Al Sharpton understands, girl.

unfortunately, i forgot to publish the first part of this question. the lovely writer sent a  question asking for advice on what to do about her hair.  it’s her second BC and she finds herself missing her perm (who hasn’t been there, am i right?!).  i asked what she missed most about it; this is her response:

well it was more predictable. It was longer. I think I miss the length the most, and I know my hair will grow, but it seems to be taking forever..

got it.  you’re definitely right about predictability… my hair will do any and everything it wants to, inspite of what i try to get it to do.  you can kind of never tell if a style will turn out the way it did last time, if it’ll be too dry this week, or what.  and as far as hair not growing fast enough, i’m fairly certain that like 95% of naturals felt that way at some point, if not now.

so here’s the thing, as i see it anyway.  we (black women, in general) have always made such a big deal of our hair, or have had a big deal made of our hair, for some very substantial, historical reasons.  the social construct of race is built on discernible physical differences.  it’s easier to judge, label and discriminate against someone when you can point to them and say “look at her skin/nose/body/etc!  She is clearly different!”  our kinks and coils mark “non-whites” as “non-white” as loudly as skin tone does.  race being such a big deal to the majority forces it to be a big deal to the minority, and it has been so since the beginning of humanity, pretty much.  so naturally, as any oppressed group would, black folk have tried to circumvent the thing that oppresses us however they could.  not being accepted and suffering because of it?  find a way to fit in.  skin too dark?  try a bleaching cream.  hair too nappy?  find a way to straighten it.  for us, hair was and is not only a genetic trait or fashion accessory; it had a huge bearing on your treatment and qualitiy of life in a society so obsessed with race and “otherness.”

for those reasons and many others, hair straightening became the norm for black women.  for a really, really long freaking time.  when that’s what you’re used to, when you’re so used to seeing yourself with straight hair, it literally is a shock to see yourself without it.  after i went natural, i still straightened my hair for three months, not because i thought i looked bad (i thought i looked weird, not bad.  later i realized that i didn’t look weird, just different), or because i didn’t know what to do with it (even though i had NO IDEA AT ALL what to do with it), but because i just didn’t feel comfortable because i didn’t look like the me i’d always looked like.  i also realized that i hid behind my hair a lot.  i always felt prettiest the day i came back from the beauty shop because i felt that no matter what the rest of me looked like, my hair was laid, so i’d pass somebody’s test for prettiness.  having a headfull of flowing hair that i knew people would approve of made it easier for me to ignore my too-big nose and uneven skin and that baby tooth that never fell out.  i could feel pretty in spite of my faults and flaws.

in spite of.

the challenge in natural hair is to feel pretty because of, instead of in spite of.  the space that you are in–missing your perm, missing that security blanket–is actually a really amazing, fertile space to be in.  if you can hang in there, take this time to learn to feel beautiful because of, not in spite of.  hair not doing what you thought it would or what you want it to?  having a bad hair day?  or week?  or month?  awesome!  screw your hair, because you know what?  you have bright beautiful eyes and a gorgeous smile.  or skin like a melted Hershey bar (or butterscotch, or what have you), and ten times sweeter.  or your grandmommy’s nose, and you know how gorgeous she was.  and who is f#cking with your fashion sense?! nobody, that’s who!  you can hook up an outfit, girl!  and even if you can’t, so what!  you are overall, inside and out amazing, no matter what you wear.  and no matter what your hair looks like.

now, if you can’t find anything attractive about yourself because of or even in spite of, that’s a whole nother issue that needs to be explored deeper.  seek out a comfy therapist’s couch–you need it, and deserve it, because everyone deserves to be happy.  everyone deserves to be able to look in the mirror and love what they see, no matter what is looking back at them.

no matter what you decide to do, remember this:  everything beneath your straightened hair is still there beneath your naps, coils, and kinks.  you are still you.  you can become as comfortable with your natural hair as you were with straight hair–it will just take time, a ton of patience, and a commitment to being uncomfortable until that comfort comes.  dedicate yourself to accepting what you can’t change–this is a lesson that will serve you well in *every* area of your life.

