O.B.I is a company that creates hair care products with natural ingredients for people with natural hair. There is no mineral oil, parabens, sulfates, toxins, petroleum, colorants, phthalates, or gluten.
Neem & Tea Tree Shampoo Bar:
I washed my hair using the Neem & Tea Tree Shampoo Bar. I thought this product was real interesting. I have never seen shampoo in a bar. Since I’ve ever used a bar shampoo I didn’t know how to use it. I didn’t know if I was suppose to rub it on my hands and let it lather or was I suppose to rub it directly onto the hair. I tried both ways. I didn’t get much of a lather and I usually judge my shampoos by the way they lather; however, after I finished my scalp did feel clean so it did it’s job.
Curl Moisture Cream:
I applied the Curl Moisture Cream to my hair prior to detangling. This product is used to add moisture and to hydrate curls. I could see the definition of my curls come out when I applied this product to my hair. My hair also felt easier to detangle than usual.
Curl Enhancing Custard:
I used this product before styling. This product is used to make the curls pop or to smooth down the edges of the hair in any style. This product reminded me a lot of Cantu Shea Butter, which I love, except it is thicker. I think the thickness stops some shrinkage that usually occurs with natural hair. When I braided my hair and took it down for my braid out I noticed I kept some of my length. However, like Cantu Shea Butter I think it is a better stand alone product.
Curl Hydration Spray:
This product can be used daily to moisturize your hair and scalp, or to refresh your style. I sprayed this product on my hair before taking my braids for the braid-out. I gave my hair a great shine. I still use it everyday on my puff.
Product Review:
Overall, I loved the results of this braid out. There was added length and I had well defined curl over night. Usually when I do a braid out it takes a day or two for it to look as full as I like it and hide all the gaps but I had a full braid out on the first day using these products. These products can be purchased at: http://www.obinaturalhair.com/ or you could win all the products mentioned above by following the giveaway instructions below.
2. Go to Youtube, rate, and comment on the video below by telling us what you think of the results.
3. Rate and comment on two other naturalnessdotcom videos.
You have until March 1, 2013 at 11:59 pm to enter. The winner will be announced March 2, 2013 on www.natural-ness.com and in the description box of the video below on YouTube.
This video shows how I used the products and the results:
Hello, LV here! It’s been a while since my last post and I’m sure you may be asking what the heck I mean by the title of this post. I get a lot of people asking me about hair growth and what I did to get my hair to grow. This question usually results in me with a blank face without a lot of advice. Why? Because, with all of the natural hair care advice and websites available out there, I didn’t think people would believe me if I told them my routine. Second, I never really knew how to explain my hair growth. However, I think I’ve finally come up with an answer…sometimes the key to hair growth may be to just leave it alone. Leave it alone? Let me break down my hair routine…
I wash my hair…wait for it…once a month. Yes, you heard me…I wash my hair once a month. Why? Well I didn’t intend to vary my wash routine. I’m a stay-at-home, home school mom of two children. We participate in a lot of activities within our city. Between soccer practice/ games, gymnastics, guitar practices/recitals, speech classes, drama classes, home school classes at various museums in town and field trips…my hair often takes a backseat. Who has time to worry about hair? Heck, I’m lucky to fit in a wash once a month, because even that’s pushing it.
After washing my hair, I braid it using just Coconut Oil. I have other hair products, but Coconut Oil has become my staple allowing me to leave most of my other products behind. I usually braid my hair into about 15 braids. I use sponge rollers (with satin) to curl up the ends.
I allow these braids to stay in my hair for maybe a day or two, just to make sure the braided texture really sets in. I then remove the braids for a braid-out. My braid-outs last for about two weeks and I wear them for at least that long.
When my braid-out starts looking bad and/or feeling dry, I re-moisten my hair and re braid it. Removing these braids results in another two week braid-out.
After the next two weeks of braid-outs, it’s time for a wash. I use Apple Cidar Vinegar (mixed with water in a spray bottle) to give my scalp a pre-wash treatment. I then wash my hair using a sulfate free shampoo. I’m currently using Creme of Nature Professional Shampoo and Conditioner (orange bottle) , but I am not attached to any particular brand of shampoo. While I am washing my hair, I detangle it using a cheap conditioner (usually Suave). After my hair is shampooed and detangled…I braid it and the routine starts all over for me.
So, what can I conclude about my routine? Well, I did a 2nd BC in 2009…three years later, my hair has grown longer than it has ever been in my life. I contribute it to the lack of manipulation. Washing my hair once a month means that I’m forced to detangle it less. With the braid-outs, I’m also not combing my hair much. I run a comb through my hair two times a month. Ha! Can you believe it?
Now, before anyone reading this decides to drastically change up their routine…I am not a hair care expert. In fact, most hair care experts would probably frown at my routine and be amazed that I have any hair at all. However, I had to do what fits my lifestyle. Does my hair feel or smell dirty with a once a month wash…no, no more than it would if I wore it braided for a month. Would my routine work for others? Maybe, maybe not, but I do believe that the less you manipulate your hair, the more chances you give it to grow. But, I won’t say anything else…let me share some pictures showing my hair growth…
My 2nd BC in August 2009
Here’s a stretched braid-out from a few days ago. (I plan on sharing this stretching technique in a a video soon!)
This is my hair growth between August 2009 and December 2012 (3 years). My hair has grown much longer after my 2nd BC than it did after 4 years after my first BC. The only thing that has changed is that I’ve gotten lazy with styling and don’t experiment as much
I saw someone with hairstyle similar this on Tumblr so I decided to give it a try myself and I loved the results. I wore this hairdo in three different styles but there is a lot more that can be done with it.
Style #1 – As-is.
Style #2 – Sides clipped back with pompadour.
Style #3 – Sides clipped back with bangs.
This is my favorite two strand twist style to date. I’m sure I will be revisiting this style again in the future.
I am in love with this submission from the Gopher State! Please meet Keelii and the Curly Girls Around The World Crew!
Name:
Keelii
What state are you representing?
Minnesota
How long have you been natural?
fully natural 1 year! ( I transitioned)
What’s the natural scene like in your area?
Emerging! Minnesota’s natural hair curlmmunity is bursting at the
seams. More and more naturals are finding their way to each other
sparking meetups, symposiums, conferences and more!
Additional comments regarding your natural hair:
I love being natural! It’s so freeing!
If so, please fill out the form here:Natural-ness in the States. Don’t forget to send pictures! I will be glad to accept more than one entry from the same state. Let’s see what state will be represented the most!
States featured so far include Florida (4), California (2), Tennessee (2), Mississippi (4), North Carolina (1), Delaware (1), South Carolina (1) , Georgia (1), Texas (3), New Mexico (1), Missouri (1), Oklahoma (1), Ohio (1), Louisiana (1), Minnesota (2) and Virginia (5).
Note: The number in parentheses next to each state represents the number of times that state has been featured.
Here are very cute small two strand twists, sent in by Claysie:
Style: Small Two Strand Twists
Hair Length: 4.5 Inches – Yay!!!!
Products used:
a.) Extra Virgin Olive Oil
b.) White Rain Conditioner Pomegranate/Cherry
c.) Salon Care Conditioner Honey and Almond
d.)Tresemme Natural Conditioner Nourishing Moisture
e.) Okra
f.) 100% Ipse Shea Butter
g.) ECO Styler Argan Oil Gel
Tools used:
1.) Wide Tooth Comb
2.) 2.5 inch hair clips to keep the hair together when needed,
3.) 20 Ouch-less Hair Bands, and
4.) T’Shirt for any spills.
Steps taken to create the style: Step 1 = Deep Conditioned with White Rain Conditioner and Olive Oil
for 4 hours (was cleaning room, hehehe) then washed hair with White
Rain Conditioner Pomegranate/Cherry (love the smell).
Step 2 = Applied my own mix of conditioner (Salon Care Conditioner
Honey and Almond, I mix 1 cup with 1/2 cup of water, 2 tablespoons of
Olive Oil, Carrot Oil, Coconut Oil and Almond Oil), part in sections,
about 20 for my hair.
Step 3 = Air dry for about 15 minutes.
Step 4 = Start twisting away, applied Tresemme Natural Conditioner
Nourishing Moisture (only product able to detangle my hair), Okra,
100% Shea Butter and Olive Oil to coat the ends.
Step 5 = Last but not least, applied ECO Styler Argan Oil Gel while
twisting, (this one keeps my twists gorgeous and ends curled up and
protected).
Claysie says:
“I know, it does sound and it was a ton of stuff, but when you have 3 to 4
hours to play with and a 10 Season British Television Show, time flies
by!!!!!
I did small two strand twists, they may not look small in the pic but
they were when I did them, hehehe.
This style I will have in for 2 weeks, I moisturize every other day
with good old H20, 1 tablespoon of my own conditioner and 1 teaspoon
of soybean oil.
Hope this helps.
Please note, you do not have to use all these products, they work in
my hair and keeps my hair happy and this method works for me, my hair
is type 4B.
You can simplify by just twisting with a good moisturizer, coat ends
with EVOO, your favorite gel and voila.
Enjoy Lovely Naturals!!!!”
