Product Quickie: Moisture Milks

I was on the hunt for some new cheap conditioner to do wash n go's with, and stumbled across these!! V05 Moisture Milks. I ended up leaving with the shampoo and conditioner. I like both of these a lot! A little product goes long way. With some shampoos I have to use a ton to get some type of lather, but with this a quarter size amount was plenty. The conditioner worked very well for my wash n go's and I'll definitely be using them again.

Bought from the Dollar Tree for $1 each!!

The fragrance is passion fruit smoothie, and smells amazing! Both the shampoo and conditioner contain soy protein. Protein helps strengthen damaged, or dry hair. After washing my hair it felt super super clean, soft without feeling stripped, and my hair was very shiny. This was my first time using any V05 products and I'm impressed. I'll be on the look out for more V05 products, and deals!

Protein Quickie:

• Soy protein comes from a vegetable source instead of animal
• Hair is actually made of a protein called keratin
• Soy protein is a low fat way to get nutrients without worry's of cholesterol from animal protein
• It helps in hair growth and fights hair loss

~~~~ Another plus of these two products is that they weren't tested on animals! ~~~~

Have you tried either of these products? What did you think of them?

Style Quickie: Fro Hawks!

Fro hawks are super easy to wear, fast to style, and very cute! Love them!! There was a time where all I'd wear were fro hawks. I like them, because you're able to dress them up, or wear them casually. I'm also able to have my curls and big hair; both which I love ^_~"  I also like wearing one half of my hair pulled back....half fro hawk??

Things I use to style: wide tooth comb, essential oil (EO) water mix, conditioner, bobby pins, rollers (sometimes), and hair flowers

Old styles such as twist outs, braid out, knot outs, wash n go's, blowout's, etc. can all be easily turned into a fro hawk....or half fro hawk <~~~ I need a name for this; help me out!



Hawks from Wash n Go's



Fresh highlights done @ a N.E.R.D. concert



Big hair!! @ a Common concert



Wash n go with conditioner only




Photo by: Anne Inez Photography



Hawk from a Twist Out





Other Hawks



Old Roller Set



Use flat twists/braids to protect your sides



You can get away with a fro hawk if you're transitioning by flat twisting or braiding the sides, then roller setting the ends. I wouldn't recommend wearing a fro hawk that's loose for too long. The longer you wear it the more chance there is for your hair to tangle. You don't want to risk damaging or losing any hair. If the style is a protective one using set curls, two strand twists, or braids, then it could be worn for a longer amount of time. Fro hawks are a style that can be worn with just about any length of hair. They're super easy to do, and there are many ways to style them.

Yay or nay for fro hawks?? How do you wear/style yours? Show me!!

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Quick Style: Wash n Go

Here's one method of how I do a quick, simple wash n go! This took a max of 10 minutes to complete, if that.

Things needed:

Wide tooth comb

Conditioner

Spray bottle

Essential oil (EO) of your choice

Towel (optional)

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To Make an EO Mix: I use a spray bottle that's easy to control and hold in one hand. Fill it with warm water, then (depending on the size) add about 3 drops of lavender EO, and give it a quick shake.

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I try to never comb my hair while dry, because it rips, tears, and risks damaging it. Detangling almost always takes place while I'm washing my hair, and it's covered in conditioner. Detangling while conditioner is on your hair helps lubricate and protect the strands. Conditioner also smoothes the cuticle making it harder for strands to catch, tangle, or pull while combing.

To begin I soak my entire head (using warm, not hot, water) and rinse until the water runs clear. I do this to make sure any product that may be in is rinsed out. Next, I co wash (cleanse hair/scalp using conditioner instead of shampoo) rinse again, then squeeze (not twist) excess water out. After rinsing I soak my hair in conditioner, making sure all sections are covered evenly.



Soaked in conditioner!!

