i haven't steamed in two months?

there are two things you can safely assume when it comes to the posts on my blogs: if i'm posting, i'm probably sitting under the steamer (like i am now, at 3 AM) and if i'm not posting, that means i probably haven't been steaming either. 

i can't exactly say i took a "vacation," considering i was still going to class, doing homework, and going to work on most days. my absence certainly wasn't intentional. but now that the semester is out i'll have more time to dedicate to this. i've missed my steamer and i've missed blogging, so i'm glad my schedule's freed up a bit more. 

as always, i have a ton of product reviews to get out. i'd like to crank these out at least once or twice a week, however it seems like my rate of posting is matching the rate through which i get through my products (i'm almost out of oyin's hair dew). instead of trying to test out all these products i have waiting for me, i'll focus on getting the "older" ones out of the way first.

i'd also like to do some more "personal" blogs about izzy and i. the longer she grows, the more my feelings toward her change. i feel like my hair has all but freaking sprouted this semester and wash day is always a surprise for me. it's crazy to say that this is the longest my hair's ever been since i've been natural. granted, my 3-4 inches may not seem like much, but this is huge for me! i think i've finally conquered the scissor happy demon within me. i played with the idea of cutting my hair for weeks, maybe months, since i decided to "officially" stop cutting it and now, whenever i stretch out a curl past my chin, scissors are the last thing i'm thinking about (thank goodness). i'll save some of the details for another post.

as far as a quick update on my hair... i've gone from washing every week to every two weeks, mostly because i'm too busy studying to be bothered (a week goes by so quickly now!). i've been wearing twistouts and i'm learning just how important stretched styles are (so important i plan to make a post). my hair is still some kind of unfathomable pattern. even when wet, it seems to want to "bush" instead of curl up. the perimeter of my head gives me the least trouble, probably because it's the loosest of all the textures in there. honestly, i haven't been thrilled with my hair lately and that's probably while i'll be going into braids next week (more on that later too).

in other news, i'm growing lukewarm towards my huetiful steamer... idk, i'm just not so sure i'm loving it like i once was.

i just wanted to quickly check in with everyone - when i saw i now had 90 followers, i was so shocked! where did you guys come from?! last i remember, i had maybe 84-85, i can't be sure. 90 may not be a big number compared to more popular blogs, but it's more than i ever planned to have, considering this blog was more of a "hair diary" for me to keep track of things. but if others enjoy it, i'm glad! it makes me happy to share. :)

i hope everyone has been doing well and i sure hope you chat with all of you soon. <3

[review] mozeke just peachy shampoo

ingredients: peach kernel oil, decyl glucoside, murumuru butter, fragrance, pro vitamin B5 and sea kelp extract.

Jennifer from Mozeke sent me a few goodies to try out and i'm so happy to finally start sharing reviews with you guys! this was the first product i tried out, so it only makes sense that this is the first review. :)

pricing

like all of the mozeke products, this shampoo is very affordably priced. you get a hefty 8 oz for only $10, which is awesome, in my opinion. it does seem a little weird to spend ten dollars on shampoo when you can grab a bottle at your local target for three, but finding a shampoo that works well with your hair can be challenging as a natural. i'd much rather take my chances and spend a little extra money on a natural shampoo than one that'll strip poor izzy into kingdom come. besides, 8 oz should last me at least a year, at the rate i shampoo. i've had the same bottle of ORS shampoo from when i was relaxed, and i've been natural almost two years now! 

of course, you can always try out a smaller, two ounce sample for only $3. i love that mozeke has a sizable sample selection. i think you can sample most, if not all of their products. and you all know how i feel about samples.

i was sent the sample size and i can see this lasting me at least 3-4 months.

packaging 

labeling on the product is simple, with a basic use of space. their labels aren't my favorite (very little styling), but they serve their purpose. you get the name and ingredients right on the front (the simplicity of the ingredients always catch me by surprise, for the products to be so effective). 

bottle is a basic white with a matching top. now, i'm not sure if the top is different if you order the larger size, but my sample sized bottle came with a screw cap. i would much prefer a flip cap, just for ease of dispense. i just generally dislike caps you have to remove from the whole bottle because i hate the idea of any water getting into the bottle, especially since majority of my products are natural and i don't want to introduce any bacteria. a flip cap would work better with the consistency of this product as well.

the more this line grows, i hope they give more consideration to imaging and packaging. the line has a definite air, or attitude - lighthearted, simple products with just a touch of fun. i would love to see bottles and labels that reflect that.

