[Hairstyle] Braided Fringe Twistout | The #WashDayExperience

I got pretty lazy after last week's #washdayexperience. I wore my hair knotted for a day or two, then co-washed and left it in a high curly bun.

I just knew that I was cute! And my wash and go bun was huge BUT... I didn't touch it for several days. I didn't moisturize. I didn't seal. I didn't even cover my hair at night (thank goodness for silk pillowcases tho!) By the time that today's #washdayexperience rolled around---my hair was a tangled mess. Hmm...now I see why folks with tight curls like mine complain.... *hangs head*

Obviously co-washing + no leave-ins + not touching my hair for several days = dry knotted tangled hair. Fingers crossed that I've actually learned my lesson and won't pull that stunt again...fingers crossed...

So, I stopped being wack and went back to my usual regimen.  Here's what I used:

Pre-Shampoo- Joico K-Pak Revitalisant Conditioner (strengthening treatment)
Shampoo- Joico K-Pak Shampoo
Clay Mask: Aztec Healing Bentonite Clay (+ Apple Cider Vinegar & Aloe Vera Juice)
Deep Condition: Jessicurl Deep Treatment + Almond Oil
Leave ins: Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner + DIY Hair Butter + Camille Rose Curl Maker
 
The Results:
I started with a protein pre-poo using Joico K-Pak Revitalisant Conditioner. For my hair, I consider this conditioner to be a medium to light protein treatment. I love the way that my curls absorb the conditioner and instantly behave! I left the pre-poo in for about an hour or so. Then I hopped in the shower, rinsed the conditioner and shampooed with the accompanying Joico K-Pak Shampoo in sections. I don't love this shampoo. Real talk, I don't love many shampoos. But it's great for getting my hair squeaky clean and I know that I needed that fresh start.

I let a cotton t-shit absorb most of the water then I applied my bentonite clay mask. (You can check out my step by step application process here). I covered my hair with a plastic cap and knit beanie then let the treatment sit for about an hour.

As I rinsed the clay, my curls much much better. But I felt like I still needed moisture, so I applied Jessicurl Deep Treatment and a little almond oil to seal, then pulled my hair into a giant high puff. I didn't cover it---I just kinda let the conditioner absorb into my strands. After about 2 hours---the conditioner completely disappeared and my cute springy curls came back!

Once my hair was slightly damp (I used a cotton t-shirt to absorb most of the water from rinsing the deep conditioner), I applied a few drops of Almond Oil. Then I applied my leave-ins (Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner and my DIY Hair Butter in sections. Next, I installed a bunch of medium sized two strand twists and added a dab of Camille Rose Curl Maker to the ends.

It's 99 degrees here at the beach so there was no way that I was gonna have all my hair in my face. So I quickly braided my bangs aka fringe, used a few hair pins to secure it and went on my way!

Back into a puff it goes tomorrow, but until then I'm whippin my hair all around!

How was your #washdayexperience chica?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

Wash Day | Keyda

Hola Chicas!

I had a very active/long weekend! Fitness post shall explain :) However, I NEEDED to wash my hair just to feel clean lol. Have you ever had that moment!? My wash was rather simple again and I loved it!

Main Wash Day Products 

[A] Detangled with my fingers. I decided to go without pre-poo this wash. Again, I just wanted to get clean!

[B] Shampooed with KeraCare Detangling Shampoo then Conditioned with Oyin Honey Hemp Conditioner.

[C] DC with Baba de Caracol sealed with Chi Silk Infusion for about 35 mins with heat. Yum!

[D] It was late...and I was lazy...haha so I skipped out on my tea rinse this wash. I plan on doing a mini-wash tomorrow with a tea rinse to ensure scalp/shedding protection!

[E] Leave-ins included Aphogee Keratin and Green Tea Spray, with a dab of Koils by Nature Perfectly Peppermint and massaging of Philip Kingsley Scalp Toner through my scalp.


Air Dried for roughly 75% then wanted to head to bed so I put low heat on my hair until roughly 90% of my hair was dry... hehe 

Hint to my active weekend!

My Hair Reality: My hair tangles were manageable and there was a "normal" amount of shedding. I have not been feeling overwhelmed with the amount of shedding like I have in past. My new growth is really curly CURLY and thick... ever since fully going texlaxed, I never noticed just how curly my natural hair was...who knew!? lol I styled my hair out of frustration and ended up loving the style. Check Tutorial for pictures of my hair! I am really digging a simple hair washing routine but I have to remember those little things that matter for my hair (i.e. pre-poo & tea rinses!). With summer fast approaching, I have to get with it since I will have "pool hair" for days!

