Meet Alisha....

How long have you been natural?

I got my last relaxer in November 2008, and got my first big chop on May 9, 2009. Then I got my second (accidental) bc in July of 2009. Altogether I have been on my natural hair journey for 21 months now!

What do you use?

I use a lot of product all depending on my mood. I use KCCC for my wash and go's. For my puffs, I use Eco Styler gel. Other various products include Dr. Bronner's castile soap for shampoo, and Giovanni's Direct Leave in. For my co-washes I use Yes to Cucumbers, Yes to Carrots, and/or Suave Professionals Humectant Conditioner.

What's the best part about being natural?

The best part about being natural is the versatility! I can do some much! My hair is stronger! I found that when I was relaxed, I have mainly one style, a wrap. Now I can do puffs, wash and go's, twists, twist outs, and the list goes on! I love it!

What regimen have you found to work best with your hair?

I like using KCCC because it last for a while. When I use it I wash my hair once a week. For the first few days I can just stretch it out while its dry (without too much frizzing) then the remaining for days I freshen it up with the KC Spiraling Spritz or just water!

How do you rock your natural hair?

I really just wear playful fros. I also like to wear my puff (classic)! It's the prefect way of keeping it simple and it doesn't take much thought, plus, my little puff is steadily growing (I'm so excited)!

What's your signature style?

A curly fro. I love finding new ways of pinning my hair in different styles.

Do the DO.

Here's another variation of one of my favorite hairstyles. 

How it's done:
----Either stretch your hair or wet it up so that you can flat twist. (NOTE: if you don't know how to flat twist you can do the tuck and roll)
-----Then part your hair down the middle.
-----Next start to flat twist your hair going down on one side your hair until you reach the nape of your neck and STOP. Don't twist all the hair. 
-----Repeat the same steps on the other side.
-----Next grab the two twists and the loose hair left out in the middle and put into a ponytail.
-----Then start to roll the the ponytail upwards into a bun. Hold the bun in place and pin that sucka down :)

And there you have a quick and super cute protective style.

Ravishing Red!!!

Thursday night I colored my hair a FIRE red color....not really :\ I put a rinse in my hair because I'm too chicken to put permanent color in my natural  hair...because of past experiences with coloring. 

EX #1: When I was in high school I decided to highlight own hair. The outcome=EPIC FAIL. Due to the embarrassment I felt after months of wearing the highlights, I decided to go to a professional and get my hair colored JET BLACK w/bangs. 

Of course since it's a rinse you're really not gonna be able to see much of the color in the pictures (you can see a little. But you can definitely see the color in certain light. I've used this brand before but with a dark brown color but this time I have to say I absolutely love the color and my next little color experiment will be henna. 

Meet Brittiney....

How long have you been natural?
I have been natural for 6 months. I did the big chop in February 2010 after transitioning for 9 months. During those 9 months I educated myself about natural hair through YouTube videos, blogs, and hair forums. 


What do you use?
Water- the best moisturizer
Shea butter mix [whipped shea butter with coconut and castor oil]
Glycerin mix [vegetable glycerin, aloe vera gel, water, rosewater]
Non-sulfate shampoos [Giovanni, Dr. Bronners]
Cheapie conditioners such as: Suave, V05, Herbal Essence, Garnier Fructis, Aussie for cowashes
Yes to Carrots, Yes to Tomatoes and Yes to Cucumbers- all super moisturizing for my bi-weekly deep condition treatments. 


What’s the best part about being natural?
Definitely, the growth. I can see my hair growing and my blowouts/fros getting bigger and bigger. I’m retaining length without putting forth any effort at all, and I love it. I have gone from neck length to shoulder length in five months and I am in absolute awe! 
What regimen have you found to work best with your hair?
Low manipulation all the way. I wash my hair once a month and cowash twice a month, only deep conditioning on wash day. I wear two strand twist for a week and then a twist out puff for the next, and start all over again. That’s it! 


How do you rock your natural hair?
My hair is still in the growing outward stage and has yet to reach the growing downward stage, so I am rocking twist out puffs for now. I usually dress my puffs up with accessories, such as: flowers and headbands. 

What’s your signature style?
Simple, low manipulation, tension free…..puffs! I was told that puffs are not categorized as protective styling, and that they could hinder growth. However, my experiences with puffs have been the opposite. I experience no breakage or knots, and for some reason my hair thrives with this style. So for now, puffs are my go to signature style.
 
Blog: http://coilylajon.blogspot.com 

What Gravitates me to a Product....

Does this ever happen to you ladies....

Okay so the other day I was in the store looking for some shampoo, when all of a sudden I turned around and saw a Tresemme product that had something about "Curls" and "Cream" on it.....my two weakness when it comes to products. Whenever I see a product that says:

---Curls

---Gel

---Wavy

---Cream

---Define

I HAVE TO HAVE IT!!!!

I remember when I first did my BC, I rushed out to get the Sunsilk Captivating Curls Leave-In, the gel, and conditioner. None of which did anything GREAT for my hair. So what I do nowadays is basically talk my self out of getting the product. I say "you don't need that", "what reviews have you heard about this product", and sometimes I have to look at the ingredients, if there's to many ingredients then I won't buy it.




Oh the the life of a product junkie.....

Twistout with Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding

I decided to use my Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding for a twistout (which I haven't done in a million years it seems).


Products used: 
Giovanni Direct Leave-in
Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding


I used my Denman D41 brush for some curl definition 

I'm truly falling in love with my Curly Pudding. It's great for wash and gos, twistouts, and probably much more =)

Disclaimer: I hate how these pictures don't capture how AMAZING this twistout came out. I promise it looks better in person and it's not as frizzy as it looks on here  :(

Meet Akia...

How long have you been natural? 

I've been natural since February 2009. Actually that's when I had my big chop, but I did transition for about 3 months. I am an avid youtuber, juststylefree is my channel, and I was inspired to go natural by watching chescaleigh hair birthday video. I originally locked my hair but after 2 months of that I decided I wanted to keep my hair natural and let it get as long as possible before locking it.

What do you use? 

• I regularly use shea butter to keep my hair from drying out.
• I consistently use coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil and olive oil for moisture as well.
• I use castor oil to help keep shape to my styles and I use grapeseed oil as a heat protectant when blow-drying my hair.
• I also use eco-styler olive oil gel.
• I'm not a huge product junkie but I have used Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding and Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in conditioner.
• My favorite conditioner is the Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Deep Conditioner. I am still trying out Giovanni's Moisturizing Deep Conditioner
• For shampoo I use the almond scented Castile Soap when clarifying and Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Shampoo.

What's the best part about being natural? 
For me the best part about being natural is the liberation of being able to rock my hair in it's natural state- just the way it grows out of my head. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against relaxers. My motto is "to each his own" but I love knowing that my hair is healthy and that I can rock a style in my own unique way because I have a texture, curl, length, color, and grain that is unique to me.

What regimen have you found to work best with your hair?
 I've found that co-washing once a week, twisting or braiding every night, clarifying once a month or as needed according to product usage, and moisturizing with oil and water daily is what works best for my hair.




Thank Akia for sharing. I am lovin that pic =)

Where ya been...

Hey ya'll please please please don't think I've abandoned you all (cuz I haven't). School is back in session and I'm still adjusting to my schedule between classes and my organizations... crazzzzyyyyyy Plus nothing really special has been going on over here in curly afro town. I'm taking a fitness class and a swim class (tryin raise that gpa) and between the two it seems like I'm consistently washing my hair :( But I've managed to find a way to keep my hair moisturized. 


I do have a some reviews in store for ya'll and plus more goldensparkle features!!! By the way a humongous THANKS to those who have sent me their info. If you wanna be featured click the "be featured" button at the top of the screen. 

Meet Kalisha...

How long have you been natural?
Ive been natural for 7 months now and i'm very happy i went natural.
 
What do you use?
When i first Big Choped i used kccc but as my hair grew. i changed things up a bit. Now i use griner frutis condish, Giovanni direct leave in, and eco styler olive oil gel( which is the BOMBBB) and just coconut oil and she butter to seal moisture..
 
What's the best part about being natural?
BEST part of being natural for me  is that i'm finally  getting to know myself!!! it  has really changed my life...
 
What regimen have you found to work best with your hair?
 Co wash every 3 days and a warm honey and oil  treatment once a week(twice if i'm really on it)  and two deep treaments a week (one with avacodo  another with just condish) my hair is dyed so i must take extra care of it... but hot oil treatment reallyy helps alot!!!!

 Thank you Kalisha. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your hair color and hair =)