Flat Two Strand Twists

Hello again! I have a style that I absolutely adore and is easy and quick to complete and dry! So many people have heard of flat twists and I was highly skeptical because I figured it would take forever AND it wouldn't last, to my surprise, my flat twists last longer than my bantu knots or twist outs! Go figure!

1. To begin, I wash/ co-wash my hair and deep condition it.
2. I apply my leave-in conditioner and apply my product of choice for twisting. NOTE: Using a butter-based product will result in a twist out with a loose hold, I always use a gel like Eco Styler or KCCC.
3. I part my hair on either side or down the middle, depending on how I want my hair to lay when I take it out.
4. I part my hair with a rat tail comb, spritz with water and begin twisting. To twist, grasp two pieces of hair and begin to twist, picking up hair as you go, make sure the hair is tight and lays flat to the head.
5. When I get to the ends, I place an end paper on the end and wrap around a perm rod but this is optional.
6. To dry quicker, I sit under a a hard bonnet dryer, but for a more natural look let your hair air dry.
7. I usually let my hair stay in twists until I'm going somewhere.
8. To take out, apply a small amount of olive oil (or any oil of your choice) to your hands and take out the twist slowly, starting at the bottom, working your way up.
9. You have achieved your flat twist out! To stretch your hair, you can take a blow dryer, set on low heat, and place at the scalp and slightly pull your  hair.
10. ENJOY!

3rd day

For maintenance, I sleep on a satin pillowcase and spritz with olive oil or a leave-in conditioner.

Shea Moisture

So there's this new line I've been hearing about called Shea Moisture, so I've decided to try it! After doing some research, I found out that Shea Moisture products are available at target.com and select Target stores, luckily my nearest Target store supplies the WHOLE line! In my Target, the isle where Shea Moisture and all other natural, 'ethnic' hair products are kept is steadily growing. So after looking at all of their products, I chose the Organic African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo (because I have an extremely dry scalp due to eczema) and the Organic Raw Shea Butter  Deep Treatment Masque. After just the first use, my scalp felt SO much healthier and didn't itch the whole week! The masque worked wonderfully because of the shea butter, it kept my hair so soft and moveable, even after I applied gel. I highly recommend these products because of how well they work and the fact that every product on the line is just $9.99!!! Cheap AND efficient, could it get any better?!

Refreshening my curls!

So after all of that hard work, twisting or styling my hair, it only looks bomb for ONE day! Actually it lasts longer but I'm a VERY hard sleeper so it's usually smushed on one side lol so I've come up with alternate ways to keep my hair looking fresh!

1. I traded my satin bonnet for a satin pillowcase....definitely works better because it allows the hair to move around freely rather than being constricted in the bonnet.
2. In the mornings I fluff my hair with my fingers and spray in my leave-in conditioner [a mix of 2-3  tbls of my shea butter deep conditioner and DISTILLED water, stored in an 8oz spray bottle]
3. I re-twist my hair every other or every 3 days, I saturate my hair with my leave-in conditioner and twist the same way.

Hope these tips worked!

Homemade Shea Butter Deep Conditioner

After a long and tiring search for a deep conditioner that actually worked and provided my hair with moisture (other than WEN Remoist), I decided to make my own!

Ingredients:
2 tbls raw, unrefined shea butter (google it, surprisingly cheap)
3 tsp Olive Oil
2 tsp Tea Tree Oil
1/2 cup conditioner (I use Cantu Rinse Out Conditioner but you can use your favorite brand!)

1. Pour the conditioner in a bowl and mix in olive oil and tea tree oil.
2. In a separate bowl, melt shea butter completely in microwave (my house is always cold so the shea butter is always hard)
3. Add shea butter to conditioner and mix well, let it cool down.
4. After washing or co-washing your hair, apply mixture soaking wet to hair in sections (I part my hair into quarters and apply) DO NOT COMB!
5. Sit under a hard bonnet dryer for 45 mins to an hour!
6. Allow hair to cool off.
7. Comb with a wide tooth comb.
8. Rinse out, leaving about 5% of the conditioner in.
9. Style as usual
10. Enjoy your moisturized hair!

Ingredients....see! There's the shea butter lol

End result. ENJOY!!!

Staple Products

1. Wen Hair Care (available at wenhaircare.com)
2. Cantu Rinse Out Conditioner- which I use to co-wash
3. Mixed Chicks Leave-in Conditioner (available at mixedchicks.net or some beauty supply stores)
4. Cantu Leave-in Condtioner
5. Oyin Juice and Berries (available at oyinhandmade.com)
6. Homemade Shea Butter Deep Conditioner (Recipe on next post)
7. Kinky Curly Curling Custard (available at kinkycurly.com)
8. Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel
9. Curlicious Curls Cleansing Cream (available at curls.biz)
10. Curls Whipped Cream (available at curls.biz)

This is my typical regimen when I to protective hairstyles (bantu knots, twist outs)...I alternate between Curls Whipped Cream and Eco Styler Gel.

When I flat iron my hair, I use this as a heat protectant.

Product Junkie lol

Definitely slimed down my collection

:)

Kinky Curly Curling Custard vs. Eco Styler Gel

I've recently ran into a young lady that recommended using Eco Styler Gel for my twist outs and bantu knots, she stated that I would have better hold. Of course, I ran out that day to my local beauty supply store [which is beginning to stock more and more natural products!!!] to buy some! The very first thing I noticed was the price, $1.99 for a 16 oz jar!!! MAJOR difference seeing how KCCC is $17 plus shipping and handling for an 8 oz jar. *though price shouldn't be the main factor on maintaining healthy hair, it does make a difference* After returning home, I quickly co-washed my hair [I'm always eager when I get new products lol], applied my leave-in conditioner [a mixture of raw shea butter, olive oil, tea tree oil, conditioner and distilled water], distributed the Eco Styler throughout my hair, (I also use the same method with KCCC) and styled my hair in bantu knots (which I let air dry). I noticed my hair was WAY more voluminous and manageable! KCCC always leaves me with a crunchy feeling and Eco Styler left my hair so soft! I must say I love both products but I'd much rather use Eco Styler because of the price and the fact that it's a great 'wash and go' product!

Any other ways you use Eco Styler Gel or KCCC?!

My IDOL!

Ms. Rae has THE most beautiful hair I've ever seen, it's so thick and healthy...oh and versatile! She can make it look classy or casual! <3 her!