Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care

Charrise asks:

CN: How long have you been natural?
I’ve been natural for the majority of my 30 years. I have had two brief chemical experiences. I had my hair permed for about two months back in 2003. I donated my hair to Locks of Love and I thought it would be easier for the people making the wigs as well as the person who received my hair if I permed it first. I also texturized my hair once in 2005.

CN: What is your current regimen?
I would have to say I don’t have a specific regimen although I am trying to work on developing one. I typically wash my hair once a week with Head and Shoulders Intensive Treatment Shampoo. I condition and detangle with Herbal Essences conditioner. I have several of them so it just depends on what I want my hair to smell like once I’m done. If I twist my hair I use either Blended Beauty Curly Frizz Pudding or Blended Beauty Jelly Cream, both of which I get from my sister’s website (www.sistasplace.com). I’ve recently started deep conditioning my hair after each wash, with either Aubrey Organics GBP or Jessicurl’s Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment. When I blow dry my hair I use Suave conditioner as a leave in and Silk Elements Olive Heat Protection Spray. I decided to stop trimming my hair for a few months in an effort to retain as much length as possible, but I noticed my ends were looking pretty bad so I’m going back to getting my hair trimmed every 3-4 months.

CN: How do you maintain length? Moisture?
I don’t have any special recipe for retaining length, but I try to be very gentle with my hair at all times. I only comb it when it’s wet and has lots of conditioner in it. When I get a knot in my hair I remove one strand at a time until it’s completely unraveled. I’ve learned that the more gently I comb my hair (tip to root) the less tangles I get and the less frustrated I get. Some people (Teri from TightlyCurly.com) can get away with not trimming their hair at all. I am not one of those people. I’m pretty sure I suffer from trichorrhexis nodosa, so it is imperative that I keep my hair trimmed regularly to get rid of as many of the single strand knots as possible.

For maintaining moisture, I rely mainly on Blended Beauty moisturizers which I apply immediately after washing. Sometimes I seal with Blended Beauty’s Natural Hair Oil or Coconut oil but not always. I’ve found that just using the moisturizer works well for me.

CN: How do you protect your curls a night?
I usually wear a satin scarf at night to protect whatever hairstyle I’m currently wearing. That’s pretty much it.

CN: What would you tell a new natural, or transitioning diva?
Be patient with your hair. It is so easy to get wrapped up in lofty goals or look at someone else’s hair enviously. I dealt with low hair self esteem (I just made that up) for several years. It wasn’t until I accepted my hair for exactly what it was and stopped comparing myself to other people, that I was able to appreciate what I had. Natural hair is so versatile it’s just ridiculous. There’s no limit to what you can do. Of course you have to know your limits and get to know your hair. The sooner you learn to love and care for your hair, the sooner you can be happy with what God has blessed you with.

CN: What's the best thing about being naturally glamorous?
I love the fact that I don’t have to depend on a salon or harsh chemicals to maintain my hair. I can wear a ponytail and I feel just as pretty as if I’d sat in a salon all morning.

CN: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Embrace your personal style. There will undoubtedly come a time when you step out of the house as confident and comfortable with your hair as you could possibly be, and someone will make a comment about your hair that really bothers you. Don’t let it shake you. Your hair belongs to you and no one else.

I washed my hair with shampoo for damaged hair, and conditioned my hair with Dove Go Fresh Cucumber Conditioner on the day before. I then oiled my scalp w/ coconut oil, added a creme moisturizer to my hair (focusing on the ends), then applied Garnier Fructis Brilliantine Shine Wax to each section of hair. Finally, I braided, and curled almost all the way to the root with purple perm rods (I ended up with 11 braids). I slept with a satin cap, unraveled today in the evening, came out so beautifully!

Hola chicas!

It's that time again! The images below are of CN readers at their flyyest...at work, on the town, and with the fam. Showing us all that natural hair is not a fad, it's a way of life...an extension of our beauty! Click on the images to enlarge them:

CN: When you first chopped, what were your thoughts and feelings? How do you feel now?
The very moment after I chopped, I liked it. I felt okay about it. THEN I went to sleep and I woke up with a shrunken thing on my head and I was like, what did I do!? Haha. But after about a day I liked it again. And now I feel confident and beautiful with my twa. I love it! I think that it sets me apart and I feel very unique.

