Wash And Go, To Grow And To Dazzle 2020 Challenge

[GettingKinky]

Hang in there @faithVA. It’s a slow process, don’t get discouraged.

 

[GettingKinky]

I have one section of my bangs that is always frizzy. I don’t know how to fix it. When I wash my hair tomorrow I’m going to give it a ton of extra attention and see if that helps

 

[Shadow_Lace]

I really slept on the wrong product!


I washed my hair with Cantu TXTR Soothing Shampoo.

Next, I used Emergencia Deep Intense Hair Treatment Keratin Repair Formula as my protein treatment and my detangler.
I sectioned my hair into 6s.

(On soaking wet hair) I smoothed TGIN Rose Water Smoothing leave-in, then re-sectioned my hair.
(On wet-to-damp hair) I smoothed Xtreme Clear Gel onto each section of my hair.
I'm currently air-drying my hair.


To start off, I been noticing no matter what I used on the rest of my hair, the back/crown area just kept displaying issues.

Immediately frizzing, then re-tangling worst (after detangling)!

And, being the 1st area to lose curl definition (only for the very ends to remain defined).



I tried keeping the area free of buildup, deep conditioning more, switching up my leave-ins & styling products.



When, duh, I needed a strong protein treatment!

The Emergencia Keratin protein treatment saved that section of my hair!

It comes in different sizes.
I bought the 16 ounce tub.

The scent is moderate, doesn't stink, but not a sweet/floral/bakery scent.

It's kinda neutral to me.

It doesn't linger on the hair.

The consistency:
At 1st, it appears pasty/grainy in the tub.
But immediately becomes smooth & creamy on the hands.

It does have slip!

I found it most effective after: working it into my hair (allowing each application to soak in),
then proceeding to detangle my hair.

A true winner!

 

[faithVA]

Hang in there @faithVA. It’s a slow process, don’t get discouraged.

Hang in there @faithVA. It’s a slow process, don’t get discouraged.

Thanks @GettingKinky , I knew as I was typing I just needed to vent. I could already see the silver lining but I just needed to get it out

The very fact that I'm talking about not getting my wash and go right, is in itself a testament. Last year there would have been no such talk. And even though it has a long way to go, I blow dried it and walked right out the door.

 

[faithVA]

Have fun.

I’m going to clarify this weekend and use my kinky curly products. I’m going to go back to using the custard straight from the jar instead of diluting and putting it in a squirt bottle. I don’t think that is necessary. And it makes set up take longer.

Did you still decide to do this, this weekend?

 

[GettingKinky]

Did you still decide to do this, this weekend?

I did. I’m going to wash tomorrow.

 

[GettingKinky]

I gave my frizzy patch so much extra love when I washed my hair today and it’s still frizzy. I give up, I guess this is just the way that patch wants to be.

 

[GettingKinky]

I also went back to my kinky curly products today. I think I didn’t use enough of the knot today because my hair didn’t feel heavy with water. Next week I’ll go back to using a lot of product.

 

[water_n_oil]

Hmm, not sure on cream-only wngs yet. While I love how soft my hair is, it's irritating for my scalp the same way conditioner-only wngs work. Back to the drawing board I suppose.

 

[faithVA]

I also went back to my kinky curly products today. I think I didn’t use enough of the knot today because my hair didn’t feel heavy with water. Next week I’ll go back to using a lot of product.

I think I will try the Kinky Curly gel again. I only used it that one time since I only had a little bit left. I have a 40% off at CVS. I will see if they have it.

 

[faithVA]

Don't think the DevaCurl B'Leave-in is going to work for me. I love how it goes on. It seems to soothe my hair and suds up very well. It also is gentler on my scalp. But, I have to use a lot more of it. I will probably only have this bottle for 3 weeks before it is gone. It doesn't have enough hold, so I just have a fro and my coils never clump. My hair dries out by the end of the day. And I can't get second day hair. I tried adding ICH after that and it didn't work. This gel also flakes. And I've never had any flaking with UFD.

I'm going to get a jar of the Kinky Curly and leave the B'Leave-in until I meet with the stylist.

It is nice to get a break from the UFD. It was worth a try. I have a feeling I will be trying a lot of gels.

 

[water_n_oil]

Hmm, not sure on cream-only wngs yet. While I love how soft my hair is, it's irritating for my scalp the same way conditioner-only wngs work. Back to the drawing board I suppose.

Ok, maybe not a loss. I think the key is going to be not to go ham like I do with gels and to incorporate clay washes back into my weekly routine. Curls looking and feeling way better tonight and my scalp feels great.

 

[Shadow_Lace]

I washed with Not Your Mother's Sicilian Blood Orange & Black Currant shampoo.

Next, I used Miche Beauty STRENGTHEN Protein Deep Conditioner as my d/c and detangler.

(On soaking wet hair) I smoothed TGIN Rose Water Smoothing Leave-In, then re-sectioned my hair.
(On wet hair) I smoothed Xtreme Clear Gel onto each section.
I'm currently air-drying my hair.


I think I finally narrowed down the scent of the Miche Beauty products.
This MB Protein d/c smells like Strawberry Starburst.

Smooth consistency, a tad thick, but not like a butter.

Great slip!

Supposed to be a balancing d/c, it is for me.

I finally recognized the area in the back/crown (right above the nape).

It's very protein craving!
While the rest of my hair is indifferent.

Upon using the Miche Beauty Protein deep conditioner to detangle...
I noticed less refrizzing, and slightly less re-tangling.

Not as great of an improvement as the Emergencia Keratin protein treatment, but enough to notice a pattern.

If anyone is protein sensitive, this could be a good alternative protein treatment.

 

[oneastrocurlie]

I've been pretty boring with my hair since working from home for the last 2.5 months. Wash and gos are pretty much just UFD curly magic and the doux mousse. Still styling without towel drying my hair and diffusing. My black color is fading but I have a color retouch appointment at the end of the month.

 

[water_n_oil]

Left my hair out for TKD today and it survived! Tied my edges down (not that I do anything to them) with a cotton scarf afterward so that they'll dry faster and flat. Definitely my new routine (Dr. Bronners, clay mask, cream styler, oil). I still need to decide on a cowash for times I feel like resetting my hair before actual wash day.

 

[uofmpanther]

I tried something different today. I used Curl Junkie Smoothing Lotion for leave-in. Before applying gel, I used Long Aid Coconut and Manuka Styling Custard for hold. Then I topped it with a light raking of UFD Curly Magic. Because of the styling custard, I didn't have to use much UFD and avoided sticky neck. But the UFD helped control frizz because the custard alone wasn't enough.

So far, so good! Not as bouncy as just using UFD, but not as stiff as Eco.

 

[faithVA]

I'm back to the Elucence Shampoo. I diluted it heavily and am using that way. It is better. I gave my boyfriend the InnserSense and another cowash conditioner in it's place. I think I will also try the Elucence conditioner since I like the shampoos so well. There is so much of a difference using the Elucence, so I'm glad I figured out a work around.

Now, the DevaCurl B'Leavein. I used it all week while waiting on the Kinky Curly. I have to use it every day because it doesn't give me second day hair. I used a lot more yesterday and started with 4 pumps per section. That worked out better and gave me more hold. But it makes my hair look sooo ashy. It's so bad, I thought I needed to color my hair again and its only been 3 weeks.

Maybe I'm not emulsifying it enough. But my hair literally turns another color. And by the end of the day my hair just flakes like I have dandruff. I will hold onto it until I can wear a puff or something and just use it on days where I just want to put it up.

I ordered KCCC and KCKT from Target. They had a buy 1, get one 50% off and I had a gift card, so it cost me $5. I used the KCCC today. It is way better than the DevaCurl. I'm not sure it is better than UFD. But I will see how my scalp does with this. I'm not sure whether I am allergic to aloe or if I am allergic to the fragrances put in things. My curls are better defined than with the DevaCurl and my color is back. I didn't use ICH with it because I didn't know how it would do. I will try it again next time.

At least I have my shampoos. I plan to buy the Kirkland conditioner again and try the Elucence conditioner when I run low on what I have. On the fence with the gels. I like that there are only 3 products to figure out

 

[GettingKinky]

@faithVA I really like the Elucence conditioner. I used it on top of the Innersense and it really helps with slip. I think I’m going to stick with the combo of using both.

 

[faithVA]

@faithVA I really like the Elucence conditioner. I used it on top of the Innersense and it really helps with slip. I think I’m going to stick with the combo of using both.

Cool. I will order it next time.

How did your revisit to KC go?

 

[GettingKinky]

Cool. I will order it next time.

How did your revisit to KC go?

My retry of KC didn’t go so well, but I think I was too stingy when I applied product. I used to be super heavy handed with the knot today. When I wash my hair today or tomorrow I will use a lot more knot today.

I also used to dilute the custard and apply it from a squeeze bottle, but this time I used it straight from the jar. I think I didn’t apply it in small enough sections.

I’m going to finish what I have and then decide what to use going forward. But given that I just got a HUGE container of ICH I’m pretty sure I will go back to that.

part of me wants to try the gel with hyaluronic acid that @shadowlace mentioned, but it’s super pricy and I don’t want to keep switching products. But I think that + ICH could be a good combo.

 

[faithVA]

I'm feeling pretty comfortable that I can get third day hair now. I think I might be able to get 4 days. But it might have moisture but I'm not sure I will have any definition.

I'm good with 3 days. I went from 1 day to 3 days in less than 90 days. I will just hold in place until I get more length. I will keep working on my technique and trying new gels.

 

[GettingKinky]

Here are my current thoughts on kinky curly vs UFD/ICH

-KC smells way better
-KC is easier to apply and since it’s less runny I lose less
-KC has more slip so I can rake it in more easily
-KC doesn’t weigh my hair down as much so I end up with more shrinkage

I have a HUGE bottle of ICH so I’m going to have to go back to it as some point. I think I will try it with KCKT and maybe I will get the best of both worlds.

 

[faithVA]

^^ Very interesting. I agree that it does smell better. My hair is short so I don't have the same experience in the other areas. I definitely lose more KC down the drain than UFD. I try to emulsify over my head so when it drops it lands on my head

I haven't tried the ICH with the KC either. Was a little scared and was going to try it on a day, I planned to rinse back to back.

I used KC today but was running late so didn't bother smoothing or anything. I used about 2 T for my entire head. I will have to see if that is enough.

In the future I'm going to skip rinsing on Mondays, since it is already a struggle day for me.

 

[GettingKinky]

@faithVA whick KC product do you lose down the drain? The custard?

For me the UFD is so runny that I lose it while emulsifying. Maybe I just need to use fewer pumps per application.

 

[metro_qt]

haven't done a wash n go in Months.
I am now babying my hair to get it back to last year's conditions.
it's good for a first start, but nowhere near what it used to looks like.


Today's products used were Mane Choice 24 Karat gel
and Wetline extreme gel, the Blue one.

 

[faithVA]

@faithVA whick KC product do you lose down the drain? The custard?

For me the UFD is so runny that I lose it while emulsifying. Maybe I just need to use fewer pumps per application.

Yes the custard. To me it doesn't emulsify as easily as the UFD. I definitely only use 2 pumps of the UFD because it does start sliding before I can get it emulsified. But I use the about the same amount of KCCC and I lose some of it before I can get it emulsified.

Would be nice it there was some type of gel catcher. I almost want to cry when my gel slides down the drain

 

[GettingKinky]

Looking good @metro_qt. How have you been wearing your hair for the last few months?

 

[faithVA]

haven't done a wash n go in Months.
I am now babying my hair to get it back to last year's conditions.
it's good for a first start, but nowhere near what it used to looks like.


Today's products used were Mane Choice 24 Karat gel
and Wetline extreme gel, the Blue one.

You have the prettiest hair and I love the color. It looks great to me. And it has really grown since your last pictures.

 

[metro_qt]

Looking good @metro_qt. How have you been wearing your hair for the last few months?

Thanks!
How have i been wearing my hair? Raggedy....in a raggedy bun, tied up in whatever hair scarf that doesn't fall off....and then at one point... I was sleeping bareheaded on my pillows for a week---- *gasp*

Yup. I've been super lax, and I know it.

Feels good to be back to Wash n Go Land...

 

[metro_qt]

You have the prettiest hair and I love the color. It looks great to me. And it has really grown since your last pictures.

Awwww thank you! I was really taking care of my hair last year and this year I can really see it.

I will post some comparison pics in 30 min.

Unfortunately, I think I now have a lot of damage due to the color, and being anemic...and when Covid is done, I'm going to get a hair cut to manage the damage...

ETA: these photos were taken exactly a year apart--- June 6th 2019 and June 9th 2020