Last night I set my previously straighten hair on the blue and orange flexi rods. I said a silent prayer this morning to the hair gods for good results. I was definitely pleasantly pleased. Flexi rods have become my hair's new best friend. Check out the youtube video for results.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care: 5 Steps to Create a Hair Regimen
Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care: 5 Steps to Create a Hair Regimen: "by Tammy of Curly Chic 1. Start a Hair Diary or Journal Writing a Diary may sound a little “High School” to some but it can really be..."
Mantaining Straight Hair
Part 1: Cross-Wrap
Part 1: Cross-Wrap
I've had my hair straight for 4 days now. I've been maintaining with the cross-wrap technique that I learned from several youtubers. Wrapping my hair this way has resulted in very little reversion. It came out kind of flat this morning, but I'll be using flexi rods tonight to bring it back to life. I'll probably be in buns or updos all next week. Any way enough rambling. Check out my cross-wrap video below.
What's the Big Deal?
I've been an advent lurker of hair blogs, hair forums, and youtube for several year now. Its seems like the same issue comes up at least 2 or 3 times a month. A transitioning or newly natural diva is catching grief about her hair decision from the ones who claim to love her the most. I just don't understand the big deal. When I decided to stop getting relaxers, no one around me seemed to be bothered by my decision. It was basically business as usual.
What's disheartening to me is, it seems that women are having the most problems from their own mothers. I always have to take a deep breath simply shake my head when reading these stories or watching these video. I always thought that your mother should be your biggest supporter whether they agree with your decision or not...well, at least that's how it was in my case.
While I was transitioning my mother was my hair's saving grace. She took the time to teach me how to cornrow, flat twist, roller set, rod set, straw curls, comb/finger coils...she's a licensed cosmetologist. I never took interest in learning to do these things before because I simply washed, conditioned, blow dried, flat ironed, and wrapped weekly. I'm not saying that my mom was my personal little AMEN corner, because if something was not right with my hair she quickly spoke up, like always, that's how I knew her concerns were genuine. It was her way of "saving me from the world" as she so gracefully put it.
I know I went off on a tangent, but back to my original thoughts. I've always wondered why so many people believe they have the right to push their opinion about acceptable hair texture or practices on others. There's nothing wrong with expressing your concerns if something seems out of order, but do so in a tactful and loving manner.
To all my transitioning and natural sisters out there, please don't be discouraged by the Negative Nancys and Pessimist Pauls in your life. Continue to embark on your journey. Embrace every kink, curl, wave, or mixtures of the aforementioned textures you have on your beautiful head. Every head of hair is different and makes each of us uniquely human.
Live...Laugh...Love
What's disheartening to me is, it seems that women are having the most problems from their own mothers. I always have to take a deep breath simply shake my head when reading these stories or watching these video. I always thought that your mother should be your biggest supporter whether they agree with your decision or not...well, at least that's how it was in my case.
While I was transitioning my mother was my hair's saving grace. She took the time to teach me how to cornrow, flat twist, roller set, rod set, straw curls, comb/finger coils...she's a licensed cosmetologist. I never took interest in learning to do these things before because I simply washed, conditioned, blow dried, flat ironed, and wrapped weekly. I'm not saying that my mom was my personal little AMEN corner, because if something was not right with my hair she quickly spoke up, like always, that's how I knew her concerns were genuine. It was her way of "saving me from the world" as she so gracefully put it.
I know I went off on a tangent, but back to my original thoughts. I've always wondered why so many people believe they have the right to push their opinion about acceptable hair texture or practices on others. There's nothing wrong with expressing your concerns if something seems out of order, but do so in a tactful and loving manner.
To all my transitioning and natural sisters out there, please don't be discouraged by the Negative Nancys and Pessimist Pauls in your life. Continue to embark on your journey. Embrace every kink, curl, wave, or mixtures of the aforementioned textures you have on your beautiful head. Every head of hair is different and makes each of us uniquely human.
Live...Laugh...Love
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Black Tea and Cinnamon Rinses
A few months ago, I was dealing with some major postpartum shedding. Using my homemade black tea and cinnamon rinse has cut down the shedding drastically, almost eliminating it.
