Quick Co-wash & my new (diy) Crochet Wig!

Hey peeps!

So I did a quick cowash about an hour before doing this post and I must say it was well needed. I have been moisturising daily with my little spritz and sealing with Shea Butter but sometimes you need a little extra moisture.. Hence the quick cowash. Here's how my #WashDayExperience went:

Conditioner: a little Tressemme Naturals conditioner I had left + Hello Hydration conditioner + warm water. I currently have my hair in half canerows (what some call cornrows) and half mini twists (I attempted to do my full head but got lazy half-way).

Leave ins: my diy moisturising spritz  + sealed with Shea Butter.

Now on to this crochet wig I made. Here are some pictures #excitement:

And it was easy to do! 

All I needed was 3 packs of marley hair, a mesh weaving cap, crochet/latch hook needle, wig clips (optional) and a mannequin head (or someone else's lol). It took me a little while to do because (1) I bought 2 packs and had to go back to the store some days after to get another pack,  (2) I took a couple breaks whilst making the wig and (3) I don't even remember why it took me a while lol. All you have to do is crochet the holes of the mesh weave cap! Genius!  

In any case, it turned out great and I don't think I'll ever do another set of crochet braids for now! Crochet braids can sometimes put stress on the edges so this is a GREAT alternative. With this wig, I take it off, I moisturise and wash my hair when I need to.. it's awesome! 

Guys, you will not be disappointed if you try this style. I feel like a hairstylist and I'm telling everybody (even those who didn't ask) that I did it ☺. 

I hope you guys get to try this style because it's soo good. 

Be well peeps

Gibbie. 

Read more →

Wash Day Prep: Crochet Havana Twists

Hi guys!

I took down my last protective style - which felt very moisturized on the take-down by the way - the crochet braids with afro kinky hair.. Only to install another one! Lol. This time, I installed a crochet braids "Havana Twists" version! All these exclamation marks are because the install turned out well lol! Anyhoo, more of that later. Here's how my #WashDayExperience went:

[1] Applied a 10:1 ratio ACV rinse to my scalp and massaged it in for a bit.

[2] Applied the remaining VO5 Tea Therapy Clarifying Conditioner I had left and some Tresseme Naturals conditioner to further clarify my scalp.

[3] Deep Conditioned with a mixture of Tresseme Naturals conditioner, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration conditioner and Castor oil. After ensuring the mixture was saturated throughout my strands, I put my trusty shiny steam cap on and let it sit for about 35 minutes.

[4] Air dried my hair for about 20 minutes.

[5] Applied my DIY Leave-in, Castor oil and Shea Butter mix. Then, I put my hair in hair ties/bands so it would stretch in preparation for my protective style.

Eventually, it took too long to dry so I took the hair ties out and let it air dry.

Then I went on to my install.

The hair was pre-twisted before the install so, after doing a "two-braids-meet-one" braid pattern, I crocheted the twists in. Here are some pictures of the result:

I think it turned out well. I plan to wear this style for 4 weeks.. But we'll see how that goes. How was your wash day? Let's hear it! 

 

 

In the mean time,

Be well. 

Gibbie 

Read more →

Wash Day: Crochet Cowash Quickie

Hi there,

So I've been wearing my crochet braids with afro kinky hair for about 2 weeks now and, because I've been experimenting with styles and such, I've actually changed the curl pattern & texture of the hair. I've manipulated it soo much that it's become super dry. Nonetheless, I've been wearing it and I'll be wearing it til the wheels come off (.. Or until it reaches the 3 week or more mark).. But that's what synthetic hair is for, right? Lol I loved it. Here's a picture of how I've been wearing it EVERY. DAY. :

Anyhoo, on to my #WashDayExperience:

[1] Saturated my hair with a 8:1 ratio of ACV & water and massaged my cornrows and scalp for about 5 mins

[2] After rinsing the ACV mix out, I again saturated my hair with a mixture of Tresseme Naturals (first time trying this - finally) + Castor oil + Aloe Vera juice.

The remainder of the mixture was put on the extensions (because they were DRY and TUSTY). I combed the extensions out, put them in braids and then Rinsed everything out. I let the extensions stay in braids until I'm ready to hot water them again.

[3] After rinsing I let my hair dry for about 15 minutes, then applied my DIY Leave-in (aloe vera juice + boiled water + coconut oil + Castor oil + a tups of conditioner) to every cornrow and re-twisted my leave out using the LOC method.

I must say my hair is steadily coming back to life. I think the "crispy" reaction was due to the imbalance of the moisturising/detangling mix I use and not following up with the LOC method (I keep leaving off the "C"). It's behaving much better now. Next up, the takedown and another protective style install. All in all, all is well. 

Be well, 

Gibbie

Read more →

Wash Day: A Thorough Deep Condition & PS fail

I rather, my curl-friend Trudy did a "shingling" or what others would call a "Wash & Go" on my hair on Tuesday. I used water, extra virgin olive oil and Curls Unleashed gel to smooth the hair until ,y curls set. That lasted until thursday. It isn't for me..it was what seemed like a crazy amount of gel to get my hair to form some curls - it was almost like I was forcing my hair into something it's not. I did realise however, that there are at least three (3) textures on my head: curly in the middle and crown, little to no curl definition almost everywhere else and a straight section at the front of my hairline. Crazy. Anyhoo, here goes my #WashDayExperience:

[1] Cowashed with VO5 Tea Therapy Clarifying Conditioner. I did this to get out the crazy amount of gel residue that was in my hair. This conditioner is more moisturising than the VO5 Herbal Escapes Clarifying Conditioner and it's the best VO5 conditioner I've used thus far. After rinsing it out, my hair felt softer than expected and I was happy.

[2] Deep Conditioned with Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment for about 1 hour. I put my hair into five (5 sections), went through and detangled each section, then added some of the DC at the ends and sealed the sections with some castor oil. I was using this product during my texlax and transitioning period and it worked well then. I was searching for a new DC and I would start with an old faithful.

[3] Cowashed with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration conditioner.

[4] Air dried for about 25 minutes.

[5] Added my DIY leave in + castor oil + DIY shea butter mix.

[6] Flat-twisted my hair and left in until the next day. And on Friday night, I twisted my hair with some marley hair extensions. I was inspired by NaturalRose on YouTube (love her voice), where she installed marley hair extensions as a protective style see link here). It was simple and it was easy and I liked it.

I underestimated a couple of things: 1) my hair's density/thickness 2) my technique (still don't know where I went wrong) and 3) how many packs of hair I would need - I had to use 2 packs..and even now my hair is jumbled with hair sticking out under the extensions. I didn't like it. Here's a picture of how it turned out:

The plan was to keep the style in for 2 weeks..but if it stays in any longer I'm going to poke and prod at it, which would defeat the purpose of a protective style. So that's that.

Some observations I've noticed from my wash days of late: 

• I had to readjust my technique for applying product. I am now just noticing that when applying product, I tend to put the product on the top of my hair and "rub it up". Madness. Knowing that now, I've started to section my hair off, go through my hair with the product, applying from root to tip on all strands and a little extra on the ends. I hope no damage has been done. My hair ends have been feeling a little rough so I surmise that has something to do with it. If more deep conditioning doesn't result in better ends, I'll be snipping them off.
• 
  
• I have also noticed that my hair doesn't like "out" styles. It gets soo dry so easily. And, since I'm not really that verse on combing my hair at this length (still waiting on that length for roll, tuck and pin styles lol), I think I'll be doing more protective styles just to be on the safe side.

I hope you all had great wash days as well and I look forward to reading them all.

Be well,
Gibbie

Read more →

Wash Day: Yarn Locs Take-down, Protein Treatment & A Newbie

Hi all,

I finally finally woo-lawd took out my yarn locs on Thursday after having them in for 9 weeks. I didn't miss my hair this time but I was tired of seeing the style in my hair. It was fuzzy and although that added to the "realness" of the style, I was just plain ol' tired of seeing it. Prior to the take-down, I did my regular weekly co-wash and did a tea rinse to reduce the amount of shed hairs I expected to see when it was time to take down the style. To aid with the take-down, I used some of the diluted conditioner mix I used for my co-wash, finger-detangled each section of hair taken out of the loc, then twisted every 2 pieces I took down. It took a little time to complete, after which it looked like this:

Since it was late when I finished, I let the twists stay in, rolled and pinned my hair (word to Rachie) and wore it to work. I also did a little snip of the ends and let the twists stay in for wash day - not about that hours-long detangling life. So without further ado, here goes my #WashDayExperience:

[1] Shampooed with Creme of Nature Sulfate-free Moisture & Shine shampoo thrice. I got a little carried away - but in my defence, my hair hadn't been properly cleansed in over 2 months!

[2] Applied warm Organics Hair Mayonnaise and let it sit for about 6 minutes. This has always felt like a strong protein treatment for me (it would appear I'm a bit protein sensitive) so I limit use of this to when I think I need it.

