KCCM Castor Oil Challenge, Week 10 Check-In

Check in from KCCM Castor Oil Challenge, week 10:

1. Where do you go to shop for hair products?
My staple products are from Shea Moisture, and I usually get them from Walmart or Walgreens (whoever's having a sale). I use Tresemme conditioner from Walmart. I get JBCO from Amazon, but I think that I'll check out my nearest beauty supply store again to see if I can avoid shipping costs for that. ;-)
2. Do you read product labels? Why or why not? Hell yeah, I do! I always have, even before I went natural. That's just me (health fanatic); I've always read ingredients everywhere, even on food and researched about them. I honestly don't like using ingredients that I can't even pronounce. I believe that it's the key to great health overall, because if you know better, you do better. Avoiding certain ingredients makes you wiser and healthier in the long run.

3. How did you do last week (week 9)? Did you follow through with your goals? Any challenges thus far?

I've been hanging on. My whipped shea butter has JBCO in it, and that's my only form of JBCO right now until I get money to purchase more. So I've been using the shea butter probably... three times a week? It's great moisture in my hair, and I use it on my body as well.

~Epic Realist~

KCCM Castor Oil Challenge- Week 9

Here's the check in questions from week 9. :D

1. Do you think natural hair is a fad? Why or why not?
It's not a fad for me. I was natural since I hit 15 years old and then was allowed to perm, so it was no big deal giving it up. When I did not perm often, I realized what my natural hair was supposed to look like in between perms I and accepted it a long time ago. I'm in this hair journey for the long haul. Now, for other women, I DO believe that some others are doing it for the wrong reasons; because someone else made them, someone else pressured them, or perhaps they want to make videos and blogs and get the attention that other 'upcoming' naturals are getting. Maybe they could care less about the health of their hair; they just to get it long as quickly as possible so they can brag and flaunt it in everyone's faces. This is just my opinion because I see lots of black women becoming arrogant and telling others about their own hair. Here is a post that I made from last year April... natural hair rant! LOL!http://www.curlsofinnocence.bl...
And we've got different debates: Oh, she's not all natural because she straightens her hair, I was natural FIRST so you guys are copycats... who the hell cares?http://www.curlsofinnocence.bl...

2. What is something that your hair CAN’T do that you see other Naturalistas do?
Hmmm... I can't think of one thing, My twist outs are awesome, my braid outs are awesome, my wash and gos (even though I rarely do them) are great as well.The only thing that I sometimes wish is that my hair wasn't so darn thick because it can be a challenge to style. But I'm used to it now. Then I force myself to be thankful because a lot of women would KILL for my hair thickness! =)

3. How did you do last week (week 8)? Did you follow through with your goals? Any challenges thus far?

Well, since I cannot buy another bottle of JBCO at the moment (can't find it in stores and can't order right now), I'm only using my whipped shea butter that has some JBCO mixed in it when I made it. Been using that all over my hair every other day, using my new paddle brush to work it in.

~Epic Realist~

KCCM Castor Oil Challenge- Week 8

Hey guys! These are my check in questions from Kinky Curly Coily Me's Castor Oil Challenge- Week 8.
I'm sad because I'm out of JBCO and can't order more at the moment. Nooooooooooooooo! (throws fit)

1. How long did it take you to finally make the decision to become natural? When you became fully natural were you surprised at all by your texture? Why/why not?
It didn't take me very long to make the decision to start transitioning back in April 2009. My mom, sister, and I all stopped getting perms that month/year. I wasn't too surprised by my texture because I didn't perm a lot at all. I could go 4-6 months without a perm, so I pretty much saw my natural texture, anyway. I loved it, even though before I transitioned, I still had the notion that my edges and new growth needed to be slick down. Full hair story and video here. =)
http://www.curlsofinnocence.bl...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

2. How do you feel about HUMIDITY? Does it effect your hair in any way? If so, how so?
HUmidity does effect my hair a lot. It makes my hair frizz up, but on those humid days, I make sure to use shea butter and/or gel to slick it up so that it doesn't frizz up. it always works. A lot of times on humid days, I wear up dos (ponytails, buns).

3. How did you do last week (week 7)? Did you follow through with your goals? Any challenges thus far?
I've been... hanging on. Haven't fully stuck to my goals. Money is tight, I'm actually out of JBCO now and can't order any more at the moment (please don't kick me out of the challenge!). So I've been doing my usual hair routine, and also using my whipped shea butter which has a LITTLE bit of JBCO in it. Trying.

4. (optional) Post a pic of your hair after being effected by humidity. OR Post a pic of how you wear your hair to prevent it from being effected by humidity.

Awww... don't have one. I don't get out of the house a lot, so I don't even see many humid days.

~Epic Realist~

KCCM Castor Oil Challenge- Week 5: EPIC GROWTH!

These are my check in questions and pics from Kinky Curly Coily Me's Castor Oil Challenge- Week 5. My hair is loving this JBCO: it's growing a whole lot! 

Here are the pictures in case they don't show up at the bottom. 