Black tea and cinnamon have many of the same benefits which are as follows:
1. Caffeine stimulates hair follicles 1. Promotes growth
2. Slows down shedding 2. Prevents hair loss
3. Darkens hair 3. Sunless lighten of hair
The main difference between the benefits of the black tea and cinnamon is the effects it has on your hair color. I added the cinnamon powder in the black tea rinse because my hair is dyed with Clairol: Cherrywood Texture and Tones; and I figured the lightening affects of cinnamon would counteract the darkening affects of the tea. Plus I hate the smell of tea and the sweet and spicy smell of cinnamon helped to mask the smell.
Black Tea and Cinnamon Rinse Recipe
4 tea bags (I use Lipton tea)
2 tablespoons of cinnamon powder
1 Tea pot of freshly boiled water
Brew the black tea and cinnamon powder in water for a few hours or overnight. BE SURE TO ALLOW RINSE TO COOL!!!
There are many different opinions on where the tea rinse should fit into your wash day routine. The steps I take when doing a tea rinse are as follows:
Procedure
1. Prepoo overnight
2. Clarify
3. Pour rinse over hair (DO NOT RINSE OUT)
4. Deep condition w/heat 30 minutes
5. Rinse deep conditioner/tea mixture from hair
6. Quick cool/cold rinse to close cuticles
7. Moisturize/Detangle/Style
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Quarterly Length Check
| |
| Official Length Check, Full Shoulder |
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Chunky Twistout!
Last night I set my hair in ten large twist and rolled the ends on blue flexi rods. My hair was damp and all I used was Smooth 'n Shine Hair Polisher.
I also uploaded a YouTube video. Hope you enjoy.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
75 Things Every Grown Woman Should Know
A friend of mine sent me this e-mail. I found it interesting so I decided to share. The ones that I really like are blue. Hope you enjoy.
1. If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. If he doesn’t want you, nothing can make him stay.
2. Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior.
3. If you have ANY doubt in your mind about a man’s character, leave him alone.
4. Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.
5. Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that’s not meant to be.
6. Don’t force an attraction.
7. Slower is better.
8. Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.
9. If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no you can’t “be friends.” A friend wouldn’t mistreat a friend.
10. Have faith in God regarding your relationship, but don’t let faith make you stupid. God does things decent and in order.
11. Don’t settle.
12. If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is.
13. If he keeps changing his mind about the relationship—take that as a BIG sign that he is unstable. Do you really want to be with a man like that?
14. Don’t stay because you think “it will get better.” You’ll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better.
15. Honorable men take care of their business and aren’t involved in a whole lot of mess.
16. The only person you can control in a relationship is you.
17. There’s only one ‘reason’ a man dumps you; he doesn’t want you.
18. Avoid men who’ve got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women.
He didn’t marry them when he got them pregnant, why would he treat you any differently?
19. You really do have to kiss a few frogs before finding the prince.
20. Always put yourself and your happiness first.
21. Always have your own set of friends separate from his.
22. Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you. If something bothers you, speak up.
23. Like from the show Sex and the City, if he doesn’t call, he just isn’t that interested.
24. Be honest and upfront.
25. Know when to cut the cord, don’t be strung along
26. Don’t fall for the “I’m confused role”. Remove yourself from the situation to let him figure things out (but don’t wait for him, move on).
27. If you want to have a clue as to how he will treat you, watch how he treats the WOMEN in his family (not just mom).
28. There’s more than physical abuse, there’s emotional and mental abuse. If he causes any of them…flee.
29. You cannot change a man’s behaviors. Change comes from within.
30. Don’t let him place rules on you that he is not willing to follow himself — double-standard.
31. Don’t EVER make him feel he is more important than ! you are…even if he has more education or in a better job.
32. Do not make him into a quasi-god. He is a man, nothing more nothing
less.
