My Hair Lately: Photo Blitz

Long story short, I got a new job, moved to a different state, and started graduate school. That's why I haven't been posting here :( Fortunately, my hair is still growing. Below is a photo blitz that shows the current length of hair. As fair as health...I'm working on that (installing protective twists tonight). My goal is low heat low manipulation for the rest of winter!

If you have any questions about how I created these styles, drop me a line!

PEACE and LOVE,

APHROKiKi

Deep Conditioning Treatment of the Week: Honey-Mayo Miracle Masque

     As a 4c kinky haired girl, I try to deep condition my hair at least once a week so that my hair gets the nourishment it needs to keep growing. For the past few weeks, I've had my hair in Senegalese twists, which I uninstalled about a week ago. After many days in the sun and at the pool, my tresses were in dire need of moisture and repair. This week I returned to my tried and true, semi-homemade hair masque to restore my fro to its full glory. I started using the DR. MIRACLES FOLLICLE HEALER  deep conditioner treatment last winter, and to my surprise, I really really like this product! I originally started using this product because I detested the smell of the mayonnaise mask I was using at home. I liked the benefits of using mayo, but I just couldn't stomach the smell or the texture. Luckily, I came across this Dr. Miracles product in the isle of my local dollar store, and on a whim I added it to my Mayo masque. I named this deep conditioning treatment the Honey-Mayo Miracle Masque. Check the ingredients below:

the follicle healer treatment cost about $1.25

2-3 Tblsp of MAYO

2-3 Tblsp of HONEY

1 packet of DR. MIRACLES FOLLICLE HEALER

 1-2 drops of  OIL (I used olive and vitamin E oils)

* make sure you have equal parts mayo and honey for a consistent texture.

     I mix these ingredients in a small mixing bowl and the mayo was transformed into a caramel colored- silky textured hair masque. What's more, I didn't smell mayo at all! I prepped my hair for deep conditioning by spritzing apple cider vinegar on my scalp and strands. I then applied the mixture to my hair and waited about 45 minutes, then I co-washed and styled my hair as usual. I give this treatment 4 out of 5 ankhs because my hair just loves it. My curls are SOFT and SPRINGY the next day too. Just look at this super defined twist out! Let me remind you, I have 4c hair and achieving definition is veeerry rare!

defined strands after untwisting.

this is what my hair looked like after fluffing and separating.

smiling because my hair is crazy defined, frizz free!

 PEACE and LOVE,

aphroKiKi

P.S. Let me know if you use this recipe and if it works for you too!

Aphro Aspirations Celebrity Spotlight Edition: Solange

     Anybody who knows anything about me, knows just how much I am obsessed, perhaps too obsessed with Solange Knowles. I however, like to think that it is a healthy obsession, because let's face the facts here, Solange is way inspirational. My fascination with all things Solange doesn't just stem from the fact that she wears natural hair, but the fact that she's an amazing vocal artist who isn't afraid to express herself creatively and say exactly what is on her mind at any given time. Those of you who follow her on twitter know exactly what I'm talking about. Her "take no prisoners" attitude is the essence of what it means to be an individual and to honor your most authentic self. Oh! Not to mention, she just started her own record label --Saint Records with Sony. This woman defines badassery. If you don't know what I'm taking about, just take a look at the pictures below.

AphroKiKi Vlogs: Accidental Twist Out Edition!

This post speaks for itself....literally!

An aphroKiKi Review: Carol's Daughter Monoi

Click here to try these products for yourself!

