Natural Hair #8: Spiral Rod Curls using Hot Curlers

Well, it's that time of year when I feel the need to see how my hair holds up in a blown out and curled state. I know many naturals refrain from using a lot of heat on their hair to reduce heat damage, but I've been doing this for years and never experience heat damage with the right types of products for my hair type.  For this hair styling escapade, I decided to apply Liquid Lanolin on wet hair as my heat protectant and blow dried my hair with my hand held drier on high heat...yes I said HIGH heat, but no worries or heat damage.

My hair gets really straight and can easily be worn without further heat manipulation, but I wanted some curls so I whipped out my SUPER OLD 1" barrel Gold-n-Hot hair curlers; and YES, the curlers work like new.  Before starting the curling process, I applied ULI pressing wax to each section of hair as an additional heat protectant.

Day 1: Curls are soft and bouncy.  No product build up. No greasy feeling.

During the time frame of this curl experience, the weather in Alabama was cooler and rainy due to Tropical Storm Karen.  This also provided an excellent test to see how my hair would hold up in high humidity.  Although I wasn't outside while it was raining nor even got wet while sporting my curls, the moisture from the air can sometimes add frizz.  However, the weather didn't significantly impact or distort my curls. Even my high impact exercising had relatively minimal impact.  My theory is that after I worked out at the gym, I would apply a nickel size amount of Liquid Lanolin around the perimeter of my head, then brush from root to the beginning of the curl.  This helped smooth out my roots.  Then I tied a satin scarf around my head to hold my roots in a straight position while the scarf absorbed any moisture. I  removed the scarf before bed and used the pineapple method.  I did NOT use any rollers at night to maintain my curls.  I wanted to see how my curls would fall and flow during the duration of this style.

Day 6: This is how my hair looked after applying Liquid Lanolin and scarf to reset roots.

Take a look at my video demonstration below.

Nail #6: The Purple Tango using LacQit One Step Gel Polish

From the title, it sounds like a blog post about a new dance, but instead it is a polish escapade using the LacQit One Step Gel Spring 2013 collection.  I decided to test out an unlikely combination; Tangerine Tango and Pop on this Purple.  Check it out in my latest video: 

I started out with 2 coats of the Tangerine Tango as my first color and cured each coat using my LED lamp.  Next, I used nail tape to create an X shape near the upper portion of my nails. 

I used more nail tape to create another X above the first one, making sure to leave a small space between the first X and second X.  This will look similar to railroad tracks crossing over each other.  Once the tape was in place, firmly press down to avoid any bleeding of the polish underneath the tape.

Next I used the Pop on this Purple color to paint above the first X all the way to the tip of my nail.  Cure the 2nd color and apply another coat to enhance the sparkling effects.

Once the polish was cured, I removed the tape from each nail.

SHAZAM....The Purple Tango!

Refreshing an Old Braid-out Using Curl Popper

Sometimes you just don't feel like shampooing & conditioning your hair just to get a new style so you begin to realize that nothings wrong with reviving a style and saving time to do other things. Well, my hair goes through a lot of those "reviving" situations too not only save time, but also to reduce the chance of my hair and scalp being stripped during the shampooing process.

With this in mind, I decided to give the Curl Popper product another try to refresh an old braid-out.  This time, I just lightly misted my hair with water then mixed my shea butter mixture and Curl Popper together before applying to my hair.  This was applied to each section of hair before braiding.  Since my hair wasn't soaking wet, I let it air dry and slept wearing a head wrap. The next morning, my hair was completely dry and ready for take down.  I got great definition and shine!

In the days that followed, I just added a small amount of Curl Popper to wet hands then applied to each section and re-braided to maintain the style each day until time for my next shampoo & condition regime.

Here's my demonstration using Curl Popper to refresh an old braid-out.

Finished Results!

