My New Highlights

Well I'm back. I'm in grad school full time so it's going to take me a minute to try & replace the pics on the blog. I did update the pics of when I first got my curl. Yesterday I went to my stylist. At first I was going to get my curl touched up but I'm trying to stretch until it gets warm again so I decided to just get some new color & get my hair straightened. My plan is to get a weave sometime next month, early October & just put my hair away for the rest of the winter.

Also since I'm busy with grad school, I'm looking for a guest writer. Of course I can't pay you but if you're interested in writing articles for the blog, please let me know & give me some ideas of some topics you'd be interested in covering. Toodles...

SMALL HIATUS

I have some things going on in my personal life & I was really down about losing the pics on the blog. I will try & replace as many of them as possible & get back in to the groove of things ASAP. Please bear with me as I take a small hiatus.

My Highlights

When I first got them done, they weren't really showing because my hair is so dark & for health (of my hair) reasons, my stylist didn't lift my hair really light. She said the sun would do it's work & the highlights would get lighter. You still can't see them really good on this picture.

Of course they show up better when I'm outside. What do you think?

HoneyA's Touch-up Pics

I was soooo excited to get these pics today. HoneyA definitely has hair to aspire to. Her curl is simply awesome. I love the pin-up pic. Thanks for sharing!

THE MANY LOOKS OF MY CURLY PERM

I've been meaning to post this pic for some days now...

Product Reviews - Ferm

So here's the lineup for the Ferm Maintenance line & the claims of each product. With the exception of the information on the Moisturizing Aqualizer, this info was taken directly from the Avlon website. For some reason the page wouldn't load that contained the information for the Aqualizer so I had to grab the information from an online beauty supply website that carries the product.





I never investigated Ferm's product line. I was surprised to see that they only carry three products. Now that I think about it, Design Essentials really only has two so I guess that isn't abnormal.












Ferm Moisture Retainer Creme


Claim: A light creamy formulation that maximizes moisture retention to permanent curl and wave hairstyles.


• Normalizes pH of hair.
• Decreases interfiber friction for increased ease of combing.
• Moisturizes permanently waved hair.
• Activates curl and wave patterns.
• Prevents hair from drying out.
• Adds softness and sheen.
• Revitalizes curls and waves.
• Enhances manageability of medium and coarse textured hair.



FERM Stylox Finish Gel

CLAIM: Beautifully maintains permanent curl and body permed hairstyles for fine to medium textured hair.

• Moisturizes both hair and scalp for a healthy looking appearance.

• Activates curl and wave patterns.

• Adds body to fine-textured hair and over-processed ends.

• Designed to withstand hot, humid climates

• Excellent during blow-drying usage to achieve a straight, relaxed hair look.
• Builds body and adds fullness to fine-textured hair especially necessary after a permanent wave service or shampoo.
• Will not stain grey hair and turn hair yellow.
• Does not make hair gummy or tacky in hot humid climates.
• Leaves hair light and fluffy during blow-drying process.

FERM Moisturizing Aqualizer
CLAIM: Corrects moisture deficiencies of hair and scalp. Maintains proper hydration. Conditions permanently curled or body-permed hair.
• Maintains proper moisture level.
• Prepares hair for gels, cremes and lotions.
• Makes hair more manageable.
• Restores proper pH balance.

So for all of you Ferm Perm wearers as well as the ladies that don't have a Ferm Perm but use their products, please chime in with your reviews. Thanks...

Hair Pics

This 1st one isn't so clear b/c it was getting dark on the beach. However, this is one of my favorites because my hair was so big.

Just getting back from vacation...

Hi divas. I have read all of your comments & I will be updating with pictures on tomorrow. I washed my hair for the first time this weekend while I was at the beach. My hair gives me different results on a daily basis but still I'm loving it.

Because I listened to my stylist & didn't wash before my week was up, my curls are still in tact. They don't look exactly the same as the pics I posted but I love them nonetheless.

So, I'll post on tomorrow. Cya then...

FINALLY....MY TOUCHUP PICS...

I HAVE MY CURLS BACK!!! HALLELUJAH!

I won't do this with the next touch-up but I did want to show how my stylist does a retouch. In doing my research, I've learned of different touch-up methods so I wanted you all to see exactly what she does. The rearranger was applied to my new growth only.

