KCCM Check In #4

Hello curlfriends, I'm just popping in for another check-in ! It's the fourth week already ! One month down !

Check-in Questions below as per usual. 

1. There are so many products on the market, what are your favorites? What qualities does a product have to have in order to become one of your favorites?

This is a tough one ! I love Sheamoisture products, I also like Taliah Waajid's deep conditioner. I love Kinky Curly Knot Today, it's a staple leave-in. I love the African Pride Hair Mayonaise and also Palmers Hair Milk. I'll stop there because I can just keep on going!  In order to be a favorite of mine,  a product needs to be priced for myself personally, have an optimal effect on my hair, and have ingredients that I agree with. 

2. Since using the castor oil, how has your hair been maintaining moisture? 

I'm not really sure because it isn't something that I have been following in regards to castor oil. My hair retains moisture just fine with a water based product and a sealant. Sometimes that sealant is castor oil, sometimes it's avocado or EVOO. 

3. How did you use Castor Oil in your hair last week (week 3).

Did you find yourself losing momentum or are you still going hard? For the first three weeks, the use of the castor oil has not changed since my hair has been in a protective style. I'm excited for the length check though, since I just removed my PS. 

Next week will be a length check week !  How exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing how much length retention I have. 

Question: What are some thing you look forward too when doing protective styles and or hair(care) challenges ?

KCCM Week 3

KCCM Check-In Week 3 Curlfriends ! 

I can't believe how fast September is flying by ! It will be Thanksgiving before we know it ! Sheesh ! Slow down Calendar, will ya ? 

Here are this week's Challenge Check-In Questions! 

1. Since going natural have you ever felt really overwhelmed? If so, Why? If not, What have you done to make this journey run smoothly?
No, I don't think that I have felt overwhelmed really. It might have occurred right after removing my locs because I had no idea what to do with my hair. That issue didn't last long though because I stumbled onto Youtube and became slightly addicted. Ive always tried to make sure to listen to what my hairs needs, research everything for myself, and educate myself on my hair. That's really helped this second journey of mine. 

2. Do you see any change in your hair since using the castor oil?
 I don't see any visible changes because my hair is still in a protective style ! :)

3. How did you use Castor Oil in your hair last week (week 2). Did you use it any different than week 1?
 I'm still using castor oil as a daily spritz and some nights I'll massage the oil throughout my scalp. 

I still cannot believe how fast this month has gone by already ! I think we will be in for a rough winter though, and I can definitely wait for that ! Whew *shivers* I am definitely not ready for that ! 

Anywho, here are my previous check-ins! 
KCCM 1
KCCM 2 

Oh, I will be removing my spring twists this weekend is time is on my side ! I'll definitely be posting some hairlicious photos!!

Stay steady curlfriends, the weekend is drawing near! #fistpump


As always..

Lol, this makes me giggle. 

Growing Through Changes

I always try to remember this ! 

Growing through changes ! 

That's what I will call this period in my life right now. I am going and growing through changes. I fully accept and embrace it.

It feels so great to write about my business again, I seemed to let that area fall to the wayside when I began concentrating more on natural hair blog posts. I wanted to be able t make some sort of impression with my approach to natural hair blog posts. In do that though, I forgot what this blog began as. Getting back to the business part of this blog will be a great addition in my opinion.  After all, this blog is about the evolution of a business ! Being able to get great, constructive feedback from you as well is one thing that I definitely look forward too.

KCCM Week 2 Check in

Hello Curlfriends ! 

Just a quick post for my Week 2 of the KCCM Castor Oil Challenge ! 

1. Where do you live? 

I live in RVA/NoVA

2. Are other members of your family naturals too? 

Yes, my cousin and her daughters are natural. Another one of my cousins has locs.

3. How did you use Castor Oil in your hair last week (week 1)?

 I used Castor oil mostly as a leave-in spritz and massaged the oil in my scalp since I still have spring twists in.

Straight to the point huh ?  :0) 

If any of my readers are participating in this challenge, please let me know in the comments section !


I hope that everyone is having a great week !

I made this a while back, but I realized I shared it everywhere but here on the blog ! 

A Challenging First Week.

I seriously laughed out loud as I wrote that title.

I have every intention to overuse the word challenge. I hope you'll find it just as amusing as I do. Although I must admit it will be more of a challenge to find funny ways to use the word challenge as September moves forward !

I'm sure you all are wondering how I did. Well if you are subscribed to the blog and my youtube channel, then you have a partial answer.

I did a great job on everything but vlogging and blogging. Despite the fact that I have a pretty little calendar that stares me down every morning.

I. Have. A. Problem.
(You'll realize this when you see that this is a 1st week check in and we are almost to the end of  the second week. lol.)

My newest vlog was published yesterday though. You can view that here.

Just a couple of missteps, but that is alright because I will do better.

This is exactly why I did this challenge. To change my production level ! So, instead of focusing on where I fell short, I will be posting my "make up" vlogs and blogs this week along with my current vlogs and blogs. I am just going to keep moving right along, finding ways to make myself better !

September Squats Challenge is going well, I'm up to 35 squats as of yesterday. I haven't taken any fanny photos yet to compare. (For myself, I won't be posting fanny photos. lol) I can see a difference in my thighs though and also my calves. There were a couple pair of shorts that were too tight around the thigh area and now they fit wonderfully!

I love when I see progress. I'm starting to get a little cut in different areas now. I love, love, love it! I can definitely feel a difference in my core. My lower back is really has a tendency to ache a lot because of the arch in my back. (I get it from my Momma! Lol) I sometimes feel sore if I lay or sit in certain positions for extended periods of time. I realized yesterday that it rarely occurs now. I'm looking forward to seeing how my back does or doesn't hurt during my cycle. It's usually amplified during that time. I see a difference in my stomach area, but it's not enough for me. So this week and next week I will be going even harder. I plan on amping up foods that minimize belly fat/bloat and cutting out foods that cause belly fat/bloat.

80 Healthiest Foods Find. All Thanks to Tumblr ! 

My Bevie Challenge is definitely on a roll. I'm proud of myself for mainly drinking water and teas. I see a difference in my skin and nails. Although my acne is rearing its ugly head right now, I can still see that its softer, smoother and brighter.


Next up, is the Kinky Curly Coily Me Castor Oil Challenge. I have my first entry post here.


Now, I have not yet updated my art blog. I aimed to do that at least once a week. So I am only a post behind. That's not too shabby at all.

Have you read my original challenge post?  Oh, also if you haven't done so, please follow @iSimplyCare on Instagram to keep up my #Naptember and #HGKWW Photo Challenges.

Well, despite a couple of hiccups, I am still proud of myself. I know I can do better though. So I will !

What are some things that you do to help you stay on track when participating in challenges ?

:0)

Kinky Curly Coily Me Castor Oil Challenge

Hello hello !

It has begun again ladies and gentlemen ! The KCCM Fall Castor Oil Challenge is back in full effect. The Challenge began on September 1st and will continue until December 1st.

Here are my Entry Check-in Questions and Photos. 

1. What type of Castor Oil will you be using? Possibly Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Definitely Cold Pressed Castor Oil,

2. How long is your hair now-front, sides, and back?
Front 8.5 inches
Sides 6.5 inches
Crown 9.5 inches
Back 6.5 inches

3.How will you be using your Castor Oil? Edges, Scalp, Sealing Hair, conditioning treatments, Daily spritz 4x-5x a week.)

4. My hair is currently in a protective style, but these are the most recent photos before installation. 

I know, I look crazy. Moisturizing my hair before spring twists installation

Installing spring twists!

Week 2 Check-In Post will be published shortly ! I will be removing my spring twists in 1-2 weeks. I haven't decided yet, but I can't wait to see how my ends are doing !

Are you participating in the KCCM Challenge ? Or any other Challenge for that matter?

Can Kinks Get Love Too ?

Let me take you on a journey. This road may seem familiar, perhaps you've even been here before! Maybe you've been lost on the trail of tangles, or ventured through the curly caves only to come out on the other side in a kinky, murky mess. That's right, I'm taking you on a quest for the perfect curl. Steeped in ups and downs, chock full of many a failed products cemetery, glitter lies in the wake of those ever so promising curl enhancing fairies.. Did you see that ? A gleam of a perfect ringlet glimmers over the horizon.

Ahhh yes, the "Quest for the Perfect Curl. The never ending search of some naturals, no matter if they are a noob in the game or seasoned and well on their merry nappy way.

It's a trip that almost all of us have taken. The question that I would like to pose though, is why ? Yep, Why.

Can't kinks get some lovin' too ?

It seems like the need for "politically correct" curls is more important than loving and caring for what you have.

The curls that are acceptable in public and professional settings. Say for instance a Shirley Temple curl, or a Traci Ellis-Ross, or even Eva the Diva from Top Model.

Traci Ellis Ross, Photo Credit Confessions of a Blog Vixen

Challenge !

Hello !

A special weekend post, because I can't wait until Monday ! Lol.

I hope you take advantage of this new month to accomplish great things! I know I intend to !

Now, whenever I hear the word challenge, I am immediately taken back to that scene of The Cosbys where Clif takes Rudy to tap dance class... I figured you would want to see a clip, so here you go.




   

This is by far one of my favorite episodes ! I am a Cosby junkie !

Anyhow, the point that I am trying to make is this; September is a month of challenges !