Getting Nervous

More and more of my relaxed ends are disappearing. I am not nervous because of the loss of permed hair. I am nervous about having really short hair, because my natural hair hasn't grown out as much as I would have liked before I lose all of my relaxed ends. Up until now I have worn twist outs and roller sets, however recently I have begun to lean more towards roller sets rather than the twist outs because my hair looks really thin and scraggly in comparison to the natural hair. I've found at this point that roller sets work best because the curled relaxed ends kind of mask the natural hair and the natural hair underneath kind of hides the thinning of the relaxed ends. My plan was to transition a year or at least until my natural hair was about shoulder length....

Roller Set 11-20-11

This roller set was created using magnetic rollers and the kinky curly setting lotion/gel.

I love these riotous curls.

Really fluffy.

Henna'd My Hair

On 11-26-11 I henna'd my hair and used my natural laxer by Baka. The henna really could have been broken up into to two or more applications. There was so much that I couldn't use it all. It looks like poo and smells like spinach. It was really runny and my hair didn't feel particularly moisturized when I finished. The henna was messy and runny. It may have been because I used so much. If I henna'd my hair again I would only use about a third of the jar rather than the whole jar. I also had to add ever so much more water than the jar recommended to get it smooth and creamy because it was really thick.

Rainbow brand henna purchased from my local health food store. About $7

Mixing it up with boiling water and spatula. Kind of lumpy at first.

Added plain full fat yogurt for extra moisture and ease of application.

Applied to my hair, really thick. (This stuff was kind of runny)

See my wavy natural hair coming in?

I used most of it.

I did a twist out with the Kinky Curly setting lotion and rod rollers and sat under the dryer.

I pulled the curls apart.

As you can see henna acts kind of like a rinse. It sits on top of the hair.
The henna was supposed to be red.

My hair gained a red sheen that shows up really well in the light.

Changes

Updates
I no longer do the whole pH apple cider vinegar and baking soda thing. I have long since stopped that. No negative side effects mind you its just too time consuming all the measuring and pH testing. I did try the Shea Moisture Hair Mask. I don't like it. It smells nice, but it is thick and my hair does not feel moisturized or soft after sitting with it on my hair for thirty minutes under a hot dryer with a plastic cap. I henna'd my hair this weekend and used the Baka Natural Laxer once more. I'll post pictures and details soon about my henna experience. I no longer use Lotta Body (I discovered that it contains carcinogenic agents and chemicals typically used to embalm people. I now use the Kinky Curly Styling Spritz that I mentioned in an earlier post. I got it from Target for $11.99. I used up all of the African Pride moisturizer and I'm almost done with the African Pride Olive Miracle leave-in conditioner will not be purchasing anymore because it contains some of the "bad stuff" (-ates, parabens and more). I haven't had to use the Blue Magic Organics hair oil (mentioned in a previous post) because my scalp hasn't been itchy. However I will say that the last time I used it a day or so later my scalp was really itchy.

Roller Set with Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz on Transitioning Hair

I rolled my hair with regular magnetic rollers, the first time since I started my transition, and it came out really nice.This in conjunction with Shea Moisturize conditioner produced a firm, soft set. I had to sit under the dryer for a few more minutes after I took the rollers out. The curls looked really good for two or three days and then I had to do a twist out. It was a little difficult to stretch that hair around the roller and pin it in place with the cap/top. The rollers were able to stretch the hair out pretty good. The curls were fluffy and firm and by the end of the day they were still as fluffy and firm as they were at the beginning of the day so the Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz did it's job and my curls were soft and fluffy so the Shea Moisture Conditioner did its job.

New Product-Kinky Curly Knot Today

Well Sunday, November 6, 2011 I purchased a new product. Originally it was for my baby's hair. He has really coily hair and it is difficult to comb through. I had heard of "Kinky Curly Knot Today" however I had not tried it yet because I still have some relaxed ends. 

Well this week I tried it on my hair when I was about to do a twist out on rod rollers. I usually like to try and comb through my hair at this time. I know that a comb can rip out hair so I usually only comb my hair with a comb about three times a week and the other days I finger fluff and comb. 

Twist outs last me about two days as well as roller sets. Anyway this stuff is heaven! I was able to comb through my hair with a fine toothed comb! No pop, pop, no crack, crack... it just glides through. So I would recommend this product to anyone who's having a hard time getting a comb through their hair (regardless of whether you are natural or transitioning or relaxed). 

This product is all natural and can be purchased at Target (which is where I got mine) for about $12.00 a bottle. I'm thinking it'll last me about a month and a half and then I'll have to get some more. It works, it smells nice, and it really softens the hair. This one's a keeper!

