I'm back + My Fall 2014 Updated Hair Regimen

Hey kurlies,

I am so happy to be back. If you haven't noticed, I took a brief hiatus to complete my comps paper and prepare for the school year. Now, that those things are out of the way, I am back with some exciting new blog posts. Whoop! Whoop!

I thought I would kick off with a post that included my updated hair regimen because I have added as well as subtracted some items from my hair regimen. Now, I modify my hair regimen by the season to adjust to weather changes, hair health needs, lifestyle changes, etc. and I think this is super important in maintaining healthy hair. 

My current hair regimen has to be simple yet effective for this fall semester. Between family, teaching, classes, practicum, and assignments (the list really could go on), I need a hair regimen that will work with my schedule but still provide optimal hair health and style. 

Internal Hair Regimen

• I take one prenatal vitamin and biotin per day.
• I drink 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. 
• My diet is mainly pollo-pescetarian, which means my meals consist of fish, chicken, vegetables, and fruit. I eat this way about 85%-90% of the time. 
• I work out at least 3 to 4 times per week (running, lifting weights, etc.). 

External Hair Regimen

• Daily, I moisturize my hair with my water/ aloe juice spray mix and my homemade moisturizing mix. (Click here to read about it.). My spray mix is 2/3 water and 1/3 aloe vera juice. My homemade moisturizing mix contains shea butter and an assortment of oils, which I do switch out depending on the needs of my hair. I've been using this combination the whole summer and my hair is MOISTURIZED and my LENGTH RETENTION IS ON POINT.
• During the school week, I wear my hair in medium size twists as a protective style. 

Twisted Updos

The front

The back 

• I typically wear my hair out on the weekend. To achieve a braid out, I section my hair, moisturize the section (using the spray mix and moisturizing mix mentioned above), and create braids all over my head. On average, I have about 10-12 plaits. I then cover my head with a satin cap to allow the style to set over night. 
• WASH ROUTINE: Bi weekly, I wash my hair. This is a two part  process for me:
• The night before I  detangle my hair and place it in large twists. Then I use a pre-poo mix of coconut oil and honey, and I tie my head in a plastic bag to let it marinate over night. Check out the post on my pre-poo regimen here. 
• The next day, I rinse the pre-poo out with warm water.  I proceed to wash my hair with a mixture: 4/5 water and 1/5 baking soda in an applicator bottle. Rinse with warm water. Next, I condition with Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise for 15 minutes. Rinse again, and then deep condition with a plastic cap for 45 minutes (way over the time limit it says on the products's directions) using Elasta QP DPR 11. Then I moisturize and style my hair with my spray mix and moisturizing hair cream  listed above. 

Pictures of the Hair Products used in My Wash Routine (Special Request): 

My Pre-Poo Products

Products for the Wash

Conditioning Agents

My Moisturizing and Styling Products

• I am using Jamila henna purchased from my local Indian market. I henna at least quarterly (once every three months). I have been asked to do a post on my henna process so that will be coming soon.

That's it! This is my updated products and hair regimen. Let me know if you have any specific questions about my hair regimen. Also, you can read about my past hair regimens from the Summer and Spring. 

What's your current regimen? What are some of your staple products? 

Until next time...

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous

Kurly Ken

My Summer Hair Regimen

Hey Kurlies,

When I hear the word summer, I think of one word: RELAX! Doesn't everyone!?!?! It's one of the best times of year to engage in rest and rejuvenation. This summer I'll be incorporating this theme for a more relaxed hair regimen for the rejuvenation of my tresses. Today's post is dedicated to discussing my weekly summer hair regimen.

First off, for the month of June, I have been rocking mini twists. For whatever reason, my hair grows a lot during the summer months, and if I can maintain low manipulation/ protective hairstyles, I am able to retain more hair length. 

Now, let's talk about my regimen for my mini twists. Monday through Sunday (except on Friday), I have been lightly applying my aloe/water spray mix to my hair and moisturizing my ends using a dollop of my homemade moisturizing cream (Read about it here). Friday has been my designated wash/ scalp cleaning day!!! On Friday evening, I have been taking some cotton pads soaked with witch hazel and cleaning my scalp! I clean my scalp this way to minimize the frizz and tangles associated with washing my hair in mini twists. This has been the result when I have attempted to wash my mini twist in the past, and it wasn't pretty or fun to take down. Can we say knots on top of knots!?!?! After I clean my scalp, I'll spray and moisturize my hair with the same products from the other days.

My hair regimen is pretty easy, right? It;s been pretty low maintenance for the most part. My hair has been easier to moisturize with the twists in my head, and my night time routine has been less than five minutes, including moisturizing my hair and placing my satin cap on my head. Definition of SIMPLE! 

With the end of June on the horizon, I plan on switching up my hairstyle. For July, I plan on installing box braids. Winning!!! I seriously can't wait! I love braids!  I'll figure out a hair regimen for my braids soon, but I am sure it will be similar to my mini twists regimen. 

 Box braid memories from January/ February 2014! How I miss them so!?! 

What's your summer hair regimen? What favorite products are you digging right now? Are you keeping the same hair products for summer or are you switching up? 

Until next time...
Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,
Kurly Ken

My Hair Regimen

Hey Kurl Friends,

I get so many questions regarding my hair products and practices. Soooo.... I decided to share my hair regimen.

The Background: When I first went natural, I have to admit that I was consumed with the techniques everyone else was doing on their hair and what products I should be using to achieve the same results. Now, three years later, through trial and error, I finally realized I had to do what was best for me, my schedule, and my 4a/4b tresses.

The Breakdown: I like to break my hair regimen down into two different perspective: internal and external. My internal regimen consist of things that I currently do internally to enhance my hair growth through a healthy living. My external regimen are the external things I do to enhance my hair growth through hair products and practices.

Internal Hair Regimen

• I take one prenatal vitamin, biotin, and fish oil per day.
• I drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. 
• My diet is mainly pollo-pescetarian, which means my meals consist of fish, chicken, vegetables, and fruit.
• I work out at least 3 to 4 times per week. 

External Hair Regimen

• Daily, I moisturize my hair with aloe vera gel, unrefined shea butter, and olive oil. I mix these three items in one container to use as my "hair cream". 
• At night, I section my hair and create plaits all over my head. Yes, the same plaits Celie wore on The Color Purple!  On average, I have about 10-12 plaits. I then cover my head with a satin cap.

Don't you dare judge me or my

plaits...Lol!?!

• Bi weekly, I wash my hair. I currently wash my hair with a mixture: 4/5 water and 1/5 baking soda. Rinse with warm water. Next, I condition with Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise for 15 minutes. Rinse again, and then deep condition with a plastic cap for 45 minutes (way over the time limit it says on the products's directions) using Elasta QP DPR 11. Then I apply my hair cream listed above. 
• Monthly, I was (notice I said was) using Jamila henna purchased from my local Indian market, but I have gotten lazy over the course of this semester. Plus, henna can be quite time consuming and messy. In spite of these little setbacks and lazy moments, I have big plans to resume my henna regimen at least quarterly (once every three months).

That is my hair regimen in a nut shell! It is continuously changing as I figure out things that work better for me. If there are any questions regarding my hair regimen, please feel free to ask in the comment's section. 

Also, feel free to share your hair regimen or some products/practices that work great for you!