kinky curly curling custard Archives

Natural Hair Now–Stores Are Taking Notice

Posted on by Michelle

NEW Product Display at Sally’s Beauty Supply
geared towards Customers with Natural Hair

When I started transitioning in the summer of 2008 (well relaxer stretching that led to transitioning), there wasn’t a lot of products available locally for natural or curly hair. That was fine by me because thanks to YouTube and online hair forums I found a lot of information on how to make my own. I learned all about making whipped shea butter, sulfate free shampoo and hair oil mixes. I pretty much tried everything. Then one day I discovered a natural hair product line called Kinky Curly. On YouTube ladies were raving about the curl definition the Curling Custard gave and did tutorials on how to use it. It also had natural ingredients so I thought it would work great for me. Then I saw the price. This is where I started shakin’ my head. Just because the product stated it used all natural ingredients meant I had to fork over thirty bucks?! No maa’m, I didn’t feel the need.

Loads of Curly/Natural Hair products now
available at Walmart

Since then there have been lots of other products lines that have come onto the scene. All of them using the words, “natural,” “curly,” and sometimes “organic,” to hook new customers. The thing that made me really start considering paying for one of these products, was the availability. Yes, I’m that lazy person who doesn’t really want to go through the process of ordering something unless I KNOW it’s the bomb. I remember though stopping dead in my tracks the first time I saw Miss Jessie’s, Kinky Curly and Shea Moisture hair products in my local Target store. Seeing the items every week while doing my regular shopping was very tempting.

The selection for Curly and Natural hair products has probably tripled since then. I even found a full display of products once only available online in Walmart! Even Sally’s is trying to catch some notice by moving these products from the back of the store towards the middle (where the other products for “ethnic” hair began).

If I were newly natural right now, I would probably be a total PJ (a.k.a Product Junkie). The displays in stores hold so much styling pomade, cremes and whipped concoctions that it must be really hard filtering through all of that. Thankfully though I have gotten past the stage of trying things out to see what works. I pretty much know what works for me and I’m sticking to that. Still, I just find it funny how stores spent years practically hiding hair products for us somewhere in the back or on bottom shelves and now they’re on full display.

What do you think about stores changing it up in the hair product aisle? Are they viewing Natural Hair as a trend to make money from or is this going to last?

Singin’ in the Rain with Gotye at Red Rocks Ampitheatre

Posted on by Michelle

Red Rocks Ampitheatre in
Morrison, Colorado

Here in Colorado it is pretty much common knowledge that Red Rocks Ampitheatre is one of the best places to take in a live show. This week the hubby and I made another trek up the winding ramp that leads to the open air venue surrounded by massive red rocks to see the musician, Gotye. The weather was not the best but fun was had by all once the show started.

There were two opening acts before the much awaited headliner. After warming the crowd up with a couple of tunes, Gotye (a.k.a Wally) remarked, as most singers do, at how the altitude made singing a challenge. Still, he managed to hit all the notes in perfect pitch. The show was full of beat driven tracks such as, “Easy Way Out,” and, “Thanks for Your Time.”

Prior to the show this week of course I kept thinking, “what am I gonna do with my hair?” With the venue in mind it was a no brainer. A Wash n’ Go was pretty much my only option because there was the chance it might rain. I decided this before realizing that I was completely out of my staple styler, Eco Gel. That’s when I remembered that I still had some Kinky Curly Curling Custard (KCCC) I bought a long time ago. I couldn’t remember all of the do’s and dont’s for using this product so I went online to check which leave-ins it paired well with. I found a video on YouTube explaining how the Tresemme Naturals conditioner I love so much works as a leave-in under the KCCC.

On the way to the concert rockin’ my curly fro-
So excited!

Before applying the products, I co-washed my hair with Suave Naturals in Coconut flavor. Then, with my hair still dripping wet, I applied the Tresemme conditioner in sections. After that, I used very little of the gel on each of the sections and wet the hair before raking it through. I noticed some crazy curl definition right away which usually means tons of shrinkage. This was what I was going for though and was happy with the final result. The next day (the morning of the concert) I re-wet my hair to reactive the curls. I ended up with a coily afro that was a lot of fun to wear.

At the concert there was plenty of wind and rain throughout but I didn’t have a care in the world because my curly fro held up just fine. Which left me with plenty of headspace for remembering all the words to, “Heart’s a Mess” and “Save Me,” my two favorite Gotye songs.

Waiting for the show to begin

Red Rocks all around

Aloe Vera for pH Balance–Spray Leave-in Recipe

Posted on by Michelle

After watching KimmayTube’s videos on pH Balance, I realized the reason why Aloe Vera juice or gel has always been such a huge part of my regimen. When I did my Big Chop in May of 2009, it was one of the first things I used on my hair and my family has been using it ever since. It wasn’t until I watched the videos that I actually knew how it worked. Basically our hair’s natural pH is a 4 or 4.5 on the chart which is the same value given for Aloe Vera juice or gel (different brands may vary). Things like conditioner, shampoo and even water have a pH of 6 or 7. This change in pH balance opens up the cuticles along the hair shaft which can result in frizzy, puffy hair. Using the Aloe Vera is a way to bring the hair back to its’ proper pH making it easier to detangle and style.

KimmayTube is also known for her Leave-in conditioner recipe which incorporate’s Aloe Vera juice as the balancing ingredient. I’ve tried it and liked the results. For me and my family though I prefer a spray leave-in that can be used daily. For this I use the following:

Aloe Vera Spray Leave-In

1 part Aloe Vera Gel or Juice (Lily of the Desert brand)
1 part Water
5-6 drops Rosemary essential oil (natural preservative)
1 to 2 squirts Giovanni Direct Leave-In

Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and shake vigorously until conditioner dissolves. The conditioner will continue to dissolve over the next few hours. Use as a moisturizing leave-in or re-wetting spray.

Some of the ways I use it:

Set my braidouts/twistouts
re-wet my kids’ curly hair before combing
detangling my husband’s long hair
re-wetting/moisturizing my wash n’ go

Most recently I found that it works when re-activating the Kinky Curly Curling Custard on my son’s hair for great 2nd day hair with the product. I like this mix because we’re getting the benefit of the Aloe and Conditioner in one easy to use spray.

*Be sure to stop by KimmayTube’s channel on YouTube to find out more about the structure of hair.

Curly Hair Products Now at Target Stores

Posted on by Michelle

Miss Jessie’s Products
Now available at Target Stores

I was at my local Super Target picking up a few things when I found Kinky Curly, Miss Jessie’s, Jane Carter Solution and Shea Moisture products on the shelves. I honestly just stood there staring at the display in disbelief. Girls with curls in other cities have had access to these products at their Target stores for a while. This was not the case where I’m at. I even looked it up online and the only place where you could find Kinky Curly products was at Whole Foods which is a little bit of a drive for me. The Miss Jessie’s was only available online which, combined with shipping**, made the cost an obstacle (actually, the price is still an obstacle but that’s another post…lol!).

Kinky Curly and Jane Carter Solutions
Natural Products for Kinky and Curly hair
now at Target Stores

I was already thinking about trying the Kinky Curly Curling Custard. Supposedly it gives curl definition while keeping the hair soft and moisturized. I hope this will work for my son who wants to wear his hair longer now. The Tightly Curly Method just isn’t taming his curls the way it used to. His hair is frizzy by the time he gets home from school. I really don’t want to get into using frizz serums and hair gel with his soft curly hair. On top of that, my hair has been acting funny whenever I use my staple Eco Styler gel. I use olive oil and leave-in conditioner under it but I still end up with crunchy hair that is dry by weeks’ end.

With all that, I still couldn’t justify the price (and the drive) for the Kinky Curly. At $32.00 USD for 1 large 16 oz. container of KCCC, I’ve been on the fence for quite some time. However, Target has the smaller 8 oz. jars in stock for only $16 so I thought, why not give it a try? I did a roller set last night so I won’t be able to try it out for a couple of days. Stay tuned for my upcoming Kinky Curly trials!

**FYI–Ground Shipping is now free for anyone who does not have Miss Jessie’s in their local Target stores–see website for details**