Braidout Styles

So, this continues my ''messing with the braidout'' to come up with cute Up-do's and stuff.

It's nothing awesome, but I like it.

The back: I scooped the back of my hair up (I like the look doing this method gives) and I pinned it in the middle.

I used about 4 or 5 bobbypins to make sure it's secured -- since it's pretty loose back there.

The front: I swooped the front to the left and pinned it. :) I like.

The Back: I had taken the pins out and pinned everything to the side (more than to the middle) to see if I liked the look better.

Side: This angle shows how messy this style is. Because I just grabbed and pinned.

Overall, I love it. This one goes into the ''style file'' :)

I'll keep messing with braidouts to see what other messy do's I can slap together.

Messing With The Braid-Out

...For the sake of coming up with new styles and looks.

I braided over an old braid and curl a few days ago.
I just sprayed it with water since there was conditioner (Hello Hydration + Suave pro.) left over from the braid and curl.

So I tried to do a little something with some bobby pins and I don't think it came out that terrible.

Excuse the pictures, I was working with my webcam and a mirror.

I pinned the sides back, creating a pouf. Then I pulled the back up (holding the nap and moving my hands up) and pinned it in the middle.
Then I just used more pins to hide most of the hair that was sticking out.
And BAM!

The front pouf -- I didn't want to make it too large

 I'll use (old) braid outs for experimenting with styles and keep you guys posted.
...'till next time...

I Think I Need Something New

I'm getting really tired of looking the same every day...every week.

I always wear my braid/twist and curl the same! Either all down, pulled back with a headband or pulled up into a ponytail.

Or every so often I'd get the itch to do a little something with some bobby pins.But even that never looks any different.

I did another braid and curl on Friday the 8th, and this is how I wore it looks:

I pinned it back with bobby pins and got the same look I would with a headband! It's really sad.

But I don't really like this braid and curl, so I am going to use this opportunity to mess with it and come up with some new styles.

We'll see what that will look like...

'till next time

2nd Day Braid And Curl

 This is the second day wearing my Braid And Curl. It is still looking so good.

I'm actually surprized that it still looks good-- even if it is only the 2nd day-- because this style was done on dirty hair.

I just sprayed (with water) and added a little bit of Hello Hydration conditioner and sealed with Olive oil, then again that's probably the reason it still looks good.

Soft & Fluffy Braid Out

I have been enjoying more lengthy braid outs through my streched hair, achieved by braiding dry or damp hair.

The wetter the hair the tighter and shorter the curls and the dryer the hair the looser and longer the curls.

Last night I added a little more water than intended so the curls were a little tight, but I lightly pulled the curls after I took out the braids out to get a little more length.

Candy-Scented Hair!

My hair styled with SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie

My hair smells so delicious!!! And what has it smelling so yummy? My SheaMoisture products.

When I got home from taking my last final on Wednesday the 22nd, I thoroughly washed my hair (for the first time in weeks!) with the Deep Cleansing Shampoo[sulfate-free] for dry, itchy hair (because I have scalp issues...yea, it sucks). I'll do a separate review on the shampoo if anyone's interested.

I didn't however have time to deep condition (as usual), but I shampooed, conditioned and de-tangled with suave naturals conditioner and I styled with SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie.


SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie Versus the Suave Professionals Conditioner??

I was soo excited to try these products (they were not gifts from the company or anything) when I got them!
BUT, I was disappointed!

I was shocked that a product that has such moisturizing ingredients, left my hair feeling so mediocre!
I actually compared the curl smoothie to my other product, Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter conditioner...And I liked the Suave better!

The Suave Professionals left my hair softer and with less frizz than the SheaMoisture. I'm not sure if that was because of the olive oil that I added, but even with that, I was still upset that a $3 product worked so much better than a $10 product.
I had pictures for the Suave twist-out, but they didn't upload. I'll do a separate post on this as well though.
Pictures of SheaMoisture results:

Pros:
1. My hair was a bit shiny and bouncy (although I got about the same shine and bounce with Suave)

2. It smells great!

Cons:

1. Not moisturizing enough/ a bit drying to my hair

2. Not enough frizz control (I got more frizz control with suave)

Although I love this product for it's smell, I will not re-purchase because it doesn't moisturize enough.

My December Hair and Products

Hey Ladies,

I have some new products that were given to me as early Christmas presents! Yay!


I'll be reviewing Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner. And also Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Deep Cleansing Shampoo.

So, if you're interested, look out for that (after final exams lol).



For now, I just wanted to post how my hair has been since the beginning of December.


Yup! In chunky twist and under my bonnet. When I have to go out -- School, Church or just to hang out and relax -- I put a hat on top of my bonnet and head out.
When I get back home, I take off the hat.



However, because I don't want free form locks, every other day or so I take out each twist individually, wet it, apply a little conditioner if needed, de-tangle and re-twist! That's about it when It comes to maintainance!



In my winter routine post, I wrote about the different styles I wear with my hat.
This winter protective styling thing is easier than I thought.

There are LOTS of benefits:
~ Most obvious is length retention
~ Saving product since I'm not completely re-styling every week
~ More time to do what I need to do: currently studying for final exams
~ Easy cute style for going out: Of I'm invited to go out on short notice and I want to ditch the hat, I can easily take out my twist and have a beautifully defined twist-out that I can style however I want!