CN: How did you cope with the responses from your family and friends?
Oh my! Haha my lil bro (15yo) laughed every time he looked at me. He made fun of me and said that I looked like an African child that should be begging for rice. yea. I just tuned him out or laughed right along with him to show that it didn’t bother me. Everybody else liked or loved it. They said it suited me, so that made me feel awesome. My best friend even said that I looked better with my twa.

CN: What plans do you have for your hair?
I plan on growing out this baby! I want a huge hair! I just wanna enjoy this journey and enjoy the versatility of my hair as it gets longer and bigger. :D

CN: Do you find it necessary to 'doll up' your look to feel more feminine?
Truthfully, at first I did. I would always have a flower in my hair or a feather or a bow, or a clip. I felt like I had to go the extra mile to look feminine. I also started wearing earrings after years without them. But now I feel feminine without all the flowers in my hair. After a while they felt like I was wearing a uniform kind of, because people would ask me where my flower is when I didn’t wear one. Now I am totally comfortable just rocking my curls without any headpieces.

CN: If so, what are your favorite accessories, or go to ways to glam up your look?
Earrings! I bought a whole bunch of ‘em and now I wanna pierce my ears a second time so I can wear more than one pair at a time LOL. I still love my flowers and bows too. I also love scarves.

CN: How do you keep it moisturized?
At night, I spritz with water, then I spritz with a mixture of water and glycerin. That really helped my hair to feel softer, because at first it was super dry! Then I add a leave in cream or a conditioner and I apply my oils. Some nights I baggy.

CN: What products and techniques do you use to style? How often do you style?
Well I don’t do much with my hair right now (I only have 3 inches). I usually rock a wash n go, but last week I did my first (modified) twist out. Yippe! I cowashed with V05, and applied Nature’s Gate Hemp Conditioner. Before I washed out my deep conditioner, I finger combed and smoothed my hair to get my curls defined. Then I twisted it with the conditioner still in. I dc’d over night and when I woke up, I washed out the conditioner and undid the twists. My hair came out more elongated and not shrunken like it usually is. I wash my hair twice a week, but I may cowash sporadically if my hair feels yucky.

CN: How do you get your waves or curls popping?
My hair is already very defined and curly! It spirals just like those springs in the push point pens. I love it. Lol. To get my curls to pop, I just apply my conditioner and finger comb and smooth my hair. Any conditioner works for me, but I mostly use vo5 or Natures Gate. (I stick to the cheaper conditioners for that because I am heavy handed and I can use a lot of conditioner when doing this).

CN: How do you preserve your curls at night?
After applying my nightly spritz and things, I cover with a satin bonnet and go to bed. When I wake up, I spritz lightly again, apply my coconut oil and massage my scalp to revive my curls.

At one point tofu could only be found in Asian food markets, but now tofu can be found in your local supermarkets throughout the year. This seemingly bland food has the ability to take on the flavor of its surrounding ingredients making it a highly versatile and nutritious part of a heathy diet. Sometimes called "the cheese of Asia", tofu is a highly nutritious, protein-rich food that is made from the curds of soybean milk. Tofu is usually sold in rectangular blocks and is generally an off-white color and is a staple in the cuisines of many Asian countries. All the good news you may have heard about tofu being a health-promoting food is true. The soybean protein found in tofu yields cardiovascular benefits, antioxidant protection, energy, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory benefits as well as being helpful with symptoms of menopause. Tofu is a great alternative for animal protein for those who may be vegetarians, those with high cholesterol, or anyone looking for a healthier alternative.

Much like last week's super food, tofu's main feature is protein, soy protein to be exact. Research on soy protein in recent years has shown that regular intake of soy protein can help lower total cholesterol levels by as much as 30%, lower LDL (which is the bad cholesterol) levels as much as 35-40%, lower triglyceride levels, reduce the tendency of blood platelets to form clots, and possibly even raise levels of HDL (the good cholesterol). All of which sounds very good to people trying to avoid atherosclerosis, or diabetic heart disease. High LDL cholesterol levels can lead to a build of up of cholesterol deposits on the blood vessels. If these deposits get too large or break off, they can cause a heart attack or stroke. Triglycerides can also contribute to these deposits forming as well. Soy protein can address all of these issues and lead to a greatly reduced risk of heart disease. Tofu also contains omega-3 fatty acids. Four-ounces of tofu will yield about 14% of the daily value of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential in the support of a healthy heart.

