I realized I haven't spoken on products in quite some time. If you've been following this blog, then you're familiar with me and my ever-changing ways. Now that summer has passed and winter is pretty much staring us in the face here in the Big Apple, I've changed up my hair routine. I've recently been doing the following:1. Wash & Go! (well not really, I dry my hair for about 30 minutes underneath my bonnet dryer before "going")
- I wash my hair about every 4 days now (during the summertime, I noticed I shampoo'd my hair MUCH more often, too often) using a gentle sulfate-free shampoo (I like Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Herbal Shampoo). I clarify about once per month using Neutrogena's anti-residue formula.
- I condition using Aussie's Moist Conditioner OR Aussie's 3-Minute Deep Treatment.
- I still style the same way as demonstrated in my video- However, I went back to using Garnier Fructis' Leave-in Treatment Cream.
- After hair is dry, I usually apply shea butter or Miss Jessie's Buttercreme for shine.
I recently started using Mixed Chicks Hair Silk as a finisher. It's a light serum that provides incredible LIGHTWEIGHT and LASTING shine. One of my coworkers let me to borrow her bottle and do you know I ended up going out and purchasing my own?
Oh! I can't forget to tell you guys about my new night-time procedure: I've been sleeping with my hair totally out- no ponytail, no clips, no satin bonnet, not even a satin pillowcase. I recently met a woman who had the most PERFECT head of natural pencil-width coils. I asked her about her nightly routine, she said she didn't do anything but go to sleep at night and refresh crushed curls with a light moisturizer in the am. I first tried this last week and was able to get 5 days out of my wash & go, which in my book is a record.
Maybe we fuss too much with our hair... What do you think: Have you found that less is best?
15 comments:
I am all about the new night routine -- a few weeks ago I also started sleeping with hair just out (no scarf, no ponytail, no braid, nothing) on a satin pillowcase, and my curls are uniform and full of body each morning. The whole reason I started doing it was because the hair in the middle of my hair seems to be breaking or growing much more slowly than other areas (I wear a protective bun almost daily), so I wanted to give it time to just "breathe" -- the great curls are a welcome and praiseworthy outcome.
What video? Can you post it again?
I have been natural since 1996 and just recently I have started following a lot of natural hair blogs. I started trying a few of the techniques some worked most failed. I am used to being a minimalist when it came to my natural hair care. So that's what I went back to and my hair has been thriving. What I want to comment most about on this post is the night routine. I HATE sleeping with anything on or in my hair so I have never been a fan of a satin scarf or pillowcase. It does not matter if my hair is in a fro, twist out, or double strand twists it does better when I just lay down. Yes, I do think that we can somes over-do and over-think natural hair. BTW love your blog!
I had to de-lurk to comment on fussing too much with our hair. THANK YOU for saying that! I often read natural hair blog and wonder about the 5 or 6 products people use in their hair everyday. I've found the simpler the better, I don't have as much build up, I don't have to wash my hair as often, it doesn't itch as much. Personally I hate stain pillowcases...it makes my face feel like it can't breathe, no bueno. I think we naturals manipulate our hair waaayy too much with stuff that just doesn't work.
Since I've gone back to being natural I use the same stuff that my mom used when she was a child with the added exception of shea butter. I haven't found a product yet that will make my hair feel like it does when I stick to staying simple.
I agree. My hair loves low manipulation. The only thing I disagree with is the satin pillowcase. I need that! Otherwise, my hair will feel be very dried out in the morning.
amen girl! the less you do the better. i almost fell victim to all the 'directions' for curly hair. condition your hair and leave it alone. no fuss, no heat, get a great cut and let it be!
Oh God, I'm glad somebody finally said it! I follow quite a few natural hair blogs and some of the routines I see posted are unreal. Sorry, I didn't get into this to spend more time, and more money, on my hair than I did when I was going to the shop. My routine includes one conditioner for detangling and combing, one for deep conditioning, a moisturizer that doubles as a curl enhancer and shea butter for sealing. Until this very post, I was feeling that maybe I wasn't doing enough. Glad to know that I'm not the only minimalist out here.
yeah less turns out to be more with everything I even stopped brushing my hair when i pull it back. I just scarf it after I apply product to my edges and it works like a charm for like 4 days.
I've done that and the results are not anything that some moisturizer can repair in the am. I have difficulty getting next day hair period. I'm working on it. Most days I can salvage with a frohawk and that's about it.
I'm trying to work out a feasible plan to stop rinsing, adding condish and styling my hair every day now that it's winter and getting longer. I got my BC on June 20th and my hair has grown alot in almost 4 months. I can pull it back to a pony stretched out, but I don't want to go back to that pony trap again that I did when relaxed and don't want my curls to not spring back. I now sleep in a satin cap with satin pillow case, but I'm going to try just sleeping out tonight without the cap (which mushes the curls to my head) and see what happens.
Love you wes..however...i dont think sleeping without anything on the head works for all curl types..you are lucky to have an exceptional head of curls..when i go to sleep mine flatten out on the side that i slept on..the curls can only be revived with more water and more miss jessies..with the utmost respect you have to remember everyone does not have ur hair type although i understand you have to do what works for you..blessings
This is so funny that I'm reading this post because I was doing press at an event and saw a young woman with the most gorgeous head of kinky (4z...lol) hair like mine. It looked like she had a serious twist out. I had to ask her what she did. Her response: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! She said she washes and then goes and I'm like, But, But, no conditioning treatments? No moisturizers? NOTHING!!!! Makes me think twice about all the stuff I do to my hair and all the products I buy. I'm sure we don't need 90% of it.
What are the ingredients in MC Hair Silk? Can't find a list on their site.
i realized like two days ago that all i need is shea butter coconut oil and a satin pillowcase and i can get days and days out of any hairstyle. turn the fan on if you're hot lol. seriously though thats it! shea butter leave in conditioner, coconut oil and my fingers is all thats necessary :) im 3C/4A ish
For some people that is true but my hair definitely needs a lot of attention (4c) and products.
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