Kinky Curly Coily Me!

Spice Up Your TWA : Confidence with your TWA

2012-02-15T13:00:00.000-05:00

KCCM: I love the adivce she gives. Many of the things she mentions I did during my TWA stage.

Remember: your TWA stage is the shortest stage of your jourmey.

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Natural Hair FroHawk Tutorial by iKnowLee

2012-02-14T13:00:00.002-05:00

KCCM: When I first went natural, my hair goal was the fro hawk.

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Shopblvdonline.com Giveaway

2012-02-14T01:54:00.003-05:00

This giveaway is sponsored by Shopblvdonline.com

I'm trying something new for this giveaway hoping to make them easier for me (and you :-P ).

After you complete all the steps below, I'd love it if you could leave me your feedback about this giveaway platform.

Respectful comments (both positive and negative) are greatly appreciated.

Let's get on with the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Natural Hair Tutorial Wash n Go - Kinky Curly Curling Custard & Knot Today

2012-02-13T13:00:00.001-05:00

I never thought I would find a product to define my curls! These products helped to define and hold my tight, frizzy, kinky, curly, coily, Type 4B hair!
Enjoy!

I totally didn't realize that I NEVER shared this video with you gals.

If you are subscribed to my YT channel then you most likely saw this video when I uploaded it to YT on May 2011.

If you have not already subscribed to my YT channel, please do because I don't share all my videos on the website.

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Natural Hair Project 365 #376

2012-02-13T10:00:00.010-05:00

Flat twist out on dry hair. My absolute favorite style!

Products Used: Hair Replenisher and Moisturizing Hair Butter by Be Beautiful Natural Products

Click HERE to watch my tutorial on how to achieve this style.

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Why am I Doing the Castor Oil Challenge?

2012-02-12T16:08:00.000-05:00

I'm soooo excited about all of you who have signed up for the KinkyCurlyCoilyMe Spring 2012 Castor Oil Challenge! So far there are over 50 of you who have joined. I plan to do the challenge again in the Fall as well!

We are going to have a great time and great growth. If you didn't sign up for the challenge, please do so before March 1, 2012.

I decided to do this Castor Oil Challenge because my goal in my natural hair journey is growth. I want ankle length hair and I'm not joking!! You ladies know I love my hair and I give it lots of love and because of this my hair has grown so much in the past (almost) 2 years. My natural anniversary is coming up on March 26, 2012 and I really want to get the maximum amount of growth I can get this year.

If I told you I wanted to thicken my edges, what would you say?

Girrl, rub some castor oil on your edges at night.

If I told you my hair was thinning out and breaking at the crown, what would you say?

Girrl, rub some castor oil on your crown every morning.

If I told you the hair at the nape of my neck was breaking and thinning out, what would you say?

Girrl, rub some castor oil on your nape in the morning or night.

LOL

You get my point, right? Everyone is always recommending Castor Oil to grow and thicken hair when it's damaged but I want to use it now on healthy hair to get the maximum growth! I'm going to take actual measurements of my hair with a ruler some time before the challenge begins to get the exact length of each part of my hair. You know I'll share the results with you so don't even worry, yall.

Oh I almost forgot, some of you asked me about where to get Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO) because your local beauty supply doesn't carry it. You can visit this site Oils From Jamaica for a few different mixtures. I have the coconut blend in the bottle shown above.

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Restoring Dry and Damaged Curly Hair

2012-02-12T13:00:00.001-05:00

Written by NaturallyCurly.com

Damaged curly hair responds well to hot oil or deep conditioning treatments. There are so many different treatments out there to choose from, and if you don’t want to go out and grab a bunch of items you do not have, there is a lovely option right in your pantry.

Start with extra virgin olive oil and add whatever you want to it that you feel will help, such as coconut oil, shea butter, honey and flax seed oil.

Heat olive oil in a microwave safe bowl and place a paper towel over to avoid splattering. The duration you have the olive oil in the microwave depends on the watts of power. The oil is just the right temperature between 45 seconds to approximately 1.25 minutes, but a little longer won’t hurt.
Slowly add any other ingredients you want in the hot oil treatment. Mix well.
Wet hair thoroughly, and then section out chunks of hair. Begin applying the hot oil treatment to each chunk. Brush through with a comb or with your fingers to ensure that the treatment reaches from the scalp to the end of your hair. This is a very messy process, so remember to have a lot of old towels nearby and a pair of gloves.
Wait at least 15 minutes, but no more than 45, before hopping into the shower and washing it out. This may take two shampoo regiments before you get all the oil out.
Optional: Apply a leave-in conditioner and pomade after washing your hair to help condition and seal in moisture and vitamins from the hot oil treatment
.