scent

i know the name of the product is "just peachy," but that isn't the fragrance i got upon inspection of my bottle. darcy's botanicals coils jelly has a rich, succulent peach fragrance, so i was expecting something akin to that. this shampoo doesn't register as "peach" with my nose, not in the least. but since it's just shampoo, it's not really a make-or-break aspect for me.

the smell is light and non-offensive. there is a definite fragrance to it, but more of a neutral floral than peach.

consistency

the consistency caught me a little by surprise - it was very thick! however, as soon as it touched my hair, it burst into suds! it was very easy to work the lather through my hair, so i didn't have to use too much/extra product. 

the second time i used it, i did notice a bit of separation, but nothing a quick shake of the bottle can't cure. however, i can't be sure if i didn't get a bit of water into the bottle on my first use. just something for me to keep in mind.

performance

;)

like i alluded to in my last post, the performance on this shampoo really blew me out of the water! i was so surprised at how efficient it was. to be honest, i was expecting a very mild cleanser, but nothing that could stand up to six weeks of braid build up. i lathered up once and was blown away at how clean my scalp was! i poked and scratched at it, just to make sure no residual flakes had been left over and i just can't get over how clean it left my scalp. and i never pay attention to my scalp!

my hair was soft and shiny and there was zero stripping or dryness. i hate using shampoo because i always feels as though it's stripping away about three weeks worth of steaming and moisturizing, even when my scalp is nasty and grimy. being a natural, i am always mindful of my moisture levels so it's understandable that shampoo leaves me a little weary. but this shampoo left me happy as a clam!

now, this was a week ago. i thought this shampoo was so kick-butt and gentle that heck, maybe i could shampoo just about every week! i don't know what i was thinking, thinking i could go from shampooing once a month to every week. i guess i was just so excited to use the shampoo again. :P

i just lathered up a few minutes ago and did notice a tiny bit of roughness on my strands. i barely used any product this week (and only moisturized twice), so there wasn't really anything to be cleaned in the first place. this isn't the fault of my shampoo, but rather my overzealousness. no dryness or anything of the sort, but i will be cutting back just for my hair's sake. it isn't wise to shampoo when you've barely been moisturizing in the first place.

customer service

dealing with Jennifer is always a dream. i've ordered from her several times and have never been disappointed! she responds to emails very quickly (within the day, if not within the hour) and her shipping always floors me. it never takes more than two days to get here after she ships it. i don't know why shipping from her is always so dang fast, but i'm far from complaining!

ftc disclaimer: this product was sent to me for consideration. i am in no way affiliated with this company and i was not paid for this review.

izzy's back and i've got a plan (and epiphany!?)

so... i ended up taking my braids out after six weeks! two weeks short of my last stint with braids and four weeks short of my ultimate goal. i don't really feel disappointed or anything, although it did take me about two days to decide whether or not i wanted to take them out or just get my edges done. i desperately wanted to wash my scalp (the buildup was evident - ew!) and i'd been taking out braids along the back and edges (much like when i was itching to go natural). so instead of springing to have my edges re-done for sixty bucks (never! they have lost their minds!) i decided to just go ahead and take them out. 

the process was surprisingly quick and easy. i'm surprised at how much shed hair i lost, about a handful or so. i went through and tried my best to finger detangle before slathering my hair in condish and going in with the tangle teezer. i was amazed at how easily the tool slid through my hair, no snagging or tangles or anything. i was already lukewarm-leaning-towards-warm towards the tangle teezer, but this sealed it for me. the detangling is really amazing and so gentle!

i washed with some new products from mozeke, both of which get a thumbs up. i'll try to have the review/s up tomorrow - i'm really excited to share my thoughts on the new shampoo! i think it's good enough to oust lush's cynthia sylvia stout shampoo as my favorite natural poo. we'll see!

i'm really pleased with the growth i got from the braids - part of the reason i don't regret taking them down early. there's a big difference from when i got my hair cut and now. the braids helped to keep my mind off length so the new half-inch or so is quite the welcomed surprise. :) i wish i'd taken better pictures to show the difference, but short hair is so hard to document, in my opinion, because it shrinks up on itself so easily. you guys will just have to take my word for it - my hair grew. ;)

i've finally "solved" my "problem" to greeting a mushy izzy every morning. well... not actually, but i have high hopes, lol. when i take down my braids, i'm always in love with the coils left over from the tight twisting. i don't have near the skill or dexterity for senegalese twisting my own hair; if i did, my twistouts would always be banging. but i decided to try coiling my hair every weekend. i have noticed the ease of maintenance when in coils. in the morning, all i need to do is refresh with some water, shake, and run a bit of moisturizer or coconut oil over them. i can lift at the roots with a pic for more volume and achieve a slightly more uniform look - cool. pretty much what everyone's looking for, right? i'll be testing that out this weekend, so i'll definitely be checking back in with pictures and details.

