Thursday, May 30, 2013

My experience with Afro Kinky Bulk, Afro Twist Bulk & Kinky Twists

In an effort to change up my protective styles and utilize what is readily available at my local beauty store, I tried the following hair: 

Afro Kinky Bulk
Afro Kinky Twist 
Kinky Twist

Afro Kinky Bulk - Comes in 24 inches but seems much shorter than other extensions.  The installation is fairly easy once you get the hang of it, but the strands must be joined together if you desire shoulder length hair.  This hair costs between $7.99 and $9.99 depending on the brand and where you purchase it.

Pros: Lightest hair of all three and doesn't put tension on edges and hair is more voluminous

Cons: Hair is short compared to other kinky textured hair




Afro Twist Bulk (aka Nubian Twist) - Comes in 26 inches as opposed to the Afro Kinky Bulk which seems much shorter.  This hair is used to get the corkscrew look on a twist, so once twisted and done the right way it should resemble a tightly twisted corkscrew.  The installation of this hair is challenging because you have to twist in the opposite direction in comparison to the Afro Kinky Bulk or the Kinky Twists.  If the twist doesn't resemble a corkscrew, then re-twist in the opposite direction.  You'll see the difference.  My experience has been that you cannot separate this hair and join it back together.  I tried it and couldn't get the corkscrew look.  It's best to separate the hair to make a smaller twist and not join it with other hair that was previously separated.  This hair costs between $7.99 and $9.99 depending the brand and where you purchase it.

Pros: Hair has springy texture and can be cut after installation as opposed to Kinky Twists wherein the hair may likely unravel if the ends are not curled with hot water

Cons: Hair is heavier than other kinky textured hair, challenging to style and is not tangle free when unraveled





Kinky Twist:  You will need Marley Braid Hair to achieve this look.  This is by far the easiest and fastest installation.  Twisting with this hair is a breeze.  With this hair, I would suggest cutting it to the desired length prior to installation and if you need to cut it do it after the ends have been dipped in hot water to prevent unraveling.  This hair can cost between $2.99 and $4.99 depending on which brand you prefer.  

Pros: Easy installation and easy to find in your local beauty store.  Styling is easiest with this hair

Cons: Hair unravels if it is not cut at the right time






In conclusion, my goal this year was to experiment with different types of textured hair for my protective styles and I think I've succeeded in achieving my goal.  


Thursday, May 2, 2013

Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie Review

The Shea Moisture line is the first Natural Hair Care Line I purchased when I decided to go natural. The reason I choose it was because of it's natural ingredients, easily accessible and the price is great for a Natural Hair Care Product.  It can be purchased at Walgreen's, CVS, Walmart or Target.

Since my hair is almost always in a protective style, I use Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie as a moisturizer.  I mix it with Aloe Vera Juice and Castor Oil to tone down the scent a bit and stretch my Smoothie. The natural ingredients work well with my hair and are staples that I add to most products.

Pros
Amazing natural ingredients, reasonably priced, mixes well with other natural ingredients, defines my curl pattern and easy to find

Cons
Strong Coconut/Hibiscus scent and slight residue if product is not applied on damn or wet hair