Introducing: Sunshower!!

I stumbled across Sunshower's fotki while on NC.com. I spotted her avatar right away, and just knew I had to see more pictures of that gorgeous head of hair. After strolling through her album, I decided to contact her directly and see if she would be willing to share her amazing hair journey with us. She has graciously agreed! Enjoy!!

1)When did you decide to go natural? If there is a story behind your decision, please share it.

I decided to go natural my freshman year in college. I’ve always had long hair. When I was little, my hair was always braided and down to my tailbone. At age 11, I got my first relaxer. Honestly, I didn’t even know what a relaxer was at the time. My mother said I had to get one because it was time for me to start doing my hair myself. I kept getting them because I didn’t think there was any alternative to having a relaxer. All the other black girls were relaxed, so I thought that was the way it was supposed to be. Gradually, my hair started breaking off, partly because of overprocessing and partly because I had no idea how to take care of it. By the time I graduated from high school 7 years later, my hair had broken off to about APL. When I got to college, I decided I didn’t want to spend any more money on relaxers. I was a broke college student, after all. So I just started growing it out. I actually chickened out at first. Two months after my decision, I got another touch-up, but immediately afterwards I felt horrible for caving in. I decided to try again, and told myself that if I could make it past the four-month mark without another touch-up, I was set. That was 10 years ago and I haven’t looked back since!


2) Talk to us about your hair routine. What products do you like for your hair and which products do you dislike?

Fortunately, I learned very early on that my hair LOVES natural ingredients (oils, butters, herbs, etc.). The first product line I used after I started transitioning was Aubrey Organics. The GPB conditioner is the one product that I have consistently used since my natural journey began. I currently use the Honeysuckle Rose and Swimmers conditioners as well. I also love, love, love Ayurvedic powders. My hair was an absolute dried-out, frizz-ball mess before I discovered Ayurveda. I use the powders in hot oil treatments, for washing my hair, and as a monthly hair mask. Since I started using them, my hair has gotten so much silkier and softer, the curl definition is much better, and it doesn’t get as dry as it used to.

Finding a good moisturizer has always been the most difficult thing for me. I really love KBB Hair Milk. It detangles and moisturizes well without having to use a ton of product. SheaMoisture Leave-in is also a good one, but it doesn’t work well on dry hair. KBB works on wet and dry hair for me.

I won’t use product if it doesn’t contain mostly natural ingredients. They almost always dry my hair out. Sulfate shampoos are a definite no-no. They dry my hair out so badly, no conditioner can counteract the dryness. I’ve also tried the popular cheap conditioners like Suave Tropical Coconut and Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa. I tried them for co-washing, as rinse-outs, and as leave-ins. The result? “Hated it!” ©Men on Film. They made my hair feel dry also, but I can use them as a hair mask mixed with oils, honey, and my Ayurvedic powders. But overall, natural products are the way to go for my hair.


3)How has being natural effected you and your thoughts about your hair?

Being natural has helped me to realize that our natural hair is beautiful, no matter the texture. When I was relaxed, I had that whole good hair/bad hair mindset. It was force-fed to me from a very young age, so I believed it. As I transitioned and saw other naturals emerging around me, I started to appreciate the varying textures of African-American hair. When I did my BC, I was so intrigued when I realized that I had different textures on my own head. Our hair is so beautiful and unique. No two heads of hair are exactly the same.


4) Have you always had support with regards to your hair? (Does your family like it).

My mother wasn’t too thrilled when I cut off my long hair in favor of a short afro. She wanted me to wait until my natural hair was longer before I cut it. I had transitioned for 13 months and that was quite enough. I remember after my BC, one of my aunts coming up to me, running her fingers through my hair and saying, “I don’t like THAT!” Like I had a dead ostrich on top of my head or something. It’s just hair, people. It’ll grow back.

Some people did think it was cute. But some people thought I was crazy, and some people took it upon themselves to remind me that “Black people’s hair doesn’t grow.” I think most people just couldn’t understand why I’d want to cut off all my hair. But those same people who tried to criticize me then are the same ones who love to compliment me now.


5) What would you consider to be your hair type and why?

I believe my hair type is mostly 3c with some 4a on the sides, and possibly 3b or a loose 3c at the nape. It was actually much easier to determine my hair type when it was shorter. As it’s gotten longer, it doesn’t shrink as much and the textures seem to be blending together more, if that makes any sense.


6)What do you think about the hair typing system - do you think it's beneficial to know?

No hair-typing system is going to be 100% accurate for everyone. I remember when the 3c category didn’t even exist. We naturals made it up ourselves. I do think it’s good to have these systems because they’re helpful when trying to find someone with a similar hair type who can offer advice on techniques or product choices.


7)Do ever go to professional stylists, and if so, how do you get them to do what you want without damaging you hair? If not, how do you manage your hair all on your own?

I haven’t been to a professional stylist since I had my last relaxer in 1999. Since then, the only other person who has ever styled my hair is my aunt who helped me twist my hair for a wedding. I really don’t trust anyone else to do my hair. I had too many bad experiences with stylists when I was relaxed. But I am considering having it cut by a stylist for my birthday next year. I’d like to get several inches cut off. If anyone has any recommendations, please share! :)

As far as styling, I usually wear my hair in two-strand twists. They ‘re quick, low-maintenance, and they last a whole week. All I have to do is moisturize them and seal my ends at night, and in the morning my hair is already done and ready to go. Sometimes I do braidouts when I don’t feel like twisting. I rarely wear wash-n-go’s. I straighten once a year, if I feel like it, and only when the weather is cold. I live in Georgia…I refuse to deal with straight hair and this ridiculous humidity. :)


8)What would you say to someone who has a relaxer and is thinking about going natural?

Remind yourself that it won’t necessarily be an easy road. Many of us haven’t seen our natural hair since we were young kids and therefore have no idea what to do with it. There will be a trial-and-error process as you learn what products and ingredients your hair likes. You’ll have to figure out how to style it as it grows longer. You may encounter negative feedback from some people. But if this is something you really want to do, you can get through it and you’ll have a gorgeous head full of curls and kinks to shake in everyone’s face. :) There is a ton of support, advice, and inspiration on the hair forums. We’ve been through it and we’re here to help! And don’t beat yourself up if you decide to go back to the relaxer. Being natural just isn’t for everyone. The most important thing is that you do what makes you feel comfortable and that you keep your hair healthy.