Do you have a fierce style or a hair experiment gone right that you would like to share? If so, please click here to submit your info: Style Share
I don’t do twist-out often because I could never get them to come out right so I usually turn to braid-outs. I finally figured out what my problem is, I’ve been doing rope twists instead of regular twist. This time I did the right type of twists and it resulted in my best twist-out so far.
Here are my twists in preparation for the twist-out
I let my hair dry on its on, since I twisted my hair in the morning I just put on my natural-ness knit (natural-ness knit hats are available here) hat while I ran my errands for the day.
It has been a while since we’ve last updated the site, so I was very surprised and pleased to receive a new submission to our Global Natural-ness showcase. Please give a warm welcome to Claysie from Honduras, Central America!
Bantu Knot Out My Version
Name:
Claysie
What country do you live in?
Honduras, Central America
Big Chopped - 1.5 inches of Hair Left
How long have you been natural?
On August 28th 2012 – Will Have 6 months.
First Time 2 Strand Twists on 2 inch Hair
In America, being natural is seen by mainstream culture as rebellious or unaccepted. Is it the same in your country, or are people more accepting of natural hair/beauty?
Here in Central America, relaxed hair more accepted for black girls to
have, natural hair is viewed as nappy and unkempt and labeled as
“Bad Hair”. It is hilarious because were I live, it’s a tropical
island, so getting your hair done every month is not cheap and it’s
very hard to find hair products that will work with relaxed hair!!!
One of the main reasons Moms relaxed their little girls hair is
because as the child grows, the hair texture changes from smooth curly
hair to very tight kinky coils and they do not know how to handle it,
so poor Mom tries to comb the hair and of course the poor child is in
pain, so both are traumatized and Creamy Crack becomes their Best
Friend.
More girls are going natural, but they keep their hair short because
they feel to grow their hair longer means a lot of work, so a lot of
the gals keep their hair in the TWA Stage most of the time. Some do
grow their hair quite long but keep it ALWAYS pinned up in a bun, so
you really cannot admire the beauty of their hair.
Now as for reactions from others, it varies, there are alot of Ohh’s
and Ahh’s, smiles and of course the touching to see if it’s real which
is so funny many times. The Latins and Foreigners love natural hair,
it is from them, that we as naturals get the most compliments, you
just gotta love it!!!
Messy Hair Day so to the Scarves - 4 inches of Hair
Additional comments regarding your natural hair:
Love my hair so here is my Hair Story: One of my dearest friends went
Natural and fell in love and tried to get me to do it, of course I
said no way, but after a while, I was convinced by her and my aunty to
do for it so I did and my sister joined in.
I transitioned for 4 months starting from November 11th 2011, Big
Chopped on February 28th 2012 with 1 ½ inch of Natural Hair, loved
the feeling and the look!!!! Currently have 4 inches of natural hair
at 6 months.
Mom did Braids - Hair at 4 inches - Yay!!
Hair type is 4B, very kinky and poofy, hardly any curl definition, I
have been using an Okra Treatment because she was very thin, but now
it’s nice and thick so I am happy except when I have to style it in 2
strand twists, takes about 3 to 4 hours but worth it, because I leave
it in for 2 weeks.
I did not know how to take care of my relaxed hair and hardly ever
retained any length, so I have no regrets at all.
Cut off all heat and only use shampoo once a month, wash my hair
weekly with Conditioner, VO5 is my favorite right now, try to get the
ones that say “Moisturizing”, use a variety of Oils on my hair,
Olive, Carrot, Soybean, Almond, Coconut (My favorite, light but great
for shine and softness).
I agree with keeping it simple, try new things but don’t spend too
much money because it’s not necessary, as long as you try to keep
your hair healthy with a nice sheen, then no worries, thanks for
reading and take care.
Twist Out at 4.1 inches!!!!
Thank you Claysie for sharing your journey with us!
Want to be featured on the site?
I am still looking for submissions to Rep Your State (for those living in the United States) , Global Naturals (for those living outside of the United States), New Naturals (natural for one year or less) as well as Natural-ness: Style Share. Click here to submit your info for one or more of these features: Be a part of Natural-ness
Don’t have a lot of time? Just want to submit one picture? Feel free to submit to our Quick Pic feature. Don’t forget to leave a caption for your picture! If you would rather not use the form, please email your responses directly to diego2memphis@cbpublish.com
Unless otherwise noted, all products reviewed and used on this site have been purchased by us for our own personal use. Please note that if you click and purchase a product through an amazon.com link, we receive a small amount of money through their affiliate program. This however, does not affect our review of the products. All reviews are based on our honest personal opinion after trying the product. Also note - We are not hair care experts. All reviews, styles, tips and suggestions are based on trial & error and occasionally our own research. All hair is different, so what works for us may not work for you.
Curl Moisture Cream:
