Which Method Works Better During the Winter? LCO vs. LOC Method

Hey!

I hope that you guys are having a great week! I am doing well! The holidays are here! It is freezing in Chicago, and I have a bit of a busy weekend ahead of me, but it will be okay. :)


Have you guys ever heard of the LOC method? NO? Okay.

The LOC method (leave-in conditioner, oil, and cream respectively) is used to retain moisture in hair. It has been very successful with a lot of natural-haired women. The LOC method works year round, especially during the winter months. In the book, The Science of Black Hair: A Comprehensive Guide to Textured Hair Care, the author, Audrey Davis-Sivasothy, mentions this method as well. Ideally, this method is used after washing ones hair. After washing the hair, the individual applies a leave in conditioner, an oil, and a cream based product of their choice. They finally style their hair as normal.

Although the LOC method has been significantly successful, I prefer to do things a different way. During the winter, I will wash my hair as normal. Afterwards, I will apply a leave-in conditioner, hair cream, and an oil-based product of my choice. This is known as the LCO method (can you believe that there are terms in reference to natural hair? lol).
I prefer the LCO method. It seems to penetrate my thick hair more when done this way. I have also noticed that it feels less greasy.

You can choose any one of these methods WITHOUT breaking the bank. Choose an oil that you like. Choose a leave in conditioner. Choose a hair cream. Wash, rinse, and repeat (pun, intended!). For example, I am currently using Aphogee Leave-In Spray, my homemade hair cream (which I am STILL perfecting!), and Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade.

Frankly, whatever method that you decide to choose, do your research beforehand. Whatever route you choose to take, I just want you to have healthy, moisturized hair. <3



Talk to you soon.
Brie.

Humectants!

Hello!!

I hope that everything is going well for you. Me? Oh ya know...work, striving to be better on my health journey...all of that fun stuff lol 

This blog will be about....HUMECTANTS!!! Humectants are an ingredient found in hair products that attract moisture from the environment. This ultimately moisturizes your hair. When I first became natural, humectants were my saving grace during the winter time. I would experiment with different styling products and applications, realizing how buttery soft my hair became (no lie, ask my momma). I did not understand what the heck a humectant was until after researching the ingredients of my hair products. 

Natural hair is already fragile. However, during the winter months, natural hair can be as fragile as Derrick Rose's joints (yes, I am from Chicago. I still said what I said). Winter is when one really has to be extremely vigilant with hair care. This is where humectants come in: they provide some assistance in circumventing hair breakage with their moisture-attracting qualities. There are two categories of humectants: synthetic and natural humectants. 

Synthetic:

• Butylene glycol
• Glycerin
• Urea
• Tremella extract
• Sorbitol
• Dicyanamide
• Sodium PCA
• Sodium lactate

Natural:

• Hyaluronic acid
• Aloe
• Alpha hydroxy acid
• Honey
• Seaweed, algae, and other marine extracts 

  

Ideally, natural humectants are recommended. However, synthetics work just as well (please keep in mind that synthetic humectants have the potential to dry your hair out over a period of time).

Be sure to check your products and see if some of the ingredients are a humectant. You will definitely be one step closer to moisturized hair in the winter time :). 

I hope that this helps! 

Talk to you soon. 

Brie. 

K.I.S.S. Naturals: The End!

Hello!!!!!

I hope that you all are doing well!

Excuse me for the brief MIA (missing in action), the last week or so has been kicking my butt (work, adulthood, and life) :).


This post will be a short one, but this will be the final post of the K.I.S.S. Natural Series! I just want to thank anyone that stumbled upon my blog, shared, liked, or commented on my natural hair blog. Even if you felt that it didn't relate to you (someone actually told me that lol), you still checked out my site.



It is thoroughly appreciated. I hoped to inspire and provide some insight and encouragement to women (even men!) who wanted to pursue natural hair. I wanted to provide a series of posts that provided a simple guide amidst the vast amount of information out there. I wanted to provide anyone with the tools to feel empowered on their natural hair journey. Hair is not supposed to be an overwhelming stressor. It is not complicated.



So again, this is the last post of the series. I hope that you enjoyed! I will be back on November 29th with a new post. Enjoy your holidays!



Talk to you soon.
Brie.

Always #KISSANATURAL ;) xoxo

K.I.S.S. Naturals: Natural Hair Resources

Good afternoon!

I hope that you guys are having a great week! We are getting closer to the weekend, thank goodness!