and most importantly, in the end, remember that it’s just hair.  i want to stress that i dont at all think that people who perm hate themselves; i always resented that being told to or assumed of me when i had a perm, so i know better than to think that now that i’m natural.  if your hair is stressing you out too much, by all means, holler at that Dudley’s!  do not let your hair make you miserable!  let this be your (and everyone’s) mantra:  it’s just hair.  whatever is underneath your scalp while covered with curls and kinks will still be there if blanketed by a straight hair via perm or wig or weave.  so make sure that *that* is the part of you that stays natural, whole, and accepting.  once you get that down, it doesnt matter what your hair is doing–people who use their natural hair as a crutch for beauty or blackness are just as lost as those who use perms as a crutch for beauty and social acceptance.   it’s just hair.  let it compliment you, not define you.

in conclusion, i think your hair looks absolutely stunning on you, and i think you look stunning with it.  but what i think doesn’t matter.  you follow your own heart, your own gut, and screw what anyone else says, no matter what you decide.

(you *really* are gorgeous, though!)

(not that my opinion matters!)

(just wanted you to know!)

(k bye!)

Lawanda Stevenson (@mslawanda), of the blog As the Wind Blows!

WOOO!  congrats lady ma’am!  you get somethin pretty for your hair!

okay, Lawanda.  listen up.  this is very very important.  to claim you prize, you MUST email me by THIS FRIDAY, December 30th at brokeymcpoverty@gmail.com!!!  if i don’t hear from you by then, we’ll have to draw another winner.

thanks to everyone who participated!  stay tuned for more tips, tricks, and giveaways!!

one of my personal favorites, the Regal Rouge hair comb

one of the funnest things about natural hair, in my opinion, is accessorizing.  headbands, shells, earrings–kinks, coils, and curls carry it all so well!  especially bright, colorful flowers.  or matte, muted flowers.  whatever the style, flowers definitely accentuate the natural beauty in natural hair, and the Flowers From Fatima collection has some very stunning floral pieces.  we’re thrilled to be giving away this *gorgeous* golden sunflower hair clip!

how cute is that?!

winning is super easy.  to enter, all you have to do is follow @FlowersFromFatima on Twitter and tweet the following message:

“I just entered to win this fab hair clip from @FlowersFFatima and @brokeymcpoverty!  Check it out! http://bit.ly/tbCVyM”

that’s it!  you’re in!  there are some other ways to throw your name in the pot too, which will be helpful if you don’t have twitter (if such people still exist in 2011):

-leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite Flowers From Fatima piece is (click here to see the full collection)
-if you’re on tumblr, reblog this post announcing the contest there
-like my page, Brokey McPoverty, on facebook, then find this message and like it: “Like this post to win this beautiful hair clip from Flowers by Fatima!”

you can absolutely do any combination of those things, and each action completed will get you a separate entry into the contest, so the more you do, the greater your chance to win!

the contest ends next Wednesday, December 28th at noon sharp!  winner will be announced on this blog, and on the Natural Hair Problems Tumblr by the end of the day on the 28th.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE:  yall wouldn’t believe how often people win things here and don’t step up to claim them!  when you see that you have won, you MUST email me at brokeymcpoverty@gmail.com WITHIN THREE DAYS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT to claim your prize.  i cannot and will not hunt you down to give you free things!  you gotta meet he halfway on this!

if the announced winner hasn’t emailed me within three days (so, by Friday, December 23rd), we’ll draw and announce another name, and so forth until somebody actual get this gorgeous piece in their hands.

simple enough, right?  go forth and enter!  and go forth and buy!  treat yourself or someone you like to something pretty this holiday season!  OH WAIT!  here’s an added shopping bonus treat for NHP readers:  enter coupon code NHPFLOWERS for free shipping!

this place is just crawling with free stuff!  go ‘head and get you some!

chicagoredline asked:

I feel like my hair is NEVER moisturized enough! like its great day one of the twist out but not day one night! and my hair texture is changing. What would you suggest??

