Tag: #hairregimen

Hair Moment: Q-Redew Review

So last christmas, a loved one gifted me a Q-Redew hair steamer and I was extremely excited to test it out. Now I not surprised that I had received this gift because it was at the top of my christmas list. I had heard about all the benefits of steaming hair and I was so sure that this Q-Redew was going to revitalize my hair regimen. My hair was going to be stronger, shinier, softer, etc!

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Why I Chose the Q-Redew

But out of all the hair steamers on the hair market, why did I pick the one that looks like a giant green claw? One simple reason: accessibility and easy of use.

I wanted a device that would best suit my natural hair lifestyle. In general I’m pretty laid back when it comes to my hair. I don’t follow any strict rules or timelines; I do what I want to my hair when I want to do it. I needed a device to fit that lifestyle. I wanted a device that was self-explanatory, hand-held, compact, travel-friendly, and something that I could use easily. There was nothing else on the market that suited those needs except the Q-Redew. Other popular hair steamers, such as the Huetiful Hair Steamer, were over-priced in my opinion and cumbersome. I would have to assemble the device, find a flat-surface to place it on and then some how find a comfortable position to sit under this device for how ever long. All of this, assuming that my extremely thick hair would even fit under the hood comfortably. And those weren’t hassles I wanted to incorporate into my carefree natural hair lifestyle. With the Q-Redew I just plug it in and go. If I need to go on a trip and I want to bring my steamer, I can just pack it in with the rest of my hair tools. It’s amazing.

Why I Love the Q-Redew

Outside of being so easy to use, using the Q-Redew cuts down on my deep conditioning time. I used to deep condition for 2 or more hours. Although I loved how my hair felt after a good deep conditioning, who really enjoys having a cream slathered on their head for hours on end? With the Q-Redew I deep condition for 30 minutes and that is all.  I get the same results, if not better, in half the time. Using the Q-Redew also makes detangling so easy. I deep condition while I detangle. Once my hair is freshly washed, I’ll section it into 4 and apply my deep conditioner of choice. Then I will steam each section for about 5-8 minutes each and while I’m steaming the tangles just melt away. I kid you not. In the end, my hair is deep conditioned and thoroughly detangled. It make’s wash day something to look forward too.

But the Q-Redew does have it’s short-comings. Personally, I think that the cord is too short. As a hair tool I think that the cord should be a comfortable length. But I substitute the short chord by using an extension cord. Also, the water reservoir on the Q-Redew isn’t very big. Once all of the water has been used up it has to be refilled and filling up the water reservoir continuously can be annoying if I’m are steaming for a while. When I steam my hair I usually have to refill the reservoir 3-4 times. It’s annoying but it’s not a deal breaker for me because the Q-Redew suits so many of my other needs.

Pros

  • Allows me to get an intense deep condition in little time
  • Makes detangling such an ease! Seriously
  • Great for refreshing hairstyles
  • Can be used on wet or dry hair
  • Easy to Use
  • Easy to Clean
  • Travel Friendly
  • Powerful

Cons

  • The cord is too short
  • Filling up the water reservoir frequently can get annoying

How Steaming has Effected my Hair

The big question is have I noticed a difference in my hair since I have been steaming and I would have to say yes. I have noticed that my hair stays retains moisture a lot longer after a good steaming session and it responds better to products. A better response to products usually results in a effortless style i.e. my flat twist-outs and braid-outs look great with half the effort. Would I reccommend this product? Yes I would. It’s a great addition to my natural hair regimen but it is not a crucial component of it. It does not make my hair any healthier than it was before I received this steamer. A good consistent regimen will always trump any new product on the market.  My advice to any one thinking about investing in a steamer is to do your research on the steamer than best suits your natural hair needs and lifestyle. Once you think you’ve narrowed it, sleep on it. I waited at least six months to decide if I really wanted a Q-Redew and at the end of those 6 months I still was interested in owning a steamer it so I added it to my Christmas list.

Other Options for Steaming

A steaming the device isn’t the only way to steam the hair. A simple DIY steaming method would be to get a plastic bag, spritz the inside lightly with water and plop that sucker on your head for a couple of hours and let the natural heat from your body build the steam up in the bag. To intensify the heat, moisten a small towel, microwave it for 15 seconds and than wrap the towel around your head and over the plastic bag. Wala! An inexpensive steam treatment.

If you have any questions about the Q-Redew, please ask them in the comment section below and I’ll be sure to respond.

Thank you for sharing another #HairMomentwithMarsha

Do you steam your hair? If so what method do you use and have you noticed any changes?

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Hair Moment: Is Oil Actually Important for Your Hair?

A lot of hair blogs discuss the importance of adding oils to a hair regimen. But why is oil so important to natural hair?

oils-for-hair

Before I can get into why oil is important to the hair and skin, I have to talk about the natural oils that are produced by our bodies internally. Humans have these things called sebaceous glands that secrete an oily matter called sebum; sebum lubricates and protects the skin and hair of mammals. Sebaceous glands are are located every where on the human body except the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. However, sebaceous glands have the highest numbers on the face and scalp. When the sebaceous glands over-produce sebum, some people can suffer from greasy scalps and greasy faces which can lead to acne.sebum21

Sebum helps to keep our skin healthy. It prevents our bodies from losing too much water and prevents too much water from entering our bodies (ex: when you sit in a bath too long you will start to get ‘pruny’ because the sebum acting in your skin has washed away and because this protective layer has been removed your skin loses water which creates the ‘pruny’ effect).