This is going to be a fairly quick post, mostly composed of links about natural hair. Most of them are blogs, and of course YouTube. Be careful with YouTube: it can be a rabbit hole. You start with one video, and it can turn into a few hours on YouTube LOL

Blogs:

http://www.afrobella.com/ (the OG of natural hair blogging!)
http://simonedigital.com/
https://www.naturallycurly.com/
http://www.4chairchick.com/
http://www.curlynikki.com/
http://blackgirllonghair.com/

YouTube (natural hair bloggers):

BeautifulBrwnBabyDol:  http://www.youtube.com/user/BeautifulBrwnBabyDol
MahoganyCurls : http://www.youtube.com/user/MahoganyCurls
Naptual85: http://www.youtube.com/user/Naptural85
Sporty Afros: http://www.youtube.com/user/SportyAfros
Nappy Headed JoJoba: https://www.youtube.com/user/nappyheadedjojoba
My Natural Sistas: http://www.youtube.com/user/MyNaturalSistas
Nikki Mae: http://www.youtube.com/user/Nikkimae2003
Chime (Hair Crush): http://www.youtube.com/user/HairCrush

For my Loc Sistas: 

Jasmine Rose: https://www.youtube.com/user/JazzyTe007
Keisha Charmaine: https://www.youtube.com/user/OverXposedKC91
Franchesca Ramsey: http://www.youtube.com/user/chescalocs

Of course there are many more people out there in the internet, but these are the people/sites that I check out from time to time. Also, a lot of the natural hair bloggers were starting their careers when I first went natural. It is pretty cool to see their careers and lives evolve. <3

I hope that this helps you start and feel more encouraged to become natural!

Talk to you soon.
Brie.

K.I.S.S. Naturals: Determining a Hair Care Regimen!

Good Morning!

Two things: I hope that you guys are having a nice week so far. It is Wednesday, and you're also closer to the weekend! AYEEE! On a serious note, I am sending my thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families in Las Vegas. <3

This blog post is dedicated to hair care regimens! Hair care regimens tend to be very essential if one is trying to achieve hair growth. Hair care regimens also help newly naturals (even more seasoned naturals) practice discipline. It also challenges one to practice consistency as well. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are some who are against hair care regimens, preferring a more carefree approach to their hair.

I've tested out the regimented and carefree hair care routines. As for me? I am fully aware that I am a lazy naturalista who prefers regimens lol. Natural hair care can take a lot of time and work. However, many of us have jobs, children, school, and everything in between. Many of us do not have enough time and or patience for styling/taking care of natural hair. Honestly, truly. Maybe it's just me, but I want to be efficient and effective with my small amount of time. Also, there are SOOOOOOOOO many regimens out there, it is overwhelming. I narrowed down my current regimen like this:

When you are figuring out your hair care regimen, 
FIRST

• Ascertain (Based on YOUR lifestyle!)
• Time/Availability 
• Frequency of styling (number of times per day(s)/Week(s))

SECOND

• Determine (How do you EXACTLY style your hair? Do you need all of the following below? Yes? No? How often?)
• Wash/Condition 
• Co-Washing
• Treatments
• Styling**
• This is going to be trial and error. The best way to figure out your regimen is to take note of your GOOD HAIR DAYS. What did you do? Do you notice a pattern when styling your hair? If so repeat, and adjust as needed! 

For example, I wash, use a protein treatment, and finally style my hair once a week. As of late, my style lasts until my next hair wash day. If it starts to look old, I will style it. I preserve my style by using a satin bonnet cap at night. I do not co-wash often as my hair is mostly hydrated and moisturized. This works for me due to my busy schedule. 

If you are inspired by other regimens via social media, try it out! But please. PLEASE. Be realistic with yourself. You know yourself better than anyone. If you decide to stick to a regimen, make it work for you. That way, it will be easier to commit, and it will coincide with your life style. Regimens can always be adjusted as well. So, RELAX! 

Talk to you soon. 

Brie. 

K.I.S.S. Naturals: Figuring out Which Hair Product to Use with Natural Hair

Hola (Hi)! Are you having a great week? Anything new? :)

I know someone that is currently transitioning into natural hair. She asked me the other day," Brie what do you use in your hair?" I told her some of the products that I used.

However, what may work for MY natural hair, may not work for YOUR natural hair. Please refer to the previous line. Wash, rinse, and repeat (pun intended).

