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See you tomorrow!

8/10/2014

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    Stay tuned for tomorrow's #video! I will be sharing my 2 year update as well as address a few frequently asked questions. 
See you there!



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Quick Question...

7/31/2014

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    Does anyone else relate to this? :)
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1 Comment

Summer 2014 Plans For My 4C Natural Hair :)

6/30/2014

3 Comments

 
    Hey! In this video, I answer questions regarding what I plan on doing this summer to care for my hair.  I hope it helps! 
What are your summer haircare plans?
http://youtu.be/mQDnqfFo6Lo

Stretched Wash and Go

Products in hair:
avocado oil
#sheamoisture #yuccaandbaobab volumizing conditioner
Shea Moisture's Yucca and Baobab Anti Breakage Masque,
Shea Moisture's #Coconutandhibiscus #curlinggelsouffle

Hair Flower: Payless

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3 Comments

Stay Tuned For My Hair Plans For Summer 2014!

6/28/2014

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    Hey!!! Since summer is finally here, I've gotten lots of questions regarding my hair care plans for summer 2014... especially since last year was pretty much a fail for me lol! 

    Stay tuned for Monday's vid on the topic! See you there! ;)
#4chair #4Cnaturalhair #summer   #naturalhair  #regimen
#4Chair   #curlyhair   #shrinkage   #afro   #washandgo  
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Gray's Peekin' In!

6/11/2014

5 Comments

 
    How do you handle your gray strands? Me? Right now, I'm not too worried about them lol. I'll deal with them later.  #grayhair #4cnaturalhair #4chair#4chairchick #coilyhair #washandgo #Stretchedwashandgo #Shinkage

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Featured on NenoNatural.com :)

3/12/2014

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    Thanks to Heather of NenoNatural and her staff for asking me to participate on NenoNatural.com! I had fun answering the questions and I hope they are helpful to someone else on their journey.  Have a great day!


http://www.nenonatural.com/5/post/2014/03/queen-crystal-queen-of-kinks-curls-coils-neno-natural.html
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Starting a Moisturizing Regimen

2/3/2014

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    Hey everyone! I decided to share a few more tips on starting a moisturizing regimen for your hair!  I've gotten lots of questions concerning dry hair and how to get moisture into hair, so I hope this video is helpful! :D
Get To Know Your Naked Hair
  This means to try letting your hair dry naturally without any product.  Scary right lol? I've only done this one time so far since being natural. :D  Seriously though, this can be a help because it will allow you to see what your hair's current state is. Is it curly, coily, straight, wavy, shiny, no shine?  From this, if you hair curly hair, you can also determine your hair type, texture, and natural shrinkage.  (Products can have an effect on that.)  


    Also, don't forget that if you have coily hair, it may feel different in certain types of weather as well as certain styles your rocking.  For me, styles like wash and gos, with and with out gel, tend to not feel as soft as a style like a twistout set on dry hair.  Although they feel different, it doesn't necessarily mean that one is more moisturized than the other.  It's just the nature of my texture and what I've learned from it is that I don't need to use a TON of product on my shrinkage just because it doesn't feel the same as my stretched hair and vice versa.


Know Your Hair Porosity
    Finding out what your hair porosity is can help you determine what types of products may work for you.  This may cut your "trial and error" phase down a ton!


Short Ingredient List
    Some products simply have TOO MANY INGREDIENTS! Choosing things that have smaller ingredient lists can help you quickly figure out  what ingredients work well for you as well as the opposite. You also may find yourself  taking the time out to research the ingredients listed on the product if the list is shorter... which is always beneficial. :) 


    Remember that "all natural" isn't always the only way for everyone.  Just be mindful of the ingredients you're using and be safe with your choices.  Keep in mind that if you are new to using all natural ingredients, it may take some time before your hair starts to accept what you are giving it....especially if you weren't using those things before. I like to think of it like my hair has to "detox" itself lol.        

Try Out A Moisturizing Method
    LOC, LOCO, LCO, LOCS, there are soo many combos out there lol.  You can even make up your own!  Remember that there is NO rule as to what works for you.  I bounce between a few methods and I tend to only use them as guides.  Sometimes I double up on certain steps and sometimes I skip a step.  Use the moisturizing methods as a starting point for a regimen and tweak it from there. :)



Moisture Rich Wash Sessions
  Try to retain as much moisture as possible during your washing sessions.  I personally like to cowash my hair but if you like to use shampoo and find that your hair feels stripped, things like pre pooing and oil rinsing can be helpful with moisture retention. ( I do both of these at times even though I cowash.)  Also don't skip on conditioning and deep conditioning sessions. :D


    At the end of the day, a hair regimen is all about trial and error.  That's the only way you are going to learn to master your haircare routine.  Don't give up when certain products or techniques don't seem to work.  Remember that when trying new things, it may take time before you see results on your hair,  (For me, it tends to take around two weeks to a month.)  As always, continue listening to your hair and don't be afraid to tweak your regimen if something isn't right for you.  God bless!
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Characteristics of my hair...

1/15/2014

3 Comments

 
1. I have a texture that is naturally VERY tightly coiled and shrinks VERY tight. 

Although it’s around collar bone length, it shrinks down to a couple inches if I don’t stretch it. I honestly think that shrinkage has been a major help in length retention for me. It’s sort of like a built in protective style as long as I keep it moisturized. My hair is up and out of EVERYTHING’S way lol. 

2. I can’t comb or run my fingers straight through my hair wet or dry. (And even if I manage to somehow get a comb through a first pass… it re coils onto itself and a “straight through” second pass is highly unlikely lol!!!)

That’s cool with me though! Combs have never really done me any good in the past… especially since I have fine hair. The fact that I can achieve rockable styles without combing my hair is AWESOME! Not to mention, I save myself from lots of unnecessary breakage. I don’t need to be playing in my hair any more than I already do. :)

3. It doesn’t have a high shine to it naturally and is highly textured.

I like to think of the look and feel of my hair as cotton or wool. Hey they don’t shine either and that’s cool! The feel of it tends to vary depending on the weather and the current state of my hair (shrunken, stretched etc.) 
For my texture, low shine doesn’t mean it’s not moisturized or unhealthy. :) 

4. It doesn’t showcase its’ length by hanging downward. 

I love this characteristic of my hair because it allows me to have versatility. It’s awesome to be able to go from the look of a short cut to lengthy tresses with a small amount of manipulation. My hair texture can achieve almost any style I want. Holla! 

5. It doesn’t really blow in the wind.

Oh well! I think wind is over rated lol. I used to have soo many bad hair days because of the wind while wearing my hair straight. Including my wedding day LOL!!! Since my hair is getting longer, whenever my hair is really stretched out and has a little more “move & shake”, I start dreading the wind. Gimme my fro lol!

Stay encouraged when you feel like there are too many things you CAN'T do with your hair. For me, once I stopped trying to change the characteristics of it, I realized that there are countless things I can do with it. I absolutely love the texture of my hair!
What are some characteristics of your hair? 

Pics taken (with flash on) are of a full shrinkage true wash and go.
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3 Comments

Winter Tips

12/2/2013

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Check out,
                                Winter Tips


1.  Keep your hair Moisturized!  Seriously!
  You may have to moisturize more frequently and that is definitely okay.  When moisturizing your hair, don't forget to seal in the moisture with a sealing product, oil, or butter.  For me, I like to moisturize at least every 1 to 3 days.  


2. Try "baggying" your hair for extra moisture.  I usually do this on like "day 3" hair (puffs particularly) I place a shower cap over my loose puff, tie a scarf around my head, and go to sleep.


3. Keep an eye on your ingredients.  Sometimes humectants don't work as well during the cold weather.  If you are noticing that your hair is feeling dry, crunchy, hard after you use products with humectants, it may be helpful to cut down on them. :)  


4.  Avoid harsh shampoos and try adding more cowashing sessions into your regimen.  This will keep more moisture in your hair during your wash sessions.  If you do  use shampoo, it may be helpful to do a prepoo treatment to prevent your hair from drying out.


5.  For dry scalp look into oils that help with itching.  (Tea tree, rosemary, peppermint,etc.)


6.  Deep Condition frequently  (I need to work on this!)  Deep conditioning is definitely awesome for adding extra moisture to the hair year round.
  
