The cold weather has contributed to some hair laziness on my part. I’ve been going longer between washes out of dread of cold wet hair. Of course, my locs paid the price in the form of buildup and dryness.
So today, I gave them some intensive care: two washes with clarifying shampoo, two with a moisturizing shampoo, a wonderful deep condition, prolonged rinsing and then a light coat of a new product.
Continue reading ‘Shampoo day and early product review’
A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.
I’m a pretty low maintenance locer but there are a few tools and accessories that I find absolutely essential.
(Pardon the wrinkled background.)
Continue reading ‘Hair tools and accessories’
My shampoo collection
Looking back on my product junkie post, I realized I haven’t reviewed any of them since I loced. I’ve cut back on the actual products in my routine – Shampoo day consists of a shampoo and a conditioner/oil leave in and I don’t use any product when I latch. I’m so happy with Oyin Honey Hemp conditioner, that I’m not interested in trying anything else. I feel the same way about the Nasabb Kelechi Hair Oil that I use (tangerine is my current favorite) I stopped using the Juices and Berries spritz because I don’t really need it. I manage most of my hair needs with a variety of shampoos.
My shampoos fall into 3 basic categories: clarifying, moisturizing, and scalp relief. I do use a couple of shampoos that contain sulfates – as long as I condition afterwards, my locs and scalp are fine. When I use a non-sulfate shampoo, I just put oil on my locs (not on my scalp) afterwards. I dilute all of my shampoos in water and wash, rinse, repeat. Occasionally, I add a tsp of baking soda to the diluted shampoo.
I just looked and realized that I have written 15 posts about my hair routine (well, this one will make 16). I guess it goes to show how much I have adapted my product usage and schedule depending on what I discover works. It also seems like the list of products gets smaller every time. Continue reading ‘Current routine – locs’
I didn’t realize that it had been so long since my last post.
Products currently in use (bolded if essential, italics if I am trying it out)
Clarifying shampoo – Nature’s Gate Rainwater Clarifying Shampoo
Shampoo – Oyin Grand Poo Bar, Trader Joe’s Citrus Shampoo
Conditioner – Oyin’s Honey Hemp Conditioner
Styling (latching/palm rolling) – none
Daily Moisturizer – Water, Oyin’s Greg Juice, Oyin Juice and Berries
Supplements – Women’s One a Day
Post rinsing or shampoo – Nasabb Kelechi Hair Oil
Every two weeks:
Wash with clarifying shampoo and condition. Add oil and air dry.
2-3 times per week:
Shampoo, add oil and air dry
1-2 times per week (depending on the state of my hair):
Rinse hair in shower, add oil or Greg Juice as needed.
Daily:
Spritz with water and Greg Juice as needed.
As I have learned about my baby locs, I have had to adjust and simplify my routine.
Products currently in use (bolded if essential, italics if I am trying it out)
Shampoo – Avalon Organics Lemon Verbena Clarifying Shampoo, Avalon Organics Tea Tree Shampoo, Trader Joe’s Citrus Shampoo
Conditioner – Oyin’s Honey Hemp Conditioner,
Styling (latching/palm rolling) – nothing! I found that I didn’t need anything.
Daily Moisturizer – Water, Oyin’s Greg Juice
Supplements – Women’s One a Day
Post rinsing or shampoo – Nasabb Kelechi Hair OilWeekends:
Shampoo, condition, add oil and air dry
0-1 per week (depending on the state of my hair):
Rinse hair in shower, add Greg Juice as needed.
Daily:
Spritz with water and Greg Juice as needed.
My routine has gotten a lot simpler as I get used to my hair. I tried going without conditioner, but my hair and my scalp suffered for it. I’m also phasing out shampoos as I run out. The Trader Joe’s works fine by itself, but the Tea Tree shampoo is really good for relieving my occasional itchies and flakes.
I put a little bit of water to my hair in the morning to get my locs settled down. I sleep on a satin pillowcase instead of tying my hair so my locs are usually all over the place in the morning. If my hair feels very dry, I spray Oyin’s Greg Juice on it (maybe twice a week). Other than that, I wash my hair with shampoo once or twice a week depending on how my scalp feels and use conditioner once a week. I separate my roots every time I wash my hair and I put a little oil (Nasabb’s Kelechi Hair Oil) on my hair about once a week after washing. I maintain my locs by latching once a month and I don’t use any gels because I found that they make my scalp itch sooner.
Due to my baby locs, I have changed up my routine a bit.
Products currently in use (bolded if essential, italics if I am trying it out)
Clarifying shampoo – Avalon Organics Lemon Verbena Clarifying Shampoo
Shampoo – Oyin Grand Poo Bar
Conditioner – Oyin’s Honey Hemp Conditioner,
Styling (latching/palm rolling) – FOTE Aloe Vera Gel, Oyin’s Shine and Define
Daily Moisturizer – Water, Oyin’s Greg Juice
Supplements – Women’s One a Day
Post rinsing or shampoo – Nasabb Kelechi Hair Oil
Monthly:
Wash with clarifying shampoo and condition. Add oil and air dry.
Weekends:
Shampoo, add oil and air dry
0-1 per week (depending on the state of my hair):
Rinse hair in shower, add oil or Greg Juice as needed.
Daily:
Spritz with water and Greg Juice as needed.
Notes from a recovering product junkie
My shampoo collection
When I started writing this post, the title was “notes from a recovered product junkie”. Then I took a picture of all my shampoo.
This week’s discussion of overrated products in this week’s #naturalhair twitter hour (I was following on my BB, but a bit too distracted to participate) got me thinking about product junkies. The difficulty in transitioning and maintaining natural hair, especially for new naturals, often comes down to figuring out what products work for natural hair. The products that are used on relaxed hair just don’t have the same effect (and honestly, most mainstream lines aren’t that great for relaxed hair). Part of this is because we associate healthy and clean hair with shiny hair and that is the mineral oils and petroleum jellies are designed to do. Tightly curled hair just doesn’t shine like that unless you load up on the Jheri curl activator and let your Soul Glo. Continue reading ‘Notes from a recovering product junkie’