Product Review – LeKair Cholesterol Treatment

Since taking my locs down I’ve been using LeKair Cholesterol Plus as my protein deep conditioner monthly. I L.O.V.E. it! It does not over process my hair at all. Prior to locking I used Aubrey Organics  protein conditioner and it stripped my hair terribly.  I do feel like I abused it, so it may not have been as bad on my hair if I hadn’t used it often as I did. I think I used it bi-weekly and I dont recall doing a moisturizing DC afterwards. So I’m not bashing it totally, in fact I am going to attempt to use it again once my 2 bottles of LeKair are gone. What I do know is that the LeKair is great as a datangler and my hair does not feel hard nor stripped after I use it.  Doing some research on it turns out that it is a light protein treatment, so light that some argue that it is not a protein treatment at all.   I believe it is what my hair needs to be a balance of protein and moisture, since our hair is primarily protein anyway. I use it monthly and also before I apply heat to my hair and after I am done with a straightened style.

How I use it:
Apply a good amount of product to dry hair from ends to root.
Put plastic cap on and wool hat
Shampoo out after 45 minutes

After this I apply my deep conditioner to restore moisture to my hair.

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So You Want To Be Natural Pt. 1 – Time & Cost

You first thoughts about going natural can be pretty overwhelming. Let’s face it, it’s a totally new and unexperienced chapter in your life and you don’t know where to begin. On top of that there is a plethora of information regarding how to, what not to do, when, and with what to do to you hair. And we give thanks to all of it but fact is it’s still a lot of information to go through.

Here in this 6 part posting (each part will post every Monday, so stay tuned 🙂 ) i’m going to condense all that material into a basic starting point. It is not meant to stop anyone from researching on their own. There is great information to be received from YouTube, blogs, and books!

So you’ve decided to go natural for whatever reason. Thee absolute first thing you must understand is that it is not an easy way out nor is it a cheap way out. Some people think that being natural is for lazy people who don’t want to take care of their hair. Let me tell you how far from the truth that is! Being natural is time consuming as you are taking care of your hair constantly, from going to bed the proper way at night to maintaining the moisture of your hair daily or weekly, to styling it. Nothing is lazy about this way of life. Wash day, the day aside to do your weekly hair maintenance can take anywhere from 2 hours to an entire day.  If its DC week for me and my daughter it is certainly an all day long process.  On the other days it may take us about 4 hours. But it all depends on what you do that day. I’m sure there are naturals who can get it  done in less.

As far as the cost, it varies..there are expensive, non expensive (cheap), and average (reasonable) priced products. Necessary items such as shampoo and conditioner can range anywhere in price from $5 – $20. Creams and hair butters can range in price from $12 – $30 (or even cheaper).  There are a number of lines designed specifically for natural hair and their cost range in price. In the beginning you may find yourself experimenting with a couple of products to find out which ones your hair requires and responds the best to but after that you’ll be in a routine and your cost should go down.   You will also need a few small tools which should not cost more than 5 bucks each.

Some of the things I use and their cost:

Naturalicious Moroccan Rhassoul Clay 5 – in – 1 $19.99

Miss Jessies Baby Butter Creme $32.00

Elasta QP Shampoo $3.99

Le Kair Cholesterol Treatment $4.99

Essential Oils  range in price $4.99-$23.99

Coconut Oil $6.99

Going Natural Rare Moisture Butter $10.00

Coming Up Next:  Pt. 2 To Big Chop or Not

Disclaimer: Everything listed here is basic and is meant to be a starting point. The links I’ve including will take you to some of the products I use for the various steps of maintaining my natural hair. I am no expert on hair care, I do not have my cosmetology license, nor am I a chemist, biologist, or scientist. I am a natural women who’s been researching natural hair care since 2012. I am however an expert in my own hair and that’s what being natural is all about…developing a relationship with the hairs on your own head. I share what has worked for me in hopes that it may work for you as well. 

Trimming – If It Ain’t Broke…

As with everything in your natural journey you have to figure out what works for you. Not to be excluded from that is trimming your tresses. I’ had my first MINOR trimming since being natural when I flat ironed my hair the second time in january (first time was in December). I wasn’t going to do it at all until I noticed my hair looking crazy while it was flat ironed. I mean my ends looked like Edward scissor hands on drugs had given me a hair cut. Okay maybe not that bad but you get the idea. So I simply took a little not even a half an inch and trimmed my ends. I did not layer cut it…I ONLY trimmed the absolute ends of my hair.

