My SisterLock Installation Preparation Pack!

Oh my goodness, tomorrow is day one of two days of a 20 - 24 hour SisterLock installation. 400 to 450 micro-locks to be installed. Okay, I have been preparing for this!

1) 12 hours of video/movies! -- Check!

2) Tissue box in case I get teary eyed from the movies! --Check!

3) Aleve - in case I get a headache! -- Check!

4) Ponytail holders to pincurl and bundle as she completes each section! -- Check!

5) Ouidad Botanical Curl Spray - to wet my bundles and set the curls into the SisterLocks -- Check!

6) Dried Apricots and Fruit and nut mix for snacks - Check!

7) Breakfast sandwiches - so I do not have to stop for breakfast. Just microwave - eat and go! -- Check!

Not pictured: Wig, scarf, or headband to get me through day one in which only half of my head will be completed. Wink.

Okay, stay tuned. I will post my new SisterLocks style within another five days! It may take me about three days to adjust to the new Sisterlocks.

Regardless, Hair Freedom - here I come!!!!!!!!! Yeah!

Product Line Review: Kinky-Curly

I finally bought all the Kinky-Curly components. I did not get excessive crystallization nor flakes by using their "Come Clean" shampoo. Actually, the shampoo bottle says " Oils, butters, silicones, wax and grease must be washed out of your hair before using Kinky-Curly styling products in order to achieve the best results. Products that contain oils, silicones or butters will coat the hair and may result in white residue, flakes or frizzy."

The shampoo is sulfate-free. The detangler "Knot Today" can be used as a leave-in conditioner for coarse hair or a rinse-out conditioner for fine hair.

The "Spiral Spritz" was lightweight, but it did not prevent shrinkage on my coarse, type 4c hair. I think that I will have to experiment with this line some more. I believe - I need the Curling Custard for better control for my hair type. I still saw a few "powder sprinkles" of residue. I think that I overused the Leave-in conditioner before using the Styling aids.

Without a doubt, the synergy of using the whole line yields optimum results.

Type 3 hair - skip the "Curling Custard" unless you are molding your hairline or edges.

Type 4 hair - skip the "Spiral Spritz" unless you want extreme curl shrinkage.

The Kinky-Curly line leaves the hair very soft. Day 5 is usually my best styling day. However, I will have to figure out how to get to Day 5 without product build-up. If I have to start over, Day one starts my count over. I believe that water and "Curling Custard" will be my daily maintenance regimen if I stick with this line. I still like my KeraCare defining Custard regimen. Please see my other articles on daily maintenance hair.

I promised myself to try the whole Kinky-Curly line without crossing over into any other product line. So I am fulfilling my promise. Using Kinky-Curly product line did not cause as much hair curl shrinkage like the Ouidad line, but it was close. Also, I noticed that the Ouidad product line did not moisturize my hair as much as the Kinky-Curly line. The Kinky-Curly line does seem to be very moisturizing and more natural/organic.

Day 5: Wash n' Go maintenance on Type 4c hair

My last relaxer throughout my hair was May 22, 2011. It was a Super Paul Mitchell relaxer. The end result was texlaxed versus relaxed. So I have been experimenting with my texturized, natural look. I had been fighting with product film with some combinations and too much shrinkage with other product combinations. I was also trying to avoid a sticky touch to the hair. I had found that water based sprays broke the seal of some of the products that controlled shrinkage. Now, I think that I have found the best combination for my texturized type 4c hair.

Pictured is Day five hair! I love it! My new regimen is to refresh with Ouidad Botanical boost spray. Then run KeraCare Defining Custard through it to prevent shrinkage; then add Jane Carter Solutions Natural hold locking spray! The results are shiny, fresh hair without buildup nor crystallization. Also, no starting over!

As my hair gets longer, shrinkage is okay in some areas for styling purposes. Also, I am still taking one Viviscal tablet a day.

Product Review: Sedal versus Sedal Co-creations

I did a product review on the Sedal line for curly hair a few months back, and I just completed a product review on the Ouidad line for curly hair. Guess what? The two lines have a "co-creation!" Pictured is two Sedal product lines for curly hair. The Sedal/Ouidad Co-creation conditioning treatment has healthier ingredients such as glycerin versus the regular Sedal line which has propylene glycol. I have written other articles about avoiding propylene glycol as much as possible. The "Sedal Co-creation" version is a little more expensive. It is about $4 more than regular Sedal conditioning treatment, but it is worth it if the ingredients are better. There are expiration dates on the jars. I still like the Sedal line. Please separate article on Sedal line for more information.

Product Line Review: Ouidad

The Ouidad product line is for curly hair. I bought this bottle of Botanical Boost spray from Sephora. My Mary Kay representative gave me samples of Clear and Gentle Essential Daily Shampoo, Curl Quencher conditioner, Moisture Lock, Volumizing Foam, and Climate Control Gel. All were from the Ouidad line. Her stylist texturizes her curls as well, and she uses this regimen.
Day one hair - I achieved great volume on the first day because I am used to having flat hair after a fresh start. Also, I like that I did not get any crystallization. My other curly gels usually leave a little film to my hair, but nothing that I can not deal with. I do have to admit that my hair was a little flat, but I decided to make it stand up. It was easier to make it stand up without the crystallization effect that I sometimes work around when using my other regimen. Sometimes the "crystallization-prone" gels have a little "stickiness" to them which prevent Day one volume. Please ignore my huge forehead. I will be playing with styling more on Day 2.


Based on the back of my head, my curl definition is about the same as the other products. It is not too heavy nor too oily. I will have to see how day 2 through day 5 goes. I am happy that I got to try it without buying the whole line. It is another expensive curl line, but the six piece combination that I used, I really liked. Reminder: My type 4c hair is texturized/texlaxed.

UPDATE: By the end of Day one my "Ouidad" hair had started to shrink too tightly. I also felt that it was a little dry to the touch. My usual maintenance of Mixed Chicks Leave-in did not want to co-exist as an attempt to moisturize. It just got real sticky on my hair. Needless to say, Day 2 was a fresh wash with my KeraCare Cleansing Cream, Kinky-Curly Knot Today leave-in, and KeraCare Defining Custard.