Naturally Obsessed

Product Description: Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk has coconut oil, silk protein and neem oil that adds moisture, body and shine to your curls. Keeps curly hair frizz-free, shiny and healthy.

Cost: 8oz. bottle / $9.99 @ www.Walgreens.com (or instore)

Ingredients: Deionized Water , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut) , Sugar Starch , Silk Protein , Essential Oil Blend , Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil (Neem) , Caprylyl Glycol , Sorbitol Esters , Algae Extract , Hlyssopus Officinalis Extract , Salvia Officinalis Leaf and Equisetum Arvense Extract (Sage) , Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil (Carrot) , Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle and Japanese Honeysuckle) , Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Product Description: Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Curling Souffle with coconut oil, silk protein and neem oil strengthens and repairs damaged and frizzed out curls. Adds moisture, body and shine and keeps your curls looking shiny and healthy.

Cost: 12oz. jar / $9.99 @ www.Walgreens.com (or instore)

Ingredients: Deionized Water , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut) , Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil , Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado) , Vegetable Glycerin , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract , Silk Protein , Ammonium Salt , Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil (Neem) , Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil (Carrot) , Sorbitol Esters , Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B-5) , Caprylyl Glycol , Essential Oil Blend , Lonicera Caprifolium Flower and Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle and Japanese Honeysuckle) , Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Love Love LOVE them!!!  Let me back up a moment and tell how my experience with the Coconut Hibiscus collection began. After taking out my last set of twists, I planned on wearing my hair loose for a few days before putting a new set in to give it a rest. To prep...I washed my hair using the SM African Black Soap Shampoo and conditioned with the matching balancing conditioner. Feeling like my hair could use a boost of strength, I did a quick DC with Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner....I forgot how much my hair luvvvvs this stufff. It always leaves my kinks feeling strong and moisturized.

Once my hair was wash, conditioned and detangled I split my hair in to 4 parts. For a leave in I decided to use the Hair Milk, which made my hair feel really soft and smooth. The consistency is like a lotion not too thick of thin so it spreads well, and the smell was delicious! The look I was going for was a chunky braidout, so to give my hair a little more hold I applied a dab of Eco Styler gel around each section and began to braid. Here's some shots of the wet braids...
I had never done a braid out in this way before so I wasn't sure what to expect when I took them done the next morning. After the were all dry (so I thought) the next day I began to unravel using a little bit of Sweet Almond Oil to coat my fingers. However, once I got to were the loose braid starts and the cornrowed braid ends my hair was still very damp. When I put the braids in I did so very lazily so the braid out wasn't coming out very smooth at all. I had soft hair with absolutely no definition...
Although the braid out was a fail I DO NOT blame the Hair Milk. It was my fault. Poor execution and bad technique killed this braid out. On the flip side, my hair was super soft and had a nice healthy sheen to it. It didn't feel heavy or greasy at all. Even the parts where I applied the Eco Styler were soft.

I really didn't feel like washing my hair again so I decided to twist my hair up...I was going do it the following week so why not just do it now and get it over with. Because of the braids my hair was pretty stretched already and untangled so I didn't have to comb it too much. I just used my blowdryer (on a low heat setting) to dry up the damp sections and to stretch it a little more so my twists will stay elongated longer. Here's my hair stretched...

About me... Hi, I am Christina, 29 year old Namibian, I am a Poet, Writer, Explorer, Amateur Photographer, Traveler, Eternal student, Friend, Sister, Daughter, Truth seeker, Romantic,Award winning shower singer, budding shoe Fashionista, Namer (I like to give things names) ohhhh and blogger. Here is my little spot http://afropeanqueen.blogspot.com

Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?
Well right now, I live in Sweden, but before I lived in Nigeria and Austria. In all three countries there weren't too many natural heard sisters that I saw when I first moved, but now in Stockholm, I am seeing more and more ladies embrace Natural hair. Natural hair is taking over!!!!!!

When and why did you decide to go natural?
Ok, well, I have been natural on and off for a number of years, I wasn't really into hair that much growing up, so I would go months without a touch up or would have my hair in braids. But I really decided to be fully natural in 09, after my third attempt. My decision was to see it through and see how long I could go with my hair.Being natural now is more than just hair, I am taking better care of my skin, my body. I eat healthier, I drink healthier,I meditate, I exercise.I have taken steps to rid the negative from my life. My spirit is more alive now than better. I have a complete new Holistic approach to me life.