Sorry I didn't take pictures of the rodded hair but this time we used 2 rod sizes versus the three we used the last time. These are the two sizes that she used.

This is right after she took the rods out.






This is after I got home. My hair was about 90% dry on these.

And this is me a few minutes ago. My hair is completely dry & I love it. I love how the smaller rods all over gave it a straw set look. Who would ever believe that this is a "curly kit"? LOL

Zara (a.k.a. Loves2Laugh) & Her Ferm Perm...

Natalie's child was sick this week so my appointment was moved to tomorrow. I will post pics as soon as I get home. But I do have a wonderful feature. Thanks Zara!!!

In her words...

Picture 1
First day: it originally looked quite good, but I messed it up trying on clothes whilst shopping & adding more product.

Picture 2

Morning after the retouch: I don’t like the way it looked here, I applied too much product. I had to wait for a couple of hours for it to dry to make it look better (I don’t have any pics of it looking better though, sorry).

Picture 3
Approximately a week after the retouch & it’s filling out quite nicely. I just applied some product & combed a little.

Picture 4

Texture shot, also about a week after the retouch. I love this pic, my hairline looks great! I put too much moisturiser on the edges on the first day & they puffed up, especially the temples/sides. You can even see it in the first photo but it got worse each day. I now use Avlon’s Edge Definer to blend those parts in with the rest of my hair. BTW pls ignore the whitish tinge on my skin! It’s the SPF in my moisturiser; it takes a while to fade.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!! SHORT PRODUCT REVIEW

Well for most of us, Friday is almost over. I just wanted to touch bases with my Divas & let you know that I postponed my hair appointment until Tues of next week. So as soon as I get home from the appointment, you know I'll be posting pics.

I'm still struggling with whether or not I should color my hair. I've gone from 156 pounds to 138.6 (as of today) & I plan to lose 13 more. I would like a total overhaul & of course new color would fit right in. But part of me still loves my black hair.

I think I just need to ask Natalie whether or not I could easily go back to black should I not like or get tired of the color.

Now on to the good stuff - the PRODUCT REVIEW:

I had the privilege of being one of the first people to own/try the Syntonics Edge Define Hairline Smoother. I definitely give this product 2 thumbs up. The minty smell is right on time. The consistency is unlike any other product I've felt & I do mean that in a good way.

And it does live up to it's claims. I first used it while I was wearing my hair straight. No matter if I'm natural, relaxed or curly permed, my hairline is the first to go when it comes to hairstyles. So once my hairline became fuzzy, I used the Smoother to blend it back in with my straight hair.

I did have to reapply daily but I don't think the intended use is really to lay your edges down. I'm working with over 3 months of new growth so once I washed the flatiron style out, I used it to define/blend my edges with the rest of my hair. It worked just fine. I will say this, though. A little goes a long way!

I just checked the Syntonics website & it doesn't appear that it is available for purchase as of yet. However, as soon as it is, I will be doing a giveaway. I'm constantly on the hunt for products that can be used by all curly perm wearers & this is definitely one. Even my stylist was impressed by it & the ingredients & she's a tough cookie when it comes to new products.

Q & A with Design Essentials

I've had the answers from Design Essentials for quite some time. However, I was trying to wait and see whether or not they were going to allow me to post any of their curly perm pics on the blog. Natalie has explained to me why this might be a difficult decision and basically I understand. But if they end up sending me some pics, you know I'll post them.

Here goes...


Will you please give a brief history of the Wave by Design line?
Mr. Cornell McBride, Sr. founded McBride Research Laboratories (MRL) in December of 1990. As a chemist and former owner of M&M Products Company, Mr. McBride brought decades of scientific and hair industry experience to MRL. Wave by Design was the first brand launched under the MRL family and introduced two products: Define & Shine 2N1 Dry Finishing Lotion and Mist & Shine Dry Finishing Spray. These two products were designed to refresh, refine and moisturize permanent waves, texturizers, dry and natural curls. Today, Wave by Design offers a suite of products for creating and maintaining permanent waves. The Wave by Design brand also continues to experience great success while 2N1 consistently holds steady as a top selling MRL product!