Trying to figure out which products work for your hair is hard, okay? IT IS HARD! If I am to be honest, I am still figuring out the best leave in conditioner (as I type this). The reason why it can be difficult is because there are a lot of hair products that aren't well formulated for black hair. There are a handful of brands, but there aren't as many. Another reason would be that there is a TON  of information and opinions on hair products from social media influencers (usually sponsored by those companies-no shade). This makes it more difficult to sift through the information given and find unbiased, honest reviews. Lastly, the most important reason, is that we all have different hair types! Our hair can be compared to snowflakes: one is not like the other.

Alright. So you FINALLY chopped off your hair! YYYYAAAASSSS!!! ABOUT TIME BELOVED!

You did your research with hair ingredients. Now, what do you do?!

First!

• Try different products!
• Sample sizes are your friend. When I went natural, samples weren't as prevalent, so I had to buy the full jars/bottles. I started off with more affordable products that I saw at my local beauty supply, paid attention to how my hair reacted to those products and expanded/condensed my products from there.                         
• Example products of a 6 MONTH naturalista (10 years ago):

                          

Second!

• Pay attention to how your hair reacts!
• Is it fabulously frizzy? Is it dry? Are your curls popping? Is your hair hydrated and moisturized? Aesthetically, are you happy with how your hair looks? These are important questions when it comes to changing, updating, keeping, or tossing hair products!
• Depending on your hair, you may have to switch products that contain different oils, or have a different ratio of water and oil. Maybe your hair likes silicones, protein, or sulfates....who knows?!

     

Third!

• Do you like the results of your hair from using the products that you've bought?
• Yes? Continue using them! If you feel like you can do better, then try a different product that has similar qualities to the one that you have.
• No? Try using the product in a different way!
• If the product was meant for twistouts, try using it as a moisturizer, or applying it after washing your hair. If it was an oil, try using it as a hot oil treatment before/after your wash day. Find a way to repurpose the product and use it in an unconventional way; you get your money's worth, and once you finish, you don't have to use it again.
• You can always give the product to a family member, use it on your child and see if it works for them.
• You can also dispose of the product if it is THAT terrible.

The message that I really want to convey is that figuring out your collection of hair care products can be a learning curve. However, it can ultimately be achieved through trial and error.

I really hope that this helps!
If you guys have any other tips regarding how to figure out your personal hair product faves, comment below!



Talk to you soon.
Brie.

K.I.S.S. Naturals: Natural Hair Basics.

Hello!


I hope things are going great for you guys!

The next few blog posts will be directed towards the newly naturals (are there anymore "newbies"?). A lot of women who decide to become natural (removing relaxed hair, and starting anew w/o chemicals), become overwhelmed with the information given on how to tend to their hair.

It is for great reason too: 12 million YouTube gurus, 37k+ blog posts about hair styles, product reviews, etc., what's a person to do??????


Alright.

Stop! And start with the basics (I used this when I was a natural newbie).

• Find a hair crush! 
• It gives you a visible hair goal. It doesn't have to be EXACTLY the same, but use it as a starting point (MsKrisNew and MahoganyCurls were my hair crush).
• What goal are you looking to achieve with your hair BESIDES hair length?
• It could be the best twist out, more softer hair, etc (My goal was and still is to have moisturized hair). 
• What product do you need to achieve your hair goal? 
• If your goal was for the best twist out, find a product that aids in styling; if the goal was for moisture, find the appropriate products. This is where you can incorporate social media knowledge/reviews, or even your local professional hair stylist. 
• TRY OUT SAMPLE SIZES FIRST! I cannot stress this enough! You're still experimenting, and figuring out your hair so you try to save some money in doing so. Plus many companies are starting to make sample sizes if you're still unsure about their product. Use this to your advantage!!
• Take pictures! 
• It's pretty neat to see the progression of your hair. It will feel like you hair is not growing, but trust me. It is. 
• Be patient and....GO FOR IT! 
• As a person who decided to chop off all of her hair instead of transitioning to becoming natural....I am going to tell you to CUUUUUTTTTTT ITTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!
• There's really no explanation except to strive to meet your hair goal...PATIENTLY! lol  

Hopefully this helps you guys!

Talk to you soon,

Brie.

K.I.S.S. Naturals: Should I Transition into or "Big Chop" My Natural Hair?

