So You Want To Be Natural Pt. 4 – Product & Hair Typing

Your tresses will be protected at night now, so let’s get to the products right?. Before that you have to decide if you will purchase products, make your products, or a combination of the two. After doing a lot of researching and learning what products really where i decided to make most of my products like my DC and my moisturizing spritz. It is also at this stage that some nature’s determine their hair type. For some it determines what type of products they will use. Several manufacturers separate products by hair textures and types while other say their products are for any natural. I know my hair type, I only use two products that were directed towards my hair type: my Elasta QP and my Naturalista shampoos are for dry hair. The rest of my products are not specific or I make them myself.

Previous: Pt 3

Next: Pt 5

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 story 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. 

Advertisement

So You Want To Be Natural Pt. 3 – Bedtime Protection

You’re now either sporting your beautiful TWA or you’re  ready to start rocking gorgeous transitional styles (or protective style). Next you’ve got to keep that hair of yours protected when you go to sleep your first night and each and every night for the rest of your natural journey. Our natural tresses are easily damaged by our cotton bed sheets. The cotton robs our hair of moisture causing it to break and it also snags our hair again causing it to break. The tool to stop this…satin! Satin is a type of threading which is smooth without loose threads. It can either be silk, polyester, or nylon  satin or other types if satin. These mentioned are the popular ones. The silk type is more expensive and it feels very sleek on your skin and hair.  You can either invest in satin sheets,  satin pillow case(s), or satin hair bonnet, or all of these products. Either of these satin products are needed to protect your hair from the elements of sleep. I don’t sleep with pillows at all, I just cant…lol so I utilize satin bonnets and silk and polyester scarves.

Previous: Pt 2 Big Chop Or Not
Next: Pt. 4

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 story 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. 

Chronicles of a Dry Itchy Scalp

Some times we have to journal about our issues, good and bad, in order to improve our current situations or to maintain a good state. You can look back on your journal to see what reaction your hair had. You can use it as a guide as to what not to do ever again. The list goes on of the phenomenal ways a journal can help us. And please understand this is not just for hair but for our daily lives as well. Below is a journal of when my scalp becomes dry so I can make it better by seeing what works best for me and when.

1/25 Sunday – wash day; shampoo, protein treatment and moisture DC
1/26 Monday – scalp fine
1/27 Tuesday  – scalp fine
1/28 Wednesday – itching in back
1/29 Thursday – itching all over and a little dry looking but no patches or flakes; oiled scalp
1/30 friday – scalp fine
1/31 Saturday – itching all over

2/1 Sunday –  wash day; cowash, no DC only L.C.O.
2/2 Monday – scalp is okay
2/3 Tuesday – slight itching and dry scalp visible, sprayed with moisturizing mix and sealed with jojoba oil
2/4 Wednesday – scalp fine
2/5 Thursday – scalp fine
2/6 Friday – scalp has some dry patches scattered and little itching
2/7 Saturday little itching
2/8 Sunday wash day; clay wash and L.C.O
2/9 Monday – scalp fine
2/10 Tuesday – scalp fine
2/11 Wednesday – scalp fine
2/12 Thursday – itching
2/13 friday – lots of itching but no sign of dryness (when my hair is dry my scalp looks white) retwisting tonight on old hair without washing for the first time for valentine’s day. Sprayed with water lightly and applied a small amount of Miss Jessie’s Buttercreme.
2/14 Saturday – scalp very itchy and notice dry patches scattered throughout.
2/15 Sunday – wash day; cowash with conditioner, no DC only LCO
2/16 Monday – scalp is fine
2/17 Tuesday – scalp not itching but there are flakes scarcely in my head; no visible dryness
2/18 Wednesday – scalp is fine outside of flakes that are there
2/19 Thursday – scalp is fine, no visible signs of dryness and not a lot of itching
2/20 friday little itching
2/21 Saturday same as Friday
2/22 Sunday same, wash day with protein treatment
2/23 Monday – scalp flaking no itching
2/24 Tuesday – no itching but several dry patches throughout my scalp
2/25 Wednesday – slight itching and scalp very very dry still
2/26 Thursday scalp severely dry
2/27 Friday – still dry
2/28 Saturday still dry more itching
3/1 Co wash day

I’ve learned some things from this month long journal: the shampoo and protein treatment tend to dry my scalp up quiet a bit. On days when I cowash my scalp does not get dry as quickly. What I don’t know is if it’s the shampoo or the protein treatment, or both of them combined. I feel that I have to do both so I’m not going to take them from my regimen. What I will do is oil my scalp the very next day after wash day and every other day there after.

Do you have a problem with your hair? Try journaling and let me know how it’s helped you. 😉

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. 

Product Review: Naturalioius Moroccan Rhassoul 5 in 1 Clay Treatment

As part of my post loc regimen I am trying Naturalioius Moroccan Rhassoul  5-in-1 Clay Treatment.  I’ve always wanted to try a clay cleanser because of its great ties to nature…the earth and totally natural ingredients. This particular clay is a treatment because it does more than just cleanse youe hair. It also conditions, deep conditions, detangler, and works as a leave in conditioner.

When I washed my hair the first round  (I’m a 2 to 3 time washer) I said to myself that I wasn’t going to get it anymore because I’m used to a certain feel, that of shampoos and conditioner. This unconventional texture was weird to me, so I was a little worries that it wouldn’t work. And I also didn’t feel my hair softening immediately like it does with shampoo and especially conditioner.  But by the time I applied the treatment to all four of my hair sections and returned to detangler the first section my hair felt very soft and it Detangled very easily. A love connection has been made! 

While I feel that this product is good for my hair on the flip side I find it to be a little pricey, 19.99 for 12 Oz bottle.   I have to use a lot to cover my hair and get my scalp and the directions do say to use a generous amount. I suspect the bottle will only last me one more use. On my current regimen I’ll be clarifying with this once a month so the 19 bucks will last me two months. It’s cheaper than when I was relaxed..$60 every two weeks in the winter and every week in the summer. So I guess I won’t complain:). Overall I won’t complain the produce has a nice smell it did what it said it would and I love the results.