March 2013 Curl Kit -- In Review

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

To get 10% off your Membership Enrollment 

Please use Referral Code:

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The March's Curl Kit Has Arrived!

By:  LovingmyhaironTumbler.com

The Curl Kit Box arrived with much awaited hair product goodies!  Heavy in weight and top snugly closed!  The fragrance of the products were bidding me to lift the top of the box and go exploring!  From soap to conditioner there were new products for me to try out!

Picture By:  Thatgirkanita

Let's take a closer look at the products that were included in this month's Curl Kit Box.  Included were samples and full-sized products for each of the Curl Kit Box subscribers.

1. Aubrey Organice: GPB Conditioner

Feed your hair a healthy, balanced diet with their #1-selling conditioner. Nutrient-rich, protein based GPB rehydrates and reenergizes your hair, strengthens hair fiber and repairs damage from salon treatments to restore softness, manageability and shine. Their most popular product ever (11 ounces).

2. Soapy Luv: Raspberry Green Tea

Raspberry Green tea soap is a mixture of fruity and herbal. You get great benefits from green tea for the skin containing antioxidant ingredients. Also a light exfoliation from all the natural raspberry seeds. You also get sweet scented sensation from the raspberry fragrance. Your skin will thank you.

4 ounces for $12.00/8 ounces for $20.00

3. Wonder Curl: Butter Than Love Hair Pudding

Ultra-moisturizing hair cream that has a light formula which will give your hair shine and unbelievable softness (2 ounces).

2 ounces for $3.75

4. Bel Nuovo: CoCo Castor Pudding

Moisturizing Hair Creme, Light Hold, Curl Defining, Mango Butter, Coconut & Castor Oil. The perfect synergy of a styling aid and moisturizer (2 ounces).

8 ounces for $1.49

5. Ecostyler : Ecostyler: Curl & Wave “Pink”

Firm hold gel has the added benefit of anti-itch additives to minimize scalp irritants. This product contains glycerin to moisturize ensuring that the product will not cause flaking or leave the hair hard and brittle (8 ounces).

Picture Site;  http://moniquesnaturalhaircare.com/alikay-naturals.html -- 8 ounces for $15.00

6. Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave In Conditioner

Locks moisture in your hair without weighing it down or causing product buildup. Infused with essential oils to smooth your hair shaft and keep it moisturized (2 ounces).

Picture By:  dreamingincolorz.blogspot,com

7. 3 Sisters of Nature: Once a Week Nourishing Treatment

Once a week nourishing treatment is so concentrated with natural and botanical ingredients once a week is all you need. (2 ounces)

Another successful Curl Kit Month.  I look forward to trying the products included in the kit and receiving my box every month.  

Subscription is quick, simple, and easy!  The Curl Kit fee comes out of your checking account every 15th of the month and can be cancelled at anytime.

Use the reference code that I've placed at the beginning of this article and receive 10% off of your first kit!

Please leave a comment, post a picture, or item that you've used from the box or you can let us know how your experience with the Curl Kit has been.

As Always,

Happy Curls to You!

©Copyright 2013-03 Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks - All Rights Reserved

Fine 3C Hair Advantages!

Are you disappointed when you have tried to wear a decent twist hairstyle only to find that the full and plump twists evade you like a plague?  Or, you've ended up with fine, thin twists and a lot of scalp showing?  Or, in order to get a full, plump twists it ends up taking up a quarter of the side of your head?  I raise my hand on each question.

Fine hair curlies downsides are scalpy twists, hair that is susceptible to breakage, fros that will flop and part like the Red Sea!

My 3c strands love to hang out with each other in thick clumps.  They will tend to "ball-up," when hit with a spritz of water or when a creamy-based moisturizer is applied.  Dried, moisturized hair causes 3c types to "look as though" they have a thick head of hair like there 4-type curlies.  It wants to interwine and tangle itself, causing this hair-type to be plagued with Single Strand Knots (SSKs) or Fairy Knots.

Oh, and another thing, my 3c tresses HATE to be placed in a structured hair style.  It prefers the Lion-Mane approach.

Realizing that I will never have those lush, thick ropes of twists cascading from my roots, I sought out the advantages to having the curly, coily fine strands that wind there way, like vines of ivy from my scalp.  What?  you may ask.  Stay with me my curlies, there are some. 

Now, that we have covered some of the cons of 3C, let's take a look at the pros for this hair types:

Less Product Usage

Having fine hair means that you will usually only need a dime to a quarter size amount of product to do the job.  Coarser and thicker hair types will need more products to do the same trick.  Fine hair types can also use lighter sealers like coconut and aloe gel while thicker hair tend to need to use a shea or butter-based product.

Faster to Straighten Hair

Our fine hair takes to heat quicker and easier than those curlies with thicker and coarser hair types.  This means fine hair curlies should be extremely careful with the amount of heat that they apply to their tresses and should use their blow dryers at medium to low temperatures.  DO NOT hold the flat iron on your strands for long periods.  Keep the iron moving in long, even passes.

A Smooth Move!

Your fine tresses allow for a smooth and non-bulkly bun.  Fine hair is easier to pull into a bun, hair knot, or smooth-style pony tail.

Breezing Through Summer

Fine hair is breezier in the hot, humid, summer months.  This is were your "scalpiness" makes for comfort of style.  The denser the hair, the more your scalp will tend to sweat causing you to feel sticky and uncomfortable.

Easier Washing Routine

Our thicker-haired curlies usually will have to part and section their hair prior to even attempting to wash their tresses.  However, a blast under the shower with a moisturizing shampoo or conditioner will do the trick for our fine curlies.

Styling With Ease

Less hair, the easier the detangling process becomes.  Most of us can finger detangle while thicker curlies resort to Denman brushes, sectioning tools, and elastic ties to hold sections while going through the detangling process.

There you are, seven advantages of having fine textured hair!  It is very important to keep your 3C/4A type textures moisturized.  For 3s it is important to keep your Leave-Ins light, creamy, and water-based.  One of my all time favorites is Knot Today Leave-In Conditioner.  My 3C/4A strands loves, loves, loves the glycerin in this product.  In fact, if I happen to use another leave-in or styler without glycerin, I have my own LARGE bottle of vegetable-based glycerin that I will add to my product of choosing (even in the winter months!)  The trick for winter is to apply your glycerin-based product first and than LAYER your sealer or styler over it.  This will SEAL in the moisture that you applied and keep your hair supple, moisturized, and shiny for days!

I hope you enjoyed my rambling about the adventures of my 3c/4a tresses.  I'm so enjoying the ability to try new products and tame the mane!

As always, please comment, leave a picture, and or subscribe.  Please feel free to send me an e-mail with your hair question or Hair of The Day!

Happy Curls to You My Friend!

©Copyright 2013-03 Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks - All Rights Reserved

Terressentials Organic Mud Wash -- In Review

Organic Lavender Garden, Cool Mint, Left Coast Lemon, Sultry Spice, and Fragrance-Free
2650 Old National Pike Middletown, MD 21769

I had been toying, for months, with the idea of purchasing the Terressentials Organic Mud Wash for shampooing my hair instead of regular shampoo.

I've watched Naptural85's video on how to use the product, watch a few more videos by other YouTube natural hair gurus, and read some Terressentials Reviews by other natural hair bloggers.  I had been on the Terresentials website http://www.terressentials.com/haircare.html to purchase the product but hated the idea of paying $8.75 for an 8 fl. ounce bottle!

As God answers even the smallest prayer, I have a wonderful co-worker, who happens to be a 4c Natural -- Shout out to JASMINE D.  We were talking about different hair products and eventually got on the subject of Terressentials Organic Mud Wash!  She had purchased the 16 fl. ounce bottle of Left Coast Lemon and DIDN'T like it!  I was very surprised because I had heard and read so many glowing reports about the product.

The Friday of that week, she sent me an e-mail asking me to come over to her cubicle.  I went to see what she wanted and she pulled out of her large bag of commodities a bottle of the Terressentials Organic Left Coast Lemon Mud Wash.  There was enough left for about two washes.  I let out a small squeal!  Saturday morning I jumped in the shower and applied the product.

How I Applied the Product

The first attempt to use this product, I did NOT section my hair, as did Naptural85.  I have 3c/4a type tresses that easily stretch out under the water flow of the shower.

I thoroughly soaked my hair with water and began to apply the Terressentials Organic Mud to my tresses.  I concentrated on rubbing the mud into my scalp and down the strands of my tresses.  I used approximately a tablespoon of Mud for this application.

I took about five minutes to thoroughly work the mud throughout my hair and scalp.  I noticed that I could "feel" the mud on my strands and my hair became "extremely" curly but the weight of the mud kept my hair elongated and pleasantly soft.

I thoroughly rinsed my hair under "warm" water and could not believe how soft, elongated, curly, and shiny my hair was!  So much so, I DID NOT need to apply a leave-in conditioner.

Now, this is where Jasmine D. and I differ!  She said that she felt that she "needed to apply a conditioner after the wash."  I clearly did not and could move on to applying a Styler of my choice.

Terressentials suggests that you should initially follow their Detox when you initially start using this product.  More information can be found on their FAQ page:  http://www.terressentials.com/hairhelp.html

I have included, for your convenience the ingredients in each Terressentials Organic Mud Wash formulation:

Pure Earth Hair Wash — Organic Lavender Garden

Organic aloe vera juice°, clay minerals, organic extract° of organic linden flower°, essential oils of organic true lavender° and organic sweet orange°, extracts of organic nettle°, organic chamomile° and organic shavegrass°, essential oils of organic rose geranium°, organic ylang ylang° and organic clove bud°.

°Certified Organic

Pure Earth Hair Wash — Organic Cool Mint

Organic aloe vera juice°, clay minerals, organic extract° of organic linden flower°, essential oils of organic peppermint° and organic spearmint°, extracts of organic nettle°, organic chamomile° and organic shavegrass.

°Certified Organic

Pure Earth Hair Wash — Organic Left Coast Lemon

Organic aloe vera juice°, clay minerals, organic extract° of organic linden flower°, essential oils of organic lemon°, organic sweet orange° and organic lime°, extracts of organic nettle°, organic chamomile° and organic shavegrass°, essential oils of organic bergamot°, wildcrafted bay and organic petitgrain°.

°Certified Organic

Pure Earth Hair Wash — Organic Sultry Spice

Ingredients: Organic aloe vera juice°, clay minerals, organic extracts° of organic linden flower°, organic nettle°, organic chamomile°, organic shavegrass° and organic vanilla°, essential oils of organic sweet orange°, organic patchouli°, organic true lavender°, organic petitgrain°, organic atlas cedar°, organic cinnamon leaf° and organic pine needle°.

°Certified Organic

Pure Earth Hair Wash — Organic Fragrance-Free

Organic aloe vera juice°, clay minerals, organic extracts° of organic linden flower°, organic nettle°, organic chamomile° and organic shavegrass°.

°Certified Organic

PROS:

• Leaves Hair Moisturized and Shiny
• Replaces (for some) the Need of Applying a Leave-in
• Smells Great and Fragrance Doesn't Linger for Hours
• Product is Organic 
• Shipping Was Quick
• Mud Washes Comes in 8 Fl. Ounces for $10.75 and 16 Fl. Ounces for $20.50

CONS:

• Product Does Have a Learning Curve (for application)
• Application Can be Messy!
• Shipping Cost is High
• Terressentials Suggests that No Products with Silicones, Parabens, or Polymers be Used After Washing with Terressentials Organic Mud Wash*
• Terresentials Suggests a "Detox" Procedure for First-Time Users
• Product is Not Easily Purchased Elsewhere
• Amazon.com has Product for $29.99!

*Do not use any other shampoos, conditioners or styling products as they are not compatible with the mud cleanser and will add plastics back to your hair, taking you right back where you started.

Picture By:  Haircapades.com

"This shampoo is detergent-free, yet effective enough to fit the bill. It has the unique ability to naturally extract impurities like dirt and oil. A few washes are necessary to fully feel the effect of this hair treatment. Plus you may need a little faith that rubbing mud on your scalp will have a good effect. It's worth it, though; after using this shampoo, my hair felt softer than it has since grade school."-- Simplicity City Magazine

Each of the different Mud Washes are used for different types of hair.  Left Coast Lemon and Lavender Garden or recommended for Kinkier and Wavy to Curly hair types.

Hair with Terressentials Organic Mud Wash Applied

FINAL THOUGHTS:

There are loads of reviews, blogs, YouTube information on Terressentials Organic Mud Washes.  I love the product and have decided that even though I will continue to co-wash, this will be my Holy Grail Shampoo product hands down -- there is NO competition whatsoever.

I would suggest getting the larger bottle 16 fl. ounces for a better shipping rate of $9.75 or go in with a friend and split the shipping costs.

You can also stretch the product by adding water and a "separate" bottle with the mud.  DO NOT ADD WATER TO THE ORIGINAL BOTTLE -- per Terressentials!

Picture By:  Haircapades.com -- Mix Mud in Water in a Separate Container

Naptural85 has a FAQ page for Terressentials Mud Wash on her Blog Page:  

http://www.naptural85.com/blog-content/2011/11/14/all-about-terressentials-you-asked-i-answered.html

I hope that your experience with Terressentials is a good one.  Remember that they also for sample sizes available.  I look forward to wash days.  My hair loves this stuff!

Please leave your comments, thoughts, and pictures below.  Also, take the time to subscribe!  If you have any further questions, please e-mail me at ladysummerset@gmail.com or leave your question below.  Thanks for taking the time to read my review!

As always,

Happy Curls to You!

©Copyright 2013-03 Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks - All Rights Reserved

Take The Curl Quiz

3c Curl Type

Would you like to know what your curl pattern is?  Have you've been debating, watching the blogs and vlogs for confirmation of your curl pattern?  Are you wavy, curly, or coily?  Wait no more!  I think I can help!

I came across this great tool this morning while surfing the internet for new and interesting news, views, and styling options for naturalistas.

It was found on Naturally Curly.com.  The tool enables you to take a very short quiz in order to discover your natural curl pattern.  I tried it and was very surprised to find the results that I felt was my natural hair type 3c (admittedly, I have some 4 sprinkled in the lower back and sides) for a little diversity.

Click on the following link:  

http://hairtype.naturallycurly.com/#quiz

Let me know whether or not this was helpful for you!  Also, leave your hair type in the comment box below!

Please take the time to subscribe and leave a comment.

©Copyright 2013-03 Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks - All Rights Reserved

February 2013 -- Curl Kit

Picture By:  Beautyluvfashion

To get 10% off your Membership Enrollment 

Please use Referral Code:

http://curlkitshop.refr.cc/TR98DS7

The February 2013 Curl Kit has arrived and filled with goodies for the naturalista in your life!  I loved the charcoal grey box with the pink writing.  Even though the kits were late in arriving, I was so glad to receive mines.

Products have been listed as full-size or sample, along with a product description, prices, and/or ingredient list.

Picture By:  Freespirit33

Let's look into the Curl Kit box for February!

Cantu Shea Butter Hair Lotion -- 12 ounces -- $7.99

Ingredients:  Water (Aqua), Canola Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Fragrance, Steaalkonium Chloride, Glycol Stearate, Cetyl Alochol, Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut), Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado), Prujus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil (Sweet Almomd), Simmondsia Chinensis Oil (Jojoba), Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (Olive), Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil (Neem), Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil (Carrot), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil (Macadamia), Glycine Soja (Soybean)) Oil, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle), Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract (Grape), Urtica Dioica Extract (Nettle), Silk Amino Acids, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyllycerin

Picture By: thegreenevademecum

Pooka Mint n Roses Spa Soak
*we received a sample version

Picture By:  Perkyblackchick

Ingredients:  Epsom Salt, Peppermint Essential Oil, Roses, Fragrance

This 4 ounce version is $11.99 at Amazon.com*

Organic Jamaican Almond Oil
*we received the sample version in picture

Product Description:

Sweet almond oil is popular because of its high concentration of oleic and linolenic fatty acids.  Sweet Almond Oil is refined, bleached and deodorized (RBD) which removes the protenaceous material from the oil making it non-allergenic.

Results:  Hair is smooth, silky, more manageable and softer to the touch, and brings hair back to its most natural lustrous state.

1 ounce mini -- $3.50

Oyin Burnt Sugar Mini Pomade
*we received a sample version

Ingredients:  Ricinus communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Glycine soja (Soybean) Oil, Organic Virgin Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Mangifera indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Olea europaea (Olive) Oil, Unrefined Cannabis sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Brassica oleracea italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Fragrance.

Giovanni Deep Moisture Conditioner - 2 ounce size -- $3.00

Ingredients:  Aqua (purified water), *aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, *healianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, *glycine soja (soybean) seed extract, *betula alba (birch) extract, *malva sylvestris (mallow) extract, *achillea millefolium extract, *chamomilla recuitta (matricaria) flower extract, *equisetum arvense extract, *lavandula angustifolia (lavender) extract, *rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, *salvia sciarea (clary) extract, citrus grandis (grapefruit) extract, cetyl alcohol, tocopherol (vitamin E), panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), citric acid, phenoxyethanol, natural fragrance.

The Challenger Charming Terry Turban -- Price:  $1.69 - 1.99

Soft, stretch terry cloth.

Most of the products were new for me except Mix Chicks and the Oyin Burnt Sugar Pomade (which I love!).  I had never heard of the B's Almond Oil but looking forward to trying it.

Was it worth the wait?!  Of course it was!  Looking forward to March's Curl Kit already.  Do you want your own?  Use the referral code under my first picture and receive 10% off your first kit, that makes you ahead of the game already!

Join in the fun of expectation each month!

Please subscribe, comment, and/or leave a picture.

As always, Until Next Time!

Happy Curls to You!

