Back with a review on a new shampoo that was sent to me by a small business based out of Texas called Crazy Natural Inc. I won’t go into too much detail about the *company* because I want to save that for an upcoming post hehe ((hint hint)) :o) So the shampoo… it is the African Black Soap Shampoo and it retails for $10.00 on the Crazy Natural online shop (not sure what the size is on the site but I received a small, maybe 4 oz bottle?? ).

Product Description
Cleanse your hair with Crazy Natural’s sulfate free black soap shampoo. Great for removing buildup and detoxifying harmful chemicals and products during transitioning. Gentle enough to use on all hair types. Helps hair grow strong and replenishes scalp with nourishing oils.

Ingredients
Water, Raw black Soap, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil,
Almond Oil, Apricot Oil, Glycine, Grapeseed Oil & Love

Now I know I have established myself as a die hard shampoo bar addict BUT I do have a soft spot for black soap because it is all natural and I can never go wrong with that (even though I’ve only used pure black soap a few times in my life lol) So I say that because this black soap shampoo is in the liquid form and is mixed with water and some wonderful oils to make a serious cleanser! African black soap is something that has been used for many, many years for all over the body, hair, and skin and it originated in…Africa duh!. It’s usually made from dried plantain skins, palm leaves, cocoa pod powder, and kernel oil but there are also other variations (I am not sure what exactly is in this kind), but typically the “signature” ingredient of black soap is usually the plantains.

Oh and one thing, black soap is not the best smelling thing in the world lol but good thing it does not leave any scent in your hair. Also, when it’s in the solid form, its not the most appealing to the eye either lol, just wanted to put that out there in case someone judges what they use in their hair by the way it looks or smells :o)

Maaaaaany naturals swear by African black soap and its all they use in their regimen. You can find it in the solid bar form or in a liquid mixture like the Crazy Natural shampoo. When the soap is added to water mixture like this shampoo, the black soap settles as the bottom so you have to shake it well for each use.

Now the reason this shampoo is awesome is because it is not drying at all, is very gentle and It lathers very well. It makes my hair very soft and springy, even my boyfriend likes it and he never touches ANY of my hair products lol Since it also contains oils, you aren’t really “losing” the oils that other shampoos can cause. It also contains vitamins A and E which makes it nourishing as well.

Of course it cleans very well. The African Black Soap Shampoo is actually anti-fungal and anti-bacterial which means it helps alleviate scalp issues like dandruff, itchiness and any other irritation or issues you may have goin on up there! So in essence, when you get rid of scalp issues, you are promoting a healthy environment for hair to grow :o) I’ve also seen black soap recommended for those trying to transition from a relaxer or from products that are full of chemicals, silicones, parabens, etc. because it has a detoxifying effect and is gentle on your hair.

Overall I am very pleased with this shampoo and would certainly consider adding black soap to my hair regimen! Now if only Crazy Natural sold it in the bar form…. hehe :o)

I wanted to share an upcoming event for those who may be in the Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia area next Thursday, May 23 from 6:30-8:30!

It’s the Spring 2013 Natural Night Out and I will be a panelist speaking at the event! I feel so honored and excited to be a part of this and I would love for those of you in the area to come out and say hello and mix and mingle with other natural gals, professional hair stylists and other event sponsors and guests!

Keep scrolling for more details :o)

On Thursday, May 23, Natural Night Out will host its Spring 2013 Event!

Join us at the African American Civil War Museum in the historic U Street neighborhood of Washington, DC.

From 6:30 to 8:30 pm all guests are invited to
*sample beauty and hair products
*get FAQs answered & styling tips by a panel of hair professionals
*mingle with naturalistas
*enjoy a beautiful Natural Night Out!

All ages are welcome! Entry is $10 at the door. Ticket sales from this event will support The African American Civil War Museum.

Event Sponsors and Featured Guests:
CURLS, Aunt Jackie’s, Texture My Way, Shea Radiance, Whole Foods, Organic Root Stimulator, Shea Yeleen, La Coco Bella, Release: The Blowdry Bar and more to be announced!

For more info on this event, you can check out the official Facebook Event Page and also the Natural Night Out Facebook Fan Page. There is also a Twitter Page too.

Tickets are only $10 at the door and $8 if you buy them online at www.naturalnightout.eventbrite.com

Oh, and here’s a cute little video interviewing some naturals in the DC area to help promote the event too!

