Joining the Dark Side

I have come to the conclusion that my hair has become even more fine in texture since receiving my CurlGenie results. My hair isn't responding to the routine of protein-moisture balance. Since I was using a moisture-heavy routine prior to this, I've decided to go ultra protein-heavy, or to what long-time followers of my blog will recognize as the complete opposite of what I've been doing for the past 3 years.

What exactly does this mean?

• Protein. Everywhere. In everything.
• No DTs, all PTs
• Avoiding most cream products
• More gellies
• Using smaller amounts of product
• Soap bars (yep, I'm going there!)

I'm still planning my list for my next online hair products shopping spree (would really like to try Spiral Solutions!), but I have been able to incorporate a few of these bullet points into my routine.

My co-wash/rinse-out (V05 Champagne Kiss) contains protein, but it seems to be weighing me down a bit. Weird, right? Old habits die hard - I was so used to using as much conditioner as needed for both co-wash and rinse-out that I didn't realize I'm probably using too much now. So I've started cutting down on that.

Every once in a while I use pink boots for its clumping powers. Anything more than that would weigh me down, which is weird since it used to be a-use-everyday-HG. I've been using CJ Aloe Fix Lite with wayyy better results.

Soap bars. Ok, if you hung out around NC about three years ago, you were there for the PJ craze that was the natural soap bar. This craze began just before the "enlightenment" that hair properties determine what ingredients you should use.

Keeping that in mind, it's no surprise that I was having the worst time with products in the fall of 2008. I had just figured out that my hair was sensitive to protein, so I was avoiding that. But I was stalking a curly who had hair that sort of looked like mine and her HG products were turning my hair into a nightmare. The soap bar nightmare was the beginning of the realization that my hair was indeed coarse and porous, and that I couldn't follow the same routine with the same results as someone with complete opposite properties.

Flash forward to now. I'm stalking this person again and the good news is it's working! I ordered a bunch of soap samples last week (I think they're the same bars as the used-by-everyone-on-NC bars) and have used one bar twice so far. I've had a little frizz, but that's normal for the crazy weather changes we're having. I'm also getting more curl and tons of shrinkage! Basically it's the complete opposite of my 2008 soap bar experience.

The only downside is that my curls are more skinny and less clumpy, but I think this is a product of BRHG. I don't know why it does this to my hair, but it does.

Anyway, I'm going to continue my journey to the dark side and use everything that used to be bad for my hair. I'll keep the updates coming (with pictures). I also have some ideas for new posts as I still need to review the CurlGenie analysis and share my summer staples.

Shopping List

(Psst - I have taken down the poll. Thanks for the feedback! I will be incorporating the results into my posting. I have a new poll but blogger is being weird about it. Hopefully it will be up soon!)

I'm getting ready to go on vacation for a week (East Coast humidity, here I come!), but I wanted to update the status of my stash overhaul:

All mine!!! Ok, not exactly...

I decided that since my texture and hair needs have completely changed, I needed to completely change the products in my stash. I'm not getting rid of anything - we all know the #1 rule of product-testing is to try it in every season! - but I do need new products. My budget is around $75, which works out well since I earned a little more than that dog/house sitting this past weekend.

No way would I spend this much if I didn't need a complete overhaul. I know a lot of you are on budgets as you're trying to figure out what products to use. I definitely fall into that category with the whole graduated-but-not-teaching thing. BUT I had the opportunity to earn some extra money this past weekend and this was the perfect opportunity to spend most of it, since I really do need an upgrade. And I can say that I'm helping others by reviewing these products... See, I haven't lost my PJ excuses! :)

What I'm looking for: a couple of rinse-out conditioners and some styling products. Right now we're in the triple digits outside (with dews in the high 60s) and my hair is doing great with no leave-ins and using my co-wash as a rinse-out. This could obviously change, especially when the weather changes. It doesn't seem like I can use the same products every single day anymore, so I'd like some options.

What I was recommended:

Conditioners

• Curl Junkie Beauticurls Daily Hair Conditioner ($19 for 12 oz)
• Curl Junkie Beauticurls Strengthening Hair Conditioner ($22 for 12 oz)
• Suave Naturals Waterfall Mist Conditioner ($1.79 for 15 oz)
• Suave Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom Conditioner ($1.79 for 15 oz)

