New Product Reviews Coming Up!

Get excited! I'm going to review some homemade shampoos, conditioners, and styling products! Also going to review some store bought items-

 Curl Q Red Velvet Moisturizing Curl Creme (right)

and

Miss Jessie's Stretch Silkening Creme

Why I stopped using Kinky Curly Products

So, over the past three years I've had severe acne on my forehead and near my hair line. I also suffered from an itchy scalp that produced a LOT of dandruff. I believe these may have been linked to the hair care products I was using.

I've switched to a shampoo and conditioner only regimen, and it's been tough. I shampoo my hair once a week or more (at least twice a month), and condition maybe twice a week. My scalp has normal dandruff levels now. I don't use any other hair care products really. I will occasionally use the KCNT for my edges to smooth them, but then I will carefully wash my hands and face with soap and water. I always wash my face AFTER I've put on a headband, because sometimes the headband will have product residue.

As for the pimples, I haven't seen much progress. A week ago, I stopped using saylyicic acid, and I haven't had a pimple since. I've just been washing my face with a Dove sensitive skin soap bar and warm water. I've also been patting away the oils on my forehead throughout the day with a Kleenex. A lot of people say that pimples are linked to horomones and stress, and I thought that was true. I usual flair up a lot around this time (I came on my period yesterday). But no pimples have popped up. I've also been exercising more and haven't been eating out as much. My diet mostly consists of oatmeal for breakfast, Lean Cuisines (with some kind of veggie), two glasses of water, peanut butter on fake honey wheat bread, and at least one chocolate snack a day. Lot's of breads (bagels and Honey Wheat). Trying to eat more fruits and veggies, but they're not fitting in the schedule so well. So, I'm not sure if diet may be a factor in my acne hiatus.

Acne linked to hair cair products?

So, this is my first blog post in almost a year. How's everyone doing? Nobody? Okay, forget you guys too.

Over the past 11 months, I've STILL not found a solution that brought me curly happiness. Once winter began, I started straightening my hair more often with a blow out and flat iron (yes, I know I'm a traitor), but I was just getting really frustrated. I'm still frustrated. I love my straight hair look, but I just wish that I could somehow manage to get my curly routine down.

Time for a rant:

• I hate that I can't just wake up with good curls. Sometimes, I don't mind the tight corkscrew curls that are the result of a product free air dry, but a lot of times, I hate the look. Plus, my hair tangles really easy after one day of that style. So, good curly hair only happens when I style it the night before. It can be a real hassle if I'm getting home late.
• I hate the fact that I have terrible acne problems as an adult. Whiteheads pop up frequently, and I'm highly suspicious that they are the result of the hair care products I use. What about you readers? Have you noticed that you have clearer skin when you wear your hair straight and therefore significantly more product free? Have any of you used a product like Kairos Clear, which markets that it's a revolutionary product that combines hair care with acne treatment? If so, leave a comment below.

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Would you like more cheese with that whine, CK?

Time for a "I'm going to SHAVE this SHIT OFF" rant:

I despise my unaltered curl pattern. I prefer my hair straight, or with wavy curls.

I am trying to do research on how to get my hair straight, or to have loser curls. Rollersets are such a chore for me, but I just don't really like my natural curl pattern. I'd rather not have to chemically alter the curl pattern of my hair, but I just don't like the poofy, bodiless curly hair style. My hair tangles so much more easily, and it's a nightmare trying to detangle. Also, in the years that I've been natural, I've had a lot of acne problems. I'm not sure if it's a late puberty, or if there's a connection to having to style my hair every day (if I want it to look good).

The only product that I've used since being a curly (I'm purposefully avoiding saying natural, because the only natural hair care routine would be to go out into the fucking jungle without ANY products or styling tools) that has actually worked on my hair to provide frizz free curls was Design Essentials. But it's SO freaking expensive, and it made my hair look very thin. But no frizz. I want to change this situation into a win-win! But I'm still very frustrated as to how.

My ideal hair type would be a wavy curly. I know it's impossible, but it's easier said than done to accept the cards you've been dealt.

FOAM vs. GEL

I managed to get four billion day hair because of this gel:

Herbal Essences Totally Twisted. It had an okay hold, which meant that my hair was only slightly crunchy after it. Only problem is application. It's awkward. I had to squeeze out a poopful just so that I could dip my hands in it. I also used half the tube, and my hair only had medium hold. But I still had great hair. Way better than I did when I used this foam:

Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Mousse. Eh. It left my hair feeling dry and the foam didn't make my curls very defined. This too was awkward to apply, but less so than the gel. Eventually I got into a rhythm, part-pump-apply, but once I saw how the results were looking, I kind of gave up and switched to the gel.


I also tried about L'Oreal's new sulfate free system!

My scalp was definitely cleaner after using L'Oreal's smoothing, sulfate free shampoo, but not dry. I also liked the conditioner. My hair felt really soft. I used a little bit as a leave in, but I think it may have made my scalp drier than normal. I will do a test to find out! But both of these products so far get a thumbs up from me. If anything changes, I'll let you know.

For all of you product junkies, you know you can return something that doesn't work for you, right? I returned the mousse and THIS piece of shit:

Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine was the WORST thing I could've ever put in my hair. Even my hands felt dry as I put this stuff on, blech. My hair just felt like...poo. I returned this crap to Target ASAP and bought two new products (because I ran out of Kinky Curly Knot Today and wanted to try a new moisturizer before I buy the second $12 bottle):

Curls Creme Brule and

Curls Goddess Gel.

I will let you know in my next post how these bad boys turn out!