[Hairstyle] Fluffy Curls Using Perm Rods | #WashDayExperience

I loved the long bob that I was left with after my initial big chop at the end of 2014. But it left me with about 2-3 inches of texlaxed hair on my bangs. My curl pattern in the front of my hair is much looser than the back, so in the beginning it was nearly possible to see the difference between the processed hair and my roots.

Then last week, I'm getting ready to rinse out my Joico K-Pak pre-shampoo and I just grab my shears (you know the ones that I said that I was gonna hide...but I didn't!) and start snipping at my bangs. Now I have a curly fro!

Here's how the rest of my #washdayexperience went: 

Pre-Shampoo: Joico K-Pak
Shampoo: Jessicurl Cleansing Cream
Clay Mask: Aztec Healing Clay (+ Apple Cider Vinegar & Aloe Vera Juice)
Deep Condition: Jessicurl Deep Treatment
Leave ins: Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner + DIY Hair Butter

The Results:

I've used Aztec Healing Clay (Bentonite Clay) in my facial regimen for about a year. After reading a million and one bloggers rave about hair clay masks, I figured that I would give it a try. Using an applicator bottle, I added approximately 3oz of bentonite clay + 4oz aloe vera juice + 1 oz of apple cider vinegar. I gave it a good long shake to  mix it well then applied it to my hair after shampooing with Jessicurl Cleansing Cream. The mix has the viscosity of a conditioner so as I applied it in sections, I detangled my hair paying close attention to my ends.I covered with a plastic cap and let it sit for about 20 minutes.

As I washed the clay out---I literally felt like a had a head of new hair! Curls galore y'all! I was so impressed by the definition that my curls were left with. I had no problem seeing where I need to trim a little more and it actually elongated my tight curls. This mask has definitely made it into my new regimen! I deep conditioned afterwards with Jessicurl Deep Treatment and used my usual leave-ins before banding my hair to stretch it.

We had our family pictures scheduled for that weekend and I really wanted a special look. I grabbed two packs of tan perm rods (orange rods are too big for my short hair now) and installed them in my hair using a touch of Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie on the ends. I let the curls air dry for about 5 hours.

Talk about fantastic fluffy curls?!? Honestly---I wasn't expecting my hair to turn out so nice! The humidity killed the curl definition in some parts and I want to experiment with this curly fro look using different sized perm rods. You can expect to see this style again and again this summer!

This will probably be our only family portrait in 2015 since my hubby is deployed now so I'm tremendously grateful for how wonderful these pictures turned out!

I can't wait to share more about my mini chop with you guys! Oh---and I really hid my shears this time y'all. I think I'm done cutting for a while!

How was your #washdayexperience?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

[Life] OMG KLP! Where have you been?

Life is crazy hard right now. And I've been trying not to completely abandon y'all. But I've totally been failing over the last few weeks.

As most of you know, I'm a proud military wife. My super hero hubby is amazing. I adore his commitment. I love his courage. He is incredibly brave. He deployed last week and it sucks.

We've survived a handful of deployments and moved state to state all while raising two of the cutest minions ever.

And although this definitely isn't our first military separation----it's going to be our longest and could be the toughest to date. You see, our minions are at an age when they can actually understand where Daddy is---and that's not at home. At the end of the day, no matter how hard things get for them, I'm immensely proud that I have the opportunity to teach them what sacrifice and honor means and I'm even prouder that their father is the embodiment of this lesson.

In a few weeks, once the newness of the situation wears off, I think that things will be easier. For now---my focus is on making our transition has smooth as possible.

For SavingOurStrands, all this means is that when I can pop in---I will. I'll share all the details of my fabulous mini chop (OMG---I'm soooooo in llllloooovvvveeeee with it!), my new hair regimen and of course, I'll read all of your #washdayexperiences (they're my faves!).

You guys are the world's most fabulous readers, I'm amazed by your Grace and your support is always crazy overwhelming.Thanks for being awesome!