     It's been a while since I've done a review, and I've been postponing this one for two reasons. The first reason is that I've just been enjoying these products so thoroughly, and secondly, I wanted to make sure they actually delivered the results promised.
     Before I get into the actual review, let me just say, these were a Christmas gift and I don't normally spend exorbitant amounts of money on hair products! That being said, I probably won't make them a part of my weekly routine because they are a bit pricey-- at least to me they are-- for those naturals who got it like that and can afford to make high end hair products a part of your regimen, I ain't mad at ya! Well, maybe just a little. Even though I would consider them to be high end hair products (the conditioner cost about $20 and the split end sealer was $25), these products are not all natural (!!!) But, moving on!
     I began using The Carol's Daughter MONOI REPAIRING CONDITIONER AND REPAIRING SPLIT END SEALER in January. Used in conjunction, these products claim to produce 92% less breakage and 93.3% fewer split ends instantly. The conditioner contains Cetyl alcohol, glycerin, and fragrance. Speaking of fragrance, both of these products are VERY HIGHLY scented, almost to the point where it can be a little overwhelming at first. It smells as if they emptied an entire bottle of expensive perfume into the container. I found that after about 2 uses I got acclimated to it, and I even got a few compliments that my hair smelled great. Also, the conditioner has Shea butter, Coconut oil, and two sulfates-- Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Centrimonium Methosulfate. So as far as ingredients go, the conditioner has a balance of the natural and synthetic.  I noticed that the thick, creamy texture of the conditioner really agrees with my 4C hair and works well as a Co-wash conditioner. Though it didn't leave my hair feeling stripped, it doesn't provide the best slip, so you really want to make sure that you detangle your hair well beforehand. After rinsing, my hair felt soft and silky-- probably due to the hydrolyzed silk. In total, you get 8.5 ounces of conditioner which is good for about 5-7 wash days. I alternate between the Carol's Daughter conditioner and the Organix Coconut condtioner, and I only really use the Monoi collection when my hair is feeling fragile and can use a boost.

5 months without a trim! Look at my ends!!!

    After Co-washing and light blow-drying I applied the split end sealer, starting with my ends, and working my way up the hair shaft to the roots. I didn't notice an immediate change, but my hair did feel smoother. The following day, my hair was less frizzy and my twist-out was more defined. I've used the split end sealer pretty consistently over the past three months, and I do notice less shedding and breakage. In fact, I may continue to purchase this product, once every three months or so, because I do feel like it has helped me retain  length. I haven't had to trim my hair at all, and whenever my hair gets a little frazzled, I slick some of it on, and my hair looks freshly trimmed the next day. The SPLIT END SEALER is more of a serum than a creme or butter in consistency and is alcohol, paraben, petroleum, and mineral oil free. Like the conditioner, it contains Monoi oil and a blend of Tiare Gardenia Flower and Copra Coconut Oil. It also has another of my favorite ingredients, Babassu oil which is very strengthening.
     If I had to choose, I would recommend the split end sealer over the  conditioner because it's a life saver! I'm sure they work best when used together; I really have noticed a difference in the texture and resiliency of my hair after prolonged usage of both of these items. If I had the cash, I would probably make them staples because they deliver what they promise. If you're hair is in need of some TLC and you want to treat yourself a bit, these are definitely the products to splurge on!

PEACE and LOVE,

aphroKiKi

Regimen Reloaded!

I'm so hype about my hair today!

Product Dream Team!

After a week of utter lethargy, I'm back in the swing of things with my regimen. Well, at least for now I am. Also, I've added a few new products and procedures to my hair care routine. I recently started using COCONUT OIL, which I am now obsessed with-- not only does my hair love it, but so does my skin. I will probably use this stuff until I die (not to be morbid, but real talk, I will). I also bought CASTOR OIL, which I use to seal my ends-- again, I really should have started using this stuff earlier. My hair is shiny and moisturized with each application, plus, it's a really light oil so it doesn't weigh my hair down. I want to briefly mention two new products that I will be reviewing sometime in the near future. The first is Carol's Daughter MONOI SPLIT END SEALER and Organix COCONUT MILK CONDITIONER. I've used them together for the first time today and I'm so pleased with the results! Here's a picture of what my hair looks like today; this is a braid-out on FIRST DAY HAIR!!! I know my 4C girls feel me on this because my hair never looks this stretched or this defined the day after washing it. As a part of my wash-day regimen, I clarified my hair with diluted apple cider vinegar which I let sit for about 10-15 minutes. I then co-washed with Organix Conditioner. After my hair air dried about 30% of the way, I applied the coconut oil and split end sealer to my hair in small sections which I then blow dried (using the tension drying method..check the YT for tutorials). Note that I only dried my hair about 75% of the way, on medium heat, and let it air dry over night. I braided with African Pride's BOUNCY CURL PUDDING (review coming soon). I took down my braids this morning and I'm so hype about the results. I hope you all are having a great hair day too! 

