Bentonite [Calcuim] Clay washes and the Denman Brush [and the Hercules Sagemann]

So, I've had Moroccan Red / Rhassoul clay for a while, but it's mildly expensive so I mostly use it on my skin.  I got Bentonite because it's cheaper and doesn't stain [I actually have two red towels just for the red clay! Sigh.]
I use it for hair and skin care, actually, but I've taken a break recently because clay is a little harsh and my face hated the stage makeup I've had to wear.
Anyway, I've been using the clay in my hair because some people use it instead of shampoo or as a cleansing conditioner.
Calcium Bentonite Clay:
It's absolutely amazing. My hair feels clean but not stripped, and is a little darker/richer and much shinier than before. The only problem is that it's a bit hard to wash out completely. Incidentally, it's also difficult to get off your face.
I use several [plastic, do not let metal touch clay!] tablespoons of Bentonite Clay, a little Rhassoul Clay [a spoonful or maybe just half of one], a few spoonfuls of raw honey, some grape seed oil, coconut oil, castor oil [not measured, but not much either] and a lot of coconut milk, followed by enough Apple Cider Vinegar to get it to the right texture. I've actually tried white distilled in it's place and while it's good, I don't like it as much, but I'd use it in a pinch, definitely. I applied it to damp hair and left it in for a few hours. When I rinsed it out, my hair was soft, didn't have many tangles and just much healthier looking and feeling. I use it after my weekly gelatin protein treatment and my hair feels full. In fact, applying more coconut milk to my hair actually makes it feel too full, (weighed down even!) so I don't do much afterwards other than setting it.  This is a great way to cleanse and really condition hair deeply, adding moisture and shine while getting rid of all the previous buildup.  I'm planning on keeping this up whenever I have the time to clean up after it, because it is a bit messy and the rhassoul clay can stain if you let it sit.

Denman Brush:
Buy this at Sally Beauty Supply
My Hercules Sagemann comb broke backstage! No idea how, but it's very sad, so I decided to try using my modified Denman again.
Ok, this does rip my hair out, so I have to use it when my hair is as detangled as possible. Due to the exaggerated ripping, I've learned when optimal combing conditions are for my hair; very slightly damp. Not enough to revert so much [enough to look like a blow-out] and not dry either. I lost about 75% of my normal hair from detangling with that. It's still way too much hair, but now that I only comb once a week it's slightly less horrifying.
Well, it definitely smoothed my hair quite a bit. Denman brushes do not define my curls like they do for some people, even when using the antistatic pad, but my hair is so smooth after the set that it's seriously like I flat ironed it. It's smooth, detangled and the cuticles are flat, which to me is the entire benefit to flat ironing.  It's a shame I had to lose more hair than with my Sagemann, because if not I'd used this every single wash day from now into the end of time and space.
Notes on Sally's / Denman: I wish my Sally's stocked the D41 because I bought the D4 and it's bristles are closer together. I don't like that, and whenever I have extra money [ha!] I'll buy the 41, which is made for curly hair [unlike the ones that don't end in 1, which are for straight hair.] Maybe it'll rip out less hair and I can use it more often. Also, make sure you're getting the Denman and not one of the many knock offs offered at Sallys. I had to look around for a bit. Unless you want the knock off, then just buy one of the ones that doesn't specifically say Denman on it. I figured, first time, I'd buy the brand. [Did the same with Curlformers and now I'm very glad.]

My hair after the Denman, set, remove, and one night of sleep.

[I know, my CF sets still only last until I go to sleep :(]

See the smoothness of mini-buns / crown, even one of them was shining from the no-light in this room, which is saying something. Anyway, I'm just going to do a big bun after my comb arrives. Speaking of which...
Hercules Sagemann:
Buy this at HotCombs
So this is a wider-tooth comb, but not one of the huge ones like you'd expect. I've reviewed this before, I believe, and I thought it was good but I didn't have much to compare it to. Now I realise how incredibly amazing it is. This is by far, the single greatest comb I have ever used to the point that I do not even want to try another comb and risk it.  I lose no hair to the actual comb; nothing is stuck in it, everything I lose is from prior strand weakness / manipulation. The hair in the sink from this comb is the same amount as I lose from finger detangling. It's smooth, it doesn't tug, there are no horrible steams to slowly chip away at my hair and it's two combs in one.  I've only used the fine side for flat ironing and back when I was doing the 3 Comb Smooth thing, but I think I'm going to use it next time I need to smooth my hair out and compare it to the Denman in terms of detangling, smoothness, and hair breakage to see which I should use for the best set.  I mean, other than the mysterious breaking [into THREE peices :(], I have nothing bad to say about this comb at all! The only thing I could hope for was a rat tail at the far end so I could make parts. Seriously...I just... I just love it, okay? I take it everywhere I'm staying over a night. When I have money I'll buy another so I don't have to live even a day without this bad boy, even though I only comb once a week. Best hair tool besides Curlformers.
Notes on HotCombs / Hercules Sagemann: So I'm pretty sure hot combs is the exclusive retailer, but I've ordered from there twice, [my new comb is coming today!] so I trust them. I also enjoy that the writing is etched in along with being white. When it fades [quickly] due to oil, the etching is still there! Whoo~

Bunning!

I was in a play the last two weekends, and yet did not do anything to my hair because I just didn't have the time, unfortunately. Luckily, it just needed to be in a bun [I was Mrs. Trent in Murder's In The Heir, a murder mystery where the killer is chosen by the audience.]

Nurse Withers on the left, Mrs. Trent on the right.

It was a sock bun, so less big than I'm used to, as seen here:

Here is a closeup of that sock bun from two different showings:

 Incidentally, in the days before the play I had time to do my hair every day, so it looked like this for a few hours before going back to being a bun:

Fun stuff, right? Anyway, my hair doesn't actually appear to have gained any length, and I'm thinking it's because my old and relaxed hair is super weak, because I have sections with no straight hair left, but the natural hair is the right length [so it's not actually breaking, but I will trim it just in case during my BC at the end of the year.]

This is how long my natural hair was in the beginning of January:

 Middle of February:

It's at my chin now, actually, so I guess the castor oil is working.

I know I haven't taken any texture shots, but it's because I don't like how thin and wispy my relaxed hair is compared to my huge, bouncy, shrunken coily 4b hair.  I adore my texture; even my mom was like 'What did you do to your hair to make it look like that‽' when I showed it to her. It had clarifying shampoo on it, and this Ion Clarifying Shampoo defines my hair something fierce. I was cleaning my bang to see if I needed to shampoo. I don't ^_^.

Anyway, stay tuned for a post about Bentonite [Calcuim] Clay and the Denman brush, if you please. Either way, have a healthy hair journey!