tripleA - 18 April 2011 08:26 AM

Hi Efuru,

Thats’s really good news re: hair growth. I think your regime sounds good. ( i seriously need to be more diligent) with mine - especially moisturisng )
I also have recently started using gvn s.a.s conditioner and shampoo. i must say i really like the conditioner. i definately prefer it to H.E.H.E. I have been holding off purchasing the Knot today but i think i will next month or so as i really want to try it. Have you used it mixed with other products for leave in purposes? ( e.g kimmaytube leave-in moisturiser). Also, what’s the jbco shampoo like, is it stripping at all? most shampoos ive tried have stripped my hair so i may start using a shampoo every 3rd wash and co wash once a week… sorry for bombarding you with all these Q’s..

LOL. It’s no problem.
No, I haven’t tried the Kimmaytube leave-in (seems like a hassle at the moment, might try it in the summer). The JBCO seems to be castile based, with the way it reacts to hard water but it doesn’t strip my hair (I don’t use much ) and suds up very well.

Ketchup - 18 April 2011 08:48 AM

Efuru - 17 April 2011 04:42 PM

(I’m currently trying to locate a supplier for the Litre and Gallon sizes that won’t hurt my wallet).

I would be interested too.. The closest I have found is massagewarehouse.com, would be great to find a uk/euro alternative

Yep, I saw that and was ready to order before I noticed that they had a disclaimer about custom charges but I sent them an email enquiring about their rates anyway.

Edit: Yeah, it costs $55 to ship the one litre and $85 to ship the gallon so I’ll just content myself with the regular size

So sorry, it’s been a while! I’m done with my undergrad degree and I’m now filling out my applications for my Masters (which I hope to start in January).

I found the litre size bottles of Giovanni in TK Maxx (£14.99 a bottle) so I’m sorted!

Been really lazy on the hair front, wash and go all the time. Haven’t twisted/braided my hair in an age (also didn’t like how my ends felt), and don’t know if/when I’ll start to again. I’ve been experimenting with product; tried KCCC again and still no luck (shrunken poofy but very moisturised hair), finished the last of my Kiss My Face Upper Management Gel (great results but will be discontinuing due to lack of availability and the gel not playing well with more than two leave-ins), started using Queen Helene’s Royal Curl gel as a cheaper alternative to my more expensive stylers (very light but defined hold and smells ‘commercial gel-like’). I’ve started using banding as my normal method for stretching my hair when I feel like doing something with loose hair

I have mostly been whittling products off my staples list in order to form my ultimate regimen, and I no longer purchase products outside the EU (if I can get Uncle Funky’s Daughter in the UK, then I’ll be UK only!). Will attempt to take photos of hair status some time this week

Long time no post! Mostly because I’ve had my hair in extensions for almost a month, my sister helped me put in big long box braids (90’s style!), the preparation was fun because I hadn’t had extensions of any kind in over two years. I started to miss my fro and the braids were really heavy (curse of high density hair) so I took them out earlier this week.

Before putting them in I soaked the synthetic hair in water and ACV to remove the coating, did a protein treatment and stretched my hair using braids ( and this technique by Naptural85), the braids were put in using the last of my Blended Beauty Happy Nappy Styles (great moisturiser, effect is similar to CJ Smoothing Lotion). I maintained the braids by spritzing with Juices and Berries and kept away the itchies using my Beija Flores Licorice Root Scalp Elixir. During the second week, I did a scalp wash with highly diluted shampoo and conditioner (dried my roots with a hair dryer on low heat).

The take down was stress free, I saturated the length of each braid with a detangler (in this instance the Kiss My Face one for kiddies but any water based one will do), I did a prelim comb through and put my hair in twists for trimming purposes. The washing was a breeze because I added shampoo (see signature) to dry hair and worked that through, I only needed to repeat the shampoo twice then I deep conditioned with my trusty Naked condish and detangled with my baby (the double detangler <3), I finally braided my hair using my modded Denman, Knot today and Hemp buttercream, these all resulted in soft supple hair! I’ve attached a pic of the hair shed/trimmed from 3 weeks + of no detangling.

I will be going back to wash and goes next week (I’m going to try alternating to spice things up!), I want to try out Cassadie of Natural Selection’s new technique.

Oh my days! It’s been a minute since I’ve posted here. First off, wishing you a belated Happy New Year!

I went to Nigeria for christmas and for this I had my hair in minitwists (courtesy of the little sister) as it was too hot for heavy extensions and I kept in moisturised with a rose-honey water spritz and some of MyHoneyChild’s Guava Honey Hair Balm on the ends. The trip was fun (apart from getting food poisoning) and the reactions to my hair were largely positive (a lot of people had trouble believing it was my hair and would touch and pull it in awe once I explained that they weren’t dreadlocks) so that was lovely, found out a couple of my younger cousins are transitioning to natural hair (and was able to give some of the awesome advice I’d received here).

My hair is collar-bone length again and I’m resisting the urge to cut it again but my routine is largely simple: shampoo once a week, use knot today on wash day (it clumps my hair better), braid with a buttery styler and braid out once dry. This usually lasts for about a week but if I get bored, I usually cowash then experiment with product.