7.  If you aren't a fan of air drying in cold weather, use a hooded dryer on low heat to help dry your hair faster. I use a hooded dryer anywhere from 10-20 minutes to dry my hair. Since I have fine hair, when my hair is loose, it will dry 99% in 20 minutes on the low setting. (Air drying typically takes me 4-6 hours.)

(Blow dryers on cool air or low heat should be fine.  Just take the necessary steps to protect your hair.)


8.  Tuck your hair away in protective styles if necessary.  Personally, I don't wear protective styles like braids, twists, wigs, weaves, etc., but may people have success with wearing them.  Just make sure you are paying attention to your hair under whatever protective style you choose. :)


9.  Stay healthy! Try your best to stay hydrated, exercise and eat a healthy diet.  Diet still has an effect on hair and skin year round. :D  


10.  Pay attention to what your hair is telling you.  If you need to make changes to your regimen, it's better to do it immediately rather than waiting until your hair is angry lol.  






Dry Twistout Of The Day

  *Leave ins for this twistout: Avocado oil, SM Yucca & Baobab Volumizing Conditioner. 
* I sat under dryer for 20 minutes while stretching hair.  
*Dry Twistout completed with SM Curling Souffle and Oyin Burnt Sugar Pomade
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Channel Update! What's Goin' On?

11/25/2013

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Hey everyone! I just want to thank you for taking the time out to tune in to this channel/page! I'm really grateful for your support and comments! You're awesome! :) How are you making out with all the new changes?
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Edges!

11/18/2013

15 Comments

 
    Edges are soo iffy!!!  One wrong move and they're the first to go!  There have been several occasions where mine were practically non existent.  Especially after having children. Today I discuss some of the causes of thinning hairlines, as well as some things that may be helpful correcting the issue.  
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My edges have been through it! For real!



Causes of thinning Edges/ Hairlines





Tension
  Be careful when doing protective styles.  Braids, wigs, weaves, extensions, tight pony tails, etc. can all cause hair loss around the edges if done incorrectly, or if you have a sensitive scalp to begin with.




Friction

  Hats, scarfs, pillowcases, bandanas etc. Especially those made with cotton can damage the hairline.  Try to use things that are silky/satin :)  You can also try wearing a satin scarf under hats or lining the inside of your hats with silk or satin to avoid friction.



Hair Tools
  Be careful when using brushes and combs on your hair line.  They don't have to be perfectly slick and smooth all the time lol! I like to use a baby brush and soft tooth brush when I want them a little smoother.


Lack of Moisture
    Don't forget to pay close attention to your edges while moisturizing.  Even after you wash your face, be sure to re moisturize or wear a scarf while washing up to protect your hair.  Oils are great for sealing in moisture so look into things like castor, rosemary, tea tree, peppermint, coconut, jojoba, olive, avocado etc.  Choose your favorites along with a little scalp massage!   


Damage

Heat, color, relaxers, bleaching etc. can cause hairline damage.
If you are using processes like these, make sure you are doing them properly to avoid losing hair.  


Health, Diet, and Exercise
    Eating right and exercise can help provide hair with the proper nutrients which are essential for healthy hair.


Genetics and Scalp Conditions
  Things like Alopecia, Psoriasis, Pattern Baldness, Ringworm, can cause hairloss.  It's best to see a doctor for treatment.


 
    Here's what I like to do sometimes to avoid tension and stress on my nape and hairline when wearing puffs.
15 Comments

Avoiding Flaking From Products :)

10/29/2013

2 Comments

 
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Check out,
 Avoiding Flakes, Balls, & "Goo" In Hair When Mixing Products - NaturalMe4C 
    I think we all can relate to having to rinse out your hair because of a product not mixing well with something else you had in your hair and it caused, flakes, goo balls, and chunks of product to lodge itself into your hair. (Not to mention if you have curly or coily hair it is a PAIN to wash out!) The problem usually lies when combining water based leave ins and gels together.  It can be hit or miss at times, so knowing whether or not they work nicely together BEFORE applying them to your hair can save you lots of time.  This is a really easy trick I like to do before mixing products that I'm not familiar with using together in my hair.  
    Example of products that mix well together:  Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Styling Gel.  
    Example of products that don't mix well together:  Eden Body Works Coconut Shea Leave In Conditioner and Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Styling Gel/ Eco Styler Argan Oil Gel.
2 Comments