Fun Times! Hope everyone appreciated many heroes like KLP's Husband over Memorial Day weekend! :)


How was your #washdayexperience!?

xoxo
Keyda

Mini Wash

Ay dios, have you ever felt like having clean hair but didn't really feel like cleaning your hair? Ha-ha! Last week, I co-washed once and had an run in with accidental hair steaming that left my hair feeling pretty darn great. My grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday and I wanted to rock some big fluffy curls. However, I broke 2 out of 3 of my keys to perfect Bantu curls and I looked chia-pet-licious. *shrugs* You win some; You loose some.

I'm totally intrigued by the premise that you can prevent breakage on the oldest parts of your hair---your ends, by using strengthening leave-ins. This week I spritzed last 2 inches of my tresses with Chi Keratin Mist on the before moisturizing with Jessicurl Too Shea! and sealing with my hair butter. I'm happy to report that it hasn't caused any ill effects but I want to keep testing the theory until I feel more confident in my findings. Jajaja! I love hair research! Any who, on to my latest moisture packed wash day: 

1. Detangled- with my fingers.
2. Extreme deep condition- with JBCO on my scalp then Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil Intensive Mask on the length of my hair. Then I sealed the conditioner with coconut oil, covered with a plastic cap and relaxed under my heat cap for about 2 hours. 
3. Green Tea Rinse- After rinsing the conditioner, I applied a few ounces of steeped green tea using a narrow tip applicator to my strands. I let it sit for a few minutes then rinsed. 
4. Smoothing Treatment- with a large dollop of Matrix Biolage Detangling Solution and gently massaged into my strands.
5. Air Dried- 70% with a cotton t-shirt.
6. Leave-Ins- Jessicurl Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner, my kitchenista Tangerine Vanilla Whipped Hair Butter, and the "faux" banded my hair to stretch my 13 weeks post super curly roots while it dried.

Results- 

Loss Hair- Detangling

My hair feels so soft and fluffy. Detangling took about 20 minutes. In the past, I remember detangling for at least an hour. I think that this has something to do with that Matrix Biolage Detangling Solution but I'm not going to give it all the credit just yet. I also noticed only 3, yep---I counted, strands of lost hair in the shower. Crazy cool.

After reading about Divachyk's banding method a few weeks ago, I attempted to give it a try. As I applied my leave ins, I gently stretched my roots and secured with a clip. Once I was completely done, I tied down with a scarf to get my edges smoother and let my hair dry. I totally think that this technique is here to stay. I love how stretched and tangle free my hair is afterwards!

What new techniques did you try out on your last wash day?

Besitos!
KLP

Pool Co-Wash

Pool Co-washing rocks!

I've never really been a fan of frequent co-washing, but there is just no way that I wouldn't wash my hair after going to the pool. The thought simply screams breakage in my mind. So, here's how I've been co-washing and taming my 13 (I think) post hair after kicking it at the pool:

1. Protect: I start by detangling my un-washed hair then moisturizing with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration and sealing with coconut oil. I apply a few hours before going to the pool and pull back into a low bun or french braid.
2. Pre-poo: When I return from the pool, I let down my hair to dry a bit. I find it so much easier to detangle partly dry hair vs. soaking wet hair. Next, I gently and very carefully detangle in small sections using my Magic Star Jumbo Rake, adding more coconut oil to my roots as I work.
3. Shampoo: Next, I hop in the shower, rinse, then apply diluted Matrix Biolage Hydratherapie Hydrating Shampoo using a narrow tip applicator bottle.(Don't forget to enter the Matrix Bun Effect Giveaway so that you can win your very own bottle!)
4. Leave-ins: After lightly t-shirt drying my hair. I massaged a big dallop of Jessicurl Too Shea Extra Moisture Conditioner in sections then applied a little Chi Silk Infusion to "seal." I pull my hair back and then cover with my scarf to coax my roots into laying down. I air dry then pull into a bun or install bantu knots.

Because I don't disturb my roots while I'm washing, it stays tangle free. Plus our vacation home has the most amazing water pressure! I have co-washed every time that I went to the pool (4 days so far). Which has kept my roots moisturized, my scalp clean, and rid my hair of dryness from the chlorinated pool water. Sadly, I'll be saying adios to Florida in a few days. My next wash day I'll be doing a protein treatment in preparation for my relaxer next week. Finger's crossed for a smooth, woe-free relaxer day!