33. Demand respect and if he can’t give it, he can’t have you!
34. Don’t compete with other woman, but be aware that men are attracted to what they see.
35. If you think he is cheating, he probably is. Confront him right away and if you feel he’s lying, let him go.
36. Actions speak louder than words.
37. Never let a man define who you are.
38. Never rely on a man for compliments, look to yourself for that.
39. Never borrow someone else man.
40. If he cheated with you, he’ll cheat on you.
41. Just because he says he loves you, doesn’t mean that he won’t hurt you and it doesn’t mean that you are meant to be with him.
42. To use painful hard-won wisdom — ‘get it right’ the next time.
43. Know that you deserve to be the number one person in the life of the #1 person in your life.
44. Love is a verb …
45. Learn to give up your lifelong task of trying to make someone unavailable-available, someone ungiving-giving, and someone unloving-loving.
46. A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.
47. All men are NOT dogs.
48. You should not be the one doing all the bending…compromise is a two way street.
49. If you don’t love yourself…you cant love someone else.
50. You cannot mend someone else broken heart
51. You need time to heal between relationships…there is nothing cute about baggage…deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.
52. You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you…a relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals…look for someone complimentary…not supplementary.
53. Dating is fun…even if he doesn’t turn out to be Mr. Right.
54. NEVER give more in a relationship than you are getting out of it.
55. Never become your man’s “therapist”.
56. When actions and words conflict, believe the actions. Respond to the actions.
57. A real healthy relationship requires two people. One person can end it - but it takes two to make it work.
58. Don’t fall for the “I’m not the loving type”…when a man loves you there is nothing in this world (within reason) that he wouldn’t do for you.
59. Make him miss you sometimes…when a man always know where you are, and you’re always readily available to him he takes it for granted.
60. Give him his space…let him go out with his boys, don’t pressure him to spend time with you. You cant force a man to hang out with you.
61. If you wouldn’t allow your daughter to be with him you shouldn’t.
62. Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later.
63. Never move into his mother’s house.
64. Provide financially for yourself and don’t depend on anyone.
65. Never co-sign for a man.
66. Never believe you have the perfect guy and he is so innocent.
67. Never spoil your man; let him spoil you.
68. Never let a man mess up your credit.
69. When it’s time to let go; let go.
70. Good men should be treated like good men.
71. Don’t play games.
72. You can’t make a whore into a housewife - or husband.
73. Don’t fully commit to a man who doesn’t give you everything that you need. Keep him in your radar but get to know others.
74. Compatibility in terms of educational attainment, values, beliefs, personal and career goals, and socioeconomic status, are important.
75. Never date a guy who wears colored contacts.
1. If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. If he doesn’t want you, nothing can make him stay.
2. Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior.
3. If you have ANY doubt in your mind about a man’s character, leave him alone.
4. Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.
5. Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that’s not meant to be.
6. Don’t force an attraction.
7. Slower is better.
8. Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.
9. If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no you can’t “be friends.” A friend wouldn’t mistreat a friend.
10. Have faith in God regarding your relationship, but don’t let faith make you stupid. God does things decent and in order.
11. Don’t settle.
12. If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is.
13. If he keeps changing his mind about the relationship—take that as a BIG sign that he is unstable. Do you really want to be with a man like that?
14. Don’t stay because you think “it will get better.” You’ll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better.
15. Honorable men take care of their business and aren’t involved in a whole lot of mess.
16. The only person you can control in a relationship is you.
17. There’s only one ‘reason’ a man dumps you; he doesn’t want you.
18. Avoid men who’ve got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women.
He didn’t marry them when he got them pregnant, why would he treat you any differently?
19. You really do have to kiss a few frogs before finding the prince.
20. Always put yourself and your happiness first.
21. Always have your own set of friends separate from his.
22. Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you. If something bothers you, speak up.
23. Like from the show Sex and the City, if he doesn’t call, he just isn’t that interested.
24. Be honest and upfront.
25. Know when to cut the cord, don’t be strung along
26. Don’t fall for the “I’m confused role”. Remove yourself from the situation to let him figure things out (but don’t wait for him, move on).
