
The above is day one… 98% dry… and the result of my sudden but not unforeseen fall from the Bandwagon ‘O Gel.
This hair? Never stiff. Never crunchy. Voluminous even while wet. Decent definition. Dried fast. And while it probably won’t live to fight another day, I checked my pockets for any spare damns and wouldn’t you know it? None to give. It feels good to have third day hair on day one!
Not sure if y’all can tell, but I’ve been going ham on the products lately. I stay trying new stuff and I’m doing it in a haphazard and generally unhelpful way. Sometimes my PJ gets a bit overzealous and the next thing I know, I’m re-styling everyday and trying crazy product combinations only for my curls to go all piece-y, stiff and unresponsive on me. So I hit the reset button and clarified, vowed to pick a routine and stick with it, and then deep treated overnight with visions of the new and mostly permanent product combo dancing in my head.
This morning Hubby took G-Boog, so I excitedly snatched off that wretched plastic baggy and hit the product cabinet in my hunt for something new to try. I had narrowed it down to Curl Junkie or Curls Unleashed when something deliciously familiar caught my eye. There, in the corner of the cabinet, damn near dusty, sat a mostly empty canister of Ouidad’s Hydrafusion Curl Cream. Reunited at last. When I tell y’all I have a problem… ish gets real over here. Somehow, I’d completely forgotten- like totally no memory at all, no recollection of my beloved Hydrafusion, and in an instant all the memories of my awesome Brazilian hair adventures came rushing back. And just like that, it was decided.
So after rinsing the DT, while still in the shower, I applied some Tresemme Naturals to the right side and some Living Proof Thickening Conditioner to the left (…a story for another day!). I did a very quick cold water rinse (thanks Tracee) leaving in more than 50% of the conditioners and gently, using praying hands, smoothed away excess product and water. I then placed each side in one big two-strand twist and ten minutes later was in the mirror all elated over the effortless definition and clumps (the sides were identical despite the product difference). I then took small amounts of the Hydrafusion and smoothed it through individual curls. I finger curled here and there and smoothed a ton… no raking or finger combing at all. I sat under the hood for 10 minutes and air dried the rest of the way and I must say… I wish I had somewhere to go to test drive this ish! I forgot how soft and lush this cream leaves my hair. It claims to ‘stretch’ the curl a little and volumize and I think I’m experiencing a teeny bit of both. I’m loving the feel of it (or lack thereof… no producty feel at all) and I’m excited to have been reunited with an old fave! What else have I forgotten about?!
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50% dry |
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100% dry |
Nikki, I think my cousin Rachel L. went to Metro about the same time as you and is the same age as you. She went to Mizzou and then Wash U for grad school. Lawd, I bet ya'll know it each other. And YES, I soooo up for having drinks! I swear I miss every dayum event or meet-up in STL for some gawd awful reason or another.
Your hair looks great, Nikki!
Keep me posted!!!! Your hair is NUTS.
It's good stuff!
Thanks Megan!
Nice results I love your hair. I needed to redo my wash n go because I was turn off after I had a big fail!
I'm tellin'
I have yet to try Quidad yet. It seems promising.
*passes out*
Very very nice NIK!! I am going to stick with the thickening cream for a bit and see what happens. Because as I shared I had hella full hair this weekend. For the first time I wasn't dreaming of a TWA! Thank you for all of the bomb tips
Shut up! I went to Metro and Truman State before heading to Carolina. You MUST stop by Shi and say 'hey' to Marie 🙂 And we'll definitely have to get drinks at some point! xx
Thanks Mel!!!!
🙂
Thanks!
Thanks Hilary!
Girl yeah, I grew up mostly in the City but went to Parkway South H.S. and then on to Mizzou. I live in West Co now but work in the City; my office is downtown. I'm serious when I say I drive by Shi Salon everyday! Okay, now I should be ashamed that I haven't stopped in to say 'Hi' yet. Well, I do wave and say "Hi" as I'm speeding by late as hell!
Hollerin'!
"I checked my pockets for any spare damns and wouldn't you know it? None to give."
lmao. it looks great!
Well she is the STAR of the family!!! I thought you knew boo….'Boogie don't play that!' Lol We all feel a kinship because you have shared your life with us, I must admit that it will get worse (in a good way) as more curlies discover the site. My son has had this experince often so my advice (not that you need it or asked) is to enjoy the ride. You so deserve it!!!
