My Hair Issue Problems

Hey I've been working hard to keep better track of my hair obstacles and my actions to improve so here's and update

1. Problem: Short edges | Most recently: I will have to continue keeping close attention to my edges over the next few months to see if they are improving, so far I have still avoiding tight ponytails. Additionally, I have been applying Jamaican castor oil to my edges a few times a week.
2. Problem: Frizz | Most recently: I have invested in a new scarf which I wear at night but I accidentally bought satin fabric instead of silk...I'll make another trip to the fabric store soon. I also make sure to moisturize(Ingredients revealed soon) and braid my hair at night. The combined methods seem to be my answer!
   
3. Problem: Itchy scalp | Most recently: I discovered that there was an absence of H20 to my routine. I had been avoiding my original hair spritz I made after my big chop(glycerin, aloe vera gel, rose water, and water mixture that my hair was in love with that first summer) because I thought it was causing my twists to frizz prematurely. I opted to make a concoction of new and old by beating together shea butter, glycerin, aloe vera gel, rosemary, and coconut oil. The aloe vera gel was the hydration my scalp really needed. I then sealed with castor oil. My hair feels softer and my scalp is a lot less itchy.
   
   My roommate gave me the shampoo and conditioner from the Madame C. Walker line I mentioned a while ago. When I wash my hair I normally get a ton of hair in my drain and I always feel like I'm losing way too much. This time I gave myself a rosemary & EVOO hot oil treatment. Then tried washing my hair in braid that were very loose by the root like in this video
   
   
   
   This detangling/washing/conditioning method worked great for me and I will be sticking to it.

Until later

Determination

I have been still working on taking control of the things I can actually control and its working out let me tell u. Money has been sooo tight(or should I say nonexistent) since my interview in TX last month. I was already low on funds before the trip and I didn't expect to have to wait so long on my trip reimbursement. I feel like I'm constantly paying catch up with bills...but soon enough those days will be over bc I got landed a job. I'm very very excited and I finally feel that my dedication and determination are paying off.

Hair Determination Update(updates in purple):

1. Very short edges which I know can be caused by a lot since their so fragile. I hardly pull on my edges when making ponytails, braiding, or twisting. Plus I don't use brushes bc I hate how they feel scraping on my edges. I have been not worn any tight ponys and have been avoiding unnecessary strain(tight twisting/braiding, tying potentially hair scarves around my head). I haven't noticed any difference yet.
   
2. My two strand twists always frizz A LOT on the 3 or 4 day of wear. I tend to do small twists to extend the style. The frizz is always on the crown of my head which is also my area with the loosest texture(3c or less). I used to use shea butter only when twisting...then tried almond oil and coconut oil...now I use a mix of all three. I use a hair moisturizer spritz that contains water which maybe part of the problem. I have began to use a very small amount of my cream nightly, putting my hair in braids, coating my ends with a little additional cream, and wearing a silk scarf every night. I have noticed improved.
   
3. I wear protective styles more than 98% of the time. However, I usually wear them down or in a ponytail with the ends tucked in awkwardly. My ends are retched and I have split ends up the wazoo. I have been braiding my according to how I plan to style my hair the next day. For example, if I plan to wear a high bun I braid in a upward position. This really saves me some time styling in the morning.
4. I forgot to add the fact that my hair has been itching like crazy for a month now!!! I use my cream daily and my hair feels very soft, but the itch continues. I've clarified with ACV to try to give my moisturizing a fresh start...i didn't help one bit.
   
   Yesterday, I prepooed with castor and grapeseed oil. I tried not to shampoo my hair like crazy and instead applied my castile soap mix a couple times. I added castor oil to a Ion conditioner pack I grabbed from Sally's for my dc. I let my hair dry and twisted it with the Madame Walker cream again. Will see how this week goes.
   

In new news

Hope your week is starting off well. Spring is finally here!!!! This coming up weekend is Easter Sunday and I get to go home and do a little celebrating. My family always goes out for breakfast the weekend of my grandma's birthday, which is this one, so I get to see all my fam!!! Also, I get to go admire my new nephew...at only a month old number 9 already has such a personality.