ah, yes.  the greedy, thirsty, never-satisfied hair problem.  i’m right there with you, sister, and especially as winter approaches with its cold, dry air, it’s important that we keep our tendrils as moisturized as possible.  here are a few things that might convince your hair to hold on to some of that precious life-giving liquid:

1) deep condition your hair.  deep conditioning is good for delivering a nice power-packed burst of nourishing moisture deep into the core of your hair shaft.  you can go out and buy a fancy schmancy deep conditioner or masque if you’d like, but in my opinion, a good conditioner (one with no silicone, mineral oil, or petrolatum, preferably) boosted with a bit of your favorite oil will work just fine.  i personally use Trader Joe’s Nourish conditioner and virgin coconut oil.  wash your hair as normal, then apply your deep conditioner and cover with a conditioning cap or shower cap (or a grocery bag, if this is your struggle.  i’m not here to judge!).    i let it sit for at least 30 minutes, but have been known to bag it up overnight and rinse it out in the morning.  you can speed up the process  by sitting under a dryer or using a heated cap for 10-15 minutes (all this depends on what you’re using as a deep conditioner, of course–be sure to follow your product’s instructions, if there are any).

i deep condition once a week, but the frequency that each person should do so depends on your hair, it’s characteristics, your upkeep process (do you apply new product everyday?  cowash?  etc.), and your lifestyle.  some folks deep condition once a month. if you find your hair dries out more often than not, every other week, or once a week may be right for you.  for more info on deep conditioning natural hair, click here!

2) rinse with cold water.  it may be uncomfortable to do, but your hair may thank you for it; after washing and conditioning your hair, make sure your last rinse is done with cold water.  cold water seals the hair cuticle, helping to lock in moisture and increase shine.  totally worth it!  for more information on cold water rinsing, click here.

3) beware silicon products!  okay, so i don’t particularly think that silicon products are the devil like many naturals do.  i think they’re okay as long as you’re aware of what you’re using and how you’re using it.  silicon in a hair product will form a barrier around the shaft of your hair, which will keep moisture from escaping–and keep it from getting in. this can actually dry your hair, even if it looks shiny.

what you definitely don’t want to do is apply a product with a silicon in it on freshly washed hair; this will keep the moisture and nutrients from other products you may use from getting absorbed into the core of the hair, and setting you up for a head full of build up.  if you’re going to use a product with silicon, mineral oil, or petroleum in it, use a silicon, mineral oil, and petroleum-free leave-in conitioner and moisturizer first.  make sure there are lots of yummy moisturizing things in your hair before applying the silicon product; that way, it will seal in all the moisturizing stuff, reducing the drying  properties of the silicon product. speaking of build-up…

4) clarify your hair regularly.  clarifying your hair means stripping it of all the gunky build-up that we sometimes get from layering products in our hair.  though co-washing does help to lightly remove some of the dirt and product that gets into our hair, you need a shampoo to really get it out of there (especially if you’re using silicon products–co-washing will NOT remove silicon from your hair!  you need a sulfate shampoo for that!).  a clarifier is basically a stronger, stripping shampoo. click here for more information about clarifying.

i personally don’t co-wash because it doesn’t work well for me and i’m too lazy.  lol.  i shampoo with a sulfate once a week, and once a month, i clarify either with a clarifying shampoo, like V05, or with an apple cider vinegar rinse (read more about that here).  clean hair receives and retains moisture far better than dirty hair!  (important:  don’t clarify TOO often!  clarifying shampoos are very stripping, and will remove both product build up and a good portion of your hair’s natural oils; if you use one, follow immediately with a good deep conditioner to put back all that goodness!)

5) invest in a satin pillowcase, scarf, or bonnet.  the smoothness of satin is very beneficial to natural hair; cotton pillowcases can suck the moisture out of our hair, drying it out and even breaking it off.  satin helps hair retain its moisture though the night and helps keep it from breaking.

