[Tutorial] Curlformer Side Bun + Double Dutch Braid Bun | The #WashDayExperience

They say that too much of a good thing is bad---and I'm guessing that applies to your hair too.

I co-washed by hair about 3 days after last week's #washdayexperience and afterwards I noticed that I had a couple places in my hair with some yucky build up at the roots.

So I grabbed my fave shampoo this week to give my scalp a thorough scrub.

Here's what I used:

Pre-shampoo- DIY Moisturizing Mist (tutorial here) + Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner  (review here)
Shampoo- Jessicurl Cleansing Shampoo (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)

RELATED: My Minimalist Natural Hair Regimen

And here's how I did it:

This week's #WashDayExperience theme is Detangling tips. I always detangle my hair before I hop in the shower. When I don't---my hair hates me. To get started, I spritzed the ends of my hair with my DIY Moisturizing Mist (tutorial here). Then I slathered my hair in Herbal Essence Hello Hydration (my full review here) and detangled my hair in small sections. My detangling process takes about 15-20 minutes. I let the pre-shampoo treatment sit for about 20 minutes before hopping in the shower.

RELATED: My 5 Steps to Detangle FAST!

In the shower, I rinsed the conditioner section by section then applied my Clay Rinse with a narrow tip applicator bottle. This week, I started the application from front to back. My curls in the back are completed defined from root to tip. So I started with the front to give these curls some more love. Fingers crossed that I can get the curls in the front to POP like the ones do in the back!

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 30 minutes.

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

I t-shirt dried for about 10 minutes then installed 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 sat under the dryer for an hour then took down the curlformers and tossed my hair into a side bun.

I thought about doing something more glamorous the next day.

But I just didn't feel like it.

So into my staple Double Dutch Braid Bun the curls went. Aside from a simple ponytail--has been my favorite workout style since my relaxed days. You can check out more of my workout styles here. 

What are your detangling tips and how did you style your hair this week?

An InLinkz Link-up

5 Steps To Detangle Your Natural Hair Faster

Detangling your hair doesn't mean ripping it out, spending hours haunched over in the shower or having to cut out huge knots. I noticed that the better I get at detangling my hair, the better my curls clump, the easier it is to style, and the better products seem to absorb into my curls. Here are my steps for detangling my crazy thick curls:

P R E - W A S H

I've found that detangling before I wash is the best way to identify and remove tangles before they turn into large knots. Detangling before I wash makes my wash day faster and gives me less work to do in the shower. 

S L I G H T L Y   D A M P

I start my spritzing my ends with this DIY Moisturizer. It only has 4 ingredients and it works like a charm to re-hydrate and soften up my curls. At this stage---you're not gonna want to completely saturate your hair; especially if you have super dense curls because they will just shrink up on you. (Side note: A plain ole mist of water will do the trick too.)

Related: The BEST Moisturizer for Natural Hair (and it's cheap too!)

S M A L L   S E C T I O N S

Gently divide your hair into several sections. I usually start with 8; 4 in the front of my hair and 4 in the back. Then I further divide these sections into 2 parts then apply a little conditioner to my ends before using my fingers to detangle.

F I N G E R S   O N L Y

Your fingers are the best tools for detangling your hair. You can feel for knots and unravel them inside of ripping them out. Your hands will create less friction  and it gives you the opportunity to really get to know where your hair tangles the most. I've found most of my tangles at the ends of my hair vs the roots and the middle of my head is usually more tangled than the back or the front. This reminds me to keep that section of my hair better moisturized between washes.

My method is pretty straight forward: I take the section, stretch it out with my fingers and rake downwards to remove shed hair. If I encounter a tangle, I isolate it and pick it apart. For those pesky single strand knots---I just grab my scissors. Ain't nobody got time for that!

While it's basically impossible to eliminate single strand knots, I have noticed that I have less knots, tangles and splits now that I'm sticking to my minimalist hair regimen.

Oh and if you just have to use a tool--try this amazing seamless comb.

Related: Detangling Comb From The GAWDS!

K E E P   S T R E T C H E D

After you've detangled each section twist, braid or bun the section to keep it stretched and tangle free.