PEACE & LOVE,

AphroKiKi

AphroKiKi's Deep Conditioning Treatment of the Week

Coconut oil, Olive Oil, Honey, Egg (for added protein)

So it's that time in my regimen to deep condition. I've actually been avoiding my hair regimen for a few days (which I now regret!), because of unnecessary laziness on my part. I'm ashamed to admit that it's going on two weeks since I actually washed my hair. Alas, I have to take care of my strands eventually, and there is no better way to nurse it back to health than with a hot oil treatment. I combined Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, and Honey for my deep conditioning treatment. Whenever I use this combination of ingredients, my hair is instantly softer, shinier, and moisturized. I mix them all together, heat in the microwave for one minute, and apply directly to my scalp and hair shaft. I let it sit for about 25-30 minutes, then I co-wash, apply leave-in conditioner, and then I can decide on a style. It's a long process, but you natural gals are already accustomed to time-consuming hair care! WE GOT THIS!
That's it for now! Gotta go wash my hairrrrrs! 

Nite,

AphroKiKI

Farewell Marley Twists!

This style was a great way to switch up my routine.

Now  that it's week 4, it's time to say goodbye!

I could keep them for  two more weeks, but my hair needs some TLC.

Now I'm off the take them down and do a hot oil treatment!

Bye Bye Marley Twists!

Thoughts on Thursday: To Flat Iron or Not to Flat Iron?

     Let's talk about something that is a little controversial in the natural hair community: heat manipulation! The impression I get from watching several Naturalistas on YT, the verdict on flat ironing  is very divided-- some naturals use heat with much success  some forbid and abhor it, and others remain undecided. I think I'm of the undecided/ neutral variety. It's very hard for me to say what someone should or shouldn't do with their hair because I believe in experimentation, especially if you're newly natural and you're just learning about all the wonderful things your hair can do. I've straightened my hair four or five times, and each time I achieved different results. I always made sure to use some form of heat protectant-- whether it be oil or some other heat protectant product (I hear grape seed oil is great for this). Furthermore, I only flat iron my hair once or twice a year, usually because I want to check my length and trim my ends if needed. I will say this much-- I have never succeeded in getting my hair bone straight. My natural texture is extremely thick and because I never get it super straight, it ends up looking like a blowout after one day.

     I won't sit here and say that I'm not somewhat paranoid about what heat manipulation is doing to my hair. Sometimes I worry that straightening my hair could be stunting my growth (even though I only do it twice a year) or that I may get heat damage and my kinks wont bounce back. To ensure that I'm protecting my hair from heat damage, I deep condition my hair two or three days before I flat iron, and I wear styles like braid outs or flat twists that stretch my natural pattern. I notice that when my hair is already stretched, half of the flat ironing battle is already won. I proceed to add oil to each stretched section, comb through to detangle, blow dry on low heat, and THEN and only then do I pass the flat iron over my hair--and I was surprised to find that just one time is all it takes! Another lesson I learned, is that I shouldn't apply heat to my hair when it starts to revert; instead I should wear styles that really showcase my stretched hair. All of these tips I picked up by watching hair videos-- gotta love YT!

Two days post flat iron: It looks like a blow out!

     I flat ironed my hair about two weeks ago just to gauge my length and see how much my hair had grown since last year. I was happy to see that I retained a few inches and that my ends were in pretty good condition. I probably wont use intense heat on my hair until May, which marks the anniversary of my last relaxer. It will be interesting to compare photos of my relaxed hair with photos of my flat ironed natural hair. Every once in a while I get the itch to flat iron, but then I hear my inner voice preaching to myself that heat should be used in moderation. What do you think? Do you incorporate heat styling into your regimen? Or do you think that flat ironing your hair is plain unlawful? I would love to hear thoughts, ideas and suggestions!