oh, sidenote... WHY IS MY HEAD SO FREAKING BIG?! i joke that my head (specifically my crown area) is like russia. have you seen russia on a map? no? here, let me help you:

now click to enlarge. russia is HUGE. whenever i begin working in my crown area, i feel like it takes an hour just to even "break ground," haha! i began coiling my hair tonight/this morning and gave up. i'll finish when i wake up. :P

anyway! the point is i think it'll def be worth it to take two hours styling on a sunday night for fuss-free hair all week. it'll cut down on my styling time in the morning, tangles, and single strand knots. i'm excited to see how my hair does in coils.

and another sidenote, my "new hair goal" is to build up my hair accessory collection! my hoard is modest - two headbands and two bows, but i am on the hunt for new hair candy! having natural hair, i'm always a little iffy about what i can use and what i can't, but after some asian women cornered me at a kiosk at the mall and dotted izzy with cute little clips, i'm definitely open to trying anything. if you guys have any websites you like, please do share. :)

oh and happy birthday to me! ;)

[review] oyin handmade hair dew

ingredients: purified water, castor oil, olive oil, organic aloe vera gel, behentrimonium methosulfate (emulsifier), coconut oil, olive squalane, optiphen (preservative), cetyl alcohol, and love!

oh my, oh my, oh my!

i mean… i really don't know what else to say when it comes to this product except OH MY! it's amazing! oyin has outdone themselves again. i'm already a stan for their conditioner, and now this!

it was so exciting to see they had come out with a new product… okay, not that exciting as i didn't even know they had come out with something new until i visited their store to take advantage of a sale around the holiday season. :P i had come to stock up on the 32 oz of the honey+hemp when i saw this. once i smelled it (heaven!) it was over, i had to have it. i know i'm a little late to review this, despite unintentionally buying it as soon as it was released, but i'm so happy to finally get to it! i have the bottle sitting right next to me and i am filled with an inexplicable sense of calm, happiness, and cookies. onto the review!

( p r i c i n g )

you can get an 8 ounce bottle of this creamy crack for $12, or 16 ounces for $19. once i finish up this bottle, i will definitely be going for the larger size. the prices on here are more than agreeable, everything about this product is damn near perfect. i noticed they didn't sell sample sizes of this and quite frankly, they don't need to - one try and i was hooked! i know a number of ladies have found holy grail status in this product as well!

( p a c k a g i n g )

packing on this is pleasant; before i found the opportunity to use this, i would find myself sometimes lovingly clutching my bottle… such was its allure! (I'm not crazy, I promise.) It's a narrow, semi opaque white bottle with a firm, solid feel to it. the standard black top sets of the white of the bottle and the lush blues and greens of the label just right. i really enjoy the "style" of this product. the label is a vibrant, lush green intertwined with a sunny, bright blue, fitting of the "dew" written on the label. it label is organized in the oyin way - a brief, delicious-sounding description, with the ingredients and website squeezed onto the bottom.

( s c e n t )

part of the reason i would pine over my bottle before i even used it was because of the scent, no doubt! oh my lawwwrd. even to this day, i don't tire of it! it's just so… goodness. oyin have truly outdone themselves this time - their scents have always been spot on, but this hair dew just takes it to the next level. the fragrance is a perfectly sweetened, golden brown, sugar cookie. just sweet enough to make you smile and fill your spirit with sunny, dewy joy, and tempered with the warmth of cinnamon and a sprinkling brown sugar and dash of vanilla. it really does smell like the perfect baked good, without the cloying, overpowering sweetness often found in  other products.

the scent lingers deliciously in your hair all day. when i tried this on a twist out, i would turn my head so the wind would blow the smell right back into my face. :P i've tried my best to do the scent some justice, but it's really something you have to experience for yourself!

( c o n s i s t e n c y )

this is advertised as a leave-in, but the consistency is a tad bit heavier than you'd expect. it's a little thick, without being dense at all. once rubbed between your palms, it takes on a very light texture and is a treat to spread through damp hair - yum! it doesn't slide around in the bottle at all, but leaves your hair feeling light, fresh, and moisturized. you literally only need a bit for moisture that seems to last all freakin' week.

