Hair advice I learned at the BGR! Conference 2012 from the author of K is for Kinky website/blog

1.      Never use a clarifying shampoo to wash hair weekly.  It will strip your hair down to the bone and cause breakage.

2.      Only use clarifying shampoo once a month or every 3 months if you have wax build-up.

3.      When shampooing use a sulfate-free and paraffin-free, or is that parabens, shampoo. L’Oreal has a new line called EverCreme Sulfate-free Moisture System.  The Cleansing Conditioner is a cleanser / moisturizer in one great for co-washing.

4.      Sofn’Free has a line called “Nothing But”, their Cleansing Conditioner is good as well according K is for Kinky.  

Nothing But has a very good website by the way, in my opinion. Haven’t used the products yet, but I think I will. So far I’m in love with As I Am but I’m so over the curl thing.  Its winter and I can’t wake up and wet my hair every morning to get it looking good and going to sleep at night with a wet head doesn’t really make things any better or simpler; this is why I love the press n’ curl.  It works great for my low maintenance-self.  However, the runner in me requires so much more.

5.      Always section and wash your hair.  It makes it easier to manage and you are more likely to get all the hair and scalp clean more thoroughly.

6.      Putting conditioner on your scalp cakes the scalp, film build up.

7.      K is for Kinky recommends Infusium23’s leave-in conditioner because it is water-based. She didn’t say which line, but I’m assuming the Frizz Controller Collection.    

However, in my notes she also turns around and says cream-based leave-in conditioners are best.  Now I’m confused. So which ones are cream-based? What kind of cream?  Do the ingredients actually say cream? Guess I’ll have to go back and check. I already knew I won’t be trying Infusium.  I’ve tried it before and didn’t really care for it, but everyone’s hair is different.  No matter what advice you get from what expert you always have to try different regimens and product mixtures on your own hair.  No two people are alike. These new “natural experts” are all the same, just letting you know what works did and did not work for them. God bless them.

 

8.      Last product plug was Cantu’s Curl Activator Cream. All of Cantu’s products are made with Shea Butter, and you know how black people love them some Shea Butter. K is for Kinky loves this product because it has glycerin which attracts water meaning moisture for your lovely locks.

I’m a little confused by notes on this one. I also have beside Cantu – water-based.  I’m not really sure if this means the product is water-based or if there was something else being said and I missed it because beside that I have “twist in look get…” but its crossed out so I don’t know what I’m missing here but if the product name as the term “cream” in it, I’m thinking it’s not water-based.

Regardless, I’ve tried Cantu products before and didn’t like them.  But that was before everyone else liked them. So maybe I used them incorrectly or used the wrong product.  I may or may not give this one another try. Truth be told, I’m so over the curl thing. Did I say that already?  

9.      Types of oils great and yummy for black hair: Honey, Almond oil, Shea butter, Coconut oil, EVOO, Jojoba, Argon, and Macadamia Nut oil. 

 MMMM I’m hungry just typing this. I’ve tried the coconut oil thing and that definitely did not work well for me. It was too gooey and just not fun at all. It didn’t even smell tantalizing. I have the Argon oil, no biggie. Honey? Not really sure how to work this in; would love to do almond oil. That just sounds wonderful. I have not tried pure EVOO on my hair. Thing I’ll look that one up since I keep in the kitchen and figure out how to use it safely for my hair, should be interesting.  And the Macadamia oil, wow! Now that just sounds delish!  

All this stuff seems pretty expensive just to maintain a “natural” look. [shaking my head] Black women go through way too much to be beautiful and comfortable in a natural state of mind.