Vintage Post: A Watched Pot Never Boils

Dry flat twist-out using Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque on blown out hair

(Tutorial to follow)

I feel like I woke up one day and there she was... big hair!  Yesterday, my mother-in-law commented about how much my hair has grown. "We used to give it to you", she joked. You got that right!  EVERYONE either had jokes on my hair or gave it the side eye.  But that is no more.  Now I feel like I'm starting a movement.  (Who knew hair could be so powerful?)  Now my nieces want curly hair like mine.  Yesterday, I did a twist and curl in my older niece's hair.  I taught her to how to pre-poo, deep condition, detangle, and style.  I'm determined to get her hair to blossom. She has fine, coarse hair and struggles with breakage.   Everyone is watching to determine whether they will follow suit.  I'm up to the challenge.

One thing I am proud of during my journey is that I resisted the urge to "watch the pot".  I measured it once in January. It was slightly less than 1/2 inch growth per month. Not quite 1/2 an inch.  Instead of getting caught up in measuring my hair I decided to just let it grow.  Whether or not it is on schedule, I am happy since I can see the difference.

 I guess I should follow the same philosophy with weight loss...huh?  I want to thank everyone for their support.  I really am making strides and I should be easier on myself. I'm losing inches and looking leaner with each that day passes.  So I'm officially announcing that I'm going to stop watching the pot.  Instead of weighing myself daily, which is obsessive and unhealthy...I am going to do weekly weigh-ins. To hold myself to it, I'm telling my husband to hide my scale. (He already warned me when we bought it that he would take it away if I start obsessing over my weight. I'm there. He can have it.)  But for old times sake, I weighed myself this morning.  I lost a pound. [Insert happy dance.] Okay. Moment over.

In general (not just hair growth and weight loss), what are you thoughts on "watching the pot"? Is it better to measure progress or follow a laissez-faire approach? At what point does it become obsessive?

Dry Twistout Tutorial

Here is an easy breezy dry twistout tutorial:

Step One:  Pre-poo hair with coconut oil

Step Two: Wash and deep condition hair  (SheaMoisture Moisture Retention Shampoo and Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner)

Step Three: Add Leave-In (Giovanni Direct leave-in)

Step Four: Seal with oil

Step Five: Blow dry in sections with heat protectant (IC Straightening Serum) [ You can use grapeseed oil to avoid cones]

Step Six: Flat twist with SheaMoisture Deep Treatment Masque; it took about 30 minutes

Step Seven: Take down twists and style. Have some oil on your fingers to reduce frizz

  That's it!   Do you prefer wet or dry twistouts?     I prefer wet since they last longer. (I only like to do my hair once a week.)  

Vintage Post: So you want to go natural...

Two weeks ago, I was approached for the first time with questions about transitioning to natural hair!  Coincidentally, it was my sister's friend from high school. I provided some basics and directed her to natural hair sites such as Curly Nikki and BGLH and youtube videos.

Thinking back to my own transition, I remember feeling overwhelmed by all of the information.  I bought products unsure of how they would work on my hair.  And I found myself confused by conflicting ideologies of bloggers and vloggers.  That's when I really started to think.  What is some of the basic information and specific resources you would provide to a transitioner or new natural?  It doesn't have to all inclusive...just a springboard to get them started. 

This is where I need your help. 

If your hair is "natural", are there any specific blog posts or videos that you think would be particularly helpful? If you are a transitioner or new natural, what information would you find helpful?


And here are some pics...

She wanted to be held upright.

Vintage Post: No Lye Anniversary!

In the midst of all the baby hoopla, I forgot to celebrate my one year no lye anniversary.  Last year, on April 26, 2010, I cut my hair into a Rihanna cut. I later decided that I was over relaxers and it was inadvertently was my last.



My new easy breezy hairstyle is to rock twists for a few days and then rock a twist-out.  In the coming weeks, I'll have to do some product reviews and regimen updates. I don't try new products often, but I have tons of products that I have used over an extended period of time.  I can provide some detailed reviews for those products. 

The biggest lesson(s), I've learned over the last year is:

Keep it simple and if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Do you have any specific hair questions you would like me to answer?

Vintage Post: Roll and Tuck Updos

 I'd like to introduce you to my new favorite hairstyle.  I finally came to the realization that my hair is finally long enough to do updos with ease...so I went for it. It was actually quite simple...
 
Step One: Dampen Hair, with particular attention to any section you plan on parting.  (You don't want to hear snap, crackle, pop) 
 
Step Two: Use scrunchies to hold your sections
 
Step Three: Apply styling products. ( I used Margherites' Hair Magic and Eco Styler gel)
 
Step Four: Tuck and roll to your heart's desire
 
Step Five:  Seal with an oil
 
Optional:  * Add Accesories * Lay down edges with a headtie
   

I was bored so I tried a different hairstyle yesterday and I'm wearing again today...

   

What is your new go to hairstyle?



Vintage Post: New Mom Beauty Routine

You're looking at it!

Hair, dry as the sahara desert...check

Pizza face...check

Dreadful eyebrows...check

Spit-up adorned clothes...check

Baby fat...check

At least I can laugh about it. And I promise I put myself together when I go in public.  But honestly, I find pockets of me time whenever I can.  Yesterday, I did a bentonite clay treatment on my face. I exercise at least 20 minutes a day.  When daddy gets home, I'm taking a long shower and washing this hair of mine.  And on Friday, these eyebrows are getting threaded. (Your days are numbered.)

Tomorrow, I'll let you know the results of my fitness assessment. I'm basically fit and recovering well from my pregnancy a.k.a.  I need to get a grip and be patient.   

Now back to baby.  She is suffering from hold me syndrome.  If you have a cure, please let me know.  Le sigh. How do you find time to take care of YOU?

Vintage Post: Mattastic

My hair is Mattastic!

According to the urban dictionary, this word means better than great. But I'm adding a new definition, because I surely haven't felt better than great over the last few weeks. And for the record...if I disappear from the blog, you can guess one of three things. I'm sick. I'm exhausted. I'm in labor (real or "practice").

But enough with the formalities. Back to my mattastic hair....

 Because I've been feeling under the weather, I've been neglecting my hair.  Straight...abuse.  I literally let my hair dry up, mat, knot, and just covered it with a bonnet and/or hat.  I paid dearly for my actions.  Last week, I lost more hair than usual. This week, my detangling session -- which included coconut oil, hair oil, deep conditioning, and lots of patience -- took all day.  I was determined not to lose a lot of hair! `  To avoid the aggravation this week, I roller set my hair and sat under the dryer. (Sorry no pics.)

On April 28, 2011, it will be one year since my last relaxer.  Throughout my journey, I'm always placed with new challenges. My newest challenge is matting. In fact, my hair is very prone to matting. When I was a kid, my past shoulder length hair shriveled up to a small twa on wash day.  It's just what my hair does.  And as my hair grows back, I'm learning the hard way that I can't be lazy (sigh).  I must keep my hair stretched and detangled. I don't have wash and go hair.  I can't just spritz my hair with water to refresh.  (I can spritz and retwist though.)   Big twists for a twist-outs result in matting [points above].  (Don't be fooled. The top is the only defined part of my hair. The rest is matted.)

LESSON LEARNED: I'm one of those people who if I did nothing to my hair, I would have one large dreadlock on my head...lol.  I'm referencing kimmaytube, btw. Coincidentally, the same day I decided to stop my matt-causing habits...I found this video.

Check it out...



Does anyone else struggle with hair that is prone to matting/tangling/single-strand knots? Any tips?   

Let's Discuss.