My current products 2013

 

This past summer I updated my product stash, adding a few new products which have since become my staples.

 

Firstly, for the oldies:

 

 

I've had the Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment for quite a while now, and I occasionly use it to deep condition my braids. The ORS HAIRepair Nourishing Conditioner will probably always be in my product list since it is very effective at softening and smoothing my hair.

 

Since putting in my current set of braids, I haven't deep conditioned as yet. Instead, I've been using my new Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Deep Treatment Masque.

 

 

 

This conditioner is definitely my current favourite! It contains less synthetic materials than mainstream conditioners and can be used as both a deep conditioner and a leave-in treatment. When I wore my transitioning fro some weeks ago, I used this treatment as a deep conditioner and it left my hair very soft and easy to detangle. Now that I'm wearing braids I use it as a leave-in treatment. Need another pro? It smells like pina colada! I fell completely in love the first time I got a sweet whiff from the jar.

 

Also new to my product list are the V05 Moisture Milks Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner in Passion Fruit Smoothie.

 

 

 

I do like the shampoo since I find it to be relatively gentle on my scalp. Unfortunately, it has a very thin consistency which I am not used to. I don't like runny shampoos- they are too messy to deal with for my taste. The conditioner is exactly like the V05 Strawberries and Cream in texture, but I definitely prefer the Strawberries and Cream scent.

 

 



 

 

Finally, I purchased My Honey Child Type 4 Hair Creme from amazon.com, after watching a review by jouelzy on youtube. She got very decent results with hold and moisture when styling her hair, so I decided to try it. When using it to create my transitioning fro I did notice that I get stronger, more moist curls the more product I apply. Since it is an oil and butter based product it has a thick, rich and very sticky texture.

 

 

Besides my trusty jojoba oil, that's my entire product stash! Quite minimalistic, don't you think?

 

Happy hair journey!

~Hatter 

My waist-length braids

Last Sunday my mother finished installing my waist-length braids.

This is the first time I've worn braids in about two years, and I've never had braids so long. I was a bit uncomfortable swinging around all the hair on my head and they also felt quite heavy for the first few days, but I've since adjusted to the weight.

Whenever I saw women with waist-length, or longer, braids I always thought, "Why would anyone want to wear super long extensions??." I assumed that it must be a pain in the neck to take care of them.

Now, I see that they really aren't so annoying, and I love the elegant look I get from wearing the braids cascading around me.

The most annoying thing about them was figuring out how to seal the ends. My mom used 'Xpressions', 100% kanekalon hair, which was very light but tangled very easily when manipulated. I tried plaiting the braids to the very end, then dipped them in boiling hot water. So far, most of the ends have stayed but some are already unraveling.


Here is a tumblr page I found with a lot of inspiration for box braids: iloveboxbraids.tumblr.com


And here is a video of some styles I plan to wear if I'm not lazy.

Yesterday I quickly washed my braids, skipped deep conditioning and proceeded to use a braid spray, then sealed my hair with jojoba oil. Next weekend I'll show my hair some much needed tender loving care by doing a lengthy deep conditioning session.

Love,
~Hatter

Wash Day @ 1 week post relaxer

Last night I washed my hair at one week post relaxer. It was an extremely easy, enjoyable wash since I had smooth, straight roots. I was also surprised that my hair felt extra silky. It might have been due to my coconut oil pre-poo.

This brand is made in Barbados (yay regional products!) but it doesn't indicate whether the coconut oil is 100% raw/organic. Judging from the lack of smell I suspect that it's refined oil. I'll be using this as a pre-poo a few more times to see if it really gave my hair the silky slip I experienced when washing it out of my hair.

After washing and deep conditioning I did a rollerset and I lost very little hair =) That is always something to smile about!

I then sat under the hooded dryer for about 1 hour & 10 minutes, combed out my light, bouncy curls, wrapped my hair and went to bed. This morning I unwrapped my hair, and voila! Soft, swingy hair!

Wash day success!

*Note- In this rollerset I didn't use any moisturizer or leave-in conditioner. To make up for this, I kept my hair verry wet while rollersetting and used some African Pride Olive Oil Miracle Braid Sheen Spray! lol yes I used a braid spray. I have the moisturizing lotion in this brand and I love to dilute it with water as a leave-in while I rollerset. I should definitely review this brand soon.

I also used some Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Wrap/Set Mousse and Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage to help me get soft, full hair.

Products I used when rollersetting my relaxed hair.

Cheers for an easy, enjoyable wash day!

P.S.
What do you think of the new blog design?

~Hatter

University-bound!

Drum-roll please!

I am proud to announce that, as of August 2012, I became a university student! Woot woot!

I now studying for a B. Sc. Psychology, at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad, my home country. (Shout out to all my fellow West Indians! *waves Trini flag proudly*)







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I am so excited for the future!! Hall life is already fun and certainly a new experience. All these crazy people would certainly make an interesting a psychology study! lol

The fire and spirit of the Caribbean is certainly all around me. I really hope that meeting new people (while a terrifying experience) will help me to open up my shy personality.

Living on hall (aka dorm) made me think that I'd have to adapt my hair regimen significantly, but so far things have mostly stayed the same. I pre-poo overnight and shampoo, deep condition and rollerset on the days when I have no class.
At exam time I'll see how much my regimen will have to change. I hope I'll still have time for all my beauty rituals. :)

Being at university has also made me think about my personal development and maturity (those should have been the first points I discussed instead of my hair...right?) I know that I'm among the youngest students to be starting university and this fact is shaping up to be both an advantage and disadvantage.