( p e r f o r m a n c e )

my search for a water-based moisturizer is over. this product seemed to literally fall in my lap and now i can't imagine izzy without it! this makes a great moisturizer, leave-in, refresher, braid spray, anything! i haven't yet tried it with a gel over it, but i'm sure it would pass that test as well. what i love about this product is its versatility. the mixed with a bit of water, it makes a great refresher for even the most chronic of mashed fro syndrome. my hair feels soft, lush, and fragrant. ;)

it's light enough to avoid build up, but heavy enough to pack a moisture punch! the ingredients are simple and should agree with any head of hair (although i know some may be sensitive to aloe vera gel). and it has castor oil! my faaaavorite! really, this product just can't get any better for me. it's perfect. i can't see myself ever NOT using this and i have nothing but praise for this product, i love it!

( c u s t o m e r .service )

since i live in maryland, i just head on over to the baltimore store on saturdays when it's time for me to re-up. the staff is just as fabulous as their products. :) everyone there is so lively, bubbly, and helpful - it makes shopping there such a pleasure. i have never had a problem with their customer service - you can tell oyin is run by people who love what they do and have a good time doing it.

i am halfway through my bottle now and i can't wait to go back for that larger size! holy grail status!

ftc disclaimer: i am in no way affiliated with this company. i was not paid for this review and the product was purchased with my own monies. :)

update on my no-buy!

just a quick blog post updating my personal no buy challenge! i only started this challenge the end of november, but i know it's important to keep checking in just to manage my progress. it's good to remind myself of my goals and acknowledge my progress. :)

so, in addition to hair products, i've also banned myself from body washes, eyeliners, lip glosses, and skincare products.

i have been doing great on the hair product tip! i have a whole stash of goodies at home, some products i haven't even tried yet! the simplicity of braids definitely helps with any and all urges to shop. that isn't to say i haven't looked at products - i love browsing! but i haven't felt the urge or compelled to actually buy anything and i'm so proud of that! i was sent some products recently, but i didn't buy them so i'm safe, LOL!

i definitely have a (surprisingly) little wishlist of products i'd like to try, but i feel proud knowing that i can wait. they will be there for me to try later and if they're not, oh well! i can't miss what i've never had and there are tons of other products waiting to be explored.

body wash is a little tougher, just because i have a ton of bar soap and it's not as convenient as liquid body washes. i've been tempted to buy one or two body washes, but i remember my challenge and slip the product back up onto the shelf. i tell myself, i don't have much body to wash in the first place, and i have three huge bars of soap i ordered from chagrin valley very early last year and haven't even opened them yet! and i refuse to waste my money!

skin care... i failed this part of my challenge! whoops! i sometimes just can't help myself. i have a few areas of hyperpigmentation and anyone that has it knows how much of a hassle it is! it really makes one self conscious. i bought several samples of dermalogica products, and a full size cleanser and exfoliator. i am happy with these two products thus far, and it quelled the urge for anymore (expensive) dermalogica products, so i can confidently say i won't be buying anymore skin care products. i also decided to try a glycolic acid peel. now that i have something a little more heavy duty in my arsenal, i think it'll help with my urge to constantly try a hundred-and-one products (which are usually weak because extracts aren't really effective).

oh, i also got some cream from a vendor in thailand, but i'm scared of the ingredients breaking me out! i tried it on my neck and it seems to be okay. i'll just use that on my neck until i get the nerve to try it on my skin.

i know this post wasn't exactly hair-focused, but my no buy encompasses more than just hair products, so i figure it'd be good to include everything. :) maybe some of you are on a no buy as well, with hair, clothes, shoes, whatever.

if you are on a no buy, how are you doing so far? chime in!

so. i loafed. (+goals!)

hey there curlies!

how is everyone? well, i hope!

i know... i've been gone for over a month, but it has been a crazy time! i earned a B in my winter linguistics class and spring semester has started. i'm also working now, so that does take up a few more hours of my day. i'm also vice president of an organization on campus so that gives me all kinds of new tasks to take on.

still, that's no excuse for my absence and i suppose i should explain what's going on. i'm back in braids! i was so tempted to cut down to a fade after that fiasco with that scissor happy stylist, that i decided to tuck my hair away lest i do something else to it! poor izzy - i am always doing something with her. i got senegalese again and it's been four weeks so far. my goal is to keep these in until spring break (march 20). i plan to have my edges redone every four weeks to keep them looking fresh. once i get to spring break, we'll see how my hair is doing - i'd love to be able to go as long as the entire semester. i'm not sure how likely that is, but we'll see!

