I don't usually write two posts in the same day, but I wanted to make an exception. I know I've been pretty quiet for a while, but I've been dealing with a few issues. First and foremost, the fallout and verdict from the Trayvon Martin case really through me for a loop, and I just couldn't bring myself to write. Secondly, I've been having guy issues, which I will discuss at a later date. The other was that I felt like a failure as a natural. Yeah, you read right, my curls are in ICU, and I am not happy. Truth be told, I was also a little embarrassed How could I be offering advice on healthy curls while watching my curls healthy degrade in front of my face? The answer...I couldn't. I started noticing that the top of my curls was feeling/acting/looking dry, frizzy and a tad unruly. I tried a new style with perm rods, and while it looked really nice, I knew perfectly well that my ends were Not okay.
I did a wet set using my Giovanni Deep Moisture Direct leave-In. I air-dried overnight for about 18 hours and took them down. I later separated the curls with Clear's Ultra Shea Hair and Scalp Oil. It was alright for a first try, but my ends worried me. Over the past two months, they've gone from smooth and easy to detangle to rough and beastly. Detangling was dreadful and occasionally painful (I'm rather tender-headed). I kept the style for few days while it kept growing (see below), but inside there was a bit of turmoil set in motion by the fact that I had lost control of the curls.
Underneath the fluffy goodness were angry curls. They were angry because I didn't understand what they needed. This in turn made me frustrated to the point of tears. Since we're in the middle of a growth challenge here at CC, it made since that my hair should be growing quickly like it always does. I mean I was deep conditioning, removing buildup when needed, moisturizing, and finger detangling. So why was my hair growing so slowly? I looked back on the first 3 weeks after the chop. My hair grew an inch per week...no lie. Right now, however, I wasn't sure it was growing much if at all. I did two cherry lola type treatments with good results, but my ends stayed crazy and rough. I knew that I didn't need a trim as I had already done one, and the hair wasn't damaged just difficult.
After some much needed reflection (and after not being distracted by Jerk #3...long story), I realized that I needed a change. My scalp was almost as unhappy as my ends, but I figured the As I Am Coconut Co-wash was aggravating it and I seem to be correct. The hair and scalp oil has helped, but I've been wary due to mineral oil being the first ingredient. Then, I had an epiphany. I was using oil and coconut oil to boot when I first started, so I scoured the web for Dr. Bronner's Coconut Oil. I'd heard and seen good things about it from SunKissedAlba (check out her youtube channel for real), and I saw the GNC carried it. We don't have a Whole Foods, but we have few GNC's. I never considered them because I didn't know that they were a curly paradise. I'm talking Jojoba oil, Grapeseed oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Liquid Amino Acids, etc. They also carry Almond oil which is what I went with since they neither had that brand of coconut oil and the other brand was out of my price range. I LOVE it! I used it to pre-poo and to do the Loc method after co-washing and deep conditioning my hair. The results were wonderful. I can already tell the difference.
So why do I call it intensive care? For starters, my DC needed help. It didn't have enough slip, and I wanted to love it because it was all natural. This was when my second epiphany happened...I added a teaspoon of honey. Granted, this made it soupy and generally disgusting (seriously don't make this while you're eating), but it smelled yummy and had slip like you would not believe. Here's the ICU routine from start to finish. I began by detangling and twisting my curls into 15 two-strand twists using almond oil. I then baggied overnight and washed it out with my new co-wash, Garnier Fructis' 3 Day Sleek Argan Oil Conditioner mixed with a little bakng soda. I followed that with my honey-enhanced DC, which I covered with a plastic cap and then a towel. I let the bathroom steam do the work while I finished my shower. I rinsed with warm water (I usually use cold..bad I know) and allowed my hair to dry for 35 minutes (a first) before applying almond oil and the Direct Leave-In. I applied the leave-in in sections and secured each finished section in large, loose coils (didn't work so well on short hair :( Booooo). Afterwards, I sat under the dryer for about 20 minutes to help my low porosity curls dry before the next year. I had somewhere to go that day, but I otherwise skip heat except to DC. I'm not sure if it was the combination of steps or the Loc method or the heat but my ends feel/look/act great.
I'm going to keep up with this routine for the next few weeks which brings me to my announcement. I'm extending the growth challenge until Labor Day. I figure it's really the official end of summer anyway, and it is a summer challenge. You can still join us if you like. Drop me a line and let me know how you're doing or if you're joining up.
Later Days, Curl Chasers,
~Penny Jane
After some much needed reflection (and after not being distracted by Jerk #3...long story), I realized that I needed a change. My scalp was almost as unhappy as my ends, but I figured the As I Am Coconut Co-wash was aggravating it and I seem to be correct. The hair and scalp oil has helped, but I've been wary due to mineral oil being the first ingredient. Then, I had an epiphany. I was using oil and coconut oil to boot when I first started, so I scoured the web for Dr. Bronner's Coconut Oil. I'd heard and seen good things about it from SunKissedAlba (check out her youtube channel for real), and I saw the GNC carried it. We don't have a Whole Foods, but we have few GNC's. I never considered them because I didn't know that they were a curly paradise. I'm talking Jojoba oil, Grapeseed oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Liquid Amino Acids, etc. They also carry Almond oil which is what I went with since they neither had that brand of coconut oil and the other brand was out of my price range. I LOVE it! I used it to pre-poo and to do the Loc method after co-washing and deep conditioning my hair. The results were wonderful. I can already tell the difference.
So why do I call it intensive care? For starters, my DC needed help. It didn't have enough slip, and I wanted to love it because it was all natural. This was when my second epiphany happened...I added a teaspoon of honey. Granted, this made it soupy and generally disgusting (seriously don't make this while you're eating), but it smelled yummy and had slip like you would not believe. Here's the ICU routine from start to finish. I began by detangling and twisting my curls into 15 two-strand twists using almond oil. I then baggied overnight and washed it out with my new co-wash, Garnier Fructis' 3 Day Sleek Argan Oil Conditioner mixed with a little bakng soda. I followed that with my honey-enhanced DC, which I covered with a plastic cap and then a towel. I let the bathroom steam do the work while I finished my shower. I rinsed with warm water (I usually use cold..bad I know) and allowed my hair to dry for 35 minutes (a first) before applying almond oil and the Direct Leave-In. I applied the leave-in in sections and secured each finished section in large, loose coils (didn't work so well on short hair :( Booooo). Afterwards, I sat under the dryer for about 20 minutes to help my low porosity curls dry before the next year. I had somewhere to go that day, but I otherwise skip heat except to DC. I'm not sure if it was the combination of steps or the Loc method or the heat but my ends feel/look/act great.
I'm going to keep up with this routine for the next few weeks which brings me to my announcement. I'm extending the growth challenge until Labor Day. I figure it's really the official end of summer anyway, and it is a summer challenge. You can still join us if you like. Drop me a line and let me know how you're doing or if you're joining up.
Later Days, Curl Chasers,
~Penny Jane