Postively: I'm getting a head start with my future by aiming to obtain my degree within the next three years since I've graduated sixth form college.
(Note: sixth form college in the Caribbean is something like 12th grade in the US, except college has a two year duration and we sit different exams to the SAT. Also, most degrees at the UWI are three instead of the US four years. :) Its like making up for that extra year at sixth form!)

Negatively: I'm not quite sure that I have the same level of intellectual maturity as many of my colleagues. At many of my classes I'm like, "Oh gooshh why isn't my vocabulary like that?" Or "My gawwd can't I read between the lines?!" lol I guess university is the perfect time for me to focus on improving my err, "critical thinking and communication skills".....eek!

Another point- being underage sucks! I've got limits on the types of events I can attend, (not that I party!! Oh nooo *innocent face*) and of course, who wants to associate with the shrimp?? lol

Okay, rant over.

Despite all of that I am incredibly grateful to be here and I just have to push myself to infinity and beyond! to stay on top of my grades and personal relationships. It helps that I have family here in Trinidad to support me! =)

Even if I had no family. I've got Jesus!


Are you in college/university? How has the experience affected you? Any tips?

Oh the life of a
~Hatter!

Product Review: Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum

Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum

Now that I'm in the States on vacation I've been able to access a lot more products than are available where I live in the Caribbean. For example, last week I was browsing CVS and saw the Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum. Now this wasn't on my wishlist but I remembered reading Jen of justgrowalready.com review it on her blog.

According to Jen the product helped to reduce her breakage significantly. That news was enough for me! lol I bought the Organix and proceeded to test its amazing abilities.

The directions on the back of the product said to use on towel-dried hair. Well, being on a hair journey is all about experimentation ;) So far I've been using it on my dry hair to moisturize my ends. I've also moisturized my hair with my ORS HAIRepair Intense Moisture Creme and then sealed with the Organix.

The serum is quite thick and it has a nice, sweet coconut smell. When I first sniffed the bottle I thought the scent would be too heavy on my hair. When I actually applied it I hardly noticed the smell on my hair!

I've been using this for about four days and I'm pleasantly surprised that it has indeed noticeably cut down on my breakage. I only notice two to three broken strands at most when I comb my hair. I'm excited to keep using it and report my progress. If it continues to meet expectations, I may defer buying the Herbal Essences Touchably Smooth Leave-In Split End Protector and just use the Organix. 

Have you used any Organix products? What are your experiences?

Happy huurrrr-day

~Hatter

Wash Day @ 7 weeks post

Last Tuesday marked exactly seven weeks since my last relaxer. So far so good! =)

Honestly, on this stretch I don't think I have as much new growth as the last time when I was seven weeks post. However, new growth seems to just "hit me" all of a sudden. lool. It's almost as if I go to bed with perfectly manageable growth and the next morning I can't comb through it! As of this week I haven't had that problem so I'm definitely aiming to make at least eight weeks before I relax.

On Thursday I did a rollerset. My second attempt all by myself! =) This is actually my third attempt, but the second time my mother helped me to set the back of my hair.

This is the texture of my new growth at 7 weeks post. My fingers mark the demarcation line.

Full rollerset!

In all honesty, I surprised myself with my results! I set my whole head in about 55 minutes. (Record!)

As can be seen in the pictures, in the front I put the rollers in vertically. I found this easier than putting rollers in horizontally or using the Mohawk method. 

Unfortunately, I used too many rollers in the front, leaving me with only five to set the back sections! LOL

The amount of new growth is uneven across my head because I had patches of telaxed roots from my last relaxer. =( That means this time I relax I have to make sure I don't under-process the areas with the most thickness and texture. 

I'm excited to master rollersetting! =D

How's your hair doing this summer?

Happy hair day!

~Hatter

Experimenting with my regimen

Since I started my hair journey in December of last year I've been on a mission to experiment with a wide variety of products and techniques to find out what works for my hair.
So far, the products I've bought/been using include:

Vitale Olive Oil Deep Moisturizing Shampoo
Neutragena Triple Moisture Shampoo
Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing Conditioner (doesn't quite help with the tangles. Maybe I should add oils?)
Organic Root Stimulator Replinishing Pak (this is a deep conditioner, and my hair loves this!)
Vitale Olive Oil Moisturizer (has a lotion-y consistency but it does the trick)
Coconut to seal (almost out, looks like I'll be making more over the fire! lool)
ORS Olive Oil Wrap/Set Mouse
ORS Olive Oil Glossing Polisher

I bought the ORS Hair Mayonnaise but haven't mustered the courage to use it yet. I'm nervous about whether it will agree with my hair or make it tangly and stiff.

Last week I deep conditioned on dry hair before my shampoo for about 2 hours (didn't originally mean to go so long!) I definately didn't leave it in too long because in I must say that my experience it was AWESHOME. My hair was incredibly soft, had less tangles and less hair came out in the detangling after I washed it out and shampooed with the Vitale. I am definately going to continue deep conditioning on dry hair!

Additionally, I look forward to adding oils in my dc to spice it up. So far I have my coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil and now, eucalyptus oil. I'm going to be mixing the EVOO and eucalyptus oil and applying it to my scalp to see if it helps with the dermatitis and itching. Some tea tree oil might help too!

Other products I want to try: Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave-In Split End Corrector and Neutragena Triple Moisture Silk Leave-In

Oh! Almost forgot. I got my new growth relaxed yesterday! =) Will post more info later on how that went.

~Hatter