AphroKiKi

Aphro Aspirations

Just some pictures of Naturals doing the damn thang.

I wish I had this definition and length.

Serious Aphro Envy.

Stretched fro.

The neatest Bantu Knots I've ever seen, done by Africancreature

Keep it nappy ya'll!

AphroKiKI

Beautiful Textures: A Product Review

    

     I discovered Beautiful Textures when I attended the Taliah Wajiid Natural Hair Show in Atlanta earlier this year, and let me just tell you, I'm glad I did! Beautiful Textures creates products for mixed textures including curly, wavy, kinky-coily, and frizzy hair. I was able to get my hands on a full-sized sample of their Tangle Taming Leave-In conditioner at the hair show which by the way, if you ever have a chance to attend definitely go because many product lines will happily give you samples. I left with two big totes of samples and discount coupons to use online!

      But back to Beautiful Textures. The leave-in conditioner is certainly in the top ten list of my favorite products. It is enriched with aloe vera, olive, soy, Argan oil, and shea and mango butters. It is very light so it is perfect for detangling before or after washing your hair, and it is perfect for wet twist outs. You could also use it on dry hair, just to add a bit of moisture-- just rub a bit on your palms and run you hands over your hair and you're good to go. I used this mostly on my protective styles during the summer so that my natural hair, even though it was in braids,stayed moisturized. Also, scent-wise it was very light-- you can really pick up the notes of shea butter and mango. I noticed that my hair always felt super soft when I used this product so I will definitely purchase more. You can find it at Sally Beauty for about $6. A steal!!

       Another product I really like from this line is the Curl Control Defining Pudding. It has the same enriching ingredients as the Leave-in conditioner, so you get a double dose of goodies for your hair. I use this product for styling on damp/mostly dry hair-- that means I use it for my twist outs, braid outs, flat twist outs, and bantu knot outs. It does a great job of detangling my 4c hair and setting the styles so I achieve the desired curl and definition. It is creamy in texture and has the same light scent as the leave-in conditioner. I don't think it makes my hair as soft as some of the hair butters and cremes I've used in the past, but it produces good results and you cant beat the price ($7 at Sally's). I'm still on the hunt for a staple styling butter since I've given up the pricey  Curly Meringue from Ms. Jessie's (which wasn't even all that great because sometimes it left flaky white stuff in my hair...yuck.) Curl Control is a great alternative to more expensive products. So if you're like me and you take care of your hair on a budget, you should give Beautiful Textures a go; the line gives you solid results and you get more bang for your buck. One container of each of these products lasts me about a month and a half, which translates into 4 washes and about 45 twist outs. Just saying you guys, Beautiful Textures is where it's at.

Thoughts on Thursday: Protective Styling

Urban Twists courtesy of the Damn Salon.

     Protective Styling is pretty self explanatory: they are styles that protect your hair. Let's face it, our hair gets tired of us twisting it, stretching it, combing it, just as we get tired of dealing with it. Protective styling provides a win-win situation for both parties; you and your hair gets a break from constant manipulation. Protective styling is hair relationship therapy 101 and you betta believe it honey!
      Some of my favorite protective styles are Senegalese twists, Box braids, Havanna Marley twists, Kinky twists, and the list goes on. Quite simply, these styles put your hair away by braiding them or twisting them while adding extensions. They are great for switching up your look and creating versatile styles, especially when your Afro is on the shorter side. I experimented with Senegalese twists and a variation of Kinky twists this past year.

Senegalese twists for the summer.

     The Urban Twists done by the ladies at The Damn Salon are by far my favorite protective style, mostly because they look the most like your natural curl pattern. Not to mention the salon experience was amazing. You get an awesome consultation and a gourmet lunch. How do you say no to champagne in the salon? The only downside is that they are a little pricey, but they offer great specials throughout the year, AND they will style your hair for free on follow up visits. Seriously, you owe it to yourself to check them out.