Soy for menopause? Yes, you heard KinkyShea right! Soy has been shown to be helpful in alleviating the symptoms associated with menopause. Soy foods, like tofu, contain phytoestrogens, specifically the isoflavones, genistein and diadzein. In a woman's body, these compounds can dock at estrogen receptors and act like very, very weak estrogens. during perimenopause, when a woman's estrogen fluctuates, rising to very high levels and then suddenly dropping below normal, soy's phytoestrogens can help her maintain balance by blocking out estrogen when levels raise excessively high, plus filling in for estrogen when levels are low. When a woman's production of natural estrogen drops at menopause, soy's isoflavones may provide her with just enough estrogenic activity to prevent or reduce uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes. In addition, most types of tofu are enriched with calcium, which can help prevent bone loss which women are at risk of during menopause. Tofu is considered a good source of calcium with only four-ounces of tofu containing about 10% of the daily value for calcium and containing only 70-90 calories.

In addition to the nutrients mentioned above, tofu plays host to several other nutrients that are helpful for other conditions. Selenium is found in tofu and is needed for the proper function of the antioxidant system, which you may remember from previous foods. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant helpful in not only cancer protection, but in the reduction of asthma symptoms, arthritis symptoms and the prevention of heart disease. Tofu is also rich in minerals for energy. A four-ounce serving of tofu provides 33.8% of the daily value of iron. iron is primarily use as part of hemoglobin, a molecule essential to energy production since it is responsible for transporting and releasing oxygen throughout the body. The synthesis of hemoglobin also relies on copper and without it iron cannot be proper utilized in red blood cells. Luckily, both minerals are supplied in tofu, which also contains about 11% of the daily value of copper.

So can tofu help with your hair health? Sure. We already know that tofu is a great source of protein which is necessary in hair health. But it also packs other hair friendly nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, copper, selenium, and iron. All of which are necessary in the diet to support strong, happy, healthy, and growing hair. Thanks to tofu's versatility and the ability of it to absorb the flavor of surrounding ingredients, tofu can easily be added to a variety of dishes and prepared in a variety of ways. You can scramble soft tofu together with your favorite vegetables and the spice turmeric to give it a yellow "egg-like" coloring. This can be served as is or used as the basis for "tofu rancheros" by being wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla and served with black beans and salsa. For a healthier stir-fry, stir-fry firm tofu with your favorite vegetables and seasonings. You can even make fried rice using whole grain brown rice and tofu (in place of chicken or pork or even eggs). So try adding soy food to your diet variety, if you haven't already done so. You may surprise yourself and decided to keep this super food as part of your rotation. I should remind everyone that tofu is a soy based food so if you have a soy allergy you should avoid eating tofu.



Question: What are the best exercises or types of exercises to do to burn more fat or burn it faster?

Answer: Well first we should rephrase your question.. The question really should be, "What are the best exercises or types of exercises to burn more calories or burn them faster?" Why am I using the word calories instead of fat? Well it’s easier to measure how many calories are burned versus how much fat is burned (in order for me to measure how much fat you‘re burning I‘d have to get pretty “personal” with you). It is known that one pound of fat equals 3,500 calories. Its going to be awfully difficult to burn one pound of fat in a day, so what we do is look at the amount of calories burned over an entire week. It is safe to assume that if you burn or create a 3,500 calorie deficit a week (by cutting calories from our diet as well as exercising), you would drop one pound of fat. So really what you’re looking for are the types of exercises that really turn up the calorie burning so we can meet or surpass the goal of 3,500 calories a week to drop a pound of fat. As a side note I should point out that simply burning more calories won’t put you on the path to reaching your goal. You should also maintain a healthy well-balanced, low-fat diet, get plenty of rest and keep a healthy attitude.

So back to the question of which exercise will burn more calories. Well luckily for us, the American Council on Exercise has put together a little chart to help us figure this out. The chart is based on weight and gives the amount of calories burn per minute of exercise. Some of the most common activities are used for the chart. As a rule of thumb the more intense or, the higher the impact of the exercise the more calories will be burned. Keep in mind however that higher impact activities carry a higher risk of injury so it’s best to ease yourself into these activities to avoid injury and alternate between high and low impact activities. Basically put you don’t want to do a high impact activity two days in a row. So if you say take a Zumba Fitness class one day, the next day or next time you exercise you might want to do a lower impact activity for your cardio training such as walking, biking or the using elliptical. So below is the chart I mentioned before. Again its based on weight and how many calories are burned per minute and is a rough estimate. Of course people who are more muscular will burn more calories and other little technicalities, but in general this chart is pretty helpful in answering your question.