But how is sebum related to my hair regimen?

hair type

It’s a common fact that most people with straighter hair textures tend wash their hair frequently. This is because sebum travels down the hair shaft from the scalp. Because those individuals have straighter hair textures, sebum has an easier time traveling which leads to limp, greasy hair in a matter of days. On the other hand, people with kinkier or more coiled hair may not need to cleanse their hair as often because the sebum has a difficult time traveling down the hair shaft due to the hair texture. But this difficulty in traveling, my friends, is why kinky haired individuals are always facing an uphill battle with hair dryness. We need to add oils to our hair because the oils our bodies naturally produce have a hard time getting to where it needs to go. And this is why other oils are important to the kinky-haired individual. This is also why the ends are driest part of the hair shaft and a lot of products geared towards natural hair contain oils.

So find the oil that you think best suits your hair and incorporate it into you regimen.

What’s your favorite oil? Comment below!

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Hair Moment: Faux Locs Tutorial

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Recently I self-installed some faux locs to give my hair a break and to try something different. This style was relatively simple to do but you do need a lot of patience. My faux locs are super light weight and easy to maneuver which is such a plus compared to braids or twists which can really cumbersome and heavy. If you are interested in watching my technique you can watch my tutorial below.

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Happy watching and thank you for sharing this #HairMomentwithMarsha!

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Hair Moment: LOC/LCO Method

So what exactly is this method that is raved about all over online? What is the all the hype about?

The LCO/LOC Method is a used to aid in moisturizing the hair and combat dryness. If done correctly with the right products your hair can retain moisturize for up to a week and even longer. As a type-4 natural, my hair is quite kinky and extremely thick. Needless to say, dry hair is something I will always had and always will have to deal with. I find that this method coupled with my choice of products and hair regimen cuts down on the amount of time I spend having to re-moisturize my hair on a weekly basis.

So what is the LOC Method…

liquid

L is for Liquid

Examples of Liquids that can be used are plain old water, aloe vera juice, or any water based moisturizer or leave-in that is on the runnier end such as the Infusium 23 leave-in.

oil

O is for Oil

Any oil can be used for this step, choose whatever best suits you hair. I would recommend oils that penetrate the hair shaft such as Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Almond, Oil, and Avocado Oil.

Opened plastic container with cream on a white background.

C is for Cream

Again, any cream can be used but I would choose a water-based cream and stay away from heavier butters and custards to avoid product overload. Below are some great options for creams:

Jane Carter Solution Hair Nourishing Cream, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner

Now that I’ve listed the ingredients involved in the LOC Method I’ll break down the actual method.

Step 1: On clean hair, apply your Liquid of choice.

Step 2: Follow up with the Oil to seal in moisture from applying the Liquid.

Step 3: Finish up with the Cream as an second layer of sealant to lock the moisture into the hair shaft.

And wala! Moisturized hair that should retain moisture for at least a couple of days. I personally follow variations of this method because it better suits my hair. I prefer the LCO method which is just the LOC Method rearranged. I prefer to seal with an oil as my last step because my hair responds better with this sequence. Another variation I use is after my hair is washed and deep conditioned, I’ll skip the liquid and just add a Cream and seal with shea butter. For my liquid I use aloe vera juice diluted with distilled water or Infusium 23. For my oil I use coconut oil or olive oil. As my cream I use Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner (can also be used as a leave-in and/or moisturizer even though it’s a rinse-out conditioner) or Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, or Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream.

Other tips you might find helpful:

#1: The method and the products go hand in hand

You can follow the steps correctly and use the wrong products for your hair and find that you hair still isn’t retaining moisture. Or you can find the right products and use them in a sequence that doesn’t agree with your hair. Trial and error will help.

#2: Some products don’t play nice together

Be careful what products that you are pairing together, some products don’t mix well with others. You would hate to spend all that time washing, conditioning, and moisturizing your hair only to end up with a sticky gooey mess you have to rinse out. Be sure to test the products out together before applying to you hair.

#3: Use the products sparingly

Because you are applying so many products to your hair, be sure to not be too heavy handed with every product or you could end up with super-moisturized and super-greasy hair. Yikes.

#4: Your hair regimen is key

This LOC/LCO Method is fabulous, but if coupled with a poor hair regimen the won’t last. The LOC/LCO Method complements a consistent regimen. This method is not intended to give you hair all the moisture it needs. You will still need to wash and condition your hair as well as make sure your diet corresponds the nutrients you hair needs internally.

#5: Use this method at your own discretion

Folk, this method isn’t intended to suit everyone. People with finer, less kinky strands would best benefit from a different method. This method suits type-4 naturals the best.

What products do you use for the LOC/LCO Method and what sequence works best for your hair? Be sure to comment below! If you have any variations of the LOC/LCO method or have any other tips or suggestions comment below and be sure to hashtag #HairMomentwithMarsha on Instagram or Twitter so I can see your LOC/LCO products!

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