What makes Wave by Design different from other curly perms?
Wave by Design is a professional strength permanent wave system that can only be applied by a licensed cosmetologist or professional hair stylist. However, Define & Shine 2N1 Dry Finishing Lotion and Mist & Shine Dry Finishing Spray are available for consumer use and purchase. All Wave by Design products are formulated with gentle, non-drying ingredients to create beautiful, healthy permanent waves on multicultural hair textures. These products infuse moisture-rich conditioners which is essential for permanent wave styles. Most importantly, Wave by Design is ensured with the MRL Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back philosophy.

I read/hear a lot of complaints about the fragrance or lack thereof when it comes to curly perm maintenance products. Have you ever considered or would you ever consider a different fragrance for your maintenance products?
Historically, permanent wave products do not offer cosmetically appealing fragrances. Fragrances can increase the cost and interfere with the performance of the product. MRL understands this challenge and has specifically formulated the Wave by Design Professional Strength Rearranger and Permanent Wave Booster with a low thio fragrance so that it is not as harsh on the senses as traditional permanent wave chemicals.

Do you have a recommended maintenance routine for Wave By Design wearers?
Absolutely!
1. Visit a licensed, professional hair stylist for a hair consultation about your desired permanent wave style. Be sure to discuss your hair history, current lifestyle, maintenance requirements/techniques, and future hair aspirations.
2. Your hair stylist should follow MRL instructions for Wave by Design application. We recommend using the entire system for best results: Professional Strength Rearranger, Moisture Wrap Wave Booster, Wave Lock Conditioning Neutralizer, Define & Shine 2N1 Dry Finishing Lotion, and Mist & Shine Dry Finishing Spray.
3. Apply Define & Shine 2N1 Dry Finishing Lotion, and Mist & Shine Dry Finishing Spray daily to seal in moisture and sheen. Shampoo and condition weekly with Design Essentials for at home maintenance.


Excessive dryness is a chief complaint among curly perm wearers - do you have any tips for combating this issue?
Dryness is the NUMBER 1 CAUSE OF HAIR BREAKAGE. MRL recommends several tips to keep hair hydrated and healthy:
1. Eat a well balanced diet of fruits and vegetables and lean proteins like fish and chicken. Reduce the intake of fried foods and foods high in unhealthy fat and cholesterol. Remember, you are what you eat.
2. Drink WATER, WATER, WATER to hydrate the body from the inside out. This will increase the hair’s moisture level too.
3. Your hair stylist should follow MRL instructions for Wave by Design application. We recommend using the entire system for best results: Professional Strength Rearranger, Moisture Wrap Wave Booster, Wave Lock Conditioning Neutralizer, Define & Shine 2N1 Dry Finishing Lotion, and Mist & Shine Dry Finishing Spray.
4. Apply Define & Shine 2N1 Dry Finishing Lotion, and Mist & Shine Dry Finishing Spray daily to seal in moisture and sheen. Shampoo and condition weekly with Design Essentials for at home maintenance.
5. Sleep on satin or silk pillowcases to retain the hair’s moisture level.


How important is it to exclusively use Design Essential maintenance products when wearing a Wave By Design?
MRL recommends the use of other MRL brands (Design Essentials, Therapeutics Rx, Colaura) on permanent wave styles. As a company, we stand by our products and have thoroughly researched how Wave by Design permanent waves will respond to other MRL products. MRL products work together to create the healthiest, most stylish hair possible. However, we also recommend visiting a professional hair stylist for a customized MRL product prescription that will suit the needs of your hair type, texture, and lifestyle.

Is it okay to wear your hair straightened while wearing a Wave By Design? If so, do you have any advice when it comes to straightening curly permed hair?
Yes, it is okay to wear your hair straightened, but not too frequently. Hair that has been processed with an ammonium thioglycolate permanent wave is designed to stay moisturized for curl definition and separation. Heat or straightening hair utilizing heat will remove moisture from hair which can lead to dryness and breakage. As a general guide, only straighten hair no more than once a month, maintaining that straight style for no more than three days. Weak or damaged hair should be straightened even less frequently.

When straightening permanently waved hair, be sure to use an ionic blow dyer like the pHusion Express Tourmaline Blow Dryer, and a ceramic iron like pHusion Professional Ceramic Styling Irons which helps hair to maintain moisture while using heat.

AND THE WINNER IS....!!!

I'm a few days overdue in my recent giveaway.

So we had four participants.


