Third Time Around: KCCM Challenge, WEEK 4

So, I'm doing the KCCM challenge yet again. Looks like I'm going to be continuously doing these until I win (hehe), so I might as well same some of my answers here to copy and paste for the future. If there are any changes, I will make them on the challenge page. 

1. There are so many products on the market, what are your favorites for washing? What are your favorites for moisturizing/styling? What qualities does a product have to have in order to become one of your favorites?

I LOVE all Shea Moisture shampoos. They are a staple for me until I actually feel like trying something else. I also love anything Shea Moisture... their conditioners, their deep conditioners, everything. I tend to use their deep conditioners as a leave in, especially the deep treatment masque in the tan packaging. A product has to be at least 90% natural for me to even consider it. No mineral oil, no waxes, sulfates, or parabens, and especially no odd colors.

2. Since using the castor oil, has your hair seen any of the benefits listed in the list above? Which ones?

Oh, yes. I have had lots of growth as usual, as well as baby soft hair. Since the last two challenges I've participated in, I have grown in my baby hairs very well, and dandruff is a thing of the past.

3. How did you use Castor Oil in your hair last week (week 3). Did you find yourself losing momentum or are you still going hard?

I never lose momentum. LOL! I am still going hard, using castor oil on my scalp every other day, on my edges, and on my ends.

4. (optional) Share a pic of your natural hair in one of your favorite styles!

Done! I LOVE braid outs.

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I hope that you guys are getting great results as well with this. I love castor oil!

~Epic Realist~

Mini Braids and Insanity Workout!!!

Hey guys! This is just a post about my experience with mini braids, and that I took my mini braids down yesterday, washed my hair, and now it feels fresh and free once again. LOL!
I haven't worn mini braids since I was a teenager... maybe 14 years old... before I got my first perm at 15. That was my staple hairstyle. That was all my mom knew to do with all the hair I had, with out-of-this-world thickness. I didn't like them then because that was practically all I had my hair in, but my hair had always grown long because they were in for at least a month.
My hair wasn't that healthy because I know my ends were split and straggly like mad, and regular hair grease was used to braid my hair, but it still grew. I thought about that more recently, and although braids take longer to install, they tend to last longer. So I did the mini braids in my hair last Monday and left them in for a week and a half.
I used EcoStyler gel on damp hair. Awesome technique. It worked well, and I honestly didn't get much noticeable frizz until the second week. I don't use gel like that, but for this it worked like a charm. They also looked great on me.

 Now, they're not as small as some people would probably do theirs, but ain't nobody got time fo'dat! Not with three kids! This size was great for me. Bad enough it took two hours to do, which is a miracle for my hair.
When the second week began, the itchiness began. My hair likes being washed at least once a week and it goes crazy if it isn't washed once a week. So, you see my dilemma. I almost tried washing it with the braids still in, but I knew already that that would cause major frizz. The gel would be washed out of it, and the manipulation and the water would cause the braids to be frizzy afterwards and I knew this. Plus, it would also be hard to condition my hair. So that was it. My scalp was too itchy, no matter how much I spritzed my scalp with my water/peppermint oil concoction. It was time for the braids to go! I was kind of sad taking them out, but I could easily find the time to do them again if I wanted to.
Besides, with the working out that I have been doing lately, my scalp needed the wash to remove sweat. I have started doing the Insanity workout program. Yes, the crazy hard one, with Shaun T. It's AWESOME. I've got some major pounds to lose, about 30, and since I've changed my eating habits greatly, I've already lost 3 pounds. Combine that with the biking and other random exercises that I have started doing (push ups, jump ropes, crunches, squats), I've added INSANITY to the mix and have lost 3 MORE pounds. So happy! I am seeing my baby gut go down finally.
If you do INSANITY, too, let me know. How far are you in it? Challenges? Given up yet? I've only done the first two videos so far.
Ever done mini braids? How long did it take? Did you like the results? How long did they last before your scalp was on it's knees, begging for shampoo? Tell meh! I like hearing hair stories.
Peace out till later, curly mamas!

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Staple Hair Products from...2011? (Review)

Hiya, curlies! I just wanted to share a picture of the staple products that I used back in 2011. I was already natural at this time, because my last perm was in April 2009. I knew that these products were... more or less 'bad' for your hair, but that was all I could afford then. I wasn't working and I had two young babies at the time.

So, here are the products! Recognize them? LOL
~The African Pride Olive Miracle leave in conditioner smelled really great, but of course, if I can remember, it had mineral oil and a million and one other ingredients that I couldn't even pronounce in it. It did it's job, but like mineral oil products always did for me and my daughter's hair, it was moist for the time being but was parched dry a few hours later. I would twist with it at night, and the next morning, the twists would look a little dried out. So I started doing my hair in the morning, and my hair would still be dry by the time I went to bed. So... um, yeah. No bueno. It was mad cheap for a big jar (I think $2.99), but in the end, it was just utter crap. So glad that I was able to upgrade that next year to home made whipped shea butter and Shea Moisture products. ^_^
~The second product, the Blue Magic Carrot Oil leave in conditioner, was very moisturizing. I think I used it mostly after I washed my hair. But again, lots of foreign ingredients in it. It had protein in it, so, as we may know by now, that was good and bad at the same time. Overuse of protein isn't a good thing. It smelled awesome and was super soft, but I don't exactly miss it.
~The last one, that Smooth and Shine gel stuff... eh, not the best gel in the world. I never used gel much; I only used it for smoothing down my edges. I only got it because it said that it had no alcohol and no flaking. Smells great. I never got any flaking from it, and it worked for the time being. I no longer use it. I still have a half used jar of it sitting in my bathroom cabinet, only because I hate throwing away a lot of product like that. I have a thing for wasting stuff. LOL!
So there's my random product review for what I was using in 2011. Now, I can afford better, so I do much better. These are no longer staple products in my inventory! =)

Until next time... peace out, curly mamas!

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http://epicrealist.blogspot.com/

~Epic Realist~