About My Locs pt1

Starter Locs on Average 4b/4c

My main and solo aim is to have long black healthy hair by any means necessary. In June of 2013 I gave myself very small yarn locs. I did not take care of my hair while it was in this style. As someone that does hair as well as knows it down to a science, I often neglect my own hair due to personal laziness. I ended up keeping the tiny braids in for 5 months! Never do that. Some hair types can keep them in that long, but my hair type was definitely not one for it. These braids took huge clumps of hair out of my head and a lot of the natural growth, which I now cannot remember. Lol. I always knew I wanted locs but I wanted to see how large I could get my fro. After I took those braids out, swerve, I went straight to the loctician.  I started my locs in December 2013 with comb coils. I had about 150 locs.

Honestly...

           I did not like my locs what so ever. I thought they were disgusting little worms. On top of the fact that while I was taking out my braids I got annoyed and I literally started ripping the braids out. From me doing that it caused my hair to be thin at the top of my head, I kinda look like I am balding. I did not want to go through the “ugly & bald” stage so I decided to braid my over my starter locs. Braiding my started locs helped me in several ways:

Emotionally
Mentally
Physically (lol)

The braids helped but however at this stage in my loc process They may have paused my loc development. When my locs were in the braids they stayed together and they also tightened up. The braids also gave my hair time to grow back where I had ripped them out. The braids did not allow for my locs to naturally swell and shrink as they would have if they were free.

               

     For the 6 months of my locs I wore braids. 

Natural Hair Style: Revisiting Kinky Curly

Quite some time ago I tried Kinky Curly Curling Custard. I liked this product a lot however when used with its companion the leave in I thought my hair was still dry and lacking moisture. I wanted to give this a try using my own first step moisturizer. The custard does not allow hair to dry in a timely manner either. None the less I tried the product again. To my surprise it was quite a sucess and I came up with two styles using the product.

Products I Used:
Water: I cannot stress this enough. If you have a very tightly coiled curl pattern you need lots of water. Your hair must be soaking wet to achieve the best results... In my opinion.
Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Cream: OMG! I'll tell you about this bad boy in a lovely review.
Kinky Curly Curling Custard

Step 1: Wash Then Section & Condition
This is my hair washed with conditioner on it. This photo is like a slight update as to what my hair looks like and the length that I have gotten. You can see how I can put it in chunky medium plats around my head.

Step 2: Apply Curling Cream & Curling Custard & BRUSH!

In each of my chunky sections I only used about a quarter sized amount of the Curling Cream. That mixed with the water in my hair will provide a nice coat of moisture. After the quarter sized amount of the custard is added add copious amounts of that Curling Custard. The more kinky, curly, and coarse your hair is the more you need. BUT WAIT! If you are trying to do a wet curly jeri curl type thing then yes continue... BUT if not then use the regular amount that you would use with any other product for a twist out. The trick is brushing this product through your hair as about twenty times from root to tip. You want this product to cover your hair.

This pic is also another slight update of my hair growth this far!

And Walah! My Two Styles!

First Day Hair

This was the final product and first day hair. It came out really cute and kind of the way I wanted it. This style still took for ever to dry tho. I thoroughly brushed my hair in the direction I wanted it to go and and I let it dry.

Second Day & Beyond

That night I twisted my hair up for bed. I did about 12 plaits over my entire head. In the morning my hair was dry and the twists had set. I really didn't like what my hair became in the morning so I tucked and rolled my hair in to a back roll. The front I simply plucked out and pulled to the side.

Product Review: A Bit of the Curls Line

I have seen this product in stores quite a few times. I even tried one of their coconut shampoos about two or three years ago. This was my first time trying the product. Overall the line is great. The smells all the way down to the texture of the product itself is wonderful. The presentation of the product aesthetically is pretty and makes you want to give it a try.

Curlicious Curls Cleansing Cream
Cost: $15.00
Smell: Pleasant, Light & Airy
Texture: Creamy
Rating: 7/10

This product is great. I love the way it smells. It's as if while using it I am taken to a different place. It cleans hair very gently and that is good if that is what you are looking for. It does not bubble up and that was the only issue I had with it but it was a major issue. I felt like I did not know how much to use. Though suds and bubbles are just additives to fool consumers, I am the consumer that likes being fooled. Bubbles help me see if I distributed the shampoo fully through out my hair. With this product I simply could not tell and when I was finished I could not tell if my hair was clean or not. I knew it was clean because the water ran clean but past that I didn't get the feeling and for some that's the half of it. I knew my hair was clean however because my hair curled up beautifully and I could tell it was properly balanced ph wise. I loved that the most about this product.



Coconut Sublime Conditioner
Cost: $16.00
Smell: Sweet & Coco-Nutty
Texture: Slippery Yet Creamy
Rating: 9/10

This product was my favorite one of all three of them. I LOVE the slip that is has. Using this product is amazing while hair is still wet after freshly washing it. It takes no time at all to detangle using this product and it doesn't take much. In fact I used the product twice in the picture. It feels so good and leaves your hair very soft and moisturized. I also like to mix this product with some of my other conditioners to make the perfect moisturizing slip worthy mixture. This is one that I will defiantly continue to use and buy.



Cashmere Curl Jelly
Cost: $25.00
Smell: Mango & Inner Pumpkiny
Texture: Slippery
Rating: 8/10

The Cashmere Curl Jelly is a very interesting product. I love that fact that it is not sticky like Kinky Curly Curling Custard. And unlike Kinky Curly it dries evenly and quicker. I like using this product because it has a lot of slip and dries supporting twist outs, braid outs, and gel based styles. I used it to French Roll my hair and it kept my hair stretched and pliable. I loved how I could comb through my hair and not have the brush caught because it has that much slip. The only issue with this product if it is even an issue is that once you break the hair apart out of a twist out it still goes crazy. It does hold enough FOR MY HAIR TYPE. BUT for some that is great because it is easier for looser hair types to mold with a product like this. For my more course style I need something that would hold a little harder. Other that that this product is amazing awesome shine, slip and a great styling aid. And yes, I would get it again, for my more unstructured styles. :)

It's Back!!! And So Am I!

