Styling n' Relaxing! {Keyda}

Hope everyone has a FABULOUS start to the New Year!!

I had an AWESOME time in Hawaii and just wanted to share a few of my hair styles while relaxing in the warm weather! (If you're in the DMV, you know I was not missing this weather lol) I think I could live there honestly!! Well... Here are a few pictures with my hair styles..I admit that I was very into my vacation and probably did not take as many great pictures but take a look!

Unfortunately, I hilariously broke part of the shower at my BF's family home so I actually did not have a full on wash! (just shampoo rinse) :( haha I did a deep DEEP cleaning/moisturizing of my hair upon my return!

The style names are under the photos. :)

Braid Updo with Bow

Hike Hair: Braided Crown

Pin Up Style: Two French Braids with Bow

Swooped Style: Curls to side w/flower

xoxo Keyda!  How was your holidays!? 



Mini Wash Day - 4 weeks post

Pin Curls

Hola Chicas!

I already have at least half inch/possibly one inch of new growth!! WTH!! I am like geessshhh! I will be heading to Hawaii mid-December *WOOT* and the way my new growth is going, I may need/want to touch-up early December which was not planned until Jan!! Soooo it's up in the air. I am also testing out a new product from Danielle at OddStrandOut. She calls it "Coffee Oil." I'm thinking that it would be great as an oil treatment on my scalp the night before wash day. Here's how my wash day went:

1. Detangled with my Magic Rake comb.
2. Prepoo with Coffee Oil Mix/EVCO on my scalp and On dry hair, As I Am: Hydration Elation Intensive Conditioner on length of my hair, making sure I paid special attention to my ends and roots. Then I sealed it all in with grapeseed oil. I sat under the hooded dryer for about 30 minutes and sat around for about an hour! I am terrible with heat...
3. Tea Rinse with CC's Naturals Happy Hair Tea. and I love it! I think I am about ready to write a full review and share! :) 
4. Smoothing Treatment with Roux Moisture Recovery conditioner over the tea in my hair and a cap. I then faux steamed my hair for about 10 minute in shower.
5. Leave-ins: After my hair was about 85% air dry I applied  Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer and Organix Coconut Anti-Breakage Serum. 
6. Low Blow Dry & Flat Iron: I lightly blow dried my hair to fully straighten...then on low heat, I flat ironed my hair and pinned curled it for the night! 

Pin Curls

 

Results:

I love the results....and although, I was not on #teamnoheat wagon this week, I feel that I did my hair justice by air drying majority and using low/medium heat for everything!! :) That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Lol. My hair was felt super strong but soft. It felt so different compared to my other deep conditioners. I definitely would want to try more of this particular DC in the future. I bought it primarirly because of the smell (haha!) but I must say I like it so far. I also noticed my scalp looked so healthy compared to other times that I've used it. I am not sure if it is the Coffee Oil Mix but I did notice a difference. 

Results

Fingers crossed that I can get the pictures of this wash day posted. My computer is being wack and not allowing me to upload but I did tweet them! So follow SavingOurStrands on Twitter!

Luvs!
Keyda

Wash Day

I don't know what the weather is like in your part of the world, but in mine--mother nature is confused! We went from 90°+ hot and humid to lows in the upper 50°s, cold, and raining. Summer's not over yet right? Did I miss the memo?

My hair has been on its very best behavior at 4 weeks post relaxer. I've kept my styling simple and sweet with variations of high, low, and side buns with an occasional braid for flare. Gracias a Dios por The Bun Effect last spring and the Minute to Win it series. Otherwise, I really would have no clue how to style my hair. Mid-week co-washing has kept my hair full of moisture---so much so that I figured it was time to hit my strands with a hard protein treatment. I've realized that I retain length and keep my ends healthier when I keep a balance of protein and moisture in my regimen.

  

Wash Day Products

Pre-washed detangled hair (post bantu knot curls)

