Love Month Giveaway #3 - CURLS

Yay it's February AKA Kinky's Love Month!!

And so here we are... our third week in to Kinky's Love Month Giveaways and we have a curltastic  giveaway for you Kinkies!  As you know, for the entire month of February, I'm sharing some of my favorite earrings, products and apparel with all of my Kinkies.  Next up is the Coconut Sublime Conditioner from CURLS!!  Sounds YUMMY doesn't it?!?

The giveaway will run from 2/15 - 2/21/12, until 12 midnight. The winner will be announced on 2/22/12 on Kinky's Facebook page.  The winner will have 24 hours to reply with their mailing address, so that it can forward this information directly to CURLS.  Failure to do so means that you forfeit your winnings and another winner will be chosen.     

In order to be eligible, you MUST like Kinky Kinetik on Facebook, follow Kinky's blog and like CURLS on Facebook.  

Kinky's 2011 Art Work

Hey Kinkies.  Here's a few watercolor paintings that I did while I was on a Caribbean cruise in July 2011.  The final one is sponging.

 

 

 

 

Just sharing a bit of me.... Feel free to also check me out on Facebook, Kinky Kinetik

~Keep it Kinky~

Product Review - L.A.C.E Enterprises

If you have followed me on Facebook and my blog, you would know that I recently wore a twist out that not only got a lot of compliments but also had someone come put their hands all up in my hair.  P.S. - I am still feeling some kind of way about that!  You can read my original thoughts about it here.  Anyways, so the product that I used to help me create such a beautiful twist out was from L.A.C.E Enterprises.  L.A.C.E stands for Ladies Always Create Excitement and apparently that's what me and my hair did!

What's In L.A.C.E Enterprises' Products?

Nourishing Amazon Hair & Body Butter: Murumuru butter, cupuacu butter, mango butter, shea butter, argan oil, olive oil, boabab oil, soya bean oil, aloe vera oil, avocado oil, meadowfoam oil, herbal extracts, essential oil blend, and fragrance blend.

Hydrating Leave-In Detangler  Spray: Distilled water, aloe vera juice, coconut oil, cetearyl alcohol, BTMS, castor oil, vitamin e, hydrolized wheat protein, meadowfoam oil, black willow back extract, essential oil blend, neem oil, fragrance oil blend, and natural preservative.

What's your first impression of L.A.C.E Enterprises'Kinky?  I have to say that I have found ANOTHER product that I love.  I loved my results of my twist out and my hair was soft throughout the review process.  On Sunday night, I shampooed with a bar that I previously reviewed and then I sprayed the Hydrating Leave-in Detangler Spray.  This lemon-zest-smelling spray worked great on my daughter's hair.  My hair was already a bit tangled as I was rocking a fro and did not detangle much prior to shampooing.  It did; however, help with detangling my own hair.  I wasn't sure how it would hold up as normally I use something thicker for detangling.  I was overall pleased, especially given the state my hair was in; however, I would suggest you finger detangle, as much as possible first, if you previously had your hair in a style that allows for easy tangling.  

After detangling as much as I cared to, I started my two strand twists, while applying the Nourishing Amazon Hair & Body Butter.  This butter is not as pictured on the site.  The site's butter is creamy looking; however, mine arrived whipped (no complaints about that).  This butter smelled a bit minty and literally will melt in your hands.  In fact, it started to soften by the time I was finish twisting my hair and ready to start my daughter's hair.  The butter, in solid form, is very light and will leave your hands oily. I actually liked that as I rubbed the remaining butter on the hair and body.

So, Monday I kept the twist in all day as I worked from home.  When I woke up on Tuesday, I misted the leave-in detangler in my hair.  On my way to the office, I took the twists out using the butter.  My twist out was POPPING!  I loved it (and so did others).  Each night I used my bonnet, did not retwist and only a few nights did I pineapple the twists going to the back.  The following morning, I shook them out and was on my way.  Each day and night I misted the spray on my hair.  The mist was very refreshing to the scalp.  I used it a few times on my daughter as her hair does not require nearly as much moisture as mines.  She said the spray was "tingly."  For her twists, I left them in until Friday.

 Here is how my hair looked with both products applied.

Here are my finished twists that were done on wet hair.

