[Tutorial] Flat Twist Bun for Natural Hair | The #WashDayExperience

My Fishtail Banana Clip updo from last week lasted for about 48 hours before it started to look raggedy. (Note to self: try not to sweat so dang much!)

My hair ended up in a high bun (like this one) until today's #washdayexperience.

Here's what I used:

Pre-shampoo- DIY Moisturizing Mist (tutorial here) + Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner  (review here)
Clay Rinse- Here's the dets on my recipe
Deep Condition- Jessicurl Deep Treatment Conditioner (review here)
Leave-Ins- Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Why EVCO is AMAZING here) + Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner (why I love this stuff here) + DIY Hair Butter (tutorial here)

And here's how I did it:

I started my spritzing the ends of my hair with my DIY Moisturizing Mist (tutorial here). Then I slathered my hair in Herbal Essence Hello Hydration. If you want a co-washing/pre-shampoo/tangle melting conditioner/EVERYTHING in a bottle---then Hello Hydration is soooo for you! (You can read my full review here)

Related: How I got these curls to POP!

I hopped in the shower, rinsed the conditioner section by section then applied my Clay Rinse with a narrow tip applicator bottle. I'm start to like clay rinsing better than clay masks because its just too cold to be doing extra shower hopping. Next, I deep conditioned with my all time fave conditioner Jessicurl Deep Treatment Conditioner (review here), coated my ends in Extra Virgin Coconut oil (here's the kind that I use $) to seal in the conditioner and plopped under my hooded dryer for about an hour.

RELATED: Why I'm in love with the Coco (Coconut Oil of course!) 

 I t-shirt dried for about 10 minutes then installed my beloved Curlformers using a little more Extra Virgin Coconut Oil + Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner (why I love this stuff here) + DIY Hair Butter (how to make your own Hair Butter here) as my leave ins.

I'm crazy excited to report that it only takes me 30 minutes to install my curlformers this time! #woot It still takes about an hour to dry and occasionally I have that one curl that just can't get right. Last year, I didn't use my hooded dryer at all---it literally had dust on it. But this year, I find myself using it every wash day. It pains me to say it but I might have to invest in a new one soon. I've had this table top hard bonnet dryer for about 6 years and it gets louder and louder each week. *le sigh* bye bye dollars. It was nice knowin ya...

Anywhos, I finger combed out my curls, made two flat twists then pinned them into a bun. This style is deceptively easy. Here's how I did it:

1. Begin with stretched hair (I stretched my hair using Curlformers.) 
2. Make a heavy side part.
3. Begin your flat twist at your bangs
4. Work the twist around to the back of your head.
5. Double strand twist the ends. (You might need a hair tie if your hair unravels.)
6. Begin your second flat twist on the opposite side.
7. Double strand twist the ends. (Again, you might need a hair tie if your hair unravels)
8. Secure the left twist just above your right ear with a hair pin.
9. Then secure the right twist by tucking it into the left side with a hair pin.
10. Use as many hair pins as you need to secure and shape the "bun" portion of the look. 

Optional: Polish the look by smoothing your edges with little edge control. I used Curls Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Paste.

How did you style your hair this week? Anyone else struggling to keep their tresses moisturized? Share the dets with the rest of our healthy hair tribe below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Quick and Easy Bentonite Clay Hair Rinse For Natural Hair

I won't lie, bentonite clay mask treatments are a labor of love. All that pouring and mixing plus the time it takes to apply and dry can be just too much work to do every wash day. So I started "clay rinsing." It's basically the same exact recipe as my Bentonite Clay Mask Treatment---but its consistency is thinner and can be done in one step in the shower. Which is perfect when you're pressed for time but still want your curls to pop! Here's what I used:

Related: DIY Bentonite Clay Mask Treatment

Ingredients:

2 oz Bentonite Clay (I use Aztec Healing Clay)
4 oz Aloe Vera Juice (I like this one)
1 oz Apple Cider Vinegar (Bragg is the best!)
2 tbsp Glycerin (These are good choices)
Plastic bottle with a lid (Applicator bottles like this one are awesome)

 
And here's how I mix it:

1. I add the clay to my applicator bottle using a funnel. I like to use an applicator bottle with a cap so that it's easier to mix.
2. Next add the apple cider vinegar. It will bubble and foam up---Don't be alarmed!
3. Add your aloe vera juice and glycerin. Secure the lid of your applicator bottle and shake it gently! Your mix should be thin, but not runny. If it's too thick, add more liquid and shake. If it's too thin, add more clay and shake again

I like to clay rinse after a pre-shampoo treatment but before I deep condition (or co-wash if I'm being really lazy pressed for time) because while the clay will cleanse your scalp and give you AHA-mazing curl definition, but it can also make your curls feel a little stiff. Running a little conditioner through your hair after the clay rinse handles that situation! I did a clay rinse this week and I'll share all the dets in tomorrow's #washdayexperience.