Enjoy your weekend lovelys! 
KLP

Mini Wash

Notes: 6 weeks no heat? Yep! >>This chica<<. I've had so much success with mini washes that it's official: they are here to stay. I'm thinking that aside from wash days that I use hard protein treatments, I'm ditching the poo. The picture below shows all the products that I used in the order that they were used.

Wash Day Products

(0) Detangled with my Magic Star Jumbo Rake in vertical sections. My roots felt really dry and coarse. It took me about 20 minutes longer to detangle today.
(1) Extreme Deep Condition: Applied Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Toner and my essential oil blend to my scalp, JBCO, and Matrix Biolage Hydratherapie Conditioning Balm  to the length of my hair. Then I coated my strands in extra virgin coconut oil, covered with a plastic cap  and then watched a couple of episodes of RHOA under my heating cap for a couple of hours. Don't judge me.

(2) Tea Rinse with 1 green tea bag and 1 black tea bag and 2 cups of water in a narrow tip applicator bottle. I let the rinse sit on my hair for about 5 minutes.

(3) Smoothing Treatment- Then I massaged Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Treatment into my hair (without rinsing the tea first) and let sit for about 7 minutes. I rinsed with cool water.
(4) Air dry- I let my hair dry 85% in a cotton t-shirt. Next, I detangled and add my leave-ins.
(5) Leave-ins- Bee Mine Bee Lovely Moisturizing Daily Conditioner and extra virgin coconut oil. I found no knots but after applying the leave ins, my hair felt a little oily. I suspect that I probably was heavy handled with the coconut oil. 


Results: Beautifully moisturized and soft, big fluffy hair and very little shed hair. AGAIN! I know that I say this every time that I deep condition with Matrix, but this stuff is really awesome. Afterwards my roots felt extremely moist and manageable. I wondered if my scalp would be revolting from the lack of shampoo. Nope. Not at all. My first impressions of the Bee Lovely: Meh--I wasn't instantly in love but I didn't not love it either. It absorbed well and the scent isn't wonderful nor is it mala. (It smells a bit like play-doh to me) I'll definitely use the bottle and then post a complete review. This wash day was fairly un-eventful, which at 13 weeks post relaxer is a good thing! Next wash day I'll be relaxer prepping with clarifying and a hard protein treatment.

How was your wash day? What do you do to prep for your relaxer?

Un mil besitos!
KLP

Your Hair On: Proper Detangling

Freshly conditioned texlaxed hair

I'm 13 weeks post relaxer and it seems that all I do is detangle my hair! Its the part of my day that I love to hate. I love it because I know that it means that my hair is growing. I hate it because the longer that my hair grows the longer that it takes to detangle! Here are a few tips on how detangle my hair.

1. Ten Paciencia Mamita (Have Patience).  Good things and less hair breakage comes to those who wait. If I don't have time to properly detangle my hair I just don't wash it that day. Experience has taught me that I'll do more harm than good if I'm in a rush.
2. Know your hair. I've found that detangling is are much easier on my air dried hair than on wet hair--simply because my wet hairs are far more prone to breakage. Then, I gently comb through the ends, uncoil/stretch my roots out then take the time to unravel the curls, and simply ditch the shed hairs.
3. Thorough Daily and Wash Day Detangling. A comb very rarely sees my hair during the week. I finger detangle to remove shed hairs then moisturize and seal my hair. On wash days, I detangle before and after the wash.
4. Everything in sections. I now know that everything works better in sections. During my first stretch, I had the unfortunate habit of rubbing shampoo into my hair. This was completely and utterly counterproductive. Why detangle before shampooing only to rub all the strands back together while trying to work the hair into a lather creating friction and you guessed it--more knots. Now I rub a quarter size amount of shampoo  between my hands to work into the thick later that I love. Then massage with as little focus on the length of my hair and concentrated cleansing on my scalp--where the shampoo is actually needed. I've also diluted shampoo in an applicator bottle then squeezed only on my scalp in sections.
5. Micro-trim if necessary. Rough, split, thin, and damaged ends easily attach themselves itself to other strands wrapping around and creating knots. Micro trimming with very sharp scissors to be rid of split ends then be sure to keep your hair especially the roots and ends moisturized, sealed and protected from the elements. 

Detangling can be a pain, but it puts you one step closer to reaching and EXCEEDING your hair goals. 

What other tips and tricks do you use to detangle your tresses?

Un mil besitos!
KLP