New Season: New Discoveries!

Pomp & Pony twist out

Hello natural beauties! How have you been? Well, its back to school time for so many and we are approaching the fall season and its time to get back down to business. I am back in school this semester and it is already consuming my "free" time! So with that being said I will be running back to my protective styling schedule asap! For the last month I've been experimenting  and I've made a few discoveries good and bad, and I wanted to share them. My  first re- discovery is that I can NOT wear my hair out in a twist out  for more than one day without re-twisting or I will have heck to pay! 

4 or 5 day twist out

In my quest to find quick low manipulation hair styles, my hair has been out more than I'd like. I typically twist or put in braids to protect and even though I love those styles I don't always like how long they take to put in or take down.  So I did try a low manipulation twist out style. No separating or re-twisting. My  plan was to untwist one time, and let may hair stay clumped.  I only moisturized, seal, put up in a pony tail and go. No manipulation.   My hair looked great and this seemed to be working..until I discovered, that huge thick knots had  formed and "closed" the ends of my twists at the nape!?? My ends were in a cacoon of sorts!  (This is the longest and curliest part of my hair.) It seriously felt like my ends were forming buds!  I couldn't believe that my hair was locking in a twist out?  Before it was over I had to cut out a couple  huge knots that I was almost sick over. So, now I know, I am not that girl!  I have to re-twist or re-plait my hair every single night if I want to wear it out . So much for low manipulation with "out "styles. 

Twisted Bantu knot out attempt

Second Discovery: My hair will NEVER dry in Bantu knots within an acceptable time.  I know that bantu knots take a while to dry but I figured if I put them in on hair that is 90% dry and add  a little product for hold it would be fine.  I sat under a hooded dryer for about 45 minutes, went to bed for 8 hours, and then used a blow dryer extensively the next  morning and my hair was still just as damp as it was when I set the knots? The above photo show my results. Not bad  at all, if my hair would have been dry, and stayed that way. But because my hair was damp in that photo and I ended up with a full fro within an hour!  I don't mind fros, but I didn't spend hours trying to  perfect that style to end up with a fro? I've always wanted to try bantu knots but this style seems very timing consuming to pull off on thick natural hair. So I will reserve knot outs for when my hair is straight or when I have 2 days for my knots to dry! Which I don't know when that will ever be.  I'd have to be snowed in because I'm not going anywhere in those knots. lol 

   

My Good Discovery:  The Jumbo Rake Comb by Hercules Sagemann! Oh my goodness I am in love with this comb. I saw a you tube video by Longhairdon'tcare2011 on detangling twists, and she was using this comb. I listened to her explanation and I watched the video on how the company make their combs. It is a handmade seem-less comb, with beveled teeth. I saw other videos of women who were impressed with the combs as well, and said how it made a big difference in their regimens. I've always heard seem-less was better but figured it couldn't make that much of a difference. But let me tell you it does!  Most of you know that detangling my hair is my biggest gripe. When using this comb my it just glides through my hair no snagging or ripping. I do finger detangle first  to remove  larger tangles and knots and then follow up with this comb. And as wide as the teeth are, it pulls all of  my shed hair out.  Before, I was using 3 to 4  detangling tools, when you include my fingers. I am  now down to 1! This comb also allows me to detangle larger sections so my sessions move a lot quicker.  Another plus,  my hair does not have to be sopping wet with conditioner when I detangle.  I can use this rake when my hair  is lightly misted and it still glides through.  Okay so that's it, I'm done!   I am excited to see how the quality of my strands will improve with this big change. If you are interested in trying this comb you can purchase it from http://hotcombs.net/

So what's new with you? Have you made any new discoveries good or bad? Please share!  

Well until Next time!!!!           

What is Pre-pooing and why you should do it!

Prepping for my  Pre-poo Treatment

If you've been in and around the online natural hair community for any length of time you've definitely heard of  the term "Pre-Pooing."  If by chance you have no clue what I am talking about, Pre-poo is our way of saying Pre-Shampoo or Pre-cleansing treatment. Basically it's what you do to your hair prior to washing it.  

Before I understood the benefits of Prepooing I did them on my hair because, well everyone else was doing them! As a new natural we are all grasping for straws trying any and everything that may seem to work for others. After a while we all find our own rhythm and end up doing what works for our hair, and our life style.   Over the years I've done away with a lot, but Pre-pooing is one of those treatments that will always be a permanent fixture in my regimen and here's why!   

