Sunday's Question: What Products Have You Retired?

I've been looking through our blog archives reminiscing over styles and products that were once used. I remember when I was all about certain products, like a Renpure Organics conditioner, Herbal Essence, IC Fantasia Gel and Kinky-Curly Knot Today, just to name a few. I fondly think of these products but realize I haven't used them in ages for a two main reasons:

A) Too pricey, and found something cheaper with the same results
B) Found something the works better

I used to use Kinky-Curly Knot Today as my leave-in, but have switched to using TreSemme Naturals because of reason A while I stopped using IC Fantasia Gel for reason B, thanks to my sister who introduced me to Eco-Styler Gel.

So we're curious: What products have you retired and why?

From Coco & Creme: Natural Hair Bad Habits

Good morning natural hair enthusiasts!

I was browsing through one of my favorite sites on style Coco & Creme and came across a list of Natural hair Bad Habits.  From that list, I'll tell you that lately I've been so guilty of going to sleep without protecting my hair. I really should get some satin pillow cases, because while I've found my red Egyptian Cotton sheets to be so comfortable to sleep on, my hair has been drier due to my lack of protecting my strands all because I'm either too tired or lazy to remember to "put a scarf on it." Mind you, I have 3 satin scarves AND a bonnet!

So I'm admitting what I'm guilty of, what about you guys? Check the list out and let us know!

Reader Question: What Twist Pattern Do I Use For My Twist-Outs?

This post is an answer to reader Melyssa's questions: was that a twist or braidout? Do you think you could post a picture of the placement of your flat twists?
Hey Melyssa & all other readers who have been wondering the same thing, here is a link to photos of how I generally place my flat twists to achieve my twist out looks. I generally always use this same pattern when flat twisting my hair for a twist out, but I only part perfect lines when I'm planning to wear the twists for a few days. Otherwise, when I do flat twists just to twist-out in the next day or two, I 'll just separate my hair with my fingers in those same sections and flat twist my hair like this, because trying to hide those perfect parts is really hard. If I want to wear my twist out with a part the next day, I will only use a comb to make a straight part, and then separate the rest with my fingers. I sometimes switch the placement up a little, lately by adding just one single strand twist right at the crown of my head so it won't be flat on top, but for the most part it's just a variation of the same thing... a little trial and error =)
I guess I should also mention that from time to time I do single two strand twists, randomly placed to hang the way I like by twisting my hair in the direction I want my hair to hang
She also asked if I do braid- outs... I did one, and I liked it, but I much prefer twist outs because they resemble the natural curl of my hair


I plan to do a video of how I twist & twist-out my hair and also how to pic a perfectly rounded fro'... 


Thanks for asking, I'm happy to answer
SP

Re-attempting the Perfect Twist Out

About 2 weeks ago I discovered how to achieve the twist out of my dreams... by doing a twist out on hair that was roller set with end wraps. Though it is a bit of a time consuming regimen, I am going to do my best to make the time to stick to it because my scalp seems to do okay with this method, as last time I didn't feel the need to wash for almost 2 weeks! Normally I can't go longer than 4 days... Also, I'm really attributing a lot of my length retention to this method. Anyhoo, notice anything different from the last post where I roller set my hair? Yup, bigger rollers! I bought these larger capped rollers for future endeavors and realized I could actually use them now! #superpsyched

 When my hair gets a little longer maybe I'll attempt to wear one of these roller sets, but until then, I just snapped a few flicks of what what hair looked like brushed out and fluffled a little after silk wrapping. I also used a new foam wrap that I must say I'm pretty impressed with, and a little with myself as well, as I did spend like a good hour in the BSS comparing foam wraps. I promise to give it a review sometime before this new week is over but I will say I love that it left my hair light, fluffy, and super moisturized instead

 of dried out. No sign of any residue, nor greasiness, and I used this product alone. I did do one thing different this time, I decided to use Bentonite Clay for the first time and I will say that I loved it. It left my hair super soft and had my curls popping. I dusted my ends, then twisted my hair up in hopes of a perfect twist out again so stay tuned for the post of the outcome and product review of the foam wrap I used!

