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.

Vintage Post: My first puff (and crazy eyes...)

Today, I reached a major milestone!  I achieved my first puff! (Doing a little happy dance...) Before I explain how I achieved this look, I must first make a confession.  I haven't washed my hair in almost two weeks.  (Don't judge me. I did cleanse my scalp with some astringent when it started to itch though.) Yes... this is my curl revision from my rod set.  It started to revert on its own... so I helped it along with steam and water spritzes.  Don't worry. I plan on washing and deep conditioning this weekend.

Step 1: Spritz with water/conditioner mix.

Step 2: Add Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie for more moisture and curl definition.

Step 3: Seal with Hot Six Oil spray (or oil/oil mixture of your choice).

Step 4: Used Let's Jam to smooth edges (Yes, I know it has alcohol...and it's not Cetyl which is fatty and moisturizing either.   But I don't like ecostyler...sorry.)

Step 5: Used sock to pull hair into puff. (You can use a stocking or shoe string as an alternative.)

Step 6: Put on a headtie to smooth edges.  Drove to work and took it off upon arrival.

* On another note...

Don't I look like I have crazy eyes in this pic?  Nadette has a theory that people who have crazy eyes are usually... crazy!  I've tested this theory time and time again.  And she is very right.  I promise I'm not crazy though.  I have a family member in the hospital and I think I was trying too hard to smile. After a couple attempts, I finally gave up and settled on this picture.