Un mil besitos!
KLP

Mini Chop + It's My Birthday! | #WashDayExperience

This week's #washdayexperience was super simple because #1--I didn't have a lot of time and #2 I knew that we were going to be traveling to celebrate my birthday! It all started with a:

Overnight Deep Condition- Matrix Biolage Hydrasource Conditioner + Almond Oil (Wondering why I deep condition overnight? Click here)
Leave ins: Jessicurl Too Shea + My DIY Hair Butter


Per the usual, I banded my hair then pulled it up into a top knot to finish drying. Once it was dry, I tossed in a couple small Caruso steam rollers, let them sit for about an hour, and then removed the rollers. To my surprise, my curls looked and felt FANTASTIC! I new that it was going to be super windy so, I sprayed the curls with a little Chi Enviro Flex Hold Hair Spray. for a light hold. I love love love this spray because it doesn't leave a residue or that crunchy hold that typical hair spray is famous for. Plus a little goes a lllloonnnggg way.

I actually wore my hair down! I've worn my hair down probably 3 times since I straightened it then chopped. It felt great to have carefree hair. Especially since the hubster had a great birthday weekend planned for me.

We started the weekend by taking the minions to the circus. It was their first time and I'll never forget the look on my daughter's face once the show began.  #priceless

Then we went to the Cherry Blossom Beer and Wine festival (without the kiddos obviously...). MOST. FUN. EVER. Yeah...I was kinda in love with my hair....This had to have been selfie #87926303! Haha!

Because I literally passed out the night before, the next day I pulled my hair up into a high bun and left the few curls that made it though down to frame my face. I didn't think much of the style until I got weave checked by our server at breakfast! She was super sweet and obviously just curious so I wasn't offended or anything like that at all. After we left, my hubby told me that my hair was just too unbeliweavable to be real. He's such a dork! Ha-ha!

The weekend was a blast and it reminded me of how much I love my curls. As I started to pre-shampoo my hair last night...I randomly grabbed my scissors and snipped off the last bits of texlaxed hair on my bangs! My sister-in-law has threatened to hide my scissors because obviously I'm addicted!

I'll share all the dets of my mini chop in a few days. But so far---I LOVE IT! Since today is my actual birthday, I'm celebrating with a pedi spa day with the girl minion then dinner with the family. Yay for another year of love and laughs!

How was your #washdayexperience?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

[Tutorial] Swirled Crown Braid | The #WashDayExperience

I feel like my hair care regimen is on auto pilot. I condition, stretch my hair, wear some sort of updo, braid, or bun for 3---maybe 4 days then do the process all over again. I've all but abandoned tea rinsing---I don't shed like a dog anymore. I haven't used heat---I don't even think that I've used direct or indirect heat on my hair since December. My hair is crazy moisturized and relatively tangle free.

My focus for the last couple of months has been to clean out my ridiculously crazy overstuffed product stash. So for today's #WashDayExperience, I took all of my conditioners with just a few tablespoons of product left in them, mixed it all together, and slapped it in my hair. And BOOM just like that I cleared out 8 products in my stash. #dontjudgeme well...#judgemealittle! Omg---why did I have this many almost empty bottles of conditioners any-friggin-way! SMH.

Here's how my #washdayexperience went:

Overnight Deep Condition- with about 1-2 tablespoons each of Mizani Moisturfusion Silk Cream Conditioner, Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Moisturizing Hair Smoothie, OGX Coconut Milk Conditioner, Jessicurl Deep Treatment, Herbal Essence Hello Hydration, TRESemme Naturals Conditioner, Pura Body Naturals Chocolate Hair Smoothie, and Aussie 3 Minute Moist  + Almond oil  (Why I deep condition overnight)
Leave ins: Jessicurl Too Shea + My DIY Hair Butter

