Co Washes are definitely the way to go

I am definitely feeling co-washes as my new growth grows in. My hair feel super soft, clean and hydrated. Here is an article on co washes. Co Washes stand for conditoner washes and you use regular cheapie conditioners to wash your hair instead of shampoo which strips the hair of its natural oils. It still cleans the hair, but without it feeling so dry.

Here is the article from Makeup and Beauty Blog.com

How to Use Conditioner to Wash Your Hair
I found the Naturally Curly site online and looked up curly hair tips. There were many posts about using conditioner to clean your hair instead of using shampoo, so I decided to try it.

When I’m in the shower I rub conditioner between my palms and then start vigorously washing my scalp with my fingertips, not nails. I add more conditioner to my palms and then wash the rest of my hair in the same manner I’d use shampoo.

My conditioners of choice are cheap drugstore ones - I’ve used Suave Naturals Conditioner in Tropical Coconut and Alberto VO5 Tea Therapy Clarifying Conditioner in Vanilla Mint Tea. I use cheap conditioners because I need to use a lot of the product - about the total of a full palm’s worth – to get my hair clean.

After “shampooing” with the conditioner, I rinse it all out and then follow up with a moisturizing conditioner. Currently I’m using DevaCurl One Condition.

I’ve found this method makes a significant difference in keeping my hair from drying out and leaves it softer and smoother.

Your Hair Will Feel Dirty When Transitioning from Regular Shampoo to Using a Conditioner Wash
If you’re going to start skipping shampoo I have to warn you that at first your hair may feel dirty until you get used to not having lather. It does take time to get used to not having bubbles. You may want to transition by alternating the conditioner wash with your regular shampoo for a few weeks, and then going every two days, then three days, etc., and thus slowly weaning yourself off your shampoo as you get used to the feeling.Also, if your hair is fine and limp this method may not work for you because the conditioner at the roots may way your hair down.

Working Out When Using a Conditioner Wash
I’ve read that some women on the Naturally Curly website skip shampoo entirely and solely use conditioner to wash their hair. I can’t do this - I work out daily, so my scalp starts to feel gross if I don’t use a lathering shampoo at least once a week. What works for me is to shampoo my hair every day with conditioner, and then use a lathering shampoo every third or fourth time.

Product Recommendations

Ok so I had some product recommendations from random people for when I go natural. Some I found myself. I know I am definitely going natural this time around because I have a brand new fotki AND a blog. I havent gotten a perm in 4 months, my longest stretch AND COUNTING!!! Buuuut anywho, I found another hair forum call Nappturality, I like it a HELL of alot. I frequent the transistioning forum because we are all going through the saaame hair woes, and I enjoy looking at everyone else's Big Chop... Note how I said everyone ELSES... Im a chicken lol Im not ready yet. But anywho,

I was recommended Cantu Shea Butter and the Cantu line of hair products. I was recommened by one of the girls in my school which was very nice of her.


Also, sticking with what I know, S Curl, this has left my hair OD moisturized and this product has also helped my hair grow when I went natural in 2000.



I also heard that Miss Jessie's Pudding was really good. I really want to try her products. A little on the pricey side, I am at the same time thinking maybe it would be worth it.


Oyin handmade products, are another product line that caught my attention. At LHCF and Nappturality, it seems that some of the ladies love their products so I had to investigate. This is Greg Juice.




I know I am gonna have to switch up alot of my relaxed hair products to natural. So These are some of the hair products that I am looking into for now. Still have to curb my PJism, so I'll experiment at first and choose which hair line I like.

First Real Post

Well today I got some senegal twists... they are rather small but, god willing I wont lose too much hair. I am so tempted to cut my hair, because my newgrowth feels so alive compared to my damaged relaxed ends. My hair is thick as I dont know what and my head is big so... that doesnt make it any easier lol I will be 4 months post on the tenth and it feels damned good!! In retrospect I'll give u guys the scoop on my hair. Ok, well maybe a brief summary :)

So this is me 2005 ish, before my hair journey with the love of my life... As you can see I was a bit above chin length.

It was a fresh cut and at that time I was going to a jamaican salon. They did my hair very nicely as far as short cuts went using heat... But as my hair gained a bit of length, TUG A LUG A LUG! They were so damn rough! So what eventually happened? I dropped em... No offense to Jamaicans cuz ya'll can kill it when it comes to the short hair styles!






So 'round October 05, this was my hair length... I had no hair pics to show for so I'm using and old pic... but nonetheless, this was the length... an easy to maintain length... I was then introduced to Cathy Howse's Book which made me begin my relaxed hair growth journey. I also just found out that I was pregnant around this time.




This is about February 06, My hair was much longer than this pic, but I got a trim and it took about 2 inches off. I was mad! I was frequenting dominican salons almost every week. My hair was healthier than ever. Being pregnant didnt hurt either hehe! I stopped using direct heat, deep conditioned my hair every week, and used UBH dew spray leave in. I loved that stuff.



SOOOO Guess what came next in March 06?? The birth of my beautiful baby boy Zakkai! No hair pics here, but tons of baby pics... Such a blessing!



8 months


Almost 2


Here we have April 06 I finally hit shoulder length, and I found LHCF!!!! Wounderful website on haircare for women of color. My hair was at it healthiest and then I had to start protective styling!!



So the braidout was my favorite protective style and I did this and bunned for a loooong time.



I did me some justice because... my hair retained length!! This is Aug 06 I was almost armpit length...


This is December 31st 06, I just hit Armpit Length... and This was also my fave protective style.



Side View



So then I did a Hide My hair Until April Fools with braid extensions and Here were my results. My hair grew tremendously, but it broke off and I had to get a haircut to even it up... I hit Brastrap before but the haircut set me back to Armpit Length...




Here I had finally GRAZED BSL in Aug 2007. I was shedding ALOT around that time. I was suffering from post partum shedding for AWHILE which prompted me to use this plant shampoo that someone recommeded... and I went from THIS








TO THIS


All that hard work down the drain... but I kept a positive attitude about it and I am now embarking upon my natural Journey and what a better time now than ever? I am now transitioning... And join me on this journey to a more NATURAL ME!! and this AINT just about hair folks!!!




natural hair

From Sxyhairfetish, to Nubian Princess: My Permed to Natural Hair Journey.

Hi this is sxyhairfetish also known as NubianPrincess718, here to document my Hair Journey. From Permed to Natural. I am currently Transitioning to Natural to get to know my roots, the real me. While I loved the manageability of having relaxed hair, I think its about time I saw a new side of me. This is the second time I will be going natural. I went natural back in Jan 2000, but I didnt know how to take care of my hair. Despite that my hair grew from a TWA to shoulder length (stretched in 6-7 months). Thanks to the wonderful S-Curl :) But I permed it in Sept 2000. I have had the perm ever since I have always been a fan of long hair, hence the name sxyhairfetish... So I will show u guys how I went from (relaxed) barely shoulder length to armpit length and from there to brastrap.
I had a mishap, so I am back to shoulder length after cutting it chin length and now I am currently transitioning to Natural. Here are my hair goals
NATURAL HAIR STATS
Type: 4a ( as of what I know now)
Length: 1 1/2- 2 inches of new growth
Last Relaxer: January 10th 2008
Staple Products: S-Curl, SCurl Gel, Kemi Oil, MN, Boundless Tresses, CON Shampoo (Green Label), LeKair's Cholesterol, Wide Tooth Shower Comb