[3] Followed up with warm Herbal Essences Hello Hydration moisturizing conditioner (HEHH) and some castor oil and let it sit for about the same time as the hair mayonnaise. I have been hearing rave reviews from ev-ry-body about this conditioner, so when I finally found it in the supermarket (and for $597 Jamaican Dollars too!), I grabbed it. By the time I was through lathering up, the twists had started unravelling.

[4] T-shirt dried the excess water and let it air dry for about 15 minutes.

[5] Applied my DIY Leave-in (now with HEHH:)) and DIY Shea Butter mix, finger detangled, then re-twisted my hair.

Results?

The Herbal Essences Hello Hydration moisturizing conditioner gave me a lot of slip and after the conditioner was rinsed out, my hair felt sooo soft! As it started to dry however, it was back to its regular coarse self (my hair is naturally coarse to the touch). Despite my hair texture though, the strands felt (somehow) hydrated. Methinks this conditioner is staying! 

I'm also on the look-out for a good deep conditioner, so pleasee throw your suggestions this way!

Overall, my hair looks a lot fuller and appears to be thriving with protective styling. I plan on putting in another protective style (a loose one since my hair didn't get much of a break between styling) on either Saturday or Sunday (my birthday is in the following week \o/), and let that stay in for at least a month or so.

I hope everyone had a great Wash Day as well. Cheers!

Be well,
Gibbie

Read more →

Wash Day - Oldie But Goodie (Or Is It?)

Hello there,

I did a Wash Day about 2 weeks ago but since it was exactly the same as my last post I didn't want to do a repeat. 

This week however, since my Alberto V05 Clarifying Conditioner is finished, I decided to fall back on an oldie but goodie. 

My trusty Tresemme Moisture Rich conditioner. 

In truth, even if I had more of the V05 Clarifying Conditioner, I would've parked it this wash day anyway. That's because although it clarifies my hair well and is a good rinse out conditioner, my hair would feel a bit dry when I took down the "chiney bumps" (bantu knots) I left out at the back of my head. 

The Tresemme Moisture Rich conditioner is one I have used since the start of my hair journey because 1) it's moisturising 2) you can buy a big bottle of it and, 3) it's cheap. Of late however, it fell in the 'trust issues' department because I've been noticing the effects of its "cones". Tresemme Moisture Rich has a number of "cones" (Dimethicone, Amodimethicone) that, no matter how hard I try to wash out the conditioner, there is still some left in and by weekend I would've had enough build-up that I'll have to clarify again (protective style or not). 

That being said, I could bear the "cone" build-up this time around and since I intend to clarify anytime I use it, it was okay by me. So here goes this #WashDayExperience: 

[1] Lifted buildup from my scalp using ACV + Water mix (1:4) with some finger-pad-rubbing. 

[2] Co-washed with Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner + Warm Water (50/50) mix + Coconut Oil (to the point where my natural hair ends in the Locs). 

[3] Rinsed with cold water. 

[4] Towel dried for 20 minutes. 

[5] Put in my DIY Leave-in. 

[6] Wrapped Locs with scarf (happening now) and I'll keep it on until the next morning. 

When showering I unconsciously turned in the shower and got the body of one-half of the Locs wet (((scream))). I know it's going to take me a little longer to dry but I plan on changing scarves around my locs to prevent that icky feeling against my skin.

I think I'm getting a little tired of these faux locs, probably since they've been in for 7 weeks now, so I'll be taking them out shortly. 

That's all for Wash Day this time around! 

Be well, 

Gibbie

Read more →

Yarn Locs Wash Day (Without the heavy head!)

So this is the second time I've washed my Yarn Locs since they've been installed and tomorrow will make it 4 weeks since they've been in. The first time I washed these locs I was already vowing I would never wash them again and would wear them until it was time to take them out because they are SO HEAVY WHEN WET. But, since then, I've come up with a way to wash the locs without it feeling like the world was literally on my shoulders. And that is..banding.

Yep, BANDING.

It's the same technique used by many a naturalista to stretch their hair without heat and is done by putting scrunchies/ouchless bands/elastic (if they are being put on extensions) at even intervals which elongates the hair. I used the Banding Technique to elongate the hair so only my scalp and where my hair ends in the yarn locs end are cleansed and moisturised, and as such lessened the probability of the entire length of the locs getting wet. Because, Wet Locs = Heavy Locs. I banded the locs at even intervals and left space so I could get to my scalp and individual locs with relative ease. Here's a picture of how I did it:

Now on to my #washdayexperience:

[1] Lifted buildup from my scalp using ACV + Water mix (1:4).