1. What are your favorite natural hair styles? How long does it take you to style your hair this way? Which products do you use to get the best results of this style?

My favorite natural hair styles are two strand twists and twists outs. It takes about 15-30 minutes to style my hair (depending on how many twists I put it in), and I usually use my classic Shea Moisture Curl enhancing smoothie on top of an oil. Twists outs can last anywhere from 3-5 days depending on how well I upkeep them.

2. How did you do last week (week 4)? Did you follow through with your goals? Any challenges thus far?

My only challenge is running out of my JBCO (money very tight even without buying any Christmas presents at all =( ) and not being able to buy anymore at the moment. So I'm trying to scrounge and use a little at a time, mixed with something else. Other than that, I am really trying to stay up on oiling my scalp every other day. The greenhouse method works to seal moisture in and make the oil effect last longer for me.

3. Based on your length check pics, can you see a difference in thickness or length yet? For those of you focusing on your edges, are they growing in?

Oh, I have most certainly seen some length and some thickness! I am enjoying it. My roots are thicker than ever, but I kind of like it. It's harder for me to keep my twists twisted up because I need to focus more on moisturizing the roots well enough, but it's all worth it. My bangs have grown from the middle of my top lip to way PAST my lower lip!

4. Post your length check pics! DONE!

5. (Optional) How was your Christmas? What did you get?

Didn't get much but I'm okay. Kids got gifts from other family members. I wish that I could have gotten some hair products, but we're having job/money issues right now. Bleh. But I'm grateful anyway. At least my hubby was off for Christmas. =)

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Merry Christmas & a New Shampoo!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I have a new shampoo! Now before you get all excited, this isn't a giveaway or anything. One day, those will come when I can afford it. LOL! But I got this two days ago from Walmart and I am in love with it.
It's another Shea Moisture shampoo, but I like it better than the one I was previously using. I couldn't wait to try it, so on Sunday, which I have officially named as my wash day, I tried it. It was absolutely awesome!
Truthfully, this stuff didn't even feel like a shampoo. It was so silky, it felt like a conditioner, like I was co-washing my hair instead of actually 'sudsing' it up. As usual there are all natural ingredients in it, and no sulfates! I'm so in love with this shampoo.
Wish that I had the money to get the conditioner to try along with it, which was also $9.99. Some people have said that the conditioner doesn't do as good of a job as the shampoo does, but I want to see for myself one day.
So I washed my hair in two sections, towel blotted it, and applied my castor oil and grape seed oil mixture on my scalp and ends. Then I used some of my Tresemme conditioner (which is almost gone) in my hair as a leave in and de-tangled with my wide toothed comb. I don't usually do this, but it has been doing wonders for my hair's epic dryness lately. I did my usual 6-8 twists in and tied it up to in a scarf to air dry.
The next day, Christmas Eve, I spritzed it with water, finger de-tangled it, and applied my whipped shea butter. Replaced the fat twists with braids so I could get the roots pinned up and not knotted together like they always do after one day of wearing fat twists. The JBCO has been making my roots so much thicker, so when I do twists, after one day, not only is there a bunch of frizz near on the top of my head, but the roots sometimes get tangled within one another. Sometimes braiding is better, even though it takes longer. But it creates a lot of stretch!
As of now, we're not going anywhere for Christmas, but I'm still going to play around with my hair and Syriah's and create some 'holiday style' just for fun.  xD

Until next time...
Happy Holidays, curly mamas!

~Epic Realist~

Bantu Knots and Babies

 Syriah has a new style! I'd never done this before, but had been meaning to try it. The famous bantu knots! I've done something similar a few years back, but not this.
These were mega easy. I spritzed her hair with distilled water and used a random product that I had lying around (III Sisters of Nature Lengthening Creme), de-tangled, and coiled the hair around with my finger. Then I wrapped it around itself like a mini bun and secured with a rubber band wrapped around once. She loved it.
The only problem I had, of course, was making sure that they stayed pinned up. Because she's an active 3 year old, she kept bouncing around and the coils kept falling out. But I just re-pinned them. Eventually, when it was almost bedtime anyway, I wrapped her head up with a stocking cap.
I can't wait to see the bantu knot-out when these get old and dried out. Lol!
My little one Symari's hair has been flourishing as well. When I wash it, I use Earth Mama Angel Baby shampoo and body wash (AWESOME stuff, organic, all natural ingredients, no sulfates or parabens) on her hair and body and moisturize her hair and body with my whipped shea butter or plain coconut oil. Sometimes, I use my JBCO/coconut oil concoction in her hair. It's been seriously growing. I'm glad that she's starting off with the right stuff already. Didn't have that opportunity with my other two babies.
I love her adorable little curls! This is how it looks 'stretched out' with shea butter. This is also her first COI hair update picture by herself! Awwwwww!
She cried getting this done because I don't do her hair often. No need for ponytails on a baby all the time. Her hair needs to breathe and grow and flourish without tight ponytails all the time. I didn't use rubber bands in her hair, but still.

