Week 32: Chicoro's Moisture Method Review

So readers, I've still been having a lot of trouble with dryness in my hair. It stays somewhat moisturized on day one, but after that it's like running my fingers over a desert cactus: Dry, hard, prickly hair that feels like it might crumble in my fingers. Well, of course the only thing to do when you have a problem is to try solving it; and I think I might have found my solution. It's one I'm sure those of you researching transitioners have heard of: Chicoro's moisture method. I've read about it in passing several times on my favorite hair board, LHCF, but I'm not a bandwagon-jumper, so I didn't pay too much attention to it. This time when I ran across the name I just so happened to be fingering my natural roots and thinking about my hair drought frustration, and decided, "What the heck? Nothing else has worked for longer than a day. So some of you may be asking, "What is Chicoro's moisture method?"

 Well I had to do a Google search to find the answer. A Grl Can Mac was one of the first blogs that came up. She interviewed Chicoro on her moisture method. Her method of moisture is based on layering specific types of products to keep your hair from losing moisture too fast: Moisture, oil, and an emulsifier. For moisture, I chose plain water to start (next time I'll use Shea Moisture's Hair Milk), for my oil, I used the same old Africa's Best Herbal Oil, and for an emulsifier I used shea butter since I had it on hand. So the results?

So far so good! My hair feels much softer and more moisturized than before. I will update you on my next wash day (some time this weekend). I'm hoping my hair will stay this way for the next two days.

31 Weeks Post: New Product and Taming My Transitioning 4b Bun

Hello all! I'm so excited, I can't even contain myself! I have been having soooo many issues wrangling my hair into a bun without it looking like a helmet on my head. I really don't like using gel on my hair because it just leads to massive buildup for me, no matter how little I use. I have tried water and gel, oil and gel, water and oil and gel, conditioner and gel, oil and conditioner and gel...well you get the picture.

Anywho, none of those worked for me, and I figured that since I figured it out, I should share for those of you 4b transitioners out there that cannot tame your wild side; namely your natural roots. So here's what I did.

I took out my bun and separated it into three sections with the intention of just moisturizing my roots, but I was suddenly hit my a determination to tame my bun. I separated the front and gave myself what I call a halo braid in the front. I moisturized the front section and put it in a ponytail to moisturize the middle and back. But I realized the front section fit into a flatter ponytail much easier than my hair altogether. Inspiration struck! Why not do the same with the middle and back and see if they hold better?


So, I proceeded to moisturize the middle and attached it to the front ponytail with another ponytail holder.

Then I did the same with the back, bunned all the hair as usual...

And...

Voila! A much flatter bun with a little flair. Just add hair accessories and poof! Instant cuteness if I do say so myself.

Oh, and all of the moisturizing was done with Shea Moisture's Hair Milk. Yes. I know. I said I hate Shea Moisture products, but so many girls on my favorite hair forum LHCF seemed to love this particular product which I hadn't tried. I couldn't help myself and bought it only to be pleasantly surprised at the wonderful softness it left in my natural roots. I sealed with Africa's Best Herbal Oil as usual as well. Well that's all for today. I think I'll do this same hairstyle next week as well. Hope this helps a fellow 4b transitioner!

The Half Wig!

Bought this a while ago and I really didn't like it on me, but with braids in the front, I think it looks great! Next time I'll leave the braided front out and just do braids straight back with this half wig. Wigs give my husband heart palpitations, but if I can convince him of the benefits of wearing the half wigs to preserve my length while I'm transitioning, he might go for it. Here's the pic (I know, no makeup, looking haggard. I'm a breastfeeding mom of a 3-week-old. So sue me, lol):

Product Chat: Conditioners

Alright folks. Let's have a chat about my conditioners. I talk about what I do to my transitioning 4b hair, but I also want to make sure I note what products I'm using and how I'm using them. Here's something you will quickly realize about me: I REFUSE to get rid of any inexpensive products. Any conditioners that don't work for me get added to the pre-shampoo detangling conditioners. I haven't yet met a conditioner that doesn't add a little slip to the hair when thoroughly coating the strands. If that doesn't work, there's always adding a little extra virgin olive oil to it for a little assistance. (Note: Misting sections of dry hair with a little water before adding conditioner helps with the detangling process).

Anyway, I finally bought some much-needed conditioners so I'm not just limited to what I currently have: the Cantu leave-in (good for blow-drying, but not sure how it works in air-dried hair) and Redken Smooth Down Butter Treat (very thick and creamy, but I think it leaves my hair more coated than moisturized).

I haven't yet used the Cantu leave-in again since I stopped straightening my hair. It worked really well when I blow-dried my hair because it always left my hair moisturized instead of dried out. The Redken Smooth Down Butter Treat I've only used once on dry hair since I found it about a week ago in the back of my cabinet. I thought it left my hair moisturized, but I'm starting to realize that it may have just left my strands coated with product instead (adding to the pre-poo pile! There's not much left anywho).

I'm just about out of the Shea Moisture conditioner that I've been using as a pre-poo since I discovered its drying qualities on my hair. Since then, I bought Organic Root Stimulator Deep Penetrating conditioner (for use as a deep conditioner), Aveeno leave-in (for use as leave-in and light daily moisture), and a V05 Moisture Milk Passion Fruit (for use as a rinse-out conditioner).

Unfortunately I can't properly review the three new products right now since my hair is in the braids, but in about two weeks when I take them out I'll review the Organic Root Stimulator and the Aveeno leave-in. Thanks for listening!