Are you clay/mud rinsing? What's your favorite recipe?

Besitos!
KLP

[Tutorial] Fishtail Banana Clip Updo on Natural Hair | The #WashDayExperience

My Green Tea Infused Hair Oil Rinse from last week made my hair feel...

Moisturized

Soft

Fluffy

...and really oily.

I'm guessing that I didn't rinse well enough. *le sigh* #thickhairproblems

Then add in 2 hours of soccer practice plus my usual daily workouts---my hair was begging to be washed this week.

Here's what I used:

Pre-shampoo- DIY Moisturizing Mist (tutorial here) + Aubrey GPB Conditioner (review here)
Shampoo- Jessicurl Cleansing Cream (review here)
Deep Condition- Jessicurl Deep Treatment Conditioner (review here)
Leave-Ins- Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Why EVCO is AMAZING here) + Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner (why I love this stuff here) + DIY Hair Butter (tutorial here)

And here's how I did it:

I started my spritzing the ends of my hair with my DIY Moisturizing Mist (tutorial here). Then I slathered my hair in Aubrey GPB conditioner. I adore the way that this conditioner helps me detangle, leaves my curls perfectly defined and strong. (You can read my full review here)

I hopped in the shower, shampooed with Jessicurl Cleansing Cream (review here) and rinsed. Next, I deep conditioned with my all time fave conditioner Jessicurl Deep Treatment Conditioner (review here), coated my ends in Extra Virgin Coconut oil (here's the kind that I use $) to seal in the conditioner and plopped under my hooded dryer for about an hour.

RELATED: Why I'm in love with the Coco (Coconut Oil of course!) 

Related: How To Get DOUBLE the curl with Curlformers!

I t-shirt dried for about 10 minutes then installed my beloved Curlformers using a little more Extra Virgin Coconut Oil + Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner (why I love this stuff here) + DIY Hair Butter (how to make your own Hair Butter here) as my leave ins.

Sometimes I wished that I lived a more lavish lifestyle. One where wearing my hair in big bouncy beautiful curls like these was required. But...I don't. Ha-ha! I'm a regular soccer mom with a ridiculously long messy to-do list where even high buns seem too formal.

So I whipped my hair into this crazy quick and super simple Fishtail Banana Clip updo. Here's how I did it:

1. Begin with stretched hair (I stretched my hair using Curlformers.) 
2. Section off your bangs by making two parts at the crown of your head.
3. Secure with a hair clip.
4. Secure the rest of your hair with a hair clip.
5. Braid your bangs using the fishtail technique. (Here's a tutorial on how to Fishtail Braid Natural Hair) 
6. When the braid reaches the back of your crown, simply double strand twist to the ends and secure with a hair pin.
7. Now release the back of your hair and pull it into a pony tail. 
8. Use your banana clip to secure the hair. 
9. Divide the hair in the banana clip into two sections. Clip one section away.
10. Now double strand twist this section
11. Roll and tuck the twist then use a hair pin to secure it.
12. Repeat on the last section. 

Optional: Polish the look by smoothing your edges with little edge control. I used Curls Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Paste.

How did you style your hair this week? Anyone else sporting updos? Share the dets with the rest of our healthy hair tribe below!

An InLinkz Link-up

[Tutorial] Braided Headband Tuck For Natural Hair | The #WashDayExperience

My Vintage Tucked updo (you can check it out here) from last week was super cute and kept my ends tucked away but OMG now I remember why I don't use that Scuni Upzing that often; It gives me the worse headache! After two days of my updo, I pulled it down and rocked a twist out.

Then it snowed/rain/sleeted all over the best twist out I've ever gotten. *sad face* *shakes angry fist at the universe* Why won't you let me be great?!?

