**traveljunkie08**

npmoore04 wrote:Did you shingle it or do it in sections?

Both. I shingled in sections. Usually when I do it with conditioner, I just smooth conditioner through fairly large sections. Maybe I should try that with the gel?

Intelligentbeauty wrote:TJ, I like it but I understand what you are saying. I love it that way too.
BTW--I see some hang time too.

Thanks! I like hang time. I want more of it.

Lynnieluve wrote:Your hair is really growing.

sweetdrk1 wrote:I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND!! it looks good but not the way YOU want it! Have a great weekend and it is growing like Lynn said!

Yay for growth! I know it's growing, but with this shrinkage it doesn't feel like it sometimes. I really want to straighten it but I'm going to wait a little longer.

BlondeByDesire wrote:Hey TJ,

How did you apply the EcoStyler? That's on my 'to do' list too. I like it but like everyone else I understand your frustration.

I did it in sections, doing the rake and smooth method. I may try something different next time.

ChrsLvsBks wrote:Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back! I can only imagine how much of a difference your presence made in the lives of all those you met. God bless you.

I thought a WnG would be best while in Haiti. I am glad it worked out for you. Your hair looked great while there. The puff looked fantastic.

I loved the results of the recent twist out and WnGs. Don't know if you have tried the accordion method but I suggest it. MC did a YT video and posted instructions in her thread. Many are having success with it.

Thanks! I'll definitely have to look into this!

So, I liked day two of the WnG a little better than day one. I spent some time separating curls...and fluffing a lot...so it got frizzy in some spots, but that's okay.

I LOVE IT! and the flower! Yay!

Hi TJ

I looked for pictures wet, but I couldn't find them; however, dry that WnG is beautiful. I love your curl definition, and the back, the back...WOW. That would be a cute avatar picture!!!

Wishing you and your a Happy Easter!!!

KNH

That Day 2 WnG is saying something!! I love the flower too! Hey have you ever done ACV rinse? I think I am in love...I absolutely love how my curls responded

Happy Easter!!

Hey Soror,

I am glad you are back safely. You had me in tears reading about the kids over in Haiti. My sister travels to the DR to volunteer at the schools and she LOVE the kids (and they love her too). They are SO sweet. You are truly blessed to have that experience.

On the hair note, I LOVE the WNG. You hair is growing.

I have been MIA since I gave up the sites for lent.

Juices-n-Berries wrote:I LOVE IT! and the flower! Yay!

Thanks!!!

KinkyNappyHappy wrote:Hi TJ

I looked for pictures wet, but I couldn't find them; however, dry that WnG is beautiful. I love your curl definition, and the back, the back...WOW. That would be a cute avatar picture!!!

Wishing you and your a Happy Easter!!!

KNH

Thanks! I didn't have any wet pics. Hope you had a great Easter!

sweetdrk1 wrote:That Day 2 WnG is saying something!! I love the flower too! Hey have you ever done ACV rinse? I think I am in love...I absolutely love how my curls responded

Happy Easter!!

Thank you! I def liked day 2. Hmm...I may have to try an ACV rinse.

Pinkrage wrote:Hey Soror,

I am glad you are back safely. You had me in tears reading about the kids over in Haiti. My sister travels to the DR to volunteer at the schools and she LOVE the kids (and they love her too). They are SO sweet. You are truly blessed to have that experience.

On the hair note, I LOVE the WNG. You hair is growing.

I have been MIA since I gave up the sites for lent.

Welcome back!!! That's so great that you gave up the sites for Lent! Where does your sister volunteer in the DR? I'm going back to Haiti in a few weeks, and I'm going to the DR and Puerto Rico on my way back to the States. I can't wait. I've been having a difficult time being back home.

Ladies, I'm so behind on your threads. I'm sure I've missed a lot. I'm going to try to catch up this week. As I just mentioned to PinkRage, I'm going back to Haiti on 24 April. I'll spend 32 days in the Caribbean and my hair will be out the entire time, so I'm gonna do protective styles until I leave. I started today by just doing some two strand twists. I'm going to try (key word is try) not to wear my hair out over the next few weeks.

I almost gave up the sites for lent too. Maybe next year... Lol.

You're going back? That's great! Have fun and keep us posted. Bring me back a Puerto Rican or Dominican boyfriend! Thanks in advance!

You are going back!! That is Awesome, be careful and have a great time. When you say you are having a hard time being home, what do you mean? PM if you need to..ok?

Juices-n-Berries wrote:I almost gave up the sites for lent too. Maybe next year... Lol.

You're going back? That's great! Have fun and keep us posted. Bring me back a Puerto Rican or Dominican boyfriend! Thanks in advance!

WOW, SOUNDS LIKE REALLY NICE TRIPS COMING UP!!
I LOVE THE WnGS as usual and the flower is perfect on you.

The purple flower, is that the one that has the hair pin attached? You got that from Forever 21, right?

You're leaving us again?!!! I think that's great TJ!! Keep us updated and check in (if you can) from time to time. 32 days? I'm gonna miss you!!

Juices-n-Berries wrote:I almost gave up the sites for lent too. Maybe next year... Lol.

You're going back? That's great! Have fun and keep us posted. Bring me back a Puerto Rican or Dominican boyfriend! Thanks in advance!

I won't bring him back, but I'll be on the lookout and collect email addresses on your behalf. Seriously.

sweetdrk1 wrote:You are going back!! That is Awesome, be careful and have a great time. When you say you are having a hard time being home, what do you mean? PM if you need to..ok?

