Pinterest and DIY

As an avid pinner on pinterest, my love for DIY is always tempted. I have literally hundreds of pins of recipes, crafts, and upcycle how tos. My budget seems to be getting tighter (growing children, school expenses, and life in general) as the cost of things seems to be rising faster than the compensation for the cost of living does. In order to cut costs I have began making my own laundry detergent, and fabric softener, and a few other household cleaners. While some of the DIY recipes are keepers, too often so many of them are duds; not living up to the hype promised by the blogger. 

However, with some tweaking I have found that the no grate laundry detergent recipe to be a keeper. I took the recipe from the pictured pin and modified it to the measurements of my container. Watch the video to see my process and what I really thought of the cost and results. Coupled with a gallon of lemon fresh ammonia, this recipe removes stains, dirt, and even tough odors. If you have a DIY you would like for me to try or review leave a comment below. 

Blessings,

CD

Beneful not Beneficial 

Recently, I received a coupon for Beneful Dog food. It was on sale at the local grocery store so I was able to pick up a huge bag for almost 7.00. A week or so after using the dog food, I noticed my dog was often throwing up. We thought it may be because he was eating too much to fast. We reduced the amount and cut in more wet dog food. About a week later we noticed open lesions on our dog's body. We decided to eliminate the dog food the day of Christmas. The next day, I was faced with the challenge of making the dog food. I researched "dog food recipes" on Food.com and Pinterest. Surprisingly, I had the basic ingredients in stock. Most called for a base of either brown rice or potatoes, a protein, and a vegetable.  I decided to make the following recipe:

1. The remaining meat from one rotisserie chicken (about a pound) with gizzards.
2. 1.5 Cups of Brown Rice
3. 1/4 Cup of frozen spinach
4. 1 small sweet potato (cooked) and quartered
5. 1 Cup of water

I cooked the rice according to the instructions. In another pot, I separated the chicken from the carcass and the skin then simmered it in a cup of water with the spinach and sweet potato to let flavors combine (ten minutes). I allowed everything to cool. Once the chicken meat cooled ( I had to keep my teenager out of the pot) I poured it into my Ninja and hit blend to semi-liquefy ingredients. I did this because my dog doesn't really chew food, and it allows me to see if any bones may have snuck in the pot. (I found two and removed them.) I then combined the meat veggie mix with the cooked rice. This made a little less than 2 quarts. I froze half and refrigerated half. I served my dog a cup of his new food, and he followed me around the house for about thirty minutes expressing his love. He then took a nap for another 30 minutes. 

I did some research and learned that other pet owners have expressed their concern over Beneful as well, there is even a class action lawsuit due to the suspected related deaths and illnesses. You can read that here.  

Do you have a good dog recipe you use? What has been your experience with DIY dog food?

As I Am CoWash Review

Hey Curldivas!

My mentee and sister talked me into trying this co-wash. Everyone I know seems to rave about this particular brand, even the lady at the beauty store oohed and ahhed over it. I had tried and was okay with using Eden Bodyworks co-wash between workouts and swimming; it doesn't have a lot of slip but it did manage to aid in helping get out chlorine and sweat. I had heard that As I Am has amazing slip. When I saw it on sale at Sally Beauty Supply, I decided to try it.

Initially, I like the fact that is was super moisturizing and had good slip. My hair was springy, but did NOT feel clean at all. My hair felt coated. Three days later, I noticed sores on my scalp and a terrible itch. My hair was frizzy too. I did a conditioner rinse a few days later to relieve my scalp. A week later my hair shed a little more than usual and I found more sores. The following weekend I cleansed my hair with Kinky-Curly and used a V05 conditioner. After rinsing the V05 out I added a little bit of aloe vera gel to my Ecostyler pudding and finished my hair with my oil blend and then the pudding. Those sores were gone within 48 hours.

Here is my take on it; I have very sensitive skin, so everything doesn't work for me. I have used the same soap for almost a decade because so many things break me out. This product has great benefits if you are not sensitive. It has great slip, smells amazing, and moisturizes; so it could be a great conditioner. It does not clean though, and for the cost I wouldn't incorporate into my routine if it did work for me. My curls were not nearly as defined as it is when I cleanse with a sulfate free shampoo. Yet, another reason why co-washing does not work for my lifestyle. On the bright side, sensitivity prevents me from being a product junkie ;).