I had no choice but to wash my hair. Here's what I used:

Pre-shampoo- DIY Moisturizing Mist (tutorial here) + Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner (review here)
Shampoo- Jessicurl Cleansing Cream (review here)
Deep Condition- Jessicurl Deep Treatment Conditioner (review here)
Oil Rinse- Green Tea Infused Hair Oil Rinse (tutorial here)
Leave-Ins- Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner (why I love this stuff here) + DIY Hair Butter

And here's how I did it:
I started my spritzing the ends of my hair with my DIY Moisturizing Mist (tutorial here). I initially created this concotoion to moisturize my hair between washes, but now I also use it to detangle pre-wash thanks to an amazing tip from my linkup partna in crime Jen at JGA! Then I slathered my hair root to tip in Herbal Essences Hello Hydration (which has amazing slip btw! You can check out my full review here)

I hopped in the shower, shampooed with Jessicurl Cleansing Cream (review here) and rinsed. Next, I deep conditioned with my all time fave conditioner Jessicurl Deep Treatment Conditioner (review here), coated my ends in Extra Virgin Coconut oil to seal in the conditioner and plopped under my hooded dryer for about an hour.

RELATED: Why I'm in love with the Coco (Coconut Oil of course!) 

After rinsing the conditioner, I used a narrow tip applicator bottle (Like this one of these) to apply my latest potion: A Green Tea Infused Hair Oil Rinse---in honor of this week's #washdayexperience theme "Tea for Two" (Wondering what the heck it is or how to make it? Read the tutorial here) I let the oil sit in my hair for a few minutes then rinsed.

GIIIRRRLLLLL....

I can't even describe it...

Let's just say that I will DEFINITELY do this again, especially with this disrespectful cold weather floating around! My hair felt crazy moisturized strong but soft. I t-shirt dried for about 10 minutes then installed my beloved Curlformers using Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner (why I love this stuff here) + DIY Hair Butter as my leave ins.

My curls were gorgeous, but I wanted an updo, so I whipped my hair into this Braided Headband Tuck. Here's how I did it:

1. Begin with stretched hair (I stretched my hair using Curlformers.) Then create a heavy side part.
2. Secure your bangs with a hair clip.
3. Using a stretchy headband, place it at the crown of your head. (It might shift about now. That's cool. We'll get it to stay put in just a sec.)
4. Now braid your bangs and incorporate hair from the front and behind the headband. (Trust me---it will look cute) Continue the braid until the end of your hair
5. Gently pull on the sides of the braid to make it wider (and fuller)
6. Then tuck it into the head band
7. Now tuck the rest of your hair into the head band one section at a time until the headband is hidden.

Optional: Polish the look by smoothing your edges with little edge control. I finally ran out of Chi Twisted Fabric so I used Curls Blueberry Paste instead.

How did you style your hair this week? Did you use a tea rinse? Share the dets with the rest of our healthy hair tribe below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Green Tea Infused Oil Rinse for Natural Hair

My love affair with green tea rinses began when my hair was relaxed, I was suffering with  postpartum shedding, and I just wanted a way to slow down the shedding. You can read about my many adventures with green tea rinses here, here, and here.

RELATED: Herbal Tea Rinses to Combat Shedding

I don't shed like crazy anymore, but in honor of tomorrow's #WashDayExperience themes, I decided to experiment with tea again. This time---for a Green Tea Infused Oil Rinse!

How I made it:

1. Place 3 green tea bags in a glass mason jar. (I used Celestial Seasonings Green Tea)
2. Cover with 1 cup of warmed extra virgin coconut oil (or other carrier oil of your choice).
3. Bring a pot with 2-3 inches of water to the brink of boiling. Turn off heat. Place the jar in the the water for 15-20 minutes. 
4. Carefully remove jar from hot water. Cover with lid and steep overnight. 

And here are semi-scientific reasons green tea oil rinses rock:

• Tannins- is an astringent compound that binds to and precipitates proteins in plants. The tannins in tea can attached to the hair shaft making the hair appear fuller. Tannins have antibacterial properties that can help soothe itchy/flaky scalp issues that would increase shedding. The tannins also tighten pores, which better protects your scalp from excessive oil and dirt while strengthening your strands to prevent damage.
• Caffeine- Green tea has 35mg of caffeine. Caffeine is known in the hair world for stimulating the scalp, increasing blood flow, and thus allowing your scalp to get more oxygen and more "food."
• Pantheol, Vitamin C and Vitamin E- Pantheol, which is found in tons of hair products, acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the hair and helps prevent split ends while conditioning. Vitamin C is known as an antioxidant thought to help heal the scalp. Vitamin E also acts as an antioxidant that aids effective circulation in the scalp due to increased oxygen uptake in blood.
• Extra Virgin Coconut Oil- Coconut oil has been shown in studies to be the only oil that prevents protein loss while helping hair retain moisture. It reduces hair porosity making it spectacular for chemically relaxed hair which is typically higher porosity. Washing your hair can cause hygral fatigue, which is a fancy way of saying damage caused by frequent swelling (absorbing moisture) and shrinking (losing moisture) of hair fiber.

