I'm still here!

Yes, I'm still here. I am, after all, very faithful to the things and the people I love. I absolutely love being natural and don't see chems anywhere in my future. I've been keeping busy with my knit and crochet projects on my other blog.
Since today is my spa day I figured I pull out the cam and get a couple shots for a lenght check. I put a bra on over my shirt in order to get a good bra strap check. I'm still using the same products since they're not giving me any troubles. Since I've definitely reached bsl I guess I need to shot for mid back now!





























As usual on spa day my hair is looking so great I wish I had somewhere to go. But, as usual, I have absoulutely nowhere to go. But since I love me I'll do my hair, my feet, fix a nice dinner, maybe dress my table real pretty and just enjoy being me.

Keep it real, keep it natural YY

Three Strand Twist Pin Up

So lately I have been seeing some postings about a three strand twist. I wondered what could this be if its not a braid. So I did some investigating and found several youtube tutorials. After watching this particular one I sat and twisted my hair using this method and found it very easy. Honestly, it only took completing two twist for my brain to understand that I was plaiting this time. I did my whole head, dry this time since I was only experimenting. I did big fat three strand twist and didn't worry if they were all going in the same direction. I didn't even use a comb to part them nice and neat. They were not pretty y'all so don't be looking for pics. I just tied them down and went to bed. This morning I flattened the front and sides using my condish spritz and some shealoe, put a couple of bands around my head and starting pinning those fat twist up. I love the way it come out.










































You can see I used good sized twist instead of the much smaller ones I usually do. I don't know what this is going to look like when I take them out. Hmm this may make a wonderful style for Happy Nappy Day tomorrow. If it hot my hair will be perfect, off my neck and out of my face!

Here is the youtube video I found that really helped me.

Wow!! this is my first time adding a youtube video!! It took a bit of work to get it play but now it up and running!!

Keep it real, keep it natural YY

Good Hair, seriously?

I'm a little slow catching up with this movie since I haven't been outside to see a movie in ages; I prefer the comfort of my quiet home with Netflix and Comcast. So, I finally saw Chris Rock's movie Good Hair...gimme a break. One of the first things to come to my attention is the that fact that in an hour and 35 minutes of filming there is really only one woman with natural hair that was interviewed. Does this mean that there will be a follow up movie about natural hair?

There's a scene with the girls that just finished Dudley's school and they are all sitting there saying how the one girl with the natural fro would be frowned upon if she came to their office looking for work. I was waiting for her to have her turn to speak her mind instead of just having her sit there taking it all in.


I learned things about weaves that completely scared me! Honestly, it made me so glad I don't wear a weave. Chris Rock showed a side of weaves that should have remained a secret! How about the hair from India having to be 'treated'. OMG, it has to be checked for lice!!!!! Call me crazy but...and that poor baby crying as they are shaving her little head. I understand there is a spiritual meaning behind cutting the hair off in India so good for them.


Can we talk about the prices!!! I feel so ignorant, the things I didn't know. When I used to be on the creamy crack, I didn't go anywhere near those isles in the stores so I had absolutely no idea about paying upwards of 1k for hair and that's just the purchase not the actual weaving. SERIOUSLY!!!! Lay-a-way plans for hair? Come on, be real. I guess that explains some of the terrible track, weave, whatever it's called jobs I've seen in the heads of ladies attempting to do their own.


Oh, what about the Asian man saying 'Women want the straight hair weaves, it's looks more natural'. What's wrong with that statement...is it just me?


Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against any woman who feels it necessary to go through all this just to feel beautiful. I remember getting my first relaxer, Vigorol, at 18. That's right, my mother would not let me put chemicals in my hair until then. I really don't recall feeling any prettier because my hair was straight. What I liked was that my hair was definitely more manageable seeing as how I loved to swim, dance and it was just plain hot running the streets of Baltimore. I've always been a down to earth, low key kinda girl and never been caught up in looks or fashion trends.