I’m about to try out the new curl junkie gel so I’m going to shampoo today (I try to use a clean slate for new products) and fiddle with it. I will post pics when I’m done.

P.S. I know there are a lot of books on natural hair now but are there any up-to-date ones aimed at teens?

I went to 9j for christmas as well and everyone was loving my afro puff and marvelled at how soft my hair was. And the typical question how do you comb it? LOL

mims - 25 January 2012 04:38 PM

I went to 9j for christmas as well and everyone was loving my afro puff and marvelled at how soft my hair was. And the typical question how do you comb it? LOL

LOL! I didn’t get that one but when my little cousin told me she dry combs, I had to beg her to stop doing that.

Ouch! dry combing equals unhappy hair and scalp!

I have been so neglectful! Mostly because I hadn’t been doing anything interesting just weekly braidouts but that changed a few weeks ago when my boredom with my hair was getting frustrating.

I’ve gone back to henna (I know, I know), but not the DIY kind, the one from LUSH cosmetics (Caca Rouge to be precise), I ended up miscalculating and melted the whole bar with some hibiscus tea.. The wash out was a pain because the Lush henna isn’t finely sieved and I had bits and twigs in my hair for about a week after but I liked the results and plan to henna a couple of times a year instead.

I finally got Ecostyler to work for me! I took the plunge and bought the Argan Oil Ecostyler and after ‘testing’ (i.e. mixing sample of the gel with my leave-ins and working them together to see if it turns to ‘cottage cheese’ and if it stays white), I discovered that it plays well with my Jessicurl Too Shea (still have some of the 33oz bottle left!) and my SheaMoisture conditioner, though I get a softer hold with the SheaMoisture and some oil (either the coconut JBCO or Cocasta Shikakai) on my ends. I get a week plus with each wash and go, refreshing with either Oyinhandmade Frank Juice (running out, must repurchase) or my HoneyRose water spritz and moisturising with Beijaflores Hemp Buttercream.

I am still washing with the SheaMoisture shampoo but I DC with my trusty Naked intensive condish.

I’ve included some pictures (day 4 of wash and go), there is more elongation than I am used to but I like the sheen I get.

Hi Efuru - haven’t seen you for ages - your hair is looking great and has grown!! Mich x

Hi Efurru,

Your hair’s looking nice, it has a nice sheen too. How do you maintain your wash and go over 4 days? i give up after 3 days but would love to get 4days if possible.

Efuru - 25 April 2012 05:12 PM

I have been so neglectful! Mostly because I hadn’t been doing anything interesting just weekly braidouts but that changed a few weeks ago when my boredom with my hair was getting frustrating.

I’ve gone back to henna (I know, I know), but not the DIY kind, the one from LUSH cosmetics (Caca Rouge to be precise), I ended up miscalculating and melted the whole bar with some hibiscus tea.. The wash out was a pain because the Lush henna isn’t finely sieved and I had bits and twigs in my hair for about a week after but I liked the results and plan to henna a couple of times a year instead.

I finally got Ecostyler to work for me! I took the plunge and bought the Argan Oil Ecostyler and after ‘testing’ (i.e. mixing sample of the gel with my leave-ins and working them together to see if it turns to ‘cottage cheese’ and if it stays white), I discovered that it plays well with my Jessicurl Too Shea (still have some of the 33oz bottle left!) and my SheaMoisture conditioner, though I get a softer hold with the SheaMoisture and some oil (either the coconut JBCO or Cocasta Shikakai) on my ends. I get a week plus with each wash and go, refreshing with either Oyinhandmade Frank Juice (running out, must repurchase) or my HoneyRose water spritz and moisturising with Beijaflores Hemp Buttercream.

I am still washing with the SheaMoisture shampoo but I DC with my trusty Naked intensive condish.

I’ve included some pictures (day 4 of wash and go), there is more elongation than I am used to but I like the sheen I get.

Yes, looking great! And so long! 

tripleA - 25 April 2012 08:36 PM

Hi Efurru,

Your hair’s looking nice, it has a nice sheen too. How do you maintain your wash and go over 4 days? i give up after 3 days but would love to get 4days if possible.

Reeally interested in the answer to this question!

Really cute Efuru! Your curls look healthy! 

curlyhairmich - 25 April 2012 08:18 PM

Hi Efuru - haven’t seen you for ages - your hair is looking great and has grown!! Mich x

Thanks! I’ve been busy since graduation (trying to find a permanent job) so I haven’t had much time to hang out

tripleA - 25 April 2012 08:36 PM

Hi Efurru,

Your hair’s looking nice, it has a nice sheen too. How do you maintain your wash and go over 4 days? i give up after 3 days but would love to get 4days if possible.

Lita - 26 April 2012 10:31 PM

Reeally interested in the answer to this question!

Thank you! Basically, what I do is scrunch out only some of the crunch (making sure my hair is totally dry before I do this) and my sleep routine is from this video by Naptural85.

CrystalTips - 26 April 2012 06:10 PM

Yes, looking great! And so long! 

Thanks CT! Finally getting the hang of longer hair

Keisha Jo - 27 April 2012 09:50 AM

Really cute Efuru! Your curls look healthy! 

Thanks Keisha Jo!