last spring, i was able to keep my braids in for eight weeks, so i'm sure i can surpass it this time! i spray every other day with some diluted oyin hair dew (freaking LOVE this stuff, can't wait to type up a review!) and clean my scalp with the ORS dry shampoo.

like last time, i'm loving the lack of work. last time i got braids, my hair seemed to sprout of my head. i didn't appreciate all that hair and cut it off about a week later, lol. i'm hoping for that same kind of surprise at the end of this semester! after seeing all the progress i made in the fall, i was a little disappointed having it all lopped off, but it was only about three-four months of growth. besides, i'm starting off this semester with much more hair than i did this semester, so i'm sure i'll get great growth this time around. :)

hair wise, i haven't been doing too much so i haven't been blogging too much either, despite all these reviews i want to get out to you guys. (i was doing so well too!) but i was wondering, what are everyone's goals for this year? hair related or not? i love writing down and organizing my own goals and it's always nice to hear others, so what are yours?

so far, mine are:

• retain all new length
• try a curly weave for fall/winter!
• make dean's list
• be accepted into a research program
• find a second job
• end the year with 10 piercings (i have six now and am going for one more this week!)

how about you guys?! :)

so here's what happened... new lessons for 2011 already :/

i had a master plan for my hair alllll worked out. i was going to get braids next week and stay in them until march. then i would be trying out all kinds of new styles until the middle of the summer when i would color an afro i knew would be amazing.

that is, until i was butchered by my stylist.

yep.

what i thought would never happen to me, did.

and it's 100% my fault. i was too busy being embroiled in a textual throwdown that i let this girl do whatever she wanted, when i knew better. i wanted to get the color cut out for my braids and she took more than just the color off.

in retrospect, there were several things going on in that salon that should've made me walk out and save my money, the first of which my stylist being late. don't schedule me for 6:30 if you don't plan on seeing me immediately. i will never again wait for a scheduled appointment. and second, she hacked away at my hair with a fine toothed comb but i was already too upset to say anything. i am so disappointed in myself!

so here are my lessons for 2011, and it's only been the first week:

• do not wait more than ten minutes for an appointment. i didn't schedule a time to wait around. if a stylist isn't ready to see me immediately, i'm leaving.
• don't get your hair done when you're upset. you'll be even angrier at your hair style.
• you can trim your own ends! it's not hard and you can save yourself the money.

the whole thing was just a huge wreck and i am disappointed in myself for ignoring all these signs! i will never have a stylist cut my hair again! from now on, i am handling all my own trims!

i'm over it now, but i'd be lying if i said i wasn't extremely disappointed.  i was just really beginning to realize just how much length i had, and how to style it. on the other hand, i did always say i missed my old length. i still have a bit of hair, but not nearly as much as i had just last week. i feel like i'm back to looking like a boy (i hate shorter hair during the colder months!), but headbands and big earrings set off the look adorably, so i'll be purchasing a lot more hair candy.

i miss my color already too. :/ i can already tell that color will be my poison of choice when it comes to izzy, but i've been great at keeping my moisture levels up so i'm not worried. i'll just avoid the bleach from now on (or at least bleaching more than once). my hair is very dark (if not black) and it just makes me look even paler now that it's winter. and i think color looks best at this length. i wonder if izzy is still long enough to get braids. i figure it's best i tuck her away for a few weeks before i make anymore poor decisions. at one point i was going to just go to the barbershop and get another fade, but i decided against it (didn't have the money for ANOTHER cut). i said i wouldn't cut it anymore and i plan to stick to that. but it was verrrrry tempting.

here are some comparison pics of the damage.

my gorgeous very first twistout:

and my length now:

(edit: i am digging that shiny blackness of my hair - wow!)

such a huge difference, right?! i am making the best out of it, though. i'm using this opportunity to up my water and vitamin intake now that my skin is back to being face-front and try out cute accessories at this length. it's amazing how months and care of hard work can be ruined in less than a few minutes. i definitely learned my lesson! i am at peace with what happened to izzy now and glad i learned this lesson now as opposed to when my hair got longer.

now that it's been a few days, i am used to the length. i went out one night and was absolutely smitten with how it looked with this cute braided headband i got from claire's. izzy will always be my dear izzy, no matter what she looks like. i love her all the same! sure the experience is a little bittersweet, but no big deal. 

what a way to start off a happy new year, am i right?