9) Who are some of your hair idols?

I don’t really have any specific hair idols. I do love looking at big, poofy hair. Huge 4a/4b afros, little kids with long, wild hair, etc. Big hair is awesome!! :)


10)Anything else you would like to add that you think would help others in their hair journey?

You ladies who are just starting out on this journey are actually pretty lucky. When I first started out, all of these hair product lines that cater to naturals didn’t exist. We had Carol’s Daughter, and that was about it. There weren’t as many naturals on hair forums either. But we’ve managed to build up a nice little online community full of beautiful women with beautiful hair. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even in real life. I love it when naturals ask me for advice. I know how difficult it can be sometimes, so I love to help whenever I can. Besides, I could talk about my hair all day!

...............

If you're interested in seeing more of Sunshower's lovely hair pictures, you can visit her fotki at:

http://public.fotki.com/hokukoroku/

Thanks so much, Sunshower, for sharing your story!!

Ciao!!

How Far are You Willing to Go For Long Hair? Hahaha!!

I was online today, looking up information about hair - what else - and I found some really shocking, yet extremely interesting information.

What I found was a woman giving a testimonial on how she happened to meet a Native American man with the most amazing waist length hair. She got up the nerve to ask him what he did to get his hair so beautiful, and this is was he told her. He said, every full moon he gathers his hair into a ponytail, and then burns the ends with fire! Yes, fire!! He said he burns it up the length about a half inch - gasp!!! And lastly, he told her he uses a conditioner created for horses (sorry, he apparently didn't mention which one - or she was just being stingy with the 411 - At any rate, I think we're all pretty familiar with Mane and Tail and other such products of horses, but maybe there's some other more quality type products available, but I digress).

Anyway, this lady said she actually tried his technique and to her surprise - it worked!!

So of course you know this got my attention, right?? Ha! And yes, I began looking for more information about cutting hair with fire. Guess what?? I found some!!

There is actually a barber in Memphis who prefers cutting hair with fire versus using scissors because apparently with scissors you run a greater risk of getting split ends. For anyone who has grown their hair out, it is well known that if you don't keep your ends in order, you might as well forget it, because split ends will literally destroy any growth your may have accumulated.

Here is a video of Mr. Warren giving his customer an awesome fire hair cut, hahaha!!!

As frightening as this may seem, people actually do go to him for their cuts. Take a look as these:

Yes, frightening, isn't it?!?

Ok, so if any of you don't know how I am, you will soon, because I tend to be very curious, often times to my own chagrin, but that's besides the point:0). The point is, does this fire thing actually work? And I was about to find out!

Ok, so does it work? Well, I have to tell you...and no, I didn't flame my head:0). What I did do was take a couple of my shed hairs, which I had inadvertently left in the shower this morning - stuck to the wall - yes, I know that's gross - but hey, they were there, so I used them:0). They were fortunately fully dry, so I took a few of them, lit a match and puff! The ends beaded right up!

Now, mind you - if you are going to do this with your hair still attached to your head, you might want to make sure you don't have any hair product on it, (i.e. hair spray, grease, butta, whateva) because if you do, your head is gonna lite up faster than you can say, "Oh Shi".

Fortunately my shed hairs were freshly clean, but even with fresh, clean hair, it burned and when it burned, it burned lightening fast. It was a piece of cake though to put out the flame, just a quick tap - similar to what Mr. Warren does in his flaming treatment video above.

Anyway, once the flame was out, what did I have left? A tiny little fused end!! I pulled at it, and pulled at it, and that little fused baby would not budge!! And, I could honestly see how it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible for the hair at the end of your strand to split!! Super cool!!

But all is not fabulous in hair burning world, because as most of us know, splits can occur anywhere on the strand. Which has been so fabulously illustrated below:

So in other words, fire burning - if you dare - might be a good solution for you, only if you have cojones the size of Manhattan, and only if your hair is relatively "virgin". Otherwise, if you're chemically processing your hair with dyes, relaxers or lots and lots of heat (i.e. flat ironing) - basically anything that can chemically alter the structure of your hair - you might want to forego this fire cutting technique as a hair cutting option, because you'll still have to contend with all the other issues and risks that the above types of processes will bring to your hair. And if that's the case, save yourself a headache and heart attack - and just use scissors.

Ciao!!

Pantene Smooth Conditioner

Sorry the video cut off - not sure why I keep having so many problems with my video, but I was pretty much done talking anyway.

As I mentioned in the video I decided to add some cones into my routine, since I've pretty much cut out oils. I believe it was nappy_curly_crown, who mentioned adding cones to her routine in the winter for extra protection, and it sounds to me like a very good idea. What I intend to do is add a cone conditioner to my routine once a week, after I shampoo. All other days it will be my previous routine, using the GVP Conditioning Balm, the KBB Super Silky as my leave-in, and an HE gel to style. I figure using the cone only once a week will prevent buildup and give me some of that added protection.

As I also mentioned in the video, I did notice a lot more shedding, which I was surprised to see. I have no idea why this happened, but I do remember other people mentioning that something similar happened to them when using it. So that said, I won't be using it again. Just one more product to add to my hair product graveyard:0?.

Pantene Smooth Conditioner ingredients:

Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Lysine HCl, Methyl Tyrosine HCl, Histidine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

Ciao!!!

Update on the Oil Issue

This video was done today with minimal gel applied - see video below where I applied a bit more gel for added hold (Gel used in both cases: HE Body Envy).

Close ups:

Products I'm using now and will continue to use:

First and foremost - WATER, WATER, WATER

GVP Conditioning Balm

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Myristyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Decyl Oleate, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Hexyl Cinnamal, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis (Golden Seal) Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus (Bladderwack) Extract, Methyl-2-Octynoate

Karen's Body Beautiful Super Silky

Ingredients: Purified Water, Aloe Vera Juice, Vegetable Wax, Arnica Extract, Jojoba Oil, Panthenol, Organic Rosemary Hydrosol & Vitamin E

Herbal Essence Body Envy or Set Me Up Gel

Body Envy Gel:

Ingredients: Water, laureth-23, polyquaternium-4, coral flower (russelia equisetiformis) extract, prunus persica nectarina fruit extract, fragrance, propylene glycol, hydroxyethylcellulose, benzyl alcohol, acrylates/beheneth-25 methacrylate copolymer, amino methyl propanol, dmdm hydantoin, acrylates copolymer, disodium edta.

Set Me Up:

Ingredients: Water, laureth-23, polyquaternium-4, bambusa vulgaris leaf/stem extract, cereus grandiflorus (cactus) flower extract, fragrance, propylene glycol, hydroxyethylcellulose, benzyl alcohol, acrylates/beheneth-25 methacrylate copolymer, aminomethyl propional, dmdm hydantoin, acrylates copolymer, disodium edta.

As you can see from the ingredients in both gels, they are essentially the same except for the extracts. I like them both equally in terms of performance, but I really like the smell of the Body Envy - it has a fresh peachy scent.

BioInfusion Conditioning Hydrating Balm - for my weekly Deep Conditioner:

Ingredients: Water, Myristal Alcohol, Centrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Iso Decyl Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Fragrance, Methyl/propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxycitronellal, Amyl Cinnamal, Polysorbate-20, Geraniol, Algae/Algae Extract, Rosemary Extract, Golden Seal Extract.

This video was done yesterday - used a bit more gel in it than I used today:0).

Some of you may be thinking, "Gee, her hair looks the same as it did with the other products". Well, I think that's essentially true, the difference is my need to load on lots of gel to tame the frizz, and the difference is how my hair looks with very little product in it. The top video and pictures are of my hair with a minute amount of gel - I mean really - perhaps a half tablespoon is all I used! That is unheard of in my house :0). The bottom video is of my hair with perhaps 2 tablespoons full of gel - if that. I mean to me, this is a big deal:0).

Now, I am on the look out for a gentle shampoo - preferably oil free. Is that even possible:0?

Lastly, I have loads of product (some just barely used, if used at all) that will have to go. I need suggestions on what I should do with them - should I try to sell them here in the blog or on the NC.com swap - should I try swapping product for product? Should I do giveaways, asking the winner to pay for shipping(though I would like to get a least a little something for them)? Your suggestions are welcome:0).

Thanks for reading!!

Ciao!!!

It Just Goes to Show That...

...The only real expert on your hair is you.

I know this probably is common sense for some, but for me it has become a new relevation, my new mantra.

I have been natural for over a year now, and I honestly thought that I had a real handle on my hair and on hair in general. I've never considered myself an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I felt pretty confident in recommending products for a person's hair, simply because these products worked so well for me.

After the last few days, however, I am finding that suggesting a product to someone else without knowing their texture and porosity is like a doctor recommending a drug to his/her patient without knowing their symptoms.

I also thought that if someone's hair "looked" like mine and a product worked for them, then it had to work for me too. Ummmm, no. This is not the case at all.

My hair is coarse and has low porosity. This means the diameter of my hair strands are thick and wiry. The low porosity means that the scales on my individual strands of hair lie relatively flat making it difficult for moisture to get in or escape .

This is one of the reasons that some oils on my hair do not seem to work well. They sit on top of my hair rather that working themselves in. This in turn seems to "suffocate" my hair causing it to frizz and get hard and overly dry.

From my search to find ideal products, I was looking at other ladies with what looked to be similar hair as mine. Most of these products are heavy with oils, glycerin, and other ingredients that work well on their hair, but unfortunately not mine. Hence, the enormous jungle of barely used products I have sitting in my bathroom as I type this now.

Don't get me wrong, many of the products I've used worked wonderfully at first, but after a few tries something happens. In my case, it's that odd looking frizz I spoke of in my previous post. The frizz that makes my hair look damaged and bent, rather than healthy and natural looking. Or hair that is hard, and when I say hard, I mean rough and akin to having a heavy gel in it - even when I have not applied gel:0?. As a side effect, I then have to plaster on gel to make it look presentable, making it even harder:0(.

So let this be a lesson you;0) - and especially to me:0). You need to know your hair, and I mean not just the hair type - 2a, 3c, 4a, etc. - I'm talking about knowing your texture and knowing your porosity. And while you're at it, you might want to know your hair's elasticity as well. All these things play a roll in how successful your hair growth and care will be. This isn't information I'm making up on my own, others have advised it ad nauseam, but for some reason - I'm just getting it now *slaps forehead*.

And be open to "continuing education", I know I am. This whole hair thing is a journey, a constant work in progress.

The last thing I want to mention here is this: Just because someone has hair that appears to be similar to yours (i.e. hair type), and they love a particular product does not mean it will work well for you. It's not just about curl type or how someone's hair looks - there are other factors at play as I mentioned above. If you want to save yourself time and frustration and money, first learn about your hair - then, if you're so inclined, look to others whose hair has the same qualities for ideas on good products.

I'm trying to save ya'll some money here:). This was a hard lesson for me. I've got soooo many products, spent soooo much money, and now I will have to find a new home for them. I'll never get back what I paid for them on the swap - but at least I might get something - but still *pouts*. On top of that - I've still got lots more experimenting to do - which means spending more money:0/ - hopefully the swap board will help me with that, but man...*sigh*.

This time though, I'm coming at this more prepared and more strategic - I'm coming at this with more knowledge. I hope you'll do the same:0).

Ciao!!

The Frizz Masterpost on NC.Com

If you're having problems with frizz, I found this thread on NC.Com, very interesting:0).

According to the thread, it is very possible that the oils I was applying to my hair were actually suffocating it, which in turn was causing this crazy looking frizz to occur. This is why when I clarified my hair, the curls came popping back. It makes sense. Anyway, have a look - you may just find some answers to address any frizz issues you may be having as well.

Ciao!!

Subscribers Lending a Hand

Well once again, DEL was kind enough to provide us with another extremely valuable link that explains hair porosity in such a way that I actually "get it"!!

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/curlchemist-porosity-and-curly-hair

DEL was kind enough to include the link in the comments section, but I wanted to add it here as well, so that people just popping in, who may not be so inclined to check out the comments section, might see it here.

Thanks again, DEL!! We really appreciate it!!

And thanks also to Tonya McKay - the CurlChemist for writing such interesting and informative articles!!

If any of you have articles you would like to share or feedback on different products you've tried that you think might be of value to us curly, kinky, coily heads - please let me know. The best way to reach me is to PM me on Naturallycurly.com (I'm on that website entirely too much:-D). Or I can also be reached at onyxcabelo@yahoo.com.

Regarding NC.com - I can not stress this enough the information found on NC.Com is invaluable. Honestly, if you're looking for information about caring for your curly hair, no matter the type, texture or thickness, NC.com is the place to find your answers.

Had I not found NC.com, I would have probably broke down a long time ago and just went back to straightening my hair with chemicals. And if you happened to read my previous posts - you know how far that would have gotten me:0/.

For those of you that have not been out to NC.com yet - may I suggest stopping in right away and setting up an account. Your curly journey will be so much easier and better for it!!

Ciao!!

And the Winner Is...

...MsMchy!!!

Yay, MsMchy!! Please email me or send me a PM on NaturallyCurly with your contact information, and I'll put your brand new jar of BioInfusion Hydrating Conditioning Balm in the mail, ASAP.

Thanks Everyone!!

*This drawing was completed by writing each interested person's name on a slip of paper, placing each slip of paper into a container, and then, without peeking, a name was pulled from the container.*

Ciao!!

Update on the BioInfusion

Just a quick update on my results with the BioInfusion. After using it for a number of days now, I have to tell you all that I still like it very much. My only word of caution to any of you who might be sensitive to product build up is that after using it a number of days in a row without shampooing, it did seem to slightly build up on my hair.

This leads me to conclude that it is definitely more of a weekly deep conditioning treatment and not really a product to use day after day without shampooing. I actually did take a tiny bit of shampoo to my hair this morning when I first noticed the buildup, and it was easily removed. Then, as is in normal fashion for me, I plastered another golf ball sized amount on my hair while I finished my shower. When I rinsed, I had that same well-conditioned feeling to my hair as when I used it the first time. So, it's a keeper just use in moderation:0).

Ciao!!

DEL - Helps Us Find Some Answers

DEL, a fellow subscriber, was kind enough to provide us with a link to a very informative article on Naturallycurly.com about the differences between butters and oils: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/ingredients/curlchemist-helps-us-understand-oils-and-butters.

As some of you may know, my hair does not like oils, and honestly, I was under the impression that I would have to give up all oils and butters for good. Either that or plaster my hair with gel day after day in hopes of taming the disaster that certain oils seem to wreak on my hair.

Interestingly enough, however, DEL has also had a similar issue with oils, but she has actually been able to find some quality products that contain oil, yet still work well for her!!

Her experience gives me a great deal of hope, as does this very interesting article. I'm no chemistry major, so reading it certainly got my brain cells twitching, but I figure with a few more reads I should be able to get this oil vs butter thing down;0). The important point that I took away from the article is that just as with most products, it really is about experimentation. What works for your hair.

Here's hoping that this head of hair finds an oil or butter that she can tolerate in either large or small quantities. Particularly, before the dryness of winter is upon us:0/.

Ciao!!

Giveaway Time!!!

Ok, because I'm really diggin' on this BioInfusion Hydrating Conditioning Balm right now, I decided to do another giveaway!!

For those of you who are interested in winning a brand new 16.9 oz jar of BioInfusion Hydrating Conditioning Balm, please leave me a note expressing your interest. In order to win you must be officially subscribed to this blog, so that when I look at the subscriber list posted on the right-hand side of this page - I can see your lovely name listed:0).

Because this is based on interest, your odds of winning get a bit better because you won't necessarily be in a drawing with 44 other people - that is, unless everyone decides that they want this product:0).

All those who have indicated an interest will be placed in a drawing, and on Wednesday, Sept.16, I will announce the winner.

Good Luck!!

Ciao!!

BioInfusion Hydating Conditioning Balm - A MUST Try

This morning I tried BioInfusion Hydrating Conditioning Balm for the first time, and I have to say - I am very impressed! This stuff works great!! I think if you have thick, super curly hair - and you give this puppy a try - I'm guessing your hair will probably thank you for it.

If your hair is finer, and you don't want something to weigh it down, then you could probably use this every once in a while as a deep conditioner, but you would probably not want to use it very often.

For those of you with "monster" hair like mine - I say, put this stuff to work!!

It's about $10 at Walgreens, so it's also pretty easy on the pocket book*score*. In fact, if you consider that it is very much like Biolage's Ultra Hydrating Balm, but for roughly half the price for the same amount, it's definitely worth a go, right?

Ok, so here's my attempt at describing this product for you:

*It's consistency is thick, but a creamy thick, not a dense heavy thick -if that makes any sense:0).

*When it goes on, you can tell that you don't need heaps and heaps of it, as a matter of fact if you scoop about a half golf ball sized amount into your hand, apply to your hair, and then add a little water, you should have more that enough to smoosh through and cover all of your hair. It does tend to foam a bit too, so as you are smoothing it through your hair you will have excess that can be applied to the other parts of your hair you may have missed.

* The smell is fresh, but not overpowering. It reminds me very much of the smell of the Biolage Ultra hydrating Balm, so if you like that scent - you should like this.

*After applying and rinsing my hair felt well hydrated and well conditioned - dare I even say soft:0>. And best of all my curls were still in tact (no wild halo to speak of) - can't beat that!!

Product Description: A blend of science and nature. BioInfusion Hydrating Conditioning Balm is an intensive-conditioning system that deeply replenishes hair with the basic elements hair needs to moisturize and restructure. It contains a conditioning complex that combines pure botanical extracts of rosemary and golden seal with deep conditioners that rejuvenates dry, damaged hair. Hair recovers its natural shine, silkiness and softness. This product is not tested on animals. Made in U.S.A.

Ingredients: Water, Myristal Alcohol, Centrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Iso Decyl Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Fragrance, Methyl/propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxycitronellal, Amyl Cinnamal, Polysorbate-20, Geraniol, Algae/Algae Extract, Rosemary Extract, Golden Seal Extract.

So, all in all on a scale of 1-10, 10 - being the best of the best - I would rate this a 9. The only reason I wouldn't give this product a 10 is because, I wish the ingredients were a bit more natural.

Here's a picture of my hair after cowashing with V05, conditioning with BioInfusion, and styling with Aussie Instant Freeze gel (which I ended up needing only half as much as what I usually use*yay*).

Ciao!!

Hair Cut Update

As many of you know, I had a bad experience in June at a hair salon where the stylist did not listen to me when I told her I only wanted a trim. She buzzed the back of my head :0?. And when I complained about it, she told me it was her "professional opinion" that I needed my hair cut that way, and she also told me that in three months, I'd be thanking her for it*puke*.

Well, three months passed at the beginning of September, and I just wanted to update ya'll on whether or not I'm thanking her for this hair cut. Sooo, am I thankful?...HELL NO!!!

I'm still very irritated that she cut off all my length in the back, and to be quite frank I'm extremely tired of having to wear my hair out everyday because my hair is too short to put in a puff - this becomes a constant reminder (and irritant) of what she did.

So, no Miss I-Don't-Know-How-To-Listen, I'm not thankful - and I wish I could sue you for pain and suffering:0p.

Anyway, my hair is growing, so that's good - but it will be a longggg while before I get it all back:0(.

Here's an updated picture of the growth.

Ciao!!

My Hair Hates Oil

As embarrassing as it is to admit this, I washed my hair five - yes - five times yesterday:0(.

Why in the world would you wash your hair five times, you might ask. Well, because I was playing with my products, as I usually do when hubby give me some free time, and I found that the more products I used the more ridiculous my hair started to look.

I put in Nature's Gate Hemp conditioner and sealed with oil - pow - my hair frizzed up! I washed it out. I put in Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Condition - puff - a q-tip! And on and on...

Believe me - I think certain hair types that have that soft cottony look are absolutely gorgeous! I mean gorgeous. But this was not pretty- not at all . It was like my hair was bent in all kinds of awkward ways - with little hairs sticking out all around, making it look like I had a wild halo.

It's a really odd look, almost like I had left over relaxer on my ends:0/. And truthfully, if I didn't know any better (I did the BC around 14+months ago, and I've had 3 hair cuts since), I might have been tempted to cut those wild hairs right off, because they almost seemed to be damaged ends *yikes*.

Anyway, so I washed the AO HSR out, and I applied another product that has oil in it - same thing:0(. Then I started to think about my hair after I washed it each of these times, and realized that after I washed my hair each time - it actually started to look half way decent again. Hmmm ... so I decided to clarify. Wham! The curls started to pop again! So ok - now we're getting some where.

I then decided to truly experiment, and see if I added a product with oil in it would I get that same wild looking frizz again after clarifying. So all I did was add some v05 to my hair - ok, curls still looking nice. Then I added some extra virgin olive oil on top of the V05 - bap! - the frizz started to evolve. And the more I smoothed the EVOO into my hair the frizzier it got:0/. So, there it was - right in front of me - it was the oil!

I then started looking at all of my products for those that contained some sort of oil in it - and believe me - there are a lot - in fact, most of my products have some sort of oil in them, so I will have to find a good home for these babies:0>.

Ok, so since I knew that it was the oil that was causing the issue - I clarified again! Yes, I know - clarifying twice in one day - don't try this at home boys and girls! I put the clarifier in (Redkin Cleansing Creme) and left it on for 5 minutes - per the instructions if you have a lot of build up. I rinsed and immediately my curls came back - my hair felt like straw:0( - but my curls were back!

So, I applied some more v05 conditioner and left it in my hair overnight - I know, v05 is not very conditioning, but that's really all I had on hand that didn't have oil in it. When I rinsed my curls in the morning and again my curls were still in tact! So yeah, it was the oil. After I rinsed, I applied a fresh lite layer of v05 as a leave-in and then some Krystal Ecostyler to style - turned out great!

Now that I know all this, I have to revamp my whole routine. I'm now buying all oil-free products, which is not as easy as it sounds. I was really surprised at how many products out there have oil in them - I mean the list is endless.

Anyway after looking around a longggg time today, I picked up - BioInfusion Hydrating Conditioning Balm, which has zero oil. Giovanni 50:50 Balance, which has zero oil. And Aussie Instant Freeze Gel, again - no oil. I can also use my ecostyler, but I'm a sucker for gels, so when I saw the Aussie one, I decided to give it a try:0).

I'll report back on these as soon as I can tell if avoiding oils really, really makes a difference for me. We shall see:).

Ciao!!

A Few Inexpensive Makeup Items - Video

Items I'm speaking about:

Maybelline Lipstick in Rose Luster #c377.

Revlon Colorstay in Sunkiss#030.

Too Faced Liquid Lava Gloss Eye Liner in Super Black.

Palladio Rice Paper in Tranlucent#787102.

Product Review Video - Terax, Hempz & FantasticStyle Styling Gels

Well, it's been a while since I've posted anything. I actually intended to post a lot sooner, but I've been having some problems with my computer's camera, so I kept making videos, but they kept turning out with no volume or some other irritating issue:p. Anyway, after several tries, I finally have something - so here it is:).

I did a review of a few gels that are easy to find at Ulta's or at other local salons. I know that there are a lot of reviews being done on mail order items, which believe me - I like too, but in this economy - if I'm going to do any experimenting, for now, it will have to be with some of the more easily accessible products.

The gels I chose were just random gels that I had seen before, and considered trying, but never did. Now, that I have had an opportunity to try them, I'm passing the information on to you.

The gels I tried were:

Terax Medium Hold Styling Gel:

Ingredients: Deionized water, PVP/VA copolymer, methoxyisopropanol, propylene glycol, glycerin, triethanolamine, polysorbate 80, tocopherol acetate, panthenol, disodium EDTA, carbomer, sodium dehydroacetate, fragrance, methyl/ethyl/propyl-paraben.

Hempz Firm Hold Gel:

Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), PVP, Acrylamide /AMPSA /Methacrylates , Copolymer, Carbomer, Panthenol, Wheat Amino Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycerin, PEG-40, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cannabis.

FantasticStyle Smoothing Gel:

For image go to - http://www.fantasticsams.com/FantasticSams/Consumer/pages/Haircare/styling.aspx

Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Amodimethicone, Octoxynol-40, Isolaureth-6, Glycerin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Citric Acid, Tetrasidium EDTA, Disodium EDTA, Methyl/Propyl Paraben.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ciao!!

Butterfly Mama is Hippy Chic

I have always been a big fan of hippy/Bohemian type clothing. I love the look and feel of them. So a while back I stumbled across this fab website that sells all kinds of fun, hippy/Boho type clothing. It's called Butterfly Mama, and I'm really feeling these clothes.

If you find this style of clothing fun - take a look at these cuties! I mean, what?  How fun is this!

 

And look at these darling tanks.

Additionally, I always enjoy visiting the Gypsy Moon website. Unfortunately, they are a bit too pricey for me now, but I still like browsing their line. I' m not really good at talking about or describing clothes, so I'll let your eyes do the talking for me:). And if you do get a chance to visit the Gypsy Moon site, make sure you take a look at the Customer Album- it's lots of fun^-^.

Happy shopping!!

Ciao!!

Water Filters

About two weeks ago, I bit the bullet and purchased a water filter for my shower. I had been thinking about getting one for quite a while, but the ones I had seen previously were a bit too pricey for my budget at the time.

So, this particular day when I purchased the filter, I really wasn't planning on buying one, but I was in my favorite health food store, Fresh and Natural, and there was this older gentleman standing beside a stand and he asked me if I wanted a drink of water. I looked at him kind of surprised, because I wasn't expecting him to offer me water - people normally offer food, but water was rare, and I hadn't noticed the device he had positioned beside him, which was a medium sized filtration system that people can use to filter their tap.

Anyway, I told him "No, thank you", and continued to pull out a bulk bag, so that I could get some of my favorite decaf organic coffee. In true salesman fashion, he continued to talk to me - most of which I didn't even catch because I was busy spilling coffee beans everywhere. That's when he went in for the kill - he said, "Did you know that most people are concerned about hard water on their hair and skin, but they never really think about the chlorine that's in the water?". Hmmm, he said, "Hair" - now he had my attention.

I turned and asked him if chlorine is really that big of a deal in our area, and he went on to tell me the stats of how much chlorine is in our water systems and how it wreaks havoc on the hair and skin. 

He then told me that before he started doing sales for the Water Marque Company that his wife was having problems with her hair and skin. Dry, dull looking hair and scaley skin. He said after they put in filters that within a couple of weeks, her hair started to become noticably shinier, and her skin was softer.

Ok, so I know he's a sales guy, but this guy really pulled me in. His story was compelling. Anyway, I had already read a number of testimonials from other ladies who experienced good outcomes with their hair after they installed a water filter, so I already knew the benefits - it was the price that was about to stop this freight train:).  So, I had him show me his water filters, and yes, he did try to up sell me the larger filter, but I ended up taking a smaller one, which was only about $10 less, but still - $10 is $10.

This is the one I purchased:  Water Marque Shower Filter:

75SH KDF/GAC Shower Water Filter

And it cost me about $35.00, because at the time they were having a sale. If you order from their website, it's priced at $54.00. 

When I got home, I had DH install it right away, and maybe it was just all in my mind, but I'm telling you, it felt like I could already feel the difference in the water on my skin and hair. Now, after a couple of weeks, I feel confident in telling you that it really does make a difference.

My hair is now requiring less product to get the same results that I used to get with much more product. My hair cuticles feel smoother, and my skin does feel softer, plus,  it's also doing wonders for my little girl's dry skin. Geez, I forget the hair - that alone is worth it's weight in gold to me.

A little information about chlorine and hair:

"The structure of your hair is vulnerable to drying agents, including chlorine. The cortex, or inner layer, of hair is protected by the cuticle, or outer later. Sebum is a natural lubricant that protects the cuticle. The chlorine in water sucks the sebum out of your hair, which may cause the cuticle to crack. This damage causes your hair's natural sheen to diminish, and the unprotected cortex to "split" (split ends)."

Why is chlorine put in tap water?:

"Chlorine is a highly efficient disinfectant, and it is added to public water supplies to kill disease-causing bacteria that the water or its transport pipes might contain."

Now that I've used my filter, I can't imagine not having it. There was a time in my past when because our water was so hard, I used to buy gallons of distilled water to wash my hair. What a hassle that was:0/. Now, I know that I can get the same, if not better results with a quality water filter. 

With regards to replacement filters, I was told that if on average I take a 12 minute shower, I shouldn't have to replace the filter, but every 8 to 9 months. The replacements cost about $29.00. That's not bad in my mind.

I have no idea if this kind of filter is considered the best of the best, I can only tell you that I have noticed a very nice improvement in the condition of my hair, and for the price, I think it was very worth it:0).

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Ciao!!

And the Winner is...

...ChocolateOrchid!!

Yay, ChocolateOrchid!! Please email me or send me a PM on NaturallyCurly with your contact information, and I'll put your brand new Ketylos in the mail, ASAP.

Thanks Everyone!!

Ciao!!

Hair Toy Giveaway!

When my hair was much longer one of the ways that I worked toward protecting my ends, so that my hair could continue to grow as long as possible, was by wearing my hair up in an updo.

My dilemma was how to wear my hair up, but without damaging it with bobby pins or other odd little clips and such.

What I discovered was that there are lots of different kinds of hair toys available that are specifically designed in such as way as to allow you to style your hair in a cute and fun manner yet keep your hair protected and safe at the same time.

One such hair toy is the Ketylos hair toy, which I discovered via the Long Hair Community. I bought one, and I liked it so much I bought several more, and I've been hooked on them ever since!

I have several with various "crowns" (i.e. pretty beads on top) and many without. 

These are fun little corkscrew hair sticks that hold your hair neatly in place by scr*wing into the hair. They are perfectly smooth, without any jagged rough sides that can pull, rip or snag at your hair. 

Here are a few pictures of my hair when I was wearing a couple of my "crowned" ketylos.

I have several of these beauties, many of which I have never even used before because unfortunately, I had to cut my hair so, of course, it became too short to use.

I'd like to give one lucky follower a chance to try one of these out, so I am doing another give away! Obviously, this is a hair toy that can only be used on longer hair, so many of you sporting a twa may not be interested. Then again, perhaps you'd just like to have one on hand so when your hair does get long enough- you'll be ready to go! I still have a twa, but I am anxiously awaiting  the day when I can use these again^-^.

In any event, I will be giving away this little baby - a brand new 6" Gold/Black Aquapearl Ketylos Hair  Stick:

 This picture most certainly does not do it justice^-^

So, if you are a follower of this blog, and you are interested in this aquapearl beauty, just leave me a comment stating your interest. If you're the only one interested - you get it. If there are others - you guessed it- your name will go into a drawing, and this Saturday, I will announce a winner!

I found this link on the Long Hair Community where the lovely ladies there were kind enough to share pictures of their ketylos. Lots of hair toy eye-candy!!

Also, if you're interested in just purchasing one on your own - here's the website: Ketylos - the owner is a very nice man:0).

Ciao!!

The Itchy Scalp Dilemma

For weeks off and on, I have had issues with an itchy scalp. It's been very annoying and for the life of me, I could not figure out what was going on:0/. I noticed from other posts online that having an itchy scalp is unfortunately, not uncommon. There are  apparently, a lot of lovelies out there experiencing the same thing.

So, in my effort to find out more about possible causes, I headed online to see what I could find. And boy did I find a lot. Apparently,  there are many of things that can cause an itchy scalp - anything from having an overly dry scalp to bugs (yes, I said bugs) and fungus *eeekkk*, to allergies. I mean, the list could be exhaustive, because there could be a multitude of various causes for the itch, and it really just depends of the individual and how they are grooming their hair.

For myself, thankfully, it's not bugs or fungus (Praise God)!! My scalp does tend to feel dry, but I don't have any issues with dandruff. The other possible culprit could be that I'm allergic to some of the ingredients in the products I'm using on my scalp.

So, I had to take a look at that  and figure out what exactly I am using on my scalp that is causing this issue. 

Well, like any good product junkie there are a variety of things I'm using: I've used my Trader Joe's Nourish Spa with honey and Evoo, pretty much religiously. I've also used Hesh brahmi and  neem powder, bjringraj oil, coffee rinses, shae's curly pudding(with various ingredients), long aid curl activator gel, clear ecostyler, Giovanni Smooth as Silk, and the list goes on. Now, of course, I'm not using all these things at one time, but I am using them, and honestly paying very little attention as to whether or not any of these products got plastered all over my scalp.

It wasn't until the itching kept coming back that I started to really think about whether or not one of these things was causing my scalp to become inflamed. Then the last straw was when I developed a bump on my scalp in the same area that had become the most irritated! So you know I had to find out what the heck was going on!

One of the things that my family can not live without is organic hemp seed oil. We literally have to have it in the house. My baby developed a diaper rash a while back and a naturopathic doctor recommended hemp seed oil. Cleared it right up!! Now, if ever she or anyone else in the family has a skin flare up - that's what we reach for. I also take 2 tablespoons internally with juice, and my baby girl loves to drink hemp milk. So it's an all around miracle product for my family.

Anyway, I had completely spaced out about putting hemp seed oil on my scalp. In fact,  I didn't even think about it until I had my husband look at the bump on my head. It appeared to be an ingrown follicle, which he pulled(I know, too much information:0p). After he pulled the hair, I began thinking about what to apply to it to help with healing, and that's when the hemp seed oil came to my mind.

So I washed my hair with some watered down shampoo and rinsed very well. I then applied my conditioner, BUT I made sure to keep the conditioner off of my scalp.  I then rinsed most of the conditioner out - again, I made sure it was not on my scalp. I litely went over my hair with a towel to help the drippies, then I took a plastic container and poured a small amount of organic hemp oil in it. I then took several q-tips and began to apply the hemp oil to my scalp in sections. I covered my whole scalp with a lite layer of hemp oil and then styled as usual - only this time, I again made certain that none of the products touched my scalp.

After doing this the itch factor went down considerably - it wasn't completely gone, but it was a lot calmer.  The trick is to not itch even when you feel you need to. The hemp oil is very soothing, but it did not completely eliminate the itch factor right away. So, what I did my first try at this was to simply scratch my scalp whenever I felt an itch. But this only made it worse again. So what I found was that if I did have an itch, I  would just pat at my head rather than scratch at it.  This helped with the itching and also kept me from irritating my scalp even more.

We have to remember that our fingers and finger nails are full of bacteria, so when we itch our scalps we are creating little microscopic lesions. These lesions then become a breeding ground for bacteria, and continue to perpetuate the inflammation, which then becomes a vicious cycle.

Ok, so I did this routine for about 3 days and each day the itching got less and less and less. Now, I have virtually no itch at all.

I'm also no longer applying the hemp oil to my scalp, because I feel like I don't really need it any more. I may do it again, here and there if I feel it's necessary, but hemp oil can be somewhat pricey, so I'd rather save it for when I really need it.

Am I still using all of my same products? Absolutely! I just make certain not to apply them to my scalp.

So, here's my theory - and I'm no expert here,  but I think what happened was that something in the products I was using gave me an allergic reaction, which caused the itching. Because the itch was so pronounced, I did what any normal human being would do - I scratched the h*ll out of it. By scratching like that though, I irritated and inflamed my scalp even more - so that created a bigger problem.

What I did to remedy the problem was to cleanse my scalp with shampoo - this also  helped to kill any bacteria, etc. Then with a clean scalp, I applied some hemp seed oil - this helped with the healing. I don't know how the hemp seed does it -but it does - people, my daughter's diaper rash was healed in just a few days with this stuff! Ok, so the hemp helped with the healing, and then by keeping the other products off of my scalp, my scalp was free to continue to heal because the products were not there to continually irritate the skin.

Does that make sense? Anyway, like I said - I'm no expert, but I can tell you what works for me, and this worked.

Originally, you may remember that I was raving about brahmi powder helping with the itching, and it did. But I believe because I continued to put the other products on my scalp - the effects of the brahmi just couldn't last. 

This being said, if you don't have any hemp seed oil, but you do have some brahmi powder you could probably just use the brahmi powder and receive the same soothing effect. After you apply the brahmi though - you must remember to keep any other styling products off your scalp - give your scalp time to heal.

I think if you have highly textured hair, you may over estimate what your scalp is capable to taking. I know, for myself - I always thought because my scalp tended to me dry that it could take pretty much anything conditioning - so I'd just slather my conditioners all over my scalp and never really worry if it was all rinsed out. And for some people this may be perfectly fine to do, but there are others of us whose scalps simply can't take all of that added product loaded up on them.

Anyway, if you have an itchy scalp give this a try and see if it helps. It's worth a shot and it won't cost more to try. 

Here's my disclaimer though- everyone is very different, so if you are experiencing an extremely itchy scalp or you have sores or anything that would be considered extreme - my advice is to get to a dermatologist and have them rule out anything serious. For myself, my troubles were not severe - annoying yes, but not severe, so this is why it was easy for me to give this protocol a try.

Also, another word about fungus. Scalp fungus can be spread from person to person, animal to animal, or animal to person. If you have an extremely itchy scalp and you have kids, and you are using the same grooming tools as your children - you may want to get to a dermatologist to rule out a fungus.  Kids in daycare or in other environments with a lot of children can fairly easily pick up a fungus or lice, etc., so this is just one more thing to consider if you have extreme itching. Lastly, if you have a pet and you notice your pet having any hair loss, please be careful not to touch the irritated area and then touch your own hair or skin without washing your hands, because this too, is another way to expose yourself to a scalp fungus.

Fortunately, I am not dealing with any of these issues, as my little one is still at home with me, and I do not have any pets.

Anyway, I hope this information may have been helpful in some way, and if you give it a try - let us know your results.

Thanks for reading!!

Ciao!! 

P.S. Some of you may be wondering how in the world am I going to continue co-washing if there is something possibly in the products I'm using that's irritating my scalp. Well, I believe that I can still co-wash but perhaps just not as often. I was doing it just about every day. My scalp needs time to heal, so I'm backing off the daily co-washing, and I will just be using a spray bottle to dampen my hair and restyle.  When I do decide to co-wash, I will make certain to completely rinse every bit of it out. The coffee rinses will continue as well, but again  - I will make certain that it is all completely rinsed out - which may just defeat the purpose, but we'll see.

I'll keep you posted:0).

Cree Summer and Lisa Bonet - The Pirate Sistahs

And speaking of nose rings, take a look at this baby ^-^:

Revelation Sunshine

You know, I've always been a big fan of Cree Summer's unique 

style, eclectic persona, and her enthusiasm for embracing her 

natural curls and coils even before embracing the natural was 

considered hip. So when I saw this video, I just had to post it.

Because I'm being completely honest here, since of course, 

being completely honest is a good thing, right? I honestly 

have no idea what this song is even about. But I ask you -  

is her hair fierce?? I mean, what? And is she working that 

nose rang?!? My goodness! 

Geez, just another reason for me to want one, ok. And 

Cree is older than me (not by much), but dang, look at that 

bod, for crying outloud. I'm sitting here thinking - Life just 

isn't fair, LOL - and my other thought is - why is my husband 

bending his eyeballs to try and see over my shoulder?? Hahahahaha!!

Oy, and look at this picture of Lisa Bonet!

My goodness - is she Hawt or what? This is who I want to be

when I grow up! No - seriously!!

 

Ok, I'm so sure that I'm 100 years late here, you all have 

probably seen thesepictures a thousand times over, but 

for me these are all new. Amazing!

And apparently, Cree Summer and Lisa Bonet have this 

fabulous friendship going -one that has withstood the test 

of time, starting back in the day when they were on the tv 

sitcom "A Different World".

What I find most interesting about these two - other than 

their unique style and artistic talents,is the bond that they 

share with each other, I like the idea of this ultimate sisterhood 

that supposedly only women can share should they choose to 

commit themselves to a dear friend. They call themselves the 

Pirate Sistahs. 

Unfortunately, this is also a commitment that I know can be 

very difficult for many women, because often times, once 

a man gets involved, the allegiance dissolves, and bond is 

lost. I'm just as guilty of this as so many others. I would 

love to be one of the lucky few to have a BFF, but life deals 

you a hand, and you've gotta play with what you've got. 

Have you ever had a really good friend - only to lose them 

when they met a guy? Why do you think this happens?

Oh - Here is their "PIRATE WOMANIFESTO":

Pirates move on the water. The element in which the primal feminine is at home. It seems that at sea, women have the home advantage. Women on board ships were either feared or regarded as bringers of luck. Pirate women were considered especially dangerous, and accepted as leaders at a time when women on land had been robbed of their rights and dignity. We pirates set sail for new shores into a world of adventures. Breaking out of structured obedience, preset orders and moral unities. We plunge into unpredictability, danger, excitement, dance, song and everything that strong, free, cheerful action implies. A pirate has developed her own kind of pirate life, determined by her self and no other. Under the Jolly Roger, the black sea robber's flag, pirates show what it means to live in a permanently actualizing process of individualization and liberation. The love, loyalty and friendship that we have found in our pirate sisterhood springs from nothing less than a serious attempt to find a form of life that can fulfill the piratical desire for truth and freedom. 

In truth, the first time I read this - I thought, "Wow, this is pretty cheesy":0/. 

I mean, initially, it reads like a pact that one might make with their 7th 

grade BFF, at a ritual weekend slumber party. 

But, after I thinking about this a bit, I began to see this as much more 

than just a prepubescent-like declaration of principles and intentions.

 But rather, a call to the inner kinship that makes women such divine 

and mysterious beings. I mean really, I've read it a few things, 

and I'm hard pressed to find anything in it that I don't really agree 

with:).  In fact, it actually sent me on a quest to find out more about 

this Pirate Sisterhood of which they speak. 

I was thinking - "Hey, I want to be a Pirate Sistah, too!"*pout*. 

Unfortunately though, I wasn't able to find much, the members 

that may have once congregated to discuss poems, life's lessons, 

and "bonding" have long since gone. Or at least, that's what appears 

to have happened. Oh well. Regardless of if their pirate sister thingy

worked or not, these two ladies still look fabulous, the hair, the body,

 the works. And I hope that they will continue to wow us with 

their gorgeous bohemian, Mother Earthly - kick ass - kind of style 

for many more years to come!!! 

Ciao!!