Hope to see you there!! :o)))

Well, I wanted to dig a bit deeper. I am always trying out new products and finding small companies (and large ones too!) that create some wonderful products! I am always intrigued with what goes on behind the scenes, like the creation process, what inspires them to create their products, why they choose certain ingredients, etc., just basically hear what they have to say about their products! I’ve found that most small companies are more caring and passionate about their customers and products. They’re really out to help us love and embrace our God-given curls!

I know us naturalistas rely heavily on bloggers and product reviews but I thought, why not hear it directly from the creators of these products themselves! Who would know more about the products than the minds who created them? Sooo I figured it would be awesome to get to know more about the companies behind the curls! (<—I call it the “sister” series to the Girl Behind the Curl series! :o))

I was kind of nervous about starting this series because it can sometimes be intimidating, taking the chance to see if the owners are willing to take the time out of their schedule to answer my questions but then I remind myself, hey, they are people just like you and me :o) Luckily, I have reached out to a few owners and have gotten responses so I am SOO excited to share these wonderful minds behind some of my fav products!

Oh and the questions I came up to ask the owners, are just some of the things I wanted to know, if there’s anything in particular you would like me to ask them, shoot me an email or leave a comment soI can include them for future features!

So with that said, kicking off my new Company Behind the Curl series, I would like to introduce Milele of The Gud Stuff! The Gud Stuff creates AMAZING shea butters and I have deemed them my #1 fav butters I have ever used. If you missed it, here is my review from last year. I also did a giveaway as well. If I ever get the chance to do another giveaway BE SURE you enter!!

Meet Milele!!

What inspired you to create your own line of natural hair care products?

All of the other products on the market were unable to maintain moisture in my hair for long periods of time; so I decided to start making my own using the best and most natural ingredients.

Do you use your own products? Which is your personal favorite and why?

Yes of course, I would never create a product that I would not personally use. My favorite Gud Stuff product is Peace of Mind. I love the soft lavender scent, it always seems to put me in good mood.

How did you overcome any hardships or challenges in your own natural hair journey?

The first thing I did was, I made up my mind that no matter who had an issue with my natural hair, be it: friends, family, co-workers, a love interest, I was NEVER going to change my hair for anyone. I feel like our natural hair is as innate and natural to our bodies as the nose we were born with, eyes, hands, feet, etc. Additionally, I made sure that I educated myself on natural hair before I did the Big Chop, and found a great stylist. All of these things made my natural hair journey fun and gave me the confidence to stick with it.

What inspired you to select the ingredients that appear in your products?

Through my research I found that they are some of the best ingredients to deeply moisturize both the hair and skin.

What styling tips do you have for any products in your line?

The Gud Stuff is a great sealant for the ends and shaft of your hair that you can use in combination with water, or your favorite light weight moisturizer. It’s also great for blow-outs, to keep the hair from breaking due to heat damage. Our products also give your hair a more voluminous feel which makes it excellent for twist-outs or when you just want to sport a fro.

What can you recommend for people experiencing dry hair?

Never underestimate the power of water. Whenever I’m moisturizing my hair, I always spray a light mist of water throughout my hair. It’s great to moisturize your hair and it makes it ready to receive whatever other moisturizer you will apply next.

Also, it’s very important to protect your ends while you sleep. Use a satin pillow case if you don’t like scarfs.

What do you feel encourages overall healthy hair?

A great moisture routine, consistent trims, and then leave it alone. Less is best when it comes to natural hair. Don’t use too much heat, over-style, or over-color.

What is a frequent mistake you’ve seen naturals make?

Not getting their hair trimmed regularly. Hair should be trimmed as often as needed. Trying to hold onto dead ends to preserve length just makes the hair look unhealthy and improperly cared for. Healthy hair looks good at any length.

What advice would you give to someone who may be considering going natural?

Stick with it,. have fun with it, and rock it with confidence!

What advice would you give to someone who may be considering starting their own natural hair product line?

Always use the best ingredients.

How can we learn more about your products and get our hands on them?!

Visit our website at www.thegudstuff.com

Thank you so much Milele for allowing me to interview and feature you!