What this movie did for me is make me appreciate my natural hair so much more. I stand with my head held high on the choice that I made. My hair now makes me feel more beautiful than I have ever felt in my life. So Chris Rock, if you ever want to talk about 'Good Hair' you look me up. Talk to some of us girls who fight to manage what God endowed us with naturally. Those of us who know how to make a bad hair day a good hair day with a little conditioner and water...That's right I said water, good ole H2O! I have developed a great nappitude and love, love, love my hair. Big ups to all my natural sistas out there that made the choice to put down the creamy crack, the weave, the wigs and I don't know what else and live with what you have. So while we wait for Chris to contact us, we can gather and flaunt our nappitude at Happy Nappy Day 2010 next month.

ETA: 7/1/10

Just realized how 'bad' that dvd was to me. I actually called the movie Bad Hair when the actual name of the dvd is Good Hair, sorry everybody. I guess this is what they call a Freudian slip.

Keep it real, keep it natural YY

Product reviews

I recently bought two of the three new Suave Professionals conditioners. I got the Almond Shea Butter and the Rosemary Mint. Suave didn't fail me, of course. Now I haven't gotten good at choosing things aren't filled with lots of stuff that's good for my hair so I not sure if this fits that bill or not. What I can say is that just like the Sleek and Humectant these two conditioners are very good. I actually dc'd overnight with the Rosemary Mint and the next morning was lovely. There was bit of evoo in my hair because I had to take down my puffy ponytail which require a bit of detangling. So I used my spiritz that has conditioner, water and evoo in it. After

doing my co-wash and detangling in the shower, I put my hair in two stranded twist and noticed that how nice my roots looked. Two thumbs up baby!!

So anyway, what I noticed right away about these two conditioners is the texture. Unlike Sleek and Humectant, these two fellows have a kinda 'clumpy' texture. Maybe I'll add a pic for comparison. Despite this clumpy look, they work just as well and of the two I like the Rosemary Mint best. I could feel a tingle in my scalp that was really nice and because I am familiar with rosemary I could easily smell it. There is no overpowering smell just the hint of refreshing clean. The mint tingling in my scalp made my hair feel extra clean. I have to say it's a keeper, unless someone tells me that it's a lousy product for napturals!

The Almond Shea...hmm, nothing to right home about. Yes it feels great but I've come to love the light fragrances in my conditioners and this pretty much has none. There is a slight hint of something from the almond but nothing that lingers. If I had an occasion where I didn't want anything to outplay the scent of my perfume, this would be a good choice.

What else have I tried? Well because I've decided to make a conscious effort to be more natural, both inside and out, I am getting away from the shower gels and looking for more natural products. I tried a new olive oil soap and an african black soap that I bought a the natural hair expo.

The olive oil soap, very lightly scent feels very good on my skin. I look forward to eventually make my own soap but it will do for now. This soap left my skin feeling squeaky clean. I've grown so accustomed to that slippery film on my skin from commercial soaps that it felt strange at first. Right after showering I put evoo on my face shealoe on my skin. Right now, since I'm single, this is better than sex! roflmbo.

The black soap is the bar I use when I shampoo my hair. I mostly co-wash but enjoy a good sud now and then. That clean, clean feeling that comes from this soap is amazing!

Keep it real, keep it natural YY

What I've been up to

I've been a very bad girl when it comes to my blogs! With the pending arrival of my grandniece I've been busy making shower gifts for a shower that was cancelled for personal reasons and making gifts for the baby. Since my niece tends to read my blogs I had to hold off on my writing cause she's so nosy! And more so because I am so excited about her baby that I go home and knit or crochet, most days before I even eat anything so blogging has definitely taken a back seat. Have no fear my modest group of followers, I have been diligent with my hair! I am proud to say that my pjism is under control and I haven't really bought any new products to review lately; all my money has been feeding my other addiction, yarn.
What have I done new, I have been doing hair baggies. Waiting until it got warm to do this was a good idea. If, like me you don't use heat, you can't be running around in 30 degree weather with a wet head. So now that it's warm I have been bagging every night. I guess I'm doing it correctly, I just know I love the results. If someone else does it differently, it's about what works for you.

1. Make sure hair is wet, I usually spritz mine real good in the evening after work with my condish, evoo and water leave-in.
2. Appy shealoe and smooth into two ponytails with those seamless pony holders.
3. Separate each ponytail into 3-5 plaits.
4. Wrap saran wrap around each ponytail or put a baggy on and secure with another ponytail holder. I like the saran wrap because it will hold on it's own meaning less bulk on my head. I'm one of those ladies who hates to sleep in rollers or anything bulky.
5. Put on satin cap/scarf and secure for the night.
6. In the AM remove the plastic and fluff lightly to get rid of the part down the back. The front will remain flat and smooth, so you can put on a head band or whatever accessories you'd like. Now get ready for comps(compliments) all day long as you strut your naptitude!!

What else have I been doing with my hair? What's the problem with type 4 hair girls? SHRINKAGE!!!! I know, I know, I know.
I found an answer that works for me but it's not pretty. I'm working on a better way though remember I tend to march to the beat of my own drums so there probably is already a better answer. Anywho, after washing, moisture and double-strand twisting I pin/clip my hair up. I pull the left side to the right, the right side to the left, the front straight back and the back over that to the front pinning as I go. As I said it's really not pretty when I finish but it's comfortable enough to sleep in so that my hair can completely dry. This I only do when I am not planning on going out so it stays like this pretty much all weekend. I know, I do not have a life, just give me coffee, tv and yarn and I'm a very happy girl!! So, come Monday when you pull out all the clips your hair will fall on your shoulders instead of tinkling your earlobes all day. This is a process that can be repeated Monday night and you don't have to use much moisture. Just pin up again and drop it in the morning; otherwise, it will continue to shrink back up to the those lobes. Honestly, I do have pics but since, I'm writing this during my lunch break those will have to come in a later post.

As promised, below are pics of my hair bagged for the night and taken out the next day.

Keep it real, keep it natural YY

Happy to be nappy

I know I haven't written anything in a while but I was inspired to come up with a few words after reading something on a website about how some people feel about naptural hair.

Hate me, hate my hair, I really don't care
It's in the mirror you should stare.
Snickering, laughing, pointing at me
knowing secretly you want to be free.
Watch me walk with my head held high
While you drool at my hair on the sly
I'm happy, nappy and proud of who I am
What you think of me, I really don't give a ...

Keep it real, keep it natural YY

Trying out ACV

I have never used ACV (apple cider vinegar) but I have read a lot about it so tonight I gave it a try. I did a pre poo mix of BB Growth Oil and a leave-in conditioner mix (Suave Sleek, evoo and water). I left this on for 2 hours, from 3pm to 5pm. I applied the oil at work and put on a shower cap, a satin cap and a crocheted hat over that. When I got home I did a clarifying rinse with VO5 clarifying conditioner. I was supposed to use baking soda put I didn’t feel like measuring it out. Next, I applied a mix of Roots of Nature shea butter green tea conditioner and Organics Hair Mayonnaise for 30 mins. Lastly, I did an ACV rinse. I used room temperature water, or rather the mix was at room temp by the time I'd finished washing. I know my cuticles and everything else are closed. Room temp felt like it had been in the fridge! I ended my regimen by applying JBCO (Jamaican Black castor oil) to my scalp, more leave-in conditioner and my shealoe to the ends. I then put my hair in braids, not for work tomorrow but just in case I want to go somewhere tomorrow night! If I go out I will be able to rock a really nice braid out. If I don’t go anywhere my hair will stay braided until Monday morning.
So step by step:
* Pre poo with oil
* Clarify with baking mix or Clarifying conditioner.
* Deep condition
* ACV rinse
* Oil scalp
* Moisturize ends
* Style
After all this my hair feels good and soft and it was a bit easier to comb, as long as it is wet. I kept my leave-in close to wet my hair as it started to dry. The real test is when I take the braids out and see what my hair looks like.

Keep it real, keep it natural YY