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Wash day (for me) in an intimate process, which is why I haven't had a "wash day video" until now. I'm not totally comfortable with the idea of setting up my camera while I shower, and I am not a fan of the idea of wearing clothes//a swimsuit while I shower. Plus, the few times I did try to capture even a few still shots of my hair during cleansing, my lens would fog up. But I really wanted to show you guys how easy my wash day has become since Be Kekoa came in to my life. Plus, I just had to let you all witness the super slip and performance of Be Kekoa products that I rave about. In this video, you'll see me use:

Be Kekoa Enzyme Scalp Cleanser: A water-based spray formula with natural enzymes to help cleanse and soothe scalp conditions like dandruff, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis. Unfortunately, this product is sold only in the Be Kekoa Salon in Temecula, CA. My Cali curlies can get their hands on this one by visiting Be Kekoa Salon.

Be Kekoa Be Clean Cleansing Conditioner: aka Bae Clean. My absolute hands down favorite Be Kekoa product. It's creamy, moisturizing, has tons of slip, gently cleanses, and gives the scalp a cool tingly feeling while leaving the hair soft and shiny. I can go on and on forever about this stuff, so for the sake of space, just click here to read my Be Kekoa Bae Clean review. For more information and to purchase, visit www.bekekoa.com

Be Kekoa Be Clair Sulfate Free Clarifying Shampoo: Review on this gem coming soon! I already talked about it in this article here, but Be Clair skyrocketed to my favorite shampoos list because it lathers well, cleanses without stripping, and has tons of slip. Yes, I can completely detangle my hair with shampoo on my clarifying wash days -- and in this video I show you proof. I might change this shampoo's name to Bae Clair... For more information and to purchase, visit www.bekekoa.com

3 Shampoos with Super Slip: http://bit.ly/superslip

Be Kekoa Be Moist Hydrating Conditioner: Another product I'll be reviewing this month. I absolutely love how versatile Be Moist is -- you can use it as a regular rinse out conditioner, a deep conditioner, or for a penetrating steam treatment. It's up to you! It has tons of slip and soaks right into the hair, which lets me know that my hair is taking in everything it needs (and trust me, my hair needs all the help it can get). For more information and to purchase, visit www.bekekoa.com

Be Kekoa Kukui Nectar Hydrate Conditioner: This is Be Kekoa's Curly Girl-friendly conditioning offering that Brandie Kekoa makes herself. It is a super moisturizing conditioner that provides tons of shine and hydration -- but I've also discovered that I really like it as a leave-in. It plays nicely with Eco Styler Gel, as you can see. Unfortunately, this product is sold only in the Be Kekoa Salon in Temecula, CA. My Cali curlies can get their hands on this one by visiting Be Kekoa Salon.

Check out the video below, with Be Kekoa products in action:

And lastly, a nice little reminder straight from the Be Kekoa Salon:

Will you be giving Be Kekoa products a try?

Note: This article and video is sponsored by Be Kekoa. Per the FTC, I have to tell y'all that. But you guys know, I'm completely honest in how I feel about products whether a review or video is sponsored or not. All opinions expressed are my own, and I agreed to do this video because I believe in Be Kekoa products and I love using them.

Yessss, I did it again! I got another haircut y'all!

In case you're keeping count (you're probably not, and that's 137% okay - you have better things to remember lol), this makes my third official curly cut. My first curly cut was at Devachan Culver City with Sergio - when I officially had my heat damage removed and stepped into 100% natural life. The second cut was again at Devachan Culver City with Carleen, who rocked my curly cut and red color.

This third cut was done by none other than Brandie Kekoa, of Be Kekoa Healthy Hair Studio in Temecula, California! For those of you guys who didn't know, in addition to making my most favoritest co-wash EVER Be (Bae) Clean, Be Kekoa is also a full service salon run by Brandie and her amazing staff (#shoutout to Audra and Charmaine!) in Temecula. Seriously - Be Kekoa is like 5 minutes from the wineries (more on that later).

Brandie has already taken me from red to black, and from curly to straight. This time around, her task was to take me from hot mess to hot mama! Okay, that was corny, but really. My hair was a hot mess for about 52 different reasons. Here were the top 4:

I've got multiple textures with disrespectful shrinkage. The back of my hair hangs looser and longer, while the front shrinks up (three different ways, of course - ranging from deep wave to ringlet). This means that as my hair grows, mushroom mullet is the result.
My hair has color damage. The red was gorgeous, but it did a number on my curls. You guys may not have been able to tell, because I go stealth mode about treating it and nursing it back to health, but it's there. My hair was about 75% healthy at the time of my cut (meaning only about 25% damage on my ends), but it was still visible damage. Damage - whether it be from color, heat, or overmanipulation, changes your hair and makes it hard to work with. But I've got some tips for that coming very soon.
Because of #1 and #2, I found myself playing with scissors. A LOT. More than your standard seasonal trim, with a whole lot less precision and patience. This made for an absolute, unmitigated disaster. My hair was not only uneven because of mullet realness, but because I would just snip when I saw a tapered or scraggly end with no sort of concept for balance, evenness, proportion, shape - none of that. Because I'm not a stylist and I don't know what any of that means anyway.
And, I hadn't had a professional shaping since 2014. Yes, I've had DIY trims, and professional trims when getting my hair straightened - but no professional curly cut in almost two years.

All of those factors combined made for an extravagant, hot mess. Needless to say, Brandie had her work cut out for her. But as you'll see in the pictures, she did the darn thing!

For your reference, my mushroom mullet o' curly hot mess.

My sister April also had an appointment, for the same service - a curly cut. April hadn't been to Brandie in nearly a year, but in the in-between time, she'd gone to another salon and got her hair straightened around her birthday. And yep, you guessed it - heat damage. Brandie's curly cut for April was designed to help give her shape, while nursing the heat damaged area back to health.

Brandie shaping up April's curls

April's twists - look how shiny and juicy they look!

Yassssssss #twistoutslayage

Regardless of what service you book with Brandie, it starts with a consultation - which I love. She communicates clearly and precisely, and seeks to genuinely understand what end result you want to achieve. At the same time, she's real with you. Brandie, like other licensed professionals are stylists - not miracle workers. I knew going in that between my hair's odd shape, my multitude of textures, and how I butchered my hair - that I wasn't going to get a shape identical to the pictures I showed Brandie. But she got me close - super close. So much so that as my hair grows out, I'm confident that it will fill in to exactly where I wanted it to be.

My curls are happier on the floor than on my head!

After my consultation, Brandie went to work her curly magic on my tresses, doing a dry, curl-by-curl cut. Brandie's done a number of certifications and natural hair trainings in her 10 year career - getting education and information everywhere from Devachan to Titi and Miko Branch (Miss Jessie's), and even celeb stylist Felicia Leatherwood (hey girl hey!). On top of that, Brandie is a natural hair veteran in her own right - and she's got the super healthy tresses to prove it.

Sidebar: that's one of the main things I love about Brandie. She walks the walk and talks the talk. I know folks are shelling out rent and car note sized payments to see other curly stylists in Southern California (I'm thinking of one particular fellow who shall remain nameless because I'm still a child of God), but there's something deeply comforting about sitting in the chair of someone who knows exactly what you're dealing with. Someone who doesn't just proclaim themselves to be an expert on textured hair because it's cool and profitable, but who literally has to wake up in the morning like you and I, and work with kinks, coils, and curls, before heading in to work. Brandie doesn't talk down to you, she won't shade you for using silicones and shea butter, or judge you for occasionally flat ironing. And she won't chastise you for making mistakes with your hair - she simply educates you on how to take care of it properly. Oh, and she doesn't shy away from any texture. Brandie's clients range from bone straight and barely curled to super kinky. I've sat in her salon enough times (as a client and as a spectator) to see her do it all.

Now back to my experience. After the dry cut, Brandie cross-checked her work to make sure that even though my textures were different, the cut was balanced and even. That impressed me so much - even with all the aforementioned drama I had going on with my curls, Brandie still made it happen.

Next came my absolute favorite part of the experience - the wash! I know y'all feel me here...ain't NOTHING like having someone else cleanse and massage your scalp. Audra has such blessed hands... I could have laid in that bowl forever! That scalp scrub and massage was heaven sent. After cleansing, Audra covered my tresses with the Monoi Orangesicle Protein Smoothie (sigh... an in-salon only treatment, no to go containers!), and sat me under Bertha, the mother of all steamers.

Bertha played ZERO games.

Post steam, it was time to get back in Brandie's chair for my wash and go styling and for her to check the cut again on fully detangled hair. Because it was hot as all get out of town in Temecula, I opted to air dry on my way back to LA.

Unfortunately, I couldn't take my "after" shots in the salon, thanks to a hot mess mishap. There was a guy (the name of his company escapes me) and his son who visited the salon, selling soul food. Yes, soul food on demand. And we were STARVING. So, April got chicken wings and mac and cheese, and I settled for corn bread stuffed with sweet potatoes and greens. Yes, it was every bit of magical as you could imagine. Because I'm not a huge fan of fried chicken, and I don't know how to eat wings (according to everyone who's ever gone out to eat with me), I only took one of April's wings. And then, I forgot to wash my hands after eating. So while sitting under the steamer, I rubbed my eyes. And then rubbed, and rubbed, and rubbed, and rubbed - until they were puffy and bloodshot red. I looked high as a kite - a likely reaction to the oil and seasonings on my fingers.

I didn't want y'all thinking Brandie was running a salon full of stoners, so I delayed on the pics. But now - they're all in this post! So get your fill of these selfies, and more to come!

I love how rounded and full it is!

And because it's balanced, I can play with the parting!

How's that for before and after?!

I'm absolutely in LOVE with my cut! If you're in or visiting SoCal and need to see a curly hair EXPERT, definitely visit Be Kekoa Healthy Hair Studio! Check them out at www.bekekoa.com and follow them on Instagram @bekekoa!

What, you thought I was gonna not go out to Temecula and leave with 3 bottles of Bae Clean?!Pshhhh...

For more about Be Kekoa on the blog, check these posts and videos out:

Be Kekoa Be (Bae) Clean Review
How I Use Be Kekoa Products on Wash Day
Be Kekoa Be Moist Review
Be Kekoa Tamanu Oil Works Miracles

Got questions about my cut or anything Be Kekoa? Leave them in the comments below!

Christina's Choice 2015 The Best Shampoos and Co-Washes for Natural Hair

Wow, where did 2015 go?!

It seems like the days are moving lightening fast, so let me not delay this any longer! It's that time of the year again folks -- time for Christina's Choice 2015, where I share the absolute BEST of the BEST products that I've used for my natural hair. Over the course of 2015, I've tried a lot of products -- some good, some bad, some stellar, and some that I'm just better off not mentioning.

I've given a lot of positive reviews, but positive does not always equate to holy grail status. The products on this list, and the others that follow are just that -- holy grail status. Because of this HG designation, there's not going to be 10, 8, or even 5 products in each category. Trust me y'all, there ain't that many products out there worthy of the title. Don't let these folk on IG fool you...

But I digress.

This year, I'm also doing something a little different. I'm often asked, "if you had to pick one..." or, "what's your favorite out of all of them?", and I understand the logic. Nobody wants to go buy 18 different products and spend that kind of money. To bury the hatchet for once and for all, in each category I'll be sharing what's called my "Deserted Island Award" pick -- as in, if I was going to be trapped on a deserted island, and could only take ONE product from each category, it would be that one. Hopefully, this helps somebody with their #productjunkie budget!

Without further delay, allow me to introduce to you the best of the absolute best shampoos and co-washes for natural hair!

The Final Four!

Be Kekoa Be Clair Sulfate Free Clarifying Shampoo, 8oz/$14
Earlier this year, Be Kekoa came in and changed my life. Like, switched my whole wash day mindset up. Up until this year, I was under the impression that wash day would always involve some sort of struggle, or eat away hours from my day. Be Clair completely shifted that expectation, especially when it comes to what a shampoo can do. Be Clair is one of the slippiest shampoos I've ever tried to date. It provides a deep clean, and gives a wonderfully invigorating scalp tingle. Most of all, I love it because it doesn't dry out my hair. When it comes to clarifying shampoos, Be Clair sets the bar. High.

How I Use Be Kekoa Products on Wash Day

tgin Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo, 14.5oz/$16
tgin's Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo has made my list 2 years in a row, so you know it's a top contender! This shampoo has, and continues to live up to its name. It's the perfect shampoo if you're one of those naturals who is skeptical or has been burned by shampoos in the past. It doesn't strip or dry the hair out, lathers nicely, and has good slip. I could go on and on about the reasons why tgin's shampoo is here on this list, but after rocking with this product for over 2 years, I think you guys know by now!

tgin Review

Up North Naturals Clean Curls Shampoo, 8oz/$14
Annnnndddddd it looks like we've got a newbie in the category, folks! I got my hands on Up North Naturals products (review coming soon, I promise) on the tail end of 2015, but the Clean Curls Shampoo made SUCH an impression that I had to include it. It's a ridiculously great shampoo, and it's completely natural. Clean Curls is the perfect shampoo for the African Black Soap fanatic, and the natural who insists that shampoos be free of all types of sulfates (even the ones that have been changed/re-named to be less drying). It goes toe-to-toe with Be Clair in terms of slip, and leaves hair clean, shiny, and de-frizzed. Up North Naturals definitely came out the gate with a winning shampoo, and I am a huge fan. It ousted another fave from the list, and rightfully earned its spot at the top!

Be Kekoa Be Clean Cleansing Conditioner, 8oz/$16
Come on y'all, seriously? Did you really think I was gonna make this list and not include Bae Clean? Like, forreal? I'm pretty sure I don't even need to type this paragraph for y'all to understand the love that runs deeeeeeeeeeep for Be Clean Cleansing Conditioner. I love this product so much that I re-named it Bae Clean, without permission of course. It's the yin to my yang, the match to my fuse, the filter to my IG, the prime to my Amazon. Bae Clean is quite literally everything to me. When I said Be Kekoa swooped in and switched up the game, I meant it. If you haven't experienced Bae by now, you're trippin. Like seriously, why are you still even reading right now? Go get you some. It's the slippiest, gentle cleansing-est (while still removing buildup), good smellin', scalp invigorating co-wash I've ever used IN MY LIFE.

Be Kekoa Be Clean Review

And with all of that being said, the Deserted Island Award goes to..... :::drumroll, please:::

Be Kekoa Be Clean Cleansing Conditioner!

Winner winner chicken dinner!

Why: Truth telling time: ever since Bae Clean strolled into my life around February 2015, I I have not used another co-wash or cleansing conditioner. I've experimented with a few others that companies sent, or that I purchased to test out, and they all disappointed or paled in comparison to what Bae Clean offered. My love for Bae Clean runs deep, so much so that I don't even bother with 8oz bottles (unless I'm traveling). I stay stocked with the salon sized bottles, because it is the ONLY co-wash I use on my curls. When I'm down to my last salon bottle and it's halfway empty, I start having heart palpitations. You can call the Be Kekoa salon and they'll tell you -- Christina will drive to Temecula for some Bae Clean. And then have the nerve to get 3 bottles. You can even ask my sister, I make her get her own. I'm very generous with giving product to friends and family, except when it comes to Bae.

I don't play with Bae.

What shampoos and co-washes are winning with you as we go into 2016? Let me know in the comments below!

Up next: deep conditioners! Yasssss!

Check out all of the 2014 Christina's Choice winners here!

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