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Product Review: Shea Moisture Purification Masque

2012-02-11T13:00:00.000-05:00

By Veronica of Pretty Girl Rock

Price & Rating:

4 out of 5 Stars
I paid $9.99 for 12oz. at Target
Would I repurchase? Most Likely

Ingredients:

Deionized Water , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut) , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Mangfera Indica Seed Butter (Mango) , Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado) , African Black Soap Extract , Sea Salt , Cetyl Esters , Kaolin Clay , Grapeseed Oil , Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Jojoba) , Behentrimonium Chloride (Conditioner) , Salicylic Acid , Salix Alba Bark Extract (Willow) , Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil (Neem) , Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil (Tea Tree) , Sorbitol Esters , Aloe Vera Leaf Juice , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) , Rosemary Extract , Salvia Officinalis Extract (Sage) , Plantain Extract , Lonicera Caprifolium Flower and Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle and Japanese Honeysuckle)

This products does not contain:

sulfates, parabens, phthalates, paraffin, gluten, propylene glycol, mineral oil,
synthetic fragrance, PABA, synthetic color, DEA, animal ingredients or sulfates
Cruelty free, no animal testing

Product Description:

Detoxify, condition and soothe hair and scalp with gentle Kaolin clay, herbal extracts, botanical enzymes and essential vitamins. Our intense treatment relieves dry, itchy scalp, removes product buildup and preserves hair by sealing in natural moisture. Treats dandruff, eczema & psoriasis.

Plantain Enzyme: Helps to alleviate itchiness and irritation
Tea Tree: Removes buildup for enhanced shine and volume
Willow Bark Extract: Exfoliates and detoxifies hair and scalp.

My Experience:

The Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap (AFBS) Purification Masque (geesh, what a mouthful!)has been all the rage with many natural hair ladies and after months of continually overlooking the masque, I decided to go ahead and try it.

I dove in with no expectations and I have to say that I came out on the other end very pleased. The texture and consistency of the masque was that of super fine sand and yogurt. It smelled exactly like their AFBS shampoo. It's rather difficult to describe this particular scent but it reminded me a little of bananas and vanilla pudding--very pleasant and not hardly overbearing.

I was also pleasantly surprised that the masque had great slip and as result, I was able to finger detangle my hair with ease. I didn't even need to section ym hair off to apply it as my hair was very moveable during and after application. After applying, I put on my plastic cap and after about 45 minutes, the masque rinsed away with little effort. My hair was left feeling uber soft and my coily curls were clumped and slightly enlongated.

I don't really have anything bad to say about this masque and I will be purchasing again though I don't think it's made it on to my holy grail list yet. This isn't a product you want to use as a leave-in as it contains Kaolin Clay which is a clarifier and will make your hair feel dry.

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Natural Hair Project 365 #375

2012-02-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

Flat twist out on dry hair. My absolute favorite style!

Products Used: Hair Replenisher and Moisturizing Hair Butter by Be Beautiful Natural Products

Click HERE to watch my tutorial on how to achieve this style.

Photographer: JayNice Photography

Cell: 347-674-9567

Email: JayNicePhotos@gmail.com

Location: NYC

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Naturalista Spotlight: Me, Myself, & My Natural Hair! - Christa

2012-02-10T13:00:00.004-05:00

I big chopped August 2009 and it was the BEST feeling ever and the SCARIEST! Since then I have colored, trimmed, cut, damaged and become quite FRUSTRATED with my hair. Why doesn't my hair stay in twists or braids? Why does day three for me look like day fifteen for others? Protective style after protective style done by myself and professionals did not last long at all. I was tired of revisiting my hair every two to three days after spending three to four hours to style it! That was time I just didn't have and quite frankly I feel that is way too much time to spend on my hair. I am a married woman with two children and one on the way. Three to four hours every two to three days is time I just do not have. In December 2011 after taking a break from the natural hair community on YouTube I came across the CG method or the Devachan method. One style that my hair and I loved more than any other style was a "wash and go"; I will explain the quotations around that phrase later. I love my natural curl pattern and I LOVE ROCKING IT. So when I came across this method that allowed me to not only to wear my hair curly but to also retain length and grow my hair...I WAS RELUCTANT TO TRY IT. So far so good I must say.

