My Wash/Shake-n-Go Routine (No Pictures, Sorry)

Per the request of Miss Cee C herself, here is my wash-n-go, aka shake-n-go, routine. It has been inspired by my lack of energy for styling my hair and the love I have for my naturally curly pattern (tightly curly or 4a for those who honor the hair typing system). It has also changed with more growth, so this routine should be appropriate for those with longer, densely packed hair. Although a wash-n-go regimen is praised for its simplicity, there is more, at least for me, that goes into it than just washing and leaving the house. Specific questions from Miss Cee C included the following: (1) What products do you use?; (2) How do you enhance your natural curl pattern?; and (3) How do you avoid tangles? Below I have answered the questions, including product recommendation based on what I have been using as of late.

Routine:

1. Wash hair with a sulfate free shampoo, such as Shea Moisture or Giovanni.
2. Oil Rinse with natural oils. My favorite combination is equal parts olive and castor oils.
3. Condition hair with Shea Moisture, Giovanni, or Yes to Cucumbers conditioner.
4. Rinse Conditioner with cool water to seal the cuticle and for shinier hair.
5. Shake head/hair, not too vigorously, to rid the hair of excess water.
6. Blot Dry with a microfiber towel or old cotton t-shirt.
7. Apply leave-in, preferably the Kimmaytube Leave-In or Giovanni Direct Leave-In. Other recommendations include any conditoner designed as a leave-in or the Yes to Cucumbers conditioner.
8. If not using the Kimmatube Leaeve In, Seal in moisture, preferably with a light oil such as jojoba or grapeseed.
9. GO! Simple, huh? LOL.

Additional Notes:

• Avoid touching the hair while it is still damp. This may disrupt the curl pattern, leading to frizzy hair.
• If you do not feel like washing the hair, step one can be replaced with an ACV rinse or just saturating the hair with water. (I shampoo my hair no more than once a week, even though I may wet it every two to three days).
• I don't have detangling listed above, because I hardly detangle my hair unless styling and I prefer to dry detangle. Try detangling during the conditioning process or when hair has been covered with the oil rinse, before rising out.
• The oil rinsing is imperative. Oil rinsing decreases the amount of single strand knots, leads to shiner and softer hair, and is great for those who regularly wear wash and go styles.
• For best results, use the Kimmaytube Leave-In. Go ahead and start mixing!
• For a moisturizer and sealant in one, add a bit of oil to the leave-in conditioner before applying to hair.

Although not listed above, the first step is to embrace your natural curl pattern. You will never be happy with the results if you don't first learn to love your natural curl pattern. That being said, oil rinsing and the Kimmaytube Leave-In are the best ways in my experience of enhancing the natural curl pattern, but it won't give what you don't already have. Smooches...

P.S. Almost forgot, to refresh a wash-n-go the next morning, you can spritz the hair with a water-based moisturizer. I am in desperate need of some OH Greg Juice, although I may try the OH Hair Dew next time I order from Oyin. The products is advertised as glycerin free moisturizer for refreshing hair in the morning. Cand hardly wait.

Natural Hair is NOT for Everyone (Watch Video Before Commenting)

The Natural Haven shared this video on her blog. Of course, I initially was angry at the title of this video. I thought, Natural hair is for everyone simply because its the natural thing to do! But after watching the video, I understood the point Sunshine was making. Natural hair takes a lot of confidence. If you don't have that confidence, natural hair may not be for you. But first, please watch the video.

I essentially agree with everything Sunshine is saying, with only one caveat. Sometimes, we have to realize we have more confidence than we may think. When I cut my locs of four years off, I was initially wary of going outside with so little hair on my head. But after the barber was finished, I realized that I would still live and that as long as I know who I am, I need not worry about what other people think. So many people, my BFF included, had not so supportive things to say about my cutting my past the shoulder locs off. But I did it for me, and I didn't care what others thought. In the words of Sherry Argov, "a bit of irreverance is necessary to have any self-esteem at all. Not irreverance for people, but rather, for what other people think."

In the sense of what Sunshine is saying, natural hair may not be for everyone if people do not have the confidence to be proud of their hair and to take lightly nonsupportive comments from other people. It has nothing to do with your particular texture or how pretty people may think you are. The question is, Do you have the confidence it takes (and don't think it doesn't take confidence) to wear your hair in its natural state? Food for thought...