1. Detangled- using my Magic Star Jumbo Rake seamless comb and a little grapeseed oil to aid in detangling.
2. 1st Lather Shampoo- I applied a half-dollar sized amount of KeraCare 1st Lather Shampoo to scalp using a narrow tip applicator bottle. I massaged into my scalp, careful not to tangle my hair then rinsed.
3. 2nd Lather Shampoo- I applied a sample (probably about a half-dollar sized) amount of Carol's Daughter Monoi shampoo to my hair again using a narrow top applicator bottle. I don't have much say about this shampoo, good or bad. I wasn't really impressed and I really don't care for the scent. 
4. Protein Treatment- I saturated my hair in Nexxus Emergencee then did some chores. It air dried for about 3 hours.
5. Extreme Deep Condition- Next, I stood under the spray of my shower for about 5 minutes to rinse the Emergencee completely. I deep conditioned with with JBCO on my scalp and a 3-1 ratio of Joico Moisture Recovery and Roux Porosity Control Conditioner on the length of my hair. Then I massaged my stands with , covered with a plastic cap and left it in overnight. It was so late that I didn't have time to get under my heat cap. :( I sure hope that I don't pay for this later.
6. Tea Rinse- The next morning, I rinsed the conditioner then with 2 green tea bags steeped in 2 cups of water, I applied my tea rinse using a narrow tip applicator. I let it sit for a few minutes and rinsed. 
7. Smoothing Treatment- Next, I applied a large dollop of Nexxus Hydralight Weightless Moisture Conditioner, massaged it in from root to tip for a minute or two then rinsed. I still don't have much love for this product. It makes me so sad because I heart Nexxus.
8. Air Dried- 70% with silk scarf.
9. Leave-Ins- Bee Mine Bee Lovely Moisturizing Daily Conditioner to moisturize and Bee Mine Bee Loved Hair and Scalp Moisturizer to seal.

Results: 
Meh. In my attempt to use up all of my samples and other assorted items that I've never truly cared for---my hair turned out blah. My strands were a little less fluffy as usual and the Bee Mine Bee Lovely Conditioner doesn't seem to absorb as well when my hair is damp. Very strange. Again--like most all natural products, I don't care for the scent. It's not bad---but its just not pleasant to me. I prefer lighter, sweet, floral or citrus scents. The only all natural leave in scent that I've loved is Karen's Body Beautiful Hair Nectar Leave In Conditioner and Koils by Nature Nourishing Hair and Body Butter (Heavenly Delight). I've learned to "sniff" past the scent of Jessicurl Too Shea! Leave in because it just melts into my hair and provides all of the moisture that a texlaxed girl could dream of. Bee Mine hasn't hurt my hair, but I'm not in love either. I just want to use it all up in an attempt to provide a complete review.

Any who, I'll be bunning until I co-wash mid-week then I might GO BIG with a fluffy bantu knot set! I didn't forget about those of you who asked how I maintain my curls. Your post is coming soon. 

How was your latest wash day?

Un mil besitos!
KLP

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Mini Wash: 4 Weeks Post Relaxer

Hola Chicas!

Notes: I did wash a lil late this week...but I plan on doing another mini-wash day by Friday.
I also rotated a new product into my regimen to see how it works with my hair.  No pictures due to my crazzzyyy days! I promse to step my game up! lol

(1) Detangled with my magic comb!

(2) Deep DC with my Essential Oil Mix on my scalp, and Biolage Matrix Conditioning Balm, Roux Moisture Recovery (Review coming!) and Extra Virgin Grapeseed Oil on length of my hair. Then I went about my business .... actually cleaned! :)

(3) Tea Rinse with my fave CC's Natural Chamomile & Lavendar ...yummy!! I massaged some Nexxus Hydralight Moisture Conditioner with it...my scalp feels extra fresh!!

Dried excess water with 100% cotton..then Air Dried!

Style/Hair Reality: I decided to do two french braids and rock a braid out! My hair was very soft but I have noticed some flakes :( ...Check KLP Review! I need the Philip Kingsley back in my life..I realize that altho I have curbed my flakes..so they are not as nasty lol..I want NONE! ... My new growth is coming in very nicely...however, I realize this shall be a long summer! Summer camp has already started sooo bare with me as I try to keep up with KLP! :P

Muahz!
Keyda

How has your week washes been!?

Wash Day

Notes: Am I still loving LOCing with my Tea moisturizer? Absolutely! It kept my hair so silky soft all week and I was even able to pull off this style from @mz_tammy to the right for my bestie's surprise birthday dinner in the city. More on this style in another post. :) 

On to my wash day: I did a protein treatment as its been a few weeks since my last one. Although the CD Monoi Repairing Conditioner from my wash last week could be classified as protein heavy, I like to keep my hard protein treatments in rotation.