What are your secrets for detangling your hair?

Besitos!
KLP

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

My curlformer curls from last week went into bun. *curse you spring allergies!* I co-washed as usual and put my hair in a high puff until today's #washdayexperience. Because I'd left my poor ends to dry out---I tweaked the regimen that I've been sticking to just a little but kept the products exactly the same.

Here's what I used:

Pre-shampoo- DIY Moisturizing Mist (tutorial here) + Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner  (review here) + Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Why I 💕 EVCO!) + My Stimulating Essential Oil on my scalp
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)

RELATED: My Minimalist Natural Hair Regimen

And here's how I did it:

This week's theme is Dry Scalp Remedies, so I started by applying my Stimulating Essential Oil (Here's how to make your own) to my scalp. I've used this blend for years and its my favorite cure-all. The essential oil blend soothes itchiness whilst the oil relives dry scalp. Plus it smells divine!

RELATED: 4 Ways To Fight Dandruff and Flakes

Next, I spritzed the ends of my hair with my DIY Moisturizing Mist (tutorial here). Then I slathered my hair in Herbal Essence Hello Hydration (my full review here) and sealed my ends with a little coconut oil. Because my ends felt drier than usual, I covered my hair with a plastic bag and went to sleep.

RELATED: Why I Deep Condition Overnight

An overnight pre-shampoo session was EXACTLY what my hair needed because in the morning, my hair was crazy plump, soft, and uber moisturized! Next, I hopped in the shower, rinsed the conditioner section by section then applied my Clay Rinse with a narrow tip applicator bottle. I usually start my application process from back to front and I noticed that the curls in the back of my hair are completed defined from root to tip. So, next week, I plan to start the application process from front to back so that my curls in the front can get more clay love.


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 30 minutes.

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

I t-shirt dried for about 10 minutes then installed 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 had to run grab the minions from the bus before I could figure out how I wanted to style my hair so I threw my curls up into a banana clip.

When I got home, I decided on this Swirled Flat Twist Bun.

Here's how I did it:

1. Begin with stretched hair (I stretched my hair using Curlformers.) 
2. Pull all of your hair to one side. I chose the left side. Then secure with a hair clip.
3. Take a small section near your left ear and section it off. We'll work with it later.
4. Now grab a small section of hair near your right ear and begin your flat twist. This twist will end near your temple. 
5. Begin another flat twist directly behind the first one.
6. Incorporate the first twist into the second twist.
7. Then flat twist along your hair line until you reach your left ear.
8. Then start to curve your flat twist towards your right ear. This will create the swirled effect.
9. Continue flat twisting until you reach the nape of the right side of your hair. Double strand twist your ends. 
10. Release your remaining section. Divide it in half. 
11. Then double strand twist each section.
12. Cris-cross the last two twists and secure the ends into a bun.  

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

I'll wear this style for 2-3 days before I co-wash and bun my hair for the rest of week.

What are your remedies for a dry scalp? Share all the dets in this week's #WashDayExperience link up below!

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

March #WashDayExperience Themes

Back by popular demand! Your March #WashDayExperience Themes!

*cue the Price is Right happy dance*

You guys told Jen and I that you loved the themes from January so we decided to bring them back for March!

W H A T   I S   T H E   # W A S H D A Y E X P E R I E N C E?

Let me back it up a second. The #washdayexperience is a place for ladies who are striving for healthier hair to share the hows, whats, whens, and whys of their weekly wash day ritual. It doesn't
matter what state your hair is in: natural, colored, relaxed, texlaxed, curly, straight, or loc'd---ALL ARE WELCOME. You may share via blog/vlog, Insta, G+, Twitter, and Facebook.

# W A S H D A Y E X P E R I E N C E   T H E M E S

Wash day can be monotonous and uninspiring at times. So Jen and I created a few themes to spice it up a bit. Here are your themes for March:

Week 1: Dry Scalp Remedies
Everyone has a DIY, beloved product, or method to cure dry itchy or flaky scalp so why you keeping it to yourself?!?