Jam's hair is... well, low. I gave him a low haircut a few weeks ago because he couldn't take me combing his top fro anymore. Guess he'll never be able to handle long hair... or at least not now. :-/ All he can handle is his rat tail!
Hope you enjoyed my update. Add me on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Curls-of-Innocence/256662627753918

Until later, curly mamas. Peace!

~Epic Realist~

Baby Baldness?

Do you guys know that bald line that babies have going through the back of their heads when they're young?

That, contrary to popular belief, is NOT from babies laying on their backs all the time. I have 3 kids, and all of them have always slept on their stomachs (yes, I am aware of SIDS), so their heads were sideways EVERY DAY when they slept.

My first two kids had that same bald line growing, 

although they were on their stomachs when they slept. My third kid (5 months old) began to show signs of that same 'baldness pattern' just recently, despite all of them being born with a full head of hair. She sleeps on her stomach as well. But you know what I decided to do? I put some JBCO on that whole spot, and now her hair is growing in there. That stuff works wonders! If I can get some pics, I will soon.

So don't be discouraged if you have a baby whose hair is growing in like that. Try using some castor oil on it, or lay them on silk covers. It's not about the positioning. It just depends on your child and your genes. Some babies get that bald thing going even though they sleep on their stomachs. It's not something you can prevent, but you can speed up the growth process back there. =) 

~Epic Realist~

After Shower Routine

Last night, I washed my hair. It has been a week and a half. Been going through a lot lately, and with me being a stay home mom, sometimes my hair care is at the bottom of my list of things to complete and well, keep up with.
So it was 10:00 p.m. when I hopped in the shower, but my hair didn't take too long. I used my usual shampoo and washed my hair while it was in eight fat twists. Felt good. I rinsed and used my Tresemme conditioner, kept that on for about five minutes, and rinsed it just enough to get the bulk of it out of the twists.
I left some of the conditioner in on purpose so my hair could be easy to de-tangle and have some slip.
I came out at 10:20, dried my hair with a T-shirt, moisturized my body, got dressed, and de-tangled my hair twist by twist. It was super soft and easy. I massaged my JBCO and coconut oil mix into my scalp, put some shea butter on each section, finger combed, and re-twisted. They were soft, plump, and juicy. Easy. It was 10:50 when I was done, though.
I threw my satin bonnet on for bed, went to sleep, and today, my hair feels wonderful. I love washing my hair in the twists. There are no tangles, and I don't get my everlasting shedding strands all over the tub! Instead, they end up on the floor, which I can easily sweep up instead of digging my fingernails into the drain for hair. -___-
I am still using that Dudu Osun soap for my body. It's wonderful... all natural black soap. The entire family uses it.
Currently, Syriah's hair is in semi-mini braids for the first time. They still look wonderful after almost a week. Pictures of those will come soon.
Here's a pic of how my hair looked last night after washing and de-tangling.
That's my quick little update for now. I LOVE having healthy hair!

Peace out, curly mamas!

~Epic Realist~

Shower Hair

Hiya, guys! Hope everyone had fun on Thanksgiving yesterday. =)

I just wanted to make a random post about how my hair looks straight out of the shower. It was detangled in the shower with my Tresemme conditioner, and then rinsed out. My hair is still drastically falling out, but I think it may be getting better because of the castor oil. Not sure yet; still in testing phase.
I don't really have much of a set routine as of lately. The only thing that is for sure is that I wash my hair every week, and the shampoo that I use has not changed. I still use my Shea Moisture Curl and Shine shampoo. I haven't really gotten hip to co-washing, mostly because I'm not in love with the Tresemme conditioner and the fact that I don't have much time to co-wash in the middle of the week. I do spritz my hair with distilled water throughout the week, though, and add an oil such as coconut oil or castor oil on top of it.
My hair never feels too oily until the end of the week on wash day, when there is some product build up from other products.
I haven't flat ironed my hair in ages... almost a year, probably. I am dying to see my real length, but recently, when I was going to flat iron it, the darn thing shorted out on me when it was plugged in for five minutes. So it on longer came on at all. I had to throw it away. Cheap thing. I'd only had it for year. it was brand new and it was a gift from someone. It was a Revlon iron, so I thought it was of good quality, but apparently not! Now I have to wait until I can get a new one, a much better quality one.
Right after a shower on wash day, I dry my hair with an old T-shirt and apply castor oil directly to my scalp, and give myself a 5-6 minute scalp massage with my fingers. It feels great and the oil absorbs in well. It doesn't make my scalp itch like everyone else says it does. LOL! It's probably because they put the JBCO on dry hair instead of on wet hair.
Any oil is best used on wet hair, and JBCO doesn't work best at all on a dry scalp.
This is a new thing that I added to my routine, and I'm looking forward to seeing more hair growth.
After I do the massaging, I separate my hair into four or six huge sections and gently detangle with my wide toothed comb, then just twist or braid each section. Then I wrap it into a silk scarf before bed. The next morning, my hair feels soft, fluffy, and amazing, and ready to style into whatever style I want.
Well, that's my little hair wash routine for now. I'll be back with more hair tips/styles. Peace curly mamas!

~Epic Realist~