Styling Products

• Biosilk Rock Hard Gelee ($13.99 for 6 oz)
• Curl Junkie Aloe Fix Lite ($22 for 12 oz)
• Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Scrunching Gel ($4.29 for 6 oz)
• LA Looks Absolute Styling Wet Look Ultra Shine Gel ($3.99 for 20 oz)
• Aquage Uplifting Foam Styling Mousse ($16.95 for 8 oz)
• Herbal Essences Set Me Up Extra Hold mousse ($3.99 for 6.8 oz)
• Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse ($3.99 for 6.8 oz)
• Curl Junkie Coffee Coco Curl Creme Lite ($20 for 8 oz)
• CURLS Curl Souffle ($16 for 8 oz)
• L'Oreal Studio Unkempt Out of Bed Weightless Texturizer ($4.99 for 4 oz)

What I already have:

• Curl Junkie Aloe Fix Lite
• L'Oreal Studio Unkempt Out of Bed Weightless Texturizer
• Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse

What I'm buying:

• Curl Junkie Beauticurls Strengthening Conditioner (check)
• Curl Junkie Coffee Coco Curl Creme Lite (check)
• Curl Junkie Curls in a Bottle! (check)
• Suave Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom Conditioner
• LA Looks Sports Gel?
• Another conditioner? (Mop Top?)

First, what I already have. I've used CJ Aloe Fix Lite for the past three washes and am really liking it. LOOB is a big question mark. I'm not sure how or when I'll fit it into the routine. I have the HE mousse but probably won't be using it any time soon. I think I bought it to combat flat top, and it's not doing that. Plus AFL is already doing wonders for volume. And I kind of don't know what to do with mousse.

On to what I'm buying! I've already purchased the first three on this list and they are in transit. I hope they get here before I leave. I got all three for $52 shipped from Ave You - originally $60, used a 15% coupon and got $1 shipping. Can't beat that (I tried!). The CIAB wasn't recommended, but got rave reviews by fine-haired curlies on NC. I know I'm medium to fine, but using the guidelines for fine hair has been working really well for me.

That leaves me with about $23 left in the budget. I'd like to get the Suave just to try, and it's not going to break anyone's bank. Neither will the LA Looks Gel. I'm kind of unsure about the "wet look" gel recommended, so I figured I'd just pick up the regular sports gel. I'd also like to get another conditioner, preferably without protein. I've been looking at the Mop Top Daily conditioner, but am totally unsure what I'll end up doing. And if there's room in the budget, I may splurge for BRHG. Can you believe in all my three years of CG I've never tried this?

Anyway, that's where I am right now - kind of undecided about what I'm getting next. Fine-haired curlies, any recommendations? I've been reading, reading, reading all the reviews on NC and they're kind of all over the place. And there are so many more options now than when I gave up PJing! I don't know where to start.

The Results Are In!

I literally just got my LCLF Curl Genie Results and I rushed over (ok, opened a new tab in my browser) to share! And believe me, it's a shocker.

Texture: Medium-Fine

Porosity: Normal

Elasticity: Normal

I haven't read through everything yet (it seems very thorough though, which is good!) and honestly I'm still shocked that my hair has done just about a 180 from where it was a year ago.

It definitely explains why my entire arsenal of products has been failing!

I'm off to finish reading - will probably do a few reviews in the coming weeks of the process, including how well the product suggestions worked and my general experience.

Has anyone else had an analysis done? Or even a drastic change in your hair's properties? How did you deal with the changes?

Starting A New Chapter

First, thanks to everyone who has voted in my blog poll. It's nice to have some feedback. I'm going to keep it up for another two weeks or so, so if you haven't gotten a change, please vote!

In order to bring you the best content possible with future product and technique reviews, I've decided to go ahead and order Live Curly Live Free's Curl Genie profile. There are two reasons for this. First, how can I review something without knowing for sure what my properties are? Not only will this help me know what ingredients and products will have a better chance of working well with my hair, it will help those of you interested in these reviews, whether we have the same properties or not.

My second reason is more selfish - my hair has not been looking great recently. I really believe it's due to all of my old HGs in my stash not working anymore. Anything that can help me figure out a new routine is good in my book.

I went ahead and ordered it today. I got an email with a link to instructions. I co-washed to clean my hair and hopped out of the shower to let it dry a bit before getting my hair samples. The instructions say it could take a few weeks, but I've heard it can be earlier than that. Hopefully I will know something by the end of the week, so I can get a head start on picking up products (it doesn't hurt that Friday is pay day!) and testing them out.

I've also been looking around the interwebs for some updo ideas and have found a few. I will start testing them out this week!

As a sidenote, I've been looking around my blog stats for a while and think it is so cool that there are so many international curlies reading! I never thought anyone besides myself would be here, let alone hundreds around the world from countries like Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, India, Spain, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Norway, Croatia, Egypt, Iran, Canada, and the UK. Welcome! I would really like to get to know my audience more, so feel free to leave comments or questions!