kdr*S: Hair and Beauty

Showing posts with label Hair and Beauty. Show all posts

Ask and You Shall Receive + TTO

Outfit: Totally Thrifted!

In the last post I complained about how unbearably hot its been this summer. Well this weekend my wish was granted. Its been in the 60s for the past three days and its been awesome. The only drawback is that its also raining. Oh well I guess I wasnt specific enough with my weather request.

In other news: Does anyone notice something different about me???? Well Ive been getting bored with my hair lately and was starting to think about cutting it. Thats just how I operate. Always changing something. Meygan had a better idea. This weekend she was gracious enough to braid my hair. Im enjoying this change up. Thanks a MILLION to my sister wife Meygan :)

What do you do when you have the itch to change something up in your life?

kdr*S | 4 comments

Hair and Beauty week: Day#4

BLONDIE PLEASE!!!!!

This box hold my hair coloring magic. No, I dont have highlights/lowlights.... Nope, I dont use multiple colors... all I do is pop open like 5 of these boxes and get to work. Now, what sucks is that one store normally doesn't have 5 boxes of the same color at one time, SOOOOO that means that I am always collecting them.. but its worth it! Shout out to Dark and Lovely, love you guys and thank you for making such a fabulous hair color.

Dont laugh... this is the only "shower cap" that fits all this curly hair.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is why you MUST MUST MUST press and cut your curly hair. I suggest that you do this every 3 months though I HAVEN'T done it in over a year. Slapping myself on the hand!!!

FRONT (Bangs?)

Trim, trim trim... the key to healthy looking hair... rather you wear it curly or straight is to keep your ends from looking raddy-taddy.

The Straightening precess:

If your an occasional or daily presser the idea to use as little heat as possible. Direct heat is harsh on hair.

When you are blow drying your hair, only blow dry is half way. Allow your hair to air dry until completely dry. This, believe it or not adds shine and body to your hair, it also cuts down on the amount of heat directly on your head.
Once hair is dry, section into 4 parts and work each part separately. Make sure your hair is clean. I use a drop of heat protector, my favorite is Chi Silk Infusion.
Now, if you have a real strong curl pattern like mine you are going to want to press your roots with the back on a pressing comb to insure that every section of hair is getting pressed. I do not suggest using your kitchen stove for pressing because you can not truly control the temp of the comb. Its best to use an oven for even heating.
Once you go through each section with the pressing comb (if needed) then go back through with a flat iron so that you can make your hair smooth.
After using your pressing comb clean it in a solution of Apple cider vinegar and water and allow it to air dry. The comb gets clumps for yuk on it and needs to be cleaned after every use.

What your favorite hair coloring product?

kdr*S | 3 comments

Hair and Beauty week: Day#3

Lets have a hair heart to heart

A number of readers have asked how long I have been natural...

well this post in my love note to you.

I have been natural for the majority of my life, so there are things about transitioning that I dont know BUT I do wish I had money for a billboard that said "hair doesn't make the girl honey". Though I am saying this now with such authority I actually wish I would have come to this conclusion myself many moons ago. I spent many hair years hating my wooly hair and trying to keep my hair as "neat" as possible to appear more "professional". I used to hate when people would point at my hair, and I literally cringed when people referred to me as Afrocentric. It was reactions like this that prompted me to press my hair for many many years. Did my reaction suggest I had issues with appearing too ethnic? Honestly, I think that it did.

One of my favorite quotes by Elanor Roosevelt, is; No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Going natural is more than just transitioning out of a relaxer, going natural starts with reflecting on what led you to the relax your hair in the first place, and the views you have about yourself, what hair means to a women and what NAPPY hair represents . One day my soul just open up and I became REAL. I pressed my hair to appear "normal" but Im not normal... Im special. My advice for anyone who is going natural is to make sure you still feel special. Rather you wear your hair in a fro or pressed, braids or twist; your hair is a direct reflection on who you are. Understanding this makes dealing with your change in appearance easier, and it even puts you in a position to laugh off ignorant hair comments... trust me, there will be ignorant comments.

So, to all may natural sisters out there, what piece of advice can you offer someone who is considering going natural?

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IN OTHER NEWS

Lets talking about the safe way to lighten your eye brows.

Eye brow philosophy according to Deon

I think that if you have dark hair that your brows should be one or two shades lighter and if you have light hair that your brows should be a few shades darker... how ever it goes, I think that the brows need to be in some relationship with your hair.

Here is what I use:

[before]

[After]

Photo at the top this post was taken today... yep, I have straight hair!!!
Tune in tomorrow for Hair pressing techniques and the truth about natural hair and coloring.

kdr*S | 3 comments

Day #2 Detangling and Deep Conditioning

Photo Source

So, I must confess... there has been times that I have not touched my hair for months because I dreaded the detangling process... its such a pain -- literally!!!

What I have found that eases the pain is before washing the hair to spray your hair with water and a few drops of detangling conditioner. I use something really cheap like VO5 or something on sale at Dollar General... You just need something to help with the detangling. Saturate the hair and section the hair... Starting the ends, use your wide tooth comb to slowly comb through hair.
Once hair has all been combed in sections, I wash my hair in those sections to insure that they do not retangle. This makes LIFE so much easier and if your like me, your tender headed... this method saves you some heartache and pain

Conditioning is such controversial issue... what conditioner is a good one? How do you know if its working?
Okay, what I have learned about conditioner is that the thicker the better. I love a thick, creamy conditioner.... If its thin and kinda runny, 9/10 its running right out of your hair.

Suggestion: Once your hair is clean and still in sections, apply a generous about of conditioner. Now, I know that the products that I am about to suggest are expensive BUT have you all noticed that you can get some fantastic hair care products at TJMaxx and Marshells for the low. Its like a great kept secret.
Apply the conditioner and massage from root to tip. I have a tendency to make sure that the hair gets conditioner but not the scalp... make sure that all of your hair is getting feed.
Leave conditioner on for 30 minutes if your going to sit under a dryer or use heat and 1 hour if your not. This insure that your getting a deep conditioning.
Rinsing out your conditioner is the most important part of cleaning your hair... especially if your going to be pressing your hair. Raise with warm water until all the product is out... ALL OF IT!!! Leaving some in your hair can result in sad, dull hair. Once all the product is out raise your hair change the water temperature to cold. Raising with cold water closes the hair follicle as well as leaves your hair shinny.

Here are some of my favorite conditioners.

Giovanni Tea Tree Conditioner
Free Your Mane
Carol's Daughters Hair Milk
Miss Jesse Creme de la Cream
Pantene Relaxed and Natural
Chi Infer Treatment... Just to name a few!

What is your favorite conditioner?