RELATED: Why I'm in love with the Coco (Coconut Oil of course!) 

To apply the rinse to my scalp, I used a narrow tip applicator bottle (Like this one of these) in the shower after conditioning. I let it sit for a few minutes then rinsed. My hair felt crazy moisturized strong but soft. (Don't worry, I'll give you all the details in tomorrow's #WashDayExperience!}

Have you ever tried a green tea rinse for you hair? What's your favorite recipe?

Besitos!
KLP

[Hairstyle] Wash and Go Curly Pinup | The #WashDayExperience

Based on today's #washdayexperience, I can already tell that me + wash and go's aren't really going to mix until....

A. I find a way to style my hair (other than a puff) when I do wash and go

and

B. I find the right products that don't make my hair look a hot mess in the process. 

Anywhos, here's what I used to wash my hair this week:

Pre-shampoo: Redken Extreme Builder Plus
Shampoo: Jessicurl Cleansing Cream
Clay Mask: Aztec Healing Bentonite Clay (+ Apple Cider Vinegar + Aloe Vera Juice + Glycerin)
Deep Condition: Jessicurl Deep Treatment
Leave-Ins: Almond Oil + Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner + DIY Hair Butter + Camille Rose Curl Maker

And here's how I did it:

I've been wearing my hair in a huge puff for the last two weeks, so for this #washdayexperience, I wanted to give my hair a little pick me up. I started by detangling and applying Redken Extreme Builder Plus. Even though my hair isn't relaxed anymore, my protein pre-shampoos are more of a preventative measure than anything else. The ends of your hair are the oldest and weakest part of your hair. Plus, I've always seen the greatest length retention when I consistently us protein products to protect my ends.

Related: How I Use Protein To Maximize My Length Retention


My scalp was soooooo gross before I washed today. Like dirty---flaky---filthy gross. After letting my pre-shampoo sit for about 30 minutes, I rinsed in the shower then shampooed my scalp twice with Jessicurl Cleansing Cream. Even with two lathers, my hair didn't feel stripped or get tangled.

I used a cotton t-shirt to absorb the excess water from my hair then I applied my clay mask from root to tip focusing on my ends. Bentonite Clay is amazingness in a jar. It's moisturizing, detoxifying, a shine enhancer, frizz eliminator----just curl defining goodness. Because it was really late, I covered with a plastic cap and scarf then went to bed.

Related: My DIY Bentonite Clay Hair Mask Treatment 

The next morning, I rinsed the clay using a little Trader Joe's Tingle Conditioner. Another thing that I'll never get tired of is the way that my curls feel after I do a clay mask. I mean---I really don't think that your hair can ever feel more soft without being overly moisturized, strong without being brittle, or incredibly defined. I really wanted to show you guys what I mean...but I had a terrible time trying to take a picture in the shower! I'm not into curl typing, so all I know is that my curls have got to be the tiniest curls in the world!

To style, I opted for a wash and go. I'm still developing my wash and go regimen, but so far I've stuck to my oil + moisturizer +  butter + holding product curl cocktail. This week I tested out Camille Rose Curl Maker. I've used it before in a twist out---with the same cocktail ingredients and loved it. But this time---it left my wash and go with a white fizz. The only thing that's different from today than my twist out is how wet my hair was before I applied the products. I love how moisturizing Curl Maker is, so I'm not going to give up on it just yet.

After applying my leave ins while I was in the shower, I pulled my hair forward and pinned the back up in a sort of french roll. I let my bangs fall forward then diffused my hair for a few minutes on cold to stop the drippys so that I could get out of the house. My hair takes FOREVER and a day to dry when I wash and go, which is fine in the summer when it's hot outside. Once the seasons start to change, I'll probably abandon the wash and go all together. I can't say that this attempt was successful or that I'm in love with my style but it was presentable!

How was your #washdayexperience?

