Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks: Winterizing Those Tresses

Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks: Winterizing Those Tresses

Winterizing Those Tresses

The strong winds of winter can wreak havoc on your moisture-needing tresses!  Brittle and limp curls is not a sassy look or Hair of the Day coif!  This is the time when many naturals close the book on their time-saving wash n' gos.  However, for me, this is my main style and closing that book is not so easy to do on these 3b/c/4 curls.

My curls love, love glycerin and from natural blogs across the nation, we are admonished to abandon the glycerin because it pulls moisture from the atmosphere which will keep your locks moist but in the winter season it does quite the opposite.

So what's a natural wash n' go girl to do?  Here are a few tips:

1. At night section hair and lightly moisten hair with water and coconut oil (you can use olive oil, or oil of your choice) apply mixture to hair, twist, cover hair with a clear shower cap, and tie a scarf over cap (optional) and go to bed.
2. When rising in the morning, hair will be slightly moist, style and go about your morning routine.  This method will allow your tresses to be damp and drying but scalp won't be soaked if you have to run out before hair is completely dried.
3. Another idea is to leave the plastic shower cap on and cover cap with a stylish hat or scarve and commute and upon your arrival to work, style hair as usual.

Share with us ways that you and your tresses keep nourished and stylish through the cold, winter months.

III Sisters of Nature Gelo

This Gelo is being marketed as a hair gel.  Not only a hair gel but one comparable to the infamous Kinky Curly Curling Custard!  Now, that's saying a lot! 

I found this product on the shelf while I was perusing the aisle of my neighborhood Beauty Supply Store!  I did have a good reason to be in there.  I was waiting for the Chinese restuarant, a couple doors down, to cook my broccoli and garlic sauce!  Okay!?

Well, I read the label and saw that it claimed to be comparable to Kinky Curly Curling Custard boast, I just simply decided to try it.  What's another gel on the shelf going to harm?  The price seemed fixed at $9.99, this was clearly printed on the product's label!  Yea, for 3 Sisters of Nature!

Below is the description of their product by 3 Sisters of Nature:

III Sisters of Nature Curling Gelo Description -- 8 ounces

What is Curling Gelo?

III Sisters of Nature Gelo define and elongates curls while enhancing your natural wave pattern.  Curling Gelo is formulated using natural ingredients to condition, strengthen, nourish, soften, and give curls and waves a natural brilliant shine.

Why Does Curling Gelo Work?

Curling Gelo helps keeps you frizz-free, non-greasy, non-drying, and superior long-lasting curls, waves, and twists.  Compare to the more expensive brands and save.

Superior moisturizer -- Defines and elognates curls; -- Enhances waves; -- Superior soft hold; and Brilliant shine.

Ingredients

Water (Aqua), Vegetable Glycerin, Polyquaternium 37, Polyquaternium 10 and PEG 14m, Polyquaternium 7, Polysorbate 20, Sea Grape Extract (Vitis Vinefera), Argan Oil (Argan Spinosa), Avocado Extract (Persea Gratissma), Oat Extract (Avena Sativa), Sage (Salvia Officinalis), Chamomille Extract (Anthemis Noblis), Bay Laurel Extract (Lauris Noblis), Phenoxyethol (And) Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance (Parfum)

picture by CoilyChi

How I used the product


I co-washed my3c hair with Pantene Naturals.  Rinsed out the conditioner with COLD water and then reapplied the conditioner as a leave-in.  Sectioned hair into eight large loose twists and covered with a clear treatment cap overnight.

In the morning, hair was damp and I shingled the III Sisters of Nature Gelo throughout each section.  Hair was visibly shiny and clumped well.  Hair was more elognated more than with applying EcoStyler over the leave-in conditioner.

Product dried quickly, THERE IS NO STRONG HOLD!

Pros

• 8 ounces can be purchased from $9.59 to $9.99 -- Making Product Affordable
• Product Was Easy to Apply
• Dried in an 1-hour time span
• Hair was Shiny and Bouncy
• Hair was Very Soft
• Most Beauty Supply Stores Carry Samples
• Defines Curls and Waves
• Product is Very Concentrated
• A Little Goes a Long Way
• Contains Polyquarternium 37
• Played Well With My Leave-In Conditioner

Cons

• Still had some frizz by midday
• Can Become Tacky if you use too much
• Product is High in Gylcerin
• When Refreshing With Water, Gelo was very sticky but dried again soft

Polyquarternium 37 is a charged polymer used in hair care products.

Benefits:  They are positively charged, they neutralize the negative charges of most shampoos, relaxers, and hair proteins.  The positive charge bonds to your strands aiding in causes your hair to be easier to comb, elasticity, softer, and shiny.  It also acts as a conditioning agent for your hair.

Side Note:  Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Contains Poly-37

III Sisters of Nature Gelo is clear and filled with tiny bubbles like the bubbles in 7-Up soda or clear EcoStyler or IC Fantasia Gel.  Product  It smelled like a bucket full of crushed cherries.  Smell may be too loud for some.  

Final Thoughts About Product

This product, to me, acts more like a "curl activator" that you can find on shelves at most Beauty Supply Store.  My hair happens to love glycerin and was happy with this product.  If you are even looking for a "flexible hold," this is not the product to use.  If you are looking for a moisturizer and shine factor, this is a great product for that use.

By midday, I noticed some frizz, spritz with plain water and was back in business as I waited for hair to dry.

