Wash & Go Variation For A Springtime Evening Out

Well, it looks like Spring is finally ready to arrive with warm temperatures!!!  *insert happy dance*  This weekend in NC, it was in the 60's and this week will bring a week's worth of 70 degree temperatures.  Now we can wear our cute, flirty, flowing, colorful outfits.  Along with that comes carefree, fun hairstyles.  Around this time last year I had a date for a comedy show and created a very fun look that was easy to achieve.

To achieve this look:

• After cleansing and moisturizing I slicked back the front of hair with Argon Oil Ecostyler Gel
• Then I smoothed back the front of my hair with the side of my brush (not the direct bristles) 
• I used bobbypins to secure my hair just beyond the crest of my head
• I applied Koils by Nature Herbal Curl Defining Gel in an attempt to define my curls but this gel is just not heavy enough to provide curl definition to my texture I still liked the results though
• For a more island look, I attached a hot pink flower to my hair
• As my hair dried, I used a pic to shape my hair.  (Funny story, I was asked if this was my real hair.  Yes it is!)
• The outfit I wore was a Grecian style one shoulder tunic with black leggings. I wore 4 inch strappy heels. 

The Return of the Wash & Go!

As you may have noticed, since my 1 yr anniversary, I haven't worn a wash and go.  I wanted to experiment with twist outs and other styles since I had a little bit more length.  However, with our extremely hot weather & my very busy schedule as of late, I needed a style that required less maintenance in the morning and evening to maintain my curl pattern.  So back to the wash & go I went!

I'm still using the same shingling method that most naturals use when applying gel for curl definition.  I'll post a video below of one of my favorite Youtube vloggers, PhillyDiva19154, for those of you who may be unfamiliar with shingling. (Note: I use a different leave-in conditioner, etc but this is just for the technique of applying the gel.)

Now, I will prepare you that when you get up in the morning you'll have "helmet head" meaning your hair will be flat on the sides that you sleep on.  This is how I refresh my style in the morning.  I spritz my hair with my
moisturing mist.  Then I take my shower and let the moisture from the steam loosen my hair.  I shake it vigorously to loosen the curls.  Then I pull out a few sections with my fingers and stretch with my pic.  Another technique is demonstrated in the video below by another Youtuber that I follow.  I don't band my hair at night like she does but from the 4:00 minute marker and beyond, my technique is very similar.



One of the things I love about doing this blog is that I am able to see my growth progression.  Check out the pictures below for pictures from previous wash and go's.  I'm definately on the grow!!!  I'm loving this natural hair journey and all the lessons I'm learning along the way!

March 2011 - Wash & Go with Smooth & Shine Curl Activator Gel

May 2011 - Wash n Go with Argan Oil Ecostyler Gel

July 2011 Argan Oil Ecostyler Gel Wash n Go - Day 2 Hair



Hair of the Day - Day 6 Wash & Go

My wash & go puff turned out so cute this morning I just had to share.  This is the same wash & go from Saturday.   I sprayed it on Sunday & Tuesday with my moisturizing mist & then today I lightly misted my edges after I got out of the shower and pulled it back in this puff with an ouchless Goody hairband.

I still had my curl definition and a little bit of hang time with my bangs!

Product Review - Moroccan Argan Oil Ecostyler Gel

So you guys, I think I've finally made my peace with EcoStyler and my wash and go's.  Now that my hair has grown a little longer, and that I've realized how simple this styling option is, I'm actually loving it.

I prefer the Moroccan Argan Oil gel because it tends to be a little heavier than the Olive Oil version and weighs my curls down more.  I've been rocking the above wash and go since Saturday.  It's now Thursday.  Each morning to refresh my curls, I just spray with my water bottle, fluff my hair to it's original style and go.  Now that it's on average 75 - 80 degrees outside, I don't have to worry about leaving with wet hair.

The Ecostyler gels can be found at your local Sally's Beauty Supply, which often runs sales on this for $2.99 for the 32 oz jar.  Usually, it's $4.79.  The gel has almost an orange aroma to it, but I can't smell it in my hair.  I have found that applying a generous amount of coconut oil under this gel doesn't make it quite as hard but it does have a max hold of 10.  As you manipulate your hair from day to day, you'll find that the hair does lose some of the crunchy feeling but maintains the hold and curl pattern.

Day 6 Hair!!

2 Weeks of Wash & Go's!

So I know I haven't posted too many new hairstyles these past two weeks.  Mainly because I've been rocking wash & go's and puffs.  They have been quick and easy to set, moisturize, and maintain. 

This week I will attempt a different style, it may be a variation of the above or something totally different.  Stay tuned.....we'll all be surprised (I have no idea what I'm going to do yet.  LOL)

It's a MILESTONE BABY!!! (Thanks Phillydiva 19154)

I am able to achieve my first PUFF!!!  Yay!  I am so excited.  (Happy dance!  Happy dance!) See the pictures below.





Just pulled back with a headband - side view



Rear viw - with headband



OK HERE IT IS!!!!

MY PUFF!!

MY PUFF!!!  Rear view

Note:  This was done on a 2 day wash and go with the Smooth & Shine Curl Activator Gel, with a doubled up Goody Ouchless Headband.

In the Youtube video below Youtube vlogger Phillydiva talks about reaching Natural Hair Milestones.  She says you should celebrate when you achieve them and since I've achieved my wash and go AND puff milestone in the same week can we say, Nita's doing the running man right now!  (Rolling laughing!)  By the way, I'm LOVING my natural hair journey! 





Finally! A Wash & Go I Love!

Those of you who have been following my blog know that I have not been crazy about wearing my hair in the wash & go style with Ecostyler Gel because I don't like the crunchy feel of my hair after it dries.  I'd pretty much given up on doing a wash and go.  Well, I was watching a Youtube video this weekend (surprise, surprise) and saw one of the ladies that I follow talk about using Smooth & Shine Curl Activator Gel on her twists.  (Note:  This is the "new" formula, many of the reviews on Youtube are about the "old" formula with the blue label.  I wasn't natural when the "old" formula was out so I don't have a comparison.  All I can speak to is the "new" formula.) 

After I finished my shampooing routine, I added my the curl activator gel, detangled with my detangling comb and then used my denman brush to spread the product through my hair.  What I noticed was that my curls popped in very beautifully!  After I finished the whole head, I let my hair air dry for about 2 hours. It was still a little damp and I was getting ready to go to bed so I sat under the hooded dryer for about 15 mins and then went to bed. 

Imagine my surprise when I woke up in the morning and found that my hair was not crunchy, or stiff, in FACT it was soft, and moist!  Not wet, but moisturized!  It has been like that for 2 days! I love the curl definition and the moisture retention using the curl activator gel.

I will continue to use this product and I might try out other curl activator gels after this one runs out.  The only draw back to this product is that it does leave my hair a little sticky the first day of application, but I'm willing to deal with that for the amount of moisture that it adds to the hair.  Two thumbs up!!

Product ingredients:  Water, glycerin, propylene glycol, aloe barbadenis leaf extract, pathenol, hydrolyzed wheat protein,, hydrolyzed wheat starch, carbomer, Oleth-2-, aminomethyl propanol, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, dmdm hydantoin, disodium edta, benzophenon-4, parfum, violet 2.

My Wash & Go

With this week's focus being on defining my curls, I decided to co-wash my hair earlier this week and do a wash and go.  I am not a fan of the wash & go set with Olive Oil Ecostyler gel so I decided to use a cream based styler and forgo the hold.  I chose the Curls Curl Creme Brule'.  I shingled my damp hair with the Creme Brule' and got the below results.  It defined my curls, my hair was soft, and smelled great all day!
I'll definately try this again.  By the way, I only made it through Wednesday with the wash and go.  I wanted a different look by day 3.  So be on the look out for my next style attempt with my growing TWA.

I also wanted to check my growth by looking at the difference between my TWA right after my BC to now.  Check out the slideshow below.  I'm growing!!!

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Playing with My TWA

As one of my goals is to learn how to care for and style my own hair, I've been playing with my TWA over the past month.  Here are a few of the easy styles that I did and liked....others I tried & failed (and ladies you will have hair style disasters, but I've learned it's nothing that a good headband and a little water & gel can't fix!)  All styles were created on freshly cleansed hair shampooed (yes, I use a sulfate free shampoo) with Curls Creamy Curl Cleanser and conditioned/detangled with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturing Conditioner.  I use Giovanni Direct Leave In Weightless Moisture Conditioner as my leave in and seal with Organic Coconut Oil.

The "Wash & Go" (w/ecostyler gel)

While this style seems to be a staple style for most individuals with a TWA,  I haven't fallen in love with it. It seems the gel used to define my curls leaves my hair a little crunchy.  I'm going to keep working with different products until I get the curls defined without the crunchiness.  Any suggestions?  In this picture, I added the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and then put on a good helping of Eco Styler Gel with Olive Oil and rolled my finger tips over my hair almost in a massaging motion to make my curls pop.

Faux Puff with Finger Coiled Bangs

This has been my favorite so far!  I love it because my hair in the puff is sooo soft.  I say this is a faux puff becuase my hair isn't really long enough to put in a puff but with the headband, I'm able to sorta create one.  To achieve this look I added about a quarter size of the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie all over to damp hair sealed with Organic Coconut Oil.  I used a pic to fluff my hair out.  I sectioned off my bang area and put on the headband.  Then I used Jane Carter's Wrap and Roll setting lotion to finger coil the bangs.  It creates sheen and  a very soft hold.

2 Strand Twist Out

This style was a win and a fail.  It was a win because it looked great the first day.  It was a fail because I haven't mastered retaining the wavy pattern for more than 2 days :(   For this style, I saturate my hair with Jane Carter Wrap & Roll Setting Lotion and then 2 strand twist with the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie.  You'll see 2 different days in the pics below.  I love the definition and my hair is still soft and well moisturized.

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Finger Coils

My finger coils were also a win and a fail.  I use the same combo of the Jane Carter Wrap & Roll Setting Lotion and Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie just coiling the section of hair around my finger tightly and releasing.  Unfortunately, my roots puff up leaving just the ends coiled.  So I wouldn't just wear this style without an accessory, but with a headband, it looks pretty cool!

I'm currently wearing my hair in a semi-protective style so I won't be manipulating it quite as much.  I went back to visit Taji and got a partial two strand twist out with a few extensions in the bang area.   I'm going to try to leave this in for two weeks.  I'm maintaining this style by misting with Oyin Handmade Greg Juice and sealing with Coconut Oil in the morning. I'll retwist my hair at night as needed and sleep on a satin pillowcase at night.

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