(0) Detangled with my Magic Star Jumbo Rake in vertical sections.
(1) Pre-poo: Applied Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Toner, JBCO and my essential oil blend to my scalp. 
(2) Shampooed first with KeraCare 1st Lather Shampoo to clarify and then with Matrix Biolage Hydratherapie Hydrating Shampoo to moisturize. (3) Protein Treatment- I saturated my hair in Nexxus Emergencee then did some chores. It air dried for a few hours. Next, I stood under the spray of my shower for about 5 minutes to rinse the Emergencee completely.
(4) Green Tea Rinse with 2 green tea bags and 2 cups of water.  Then applied the green tea rinse with a narrow tip applicator bottle and let it sit for another 5 minutes. (5) Smoothing Treatment- with Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Treatment (I reversed the order of my tea rinse and deep condition this wash)
(6) Extreme Deep Condition: Stepped out of the shower, added a mix Matrix Biolage Hydratherapie Conditioning Balm and Roux Porosity Control Conditioner to my hair, and then coated my strands in extra virgin coconut oil. I deep conditioned for 2 hours under my heating cap. During my final rinse, my hair felt Ah-mazing! Smooth? Check. Detangled? Check. I was tempted to skip leave-ins and detangling all together. But I'm a creature of habit...
(7) Air dry- I let my hair air dry 100% then applied my leave ins.
(8) Leave-ins- This is week 3 of moisturizing with tea using the LOC method. In sections, I detangled, sprayed my hair with green tea, applied argan oil, and then sealed with Jessicurl's Too Shea Conditioner. 

Results: The smoothest air dried hair that I've ever had. My hair didn't feel hard or brittle after the protein treatment, but it wasn't as soft as when I do mini washes only. I have a ton of items on my to-do list this week and I'm glad that my hair won't be an issue!

Un mil besitos chicas!

KLP

Wash Day

Hola Chicas!

I had a verryyyy loong week..ahh .. you know!? one of those weeks, you begin to see it in your face and feel it in your body. But I did not want to forget my goals, so I made sure to make time for my hair!

Pre-Shed

My tidbits: I really did a bad job of detangling throughout the week. So, I had a significant amount of shedding throughout my detangling process for my wash day compared to previous weeks. I have to remember (as many of us do) that just because your week is long or stressful, we can not forget to do some basic procedures for the care of our hair!

(1) Detangled with my mighty Magic Star Comb (5600 Hercules Sagemann)
(2) Prepooed with Essential Oil blend/JBCO on scalp and Emergencia Intensive Moisture Split Ends Conditioner on length of my hair
(3) Shampoo with Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Lather Shampoo (Check my review!)
(4) Black Tea Rinse with two bags and two cups of water. I placed it in a bottle with nozzle top so I can easily squeeze on my hair and scalp!
(5) Deep Conditioned with Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Intense Moisturizing Treatment for roughly 40 minutes (no heat).
(6) Leave-ins: Aphogee Keratin and Green Tea Restructurizer, and Organix Coconut Anti-breakage Serum 

Used 100% cotton shirt for excess water in hair and Air Dry 100%

NO HEAT! FTW! :D

Air Dry: Tie my ends down and Clipped Bun in back

My Hair Reality: My hair was silky soft and very manageable. I am 4 weeks post-relaxer and have not used heat since straightening my hair after my relaxer!! I am hoping to stretch with no heat until my next touch-up. Wish me luck!! So, keep checking for more Minute to Win It Style Posts!! I gotta get creative lol

How did your wash go this week!?

Muahz
Keyda

Wash Day

Notes: Protective styled and bunned all week

(0) Detangled with my Magic Star Jumbo Rake
(1) Pre-poo with JBCO, my essential oil blend, and Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil Intensive Moisture Mask and Organix Repairing Awapuhi Ginger Instant Recovery Mask. Covered with a plastic cap and sat under the hooded dryer for 25 minutes.
(2) Shampooed first with Aphogee Shampoo for Damaged Hair and then with KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo
(3) Green Tea Rinse with 2 tea bags and 2 cups of water
(4) Smoothing Treatment- massaged Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Treatment into my hair and let sit for about 5 minutes. My hair felt ah!-mazing after I rinsed. I was tempted to stop here, but I kicked my laziness aside and continued.
(5) Extreme Deep Condition with Matrix Biolage Ultra-Hydrating Balm and then sat under the hooded dryer for an hour. I rinsed with cool water.
(6) Leave-ins- It's a 10 (without Keratin)+ Chi Silk Infusion
(7) Air dried
(8) Style- another big 'ol bun. 

Results: Another no direct heat week in full affect! Is it just me or is this green tea rinse thing working?!? The total amount of hair that I lost was about the size of a nickel. I'm seeing results and I'm committed. I'm considering buying a heating cap so that I don't have to sit up for an hour to deep condition. I've realized that the longer that I sit under that dryer, the softer and more moisturized my hair is. It's even softer than when I deep condition (without heat) over night. Weird right?

How was your wash day?

Un mil besitos!

KLP