An InLinkz Link-up

[Hairstyle] Turban + Curly Puff | The #WashDayExperience

Remember that one time that I told y'all that I wasn't going to wear my hair in a curly puff that often?

Hmm...

Well...

I lied. Remind me never to say that mess again... You see---the puff is just insanely easy. So easy that I'm struggling NOT to do it daily. Call me lazy. I am. Call me bland and boring. I am. It is what it is.

Because I do this style sooooo much, I've been jazzing it up with jeweled clips, headbands, flowers---almost anything so that I actually look like I'm trying. Today, I went with a turban.


Here's what I used to wash my hair:

Extreme Deep Condition- Jessicurl Deep Treatment + Almond Oil
Leave Ins- Almond Oil + Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner + DIY Hair Butter + Jessicurl Curl Confident Coils Styling Solution

And here's how I did it:

First, I started by finger detangling in sections with the aid of Jessicurl Deep Treatment . I love love love deep conditioning on dry hair. Especially with Jessicurl's Deep Treatment. My curls absorb this stuff almost instantly and (I know that I say this EVERY week but...) I swear it revitalizes my hair! Per the usual, I sealed all that moisturizing goodness with a little Almond Oil, covered with a plastic cap, and left it overnight.

I know that there are tons of people who hate deep conditioning overnight---and they have legit reasons why they do. I get it. But look---my hair LOVES IT. My texlaxed hair loved it. My transitioning hair loved it. My natural hair LOVES IT MORE. So my suggestion to you is---don't knock it until you try it!

*steps off soap box*

Umm...back to my #washdayexperience... In the morning, I rinsed my my hair then while I was in the shower, I applied a little almond oil, Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner, a dab of DIY Hair Butter to seal and some Jessicurl Confident Coils Styling Potion. The styling potion is a {sorta} new addition to the #washdayexperience. I really want a curl defining product for my wash and go puffs that's not a gel but that also elongates my curls. (Girl...don't get me started on the 5 million reasons why I'm not about that gel-life) This is the second time that I've used Jessicurl Confident Coils and I realllllly like it. My hair stays crazy moisturized for days and my curls be POPPIN'!

I used a stretched to hair tie to pull my hair into this giant puff then accessorized with my fave turban. Like I said before, call me lazy. I am. Call me bland and boring. I am. It is what it is. But with the 10000% humidity and temperatures that top 100 almost daily here at the beach---I'm just trying not to spontateously combust and look cute. Haha!

How was your #washdayexperience?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

2 Years Post Relaxer | The #WashDayExperience

So...I ran off to Florida for a few weeks and totally didn't tell you guys! My bad! But I'm back and excited to celebrate 2 years post relaxer!

AND this chica is BEYOND siced!

I guess that I should finally tell you why I big chopped:

You see, I've been natural before---many many times---most of them accidentally natural---but natural nonetheless. My mother only relaxed my hair for special occasions (think twice maybe 3 times a year). When I started college---I completely stopped relaxing my hair when my room mate introduced me to the flat iron! My mind was completely blown because I had no clue that you could straighten your hair WITHOUT a relaxer and I was hooked instantly! Fast forward two years, my relaxed ends completely broke off and my shoulder length natural hair was disgustingly heat damaged. But, girls,  I was oblivious. I never ever ever wore my hair curly. I'd crank my flat iron up as high as it could go slather some blue magic on my scalp and take 20 passes on each section of hair to get it bone straight. Every. Single. Day.

Everyone in my dorm knew when I was straightening my hair. It smelled like burnt hair for days...

*hangs head*

Feel free to judge me. Shoot...I'm judging me! I started relaxing again because even my heat damaged hair wasn't straight enough for me once humidity hit it. I figured that a relaxer + flat iron would keep my hair LAID!

*hangs head lower*

But my perspective on my curls today is totally different.

I'm dangerously in love with these thangs!

Like, I really really really love them. Like, I don't feel like myself without them. My curls are my boos, baes, and cuddle buddies. Y'all just don't understand. I'm utterly flabbergasted at how long it took me to get to this point!

The best part of it all---basically NOTHING has changed in my #washdayexperience, my regimen, or my styling routine. All of my relaxed/texlax fave products still do the trick (honestly---some work better now!) and I can still rock my fave protective styles.

Will I ever relax/texlax my hair again? Probably not.

Do I have anything against relaxed hair? Absolutely not.

Relaxed hair is/was just a hairstyle to me. When I relaxed my hair---my goal was only to be able to straighten my hair easier. But as I learned other ways to stretch my hair without heat and as I stretched my relaxers 4-6 months, I really questioned---what was the point of relaxing my hair to begin with.

My answer came last year on the eve of my big chop:

I was just USED to doing it. There was no purpose anymore. I didn't even like the tedious process. I was simply accustomed to going through the motions.

So there you have it. My boring, uninteresting truth. Ladies chop off their relaxed hair for dozens of intensely powerful sentimental reasons. Reasons that include the love of their children, support for friends, respect of family, bold political statements, or beautiful spiritual revelations.

I'm just not one of them. I kinda wish that there was more to the story. Maybe I should make up something...

*kanye shrug* That's too much work!

I hope that you guys still love me!

Happy #WashDayExperience Wednesday!

An InLinkz Link-up

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[Hairstyle] Elegant Low Knotted Updo | The #WashDayExperience

The only thing about my relaxed/texlaxed hair that I miss is the length. Even after my first big chop---my hair was at a length were I could still do all of my favorite updo's and protective styles. But now that my hair is considerably shorter---and a million times curlier---it's been hard to whip my hair into the low buns that I've been sporting for years. I feel so awkward and defeated every time that I try.

So instead of bunning my hair, I've been tying it in knots. I know. I know. That sounds crazy. Why in the world would I EVER knot my hair intentionally. Just gimme a minute to explain!

Here's how I got my #washdayexperience going:

Pre-Shampoo- Herbal Essence Hello Hydration
Shampoo: Jessicurl Cleansing Cream
Deep Condition: Jessicurl Deep Treatment
Leave ins: Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner + DIY Hair Butter


I start my wash day by slathering my curls in Herbal Essence Hello Hydration to help me detangle and to give my hair a quick boost of moisture. I know from experience what happens when I don't detangle before I wash: tangles and chaos is bound to ensue. I followed up my pre-shampoo by rinsing in the shower then shampooing once with Jessicurl Cleansing Cream. What I love about this shampoo is that all the softness that I get from pre-shampooing isn't completely washed down the drain. This shampoo gets my dirty scalp clean, doesn't strip my hair, and actually moisturizes my curls. Honestly, this is why I have so much trouble trying new products, especially shampoos. I just think to myself, if it ain't broke why fix it?!

After shampooing, I used a cotton tshirt to absorb some of the excess water then applied Jessicurl Deep Treatment to my curls in sections. I sealed the conditioner with a little Almond oil, covered with a plastic cap + scarf then left it in overnight. You can read all about the whys and hows to my overnight deep conditioning madness here.

In the morning, I rinsed well, focusing on my scalp then t-shirt dried for about 30 minutes. By that time, my hair was about 70% dry. I applied a drop of Almond oil, Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner + DIY Hair Butter in sections then (faux) banded my hair to stretch it a little. I always faux band my hair before I put my hair into an updo because my unstretched hair is crazy short. I'd guess that it's only 2-3" long when unstretched and twice or even three times as much when it's stretched. Need I say more? Haha! Faux Banding is crazy simple, you can check out how I do it here.

To style my hair, I worked in 3 sections: Top, middle, and bottom. The top section is just a pompadour started at the crown of my head and gently molded towards the front of my head. It's secured with hair pins. The middle section is a giant knot. I took the section, divided it into two pieces then tied the pieces together in a knot. I tucked the ends back into the middle of the knot to hide them. The bottom section is just another knot---just formed opposite of the middle knot. So you got- Pomp, knot, knot. BOOM. That's it!


If you love this style, I have another uber cute knotted style that you might like! Check it out here: Easy Knotted Updo Natural Hair.

How was your #washdayexperience?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

[Hairstyle] Flirty Tuck and Roll | The #WashDayExperience

I swore up and down that I was gonna be flaunting big bouncy curls all spring. And I really wanted to...but real talk---I'm an updo kinda girl. I'm far more comfortable with my hair up and out of the way than I am with it blowing in the wind. I sure hope that you guys aren't totally bored with my hair!