Ecostyler Pudding DIY

When I am not cooking my own flaxseed gel, I am amping up my ecostyler gel. This is imperative for me because Ecostyler tends to leave my hair dry, despite the fact that it is alcohol free. People who have protein sensitivity can probably attest to the dry hair dilemma. Our hair is often dry without dying, blow drying, or using gel with alcohol. Ecostyler now offers a pudding called Eco Natural Curling Cocktail, but it's twice the price of the gel and is less than half the size. The ingredients include: Water (Aqua), Emulsifying Wax, PVP, Glycerin, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Oil, Collagen Amino Acids, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Ricinodendron Rautanenii (Mongongo) Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Carbomer, Fragrance (Parfum), Aminomethyl propanol, Tetrasodium EDTA Ingredient Attributes: moisture, no silicones, The only difference between the gel and the cocktail is the additional oils, soy protein instead of wheat, and emulsifying wax.

My solution is to take the gel either Pink Curl and Wave or Olive Oil and amp it up. My hair loves grapeseed oil and monoi oil.  I prefer to use these two oils along with my almond oil to create a homemade cocktail. The cost is cheaper and I have my oils and gels way longer than I would have that small jar of cocktail. My hair is fluffy and has body and a great hold. The above picture is may washngo with my homemade Ecostyler Olive Oil Pudding.

Which ingredients have you used to create your you-tailored Eco Cocktail?

Dispelling Dandruf and the Hair Myths of Big Momma

 

This video addresses the mindset of many African American women's approach to scalp care.
Please subscribe to my youtube channel for latest videos and updates.

Blessings,
CD

Insanity Challenge

Embarking into deeper waters as I uncover my true potential

Today I started a new challenge. This time it's not related to my hair. I am endeavoring to complete 60 days of Insanity with Shaun T! Yes, I am doing the challenge. I have my day one pic and I suffered through my fit test in 91 degree humidity but I did it dang it!

I have been using the excessive heat as a reason to NOT workout but honestly I felt a tad bit convicted when I say people in less better shape than I am outside jogging. Granted they appeared close to death and I had to offer a prayer up for them as I drove by in my ACd car but I got to thinking. If my body is the temple than why don't I really invest in it like  treasure? So, Friday I worked out, Saturday I worked out. Sunday I rested and today I took the fit test. I was drenched by the time I finished and ten minutes later I was still dripping sweat.

My reflection:
My numbers weren't the best they could have been because I was working against humidity and soreness from a previous workout. Nevertheless it is a starting point and from here everything has to improve. I do have some obstacles in my home, the ceiling fan and lack of space for an alternative room. Otherwise, no real excuse not to continue.

My advice to someone taking the challenge after reading this:

1. Make sure you are plenty hydrated..
2. Know  the caloric intake required for YOU by beachbody to do Insanity everyday.
3. Increase your protein and carbs despite the diet your on...you need fuel!
4. Invest in the best cross trainer shoes you can afford. The one's I have are pictured to the right. They are snug for a secure fit and are breathable.
5. Get an accountability buddy or join Myfitnesspal.com.
6. Join beachbody (free membership) and hook up with a coach. They have been where you are and can ask questions.
7. Do take your before pic if you want that Insanity Shirt!
8. Work at your own pace and keep in mind form over rep speed.

	Fit Test 1
switch kicks	90
power jacks	42
power knees	70
power jumps	25
globe jumps	6
suicide jumps	6
push up jacks	15
low blank oblique	10

Diminishing Detangling Session TIme

Why does it take one person hours to detangle while some can detangle in less than 30 minutes?
There are a few things that factor into this:

 

1. Hair products being used. Sulfates, silicones, alchol, parabens, all affect the condition of your hairs moisture and texture. Eliminating this from your hair regimen will allow you hair to be free to be itself.... Warning initial removal of these products from your routine will cause your hair to go into withdrawl (showing symptoms like an addicts). But after a week or so you will see healthier hair than you could have imagined.

2. How often are you shampooing? In many cultures (except Caucasion) shampooing is done weekly, biweekly or (ew) monthly. This means shed hair has the opportunity accumalate and wrap in the hair causing a tangled often matted mess. Detangling that's done once a week reduces this but removing shed hair really should happen twice a week to keep maintance simpler. Removing hair can be done with light finger detangling sessions during the moisturize part of your night routine.

3. How are you wearing you hair? Wash and go's twist outs and braid outs (hence outs) encourages hair to mingle. If you wear it out in the day try to braid it, twist it or pinapple at night. Satin or silk bonnet or pillowcases are a requirement not an option for curly hair! Yes, I used an exclamation point.

