Going Natural!!!!

Hello everyone!!! I have started this blog specifically for natural hair care. I have been natural for a year and recently did the big chop to get rid of the damaged hair from relaxer and color. It has been so uplifting and I cannot stop smiling! I was a little nervous at first because I didn't know what my boyfriend would think of my hair being cut so short. I figured he would be okay because when we met my hair was a mess. I was transitioning and still had all that damaged hair flying everywhere. But when he saw it, he didn't comment on it, just made a lil whislting sound and he cannot keep his hand off of it!!! I was driving somewhere one night and he rode with me and he played in my hair most of the ride! He's the best. I'm just so happy with my hair and I fill so relieved and like so much is lifted off my shoulders. It's like I have cut off all the negative in my life and left with the healthy and positive things in life. I feel good.
I am dealing with some natural hair issues already though.
Shampoo
First of all, I'm trying to find the right products for my hair. The shampoo I have been washing my hair with for years is Creme of Nature. It works beautifully on my hair but that product has changed and the ingredients in the updated products is more harmful than the outdated one I have been using. I'm trying it out to see if it continues to work well on my hair.

Conditioner
Second, I am trying to find the right conditioner. I started off using Pantene Pro-V Curls Conditioner. I used it with the Pantene Pro-V Curls Mousse and Gel. My hair came out great! Just had a few damaged straight ends and just clipped them off. The only thing I did not like was how my curls were hard. I was kind of expecting them to be soft and shiny. I stopped using the gel afterwards to keep my hair soft. When the conditioner ran out, I looked for something that would moisterized my hair because it was beginning to get really dry. I tried Aussie moisterizing conditioner and bought some shea butter. OMG!!! My hair was soooooo soft and moisterized!!!! I couldn't keep my hands out of my hair! The only problem is my hair was not looking as curly. Some of my hair was straightening. I'm still trying to figure it out. I have noticed my curl pattern also. My roots are very tight tiny coils. But my ends are a little different. I don't know if I need to cut more off. Right now I'm just going to let it grow out some more before cutting it again. So I have gone back to Pantene Pro-V Curly to hold the curl pattern in my hair.

Moisterizer
I am trying to find the right moisterizer for my hair. I started using pure shea butter mixed with my moisterizing olive oil and my hair was sooooo much softer and moisterized as I mentioned earlier. The thing is, the shea butter I bought was scented and the smell drove my family crazy whenever they went into the bathroom where I mixed it and applied to my hair. If I can find pure shea butter without the scent, I will be so happy. I just don't know where to find it. The only kinds I find is already mixed with other chemicals I'm not comfortable with includind sulfate and mineral oil and a bunch of other hard-to-pronounce ingredients. I just bought some moisterizing lotion from Pantene. I will probably mix a little in my water spray bottle I use when dampening my hair.

Gel
I started off using the gel that's part of the Pantene Pro-V Curly line but it made my hair hard. My aunt turn me on to IC Fantasia gel. I used it and it worked very well but left my hair hard and with flakes. I have been using Smooth and Shine hair gel for years because it was a soft gel and didn't leave my hair hard so I've been using a dab of that! I plan on trying the Kinky Curly. I don't know if it will leave my hair hair also.

Overview
So I need a little help finding the right products for my hair. I wash my hair once a week and co-wash everyday. So right now my questions are:

1. What is a good shampoo that is not harmful?
2. What is a good moisterizing conditioner for naturally curly hair?
3. What is a good moisterizer to keep my hair moisterized between washes?
4. Where can I find pure shea butter?
5. What is good gel to hold my curls without the hardening and flakes?

Well, I will be back later with updates! Please let me know of any tips!!!!


Relaxed and plain...the hair I mean ;-)

My first BC (LOL)

Then the color...

Transitioning to natural...(how I looked when my boyfriend met me! Eeekk!!!)

A roller set...came out really nice!

Thanks!!!