Here's my daughter's finished twists...

  And now for the twist out...

 Close up... peep the definition.  They were soft and bouncy!!

As stated above, I pineappled the twists to the back.  

I liked it so I decided to rock that style Friday until Saturday.

 Here's a front and back shot of my daughter's twist out... she decided she wanted to make a silly face. :-)                              

  Here I just took out the ouchless ponytail as I am about to prepare for shampoo. 

This is Saturday afternoon... 

As you can see, my twist out lasted from Tuesday morning to Saturday evening, with no retwisting.  I'm sure it would have lasted longer than Saturday but I wouldn't know exactly how many days as I generally shampoo on Sundays. That's pretty good hold for me not to have used gel.

Feel free to also check me out on Facebook, Kinky Kinetik

~Keep it Kinky~

Where to buy: L.A.C.E Enterprises

Disclaimer: I was sent this product for the purpose 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 L.A.C.E Beauty and is thereby not responsible for your experience with the product.

Interview With Jai, She Prefers a TWA And Won't Have It Any Other Way!

I have interviewed a big chopper, a loc'er and a sister locker and now it's time to show love to those that faithfully rock their TWA (teenie, weenie afro).  Jai, thanks so much for taking the time out to do this interview.  I want to hear all about how and why you ONLY rock a TWA.  Let's get started...

For those those that don't know you, please introduce yourself and tell us how long you have been natural.   Hi.  My name is Janine but I like to be called Jai (pronounce Jeye).  I am a single mother of three young adults, grandmother of one and 1/2 grandchildren - due in July. :-)  (aww, congrats)  I have worked in Radiology Imaging for 21 years and currently employed as a MRI Technologist in St. Louis, MO.  I was originally natural for eight years, but it was a black or platinum blonde fade.

What is your hair type?  I have a mixture of Type 4B/C.

Who, if anyone, influence you to go (and/or stay) natural?  I decided to go natural due to the information I researched after having to take a steroid for a kidney problem.  From prior history of skin sensitivity when on a steroid, I decided to forgo a scheduled perm.  Well, I ended up staying on the medicine longer than I expected and experienced very weak permed ends.  I decided to BC it myself.  I did follow up at a barber shop for shaping.  

Was that the first time ever that you BC'ed?  I have done many BC's because I used to rock a fade for nine years.  However, I did the last BC August 27, 2010.

So you love to wear your hair in a TWA, why?  Why not allow your hair to grow longer?  I love my TWA because I feel my facial features are accentuated more with less hair.  I also feel that I can maintain a TWA better at this length.  I have to agree Jai, you are a beautiful woman!!

What is your favorite way to rock your TWA?  My favorite style and staple style is my bantu knot twist-outs.  I use my fingers and section off my hair with fingers only and using KCCC.  I two strand twist and bantu knot my entire head.  The smaller the sections, the tighter the finished look.  

I spray with an oil mixture concoction of castor oil, EVOO, peppermint, distilled water and KC LIC.  I tie down the bantu knots with a a silk scarf and place a bonnet over that to help absorb any excess oils from getting on my pillow.

Besides what you already mentioned, what's another part of your regimen?  My hair doesn't like to be washed more than once a week so I cowash when my hair has oil buildup.  For prepoo, I mix one egg yolk, 3 tbs of EVOO, one tbs of honey and turmeric (supposed to stimulate growth) and apply it to my hair and cover with a plastic cap.  I usually cover the cap with a head wrap and keep it in for an hour.  I love Garnier Hello Hydration shampoo and conditioner.  I deep condition with Blue Magic Cholesterol Condition and Blue Magic Argan Herbal and I do a hydrating LIC once a month.  

At night, I do a three minute scalp massage using castor oil and spritz my hair with the oil and water concoction I previously mentioned.  My protective styling is usually wigs so that I can do this nightly treat.  Wow Jai, I think I may have to try that daily three minute massage.  I do it sporadically but since I am doing some form of maintenance and tying up my hair every night anyways, I might as well incorporate that massage with it.

Do you have to deal with an abundance of fairy knots and/or tangles while wearing your TWA?  If so, how do you manage them?  My fairy knots were more present before I starting trimming my ends to keep my desired length - accidental solution!   LoL.  I do not use heat or combs in my hair. I think keeping my hair moisturized helps with the remaining fairly knots.  