This #washdayexperience, I stretched my hair in a few medium sized twists then went for a tuck and roll style. Here's how I got started:

Pre-Shampoo: Redken Extreme Strength Builder Plus
Shampoo: Jessicurl Cleansing Cream
Clay Mask: Aztec Healing Bentonite Clay (+ Apple Cider Vinegar & Aloe Vera Juice)
Deep Condition: Jessicurl Deep Treatment
Leave ins: Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner + DIY Hair Butter

The Results:
I started by applying Redken Extreme Strength Builder Plus to my unwashed hair and gently detangling. I totally owe you guys a product review on this protein treatment. I really love it! But the biggest issue with the size. I only got 2 (maybe 3) uses out of the 8oz container and I haven't been able to find it in a bigger size yet. 

Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream is honestly a top notch shampoo for naturally curly hair. I love the way that it cleanses without stripping and my hair actually feels moisturized and tangle free afterwards. Totally a #winner. My bentonite clay mask isn't pictured but I used the same exact process and ingredients as shown in this #washdayexperience.

If you only try one Jessicurl product---please let it be the Deep Conditioning Treatment. I don't even have words for how much I LOVE this conditioner. My hair stays crazy moisturized after I use this. Honestly---I don't even know why on earth that I use anything else!

To style my hair, I applied a few drops of Almond Oil to my freshly deep conditioned and rinsed hair. Then I applied my leave-ins (Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner and my DIY Hair Butter). in sections To stretch my curls, I installed a bunch of medium sized two strand twists.

I let the twists dry overnight. In the morning, I unraveled and fluffed. The twist out was super cute on it's own but I just didn't feel like wearing it out. So, to get this flirty tuck and roll, I created a deep side part then sectioned off my bangs. Starting on the right side, I gently rolled my hair around my head stopping occasionally to secure the roll with a few pins. I kept rolling around my nape and up to the opposite side of my head. I stopped the roll just above my eyebrow and secured with a final pin. A few more carefully placed pins to shape my bangs and viola!

Hmm... that explanation kinda sucks...If you want a step by step pictorial let me know!

How was your #washdayexperience?

Besitos!
KLP

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[Tutorial] Bentonite Clay Mask + Meet My High Puff | #WashDayExperience

 

It's no secret that I prefer to wear my hair stretched. But on the days when I really need to wash my hair but don't have the time (or energy) to do much to it afterwards, I co-wash and then rock a high puff.

High puffs were difficult for me before my mini chop because I still had a few inches of texlaxd hair on my ends. After my mini chop---I still struggled with the high puff because my curl pattern is much looser in the front than the back. The front of my puff looked really frizzy while the back would be curly. Considering how great my first experiment with Bentonite Clay was at defining my curl pattern, I tried it again. And I took pictures this time!

Here's how my #washdayexperience went:

Pre-Shampoo: Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Conditioner
Clay Mask: Aztec Healing Bentonite Clay (+ Apple Cider Vinegar & Aloe Vera Juice)
Leave ins: Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner + DIY Hair Butter + Jessicurl Rockin' Ringlets Styling Potion

I started by applying Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Conditioner to my dry (unwashed) hair and detangling. Although I hadn't detangled in 3 days and my perm rod curls had completely frizzed out, I actually didn't have any knots plus my hair felt moisturized. I love how defined my hair looks with the conditioner weighing the curls down.

I let the conditioner sit for about 20 minutes before hopping into the shower. Here's what my hair looks like once the conditioner has been rinsed. As my hair starts to dry--especially without product, I loose the definition.

And then my puff looks pretty frizzy instead of curly.

Next, I applied the bentonite clay mask in small sections to my lightly t-shirt dried hair. To make the mask, I mix 4oz of clay with 1oz of apple cider vinegar and 3oz of aloe vera juice. I add all of the ingredients to a medium tip applicator bottle and shake it like a Polaroid picture. *plays Hey-ya chorus in her head* #dontjudgeme #ibetyoustarteddancingtoo Ha-ha! I covered with a plastic cap and let it sit for about 20 minutes. I'm not sure if I'll experiment with additional ingredients in the future because I'm really digging the results that I get from this mix.

I rinsed the mask in the shower then applied Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner, then my DIY Hair Butter and lastly a newbie Jessicurl Confident Coils to soaking wet hair.

I can definitely tell the difference in my conditioner only puff versus the bentonite clay puff. The kinks and curls are more defined plus my hair was softer. I'm totally penciling in a weekly bentonite clay mask in my regimen! Whilst, I'm still playing with my high puff leave ins, I have to say that I love the way that this cocktail keeps my hair moisturized for several days without me having to do anything else.

What new masks, treatments, or leave ins are you trying this spring?

Besitos!
KLP

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