Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Worth it Thursday: Delicious Curls.


I haven't done a Worth it Wednesday in a long, long time - but I've discovered something so exciting I just had to share!

(Does this sound like that beginning of some spam comment?)

(And, YES, I know it isn't Wednesday. I procrastinate, okay?)

A few months ago, I mentioned a haircare product that worked for me and someone suggested coconut oil as a possible solution for a curly haircare product that isn't laden with chemicals and packaged with tons of plastic.

So I tried it - after a few frustrating attempts to figure out how exactly you could use coconut oil for your HAIR (it doesn't rinse out like conditioner. It just sort....stays.), I figured out a little formula that works really well for me. If you have naturally curly or wavy hair - give it a try! Because it has holding properties and is slightly oily, it gives the curl a really nice, defined shape. Plus, it has far less chemicals that most curly hair products and comes in a glass jar, which is recyclable. And if that's not beautiful, I don't know what is.

Curls.
(This picture isn't even a good representation of how awesome my hair looks with coconut oil. Imagine this with more curls and less frizz.)


Ashley's Awesome Coconut Oil Curly Hair Regimen:
  1. Shampoo hair.
  2. Put a small amount of coconut oil in hair. It doesn't really rinse out, but you can try.
  3. Get out of shower and braid hair in two braids.
  4. After hair is mostly or fully dry, undo braid and finger comb. Add a tiny bit of curly hair products if needed. (I usually use a dab of Garnier Fructis curl cream.)
  5. Check yourself out in the mirror. I dare you not to feel sexy.
  6. BONUS! When you wash your hair a day or two later - the coconut oil makes it SUPER soft and conditioned. Awesome.

18 comments:

  1. I have very thick coarse wavy hair and I use coconut oil too. For me since a product that weighs my hair down is something I actually like I put on the oil once my hair is dry or just about dry because I am impatient. I only put it from ears down really. Whatever residue is left on my hands I wipe on my little face fly aways.

    If you heat up the oil a bit it makes a great hot oil treatment for your scalp. I had a horribly itch scalp and did a hot oil treatment and a clarifying wash and I feel so much better.

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  2. I am definitely going to try that! I try to avoid putting too many chemicals on my head, but it can be difficult with curly hair. I do love an apple cider vinegar rinse and an occasional deep treatment with olive oil.

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  3. I wish coconut oil had the magical properties of creating curls where there are none. Sometimes I get so bored with my straighter than a stick hair, but NOTHING makes it wavy or curly. I wish I could have soft curls like that... occasionally, anyway.

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  4. Wow I have to try this. And curls without a curling iron? I'm totally sold.

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  5. Have you ever tried the no 'poo ideas? I am too scared- someday.

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  6. oooo thanks for the tip! Never would have tried it in a million years. Do you mean the solid coconut oil stuff, or oil that is already liquid (I think we only have the solid stuff around here).

    By the boo, I tagged you in a photo game. I know I don't comment much but I do read (& love) your blog!

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  7. That sounds like a good (and yummy smelling) idea! I have shorter hair, so probably instead of braiding, I'd twist sections of hair up to the scalp and clip them.

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  8. Thanks so much for the recommendation! I'm going to have to give this a shot because I never have even thought about coconut oil before.

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  9. My hair is oily so I don't think that stuff will work for me but your hair does look very smellable in that pic.
    Yes, I realize this comment sounds creepy.

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  10. Someone mentioned "no poo," and I have to second this! I have naturally curly hair, and I too hate using products/chemicals. My process looks something like this:

    1. Wash hair using a sulfate-free shampoo (Burt's Bee's makes one that's fairly inexpensive). Sulfates dry the hair out, making you have to use more products to calm the frizz.

    2. Conditioner with coconut oil (right now I'm using Organix brand--it's okay).

    3. Towel dry hair with microfiber towel to reduce frizz.

    4. Use a coconut oil serum (again from Organix), then use some kind of chemical-laden curl cream.

    My aunt who also has wavy hair skips shampoo altogether and just conditions her hair every couple of days. She claims it works fine, and then she doesn't have to use much product because her hair stays oily, but when I tried that, my scalp broke out :(

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  11. Super post!

    I lived in southern India for a few months and have naturally crazy wavy hair.. the humidity made me look like I had some crazy blond lions mane! My best friend there told me about coconut oil (it seems that they all use it) & bam.. problem solved. Love it!

    -Benny

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  12. Looks beautiful! I'll have to give this a try.

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  13. I'm going to try this ASAP! I love wearing my hair curly but feel like I'm doing so much damage to it. Thanks for the tip.

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  14. This post reminds me of a pantene commercial - and you seriously look "in love" [withyourhair].

    This should be a commercial. If had even a slight kink in my hair I'd spread this stuff all OH-VAH it!

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  15. Since my hair is wave-y I think I will definitely try out the coconut oil! Yay for natural products! And recyclable packaging! Hooray! Love the picture of you w/ this post - you look so happy! And your head looks beautiful! Love the beachy look!

    p.s. So cute that you called me Sarahbeara -- reminds me of high school! :) xoxo

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  16. I have officially made you my internet twin. Here's why:

    1. we are the same height
    2. we both have brown eyes
    3. your hair looks almost EXACTLY like mine
    4. I really like you.

    :)

    thanks for the great tip! I am definitely going to try this!

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  17. It seems like one of life's perils for a curly haired girl-to CONSTANTLY RETHINK the hair care products that worked fine last month but now the curl has morphed and become resistant to it! AGHHH!

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