Until next week, stay happy and healthy!

KinkySheaPT 　

Laura asks:

CN: How long have you been natural?
Last Relaxer: 3.7.2009
BC'd: 7.10.2009

CN: What is your current regimen?
I don't really have a set regimen yet. I co-wash at least once a week using Giovanni. I detangle with my fingers while in the shower before rinsing the conditioner out. I shampoo when I feel my hair needs the extra attention. I use coconut oil, aloe vera gel, and shea butter when needed.

CN: How do you maintain length? Moisture?
I've only trimmed my ends once since I BC'd; I'm not sure if I should do it more often or not. However, I don't use heat often, I only use combs for parting, and I use my little brother's wave brush for smoothing lol. I use my spray bottle when my hair feels dry. It is a mixture of water, a little jojoba oil, hemp seed oil, and Infusium 23 (the moisture/frizz kind). I'll probably wear two-strand twists more since my hair is a little longer now.

CN: How do you protect your curls at night?
I tie a satin scarf around my edges and put a bonnet on top of that.

CN: What would you tell a new natural, or transitioning diva?
Everyone's texture is not the same. Just because your curls/coils/whatever you choose to call them don't look like someone else's, doesn't mean that your hair is any less beautiful. Embrace
your napps and be PROUD of what God gave you :)! Also, what works for some, doesn't work for everyone.

CN: What's the best thing about being naturally glamorous?
FREEDOM. The freedom to swim as much as you want, walk in the rain, and work-out everyday...along with everything else. It feels great not to have to limit yourself because you "don't want to mess your hair up." BTW I recently learned how to swim towards the
beginning of this year :D.

CN: Anything else you want to add?
Peace, Love, and NAPPINESS!!!

CN: When you first chopped, what were your thoughts and feelings? How do you feel now?
I first big chopped on January 9, 2010 at about 2am! I was tired of my 9-month transition so it had to go. My initial feelings were shame and embarrassment because I didn't know what others would say when I got back down to school! That feeling went away after a few days and I haven't worn a hat since!

CN: How did you cope with the responses from your family and friends?
My family didn't see my hair for MONTHS! Not that I was avoiding them, they just weren't around. When they DID see it, I got nothing but positive reactions. My mom loved it and I knew she was proud because she's a natural head that has been waiting on me to hop on the train forever! My dad, on the other hand, his exact words were "Girl, grow your hair out". I rolled my eyes and kept it moving!

CN: What are your plans for your hair (do you plan to grow it out, keep it short)?
I'm loving this short stage and the simplicity of it, however I would love to have long, natural hair that goes down my back! In due time, I know, but I will treasure each stage as it comes.

CN: Do you find it necessary to 'doll up' your look to feel more feminine?
Nope, never. I let it do what it does. There is not much that I CAN do, so I don't want to fight my natural look.

CN: If so, what are your favorite accessories?
I've yet to try any accessories, but as it grows I will definitely venture into headbands, and maybe even some natural and faux flowers this summer!

CN: How do you keep it moisturized?
This is still a trying dilemma as I would love for my hair to feel soft 24/7! However, I recently tried applying curl activator (i.e. S-Curl No-Drip) and EcoStyler gel to soaking wet hair and while at first it's completely white and full of product, it dries SO soft! I learned that combo from LHCF :) I figure that anything glycerin-related helps.

CN: What products and techniques do you use to style? How often do you style?
I co-wash with anything I find in the shower, but Aussie Moist has always worked for me so I have been sticking to that, lately, and I love Elasta QP's Creme Conditioning Shampoo! Ladies, you cannot go wrong with this--rich lather and soft results, but NO sulfates! Love it!

CN: How do you get your waves or curls popping?
Hmmm...I haven't mastered this, but the Ecostyler gel helps clump some of my coils, but for the most part I embrace the fluffy cloud.

CN: How do you preserve your curls at night?
Throw on a bonnet! So simple, I don't know why I didn't go natural sooner! :-)

Transitioning is definitely the hardest part about going natural, and even after you transition, you’re still left with so many questions about how to care for your textured curly hair. If you don’t have a local community supporting you on your hair journey, going through the process can be quite daunting alone. I’ve compiled a list of some of the best places (aside from Curly Nikki ;-)) to find support both online and locally while you venture along your natural hair journey.

