in. Hence the reason, it is so important to get protective styles done by professionals. I go to Chara Joyner of Houston Weaves.

 

 

 

 

November 2012 - The first time I had my hair straightened since going natural. Chara from Houston Weaves also straightens and trims my hair. I maintained it for three weeks by sleeping in flexi-rods each night.

 

November 2012 - my hair bounced right back after the flat iron. I did not suffer any heat damage. I just applied a curl cream and it reverted and this pic shows the results.

 

 

 

 

December 2012 - protective style, kinky curly hair from California Lace Wigs

 

Spring 2013 - an overnight wash and go with Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Donna Marie Dream Curling Cream. I like the curling cream for braidouts and twistouts but I do not recommend it for wash and go's especially for thick hair that may need a heavier product. If you are looking for a curl cream that will give you hold and definition without flakes, build-up and dryness, the DM curl cream is great. It was my go-to cream before I started doing more wash and go styles.

 

 

March 2013 - A twist out on lightly blow dryed hair

 

My length comparison pics - November 2012 vs. July 2013. I was a hostess in a wedding in July and I wanted to wear my hair wavy so I got it flat ironed and wore it in cornrows until the day of the wedding.

 

 

 

July 2013 - I did bantu knots to revert my flat ironed hair. I used water, Jane Carter wrap and roll foam, and Uncle Funky's Daughter Curly Magic

 

 

 

 

Earlier this week after a workout - an old three strand twist out that was set using Anita Grant Creamy Café Latte, SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, and Donna Marie Dream Curling Cream.

 

I look forward to sharing more hairstyles and product reviews/progress with you beauty addicts! In the meantime feel free to ask questions or leave comments.