with 20 minutes in the hair-care aisle at Albertsons, trying to find a conditioner with no -cones!  All of my old standbys were now off-limits. 

"Aussie 3 Minute Miracle"?  Nope. 

"Dove Advanced Care"?  No. 

"Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curls & Waves", "Garnier Fructis Fortifying Cream Conditioner", "Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal", GAAAH!  Nothing but -cones!  I could've torn my hair out, but then I'd have an even longer journey to long hair, wouldn't I? 

Finally, (and surprisingly), which conditioner do I find with no -cones whatsoever?  Why, the humble $.99 "Suave Naturals Coconut" conditioner, down there on the bottom shelf. 

So, with my new bottle of conditioner in hand, I come home this morning to deep-condition my hair like I've never done.

I shampoo (with Pantene - I'm going to use it up before I search for a new brand) and rinse well with cold water from the flexible shower head.  Bent-over the edge of the tub, of course.  (Hypothermia isn't cool.)  Added conditioner, combed through with my wide-toothed shower comb.  I then tucked on my shower cap, and proceeded to warm myself up with a nice hot shower.

I left the shower cap on for a good hour.  Then I rinsed the conditioner out with more cold water.  After letting my hair dry (ooh!  ringlets!)  I added a few drops of Jojoba oil, smoothed between my palms.

My hair is now dried, soft, shiny, curly, and better looking than I've seen it in months!  I think that cold water really helped it.  (I just need to deal with the brain-freeze that accompanies it.)

After cutting my hair to just at my shoulders when dry, I've left it alone for a little over a year now.  It is now down to my shoulder blades when dry.

Next orders of business:
1) A much overdue trim.  I'm too scared to do it myself, but it seems ridiculous to pay a salon for a shampoo & a trim.  It needs done, though.
2) Stalking the drug stores & natural foods stores for "nice" hair products.

I've already got a 100% boar bristle brush.  (Didn't like it much, though.  Not enough penetration for me.)  My can't-live-without-it brush is now the "Goody Ouchless brush for Curly Hair" I found at Rite-Aid.  I've never had a tangle with it.  That, and my shower comb, seem to be serving me pretty well.  We'll see if my needs change over time, though.

Pictures may come soon.

Quote:
  Actually it IS!!  But I totally understand.

I look forward to reading your journal. 

My hair was rather frizzy & pfoofy at work tonight.  It was probably the rain & mid-30s temps we've been having lately.  (Brrr!)  But after sitting here at the computer & adding some coconut oil, it is very soft & shiny.  The ringlets are all gone (they tend to get squished), but I now have huge waves.

I'm going shopping this weekend.  Hopefully I'll find a silk/satin pillowcase, a silk scarf to wrap my hair in during work, some more scrunchies, and a good pair of hair scissors.  (And if my dear husband uses them to put model cars together like he did with my good tweezers, he's gonna find those scissors in a very uncomfortable place!) 
I'm also going to pre-shop for a good, light shampoo, and get my hair trimmed.

All this before Xmas!  'Tis the season!