5 Things I Learned From My Year Long Hair Challenge

Happy Tuesday! We're over two weeks into the new year and there's this elephant in the room, I'm just going to address it now. My hair challenge, I was still doing it, but The Blended Blog came up with a new fashion link up on Wednesdays, and I wanted to have that link up on my blog, so while I was still doing my hair challenge, I wasn't doing the link up. It's been a full year since I started the challenge and I'm going to share with you the 5 things I learned while doing my hair challenge.

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Learning to do your hair is super frustrating. I'm not here to paint it all rainbows and unicorns, it's straight up hard. There is this huge learning curve, and all the videos on youtube, while I got good ideas, if you don't know what you're doing, it's hard! What takes them 5 minutes to do would take me 45 minutes to get it looking nothing like the video, haha! 

This waterfall braid took me three different tries on three different days because after 20 minutes of trying I would give up. I wish I was kidding. But now a year later, I think, wow that isn't that hard anymore, or intimidating to try it.

My advice: It gets better, I mean it's getting a little easier now that I've learned some of the basics, but you really have to stick with it and practice.

But good quality bobby pins, do not, I repeat do NOT buy the ones at Target or the grocery store, they do not work! Here are the ones that I buy,  these are the same but in bronze. Also make sure that you are using your bobby pins correctly, bump side down, not up like I thought it was. The bumps help to create a little friction so that they stay better in your hair. I had no idea until I started doing my hair.

A simple bobby pin can go a long way, like this twisted do, I put my hair half up and go, but it looks like I put a lot more effort into it.

My Advice: Buy good bobby pins, either from a beauty supply store or ones online, avoid drug store brands.

 

The dirtier your hair is the easier it is going to do your hair. Same goes for, if you're doing an updo then it helps to have your hair slightly curly so that when you're trying to manipulate your hair, it always has body to it. Sort of hard to try and bend hair in place when it's stick straight. If you have recently washed your hair, no fear, Amika Un.Done Texture Spray spray is here. Helps to put some "grit" in your hair without making it feel dirty. Plus it gives you a little lift at the roots.

I've used a lot of products since I started this, I started out buying these things initially.

Let's start with the Bed Head products

TIGI Bed Head Manipulator - Pliable fiber-forming cream that separates, twists, spikes for funky hair. Gives body and tames fly-aways for a more natural look. Good for any hair length and texture. How To Use: Work this fiber-forming cream through clean, damp or dry hair. The more you use, the more texture you get! On damp hair blow-dry or let hair dry naturally.


Bed Head Control Freak Serum - This light, greaseless and humidity resistant formula delivers a straight-up glossy finish. Conditions and moisturizes hair, seals hair and adds shine. Acts as a thermal protectant. How To Use: Apply evenly to damp hair. Use a round brush or large paddle brush to pull your hair tight while blow-drying for a straight finish or dry as desired for frizz free curls and waves.

Bed Head Superstar Blowdry Lotion - Pumps up volume to unbelievable heights. Builds body and holds style. Conditions, repairs and helps protect from heat styling damage. How To Use: Pour a generous amount into palm of hand and work through damp or dry hair and blow-dry.

TIGI Bed Head Up Front Rocking Gel Pomade for Men, 3.35 Ounce - Designed to create sleek and shiny ponytails, sculpted coiffs, as well as any styles that require great shine and hold, WITHOUT the stickiness! How To Use: Apply this aqueous pomade to damp or dry hair to get sheen separation, and hold - without the sticky business!

My thoughts: The Manipulator didn't really work, but the pomade did. It helped to tame those fly aways when braiding. I would section my hair to braid and then use the pomade to take the fly aways before I started braiding. I don't have extremely frizzy hair so the Control Freak didn't particularly work on me, but I do think that it would work on someone with frizzy hair. The Superstar Blow Dry, it's actually quit runny, which was surprising, I thought it would be sort of thick, but it has the consistency of baby oil, but not greasy, I applied in my hair before blow drying and it did give my hair some volume and made it smell really good.

Now onto the KMS products

KMS California Hair Play Gel Wax - Provides the support and control of a gel and the flexibility and shine of a wax. How To Use: Work through towel dried hair. Blow dry for weightless sculpting and moderate hold. Use in dried hair for strong hold and separation.




KMS California Hair Play Dry Wax - Achieves a "perfectly undone" look with tousled definition, flexible hold and matte finish. How To Use: Shake, spray into towel dried hair and blow dry. Use in dry hair for a textured finish.




KMS Free Shape Shampoo & Conditioner  - These I just wanted to try out some new shampoo, cause why not?




KMS California Tame Frizz Taming Creme - Adds definition and style manageability. Provides humidity resistance and heat protection. How To Use: Work through towel-dried hair. Air or blow dry. Add to dry hair for extra definition and control.

My Thoughts: I liked the gel wax and it does really work, but it's just a bit too messy for me. The dry wax on the other hand is a game changer! Seriously if you have to get just one of these things to start doing your hair, I would get this. I would do my hair and then spray this wax onto my hair and it just tamed all of those fly aways on the top of my head, didn't really help with the ones in the braid, but everywhere else, it calmed the hair down, so I only had to do a light coat of hair spray. For me the shampoo and conditioner were great, but it didn't make for long lasting washes, I would have to wash my hair after 2-3 days instead of my 4-5 days. It smells really good, and makes my hair super shiny and soft, but the formula doesn't work for my hair. I have normally greasy hair, so if you have dry hair I would highly recommend this product. The Tame Frizz product, didn't work at all for me. We don't have much humidity here, so I don't think I can give this a real review since I wasn't able to use it to the fullest.

My favorite products that I bought are:

Hands down my favorite shampoo is the Hair Food Volume Shampoo & Conditioner you can also find it at Target. Unlike the shampoo above, this one makes my hair be able to go 4-6 days without washing, using the Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo of course. And then the texture spray...on my goodness, amazing, especially if you've just washed your hair for an event and you want to do it up, spray this stuff on, you get the added texture without feeling the dirt, amazing!

Those are the 5 lessons I've learned during this year long hair challenge. I was thinking of doing a short series on some simple tips and tricks to doing your hair, like how to pancake a braid, how to use a bobby pin, etc. Thoughts? Something you would be interested in? Now who's ready to do their hair?! If you want to start somewhere, try my Easy Way to French Braid Your Hair. I've had several people, even strangers, email me and tell me that they've never been able to French Braid their hair until now! So I hope you really do give it a try!

Linking up here