What I Plan on Buying This Summer. :)

There are so many things I've been wanting to get for the longest time now, and since summer is around the corner, it's time to start finally buying and trying these products! Well, not only things I want to buy, but also things I plan on doing as well.

BUY:
Long Feather Earrings: I think they're sooo cute! I've been wanting these since I saw Kandee Johnson wearing them on her channel and blog. Maybe not as long as hers, but I definitely want some long feather earrings!


Solia or Sedu Flat Iron:  The only place I know where to buy these flat irons is on Folica.com. This I've been wanting since around August 2010. Both of them have great reviews on the website, but the Solia is much cheaper and comes in a bundle with a lot of the time. I don't care which one I get, but I know for a fact this summer I'm getting at least one of them.

Flexi Rods: OMGGG! Flexi rods make the cutest hair styles! The down side to them are they are kind of expensive. I mean, five dollars isn't much, but five dollars a pack is kind of much, especially  considering I might have to get about six packs and I would want to have different sizes. These I would defiantly have to buy a few packs at a time to grow my flexi rod 'collection'.


BH Cosmetics Palette 1st Edition: I've been wanting this since summer 2009. When I first started watching YouTube videos, I saw a lot of people using this palette and RAVING about it. $30 for 120 colors isn't a bad price, and I figured when I take my senior pics this summer, it'll be great to have to make a great natural look, but it'll also be great for bolder looks when I want to wear those.
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo: Shilinda1on YouTube has been raving about this shampoo for so long I really want to try it. I like the KeraCare shampoo,but I really want to try it. Also, it's natural and cheaper. It is important for me to continue to and stick to the products for my hair regimen, but I want to try other products! ..and I will.

ELF Lipstick/Collection: I want to grow my cheap/drugstore makeup collection before I move to more expensive makeup. I want ELF stuff because it's really cheap, and what I've collected so far is decent quality. Specifically I want to try the lipsticks. I've never tried lipstick before, but  I think wearing a lipstick with a cute glossy lip gloss on top will be cute and age appropriate. Right now I've got my eye on 'seductive' from the ELF essentials line. It's a cute pink color that's not too bright for an everyday look. But I will also get other stuff offline that my local Target doesn't offer.

Dresses/ Rompers (especially floral!)/Wedges/Sandals and shorts: I'm collecting dressers, rompers, and wedges this summer. My wardrobe is full of pants and other winter clothes, but since it's going to be hot, I am getting a whole bunch of cute summer clothes! (Watch my last haul of clothes and other stuff!)

GET:

License: I NEED MY LICENSE!!!!! I'm seventeen. With out a license. I'm gettin it this summer!!!

Fit: I'm focusing on getting fit this summer. I can't wait to work out this summer and get healthier. I don't feel like I need to 'lose weight', more like 'tone up'.

Couldn't Pass it Up-KeraCare

Yesterday before work I was walking through the mall still clueless of what shampoo and conditioner I would want to try next. To continue my search, I went to the JC Penny Salon just to look around. I looked at a few brands then spotted Keracare. Keracare is a popular brand that I've been wanting to try for a while. Before, I didn't see why I should that much for shampoo and conditioner since Keracare is a more expensive brand. But it only has a few parabens, no silicones (I think), no sulfate, no mineral oil, and no petroleum. Most cheaper brands aren't like that.

Anyways, the keracare bottles were sitting there and I kept moving, I mean, I was only doing a price check. Then I saw a 50-70% off rack and there was a gold box that caught my eye. I picked it up and it had Keracare's sulfate free hydrating shampoo, conditioner and a wrap lotion. On the front it said '24.99' so I wasn't too impressed. I flipped to the back just to see if the ingredients were listed there and I saw a pink sticker saying it was only $9.99. WHATTT?? If you know anything about Keracare then you'll know its not cheap. According to sleekhair.com, all of this would have cost me $39.99 when not on sale!

I set it back on the counter because I wanted to go home and do more research. It took me less than 15 seconds to realize that it was the last one on the shelf and this was such a great deal that I would be absolutely stupid to pass it up. So of course I bought it. I think I'm going to use Herbal essences one more time then keep it in my cabinet for back up. Even if it does go to waste, it was only about six dollars.