Were your friends and family supportive? If not, were you able to move forward?
I have done some stuff over the years to my hair - dyed red; Black/Blue; some funky light brown color, leave home with shoulder length care and come home with a Toni Braxton - Breathe again, cut!!!!!! So its wasn't such a shock to people who know me, also I had been living in a foreign country so most of my friends back home didn't really know what I had done. In terms of support, the first 2 times I Big Chopped ( I shaved my head) my sister did it with me. So I had a partner in crime. I have now shaved my head three times since 07 and 09 was my last time.

 What is your current hair routine?
Well, my hair and I are at odds, see when I started with my TWA in Nigeria, I would alternate with braids and cornrows and leave it alone. Just washing every other week and a deep condition when I felt like it. This did wonders for my hair. Then I moved to Sweden in 2010 December, so I arrived with braids and I got my YouTube and Blogger on, but its very difficult to find all the ' commercial hair products' that a lot of naturalista are using so I had to do my own research and use what I could get. So I bought some, Jojoba oil, Aloe Vera gel, Argan oil, Shea Butter, Glycerin,Castor oil, Avocado oil, Amla oil and Jasmine hair oil. The only 'commercial' product I have is Fantasia IC styling gel and some Aussie and Herbal Essences products. So I basically, make my own butters, water spritz and hair oils. Its mostly trial and error. Moreover, the last few weeks my hair has been changing - when I started with my hair journey, I knew my natural hair wasn't curly, its more wavy/curly. And as it grows longer it is becoming even more wavy with some parts straight. So unless I add tons of gel to my hair, I don't get a curl. When I wash my hair and leave it air dry, it dry wavy and straight. So I have made a deal with my hair ( we are cool like that) I oil her, co-wash her when necessary, deep condition every other week,, moisturize her every night, keep her in braid/cornrow/ twists, but I just leave her to do what she wants to do without manipulating her. This has been working out for both of us. Luckily for me I embrace change very well. It is what it is.

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
Well,lol, my original goal was to have lovely curly hair, but that ain't in the script now anymore hahhahahah. So my goal is overall healthy hair in what ever state she grows. I am aiming for bra strap length for this year and waist for next year. From December 09 till March 2011 I didn't trim my hair. After March, I just recently did some dusting of the ends in June. apart from that, I drink tons of water, take come Spirulina tablets ( great for hair and skin and lots of energy), drink Aloe Vera juice 2 daily, exercise, eat right, enough sleep, tie my hair at night, sleep in a hair thingie (old pantyhose - hey I learnt that from my Grandma.And she had great hair)

What is your fav go- to style for your natural hair? Tell us how you achieve it?
Well when my hair decides hold a style, I used to love wash n go's with some gel in it. Also, my hair can be temperamental with a two strand twist. Sometimes it will hold a twist for a few days and then other times only one night. Right now, I just twisted my hair yesterday, so will see how she likes this. Apart from that,I haven't really experimented so much with my hair, I have kept things simple. I recently learned to do my own braids with extensions and Individual hair. So I like to do that.Its a process. A ever learning always changing process.
Curly girls have more fun because...lol. I am a wavy, very little kinky, not so much coily, even less curly and some parts straight natural girl. But on the real, we have more fun because we have more freedom to express ourselves, we make and break our own rules, we embrace our naturalness, And we smile at other naturals. We seek them out and when we find another Unique Being, we smile warmly because we know the Journey she is on.

Gorgeous sis, thanks for sharing :) -KKQ

KinkyKurlyQueen, I wanted to contact you and let you know that your YouTube videos, Fotki, and website have helped me so much during the process of becoming natural. I am not a member of any of these sites, hence you receiving an E-Mail from me :). Beginning my journey my hair short and brittle, with help from ladies like you willing to share your hair stories, my hair is now healthy, completely natural and longer. I went natural January 2007 (NO BIG CHOP!) to begin the journey of learning more about myself, not as a hair journey. Friends supported me going natural, because they saw an internal change in me, that was suited for such. Family on the other hand was skeptical and wasn't entirely comfortable with my...nappy roots.lol. What helped kept me motivated was inspiring youtube videos from women just like me. I come from a small town in Upstate,NY where there aren't many black Americans, let alone black Americans that embraced their natural hair.

I currently do not have any hair goals, except to keep my hair healthy by any means. My favorite style would have to be...my afro puff :) but people say its young looking so I'm constantly in and out of braids (which has actually saved my hair, seeing otherwise I cannot keep my hands out of it). Curly girls have more fun, because any other way...just isn't natural =D

Thank you Nana! You definitely put a a smile on my face this morning :) Such a sweet message to wake up to. To inspire other women has always been my goal through my videos, fotki, blog, etc. Even if I inspire only one, I know that I've done something. So your letter is very much appreciated :) Your hair regime is pretty simple and to the point and from what you've said, it's thriving. My only advice is to stick with what works for you. It can only get better!! Be blessed -KKQ
 

About me... Hi, my name is Helena! I'm a bi-racial girl, half Cameroonian and half Danish. One of my loves is natural hair, I enjoy caring for it and spending time on natural hair blogs and such. I also loves dancing and is both dancing hip hop, zumba, house and salsa. And music, but who don't like music lol. But I also like reading, traveling, culture and blogging (I have blog called curlycoilyheads.com) about exercise and health and much more.

Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?
I live in Denmark. The natural hair scene here is not big. I have only seen a few ladies here rocking their natural hair and there is not many products here, so when I buy I often do it online from British Curlies. But there is a few naturals and I have discovered a hair salon there specializes in natural hair care so that's good!

When and why did you decide to go natural?
All my life I have been natural(or nearly), but I didn't know how to care properly for it. My hair was cut short a couple times because it was really breaking. I cant believe how damaged it was now. When I was little it was good and healthy, but it started to get unhealthy when I was older and did my hair by myself. Then I wanted to relax my hair, and also got one. This resulted in dry, breaking and my hair was a lot thinner than before. My hair didn't even get straight. But I'm so happy now. After the failed relaxer attempt I wanted to learn to care for my hair, myself. I searched on websites and blogs on the internet and fell in love with natural hair. So I went to a hairdresser to get my thin straight ends chopped off and left with a TWA. I loved it and at first I just wanted to keep it like that forever. I really really loved it and to care for it and learn about it. Later on length became one of my goals, but I really started to love and learned to care for it there. That's about 2½ years ago now.

Were your friends and family supportive? If not, how were you able to move forward?
So much, I'm so lucky! My dad also took me first to this hair dresser so I could learn about my hair and my mom is also really supportive. They love my natural hair and support me.
Most of my friends support me too, even through not everybody is familiar with natural hair, but most people really like it and only a few who don't. But I guess it's like that everywhere and with everything, but as long as people show respect to your choices.

What is your current hair routine?
Once a week I start with detangling my hair. I use my fingers and a wide toothed comb either dry or spritzed with water and sometimes olive oil too. I then do a pre poo with either some oils and sometimes honey, but I really love ayurvedic powders like kalpi tone, amla, etc. I would love to soon experiment with washing with whole aritha soap nut and shikakai powder. To wash my hair I use either a sulphate free shampoo like Kinky-Curly Come Clean or a do a co-wash with one of my favorites, Garnier Triple Nutrition. I then always deep condition my hair. Right now I'm using Hairveda Sitrinillah Deep Conditioner, which I really like, and it happens that I sometimes do a natural deep conditioner by myself. Once at month I use Cassia Obovata and I switch between clarifying with a clarifying shampoo once at month and avc rinses that I sometimes do a little more often. After washing my hair I style, moisturize and seal the hair through the week as needed.

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
I would like to grow my hair to full shoulder length-full armpit length when it's in it's natural state. Also my goal always is healthy hair, that's most important for me when it comes to my hair. To get there I just style and take care in a way that's best for my hair. I think I see more growth retaining and surely less shedding with the use of the ayurvedic powders, so that's something I will keep.


What is your fav go-to style for your natural hair? Tell us how you achieve it?
My favorite style is a braid out. I start out with freshly washed, damp hair. Then I add a leave-in conditioner. My favorites now are Komaza Califia Leave-In Conditioner and Kinky-Curly Knot Today. Then I braid about 16-25 braids. My favorites products are Bee Mine Bee Hold Curly Butter with scent of island mango, which smells delicious and Miss Jessies Curly Pudding. I prefer butters and products alike for my out styles. I ordered sample ones of Bee Mine Deja's Hair Milk which I added after adding leave-in and it was really good working with the curly butter. I always twist the ends where I nearly can't braid any longer.

Curly girls have more fun because... Natural hair is beautiful and unique! And it radiates confidence. I also think...No two curls are exactly the same, every curl is unique so you wont find two with exactly the same hair.