Protective Styling? As much as I love wearing my hair in a puff I need to keep up my protective styling for many reasons. One reason being....I'm working out again! Yea I fell off the wagon last year but Im hopping back on with hopes of losing my tummy. I plan on doing cowashes or rinses(with only water) after my workouts. Also, I have to tell you about my little nightmare. So after three weeks I washed my straighten hair. Let me add it was my first time straightening since being natural. After my first wash my hair felt HORRIBLE. It felt brittle and my curls that I love so much were a hot mess. After complaining to my bestie she enlightened me with the knowledge that I needed to wash my hair a few times for it restore all the way to my natural state...whewww so I thought. At the time, I wasn't at home and I had virtually no products with me. I took a trip to Sally's and bought a moisturizer that I had never used. Thankfully it did the job. Sadly, my hair and texture still doesn't look exactly normal but it feels hydrated. Also, I promised myself that I will be serious about moisturizing . So nightly, I section my hair then moisturize, apply butter, and a light oil. I can already tell a big difference. Now, I'll I have to do is decide on what protective style I want to do for Easter. HHG.

In my experience

Someone told me the other day that you "get bored" of your natural hair after 4 yrs so you go get a relaxer. I highly doubt that this is true lol. Naturally, I get bored easily period and this includes my hair, but that doesn't mean I want it to be relaxed. Idk maybe its just me, but I'm in love with my hair and regret that I ever wanted to be relaxed. My hair isn't hard to manage and I love my curls and kinks. If I ever get that bored I will find something else to do like cut it or something. Some may be a little irritated with my point of view, but I could really care less.

I'm trying out new styles all the time and love every minute of it. Here are a couple of pics of a style I did over the holidays. I also updated my fotki.

Although, sometimes I go through periods where don't feel like doing my hair. Like right now....I put in two strand twist last week and have been wearing a hat on top to keep my head warm. I have been doing better at moisturizing because Ive been noticing that when my scalp gets dry now my scalp gets incredibly dry and itchy.

Pics of Natural Me

Sorry it's been so long, but I have updated pics up on my Fotki. Check them out and please comment.

One day at a time

My engine light finally went off Monday morning as I was leaving my honey's house(yea I know I prolly shouldn't be driving on the highway with my headache of a car). I helped a student Monday night when I could have been studying myself. Hopefully my kindness will pay off. I hopped in my car so I wouldn't be late for my second job and the fuel light pops on. I'm paranoid as all get out even tho normal cars last a good 20 mi after the light comes on mine doesn't. I drive all the way to work and stop at the closest gas station near my job and reach for my purse....hmm not there. I managed to drive all the way back to school to look for my purse...not there. Then all the way back to my house....yea found my purse. Drove down the street to the gas station and put in a meesly $10 praying it would last to pay day. Made it to work 30 min late.

As some as you know I had two schedule internship interviews this week. I had no clue how to wear my hair and I have no time to put in the style I want. I rocked a slick back pony that didn't slick back lol and a suit(so called sz 6) that belongs to my sissy(I'll remind you I now wear a nine...I didn't think that plan thru obviously). The interview#1 went well and I hope to hear good things from the company.

My engine light came back on yesterday. My body is starting to get worn out and I have no time to relax. I have a speech that I haven't prepared to give tomorrow and interview#2. I went on campus to study yesterday after work(10:30ish pm) even tho I was so tired. I attempted to work on one of my labs, but I was completely lost. Made it home about 2 and fixed my lunch for today.

Woke up this morning to my puppy running around the room playing loudly....I think she was up all night. Made time to eat cereal, yogurt, water and vitamins. I admit I feel more energized than usual. Even took some pics My prof just pushed back my exam next week since I have no clue what's going on. My group has a lab due tomorrow and I only have access to one building with computers with the proper software...the computers are used to about 5 for classes and the lab closes at 11 ugh.
Geez its only Wednesday!!