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Once the conditioner's in I spray down my entire head very well with the EO mixture. To prevent product build up you want about half of the conditioner to be diluted. When the EO mix is in I massage it around for a few seconds, and then detangle using a wide tooth comb. I start around the edges and ends of my hair, and then work my way closer to the crown and roots. If necessary I hold sections of hair so that strands aren't pulled or ripped out in the process. The wide tooth comb helps in the detangling, and it help define curls without manipulating them too much. If you twist, pull, or rub curly hair while it's wet (or in the drying process) you can cause unwanted frizz. This is why I don't use a towel for wash n go's, but if you choose to be gentle!

Just a little conditioner left after the EO mix spray down and detangling!

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****This is all done on the side of my tub and/or holding my head upside down (let gravity help you) ****

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Ignore the brows 0_o I was trying to get them together while doing my hair and I need an outline to help  ^_^"

Notice the definition on my curls!! I love it!



Tadaaa...hair and brows done in about 10 minutes! You can move your hair around to where you'd like it to be when dry. Try not to manipulate it too much so that you may prevent frizz.

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Pros to Wash n Go's:

• Low maintenance- to refresh in the mornings just spritz with the EO mix and fluff
• Moisture (water) gets sealed in your hair by the oils in the EO mix
• You're helping your hair maintain its flexibility by keeping it moistened and conditioned
• Time needed for styling is minimal
• Can be done with cheap/expensive product
• Conditioner coats the cuticle adding protection to the hair
• Protein conditioners strengthen hair from the inside out
• Conditioner help define and give a slight hold to curl patterns in hair without gel

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Want More Info on Essential Oils? View some of my older posts!!

Learn some different types of EO and their specific uses here.

Have a specific need such as dry scalp, lice, oily hair? Check this post out!

Want to see another wash n go method?

Check out my wash n go using Eco Styler Argan Oil gel.

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Quick Tips:

***Using the above method you can turn an old twist/braid/knot out into a quick wash n go. This is helpful when you just have to do something to your hair but are short on time!

***Jazz up a wash n go by adding an accessory such as: hair flower, clips, colorful head band, or a fancy scarf.

***If you have different hair/scalp needs experiment with different EO mixes to help. Example: if you have oily hair, or dandruff you may want to try a Rosemary EO mix.

***I don't recommend this style for someone who's transitioning. Unless you have very little relaxed ends remaining it may not look the best if long pieces remain straight.

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I'd like to thank everyone who submitted an entry for my 1st Giveaway!! All of the entries were VERY good and creative...I loved them! I'll be announcing the winner soon! Be on the look out for more Giveaways.

I also want to welcome, and thank everyone who's joined/liked A Natural Hair Affair on Facebook, have followed my blog, and watched my YouTube videos! I appreciate all of the questions, feedback, emails...everything! I love talking to new people, learning and exchanging info! Keep it coming ^_~"

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Variation: Wash n Go

Wash n go's are one of the quickest styles to wear, and I love wearing them in the summer! This one turned out to be a birthday hair style. It really was as simple as hopping in the shower, wetting it down, and done. Before doing the wash n go my hair has straight.  A few days prior I went to a salon to have my ends trimmed. Whenever my hair is straight before I do a wash n go the curls turn out differently. It's definitely not a bad thing, but different.



I have a few of "those" friends  ^_^"

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What I used:

• Bobby Pins

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To style I simply let some curls hang for a bang, then pulled back a section, and then secured with bobby pins.

Quickie: Poof

The poof, or puff, is definitely one of my favorite ways to wear my hair. I like them simply because they're easy to do, can be worn causally or dressed up. You can make a puff from an old twist out, blow out, braid out, wash n go, and more. It's a style that can be worn in many many different ways!!

This morning's go around with the poof was a simple 2 minute style. I had an appointment to get to that I was running late for. Only a couple of things were needed for this. They include:

1. A hair ribbon
2. Spray bottle (I let the shower mist my hair instead)
3. Accessories (optional)

Just woke up and am in a hurry!! This is an old blow out that I was using. Note the black hair ribbon around my neck.