Now to explain the quotations around WASH AND GO. The term wash and go is used very loosely because I can achieve an "okay" curl pattern by simply washing my hair and letting it air dry but let's be honest it's not that simple. While I have seen some naturlistas (Naptural 85 on YouTube) wash their hair, twist it up, dry it with a t-shirt, go to bed, wake up, untwist, shake and go; that's not an option for every hair type. That's the quickest wash and go routine I have seen yet. She also has a great night time routine to keeping her wash and go looking great for up to five days. I will definitely be incorporating some of her techniques once all of my products arrive.

WHAT I AM CURRENTLY USING:
Tresemme' Naturals Conditioner - As co-wash and leave in
Herbal Essences Gel - Styler
Coconut Oil - Moisturizer
Olive Oil - Moisturizer
Water - As needed to refresh

WHAT I ORDERED FROM CURLMART:
As I Am Coconut Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner $8.00 16oz. - Co-wash
As I Am Curling Jelly Coil and Curl Definer $13.00 8oz - Styler
As I Am Leave-In Conditioner $10.50 8oz - Leave - in/ Moisturizer
As I Am DoubleButter Cream Rich Daily Moisturizer 16oz. $28.00 - Moisturizer

MY CURRENT REGIMEN:
I co-wash every 3-4 days depending on the state of my curls and the look I am going for.
I co-wash and massage my scalp thoroughly in the shower and completely rinse my hair.
I then apply more conditioner and massage through my hair.
I rinse about half of the conditioner out with luke warm/cool water. Squeezing it out from root to tip.
I then apply my styler (before I exit the shower).
I wrap my hair in a t-shirt (reduces frizz caused by regular towels)
I leave the t-shirt on my hair for no longer than 30 minutes.
I then let my hair air dry.
I DO NOT MANIPULATE MY CURLS
I DO NOT TOUCH MY CURLS

At night I lightly spray my hair with a water and olive oil mix for moisture and cover my hair with my large size silk bonnet. In the morning I remove my bonnet and lightly spray my hair with the same mixture and shake and go.

This technique is very simple and does not take a lot of time. You can also diffuse or sit under a hooded dryer if you like. I have not had to use either of these tools because I have enough time to do my hair. However, I would not mind sitting under a hooded dryer to decrease my drying time. I ordered the Curly Girl handbook so I am sure my technique may change a bit. I will keep you posted of course.

Keep it curly!

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KinkyCurlyCoilyMe Castor Oil Challenge Spring 2012 - Grow Your Hair Thick & Long!

2012-02-10T02:56:00.004-05:00

Click HERE for info on the oil I'm using for the challenge

I've heard about Castor Oil challenges online many times, but I've never joined them.

I'm soo excited to start my own KCCM Castor Oil Challenge and put the hype to the test.

Click HERE to read up on the benefits of castor oil

!!!!!KinkyCurlyCoilyMe Castor Oil Challenge Spring 2012!!!!!

Grow Your Hair Thick & Long In 3 Months

The challenge will begin on March 1, 2012 and end on June 1, 2012.

I'm giving everyone enough time to sign up & get your castor oil

I will be giving away a prize to a lucky ACTIVE participant of this challenge. I'm not sure what the prize will be yet, but I promise it will be good!

Challenge Rules

* You can use any type of Castor Oil you desire (Jamaican Black Oil, Regular Pharmacy Castor Oil, Cold Pressed Castor Oil, etc.)

*You must apply the castor oil to your hair/scalp 3x’s a week at the minimum.

* You may mix your castor oil with another oil if it is too thick Castor for you, or if irritation occurs.

*There will be a weekly Castor Oil challenge update post starting from week 1 through to week 13. Check in once a week (or as often as you realistically can) and let us know how your hair is doing. Checking in on the Fanpage is fine, but in order for your check ins to count towards the prize, you must check in on the weekly check in post. Capisce?