Check back for more natural hair business owner interviews through out the year! oxox

Hey-yoooo!!! (<—ya’ll know Jason Pitts from the TV show The Game?! lol)

Back with another Ingredients 101 post! Check out my last two in case you missed them! Mango Butter and Stinging Nettle. I again want to kindly reiterate and preface this post by saying that I am NOT a scientist, doctor, expert, etc. and I find my info on different ingredients by doing lots of research on the internet, trying different things on myself, etc. PLEASE always do your own research on anything you decide to try out for yourself, and always consult a doctor if you are taking certain medications, are pregnant, etc.,  k? :o)

Alrighty then….. so today’s ingredient focus is a not so popular ingredient but it intrigues me none the less. It’s something I recently incorporated in my hair/health regimen. It’s sea kelp (seaweed)! Yup! That scary looking, smelly stuff from the ocean that washes up on shore lol I was actually debating if this should be considered a “supplement” post since I talk more about the benefits when ingested but this ingredient is definitely found in products that are applied externally… Oh and sorry in advance for the long post lol

There are a bunch of different kinds of sea kelp and they differ depending on geographical locations, etc. but all sea kelp are a form of sea vegetable! Yup, it can be consumed! All the sushi lovers already know this, duh! :o) Sea kelp can be eaten, taken in the form of a supplement, powder and can be found in many cosmetics.

Sea kelp is EXTREMELY high in nutrients that have several benefits for your body, skin and of course…hair! It contains a plethora of vital vitamins and minerals that are essential for healthy hair and growth (very potent too!) Some include B vitamins, vitamin A, C, D, E and around 30 different minerals including magnesium, iodine, folate, iron, zinc, potassium, copper and calcium. I also read that it contains the highest natural concentration of calcium of any food and is 10 times more than milk! That’s pretty impressive if you ask me, who knew! It has also been known that people experiencing hair loss and dry hair often have a deficiency in these vitamins and minerals so it’s important to consider if you are getting enough of these vitamins and minerals in your daily diet! On the contrary, I learned that If you have too much calcium in your diet, it can block absorption of magnesium so it’s important have a balance between the two minerals (that’s why when you buy calcium supplements it almost always contains magnesium also, makes sense now!). Also, people with zinc deficiencies tend to have thin, fine hair, because zinc helps regulate hormones and how the body uses proteins (which all relate to hair growth since our hair is composed primarily of proteins!)

Now since I’ve been talking about the benefits of sea kelp when it is ingested, there are a couple other health benefits which includes weight loss (<—you know that got my attention lol). It’s said that the iodine in sea kelp helps regulate the thyroid gland which controls our bodies metabolism. So I figured, hey, why not lol thyroid problems run in my family (even my dog has a thyroid problem lmao!! and YES for those who care, I have had my thyroid tested and it is normal but perhaps this can give it a boost? hehe).

I also learned that the thyroid hormone, thyroxin, helps regulate how long hair stays in its dormant stage. So the shorter the time the hair is dormant, the faster and longer it grows. This makes a TON of sense because, going back to my dog lol, I realized he had a thyroid problem because he has always had problems with his skin and hair so when I took him to the vet one day, they had a sign on the door that said “Signs your pet may have a thyroid problem” and hair loss, dry flaky skin were all listed as symptoms! So now he has to take meds every day and his hair has drastically improved! I have also seen sea kelp listed in many dog foods and many people actually feed it to their dogs as well!

Sea kelp is also said to help with anti-aging because the iodine is also said to help remove free radicals that accelerate aging in blood cells. This is why so many anti-aging beauty treatments use seaweed and sea kelp. Also, studies have also concluded that the alginates in sea kelp can help reduce fat digestion and absorption!

I want to focus on the iodine and iron real quick, PLEASE be careful with these minerals. Many people who have shellfish allergies is because of the iodine. Also, if you consume too much salt in your diet already, you may want to consider that because most salts already contain iodine and too much of something isn’t always good!  Also, since sea kelp contains so many minerals and nutrients in such high quantities, you wouldn’t want them to interact with anything else going on in your body, especially if you are taking meds or have existing health problems. Iron is also known to be toxic if consumed in excessive amounts, so always consult a doctor if you are considering adding something like this your diet!

Alright, so I opted to add sea kelp to my life in two forms: the supplement and the powder form. I bought both of them from VitaCost. I bought the 660mg capsules when they were having a buy 1 get one free sale lol and I have been taking them for about a month down, one capsule daily. 