Hi! :)


I hope you ladies and gents are doing well. This is the first OFFICIAL  post of K.I.S.S. Naturals!
AHHHHH!!!!! (milly rocks like a boss)


One of the things that I see on the internet involves this scenario:

"I'm deciding on going natural, but I don't know if I want to transition into natural hair or BC...What should I do?"

I'm going to stop you right there, beloved.

There are pros and cons to either methods to ultimately achieving natural hair (hair chemical (or lye)-free).

This guideline should make it easier on deciding what to do to achieve natural hair.

• Big Chop (B.C.): Immediately removing relaxed/chemically treated hair, leaving untreated natural hair behind. 
• Pros: 
• Learning curve dealing with natural hair (easier to deal with)
• Less breakage than transitioning into natural hair
• Less products needed; can be a money saver
• Low maintenance 
• Standing out from a crowd
• Challenges one to be fashionable in other ways; can't hide behind hair
• Cons: 
• Learning curve dealing with natural hair 
• Can be a stark contrast to long hair
• Standing out from a crowd
• Dealing with criticism from outsiders

• Transitioning: Gradually growing out relaxed/chemically treated hair, dealing with two different textures at the same time.
• Pros: 
• Thicker hair, makes for voluminous hairstyles
• Avoiding the shock of having short hair
• Not as steep of a learning curve when dealing with natural hair
• You're able to figure out what works best with your hair while dealing with the two textures
• Cons:
• Dealing with two different textures (relaxed and natural hair)
• Figuring out hairstyles that would blend the two different textures (Tip: bantu knots work!)
• Hair is more prone to breakage! The point where your natural and relaxed hair (demarcation) meet is HIGHLY fragile!

Welp, that is all that I have... if you guys can think of any other pros and cons to big chopping/ transitioning let me know in the comments below! 

Awesome looking TWA!

Side Note:
I tried both methods, and ultimately big chopped. If you want to find out why, I posted a video about it. Check out the archives! Plus, I just celebrated my 7 year NAPTURAL anniversary! ^__^


Talk to you soon.

Brie.

SERIES: K.I.S.S. Naturals

Hey guys!


Are you guys great? I hope so! I know that you didn't ask, but I am doing well. LOL


This is just a heads up: I plan on starting a series of blogs dedicated to condensing natural haircare information. I am gearing this to anyone who may feel overwhelmed (especially anyone considering natural hair) or maybe is interested in adopting a few nuggets of wisdom (for my natural haired women-hey!). The series will be called K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart) Naturals.

I plan on having a blog post every month dedicated to answering a question regarding natural hair and anything related. If you guys have any topics that you would like for me to discuss, let me know.



The goal again, is to make sure you're provided with easy-to-digest info that is helpful. Okay? Okay.
Honestly, I am actually excited to show you guys the following posts..like..I'm slightly giddy lol.

No..Honestly..K.I.S.S. A Natural. ;)

Peace&Love.
Brie.


P.S. I also have an article featured on Audacity to be Yo(unique)'s website! I am pretty excited about it since this is my first article haha! Please click the link and let me know what you think :) Temptations Every Natural Encounters

My Natural Hair Product Faves!

Hola (Hello)!

I hope you guys are still doing well. Why the long break? Bear with me as I am currently juggling work among some other things (sorry for being slightly vague).


It has been quite a L O N G time however, I am coming to you all with a brand new blog post. I warn you, there will be a bit of information to absorb and process. I will try my best to condense this information for you.

I am not sure how interested you are in my opinion of hair products (This year will mark 7 years of my natural hair journey), styling tools, etc., but I will share them anyway! lol

For the newly naturals (are there anymore newly naturals??), or someone who is interested in trying new hair care lines here are some of my suggestions:

• Hair Products

• Shampoos
• *Alba: Their shampoo doesn't contain ANY sulfates. It is also an organic product. To me, it is the only shampoo that doesn't leave my hair dry. And it smells..AHHHMAZING. 
• Conditioners/Leave-In Conditioners
• Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner (most wallet friendly!)
• *Suave Naturals Conditioner
• **Giovanni's Leave In Conditioner
• Styling Creams/Butters/ Oils
• ***My hair creme
• ***Qhemet Biologics Alma Butter/Honey Balm (GET. YOUR. BLESSING!) 
• *Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding (for the chocolate lovers!)
• *Coconut Oil (It cures everything)
• *Olive Oil (Very moisturizing)
• Styling Gels
• **Eco Styler
• ***My home made gel
• ***Ouidad humidity gel (HOLY GUACAMOLE THIS PRODUCT IS AMAZING)
• Moisturizing Products/Sprays
• *Curls Moisturizer/2nd Day Curl Refresher
• *Jane Carter Spray leave in conditioner
• Foams/Hair Mousse
• *Jane Carter's Twist Out Foam
• Styling Tools
• **Denman 
• **MetaGrip Premium Bobby Pins
• *Ribbon hair ties
• *Headbands
• **Satin Scarves
• *Duck Bill clips (hair washing)
• Tips: 
• SAMPLES SAMPLES SAMPLES!!!!!! If you do not want to fully commit to a full sized product (self-proclaimed commitment-phobe here) start with a sample size. You don't waste money, and you can see if you like the product! 
• If you bought a product and you HATE. IT. Try using the product in different ways! I would purchase a few items, until I found a way for it to work for my hair. Money does not grow on trees, okay? 
• Search for coupons and shop around! An obivious tip, but I have saved money by shopping around for certain hair products. 
• Experiment! Look at the YouTube gurus for guidence, then adjust for your hair needs. 

Note: Any product that is italicized and in bold, means that I HIGHLY recommend this product. No I am not being sponsored by these companies (I've paid with my own money). My blog is too indie for that. lol. 

* Mostly found in Target, Walmart, and a few drugstores like Walgreens, CVS, etc. 

**Can be found in select Target, Walmart and drugstores depending on your location

***Can be difficult to access or can be found at Sephora or Ulta. Can be moderate to expensive. I would suggest purchasing either online (possible coupons), the company's website, or a store locator.

This is only to be a guide. I hope that this is a good start for you guys. :)

Talk to you soon. 

Brie. 

Hair Neglect & Giving Your Hair Some Love

Hey! How have you been? I hope all is well! 

Alright. Let's get to the topic!

So..I recently moved to Washington D.C. and I am still getting adjusted to..life and the weather. LOL 

In the midst of this transition, I have been neglecting my hair and throwing it in a bun. Lo and behold, one night, I was playing in my hair, and I frowned. It felt SO DRY. I also didn't like the way it sounded (dry sounds..yes that is a weird description! Let me live beloved!). It sounded like hay rubbing together (I'm also being a bit dramatic). So I had to stop neglecting my hair and show it some love! 

T I R E D bun.

See the ends? The effects of hair neglect. :(

Bantu Knots. Prep for detangle and deep condition.

This picture makes me LAUGH like no other! 

Naked hair. See the curlies? :)

Clean hair. Come on "baby hurr"!

 S H R I N K A G E and lazy twist using homemade hair cream

Products Used: 

• Aphogee Curlific Texture Treatment- I prepooed with this one because my hair was REALLY dry. Follow the directions because the longer it sits, the more your hair can feel dry afterwards (it contains protein).
• TRESemme Luxurious Moisture Shampoo- It is a trial size because I am testing out the product (money saver!!).
• Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner- I am trying to use up the rest of this product. 
• Grapeseed Oil- Used for detangling before pre poo. 

If you guys have any methods for reviving neglected hair, let me know and comment below!



Brie.

Hair Essentials.

Hi guys! I hope you all had a great week!

This blog post will be dedicated to hair essentials that I use to maintain my hair.

When I first became natural (I big chopped), I did not have any hair essentials because...I didn't have much hair LOL. When my hair grew, I became better at finding things that was essential, and they turned into my staple tools and products. I am not a product junkie and it takes a LOT for me to try something new (especially if the previous product gave me awesome results). However, conditioner is the main product that I change periodically depending on my mood (shampoo runs a close second).

My Hair Essentials:

• DIY elastic hair ties and headbands
• Curls Passion Fruit Control Paste (Used for controlling edges)*
• Ouidad Climate Control: Heat & Humidity Gel (Used for styling hair and is true to the label)***
• Meta Grip Premium Bobby Pins (300 ct) (Used for styling hair. Highly durable & worth the cost)**
• Homemade Hair Cream (Shea/Mango butter mix)
• Conditioner-I am currently trying Suave Naturals...unfortunately, I don't like it :( *
• A spray water bottle-I reused an old Tresemme bottle. I like the spray nozzle.

*can be found at Walmart, Target and other drugstores
**found at Sally's
***can be found at Ulta and Sephora (However, I recommend shopping online. You're more likely to find a cheaper price.)

If you have any products that you really like let me know! If you look at this post, and try any of the items..let me know!

Talk to you next time.
Brie.