Summer Wrap Up :)

9/17/2013

2 Comments

 
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Check out, 
Summer Wrap Up (Struggles, Styles, Incomplete splits, Detangling, New cut? ) - NaturalMe4C
  
    This summer was definitely a test!  Needless to say, I'm glad that it's about over...hopefully my hair will start acting normal again.  In todays video post, I share a recap of how things went over the summer.  Some of the things I talked about were:

 *  Frizzy crazy failed twistouts

*  Successful wash & gos

*  Detangling and Search and Destroy Missions

*  Updating my progress dealing with the incomplete splits that recently occurred from the Tangle Tamer

*  "Ah ha" realization that I shouldn't have given up on gel

*  Thoughts of cutting a little more length of my hair  

I just chat it up ya'll lol!  



How This Twistout Held Up :)
I finally had success! LOL  

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Dare I?  Tweaking up my version of the LOC Method

9/13/2013

4 Comments

 
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Check out, Trying Something New ( Tweaking The LOC Method ) - Hair Talk - NaturalMe4C 
     I'm bored! Yup, I think it's time to branch out a little bit and see what other things my hair likes!  Now, I'm not going crazy far from home lol, but I want to try something new for Ms. Fro.  First, I want to see what other oils and butters my hair will enjoy.  Is there something better for me that olive oil and avocado butter solely?  Do I even need a butter at all at this point in my journey?  I think it's a good thing to see exactly what each product in your regimen it doing for you instead of just using it just because...  


    I have been doing the LOC method for a year and it has done wonders for my hair!  I love that method and don't want it give it up...but I do want to tweak it a little once again. 


 As you may know, my current version of the LOC method has been:
L- Water
O- Both Olive oil and avocado butter
C- Some kind of Conditioner or creamy leave in/ twisting cream
Gel- optional


This is what I'm going to be trying:

L- Water
O - Avocado oil
C - Some kind of Conditioner or creamy leave in/ twisting cream
O- Sealing oil 
Gel- optional...but my hair really does better when I DO use it




My first attempt at the LOCO method looked like this:

L- water
O- Avocado oil
C- Shea Moisture Curl and Shine Conditioner and Eden BodyWorks Leave in Conditioner (I don't plan on using two leave ins all the time, lol I was just nervous an wanted to make sure my hair was moisturized since this was my first time doing this. )  


O- Avocado oil  (I used avocado oil for my first round of trying this method and it worked nicely, but will be using a different oil that's cheaper and better for sealing since avocado oil is a penetrating oil. ) 




So far so good!  My hair is doing awesome with this "LOCO" method lol.  See!  I told you I wasn't going to far from home!  (BTW, olive oil and avocado butter are still on my list of things I like to use in rotation for my hair.  I still love them both, I just want to venture out a little.)  
4 Comments

1 year natural!!!  (18 months post relaxer!)

8/8/2013

2 Comments

 
  Pics above are of a semi stretched true wash and go :)  Products used:olive oil, avocado butter, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Shea Moisture Curling Souffle :)  I will be posting a video showing how I do this style soon :) 


Check out.  1 Year Natural! - Hair Talk ( Regimen, Struggles, Protective Styles,Goals,) - NaturalMe4C 


My Big Chop at 6 Months Post Relaxer (August 5, 2012)

         I made it!!!  I'm super excited that it's been a year since I did my big chop!!! Time flies!   

1.  What am I happy about being 1 year natural?
  I'm happy that my hair is thriving without relaxers!  I never really thought I'd be able to have healthy hair without straightening it or something.  I was sooooo wrong lol.  My hair is loving being out and about and doing her thing!  I'm having a great time just letting my fro be.  I'm also happy that my hair has been maintaining its moisture year round :)  So the regimen I have stuck with this long has really paid off.  