6) seal your hair.  sealing your hair means moisturizing with a water-based moisturizer, then following with an oil or oil-based moisturizer.  this will seal the nourishing moisture into the hair shaft and help it hold on to it longer.

coconut oil makes a great sealant (that’s what i use); for more moisture/drier hair, you can try cutting a thicker oil, like castor oil, with a thinner on, like jojoba or coconut oil.  for more information on sealing, click here.

adopting some of these little tip into your regular hair routine can find you with more moisturized hair.  though there are things you can do to get fast results, don’t look for an instant fix; practice better hair care all the way around to get to where you need to be!

and if nothing works, time to go see the professionals.  lol.

dolceinscence asked:

Heyy! I just recently got my hair straightened and I thought i was gonna die when i washed it and my curls were close to non-exsistent, How long does it usually take for them to bounce back? I have very thick type 3b/3c hair. its been maybe 3 weeks and its still not curling up the same:( I never thought i would miss the thickness of my hair until now.

Firstly, let me lend you my condolences. I know that exact feeling of hysteria while waiting on your hair to snap back after it’s been straightened. this is the very reason that I pretty much only straighten my hair a handful of times a year, even in winter–because it feels like such a gamble doesn’t it?!! sure everything went well last time, but what if THIS time is the time that your curls are ironed out for good?? It has happened! I hear stories all the time about women who straightened their hair once and their precious curls were never seen again. This fear is what keeps me from only straightening my hair only a handful of times each year.

But, I DO straighten it, and I have had scares. I can’t say whether or not your curl pattern has been shot or give a direct prescription on how to get it back, because I don’t know what kind of temperament your hair has (I know you gave me your hair type, but I kind of think hair typing is a bunch of BS so I don’t pay that system any attention) and I don’t know what your straightening routine is like. And also, you just never know—it really can be a gamble every time you straighten your curls. I can share my story and offer some tips, though.

I kept wearing my hair straight after transitioning for nearly 2 years. Throughout my transition and for months after, I washed, blew out, and flatironed my hair every two to three weeks. Miraculously, I didn’t sustain any major heat damage. It took me quite awhile to find the balls to wear my hair curly after I cut it, and even after I found them and grew to love what my hair does naturally, I still straightened at least once a month. There was never any damage, no scares—until one day.

I straightened my hair as usual, wore it straight for about two weeks, then washed it out and my curls just kind of laid there there. my curls weren’t as curly, my coils weren’t as coily, and it was just an overall boring, undefined, lazy mess. I freaked AAAALLL the way out, but calmed down after I asked the handful of naturals I knew if I was in trouble. They all said that it can take a few washes before your curls bounce all the way back, so I tried hard to be patient. Over the next month or so, I had to do a LOT of loving and apologizing to my hair, and it eventually came back.

Here are some things to remember and practice when you find yourself ready to put out an APB for your curls after a harsh straightening.

Know the difference between what your hair does naturally, and what you want it to do. I don’t mean to insult your intelligence here because you may already know this, but one scalp can produce like a THOUSAND different textures. Before you freak out about part of your hair not curling the right way, be sure to note: has it ever curled up like I wanted it to? It could be that your hair just doesn’t do what you want it to do naturally, and there is not a product in existence that you can rub in your hair that will give it curls that you don’t have. I don’t care what the packaging says. Products ENHANCE your hair texture; they can’t change it without some chemical process. So, be sure that what you’re seeing is an actual change in the hair texture that you have. If it is, then you’re all clear for freak out.

Don’t freak out just yet! Remember: it can take a few washes before your curls come all the way back. While you’re waiting, take extra extra fabulous care of it. Here are some things you can do:

• Clarify your hair. By this I mean give it a good deep cleaning to remove any product build-up that may be left in your hair from your straightening session. A lot of the products we put in our hair when straightening contain silicones, mineral oils, and petrolatum, which can all weight down your natural curls. Get them out of there! Give your hair a good shampooing with a sulfate shampoo (this is important; sulfates are the only/best way to remove mineral oil and silicon from your hair), and/or an apple cider vinegar rinse. When I had my curl scare, I did both—shampooed, then followed with an ACV rinse. The ACV always seems to breathe life into my curls—I try to do it once a month as part of my regular routine.
• Moisture moisture moisture! To get your curls at their springy spoingy best, moisture is always the key, especially when dealing with distressed hair. You should keep it good and moisturized anyway, but doubly so now. Co-wash more often (if co-washing is your thing—my hair personally doesn’t like it so much); seal your ends with a good oil; pre-poo before every sulfate wash, and follow it up with a good deep conditioning; try a hot oil treatment; keep your scalp oiled and supple (coconut oil is GREAT for dry scalps); whatever processes and products give you the most moisture, go for those and obsess over them for the next few weeks while loving your hair back to its regularly scheduled bounciness.