Naturally Curly

If you haven’t heard of the Naturally Curly online community, it’s been around for a while and its a very large community of women from a diverse set of backgrounds and hair types who share their knowledge about curly hair. The naturally curly community is filled with articles and videos about hair products and general information about caring for your natural hair. It was founded by Gretchen and Michelle who both have curly hair as a haven for curly girls who had nowhere to turn for hair information or products. Today, Naturally Curly has thousands of daily visitors and active participants in their online community so if you have a question about natural hair, chances are you can find the answer on their forums.

Youtube

This is probably my favourite place to find hair care information, mostly because you can see first hand how other natural haired women care for and style their hair. My favourite part about youtube is that because it’s so visual, I can watch people who have the exact same hair texture as mine and find out what products they’re using to try on my hair.

Youtube is also highly interactive and you can post video responses and comments to interact with other natural haired women as well as the makers of the videos to get your questions answered.

Twitter

Perhaps a little newer to the scene is twitter. This is also one of my favourite places to hang out online and interact with the natural hair community. The best thing about twitter is that you can get your questions answered very quickly by a number of different women in the online natural hair community. You can also keep track of all the discussions going on in the natural hair community on twitter by using the #naturalhair hashtag. Hashtags are just twitter’s way of sorting topics so if you have a question about your hair, be sure to use this hashtag in your tweets!

You can also share photos, videos, and links on twitter which also makes it highly interactive. Twitter is the fastest way to get your hair questions answered and you can sync your twitter account with your cell phone and send and receive your tweets by sms text messaging or through a mobile app.

Facebook

Facebook is another great place to interact with the natural hair community and get answers to your hair questions. Like twitter, you can also follow your favourite brands on Facebook and get access to exclusive promotions and sales to save money on hair products. There are quite a few groups and fan pages related to natural hair that you can search for on Facebook and every time the page is updated you can see it on your news feed. You can also share your hair photos and videos on various facebook pages to show new styles you’ve tried out.

Forums

Forums are another great place to interact with the online natural hair community and get answers to your questions. There are a ton of hair forums popping up all over the place and even CN has a forum that you can utilize to get your hair questions answered or share tips for others.

Fotki

And of course, I can’t forget Fotki. Fotki is a photo sharing website similar to Flickr where a lot of naturals group together and share their natural hair journey through photos. Although it’s not the best place to get your questions answered if you’re stuggling, Fotki is a great place to find new styles and get hair inspiration from others who have successfully transitioned to natural hair.

There you have it, some of the top places online to connect with the natural hair community and find support along your journey. And don’t just come onto the communities and be a bystander of the events, get out there and interact with people and make new friends on your hair journey. It’s so much more fulfilling to participate in the community and you’ll feel more connected as you go along on your hair journey.

Marnettebelle writes:

I notice that many curlies go through phases of frustration with their natural hair either early on, or later down the road.

We've all been there... when your hair isn't acting right, your holy grail products stop working, you reach an awkward length, or you're doing everything 'right' and reaping ZERO benefits. Next thing you know, you're thinking of reaching for the scissors or even the creamy crack!

Kwanza Jones captivates listeners by singing melodies and belting rock-laced hooks that riddle with emotion, reality lyrics and heart thumping beats. By resume standards, she has done it all. Releasing two full albums (Naked and Naked 2: Universal Fire), an EP (Victim of the System), and her latest single “Everything Around You” which is the prelude to her newest album, Supercharged! Add a degree from Princeton, charismatic presence, and songwriting/arranging credits, and she will undoubtedly secure a place in the ever-evolving indie musical landscape! Plus... she's a fellow natural!




On her hair story...
Wow... let me tell you, it's a page-turning novel! I've gone from high maintenance (blow drying/curling/flat ironing everyday) to low maintenance (braids/twists) to press and curl to relaxers to wash and go naturally curly, to hair cuts that have had me in tears when I left the salon. In a word my Hair Story is like many... it's a never-ending drama but it's turning into a love story.
What has come with the changes in styles has been a better understanding about what works for me and what doesn't. Most importantly, I've learned hair is personal, VERY personal. It's up to each individual to define, for themselves, what works best. In essence, it takes courage to experiment and to find styles that work with your lifestyle; education to see what is best for your hair health; and, communication, if you're working with a stylist, because just as not all relationships are good for you, not all stylists are either.

