Baking Soda Deep Conditioning Treatment revisited...

The first time I tried this conditioning treatment I didn't take pictures, and I wasn't completely natural. So, this time I'll just post the pics with captions....Let's Go!!


Step 1: Start with clean hair

I Co-Washed my hair with these Products

Step 2: Mix and Apply treatment (For measurements check 1st posting)

                                      

 Combine Conditioners and oil....then

 Add Baking Soda

Mix Well....you want the baking soda to dissolve into the conditioner

Application: The mixture is suppose to stay on hair between 1-2 hours, I let mines set for 1 hr 25 min

Results: Curly Wonderland

The Baking Soda Deep Conditioning treatment worked really well, but it left my hair particularly dry on Day 2!

Product Reviews

Being new to the natural scene, I rely a lot on friends and the internet for advice and support on products. Things that I may have used when my hair was processed no longer work, or contain things that do not agree with my hair in it's natural state. So, i've decided to log and review products and whether my hair gives it a thumbs up or down.

*Disclaimer: I am NOT a professional and I am only going based on personal experience. My hair is in-between a 3c and 4 curl...it's wonderfully thick and really soft. My hair also is a thirsty beast that can not be satisfied! (Jesus be a Sprite to help quench this thirst!!!) No matter the amount of water and product that is used my hair is consuming it all and then some, causing it to look dry and dusty *Sad Face*. With each review I co-washed my hair before applying the product, except when testing shampoo.

Root of Nature: Mango Oil & Cupuacu Butter

Feather Whipped Curl Cream

and

Curl Reviving Spray:

THUMBS DOWN

I LOVED the way this producted smelled, but this was the worst product set that I have tried. The curl cream made my hair REALLY dry and crunchy. The reviving spray made my hair a sticky mess, and my curls were anything but defined. I've tried this set 2-3 times to see if the weather may have been a factor, but received the same disappointing results EVERYTIME! ~ Thumbs Down

Carol's Daughter: Tui Collection

Tui Herbal Shampoo, Tui Hair Smoothie,

Tui Leave-In Conditioner,

and Hair Milk curl definer (Original)

THUMBS WAY UP

I'll begin this review with thanking Ms. Tashara Void! Her purchases of numerous hair products, that she sometimes use, gave me the opportunity to try this product. I had heard many great things about Carol's Daughter, but it is truly an investment. The prices aren't completely unreasonable, but if you are like me..a baller on a budget, you may need to plan. Once again....The smell it great and it lingers ALL day! The shampoo softened my hair and cleansed my hair without stripping it of all it's natural oils. Once hair is cleansed, apply the smoothie! This hair smoothie is the beginning of the curly process for me, while applying it to my hair I can feel the curls "Pop" if you may. I've tried it both as an instant conditioner (rinse after 1 minute) and a deep conditioner (Cover with cap and rinse after 5-15 mintues)...both give great results, but the deep conditioner gives the best result. To dripping wet hair, I sprayed the Leave-In Conditioner evenly over my hair and applied the Hair Milk. The best advice I received for this product was to apply the hair milk to dripping wet hair and apply very little (A dime size goes a LONG way!) The hair milk, if too much is used, can cause the hair to look greasy (a lil jheri curl-ish). End Results: My TWA is consumed by tiny spiral curls...displaying my natural hair in a fresh, sexy, sophisticated manner...and it's a simply wash-n-go! I LOVE it! Loved it so much I owe Ms.Void another set! ~ Thumbs Up

Cantu: Shea Butter line

Leave in Conditioning repair cream,

Grow Strong strengthening treatment,

No Drip Hair & Scalp oil,

and Oil Sheen Spray

Thumbs Up

One of the products that many people suggest to newbies (like myself) is Shea Butter, I've tried natural Shea Butter and it didn't work as well as I would have hoped. So, I decided to try Shea Butter again, but go to a brand that I've tried and liked. So this product line is a product revisited. My hair LOVED this product line while it was processed, and I dared to try it again....with great results! It smells great, keeps my hair hydrated ALL day, and it has improved the overall health of my hair. My hair is much stronger and I have very VERY little breakage! ~ Thumbs Up


I am currently in the process of combining the Carol's Daughter and Cantu line, to create a Summertime Wash-N-Go regimen. I'll keep you updated....til then

Love, Peace, and Hair Grease
~Nia



Weaves...Weaves...Everywhere!!!!

Well it is Summertime!!!!! This isn't one of my favorite seasons, even though my birthday (One of the GREATEST blessings known to man) is in July, LOL!

During these hot months, I enjoy rockin' protective styles. Braids (Cornrow, box braids, micros, ect.), twists...anything that doesn't require me to have to do it! Thanks to the Big Chop...I thoroughly enjoy Wash-N-Gos, but I will admit that I'm beginning to miss my hair a little bit! In a little a little over 6 months I've gone from....

To this....

 Then....

But....I do enjoy being natural...I think i'll give weaves a try..



The BIG CHOP!!!

The BIG CHOP

I have officially been Free of Chemicals for 6 months!!! But, I've been struggling with blending and styling my hair due to the many hair textures on each strand. I had been debating as to whether I will continue transitioning to allow my natural hair to grow out a little more, or to simply cut it off.
Well...I cut it all off! My Big Chop date is June 17, 2011! and I LOVE IT!!

Natural Beauty

I will admit I wasn't sure how I felt about my hair, as I stood in my bathroom mirror in shock that I actually cut my hair off! Having cut all the processed ends away I lost many inches in some places. I felt really self-conscious, liberated, nervous, and paranoid all at the same time...but it felt like the right thing to do. Next, I scheduled an appointment with a scissor-happy hair dresser to even my TWA (Teenie Weenie Afro). Well...did I mention she was scissor happy?? My TWA became an EXTRA TWA, but I loved the results so she is forgiven.