Week 2: Detangling Tips
Do you detangle whilst your hair is wet, damp or dry? Do you start from the roots or the ends? What are your favorite detangling tools?

Week 3: Deep Conditioning Hacks
Do you use a steamer, heat cap or hooded dryer? Do you deep condition on dry hair or freshly washed hair?

Week 4: Fave Lazy Day Hairstyle
What are your go to lazy day hair styles? Are you a bun and go kinda girl or do you have some gorgeous-looks-intricate-but-its-dumb-simple-style?

HOW TO JOIN THE # W A S H D A Y E X P E R I E N C E

Our look might have changed over the last year, but the rules for all this positivity are still the same:

1. Share the direct link to your #WashDayExperience linkup. We go live every Wednesday.
2. Add the #WashDayExperience badge to your post
3. Give the chica that linked up before you a little comment love. 

Stupid easy! Will you join the madness? Share a link to your blog below!

Besitos!
KLP

PS: The themes aren't mandatory---just a way to have a little more fun! Si que claro, you can join without adhering to the themes!

Is Your Hair Regimen Working? | The #WashDayExperience

 

I noticed that my hair has been on its very best behavior over the last 3 weeks. Think super moisturized curls pump, clumped and shiny. So I checked my previous #washdayexperience posts to see what exactly had I been doing.


And to my surprise--I'd used the same exact product lineup and the same exact setting techniques.

So obviously I had to do it again...

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)

RELATED: My Minimalist Natural Hair Regimen


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. I talk about this combo every week so if you're still sleeping on it---shame on you! BUT if you want tangle melting madness 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. This is my third consecutive clay rinse and I'm still tickled pink with how moisturized and defined my curls are afterwards. 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 30 minutes.


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

I t-shirt dried for about 10 minutes then installed 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.

Can I just get a hand clap and dust of pixie dust for these curls?!?

I think that my hair regimen is working! Hopefully you won't get bored with m!

How did you style your hair this week? Do you think that your hair regimen is working? Share the dets below!

An InLinkz Link-up

5 Ways To Increase Shine In Natural Hair

The science just isn't on our side. Curly hair isn't naturally shiny. Our curly strands just don't reflect light as easily as straighter hair.

*womp womp*

But that doesn't mean that your curls can't have a gorgeous glowing sheen--it will just take a teeny bit more effort! Here's 5 ways to get glossier hair in every step of your #washdayexperience regimen:

P R E - S H A M P O O   T R E A T M E N T

Before you hop in the shower, try an oil rinse. To apply the rinse to my scalp, I use a narrow tip applicator bottle (Like this one of these) then let it sit for a few minutes and rinse in shower. My favorite oil rinse has been this amazeball DIY Green Tea Infused Hair Oil.

P R E - C O N D I T I O N I N G

After you've cleansed your hair but before your deep conditioning session try a Clay mask. I discovered clay masks about a year ago (my super simple recipe is here) and they've made their way into my weekly routine. Clay masks are amazingness in a jar and the shine that your hair has afterwards is unparalleled. Masks are a little labor intensive so if you're pressed for time, try this Quick & Easy Clay Rinse. You'll still get all of the flossy shine!

D U R I N G   C O N D I T I O N I N G

I've made a habit of sealing my deep conditioner with oil. Simply work the conditioner through your curls, then apply a little oil to your ends. Cover with a plastic cap then sit under your hooded dryer for 20-30 minutes (or Deep Condition Overnight). This technique deeply moisturizes, softens your hair, and once rinsed gives your hair an incredible shine! My oil of choice is usually Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.

D A I L Y

I've found that keeping my hair moisturized on a daily basis is the best way to increase my healthy looking shine. Which is why I'm in lust with my DIY Moisturizer. The recipe's super nourishing ingredients like Aloe Vera Juice, Glycerin, and vitamin e oil keep my ends from drying out. My curls don't frizz and they stay well defined.

How do you get your hair glossy?

Besitos!
KLP

How to Organize and Store Your Natural Hair Products

I tried for years to keep all of my lotions, potions, and miracle growth elixirs from spilling over, expiring, and getting lost in the sauce---only to find my stash in chaos a week later.

