I’m finally making a curl diary.  Well late last night I was washing my hair.  My poor scalp was itching.  I only washed my hair a few days ago so my hair was in twists.  I didn’t have to worry about sectioning and detangling.  I mixed a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda, water and my shampoo together. I gently rubbed my scalp then rinsed it out followed by an apple cider vinegar and green tea rinse.  Then I deep conditioned my hair then washed it out.  Then I did a final rinse with cold water.  My hair felt better afterwards and not feeling dry but I’m thinking I need a good clarifying shampoo.  What can I use to prevent this from happening again?  I’ve tried tea tree oil before and I had an allergic reaction to it.  I don’t know what else to do.  Is my hair rejecting the products I’m using now?  I’m thinking I need to find a good clarifying shampoo.  I’m not sure where to find a cheap cone free clarifying shampoo.  Does anybody know of a good clarifying shampoo please?

I found the programme list and I can’t wait! Here is the exhibitor list:

Afro Hair & Beauty show, 30 years Young!

This year sees Afro Hair & Beauty LIVE celebrating 30 years of showcasing Hair, Beauty and Lifestyle at the Business Design Centre, Islington on 29th-30th May. This hair and beauty extravaganza brings you hair and beauty trends from all over the world – with more things to do, more things to try and a varied seminar/workshop programme.

The main areas include:

Natural Vibes
Introducing this exciting and innovative section called “Natural Vibes” featuring natural hair care exhibitors they promise to cater for women who are stepping away from chemicals, artificial preservatives and sulphates and target women who want to embrace products that are 100% natural and/or 100% organic.
“Natural Vibes” will include natural hair care specialists from America such as founder of My Hairitage, Anysylla and Sonya Nandi Gilkey from Wrap-a-Loc. Both companies are dedicated to maintaining natural hair and dreadlocks. Wrap-a-Loc has pioneered a new hair styling tool and technique that creates a tight spiral curl on dreadlocks and natural hair without the use of heat.

Due to popular demand, natural hair care exhibitors such as T444z and True Vine Cosmetics will once again grace the event. T444z is a miracle product that is 100% natural and organic, it aids in rectifying the twelve major hair care problems that women face today such as dryness and hair loss.
True Vine Organic’s product line consists of five 100% natural and organic products for men and women. True Vine Organic’s Rose Hip Oil is a natural moisturiser for the face and with continued use will heal scars, eczema, skin rashes and will also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
In addition, a number of educational seminars throughout the two day event will educate women to correctly take care of their hair, body and health – the natural way!

Fashion Boutique
Ngozi Pere Okorite, celebrity stylist and designer behind one of Africa’s most sought after brands ‘Zed Eye’, will be back with her team for another fashion showcase which will involve a number of great African and African inspired designers, not only showcasing but also selling their collection pieces via the Pop-Up Boutique.

There will be two fashion shows each day, one fashion show will showcase designs from established designers whilst the other will showcase designs from emerging designers who are taking the fashion industry by storm.
The Pop Up boutique will have an Afro centric theme and feature a range of both established and emerging designers which include but not limited to Zed Eye, Anggy Haif, Re Bhaia, AyiKai Couture, Monsura Boutique, Afro-Chique, Yummi Kouture and Oheme Ohene.

Pampering Zone
Get here early as this popular section is always a road block. Be polished and preened with massage, reiki, nails, eyelash extensions, threading, makeovers and lots more in this ever expanding zone.

Lifestyle
Our lifestyle area is a dream for those who want to take it easy and browse through artefacts and books from all over the world, sample drinks or speak to some professionals. Exhibitors include Supermalt, The Fire Brigade, The British Heart Foundation and Costco.

Back By Popular Demand
30 years celebration brings a packed line-up of regulars, as well as old and new faces. Luster Products, Johnson Products, Organic Root Stimulator, Keystone Laboratories, JF Labs, Mazuri are a few product houses who will be exhibiting alongside a host of new brands. The hair brands are too numerous to name but do include brand leaders Sensationnel and Sleek.
This show is truly the epitome of diversity!

I’ve been lurking on this forum for a while but have only started posting recently. I decided the other day that it might be a good idea for me to start a curl diary, as my sister is getting bored of me going on about my hair! Hehe

My hair is suffering after many years of neglect. I did a BC (although I didn’t actually know it was called that) in the summer of 2004 (in fact my mum did it for me…), but kept my hair in braids pretty much non-stop from then until November 2011, except for one relaxer I did in 2006. So basically for the last 7 years, water has barely touched my hair (I was washing every 3-4 weeks rather than the weekly I’m doing now), it was never moisturised, and it was crying out under the strain of synthetic braids. It’s a miracle I actually have any hair and that my edges are still intact.

Finally, in November last year, I got fed up of hiding my hair and spending a fortune on a hairdresser to blow dry it to death before braiding it up again every few months. I decided that if I was going to spend a fortune on my hair, I was going to at least do it by trying to take care of it myself! And I was curious about my natural texture, having never really seen it before.

Since then, I’ve seen about 2 inches of growth (yay!), breakage is very minimal, and I think my shedding is pretty average…. Also, I can finally see my curls and I LOVE them. But more is needed… My hair is fine but the strands always feel very rough, and my hair seems to be highly porous. I’ve never done a protein treatment before so I plan on doing a homemade one at the weekend… FINGERS CROSSED! Will let you know how that goes

At the moment I co-wash weekly and shampoo monthly. I absolutely love my garnier fructis r&s conditioner and the dr organic aloe vera shampoo & condish I picked up in Holland & Barretts last week. I’ve started using my own shea butter mix on my hair too (note to self: put less oils in next time!). I use the giovanni direct leave-in but I’m staying away from their shampoos at the moment as my hair and scalp really didn’t agree with the smooth as silk shampoo from their range! Took 3 days of co-washing in a row & deep conditioning to get my hair *almost* back to normal! Hopefully the protein treatment will help further….

Baby fine curls, mainly botticelli, some corkscrew (mainly at the base of my neck).  Hair is now mid shoulder length, and has been coloured for the past 10 years; at first because I liked it better as a golden brown/blond rather than my natural dark brown, but now at the grand old age of 38 to cover grey hairs (I’m even getting them cropping up in my eyebrows )

Have always styled curly, as the only time it looked good straightened was when it was done at the hairdressers (tried doing it my self, but ended up with straightish fluff!!!).  Probably just as well I couldn’t straighten it myself, less heat damage. Also always thought it looked better curly; suited my round face better

Found this site early June 2011, and started out with using the hints and tips on washing and “drying” with a pillowcase.  This made such a difference straight away!  Bought a curl ease towel, and there was no stopping me LOL!

Before I went through all my products to go CG (mainly SLS and silicone free) bought some TIGI Catwalk Curlesque conditioner.  I loved this product, until I discovered it had silicone’s in (Dime (7th ingredient), and Amodiemethicone (13th ingredient). Why do they make these chemical names so long?!!!!!  More on this product further down.

I then bought Happy Hair Days shampoo (no SLS, parabens or mineral oil, but does have ALS in), and got the Mop Top (MT) Trial pack of shampoo, conditoner, styling gel and refresher spray.  Loved the Mop Top Anti-Frizz Gel and Conditioner, (have since bought full size products!) not so sure on the shampoo and refresher/detangler spray. 

So, at the moment my routine is wash with HHDS (I use this every other day, co-wash with Umberto Gianni Curl Friends Conditioner in-between), condition with Mop Top Daily conditioner, get some moisture out with the curl ease towel, then apply MT Refresher/Detangler spray, and a healthy helping of MT Anti-Frizz gel.  Then “scrunch” my curls with the curl ease towel, and diffuse for a few minutes on the lowest heat/speed setting.  Once my curls have formed, I use either Aveda Humectant or Anti-Humectant pomade (depends on the weather/humidity which one I use, sometimes both!!) to finish,and let it finish drying naturally.  Getting lovely ringlets now!  Think I may need to apply more MT Anti-frizz, as my hair could do with a bit more hold, but I am experimenting!

Once a week I deep condition with MOP Protein Deep Treatment, and every two weeks I do a Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse (ACV).  Hate the smell, but love what it does to my hair!  I also exfoliate my scalp once a week with brown sugar mixed with conditioner.  Really helps with any product build up and itchy’s!  My hair loves protein, and the MT products are full of it!

Note to self; when I first started taking care of my curls, they looked great, but since ditching the TIGI conditioner, it does look drier and fluffier (although the condition is still great, my hair is much stronger than before!)   I know it has silicone’s in (a baddy), but thinking if I use it as a leave in on the ends (as I did before), might not be so much of a problem?  Haven’t used it for two weeks, so will try again tomorrow.  Will post if it makes a difference!

My avatar was taken on my wedding day (18th June!) (Please note, since updated!), and I haven’t got it to look this good since (although it is still better than before).  On that day I did use the TIGI conditioner, but also went overboard with the MT gel!!  Thinking the TIGI conditioner could make the difference?

But thank goodness for new-growth! It was between braids that I noticed more of a curl to my hair that I’d never had before. Around about that time I also found a photo of myself aged about 2 years old in which I had this lovely curly hair, hinting that the frizz I’d lived with for so long wasn’t my natural hair.

The braiding continued for a while. It was about a year ago that I first tried to go natural. I experimented with Frizz Ease using a whole tube of conditioner to try and get the look I wanted. Sadly I didn’t get the desired effect and went back to the braids again.

It was at the beginning of this year that I found Mixed Chicks on the web. I used the shampoo, dt and conditioner and voila! My hair was exactly as I wanted it to be! And I’ve had my natural hair ever since.

It’s so nice to be able to run my fingers through my hair, feel my scalp… You just don’t get that with braids.

I’m currently just on the MC s&c using SofnFree to moisturise my hair, though I find this to leave my hair way to oily after a couple of days. I am up for some hair experiments! And I’m also looking for hair accessories to use. I’ve never really been able to use any as I’ve either had too much (braids) or too little (relaxed) hair. Plus I don’t always have the patience! I will keep you posted on my experiments (and if no-one reads this at least it’s a reference for me to come back to )

I have recently returned from Aus where i had my hair cut by a lovely lady who specialised in curly hair cutting - so much so that she travelled the country giving seminars on how to do it properly.  She specialised in dry hair cutting, and actually looking at what your hair sits like when it is curly…

now that i am back in Scotland i am desperate to find someone who knows what they are doing.. i am sick of crossing my fingers and going to stylists who think they should straighten my hair before they cut it!!

any help and advice is much appreciated!!  i live in the highlands but will go pretty much anywhere to get a decent cut.

Thanks!

If anyone’s got the CJ CCC, please PM me because I would love a sample to try.

Thanks

I am also willing to do a swap for these products: CJ, Darcy Botanicals, Jessicurl

PM me if interested, thanks

I’m new to co-washing, I have had a look at the forum and i’m so confused and have no idea where to start!

I’m mixed race have a mixture of 3b, 3c and 4a curls i had it coloured maybe like 8 weeks ago now and it is very porous.

I currently use the kera care natural textures range i love the defining custard it makes my curls look amazing, however they don’t feel great.  I don’t treat my hair but i think i should as im hoping it will eliminate some frizz. Unfortunately i have discovered most of my hair products have sulphates and cones in them so i need a complete over haul.

I need advice on a good product to co-wash with and a leave in conditioner because right now my hair is looking too crispy :(

The basics:
Currently just getting over some massive protein buildup.  I’m rotating a lot more than I would normally due to this.
Very hard water area, but do have a pipe water softener (one of those mineral collectors), so it brings me down to just hard water.
Middling-fine hair, lots of it, used to think I was porous but now not so sure. 
Very strong 3b/c curl pattern - I get plenty of curl without any products, but I am very frizzy.
I wash everyday because I sleep like a top.

Today’s weather: 50/40, dewpoint lower 40s.  (sorry, I’m using Fahrenheit, I can’t get the knack of Celsius!)

Co-wash: VO5 Champagne Kiss
Rinse-out: AOHR
Leave-in: CJ Beauticurls (I like this as a leave-in when the dew’s high enough - helps moisturise thorughout the day!)
Styling: CJ CCCC with modified super soaker (I don’t put nearly as much water into my hair as recommended), little CIAB over the top.  CJ CCCC is brushed through with a Denman before Super soaking, then a little is scrunched in afterwards.  CIAB is scrunched in.  Scrunched out excess water with Curls like Us Cloths, and currently plopping with a flour sack towel.  Will plop for about half an hour and report back when dry…

3:30 - finally mostly dry.  Quite a bit of surface frizz today (had to go out before it was dry, that’s probably why), but overall quite shiny and fairly good definition despite the frizz.  No root curl whatsoever. :-( (weird for a 3b, but not for me…) Fairly soft post SOTC and feels mositurised.  We’ll see if it lasts…

(For comparison, yesterday’s routine:
co-wash: Inecto Pure Coconut Oil Conditioner
Rinse-out: CJ Curl Theory
Leave-in: CJ Beauticurls
Styling: identical

No height, but I get very little anyway.  Curls very nicely formed, some inner-curl frizz but my curls are more helixy than curly anyway so it’s not surprising.  Hair actually felt okay at night (not like straw), and wet easily in the morning so I think I might be over the protein buildup!)