[2] Co-washed (only to the point where my natural hair ends in the Locs) with Alberto VO5 Herbal Escapes Clarifying Conditioner + Warm Water mix and let it sit while I showered.

[3] Rinsed with cold water.

[4] Air dried and T-shirt dried for about 15 minutes.

[5] Put in my DIY Leave-in (again, only to where I thought my natural hair ended).

[6] Wrapped Locs with scarf and kept it on until the next morning.

It still takes a while to dry but majority of the locs weren't wet and as such was not heavy on the head. To avoid that gross feeling of damp extensions on your shoulder or body, just wrap with a scarf and secure it. Ta-da! Wash Day over!

Dassit!

Be well,

Gibbie

Read more →

TWA Wash Day

Better late than never, right? :)

[1] Detangled this is a Pre-poo, right? with Castor oil, Coconut Oil & water mix.

[2] Shampooed x2 with Creme of Nature Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo.

[3] Tea Rinsed with green tea. I find when I don't do a tea rinse I'll see quite a number of hairs, be it shed hairs or breakage, so this step is here to stay.

[4] Deep Conditioned with VO5 Herbal Escapes Clarifying Conditioner, Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner and Castor Oil. It was whatever I had on hand. I had some chores to do on the front lawn so I put a plastic bag over my head and went to work.

[5] Applied Roux Porosity Control and let it sit for 1-2 minutes.

 The Results

                                    After the rinse                                                  Texture shot :)                    

                

[6] Air dried until hair was about 75-80%.

[7] Applied my DIY Leave in + Shea Butter mix.

[8] Flat-twisted hair into 6 twists and let it stay in my hair until it was time for my protective style to be put in.

One thing I've noticed about my hair is, even when a comb hasn't run through it in a week, detangling is still easy peezy after I put a water and oil mix in. Lawks! If I knew it would be this easy to detangle my hair I would've cut my hair sooner! Also, the curls seen in the texture shot just vanishes whenever my hair gets dry and my hair clumps up - that's all I get. Sometimes I wish it would stay as it is when it's washed but it has never turned out that way. Ah well, such is life. I plan to put in a protective style sometime this week and that's what I'll continue doing, keeping in line with my short and long term hair goals.

Hope you guys had a great wash day as well.

Be well,
Gibbie

Read more →

Wash Day - Teenie Weenie Afro Edition!

And what better way to do it through The Wash Day Experience! 

The braids are out after a 5 week stint. Here's a shot of my hair after the take-down:

I was feeling myself a bit :)

Now it's time to go alone with my twa - at least for this week. Here what I did on my last (Saturday) wash day:

[1] Deep Conditioned with Organics Hair Mayonnaise. I let it stay in my hair for about 10 minutes with heat then rinsed it out. I haven't done a protein treatment in a while and since I had the braids in, it needed some strengthening.

[2] Shampooed with Creme of Nature Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo.

[3] Oil Rinsed with Castor Oil

[4] Conditioned with Tresemme Moisture Rich conditioner to rinse the excess oil out.

[5] T-shirt dried my hair to about 85% (which takes about 30 minutes).

[6] Moisturised with my DIY Leave-in + castor oil + Softsheen-Carson Optimum Oil Therapy (don't think I'll ever use this again).

[7] Tied a Du-Rag around my hair and went about doing some errands. 

Wash Days are pretty much smooth these days as 1) I have little hair on my head and 2) once water or conditioner is in my hair, detangling sessions are a breezeee :)

Hope everyone's wash day went well! I'd love to hear about it.

Be well,

Gibbie

Read more →

Crotchet Braids Take down & Wash Day: Hair Update No. IV

Hi there! *waves*

It's been a while since I've blogged about "le hair". I was waiting on all negative vibes about the breakage and such I had and was just soaking up all information on hair (mainly my hair "type") on YouTube, other blogs and asking questions wherever I could to get as much information as I could.

Since my last post I haven't done anything to my hair except do a consistent moisturise & seal routine and leaving my hair alone. It was one day shy of four (4) weeks since I put in the style and it was time yo take it out.  I carefully took down the crotchet braids and carefully de-tangled my hair before doing a wash day. The "Wash Day" term was literal as it took the better part of a day to get all of it done and I chanced nothing in almost all of the steps.

And now, products used in today's wash:

Read more →