What do you think about roller setting your natural hair as a part of your regular regimen? 

I think this may be one of the best regimens for winter length retention for me

Back to Braids!

Snow has finally decided to show up in NYC (which hasn't happened since October) and for some reason this reminded me that I wanted to do a long-term protective style. I've been having a blast with my flexi rods sets because they last until my next wash day and I think the curly-bob is cute!

So I learned that we'd be hit with some snow and started randomly missing braids. As I've mentioned before, Wednesday is my usual mid-week wash day. I set my hair on some curl formers to stretch my hair out Wednesday night, wore it out Thursday and braided my hair last night while re-watching some Futurama episodes.

I think I've gotten a lot better with parting!

Length!

I probably will keep these braids in for about a week. I'm enjoying the length and how I won't have to do much to my hair this week - back to low maintenance!
What are your hair plans for the week?

Great Day @ the MOMA

An old friend of mine randomly hit me up this morning and invited me out to the MOMA! I was so psyched when I got there because it had totally slipped my mind that the Diego Rivera display was on now! His work is so real and truthful, he's definitely one of my favorite artists. You're not supposed to take pictures... but I managed to sneak one..

Circa 1932

I had a great day walking around the museum, taking pics and staring at whatever I so pleased, but one of the most awesome things was my hair! My friend kept touching it and making the comment that my afro looked so "Juicy." Lol I think it's time for a nick name change. My mane is now Her Majesty aka Juicy..... I think my hair has a stripper name now, lol ... Anyhoo, I have been getting many compliments or people staring and smiling, while wearing my fro'. Some white guy even thought I was a black supremecist last week as he whispered a political statement to me while getting on the train (I'm automatically Angela Davis now). Funny thing is, for the most part, I like wearing my hair curly more but I get way more compliments and attention when I wear my fro. #grassisalwaysgreener 

All in all I had a great day and even in all of this NYC wind right now, a great fro'.

Some gratuitous shots of today's fro':

Would you call that Juicy? lol 

I Just Graduated from the TWA Academy!

It's been super hectic for me since I've started at Wilhelmina. I'm learning better time management and with needing to look decent for work, I live in twist outs! I try my best to twist my hair up every night, not always in the same exact twist pattern, and sometimes I may just put my hair into little pony tails. Of all things important, I'm doing my best to never go to sleep without a satin/silk scarf or bonnet on my head. In the begining of the winter I was having a bit of trouble with dryness, but now with a little regimen adjustment and my handy dandy bottle of Jamaican Black Castor Oil, my hair has been soft, moisturized, and I can really see the length I'm retaining now! One other thing about my regimen, I've been staying away from heat and I would say that has made a big difference as well. Since twist outs and I seem to love each other, I am going to stick to what I've been doing, as I'd love to retain my full 3 inches by summer! The crazy thing is, though I've been the busiest in my life like ever, this is also the best care I think I have ever taken of my hair, all which I attribute to finally understanding...

The coolest part of this all?! I finally feel like my hair is longer and not a TWA anymore! 

It's almost all going in to a ponytail holder and I really can't wait to just be able to get a little lazy with my hair. I will probably straighten my hair once more before it gets warm, maybe some time in March or something so I'll do an official length check then...               

(The hair in these photos was from putting my hair in a ponytail after washing, then blowing the back out because it was still wet inside)

 These photo's are today's photos of a failed twist out that I pulled back into a banana clip.
All in all I see the effects of my hard work paying off, and in some ways I would say even the hard work I haven't been doing. Since I've been so busy I guess my hair has been more low manipulation, especially because on days off I would try my best to keep my hair twisted up, keeping the HIH syndrome at bay. Lol

I have to say, it feels good to feel like I finally "get it" when it comes to my hair and to be graduating from the TWA academy and leaving all those super awkward stages behind!

For all of you ladies who have started from a short haircut, how did it feel when you Graduated from the TWA academy?