27. If you want to have a clue as to how he will treat you, watch how he treats the WOMEN in his family (not just mom).
28. There’s more than physical abuse, there’s emotional and mental abuse. If he causes any of them…flee.
29. You cannot change a man’s behaviors. Change comes from within.
30. Don’t let him place rules on you that he is not willing to follow himself — double-standard.
31. Don’t EVER make him feel he is more important than ! you are…even if he has more education or in a better job.
32. Do not make him into a quasi-god. He is a man, nothing more nothing
less.
33. Demand respect and if he can’t give it, he can’t have you!
34. Don’t compete with other woman, but be aware that men are attracted to what they see.
35. If you think he is cheating, he probably is. Confront him right away and if you feel he’s lying, let him go.
36. Actions speak louder than words.
37. Never let a man define who you are.
38. Never rely on a man for compliments, look to yourself for that.
39. Never borrow someone else man.
40. If he cheated with you, he’ll cheat on you.
41. Just because he says he loves you, doesn’t mean that he won’t hurt you and it doesn’t mean that you are meant to be with him.
42. To use painful hard-won wisdom — ‘get it right’ the next time.
43. Know that you deserve to be the number one person in the life of the #1 person in your life.
44. Love is a verb …
45. Learn to give up your lifelong task of trying to make someone unavailable-available, someone ungiving-giving, and someone unloving-loving.
46. A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.
47. All men are NOT dogs.
48. You should not be the one doing all the bending…compromise is a two way street.
49. If you don’t love yourself…you cant love someone else.
50. You cannot mend someone else broken heart
51. You need time to heal between relationships…there is nothing cute about baggage…deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.
52. You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you…a relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals…look for someone complimentary…not supplementary.
53. Dating is fun…even if he doesn’t turn out to be Mr. Right.
54. NEVER give more in a relationship than you are getting out of it.
55. Never become your man’s “therapist”.
56. When actions and words conflict, believe the actions. Respond to the actions.
57. A real healthy relationship requires two people. One person can end it - but it takes two to make it work.
58. Don’t fall for the “I’m not the loving type”…when a man loves you there is nothing in this world (within reason) that he wouldn’t do for you.
59. Make him miss you sometimes…when a man always know where you are, and you’re always readily available to him he takes it for granted.
60. Give him his space…let him go out with his boys, don’t pressure him to spend time with you. You cant force a man to hang out with you.
61. If you wouldn’t allow your daughter to be with him you shouldn’t.
62. Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later.
63. Never move into his mother’s house.
64. Provide financially for yourself and don’t depend on anyone.
65. Never co-sign for a man.
66. Never believe you have the perfect guy and he is so innocent.
67. Never spoil your man; let him spoil you.
68. Never let a man mess up your credit.
69. When it’s time to let go; let go.
70. Good men should be treated like good men.
71. Don’t play games.
72. You can’t make a whore into a housewife - or husband.
73. Don’t fully commit to a man who doesn’t give you everything that you need. Keep him in your radar but get to know others.
74. Compatibility in terms of educational attainment, values, beliefs, personal and career goals, and socioeconomic status, are important.
75. Never date a guy who wears colored contacts.
THEN & NOW!!!
I thought it would be fun to compare a picture of my hair as a natural child, permed adult, and natural adult. My hair has always been pretty healthy and long according to real world standards.
I wish I had pictures showing my hair's natural texture as a child and while relaxed as a child. If I find some I will update this post. My goal now is to keep my hair as healthy as possible and eventually get back to MBL or longer.
 |
| 1994: I was 9 years old and still natural. My mother simply blow dried my hair and put it in a ponytail. Hanging down it was somwhere between MBL and WL. |
 |
| Oct. 3, 2008: I was about 6-7 wks post relaxer. My mom gave me a flexirod set for my wedding. When straighten, by hair was about 1.5 inches past APL. |
 |
| Oct 2010: This was a chunky twist out done on dry hair. I was 1 yr 8 mnths post relaxer and 1 yr 1 mnth post bc. |
 |
| Jan 2011: This was an old coil out pulled into a puff. I was 1 yr 11 mnths post relaxer and 1 yr 4 mnths post bc. I think, I'm about .5-1 inch from APL now. |
**LENGTH CHECK COMING SOON**
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