Understood.  So in thinking of a celebrity, who is your hair inspiration idol?  I didn't really have one until people started saying that I look like Wanda Sykes.  After looking up to her, I began to love her hair - the thickness and how she keeps it out of her face.  I can see how people see Wanda Sykes when they look at you... especially rocking the same type of style.

Although you love to rock your TWA, would you ever consider growing your hair out?  I think I would like to see my hair longer eventually, but I feel so comfortable with my TWA maintenance time.  Longer hair would be more time.  I have to agree with you on that one Jai!!

We all love accessories, at least I think we all do, what's your favorite accessory that you feel compliments your TWA?  I love earrings (all sizes and styles) and feel they are the "icing" to my TWA.

Well thank you so much Jai.  I really enjoyed getting to know you!  Thank you for taking the time out to get to know a little.  I hope my story helps someone accept their TWA stage or choice.  I'm sure that someone will Jai.

Here are some pictures of Jai as throwbacks (the first two), when she BC'ed, and more current ones...

 

Feel free to also check me out on Facebook, Kinky Kinetik

 ~Keep it Kinky~

Book Review - One Hairstyle, Thirty-one Ways: Extending the Life of Your Two-strand Twists

Hey kinkies.  I am back with another review; however, this time it is for a natural hair e-book titled "One Hairstyle, Thirty-one Ways: Extending the Life of Your Two-strand Twists."  The book was written by Naturally Twisted.

Naturally Twisted wrote One Hairstyle, Thirty-one Ways: Extending the Life of Your Two-strand Twists as like other naturals, she had gotten bored with her hair and was tired of the maintenance.  She wanted to create a long-lasting style to prevent herself from going back to getting a relaxer or taking a step towards the hassle of extensions.   She decided to put two-strand twists in her hair as they are not only long-lasting  but they are also versatile.  Naturally Twisted came up with a few ways, thirty-one to be exact, to style your two-strand twists.  She decided to share her styles with the world!

What's your first impression of "One Hairstyle, Thirty-one Ways: Extending the Life of Your Two-strand Twists" Kinky?  I actually liked the book.  I know a lot of people rely on YouTube or other videos for style tutorials; however, in talking with the Kinkies on my Facebook page, some prefer reading instead of watching a video.  I am like that as times as well.  This is most convenient when you are on the go or just in a mood to actually read.  I was able to enjoy this e-book on my iPod Touch (it is better to see the pictures when in landscape).

There are step-by-step instructions, along with lots of photos, to help walk you through the styling of your two-strand twists.  At the start of each style, Naturally Twisted lets you know of all the hair tools you will need to recreate that particular style  In the beginning of the book, she also tells of the tools you would need and how to maintain your two-strand twists.  One thing that I would also like to mention is the fact that she showed variations of some styles.  With the styles, you can either dress them up with accessories, wear them as is and/or tweak them to fit your own personal style.  The styles can be worn for various occasions and can be done on locs as well.  You do not have to have your hair twisted to do these styles!

Once I finished reading the book, I definitely had some 'take-aways' and favorite styles.  My three favorite styles are the "Half Moon, "Whadyasay," and "Infinity."  An honorable mention is "Date Night."

The one thing that I would change, rather give feedback on, is having all of the pictures up top, followed by the instructions.  I would prefer that each step be followed by a picture showing how to do that particular step, or vice versa where you see the picture and the step follows.  I think that would be easier when trying to do the styles.  When you download the e-book, I also like that I was given the option of which format I wanted to download it as.  This is great as some e-readers only allow certain format for use.

I decided to try out a few styles on my daughter's hair (she did not have mini-twists)... here are the results...

"Poconos"

 "Whadyasay"

 "Half Moon"

Well, that's my take on the book Kinkies.  I think one day I will put some mini-twists in me and my daughter's hair so that we can try more of the styles.  Feel free to also check me out on Facebook, Kinky Kinetik

Where to buy: Naturally Twisted Hairstyles

Disclaimer: I purchased this product for the purpose 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 Naturally Twisted and/or One Hairstyle, Thirty-one Ways: Extending the Life of Your Two-strand Twist and is thereby not responsible for your experience with the product.