*By the end of the challenge, Week 13, post your starting photo and your ending photo together, no later than June 1st, 2012.

Alright... so those were the rules you have to follow during the challenge, here's how you join...

How to Enter the Challenge

To enter this challenge you must do the following by March 1st, 2012:

Leave a comment to this post answering the following

1. What type of Castor Oil will you be using?

(Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Regular Pharmacy Castor Oil, Cold Pressed Castor Oil, etc)

2. How long is your hair now-front, sides, and back?

(eye brow length, nose length, chin length, shoulder length etc)

3. How will you be using your Castor Oil?

(Edges, Scalp, Sealing Hair, Hot oil treatments, Overnight Steaming, etc. / 3x a week, 5x a week, etc.)

4. Attach at least one length photo to your comment.

(To attach a photo in the comment box you first need to click in the comment box to activate the box. After you click in the box you will see"+image" in the lower left hand corner, click it and upload as many photos showing the length of your hair as it is now)

Winner of the prize will be announced on Friday June 8, 2012. You must have a beginning and an ending photo to be eligible for the prize. You must have been ACTIVE during the challenge? What's active? Checking in regularly, I'd say at least 9 check ins during the 13 weeks of the challenge.

I found this pic on google. Its someones castor oil challenge results!

Check out these Castor Oil Challenge reviews I've found:

hairliciousinc.com katinaferguson.hubpages.com loveyourtresses.com

Next Challenge will begin June 1, 2012
HAVE QUESTIONS? PLEASE ASK THEM IN YOUR ENTRY COMMENT AND I/OR SOMEONE ELSE WILL REPLY.

Don't forget to invite others. Muah!

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Health & Hair Growth: Top 10 Foods for Healthy Hair

2012-02-09T13:00:00.001-05:00

Healthy Hair Food No. 1: Salmon

Healthy Hair Food No. 2: Dark Green Vegetables

Healthy Hair Food No. 3: Beans

Healthy Hair Food No. 4: Nuts

Healthy Hair Food No. 5: Poultry

Healthy Hair Food No. 6: Eggs

Healthy Hair Food No. 7: Whole Grains

Healthy Hair Food No. 8: Oysters

Healthy Hair Food No. 9: Low-Fat Dairy Products

Healthy Hair Food No. 10: Carrots

As a part of my new lifestyle I have been managing to get 6 out of these 10 foods in my daily diet. I'd say thats pretty good.

Click HERE to find out why these foods contribute to healthy hair.

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Natural Hair Project 365 #374

2012-02-09T10:00:00.001-05:00

My new favorite pic!

Flat twist out on dry hair. My absolute favorite style!

Products Used: Hair Replenisher and Moisturizing Hair Butter by Be Beautiful Natural Products

Click HERE to watch my tutorial on how to achieve this style.

Photographer: JayNice Photography

Cell: 347-674-9567

Email: JayNicePhotos@gmail.com

Location: NYC

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Do You Really Understand What Causes Dry Hair and Why?

2012-02-08T13:00:00.002-05:00

Written by Tiffany Gunn

There are many of us who have had the pleasure ~~pain~~ of experiencing dry hair at some point in our life. Contrary to popular belief, many of us suffer from dry hair on an everyday basis, regardless of if we wear our hair natural or not. What if I told you some of the everyday products we use affects the moisture outcome of our hair? No, I’m not only talking about hair products, I’m actually referring to one of the most important resources on Earth: H2O aka Water.

As always, I was watching a video of one of my favorite natural hair gurus, Dominique Goosby Harris, — the creator of her own natural products, and All Things O’Natural on Facebook — and she mentioned the usage of water. According to Dominique, tap water causes buildup on the hair therefore, it is best to use distilled water when using it for your hair.

Why the Dry Hair?

According to Dominique’s blog and other research that I’ve conducted myself, tap water is basically hard water which is not good for the hair unless it’s filtered. Tap Water has bacteria and chlorine which can be very damaging to the hair shaft. Chlorine can dry out the hair and make it brittle which will then lead to damaged dry hair. It also has magnesium and calcium which causes hard water buildup and contributes to the dryness we experience with dry hair as well.

Well, I Can Just Boil Tap Water and It Will Become Distilled Water, Right?

Yes and no. While boiling the tap water it does remove some impurities however, not all impurities are removed as they would be in the actual distillation process. One thing to consider is if you live in a high acidic area, the water will need to go through a more rigorous purification process. Distilled water is soft water which actually softens the hair leaving you to see immediate results in how your hair feels compared to tap water.

Are There other Alternatives Other than Water to Rinse My Hair?

Yes, there is an alternative called the ACV (apple cider vinegar) rinse which has become seemingly more popular among the natural hair community. The ACV rinse has several benefits: creates shine, increases manageability, removes buildup, and smooths the hair. It is composed of ¼ cup or 2 tbsp of ACV and 2 cups of water; the ACV rinse should be the last step when washing the hair. It is important to know that the ACV rinse is not to be washed out of the hair once applied; if rinsed out it will defeat the purpose of its usage.

A Few More Dry Hair Tips...

One more important thing to know about water is to watch the temperature of the water. Do not rinse your hair with hot water. Rinsing your hair with hot water will strip the hair of its moisture and cause damaged dry hair as well. Remember that your hair is like a plant, it needs love and a little TLC to live; if it can’t get that it will die and wither away. So let’s all follow the proper precautions and combat to battle dry hair.

Natural Hair Professional Hairstyle by ToniDaley

2012-02-07T17:00:00.000-05:00

KCCM: I ALWAYS DO THIS STYLE FOR WORK! It takes minutes to do in the morning when my hair is just not acting right. LOL

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22 Month Natural Hair Length Check!

2012-02-07T13:00:00.004-05:00

2 more months and it's my 2 year natural anniversary!

I can't believe it!

Look at how long my hair is now!

Visit www.ShopBLVDonline.com for info on this gorgeous necklace and much much more!!

Click HERE to check out all my previous Length Checks !

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Natural Hair Project 365 #373

2012-02-07T10:00:00.003-05:00

Tiaa

10 months natural. Rocking a dry flat twist out inspired by Jenell of KCCM aka BlakIzBeautyful on YT after watching your tutorial.

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My Natural 4b Texture with No Product

2012-02-06T13:00:00.005-05:00

My hair is damp in some areas and dry in others.

There is no product in my hair.

This is my true 4b Texture.

When I first did my BC I would get so upset about not having any curl definition and now its easy to see how my coils clump together.

Click HERE to see what my hair looks like when my natural curl pattern is defined with Kinky Curly Curling Custard for my wash and go.

Click HERE to watch my wash and go tutorial

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Is Hair Grease Good for Curly Hair?

2012-02-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

Great article from NaturallyCurly.com

We used it then, but should we use it now?

There has been much debate about the re-emergence of one old school product that was once on the “Natural No-No” list: hair grease.

Who would have thought that of all ingredients from silicones tosulfates, grease would be the one to come back? When we think of grease, we think back to the days of being between our mothers laps having our scalps ‘scratched’ and greased, or sitting in kitchens having our hair prepped with grease before being pressed.

For some, the grease days are reminiscent of longer, healthier hair, and for others, grease stains left on furniture, greasy foreheads and overly shiny hair. But with so many women singing the praises of a product that’s cheap and easily available, it makes you wonder, is grease really our enemy, or could it be that because of our and our parent’s lack of knowledge, we failed to reap the benefits of it long ago?

This question will probably always spark debate, but it is interesting to note exactly how curlies are implementing hair grease into their daily regimens.

Sealant

Just about the first thing you learn when joining the online natural community is the art of moisturizing and sealing. Most of us know that sealing the moisture in is critical for maintaining healthy hair. While light oils may work for some, there are women out there — like our high porosity sisters — who need more to lock in moisture.

Many women have attested to having well-moisturized hair for days after sealing with hair grease. This may be due to the fact that grease is a lot heavier than its natural counterparts and doesn’t dissipate easily. This means that when you apply that barrier of grease, you can trust that it is not going to go anywhere, and neither will your moisture.

Light Hold

Think back to your childhood days when you undid your plaits on wash day and had lovely definition. Of course, it was combed out since our mothers had no clue about what a twist or braid out was, but the definition was there.

As curlies, we have come to expect that definition comes only with creams and gels. I bought into the hype too, until one day, out of sheer desperation from running out of my styler, I used some grease and twisted my hair up expecting nothing more than limp, lifeless locks. Imagine my surprise to awake the following morning to a fabulous twist out! It seemed that the stickiness of the grease was just enough to give me the soft, touchable hold I craved.

I’m not surprised that many women are experiencing the best styling days of their natural haired lives using hair grease. It can be quite gooey and sticky, which can be just enough to lock in a curl pattern, minus the hefty price tag.

Reducing Crunch

Almost every curly who has tried a wash-and-go can remember having hair that came out too crunchy at least once. They’ve probably also whipped out just about every oil and pomade in an effort to “scrunch the crunch.”

After perusing the hair boards, it seems that many women have eliminated that problem by using good old hair grease. The trick is to use it after the moisturizing step, but before the gel or styler. This barrier of grease helps to prevent the gel from hardening, and also seems to help with curl definition.

The thickness of grease is probably why it is so good at eliminating this problem. Many leave-ins and moisturizers simply aren’t thick enough or are easily absorbed by the hair as opposed to grease which cannot be absorbed by the hair and will therefore sit on it, providing the long lasting barrier that the hair needs from gel.

I also think back to my own experience the last time I was natural as a little girl, having my hair twisted with a mixture of gel and beeswax or grease. This was a miracle mixture for twists back then and it still is today in St. Lucia. It gave me and my sister’s twists good hold that would last for weeks at a time, and give our hair a lot of shine without ever being crunchy. But this mixture was only used when our hair was dripping wet.

Words of Caution

Despite the praises I’ve sung about hair grease, keep in mind that it’s not for everyone. Some may hate the smell and texture, and fine haired curlies should beware the product!

But let’s face it, for $2 to $3 a jar at your local beauty supply store, it’s worth a try. Here are a few extra things to keep in mind if you want to add hair grease to your regimen.

Less is more! If you think you’ve taken enough out of the jar, put about half back and then apply the rest to your hair. Hair grease is very concentrated and can make your hair an oily mess very quickly. Try layering very, very small amounts of grease, and if you feel you have applied too little, it probably means you’re using just enough.
Don’t use it on your scalp! Hair grease should not be applied to your scalp, since it can block pores, irritate your scalp and cause a whole host of issues. Make sure to use it only on the length of your hair.
Use sulfate shampoos and wash more often! There’s a catch to using hair grease. Due to its chemical makeup, co-washing isn’t enough to remove grease from your hair. Only a sulfate and/or clarifying shampoo will work to remove grease from your hair. If you fail to heed this advice, you can find yourself suffering from really bad build up.
Use a water based moisturizer first! Regardless of how our parents used it back in the day, hair grease is NOT a moisturizer. In and of itself, grease has no moisturizing properties. It should only be used as a sealant after applying a water based moisturizer. It should never be used alone unless your trying to lock in water after having saturated the hair.

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Natural Hair Project 365 #372

2012-02-05T11:11:00.000-05:00

Flat twist out on dry hair. My absolute favorite style!

Click HERE to watch my tutorial on how to achieve this style.

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Product Review: Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment

2012-02-04T13:00:00.002-05:00

by Jamilla of "For the Fabulous and Frugal"

Name: Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment

Price: 12oz for $4.71

Product Description: Intensive Conditioning Treatment is an intensively deep conditioning treatment that strengthens, revitalizes and gives exotic shine. It prevents hair breakage and deeply infuses moisture from the inside out. Ideal for all hair types, including relaxed, natural and color-treated hair, this treatment can be used after every shampoo as a quick conditioner, or every week as a reconstructor.

Product Benefits:

Strengthens and prevents hair breakage

Deeply infuses moisture

Leaves hair soft, silky and full of body

Restores exotic shine and leaves the hair soft

Infused with Certified Organic Argan Oil from Morocco

Size: 12 oz & 1.75 oz

Ingredients: Aqua (Water) (Eau), Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride , Polyquaternium-32, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil) (Huile Minerale), Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Honey (Mel) (Miel), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Panthenol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Lanolin Oil, Phenyl Trimethicone, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Polyquaternium-10, Amodimethicone, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch , Isostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate, Parfum (Fragrance), Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Phenoxyethanol

My Review: This product may work for some, but it doesn't quite work for me. I notice that one of the ingredients is Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, and I've realized over the year that my hair does not like protein products (check out this article on protein sensitivity). Products with wheat protein make my hair feel stringy and strawy-- not the business. I received this product from the company, and my first response was to be skeptical of all the ingredients... so I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and use this product mixed in with some tried and true ingredients. I made myself a deep conditioning treatment, mixed in with oils and honey. I left the mix on my hair for about two hours , and when I rinsed it out, my hair didn't feel as soft as it does after a deep conditioning treatment, but it didn't feel dry. The next time I used it, I used more conditioner than oils/honey, and applied the product on clean (freshly shampooed) hair. Almost as soon as I applied the product to my hair, my hair felt gross: dry and brittle, so I rinsed it out after about 5 minutes. I like my hair to feel soft and slippery...and this did the opposite on my hair (even with the help of some EVOO and honey!) The price is great, so if it works for you, go for it! Not my cup o' tea.

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Seiwa Akoto Collection Giveaway

2012-02-04T10:00:00.008-05:00

Click HERE to see a pic of me rocking my lovely pair of Seiwa Akoto Earrings!

Requirements

To PARTICIPATE in this giveaway you MUST:

1) Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect (top left)

2) LIKE the KinkyCurlyCoilyMe! FB fanpage

3) Visit The Seiwa Akoto Collection website and choose ONE piece you would love to win!

4) LIKE The Seiwa Akoto FB Fanpage and post the following on the wall:

"I would love to win the insert name of the piece you want here earrings for the KCCM giveaway!"

5) When you complete steps 1-4, come back here and show your gratitude by typing "Thanks KCCM"

:0)

This giveaway is International Friendly

Giveaway Ends Friday Feb. 10, 2012 @ 11:59 pm

Good Luck!

NATURAL HAIR: YO BOYFRIEND DONT LIKE IT?? (Reader Response)

2012-02-03T13:00:00.001-05:00

Andrea A.

Hey Jenell!

After watching the video you shared NATURAL HAIR: YO BOYFRIEND DONT LIKE IT?? It brought up some all too familiar memories.

Well, my desire to go natural began with me wanting to lose weight. As I made my health a priority, my hair became more and more difficult to manage. My hair has always been "difficult". Relaxers didn't seem to last past a few weeks, flat-ironing always lead to flipped up curls, and I just didn't have the time I used to before marriage and children to devote to being creative with my hair. My hair had always been long and thick, so I assumed that if I had less of it, it would be easier to maintain along with my workout schedule. I couldn't have been more wrong. I got an asymmetrical cut, but it took alot of flat ironing to keep the hair smooth and straight. I felt like I was doing more harm than good in the long run, so I decided to give my hair a break with a sew-in. I did that off and on for about 9 months.

In the meantime, I had been following a few people on YT and really getting into the natural hair vibe. From what I had viewed and read, most people were able to maintain their fitness and exercise regimens with natural hair. I felt like going natural was the best thing for me. My husband, on the other hand, thought I was going through a personal crisis--especially since I had cut my hair so short (It has been long since we first met in high school) and was suddenly wanting to make all these drastic changes. When I first wanted to go natural, I asked my hubby how he felt about it. He was dead set against it. To say the least, his response was disappointing and raised a serious issue. I had to decide if I was going to do something that I strongly felt was right for me or to deny that so that my husband would be pleased.

Although I felt he should support whatever decision I made, I (like most women) would not willingly choose to do something that makes them unattractive to their mate. We had been married for 9 1/2 years at the early stages of my "itch" to become natural. Wearing those weaves gave me a lot of time to grow and protect my hair, while weighing the pros and cons of going natural and remaining relaxed and what that mean for my relationship.

It was an almost daily topic. This man said everything from, "They make perms for a reason" to "[natural hair] is not for everybody", implying that it wasn't for me. In between the weaves and for the last 5 months of my transition, I wore Bantu knot-outs, buns and braidouts. He liked the curly/crinkley look that those styles gave. I think I harassed him so much about his acceptance of natural hair in general that he eventually said I should do whatever I wanted, but he was afraid that I wouldn't like it and he would have to deal with the aftermath.

After my natural hair became more visible, he started giving me compliments about my hair. I wanted to BC several times, but was afraid of how he would react. I honestly didn't know how I would even react, since I was so used to having long straight hair. Before I knew it, it had been 14 months since I had a relaxer and I was finally ready to cut off the relaxed ends. That 14 months was surprising because, although I hadn't fully committed to going against my husband's wishes, I had been avoiding relaxers just in case. When I was finally "ready", not only did my hubby accept my decision, he cut the hair for me!

I became 100% natural on July 17, 2011 and will NEVER go back to relaxing my hair. My patience and persistence paid off with my hubby, who wasn't quite ready for the change. It took a lot to get him on board, but I think it was well worth it. He still has his feelings about natural hair and certain styles that he doesn't like on me, but overall I feel that he accepts ME (hair included). =D

I, like some women, felt that since my man couldn't accept my hair then what he was really doing was rejecting me. I never considered how much of a transition it would be for him as well. He had known me since high school and my hair had always been a certain way. The whole idea had been a gradual process for me and I just sprung it on him one day. I also had forgotten about the few times I tried to go natural when I was younger and it was HORRIBLE. I would post a pic of that, but I have a reputation to uphold. =D

Can anyone relate?

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My Mini Twists, My New Co-Host!, NaturallyCurly Online Event

2012-02-03T10:31:00.001-05:00

I decided to put my hair in mini twists after seeing my girl Lisa's mini twists.

It took me a total of 6 hours over 3 days to complete.

Products Used: As I Am Twist Defining Cream on my hair.

For more details on the NaturallyCurly online event, visit www.TextureOnTheRunway.com

Follow me on Twitter for live updates on the event.

If you love these earrings as much as I do, visit Seiwa Akoto
(I'm working on getting a discount for you gals!)

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Product Review: Design Essentials Natural Defining Creme Gel

2012-02-02T13:00:00.004-05:00

Product Name: DESIGN ESSENTIALS® NATURAL DEFINING CRÈME GEL
Price: $25.90
Size: 16 oz

Product Description:
DESIGN ESSENTIALS® NATURAL DEFINING CRÈME GEL defines curls in natural styles for wavy to tightly curled hair types. Lightweight Gel. Defines and separates curls. Botanicals provide excellent moisture and control frizz. Strengthens hair with a radiant shine. Provides a medium to firm hold

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Glycerin, PVP/VA Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sodium Borate, Carbomer, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Potassium Sorbate (and) Hexylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil (and) Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Octinoxate, Oleth-5, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Prunus Amygdalys Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Coconut Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), EDTA Disodium, BHT, Caramel, Silk Amino Acid, Wheat Amino Acids, Sodium Hyaluronate

My Experience:
I have tightly coiled 4b hair and I used the stretching cream on wet and on dry hair to set my hair in flat twists for a flat twist out.

Fragrance:
The fragrance was interestingly pleasant. It smelled like yummy cake batter.

My hair styled on wet hair

Results:
I was so happy with this product because my hair was happy with it. When I applied the product to my hair it went on smooth and coated my very well. As I twisted my hair there was a white residue that dried clear.

I used this product to style my hair wet and also dry. My results were a little bit better when I used this product on wet hair as opposed to dry hair. When I used it on my wet hair for my flat twists, I could see the shine on my flat twists and was very excited to see what kind of hold I would get when my hair dried. The next day my flat twist out had a strong hold that I easily softened as I manipulated my hair with my hands. The curl definition was impressive. My hair was shiny and moisturized.

My hair styled on dry hair

When I used it on my dry hair for my flat twist, my flat twists were bouncy and shiny but it didn't feel soft to the touch. My ends felt and looked a bit rough and crunchy. There was good definition and very little frizz.

Moisture:
My hair felt much more moisturized after using this product on wet hair. It didn't feel as moisturized when used on dry hair.

Price: For the price you get a ton of product and a little of this product does go a long way. I am heavy handed and I have alot of hair. I used this product twice and I have enough product to last me years.

Close Up on my ends when styled on dry hair

Final Thoughts:
This product gives a medium to hard hold, so keep that in mind. The benefit of having a product with hold is that your curl definition will be amazing and there will be very little frizz. If you have been looking for a styling product that will give you defined, shiny, moisturized hair, this is it.
It would be nice if they had a smaller size. For someone who may want to try the product out. Or a nice travel size for me to take with me on vacation.

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