Related: Peek into my #WashDayExperience Corner

I'd clean it up, reorganize it, and try again, month after month. Until I realized that I just had too much stuff.; 75% of it I didn't need, want, or even use. Minimizing is my key to organizing.

Related: Declutter Your Product Stash in 5 Minutes 

Once I'd decluttered and downsized my stash--I came up with this crazy simple way to organize what was left. Here's how I started:

F R E Q U E N C Y   O F   U S E

First, I divided my minimized stash by how often I used it. The items that I use daily, I leave on my bathroom vanity. I keep my weekly #WashDayExperience products in my storage cart next to my bathroom. My other items, those that I rely on for super special occasions, I store in my closet. 

S T O R A G E   S O L U T I O N S

My daily products live on a tray that I picked at Dollar Tree (for a dollar too!). I'm not a naturally tidy person, so I love this tray because it gives my mind a designated spot for my items. (My husband also loves that my stuff isn't on his side of the vanity.)

My weekly #WashDayExperience items are stored in this cart from IKEA. Each of the four drawers has a specific designation:

1. Accessories & Combs
2. Shampoos & Styling Tools
3. Priming Products (Leave-ins and stylers)
4. Conditioners

Lastly, my super special occasion items like my steam rollers, perm rods, and flexis are separated into clear stack-able containers (also available at Dollar Tree).

S H O P   I T!

Cart- Ikea
Basket Insert- Ikea
Clear stack-able containers- Dollar Tree
Silver tray- Dollar Tree

Related: 5 Reasons Why Being A Product Junkie Is Ruining Your Hair

For all of my other items that didn't fall into any of these categories, I asked myself:

Why do I have this? and Do I actually use this? 

Most of my answers were really lame, so I let all that other stuff go. How do you organize your hair products?

Besitos!
KLP

Declutter Your Hair Products in 5 Minutes

 
If we're honest, we'll admit that our hair product stash is overflowing. For starters, this headline piqued your interest. Secondly, I'm totally in the same boat. While, it will be crazy hard to part with all of your gems, BOGOs, and miracle elixirs, trust me: It's worth it.

Related: Why Being A Product Junkie Is Ruining Your Hair

Decluttering gave me a chance to truly evaluate my products to see if they were aligned with my hair goals. My decluttering process took an entire year *insert shame face here* but it wouldn't have taken that long if I was more honest with myself.

So before you start your next #WashDayExperience, I challenge you to take 5 minutes to clean out your stash. Are you ready for a simpler hair regimen that still will give you amazing results?

Related: My Minimalist Natural Hair Regimen

Here's how you can get started:

3 0   D A Y  R U L E

If you haven't used it in the last 30 days---Let it go.

U N I D E N T I F I A B L E   L A B E L S

If you don't know what it is or how to use it in your hair---Let it go.

L O T I O N S   &   P O T I O N S

I know that you love to DIY---but if you don't use it in two weeks it's probably growing mold---Let it go.

O T H E R   P E O P L E ' S   I S H

If someone gave it to you and you haven't used it in the last 30 days then you probably won't ever use it---Let it go.

B R O K E N   H A I R   T O O L S

Combs with missing teeth? Brushes without handles? Hair pins all jacked up? It lost. Your hair won. Your hair will always win---Let it go.
 
Related: My Wash Day Corner

Let all of this mess that isn't working for you go, so that it can serve another purpose. I've used shampoo as hand soap, to clean my bathrooms, and even as solution for blowing bubbles with my minions. Conditioner can be used to shine stainless steel appliances, detangle doll hair, and even as shaving cream. The path to your best hair starts with aligning your actions and tools with your desires.


Do you have any other tips for decluttering your hair products?

Besitos!
KLP

[Beauty] My Wash Day Corner

My wash day corner is terribly simple. It's composed of a stand up hair dryer, a comfy chair, and a storage cart for my hair tools and products.

I've always wanted a organized space to perform my wash day rituals. A space that's intentional, encompassing and peaceful.

