Confessions of a Product Junkie!

Hi everyone! Even though I have been on Easter break for like ... er 19 days ... :) I haven't had time to blog. I have had a great holiday though, as the weather has been good and lots going on ...

One of my crimes this holiday has been product hunting!  I never (ever) skimped on quality products, guess its just my way of loving me!

Yep I confess! I love me some beauty stuff I love looking after my skin and hair, and will spend bus loadsa money treating myself to the best! ... after all, I'm worth it!!!!! LoooL

My hair has always been fine so I invested in products that would help me with this, Nexus and Kerastase were my staple products and I would attend West End salons for my hair straightening process.  I stopped using relaxers about 6 or 7 years ago because I clearly saw the deterioration in the quality of my hair. I went natural for a few years with the occasional ceramic ghd  lapse, then I noticed that I had developed permanant straight bits after washing.

After about 2 years I heard of a process called Japanese Hair Straightening. 2 people would conduct this process, a chemical would be applied and timed astringently, then removed (this was essential for me as my hair only took a couple of minutes for the curl pattern to straighten). Then, ceramic straighteners would be applied to carefully sectioned  hair, a conditioning solution applied, rinsed out and straightened again. This process meant that the hair was pemanantly straight, no frizz, I washed, conditioned and air dried. No heat products were needed, no straighteners, no hairdryer . I would do this every 4 to six months for 2 years. One day the process did not take and I decided that I had enough. I actually wished I had not started that process and stayed natural. But at that time there was not as much information and support as there is now, as in, advice on products and maintenance.

I digress ...

I confess that I cannot list the items that have appealed to my desire to find the perfect shampoo and other products for my loc's. I have studied, spied and searched blogs, beauty stores, dot com loc sites, you name it, I researched it! I read the list of undesirable products/ingredients, noted the healthy options, LIU favourites and recommendations.

I have learnt that regular use of  a clarifying shampoo is important and that 99% of lockers use ACV at some point. I have used Herbal Essence Balance (once) as a clarifier as my very first lock seems to have build up, (not sure how or where from, as so far I have used zero products!) I have also tried Taliah Waajid Black Earth Shampoo. Oh and I forgot a little while ago I bought some Lush shampoo soap, Trichomania. I thought it would be perfect for locks because of some of the recommendations I read. However, I was not that impressed, although that might have a lot to do with the fact that I was only permitted to wash my hair once a month ... I suspect that the true result would be more apparent after regular use.

Over the last 6 weeks, I have ... 1) retightened 2) no more braid and band 3) washed when needed.

I now wash my hair based on texture (feel and condition) and need, mainly now because I can retight myself. I quickly catch the sneaky ones that try to unravel themselves so now I have zero slippage! yay me!

This last week I really tried hard to delay washing, but my loc's looked like they needed some tlc, and they didn't feel right, so,  I got my basket of goodies down and tried one particular product I got quite a while ago ... oddly enough I had read that it was best to avoid creamy shampoos, and when I purchased this one I thought I had made a mistake, but on closer exam I found that it was a clear liquid. Well I washed 3 times and rinse, rinse, rinsed. and then ... wow! I finally found it! my loc's have never felt and looked soo lovely, my hair LOVES this product. After the wash I used a small amount of Jamaica Mango and lime Cactus leave in conditioner, well that did it! My Locs were satisfied!
... And what about the millions of products I purchased I hear you muse ... ? Well I can either open my own hair store or do my usual give away and hand over some goodies to a few lovely ladies I know ... waste not, want not eh? :) One day I will really confess and list every last item I posess ... just not today!

Tomorrow  morning I have an appointment with Liz ( just to check on my handiwork)
Next month ... May 28th to be exact will be my One year anniversary .... hmmm. I wanted Liz to do that one for me but I guess it will all be in my hands :)

I have been taking pics  and have some from my DIYing. I have tried to twist my loc's while wet to create a style but that is not what I want right now. maybe when my loc's get stronger and less prone to slipping I may reconsider, but for now, less is definately more!

Results, on completion of first DIY Retight (smiling smugly :)) I don't think I did too badly :)

My recent washing results... Olive shampoo ... 4 days later and my hair feels lovely