I cut each name into separate strips and placed them in my nice Tupperware bowl. (:-)



Then I had my teenage son do the drawing. The back you see is my other teenage son that didn't want to be in the picture because he hasn't had a haircut. ((rolls eyes))

AND THE WINNER IS....ZARA a.k.a. LOVES2LAUGH
Zara, please e-mail me your mailing address & I will send your prize out to you right away. Thanks to everyone that participated. I will be doing another giveaway in the very near future.
Also, I will figure out a way to post the list where it's visible all of the time & subject to updates.

MY NEW DO

Today I went to see Natalie for a protein treatment and to get my hair flatironed. This is the first time that it has been straightened since I first got my curl. Also, I don't plan to straighten again until the Christmas holidays for my final length check of the year.

Right now I am APL unstretched. These pics are of my hair blowdried but not 100% straight. Honestly, I'm lazy & don't feel like taking a pic with it stretched. However, I will say that it is touching the pointy part of my shoulder blade, if that makes sense. Basically, I'm less than an inch off from BSB.

Here is a pic of what the finished product looks like.

NO TAKERS ON THE GIVEAWAY?

I tried to make entering the contest as simple as possible. All you have to do is leave the name & contact information of the stylist that does your curly perm. I would like to compile a list of stylists for future reference for those that may be in need.

Also, I just received some products from Avlon but if I can't get y'all to participate in this, how will I get you to participate in another contest? SIGH...

PRODUCT GIVEAWAY

Hi ladies. Forgive me that I haven't been updating as much as I would like to. I won't lie, I've been so absorbed with this new diet that I haven't been doing much else. But what better way to make it up to you than to do a giveaway?

Have you ever heard of the curl cloth?(See below) Well Curls By Us came up with this cloth that's supposed to help with curl definition. It's somewhat hard for me to review because maybe it isn't reviving my curls simply because I don't have any. However, I will say that it is a good towel to use to towel dry your hair without frizz.



I ordered two so I have an extra that I would like to share with you all. For all ladies that leave comments to tell me the name & contact info of their curly perm stylist, I will enter you into the drawing. On next Friday, I'll pick one winner from all of the ladies that leave comments.

Also, I will be taking the information that you all give me & starting a post/curly perm stylist directory that I will update as I receive new information.

Good luck & I hope you all have a GREAT weekend. Take care...

LOOKING FOR A GOOD STYLIST IN MEMPHIS

Anyone know of a good curly perm stylist in the Memphis area? If so please leave their information in the comments or e-mail me. Thanks in advance...

HI DIVAS...

Well, I know I haven't been posting regularly & I'm sorry. I have a lot going on. Though I'm technically a housewife, I'm also a real estate agent & I've had a little bit of business lately. Plus, I have some entrepreneurial fires going.

But no excuses! The biggest problem is I keep looking back at the pics of when I first got my curl done & I could kick myself for not listening to Natalie. I want my curls back like yesterday. Guess I'm in a bit of a hair funk.

So...I've decided not to wait 6 months to retouch. I will be getting my retouch on June 3rd. I'm counting down. 4 more weeks! I've been so disgusted with my hair that I just moisturize it daily & pull it back into a ponytail or a bun. I still try & baggy every night but that's about it.

Since no one has really responded on being a feature, I thought maybe I should just ask for pictures of your curls. If you don't want to be a feature, don't want to answer any questions but you don't mind submitting pics, please e-mail them to me at nakia@curlykitchronicles.com. If you want to remain anonymous, that's fine, too. Just state that in the e-mail & I won't include your name.

I'm waiting on a product I read about on another blog. I ordered three. If it works for me, I will be giving at least one, maybe two away. Still can't decide what would be good incentive for the giveaway...

Well to start it off with pics, here are some pics of DivineMom47. She says, "I used large rollers so that I would get a wavey pattern but no real curls."

I'll be honest when I first received the pics, I had no idea that this was a curl. I guess this just shows the versatility of the awesome curly perm!

Hair That Inspires Me - Part II

Told you I was going to start a movement! LOL


Don't know if this look could be duplicated with a curly perm but I love how her hair is wavy at the roots & curly on the ends.


Can't really put my finger on it. I just like it!


I'm really playing around with the idea of coloring my hair. What do y'all think?


I love her length & her waves/slightly kinky look as well as the color.


Even though I'm leaning toward color, there's a part of me that will always love jet black hair!