After about 5 months of protective styling. Look at how big my hair is!

     Now for a word on Senegalese twists. Honestly, I liked this style but I didn't love it. If I had to do it all over again I would get them way bigger, which is what I initially asked for in the salon, but I guess they didn't hear me. Getting these twists was a totally impulsive decision, but I don't altogether regret it because they did in fact protect my hair and I didn't have to style it for about 2 months. The best advice I can give when it comes to protective styling is that you shouldn't leave any one style in for too long. You should switch up styles after about 3 months max. Personally, I wear protective styles for about 3-4 months of the year, usually during the summer or winter. Also, do not neglect your natural hair completely! It still needs to be washed and don't forget to apply a light oil or a leave in conditioner, or both! The point is to protect your hair, not neglect your hair!
     The only true con I can think of when it comes to these styles is the take-down process, especially if you have to do it yourself, it can be a bit overwhelming. Although, you could always recruit some friends to help you! The benefits of protective styling far outweigh the negatives. Just make sure that you are still nourishing your hair so that you promote the growth of your hair. When it is all said and done and the extensions are removed, you will be amazed at how much your hair has grown! So when you're sick and tired of twisting/braiding your hair every night, protective styling could be the difference between cutting your hair off or even worse, going back to the creamy crack! Just say no people!

Keep it nappy ya'll!

AphroKiKi

My Regimen and A Product Review

Peace Naturalistas!

     Before I jump into this product review, I want to give my little lecture about product use. First of all, I am a believer in the saying "less is more", especially when it comes to caring for your natural hair. After I fist big chopped, the only products in my bathroom bin were shampoo, conditioner, and Cantu Shea Butter. Because I didn't know very much about maintaining my TWA (Teeny-Weeny Afro), I resorted to sew-ins and kinky twists-- which was a good idea, because I was able to let my hair be. The less I bothered my hair the better-- this allowed my hair to grow without fear of damage. Since then, my knowledge of natural hair care has increased, and naturally, the amount of hair products grew too. Now, I use both sulfate and sulfate-free shampoos (to clarify my hair when it needs it or to maintain my hair's natural oils and moisture), leave-in conditioner, deep conditioner, and hair oils regularly. Not to mention a few hair butters and cremes for when I'm rocking my twist-outs, braid-outs, bantu-knot outs. Getting to know what your hair needs is an important factor when deciding what products to buy, so educate yourself! Know what a sulfate is and what it does! Know what ingredients to avoid, like alcohol, parabens, and petroleum based products. In short, products can be your best friend, or your worst enemy.. Be careful not to overdue it!

     My regimen currently consists of:

• Washing my hair once a week, followed by conditioner in the shower and leave- in conditioner after towel-drying

• Deep conditioning once a week (usually before I wash)

• Apple Cider Vinegar rinse every other week

• Trimming ends when necessary

• Twisting hair with hair cremes, butters, or leave-in conditioner

• Moisturizing daily with water and spritzing lightly with oil

• Protective Styling

• Minimal heat (lightly blow drying after a wash to stretch hair)

My hair is more kinky (4c is the technical term) than curly, so its more prone to breakage than other curl patterns-- therefore moisturizing is my top priority. On top of all this, I try to drink plenty of water and eat lots of fruit to ensure hydration. A product that I use to keep my hair moisturized during the week is b.a.s.k. Palm Tapioca Deluxe Hair Cream. This stuff is amazing! It stretches my curl pattern, softens my hair,  has a soft hold (great for chunky twist outs!), and it smells like a dream (Vanilla Dulche de Leche and Almond). It has oils derived from the Palm family, including Babassu oil-- which is quickly becoming one of my favorite oils (it's in my shampoo too!).You can find the b.a.s.k. Palm Cream here.

Sheeba in her full glory! Why am I squinting?!

I used the Palm Tapioca cream on the twist out above with a little of Ms. Jessie's Curly Meringue for a little more hold and definition. I think it turned out pretty well! That's all for now I guess.

Keep it Nappy ya'll!

AphroKiki