First let me start by saying that all of these conditioners are fantastic on their own! The only conditioner that I wouldn't repurchase is Pura Body Naturals Chocolate Hair Smoothie. I really didn't care for that one when my hair was texlaxed but I didn't have enough of it to judge if my curls would have enjoyed it. You definitely don't have to use this many conditioners in order for your hair to feel and look great. After using up all that product, I can actually see the bottom of the conditioner drawer in my stash! *Fist pump for soft manageable hair* **Double fist pump for spring cleaning!*

After rinsing my hair, I applied 3-4 drops of almond oil to my soaking wet hair then wrapped it up in a cotton t-shirt for a few minutes to absorb the water. I've been using almond oil a lot lately. I wish that I could give you some intricate soulful healthy hair reason. But #realtalk, where I live at now, my favorite coconut oil is more than double the price that it was before. I'm in LOVE with the coco, but see...the way my bank account is setup...Hahaha!

I applied a bit of Jessicurl Too Shea to moisturize and my DIY Hair Butter to seal then pulled my hair into a top knot to finish drying. The hubby and I had a movie date night planned so once my hair was dry, I pulled it down and started braiding with the intent of creating a halo braid---but I came up with this swirled crown braid instead.

1. Create a deep side part on stretched hair. (I stretched my curls pulling my wet hair into a top knot and allowing it to dry.)
2. Begin your dutch braid at your side part following your hair line. Just as you would a crown or halo braid.
3. About an inch from your ear, start to curve the braid towards the opposite direction. Keep your turn tight so that your edges stay neat.
4. Make another 180 curve in the opposite direction again. Each curve makes your braid look like a giant swirling "S".
5. Repeat making as many swirls as you'd like. I did 3 turns on each side.
6. Finish by braiding across your nape. Secure the ends with a regular braid.
7. Then tuck the braided end at your nape with a hair pin.
8. Fluff your braid by plucking apart the sides for a fuller look. 

Optional: Mist your hair with a little hair spray for hold and cover with a satin scarf for a few minutes to tame flyways. My favorite non-residue leaving hair spray is Chi Enviro Flex Hold Hair Spray. I dabbed a bit of Chi Twisted Fabric on my edges and smoothed it in with my fingers for a sleeker look.

Y'all can expect to see this style a billion times this summer because I'm in LOVE! It's a little messy and is far from perfect but it takes a few minutes to install, doesn't require heat or any other special tools, and it keeps my hair out of my face.

How was your #washdayexperience?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

[Hairstyle] Caruso Steam Rollers on Natural Hair | #WashDayExperience

I felt all kinds of defeated after I failed my half-marathon last week. Then, of course, I got sick, but I was determined to have at least one good hair day!  So I grabbed my Caruso Steam Rollers. They take about 15 minutes to install and set my hair in 20 minutes (10 minutes or less if I use a dryer set on cool).

Selfie from 2 weeks ago...

I've been kinda doing the same style for a few days now.... Hey--if it ain't broke don't fix it right?!

Here's how my #WashDayExperience went:

And here's a quick recap of the products that I used:

Pre-shampoo: Herbal Essence Hello Hydration
Shampoo: Joico K-Pak
Overnight Strengthening Treatment: Joico K-Pak Conditioner + Almond oil to seal (Find out Why I Deep Condition My Hair Overnight)
Leave ins: Jessicurl Too Shea + My DIY Hair Butter

I banded my hair then pulled it up into a top knot to finish drying. Once it was dry, I haphazardly threw in a couple small Caruso steam rollers, let them sit for about 20 minutes, removed the rollers, and then fluffed the curls. Using a few bobby pins and a stretched out hair tie, I pulled the curls in the back into a pony and left a few curls down to frame my face.

My hair was incredibly moisturized, soft and springy. So far, the curls last for about 2 days (I workout daily tho...) I can see myself sporting this look well into the summer! I love how this look screams no effort but it's still cute.

How was your #washdayexperience? 

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up