Decrease Detangling Time | 4 Tips

Do you take hours to detangle your hair? If so, these four tips--or more if you count the comments--can help you decrease your detangling time. I don't spend more than 20-30 minutes detangling my hair with the use of these tips. 

Watch The Video: https://youtu.be/MvXXIv2eYCA

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I Used 3 Shampoos | Wash Day Log

This hair wash day, I managed to use 3 shampoos. I began with a clarifying shampoo followed with a sample packet of the Sashapure shampoo. Y'all know that this packet was not enough to cover my head so I had to bring out a 3rd shampoo, my Renpure Originals Argan Oil Shampoo, to finish the job. 

In addition to the shampoo from Sashapure, I also had a packet of their conditioner. I noted that both the shampoo and conditioner were thick. They almost felt as though there were thickeners in the ingredients. I couldn't be sure at the time because the sample packets don't have ingredients listed. 

I found their scent to be very subtle but pleasing. The shampoo lathered up very nicely and rinsed easily from my hair. Rinsing is super important because my hair is so thick and textured. The conditioner was nice but it didn't help much when it came to brushing my hair with my Wet Brush.

After having a look at the ingredients, particularly those in the conditioner, I'll likely not purchase. shea butter is kind of high on the ingredients list. I find that shea butter tends to build up on my hair and leave a waxy residue. If this is not a concern for you, I do think that the ingredients are very minimal and the shampoo is free of harsh sulfates.

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​ I Did My Entire Regimen with Cold Water | This Is What Happened

​Hurricane Irma played no games when she came to my part of Florida early this September. Our power was out for almost 8 days. In that time, I was wearing a nearly two week old wash and go. With the reopening of schools approaching, I knew I would need to wash my hair at some point. Even if I was roughing it at home, I didn't want to look like I was roughing it while at work.

And so, Irma caused me to do my entire regimen with cold water. While I wasn't excited about the temperature of the water, I was excited to see what effects there would be on my hair if any.

Rinsing in cold water is said to allow your hair to hold more moisture due to the outer layer closing. The smoothing of the cuticle layer is also supposed to create more shine on the hair. Did I receive any of these benefits?

Selfies while mooching off the local university's internet

The curls are popping! Better than usual?

While my cold water regimen produced a decent wash and go I can't say it was far superior to any other wash and go I've had. My trusty Wetline Xtreme gel usually leaves my hair shiny. A marked difference was how short my hair dried to be. I'm guessing my curl pattern was slightly tightened which took a few inches off of my hair. This isn't as noticeable in my photos because they were taken before my hair was fully dry.

While a tighter curl pattern is nice, it isn't motivation enough for me to voluntarily suffer through a cold shower.

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Trim | July 2017

One of my initiatives this year has been to twist and trim my hair once a season. I never trim very much so it is more of a dusting. For this particular dusting I did a lot of sliding my fingers down each twist and cutting where it felt rough. The cut hair pile had plenty of little single strand knots in it. 

Thumb for size reference

I've come to a point where I'm beginning to feel fear that I am not taking enough off my hair with these trims. I watched a video recently in which a licensed cosmetologist said that many of her clients don't trim enough off. When they come to her she has to take off more than they expected. I don't want to end up forever hovering over waist length like I was almost a year ago because my ends needed tending to. 

The final seasonal dusting of this year will be in October. I'm still debating whether to stretch my hair out and cut it even for that one or not. 

If you like what you read on my blog be sure to support by subscribing to me on bloglovin', commenting below, and sharing via the social media links. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday!

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Video | Mistakes I Made on my Hair Journey

What's a journey without a few bumps in the road? I have had my fair share of bumps along my journey to longer, healthier natural hair. In this video I share some of the mistakes I made in hopes that they can help you. 

Watch Video: https://youtu.be/ZgQFgbqPmtU

The Magical Detangling Pre-Poo

A while ago, I watched a Naptural85 video in which she coated her hair generously in coconut oil followed by conditioner. This peaked my curiosity so I tried and fell in love with this concoction. This morning I woke up and had the itch to once again use this detangling mixture.

Now, I have a confession to make. Since I am not a member of the "coconut cult," I usually just steal some from my husband. However, his stash was so low that I decided to do a mix of sunflower and olive oils. I didn't want to deplete either oil since my husband really likes to cook with them. For conditioner, I used the lasts of a bottle of Tresemme Botanique Nourish & Replenish Conditioner and a bottle of Deity America Plant Conditioner. 