Make sure you’re straightening routine is as healthy as it can be. The best way to nurse your curls back to health is to not hurt them in the first place. I personally don’t think any straightening routine is guaranteed—it’s kind of like birth control pills. Sure, your womb is 99% protected, but there’s still that 1% to worry about. There’s always a chance you could be sent down a path of hysterical sorrow in both cases. But, to be as safe as you can, make sure these steps and tips have a place in your routine:

• Pre-poo and Deep Condition. You’ll want to make sure your hair is at it’s strongest to withstand the heat you’re about to put on it, so do what you can to get some good nourishers and conditioners and moisturizers in there. Start with a pre-poo to keep your shampoo from stripping too much of your hair’s natural oils and follow it with a deep condition to replace what moisture is lost. Personally, I always DC with my favorite oil and Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In whenever I straighten my hair. Speaking of…
• Use products with silicon. The silicon adds a protective barrier between your hair shaft and your straightening tool. I know that usually naturals don’t dig silicon too much, but here’s one time when it’s very helpful.
• Use a heat protectant. I will admit—this is something that I do not do. For some reason, my hair looks horrible when I use a heat protectant, but I recognize that this is just my hair’s response to them, and I still know how important it is to protect your hair from heat as best you can. So definitely, use a heat protectant—you can probably find one that works for you (I just got lazy in my search for one…if my hair falls out the next time I straighten, it’s my own damn fault!). Better safe than sorry!
• Don’t get that iron too hot! If you’re like me, you don’t believe anything until it burns a little bit. I need my mouthwash to scald me just a tad bit in the gums before my mouth feels clean, and if I don’t see a little smoke, I usually don’t feel like my hair’s really getting straight. This is a mistake. You don’t have to go overboard with the heat; being too reckless with that flat iron dial great way to get an accidental perm.
• When in doubt, LET A PROFESSIONAL DO IT. Seriously. If you’re not sure of what you’re doing or if you’re doing the right things, stop. Go to a salon. At least if they screw your head up, you’ve got someone to sue.

If after a 3-4 weeks your curls still haven’t come back from their vacation, it may be time to break the news to yourself that they may never be coming home L All you can really do is take the best care of your hair that you can (who knows? They might pop back in time for Thanksgiving dinner!) and learn to work with your new texture. And remember: it’s just hair. It will grow back in its regular, normal happy little curly pattern. Take the lessons learned and be careful to walk a better path next time! This whole hair thing is trial and error—if you learn from the errors, it makes it worth it.

At least that’s what I tell myself when I make some bad choices and have to walk around looking like this all day.

Good luck! Hope this helped!

EVERYONE, PLEASE NOTE: when you win a giveaway, you MUST keep an eye on this tumblr or the Natural Hair Problems blog (or my twitter feed) to be notified of your win! I cannot hunt you down! you have one week to email me with your shipping information to actually receive your winnings, otherwise it’ll be featured in another giveaway, just like I’m bout to do with this unclaimed Darcy’s Botanicals Watermelon Oil.  and as a matter of fact, let’s give that oil away right now!

since the winner never emailed me to claim her prize, it’s up for grabs again.  this time, only subscribers of this blog are eligible to win.  i will tell you that there are less than 10 subscribers as of now, so you small handful of souls have a have a GREAT chance of winning!  to subscribe, mosey on over to the right hand side of this page and hit the “sign me up!” button.  yall have until the end of this week to subscribe!  on saturday, i’ll be emailing subscribers with instructions on how to win and what to do.

you don’t have to, of course, but if you don’t, then no delicious watermelon oil for you!!