Stay Tuned for Pictures! Updates! & More!!!!!

I Am Presenting!

OOTD: Nubian-like

All that hair up there! 

This lovely and quick style was done on pre-streached hair. All I did was take big sections of the hair and pinned it in the middle. I then took a scarf and wrapped it around my head and WAH-LAH! Magic!

Earrings: Flea Market $1.50

Necklace: Forever 21: $5

Vest: Taken from Bestfriend

Button: Hottopic $3

Braclets: Beauty Supply 2 for $3

Shirt: Hanes Pack (lol)

Skirt: H&M $5

Baltimore Natural Hair Care Expo 2012

                This year's hair care expo was amazing! There was so much to do and see that it was almost overwhelming. There were classes, hair products, food, jewelry and more. I was very pleased with the location and some of the prices this year. The people at the show were friendly and welcoming it felt like we were all one bug nappy family and I loved every bit of it! The wear-able art (jewelry, clothing, hair pieces) were all beautiful and very well made. I loved everything I was exposed to. I did not know that I would be recognized by quite a few of the vendors at the show due to my blog and youtube channel!!!  

When you first walked into the show you were given information as well as free giveaways. The amount of knowledge here was amazing! 

Pictures From The Show

My Purchases  

Cost: $6 

I have always heard great things about this gel and now I can try it for myself. 

Cost $10

I got this crazy cool patch from Lady Bizness! The creator of the patch Ms. S. Benson did a great job! This patch is very unique and I am going to sew it onto a denim vest. 

www.sbenson.com 

www.ladybizness.com 

 

Cost: $10 (at show)

This stuff is my favorite and I purchase it every time I go to the show. The lovely ladies at the show always gets me to try a new scent and I got Spiced Vanilla! 

www.crienatural.com 

Cost: Single Bracelet $7 

         Set (OnSale) $15 

These beautiful items were created by the owner of Life Designs. Each bead is hand painted and strung in these unique pieces. I love it. The colors are killer and the creativity is phenomenal. 

Cost: $10

 

I purchased this product last year and when I saw the new packaging and presentation by Padrica Norfleet, the owner, I was surprised and very excited. She recreated the product and told me to give it a try. I cannot wait and a review will be coming soon! 

Cost: $12.50

These are stud earrings by Jewel Africa Designs. I love the uniqueness of the earrings and they are light weight. 

Cost: $10 each pair

These earrings are beautiful. They were sold at the hair show and the good thing about these earrings is that they are light weight! The brown cloth pair are slightly a bit heavier but not that much. <3

Cost: $10

Loc Socks! I purchased this lock sock from Loc Socks. They had a large selection but I just loved the colors in this with the paisley pattern. 

A word From Malaika Cooper

For more info:

http://www.baltimorenaturalhaircareexpo.com/home.html

Vacation in Atlanta

Be Back Soon!!!

My bestie Ang!

Chicks and cars.

My bestie and I!

What seemed like the only guys in ATL with some style so we had to take a pic with them.

I want these...

I drove this baby! 

Natural 4b-4c Hair

You are probably wondering what MY shampoos and conditioners do to my hair. Here is a complete photo exhibit of my hair in its different natural states. In the beginning I am going to show your my hair and then I am going to get down to my ends. 


My Hair

This picture is my hair while I was shampooing it. As you see it is not in twists and you can really see how much my hair shrinks up. Yes, this is after 2 years of hair growth. If you look you can also see how I have several different hair types. My tighter hair which is on the top and center of my head is shorter then the hair in the back of my hair. The hair in the back is a loser curl pattern then the top and that is why it hangs more freely then the hair at the top. 

This is my hair after being shampoo-ed and rinsed. This is before conditioner or any products whatsoever. My hair in its natural state. You can see how tightly my hair curls up and how unruly it is. This picture proves how I do not wear my hair in afros because it will curl up into itself causing tangles and knots. You can also see how I have a very tight coily, kinky hair type as well. 

This is a picture of the loser curl pattern I have in the back. I have two different hair types. They both are very tight and coily but one is loser then the other. This type hangs a bit more. 

SHRINKAGE!!!

The first picture is of my hair after I dried it with no product. You can really see how natural hair shrinks up. Even thought you may not think so, this is a good thing. When my hair is healthy it curls up. Lose, limp or hair that won't curl up is weak or damaged. This lets me know that my hair is not damaged. You will see how my ends are the same. of they don't curl up, we have a problem. 


My Ends

This is images of my hair after it has been washed with no product. This is why it is good to pick a nice shampoo that is ph balanced. The shampoo cleans all of the dirt out of my hair while restoring it to its natural curl pattern. It is not longer dull and stretched out or weighed down by products and dirt. 

These pictures are of my hair and what conditioning does for my ends. The first picture is my ends after I towel dry my hair.  The second picture is my ends with conditioner in it. You can see how the conditioner is giving my ends what it lost from the shampoo. It is filling in the gaps where nutrients are missing and my hair is curling up. Its curling up because the conditioner is closing my cuticles. I can tell when a conditioner is great and ph balanced for my hair because it will cause my ends to to this. The last picture is a closer look at the pieces of hair side by side. 

These show how the conditioner closes my cuticles and moisturized my hair. My ends and hair are uniform and well conditioned. 

Make sure you have good shampoos and conditioners. In the next post I will tell you what ph to use for your shampoo and conditioners. :)