Sorry for the Delay

Hey Hey Hey


I feel like I have posted in forever. I will not make a habit of it. No matter how busy I am I should be able to take 5 minutes to make a post every now and then. I've been busy with school and applying for internships for the summer. School is going well, but the internships not so much.

I haven't even had time to wash my freaking hair. Yea, I know some ppl think its nasty, but when I was relaxed I always waited 3 weeks before I washed my hair. I even dc'd the other night(with my castor oil) without washing first. Last night, I french braided my hair and today I'll be doing the crochet braids that I've been talking about forever. I plan on keeping them for at least 3 weeks, so I prolly should have clarified and washed my hair first but o well. Don't think I'm gross lol. I made sure that I rinsed my hair very well in the shower. I'll post pics of the crochet braid process hopefully tomorrow.

My hair has been growing like a weed and I love it. I have about 1+ inches of new growth from when I attempted to color my hair in July. Also, over the course of the week I've been noticing how much my hair texture seems to be changing. Don't get me wrong I think it possible, but I honestly don't think my texture is changing. I do think however that as my hair is getting longing it is getting heavier and pulling more on my curls causing my curls to look looser. It was harder to detangle, but it I love new look.

Have a good weekend everyone. I plan to spend the how time studying and chilling on the couch. :)

It's time for something new

As I reported a couple weeks ago, I was going to attempt to step away from the puff. Have I? Um...not really. I will admit I haven't been wearing them tight so my hairline won't pay the cost. And I have been switching up the position almost daily.

Of course I have made excuses of y I've been sticking to the puff and I'm happy that at least I know they are just that...excuses. My number one: is this summer I have been ridiculously busy...not with events unfortunately but from working so much. Number two: well you know I've been trying to color my hair...so I didn't want to do a protective style that I would have to take right back down becuz I wanted to color it.

So here I am...still no color and my hair is still in a puff. Wanna no y? Remember when I said I was going to let a stylist do my hair. Well that stylist was an older cousin that I don't know very well. I made an appt with her and everything. That was until she texted me that she was going to charge me 65 smackers for some color. WTF!!! I have never and will never pay that much to get my hair done(besides braids). Hopefully I've finally found someone to help me color it(one of the city bus drivers).

In other news, I have been secretly searching for a new DC. I ran out of my ORS that I usually mix with 2 eggs. The last time I DC'd as suggested by my bf Tania
I mixed a cheap conditioner w/ essential oils. My sis has been using during her transition. I saw it at Walmart this wknd so I thought...hmm y not. I plan DCin, coloring, and during a protective style this week. We shall see how it goes.

Colored My Hair!

Yup, u've read it right. July 16 will mark my 1st year being natural. I've been in a very stressful situation lately, so I thought it would be great to do something adventurous like color my hair.

As suggested to me, I tired a semi-permanent Cherrywood color by Clairol Pro. I was hoping to get a very noticeable color change, but instead I can only see .5% color change when my hair is at an angle that makes the sun beam on my hair. I'm highly dissapointed. :(

I planned to get my hair colored professionally in a couple of weeks.

Taking a Step Away from the Puff

Even though I loved my puff I am going to take a break from them. I'm not sure how often I will wear my puff now, but it def won't be everyday. I've even tried a new style

I hope to keep this style until my 1st napturalversary . 8 days to go yayayyhh!!!!

*Singing* I got my curls back!

I couldn't take it any longer. I had to release my hair from those kinky twists. I hate wearing styles that last more than two weeks, but I tried it again. This time I had them in for a whole 3 weeks and 4 days...wow that was a stretch for me.

When I was takin my twists down it oddly took me realllllly long. I have a new puppy so I had to take her out several times while takin my twists down. I kno my neighbors thought I was some crack head walkin around with a fro in the front of my hair and the back in twists still.

