Well, it turns out the samples that I got for Loma Simplicity Moisturizing Shampoo and Loma Expect Moisturizing Conditioner worked better than the ones I bought (Perspective and Enable.)  So today I exchanged the ones I bought (salon does exchanges/refunds even if you've used most of the product.)

I exchanged the shampoo because it felt like it dried my scalp.  I was kind of undecided about the conditioner, but each time I used it I started sneezing a couple hours later.  I liked it's scent more, but the new one left my skin and hair nicely moisturized.  My skin was really first priority because of it's severe dry condition.  Also the new conditioner is for colored hair.

My only worry is that both contain dimethicone.  I will have to keep a close eye on buildup.  So here are the ingredients of the new stuff:

Loma Simplicity Moisturizing Shampoo
aloe vera gel, lavendar, sodium methyl 2-sulfolaurate & disodium 2-sulfolaurate & cocamidopropyl betaine & lauramide mea & cetrimonium chloride & peg-150 distearate, distearyl pthlactic acid, cocoamide mea, dimethicone, acetamide mea, lactamide mea, maize gluten amino acid, hydrolyzed whole wheat protein, jojoba oil, panthenol (provitamin B-5), mango oil, orange oil, fragrance, dm dm hydantoin, polyquartinium 4, edta.

Loma Expect Instant Moisturizing Conditioner
aloe vera gel, fennel seed extract, sunflower seed extract, cetearyl alchohol (moisturizer), peg-40 castor oil, stearallonium chloride, cetyl alchohol, cetrinomium chloride, meadowfoam seed oil and shea butter, cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone, honey, hydro-creatin, cetyl bromide, superoxide dismutase, melanin, panthenol (provitamin b-5), dm dm hydantoin, peach oil, orange oil, citric acid, tocopheral acetate

I don't think I'm completely happy with these ingredients.  I will still try other alternatives.

This board has made a positive impact on my hair habits in the short time I've been here.  I'm very grateful!  The only things I did pre-forum was shampoo/condition every day or every other day, and sleep with my hair over the back of my pillow.  Since I've joined the forum, I now:

• am more committed to getting trims
• accept the variations in my color, and will not attempt to "fix" them (I will still get my roots done though, I love having brown hair)
• trim individual knots at the ends of my hair as I find them (I don't really get split ends or I'd trim those too)
• am more concious about not leaning against my hair - covered the gritty fabric of my office chair with a cotton cloth; keep hair up if I think it will come in contact with things
• trying to pay more attention to shampoo and conditioner ingredients; paying more attention to how my hair reacts to them
• will use a gentler, less static-y comb (waiting for them to arrive in the mail)
• talk to my hair in a soft, soothing voice

Cynde

EDIT Oop missed one:

• Make sure my shower water is LUKEWARM.  The water pressure is terrible in my apartment, so I used to tend to be impatient and just shower in hot water.  But now I spend more time getting the temperature right, which has proven to be beneficial to my hair AND my skin.   

Ugh, fragrance headaches.. Those are the worst!

Just pretend you're talking on a cell phone when you talk to your hair - it'll keep you from getting funny looks.   

Cynde

Knot Last Night but the Night Before

Found a knot at the bottom of ONE hair last night while  watching TV.  Being very annoyed with the knot, with no scissors near by, I absentmindedly worked my way up to the root.  I started to pull the hair out when I conciously realized what I was about to do.  I fought with myself for several seconds, arguing with my hand - "do.. not... pull.. out... hair!"  My Jedi powers overtook the urge, and I got off my lazy butt to get scissors.

Trek to the health food store

I was out of mutivitamins, so I went to Lazy Acres, a heathfood store, to get more.  I get Nature's Life Soft Gelatin Mutivitamins because it's closest to the recommended dosages from the chart on this page:
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/hc/resourceareas_comparison/1,1573,,00.html

I took a look at the shampoos and conditioners too.  Avalon looked pretty good - no parabens, cones, SLS.  Hopefully I won't have an allergic reation to it.  I think I have more allergies to natural things than synthetic things. 

Cynde

Thanks Sakina - Avalon is working out great so far!

So my observations with Avalon - the conditioner is hard to work through because it's so creamy.  Nothing some extra water and a wide tooth comb can't fix.  As my hair is drying it's not as smooth as it was on cones, and I get a little friz.  But as soon as it's dry it's super soft, easy to comb, and the friz stays down after combing it.

I contacted Loma a few weeks ago when I was trying to find out if there were cones in the conditioner (but bought the conditioner anyway before they replied.)  I happened to get a reply from the founder of the company, who is also a chemist.  I asked him it there are scientific studies that prove the theory that cones coat the hair and leads to dryness and brittleness.  He said he has gotten a lot of emails about cones, but not that reasoning in particular.  He said it does not happen with dimethicone because it is water soluable and washes out each time.  I think I will only use it on occasion though, if I'm feeling particularly dry. 

I bought my best friend a LL gift certificate.    I can't wait to see what sticks she will pick out.

I got a compliment on my sticks last week from a lady in a checkout line.  And compliments on my hair color by MY BOYFRIEND'S MOM.  I met her for the first time over the weekend.  I'm glad my hair made a good impression.  I hope the rest of me made a good impression too.  I was so nervous! 

And once again, an ingredient list -

Avalon Organics Lavender Nourishing Shampoo
Certified organic lavandula angustifolia (lavender), calendula officinalis (calendula) and lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower extracts (aqueous)(1), cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, sodium lauroyl lactylate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, beta-glucan (oat), panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), soyamidopropalkonium chloride, tocopherol (vitamin E), bisabolol (chamomile), arginine (amino acid), babassuamadopropalkonium chloride, ethylhexylglycerin, and certified organic lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil(2).
1) Certified by Quality Assurance International
2) Certified by International Certification Services

Avalon Organics Lavender Nourishing Conditioner
Certified organic lavandula angustifolia (lavender), calendula officinalis (calendula) and lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower extracts (aqueous)(1), certified organic helianthus annuus (sunflower) oil(1), cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, stearic acid, soyamidopropalkonium chloride, cetrimonium chloride, cyclopentasiloxane, emulsifying wax, beta-glucan (oat), certified organic orbignya oleifera (babassu) seed oil(2), panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), bisabolol (chamomile), arginine (amino acid), babassuamadopropalkonium chloride, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium chloride, tocopherol (vitamin E), and certified organic lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil(3).
1) Certified by Quality Assurance International
2) Certified by Instituto Biodinâmico
3) Certified by International Certification Services

Cynde

Catching Up with Pics

It's been so crazy hectic with work that I haven't had a chance to take the pics that go along with my past posts.  So I'm catching up!  

These are the styles I was trying when I experimented with French Twist variants:

Two French Twists with facing seams


Horizontal French Twist, Back View


Horizontal French Twist, Side View


Two Horizontal French Twists, Back View


Two Horizontal French Twists, Side View


Chinese Bun with No Strings Attached
(still trying to perfect this.  Instead of using a ponytail holder, I make a braid that crosses about 3 times, then put the stick through it.)


Two Buns
(Nothing spectacular here - I just like the way my layers stick out and curl over my ears)


Wavy Day
(waves after wearing an Infinty Bun all day.  I took 3 pics and they were all blurry...)


(same wave day but I was standing in the wrong spot.  How dramatic!)


Bigger pics, so linking to them:

The three combs I got on ebay for $20.  From left to right, Ox Horn, Bamboo, and what I thought was Boxwood, but now think it's Peach Wood

Armoire from Walmart for "good" sticks, pot of rice with Practice Sticks

For Panpeus - the DDR shirt I was talking about with Haute Couture DDR skirt.  (j/k - it's the dance pad I was feeling goofy.)  Hmm, game-skins don't have them anymore.  Good thing you can make your own.  

Cynde

Thanks for the compliments, Sakina!  

I Have a Hair Minion!

Or Minion in Training.  Since I've gotten faster and better at putting my hair up, my boyfriend has taken an interest and watched me a couple times.  He's techie, so I think he was kind of intrigued by the "engineering" aspects of sticks.  Today I had just a ponytail, and he said "you're not wearing wearing a bun!"  I said "I know!  I'm being lazy!"  He said "I want to make one".  So he made a bun, and put the ponytail scrunchie around it.  

Then he went about his business, came back and saw my hair was falling.  He mumbled something about not being able to make a bun and tried it again.  The scrunchie wouldn't hold this time.  He was determined now!   He left the room and came back with my wood comb and hair sticks.  

He tried the bun with sticks, and it fell out.  I said "here I'll show you".  And he said "no!  I want to figure it out myself."  After a couple more tries he finally "let" me tell him how sticks worked.  He got it!  The bun is loose and lopsided, but it's still holding (that was about 2 hours ago.)  

Cynde