I Heart Curls...So Here We Go

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Conditioners On the Cheap

posted on Apr 24, 2010 by avivajaye

I just wanted to do a quick post about the best inexpensive, drugstore-type conditioners I love to use that tend to work well for type 4a transitioning, dry-prone curls.

I began my transition without doing a big chop and only did a trim in the early stages. I've used some curl-specific products as you can see from my past blogs - mostly Curlisto, DevaCurl no-poo and the like.

In a pinch however, of when funds are low, these are my favorite inexpensive conditioners that do the trick for me:

1. Aussie 3-Minute Miracle - pretty hydrating and under $5. Lasts a long time.

2. V05 - Tea Therapy Vanilla Mint Conditioner & Calming Chamomile Tea - Awesome! Usually $1/bottle, and really works well for a make-shift leave-in as well

3. Trader Joe's (believe it or not!) Tea Tree Oil Tingling Conditioner - My girlfriend purchased this for $4 and it's really good. By no means a DEEP conditioner, but fantastic for a dry scalp and totally natural. LOVE IT!

So try these to give your wallet a break, and even make leave-ins with them to refresh hair in between fulling wetting/washing/conditioning it, by using a dab in a spritz bottle with water.

P.S. - Did you know that if you run out of shave gel or whatever you use to shave, conditioner works because it's soft and easy on the skin? =)

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It's Been Awhile - Closer and Closer

posted on Mar 10, 2010 by avivajaye

It's been a few months since I lasted blogged here, and I haven't blogged since I won some Miss Jessie's products for the Grow-Out Challenge!!!

A couple months ago my blog/challenge was chosen and I was sent several Miss Jessie's products prescribed for my specific transition and hair type. I was ecstatic and I waited a few weeks to start using the products.

Since then I have kept some of the products and have given some away. Although most of them worked well (the cleanser and conditioner - especially the Rapid Recovery Treatment) I really couldn't handle the scent of the products. I tried so hard to like or get past it but after several co-washes, I just couldn't anymore. My co-worker has a similar hair type so I gave them to her and she's ecstatic, so they didn't go to waste.

I kept the Baby Buttercreme and the Curly Meringue. I haven't used them since the first few times, but I plan to revisit them this month now that my hair is a bit longer and I don't mind wearing it out/down more often.

I'm still rocking the two Swiss Braids look most days, and I still swear by DevaCurl's NoPoo "shampoo." I primarily use the styling products I got when I went for my haircut after Thanksgiving, from Curlisto. They're amazing. I'm definitely due for another cut soon and plan to march right back there. I'm getting impatient with my hair as I haven't been doing different things with it, but I just continue to keep it conditioned and hydrated while the last remnants of straight hair continue to grow out into curl.

I'm a bit nervous about what it will be like when it's all curly, as my hair is so thick and dense, even though it's versatile. Once it's all curly I'll begin to really use the styling products as intended and experiment with different products, if needed. Summer can't come soon enough!

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Coming Along

posted on Dec 10, 2009 by avivajaye

The Day after Thanksgiving I went to a scheduled hair appointment at Christo Fifth Avenue (Curlisto), based off of the reviews given on this site about the salons. I had made a decision to see Tameeka, and she was great. I went intending to get a couple inches of my old, straight hair cut off and the rest of my hair shaped in a way that's conducive to growing it out. I had no idea how she would style it, since they generally finger style curly hair, and some of my hair would still be straight.

I had nothing to worry about. Tameeka listened to my assessment of my own hair and my desires for its future, and she let me know upfront what would happen, how many inches she would remove, and how she would try to style it. Everything from the shampoo, deep conditioning treatment and cut to the styling was great. I got instructions all along the way about the methods and products, and all my questions were answered.

The salon decided to do a before-and-after photo session with me, and Tameeka decided to style my hair in a faux-hawk! It was great! The styling lotion Tameeka worked through my hair prior to pinning up the faux hawk produced really defined ringlets of my natural hair! It was great to get a glimpse of what's to come. We then twisted the straight bits until dry before pinning it all up into a curly faux-hawk.

It was also great to hear that I've been caring well for my hair in this transition for not doing the big chop. After the cut, it's at 65% curly and 35% straight bits. By the spring, when I go back for another cut, I should have a head of curly hair to work with. I snagged a holiday gift set of their products and received some generous samples and a prescription sheet from Tameeka, complete with step-by-step directions on what to do at home.

I'm excited to experiment with more things during the cold weather, since I have a dome dryer at home, and also try some other products from other brands as my hair continues to grow out. I'm still rocking my tried and true Swiss braids (which I continue to get compliments on, by the way), but I will also do a twist-out more often...and maybe sport the faux-hawk from time to time. ;-)

Enough of that! Here are some pics!

My girlfriend and I post-salon.

Wearing a twist-out/braid-out here.

The tried and true braids-bump combo. =) I'm on my way!

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Frustrated but Hopeful

posted on Nov 24, 2009 by avivajaye

This past week and a half has been frustrating regarding my hair. Last week when I washed and conditioned my hair felt like straw! I didn't change my method or my products, but some days my hair just feels stripped. It's already so dry, but usually after I've let the conditioner sit for a while it starts to soften and moisturize. Not this time. It's like the conditioner wasn't really penetrating the hair. I even but a repair leave-in balm later, which helped a bit. I just hate it when it feels horrible and I haven't even stepped out of the shower.

To me, conditioning is the best part because it's so good for my hair and I can feel it working. I co-washed again this morning and had the same experience. Fortunately, my conditioner ran out and I'm scheduling a hair appointment this weekend, so I will get some new products as well. The new cut and the new products should help. I need a manageable cut and good products as I continue growing it out.

All in all, I love my hair. It's thick and essentially durable. I can wear most styles I'd desire to wear. I'm excited about the potential of my natural hair, in all it's craziness. =) So let's go.

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Some Hair Pics

posted on Nov 3, 2009 by avivajaye

Here are some photos from this morning after I washed/conditioned my hair.

1) My hair after the co-wash, before detangling with comb.

2) How I wear it daily, in Swiss braids and a bump. It locks the moisture in and keeps it soft.

Some days are worse than others. Some days, my hair is REALLY tangled, other days it's a bit too dry. I know that I'm due for a trim and some better products this month.

For now, I rather like the braids. They're not tight so they don't pull. I'm trying to give them a rest more often with a twist-out, since I have a dome dryer at home under which I can sit for quicker dry time. =)

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