Just like the first time, the tangles melted and the shed hairs slid from my hair as I rinsed in preparation for shampooing. When it came time for my actual detangle, it was quick, easy, and very little hair came out. 

The amount of oil and conditioner used for this is enough to put me off using this weekly. However, this is an awesome trick to have in your bag for post long-term protective styling and emergency hair matting. It might even be good for a once a month goooooood detangling.

If you like what you read on my blog be sure to support by subscribing to me on bloglovin', commenting below, and sharing via the social media links. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday!

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I Used A Comb on My Coily Natural Hair

I do not comb my hair. I haven't done so in quite some time. I find that I can finger detangle fairly quickly and thorough enough to avoid matting, knotting, and difficulty in styling. So, what made me try to comb my hair was Abena Palmore. She has long natural hair and is also a professional hair stylist. She always uses a comb after finger detangling her hair. I said hmm...let me try it out. Here's what happened when I used a comb:

My Detangling Time Doubled

I mean, this had to be expected. It usually takes me about 15-20 minutes to detangle my hair. With the combing it took me more like 30-40 minutes to detangle. I had to really get in there with my fingers to prepare for the comb. I then had to be very careful with the comb, stopping to take it out and re-finger detangle spots that resisted.

A Lot Of Hair Came Out

There wasn't snapping, crackling, and popping but I did end this detangling session with a sizeable hair ball. I will note that I just came off of two weeks without washing my hair. I know how much everyone hates to see a lot of hair come out in a wash. I'm not immune to the reaction!

My Curl Pattern Was Completely Removed

This is a property of my hair that I have known about since the beginning. Combing or brushing of any kind will pull the curls right out of my hair. I took the opportunity to look at my hair's overall thickness in the "blowout-ish" state that it was in.

Products Were Easier To Distribute 

My hair products that I put in after rinsing the detangling conditioner out easily spread throughout my virtually curl-free hair. Distribution is everything if you are going for a wash and go--my default hairstyle.

My Curls Were Popping

My hair reverted a bit with moisturizer but FULLY when I applied my gel. My hair was curled from root to tip. I never shingle my hair because it won't break into those easy to separate strands but they did with hair that had been combed. My hair also hung a LOT longer. It was below my shoulder blade while wet.


Combing definitely gave my finished style a boost but the amount of time and effort that went into it is not enough for me to regularly incorporate it into my regimen. I'd be more likely to comb once a month or even once a season. I'm also thinking that my wet brush may have been easier to use than a comb.
 

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My Flexible Wash Day Regimen

My hair regimen is very flexible. I like to move around the pieces of it to best fit my plans. There is nothing more frustrating than a hair regimen that takes away from time that you can be spending with your family or doing something else. 

Here are some of the options I choose when it comes to my washday.

All At Night

The header says it all. I sometimes do my entire regimen at night. When I do this it is often at the kitchen sink, separate from my nightly shower. No one wants to be in the shower for years, running up the water bill! After completing my wash and go, I let my hair air dry a bit before I clip it up and throw a shower cap over it. In the morning, I just take the cap off and air dry for the entire next day.

All in the Morning

Similar to when I do my hair at night, I also do this routine at the kitchen sink. I allow my hair to airdry loose over the day and around 7 or 8 in the evening, I'll sit under my soft bonnet dryer to get my hair closest to fully dry as I can get it before putting it up for the night.

Night/Morning Split

I do this when I don't have a lot of time. I combine my nightly shower with the "care" part of my regimen. This means I will shampoo, clay rinse, and apply my deep conditioner in the shower (care + shower = 30 mins). Once out of the shower I let the conditioner sit with a heating cap then detangle. I twist the detangled sections and let the conditioner sort of dry on my hair a little. I go to sleep with a microfiber turban on.

In the morning, I head to the kitchen sink to rinse the conditioner and rewet my hair for styling. It usually takes me about 40 mins total. After that, it's air drying during the day and sitting under the dryer in the evening.

If you find yourself needing to schedule your washday around your schedule, give one of my routines a try.

If you like what you read on my blog be sure to support by subscribing to me on bloglovin', commenting below, and sharing via the social media links. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday!

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A More Simple Hair Regimen

Going into the Lenten* season I have begun thinking more seriously about simplicity and the importance of not "doing the most" when it comes to natural hair. It will be a gradual process but I am wanting to eventually simplify what I do to care for my hair. 