Here's how I went from product junkie to conservative chica:

Related: 5 Reasons Why Being A Product Junkie Is Ruining Your Hair

A   M I N I M A L I S T   A P P R O A C H   T O   S T O R A G E   &  O R G A N I Z A T I O N

First, I decided on a location. A location that was convenient and useful. My nook quite small, measuring 2.5 ft x 5 ft but it fits everything that I need and the other side of this wall is our master bathroom.
 
Next, I had to purge my product stash of excess---several times. Which required me to be very honest about my hair care needs. Ironically, this is something that my mother used to force me to do when my space got out of control. She'd say: "If you don't have a place for it then you don't need it." Because I was working with a small space, I knew that I could only keep essentials. I divided my products into 3 categories:

Love

Donate

Re-purpose

For example, I rarely shampoo my hair. Therefore, I didn't need 5-6 bottles of shampoo. I kept my two favorites. The unused bottles, I donated to our homeless shelter. The opened (and potentially expired) shampoos, I use as bubble soap when the minions and I play outside. #zerowaste I hope to scale my products even further over the next few months.

Related: My Minimalist Natural Hair Regimen

The one item that I had to replace was my dryer. I've had this table top hard bonnet dryer for about 6 years. It still works well, but it's not convenient and its extremely loud. Because I mostly stretch my hair with curlformers, I needed a dryer that could get the job done efficiently and effectively. I gave my old dryer to my sister-in-law then invested in this standing rolling dryer. I also purchased the warranty, so if anything goes wrong---back to the store it goes!

How do you store your wash day products? What was your #washdayexperience like this week?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

5 Reasons Why Being A Product Junkie Is Ruining Your Hair

It took me a year to purge my product stash. Sounds ridiculous doesn't it? I'm quite embarrassed that it took me all of 2015 to use up my favorite products and throw away all the stuff that either didn't suit my regimen or my lifestyle. In the process, I realized that somewhere in my hair journey, I started to believe that the more products I possessed and used, the faster that my hair would become healthier, longer, stronger...

Boy was I wrong.

Owning dozens of conditioners doesn't mean that your hair will be moisturized. Using dozens of conditioners at once doesn't mean that your hair will be moisturized either. I've come to see that having an overflowing product stash was ruining my hair. Here's why:

I N S T A N T    G R A T I F I C A T I O N

Regardless of whether you're looking to repair or prevent damage to your hair; it's a process and nothing will work overnight. We tend to throw everything that we can think of (or that pops up in our Google self-diagnosis) at the issue. Most of the "cures" that we find aren't viable because they are not sustainable. Solve one issue at a time, using one product at a time. Seeking instantaneous gratification can ruin your hair.

O V E R K I L L

Too much of a good thing can be bad; very very bad. Using too much shampoo can strip your hair. Using too much conditioner can over-moisturize your hair. Using too many strengthening products can make your hair feel dry and brittle. Less is more and moderation is the key. Overkill can ruin your hair.

I N C O N S I S T E N T     R E S U L T S

Our desire for variety and experimentation inevitably leads to inconsistent results. If our goal is to keep our hair balanced, then results that yield hair that's too dry, moisturized, or brittle on a constant basis stunts progress and ruins your hair.

W A S T E F U L

Shampoos aren't supposed to last for years and years. Either are conditioners. Especially items made with more natural ingredients and less preservatives. When you're constantly buying more than you use, something is bound not to be used. Although using an expired shampoo or conditioner probably won't cause too much harm---why risk ruining your hair?

D E C I S I O N    F A T I G U E

When I had a ridiculous amount of products, I would literally stare at my stash forever trying to figure out what I wanted to use on wash day. If I use this pre-shampoo then I'll have to use this conditioner. But if I don't use this leave-in then I can't use this shampoo. Then when I used the wrong product combos, my hair suffered. In my minimalist stash---everyone gets along and I don't have to stress out or waste time trying to make simple choices.

Minimizing my product stash was long and tedious but totally worth it. I feel that my regimen is simpler---which encourages me to stick to it. My regimen is less stressful, more productive, less expensive and most of all---I that I can achieve consistent results with less "work."

I feel at peace.

What's your take? PJ for life or are you attempting the minimalist life?

Besitos!

KLP

[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