The Benefits

 It prevents damage!  Believe it or not,  simply washing your hair can stress your strands out.  When filled up with water the constant swelling and shrinking can cause Hygral Fatigue over time.   Our hair LOVES water so this sounds like an unavoidable problem. Coconut oil is a common ingredient suggested for prepoo mixtures because this oil has the ability to penetrate very deep into the hair strands. It helps our hair  receive  the right amount of water so you don't have to worry about stressing your strands out over time.  If you are someone who loves to do  wash n goes or conditioner washes throughout the week, you should definitely add prepooing to your regimen!  

It Softens knots and tangles: Have your ever taken your hair down from a style that you've been sporting all week? Maybe a wash n go "shrunken" Puff, or a bun that you've been wearing, or any protective style that's been up for a  while?  If so, you know  its no fun trying to tackle your hair in the shower when its in that state.   Adding a Pre-poo mixture before adding water will help soften and remove tangles. This will also allow trapped shed hair to slide out, and you can easily remove knots without having to cut them out!   

Mini-Twist take down prior to a prepoo session 

   

It's best to get all of this worked out before you begin washing your hair.   It will save you frustration and it will save your hair! 

What is in the mixture? Everyone's mixture will vary depending on what they deem necessary for their hair.  My mixture is  a concoction  consisting of  organic coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, and instant conditioner. 

Pre Poo Mixture added

Detangling with PrePoo Mixture

My Process:  First I add organic coconut oil to my hair to soften and separate. Also by applying this oil first I'm allowing the oil time to penetrate deep into my strands.  I then mix together my instant conditioner and extra virgin olive oil, (I like conditioners with a lot of slip). I section my hair and begin to smooth and rake the mixture through. This is where I begin  removing tangles, shed hair, and knots.  (fyi: I wear a LOT of protective styles that stay in for 2 to 4 weeks at a time, so yah)

Hair saturated in the mixture

Once my hair is saturated and tangle free; I plait it in sections or add small buns and put on a processing cap.  I let my hair sit until I think its had enough time to soak up  the prepoo mixture. You can also sleep in this treatment. Sometimes I add  a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil on top of all of this, and sit under a heat cap for 20 mins.    After I rinse, my hair is always very soft and pliable.  Once I've rinsed the prepoo mixture out I proceed with whatever cleansing method I have chosen.   If I've done a thorough job during my pre poo session there is minimal detangling in the steps to follow. There is also no breakage, no knots or snags, no hassle. And that makes me happy!    

If you are already Pre pooing  I hope you continue, and if you aren't you should definitely start! 

Well until next time, keep it healthy and happy...  

How to tackle Tangles and Knots

If you have  kinky tightly coiled hair, you know that tangles and knots come standard, and can be very frustrating.  A simple detangling session or styling mishap does not have to end with you pulling out the scissors.  With  patience and the proper technique you can remove almost any tangle or knot you encounter without having to cut all your hair off!

  Here are some tips on how to minimize tangles  

·         To minimize knots, first finger detangle your hair prior to wetting it. Remove as many  tangles as you can in it's dry state.  You can use oils and a slippery conditioner to help remove large tangles

·         If needed use a shower comb to assist in the detangling

·         Follow with a Denman brush or some detangling tool that will remove all shed hairs (leaving behind shed hairs can cause them to become trapped later which causes severe tangles, knots, and a not so smooth styling session.  

·       After a wash, plait the hair or place the hair in sections in a stretched state (when natural hair is in a stretched state it cannot coil upon itself and become knotted or tangled)

·         Allow the hair to partially dry in a stretched state and then proceed to style your hair

·         After removing protective styles finger comb all shed hairs out of your hair before washing (if you do not do this, once wet all shed hairs will become locked around the other hairs making them almost impossible to remove.

When you encounter Tangles or Knots

·         Don’t Panic, immediately saturate the hair with conditioner and oil, or something that will give you a lot of lubrication

·         Massage the conditioner and oil into the hair strands

·         Do NOT rake downward into the center of the tangle, but slowly pull hairs away from the center of the tangle until all of the tangles are out

·         Try to only use your fingers to remove most of it to cut down on breakage.  Once all the hair is free, you can follow up with your detangling tool to make sure all shed hair is out.

·         If you have a knot, press the product into the core of the knot(this softens and breaks it down), then try to pull hairs away from the center of the knot.

·         Work slowly and very patiently, if you’re frustrated or impatient get ready for the scissors!



To prevent this?

Remember: Detangle w/fingers First

Follow up w/detangling tool

Put into a stretched state



 I can count on one hand how many times I’ve had to cut my hair because there was a knot or tangle that I couldn’t remove.  In most cases, when you follow these tips you can save yourself from an unnecessary trim or hair cut due to  tangles or knots.     Until Next time, keep it Healthy and Happy!