Hair Knots and Breakage

I have had several ladies ask me about hair knots and breakage. First error most people make is using a low quality conditioner, which has no slip, so it is ineffective when combing through the hair. In fact these conditioners are counterproductive, causing more kinks, knots and likely breakage. I personally find washing and combing my hair while showering is much easier than any other method. Definitely never attempt to comb your course hair dry with no conditioner or detangling product, the more the better. Use a good conditioner that gives slip and no resistance, for easier detangling. Cheaper, lesser quality conditioners are pretty much made of water, well you already have a shower or sink full of water, as you wash. Pantene and Dove are good for me. I used Dove when I was freshly big chopped (BC); after significant growth, I went to Pantene because it came in a larger volume. As far as breakage goes, if you have been trimming properly, consider your night routine? If you aren't sleeping with a satin bonnet or pillowcase, this can add to your hair recoiling on itself, rubbing on the natural fibers of your other than satin pillowcase and causing breakage, knots and lent balls (yuck). Are you doing too much styling/manipulation during the week, can add to knots, split ends and breakage. I have to tell one of my friends all the time “pick a hairstyle and leave it like that for the week”. There is no need for you to have 5 hairstyles in a 7 day period; that is causing undue stress on your hair strands. Consider what type of leave in products you are using after washing? Look for products that make hair soft, not hard or crispy. Definitely stay away from products with mineral oil, petroleum, drying alcohols, sulfates, silicone…

These are ideas and suggestions that work for me, please take time to know YOUR hair and determine what regimes and products work for you.

That rolls me right into my next post, a product review of Curling Cream by Roots Organics.

Product Review: Kinky Curly

Kinky Curly System (Knot Today & Curly Custard)



Big Chop Kinky Curly 07/08



Here is a photo on the day of my big chop (BC), back in December of 2008 or 2007. I did a lot of research before I had the BC, my first product of choice was the Kinky Curly System. I co-washed with Dove and applied the Knot Today leave in conditioner and the Curling Custard. I wasn’t bold enough to walk out the house oh natural, so I tied a scarf around my head to give it a little pizzazz. My hair felt great, it was moisture rich, it looked shiny and healthy, and it was soft to the touch. My hair probably lasted about 4-5 days before it began to flake. The product instructions warn against using too much custard and not touching it before it dries completely. Trial and error, I did have a few spots where I clumped way to much product in one. What you see is what you get, if you see product buildup on the hair after applying, it will not magically disappear once it dries. I actually really liked this system on my newly short curly fro, it was a wash and go delight.

Kinky Curly 2011

Now that brings us to present day 2011. I tried the kinky curly system on my long natural hair; not such a glorious experience. The product boasts it will not cause shrinkage and it doesn’t, but it also did not help in the curl department. My hair looked stringy, the front of my hair kind of just flopped, no waves and no curls. I was no longer impressed and I waited a long time for the product to get to my local Target store, what a disappointment. See picture for yourself. In all fairness, I tried the system when my hair was shoulder length and it gave me the most beautiful curls. My hair had curls as if I used flexi rod rollers, it only lasted 3 days before it started flaking, but it looked so good I didn’t want to wash it out. I used the buddy system and had my friends and family on flake dutyJ

In The Beginning...

Before Pic:processed hair

BC: Week 1

In December 2008 or 2007 my memory is a little fuzzy, I had the Big Chop (BC), and what I considered a TWA (teenie weenie afro).

 Most people would have considered my 4-5 inches of natural growth, bigger than a TWA. I procrastinated and waited as long as I could before I committed to the BC. When I finally did all the research I thought necessary, I went to my trusted beautician and let her cut. You should have seen the faces in the salon as she snipped away. I honestly had no idea what I was in for; it was a shot in the dark. I couldn’t tell my hair type when I was transitioning, I didn’t know how fast my hair would grow, I didn’t know what maintenance was necessary since everyone’s routines, regimes and processes are different. Overall I was ready for a change! When I jumped in the shower and washed everything including my hair within 15 minutes as oppose to 1+ hours, I couldn’t believe short hair was so manageable. I wanted to scream from the mountain top. My comb ran through my hair like butter, there was no need for sectioning and struggling to comb through each section. I used a fraction of shampoo and conditioner, there was no blow drying (breaking dryer combs), no flat ironing, I had moments of euphoria people. Please don’t get me wrong, I was thankful to have long hair, it was just a chore maintaining it and I could never find a hairdresser that would style my hair any better than I could do for myself. There are some natural hair drawbacks, you become a product junkie. You have to try every product in the world that claims to be natural. Then you get a grip and realize it is costing you a grip and you just find products that work for you. There are some ingredients to avoid (future post), but find items that work with you and your particular hair type.

Next post: product review of Kinky Curly

Questionable Braid Out

Questionable Fro



Dysfunctional

 Fro



Loved this look!

Transitioning



Before Natural Conversion

 I have been natural for 3.5 years now. I transitioned for six (6) months. I wore my hair in muslin head wraps, or I wore it in a ponytail with a flat ironed bang. Not so funny fact, my bang never made it through the whole day. I often looked quite crazy with fuzzy and wavy roots and a straight bottom half swoop. Can you say middle school hair? My transitioning period was an interesting time; I was used to having long, flowing relaxed hair that seemed pretty healthy (see before pic). It was quite a change to have this bird’s nest growing under those head wraps. My poor hair dresser had to untangle and make sense of that catastrophe, when I so easily neglected my hair between salon visits.  I don’t have a before pic (think teased pompadour), but below is the transition pic (think miracle). Guess what? I have the nerve to be tender headed.

My next post will be a journey from my relaxed hair to an all natural crown. You won’t want to miss that, there were a good number of questionable hair daysJ



Flexirod set during transition.