I just love it!!


Year's end is going to catch me in Georgia though, so we'll see how that will go.



Are you protective styling for the winter?

Current Winter Routine

I think it can be agreed that winter and curly hair aren't the best of friends. For the past few winters, I have not giving my hair any special care or attention.

There were winters (most recent- last year) when I would treat my hair just the same as I did in the summer. And needless to say, my hair didn't respond too well.

This winter, my current (as it may change) is as follows:

Wash Day:
1. Shampoo in braids (once every 2 weeks to a month) with either Dr. Miracles or Suave Professionals (newest purchase)
2. Condition/ de-tangle
3. Deep Condition (sometimes I don't have the time to DC, but I try and make the time)

Style:
Chunky Twist! About 10 medium size chunky twists all over, with either Herbal Essences Hello Hydration or Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner.

Wearing The Twist:
Since it's winter I get to 'hide' my hair under hats! So unless I'm going out someplace special or I just want to wear my hair out, my hair will be hidden under hats.

The only parts of my hair that will be exposed will be the very front, which I will be using as 'bangs'.
1. Some days, I will loosen and separate the twists and pin it to the side
2. other days I'll loosen, but not separate- as to have the thick curls hanging out the hats
3. I will also have the twist peeking out without loosening and pin them back or to the side
4. And finally, I'll loosen all the twists and wear a twist out

These variations will hopefully help me to not become bored with the protective style.
I will also be doing 'touch ups' to keep the twists moisturized, by wetting and sealing with olive oil or Shea butter, or both.

Out And About- Twist Out

This was the way I wore my hair yesterday. I took all of the twists out and wore it down. I rolled the sides (toward the back) and pinned them.

I also rolled the very front section and pinned it back. From the front it resembled a pouf.

the back

The entire style resembled a fro-hawk. I liked it!

I labeled this post as 'winter routine' also because, this is part of my winter routine that I'm working on. The majority of the week, my hair will be kept in chunky twists and under a hat and maybe 2 or 3 days, I'll wear a twist out. So far, so good!

Today's Hair- More Of The Same

Although I planned on changing it up for today, I wore my hair basically the same as yesterday. I really wasn't in the mood for anything much. It was very cold in NY today and so this hat was once again the best option (it's layered and thick enough for cold weather).
The only 'change' in this style was that I let a few curls hang out of the hat.

I need to get some more of these winter hats. So cute, they are.

Looking forward to finding some more ways I can wear this (and other) hat(s) as a part of my winter protective styling.

The Kinks And Curls Are Back-- A Popular Protective Style

Yup that's right! The good ole Beret with minimum hair exposure. I only have one beret (the one I'm wearing), but I'm thinking about getting a few more, because I'm liking this style! It's so winter appropriate.

I really need to protect my hair this winter. I had a lot of breakage over the past few months and winter is usually a hard time for my hair, so protective styles are a must!

For this style I put my wet and oil-sealed hair in about 10 chunky twist on Monday the 29th and on day one, that Tuesday, I pulled the super-shrunken twists in to a low side-'bun' and slapped on a regular hat (the gray hat with red designs I wore in one of my previous post).

On Wednesday the 1st, I loosened the right front-twist, finger combed the roots and pinned it to the side and secured on (with booby pins. It was a Windy day) my beret.

Today's was basically the same look, except I loosened the left front-twist, finger combed and swept it over and pinned it to the right side. Doing this gave the hair a fuller look.
I want to change it up for tomorrow, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it.

On Saturday, I'm going out, so I'm going to wear a twist-out, I'm going to pull it up into a pineapple for the night and wear it down again on Sunday for church. However, Sunday night, I'm thinking of re-twisting for the protective style on Monday.
That's my plan, but we'll see how things actually go.

Underneath The Hat!- chunky twists revealed :)

Today's Look--Tucked up and Away

I've been trying to prepare my hair (and myself) for winter styling.
Last winter, I was terrible to my hair--I wore it big and out nearly 90% and of course, It suffered. It dried out, tangled and broke.

Now, a year smarter :) I have decided to do protective styles at least 50% of the time this winter: tucked in, twisted up, pulled and hidden to the back--the works.

Earlier this week I wore a bun using my sock donut bun. Today I also wore something bun-like.
I pulled my hair into a pony tail, took the hair (hanging out the pony tail) and pulled it to the front and pinned it down with bobby pins. I loved the delicious volume! And it's a protective style--so it's a win-win, right?

These pictures were taken after the day (very windy day)

Stress Plus Neglect Equal Breakage?

The past few weeks have been stressful for me for many different reasons and I had no time to take care of my hair. I haven't deep conditioned and I've been combing through my dry hair, to 'preserve' a style, which is completely horrible. With no deep conditioning plus extra manipulation, breakage was inevitable.

I am now working to combat the little breakage:
- First I put my hair in a manageable style: two strand twist (these twist are bigger than my previous ones.)
-I then trimmed the ends. I realized that I had a LOT of split ends. I know when I need to trim, but I don't always have the time to do it and then it accumulates and gets worse.
-The next thing that I will do is deep condition. I bought some Aussie 3 Minute miracle and I plan to deep condition with that and some extra virgin olive oil. The next time I deep condition, I'll add an egg for protein.