Anonymous asked:

I just can’t do a good wash & go to save my life! Do you do them? How do you do yours, what process?

As someone submitted as a natural hair problem a while ago, a wash-n-go isn’t really a wash-n-got for many naturals, myself included.  My process isn’t the simplest out there, but it works well for me, which is good because it’s pretty much the only hairstyle I can do.  Here’s what I do and what I use:

1.  Pre-poo. If my hair is feeling particularly dry, and I don’t have an insane amount of product already in it, I’ll start off with a pre-poo using Cantu Shea Butter Leave In.  I ONLY USE THIS when I know for sure I’ll be washing with a sulfate shampoo; conditioners and no-poo shampoos will not remove this product from your hair due to all the silicon in it.  (If you’re against using products with silicon in them, avoid this at all costs; you can use any oil or water based moisturizer to pre-poo).  I’ll wet my hair, either in the shower or with a spray bottle in sections (9 times out of 10 I go for the spray bottle to save water).  Then, in sections, I apply a generous amount of Cantu, then comb it though with my Denman brush, detangling.  Since my hair is so curly, I comb it out 2 or 3 times during the entire process to make sure the product is getting in and around all my strands really well, and to make sure that my curls are as defined as possible in the end—when it curls up, it’s kind of hard to work with, and detangling helps me manage.  I usually only do this step about once a month.

2.  Wash.  I wash my hair once a week with a sulfate shampoo to remove all the stuff I put in it over the course of 7 days.  As I’ve said before in an entry here, I don’t really care about shampoo as far as brand is concerned.  Right now I’m using Herbal Essences Color Me Happy shampoo because it smells good, I caught it on sale, and I needed something to try and love up on these lazy color treated ends of mine (note:  I recommend using products for color treated hair all the time, even if your hair isn’t colored, because they’re supposed to have extra conditioners and nourishers to care for colored hair.  surely that can’t hurt uncolored hair!) I don’t co-wash my hair very much because it usually comes out looking a limp, funky tragedy.  When I do, it’s usually because my hair is an extra special mess or I tried a hairstyle that failed and I don’t have time for my full wash routine.

3.  (Deep) Condition.  I deep condition my hair once a week.  I usually use a mixture of my favorite conditioner, which is Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Conditioner, and whatever oil I happen to be using at the moment, or a mixture of my favorite conditioner and an expressly formulated deep conditioner.  Two that I’ve tried and liked (or at least didn’t hate) are Darcy’s Botanicals’ Deep Conditioning Mask (which I didn’t hate but wasn’t too impressed with) and Shea Moisture’s Deep Treatment Masque (which I actually really liked).  Whatever else I use, my Trader Joe’s is always the staple.  After rinsing the shampoo from my hair, I slather on my deep conditioning product/s while my hair is very wet (the product usually soaks up the water very quickly) and again comb it through in sections with my Denman brush (if I already detangled during my pre-poo, this next detangling is very quick and easy on the hair, so I don’t worry much about breakage or excess shedding.  This may not work well for everybody, but it works for me).

When I’m too lazy to deep condition or just don’t feel like I need it, I take my Trader Joe’s conditioner, use as regular, and rinse out (I have a special bottle of TJ’s Nourish conditioner that I use only as a rinse-out that I’ve boosted with flax seed oil, honey, and a little lemon juice.  I finger comb it through my hair while in the shower, WHICH I HATE DOING BECAUSE IT TAKES FOREVER).

