FOUR Steps I Did That Helped Repair My Damaged Hair!

Hey Curlies! ❤

There are four things I did during the time when my hair was at its worst, that helped it get to its best! I had damaged hair from dying and heat damage, mainly heat damage. My bra strap length hair was thinning and my curls were lifeless. I researched and learned about these steps to incorporate into my regimen to help repair the damage. However, not ALL damage can be repaired. The only way to get rid of severely damaged hair is to cut it off. Sucks, I know. I chose to do a semi big chop for my damage hair cutting my hair to my jaw and then did a year of no heat. BUT! Unless your hair is TERRIBLY damaged, you DO NOT HAVE TO DO A BIG CHOP. If your hair is slightly damaged it can be repaired by showing your hair MAJOR TLC such as these steps below. Here are the 3 things I did that got me to where I am now!

1. STOP ALL HEAT. Point, blank and the period.

I’m forreal.

2. Use A Reconstructor!

A reconstructor is a product that helps repair damage that’s been done from heat styling, relaxers, and chemicals. I had a ton of heat damage. I used these reconstructors to help with repairing my damage.

– Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor

– Dudley’s Hair Rebuilder

– Macadamia Deep Repair Masque

2. Protein Treatments!

Protein treatments are great for filling in gaps in the cuticle which helps to strengthen and repair hair. Protein treatments really helped my hair!

– Aphogee 2 Step Protein Treatment

– Nexxus Emergencee

– Mayo and Avocado

3. Deep Conditioning!

Deep conditioning is so essential to putting moisture back into our hair. Dry hair breaks, hair that is moisturized flourishes. Deep conditioning helps with repairing and strengthening damaged hair. Dry hair breaks, moisturized hair flourishes!

– Shea Moisture Superfruit 10-n-1 Renewal Mask

– Olive Oil Replenshing Pak

– Crème of Nature Deep Conditioner

– Pantene 2 Minute Moisture Masque

PLEASE make sure to follow the directions for a reconstructor, usually it’s done 2x’s a week. For protein treatments usually 1x a month or 1x every 6 weeks. And deep conditioning can be up to 2x’s a week. Incorporate these three steps and nurse your hair back to life.

It took me from 2011 until 2013/14 to get healthy hair and my curls to act right, if you will. I had trims and a shape/cut in between as well. So please, have patience…don’t give up!

Consistency & Patience!

If you’d like you can purchase ‘happycurlhappygirl’ t-shirts here! www.happycurlhappygirl.spreadshirt.com 🙂

Until next time! XO!

Love,

Rayna

Dark and Lovely Au-Naturale-Anti-Breakage Super Softening Hair Butter: Product Review!

Hey Curlies! ❤

Here for another product review!

I won on a contest on Instragram from Dark and Lovely and Fro Girl Jinny, and this happened to be one out of the two that I won. Now! I’m going to be very honest…I was never a fan of Dark and Lovely’s products back in the day. Just didn’t appeal to me, so naturally…I never tried when they came out with their new Au Naturale line either. I would see the products from time to time and would talk myself out of trying because I just knew I wouldn’t be pleased. Little did I know I would fall in LOVE with this stuff!

Product Details:

Quench dry hair with a delectable, hydrating treat just for your breaking, transitioning hair. Hair feels nourished and supple without the build-up or greasy transfer. – For Dry, Damaged Hair – Moisturizes and reconstructs damaged hair for supple, shiny finish – No Drying Alcohol, No Mineral Oil, No Parabens, No Petrolatum – SoftSheen-Carson

---

First…

The consistency is THICK!

Thick like a heavy cream, and I love that!

Second…

The smell is AMAZE balls!

Third…

It blends well with my beloved Eco Styler gel! LIKE WHET? lol. It’s hard to find a product that won’t flake on you when you have other products in your hair. I decided to try on dirty hair to see if it would flake. I spritzed my hair with water and applied the Softening Butter and then Olive Oil to seal and let me tell you, it was amazing! So hydrating!

---

Pros:

If you have DRY hair, this is perfect. The reason being is that the first ingredient is water and it is VERY thick, so it softens your hair and it hydrates. I would recommend wetting your hair before applying, and on clean hair.

Cons:

a TAD greasy! Just a tad. It says “no greasy transfer” but I had a little. Not bad at all, but just a heads up for anyone who may be anti-grease.

Where to find: Rite Aid’s, CVS and online.

---

Would I purchase again?

Yes! Point, blank and the period!

Have you tried this product? Did you like it? What about Dark and Lovely’s other products?

Until next time! XO!

Love,

Rayna

Spotlight Feature: Janae!

Hey Curlies! ❤

I love featuring naturals…meet Janae!

1. Tell us your name, where you’re from, how long you’ve been natural and a little bit about yourself!

Janae, I’m from Long Beach, California and I’ve been natural for about 2 years. I absolutely love everything about natural hair. It makes me smile when I see women or little girls rocking their natural hair. ( hey Blue Ivy) 

2. What is your go-to natural hair style?

Twist outs. Even though my twists take at least 16 hours to dry, twist outs define my curls the most. I can stretch it to 5 or 6 days. 

3. What are some of your go-to or staple products for your natural hair?

I love Carol’s Daughter leave- in conditioner hair milk, As I am Co-wash ( smells amazing) and Miss Jessie’s Jelly soft curls or Eco-Styler.

4. What do you like/love most about being natural? 

I love the versatility. I’m completely confident with rocking my curls or twists in public. I might straighten my hair once or twice a year, and I’m over the flat iron look after 3 days. 

5. How do you maintain your curls at night?

I spritz my hair with water every night, put it in a Pineapple, and use my satin bonnet! 

6. Have you ever big chopped or transitioned? If so, briefly tell us your experience!

I transitioned, and it was frustrating because my hair never looked like the girls in the YouTube videos I watched (Mahogany Curls, Glam twins etc.). That’s when I discovered the universal rule “what works for others may not work for you” I started to experiment with different products and techniques until I figured out what worked best for MY hair.

7. Do your family/friends support your natural hair journey?

Yes, everyone is always asking me for  tips. Even random people I run into.

8. Do you know your hair type? If so what is it?

I never really followed the whole hair type thing, so I really have no idea. 

9. What is one thing you have learned since being natural? What advice would you give a new natural?

I’ve learned how to stay away from the heat. The heat is not your friend, just a distant friend you see every now and then! To the new naturals, stick with it!!! You will not get the results you want over night, but trust the process. Know that your hair is beautiful and learn to love it! 🙂 I’ve been natural for 2years and I still have hair goals 🙂 

10. The blog is entitled happycurlhappygirl,  what makes your curls happy? (Deep conditioning, protective styling, hot oil treatments etc.)

When someone else massages my scalp!!!! It feels like an old school Herbal Essence Commercial no lie!!!! But DIY deep conditioning makes my curls the happiest. 

Thanks Janae for sharing your story with us and showcasing your beautiful face and curls!!! I wish you the best on your hair journey!

---

Follow Janae: @_Janae_   @naturalnae7

---

If you would like a feature showcasing your natural hair, PLEASE email me happycurlhappygirl@yahoo.com. I would LOVE to have your story and beautiful photos of you and your natural hair on Spotlight Fridays! XO!

Until next time Curlies! XO!

Love,

Rayna

Product Review: Aussie Moist 3 Minute Miracle!

Hey Curlies! ❤

Don’t have time to deep condition? Try this 3 minute deep conditioner!

 

Aussie’s Moist 3 Minute Miracle is so amazing! I am very particular about deep conditioners, and this little baby is definitely a staple.  It’s important to get your deep conditioning in once a week if possible. Due to busy schedules, we don’t always get the time to deep condition for 30 to 45 minutes once a week. Whenever I use a shampoo I always follow up with a deep conditioner because shampoos with sulfates definitely strip your hair of it’s natural oils. Deep conditioners penetrate the hair shaft and are so very necessary for retaining growth and keeping our hair healthy. The days I don’t have time to deep condition I grab this little baby and it does the job at hand!

I shampoo, then I apply a clarifying conditioner that has slip (when a you’re able to run your fingers/comb through your hair easily after applying a conditioner). I then will detangle gently with either my fingers or a wide tooth shower comb, rinse, then I apply my Aussie Moist 3 Minute Miracle, a plastic shower cap and finish up in the shower. I make sure to rinse with cool water to seal in all that extra goodness. Tip: When I apply my conditioner for detangling (V05 or Suave or a clarifying conditioner) I rinse with warm water. This opens up your shaft allowing for moisture to penetrate in. I THEN apply my deep conditioner and rinse that with cool water closing the shaft.  I have a detachable shower head which allows for a better cool rinse. If you’re sensitive to cool water, definitely rinse your conditioner out in the sink with cool water after showering. It’s also great for the kiddies because of the time.  I use this on my daughter as well, and it leaves her hair so moisturized. All you need is 3 minutes and your hair comes out feeling like it’s been under a dryer for 30 minutes! No kidding! This stuff is definitely a miracle in n 8oz bottle; it gets the job DONE! If you’re ever on the look out for a CHEAP and EXCELLENT product, this is it! >>THE ONLY CON, I only get about 5-6 uses out of it 😦 I saturate my hair with this stuff and it runs out QUICK. Luckily it’s under $5 dollars so I try to stock up on these babies! They have a variety to choose from for your specific needs. I would definitely recommend this product!

 

This is me after I use this stuff, lol! ❤

 

 

Where to find:

Ladies, you can find this almost EVERYWHERE. CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target and online.

 

 

 

 Let me know if you’re tried it and your thoughts!

 

 

Until next time Curlies! XO!

 

 

 

Love,

Rayna

DIY and Review: Flaxseed Gel!

Hey Curlies! ❤

Tired of gel that flakes and dries your hair out? Welp, you can create your very own and it’s ALL NATURAL. I love and will stand by Eco Styler Gel, but it’s nice to have a switch. Flaxseeds are rich in omega 3’s which are known to support scalp health. Flaxseed contains diseased fighting compounds that may help fight hair loss. Flaxseed Gel is so healthy for your hair it leaves your hair so moisturized. I didn’t experience a lot of definition as I would with Eco Styler, but with my results I didn’t mind. I made sure to use a heavier moisturizer (Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie) as my base and then I applied the Flaxseed Gel. For my curls, the thicker the gel consistency the better! The second go’round I skipped the heavy moisturizer and just used my leave in conditioner (Paul Mitchell’s The Conditioner). If you desire hold like myself, then you can always mix Flaxseed Gel with your favorite gel. I also tried Flaxseed gel on my 6yr old who has tighter curls, unfortunately she only got 1 day of wear. LOL! Like her mother, her hair loves that Eco Styler Gel as well. I plan to mix the 2 gels together for her next wash and go. Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend taking a few minutes to make this gel. You may never purchase any more gel ever AGAIN!

What you do:

Gather your 1/4 cup of flaxseeds

2 cups of water

Bring to a boil and stir often, wait until you get a gel like consistency

and drain into a strainer.

Add your choice of essential oils (optional)

Just in case the photos of me making Flaxseed Gel didn’t help here’s an EXCELLENT video by Naptural85 on how she made hers. Definitely subscribe if you haven’t already!

❤

First application…FYI: Flaxseed Gel is very slimy!!!!!

---

I decided to compare Flaxseed Gel results and Eco Styler Gel results below…

Flaxseed Gel

Eco Styler Gel

 I get way more definition and hold with Eco Styler…HOWEVER! Flaxseed Gel leaves my hair SO moisturized, fluffy and soft. NO CRUNCH! Surprisingly, I can get about 3 days using Flaxseed Gel. ❤ I notice any areas where I get frizz I just grab some gel and apply it and it’s like an instant curl refresher! Many naturals use Flaxseed Gel for their twist outs. My  next adventure is trying a twist or braid out using a moisturizer and gel. Once I do…I’ll definitely blog my experience and results so stay tuned for that!

---

Other Curlies who love making and using Flaxseed Gel!

Say hello to the beautiful Jessica who has embraced her natural hair and loves making and using her Flaxseed Gel. Her beautiful mane consists of 4a curls. Jessica’s wash and go’s can last up to 3 to 4 days when using Flaxseed Gel. That’s AMAZING! She also loves the fact that Flaxseed Gel slicks her edges down to her liking! Her curls are moisturized, shiny and popping! Flaxseed Gel is awesome and I would recommend it to any natural to try it outl! It works well on all curly hair types (I checked, lol). After all, you only need Flaxseeds and water! How awesome is that! ❤

 

Follow Jessica: @limitlessfitjess

 

Let me know how Flaxseed Gel works for you!

 

 

 

Until next time Curlies! XO!

 

 

Love,

Rayna