Check out my initial Curl Popper blog entry experience at:  http://thediydoctor.blogspot.com/2013/05/curlpopperreview.html

Snap Back to Your Roots Natural Hair Forum in Birmingham, AL

Although I knew the natural hair phenomenon had spread like a forest fire, I didn’t think the age range of women strutting their natural crown of glory would be so broad until I recently attended a natural hair forum in Birmingham, Al.  This event was hosted by Dr. Dianne Coleman, a cosmetic chemist and instructor, who has developed her own line of natural hair products.  The event was held one Saturday afternoon from 2-5 pm at the Crestwood Festival Center.  When I arrived there were other vendors show-casing their businesses, which offered the event attendees an opportunity to mingle while waiting for the main symposium to start.  There was a mid-size crowd of approximately 40-50 eagerly awaiting the opportunity to ask natural hair care tips at this symposium.  One key take away was Dr. Coleman’s advice on the importance of moisturizing and sealing in the moisture for healthy hair growth and length retention. 

Unlike a classroom room full of unenthused students, these women asked question after question, took notes, and shared their personal hair experiences.  By the end of this event, Dr. Coleman had given several door prizes and I was the recipient of a full size bottle of her Curl Popper (the original formula).  Of course after winning, I thought it would be a good idea to test out her product and share my results.

The application process of the Curl Popper potion was simple.  After shampooing & conditioning (with Alba Botanica products), I applied castor oil to my hair while wet. Next, I sectioned my hair into four sections and applied a liberal amount of the Curl Popper potion to each section of hair.  I locked in the moisture by using my shea butter mixture (see mixture ingredients below) then braiding my hair.  Due to the thickness of my hair, I sat under my hooded dryer for 2 hours using a low heat setting until my hair about 80% dry. 

You will notice in my video that I did over saturate my hair with my shea butter mixture, so I decided to use a bandana to cover my hair at night so that it would absorb some of the oils.  This really worked wonders because when I styled my hair, I had a smooth finish without an oily or weighed down feeling/appearance.  Also, I didn’t have to add more oil for the entire week. I noticed that the lanolin I added really enhanced the shine and reduced frizz.  After high aerobic exercising throughout the week, the roots of my hair remained smooth with minimal frizz.  In addition to the use of lanolin, the reduction of frizz is also attributed to the fact that about 2-3 nights out of the week to help maintain the braid out, I just re-braided at night and tied on my bandanna.    

My shea butter mixture consists of the following ingredients.  I used a hand mixer to blend the ingredients until it reached a fluffy texture very similar to whipped cream or butter cream frosting.  Note: I have been using this mixture as my hair and body moisturizer for about 6 weeks; enjoying it thus far.

1. Raw Shea Butter
2. Vegetable Glycerin
3. Vitamin E oil
4. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
5. Lanolin

Check out my video demonstration:

Check out the Snap Back to Your Roots Facebook page for future hair symposium and product announcements. https://www.facebook.com/SnapBack2YourRoots?fref=ts

Also, coming soon is the hair care product line, which will be available at: www.snapback2yourroots.com

LacQit One Step Gel Polish still going strong after 15 days...

In my 8 day follow up video on the LacQit gel polish, the same radiant shine of the gel polish was as visible as it was on the 1st day it was applied.  Well, I'm PLEASED to announce that as of my 15th day wear of LacQit Gel Polish that the only noticeable difference is the significant nail growth (notice the natural nail growing from the cuticle in the pictures below).  I strongly feel that the nail growth by the end of next week (which will be 3 weeks of wearing this color) will make it mandatory to remove this polish.  So at that point, I will do a video demonstration on the removal process and share my experience.  

The pictures below show the 15 day results of LacQit One Step Gel Nail System.  

This polish was applied on April 6th. Here's a link to the video demonstrating the application process.

This is the 8 day follow up video of the LacQit application.