4.  Rinse & style.  After rinsing well with warm water, I always follow with a cold water rinse to seal the hair cuticle and (supposedly) add extra shine and sheen to the length of my hair.  I actually don’t know that this makes a difference on my hair, but I read it somewhere once and have been doing it ever since, just in case.  I wring my hair dry as best I can, then wrap it up in a towel to let it soak up the excess water.  I don’t worry about frizz, because I’ll wet my hair with a spray bottle again.  Then I section my hair and get ready to start applying my products and comb it out one more time.  Those products are, always in this order:

• A Leave-In.  I take a section and wet it with my spray bottle—to get the best curl definition, I HAVE to apply product while my hair is wet.  Not sopping and dripping, but more than damp to the touch.  The moisturizing products I put in my hair help to lock in the moisture, helping to make the curls look as much like they do when they’re wet as possible.  I’m currently using Kinky-Curly’s Knot Today.  I put it on my hair and comb it through quickly with my Denman.
• Moisturizer.  Next, I apply whatever moisturizer I’m using on top of the Leave-In.  Right now, I am in absolute and total love with Syd & Mea’s Finishing Slick, which I reviewed here.  It’s amazing (the winner of my Syd & Mea’s giveaway loves it too–read her review here!).  When I don’t have that, I use Karen’s Body Beautiful’s Butter Love.  It works just as well, but I much prefer Syd & Mea’s.
• Holder.  The last step is a product to give my curls a little hold and help fight frizz (though the Syd & Mea’s Finishing Slick does a GREAT job at minimizing frizz on its own for my hair).  A gel, a pomade, something like that.  I don’t use a lot, because I’m afraid of it drying hard and ending up looking like a Jheri Curl.  My favorite holder is Fantasia IC Gel with Sparklites for Color Treated Hair, but right now I’m using Darcy’s Botanicals’ Curling Gelly.  I only use an itty bitty teeny tiny bit.

Now my final step depends on what typed of curls I want to have.  If I want a finish that is more afro than coily curls, I just fluff the section, shake it out a bit, and let it do what it does.  But I usually prefer a finish with longer, more defined coils, so what I do is comb the section through once more with my Denman to smooth it all out, then rake my comb my fingers through the section.  This will cause the curls in my hair to clump up, latch on to each other and form bigger, more defined curls.

So, it’s not really a wasn & go.  It’s a wash, do lots of other stuff, and THEN go.  Hope this helps!

as you click around the company’s “about our products” page, you can tell that these folks really know their stuff; there’s plenty of information and things to learn about, from protein-moisture balances to humectants.  and see that pretty super happy smiley lady down there at the bottom?  that’s Marissa Swan, the company’s owner and a complete sweetheart.  in our correspondence, she’s always sure to ask me how i’m doing, how life is going and all that good stuff when in theory, she could just be like, ‘push my products and leave me alone.’  i believe in good things coming to good people, and she deserves the success she’s found with her company!

she sent me two conditioners, one to try, one to give away.  i closed my eyes and chose the one i was going to try and pulled the Shea n’ Fruit Conditioner and Leave-In.  i love that lots of her products have dual usages–this one functions as a conditioner AND a leave in; the other product is a leave-in and moisturizer. the website says that it also tested well as a cleanser; i didn’t try it as a cleanser because my head is big, i have a lot of hair, and i’m very heavy handed with products.  i didn’t want to use too much.  i will though!

the packaging is very clean and simple, just what i like in a product; i don’t know why, but i always feel like a product with simple packaging on the outside also has good clean simple ingredients on the inside.  this product is no exception–lots of yummy oils and fruit extracts.

i like this product best as a moisturizing leave-in.  the texture is pretty thick, and since i detangle my hair while it’s wet and full of conditioner, i like to use one with a little more slip than this provides.  also, i know that if i used it as a conditioner, i’d blow through the bottle in no time; its a little skinny.  that thickness and volume is perfect for use as a leave-in though; it definitely does what it’s supposed to do (moisturize and protect), and i think it also supports and works well any other products your may use with it–not all products play well together.

i really like the scent too; very light, lemony, and slightly fruity–not all crazy and overpowering like some stuff.

would i consider this product a staple?  i don’t know.  i don’t feel like i can’t live without it, but it is a good sturdy standard to have around, and at only 11 bucks or so a bottle, i’d definitely replace it when i ran out.  it definitely makes me want to try out some of Bear Fruit Hair’s other products, and i encourage you to do so!  click here to look at the tons of stuff they have!

want to try a little something something out for free?  i’ve got a bottle of Desert Castor Seed Moisturizer & Leave-In with your name on it!  here’s how you can win:

1. follow me on twitter and tweet/retweet the following message:  “I just entered to win a free moisturizer from @bearfruithair and @brokeymcpoverty! http://bit.ly/mY9MrM″  (my account is locked, but i’ll approve you!)

