[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

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