It is...

for all hair types

great for detangling and conditioning

contains no alcohol, parabens or sodium lauryl sulfate, acrylics, plastics, wax, mineral oil, petroleum, silicone, carbomer

in an 8 oz bottle a cream

I've been reading and it says that it can be used as a conditioner after you wash your hair (rinse out or leave in). I've found that it is great for styling the hair as well.

Ingredients: Mango fuit extract, slipper elm, marshmallow root, lemongrass, cetyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate, citric acid, phenoxyethanol and natural fragrance

I'm seeing curls and waves

I have applied the Baka Natural Laxer to my hair for three months now (once a month) and this last time (Saturday, October 15) I saw curly Qs. I am so excited about my natural hair.

Africa's Best, Rod Rollers, African Pride, Natural Laxer, Shea Moisture Product Line

So I got some new hair products. The only thing that I will continue to use from the NuGro line is the spray moisturizer. I have switched to a new shampoo and conditioner. I now use Shea Moisture all natural products. Each Shea Moisture product was $9.99 plus tax at Target. I purchased mine in store, however it is available online. I like the Shea Moisture product line because they do not contain "-ates", "cones", parabens, etcetera and they are affordably priced.

The shampoo has a good lather and left my hair clean/soft and detangled.

The reconstructive elixir smells delicious and I use it daily. Love this combination of oils.

The conditioner smells good and left my hair soft and manageable. The directions say you can leave it in or rinse it out.

I have not yet tried the hair masque. The directions say you can leave it in or rinse it out.

  

I will continue to use the Natural laxer and am pleased with the softness and manageability of my hair. I can actually comb through it after rinsing out the product. The effects are cumulative. See older posts OR Google for more information on Baka Natural Laxer. I paid $14.99 per jar through Treasured Locks online. It is chemical free, all natural and is not permanent. This product does not straighten the hair, it makes it more manageable. The second time I used this I used filtered water from my fridge, I did not order the rose water (even though it smells divine). I also just sat under the hair dryer with a plastic shower/conditioning cap (I did not use the heat cap as suggested). I sat under the dryer for about 30-45 minutes (I am still transitioning).

I use the Baka Natural Laxer once a month. The effects are cumulative.

When I roll my hair with my curl formers (see older posts or Google search) I utilize Lottabody setting lotion.The curlers work really well and I only have to sit under the dryer for 30-45 minutes.

Just add water.

My spray bottle oil mix.

Since I have began transitioning I have noticed that my scalp has been itchy. I know it has been said that certain oils like petrolatum and mineral oil are not good for hair. I do use natural oils (which I place in a spray bottle and massage into my scalp and apply to my hair which contains olive oil, Africa's Best oil mix, castor oil, and safflower oil, however I still find times when my scalp is really dry and itchy.I purchased all of the Africa's Best oil and African pride products from Wal-Mart. All affordably priced.

This is the oil.

This smells delicious, I use it to do my twist outs at night and as a daily moisturizer.

This works really well for moisturizing and shine.

This is best used after you wash your hair although the directions say that it can be used as a daily leave-in. I found that this needed a lot of time to dry and when I used it for a twist out at night the next morning some of my curls were still damp.  I use this on my baby's curly/coily hair and it helps with detangling and his hair has a shine all day.

 

So I purchased some hair grease and I use it sparingly for those times when my scalp feels dry and itchy.

The ingredients aren't perfect but it works.

Petrolatum, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Lanolin, Butyrospermum Park ii (Shea Butter), Buxus Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaves (Japanese Green Tea), Tocopheryl Acetate, Apocynum Cannabinum Root Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract, Cola Acuminata Seed Extract, Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) Extract, Fragrance

When I do a twist out I do two strand twists and then I twist them into bantu knots and pin them with a bobby pin. Recently I tried something new...rod rollers!

A little gel to set it.

Rod Rollers from Sallys

Wrapped in end paper, three sizes.

 

I wrapped the rollers in end papers to protect my hair.

 So far I've used the rod rollers twice using a little gel and the African Pride moisturize lotion. I twist a section of hair and I roll it ALONG the roller then give it a little twist and connect the roller cap to the end of the rod. I have learned that if I roll the hair along the roller rather than on top of itself I get a more coily curl and my hair is not damp the next morning. I slept without a head covering on a satin pillowcase so that my hair could get air to dry.

Right after I removed the rollers.

A twist on the rod roller.

Back- I love the curls but I need to work on the spacing and putting more rollers in the back. It is difficult to twist my hair in the back so I end up pulling it to the side and then after it sets the curls are still to the side so the  curls on/near the side are more curly and the hair in the back between the side curls is more straight. I blend it as best that I can.