As far as being a competitor to Kinky Curly Curling Custard, the clear distinction is that this is Gelo and KCCC would be classified as a gel.

Would I repurchase?  Yes.

© 2012 Lady Summerset for Crowning Glory Curls and Kinks

Crave What's Natural

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 Cold Water Hair Rinses

Who doesn't like a hot bath?!  Feels good to the body; however, it can frizz out,the strands of hair on your head.  Hot water leaves the cuticles of your strands open, while cold water closes them. 

  

This allows the cuticle to close in the moisture that our hair so badly needs.  This also allows the hair to be more reflective and smooth to the touch.

 You should rinse out your conditioner with cold water and not hot.  However, if the cold water rinse doesn't given you warm thoughts, I suggest that when it is time to wash out your conditioner that you "cool" down the water to your best tolerance.  Now, I usually will gradually cool the water down until it gets "cold."  I continue to rinse out the conditioner and then quickly return the water to hot to warm up my body.

The benefits of doing a cold rinse:  stimulates your scalp, creating stronger roots, will cause less shedding, and retainage of moisture, and will close the opening of the sebaceous glands to moderate sebum production on scalp.  I've seen one YouTuber,who when she applies her products to her natural hair, fills her application spray bottle with ice filled water and sprays each section with the cold water and then applies her product.

Some have complained that their hair feels "rough" after a "cold rinse" and this has been attributed to using water that was "too hot" while shampooing and/or applying conditioner.  Another cause can be attributed to using protein-related shampoo and/or conditioner which will cause the hair to swell from an overload of protein.

If "hard" hair is still a problem, add some vinegar during your rinse or to your spray application water bottle.  Closing your cuticle will help your hair be less frizzy.

Finally, remember that products that are high in alkaline will cause the cuticles to OPEN and you'll end up with frizzy hair.  Acidic products, like vinegar and aloe vera juice, will CLOSE the cuticle for a smoother strand.

A cold rinse may not warm your shower but will do wonders for your tresses!



Amber Hued Natural

Bantu Knots

Bantu/Zulu Knots

Bantu knots are another protective style created to give your tresses a much needed rest.  A simple use of twisting and twirling will enable you to enhance your individuality and style.

What are Bantu Knots?

Bantu knots are also known as Zulu knots.  They are created when the hair is sectioned off and twisted into knots. The shapes of the sections depend on how the hair is parted, and can easily be made into diamond, triangle or square shapes, and the possibilities are endless.  

This hairstyle can be worn on any hair type and any hair length, although it is popular amongst people of African descent, thus the term Zulu Knots.  For modern natural Divas, Bantu Knots are a way to wear the hair so it is protected form the elements and close to the scalps beneficial oils. 

How to do Bantu/Zulu Knots?

1.  Detangle


Detangle your hair in preparation for the Bantu Knots.  Hair will need to be detangled
and smooth in order to get the best results.

2.  Preparation for Bantu/Zulu Knot

Working with one section at a time,smooth your hair and twist it.  Spritz water from a spray bottle on each section as you go, or use gel or hair oil for shine. Twist the hair firmly. 

3.  Twist Hair Into Knot

Take the twist and wrap it around itself in a circular fashion to form what looks like a knot. As you do so, you will see that the hair will coax itself into a circular or spiral formation.

4.  Secure your Hair

Tuck the end of the twisted strand under itself.  At this point, you can use cloth, rubber  band or hair pin to secure your Bantu knot.   If you use hair pins to secure your Bantu Knots, just remember that sometimes the pin will shift as style gets older and may tend to "pinch" the scalp and cause much discomfort.  It's Natural suggests:  Do not use a tie that is too tight because it could break your hair, and choose something that is not too noticeable or can be hidden under the hair. Try using hair-ties made out of pantyhose for comfortable wraps that can usually be hidden underneath hair.

5.  Part Hair in Desired Sections 

Bantu/Zulu Knots Styling

How large or how small you part your sections is strictly limited to your parting and sectioning skills of yourself and/or your stylist.  Shapes and parts can be as small as a 1 x 1 section to 3 x 3 sections.

Flat twists, ponytails, and smooth sections can also be incorporated into your style.  Your creativity sets your limits.

Twist-Outs

This is an important step in defining how your twist out results will ultimately be.  Larger knots will become large, voluminous curls and waves.  Smaller Bantu Knots will result in tighter and coily spirals.

Therefore, for twist outs, the general rule is:  if you want more volume, twist hair in larger sections.  If you want a curlierer twist-out, you should twist in smaller sections.

As a side note, some naturals will two-strand their hair before twisting their tresses in a Bantu Knot.  This gives the hair a more "textured-wavy" look.   My suggestion is to first try the "smooth" method first and graduate up to the two and even three-strand Bantu Knot look.

Styling Options

Finally, Bantu or Zulu Knots can be worn for as long as a week or two.  They  are considered a protective hairstyle that allows your tresses a time of rest and non-manipulation.  However, many naturals have "untwisted" this iconic African hairstyle and it is now known as the infamous "twist out!"

After hair has been twisted and knotted, hair is allowed to dried over night or sometimes over a few days and then untwisted for a cascade of beautiful wavy and curly tresses.

This style can be worn on either relaxed or natural tresses with great results for both hair textures, short or long hair!

It can be done on either dry, wet or damp hair.

Happy Bantu/Zulu Knotting! -- Rocking With Style and Grace!

© 2012 Copyrighted by Lady Summerset for Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks