About this user
Natural since BC 12/22/07, transitioned w/braids using the "Crown and Glory Technique" for 7 months (last CFC 5/23/07); present hairstyle is an Afro! My hair texture is 4b.
Currently what I've been doing w/my hair:
* Once a day - Wet w/4 oz. distilled water in the shower (my tap water is hard), add product and then style
* Throughout the day - Mist hair w/distilled water (I have a small spray bottle of water in my purse for this purpose. I just go to the bathroom or just before, I get out of the car and spray my hair.)
* Every other day - Apply gel activator
* Every few days - Apply glycerin spray/spritz (I don't use activator on the days that I use glycerin)
Recipe: 3 oz. vegetable glycerin, 5 oz. distilled water, and 10 drops of rosemary essential oil (EO) (if pregnant, please be careful with EOs; try peppermint after doing your own research) Add all into a spray bottle, shake, and spray onto hair. Then, store bottle in refrigerator. I made half w/3 Tablespoons (T.) glycerin, 5 T. water, and 5 drops EO
* At night - Sleep w/satin bonnet (I use the drawstring one or the one with elastic on the inside, but I reverse it so the elastic band doesn't rub and take my hair out at my hairline) and sleep on a satin pillowcase
* Once a week - With moisturizing shampoo wash once, ACV rinse, pat dry, and apply moisturizing conditioner (apply in sections, comb starting with the ends, and leave plastic cap on for an hour, and then rinse)
* Styling - Leave hair dripping wet, gently pat dry; apply gel activator in sections and finger-comb. I only comb my hair once a week with conditioner and I finger-comb only on wet hair throughout the week.
* Every couple of months (or longer) - Protein Treatment and/or Moisturizing Deep Condition: Wash w/ApHogee Shampoo for Damaged Hair (my hair isn't damaged, but I want to keep it healthy and strong). Next, apply ApHogee Two-step Protein Treatment according to directions (I apply mine w/a spray bottle because I have better control of where the product goes; take care to keep it away from your eyes; please follow product directions.) Right after rinsing out protein treatment, apply ApHogee Balancing Moisturizer AND Creme of Nature Nourishing Conditioner (using just the Balancing Moisturizer isn't enough moisture for my hair), rinse and then style. Or w/moisturizing shampoo wash once, and then w/moisturizing, conditioning treatment [has to say, "Leave on hair for 15 (or more) minutes" in the instructions], comb, cover w/plastic cap and leave on for desired amount, rinse, and proceed to style
* When needed - Trim (To be honest, I haven't had my hair trimmed since my BC :-O)
* Last haul - @ Health Food Store: Vegetable glycerin, rosemary essential oil, JASON Natural Sea Kelp Shampoo, and JASON Natural Sea Kelp Conditioner (hair moisturizing products)
@ Beauty Supply Store: Elasta QP DRP-11 and FANTASIA IC Hair Polisher Styling Gel for Color Treated Hair (I haven't used the gel yet, but I like the DPR-11, it left my hair very soft.)
@ Grocery Store (Wal-Mart): Case of distilled water
@ Dollar Store: Blue Duchess Gel Activator for Extra Dry Hair with Aloe Vera (I also like Long Aid Activator Gel when I can find it.)
* Next purchases - Looking into Elasta QP mango butter, Qhemet Biologics, Oyin Handmade, Nasabb, Denman brush (or generic one), Sunsilk Captivating Curls Gel & Cream Twist, flaxseed, aloe vera gel/juice, hair scissors and more I'm sure...
* Next style - Trimming hair (DIY maybe) and three-strand twists; I'm going to venture and do the twists myself :-o, LOL
* Hair goals - Keep hair healthy and moisturized, try new hairstyles, and use up all of my hair products, even if I don't like them (this one is going to be hard because I'm a product junkie, LOL)
**Please feel free to contact me for advice or questions about my routine or you can share some tips with me about natural hair ;-) **