I would never have trimmed my ends because my hair is fine without chopping my hair off. I dont experince breakage or none growth because of not trrimming. My hair is very easy to grown even under what some would call bad conditions. And since I am a length girl you know I don’t want to do anything to make my hair shorter…lol. when I wasn’t natural I would trim my hair maybe once every 5 years against me stylist wishes who wanted to trim it at the first sign of a single split end. My having split ends never damaged my hair nor did it hinder growth. Now that I’m natural same is true…not trimming my ends has not hurt my hair health or overall growth. So my motto is if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!

Now will this approach work for you or someone else? I don’t know and neither will you unless thru trial and error you develop a relationship with you hair and figure things out. I’m not just going to trim my hair on a routine just because…there has to be a reason for me to do this. My reason this time was because my hair was visibly uneven. I’m not sure when I will trim it again.

My advice, as always, is to do what works for you. If you hair is breaking and not retaining length and you’re doing everything else to prevent breakage then by all means trimming make sense. Make this hair journey YOUR  hair
journey! What works for the masses may not work for you. What works for me may not work for you. But experimenting will tell you what your hair requires to be your idea of healthy.

Length Check

I think I’m doing something right on this natural journey of mine!  Not going to do a whole lot of talking (okay maybe a bit…lol) because this is just to capture where I am lengthwise: BSL  baby!!! Aiming for mid back length by the end of the year then tail bone length.

If there is anyone reading this who feels some kind of way about those of us naturals who want long hair remember it’s a personal journey and as sisters while we may not agree with our sisters choices we should respect them. Cause at the end of the day what makes you happy make not make me happy and vise versa. What makes this natural girl happy is healthy LONG hair. If I decide to cute it off next week that too will be my decision and thus making ME happy. I respect your decision to be whatever kind of natural that makes you happy …I only want that same respect in return.

Okay okay enough so here are a couple of pics of my bra strap length hair. And yes it’s bra strap from the nape and not the top  but it’s just the way all people measure hair.  I noticed someone commented on someone hair not being  BSL because if this person measured from the hairline it would not be BSL.  ***side eye***

Back of my hair presently.

The picture on the left is the lenghth of my hair for the majority of my adult life prior to going natural. It would get a little longer than this but only by an inch or so. The picture on the right is me now (couple days ago at work) 2.5 years after my big chop. Comparing the two: 30+years of growth vs 2.5 years. Wow!

This is a comparison on my naturally kinky hair (in a flat twist out) vs my natural straight hair. Shrinkage is too real lol. I just love the versatility of natural hair. I love both looks but I do know if I want to continue to grow healthy I have to be cautious of my heat usage.

Mixes, concoctions, treatments Oh My

Over the years I’ve used a couple mixtures aka concoction, some are over and done with  because I felt I didnt really need it or it didnt work for me, while others I hold near and dear to my heart.  Those remaining  treatments have helped me along in my natural journey and maybe they can help someone else. Below I’ve compiled all of those that I am currently using which I feel helped me achieve healthy bra strap length hair in two and a half years. Stay tuned to another post of things that were good but just not good for me and may help someone else out.  🙂

Moisturizing Spritz
3 part Water
1 part Glycerin
Kinky Curly Knot Today
Aloe Vera juice
Tea tree essential oil (12 drops/oz)

Why I use it: To keep my hair and scalp moisturized
When I use it: Whenever necessary, mostly when my hair feels dry or my scalp becomes itchy due to dryness. I suffer from dandruff so this helps my scalp stay moist.
How I use it:  Spray it sparingly on my hair and scalp

Deep Conditioner

Tresemme Naturals Moisturizing conditioner
Honey
Wheat germ oil
Coconut oil
Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Glycerin
Jojoba Oil
Emu Oil
Vitamins A, D3, and E
Various essential oils

Why I use it: to give my hair a long lasting moisturizing treatment
When I use it:  Once a month on rotation with a hot oil treatment
How I use it: Apply mixture to dry hair, when possible, from root to tip for 45 mins either sitting on the steamer or with a wool hat

Moisturizing Butter
Shea Butter
Coconut oil
Jojoba oil
Jamaican Black castor Oil
Glycerin

Why I use it: to moisturize and style my 4 year old’s hair
When I use it: every week after washing her hair
How I use it:  Apply it generously to her wet hair root to tips

Scalp Oil Mixture
Jojoba oil
Coconut oil
Tea tree essential oil

Why I use it: To add moisture and dandruff conditioning to my scalp and hair
When I use it: Mostly when my hair is flat ironed and it needs to be oiled due to dryness
How I use it: Apply with a dropper to my scalp and ends of hair

Hot Oil Treatment
EVOO
Coconut Oil
Wheat Germ Oil
JBCO
Tea tree Oil
Emu Oil

Why I use it: To provide deep penetrating moisture to my hair and scalp
When I use it: Once a month on rotation with DC
How I use it: apply warmed mixture to hair and scalp