Rainy Day Diva™

I ran out of one of my favorite products, Hair Milk by Carol’s Daughter.  I’d always used it to moisturize my hair from time to time, but since I started wearing my hair natural it has become a staple.  So I rushed to the store and was a bit surprised when I discovered that not only had the packaging changed, but the line had been expanded to include a shampoo and conditioner.  So I asked the sales person, “What’s up?”  She explained that this system was developed to allow people to define their natural curl pattern.  Now if you read this blog regularly you know I have a couple of favorites I already have for that.  So I couldn’t quiet wrap my mind around it.  I asked, where is the regular hair milk, to which she picked up the bottle and smiled at the new packaging.

OK, it took a minute but I got it.  I was supposed to use Hair Milk, the product I use to moisturize daily, to actually define my curl pattern.  I didn’t believe it would work, but I decided to give it a try anyway.  All three products have a light and similar scent.  I loved the shampoo.  It gave everything a shampoo should give-rich lather, smooth texture.  The conditioner got the job done, but it wasn’t thick enough to detangle my hair.  I felt like I had to use an excessive amount to get the manageability that I get with the conditioner in other curl-defining product systems.  I also didn’t like that it was not a leave in conditioner.  That’s just a personal preference.  Once I completed the shampoo and conditioner, it was time for the real test.

I thoroughly worked the Hair Milk through my hair from root to end and then let it air dry.  I was impressed with the results.  I thought that my hair would dry out and my curls would turn to a frizzy shag.  The exact opposite happened.  My hair was curly and light.  Thumbs up to Carol’s Daughter for creating a product that left my hair lighter tban any of the other products that I’ve used previously.  I’ve also gotten quite a few compliments on this one.  My concern was also that it wouldn’t last and that I’d have to wet my hair everyday.  But here I am four days later and my curls are still doing their thing.

Overall here’s my rating:

Hair Milk Shampoo: A

Hair Milk Conditioner: B-

Hair Milk: A+

I think it would be nice if they would make a larger size to go along with the one that they have.  They do offer a sample size for $9.99

Read more reviews on Carol’s Daughter product, click here.

I’m still experimenting with new ways to style and care for my natural hair.  So this week I tried a new hair styling product, new to me at least: Noodle Head Condition Your Curls conditioner and Kick Up Your Curls curling creme, by Beyond the Zone .  I was super excited to try this product.  This was really easy to use.  I didn’t have to buy a complete line of products.  Instead I just purchased the conditioner and curly creme ($5.99 each).  The application was easy enough.  All I had to do was wash my hair, comb in the leave-in conditioner, and then work the curly creme through my hair.  I had the most amazing, tiny, defined curls in no time.  It almost gave my hair a wavy appearance.  What I like about Noodle Head is that the curls, while defined were loose, so I didn’t have to use the diffuser as much.  The only drawback, was that I felt my hair was a bit dryer than it has been with the other product, that I had been using.  So I followed with a generous portion of Jane Carter’s Nourish and Shine.  The results were well worth the $12 bucks and I definitely like the fullness and the body that I have.  Noodle Head is only available at Sally’s Beauty Supply.

Here’s a few related post you may want to check out:

Kinky Curly

A Natural Woman

Ok.  The weekend is over.  A new year has begun.  For me personally, 2010 will be a year of doing new things and trying different approaches to some familiar things.  I could not think of any better way than to start with my hair.  So while I had some time on my hands and a whole lot of nerve.  I tried one of the products I mentioned in my post, A Natural Woman. I dashed off to the nearest Whole Foods and purchased Kinky Curly.  I honestly had no intention of trying the  product so soon.  However, once I tested just a couple of strands and saw the results, I was motivated to pull out the shampoo.  It was so easy.  And this from a woman who only goes to the salon.  In fact, I discovered a brand new hair dryer and hair products, I didn’t know that I had-that’s how I often I do a ‘do at home.  But anyway, I followed the instructions to a T.  I began with the Come Clean shampoo, detangled my hair  with the leave in conditioner Knot Today (I love that name), and then I applied the Kinky Curly Custard.  As soon as I did that, I could see my curl pattern coming into form.  The next morning I had beautiful curls.  Now honestly it did resemble a throwback to 1983 at first.  I looked in the mirror and imagined that I should have been in the car as one of the DeBarges (the forgotten one) singing Rhythm of the Night.  But that was all a matter of styling.  While I am not a stylist by any means, I finger styled and worked with the diffuser until I had some volume with curls that looked not only beautiful, but decade appropriate.

Aside from giving me a fabulous and easy-to-do-at-home look, I love that it does not feel greasy or sticky.  It just feels like me, natural.  Oh, and did I mention that I love it?  So I started my year spending quite a bit of my time talking to others about my experience as a kinky-curly natural woman, encouraging those who I know want to go natural but are afraid to take the big snip, or “just say no” approach to the lye.  I watched you-tube videos from other women who have gone natural, and even stumbled across a few communities dedicated to doing so. Can we say a movement is underway?  I even came across a really cool site called, Thank God I’m Natural.  It’s not just a blog, there’s also a book of the same title.  You might want to check that out.  Oh, and if you’ve tried the product or want to try it and have questions for me, comments are welcome.

So tell me how did you begin your year?

Happy Monday, everyone!

This past Sunday I woke up earlier than anyone should wake up on a Sunday morning.  As I flipped through the channels I happened to catch an interview with Chris Rock and Nia Long about the film Good Hair that was released in October.  I smiled as I listen to them talk about the joys and woes that women experience with their hair, because I have recently been through my own hair journey.  Yes, Rainy Day Diva finally went natural.  Oh, it’s been a long time coming.

The day before seeing this interview for the second time, I sat in the salon chair and told my stylist, don’t weave it, don’t flat iron it.  Just let it do what it does (okay, that included some setting lotion and skill, but that’s what we did).  For what seems like a lifetime, starting in my ‘tween years, I’d been addicted to the lye.  Yes, that Bantu relaxer (at some point, I’ve had them all) every 8 weeks.  I’ll admit that on a few occasions, I convinced my stylist I needed it sooner.  But the more settled I became in my adult years, I began to secretly envy women with natural hair.  Yep, while I was sitting their getting my french roll molded into form, I wondered what it would be like to be free of the drama that comes with the lye and embrace the truth, the natural me.

The problem for me was options.  One thing I knew for sure, looking like Florida Evans was not for me.  Good times?  I think not. Dreads? Uh-uh.  That Madame C.J. Walker hot press that used to be done by the one elderly woman in the shop?  Nuh-uh.  I was convinced I couldn’t live without the lye and the burning, scabby scalp that it left behind.  So I continued with my crinkle curls, rods, straw sets and wraps wondering if I had the courage to cut it all off, since I was told that was the only way to make the transformation.  I’d had one stylist after another laugh at the notion of me wanting to give up the “creamy crack”.  I was mocked, scoffed at and made to feel like natural hair and styling options was the black woman’s mission impossible.  That is, unless I wanted to only wear braids or look like Florida, which doesn’t go over well in the corridors of corporate America. Read the rest of this entry »