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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Product Review: Curls Unleashed

A few months ago I was browsing my local Sally's Beauty Supply store and found the product line called Curls Unleashed by Organic Root Stimulator. The label says the product line is "Perfect for all textures" including wavy, curly and kinky hair. I'm always up for trying a new product so I decided to give their moisturizing conditioner a try to start just to see if I liked it. One thing I didn't like was the price. It cost $14.99 for a 12 ounce container of conditioner and I'm pretty sure I've gotten more for less with other products but I was still willing to give it a try.

I have to say I really liked the results. I left the conditioner on for about 15-20 minutes after applying and it left my hair feeling SO soft. Unlike most other naturals I've seen, I really don't pay that much attention to ingredients like sulfates, cones, etc so I can't really speak on that. I personally look at what the product label promises, the smell of the product and the results on my hair once I actually use it. After using it a few times, I must say that I really like the Curls Unleashed conditioner, so much that I decided to try some of their other products. Today I bought their shampoo and leave-in conditioner. I haven't tried either yet but I'll give a review when I do. Hopefully I'll like those as much as the moisturizing conditioner.






12 oz bottles of leave-in conditioner and shampoo, $10.99 each at Sally's.


Hairstyles: Curlformers.....again

I decided to try Curlformers once again now that I'm fully natural. The last time I tried them was pretty early on during my transition so I thought it was time to explore again. To be honest I wasn't happy with the results. Once I separated the curls I just didn't like how my hair looked so it felt like I totally wasted the day before doing my hair.

I applied the Curlformers to wet/damp, freshly washed and conditioned hair. The only products I used were Kinky Curly's Knot Today leave in detangler and Curling Custard. Also I kept a spray bottle of water to use when my hair got dry. Based on these results I probably won't use Culformers again which is unfortunate because I really liked the outcome the last time. I'll probably just end up pulling my hair back into a curly poof/ponytail for the time being.

Here are a few pictures (some of them are out of order but you get the idea):





After removing the curlers.




After separating the curls. It looks okay but I didn't really like it.




I was really hoping for a silkier look to my curls but that didn't really happen.


Friday, December 7, 2012

Hairstyles: Flat Twists with a Poof

I recently tried to do a flat twist updo into a high bun but it didn't turn out the way I pictured it in my mind. It looked OK and I left in it for about a week but that's all I could stand. I didn't feel like washing my hair again so I decided to try to save the style with flat twists and a poof in the back.

This style was really quick and easy to do and I really like my results. The style was done on dry hair and the only products used were small amounts of Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding and Eco Styler Gel. On random impulse I started on my hair around midnight and was done by around 1:30 am. All this time included taking out the flat twists from the previous style.

Here are some pictures:











Friday, October 12, 2012

Hair Experiment: Senegalese Twists

Lately I've been getting sick of doing my own hair and trying to come up with different styles. It would be easier to just go to a salon but it's also more expensive so I'm in no rush for all that. After doing a little research I originally was going to do yarn twists but then I decided to go with Senegalese twists instead. I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and installed them myself over two days. I probably could have got them done in a day but I didn't start putting the twists in until around 7 or 8 at night and was tired.

I used 5 1/2 packs of 100% kanekelon hair. At my local hair store they were about $2 a bag which isn't much at all. I cut off about 5-6 inches of the hair because it was a little too long but it still came down to just above my belly button which is fine for me. The only products I used while installing the twists were Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Replenishing Hair Milk for moisture and a very small amount of Eco Styler Gel to help hold the twist and smooth my natural hair. I tried but wasn't able to twist from the root so I had to start each twist with a braid.

Overall, I really like how they came out and I'm gonna try to leave them in for at least a month. One issue I have is that I got the wrong color hair. The lighting in the hair store was more dim compared to the light in my bathroom so the hair was lighter than I thought but whatever. Also, I had trouble with a few of the ends unraveling. Sealing them with boiling water has worked for most of my head but a couple of twists keep coming loose. I may have to actually burn the ends although that's the last thing I wanna do. Either way, I'll definitely do this style again.

Here's a couple of pictures of the results:





I think I'd prefer them to be smaller but I'm not sure if I'd have the patience to do them myself.



Friday, August 31, 2012

Hair Experiment: Flat Twist w/ a High Bun

In reality my "high" bun wasn't quite as high as I would have liked but it was close. Anyway, as usual I did this style on freshly washed and conditioned hair. I didn't blow dry this time but instead braided my hair in about 6-8 large braids to help stretch while it dried. I let my hair dry about 80% before I just couldn't wait anymore and started twisting.

The only products I used were the Kinky Curly Knot Today leave in, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothing and a little Eco Styler Gel. I used the Shea Moisture just because I've had it for a while and I'd never used it. It didn't seem to make any significant impact on my hair one way or another. I usually use Miss Jessie's products for flat twists so I just wanted to try something different this time.

I divided my hair into 4 sections (2 in back, 2 in front) then started twisting in the back going up towards the crown of my head. I had a little trouble twisting the sides just because I wasn't sure which direction would be best for me to part (straight up, curved, etc.). I like my results and it's a very simple, low maintenance style for the summer. I think I would have liked this style better if I had made the twists smaller but I just didn't have the patience at the time. At this point I've had the style for almost two weeks which I think is a good amount of time. Pictures to follow....


Hopefully they'll look better next time I try.