Oh, it's reverse culture shock. It's something that other ppl I volunteered with are going through as well. I thought it only applied to ppl who lived/volunteered abroad for long periods of time, but I'm dealing with it after just two weeks and even ppl who were there for a week are going through it.

Intelligentbeauty wrote:WOW, SOUNDS LIKE REALLY NICE TRIPS COMING UP!!
I LOVE THE WnGS as usual and the flower is perfect on you.

Aw, thanks IB.

I'm so excited to go to the DR. I've been wanting to go for a long time. And I'm always happy to return to San Juan (I lived there for 6 months in college).

Lynnieluve wrote:The purple flower, is that the one that has the hair pin attached? You got that from Forever 21, right?

You're leaving us again?!!! I think that's great TJ!! Keep us updated and check in (if you can) from time to time. 32 days? I'm gonna miss you!!

Yep, I got it from F21. I need to put some ribbon or something around it because the pin gets stuck in my hair. Yeah, I gots to go. I'm taking my own laptop this time so I'll check in occasionally.

In hair news, I'm going to have to re-wash my hair. It feels so awful. My hair hasn't been "right" since I tried a few new products over the weekend. I *think* The culprit is either the Suave Almond & Shea Butter or Aussie Moist 3 Min Miracle...or both. Guess that'll stop me from experimenting with new products for a while. BUT, I'm going to try one more conditioner and that's Trader Joe's Nourish Spa. If I don't like it, I'll just stick with the HE conditioners.

Hi TJ~

Now I understand the nature of your screen name!!! You are truly going to enjoy yourself, and at the same time give back to those that need help.

Hope you find out what is making your hair unhappy!!

KNH

Yay! I'll take a penpal. I have heard it's challenging to come back to the normalcy of things after seeing the extreme way people live elsewhere. Hope you have a blast on your trip. You will definitely be missed.

You have just been up to a lot TJ!!!! I'm so excited for your trips coming up and it's such a blessing that there are people like you willing to give up their time to help others

And I'm super late but I LOVE LOVE LOVE your WnG's!!! Your curls looks great! And I know what you mean about your hair looking too polished for your liking. But it really did look great

Your hair looks great TJ. Safe travels. I am living vicariously through you!

Hey there, I used Trader Joe's Conditioner when I was at my BFF a few weeks ago. I love it! Of course I got a few bottles, me likey!! Travel safely!!

Hey sis!!

It's so good to see your posts again. I need some eye candy, lemme see them curls, I know they are beautiful

i 2nd that motion...im always so excited to see u pop in

Okay Sweet and Nubie, this is just for you.

Like the first time, I pretty much wore my hair in a puff the whole time I was in Haiti. Here's a typical puff with me and two kids from an orphanage I worked at. I love these two kids so much. They really touched me...especially the little girl (they are siblings).



Here's a candid pic a volunteer took of me with the little girl, Yves. I was praying for her. I had no idea anyone else was even around...when the volunteer showed me the pic, I cried uncontrollably. It is so, so beautiful and really captured the moment.



There were maybe three occasions when I wore my hair "out". When I did, I'd get so many compliments from other volunteers and locals.



When I left Haiti, I went to the Dominican Republic. By that point, my hair needed some TLC from the constant exposure to the sun and being "washed" with water that had been treated with bleach. So I bought a few Dominican products and deep conditioned my hair overnight. I wore my hair in a WnG every day I was in the DR.





After the DR, I went to Puerto Rico. It's there that I discovered that all of my hair could finally fit into a ponytail in its curly state.





When I got back to the states, I blew my hair out just to see it in a more stretched state since I'd been wearing it curly/coily for 34 days straight.



And this is me last week rocking a twist out.


I've mostly been wearing my hair in twists since I've been back, wearing twist outs when I'm going somewhere special or just feel like wearing my hair out.

I return to Haiti in 10 days for at least three months. I have been so stressed about making sure I take enough hair products to cover me for most of that time. I finally settled on the following products to take with me:

Shampoo: Kinky Curly Come Clean. I really, really like this shampoo. It leaves my hair squeaky clean but not dry and stripped. Should be perfect for getting fine dust particles and other debris out of my hair (and of course product build-up).

Conditioner: Kenra Color Maintenance. I bought this because it has good ingredients and the liter was on sale for $11.88 at Beauty Brands. I've tested it out a few times, and I like it.

Leave-in: Abba Pure Moisture Leave-in. This was also on sale at Beauty Brands. It was $4 and some change. Normally it's like $25, but I would NEVER pay that. Not worth it. I also bought Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz to use as a leave-in for when I do twists. I also tested this out a couple of times, and I really, really like it. It gives a light, soft hold. I'll have to use it sparingly though to make it last.

Oil: QB AOHC. I'll use it as a pre-poo and a sealant. I'm meeting some friends in Miami next week, and one of my friends is bringing me some from DC just to make sure I have it. I her!!!

Gel: Eco Styler Olive Oil

I'm also taking a bottle of AO HSR conditioner and an ORS replenishing pack in case of emergency. Oh, I'm taking some glycerin too just to see how that works mixed with water to refresh my puffs.

Okay, that's it. I've rambled on way too long. Guess I shouldn't stay away for so long.

What a wonderful update! That hair is looking great! I love that pic when you are praying, simply amazing.

I see that tan working while you were in DR! Looks like you had a ball!

Welcome back!! I am glad you posted pics!! It's good to see you!!

Smooches.

Thanks Sweet & Shee!!!

Hi lady!

Thanks for the update! Love what you are doing for those in Haiti.

I hope you enjoyed your time in DR and PR. I love both, and I hope to visit them again in the next few years.