Side-I love the curls but I need to work on my spacing so I won't see my scalp.

Top-Just look at those waves and curls.

Now that I use a bit of gel a twist out usually lasts me about two days and then I have to retwist. Remember I am still transitioning so I still have some relaxed ends. Perhaps when my hair is all natural a twist out will last a week.

New Products

I've got some wonderful new products.

Brands include:

Africa's Pride

Shea Moisturize Product line - Target Stores (online too)

Rod rollers in conjunction with a twist out.

I will take pictures soon of the products.

Baka Natural Laxer and Curlformers

My hair had just been done in a three strand twist out on Saturday, August 20, 2011. They were very defined and I had a little Afro. I used an olive oil/Castor oil mix to smooth out and detangle my hair. I left it on overnight with a conditioning cap (plastic shower cap). The next morning I sat under the dryer for about 15 minutes for a makeshift hot oil treatment.

The following is the regimen that I used to do my hair:

1st   Hot Oil Treatment Overnight   No pH

2nd Wash with NuGro Shampoo    pH 5                     (rinse)

3rd  Baka NaturalLaxer Mix           pH 7 neutral        

4th  Dryer highheat / 45 minutes                                  (rinse)

5th  Wash with NuGro Shampoo    pH 5                     (rinse)

6th  Baking Soda Mix                     pH 8           DO NOT RINSE

7th Palmer's Deep Conditioner        pH 4    Dryer high heat/conditioning (plastic shower cap / 15 min)  (rinse)

8th Apple Cider Vinegar Mix          pH 3     DO NOT RINSE

9th Allways Leave-in Conditioner/Setting lotion

10th Hair Dryer 1 hour, curlformers

5  + 5 + 8 + 4 + 3 = 25

25 divided by 5 = 5 perfect hair :-D

(total pH of all products used divided by the total number of products used)

Baka Natural Laxer

This link will take you to Treasured Locks which is where I ordered my Baka Natural Laxer. I ordered one mix and one rose water. My order was 19.98 + 5.95 shipping for a total of $25.93. It did not take long for my order to reach me. I only had one complaint. Whoever packed my order did not close the bottle of the rose water tightly so a little leaked out. The whole package has a nice rosy scent.

Baka Natural Laxer Mix

Here is what it looks like, it also came with a directions pamphlet.

 I followed the directions to the letter with the exception of the heat cap. It wasn't hard to mix.

Nice and creamy.

I used a butter knife to mix in the rose water.

The mix was quite fragrant and I loved the way the rose water smelled. I added a little filtered water from my fridge to be sure that the mix was creamy enough because the directions said to mix it to a thin paste.

I applied the mix to my hair with my fingertips starting from the back. I parted it and used hair clips to hold my hair back. It applied easily. I began with the hair closest to my roots smoothing in a downward motion.  When I finished my whole head I still had plenty of mix left over so I applied it to my hair.

The mix does dry as you work with it so it makes sense that the directions say to begin in the back. You cannot comb through this stuff, use your fingertips to apply.

There was a bit of grit from the dried natural laxer on my neck and counter.

I sat under my hooded dryer with high heat for 45 minutes with a plastic (shower) conditioning cap on my head. Afterward I rinsed my hair with lukewarm water. My hair was really soft and the natural laxer rinsed from my hair quite easily. I shampooed with the NuGro Shampoo once more and rinsed with lukewarm water. I applied my baking soda mix to my hair and scalp, then the Palmer's Deep Conditioner.

This stuff smells wonderful and it left my hair feeling silky smooth.

  I sat under the dryer, high heat, 15 minutes with a plastic conditioning (shower cap) and then rinsed it out with lukewarm water. I applied my Apple cider vinegar mix to my hair and rung out the excess gently. I blotted my hair with my towel and applied my Allways leave-in cream conditioner and setting lotion and proceeded to roll my hair with my curlformers. I sat under the dryer for an hour and then removed the curlformers.

I used a lot more rollers this time.

This is how it looked when I first pulled out the rollers.

This is how it looked once I applied my olive/castor oil mix and pulled the curls apart.

Once the process was complete my hair was smooth, my scalp clean and my hair was easy to comb through as I rolled my hair. My hair was more manageable. The hair at my scalp was not straight, but I can get a comb through it now without all the pop, pop. pop. My curls were bouncy, soft and shiny. I give natural laxer two thumbs up and I will be using it again. Click here to check out their site. It is an all natural product and it is not permanent, rather its effects are cumulative. I will be purchasing a heat cap to use for the next application (which I will do once a month while I am transitioning and afterward once I'm completely natural) so that I won't have to sit so long. The time for a hooded dryer is a lot longer than the recommended time for the conditioning cap.