:gasp:

I never imagined, when I applied and then accepted the invitation to enroll in a doctoral program, that it would be THIS intense. I mean, I have already successfully completed a Masters program and it was literally a cinch. I had tough moments, some long nights but all-in-all...I was at the top of my game even while holding down a full time job for the last year of the program.

WoW! how completely different is this experience! Anyway, this post is not to complain about my program. I am honored to be a part of such a program. I've just find myself so busy, and at a point where I don't have time. I could literally wake up at 7ish and begin working after my morning devotion/quiet time and go straight through until 7pm. Of course I take breaks to eat and engage in idle internet surfing but nothing compared to what I was used to. So much so that my hair...my obsession has actually fallen on the list of "important things".

Rest assured, I'm still taking care of my love, just with less passion. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, structure and consistency is a great thing! My routine has become very simple as I summarized here with a set arsenal of products. In the past month or so (since early April), I found most of my products running low and surprisingly, I never found the time to re-stock.

Most items I can pick up at a local grocery store so that is no big deal except my beloved Hairveda Whipped Gelly. Well, after literally scooping the last morsel of gelly on my twists 2 weeks ago, I finally made an effort to reorder. Of course, in my own way, that effort was another FAIL as somehow I left the shopping bag and never completed the order. A week later...I completed the order. Unfortunately (or fortunately) most products are made to order thus there is no such thing as overnight (or even 2 day) delivery.

At this point I'm packing up to head home for the summer (YAY) and get desperate so I try to find something, (1) that's already made, (2) that is not too expensive (3) that seems like it has similar ingredients and (4) consistency to possibly substitute until my goods are ready and delivered to me. I stumble upon Darcy's Botanicals. :shrugs: never heard of them, but I found a product that is a possible 4/4 for my requirements. Well... I forgot to mention that I put down this task (I told you my hair dropped on my list of important things) and never really actually ordered until 4 days after I found it.

So long story short, I'll probably be receiving both products about the same time. The one smart thing I did do, was changed my original order with Darcy's Botanicals from their Natural Coils Curling Jelly - which had a very similar ingredient composition as my beloved Whipped Jelly

KEY INGREDIENTS
Distilled Water, Organic Aloe Juice, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Coconut Cream, Organic Brown Rice Extract, Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum (Thickeners), Hydrolyzed Oats, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Fragrance & Sea Moss Extract.

to their Avocado and Honey Twisting Creme - which seems much thicker/heavier in consistency.

KEY INGREDIENTS
Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Distilled Water, Avocado Oil, Organic Sustainable Palm Oil, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax, Vegetable Glycerin, Panthenol, Botanical Oil Complex, Wildflower Honey, phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol, Ylang Ylang, and Lemon Essential Oils.

Both are moisturizers and styling products...I just hope that I made a good decision to switch. But I'm very excited. I haven't received it yet, but has received notification of shipping so in another week or two I should be able to give a pre-product review. :-)

cheers!
Gia

Itchy Scalp?

What's more annoying right????

My scalp is flaking! ugh. From since I cut my hair in Jan, I haven't had to worry about dry scalp because of the increase in washing and all the oils/products I would put on my hair...however, the air here is much dryer than my beloved humid air of the islands and in under a month, I've got a new issue to address...


Background: Before educating myself on all things hair- I lived by grease because I've always struggled with dry scalp, however, it was usually manageable only really flaring up after a relaxer so I haven't really had to deal with finding a substitute since leaving the creamy crack . I used a light "grease" by KeraCare that made my scalp tingle (loved it) but after using all, I never re-ordered because of the mineral oil...

now my dilemma is even intensified because even after doing research and finding an alternative product (which I haven't done yet), I have 1. no transportation to hunt it down and 2. I require international shipping which is usually in excess of $10 added to a bill, so if I purchased something more natural online, I'll probably be spending an arm and a leg! I'm thinking I'll start with accessible oils...maybe something like coconut oil that usually worked well with my hair (not too heavy) and apply to my scalp a couple times per week...

any suggestions?

Kinky Curly Curling Custard

I decided to try the Kinky Curly Curling Custard (KCCC) that the lovely Kendra sent me a sample of and I love it! Its light and creamy in consistency- nothing to thick and grease-like. The smell was refreshing and not to sweet or overpowering.

I used it after a fresh wash on Thursday morning with the leave-in Knot Today that I owned and had never used and now 3 days later my hair still has great definition and even some sheen! The only down side was my hair was a bit more crunchier than I typically like but I'm sure I can remedy that. I also *should* have spritzed it the 3rd morning because its feeling kinda dry especially in the back which may be a result of me not sleeping with a satin cap and on a cotton pillow that night when we were travelling and I couldn't find my stuff.

Anyhoo, Sunday is wash and deep conditioning (DC ) day because I'm gonna be putting in my twists for this first week of school. I still have to figure out this hair care thing as it relates to the fall and winter temperatures....but I've got a number of awesome natural bloggers who probaby will be dropping tips over the next couple weeks!

I don't have any pictures because those that I did take don't really show anything, however, my 'ruler' was my husband who noted that this was the 'curliest' he has ever seen my hair!

Its definitely a product I will be purchasing for myself. I'm thinking there's no real need to purchase it now considering the temps already began dropping thus wash 'n'go may not be the wisest option as fall approaches.

smooches!