LacQit One Step Gel Polish…Reduced severity of nail breaking

This is my 8^th day wearing the LacQit (Pronounced: LAC-IT) One Step Gel Polish.  From the video below, you can see that I have the same lustrous shine that I had on Day 1.  However, I did have a nail emergency…I broke my thumb nail while doing BURPEEs (see Wiki description) at the gym.  The impact of quickly hitting the floor in push-up position did cause the polish to rip along the torn edge of my nail.   However, the nail did not break into the skin, which has always been the outcome for this particular thumb nail.  I contribute this to the firm support and density of the gel polish, which acted as a buffer between my nail and the floor.  I was able to cut the remaining fragmented edges and file without massively disfiguring the remaining polished area.  I opted not to retouch the thumb nail to see how well the gel polish manages after the bonding of the polish has been disturbed.

I've applied the LacQit cuticle oil to my cuticles approximately 3 times within these past 8 days, so they are not showing any signs of cuticle damage from the gel polish or the use of the LED lamp.  The oil, which is a blend of almond oil. jojoba, and rice bran oil, is very light and does not leave an oily residue.  It absorbs within seconds, so I haven't had to worry about getting oily stains on my clothing.  Let’s see what happens going into week 2. Stay tuned….. 

New Product...LACQIT: A One Step Gel Nail Technology for Home Use

At home gel nail systems have caused a BIG BUZZ in the nail and beauty product communities for about the past 3 years.  Why is this phenomenon so important you might ask?  Well, those who visit manicure/pedicure salons are very familiar with the longer lasting polish wear, averaging 14+ days with minimal chipping that gel nail polish offers.  However, the cost averages around $25 and up for ONLY a manicure.  For those who prefer to be budget conscious, realize that $25 every 2 weeks averages to be around $650 per year... AND this is on the LOW end.  Think about how you could redirect that money if you could achieve the same professional look at home.  

Well, the nail industry is making it more affordable with the at home nail systems.  Retailers like Sally's, Ulta, Sephora, and Amazon have showcased brands such as Gelish and Redcarpet. More recently local stores, like WalMart, Walgreens, and CVS have brought attention to SensatioNAIL and other gel systems.  Although, I've never tested any of those brands, a lot of reviews that I've read indicate customer satisfaction.  However, a caveat to those gel systems is the use of 3 polishes (i.e. base coat, gel polish, and top coat) which cures using a UV or LED lamp within 3-5 minutes. 

Since being introduced to the gel nail systems for at home use, I couldn't decide which one to try...not until I ran across a new ONE STEP product in Canada...YES....ONE STEP using a LED lamp.  The product is called LacQit (Pronounced: LAC-IT).


U.S. retailers should take notice of this product, especially before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons because the LacQit system would definitely draw the attention of women from every socio-economic background.  Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so if you are looking for a gift, this would make your mom/wife/sister/friend VERY happy!  Think about it…for the cost of about 3 manicures at a nail salon, they can continuously use this gel nail system at home.  Each 10ml bottle of polish equates to about 30 applications.

LacQit is on Facebook and Pinterest.  The web site is www.lacqit.com

The application process was as easy as applying 2 coats of regular nail polish, but WITHOUT the long drying time, thanks to the LED lamp.  I’ve done a demonstration of the application process, so check out my video below:

The kits contain the following:

Technologies used	Action on my Nails
LacQit Pro LED Lamp	Cured the nail color.                   1st coat: cured for 30 seconds              2nd coat: cured for 60 seconds
10 ml Nail Color (Cosmo to Go included in the kit)	Added a high gloss color pigmentation to my nails.
10 ml Moisture Cuticle Oil	Replenished moisture to my cuticle beds after the polishing process.
Nail file	Shaped nails.
Buffers	Used to remove shine from nails BEFORE applying gel polish.
Cuticle (Manicure) Sticks	Used to push cuticles back BEFORE applying the gel polish.
Timer	Used to accurately time the use of the LED lamp to cure gel polish.

