2011: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, & The Sometimeish

The great thing about blogging is the ability to go back and see what worked and what didn't -- not just recently but overall in the last 12 months. Here's my recap of 2011:

The Good:

• Using halfwigs as a protective style. This will always be a win. Specifically Outre Tammy and Sensationnel 7047.
• (Recent purchase of a) professional hooded dryer! ♥
• Sally's One n Only products. I really loved these products in the Spring. The serum and the Restorative Mask (in the tube) are definite keepers.
• Extra virgin olive oil -- a great all-purpose hair oil used for anything from pre-pooing, diluting relaxers, to sealing. Definite keeper along with JBCOOptimum Care Relaxer. What I like most about this relaxer is very consistent results: smooth, shiny, silky results.
• Finally learned how to wrap my hair lol
• Diluting shampoo in an applicator bottle. Saves money, can get the shampoo directly to the scalp and makes thicker shampoos easier to spread and lather.
• Dark and Lovely Reviving Colors Semi-Permanent Haircolor in natural black
• Creme of Nature Argan Oil Shampoo. It's very comparable to the old shampoo.

The Bad:

• Ayurveda. I really wanted to use brahmi, Vatika and amla oil permanently in my regimen. Although I like the results I just can't bear the smell and the MESS of using the brahmi and amla oil. The Vatika is good but hard to find where I live so I'll settle with regular extra virgin coconut oil instead. Ayurveda was fun while it lasted but will not repurchase...trying to keep my regimen as simple as possible this year...
• Natural products. Don't get me wrong, some are very VERY good. But some (every one I've purchased) are the over-priced result of great marketing. For example, after I got over the honeymoon phase of Miss Jessie's Baby Buttercreme I realized that it was not moisturizing my hair at all but rather leaving a pretty layer of mineral oil over it, to give an illusion of softness. Donna Marie Baby Buttercreme was way to expensive to be seperating into oil and base when I got home. DB Transitioning Creme is decent -- but for $20 I want something a little better than decent! I didn't like the smell either so I gave it to my sister. Overall I won't continue to buy natural products regularly only because they're too expensive for my jobless student self to be trial-and-erroring with

The Ugly:

• I went to the salon ONCE this year to get my hair washed, flat ironed and blow dried. Two words: never again. I was left with burnt-smelling hair and mediocre results. Not to mention the price switch when I was ready to pay. Since I was 13 weeks post I apparently that counted as having to pay the "natural hair" price. WTF1! You can bet I only paid what was discussed over the phone. And at $35 for just a wash and set that's already overpriced. SMH.
• Cornrows give me a lot of retention and new growth. But cornrow removal wreaked havoc on my ends this year.

The Sometimeish:

• ORS Edge Control. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. Sometimeish. But will still repurchase.

What was your good, bad, ugly and sometimeish for 2011?