My Current Regimen

1. Shampoo -- I don't section or anything. I wet my hair down well and lather with a sulfate free shampoo. My shampoos MUST contain actual cleansing ingredients in place of the sulfates. 
2. Clay Rinse -- Since my Max Hydration Method days I have been a devout clay mask/rinse user. It helps to define my curls before I get to styling.
3. Deep Condition -- 20 mins, use a rinse out conditioner
4. Detangle
5. Leave-In + Curl Cream + Gel -- Rake and shake in 1" rows

This regimen isn't the most complicated but a corner cutter such as myself can always see where something can be changed. I am considering dropping my clay rinse. I have come to a point in my styling technique and moisture levels that I think I can begin venturing beyond the clay. 

I want to eliminate the leave-in. My hair comes out super moisturized when I use a leave-in followed by a curl cream but I have been experimenting with leaving some of my conditioner in from deep conditioning. So far, it's working out just as if I'm using a leave-in. 

Goal Regimen

1. Shampoo
2. Deep Condition
3. Detangle
4. Curl Cream + Gel

These two changes alone will save me time (mixing clay rinse, applying it, rinsing it, rinsing out all of the DC, applying leave-in) and money (clay ingredients + leave-ins = $$). 

If you like what you read on my blog be sure to support by subscribing to me on bloglovin', commenting below, and sharing via the social media links. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday!

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Tis Too Much Frizz

My hair is suddenly frizzy and there are too many variables for me to be able to tell why. For my most recent wash and go, I moisturized with Mixtina Conditioner--rinsing it but leaving some in--and Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I then followed that by styling with Wetline Xtreme gel (aka Bae ❤). 

      

Though the products aren't my all-star lineup, they are very similar and when mixed with other members of the dream team have done well in the past. However my results today and on my last washday have been frizz city. My ends are coiled--especially in the back--but areas that usually aren't frizzy, are! 

I could think of many explanations for this and only time and trial will reveal the culprit. I may have buildup. In the past buildup has been a factor that has given me frizzy hair. My last two washes were with a cowash that I recently traded for in a swap community. I am not a co-washer and usually cleanse my hair with a sulfate-free shampoo with ingredients that could remove even silicones if necessary. 

I've also been getting great deals on Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie at Ulta. I've just opened my second of 3 total jars. The CES is a heavy product that could cause buildup. I'm less inclined to think it's the culprit as I've had banging wash and gos with Cantu which is also heavy and what I buy when CES isn't on sale.

I may need a light protein treatment. The thought only crossed my mind because I have experienced over moisturized hair in the past. At those times my hair was limp, dull, and just uncooperative. I used my Ion Reconstructor mixed with my regular conditioner a few weeks ago. Also, I actually have decent tensile strength with most of my shed hairs. I'm listing the protein thought I doubt it's the real culprit.

Next wash day, i'll be popping the cap open on my Mixtina shampoo--which contains 4 gentle cleansers in the top 5 ingredients--and hopefully using that will get rid of this incessant frizz!

If you like what you read on my blog be sure to support by subscribing to me on bloglovin', commenting below, and sharing via the social media links. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday!

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Suddenly Decreased Shedding

When something unusual happens with your hair, you've got to hop online and blog about it. The moment may be just a quick and passing one or it may be the beginning of something else. No matter what, as I blogger I've got to document, document, document!

Old shedding pic for "decoration"

On my last wash day I noticed less shedding than I normally get. Now, I haven't had an issue with shedding in a while. I wouldn't have labeled my shedding before this point to be abnormal or alarming. However, I took note of the decreased shedding and moved on. 

The following wash day I noticed significantly decreased shedding. This shedding looked to be less than a full week's worth. That really caught my attention because I rock my wash and gos for 6-7 days before I wash them out. There should be about 7 days worth of hair  when I'm done detangling. 

Like a good blogger I began mentally taking stock of any and everything that could have caused this. I've reincorporated a multivitamin and biotin for about a full month now. Perhaps I was needing a nutrient and it was causing my hair to fall? I recently completed weening myself off coffee. I now happily drink a blend of chicory tea each morning that gives me the coffee feels without the caffeine. Caffeine has been known to affect balance within the body but I never drank THAT much. 

I picked back up my workout routine. We previously lived in another area of Florida where I had an hour commute to work. I was unable to workout. Now that my commute is under 5 mins I am now able to get up and workout each morning. The last thing that I could think of is I did a very light protein treatment two weeks ago. My hair wasn't out of wack before I did this treatment, it just had a tad too much stretch. I put on my regular conditioner then put the old formula ion reconstructor on over it.

I'm not sure what caused this decrease but I hope it signals a season of growth for my hair.

If you like what you read on my blog be sure to support by subscribing to me on bloglovin', commenting below, and sharing via the social media links. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday!

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Naturals | Just Clarify Already!

When I first began my (relaxed) haircare journey I cowashed. I didn't do it to actually clean my hair. I just wanted a more gentle way to reset my hair mid-week and sulfate free cleansers were not as common as they are now. To balance out all of the cowashing I was doing, I regularly clarified with a clarifying shampoo once a month. 

Shortly after I went natural I abandoned the cowashing and picked up a gentle shampoo. Thankfully, these more gentle cleansers are now more common than they were back in 2008 when I began caring for my own hair. Though the overall trend of cowashing has died down, there seems to be an equally as popular trend of people avoiding clarifying or using these so-called "natural clarifiers". 

Regularly clarifying your hair and scalp is an important part of a healthy hair routine. It keeps your scalp free and clear of buildup so that your growth isn't hindered. It also keeps your hair free of buildup that can cause hair to be limp or block moisture absorption. If you find that your favorite products aren't working, it may not be that you need to switch them up. You may just need to clarify.

Frizzy hair? Clarify! Gummy hair? Clarify! Brittle/dry hair despite moisturizing? Clarify!

I'd also like to continue my rant on this soapbox by getting into clarifiers. Baking Soda, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Bentonite Clay DO NOT clarify! (proof) I fell for the natural clarifier dream like many others but I ended up with increasingly dry hair instead. People may be using these methods thinking they are thoroughly cleaning their hair and wondering why they aren't getting any results.

Please, head to your nearest store that sells hair products and pick up an actual clarifying shampoo. You'll begin to see improvements in the appearance, moisture, and maybe even growth of your hair.

If you like what you read on my blog be sure to support by subscribing to me on bloglovin', commenting below, and sharing via the social media links. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday!

Some of my posts may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for clicks or purchases. Thanks in advance for your support!

Natural Hair Wash Routine | 2017

The last time I put up a regimen video was 2015. I was following a modified version of the Maximum Hydration Method that was even further modified after the posting of the video. It almost goes without saying that it is about time that I put up an updated regimen video.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/_PKJHnGEnqQ

More

Dusting | January 2017

At the beginning of 2017 I twisted my hair up in preparation for my first "dusting" since my hair cut back in November of 2016. It's only been two months but I wanted to get my hair on a rememberable dusting schedule. I can easily remember Jan-Apr-Jul-Oct.

What is dusting?

Dusting is a trim in which so little hair is taken off that it looks like dust on the floor. In my case it looks like dust on the sheet of notebook paper. Dusting is a great way to maintain between official trims. It is also helpful for people who want to maintain healthy ends without actually trimming at all.

Dusting has not hindered my hair progress at all. I made this side by side comparison pic. On the left, my hair had just been cut. On the right, I had just finished dusting. I recoreded my hair's measurements for both of these months (because numbers don't lie!) and there is some good growth!

If you like what you read on my blog be sure to support by subscribing to me on bloglovin', commenting below, and sharing via the social media links. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday!

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Video | How To Use A Shampoo Bar - Natural Hair

I used to look at shampoo bars and think "how do I use this thing?!" I just wasn't confident that a bar of soap could cleanse my hair properly or even be gentle. The bar I'm using in this video is by Hydratherma Naturals. I don't have scalp issues but I enjoy the cooling sensation of this bar. It is also very gentle and non-stripping.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/Nya8Yjt2c_w

Transcript

I Finally Made Plopping Work!

If you do  a google search for "plopping type 4 hair" you will end up with very few results that actually involved type 4 hair. What does come up are old YouTube videos and forum threads where most of the women are saying they don't do or don't like plopping. I even wrote a post saying that it didn't work for me. 

What I Was Doing Wrong

I realized that I wasn't quite doing the plopping thing right when it comes to type 4 hair. First, I did not use enough product on my hair. Now that I am heavy on the product, it doesn't get soaked up into the shirt like when I first tried plopping. I had unrealistic expectations of dryness for my plopping. 

Now that I have successfully plopped more than once, I know what to expect when the plop comes down. My hair will be gummy/tacky with product but not soaking wet. This holds true whether I plop 2hrs, 3hrs, or overnight. I get the same "level of dampness" as a result. My hair also needs to fully dry out in the open for the product to eventually become clear and dry.

