How You Doin'? Naturals...

Awright!!  So, that was said in my Wendy William's voice.  Why?!?  Because I absolutely LOVE her!!

On today's show (1/9/12), Wendy said something to one of her audience members that REALLY made me smile.

A woman and her mother-in-law were on the show and the woman asked Wendy what she should do as her mother-in-law would not put a relaxer in her gorgeous, healthy appearing hair.  She stated that she wanted to get a chemical relaxer to keep her hair straight as she is now working out (we ALL know what happens when we sweat and/or gets our natural hair gets wet).  Wendy replied with: keep it natural as long as you can!  ...Stay natural as long as you can!

Being natural (now) and hearing the message from someone such as her, who touches so many other women's lives... I could only cheese (smile) and have 'aww' moment.  DID YOU HEAR WHAT SHE SAID LADIES... AND GENTS?!?  What a message!!  To those who consider going back to the creamy crack... do as Wendy said and KEEP IT NATURAL AS LONG AS YOU CAN!  Your hair will thank you... trust me! ;-)

And to Wendy  - in my opinion - that was some of the BEST advice given... EVER!!

In case you care to know, here's my history with Wendy... a sure friend in my head...

I've listened to Wendy back when she was on the radio.  She always 'said it like she meant it...' and as of today, she's still saying it like she means it on her live TV show.  I relate so much to Wendy as not only do I also say it like I mean it (which gets me in trouble sometimes - I'm learning though) but I also give good advice (as I've been told).

But anyways, I also had an opportunity to not only be in the audience of her show, but also ON the show (From G's to Gents - six week sneak peek - with Mr. Bentley).  The picture below is of me on that very day... and look at Wendy's pic, we're [almost] posing twins!!

Thanks for reading and as always... keep it kinky!!

Check out Kinky on Facebook --->  Kinky Kinetik

Product Review - Kynx Hair Care

I was sent almost the entire line of Kynx Hair Care, with the exception of their texture defining gel, I am Unique.

All of the products have cute names that start with I am..  They have I am Natural (softening cream cleanser), I am Strong (silky kinks hydrating conditioner), I am Fierce (refreshing leave in moisturizer), I am Free (miracle kink cream) and I am Pure (Monoi de Tahiti oil).  In order to achieve optimal results, I used the entire line.  For some product lines, it's best to do so.  Their website indicates that "each hair product is specially formulated with the rare Monoi de Tahiti oil, t secret hair softening ingredient of the Polynesian islands."  It goes on to say "The comprehensive Kynx hair care collection allows women to boldly rock various hair styles... women can now lose the boring Type 4 Kinky label and fearlessly flaunt their gorgeous hair!"

Well, while I don't disagree that the products will do as their website says, I don't feel as though the products worked well for me.  Below are a few pics and comments.

This is me before my wash.

After using I am Natural...

After using I am Strong.

After using both I am Fierce and I am Free. Of note, I did also do a little oil treatment with I am Pure.  The I am fierce has a thickness to it.  It reminded me of the bubbles we blew as a kid, just thicker.  Personally, I did not like the feel of it, it was like a melted gel.  It seemed like it would be heavy on my hair.  Here are my twists I did with I am Fierce and I am Free.  I thought it would turn out okay doing them on dry hair since they were both water based.

When I first read about the products, I was initially excited about the using I am Fierce and I am Free.  I was not expecting them to send me I am Pure.  I went against my better judgment using I am Natural and I am Strong as they both include ingredients that I won't typically use on my hair (sulfates, mineral oil, etc.).  However, I must admit that they DO have some great ingredients noted, such as flax seed oil, aloe leaf juice, shea butter, coconut oil, glycerin, jojoba, rosemary. 

My hair was not really moisturized, even after using the baggie/greenhouse effect method.  I tried this method twice in one week, even using the I am Pure product.

 Here are some twist out pictures a few days later...

 

Overall, I would not buy these products as I don't feel it really worked for me or gave me the results it claimed would be since I am a type 4.  I don't want to discourage others; however, just want to note that my experience with it was not as I expected.  Below is a pic of my daughter's hair, I only used I am Free to attempt to smooth her hair for a ponytail.

Please feel free to check out my other product reviews and come visit me on my Facebook page, Kinky Kinetik

Where to buy: Kynx Hair Care

Disclaimer:  I was sent this product for the purposes of a review and I was NOT paid to do this review.  The above review/opinions expressed was based on MY experience using the product.  Kinky Kinetik is not affiliated with Kynx Haircare and is thereby not responsible for your experience with the product(s) and/or the company.

Hey Kinkies, It's My 500 Likes Giveaway!!!

It was not too long ago that I did my 150 Likes Giveaway and I'm already a couple of hundred likes from that.  Talk about thankful!!  I've been enjoying this ride with my kinkies!  They're sharing pictures, sharing my page and most important of all, being interactive!  