4. What conditioner are using? Is it a leave in? Conditioners must have slip (the ability to allow hair and hands to glide) for easier detangling sessions. A good conditioner is thick, water based, has natural oils and does not leave build up. Whole Foods makes a great conditioner for less than 5.00 I like the Citrus one.

5. How often do you moisturize? Beacause moisture is lost daily hair must be moisturized daily. Spritzing with water and drinking 2 liters of water a day are beneficial to reducing dry uncooperative hair. When applying moisturizers make sure you apply from root (as close to scalp as you can get) and distribute down to the end. This same method should be used when applying conditioners

While ther are many other tips I could have added to the list these are the top 5. What other tips do you think should be added to maybe make this a top ten list?

Natural Black Women are Free to Swim

Umm, take off that swim cap and don't just lay beside the water.....


Prepare your hair before swimming and fall inlove with being a curldiva all over again. Here's the steps:

1. Using a good spray bottle mist you hair wet.

2. Apply a silcone free/sulfate free conditioner to your entire head. Let it sit on your hair at least five minutes before jumping in.

(Girl Grab you a flattering swimsuit, some sunglasses, sunscreen, a beach towel)   



3. Swim

4. Rinse hair out with warm water.

5. Apply your favorite leave in conditioner (preferrable amped up) or add a tsp of your favorite oil

(if you use shea butter mixes you can apply that after conditioner dries to your ends)

6.Apply a styler such as ecostyler.

6. let air dry or diffuse.

That's all folks!

Maintaining Those Mini Twist (Maximizing your Style)

Putting mini twists in my hair is usually a four to five our commitment over the course of a weekend. So once I have them in I try to maximize the wear. How do I get five weeks from one protective style? I'll tell you.

• I twist tightly keeping my finger close to where I am actually twisting. This forms a strong twist that is able to hold itself together.

• I only use leave in conditioner, natural oil, and flaxseed gel to put the twists in.

• I stop twisting when I am tired and pick up when I have energy so my twist look consistent.

• I use only two products to maintain my hair (Shea butter at night) (diluted kinky curly spiral spritz in the morning).

• I moisturize (daily) by adding water to my hair prior to adding any product.

• I use the Shea butter to massage my scalp nightly.

• I sleep in a satin bonnet.

Week Five I wear a twist out. The day before I am going to wash my hair I prepare my hair using a deep treatment of coconut oil. I ware a plastic cap under my satin bonnet. The next day I shampoo and condition.

I have a new video on YouTube here demonstrating my  (mini twist) am/pm routine! Please subscribe rate and comment.

Blessings,

CurlDiva

The Five W's of Protein Sensitivity

Protective Style Hair Band

Having naturally curly hair has been a challenge like none other in my life. As a professional woman I have received the disappointing looks and heard words from brothers I don't care to repeat. I've chopped, colored, grew out, and chopped again. In my 8 years of being natural, nothing has been more challenging then finding what makes my hair happy. When my hair was relaxed I loved the silkiness of clean, conditioned hair but finding that same happiness for my curly locks has been a quest that would discourage the Indiana Jones. Recently I learned that my hair is protein sensitive. I found this out when I tried Carol's Daughter Herbal Tui shampoo (my normal CD shampoo had been sold out for weeks). This shampoo left my hair tangled, matted and straw-like. It took me three months to recover. Little did I know the very products that were supposed to help me actually were hindering me because they too contained protein. The following list is the 5 W's of protein sensitivity:

1. What- What does protein sensitivity look like? In laymen's terms, it is when the hair's response is a dry, straw like feeling. Hair is typically unmanageable and feels as if it has not been conditioned at all. 
2. When- One can tell when one is protein sensitive once one's hair is in a natural and health state. When hair is relaxed, colored or damaged by heat exposure protein can be loss and the hair may be more receptive to protein treatments.
3. Why- Why does curly hair resist protein? The best answer I have found is because curly hair makes so much of its on protein that protein treatments tend to send it into a frenzy. Too much of  a good thing can be bad.
4. Where- Where is protein found? In shampoos, conditioners, and moisturizers. Commercial and organic products both can contain proteins and the only sure way to know is to read the label of ingredients. It is a good idea to take your smartphone with you to Google any ingredients you are not familiar with. 
5. Who- Is susceptible to protein sensitivity? Anyone who has coarse high porosity hair but some women with fine hair have also reported protein sensitivity to specific types of protein. For example one may be able to tolerate soy but not silk protein. 

