Summer Protective Style Challenge

Summer Protective Style Challenge

So as you know I am a Wash & Go Queen! It is by far my style of choice!!!! Nice and easy. However I am frustrated with my growth. I know that I have constant hand in hair issues and I know that the sun can be extremely damaging and that all the manipulation is damaging as well. 

So I have decided initiate a summer protective style challenge done by the Natural Girls Guide to Beauty. Wearing protective style will aid in hair growth and to minimize hair breakage! The aim of the challenge is to grow healthier, longer, thicker hair over the next 12 weeks. This will be done mainly through low manipulation styling, protective styling and intensive deep conditioning.

How Long…?
The challenge will run for approximately 12 weeks (the entire summer June 21-September 21) I realize I am a little late on this but better late than never. I started this week and just decided to make it official today J.

What are the Stipulations…?

You can choose any protective style, such as braid with extensions, twists with extensions, cornrows with or without extensions and weaves.  You can also do twists with your own hair should you so wish.

The challenge will not be too terribly stringent. Another blogger did this and I thought it was a good idea.

She suggested having the hair being in protective styling for 3 weeks with a week off to enjoy your hair (this will give your hair a break from the stressing of having it bound if you so desire or if your just need a week to set your curls free :)

So to break it down, basically that means 9 weeks of protective styling and 3 weeks off.

June 21-September 21

What is Protective Styling?

RULES:

Daily Moisturizing with glycerin, water and conditioner mix. You can add an essential oil such as tea tree to keep your scalp fresh

• Cleansing with shampoo or chosen cleanser every 2 weeks or more frequent if you work out
• Weekly deep conditioning. Share tips on deep conditioning with braids.
• Scalp and hairline massages with an oil of your choice, preferably Castor oil every 2 days
• Intensive deep conditioning and low manipulation styles on the weeks off
• This is a no heat challenge (except the hooded dryer)
• You must post pics in the Protective style Challenge Photo Album At least once a month, preferably weekly.

Let’s support and encourage each other! I started by trimming my hair, shampooing, deep conditioning doing a protective style with twists.

Summer Protective Style Challenge Photos


Share your weekly/ monthly progress and post your weekly/ monthly styles and pics here by emailing photos to MakeupbyKeiKei.kurlygirl@picasaweb.com

Protective styling allows your hair to rest from daily combing, while retaining moisture. In a protective style the ends are neatly tucked and protected. Some example of protective styles include but are not limited to…

·         Weaves

·         Braids

·         Twists

·         Updos

·         Cornrows

Just because you are protective styling doesn’t mean you can’t neglect your hair and scalp. You must maintain the overall health of your hair. Still was and moisturize. Cover your hair while you sleep.

Low Manipulation Styling examples:

·         Twist outs

·         Braid outs

·         Rollersets

·         Rod sets

·         Straw sets

·         Coil outs

growth frustrations... had to see it to believe it :)

I hate shrinkage! its so frustrating and at times discouraging. Its hard for me to see the growth of my hair since i see myself everyday the change is very subtle. If you are a friend on Facebook you may have heard my frustrations with growth, .... but I took a picture last night and look at the change in my length since April, just two months ago to the day!

 

CUSH Cosmetics! First Impressions

I recently had the opportunity to unearth a new Gem... Cush Cosmetics! Joe Parker of Cush Cosmetics reached out to me via Facebook and asked me to review the product. He personally contacted me and asked about my hair texture, curl pattern, porosity and recommended several products from the Cush line. A few weeks later I received a package with samples of the products. I got one use out of the samples that I tried that day. The end result was phenomenal. I got lots of compliments when I went to our meetup that night. I did a video review of the products that I tried so I won't go into too much detail I'll just share a link to that video.

I contacted Toni Parker since I had a few questions about the products that I had recieved and how to best use them. She was very sweet and very helpful! She recommended I start with:

Extreme Protein Reconstructive Leave In

Hair Treatment

This product contains wheat protein "because it reigns supreme when it comes to strengthening and repairing damaged hair. It penetrates the cortex and replenishes hair by adding cystine, which is an essential amino acid that gives the hair structure. "

Performance: Moisturizes, De-tangles, Repairs, Reconstructs, Conditions, Softens; And for An Added Bonus-It Extends Your Type 2-3 Curls When Left in Hair, Non-Sticky

Nutrients: Rich in Antioxidants: A, C, and E; vitamins D and K, Oleic Acid, Squalene, Carotenes, CoQ10, Flavonoids, Phytosterols, Lycopene

Hair Type: All Hair Types-Especially Damaged Uses: To Reconstruct/Repair Damaged Hair; Styling Aid for Curly Hair, Setting/Wrapping Lotion for Straight, Permed, or Chemically Treated Styles

Multiple Uses:
As a Reconstructor-Use after a Chemical, Color or Thermal Treatment to Protect and Repair hair.
Gel Applications: Setting and Wrapping; Creating Locs; Cutting and Defining Curls; and sleek styles.  Extremely effective on hair type 2-3.

Mango Pomade



"combination of wheat germ oil, which straightens the hair and mango butter and coconut oil, which nourishes, moisturizes, and restores luster to the hair. "

PERFORMANCE:  Moisturizes, Repairs, Conditions, Softens; Straightens, Shines, Promotes Growth, Feels Light to Medium on Hair

NUTRIENTS:  Rich in Antioxidants: A, C, and E; vitamin D

• my hair was hydrated little frizz (if I hadn't run out of the mango pomade probably would have been none)
• the hold was soft but firm
• my curls were well defined
• less shr1inkage
• volume!

would I buy these products again..... absolutely!

Check them out for yourself http://www.cushcosmetics.com/

 

Transitioning to Natural Hair without a 'Big Chop'

I have a couple of really good friends I've been kind of 'coaching'  on their natural hair journey. Natalie transitioned for the last several months and just recently did her big chop. Her hair is growing beautifully. Our hair texture and porosity are pretty similar so I have been able to share alot of information with her.  My line sister has been in talks about how natural just isn't for her for a while but for years she has vocally yearned for the natural look. She's tried straw sets and rod sets but not able to get the look she really wanted. She continued to protest trying it to see if she could do it. I attribute it to nerves. In the last couple of days as we have spoken she has decided to hold off on getting a relaxer. She said she would hold off until the end of the year and make a decision. I believe her last relaxer was about a month ago. What I do know is that she is absolutely not going to do a big chop, at least not at this stage of the game. So I am coaching her through this transitioning phase

As I've stated previously when I went 'natural' there was no formal process no support system no special 'natural hair' products. It just was what it was. that was a little over 10 years ago. My last relaxer was around Christmas 1999. I learned that I was expecting in February of 2000 and decided to go 'chemical free' as a precaution during my pregnancy. In essence I guess I was transitioning. I maintained by doing rollersets and straightening my hair. I really don't remember the flat iron being quite so common then. I had an electric straightening comb and a stove top comb. I kept my hair trimmed regularly. I had to since I was using so much heat with the hot comb and later flat iron. I am not quite sure at what point the relaxer was completely gone but I was getting about an inch trimmed about every 6 weeks.

In the last 3 years as education about natural hair had become more readily available I have been able to better educate myself on how to care for my hair. Also the availability of products for natural hair has helped as well. So for all of you long term transitioners,  you can do it with committment and patience.

1. begin to switch your regimine to include 'natural' products (avoid products with sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum in them)
2. try not to shampoo your hair too often  (use a sulfate free shampoo. The greatest problem with natural hair is dryness. Because of the harsh nature of sulfates- like detergent- they strip the natural moisture from our hair)
3. keep your ends trimmed regularly I would recommend trimming an inch every 4-6 weeks until the relaxed hair is gone.
4. use protective styling/ styling options that allow for less manipulation, strain and heat on your natural/ transitioning hair (Braids, twists, sew ins, rollersets)

It won't be easy but I promise you hair will thank you for it!