My little Curls

The other side

A fluffed 'fro really isn't my style because I look a little too much like my Lil brother..*Side Eye*

So, I have truly enjoyed Wash-n-Gos....My hair loves the attention and moisture from the conditioning. I've been sealing in the moisture and allowing my little curls to pop using: Palmer's Olive Oil Formula Gro Therapy hair dress and Soft & Beautiful Botanicals 3-N-1 Botanical Oil Spray. At night I use Pantene Pro-V Relaxed & Natural for Women of Color- Daily Oil Cream Moisturizer. I haven't experimented with many products, but I'm sure my hair care regimen will change during this process.

Well...until later my Loves

Peace, Love, and Hair Grease

~Nia

Baking Soda Deep Conditioning Treatment

Well my friends....I'm a little late with my posting, forgive me Lovebugs..here we go:

So... I've heard, read, and researched this conditioning treatment because my hair type is ALWAYS in need of a deep conditioning. I'm slowly learning my hair all over again, having been natural for only a few months. I decided to jump in with both feet and give it a try:


Ingredients:

1 cup of your favorite conditioner
1/2 cup of baking soda
2 tablespoon of favorite oil

Mix ingredients together well (It will look like a relaxer) ...make sure the baking soda is dissolved in the mixture. *There may be some tingling...nothing uncomfortable, it's normal*
~You may need to wear gloves to apply
Apply mixture the same way you would a relaxer
Cover hair with a conditioning cap for 1-2hours (I kept mines in for 1hr 25 minutes)
Rinse hair thoroughly
Allow hair to air dry


RESULTS:
My hair looked as if I had a texturizer, which was nice...but it left my hair a little dry. Once again, that is just my particular hair type. Maybe if I sealed in the moisture with a hair butter before air drying the results would have been a little better. Also, at the time of this trial my hair wasn't completely natural. My roots were natural, the middle of the strand was "Scab" hair, and the ends were processed. So the roots took really well to the treatment, but most of the strand needed a little help blending.

All in all it is a great process, but not to be done too often because it can dry out the hair.

Un-Natural....The beginning (Many pictures)

Life is such a strange journey at times! Of course it is the journey that should be appreciated, rather than the speed of reaching the goal/destination..right? I've decided to begin a hair blog since I have decided to go natural. A place to voice my frustrations, thoughts, and accomplishments on my hair journey. But I have made other changes in my life as well, such as exercise and eating healthier...So, I have opened the floor to many different subjects besides hair. BUT...I will begin with it...

I must admit I NEVER thought I wanted to go Natural (hair-wise)...especially since so many people are going natural right now. I've never really been one to conform. I LOVED and still love what is becoming known as creamy crack. The way my hair would swing, and I knew exactly what product to use to get the results I wanted. Rarely did I ever have a "Bad" hair day when my hair was processed.

My Wavy Look

My Wrap Look

That is until December of 2010 when my hair was pronounced critically injured, and almost lost it's battle of life by being over processed. The sides of my hair and a straight line from the front of my hair to the crown was quite thin. I was devastated at the devastation I had caused my hair, I knew I needed to do much better.

 Very Thin Sides

Very Upset

Following the advice of the hairdresser, I laid off of the relaxer...Cold Turkey! Little did I know that my shoulder length hair would begin to break off as my hair took on a more "Natural' state. I have never been one who enjoyed doing my hair, or even having it done at the salon. So, the beginnings of this journey to natural has been very hard for me to say the least.

Very thin, and the Spirals to mask the breakage

By now, I was at the end of my rope. My hair (majority of the strand) was thinned, my roots were unmanageable, and my patience was shot. I couldn't understand what I was doing wrong, especially since to me this mess of a head came out of nowhere. That is when I received the best advice from a good friend of mines (who happens to be natural)...enjoy the journey while you date your hair and take your vitamins. Going natural is like dating someone new, you have to find what works for the two of you and leave the past behind. Interesting, right? I never thought to compare the two, yet it is the perfect comparison. I had to learn, date, and fall in love with my hair (for what it was, not what it use to be or could be) all over again. I also learned that taking a multi-vitamin may help in the repair of my hair. With a new mindset and a few pointers....I felt ready!

THE BIG CHOP....or not

My biggest fear about going natural is "The BIG CHOP"...which is crazy because I LOVED a short bob, and enjoyed getting my hair cut while it was processed. Possibly because I believe my head is too big for the TWA (Teenie Weenie Afro)..So, I decided to allow my hair to do as it pleased..but I would refrain from using heat. Not to say that I wouldn't use it at all, but I want to see how my hair would respond without it...and it did beautifully...I actually loved the kinky coils it produced by air drying.

Very short from breakage, with random long strands

(Yes, I curled this with a curling iron)

As much as I enjoy running my fingers across my natural hair and playing with the waves, I know I should keep my hands out of my hair. Wash and Go hairstyles never seem to work for me, and I do wonder if that is due to my never cutting the processed hair out? Maybe, Maybe Not...but I had to do something that would give my hair a chance to grow...So, my transitioning process of choice has been protective styles using weave.

April 2011...Twists

SMILE!!

May 2011...Cornrows

Back

What To Do Next?

My Curly Fro that I Adore

That is a wonderful question, that I myself would LOVE to have the answer to. I am now actively doing research on different products, techniques, and methods to survive and thrive in this crazy world known as Natural. I shall keep the world (or the random person who stumbles across this) posted on what is hopefully my progress!

Til next time my Loves,

~Nia