Prayerfully, this has been an informative blog :)

Blessings,

CD

Breakage...The Best Treatment

It happens to the best of us, whether we co-wash, pre-poo, deep condition, or go organic breakage is can still occur. While many articles address how to prevent breakage I haven't seen a whole lot of discussion on what are the major culprits that cause breakage. There are the obvious offenders, heat damage, chemical damage and dryness but there are also internal factors such as hormone imbalance, dehydration and even stress. In addition wearing braids-while categorized as a protective styles- can also contribute to the demise of healthy hair.

So how does one treat and stop the hair breakage cycle? The best treatment is only as effective as the appropriate diagnosis of why hair is breaking.  Determining why your hair is breaking is the initial step in determining the best way of treating your hair. Here are some basic qiuestions to ask when trying to determine why your hair may be breaking.

First look at where your hair is breaking? Is is the edges, the crown, where your new growth is? Is it just one of the four quadrants? Around the crown could be an indication of stress and/hormonal imbalance. Edge thinning and breakage is often result of pulling hair too tightly away from the face (braids, ponytails, high-puffs, etc.) If the breakage is in a quadrant it could be an indicator of applying heat to the same section first every time you press.

Then look at the condition of hair that is not breaking closest to the hair that is breaking.  What are the differences in texture and length? Is this hair more or less dense? Because we have combination hair we have to often condition our hair based on the thickest and most dense hair type we have. Fine hair needs are different from coarse hair needs.

What is the overall condition of your skin? Yes, your skin? Is it dry, oily, or combination. Does the skin around your eyes look tight or rested? This is the primary indicator of mineral deficiency and dehydration. Healthy, hydrated hair is like healthy hydrated skin; it glows.

If you are transitioning hair is prone to breakage because the chemically processed hair is weakened and often stressed as a result of the different textured hair making its way on the scene. Combat this fight by encouraging your straight hair to act like the curly hair. Do rod or straw sets and two strand twist with a moisturizing gel such as Ecostyler, which has a medium hold and is alchol free. 

Remember the key to treatment is proper diagnosis!

Blessings,
Curl Diva

Kinky Curly What's your type?

No matter what blog or discussion board you go to, the same question comes up. "What's my hair type?" There are several systems of determining hair type and perhaps the most renowned is that established by hairdresser Andre Walker-Oprah's Beautician. For the the past four years I have been "courting" off and on, a shampoo and conditioner made by Alafia. It's all organic and can be found at your Local Whole Foods Market. I wasn't too thrilled when they expanded their line and changed their formula (they even renamed it Beautiful Curls) BUT I did like the chart they provided to help determine your hair type and compatible hair products t and I bought the shampoo and conditioner anyway. Beautiful Curls Care Guide 

Two reasons I like(d) this product:

Organic Hydration and Wonderful Citrus smell.

Biggest complaint:

Whole Foods Market is 45 minutes away :(

I plan on doing a product review on the new line really soon. Check back often or visit me on my youtube channel.

CurlDiva

Mini Two-Strand Twist (Protective Style)



Micro in the front and Mini in the back

 Winter is here and that means that my wash and go has been tucked away until Spring returns. In the meanwhile, I have unpacked the protective styles of winter.

This past Thanksgiving Weekend I washed my hair with a Shea Moisture Reconstructive Shampoo Condition Mix. My hair rejected the idea of Shea Moisture (again) so I think it may be tired of this particular product. Sigh~ So I used the Shea Moisture Deep Conditioner just to make sure it wasn't just dry but my hair didn't like that either. I ended up leaving it on about an hour before washing it completely out. I couldn't even detangle with it. I then added about an oz of  Kinky Curly Knot Today (KCKT) and 1 oz of almond oil to my sectioned off hair and detangled. Using a blow dryer and a paddle brush I straightened hair section by section. Once hair was straight I began twisting very small sections from the nape working my way up. Once I got to the front I divided the section size in half making micro twist. In the front I was also careful to use a rattail comb to make clean parts because that is what people see. I twisted using my Pomegranate Mango Whipped Shea Butter. I snipped ends that looked raggedy (frayed) less than a 1/4 inch.

