Let's see, its been 18 months since my last relaxer and 4 months since my big chop. My hair is sooooo long! I haven't done anything to straighten it yet, but with it not being straightened, when I pull it down gently, it is a long, if not longer than it was before my hair initially started breaking in 2008. This is so exciting for me. To have this type of response from my hair in light of me simply going natural is amazing. Had I known this was going to happen and it would be this great I would have done this YEARS ago! Like, 10 years ago. This is wonderful.
At some point I am going to do a video *shiver* to show some of the processes that I go through in caring for and styling my hair...I think. I am quite opposed to the video idea for myself because I don't really care for the sound of my own voice. While others say they love it, there is nothing that irks me more than talking to myself. You know how people say "oh she/he just like to hear herself/himself talk"? Well, that's not me. I do most of my cell phone conversations when I'm in private via speaker phone so I don't have to hear my own voice coming back at me....its just too much! But, I must acknowledge how much the videos of other naturalists like kimmaytube, dprincess28, prettydimples001 & Nikkimae, to name a few, have empowered and strengthened me to not only begin, but continue on my natural journey when there were times that I was ready to be done with it and terrified to start it. And as many holdups has I have in reference to videoing myself, I would hate to miss the chance to be that kind of a blessing to someone else. I mean, the blog is great, but let's be real, I learn best, not by reading, but by seeing things executed and following suit. So why deny someone else what benefited and still benefits me, when I know the positive force it was for me....I'm rationalizing here folks! LOL.
Anyway, that's where I am in hair and thoughts about hair. I hope you all are doing great. I hope this new year is starting well for you and will continue to be good. ENJOY THE YEAR PEOPLE! 2011 flew by so fast its kind of scary. Don't miss out on 2012. Its part of your life.
That's all for now! TTFN!!!
January 18, 2012
January 1, 2012
Product Update
Since going natural I haven't really changed from any of the products I was suing while transitioning. I'm still loving the Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp formula and it is working wonders for my scalp. I have, however, changed the routine.
Since going natural, I still do a pre-poo hot oil treatment before washing my hair with a mix of olive oil, caster oil, jojoba oil and honey. I still spritz my hair with a little warm water, then put in the heated oil and let it sit under a plastic cap for at least an hour. I still shampoo with my H&S once. Its my conditioning routine that has changed.
Because I am not washing my hair weekly like I was while I was transitioning, I now deep condition every time I wash my hair, which is about every 2-3 weeks. Now, some people will think that's either too often, or not often enough, but here's why:
Since going natural, I still do a pre-poo hot oil treatment before washing my hair with a mix of olive oil, caster oil, jojoba oil and honey. I still spritz my hair with a little warm water, then put in the heated oil and let it sit under a plastic cap for at least an hour. I still shampoo with my H&S once. Its my conditioning routine that has changed.
Because I am not washing my hair weekly like I was while I was transitioning, I now deep condition every time I wash my hair, which is about every 2-3 weeks. Now, some people will think that's either too often, or not often enough, but here's why:
When I was transitioning I had to wash my hair weekly because it took a lot of product and work to get the finished product, so after a week, my hair was too weighted down by the products in my hair and my scalp itched sooo much I had to wash it, or co-wash it before changing styles for the next week. Now, if I didn't change styles, I could let it ride for more than a week, but most of the time my scalp was begging for a cleaning, so I cleaned it. Now that I'm 100% natural, not only do I not have as much product in my hair, but my scalp is not so much of an issue thanks to the oils and treatments I'm now using (tee-tree oil, H&S and daily moisturizing). So, when my scalp itches a lot in one day, or I see a couple of flakes, then I know its time to wash. But I don't have that many issue with flakes anymore...I find that interesting.
So, back to the routine. After washing, I condition with H&S itchy scalp conditioner and let that sit for about 5 minutes, then I deep condition, then detangle. It sounds like a lot, but it really isn't and it works well with my routine. I will say this, though: detangling take a lot more time and patience now that I'm all natural. Or maybe its just the patience that's bugging me. I'm quite heavy handed and I find myself taking even more care detangling now than when I was transitioning...which leads to more time spent detangling.
The other products I'm using are still the same. The Shea Moisture curl enhancing smoothie and eco styler gel. I did splurge and buy a small, but $22 worth, container of the Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding. I haven't popped the lid yet. Right now, its $22 worth of decor on my vanity. HA!
That's all for now folks. Be blessed!
Note: This post was created in October...and I forgot to post it. Oops
Note: This post was created in October...and I forgot to post it. Oops
Happy New Year!!!
I can't believe its here already! Seriously! The last year absolutely flew by. I feel like it should be May or June. Not January in a brand spankin' new year! Even the weather is confused. I'm on a Christmas vacay and haven't worn a coat yet. Just a wrap sweater. I even bought this absolutely beautiful cape my mom got me for Christmas and its been to warm to wear it. I just took the dog out for her little walk and didn't even have to put on a coat....are we SURE its January?
Many people spend the last days of the year thinking about new year's resolutions and how they are going to do things differently "the next year." Whether it be losing weight (which I could stand to do), letting go of some poor/draining relationships (which I could stand to do), eating better (which I could stand to do), and many other things. I, personally have never really gotten pulled into that sort of thing. I don't get that contemplative about my life and my goals until my birthday rolls around. Then I start to think about how I spent my energies at one age and how I could stand to improve and/or become more enlightened in the next. So, I have no new year's resolutions. Do you have any?
I will say this, for the past 2 years I have tried to meet the goal of reading 36 books in 365 days. I didn't reach my goal in 2010, and I didn't reach it in 2011 either. I will post the book list on one of my blogs when I get back home. I don't know which one yet. Considering that I don't post here as much as I would like to, I'm thinking I may do away with my other blog and just post everything (hair, music, reading and arts) here and be done with it. That way I'd have something going on here close to the frequency I desire, which is about once a week. But, back to the book goal, as much as I love to read, I don't know why I have had such a hard time completing the goal, not once, but two years in a row! It certainly can't be because of lack of time because I cut back a lot on my activities to create more time for relaxing and less time for stressing out. But that number 36 is proving to be quite elusive. I gotta get it! I just have to!
Anyway, that's all for now. Happy new year folks and thank so much for reading. TTYL!!!!!
Many people spend the last days of the year thinking about new year's resolutions and how they are going to do things differently "the next year." Whether it be losing weight (which I could stand to do), letting go of some poor/draining relationships (which I could stand to do), eating better (which I could stand to do), and many other things. I, personally have never really gotten pulled into that sort of thing. I don't get that contemplative about my life and my goals until my birthday rolls around. Then I start to think about how I spent my energies at one age and how I could stand to improve and/or become more enlightened in the next. So, I have no new year's resolutions. Do you have any?
I will say this, for the past 2 years I have tried to meet the goal of reading 36 books in 365 days. I didn't reach my goal in 2010, and I didn't reach it in 2011 either. I will post the book list on one of my blogs when I get back home. I don't know which one yet. Considering that I don't post here as much as I would like to, I'm thinking I may do away with my other blog and just post everything (hair, music, reading and arts) here and be done with it. That way I'd have something going on here close to the frequency I desire, which is about once a week. But, back to the book goal, as much as I love to read, I don't know why I have had such a hard time completing the goal, not once, but two years in a row! It certainly can't be because of lack of time because I cut back a lot on my activities to create more time for relaxing and less time for stressing out. But that number 36 is proving to be quite elusive. I gotta get it! I just have to!
Anyway, that's all for now. Happy new year folks and thank so much for reading. TTYL!!!!!
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