Spare damns lolol…#dead…I'll be using that
Beautiful as usual!
Stop in there and give her a hug for me! And wait! You're in STL??!! What part? And of course… what highschool did you attend 😉
The CES is awesome! I use just a teeny bit 'cause it'll get heavy on me quick.
Thanks Nikell!!!
Hubbies stay giving side eyes, lol!!!! Dag, can we live?! JK, use up all that other ish first then see if the desire is still there (says the girl who just bought a conditioner with next day shipping on Amazon… 15 dollar shipping… shhhhhh!)
Thanks Davina!
Nikki you raved about the Ouidad Hydrafusion a while back and your results were ridic I was *this close* to buying some at Sephora a month or so ago. I abandoned ship when my hubby looked at me cra' as I was reading the label like…'don't you have tons of ish at home already you haven't even opened?!" I acknowledged the l.o.o.k and sheepishly put it back on the shelf. I need to leave him at home; blockin' my pjism! Reading this article fueled my temptation. #nobuynobuynobuy.
Girl this is exactly why I had to put myself on a 'no buy' for a while. Between UPS and USPS coming every other day I'm certain my neighbors think I'm running some sorta drug cartel or something.
I pass Shi Salon every day; I've been so tempted to pop in and say 'Hi' and tell Marie how awesome a stylist she is but haven't gotten around to it. #mustdolist.
Looks great Nik!
Your hair is gorgeous!!This is why I can't wait until I'm fully natural!! I see why women BC and rock a TWA early in the game. I'm not that brave though. So in due time. (^_^)
Every natural head is different and what works for one doesn't work for all, however many tips that work for other curlies (from 2b to 4c) work for me too! It's all very trial and error. Email me @ Nikki@curlynikki.com and I'll send you some of my fav posts by readers who identified themselves as #Team4c !
Girl, yes! And thanks 🙂
And it's so weird (even weirder for fam and friends with me). Whenever I leave State College it happens frequently (airports, malls, gas stations, etc.) and I find myself late for everything because I never miss the chance to talk hair! What's funnier is that sometimes folks recognize Boog first, then me!
Haven't found it in London town yet 🙁 but I'm still on the hunt! I'll be ordering some CU this week ** shakes head ** and hope for good results! To be fair, it's been calling my name. I'm currently on a Shea Moisture high… loooving the CES!
Have a supa week ahead! x
Ooohhhh!!! Thanks doll!!! I let it go because of the product junky-ism and my shoddy memory, but now I'm back! Did you try it?? As far as the CU, I have their curl defining creme but haven't tried it just yet!
You sound like me! At one point I styled twice in a day. Sad. And I know that side eye all to well, lol!!! Let me know if you try that Ouidad!
Thanks girl!
Amen on the fierce cut! It's nice!
I was gonna say the same thing! Nikki posting on the weekend?
lol thank you for the honest reply. I have been wearing my natural hair out for about a month & I keep reading all these blog about taking care of natural hair but no ones hair looks like mine lol…I have for real 4c, well from what I've read
Do u have a post on taking care of an actual afro?
Your hair is always gorgeous, but I really do love this look! I have washed my hair at least five times this weekend–LOL. My product junkiness has been in FULL effect and my husband is giving me the side eye as packages of product were delivered EVERY day this week:-) Now, I know have some Ouidad on the shelf somewhere……….
Laaaavvve Eeeeet!!! Curls are back Nik! You know I was thinking about when I'll get to try Ouidad's hydrafusion not two days ago and remembered how you raved about it on the 'I heart big hair part 2' post. Why did you let it go!!! Results speak for themselves me thinks… Likes it a lot 🙂
Which curls unleashed product were you gonna try? I wanna try that too… #pjAnonymous
You must be really excited because you rarely post on the weekend! Your hair looks awesome.
This is totally off topic but I've been wondering how do people react when they see you on the street since you are a natural hair guru? I mean are you standing in the store having long hair convos or do they not believe their eyes? Curiosity killed the cat….I know, I know!!!! LOL
Thanks chica! Marie of Shi Salon in STL hooked me up!!!
I've read hit or miss results all across the web. the major complaint is that it's too light… 'not enough hold', so if you're a 'mega hold' girl, this may not be for you. And the ish is expensive as hell, lol, so yeah…
what do you think it would do for 4c hair
you go girl! now where can i get that fierce cut that you have?