To show my appreciation, as well as introduce you to a beautiful friend, mother and REGAL woman's tee shirt line, I'm doing another giveaway!!  (And the crowd goes WILD... AGAIN!!)  In case you don't know what regal means, it means 'of notable excellence or magnificence.'  One fabulous, regal kinky will win the shirt pictured below.

In order to be eligible, you MUST do the following:

1.  like my FB page Kinky Kinetik as well as Fempowerment Tees' page Fempowerment Tees

2.  post a comment on my giveaway note saying "Enter me, I'm regal because..."

Optional, but REALLY would love it, follow my blog: Kinky's Blog

The giveaway will run from 1/4 - 1/7/12.  It will end at 6pm EST and the winner will be announced on 1/8/12.

The winner will have 48 hours to reply once announced.  This giveaway is open to US residents only.  

Of note, the size that I have been given is XXL, which may also fit XL (sorry).  Too bad it won't fit me!  

Good luck kinkies!

K-Y Jelly... Not Just For Sexing!

So when I say I JUST saw a post about this, I literally JUST saw a post about using K-Y as a hair moisturizer.  I ran right over here to talk blog about it!

Now, I know I already talked about using Monistat on hair and I said thought I had seen it all.  Apparently, I was so WRONG.  (If you didn't read that post about the Monistat, click --> My Scalp Has A Yeast Infection) Some people are literally using any and everything for growth and moisturizing their tresses.  My question is why?

Is hair growth THAT important that you want to resort to usage of Monistat?  Is your hair THAT parched that you have to use lubrication?  Hmm, probably better off using mineral oil... at least it seals in moisture.  (Disclaimer: I do NOT support the usage of mineral oil... I was just being a bit sarcastic.  Please, please, please think of what you are putting in our body.  Know that the stuff noted above will seep into your hair shaft and scalp and travel throughout your body.   Are oils, water, butters and other products geared towards hair NOT enough?

Anyways, just ranting for a bit.  To each their own.  As always - keep it kinky!

You Ain't NATURAL!!

So, there's continued talk among the natural community on what being 'natural' is defined as.  In the past week, I think I have read at least a dozen posts about what is or isn't 'natural.'

While perusing the web and looking for other's definition of natural, I found the following definition by "Unique": your unaltered God given hair as it grows through the epidermis from follicles deep within the dermis.  Not chemically altered, colored, curled or straightened by relaxers, texturizers or other chemical agents and is also free of any and all extensions.

Well Kinky, what are your thoughts?  For the sake of the blog and my fan page, I will be somewhat politically correct.  Based on the definition above, as well as the thoughts of others that I have encountered, you're not natural if:

~you color your hair,
~you wear weaves, wigs and/or extensions,
~you were adopted,
~you don't eat organic,
~you use sulfates, parabens, 'cones, etc.,
~you don't use 'all natural' products,
~you don't remember the date you started to transition and/or did your big chop,
~you're not of African American descent,
~you straighten your hair with a hot comb and/or straightening iron,
~you wear polka dots on Friday,
~you transitioned instead of doing a big chop, and/or
~you don't wear your hair in an afro.

Goodness.  Did I miss anything?

Well how do YOU define 'natural' Kinky?  I feel that you are natural if you do not get a perm, relaxer and/or texturizer... or use any other 'chemicals' to alter your hair texture.  Now, there are some that say that coloring your hair not only changes the color but the texture too.  However, I did not experience this when I colored my hair, and I used henna, box color and a mixture from a stylist/colorist before (not at the same time of course).

I think it is fine to wear weaves, extensions and/or wigs.  However, you may just need to use caution if/when you do.  The usage of weaves, extensions and/or wigs can help when doing protective styles.

I do prefer to use all natural products on my hair, just for overall health reasons.  So no, I don't use parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum/petroleum, silicones, etc.  If you do and that's what makes you and your hair happy - then so be it.  I guess I would rather that than you use a relaxer.  Just please do your research on what you do use [on your hair].

Some of the other statements above were added for comic relief and to show how big of a deal some are making out of what natural is or "ain't."  Opinions are like hair follicles, everyone has SOME!  LoL.

But on a serious tip (old school right), if you don't have a relaxer, perm or texturizer, regardless of whether you choose to, or not to, do the above things, then I, Kinky Kinetik, still consider you natural...  What you do, feel, know, think and/or believe makes you happy, beautiful and confident being a natural, then so be it!  Whatever YOUR definition of natural is is what YOU will have to live with and accept.  What I, or anyone else says possibly does, but shouldn't really, matter when it comes to what you define as 'natural.'

As always, keep it kinky!

Feel free to also check me out on Facebook, Kinky Kinetik, Twitter, Tweet Kinky and YT, KinkyKinetik.