The Edgestick (Special Offer Included)

 Some months ago I was introduced to a "variation" of the EdgeStick by a  friend.  Neither of us were familiar with this product so we plugged it in, I showed her how I thought it should work using it on my edges and that was the end of that.  At that time, with that particular variation, I was not impressed.  Fast forward some months and I accidentally came across a "better-looking" EdgeStick.  One with a digital temperature gauge reaching 400 degrees (unlike the version I tried w/a numerical dial indicating 1-5).  "This" EdgeStick was receiving rave reviews, had my attention and I was sold! Being a long term stretcher I thought this would be the perfect heat tool to control my number one issue when stretching...my edges.  My edges get disrespectful, unruly, and down right rude. I figured with the EdgeStick in my corner I could possibly up the stretching ante.  So my mom surprised me and ordered it for me as a gift last month and when it arrived I couldn't wait to try it.  I was about 2 wks shy from being 3 months post at the time and trust me I needed something serious!

Well something serious did I get!!!  Woo-hoo, I'm on a roll! It's like this was the missing piece to the "everything I need for my hair puzzle!!!" My description of the EdgeStick is a combination of a flat iron and a hot comb.  It's the middle ground if you will.  The ceramic barrel in the center is encased in a double comb. The comb aspect works something like a rat tail comb, w/o the the snagging and pulling, really working out the coil/kink and of course the heat is laying those strands down leaving your hair straight and silky!!!  I was very satisfied, even with my first attempt.  Now what really has me going is that I just finished up my mom's hair and she is 9 months post. After blow-drying her hair, I used the edgestick to straighten her ENTIRE HEAD!!!!!  (Hair's tha thing with that, my mom has 4a FINE hair, it's not coarse at all, much different from my 4a/b coarse, densely packed strands.  I attempted to pull it all the way through my hair and that was a big NO NO).  Anyhoo, what I love about this heat tool is I had it on 390 degrees for both my mom and myself and the double-comb feels like nothing more than a warm rag rubbing across your scalp.  It was actually quite soothing. My primary interest in purchasing was to utilize it for the coarse, short hairs that are growing back in my alopecia patch. They are too short to flat iron and the hot comb burns the scalp.  The EdgeStick was perfect!!!  I was able to pull it through that area w/o any burning or flinching on my part.  It felt like nothing more than  me combing my hair with a slightly warm comb.  I was actually shocked to have a bush in that spot b/c I haven't been able to straighten it! You can only imagine the smile on my face to see that spot is finally growing in. I even took this with me on vacay.  In the process of doing my mom's hair she couldn't believe that the EdgeStick was touching her scalp b/c she felt minimal heat. My mom was so impressed with the results of her hair she said she is ordering one immediately! And the greatness doesn't stop there folks, our friends over at EdgeStick are kindly extending a 20% discount to Hair's Tha Thing's readers for a limited time!!! Simply click on the link below to purchase at the 20% off discounted rate (the deductions are already reflected in the price shown via the attached link).  The best part is you can choose from either the Consumer (200°F - 400°F, available in white) or the Professional (200°F - 450°F, available in black):


http://originaledgestick.com/orders-HairsThaThing.html


Enjoy!

PR: Kinky-Curly Knot Today

So I've finally found my Holy Grail leave-in/detangler.  That's right, move over Giovanni Weightless Moisture there's a new sheriff in town and her name is Kinky-Curly Knot Today.....My affair began a few months ago...at first it was nothing, curiosity at best, I would see KCKT everywhere I went, as I was searching the forums, hair boards and blogs, I noticed a lot, and I mean a lot, of natural women* were using this KCKT as their detangler and leave-in.  It sparked my interest and on numerous occasions while shopping in Whole Foods it was calling me on the shelf, but I rejected the urge as I had a "couple" of bottles of my Giovanni left......And then there was 1.....Since I am far into a stretch I decided to stock up so that I wouldn't have any last minute disasters as this new growth is kickin!  Now don't get me wrong, I have like 4 stores in a 5 block radius that sell Giovanni but of course this was my excuse to appease the inner pj in me.  So the day b/4 my trip I took the ultimate chance and purchased the KCKT, something I would not normally do esp. while travelling with all this new growth.  Ok, so to balance it out I decided, to wash and curl my hair before I left for my vacay, of course it was an excuse to try out my new leave-in. And so our affair began!  Let's just say I was not disappointed in any area; this stuff smells amazing, feels amazing, works amazingly, good gosh ya'll!  I used this everyday on my vacation, even had the hubby dipping his grubby paws into my stash!  The slip is like no other, now don't get me wrong Giovanni definitely holds its weight, but it's something about KCKT that just takes it up a notch. Is it the fact that it just melts the kinks away in my new growth and makes the comb glide, or b/c a little definitely goes a long way, or maybe b/c if you happen to use a lot, your hair still doesn't feel weighed down, heavy or greasy, or how about the fact that everytime I smell it, it put's me right back on an island with a tropical drink in my hand!  Folks, it's not just one thing, it's ALL of these things that make me say to Giovanni, honey I ain't never coming home!

Funny thing is I was never dissatisfied with Giovanni so I'm not sure why subliminally I was never "complete" with her either.  I had no complaints, even referred her to many a person but the reviews and the Whole Foods shelves were just calling me w/KCKT.  To be honest, I am upset that it took me this long to give in to my inner pjism.  This is a good and a bad thing but I won't go into that now. Bottom line is, run don't walk to the nearsest store (or websites) and order you a bottle of KCKT Natural Leave-In Detangler.  I highly doubt you will be disappointed! (Btw I used it on dry hair once or twice to moisturize and it was very moisturizing as well).  A new staple, esp for stretches.

Ingredients: organic Mango fruit extract, organic slipper elm, organic marshmallow root, organic lemongrass, cetyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate, citric acid, phenoxyethanol and natural fragrance

*(I watch a lot of products referenced and used by 4a/b naturals.  When these ladies say something "softens" or makes their hair more "manageable" I quickly take heed. I mean during a stretch your new growth IS your natural texture and IS what's actually causing all of the breakage and manageability issues at the line of demarcation so for me it not only makes sense but it IS effective.  However this is a theory and practice that works for ME)

Sun & Fun

It feels good to be back from a much needed, but much exhausting vacation.  7 days in the Caribbean sun and beach water did good for relaxation and rest assured I was fully equipped to handle my hair.  My hair care items were just as important as my bathing suits and sunblock, and let me tell you, I felt good handling my hair like a real pro, no tangles, no snarls, no dryness.....it made the vacay that much easier.

First off, before I stepped off the boat for each island I made sure I thoroughly saturated my hair with water while taking a shower that morning.  I then used my mixture of avocado and olive oil that I prepared in a small bottle, making sure it was distributed along all of  my hair strands.  I pulled my hair back in a pony and bun.  On the way to and from the beaches I wore a large straw hat to protect my hair from the sun.....We spent so many hours on the beach each day, so on return to my cabin I would step in the shower really quickly to rinse the sand from my hair and out of my bathing suit. I then towel dried and alternated the application of either Jessicurl or Hairveda's SitriNillah.  Shout out to Traycee at KISS b/c I picked up this next part from her, I would go up to the steam room and sauna with the dc in my hair to really let it penetrate while I further relaxed from all the wear and tear on the beach (falling off the banana boat (twice!), jumping the tarzan swing off the pier into the ocean, the water trampoline...I'm just glutton for punishment sometimes..lol). I spent about 1/2 hour alternating between the sauna and steam room, then headed back to my cabin and showered while I cowashed my hair with Nature's Gate.  I did a final cold water rinse and t-shirt dried while I handled my business.

I then used Kinky Curly Knot Today leave-in (review later today, maybe tomorrow) and moisturized and sealed w/Bee Mine Luscious Balanced Cream Moisturizer (review to follow) and my olive oil/avocado oil mixture.  I primarily air-dried except for two nights which were elegant/captain nights on the ship where I blow dried and flat ironed. My hair felt and still feels amazing!  It was so soft, and moisturized and felt really healthy.  My new growth was so manageable, detangling was a breeze, I was on easy street.  I only brought along these six products and it made me realize how much of a solid regimen I have. Not one bump in the road!  Cowashing 5 out of 7 days gave my hair some serious moisture benefits, I may just up the amount of x's I cowash until the weather changes.

 BTW, I am 15.5 wks post (more on that later)

Test of Time

So I've got a big challenge ahead of me next week.  I am leaving on Sunday for vacay and am officially 13.5 wks post.  Yep, I went past the 3 month/12 week mark that I am accustomed to.  It's not too bad but the only thing is I'm not sure how this is going to pan out with the sun, the beach, cowashing, detangling etc for 7 days....... I've past the point of no return so I'm determined to make it work.  Needless to say I will probably need an extra bag for hair products alone :-(

 I am not going to announce how long I plan on stretching, b/c it seems whenever I do so I have to eat my words.  I am just gonna take it one week at a time.