The last time I took my kinky twists down I was able rock my dirty hair in a twist out for a couple of days, but this time it looked a hot mess. I immediantly jumped in the shower and washed my hair. I finally tried
and looovvveedd it. Once I completely rinsed my hair I added a little more for a leave in and it turned out like this....


This summer I will take full advantage of wash-n-goes. So this morning I hoped in the shower and cowashed with Totally Twisted again and loved it again lol. My curls have been poppin.

10 months already?

The other day I was browsing through my usual hair forums (nappturality & blackhairmedia) and I saw that a poster hit her 10 month napptural mark. Then it hit me I forgot my 10th month of being natural :(. It was officially May 16. Well, I won't forget again.

I promised myself that I would keep my kinky twists in for at least 6 weeks. Hmm...idk about that. I love my real hair and have always hated weave so I don't know if I can last. I'm sure that my hair is loving the break from manipulation. Maybe I will take these down the Friday before Father's Day, so I can look extra fly on Sunday lol.

1 1/2 more months until 1 nappversay. Yay!

Plz No More Frizz

So yesterday I officially experienced my first episode of frizz. I'm not saying that my hair is so great that it never frizzing up or anything but I've never thought twice about it. When I read articles about it I just glance over it and think "o don't need to worry about that" Every since my BC my hair has behaved very well. I do my hair in the morning and I don't like it I move on to the next idea. The style last to the wee hours of the night around 98% of the time but yesterday was a whole other story. It was rainy and gloomy all day with a temp of about hi 50's. I decided I was going to wear my hair in a hump in the front and through the back in a puff. In the morning I usually slick my hair down with Long Aid gel activator and Cantu Leave-In. Well I didn't see my hair until it was time to go to a formal banquet which started at 6pm. Boi did my hair look tore up. I am going to have to invest in a couple frizz control products.

I'm drawing a blank with styles

So shortly after I BC'd winter was around the corner and I made big plans for protective styles. That's exactly what I did...I religiously wore two strand twists for about 8 months. I was able to retain so much length during this time which makes me soooo excited. My twists usually consist of flat twists in the front and two strand twists in the back. I get tons of compliments on it and after time I loved how they look on me. Before April of this year, on really warm days and or sometimes that day before a wash I wore my hair in a high puff. I also love this style on me, but if you know me I hate repetition. I like to constantly do something new. Even as a child when get something new and play with it for a week max and move on to something else.

So here is where the problem comes in. At nighttime I faithfully wear a bonnet(Mon-Fri) but recently I noticed that my hair is beginning to peak out the side because my hair is getting so long. It's sorta irritating because I don't feel like braiding my hair EVERY NIGHT before I got to sleep just to wake up in the morning and style it again. I love long hair and don't get me wrong I'm truly happy about my growth...but...at my length what should I do? I want to try something new. I refuse to were my hair in a protective style 98% of the time in the summer too. I purchased some combs so I could try a frohawk. Did it work for me.... of course not. I also tried wearing my hair in a lil bang thing (I'll try to post a pic) with a puff in the back. It's a really cute style but it only works for me on wash day. Lately I've been seeing folks do bantu knot outs in their hair and looks GREAT but I don't think my hair is long enough yet.

I'm def not bored or thinkin about doin anything drastic but I needs some more ideas. Can anyone give me any tips on how to do a frohawk?

Nite Hair Care Slacking

So, several months ago I posted that I had been slacking with my night hair care. Well, I still am. Normally during the week I'm pretty good at wearing a bonnet at night, but my hair care during the wknd is inexcusable. I think that my problem is when I wear my bonnet I think I am not sexy for the night. I don't want to be around my boyfriend like that. He's neva said anything about it, but I know if I was him I would want to rip it off my head when I was sleeping. Also, my fro is starting to get enormous so I can't wear a satin scarf anymore at night. I have to either deal with the fact that he is going to see me with a bonnet on a regular or find something prettier to wear.

April,

What style next?