©Copyright 2013-02 Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks - All Rights Reserved

Wake Up Your Hair With A Cup of Coffee!

Enhance Your Hair Color with Cafe

Have you ever thought about waking up your tresses with a cup of coffee?  Well, you might want to add that to your list of hair recipes.  

I was reading Naturally Curly's blog and they were examining alternative uses of coffee and I learned that brewed and ground coffee can both be used for hair and skin!  

So, before you throw out your grinds from your coffee maker, let's examine alternative uses for them!  

You can use strongly-brewed coffee grinds for a hair rinse or soak.  This will add shine, deepen and enhance your dark natural or colored tresses.

What You Will Need

1/2 Cup Triple Strength Black Coffee (Cold)

1/2 Cup Leave-In Conditioner

3 Tablespoon of Non-Alkanized Cocoa Powder

There are two options to obtain the benefits of your coffee grinds:

Rinse

1. After letting a cup of coffee sit and cool, pour the contents of the cup through your tresses while in the shower, or while standing over the sink.
2. Lightly absorb the excess with paper towers, or cloth of your choosing.
3. Put hair up and cover overnight with a plastic cap.
4. Finally, rinse your hair until the water runs clear and dry as usual and enjoy your enhanced color.

Cafe Conditioner

1. Take your cooled down coffee grinds and mix them with your favorite oil and conditioner.
2. Apply mixture to your hair.
3. Cover your tresses with a plastic cap for 25 - 30 minutes.

For a deeper toning effect, you can add cocoa to the mixture.  For those of you who Henna, this mixture can also be used in your Henna preparation for darkening the copper-tone of the Henna.

Next time your drink your next cup of Joe!  Remember, to wake up those tresses!

Take the time to leave a comment, subscribe, and/or leave a picture of your Hair of the Day!

Happy Curls to You!

©Copyright 2013-02 Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks - All Rights Reserved

What Is The Tightly Curly Method?

Teri LaFlesh struggled for years trying to coax her tresses into obedience.  As the old saying goes "necessity is the mother of invention!"  Teri stumbled unto a discovery that is now called the "Tightly Curly Method."  Terri states that she is biracial (black/white) which had resulted in her super curly hair.

She first started her search by asking what was it that he hair needed?  Her answer was:

"Our curls need to be cared for in a way that's different from all other hair types."

The Tightly Curly Method is a hair routine that will allow your tresses to remain moisturized, curly, defined and manageable for up to five days!

It's primary difference, from any other routine, is that you will use a "standard" cheap or expensive conditioner as your LEAVE-IN instead of using a regular labeled "leave-in" conditioner, which is a more "watered-down" version of a regular conditioner (not a deep conditioner).

The Rules of the Tightly Curly Method

1. Do Not Brush Or Comb Hair While Dry.

Your hair will simply explode into a fuzzball.

2.  Never Separate Your Hair Like A Wishbone

This is just asking for a big snarl.  It is in the nature of our hair to tangle.  Our curls are the exact same shape nature uses for plants when they need to grasp onto something, like pea tendrils.

3.  Stop Hurting Your Curls

Though our hair seems so headstrong and thick, and mine tears up a cheap comb, the individual strands of hair are gossamer thin and delicate.

4.  Patience

Our hair is different from straight hair.  Tight curls take time to take care of.  In return, you will grow amazing spirals few other people have.

5.  Mind Your Ends

Always keep your eyes on the ends of your hair.  If you watch them in whatever you do, you will eliminate the majority of tangles.  When separating your hair, always keep an eye on the ends.

6.  You Don't Have to Trim

If you eliminate damaging your hair, you don't have to trim it.  You get a new head of hair about every six years anyway.

Curly Primer

Her Curly Primer Method consists of a seven step regime, as follows:

Cleanse, Condition, Comb, Define, Dry, Protect, and Refresh

1.  Keep Hair Clean, Use a Conditioner As a Second Shampooing, Squeeze Conditioner Into Your Hair In Sections

2.  Do NOT Rinse the Conditioner Out!

3. Comb -- Use a Denman Brush

4.  Define Your Tresses

5.  Dry Your Hair (Air Drying Preferred)

6.  Put Hair Up At Night

7.  Smooth Hair with Water and Conditioner

You will find more in-depth information about Teri's Seven Step Method on Her Web Site http://www.tightlycurly.com/about/#.  She has also written a book, which is made available through her site and she also maintains a blog.

As always, feel free to join, subscribe, leave a comment or photo on this blog.

Until next time,

Happy Curls to You!

©Copyright 2013-02 Crowning Glory Coils and Kinks - All Rights Reserved