Making sure the ribbon is even I tie it around my head once, then adjust if necessary.

Here you can see how it's tied. It's like you tie the laces on your shoes before you make the bunny ears ^_^"  Make sure you don't make this first tie too tight!! You don't want to give yourself a headache or cause tension on your hairline.

Bringing the hanging  pieces of ribbon around the back of my head the same tie is repeated. Again, make sure you don't tie it too tight!! This is where you can decide on the position and size of your poof. If you want it smaller pull the ribbon more towards the center of your head. If you want it bigger leave the ribbon closer to the edges of your head.

****After you make 1 tie in front, and 1 tie in back you are able to adjust the poof if you choose to. At this time you can also loosen, or tighten the ribbon.****

My hair ribbon's long so 1 more tie in the front will do for this style. It's not necessary to tie this last one tight, because the poof is secured already from the first two. This last tie is really done to get the excess out of the way.

There ya have it!! A poof! I tied the ends of the hair ribbon into a bow. If you'd like you can tuck them into the pieces that are wrapped around your head to hide the ends. My poof looks on the small side here, but believe me there wasn't anything small about it.

I actually redid my poof to tame the size down a little. Here's a side shot!!

Extras You Can Try:

• If you'd like your edges smooth- before even adding the ribbon smooth a little product on your edges and smooth with a brush
• To jazz up your poof- try adding a hair flower in the front near your ear
• Add fancy chop sticks to the side of your poof
• To add color- use a decorative ribbon instead of a black one like I did
• Add a cool headband to the front for a different look
• If your hair's dried out- mist it with an essential oil-water mixture before styling

When taking pictures for this I noticed my hair color. I recently henna'd my hair for the first time. When it was wet I could easily see the color different, but after it dried not so much. At least I couldn't see it--others said they could. I like it, there will be posts on that project coming soon. Subscribe so you can keep in touch  ^_~"

Product Quickie

There are so many stores that sell hundreds of products. What's the best store to buy hair products at--I'm not sure. It depends on what you're looking for and your budget. A lot of products I use, or try, I find randomly. I might be at the store for socks, and see there's clearance shelves full of conditioner, and there it is! I'll show you some products that I use, describe them, tell where I found them, and how much.

I've used Eco Styler gel for some time now. Just recently was the variation with Argan Oil was discovered by me. Eco Styler with olive oil was the version that I was familiar with. It was mostly used to smooth down the edges of my hair, for flat twists, and wash n go's. Notice the difference in size of these two containers.

Eco Styler Argan Oil Gel:

• Bought at Sally's Beauty Supply
• 32 ounces
• Cost about $8
•  Alcohol Free
• 100% Pure Argan Oil
• My uses: wash n go's, edge smoother, flat twists

Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel:

• Bought at Dollar General Store
• 16 ounces
• Cost about $5
• Alcohol Free
• 100% Pure Olive Oil
• My uses: wash n go's, edge smoother, flat twists

My favorite way to do wash n go's, and probably the easiest, is to simply use conditioner. If I'm in a hurry, or know that I'll be doing my hair later in the day, I'll use a cheap conditioner. Conditioner is the easiest and quickest way to define my curls after washing/wetting it. I choose a cheap one, because I can afford to use a ton of it at a time. If I pay $15 for conditioner it's not going to be used up in one day--just saying. Suave Naturals is my go to cheap conditioner for quick wash n go's! I like the smell of coconut, so Tropical Coconut is the scent I choose.

Suave Naturals: Tropical Coconut

• Bought at: Dollar General Store
• 15 ounces
• Cost $1
• Water based
• Contains honey, rosemary, and coconut extract
• My uses: wash n go's

Lustrasilk is great for deep conditioning. This helped me a lot while I was transitioning! Your hair feels soft, smells great, and is easily detangled after using this. There are a few different kinds out there, but these are the two that I use the most. I see these often at just about any store I go to that sell hair products. The only difference, like with the Eco Styler, is probably the price. After washing my hair I use a couple of hand fulls of this, and soak my hair, then cover with a shower cap for at least 30 mins before rinsing.

Lustrasilk Tea Tree- liquid cholesterol (blue):

• Bought at: local hair store
• 20 ounces
• Cost: about $5
• Contains vitamin E, tea tree oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, rosehips extract
• Great for dry, itchy scalp
• My uses: deep conditioning, wash n go's

Lustasilk Herbal- cholesterol (orange):

• Bought at: local hair store
• 20 ounces
• Cost: about $5
• Contains carrot oil, rosemary oil, sage
• Great for damaged, relaxed, and chemically treated hair
• My uses: deep conditioning

I try to keep an eye out for clearance bins of random products. When products are super cheap it's a great time to buy and try! Even travel sizes are cool if you're curious about something, but don't want to spend the money on the full bottle. Walmart usually has a clearance isle. I've found tons of hair products, tools, accessories there before. I'll keep you posted if I find a good haul!

Do you have any products to add to the list? Know of any places for hair products? Comment below ^_~"

Don't forget to subscribe! You can now subscribe via email...just type it in the box up in the top left corner and hit "submit".

Essential Oils (EO)

The essence of plants can be collected in a few different ways, but the end result is always the essential oil of the plant. Essential oil's (EO) smell good and can also be good for you in a number of ways. I like to use them to make bath salts for myself, and gifts for friends. EO gets used as a hair product by me too. Commercially you can find EO's in perfumes, makeup, soaps, scented cleaning products, incense, and aromatherapy products.

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There are 3 ways that EO is gathered from plants:

1- Distillation: Flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, seeds, peel all can be used for this process. Most EO's are made this way.

2- Expression: Flowers (leaves, wood, etc.) are pressed, and processed like olives are for olive oil, then collected.

3- Solvent extraction: Method used when flowers (leaves, wood, etc.) are too delicate for distillation or expression. As suggested, a solvent like alcohol is used in the process. Alcohol easily evaporates leaving behind the extracted oil. Supercritical carbon dioxide is used in this method too. This is how decaf coffee is made.

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There are TONS of essential oils for sale out there. Some that I see more frequently than others are:

Lavender- This is probable my favorite EO. It can help asthma, be used as a bug repellent, relieve headaches, and help sooth the scalp.

Myrrh- Can help itchy and chapped skin

Cinnamon- I LOVE cinnamon. I don't use the oil, but the sticks and power I use in abundance. It helps with headaches, stress, and can be added to tea to help sore throats and coughs.

Patchouli- Used to treat dry scalp in oily hair and for chapped skin

Rose- Can be added to shampoo and help with hair loss. It can also be massaged into the scalp for the same benefits.

Frankincense- Helps stop dry scalp

Sandalwood- Great anti-inflammatory and anticeptic

Tea Tree- Another fav of mine! It can help with acne, itchy skin, and dandruff.

Jasmine- Great for sensitive skin that's dry

Vanilla- Used mostly for its sweet scent

Chamomile- This one is very useful, but you should be careful with it. Some people can have allergies or sensitivities to the flower. Even chamomile tea can have this effect. It helps damaged cells from the sun, and can be useful against flakes from psoriasis.

***Tips on buying EO***

~Beware of words such as therapeutic grade, fragrance oils, perfume oil, nature oil, and/or aromatherapy oil. These aren't pure EO's, usually have additives, and other chemicals mixed in.

~The bottle EO comes in should be a dark amber (sometimes blue or other dark shade) colored glass. This helps filter and control the amount of sunlight that can enter the bottle. Heat and direct light can damage the oil and degrade it. The bottles are usually very small, containing only a few ounces. Some oils can deteriorate plastic, and contaminate the oil itself. This is also true for rubber, so avoid bottles that have a rubber dropper for the top.

~Certified organic EO's are very good, but I find are hard to find. As with all things organic they're chemical/pesticide free, which is always a plus.

Uses for Essential Oil:

Conditioner- Take 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil and mix with 3 drops of Lavender EO

• After washing hair with warm water, massage the mixture into your hair. Concentrate on your scalp and the ends of your hair. Leave on for about 20 mins (wearing a shower cap or towel), rinse well, and continue as usual.
• Helps fight dry scalp and hair
• An alternative to jojoba oil could be olive oil, or tea tree oil. The amount of base oil can be modified to your needs, but EO goes a long way so you won't need many more drops of it
• The Lavender EO can be substituted with any EO you enjoy for a different scent

Air Freshener- Use a few drops in an oil heater to scent the room

• An alternative is to heat water on the stove (in a pot you're not using for food) on low. Add a few drops of EO and let the steam scent the room. Don't leave it unattended or on while you sleep. Be mindful of the water level too
• Try different EO's for their therapeutic properties and just relax

Bath Salts- A mixture of EO and sea salts can be used to make bath salts. These are SO relaxing!!

• The salts and oils will help condition and soften your skin
• It can also be used as an exfoliate for feet or hands
• Again, you can substitute Lavender EO for any of your choosing

Here is a batch of bath salts that I made using Lavender EO. I used a seashell for decoration and as a scooper! As soon as I open the jar the bathroom fills with the lavender scent. I love it!! I've made salts with vanilla, and cherry also. All have been successes.

Bug Repellent- I mostly use this for my dog, Scrappy.

• Heart worms and other illnesses can be transmitted by mosquito's, fleas, and ticks. I'm not one for creepy crawlies, so anything safe to keep them, and their disease away I'm for.
• In a handy water bottle I put warm water (for Scraps comfort) and a few drops of my trusty Lavender Essential Oil!
• Spray on Scrap and hes bug free and smells good. My house does too when he runs around it, because I'm squirting him!
• You can also spray it lightly on your pets bed, or spots it lays in a lot to help keep fleas and critters away

Body Mist- Oil can help condition your skin after a shower or bath.

• Using the water and EO mixture, lightly spray yourself after a shower and let your skin absorb the oil.
• You'll smell good and your skin will love you!
• The Lavender Essential Oil can be substituted for any EO that you enjoy.

Hair Refresher- Your water bottle will be your bff soon, if you couldn't tell!

•  When you wake up, or just to freshen up during the day you can spritz your hair with the EO/water mixture instead of plain water
• Leaves a light fresh scent

I'm always experimenting and am sure this list will grow. There are endless ways to use essential oils. Do research and find some you like, or qualities you'd like to explore. Don't let the price tag scare you!! Can't forget to mention that. The bottles of EO are small, and the price tag that I usually see is around $12. This depends on the EO though!! Oils such as lemon or orange will be cheaper, because there's a lot of peel with oil to extract from. Other EO's will be more pricey, because it's harder to extract the EO from the plant. Often times companies will let you buy a sample size for cheap. This is a good way to try out different oils and find what you like!

Are there any EO's that I didn't list that you like? Do you have different uses for EO's? Post them below!!

Wash n Go!

I made it to DAY 14 with my finger curls!! The curls probably could've lasted longer, but I was ready for a change. Fourteen days is an extremely long time for me with one style. Sooo wash n go it was! I absolutely love wash n go's!! Lived on them for the longest time and never had an issue. This time I decided to try an Ecostyler Wash n Go. There was still plenty of the Ecostyler Argan Oil Gel left. The huge tub I showed in my previous posting, I bought at Sally's for about $8. You can also find it at dollar stores and other places, but Sally's has the best deal for the quantity you get.

As always I started with a freshly washed head of hair ^_^ Using hair clips, I sectioned my hair, detangled and started in the very back near my neck. I applied the Ecostyler similar to how I did for the finger curls. Once a small amount of gel was applied, I raked my fingers through the hair. While raking you'll see your curls become more defined. I do this for a couple passes then move on.



This is the back of my head and the finished result!!