Last night, I clipped my ends again for the second time this year. I put my hair in two strand twists and clipped my ends at an angle. I have been wanting to do it for a while, but I was advised that I should wait until spring broke. My ends really needed it and they feel so much better now. Usually when I plan my plans seem to never work out the way that I planned lol. For example, I wanted to straighten my hair two weeks ago but of course it didn't come out right. My ends seemed really rough every time I straighten a section. So I twisted the front and wore it that was for a couple of days.

Now, I would like to put more kinky twists in my hair but something keeps telling me wait. I only have about two weeks of school left and will only be making myself more stressed out if I add more tasks to my plate.

Idk what style I will do next...at the moment I'm drawing a blank.

Hmm should I wear my hair straight for a change?

So it has been 10 months since heat(blow dryer, flat iron, pressing comb) has touched this hair. First my ex asked for me to get my hair straighten and I refused. Then last year I said I would get my hair flat ironed for my birthday(Feb 15, 2009), then decided not to. I mean I know I'm probably tripping about avoiding heat for 10 months, but I mean heck I've worked really hard for my hair. I've retained at least 7-9 inches of hair since my B.C. My hair is healthier than eva and my retention is amazing. All that aside, I'm sure it will be fine if I put heat on my hair every distinct blue moon.

With that said tomorrow I plan to do the following:

* Pre-poo w/ coconut oil and cheap poo. I have practice in the morning so I will apply this before I leave and probably leave it in for at least 5hrs.

*Clarify w/ ACV and V05 poo in the shower

*One wash w/ base poo(diluted castile soap, evoo & aloe vera juice)

*One wash w/ Coconut Milk by Organix and condish. I usually put both in my hand and rub it in my entire head

*Condish w/ ORS replenishing conditioner mix w/ one egg then baggy for 15 under hooded dryer(on medium heat)

*Apply heat protective serum and my moisturizer

*Blow dry on cool

*Apply serum again and flat iron in small sections

*After apply a lil castor and jojoba oil I will wrap my hair and sit for about 15 more min under dryer.

Geezzz...this sounds like alot but I'm sure it will be a fun process. I hope this will last for 2 weeks(I'll keep my fingers are crossed).

Back to protective styling

So I've been slackin on my protective styling for my 100 challenge. I've had my hair out for almost a month and I don't want my hair to suffer. Plus I was really starting to miss my two strands twists...so their back. I'll be keeping my twists up until spring is here.

I normally twist my hair on the wknd and keep them in for 5 days to a wk. I want to practice stretching the styles for at least two weeks.

If u have any suggestions, please shoot them at me.

HHG

I'm feeling kinda low

First off, I took my DIY kinky twists out after only three weeks. Part of me feels like I wasted all that time doing my hair, but the other part feels it was a learning experience. Regardless, its Wed and my hair is in a hi puff. Hence not really in a protective style which means I'm(hopefully briefly) breakin my challenge..


Do you ever feel bad that someone else's life is not smoothly? Well I do. I feel horrible. I can't do anything to turn this person's life around. I'm losing sleep over it, I can't stay focused cuz I'm thinkin bout it, and I just down right feel bad.

On top of that, school and financial issues are stressing the mess out of me. I'm starting to feel like I can't do it. I feel like I'm always going to be broke and unable to pay my bills. Graduation feels like an eternity away and I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm at work and I feel like crying my heart out.

So easily distracted

So, if you noticed I have really been falling by the waist side with this natural journey thing as a whole. I've been seeing so many blogs from individuals feeling the same way. I mean its hard keeping up with school, a social life, a relationship, a health in general. I started off so strong and I'm determined to continue.

I refuse to let myself get distracted with school, my relationship is great, and my hair is still looking pretty good.
I did notice a few flakes for the first time since my BC ughhh, but hopefully its not suffering horribly from my neglect. I still have been keeping up with my biweekly DC, so imma pat myself on my back for that. And I have been protective styling it up, although I find when I spend nights with my boyfriend I forget to wear my bonnet.

It may look like I've been wearing my hair free alot but I def haven't. I only wear twistouts for a max of one day.