New NaturalNaNa Video on Youtube -- Enjoy!

ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Pak -- 3 out of 5

Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Pak. These yellow packets should be familiar to anyone who's ever been down the "ethnic hair products" aisle @ the store or to a Sally's Beauty Supply. My aim in testing this one was to start questioning the effectiveness of every product, even ones that people take for granted.

After clarifying/co-washing and rinsing, I apply this product to my wet hair, cover with shower cap, and then sit under hood dryer for 15-20 minutes with heat on medium. (I'm a big believer in applying heat to conditioning treatments... steam would be even better, but oh well...)

After using this 3 times on my natural hair, I've concluded that it's okay, but that I should keep looking. The first time, I used only the packet, and was unimpressed with the softness or moisture of my hair. I also don't care for the smell. It smells so strongly of oranges that if I were wearing a blindfold when trying this, I would try to clean the counters with it!

I had a lot more success with it the second and third times I tried it, where I used it as a base to add additional evoo, coconut oil and honey. When I did that, I had good results for softness and moisture of my hair. Only thing is the smell stayed the same. I'm sure there's something out there that works better, and I'll be looking for that. However, in a pinch, whether temporal or financial, this is an acceptable alternative.

Suave Naturals Coconut Conditioner -- 5 out of 5

I finally tried Suave Naturals Coconut Conditioner! It's on many a holy grail product list, let me tell you. As far as I can tell, it is well deserved.

It is my pleasure to add it to my list as well! Light as air on my hair (and my wallet), great slip and softness, very pleasant light smell, this conditioner is perfect for co-washing and so cheap that you can glop it on without feeling guilty. I enjoyed it so much that I cowashed twice with it. I felt that it added moisture well to my hair with the water and rinsed out quickly and easily. I can see this as a staple in my bathroom forever more!

It performed as well if not better than HE Hello Hydration, which I loved, and reviewed before and reserved judgment on pending a review of this one. I can (happily) say that they are what and what. (Idea: look for a blog warring the conditioners later!) Is it fair that I gave Suave a 5 out of 5 and hg rating right off? Yes, because there is one place where Suave kicks HH's but -- price. HH costs 2$ more than Suave and seems to be slightly less available, but that doesn't really mean anything because these are both drugstore products and widely available.

Suave is so cheap and available it may make a good base for mixing homemade products. We shall see...

Aphogee 2-Step Protein Treatment -- 1 out of 4

Let me start by saying that I had never heard of protein sensitivity in hair until I started following curlynikki's blog. By that time, I was curious to answer the question in regards to my own hair because it seems so key. When you check the ingredients of most hair products, protein, usually in the form of wheat germ protein, is on the list! I began to get a a little paranoid. Is my hair protein sensitive?! I'm allergic to a million and one things in nature and on my plate, so I am more likely to assume an allergy as the cause of misery than anything else.

I am happy to report that no, it seems that I am not protein sensitive. Yet and still, Aphogee 2-step treatment was too much for me! This is a WHOLE LOTTA protein ya'll. Imagine 12 eggs stinkily frying on your hair. That's about what the experience was like for me.

This is not my first time dealing with protein. I remember when I got my first perms in 7th grade-- I got them because I was a dancer and my mom was tired of me sweating out my press daily. It only took about 6 months to break off badly. The hairstylist I was seeing, slapped several Aphogee treatments on my head at that time. I remembered it being goopy, hard to deal with, stinky, and rock hard. When I read that some people have a lot of success with it and use it regularly as napturals, I was eager to try again since you can get at any beauty supply store. In fact, the one that I went to single-use packets in the box separately. I got mine for 1.99+ tax.

I co-washed then got ready to use. It comes in 2 parts. First the protein treatment itself, under the dryer @ high heat until hard and dry (NO SHOWER CAP). Then the creamy conditioner which you rinse out almost immediately. Well, step one was a mess! The stuff is super runny, about the consistency and color of beaten eggs. I could hardly get it on my head. I was also concerned that there wouldn't have been enough without my hair being a short twa. I got it worked in, and the smell was eye-watering and chemically. I experienced immediate regret. That's when the stinging began....

This reminded me of a perm so bad I could have cried. I got under the dryer like a concentration camp victim, all dogged endurance. It took longer to dry hard that I would have liked. Once again, if my hair had been longer... torture time! I rinsed it out eagerly only to feel my hair hard and stripped feeling. I rushed on...

The second step was better. The conditioner smelled good, and after applying, working it in, and rinsing, my hair felt alot better. I wound up doing a deep conditioner with evoo, honey, and an olive oil packet to get it back to softness. I didn't notice any immediate perking up of m hair, and the hardness left after the dc, but I think it did give me a protein boost. I'm just unsure that I needed one at all. I'll be leaving this packet on the shelves from now on... try if you dare!

Happy Nappy New Year!

It's the start of Very Nappy Year for Dluvlylox! As you can see I'm hella late with this. To stop me from sliding into ridiculous procrastination territory (which would be unforgiveable), I am simply posting my current regimen and a few announcements, as well as pending reviews.

My Regimen:
1) Co-wash every 2-3 days or as needed w/ HE Hello Hydration or Suave Tropical Coconut
2) Clarify w/ ACV rinse or baking soda added to conditioner
3) As little combing as possible, even in shower w/ conditioner (I can detangle w/ fingers)
4) DT 2x/wk -- currently using ORS Olive oil packs w/ added evoo and honey, but still looking for something better
5) Spritz daily with water, seal with oil (amla+shikakai or coconut)

My Goals for the year are:
1) Perfect regimen and get it down to routine.
2) Take multi-vitamin daily.
3) Learn to braid!
4) Experiment with styles for versatility.
5) Keep up blog/fotki!
6) Record results of all hair experiments and products!
7) Try henna!

Look for the following Product Reviews:
1) Aphogee 2-step Treatment
2) Suave Tropical Coconut Conditioner
3) Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Conditioner
4) Coconut Oil
5) The Pre-poo
6) IC Olive Oil Gel
7) IC Olive Oil Gel vs. Kinky Curly Curling Custard

I am also planning to experiment in making homemade products this year! (So exciting!) Look for:
1) Homemade Spritz w/ Vegetable Glycerin
2) Adventures in Shea Butter Land
3) Shealoe and other Goop

Lastly, I am participating in Nappturality's TWA Challenge 2009. This is a year-long hair growth challenge. I've sworn to:
1) Stick to my regimen.
2) No cutting! No trimming!
3) Measure only once and month and post pic in a fotki album specifically for that purpose!
4) Grab a hair buddy and hold on tight for the ride! Mine is jasluv on NP.

We have a ning social network website, Our Journey. You can come visit to cheer us along, or even join yourself. Hope to see you there.

Aight! That's It for Now!