Will I Begin Plopping Now?

The major benefit of plopping for me is being able to get ready or even sleep without my hair being down and wet. There is no benefit for drying. My hair still takes the same amount of time to dry no matter how long I plop or if I don't plop at all. It is for this reason that I will file plopping away as something that works for my hair but won't necessarily be a part of my regimen. I can plop if I need to wash my hair at night or I have somewhere to go on the morning that I wash my hair.

If you like what you read on my blog be sure to support by subscribing to me on bloglovin', commenting below, and sharing via the social media links. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday!

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Video | Bye, Bye Hair!

I mentioned in a live video that was very short lived that I cut a decent amount of my hair off. Well, I was not lying. I sat down in early November and lopped off my hair at random. Most of the hair was cut from the front.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/tP3-K1_l8Ak

Transcript:

Video | How To Detangle Natural Hair

I know that a lot of people new to textured hair struggle with exactly how to detangle natural hair. To be honest, this process can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. Good detangling can reduce washday time and maximize length retention.

I will note that this method is best used for your everyday, average tangles. If you have severely matted or tangled hair, you may want to look into another method. This won't quite get it!

Watch it now: https://youtu.be/DSPnOZsf0MU

If you like what you read on my blog be sure to support by subscribing to me on bloglovin', commenting below, and sharing via the social media links. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday!

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Shedding Update

Not that long ago, I expressed in a YouTube video that I was dealing with some serious shedding. I'm talking large balls of hair each week. Now, I am not one to freak out about shedding, you've seen that in my Is Your Shedding Normal video. But this shedding was so much that I even tried a tea rinse to cut down on the amount of hair loss. Fail!

1/2 the wash day shedding during the height of the problem

I'm happy to report that the shedding has gone down! I first noticed a decrease in the shedding during my September 24th washday. I thought, maybe I was just lucky. Well, I washed my hair again on October 1st and again the shedding was more on the normal side. 

I think the shedding may have been stress related. During the time that the shedding began we were beginning to make the transition out of being a military family, moving to a new location, buying our first home (so much drama there), and primarily living off of my teacher income. We had to live in a hotel for quite some time due to the home buying falling through and we also had to eat a "hotel vegan diet." If it could be microwaved, then combined, we were eating it!

We've been living in our new home and eating a more normal vegan diet for about a month now. In that time my skin has been clearing back up, I'm dropping back down to my normal weight, and my hair has stopped doing the crazy shedding.

Not being at peace comes with a hefty price tag and I am super grateful for my current lifestyle!

If you like what you read on my blog be sure to support by subscribing to me on bloglovin', commenting below, and sharing via the social media links. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday!

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A Hotel Hair Regimen

Unfortunately, I am still living in a hotel. The first day of school was approaching and my scalp was becoming more and more dirty. It was time to do a wash. I had held off on this moment for several reasons.

1. I don't have a way to catch hairs before they go down the drain
2. I don't have easy access to all of the products that I use on my hair
3. I don't have access to heat for my deep conditioner

So, I rearranged and removed some things so that I could get clean and freshly styled hair for my first day with the students.

Shampoo

I started off by shampooing my hair with Soapbox Soaps Coconut Oil Shampoo. This shampoo is a little more "cleansing" than I would use on a weekly basis but from the way my scalp was feeling...I needed a really serious shampoo.

Deep Conditioner

Still not sectioning or detangling, I applied the Shea Moisture 10-in-1 masque. I roughly twisted my hair into sections to control it for the shower cap. These hotel shower caps must be for people with no hair or small heads! I ended up putting the ice bucket liner over it. I then topped it all off with one of those terry cloth hair turbans from Dollar Tree and called it a night. 

Detangling/Rinsing

As I rinsed my hair, I detangled. I was able to get my hair pretty well detangled. I think I contained most of the shed hair and didn't get a very large ball. I moisturized each section with the LCO method as I finished rinsing.

Styling

I decided to keep it simple. I did my hair in large plaits which I fashioned into an updo. My plan is to remove the braids for a braidout next week. 

Though I made this regimen work, I WOULD NOT do it weekly. I just found it to be way to cumbersome and inconvenient. I hope to be out of this hotel soon!

If you like what you read on my blog be sure to support by subscribing to me on bloglovin', commenting below, and sharing via the social media links. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and sometimes Friday!

Some of my posts may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for clicks or purchases. Thanks in advance for your support!