SOTC with... gel?

Here's today's hair:

I'm having some problems with my diffuser. For whatever reason, it doesn't seem like it's drying my hair anywhere near as fast as it usually does. My normal routine is to use it on the low setting. After five minutes, it didn't feel much different to me. So I've been using the high setting and it's helped a little. I really hope it fixes itself soon!

Anyway, after what seemed like an hour of diffusing, I realized I had forgotten to add gel halfway through. Smasters on nc.com had a great post last week about scrunching in KCCC when hair is 50% dry. I tried it last week with KCCC and it wasn't pretty. So I had decided to add gel this time.

I realized my mistake when I was done scrunching and my hair was soft. Oops. I diffused a little after that, but I had pretty much scrunched out all the crunch that was left. I was lamenting the fact that my hair hasn't grown and gotten all ringlet-y like it used to be until I looked in the mirror a few hours after diffusing. I didn't think it would look that great, but it ended up looking really nice! I had a lot of shine and my ringlets are coming back. And I have some volume! My webcam really doesn't do it justice (and it made my eyes look brown, when they are most definitely light blue!).

So this is something I may try again. Usually when I get done diffusing, it never dries in time for me to go to bed. But it was dry almost immediately after I was done diffusing. That could definitely work for me!

What I'm Reading

So it takes me a while to diffuse. Always has, especially with KCCC. The Spritz & Condition method has helped a little in the timing department, but usually it takes 25-30 min. Diffusing is the part of my shower routine that I dread. I would be so happy if I could just air-dry and come out with voluminous curls in less than an hour, but unfortunately air-drying for me means 6+ hours of wet, flat, wavy hair.

So I made it something to look forward to. This is my time to read, since I don't do too much of that anymore. Glamour is a staple for my reading while diffusing. It usually takes about two diffusing sessions to make it through an issue (unless they decide to make it a half-issue, and then it takes less than one!). During the fall months, I worked my way through Philippa Gregory's King Henry VIII/Elizabeth I novels (well, the two that I hadn't already read).

Right now I'm working my way through Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith; and absolutely loving it! I love the original and didn't have high hopes for this one, but I was wrong. I'm about a third of the way through. It's awesome.

I just thought I would share. What do you do while diffusing?

In other hair news...

I am happy to report that the urge to purchase hair products has passed. Really, I sound like an ex-addict. Thanks to everyone here and at NC who gave me great suggestions!

My hair has been ok this week. It went a little flat on Tuesday. I'm not sure if it was OD-ing on pink boots, from my one-time use of Lustrasilk Shea Mango, or just from being second-day hair.

C'est la vie.

Returning to Curl Junkie

I know I said earlier this week that I am pretty much done with experimenting with products... but I just read through a few threads on nc.com and am thinking about trying one of the newer Curl Junkie products. Besides, it's been a long time since I've reviewed anything on here - that's motivation enough, right?

I really liked the conditioner I tried last year. It smelled great and moisturized well. The only problem with it was the oils it contained! It ended up being too much for me.

I also like and still occasionally use the Curl Fuel Spray.

I'm thinking about trying Curls in a Bottle, since it is protein-, silicone-, and oil-free, but I'm not sure how different it would be from KCCC.

If anyone has any ideas or advice, I would greatly appreciate it!

Shipping LOL

So my package from Sally's just got here.

I mentioned that it came really fast and my dad asked where it came from.

So I looked.

It literally came from one hour away - in the same town as my college.

No wonder it only took two days!

Stocking Up

It's been a really, really, really long time since I've bought hair products. After finding what works for me, I don't really feel a need to buy anything else.

[For the record, I am not a reformed PJ. I've simply transferred it. You don't want to see my make-up collection. I'm on a no-buy for blushes because I literally cannot shut my blush drawer!]

Remember when I had that hair emergency - my local Sally's had stopped stocking my beloved GVP Conditioning Balm - in like AUGUST? I have finally reached the bottom of my last bottle (I only bought two online). Is that cool or what? I made it almost five months before having to stock up again.

For those wanting to try, it is currently on sale for $4.99 on Sally's website. I got two. And a jar of Lustrasilk Shea Butter Cholesterol (the one I tried to order last time and was later told it was out of stock). The weather has been up and down lately, so hopefully this will work for me!

Last time it took like two days to get here. Hoping for that great of service this time (especially with UPS's prices!!).

My Diffuser

This is an entry I've been meaning to do for a while, just because my diffuser situation is unusual (as you can see!).

My diffuser is made up of three parts: a Revlon 1875 Ionic ceramic dryer, a universal adapter for the Devafuser, and the diffuser attachment from a Vidal Sassoon dryer.

Here's the story: When I first went CG, I had an "old" Revlon diffuser that had gone unused for about three years. I started using it and it lasted about four and a half months before it started acting up - it wouldn't start and if it did, it would be really hot. So I bought a new dryer (on a budget) and stupidly threw out my diffuser attachment along with the defective dryer.

The diffuser attachment for my new dryer was not at all like my old one. The old one had longer fingers. These were barely existent. I was not getting the curls I was used to.

At this time, I bought a Devafuser attachment from a member on nc.com. It did not go so well. I need REAL fingers to scrunch my hair up to the root to help set/form my curls. The Devafuser doesn't do this at all for me. So into the cabinet it went.

This summer I bought my mom a new dryer for her birthday. Her's was what I would consider a hazard. We have no idea how long she had it, but it had to have been at least eight years. The label had worn off. It looked primitive and dangerous. So I got her a new one. This one came with a diffuser attachment. She has short hair, so it was donated to me. Luckily it has the long fingers my old attachment has! Unfortunately it did not fit onto my dryer. That's where the Devafuser adapter came in and how my diffuser came to look like this!

Pink Boots + KCCC = True Love

I just want to reiterate my love for this combination. It gives me perfect curls every single time. The ringlets I saw tonight gave me flashbacks to the good old days!

There's nothing like getting done with diffusing and knowing it's going to be a good hair day... or will if it can survive overnight in a modified pineapple! Here's to hoping it lasts and I can use it more often!

Slowly Getting There

Here's a quick update with a picture of today's hair. There are all these hints of ringlets at the bottom - I wish they'd hurry up and grow! But overall my hair is in better condition than last week.

It's funny, I wore my hair down and curly once this week and was asked by at least one person in every class if my hair was naturally curly! This isn't the first time I've been in there! I was there for eight weeks in the fall! But they liked it and I felt special, so it was ok :)

I used my usual routine (Spritz & Condition included) and added in some pink boots (love).

Today's Hair

A wavy day. After two shampoos (yes, you read correctly), I guess that's all I can expect. I do wish it would HURRY UP AND GROW, though.

I also tried a new clipping method (the one used by misfitcurls). There was a little lift on the upper sides/crown area, but overall my hair is pretty flat. I'll chalk that up to shampoo too!

It's in a double-modified pineapple right now. I'd take a picture, but somehow I lost all but two of my mini-jaw clips, so it's not pretty. Seriously, my clips only travel between two places: my room and the bathroom. Not sure how they keep disappearing. I think they're running away!