Baltimore Natural Haircare Exp 2010 is coming

I'm planning on attending, I hope I see some familar faces.
http://www.baltimorenaturalhaircareexpo.com/2010-About%20The%20Show.html


Keep it real, keep it natural YY

Why didn't I think of that before?

So I acquired this really really nice comb to use in the shower but there was a problem. I have had this comb for at least six months but never ever used it because of this ugly gnarl in the end that I already knew would snag my hair.

May not look like much but it's a very hard piece and it can do a whole lot of damage. It's at the front of the comb so there is no way to avoid it. Yesterday I made up my mind that I had to just let it go, throw it away when all of a sudden...Duh! it came to me. I took the comb out on my balcony and scratched it a few times on the cement and it was like magic. What problem? It was like filing a fingernail. The end is as smooth as the rest of comb and ready to be used now. Just think, I almost threw out what will be a great detangling comb for no reason at all. Now I have to check the rest of my combs and see if they could use a bit of filing down.

Keep it real, keep it natural YY

Protective style 3

Ok, so I was hoping to get a couple of days out of my style but I only got one. I wasn't really pleased with it but I wore it anyway. I think my biggest mistake was how I tied it up, I actually flattened it completely. I don't have any pics since my digi battery needed to be charged.

Last night I came home and took my hair down, applied leave-in, oiled my ends and did about six chunky braids. This morning I took the braids out and without combing just started tucking and pinning. Again, I don't bother to really look in the mirror until I am done; otherwise I would be in the mirror too long fussing over my hair.

I also used a nylon stocking; I knew those legs would come in handy. The stocking was used to tie around my head like a headband to help to keep my ends smooth. I really like this one, it kinda reminds me of a french roll in the back but the top is not the same. The top sits high with just a couple of pins to keep it back from my face. Again I'll try to sleep on it; hopefully it wont look so bad in the morning. At least I know not to tie it down like I'm preparing for a hurricane. Hey, maybe I should use my satin pillowcase tonight since I still haven't tried it out yet.

Keep it real, keep it natural YY

Protective style 2

Well, I started working on another protective style that will be more to my liking. After deep conditioning over the weekend my hair felt good but I really did like the way it looked after I took the braids out for work yesterday. It really wasn't a good hair day, but then my hair does have a mind of its own. When I came home from work yesterday I went straight to work on it. I spritzed it with my leave-in mix (suave professionals in the orange bottle, it really smells refreshing; evoo; water), and detangled with my wide tooth comb. Then all of a sudden I had a thought. Standing in the mirror with a section of damp hair in my hand I decided, 'Why not try a bantu knots.' So after combing I brushed the section with my rubber brush and started twisting until the section started turning on itself. I twisted it around and didn't even need pins to hold it in place. Oh yeah, added a bit of Taliah Waajid Tight Hold to the ends, something else I read is supposed to be good for twist. The TW kinda fooled me, it's so light I really didn't think it would anything for my hair. Anyway I finished knotting up my hair. I didn't put much thought into how it was parted or whether the sections were even or not, I just wanted to experiment. I was happy to see that my hair's sheen has returned. I attribute that to the deep conditioning and the Jamaican Black Castor challenges I just started. Look how glossy and smooth.

Honestly, judging by this look I expected to have to spend time trying to figure how to manage my hair this morning and still be on time for work.

This morning I spritzed my hair again before my shower and then it was time. I started knots apart and thought to myself, 'OK, what do I do now, they look like worms!'. Really wish I had thought to take a picture. Instead I grabbing small sections and pinning them up. I didn't look in the mirror. I continued to pin until everything was off my shoulders. When I stopped and took a look...WOW!!! I love you!!!

Of course I did wear my scarf to protect the back of my hair, I took it off for the picture. It's time for me to start looking into getting some hair bling for sure. This style will really rock with something shiny or dangling from it. I was checking out some of the hair bling made by tomoka, who is truely awesome. She makes all kinds of hair goodies and jewelry too. So back on track, I have tied my sides up, or rather down for the night. I am hoping that I will be able to sleep without mussing my hair too much and get a least one more day out of this style, if not two.

Keep it real, keep it natural YY

Hair goals for 2010 and beyond

Up to this point, beyond healthy hair, I really didn't have a goal for my hair. I have read so many postings on so many websites that have truly provided me with an abundance of much needed help on this journey. At times it has been a bit confusing to me because I think I am reading about one type of natural and come to find out she is texturizing, whatever that is. I read another one and find out she stretching her relaxers, whatever that is. I read yet another one and realize she is flat ironing, blow drying, hood drying...heat, heat, heat.