On embracing her curls...
I've always liked my curls. I didn't really have a choice. Growing up, my parents wouldn't let me or my sisters get relaxers or any other chemical treatments so we embraced our natural hair. What I didn't like was all the effort that was required to find products to maintain my curls. There is no one-size fits all formula. Sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error to find the best products for your hair type. I went through a period of exclusively wearing my hair "wash and go". In other words, I'd shampoo it, put in some leave in conditioner add a little bit of gel (or a lot depending on the mood my hair was in) and go about my day. Naturally my hair is very curly. Growing up people would say "you have good hair" and they would think it was easy for me to maintain. It would irk me whenever I heard that. All hair requires maintenance regardless of type. It's ridiculous when you think about it. HAIR is HAIR. It's not good or bad. Instead, it's varying degrees of curly, wavy or straight. Buying into the notion that certain hair textures are better than others does nothing but skew your sense of self-worth. Embracing your natural hair is a way to remain connected to yourself.

On her current routine...
Given how active my lifestyle is (with travel, performances and working out daily), I need a hair routine that is very low maintenance. I used to take about 30 minutes to do my hair every morning. Now, It takes me about 3. I wake up, work out (usually with a scarf on my head), shower (with a very large shower cap) add a little Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum to smooth and add shine, then I start my day. I make sure I wrap my hair at night, that makes it easier to maintain and I get my hair twisted every 3 - 4 weeks. If I wait longer than that my hair starts to dread. The great thing about twists is that I'm able style my hair in all sorts of different looks from up-dos to pulled back pony tails. Sometimes I'll wear the twist-out look, which I'm able to achieve if I wash my hair and put gel in it.

On her staple hair styles...
For now my staple hair style is my signature two-toned twists. With my hair, I usually go in phases. I'll like one style and wear it for a while then I get tired of it and am ready for a change. My hair is pretty long so I rarely add hair for length but at times I'll add hair for color. It keeps things fun and fresh and it's less damaging on my hair. I'm thinking of trying out some of the clip-on pieces in purple/blue/burgundy.


Must have products...
For hair: Keyto Ultra Amazing Gel, and Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-In Conditioning Cream
For skin: Alba Sea Plus Renewal Cream
For makeup: Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Washable Mascara, and Revlon ColorStay 12 Hour Eye Shadow Nude Elements

On being naturally curly...
You know the feeling you get when you've been running around all day and you finally get home, sit down and take your shoes off? That's how it feels being naturally curly. It's a feeling of freedom and comfort... that's the best thing.



On current projects and music...
My songs are conversation starters. My upcoming album, "Supercharged!" is like a go-to-guide for how to deal with different things that happen in relationships. Not a Breakup Song is the latest single that's out. It's the follow-up to Everything Around You (a song that touched on realizing when you're not happy in a relationship and what comes next).

Also, I've been cast in a movie that will be filming in the Cayman Islands. And, I'm preparing for a series of concerts that I'll be giving to benefit the Girls Are Not for Sale Campaign, a project of the anti-sex trafficking organization GEMS (Girls Education and Mentoring Service).

Catch up with Kwanza Jones on her website www.kwanzajones.com

Hola Chicas,

It's Friday already... time is flying! I'm 27 weeks today and I'm finding it a bit harder to get around. I'm still walking every morning, but it's slow going... it used to take me 35 to 40 minutes to walk the neighborhood, but now it's more like an hour! Oh, and baby made me sink to a new low the other day. I went out on the deck around 10pm to check on the dogs, and the delicious smell of BBQ hit me in the face. I asked my hubby if he smelled it, and he told me it was probably the neighbors. After a text message exchange with my very sweet neighbor (who found the situation hilarious), she had her daughter bring me over a plate of chicken and baked beans! Not one of my classiest moments, but oh well :) What I really wanted was burnt up hot dogs... I told them to give me the heads up the next time they light up the grill, and I'll bring over my own meat!

Anyway, this weekend, I plan to do a 'true' henna gloss. I'm trying to determine the least amount of henna needed to achieve frizz reducing results. I plan to mix 3 tablespoons of henna with tea, and then mix that with conditioner.

Oh, and I'm still loving Aveda's Light Elements Defining Whip! I've only had to do my hair twice in the past two weeks. It keeps my curls clumpy and defined without adding weight, greasiness, or flakies. It really does have excellent hold! After my henna gloss, I'll be styling with Yes to Cucumbers, and Aveda's Defining Whip! I'll post pics of course ;)

Hola chicas!

Speaking of TWAs...


CocoEuro a CurlyNikki.com reader and forum member sent me these pics today from Mediatakeout.com: