Hair and Beauty Peeps

[mrose_s]

I'm looking for advice and resources.

I've always loved my hair, but I've always loved toturing it to make it look like something it isn't.

My natural hair is red and curly.
I spent most of the last 7 years straightening it every day and regularly dying it. I decided a couple of years ago to grow it long and from prior attempts I realised I was going to have to leave it curly if I wanted to get it past my shoulders without snapping off.

So now I'm learning about styling curly hair, when natural its just past my shoulders and overall, I love it so much more now that I've embraced the curl. I always recognised it was dry and course but I'm finding it hard to fight the frizz. I need product recomendations (and to invest in a blow dryer with a diffuser)

The other thing I wanted to ask about was skin care. I totally neglect my skin, its always been dry and I just tend to soap it, dry it and go out. I rarely moisturise unless I'm going out and I wanna smell pretty.

I am in no way a touchy feely person, so I never really thought my skin was too bad, I had no ones to compare it to. But I started seeing a guy a couple of months ago that seriously has the softest skin and hair I've ever felt.
It's made me realise just how bad mine is, especially the skin on my arms and hands.

I'm just so out of my depth with this stuff and there is so much on the market backed by mass advertising and I don't know what is actually good and what isn't.

I'm okay finding my way through styling my hair but I would love some suggestions or reading material on how to help my skin and hair be healthier and softer.

 

[Fran101]

I have curly hair, and a diffuser/blowdrier is a great start! A few must haves for me are....
- A good leave in conditioner ( I like Mixed Chicks brand)
- A de-frizz (I like John Frieda Frizz ease)
- A wide toothed comb (no brushing like ever)
- Shampoo/conditioner with no sulfates (I like lush curly wurly)

As for your skin! Once you get into the habit of moisturizing everyday, it will feel like HOW DID I LIVE WITHOUT THIS?!

For body moisturizer I enjoy...
- Hempz moisturizer (http://www.amazon.com/Hempz-Herbal-Moisturizer-17-Fluid-Package/dp/B000OYJ9AO/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1399953335&sr=1-1&keywords=body+moisturizer) for the morning: It soaks in REALLY fast, almost no scent, leaves skin smooth and moisturized, natural ... I find it's also really great for hands.
- Coconut oil at night! It's a little heavy which is why I do it at night, but it's cheap, and makes skin feel SOOOOO GOOOD! Just slather it all over and rub it in (also great for a leave in hair treatment! Just leave in and rinse).

For face...
- A basic light face moisturizer with SPF for everyday, cetaphil has a really cheap and great option. Found at any drug store.
- At nighttime or anytime (it just has no spf) I use Kiss My Face Coconut moisturizer (http://www.amazon.com/Kiss-My-Face-Coconut-Moisturizer/dp/B008P0S02M/ref=sr_1_11?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1399953563&sr=1-11&keywords=face+moisturizer)

- Blot skin when you get out of the shower so it is only JUST dry, and then apply moisturizer. Helps trap water in surface cells!
- SPF ALWAYS EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME
- Exfoliate. Depends on your skin how often, I do so everyday. Regular wash cloth + Exfoliant body wash... I like apricot scrub (cvs)

As for soap... I love African Black Soap (Cvs, amazon) as it doesn't dry out my skin! It looks weird but it's sooo good!
http://www.amazon.com/Dudu-Osun-Black-Soap-6-Count/dp/B000TAE0RK/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1399953900&sr=1-1&keywords=black+soap

OH AND DO NOT TRUST THE DRUGSTORE LOOK ONLINE, AMAZON HAS REVIEWS FOR EVERYTHING! then try it out at drug store or buy there if it's easier lol

 

[mrose_s]

Thanks
I'm all over the coconut oil thing, its too heavy for my hair as a leave in though (awesome on my skin) so I got some argon oil today and after having a play, its happy with it in my hair.
Forst time I havn't had to load wax into my hair to stop the frizz! Much happier.

Spent an hour in the local organic food store talking products with a woman and got some stuff to try. Will see how it goes over the next few weeks.

 

[ErinMC]

The most important thing about curly or wavy hair - DON'T TOUCH IT.
Here is what I do.. No matter the hair routine you use (research "The Curly Girl Method") once you are out of the shower - hardly touch it. The last time I even comb my hair is when I have conditioner in it in the shower. Don't dry your hair with a terry cloth towel, use a microfiber (Turbie Twist, Norwex, just microfibre). And just blot dry it.

I have tried everything - conditioners, shampoos, styling creams... lately, I've been leaving it alone when I am out of the shower. Although, one product I really like is Kinky Curly Curling Custard. It's pretty "crunchy" as well.

At night, I sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase - it helps to reduce frizz after it's already dry.

This is where it really gets people - don't wash or wet the hair every day. I honestly go a week before I even wet it and longer sometimes to wash it. That Curling Custard that I mentioned earlier is water activated. So if you have an unruly morning, you can just spritz it to wake it up a little bit. FOr this, I keep a spray bottle with water and a little bit of my own conditioner diluted in it as a leave-in.

I'm sure there is more, but that's all I can think of at the moment.

 

[ErinMC]

OH, SKIN!

I have always have problematic skin and I have recently learned that the KISS method applies to everything. You want simple products with simple ingredients. The OCM (Oil Cleansing Method) would work great for you with dry skin. On days I don't do OCM, I wash with pure honey. My skin is so soft and nearly spotless! I made my own face lotion too! I just whip together equal parts shea butter and some oil (whatever you use for OCM).

I know it sounds like a lot and you may not be willing to make your own or put "food on your face" but it makes a world of difference.

 

[Ozfozz]

I know it sounds like a lot and you may not be willing to make your own or put "food on your face" but it makes a world of difference.

I'll attest to this as well.
Before I switched to OCM (I used Grape Seed Oil currently, have used EVOO in the past), I had moderate/severe acne. I tried proactiv, and it made my face 10x worse.
Switched to oil and my skin was the best I'd ever seen within 2 weeks. And no, my skin isn't "oily" after.

What I've found is that by using chemical cleansers, you're stripping your skin from essential oils. Because of this, the skin will over produce to compensate for the loss. This results in the greasy/oily texture of the skin which will block pores and predispose for acne and blackheads.

 

[RD]

Coconut oil while you're still in the shower. Rinse off your soap with warm water, slather on some coconut oil, and let the water rinse off a bit of the excess. That combined with towel drying should moisturize you if you need to skip the extra step after you get out of the shower! Almost no scent to it, so you can moisturize over it with something that smells pretty, and it won't clash with it. And coconut oil is amazing for your skin.

Your shower will be a little slippery though so be careful. I live with two boys and they constantly complain about it. I on the other hand, do not clomp into the shower with the mannerisms of a centaur, so I've never had an accident.

Your hair... I can't help you with it. I have horrible fine stick straight hair so my hair care regimen is probably the exact opposite of what yours should be, lol!

 

[Ozfozz]

I on the other hand, do not clomp into the shower with the mannerisms of a centaur, so I've never had an accident.

:rofl1::rofl1::rofl1:

 

[mrose_s]

haha, my shower is almost unslippery again since I coconut oiled in there a week ago. (Also thanks to Quinn licking all excess off the floor where I stepped out)
So far no falls but I'm waiting for it.

I'm pretty good with styling my hair now, I've been practicing on it for close to a year now and it's coming along. It's been years since I owned a comb or washed my hair more than twice a week max so thats no change. I've just found since my top layers have really grown out that it gets flat on top if I leave it to dry completely on its own.
I didn't realise how many of my friends didn't know my hair isn't naturally straight till I had everyone asking me when/why I got a perm! haha.

I'm all for food on skin! Will probably try honey to

 

[ErinMC]

I'm all for food on skin! Will probably try honey to

Pure Honey has a lot of antibacterial and microbial properties... and it's tastes delicious (60cal/tbsp)

 

[Brattina88]

I love using honey, and cocounut oil, and EVOO. (Uh, not all at the same time, though lol). I was going to chime in but everything I was going to say has pretty much already been said I've changed all of my hair and skin care methods in the past year and I wish I would've known all of this so much earlier, especially in high school! Ugh. I've been fighting my whurlies my whole life for no good reason

I'm currently trying out shampoo bars http://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/products/for-the-hair/shampoo-bars/ and so far, so good

 

[Dogdragoness]

I have never dyed my hair or straightened it and never will, the most torturing I do to it is putting styling products in it lol

 

[LostAndConfused]

I have absolutely nothing to add, but this

I live with two boys and they constantly complain about it. I on the other hand, do not clomp into the shower with the mannerisms of a centaur, so I've never had an accident.

is the best thing I've read all week

 

[FG167]

What is the exfoliating routine you guys use?

What brands/do you wash with the glove things etc?

Also, favorite face moisturizer with SPF? I have used Aveeno, Pond's, and Neutrogena and they were all pretty oily/made me shiny...