Featured Onyx Rose: Nicole

OR: Where are you from?
Nicole: Hailing from Columbia, SC

OR: Random fun fact about yourself?
Nicole: There were only 3 students in my high school senior graduating class.

OR: What inspired you to go natural?
Nicole: I was tired of the breakage. I had an almost-balding spot right behind my right ear, yet silly me kept relaxing it, thinking that it would fix itself. One day I woke up (after researching the transition method for a few weeks) and was just tired of it. I wanted healthy hair. I didn't care about length, I just wanted to get back to a healthy hair state.

OR: How long did you transition/Describe your transitioning experience.
Nicole: I transitioned for 11 months. My original plan was a year but after looking at all the beautiful TWAs on youtube and nappturality, I began having TWA envy. My transition process was really easy, surprisingly. I did a lot of protective styles, so I didn't have to fight too much with the two textures. I did cornrows (with extensions), kinky twists, and a curly sew-in.

OR: What do you love about your natural hair?
Nicole: Versatility, hands down. If I want to wear a big puff one day, an afro the next, my curly shrunken wash 'n go fro one day, twists, twist outs, braids, or braid outs... there are so many options. I love that I can sweat as much as I want to, swim as long as I want, and ride with my windows all the way down and not worry for even a second about my hair.

OR: What's one natural hair myth you wish would die?
Nicole: For me, when I'm out I usually get one of two questions. A) Are you from the islands? B) Are you vegan/vegetarian? LOL. Americans seems to have these pre-conceived ideologies about natural hair and lifestyle.

OR: Has your natural hair changed how you view yourself?
Nicole: It's motivated me to keep other aspects of my life healthy. I exercise more, I watch what I eat, and I don't let toxic and negative people become a part of my life. My confidence has soared, I walk with my head a little higher for some reason and I love it.

OR: Name your top three hair products and what you like about them.
Nicole:
Jason's Natural Lavender Conditioner - Perfect cream consistency and really leaves me hair soft and smelling good (I also love the curl defining one).

Jason's Aloe Vera Gel - I use to define my curls but also to slick my edges back for a puff (Wonder Curl's Get Slick Hair Smoothie is now a close second though).

Giovanni 50/50 Calming Conditioner - I use it as my leave-in and daily moisturizer.

OR: What advice do you have for those thinking about transitioning?
Nicole: Research is huge. There are so many online forums and blogs with a lot of helpful information concerning transition. Transition for as long as you feel comfortable, don't feel the need to go out and buy new expensive products, cut back on your use of heat, and enjoy it!

OR: Where can people find you online?
Twitter
Blog

Product Review: Nu-Gro Spray With Moisturizer

Price: Someone sent me this product, but you can buy it from nugrohairproducts.com. $8.99 for 16 oz.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Parsley, Garlic, Nettle, Burdock, Horsetail Coltsfoot, Rosemary Leaf, Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil, Safflower Oil, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Fragrance, Paba Panthenol (B-5), Vitamin E and D, Aloe Vera.

Description: "Mild Scent" spray helps grow, thicken, heal hair. Can Stop shedding in days. Moisturizes. Normally, see good hair growth results in 2-3 weeks. (For best results, use 1 - 3 months). Adds Body, Bounce and Shine! Normally, stops shedding in days, see hair growth improvement in 2 - 3 weeks. For those with hair loss, thinning, balding or shedding. Also those who have lost hair due to medical treatment (chemotherapy etc.). And those whose hair has been damaged by chemicals. A very effective spray. MONEY-BACK guarantee!

My Opinion: So many people rave about Nu-Gro products, so I decided it was time to see what all the hype was about. I used this for about a week and a half on my twists. I loved the fact that it kept my twists soft and moisturized, but it was also a little too oily for my liking. Also, when I would spray from the original bottle, it would just drip down my neck which was really annoying. However, I poured some into one of my Walmart spray bottles and that stopped the dripping problem. The smell isn't as unpleasant as some people make it seem. I was expecting it to smell like garlic, but it smells more like candy. This product definitely did leave my hair moisturized and shiny, but it also built-up in my hair pretty quickly and I didn't notice a difference in shedding...at all. As far as an increase in growth and thickness, I haven't noticed a great difference...so far.

Rating: 3/5

*UPDATE: I hate this product now, lol. So much that I threw it away. I couldn't tolerate the greasiness!*

Black Hair: Assuming Makes an Ass Out of You & Me

One of my top pet peeves is when people assume or judge someone/a group of people without knowing. This basically ties into stereotypes. The other day on Twitter someone asked why ladies with natural hair don't "like" relaxed hair, but they dye their own hair. She's not the first person to make a comment like this, many men and women have said similar things. Who said I don't like relaxed hair or that I wanted to stop putting any type of chemical in my hair? What people don't seem to understand is that you can't judge all women with natural hair based on the comments of a couple of women with natural hair. Just because some woman with natural hair said she despised relaxed hair doesn't mean all naturals feel that way. Misinformed people think that all natural hair women are anti-relaxer, anti-chemicals, etc, so when one sees a woman with dyed natural hair he or she feels the need to put that woman on blast (to make her feel guilty about using dye). I don't walk around assuming that all men are unfaithful or all women are catty because that would be stupid and I would probably be missing out on a lot of good relationships. So, what sense does it make to assume that all women with natural hair think/act the same way?

From my experience, many women with natural hair have a "do you" attitude when it comes to hair. Many naturals aren't interested in bashing women with relaxed hair because women with natural hair are criticized enough, there's no need to create even more drama. No, natural hair is not a "cult" or a "trend" and contrary to popular belief most women with natural hair aren't interested in any kind of "Natural Hair Movement." In my opinion, the "Natural hair vs. Relaxed hair" causes unnecessary division and hostility and the fact that some people continue to think that one type of hair is better than the other illustrates that we as a society still have a long way to go.

In a nutshell, stop assuming you know why a woman or any human being chooses to do something, because you just may end up looking like a fool. This goes for women with natural hair also. Don't assume that someone with relaxed hair hates their natural hair, wants to be White/accepted into mainstream society, etc. You may THINK you know why someone does something, but you honestly won't until they TELL you why. All the energy people put into trying to "expose" others is ridiculous and could be used to uplift people instead. So, next time you feel the need to criticize someone's hair (especially someone you don't know) take a minute to realize that you don't know why that person chooses to wear their hair that way, so you really have no business saying anything negative. The saying goes "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." If you don't KNOW, don't say anything at all either.

Featured Onyx Rose: Keyanna

OR: Where are you from?

Keyanna: I'm from Little Rock, AR.

OR: Random fun fact about yourself?
Keyanna: Paris is my favorite place in the world. I've been once and literally I was in L-O-V-E. I can't wait to go back and I wouldn't mind living there in the future.

OR: What inspired you to go natural?
Keyanna: I was on a blog site and it featured a post on natural hair and how healthy it was. My permed hair had never been thick or in my opinion really healthy. That post sparked a profound interest and I have not looked back since. I spent ALL of my free time researching natural hair; Youtube, blog sites, hair care forums...you name it, I was on it. Natural hair changed my perception of beauty.

OR: How long did you transition/Describe your transitioning experience.
Keyanna: I transitioned for close to 9 months. I transitioned with micros, kinky twists, weave ponytails, bantu knots, and braid outs. It did become frustrating towards the end, so I BC'd. I felt so empowered. I felt like a new woman.

OR: What do you love about your natural hair?
Keyanna: I love everything about my natural hair. I love how carefree it is and how worry-free I am about it. I love that when it rains, I am not in shambles at the thought of my hair getting wet. I love every coil and every curl. I love that the opportunities with my hair are endless.

OR: What's one natural hair myth you wish would die?
Keyanna: Water is not required for healthy natural hair.

OR: Has your natural hair changed how you view yourself?
Keyanna: Very much so. I feel so beautiful, feminine, and (dare I say) sexy with my twa! I no-longer feel the need to hide behind long hair.

OR: Name your top three hair products and what you like about them.

Keyanna:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil - My favorite carrier oil! My hair loves this stuff!

V05 conditioners - Extremely cheap and get the job done!

Aloe Vera Gel - Defines my curls, slicks my hair down and mixes great with my oils and butters. Love it!

OR: What advice do you have for those thinking about transitioning?
Keyanna: Think positive in the mist of negativity. There will be people who don't agree or understand your decision to go natural, but that's okay. Don't let their doubt or ignorance keep you doing something YOU want to do. Press on and do it for you.

OR: Where can people find you online?
Keyanna: Twitter

Black Soap for Clear Skin Challenge!

I usually have no issues with my skin, most of the time it's clear. However, this summer my skin's been acting out. I don't know if it's stress, the weather, products I was using or what. Anyway, many people swear by black soap and claim that it completely clears their acne and blemishes, so I'm inviting all of you to join my BLACK SOAP CHALLENGE!







More black soap uses/benefits:

• Can be used for hair and body
• Rich in vitamins A & E
  
• Cleanses, leaving skin feeling squeaky clean
  
• Relieves rashes, skin irritations, eczema, dark spots, and acne
  
• Results in radiant, soft, blemish-free skin

As with all products, make sure you're using the real deal. Real black soap has the following characteristics:

• Soft and pliable...NOT hard at all
• Brown (may vary from light-medium/dark brown), NOT Black. "Black soap" that is actually black has been dyed.
• All natural ingredients:

-Plantain skin, cocoa pod, palm kernel oil, and coconut oil. Some black soaps may contain more natural ingredients than the ones I just listed, for example shea butter.

Simply put, if your black soap is black as night and hard...it's not real (and probably won't work as well).

The black soap challenge starts TODAY and ends a month from now (August 26th). You must use the soap at least 4 times a week...you can use it more (i'm using it everyday) or you can use it less (if your skin becomes sensitive).

IF YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN THIS CHALLENGE, please comment this post and let us know. Also, try to check-in at least once a week (by commenting on this post) and let us know about your progress (before and after pictures would be great).

Get your soap as soon as possible. I got mine from my local beauty supply store (made by RA cosmetics). If you don't have a local beauty supply store that sells real black soap you can order online from the following sites:

nasabb.com
afrikanrepublic.com
agbangakarite.com
butters-n-bars.com
racosmetics.com

I can't wait to see everyone's progress!

**UPDATE**
During the time I used the black soap, it seemed like my face was getting worse. I think it was both the black soap and the shea butter that I was using on my face. The black soap made my face squeeeeeaky clean and I don't think that was a good thing. I'll try using it again, but this time only once a week. We'll see how that goes!

Featured Onyx Rose: Nola

OR: Where are you from?
Nola: I am from Arkansas.

OR: Random fun fact about yourself?
Nola: I love video games, especially the Nintendo Wii. Here is what makes no sense... I do great on Nintendo Wii bowling and strike almost every time, but in real life I can't hit a strike or spare to save my life. My ball goes into the gutter almost every time.

OR: What inspired you to go natural?
Nola: I have not always been natural. I was inspired by my two sister-in-laws. One had been natural for years. When I met her I saw how curly her hair was and I asked her how she got her hair like that. She told me she was natural. My other sister in law decided to go natural for spiritual reasons. I saw how fast her hair was growing after she cut it and it got me interested.

OR: How long did you transition/Describe your transitioning experience.
Nola: My transition was not long. I only transitioned for 3 months. It was not long at all because my last relaxer had my hair falling on in clumps. I wore kinky twist during those 3 months. The kinky twists helped my hair from falling out while I wore them but, when I took them out my hair started back falling out. So I decided enough was enough and just cut it.

OR: What do you love about your natural hair?
Nola: I love the ease of it. I can literally wake up, put water and moisturizer in my hair, shake it and it looks amazing. If I’m not having such a great hair day. I can put my hair in a puff and it works every time. I love how people look at my hair and ask how did you get your hair to do that. Is that a straw set? I tell them this is my natural hair.

OR: What's one natural hair myth you wish would die?
Nola: I hear that you have to be mixed or have that "Good Hair" to go natural. No you don't. Anybody can go natural and be beautiful. Many of the women with very kinky hair with no curl pattern have beautiful hair.

OR: Has your natural hair changed how you view yourself?
Nola: Yes it has. It has made me feel more beautiful. Being natural made me become more health conscious. I started out taking care of my health and along the way I started taking care of my body and have lost a lot of weight.

OR: Name your top three hair products and what you like about them.

Nola:

Eco styler Olive Oil Gel - defines curls so well without making your curls crunchy.

Pro-line Comb Thru Hair Softener - very moisturizing leave in. It is not greasy.

Suave Almond and Shea butter Conditioner - the best conditioner I have ever tried hands down. Makes my hair soft and makes my hair easy to detangle.

OR: What advice do you have for those thinking about transitioning?
Nola: Do a lot of research and watch YouTube. Don’t get caught up in all the hype. You do not have to buy expensive products for your hair. Do what works for your hair.

OR: Where can people find you online?
Nola: Youtube

Are You Being Duped? Shea Butter 101

Every time I go to a beauty supply store ALL I see is yellow "shea butter".  However, I've learned that the yellow shea butter that so many people sell and use isn't REAL shea butter. Disappointing, right? I found a video that explains very well what real shea butter is supposed to look like:





Key Points:

Yellow "Shea Butter":

• Bright yellow butter
• Similar to shea butter, but not REAL shea butter. Real name is "African butter"
• Grows in dense forests (from a completely different tree than real shea butter), wet, shaded conditions
• Contains moisturizing and healing properties

Off-White/Beige Shea Butter:

• REAL shea butter
• Grows in open savannah, drought tolerant
• May be dyed yellow to resemble "African Butter"-- the butter most people are familiar with as "Shea Butter"
• Contains moisturizing and healing properties

White Shea Butter:

• Chemically refined to remove smell. Does not contain all the healing and moisturizing properties of unrefined shea butter.

Are You Concerned About Product Ingredients?

I was watching one of familygoingnatural's blogtv broadcasts when someone said, "Eco Styler gel causes cancer." WHAT?! So, me being the curious person that I am, I researched which ingredient is supposedly cancerous. These are the ingredients in the Olive Oil Eco Styler gel that I use: Water, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, PVP, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydrxymethylglycinate, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Olive Oil, Fragrance, Blue #1, Yellow#1, Love and Pride. Triethanolamine (often abbreviated as TEA) is a good humectant, which is probably one of the reasons why many women like this Eco Styler gel. However, this ingredient is also listed on cosmeticdatabase.com as a "moderate hazard." Triethanolamine is a known human immune system toxicant, skin toxicant, organ system toxicant, allergen, and carcinogen (cancer causing substance).


Whether or not this gel actually has the potential to cause cancer, I don't know. However, what I do know is that learning about this ingredient was a wake up call for me to be more mindful of the ingredients I use on my hair, skin, etc. This gel is the best at defining my curls and giving hold to my two-strand twists. I, along with many other women, love this product, but do I love it enough to continue to take a risk? No. I will probably replace it with aloe vera gel. Some may say, "Well, a lot of things cause cancer nowadays" and that may be true, but I am always trying to do what's within my power to live a healthy life and I do have control over the products I use on a daily basis. I was looking at the ingredients in some of my other products and they too contain carcinogens. It also doesn't make sense to me to use something that has an abundance of ingredients I can't pronounce and have no idea what their purpose is. My goal is to switch to all natural hair and skin products by the end of the year. I will probably start making whipped shea butter since it can double as a hair and skin moisturizer.

Do YOU care about product ingredients?

Featured Onyx Rose: Ariel

Hello!! My name is Ariel Jones. I am from a small town in Cecil County, MD. Not the most interesting place, but it's home.

OR: Random fun fact about yourself?
Ariel: I Love Marching Band, particularly Color guard. Flag/rifle line is my love even though I won't be returning to it next semester.

OR: What inspired you to go natural?
Ariel: Originally I was tired of the hassle of getting relaxers. When I went away to college, I had no idea where to go and I also had no money. So, July marked my last perm ever! I met my mentor through color guard and always thought she had a relaxer and she swore she was completely natural. Meeting her was my mom's reason to make me stop. Eventually, throughout my transition I researched the chemical damage done by relaxers and the absolute beauty of natural curls and kinks, and fully embraced the oncoming change. My big sister went natural a while before I did and she has been the biggest form of support by giving me blogs, advice, and encouragement! Love Ya Jazz!!

OR: How long did you transition/Describe your transitioning experience.
Ariel: I transitioned for 10 months. I count from July, that’s the month of my last relaxer. Since I went into this with NO help or research, it’s a wonder I kept up with it. I treated my hair the same exact way if I had a perm: HEAT. Around December I had enough growth to hold in some braids, I kept getting them until I left school in May. The braids helped keep my hands and heat away from the delicate new growth. I BC’d May 28, 2010!

OR: What do you love about your natural hair?
Ariel: I LOVE LOVE LOVE my curl pattern!! I thank God for my curls. While transitioning the little curlies at the base of my neck gave me a peep at what was to be around my whole head; that kept me encouraged. I hear from many people that after BC’ing their curl pattern hides for a while. My curls popped the moment my stylist put water through my new TWA. That’s when I knew this was “IT”.

OR: What's one natural hair myth you wish would die?
Ariel: I honestly haven’t personally had to square up with one of these myths. Of all the ones I have seen, my hair doesn’t match any of them, especially the myth that natural hair isn’t manageable. Of course I can really only speak for myself, but I work diligently on keeping up my hair and I have found products and a routine that my hair responds very well to. Oh and black hair CAN (properly) be washed frequently. It is not dirty, I co-wash my hair just about 6x a week and its healthy and growing.

OR: Has your natural hair changed how you view yourself?
Ariel: This natural hair journey I would say is helping me discover what Ariel looks like. This may sound strange but for someone who has constantly struggled with her identity and confidence, unveiling my natural curls and being hugely satisfied is an enormous breakthrough. I go to the mirror, see myself smile and say, “Yes, this is what I’ve been waiting to see.”

OR: Name your top three hair products and what you like about them.
Ariel:
Vegetable Glycerin: I do a 1:1 ratio of glycerin and water with some peppermint essential oil. Its summertime and throughout the day my hair would feel like a steel wool. I even use it before bed and I wake up with soft hair! LOVE IT!

Bed Head Moisture Manic Conditioner: I use this to co-wash and DC with honey. It smells really great; it doesn’t contain –cones, PEG, PPG, sulfates etc, and leaves my hair feeling soft.

Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioner: I’ve had this product for months, and even used it on my transitioning hair. It smells very nice and my hair instantly gets soft and super manageable. With a little water, curls come out to play.

OR: What advice do you have for those thinking about transitioning?
Ariel: Do Research and ask around!! I can’t stress that enough. I even got to the point I would stop random people shopping if I really liked their hair. You will need to find new products and methods to help you with this experience. You cannot treat natural hair as you do relaxed hair; they’re chemically two different things. Doing research, I found was super easy. Natural sistas are NOT hard to find. They’re proud and love giving information. #naturalhair on twitter was my first group, then youtube, then blogging helped. Once you find something that works, write it down to avoid product junkyism. Then you will be on your way to sharing your own discoveries.

OR: Where can people find you online?
Ariel:
Twitter
I also have a budding flirtation with blogging: Blog

Kim Fields Lets Go of Her Locs

Last year, when I was about to turn 40, I had this notion in my head of, OK, here comes a new decade of my life, a new chapter, and wanting to have a new look or energy. I'd had my locs for 11 years. I thought maybe it was time to do something different. I had just finished doing this one-woman show that I produced and written and directed, and so I was kind of feeling good about where I was as an actor. And I thought, 'You know, let's cut my hair'.

Fields is currently a director for Tyler Perry's House of Payne and Meet the Browns. She is also directing some episodes for BET's new sitcom, Let's Stay Together.

Featured Salon: Nature's Course

OR: Where are you located?
Nature's Course: We are located at 3117 Isabella St, Houston, TX 77004. We are walking distance from Texas Southern University, a HBCU located in the inner-city of Houston, TX.

OR: What is your mission?
Nature's Course: Our mission is to provide an outlet for all of those with natural hair whether that be thorough education, service and union.
OR: What services do you provide?
Nature's Course: We specialize in all natural hair care needs. We do haircuts, 'locs, twist, braids, color, and facials. We also provide the necessary maintenance necessary for all the natural hair styles; 'locs, twists and braids. We even have a stylist that does the traditional processed hair if you require that. However, she is a floater and works on appointments only.

OR: What makes you stand out from other salons?
Nature's Course: We are a local family run business. My mother has been in the hair business for over 20 years. My sister use to work underneath my mother before she opened her own shop. I am a new addition to the shop but I have been doing hair off/on for 6 years. We are very friendly, small, resourceful and extremely personable. You feel very at home when you are in our salon. In short, we are personable and professional. If you can imagine such a combination. If u can't, you definitely need to stop by and check us out!

OR: What do you love about natural hair?
Nature's Course: What we LOVE about natural hair is that it is hair in its most precious state. The chemical treating of your hair for it to look like someone's else is no longer necessary. You can now be proud of your curls, coils, and naturally coarse hair.

OR: What advice do you have for those thinking about transitioning to natural hair?
Nature's Course: If you are ready to transition know that there is going to be opposition to you doing something "different" to you hair. But, as long as you believe that this is the best thing for your hair, you will be amazed and PROUD of the results. I myself have been natural for almost 6 years. I wouldn't trade it. When people see my 'locs, they can't help but touch and ask a million questions. To think that at one time, the sistahs at my part-time job shunned me for defying my hair. Now I am praised. I have no regrets and that is what makes living life worth it; no regrets!OR: How can people contact you?
Nature's Course:
Email: houston.naturescourse@gmail.com
Phone: 713.294.0021.
Twitter
Facebook
Blog
And, old fashion... just come on by to 3117 Isabella St, Houston, TX 77004.

Transitioners, This One's For You!

I came to the conclusion that it was time that I cater a little more to those who are transitioning. How can you properly become fully natural if you're not provided with enough information about transitioning?

MsVCharles is one of my favorite Youtubers right now. Her videos are humorous, interesting, and informative. She has a great personality and she really knows how to keep your attention. Here are her great transitioning tips:

Time For a Giveaway!

I'm thankful for all the love my blog and twitter followers show me everyday...you guys are honestly the best. So, to show my appreciation, I'm doing my first giveaway!




Darcy's Botanicals has been generous enough to sponsor this giveaway. They have a variety of great natural hair products that i'm sure the winner will enjoy. The contest starts today, July 14, 2010 and ends on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

To enter this contest you must be following this blog. If you're not already, go ahead and follow now☺

ALSO, leave a comment on THIS POST answering the following questions:

1. Name
2. Email Address -OR- Twitter URL
3. Finish this sentence: "My natural hair..."

You may only enter one time. The winner will randomly be chosen and announced on August 2, 2010. Spread the word.

Good luck!


**UPDATE!**

Keyanna Horne is the winner! She will be receiving the Madagascar Vanilla Styling Creme, Organic Coconut & Aloe Moisture Pudding, and Herbal Leave-In. Big thank you to Darcy's Botanicals and everyone who entered. More giveaways are coming soon!

Featured Onyx Rose: Cali AKA "Chisellecouture"

OR: Where are you from?
Cali: I was born and raised in Washington DC.

OR: Random fun fact about yourself?
Cali: A lot of times I find myself at a lost for words. Therefore, I love to express myself through art. Whether it be through sewing, hairstyling, writing a poem or my horrible attempts at sketching.

OR: What inspired you to go natural?
Cali: Honestly, I usually went a while without getting touch-ups. One day while conditioning I noticed my new growth and it was so curly. I was curious to know how my new discovered curls would look as they grew out.

OR: How long did you transition/Describe your transitioning experience.
Cali: I transitioned for 18 months. The first year if not more I flat-ironed my hair until I discovered late in my transition loads of information on the internet. Once I found out I could possibly damage my curl pattern, I started doing bantu knots which I did before when I was relaxed to get that beachy wave effect. Anyhow, the bantu knots blended the two textures perfectly and gave me the curly fro that I wished for.

OR: What do you love about your natural hair?
Cali: Natural hair is so versatile. There are tons of styling options.

OR: What's one natural hair myth you wish would die?
Cali: Natural hair is unprofessional. Honestly, there's only one place I wouldn't wear my fro and that is to a wedding. It would be rude to take any attention away from the beautiful bride and groom! LOL.

OR: Has your natural hair changed how you view yourself?
Cali: Honestly, to say that I encountered a profound moment that changed my outlook because of my hair would be ridiculous. There are so many things that have happened in my years of living. The last thing that would change my view on anything would be my hair.

OR: Name your top three hair products and what you like about them.
Cali: Water, because its a great moisturizer. Shea butter is an amazing sealent. V05 Moisture Milks Conditioners are seriously the best for cowashing and detangling.

OR: What advice do you have for those thinking about transitioning?
Cali: Just be patient and know that your hair will grow back as long as you take good care of it. Goodluck! ;-)

OR: Where can people find you online?
Cali:
Youtube
Blogspot
Tumblr
Twitter

Product Reviews: Gels-- KeraCare, Black 'N Sassy, Wave Nouveau

Price: around $4.00 for 5.2 oz. from local BSS

Ingredients: Water, Mineral Oil, PEG-30 Castor Oil, Oleth-10, Oleth-20, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, VP/VA Copolymer, Fragrance, Methylparaben, Proplyparaben, Red 33,External Violet.

Description: For truly great, smooth styles try Black n' Sassy Style Smoother instead of gel. You will get all the hold you need without the dryness, itch or flakes. Plus! A perfect soft feel with a fantastic polished shine. Washes out easily too!

My Opinion: *Takes a deep breath* This is one of those products that makes you just want to scream because of the false advertising (for my hair at least). I've been trying all kinds of gels to give me a slick look for my 4c edges and this product did not deliver. It's basically "Let's Jam!" in a different container. A couple of minutes after I applied this "smoother" to my hair, it was already turning into grease. God forbid I go outside...my forehead was shining like nobody's business. "Light weight"? Yes. "Humidity resistant"? "Conditioning"? How could it not be with all the grease sitting on top of my hair? *sigh*

Rating: .5/5

Price: around $5.79 for 1.8 oz. from local BSS

Ingredients: Water, Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Oleth-20, Oleth-10 Phosphate, Oleth-10, Oleth-15, Polysorbate 80, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Acetate, Fragrance, Phenoxethanol, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate.

Description: Have fun while you create special effects. Shine, define and separate. Smooth Edges Gel smoothes away fly aways and split ends and can be applied to wet or dry hair.

My Opinion: I tried this once on relaxed hair and I remember being surprised at how well it worked. It's a different story for my natural hair. This had better hold than the Black 'N Sassy Style Smoother, but like the Style Smoother, my edges reverted in no time. I also don't like the fact that it costs so much for such a small product.

Rating: 2/5

Price: around $16.00 for 4 oz. from local BSS

Ingredients: Water, Ceteareth-25, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor oil, Propylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol (and) water (and) Apple Fruit Extract, Propylene Glycol (and) water (and) Lemon Peel Extract, Propylene Glycol (and) water (and) Camellia Leaf Extract, Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicytate, Eugenol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limone, Linalool.

Description: A non-greasy gel that straightens and lays down edges along the hairline. This flake-free product creates a silky-smooth touchable texture while giving a lasting hold free of sudden reversion.

My Opinion: So, you know I had to be really desperate curious to spend $16 on a 4 oz product. This "Edge Tamer" reminds me of the Elasta QP Glaze. They both have a similar smell and consistency (the KeraCare is a little thicker though). Overall, I like this product. It doesn't keep my edges slick for as long as I would like it to, but it's a huge improvement from other gels I've tried. It has ok hold and doesn't turn into grease (hmm...maybe because there's no mineral oil?). If your edges are rebellious like mine, I would recommend trying this product.

Rating: 3.5/5