So, in the month of March, I got a $30 conditioner (kenra) for $15, and a $40 shampoo/conditioner/wrap lotion set for $10. I'm doin good!

I would upload pics, but the computer is messing up right now! It came in a kit with shampoo, conditioner, wrap lotion and a free sample size of the 1st lather shampoo.

Written 3/13/2011, Uploaded 3/19/2011

Best. Wash. Day. Ever.-Keracare

Today I washed my hair. (I normally wash it on Sunday, but I had to work an eight hour shift so I didn't want to)

I used Keracare's Sulfate Free Detangling shampoo and conditioner.(I'll tell you how I got that in a later post, It's not allowing me to upload pictures.) OMG I loved it! My hair is super soft!

Sequence of Events:

I came home and put Suave almond and Shea butter into my hair for a prepoo with out adding any oils. While I was waiting to get into the shower, I read the back of the Keracare bottle. It said to leave it in for 15-20 minutes. For a moment I was confused on what to do since I already DC with Kenra for at least 45. It wouldn't make since to prepoo, wash, put conditioner into my hair, get out the shower, wait 15-20 minutes, rinse that out, then add Kenra. So instead I rinsed the out the suave, then put the keracare conditioner into my hair for about 40 minutes. (LOVED IT!)

Since I just got a relaxer I think it's necessary to add some protein into my hair. I used Aphogee's 2 minute reconstructer. And I DID NOT KNOW that mineral oil is the fifth ingredient on that bottle! I guess at the time I bought it, I figured since everybody else used it, it didn't have mineral oil in it! #WRONG! Trust me, It's in the trash can now. I've learned my lesson.

Anyways, Then I used the Keracare shampoo. It was really good. My hair didn't feel super moisturized like it did with the herbal essences, but it was super soft, detangled, and didn't feel stripped at all. Also, it's really runny. Which can kind of be a good thing because I don't have to use a lot.

Then I deep conditioned with Kenra Moisturizing Conditioner. I only added rosemary and eucalyptus oil to it and it was the best DC I've had since being on my hair journey. Literally.

Do I love my new products? Absolutely.

NOTES:
-I thought I was going to either continue to use Herbal essences until I ran out, but then I thought about it and figured-"why should I continue to torture my hair with silicones and parabens when I have a good quality shampoo and conditioner right there? So I threw out the shampoo and will use the conditioner as a co-wash.

-Can't wait to see what my hair is like when I'm a few weeks post! Will the detangler in the shampoo/conditioner detangle my new growth too?

-I'm going on a trip in two weeks so I can't take my kera care or kenra on the plane. So I'm going to get these small Nexxus Humectress and Therappee for the plane ride. I've wanted to try it since Megan has been raving about it, and it's the perfect excuse to use it!

- I love Keracare. :)

Frustrated Ramble...

Sigh...
I've been having a hard time trying to find a new shampoo/conditioner. I've been feeling super picky lately about what ingredients can be in there. (I don't want parabens or silicone's). The more I educate myself about hair and the ingredients found in hair products, its hard for me to act like I don't know. Like, it's hard for me not to care that Herbal essences is full of parabens and silicone's. It makes since why my hair hasn't been growing at the rate I expected it too.

So far I've looked at KeraCare, but some of their products have mineral oil in them. If they don't have mineral oil in them then it's hard for me to research the products. I don't know, maybe their just not as popular as the products with mineral oil?

I also looked at Paul Mitchell, but their products 'tingle'. I don't like 'tingly' products because they never feel good in my opinion.

I was thinking about using Aphogee's deep moisture shampoo, but it doesn't have a lot of reviews. Also, it has keratin and a few parabens.

I've looked at matrix, elasta qp, organic root stimulator,cream of nature, Burt's bees, nexxus humectress, cat walk, bed head, biolage, kenra, mizani, joico, redken...all of them have something wrong with them. Either it's the reviews, ingredients, price or availability. Ugh, this is so frustrating.

I'm beginning to become a believer of 'you get what you paid for'. The cheaper products seem to have tons of parabens in them, but the more expensive and exclusive ones don't. I have about half a bottle of Herbal essences left, so that's a while to find a new shampoo/conditioner combo. But GOSH!! Why does it have to be soo d i f f i c u l t???????

Is Herbal Essences really that bad?