At night I sleep with a satin bonnet on. In the morning I refresh with Shea Moisture Coconut Habiscus Spray. Every other day I oil my scalp with Whipped Shea Butter. My scalp tends to itch more when it is exposed.  The picture above is second day hair of the finished 3 hour process. Don't be intimidated by time when it's the care of your hair and if you have little ones like I do...you know there are plenty of interuptions. Remember this...You're worth the investment!

CD

Some throwbacks should be left back!

Grease is making a comback?!?

Okay, so we all remember those days of sitting between someone's legs having our hair braided and our scalp "greased." It seems as though some of the hair naturalists who originally avoided "grease" like the plague are now returning to the roots of our grandparents. Some hair naturalistas are even arguing that "grease" of old is comparable to modern day hair butters.  What? Really?

Well, being a teacher I thought I would dispel that argument. So here is my case AGAINST grease and FOR Butter and how the two are different.

The traditional goal for using butters or "grease" has been to moisturize the scalp. The scalp is skin and there is essentially only one way to effectively hydrate it; that is from the inside out. Drink plenty of water. The skin can absorb some moisture but that happens only at the surface level (the epidermis). As you can see from the diagram the root of your hair is far below the dermis where moisturizers do not penetrate.  In order for any moisture to be absorbed into the skin it has to penetrate the pores and enter the dermis. These molecules must be very small to penetrate the . pores. Skin by design is created to protect our bodies from toxins and keep moisture and heat in. Most often what happens is a smal amount of the what are skin comes in contact with may pass through  and enter the body but most often lotions and creams merely rest on the skin forming a barrier. This can create the allusion of moisture but often it's temporary and when one takes a bath the barrier can be broken down or washed away.  With that said there is no scientific way to determine if what you put on your skin will be asborbed (beneficially or harmfully) into ones body; despite what the beauty industry may claim.

Most ingredients found in typical grease have a toxic affiliation as the base. The main ingredient in Blue Magic and other "grease" is patrolatum which is the source of both kerosene and gasoline. In at lease one country (EU) this has been banned because of its link to breast cancer. Petrolatum is a nonregulated chemical and therefore there is no information available on how much of it (if and when it is absorbed) is toxic to the body. It is stated as being harmul when ingested. According to http://www.cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/12302 Patrolatum has no reaction to water which suggests to me that it cannot be absorbed in the skin to create moisture.

Butters are different in the fact that they are usually derived from natural sources that are proven to cooperate with water and have beneficial properties for skin, hair and health. The most common bases of butters are shea, cocoa, mango (bases are the first ingedient on the product's list). In hair butters beeswax may also be included. All of these ingredients are derived from nature and have proven beneficial components that can be absorbed safely by most users (everyone has differentiated allergies).

In the case of going back to grease...I suggest we make that throwback a thing of the past.

CurlDiva

Condition Wash Condition...not really anything new

Today, I read an article that talks about an alternative to co-washing. It's been called the condition wash condition method. For me it's not really anything new. I use this method when my hair is dry (straw like). I discovered this method quite by accident when I had a bad experience with a Natural Shampoo that completly stripped my hair. This method entails the following (flexible) method:

1. Wet hair with warm water smoothing in one direction. (Usually I am in the shower so away from the forehead). Hair should be saturated.
2. Apply a deep conditioner. All the conditioner to sit on hair while you shower.
3. Apply shampoo (leaving conditioner in) work through hair the same way you applied the conditioner. (At this point I generally finger comb or use a very wide tooth comb).
4. Rinse out both shampoo and conditioner. Working from forehead to nexk.
5. Apply a good leave in conditioner andfinger comb to ensure hair is detangled.

* Before I apply the final leave in conditioner I generally add a quarter size amoun of almond oil from root to tips.

This is my method as I mentioned before this method can be tweaked to your hair. I find this method allows my hair to be less tangled and I can maximize moisture as well.

The To Do List of Natural Hair Care

Growing out healthy natural hair; this is what I have learned so far:

                 

1.      Do drink plenty of water every day (at least 4 cups).

2.      Do eat your veggies (cabbage, tomatoes, spinach and mushroom) each have one or more of the following vitamins E, K, C, B2, B6 and A, which all contribute to hair growth and strength. Also, both zinc and calcium are essential to your daily healthy hair diet. If you cannot eat all of these take a multivitamin supplement.