2.  Where is my current length? 


    I had Ty measure my hair before my last trim (I'll be sure to post that trim video)  but my length was between 7.5 and 8.5 inches long depending on where you pulled the hair from. The middle of my nape was the shortest at 7.25 inches.  Prior to this past trim, I've had two previous trims that I took about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch off each time.
     On my journey, I'm not solely focusing on length... I want my hair to grow but I want to have fun and wear my hair in ways I enjoy as well.  I just want my hair to be healthy.  Who knows, I may get the urge to cut my hair out of no where one day just because lol.  


3.  What have I struggled with?


  *  I've struggled with SSK's of course lol :)  Since I wear my hair out and about I'm sure to have SSK's.  However, people who protective style also get them lol.  They are just a part of having kinky curly coily hair :D  I just make sure I keep up on my trims to make life easier when detangling and styling.  

*  FRIZZ!  enough said LOL!!!!

*  Last, I've struggled with the sensitive area in the nape of my hair.  I will be playing around with oils etc. to see if I can improve that area.  It's been that way FOREVER, so I'm not expecting too much change but I'm hopeful :)



4.  Am I making any changes to my regimen?

  I'm going to be sticking with both the LOC method and modified Curly Girl methods that I've been doing.  As far as products, Eden Body Works Coconut Shea Cleansing Cowash had become my No.1 thing to use for cowashing!  Yup it took over my Vo5!!!  I will still be using Vo5 but more than likely it will be as my second "condition" during my wash session.  


    I will also be using something to clean deeper at least once a month .  Right now, the things I'll bounce between are Apple Cider Vinegar, Shea Moisture's Purification Masque, and Shea Moisture's Curl and Shine Shampoo. (Yup I'm thinking about trying my beloved shampoo again! I haven't used it since September 2012!  This shampoo is curly girl friendly and doesn't contain harsh sulfates, silicones, etc. )


    I also plan to deep condition more with oils to help with the thickness of my hair.  Right now, the only oils I use are olive, avocado, peppermint, castor, and a rare coconut oil (which I'm determined to make work for my fro lol).  I will be looking into other oils like jojoba, rosemary, basil, and tea tree etc. and choose which ones I think will suit Ms. Fro the best :)  


As far as protein treatments, I will be lookin into using things like greek yogurt and avocado mixes for a gentle protein boost :) We'll see!



5.  Do I plan on protective styling? 


    I have never been a protective styler. I've always enjoyed being hands on with my hair and learning how to handle it.  I loved phony ponytails when I was relaxed but that's about it lol. I've never had a sew in, lace front or anything like that.    Right now,  I don't plan on doing protective styles for long periods of time. I have a very sensitive scalp and I need to change the position of my hair frequently to prevent soreness and stress on my scalp.  


    That's not to say that I will never do phony ponytails and buns again :)  I like them and am sure I will do them at some point.   I may try mini twists at some point just to change things up. And I'm totally going to have times where I decide not to remove my twistout twists and pin them up in some sort of style. 


  I think there is more of a chance of me doing protective styles for an extended periods of time if I was away on vacation or something and didn't have my normal resources available to me and or I was going to be in the sun and water all the time. :)


6.  What are my goals moving forward?



    I want to continue keeping things simple.  I'm going to focus on the thickness of my hair and see if I can improve it a little. However, I'm not gonna take special vitamins, do castor oil challenges or things like that, but I will be incorporating more oils in my regimen.  My hair seems to be growing at a normal rate so I'm just gonna focus on being healthy as a whole and my hair hopefully will reflect that :)


Congrats to all those who have reached milestones on their journeys!!! :D  Rock your textures!
Don't forget to stay prayerful in all things...even hair!

   
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    About Me

    Crystal aka Kriss

    Hey!  I'm Crystal, an energetic married mother of two who is on a journey to become the woman God has meant for me to be.  I'm sharing my journey in hopes to inspire others to be comfortable with who they are. Here you will find lots of things ranging from natural hair care, beauty, marriage fun, spirituality, and more!


     Remember to be who you are and not the person others think you should be! 


    Last Relaxer Date: 

    February 3, 2012


    Big Chop Date: 
    August 5th 2012




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