What made me want to start taking the supplement was a friend of mine, who is half-Japanese, mentioned that her mother recommended it because consuming seaweed is a huge part of the Asian culture and they contribute having long, thick healthy hair to eating the seaweed. I debated on actually buying seaweed snacks (Annie Chuns and Trader Joe’s has some) but I just couldn’t bring myself to doing it lol. I can NOT get over the smell lol but hey, some people love the taste and smell! So the supplements work for me, they are a bit stinky but nothing unbearable. I haven’t noticed a HUGE difference or anything as far as my hair goes but I feel like my hair is a bit thicker and stronger. I have also noticed less shedding. If I have any growth, it is most likely due to the Bee Mine Bee Sensitive Hair Serum that I am still using as well. I have seen an improvement in my skin though! My skin has been quite clear and I rarely get pimples like I almost ALWAYS have. As far as weight loss….well….we know diet has a lot to do with that lol. I have in fact started going back to the gym so lets see what happens with that lol I will continue to take these daily, since I have two huge bottles lol, and see what happens as more time passes.

The second form of sea kelp that I have added to my life is the powdered form. I actually bought it for my dog to mix in his food (going back to his skin problem) but he REFUSES to eat it!!! lol it really must be that bad if my lil greedy dog won’t even eat it lol!!! Some people add it to shakes and other foods but again, I just can’t do it. As soon as you open the bag, its like a huge whif of a smelly sea lol. So since I didn’t want the giant 1 lb bag of organic powdered sea kelp to go to waste I figured I would add it to my ayurvedic and clay treatments! And I love it!! I am going to post a treatment I made soon using the powder so I will go more into that in that post but when sea kelp is applied externally, it provides nourishment and strengthens your hair, all those vitamins and minerals are excellent for your hair and scalp! It also helps protect your hair from environmental damage, similar to how clays work in our hair, so it has a detoxifying effect. Sea kelp even has an exfoliating and cell-regeneration effect which is great for the scalp. It also has those wonderful fatty acids which help reduce frizziness, provide moisture, penetrate the hair shaft, enhance softness, are anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral. A couple of products I have heard people use that contain sea kelp are the Jason Pure Natural Soothing Sea Kelp Shampoo and Conditioner (I’ve never tried either yet, someday).

Well, I think I’ve talked enough about sea kelp for now so I’m gonna end this post here lol let me know if any of you use or take sea kelp and how you use it, any results, any good products, etc.!

Peace!!

Honey is an amazing multi-use natural gift from God and is an amazing conditioner and humectant for our hair. I won’t go into too much detail on the benefits of honey because I plan on doing an Ingredients 101 post on it but I mention honey because it’s the main ingredient in the 2-in-1 Sweet Honey Deep Conditioner from The Natural Root. If you missed it, I did a review on their wonderful and very affordable Gourmet Rosemary, Sage, Lemongrass Shea Butter, AND they just updated their website which looks awesome might I add :o)

So the Sweet Honey Deep conditioner is a honey based, conditioning treatment and it comes in a glass mason jar ((I have an obsession with mason jars for some reason lol they just make whatever is in it look so pretty lol #weird)). I was sent the 8oz jar in my goodie bag I received awhile back. It retails for 6 oz for $6 or 8 oz for $15 on The Natural Root’s website.

Product Description
Our Sweet Honey treatment is comprised of the best oils for your hair. The coconut oil in our formula is one of the only oils that actually penetrates the hair shaft, leaving your hair soft and elongated, also it’s your built in hot oil treatment. The many characteristics of honey makes your hair nourished and enriched. Honey is food for hair, it hydrates, strengthens, stops shedding, breakages and adds elasticity.

How to apply: shampoo, rinse and towel dry hair. Remove excess water with towel. Mix honey in small bowl. Section hair into four areas. Apply honey with applicator from root to end of hair. Repeat steps on each section. Use fingers to work honey through hair. Cover hair with damp hand towel or bonnet, then plastic bag. Sit under dryer or steamer for 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes and rinse with cool water.