Lovely Links...Chicoro's Tips for Gaining and Retaining Length



Chicoro, author of Grow It!, shares ten tips to gaining and retaining length. In general, hair grows as long as you are a healthy person not suffering from any adverse health conditions that might affect the growth of your hair, such as alopecia. The key to having long, strong, healthy hair is to retain the length you acquire by making sure your hair doesn't break off more than it grows. I have gone through the list Chico outlines and agree with what she says for the most part. The link, found HERE, also gives directions on how to download a free 13 page e-book on hair growth and retention.

I Actually Like This Book...Skinny B*tch

This New York Times bestseller Skinny Bitch has proven one controversy starter. In fact, the average rating of it on Amazon is not so great. The authors Rory Freedman, a former model agent, and Kim Barnouin, a former model and holistic nutritionist, set the tone from the start with this no-nonsense, straight no chaser, profane text on how to eat right, get skinny, and stay that way. I know many may be offended by the title, but if you can get past the language, you are in for some major knowledge about why you should embrace a vegan lifestyle and get healthy.

The authors (pictured above) have a basic formula, skinny = healthy, and healthy means no animal products whatsoever, no chemical additives, and little or no consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. Now that may sound extreme to some people, but its my way of living as a healthy conscious vegetarian. Skinny also doesn't mean drastically underweight. Eating disorders are no joke. But don't kid yourself into thinking that obesity is all of a sudden healthy, or that obesity is not a major issue in this country due to our Standard American Diet (SAD). I know many people, who in the attempt to embrace themselves the way they are, embrace and accept an unhealthy them, rather than changing their health for the body. Furthermore, I know that weight is not the only indicator of health, but don't ignore the fact that it is a pretty large indicator. Overweight and obese individuals are at a higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many more health problems. In fact, the fat around our waists is a large indicator of our chances of getting diabetes than our weight anywhere else. Simply put, a bit of junk in the trunk is fine, but if too much weight is found in the midsection, health is at a greater risk.

I am rereading my copy of Skinny Bitch and appreciating Freedman and Barnouin for their candor in the horrors of eating meat products, dairy products and their expose' of the corruption in the food industry. Some may say their formula is a bit too simple, but I would think we should be happy it isn't complicated. In fact, healthy living never was complicated. They had the good sense to write it down and sell it as a book. Don't eat crap. And don't think you can eat crap in "moderation." What is crap? Meat, dairy, eggs, junk food, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. If you want some truth, read the book. If you would like another perspective with no profanity, read anything written by Dr. Neal Barnard, or check out the website for Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, an organization founded by Dr. Barnard.

The Skinny Bitch Website

Go Green While Cleansing and Conditioning Your Hair...

If you're anything like me, your favorite places to do your hair are the shower and perhaps the kitchen sink. (Don't worry. I make sure to clean up very well when washing my hair in the sink). I was reading the back of one of my conditioner bottles. No, I don't remember which one. But what caught my eye was that the company urged consumers to go green and save water BY TURNING OFF THE WATER while conditioning their hair. This advice had me thinking about all the times I shampooed my hair or ran conditioner through my strands while continuing to let the water run and run and run. I am still not always remembering, but when I condition my hair I make sure to cut off the water to save on a resource that many nations don't have as freely as we do. So, naturalistas, go green while cleansing or conditioning your hair by turning off the water when you don't need it, namely when massaging shampoo or conditioner in your hair.



Now that I think about it, you don't really need the water on while cleansing the body, shaving, and other shower rituals. If I am not mistaken, this is called a navy shower or sea shower. One mintue...Yes, according to Wikipedia, navy showers, which originated on naval ships due to scarcity of water, are great ways to conserve limited water supply and also to lower a water bill. When you get in the shower, you spend an initial thirty seconds to completely wet the body (and hair if shampooing), turn off the water, then lather the body (and hair if shampooing) for as long as necessary. After getting clean as a whistle, you turn the water back on and rinse the body (and hair) clean. For those, like me, who always condition after shampooing, the water can be turned off again after rinsing the body and hair clean. Then the conditioner can be massaged into the hair. Then the water can be turned back on again for a final rinse of the hair (cool water is best for rinsing out conditioner). Save water naturalistas, and consider taking navy showers, especially if you wash your hair in the shower. Even if you wash your hair in the sink, you can turn off the water after wetting the hair to massage shampoo on the scalp and for conditioning.