Pros:

• You're getting the benefits of the argan oil
• No damage from alcohol by using the ecostyler brand
• Style will last a while because of the gel
• Low maintenance
• It's a wash n go--you're free to leave now

Cons:

• It takes a long time to air dry at room temp
• If you air dry you may have a lot of shrinkage in length

To maintain this style at night I simply sleep on a satin pillow case. I don't cover my hair at night, because I don't want a bonnet or scarf crunching my curls up. In the mornings I use my pink water bottle (shown in previous posting). The only thing different with the water bottle this time is I've added 1 drop of pure Lavender Essential Oil (EO). A few sprays on my hair, fluff here and there, then I'm done!

***Tips***

~A diffuser may be used to dry your curls once the ecostyler's applied. This can save you some length if you're worried about shrinkage from air drying.

~To jazz up the look, clips, flowers, scarves, head bands, etc., may be added.

~You may use a different EO in your water bottle to get different benefits and scents. 1 drop is plenty, and goes a long way for a small bottle like mine.

Do you have other methods for doing wash n go's? Share!! Don't forget to subscribe, and to give some feedback  ^_~"

Myspace, afros, twists...and More!!

Not too long ago for some super random, strange reason, I remembered Myspace! Forgot ALL about that website, and me having a long lost profile on it. With some playing around of email-password combos I was able to login. Boy oh boy was I entertained for about 15 minutes! On my profile are a ton of pictures that go back a few years.

One of the things that stood out to me was how my hair has changed over time and how often. I rediscovered pictures of me with a relaxer, during my FIRST try at transitioning, after my BC (big chop), with braid extensions, with hair tracks, etc. It took me about three tries before I actually stuck with being chemical-free. Saying no to a relaxer was definitely not the easiest thing I've done. Now, there's no turning back for me =^_^= Enjoy!

My first couple attempts at transitioning:





I remember this hurting SO much to comb!! I had no clue how to manage my transitioning hair. That ultimately sent me back to a relaxer.

 

At the beginning I found it easier to maintain my do' by blow drying and straightening it. I do NOT suggest that if your ultimate goal is to have healthier hair!

 

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Love roller-sets!! If I had a hooded drier I'd wear them more often.



Reasons I like Roller-Sets:

• It's a SET style, so it'll last longer than a style usually would
• You can set your hair by air drying
• Even though your hair's "set" there's still versatility in styles you can wear
• If you do visit a salon they're usually very inexpensive to get





Comb twists (coils), or finger twists is another great style! A different look with similar pros of roller-set styles.

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Protective Styles:



Two Strand Twists curled with rollers



Single Braid extensions that a friend did for me back in the dorm days

Corn Row Braids with hair extensions. The hanging braids can be twisted into a bun at the neck for a different look.

Christmas with Scrappy!!!
Senegalese Twists with hair extensions that were curled with hot water



Pros of Protective Styles:

• They help minimize breakage that your hair might incur from daily wear
• Usually can be worn for a long period of time
• With braid extensions I was still able to wash/condition my hair regularly
• Easier to just "get up and go"

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The last point mentioned might be one of my favs! I like to just get up and go...get as many winks in as I can . This is why wash and go's are at the top of my list for hairstyles!



My 24th bday party I believe




NERD Concert!!!!!!



Wash n Go Fro



Side View



Front Row of a N*E*R*D  concert



A very spontaneous shot! Was helping a photog out at an event.




Night out with my girl! Good times!!



Big bro and I!! Wash and go with short locs.

For the most part, wash and go's are preferred by me, because of what they simply are. In and out, but still looking good! There are a number of different ways that I go about doing my wash and go's.

Keep an eye out for that posting and others in the near future!  ^_~"   Don't forget to follow me for updates. I also LOVE feedback, thoughts, advice, etc., so keep it coming and thank you!!! *MUAH*