I think I have finally found my reason for creating this site. I want to be the natural that I have chosen to be. I decided that I will not use heat, I will not relax, texturize or use any of the other options that are out there. I decided that to me, natural means walking away from all of these things. I am learning so much about chemicals to avoid in my hair, ingredients seek for my hair, how to make homemade yummies for my hair and all kinds of abbreviations and acronyms (the secret language of natural hair). Something that has become so important to me is being able to show how I was able to transition to a natural without chopping off all my hair. As you can see from the pic from high school, even then I had plenty of hair that was about shoulder length. The only time my hair hasn't touched my shoulders is when I cut it myself. How cute was this, my little boy...er freshman college boyfriend. Anyway thats all my own hair with beads attached.

Honestly, I think if I had to cut off all my hair to do this, it may not have ever happened. I do understand everyone can't do what I do nor can I do what everyone else does but I am enjoying learning what works for me. Even if my way only works for one other sista than I have helped someone along the way just as so many sistas out there are helping me.

So I should mention that one thing that helped with my transitioning is that my hair had been in braids most of '07, when it got raggedy I would just take it all out, wash it real good and braid it back up before Monday for work. Here, I am in Mexico Sept 19, 2007 with a friend I made during a tour of the city. LOL

After finally noticing that every time I took the braids out to wash my hair it got easier and easier to manage, I decided to go with it and see what would happen. Not always happy I decided to investigate taking care of natural hair and found out a lot of what I was doing was good. What I didn't know was about the chems that were hurting my hair, detangling, spritzing and so much more. Now finally, I have evolved and I don't see myself ever turing back. Good days, bad days, my hair is what it is. I have found my napptitude and I am falling more and more in with me!

I recently told someone that my hair tells me what it wants to do and I just let it have it's way. What does my hair do for me in return? My hair feeds my soul with things I never knew before: confidence, pride, power. It may be something that some women possess naturally but not me, so many others I'm sure. To be able to look at my self in the mirror or simply walk down the street with my head held high, enjoying knowing that 'Yep, they're looking at me'. Who knew I'd ever feel this way?

So ladies make your decisions: chop or not, heat or not, relax or not. But whatever you do, make this year the year to love yourself and remember...

Y

Y

Y

Keep it real, keep it natural

Hair challenges for 2010 have begun.

I have joined several hair challenges on blackhairplanet.com. Protective Styling, Deep conditioning, Castor oil, Natural hair maintenance, Moisturize you hair/baby your ends, and Scarves for winter. The castor oil and deep conditioner challenges began today, yeah. I assume the others will be later in the year.

Ok, so my routine:

I decided to use the dry method to start with this time. I loaded my hair, in sections, with ORS Mayo. Now I really get the ors, it feels so good on the scalp. I put on my plastic cap and to help keep the heat in I tied my hair up with my new cotton head wrap/towel that I just made. It looks kinda funny but it really did it's job. I left the wrap on for nearly two hours as I was busy with other things. Combing out in the shower was quite easy and as usual I plaited my hair for easy management. After squeezing out the excess water I tied my head up with my new wrap again (I have to find a name for this thing) for about 20 minutes. The wrap kept my head nice and warm, absolutely no dripping from the sides and a rather comfy fit too. I am so happy with this little thingy but the next one will be just a bit bigger. Anyway, after removing the wrap I applied one of my leave-in concoctions and oiled my scalp with the Jamaican Black Castor Oil. Now my hair is cornrowed for the weekend unless by some miracle I am asked out for an evening. I must admit, that frizziness that I had seen after my last few co-washes was not there. I guess some protein is what my hair has been needing.

Oh yeah, product updates. I decided to make something to wrap my hair in because the terry turban was a joke. On the cover, it's made to look like it's so soft and plush; like terry cloth...NOT. This thing is tissue thin and water leaked through from my hair. Not to mention how tight it was. I know what you're think, I do not have a big head. It was like giving birth trying to put it on my head but it definitely was not coming off that's for sure! So looks like I have new dusting rag since I wont be squeezing back into that again. I'm so used to sleeping in the satin caps I keep forgetting I bought the pillowcase so reviews on that will come later. The Annie's rubber brush, two thumbs up. It worked great just as I expected. So for now, I'll be sticking with Annie's brush which means more money to feed my pj moments.

Keep it real, keep it natural YY