In case my directions were a bit confusing, HERE are much simpler directions on how to take a navy shower, including time for shampooing and conditioning the hair.

Currently Smelling Like a Grapesicle...Desert Essence Organics Italian Red Grape Conditioner

I finally took the plunge this morning and used my more than recently purchased but never used Desert Essence Organics Italian Red Grape Conditioner for Color Treated Hair. (As you know, I don't have color treated hair, but these conditioners usually work very well for dry/damaged hair). Anyway, I hadn't used the conditioner yet because the smell is just about as grape Kool-Aidy as it can be. I try to look past annoying fragrances, especially when a product is formulated with quality ingredients. Desert Essence Organics Conditioners are silicone free, sulfate free, gluten free, vegan, cruelty-free, et cetera. But oh, the smell of this Italian Red Grape Conditioner.



In the shower this morning, I oil rinsed with equal parts olive and castor oils. Then, after chunking up the courage, I applied the Italian Red Grade Conditioner generously throughout my hair. The smell didn't seem to be as strong in the shower. I let is marinate in my hair for about 15 minutes, then rinsed with cool water. I then applied some great smelling Kimmaytube Leave-In (made with OHHH), hoping it would mask any smell of the Grape Conditioner.

Well, I suspected that all I smelled like from the neck up was grape Kool-Aid. I had it confirmed by a couple of friends, after asking them to sniff my hair. While standing outside, every time the wind blew I caught a whiff of the grape-y fragrance. Even though one friend liked the way my hair smells, the smell for me is actually annoying, but the conditioner itself seems to be soooo good. I plan on using up the rest of the bottle, but doubt that I rebuy. I may go hunting for another Desert Essence Organics Conditioner in a friendlier smell.

Aside from the annoying smell, this conditioner has great ingredients and a great, creamy consistency. I just don't know if I can bear smelling like a Grapesicle all day and maybe all tomorrow since I have no plans of rewetting my hair until a few days from now.

Isn't Man An Amazing Animal? (C. David Coats Quote)



"Isn't man an amazing animal? He kills wildlife - birds, kangaroos, deer, all kinds of cats, coyotes, beavers, groundhogs, mice, foxes and dingoes - by the million in order to protect his domestic animals and their feed. Then he kills domestic animals by the billion and eats them. This in turn kills man by the millions, because eating all those animals leads to degenerative - and fatal - health conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, and cancer. So then man tortures and kills millions more animals to look for cures for these diseases. Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being killed by hunger and malnutrition because food they could eat is being used to fatten domestic animals. Meanwhile, some people are dying of sad laughter at the absurdity of man, who kills so easily and so violently, and once a year, sends out cards praying for Peace on Earth." [italics and bold added for emphasis] -- C. David Coats, author of Old MacDonald's Factory Farm

FYI: I absolutely love the power and common sense nature of this quote, and of course the sarcastic tone. I hope to blow it up on a poster board to place in my kitchen.

Hair Product Wishlist and Hair Product Donations

Per my latest craze to go all natural, in terms of all natural hair products, I have compiled a wishlist of natural hair products as well as a list of products I will be donating. My most recent donation was my Giovanni shampoos. Yes, you read correctly. At one time, I could not ever imagine giving those away, but now that I have Shea Moisture in my life, Giovanni was donated and graciously accepted by my two oldest sisters Alison and Miss Cee C. Miss Cee C is now the owner of a bottle of Giovanni TTTT Shampoo and Alison has a bottle of Giovanni 50:50 Balanced Shampoo.

Don't Judge Me.



Above is a picture of my bathroom sink area. Clearly, I have a problem in the product junkie department. The main products that will be given away are anything containing silicones or harsh detergents.

Natural Hair Products Wishlist:

• Suave Naturals Aloe and Water Lily Conditioner
• Oyin Handmade Hair Dew (moisturizer)
• Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-In/Detangler
• Giovanni Conditioners in the 33 ox Container
• Shea Moisture Yucca and Baobab Line (shampoo, conditioner, and anti-breakage masque)
• Yes to Carrots and/or Tomatoes Conditioner
• Yes to Cucumbers Leave-In Conditioner
• Chagrin Valley Shampoo Bars and Conditioners Bars

Hair Products Soon to Be Donated:

• Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner
• Aussie Moist Conditioner (a liter size bottle)

Undecided as to Whether Or Not I Will Give Away or Use:

• Desert Essence Organics Italian Red Grape Conditioner (The smell is so annoying to me. It smells like grape kool-aid or a Jolly Rancher, which is why I haven't even tried it yet).
• Desert Essence Organics Coconut Conditioner (Just has not wowed me very much. I most likely will not rebuy, but I might use up the rest of the bottle).

I Need More of the Following, and Soon:

• Jojoba Oil (to make some more Kimmaytube Leave-In)
• Castor Oil (to make some more Kimmaytube Leave-In)
• Olive Oil
• Honey
• Giovanni Conditioners

Don't worry. I will purchase all the items in my wishlist. These are just some of the products I have been thinking about trying.

Random Purchase and Product Review...Suave Naturals Juicy Green Apple Conditioner

After my serach in vain for some Shea Moisture Products during the Walgreen's BOGO Sale, I decided to just make a random purchase at the local Walgreen's. I decided, that since it is becoming more and more difficult to find the Suave Tropical Coconut Conditoner, I should try another conditioner in the Suave Naturals line and see how it measures up to the Tropical Coconut.



I decided to purchase the Juicy Green Apple for a few simple reasons. It is green, which is one of my favorite colors, and I loved the green apple smell. As usual, it was only $1, what a great cheapie conditioner. I can hardly remember when I used it, but I have used it twice since purchasing. My thoughts?...

It's good, but not as good as the Tropical Coconut. I guess that coconut really does make a difference. The SNTC just seems to be more rich in feeling and conditioning. The Juicy Green Apple did okay, especially good as a cheapie co-wash, but the performance didn't outbeat the SNTC. My main love for the Juicy Green Apple was the scent and the price, which is always right. I will most likely use up the bottle I have now, but my chances of rebuying are slim. I will continue to buy the Tropical Coconut as much as possible as the go-to, favorite cheapie conditioner, especially if I have a spare dollar in my pocket.

One thing I noticed about the SNJGA conditioner is that it was described as hypoallergenic. Indeed, it did not lead to itchy scalp like other very popular conditioners (hint: HE is the acronym). Maybe I will try another conditioner in the Suave Naturals Line and see if Tropical Coconut is the only one I love.

Just went to the Suave website. They have the Suave Naturals conditioner is many flavors, from Mango Mandarin to Lavendar Lilac. They all sound great smelling, but I won't be fooled next time. If I try another from this line, I will go for the Aloe and Water Lily. I know firsthand how good aloe vera is for the hair.

Check Out Those Curls...Hair Shot

Here is a picture of my hair this past Saturday morning. I washed my hair with Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Shampoo, oil rinsed, conditioned with Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner, then applied a bit of the Deep Treatment Masque as a leave-in. Although my hair looks great in this picture, take note that I think it looks even better today with the Kimmaytube Leave-In. Also, my hair is still damp in this picture, so conditioner is slightly visible.

That's my hair. Gotta love those curls.



Conditioner Superlatives...Best Homemade Concoction



I made such a large batch of Kimmaytube Leave-In towards the beginning of this year, but then stopped using it as much. I don't know why. I think I was experimenting with seeing how well a conditioner could act on its own as a leave-in. From my experimentation, I have come to love the Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp, Giovanni Direct Leave-In, and Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioners as leave-ins. They all work great. I have even used the Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque as a leave-in and styler recently.

But while going through my refrigerator, the Kimmaytube Leave-In started staring at me. Furthermore, I still have a generous container of Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Juice, which I use to make the Kimmaytube Leave-In and nothing else. After deciding that it was okay to wet my hair this morning, I oil rinsed, conditioned with Giovanni Deeper Moisture Smooth as Silk, then applied the Kimmaytube Leave-In mix. This particular batch was made with Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp. So, after an extended hiatus from the conditioner, how did I like it?

It was even better than I remembered! Why did I ever stop using this mix, especially since it is such a great way to stretch out not so cheap conditioners, such as OHHH? I also quickly realized that this conditioner is unlike any other in how well it defines my curl pattern, even the most frizzy parts of my hair. There is a front section of my hair that is so frizzy that even my friends notice and wonder what is going on in that part of my head. The Kimmaytube Leave-In, however, worked wonders on that part, and its frizz no more.

The real secret to the Kimmaytube Leave-In, in my opinion, has to be the aloe vera juice. The AVJ is what puts the mix into an ideal pH balance for the hair. Furthermore, after a bit of research, I found that aloe vera juice is great for thickening up hair, promoting hair growth, and it's all natural. Win-Win-Win.

I went ahead and decided to give this leave-in a conditioner superlative category of its own. I was thinking of making it the best leave-in, but decided that a leave-in that is homemade should be in a separate category from one that is bought ready to use from the store. I already have a winner for that category. Click here to find out who won. I also have a favorite rinse out conditioner used as a leave-in. Click here for more details. In my honest opinion, however, Kimmaytube Leave-In is the best for just simple wash-n-go's because the curl definition achieved is out of this world. FYI: My favorite conditioners to use to make the Kimmaytube Leave-In is OHHH and Giovanni Direct Leave-In. The latter, however, works so great on it's own as a light conditioner, plus it has aloe vera as a top ingredient, that I don't mind using by itself most of the time.

Click here for the video tutorial of the Kimmaytube Leave-In.

Check Out Miss Cee C's One Year Naturalversary

My sister Miss Cee C has been completely natural for exactly one year today. She BC'd on April 5, 2010. Yesterday I celebrated my birthday. Today she celebrated her natural day. Below is her YouTube video showcasing the many styles she has rocked since being completely natural.



Gotta love those hairstyles. The versatility is inspiring to anyone who thinks natural hair cannot be versatile.

Shea Moisture at Walgreen's (BOGO Sale Over)



If you have been following the blogs and tweets of some naturalistas in the cyber world, you were well informed that not only did Walgreen's start selling Shea Moisture products, but that they were having a 2 for 1 (Buy One, Get One Free) sale at both Walgreen's stores and on Walgreens.com. I was so hoping to buy some Shea Moisture myself, in spite of trying to cure my PJism. In the end, I am left with no new Shea Moisture in spite of my plans. What happened? Here's how it went down:

1. As soon as I heard about the sale earlier this week, I would have been too happy to be at my nearest Walgreen's. Unfortunately, the nearest drugstore near me is CVS, and I don't have a car. Catching a ride to Walgreen's was a lot easier said than done.
2. A friend and fellow natural informed me that I could buy the Shea Moisture products online. I went online more than too eager. I immediately found out that the sale was "Buy One, Get Same Item Free". Hmm. Odd, since all Shea Moisture products cost $9.99. Furthermore, the line I was interested in buying was sold out.
3. Just when I figured I would just restock on the Shea Moisture line I currently use (the Raw Shea Butter line), I realized that I would have to buy $25 worth of products to get free shipping from Walgreens.com. In the end, I figured it was not worth it.
4. Saturday, I convinced a friend to drive me to the nearest Walgreen's. I was so excited, and completely ignoring my inner guilt of buying more hair products. We finally got to Walgreen's. After searching in vain, I realized that all the Shea Moisture products were sold out. Talk about naturals in Atlanta cleaning out Walgreen's. The only products left were Shea Moisture kits, but I didn't want to buy those. One was the Raw Shea Butter line, which I have. The other was the Coconut Hibiscus. I hate the smell of that line. Flowery coconut is not my taste. Finally, the price was too high for my tastes.
5. In the end, I just bought a $1 bottle of Suave Naturals Green Apple Conditioner. Shea Moisture just was not meant to be, that day. Besides, next time I buy, I will most likely hit it up at Target (love that place) or online at Walgreens.com.

One Product Only

As I am in product junkie rehab, I am going to respond to a post by The Natural Haven, who asks the following: If on a desert island, and allowed to bring only one product per category, what would you bring to have good hair days while waiting for rescue. (I paraphrased her question. For the original post and to see what other's wrote, click here).



One Product Only

1. Shampoo - Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo
2. Conditioner (by far the hardest for me to choose) - Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Conditioner
3. Leave-In Conditioner - Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp Conditioner
4. Moisturizer - Oyin Handmade Greg Juice
5. Oil - Coconut Oil (The warm weather will make it so I don't have to worry about the coconut oil solidifying; however, if it were a desert artic island, I would have to go with olive oil)

I'm Going All Natural!!!!



One of my favorite style icons and YouTubers is NappyChronicles. Her videos are great, her hair is gorgeous, and her personality is quite lovable. Plus, she has the cutest daughter. One hair care practice Nappy Chronicles is a proponent of is all natural, organic products. You may have gleaned from the title that I am not all natural. In the sense of using chemicals to alter the texture of my hair, I am all natural, and loving it. But, a conversation I had with a fellow natural male had me thinking, can you be truly natural if you don't use all natural products.

I say of course you can. Don't feel you have to go out and throw away every silicone containing product, especially if those products are working for you and you like the results. But as for me, I have noticed that my hair actually prefers all natural products, especially sulfate-free and silicone-free products. Let me warn you now, that just because a product is all natural doesn't mean it's safe. For instance, many products may contain essential oils to which you may be allergic. Also, some essential oils should not be used by pregnant or lactating women. Some people have found they are allergic to coconut oil. Fortunately, I am not. But I have learned, the hard way, that my scalp does not react well with synthetic fragrances and dyes. (Part of the reason why I said goodbye to Herbal Essences conditioners). So just because a product says all natural doesn't mean you don't have to do some research. You're not getting off that easily. Do your research, whether you use all natural products or not.

I am more concerned about going all natural in the product department because 1) all natural products work better on my hair, 2) all natural products are better for the environment, and 3) all natural products are better for me. Many chemicals found in conventional beauty products have been linked to cancers and other severe allergic reactions. As stated earlier, my sensitive scalp does not do well with fragrances and dyes. Check out the Environmental Protection Agency for more research. Also, just because you are going all natural with products does not mean you have to break the bank. I myself I am not fond of spending a lot of money on products, regardless of how organic or all natural it is. If a  product seems expensive, keep in mind that with all natural, most times, a little goes a long way.

This new found all natural movement I am in applies to my skin care products as well. I will probably be doing a product haul soon to give away some of these products I have. I will continue to use the Suave Naturals and Alberto VO5 conditioners on occasion. What other all natural products will be I be using? I have narrowed it down to four brands of all natural products. Listed below are which products from each brand I will be using and where I will be purchasing them. Most of the products below I have tried, but not all of them. The ones I have yet to try are in italics.

Shea Moisture (available at Target, Walgreen's, Target.com, and Walgreens.com) shampoo and conditioners from the Raw Shea Butter line and the Yucca and Baobab line

Giovanni Eco Chic Line (available at Target, Wal-Mart, health food stores, and VitaCost.com) conditioners, including the Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture, the Tea Tree Triple Treat, and Weightless Moisture Direct-Leave In conditioners

Oyin Handmade (from OyinHandmade.com or CurlMart.com) OH Honey Hemp Conditioners; OH Greg Juice, Juices and Berries, and Frank Juice; and OH Hair Dew

Yes to Carrots (available at Target and Walgreen's) Yes to Cucumbers conditioner, Yes to Carrots conditioner, and Yes to Tomatoes conditioner

Adding Oils to Conditioner

I have heard of this common hair practice, but have only done it when deep conditioning the hair. I usually add a bit of olive oil or coconut oil plus honey to rinse out conditioners when I want to deep condition and don't have anything else on hand. But as I was comparing my conditioners, I realized that although I like the Aussie Moist, especially the price, it could use a little extra something to help condition the hair more. I decided that since I have a big bottle of sweet almond oil which I hardly ever use, I would mix some of this oil with my Aussie Moist (the liter size container I recently bought from Target). The first thing I realized was that it takes some real work to get the oil mixed in with the conditioner. When I did some research (curly message boards) on adding oils to conditioner, I read where someone said that castor oil mixes well with conditioner. This fact is probably because castor oil is very thick, whereas sweet almond oil is thin and light. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to trying out the Aussie Moist mixed with sweet almond oil to see how I like it. If you don't wish to risk ruining an entire bottle of conditioner, I figured it wouldn't do any harm, you can just add about a quarter size of oil to a palmful of conditioner. Great oils would be olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, Vatika oil, and other all natural carrier oils. Get to mixing!

P.S. The sweet almond oil I use is from Aura Cacia and is naturally preserved with Vitamin E oil. be careful to not add oil that may expire before you use up the conditioner.

Conditioner Superlatives...Best Leave-In Conditioner

Recently, I did a post on my favorite leave-in conditioner that is actually formulated as a rinse out conditioner. For this award category, I will review my favorite leave-in conditioner that is actually formulated or instructed to be used as a leave-in conditioner. Most of my leave-in's could also serve as rinse out's, but that is the beauty of conditioner, it is so versatile. It can be used as a rinse, leave-in, buffer, shaving gel. Anyway, I digress. My all time favorite conditioner for leaving in my hair and working it's conditioning magic is...Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp Conditioner.



Let me just say in a nutshell why I love this product: The ingredients are all natural; the smell is divine; it packs a moisture punch; it is a great styling conditioner, which I love because I generally don't use styling butters or pomades; the price is not bad, especially for the quality of the ingredients. The Honey Hemp is also available in many sizes, from trial size to salon size. I tend to buy the 16 oz. This is also one of my favorite conditioners to use when making the Kimmaytube Leave-In.Yeah, you have to order it offline if you can't find a local supplier or if you don't live in BMore. Yeah, it is best to store this in the refrigerator to keep the smell from going funny. But it is well worth it. I use this leave-in a lot. Also, if you are vegan, take note that this product contains honey, like the name implies. But it is not my only leave-in conditioner, which leads me to the next point.

Honorable Mentions: Tie between Giovanni Weightless Moisture Direct Leave-In and Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner. The first honorable mention is easily available at Target at a good price and has quality ingredients. It also has a crispy clean smell for those who don't like heavy, sweet scents, such as the OH products. I use the Giovanni Weightless Moisture when I want something light and effective. My most recent favorite is the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Conditioning Milk. It can be used as a rinse out or leave-in. I primarily use it as a leave-in conditioner. The ingredients are quality, the price is just right, and the smell is great, to me. I have a friend who hates the smell. Plus, it has shea butter. How great is that. It is also available at Target.

What Products Am I Actually Using?

I had to honestly ask myself this question one day when I realized that a lot of my products go unused. I am a bit of a product junkie. I admit it now, even though I have been in deep denial. Yesterday, when my friend and fellow natural Dee came and judged my mass amount of products, I had to honestly ask myself, what products am I actually using? It might be time to donate some to my friends who are looking to try something new.



With a maximum of no more than three products per category, here is the cold hard truth of what I have actually been using lately, out of the many hair products I have:

• Shampoo - Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo - This ish is the bomb. It does not dry out my hair and there is no need to buffer. This shampoo leaves my hair so non-dry, that even pre-pooing is not necessary, although I plan to start up again. I used my Giovanni recently and realized that I am not used to how much it dries my hair out, especially compared to the Shea Moisture.
• Conditioner (rinse out) - Giovanni Smooth as Silk or TTTT, Aussie Moist - Although Giovanni shampoos have not been getting as much love from me, their conditioners are my all time favorite brand right about now. I especially love the Smooth as Silk and TTTT. I have tried the 50/50 Balanced, and it works fine. I like the SAS and TTTT better though. If I see the 50/50 and it's the only thing in the store, I'd buy it. I am beginning to run low on these products, and will be investing in the liter sizes as soon as I get a chance and some money. I like the Aussie Moist because it smells great, works pretty good, and comes with a great price tag.
• Conditioner (leave-in) - Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp and Giovanni Direct Leave-In - I love the smell of OHHH and Giovanni Direct Leave-In comes in at a close second. The smell of OHHH is divine, and the Giovanni Direct Leave-In has a nice clean scent as well. Both products have great ingredients.
• Deep Conditioner - Coconut Milk, Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque, Rinse Conditioner + Honey + Olive or Coconut Oil - The first option adds protein and therefore strength. The second option adds moisture and does not require heat to be a miracle working product. The last option is a tried and true, in a pinch, cheap alternative to buying an expensive deep treatment from the store.
• Oils - castor oil, coconut oil, and olive oil - Need to buy some more olive oil, but it's okay because coconut is the one I use the most. Coconut oil adds great shine, smells great, and penetrates the hair shaft for stronger strands. I also have grapeseed and sweet almond oil, but use grapeseed more for the skin. I added some sweet almond oil to my Aussie Moist Conditioner to give it more oomph. Castor oil, mixed with another carrier oil is my favorite for oil rinsing.
• Moisturizer - OH Greg Juice - I am all out of this product and miss it terribly. I used to moisturize my hair every day with this product, and I miss those days. Next time I order some OHHH, I will be sure to get some Greg Juice as well. I have been dabbling in making my own moisturizing spray, but nobody does it better than OH Greg Juice.
• Detangling/Styling Tool - It is a close tie between my Cricket Ultraclean Comb and my Wide Tooth Comb from NaturallyCurly.com. As long as I have these two, I will leave the Denman and Tangle Teezer alone.

Looks like I will be paring down in the product department pretty soon