Bedtime Style - Bun

Here is a quick video showing one way that I style my hair to go to bed at night.

12 Weeks Post Relaxer

Hi friends!

For the ladies who relax their hair - have you ever noticed that when it is one week away from doing a touch up your scalp decides to rebel?  Well that was my scalp this past weekend.  I had every intention of relaxing my hair at 12 weeks post, but my scalp rebelled.  So I decided to wait another week before I apply my relaxer.  

Here are some things I do to make sure I have a good relaxer experience:

1. Avoid irritating my scalp,
2. Limit combing to every 2-3 days,
3. Moisturize with more product than usual,
4. Two days before relaxer application, thoroughly detangle hair especially at the roots, and
5. One day before application, lightly spray a liquid moisturizer on my roots to soften them.  This makes parting my hair during application easier.  My roots dry completely before I apply the relaxer.

I'm excited to see how much growth I have retain during the weeks it snowed.

Here are some pictures of my air-dried new growth.

 Front 

Back

New growth un-stretched

New growth stretched

Wavy Hair Style with Steam Rollers

Steam rollers are quick way to style your hair, without worrying about the damaging effects of direct heat from a curling/flat iron.

In this video, I show how to achieve a wavy hairstyle on air dried hair.  You can use the same technique on flat ironed or roller set hair for a much sleeker wavy look.

Coupon Code - Hair Steamer

Hi friends!

I shared the benefits of steam here. Now, I have details on how you can get your own steamer.

My hair steamer was my second most expensive hair purchase at almost $200.  This was a few years ago and hair steamers were less available then. Fortunately, more online salon wholesalers now offer hair steamers, and at a greatly reduced price than what I paid.

I purchased my hair steamer on Ebay and do not remember the vendor's name.  However, I was able to find another online vendor who sells hair steamers, and a coupon code to save $10 off the purchase of a hair steamer.  Here are the details:

• Salons R Us Hair Steamer.  (free shipping in the continential US)
• $10 off coupon code - "exoticmommies" 

Special thanks to the blog Exotic Mommies, for sharing the coupon code.  I have not tried the coupon code myself, but according to Exotic Mommies the code has no expiration date.

How I Blow Dry With A Diffuser

Here is a quick video showing how I use a diffuser to speed up my air drying process.

I'm currently at 11 weeks post my last relaxer.  My roots are insanely thick right now, so I plan to do my relaxer next weekend.

Steam + Hair = Healthier Hair

 My hair steamer

Hi friends!

When I started my hair journey, I used different forms of heat to deep condition my hair.  Including a hood dryer, and heat cap.  After I learned about the benefits of using steam over using a dryer/heat cap, I decided to buy a hair steamer.

Hair steamers are more beneficial because they use moist heat, as opposed to dryers/heat caps which use dry heat.  The moist heat offers an added benefit to your hair by infusing moisture into your strands.  Here are some other benefits of using steam:

• Increased scalp circulation, which aids hair growth,
• Helps deep conditioners to penetrate hair faster and better,
• Reduces dryness and breakage,
• Faster hair color treatments, and
• Makes the hair softer and reduces tangling.

I also use my hair steamer as a face steamer, when I'm doing an at-home facial.

An alternative to using a hair steamer, is to use the steam room at your gym.  After your workout, add some conditioner to your wet or dry hair, and sit in the steam room for 15-20 minutes.

The Search for the Perfect Wig, Part 2

In Part 1 of The Search for the Perfect Wig, I discussed what I am looking for in a human hair lace wig.  Here is what I learned about getting each of my requirements met.

Types of Lace Wigs.  There are mainly two types of lace wigs available - full lace and lace front.  A full lace wig has a cap that is made almost entirely with lace, and allows you to wear a high ponytail.  A lace front wig is has a few inches of lace in the front of the wig, and weft tracks in the back of the wig.   

1. Durability - The type of lace used is essential to how durable the wig will be.  There are two main types of lace used - French and Swiss.  French lace is considered the most durable, but the durability comes at the expense of not being as invisible on your skin.  Swiss lace is less durable than French, but is undetectable against your skin.  I plan to use my own hair line, so whether the lace disappears on my skin is irrelevant to me.  Thus, I chose French lace.   
2. Length - The longer the hair, the more it costs.  I feared getting a shorter length and then "outgrowing" it, which would then require me to buy another wig in the future.  So I chose the 20" long wig.  I figured that if it is too long, then I can trim it but if its a little shorter, then it won't be such a big deal.  
3. Texture - For the most part, the human hair used in lace wigs are either Indian, Chinese, Italian, or Malaysian.  In its natural state, these hair types are straight and silky.  Fortunately, manufacturers have developed a process where they can alter the texture of the natural hair to resemble relaxed type 4 hair.  Hair that has been process to have a relaxed texture are categorized as light yaki, yaki, and coarse yaki.   
1. Here are examples of yaki textured human hair:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Light Yaki/Yaki
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   Coarse Yaki
   Image Source
   
   
   
   
    Texture
   
   Image source
4. Maintenance - Full lace wigs require more maintenance than lace front wigs, because the lace is delicate and can tear.  Minor tears can usually be repaired at home with a needle and clear thread.  With repeated washes, the hair on a full lace wig is also more prone to shedding.  To minimize shedding, a knot sealer should be sprayed under the lace cap after each wash.  Also, it is recommended that you use a fray block on the lace, after you cut it to reduce shedding along the hairline.  All human hair wigs should be shampooed,  conditioned, and moisturized to prevent excess damage to the hair.  I decided to get a lace front wig because it requires less maintenance, and is more durable that a full lace wig.      
5. Style - All human hair wigs can be styled with flat irons, and curling irons.  However, as with your real hair, it is important to use heat protectants when styling your human hair wig.   
6. Application (*New category*) - Most people who wear lace wigs, apply the wig with an adhesive (tape or liquid glue).  I am not comfortable with using an adhesive, so I plan to attach hair pins to the inside of the wig to secure it to my head.  Wig clips can also be sewn into the cap of the wig, but I prefer the no tension hold of my hair pins.    

In summation, I chose a human hair, lace front wig that is made with french lace, and has a yaki texture.  For me, this was the best option because it offered me the most durable, low maintenance, and realistic looking wig.  

Stay tuned for Part 3, where I will discuss shopping for a lace/lace front wig.  
   

How I Air Dry

Hi friends!

Air drying is a great way to avoid using direct heat, thus reducing the chance of damage.  I air dry my hair in the winter, while I am wearing my protective style.  Air drying is also a great option for the summer time, when the humidity may not allow you to wear straight styles.

One common complaint about air drying, is your hair may feel hard and start to break.  If this is your experience, try using a creamy leave in, and skip the protein when you condition your hair. 

Introducing KibibiHair.com!

Hi friends,

You can now access the blog from its new domain address - www.kibibihair.com!  You will still be able to access the blog from the coarsehairlonghair.blogspot.com address, but the new domain should be easier for you to share with friends. 

Why the new address?  To help people like my dad. (smile)

My parents are not the most tech savvy, but they try.  I literally just set up an email account for my mom two days ago, because she wanted to post a comment on the blog.  So when my dad asked me for the web address, the conversation went something like this:

Me: "You ready?"
Dad: "Yes, go ahead"
Me: "W, w, w, dot, c, o, a, r, s, e, h, a, i, r..."
Dad: "Dot com?"
Me: "No, there's more.  l, o, n, g, h, a, i, r, dot..."
Dad: "Dot com?"
Me: "No, there's more"
Dad: "Mi madda!"  (this is a Jamaican exclamation similar to saying "oh my gosh")
Me: "I guess it is a little long"
Dad: "Let me get a bigger piece of paper"

After that conversation, I knew I needed something shorter and easier to remember.   If no one else reads this blog, I know I can count on my family to read it.  So I want to make things easier for them.  Hence, KibibiHair.com.  If my dad can remember this address, anyone else can.