2.  like brokey mcpoverty on facebook, then find the post that says “Like this post to win a free bottle of Desert Castor Seed Moisturizer & Leave-In from Bear Fruit Hair!” & like it

3.  leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite type of moisturizer is.  is it store bought?  one you make yourself?  share!

4.  follow natural hair problems on tumblr, find the post announcing this review and give away, & reblog it

5.  an extra way to win!  subscribe to this blog by entering your email in the ‘subscribe’ box over there on the right hand side of this site.  all subscribers are automatically entered in all giveaways!

you don’t have to do all three, but you get one entry for each that you do (just one each though!  multiple retweets won’t get you multiple entries!)  winner will be picked at random at midnight on Wednesday, August 31st.

congratulations to miss deonna!  you were picked at random to receive a free bottle of DB’s watermelon seed oil!  you have until friday to email me with your preferred shipping address at brokeymcpoverty@gmail.com.  if i don’t hear from you, i pick another winner!

new giveaway from Bear Fruit Hair coming up this week.. stay tuned!

via merakisoul.wordpress.com

Anonymous asked:

Hi! first off i love this blog! right now i am transitioning, and i’m about half-way along. any tips?

i’m so glad u like the site, and congratulations on transitioning (if congratulations are given for that sort of thing)!  i transitioned forEVER–nearly two years–and now that i’ve been on the other side for almost three years, I think i can lend you a few pointers.

1.  keep heat usage to a minimum.  too much heat on curly hair can result in heat damage, potentially hurting or ruining your curl pattern. use it sparingly! take this time to practice protective styling, like twists, braid-outs, and sew-ins.  read more about protective styling here.

2.  read and research! you want to be as ready as you can to start styling and properly caring for your hair right out of the gate. there’s no possible way you’ll learn everything there is to know before you’re ready to holler at the scissors–there’s ALWAYS something new to learn–but why not knock out some of those hours you’ll spend reading about your destination while you’re en route?  make sure you know the basics at the very least; here’s a quick summation of those basics here, and you’ll DEFINITELY want to have this natural hair dictionary handy.

3.  don’t have ANY expectations.  there’s no such thing as a “right” or “wrong” kind of natural hair.  if you go into this wanting long, silky corkscrews or fluffy, cottony kinks, you’re setting yourself up to be disappointed.  hair  texture is as different and distinct as fingerprints are.  let yours do what it will do, and embrace whatever it does.  all hair is different—yours may not look like your hair idol’s; products that your favorite hair forum poster love may have you looking a mess.  expect and accept that and look forward to learning and (hopefully) loving your hair.

4.  expensive does NOT equal better!  this is the main thing I wish someone would have told me in my early days.  I was buying up EVERYTHING and wasting good money on stuff I thought was guaranteed to make me look fab because it cost a lot. just because a product has fancy packaging, a flashy website, and a big price tag does NOT mean it’s the best thing out there, or the best thing for your particular head of hair.  though this is probably something that all naturals have to find out on their own in their product junkieness, try to remember that a 99 cent bottle of conditioner can do you just as good or better than a $15 one.

5.  hang in there!  expect to want to quit at some point.  When your roots are staging a good ol fashioned back-to-africa sit-in and your ends are trying to bribe you to go back to that jar of Dudley’s, try your best to hold out.  transitioning to anything new can be difficult, and you will absolutely go through some ridiculous looking days as your hair becomes who it is.  accept it, get ready for it, and commit to being fierce in spite of.  it IS possible. don’t quit!

6.  if you do quit, remember—it’s just hair.  you won’t be a huge failure if you don’t see it through.  if you make it, but don’t like it, it doesn’t have to mean you’re a self-hating assimilite.  the sister with the Angela Davis blowout is not one stitch better or blacker than you are.  it’s just hair; the important thing is what’s beneath it.

i hope this helps some!  good luck, and have fun!