Ingredients
Raw Honey, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, argan oil and avocado oil

So the 2-in-1 Deep Conditioner is a sweet and yummy combination of honey and oils, and it can be used 2 ways. You can use it either by itself (using the method above) or you can add it to a conditioner to enhance the benefits of the conditioner. If your hair is damaged and you are trying to nourish it back to health, it’s best to use it plain and strait from the jar and it’s even better if you use it with a steamer!! Unfortunately I don’t own a steamer but I have my Hair Therapy Warp Thermal Turban that I plan to use with this DC next time :o)

But since I feel like my hair is at a point where I can ((by the grace of God)) consider it healthy, I have just been mixing the Sweet Honey DC with my conditioners, mostly my cheapie conditioners like my Nature’s Gates or Trader Joe’s conditioners (Tea Tree Tingle or Nourish Spa) to give them a serious boost. I was actually amazed and what a huge difference it made!

I section my hair into 4 parts, squeeze a big old gob of conditioner in my hand and scoop some of the Sweet Honey DC into my hand and mix it with my fingers before applying it to my hair. I must caution you that it’s best to do this in the shower because it can get a little messy! lol Also, the honey and oils separate so you have to mix them together in the jar before you scoop it out. Oh and I am not sure if the label is waterproof or not so just be cautious with that also, I keep the jar on the little side ledge of my tub behind the shower curtain when I use it so it doesn’t get wet. Sometimes I will leave it in and sometimes not, but either way, it conditions my hair.

I can’t tell you enough how much honey REALLY improves the elasticity of your hair! I use it in my own DIY treatments like my Honey Banana one, and my hair loooooves it and it loves this Sweet Honey DC too! My hair feels so strong and soft after each use. The honey is a humectant so it just pulls aaaaalll that moisture into your strands (this is why using a steamer would be wonderful!). It’s got amazing oils, especially my beloved coconut hehe, which help seal in all the moisture the honey brings in. And another great thing about this DC also, is that honey is water soluble so it’s not sticky and doesn’t leave any residue.

This is definitely a really good, nourishing, restorative treatment for anyone trying to re-gain the health of their hair or trying to keep it healthy (which would be all of us not that I think about it lol) :o)

Oooooo and I also wanted to share some other goodies I got from The Natural Root (I feel SO spoiled!! THANK YOU!! God is Great!)). So I got a cute lil canvas bag with The Natural Roots signature “lady bun” as I call her :o), if you live in Montgomery County Maryland you will know HOW MUCH these bags come in handy because of the daggone bag tax! I also got some more of their amazing Gourmet Shea butter in the Tea Tree, Peppermint, Cinnamon. This has a very strong scent and reminds me of the holidays, probably because of the cinnamon. It’s very nice if you like the spicy kinds of scents! Of course, it works wonders for your hair and skin! I aaaaallso got some cute little greeting cards! I think this is such a cute, clever idea, they have cute sayings and messages so you can send cards to your curlfriends if they’re reached a “natural hair milestone” like a big chop or  reached a length goal lol :o) I love giving hand written notes and cards to people (Hallmark is one of my favorite stores lol) so this touched my heart :o)

Oh and all of these items are of course for sale on their website! Check ‘em out!

Hey!! Coming atcha with another beautiful Girl Behind the Curl! She’s a PYT (pretty young thang lol) about to GRADUATE from high school!!!! CONGRATS LADY!!!!!! ((((Round of applause for her!!))) I know how excited she must be, cuz I know I was ready to get the heck up outta there when I graduated lol

So besides the fact that this GBTC is a smart young lady, she has amazing curls! Those of you who have been natural your whole life but have always worn your hair pressed, ya’ll can relate to her :o)

….meet Miss Tia!!!

Introduction : : Do share a little about yourself!

Hi I’m Tia! I am a high school senior (can’t wait for college!) I love natural products and attempting to make my own hair and beauty products.

In the beginning : : What inspired you to go embrace your natural-ness? OR If you’ve been natural since forever, what inspired you to never get a perm?

Well, I never got a perm, but I always wore my hair flat ironed. The reason I never got a perm was because my mom would always tell me that I didn’t need one and whenever I went to the hair salon she was adamant about the stylist not giving me a perm. So I have her to thank for that :) The reason I decided to stop flat ironing my hair so frequently was because I felt so constricted; I couldn’t workout, go swimming, or take really steamy showers because I was afraid my hair would revert and have to spend another $50 getting my hair straightened.

Mane-tain : : What is your weekly/monthly regimen like? If you have color in your hair, how do you maintain it’s health?

Every weekend I wash my hair in sections while in the shower. I then condition and attempt to detangle. After I rinse out the conditioner, I apply a leave in in sections, then usually twist those sections up for bed. *Sidenote I’ll admit I have a problem with detangling, I sometimes do a rushed job of combing my hair because there’s so much to do. So I try to look for (I am trying to make my own) products with great slip.

Your uniqueness : : How would describe your hair and how do you like to wear/style your hair daily? i.e. wash-n-go’s, twists, straight, protective styles, etc.

When I wash my hair it is very shiny, easy to comb through, and has a bit of length. However, as the week goes on my hair gets really dry and crunchy, so I am trying to work on that issue. The thing I love about my hair is that it is versatile; I can do protective styles, straight hair, twists, bantu knots, etc

Choosing favorites : : What are some fav products you can’t live without or would recommend to someone else? How do you use them?

I love using olive oil on my hair: it provides great slip, seals moisture, and gives my hair shine.

Some products I recommend are:

• Chagrin Valley Shampoo Bars: Check out their website, I’m sure you will find a bar that is right for you
• Oyin Whipped butter: I didn’t like it on my hair, but I did use it to slick down my edges. I sprayed my edges with water, then slide a little of the whipped butter on them.

Drop some knowledge : : Do you have a marvelous hair practice/technique you’ve learned and wouldn’t mind sharing? OR is there something you’d like to learn more about?

I need to learn a lot more about how to keep my hair moisturized and detangled, those are my biggest problems.

Shameless plug : : Do you have a hustle you’d like to share while you have the floor? i.e. business, project, etc.

I have something up my sleeve, but it’s not ready yet. When it is, I will let everyone know.

K.I.T. : : How can we stay connected with you? i.e. website, e-mail, social media, etc.

• Blog: affordableappearance.blogspot.com
• Twitter: @tiaj42
• Instagram: tiatamjam

So if you are on Instagram, you’ll know that people LOVE to post pics of themselves showing off their hard bodies, diet food, their “juicing” and “eating clean” recipes lol, oh and can’t forget the nasty pics of themselves all sweaty and lookin busted at the gym pics lol (yea I am not sure why people feel the need to post those pics but I digress lol), well it’s definitely motivated me to get my flabby self back in the gym and get myself somewhat together for the summer. It’s so easy to slack off in the winter months over here on the East coast, we aren’t aware of our bodies as much because we are all bundled up on layers and layers of clothing. Then spring comes and you’re like oh sh!t my summer clothes don’t fit anymore lol (I KNOW I am not the only one with this struggle….dangit lol)

Well I say all that, not to get off topic and all, to ask what some of your tips are for maintaining your hair styles, twist-outs while working out. My head gets really sweaty which makes my hair frizzy and feel dirty :o( and that makes me want to wash my hair more often. My twists end up lookin busted and I can’t get second day hair which means I will have to re-twist my hair after every workout. It’s just annoying :o(

I don’t even know if my question makes sense or exactly what I am asking for! lol I am hoping someone out there at least understands what I am trying to say and can offer some insight? I dunno…

sooooo…..whatcha think?? :o(

Hey!!

I’m doing something a little different today. Since I don’t have any children, I don’t have any posts catered to their hair care needs but THIS post is specifically for the kiddies/teens (an adults too!) and it’s a giveaway!! It’s sponsored by a cute company called Qoileez! and they are giving away a surprise sample pack of their hair accessories!

Qoileez! are multipurpose, trendy, and affordable hair accessories that adds a bit of style and flash to your favorite hairstyles, pencils, chopsticks, eyeglasses, knitting needles – your creativity is the limit! {We’ve even seen them on adorable dog “furstyles.”} Yes, you can use the same item in your best hairstyle or as knitting supplies!

So what are these things I am talking about? Well Qoileez are small rubber coils that come in a bunch of different colors and patterns like dots, stripes, stars, animal prints, etc. so they are sure to match all the cute outfits little girls have (or your outfits!). They are sold in packages of seven for $4.99 or 14 for $7.99.

Here’s some pics of the samples that were sent to me!

You know those heavy plastic barrettes and beads little girls always wear in their hair? (YES, my mother had them ALL UP in my hair when I was a little girl lol) Well these are really cute alternative for those or even something to add to barrettes and beads. Sometimes barrettes and beads can be kinda heavy, uncomfortable, cause breakage and tension alopecia, but Qoileez are really light weight, stretchy and soft (cuter in my opinion too!). They also give you more versatility since typically when little girls have beads in their hair, they are secured onto a braid and don’t come off until they get their hair re-done. Qoileez allows you to take them in and out as you please without disturbing the hairstyle :o). They’re really easy to put in and out, you just wrap one end of the Qoileez around and braid or twist and then twirl it. They are gentle and don’t pull, tug, snag, etc. the hair so no worries about any type of damage :o) 

As I mentioned, I don’t have any children yet (Lord willing!), but I was able to “borrow” lol one of the little girls at my church’s bible study program I teach at, to let me demonstrate and show how these cute little hair accessories look! She and her mother LOVED them! Her mother also wanted me to make sure I shared how easy they are to put in her hair! And these pics are just ONE way to wear these, you can get really creative with these things (you know girls and teens always come up with wild ideas for their hair! lol) so I highly suggest you check out the Qoileez site and Facebook page to see some more ways to wear them!

Another cool thing about Qoileez are that they aren’t just for hair. You or your kids can use them on your pens or pencils as grips, on chopsticks if you are learning how to use them and you can use them to keep knitting needles together in knitting baskets. (I’ve been known to knit…well…let me stop frontin…crochet lol a blanket or two hehe :o) I have yet to learn how to knit though :o( I need someone to teach me lol I have a bunch of needles and everything! lol)

So one lucky reader will win a surprise pack of a mixture of Qoileez! I think they are such a cute and unique idea for kids (and big kids!). Check out their website, they have lots more pics of the different styles and more ideas on how these accessories can be used as well! ENTER THE GIVEAWAY BELOW!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!!!

Cheers to the freakin weekend!!

This weeks Girl Behind the Curl is yet another very special lady in my life ((I have lots of them hehe)) she’s another one of my neos and she’s my number! (Sweet Sixteens baby!!) She pledged in 2009 and I’ve been in love with her since hehe…in a sisterly way of course lol besides the fact that she’s smart, beautiful, amazing and has a singing voice of an angel, she has some amazing hair!! She has BIG, thick curls and a simple regimen. When I met her, her hair was down her back and she cut it into a cute, short asymmetrical bob about a year or so ago. I could go on and on about this girl but I will spare you for now…. meet my lovely number/neo/sister/love, Christine!

Introduction : : Do share a little about yourself!

Hello, my name is Christine Singh and I am a graduate student at American University and Special Education/English teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools. I love my curls and I love trying new natural/organic products on my hair and skin.

In the beginning : : What inspired you to go embrace your natural-ness? OR If you’ve been natural since forever, what inspired you to never get a perm?

My inspiration to go short was my desire for drastic change. From birth to the summer of 2012, I had only ever trimmed my long hair. One summer day in June of 2012, I went to visit my family and my little brother told me that he was growing his hair to donate it to Locks of Love. I felt so inspired by his charity that I started thinking. I have super curly hair that dries out easily and that gets insanely frizzy. I hated it. And I was tired of feeling like I had to subscribe to a glamorized and celebrated Western view of beauty. After teaching for a year and seeing how resistant the young community was to their natural gifts of beauty, I decided that I needed to stop talking about self-acceptance and just BE about it. I wanted a bald-cut (yes, I wanted to go bald), but my stylist absolutely would NOT cut my hair as short as I wanted it. Even still, I shed a single tear at the first cut. But, ever since, I am in love with my hair and the versatility that it offers me. I can wear my hair to match my mood and overall personality. My stylist cut 10 inches off of my hair, which I donated to locksoflove.org.

Mane-tain : : What is your weekly/monthly regimen like? If you have color in your hair, how do you maintain it’s health?

I wash my hair every 5 days. I use Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo in combination with the Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I love these products for a wash-n-go’s and the smell is super yummy. I especially love that you can use the Curl Smoothie as a leave-in-conditioner. To help with frizz, I put a small amount of Moroccan oil in my hair and distribute evenly. The shine is amazing, the smell is awesome, and the texture is so soft. I deep condition my hair at least once a month by mixing 1 egg with mayonnaise and Olive Oil. I do this on a Saturday morning and I put a shampoo cap on as I walk around the house and clean up. I leave this in for twenty minutes before following up with my shampoo and conditioner.

Your uniqueness : : How would describe your hair and how do you like to wear/style your hair daily? i.e. wash-n-go’s, twists, straight, protective styles, etc.

My hair is super thick and curly, and it frizzes and dries out easily, especially when it’s cold out. My favorite style is the wash-n-go, but I occasionally enjoy practicing Bantu knots, and also doing twist outs.

Choosing favorites : : What are some fav products you can’t live without or would recommend to someone else? How do you use them?

My favorite products are Moroccan Oil, Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Shampoo and Conditioner.

Drop some knowledge : : Do you have a marvelous hair practice/technique you’ve learned and wouldn’t mind sharing? OR is there something you’d like to learn more about?

To get my hair super curly and bouncy, I first wash with shampoo. Then I follow by gently towel drying my hair and then combing Conditioner through my strands with my fingers. I finish by adding a little Moroccan oil to my palms and massaging it into my hair. The whole process takes about 20 minutes, and I love the curl that it produces.

Shameless plug : : Do you have a hustle you’d like to share while you have the floor? i.e. business, project, etc.

I am currently working alongside my sister to end homelessness through her non-profit Terps Against Homelessness. I am also a volunteer math/GED tutor with Project PLASE in Baltimore, MD. Knowledge is Power. If you know of anyone who needs afterschool tutoring, or if you are looking to get involved with giving back to the overall community, feel free to contact me and I will set you up with some volunteer opportunities!

K.I.T. : : How can we stay connected with you? i.e. website, e-mail, social media, etc.

You can stay connected with me through: twitter @__Singh, instagram @_singhchristine

Alright, well remember how I felt when I discovered Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle conditioner!? Well those feelings came back! lol I discovered another great cheapie conditioner by Trader Joe’s and it only cost $2.99!! It’s the Nourish Spa Conditioner and the ingredients are honestly better than a lot of more expensive conditioners out there, in the “drugstore” conditioner category that is..

Product Description
When your hair is dry, it needs to be nourished. This balanced hair remoisturizer is ideal for replenishing dry, brittle hair. Perfect for use daily, it infuses moisture and exceptional shine, without weighing hair down. Enhanced with organic botanicals, it does not contain laurel/laureth sulfates.

Ingredients
Purified water, organic rosemary oil, organic valencia orange citrus, organic mango, organic lemongrass, organic ginko biloba, organic echinacea, organic willow bark, organic sea kelp, organic chamomile flower, organic textured soy protein, organic lavender, organic grapefruit citrus, Tocopherol (Vit E), Acetamide MEA, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Methylparaben, propylparaben, botanical fragrance

To be honest I did see this back when I first saw the Tea Tree Tingle conditioner but I remember seeing a YouTuber saying she used to use it all the time but stopped using it because it contains preservatives called parabens. That notion sort of lingered in my mind for a long time because I don’t really use anything else in my hair that contains parabens plus I always see products labeled as paraben-free, but I told myself to just go ahead and give it a try because of the other ingredients and the fact that the two parabens appear as the last ingredients (which means they have a low content). I will probably make a post about silicones and parabens so you understand why most some people stray away from them (they have been connected to breast cancer). I personally believe that using things in moderation is what’s key PLUS a lot of things we all use every day contain parabens and we continue to use them.

Hopefully by me using this conditioner doesn’t make me a hypocrite but whatever though let me finish telling you why I like this conditioner anyway…. lol

So besides this conditioner being $3, the ingredients are amazing and their high content was shocking. They’re almost all organic and all beneficial to hair growth and healthy scalp. It has an incredible amount of slip, more than the Tea Tree Tingle, so I love using this after ayurvedic treatments because it instantly seals the cuticle of your hair. I have nothing bad to say about this conditioner (except for the paraben thing) and it makes my hair super soft and shiny. Because I only wash my hair once a week, and don’t always use this, I am not really worried about the parabens, plus this isn’t a conditioner I let sit and penetrate on my head, it’s definitely just a rinse-out. Trader Joe’s is also a very reputable and trustworthy company (in my mind) so I feel if this product was really a high risk, they would have pulled it by now.

I like this conditioner and plan on keeping this and the Tea Tree Tingle on hand. :o)