The Hair Process through the Eyes of Technology

When doing various tasks, we often think of the finished outcome without thinking of the steps used to achieve the end result.  Before the use of the Internet, learning occurred from books and classroom teaching.  However, in the 21^st century, we learn how to perform various tasks from visual aids (i.e. YouTube) and/or support guides (i.e. manuals) that are available on the Internet.  YouTube, viewed as a communication medium, has transformed learning into a social event.   Think about it for a second…as spectators, we access YouTube to find content on an assortment of topics.  However, the funny thing is that you never really think about the “learning” that is taking place.  Instead, it is viewed as entertainment that provides unlimited access for continuous use.  Through repetitive use, learning is taking shape.

In my first YouTube video, I demonstrated the shampoo & conditioning process used on my hair with a specific product (i.e. Alba Botanica).  The focus of the video is not on my hair type or length, but the effect the product had on my hair.  

The second video goes further by illustrating the combination of my styling technique (i.e. Heat styling) with a customized product mixture (i.e. Lanolin mixture) to obtain my desired finished style.  In the table below, I have listed each technology used along with an explanation of the action it performed on my hair. 

Share your technologies and the actions they provide for you.  What are you learning about those technologies and actions you encounter?

Technologies used	Action on my Hair
1.       Shampoo	Cleansed hair while providing softness.
2.       Conditioner	Allowed for easy detangling and manageability.
3.       Water	·         Removed shampoo & conditioner. ·         Aided in restoring moisture.
4.       Wide Tooth Comb	Separated and detangled hair into sections.
5.       Hair Claps	Held sections of hair in place which reduced re-tangling of hair with other sections.
6.       100% Cotton Towel	Absorbed excess water from hair after the shampooing & conditioning
7.       Hand Dryer	Stretched the state of hair from curly to straight.
8.       Lanolin Mix ( Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Glycerin, Liquid Lanolin)	·         Protected hair from heat damage while blow drying. ·         Added moisture. ·         Added shine. ·         Reduced frizziness.
9.       Flatiron	Used to add slight curly to hair before applying rollers.
10.   Rollers	Applied nightly to define curls.

Using Technology to D.I.Y.

There are many Bloggers and VLoggers these days on various social media sites.  I am an avid spectator of Youtube to learn the latest on topics, such as, natural hair styling techniques, female fitness and healthy eating techniques, technology tools for computers, tablets, and smartphones, beauty and fashion accessories, and the list goes on and on.  I’ve had a strong desire to become a contributor of this learning community, but felt that the YouTube community was over-saturated with many of the same topics thus providing limited opportunity of finding interested followers to become spectators of my chronicled experiences.  I’ve shared this interest with a couple of friends, who, in return, have suggested that I transition from the spectator sideline into the role of practitioner.  So this starting me to thinking, the role of a practitioner is often viewed as that of a “doctor”;  well at least in my mind.  

Okay, okay, I know this analogy is more on the abstract side, but let me explain my thought process before you jump off my bandwagon.  My definition of doctor is someone who “practices” a certain action on themselves or others in search for plausible outcome(s) or solution(s).  My interest, or “specialty” from the perspective of a doctor, covers a broad spectrum of technology focused topics.  My specialty focuses on topics that will allow my audience to spectate then “Do It Yourself” or as most refer to in the colloquial form, D.I.Y.

I think many of you will agree that the increased use of technology helps us share our practices and outcomes; thus, allowing spectators to discover new D.I.Y. solutions.  But here’s some food for thought:  What is technology?  Many people would immediately say computers, tablets, software, hardware, etc. Those responses are definitely adequate, but also limited.  Technology, from my perspective, is a mechanism that acts as a communication medium for an action to occur.  As you can see this encompasses a lot more than the traditional computer related tools.  From this viewpoint, this Blog and my VLog on YouTube will involve this technology philosophy.   Hence, the birth of  the D.I.Y. doctor

Quiet on the set. Recording in progress J