Mixed Chicks? Who'da Thought...

So I tried another product (from my curlmart purchase). Based on product description and reviews, I chose the Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner. I don't usually try leave ins because I've been satisfied with the concoction I make, so I was really interested in the results I'd get...I ALSO always passed up this product because of the name of the company...I'm no "mixed chick" so I didn't think the marketing was for me, lol...eh...

I like this product...Almost love it. I definitely like it better than the DevaCare Arc AnGel because it's a creamy product and not a gel. I applied the product after co-washing. My hair dried a lot faster than it did with the Arc AnGel which is an added bonus considering I don't like to spend much time styling and dealing with the whole drying issue. It probably took my hair 20-30 minutes to dry...

The next day when I woke up, I took my bonnet off, shook my head, and got this....

That's a first. Usually my hair is smooshed beyond repair, but honestly, I don't need anything in my hair other than some oil. That's the only criticism I have. It's not moisturizing enough for me. I think that's not a reason to stop using the product, however...

I also like that it's one of the only products that doesn't leave my hair looking jherri curl-ish. Because of the size of my curls, some products can make me look like I've got a jherri curl...

I give this product a solid...A...I'll use it for a while and see how I like it or love it in the future...

Day 3...

The value of a styling product (IMO) is how it wears over time. So here's the result of my DevaCare style. I covered it the night before, and in the morning, my curls were all smooshed...

I spritzed it with my concoction mixed with water. Shook it a little, and voila...I had enough product in my hair still from the co-wash and first day of using the Arc AnGel that I didn't really need anything but a refresh...I like it...

Product review...

So I broke down and decided to try some new products. I had been threatening to buy something from Curlmart, but I've always been overwhelmed by the offerings. BUT guess what?! They hooked me in with a sale they were having...

So, I bought Deva Care One Condition.

It's got some fabulous ingredients. I initially chose it based on reviews...Of course I was skeptical...I wouldn't be me if I wasn't, so I didn't think it would do what I needed it to do...Be a conditioner with great slip, and left my hair soft and frizz free...

It actually did that...I was impressed...After using it, my curls were separated and really defined...I actually give this stuff an A.

I followed up with Deva Care Arc AnGEL a Firm Hold Defining Gel.

I actually like this too. I read reviews of how it made some folks hair hard and crunchy, and I can understand why...If you use too much, it'll crunch your situation...But it's GEL...Duh...When I squeezed some out into my hand, my first thought was, "hmm...This is gel...Just like the bottle says...I'mma use a little bit and see what happens..." That's all it takes...A little bit...I give it a B+. If it had it's own oils to moisturize, I'd give it an A+...But I can't have it all right?

This is what my hair looked like with the Deva Care products.

I got lots of compliments and "stares" at work...(I've learned those are compliments too...) Tomorrow, it'll be a little "wilder" so it'll be bigger...How I like it. I'll take pics of that too.....

Raise your hand...

if you belong to the "If I Can't Pull It Together In 20 Minutes, It's Not Gonna Happen" hair club...

I know there has to be more folks who belong to this club than me?? When I was on maternity leave (tee-hee), I perused many hair blogs, videos and websites about hair. I was amazed at how much time some folks spend to achieve a particular style or texture for their hair. That's not to even mention the products out there that you have to apply in layers to sopping wet hair and you can't touch it until 60 hours later once it dries...Good LAWD!

I'm on a quest to maintain simple hair and styling. I LOVE looking at folks who can put the time in and who have the gift and patience to twist their hair for HOURS only to untwist and wear a twist out, or wear the twists...I wish I could...

So in answer to how I make it "do what it do"?...Here's what I does...er..do...(Is that right?)

Freshly co-washed hair...No products...

I apply my "concoction" and comb through to the ends, and put it in a braid...

Then I go to bed...(this step is really important!!!)

In the am, I take the braid out...Shake and I get this...My hair was still a little damp, so I didn't need to apply anything...Also, if I would have left it braided for a few more hours, it wouldn't have shrunk up as much...All I have to do to get some length is pull on it a little...
Pretty simple...

Take Your Vitamins!!!

I get questions and rants from folks who try different natural conditioners like the Honey-Olive Oil conditioner thinking something magical is going to happen...

There are sooo many deep conditioners and natural remedies out there, but I think many folks have a misconception of what to expect...

One day when I was trying to explain it, it hit me...VITAMINS!!!

You know how you know you need to take your vitamins? You don't see any immediate results from taking them, but you KNOW they're doing some good?

Same thing...

So do your deep conditioners like the Honey-Olive Oil, Banana, or Mayo-egg...

Mayo-Olive Oil-Egg Deep Conditioner

1 Cup of Mayo
1/2 Cup of Olive Oil
3 egg yolks

Mix ingredients together. Part hair and apply all over your hair!!! Cover with a plastic cap and sit under a dryer for 30 minutes. Rinse REALLY REALLY WELL...(You don't want the ingredeintes getting all funkdified on you)...

Benefits are said to be: moisturized, soft, shiny and strong hair!

Enjoy!

Rinse...Repeat...

Noooo, not your hair silly!

OLD POSTS!!!

One of my readers requested that I pull some of the old puts up to the front. We were talking about some things that I've covered in past postings, and I kept sending her links...

"Why don't you repost them?" Those were her exact words...

BRILLIANT! Very good idea....

So, here's a recap of some issues I'm quite passionate about...

1. Transitioning-http://imnotlyeing.blogspot.com/2008/09/transitioning.html

2. To BC or not BC http://imnotlyeing.blogspot.com/2008/08/to-chop-or-not-to-chop.html

3. Braids Don't Grow Your Hair...This concept is still rather interesting to me...There's a comment from an "anonymous" reader who kinda had issue with my post, but was actually saying or attesting to what I was saying...hmmmm....
http://imnotlyeing.blogspot.com/2008/08/braids-dont-grow-your-hair.html

4. Learning to accept your texture and hair....This should be first on the list...If I had a dollar for every time I had to talk to somebody about their texture....LAWD! http://imnotlyeing.blogspot.com/2008/09/give-us-free.html

I'm a conditioner junkie...

I have come to this realization...Other products, not so much...I don't know why I've never figured this out...

During some cleaning and consolodating, I found no less that 14 types of conditioners in various sizes...Wow...I'm shame...

I'm the queen of "Quit buying random garbage", and I've got a gang of said garbage...

But eh...

Anyhoo...I tried this pretty decent conditioner the other day, lol...

It's nothing to write home about, but the ingredients are pretty good...It's Esencia by Samy. I bought it from Kroger on sale, and have a little rebate certificate so it's essentially free...Which is why I bought it...($7.99)


I used it for my co-wash, so I was rating it based on what I need a co-wash conditioner to do...The main requirement is detangle...I'd give this conditioner a B-. Now let me qualify this grade with the fact that if I had more time for detangling, maybe would have gotten a solid B. I don't want to be detangling for more than 3 to 5 minutes...That's the cut off for me...

It's 97.1% natural with certified organic ingredients...

Purified Water, USP, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Panthenol (ProVitamin B5), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Hordeum Distichon (Barley) Extract, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Equisetum Hiemale Extract, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract**, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract**, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Jasmine Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Citrus Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Ceteareth-20, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance.

It's goal is to replenish moisture and restore manageability.

After my hair dried, it was decent...My curls were light and not coated. It just wasn't the Liquid Soul Train I'm looking for...

Guess Who's Bizack?!!!

It's me!!!

Okay...so quit it with the hate mail!

What have I been doing?! Not my hair...let me tell you...A sista been lookin' BUST-TID...

In all seriousness, I've been VERY busy cooking up me a batch of deliciousness...

Yup...I had a baby...A little boy. His name is Shiloh Xavier. He's the joy of my life and he consumes all my time...I am learning how to balance work and family though, hence why I'm attempting to blog again...He's now 3 months old, and he's learning how to entertain himself for the most part...

Dang...I spoke too soon...The hatertot is over there doing his pre-cry....

I'll chat with y'all in a minute...I gots some stuff I want to talk to y'all about ;)