So I made a video when I was almost done shingling my hair a few days ago- with the Denman! (a knock-off denman style brush that is) Yes it's back! On my long hair I found it to be more trouble than it was worth, but on this length it's great again. I also like the shape of my hair best when shrunken pretty tight, so ta da- Denman shingled curls. I don't use the Denman to detangle (I prefer my hands or a Jilbere Shower Comb), but use it to style my hair like this.
I took pictures on day 3, since I putted around the house for two days over the weekend. But it was holding up nicely! I'm on day 5, (FIVE!) today. I'll have to remember to take some pictures.
Here is day 3.
...and another vid for good measure. I love my iPhone :-*
I also must mention- that I was woken (a word? awakened?) by an EARTHQUAKE the other night. Also my first IN LIFE. Sigh. But anyway, my hair... is very happy. To combat any ill effects from the notably light highlights I had put in last month, I have been hitting the moisture hard lately. I have switched to a strictly NO POO regiment and black listed like 3/4 of my horde of PJism evidence. I am left with (commercial product wise)Suave Naturals of the "Orange variety" conditioner, a new Tresseme Naturals no cones conditioner, and Curls Goddess curls gel- BUT... and here is a great thing... I got a large jar of food quality aloe vera gel, a large bottle of pure white castor oil, and pure vegetable glycerin that I mix and have been keeping me inexpensively happy and my hair touchable and soft. So much so that I hold off on co-washing just because it feels so nice... ahhh.
As a summer product, I get a nice cold spray because of the refrigerated aloe gel, a light herbal scent from the rosemary and lavender EO I added, and all the benefits of sucking all the free moisture right of of the air and into my hair. The vegetable glycerin in my mix makes it a humectant, and despite the added frizzys this COULD cause for a defined style, I find that it keeps my hair soft and shiny for days on end in perpetually Humid DC.
Speaking of humectants-
I got to sample a product that the beautiful and ambitious Alexandra of Safi Haircare is working on called "Moisture Magnet." It is a humectant product that helps attract moisture to dry hair.
In the mixture is:
Aloe Vera Gel
Honey
Vegetable Glycerin
Castor Oil
Avocado OilPeppermint Essential Oil
It's perfect for the summer, particularly if you are not worried about frizz. The peppermint smell was also something that for some reason I had never thought of but is sooo perfect for the hot weather. It didn't linger, but it was so refreshing as I spread it into my hair with open palms.
Phew let me tell you this has been the summer of all summers here in DC. We have had 100 degree heat for weeks! My hair is enjoying food grade Aloe vera gel, caster oil and vegetable glycerin in the heat BTW. I also made a batch of Flax seed gel, tested out a humectant by Safi Haircare, did a chunky twist out and another shingle set. I also had a very disturbing discovery... All this amidst quite a few wash and go days and a total lack of keeping up with the blog here *hides face*. The back-log will be up like- every day this week lol.
I cut my hair appropriately just in time it seems though. I see a few other lovely ladies have also taken to the scissors (Texture Playground - I see you! and chisellecouture not to mention celebs like Janet, Crisette,and Solange). It seems that once we (black women) meet or reassess our hair goals and self image we realize what is easy, what is cuter :-), or that the thrill of CHANGE is so close at hand. It is just hair, and it WILL grow back. My decision to cut my hair was made easier because now, after 9 yrs natural, I know my hair grows, I know it can look excellent long, but I know it can also look excellent short.
I am at a crossroads however. My roots tell me I've gained about an inch of growth since my trim and color a month and a half ago. The color growth is hidden in the masses, so I'm not too worried about that, but I really wanted to keep a short chic style for the summer. It's fighting back! I have not decided what to do yet, but I'm leaning towards a trim in a few more weeks.
It was Caribbean carnival weekend here in DC and my girls showed up and showed off some fly natural hair. You may have seen them on here before. These pictures from FaceBook made me smile and got lots of compliments on the natural hair vibe :-) Thanks J! Gotta love natural hair!
How dope is this braid-out?