3.      Do invest in an organic shampoo and leave in conditioner.

4.      Do get regular trims.

5.      Do use heat in modesty.

6.      Do use a moisturizer every night before putting on your satin bonnet.

7.      Do detangle hair while wet with a good brush such as Evolve Dual Brush and a moisture- rich detangling conditioner.
.....TO BE CONTINUED

                 

Two Strand Twist Out Using Jamaican Mango & Lime Lock Gel

It has been raining so much here that I have been battling humidity for almost two months. I have decided to go back to my two strand twists (protective style) in order to save both time in the morning and maintain definition longer. I'm entering year two of my grow out challenge. This is what I am doing differently this time around. When I two strand twist I use a shea whipped body butter underneath Jamaican Mango & Lime Lock gel. This defines my hair and moistures at the same time. For my scalp and maintaining of ends I am currently using Carol's Daughter Macademia Heat protectant oil in the morning and the whipped shea body butter at night. So far so good! This picture was taken on day three of my twist out.

At night I sleep with a satin bonnet on that's wrapped in a knit fabric. I wrap the satin bonnet because it tends to slide off at night. The scarf holds it in place. In the morning I let the humidity from the shower revive my curls and I fingertoss the routes backwards (holding my head upside down). Sometimes I use Shea Moisture's hold & Shine Mist from their Coconut Hisbiscus line.

Hello fellow Curl Divas & Dudes,

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner (at least it is according to the calander). According to the forecast it'll be spring showers the next two weeks here :(

For the summer I am revisiting the Kinky Curly hair line. I haven't used them for five years because I didn't like the initial results but ladies and gents can I tell you that after following the directions this time around I am loving two things about this product; the first, third and fourth day curls! Yes, a little water and leave in conditioner and they curls are good as new! Second the fact that my hair doesn't shrink too much.

So, here's what I don't love. The product is only good for wash in goes when it is hot outside. If it is humid or cool it takes forever for your hair to dry; sometimes all day. The other thing I'm less than thrilled with is the thickness of the Spiral spritz. It's more like a gel. I would like my gel in a bottle please. Other than that I can say my hair does love this product. It was initially a bit crisp the first day but I put a little almond oil in it and it was fine.

Kinky-Kurly Crunchy???

After not using Kinky curly for over five years, I decided to try the product line again. This time I went into the process an educated curldive. I first went to Kinky-Kurly's webpage and watched the application tutorial. WoW Knowledge! I did as the video suggested using all of the product line (it costs me a whopping 60.00+ at Wholefoods Market). It is less as Target BUT there always sold out and where I live even though we have several targets there is only one store that carries this product. I am off topic. LOL Okay, so I washed my hair with the KK shampoo and then conditioned with the KK Knot Today. Using a Goody two sided brush I detangled. Since my hair is 3B/C combo I rinsed most of the conditioner out before applying the Curling Custard. I have Medium length hair (shoulder length when straightened) so this process took about an half an hour. I applied the product using the shingling technique because I didn't really care for the tackyness of the product (it dries fine it's just a bit to slimy for me when wet). Since it was 80 outside I let my hair air dry. At the end of the day my hair was a little bit hard like I had used a light gel. Not sure what happened but I am guessing to much custard not enough conditioner. I was able to spray with a light oil sheen and the crisp to my hair was gone. Overall, I am very satisfied that I was able to get three days of wear so far by adding just a bit of water and small bit of spritz in the front. I will repeat this process next weekend and post a youtube video under CurlDiva! This time I will make the adjustments as stated earlier. I think the thicker your hair is the better it is tp leave in the conditioner.

Caution! Unlike other products Kinky

My Grow Out Goal & Challenge

Hello Curly Divas and Dudes! :)
(I can’t leave the men out)

I am docujournaling (yes I made that word up) my progress to grow out my hair. I have been natural since the summer of 2003. I took the plunge and did the BC (big chop) then I went to the barbershop where the barber turned my BC into darn near scalped. I successfully managed to grow may hair half way down my back within a three year period. What happened? I made the mistake of putting hair color in it. It dried my hair out and basically turned it into straw. I recently had a similiar expereince with a Carol Daughter's shampoo-but was able to recover. I digress :) In 2007 I once again did the big chop and wore it short for about a year before growing it out again. I have had two children since then and experienced the ups and downs of hair growth and minor shedding. I have been growing my hair out for almost two years now (no dye or chemicals) and I have managed to grow it healthily to my shoulders. I am going to see how long it will grow and document the journey of year three and beyond here. The challenge is to grow it in its natural, healthy, curly state without cutting (with the exception of maintenance trims) or chemicals of any kind.  I invite you to join me on my journey!

Thanks for reading!

CurlDiva