I don't think Herbal Essences is that bad. Some of the people with the longest hair use it for co-washes. Also, some of the people with the longest hair used to use Herbal Essences until they found something better for their hair. Most people will use it only for co-washes and don't use the shampoo, but I love both of them. I'm going to keep using my Herbal Essences because I think it's good for my hair.


RANDOM:
OMG I'm still excited about the VS cards! I hope I get at least a few $50 or maybe a couple $100 ones! But I really want the $500 card, man, I'm gonna get SO much stuff. Until April, I'm going to be getting things that are around $10 then in April I'm going to get EVERYTHING else! Can you say, excited? And on April 1st I'm going to be in Tennessee for spring break. So I'm going to hit the mall and get some PINK hoodies, sweats, and yoga pants from the collegiate. click here to read for more details.

AGHHHHH! Ingredients...

Frustration. Pure frustration. Why? I thought I found the best shampoo/conditioner for me. Sigh, I suppose I was wrong. Herbal Essences contains a few if-y ingredients. It has a few silicone's in it and I'm scared its going to ruin my hair! I know silicone's are bad, but I love the way this shampoo makes my hair feel. Now I'm beginning to wonder if it's just crap in a bottle. I'm not sure. Both the shampoo and conditioner contains high amounts dimethicone. (A silicone derivative. Adds luster and sheen.) I also looked up a couple of other ingredients and a lot of them were linked to causing CANCER! (but then again, isn't pretty much everything a link to cancer?) I used to think that as long as mineral oil and petroleum weren't in the product then it was good, now I'm scared to buy anything. I hope what ever ingredients they did put in there are to help my hair become healthy and are not temporary fixes that only make my hair look good for now.

I found a deep conditioner I want to try called 'Kenra Moisturizing Conditioner.' Not many people on the hair forums use them, but Sunshyne (the creator of Hairlista.com) used it and she liked it, also after reading a lot of reviews, a lot of other people love it and swear by it. I'll get it tomorrow while I'm shopping and it should cost around $10-$14. (almost five times the amount the HE costs me, but that's okay because hopefully it'll be a quality product and worth it.)

NOTES:

-I know I said I was interested in the MoroccanOil for a DC, but I read the ingredients and they said NOTHING about Moroccan oil. I know just because the brand is called Moroccan oil doesn't mean they have to put Moroccan oil in it, but it's HIGHLY assumed.  

-I might start doing what Megan from 'ulovemegz' on YouTube does- instead of having a rinse-out conditioner and a separate DC, she just leaves the rinse-out on her hair for a long time and considers that her DC.
-Silicone: Some will say that silicones bond to the hair and do not allow moisture into the hair shaft. Supposedly once the silicone is on the hair it acts as a barrier between your hair and prevents moisture from penetrating your hair shaft.

new regimen

WEEKLY:
-shampoo wash 1x
-co-wash 1x
-DC 2x


DAILY:
-oil w/ Castor oil
-M&S

PROTECTIVE/LOW MANIPULATION STYLES:
-braid outs
-bantu knot outs
-rollerset saran wrap


Shampoo- HE Hydraliscious Reconditioning Shampoo, Aphogee shampoo for damaged hair (only used when using heat)
Conditioner- HE Hydraliscious Reconditioning Conditioner, Aphogee 2 minute reconstructer (only used with heat or before relaxer), HE long term relationship
Deep Conditioners- Lustrasilk shea butter and mango, silk elements olive oil moisturizing treatment, oils, ORS replenishing pak
Leave ins- Aphogee green tea and keratin (only when using heat), fantasia frizz buster, Garnier Fructis leave i conditioning cream, HE Long Term Relationship, GF anti frizz serum, GF smoothing milk
Moisturizers- Garnier Fructis leave-in conditioning cream, HE long term relationship
Heat Protectant- Tresseme thermal creations
Pre-poo- ? (i'll figure it out)
Oils- Sweet almond oil, castor, olive, one n' only argan oil, eucalyptus, rosemary, Africa's best herbal oil, coconut oil
Co-wash- suave almond and shea butter


AS NEEDED:
Protein Treatment-egg, Aphogee wash (instead of herbal essences)


Relaxer Every 10 weeks (at least)


Misc: apple cider vinegar rinse


Notes:
-no more Pantene products (might have caused dandruff)
-AVOID MINERAL OIL (threw away some products because of mineral oil)


Wish List:
HE reconditioning shampoo
GF anti frizz serum
GF smoothing milk
Suave almond and shea butter

GARNIER???

I think I'm done wanting to try Elasta QP. I wanted to try it because it had a full line of things that I needed and wanted to try/use. (Moisturizer, shampoo/conditioner, leave-in, ect.) I know you're probably thinking that I made my decision to use Herbal Essences, but now I'm kinda wanting to try Garnier Fructis.
Why?
Well, I wanted to try a new moisturizer. I just don't feel like the ones I'm using (Pantene Daily Oil Cream Moisturizer and HE LTR) are really 'doing it' for me.
Pantene's okay, not as great as I remembered a few years ago, plus it contains a high amount of mineral oil. And HE LTR has too much protein in it.

So after work I decided to buy Garnier Fructis sleek and shine Leave in Conditioning Cream for about $3.00. I've only been using it for a few days now, but so far I LOVE it. It makes my hair super soft and it smells great. It does have some protein in it, but not a significant amount. Also, it is nice and thick which is great for the winter.

The BEST thing about wanting to try Garnier Fructis is that Target sells the shampoo and conditioner in 1.7 fluid ounce travel size bottles! So all I have to do is buy the little bottles (for $0.97 each!) and give it a try. If I don't like it then I can switch to Herbal Essences quicker than if I bought a full size bottle of something else. What worries me is that I know my hair-typically I don't like things the first time I try it so I'm going to have to try it for a few weeks before I fully commit to Garnier. Which is fine.

I also bought Herbal Essences Reconditioning Conditioner to use as a prepoo since I ran out of the Pantene I was using/decided to stop using Pantene.
If I like the Prepoo, then I will start to use it as my regular conditioner.
If I like the Garnier then I will use it as my regular shampoo and conditioner.

Now all we have to do is wait....

Hair Journal: Pantene Curly Hair Series- Dry to Moisturized Review.

A few weeks ago my mom signed up to recieve a freebie of pantene shampoo and conditioner in the mail. So we recieved a small sample sized and I used it to wash my hair once i took my braids out. It made my hair SUPER soft. But.. I did notice that I used the conditioner more than I used the shampoo. (I had my eyes closed and didn't realize I was using conditioner instead of a shampoo--so I conditioned my hair about 4 times and washed w/ shampoo twice)

-It did make my hair soft, but it didn't detangle at all.
-The smell was decent- it didn't stink, but it wasn't scented.
-I don't think theres any mineral oil in it.

On another note, I've decided to try coconut oil instead of jojoba oil. I think it'll help my hair just as well but its less expensive and you get more product. So I'll wait until I run out of jojoba oil until I get the coconut oil. (unless it goes on sale :) ) Another reason I want to try coconut oil is because it helps with dry hair. specifically dandruff. when I took out my braids I noticed A LOT  of dandruff. I don't see it any more now (weird) but it could've went away since I started moisturizing and sealing.

Also, I've tried moisturizing and sealing for the first time this week. I've noticed that my hair is a lot shiny-er even after doing it for only 1 night it was a lot shiny-er. It also feels soft but that could just be the shampoo and conditioner. When I run my fingers through my hair, my hands feel oily. not greasy and nasty though. I guess this is normal for M&S'd hair? And I don't understand people who can M&S their hair twice a day, If i did that then it would be sooo greasy-Mc-nasty. But i guess that's for people with thicker/longer hair.

I also learned this week that it is important to have a hair goal. I want to go as far as i can and still maintain it- hopefully bra strap length by Dec '11. (maybe that's wishful thinking, but I think I can do it)

And lastly, I learned that i don't have to get my hair trimmed every time i get a relaxer at the hair salon, just to 'listen' to my hair and wait until I need a trim or to get dusted.

GOOD YOUTUBE VIDEOS FOR HEALTHY HAIR:

(don't underestimate youtube now, they got some really good people on here with really healthy hair that are helping me with my hair journey and they can help you too!)

-Tips for achieving long healthy hair during your hair journey- by tiondrab

-healthy hair tips- by omgitsvictoriaxd

-almost any video by ulovemegz

-Hairlicious Inc: My hair care journey- by HairliciousInc