We Love Headwraps

Another Edition. Folded a pashmina into a square and created this turban look

Earthstrong

Hi folks

so I know I haven't been posting too often but I'm busy busy busy preparing for an exciting transition in my life that I'll tell you all more about later. This is just to let you all know I'm still very much alive, enjoying the summer and enjoying my birthday month. As far as hair is concerned, I'm rocking some canerows (no extensions) since memorial weekend compliments of my bff R. Since installing these I've washed my hair at least 3 times. I'll prob rock these at least for another week but they can definitely keep going even longer than that.

Fresh canerows aka cornrows. Perfect summer hairstyle

I got some really exciting gifts for my birthday courtesy of my wonderful sis A! I got a Curlformers starter kit AND some Kinky Curly Knot Today and the Curling Custard! Ain't that exciting?! Expect some documented experiments in the near future. Get excited! 

Hope you guys are enjoying your summer/rainy season depending on your location

Be Blessed, Never Stressed

Inspiration for my 4bcz sistas

If I could get a bucket of Eddy's slow churned limited edition Girl Scouts Samoas Cookies ice cream for every person who has said the following statement to me, I would be a very very happy woman:

'Oh you have that nice hair that grows. My hair doesn't grow.'

Ladies, you do go or at one point did have to get touchups right? The thing you are touching up is your growth. YOUR HAIR GROWS!!! I assure you. Unless you have some kind of medical condition, healthy human beings' hair grows 1/4 inch per month on average. Some people's hair grows faster due to genetics and other factors but EVERYBODY's hair grows. The key to 'seeing' the growth is retaining it. So if you aren't seeing length and that is a goal of yours, growth may not be your problem. You may have a length retention problem. What causes length retention problems you may ask? Not enough moisture, over manipulation, breakage, excessive shedding. You need to figure out what the problem is and fix it and stop buying into the 'my hair can't grow' spiel.   Are you moisturizing enough? Are you cleansing your hair and scalp often enough? Are you eating a healthy and balanced diet? Are you taking your supplements? Do you drink enough water? are you stressed? Are you over-manipulating your hair? Are you not handling your tresses with sufficient care? Any myriad of factors may be affecting your length retention but they can be addressed. 

Now I know you probably still won't believe me so today I'm gonna provide some inspiration for you. Meet Sera25. Is that some gorgeous long hair or what?!!! Go ahead and check out her fotki page for more picture inspiration as well as her regimen and other useful tips.

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For my relaxed hair sisters considering going natural - Natural hair starter kit

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Now that we have the dealt with the other issues we can get down to the hair. I swear to you it is not rocket science. You do not need to have a complicated regimen, use a million products, rub vayjayjay cream on your head or spend hours on end on your hair. Let me say now: if at anytime you feel like having natural hair is impairing your ability to be happy and is encroaching on your peace of mind you might want to go ahead and choose a less stress inducing option for the time being. after all, it's just hair.

Here are a few links for posts I have posted previously that will help you with the basics in terms of the keys to building a regimen and understanding the structure of hair

Building a regimen for healthy hair growth

Hair Structure and the Importance of pH

Coconut prepoo - great for detangling and potentially softening your new growth

To summarize, if I had to give a transitioner a starter kit these are the things I would put in it:

1) A moisturizing shampoo - you want to cleanse your hair without drying it.

2) A cheapie conditioner with lots of slip - moisturize and helps to detangle

3) A deep conditioning treatment - really moisturize your hair and strengthen it to prevent breakage, especially at the demarcation line between ur relaxed hair and your new growth

4) A Plastic cap - serves as a cheapie steam cap when deep conditioning. Also good for baggying.

5) A protein treatment - correct porosity issues and reinforce your hair

6) Apple Cider Vinegar - pH balance, close your cuticles and smooth your hair strands to prevent tangling and breakage. Also removes buildup on your hair and scalp

7) A Wide Tooth Comb - for detangling. Use your fingers first and any detangling implement you have afterward, taking care not to overly manipulate the hair.

8) Water - drink lots of it, use it on your hair.

9)A good leave in conditioner - different hair types like different leave ins. You want something that leaves your hair moisturized, soft and doesn't leave a residue. Experiment until you find one you like.

10) Sealing Oil - Use any oil you prefer e.g coconut or olive to seal in your moisture.

Figuring out a regimen that works for you will take some experimentation both with methods and products and will depend on your lifestyle. You can search around my blog for what I do but take it as a guide as no two heads of hair are the same. Only you can determine how often you need to wash your hair, if you prefer to shampoo or cowash, whether or not your hair needs a protein treatment, etc. Below is a summary of my current regimen

1) Coconut prepoo once every 2-3 months. 

2) Shampoo once a month with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo

3) Protein treatment once every 1-2 months with Nexxus Emergencee

4) Condition once a month with Suave Tropical Coconut Conditioner

5) Deep Condition once a month with ORS Hair Mayonnaise (also experimenting with Shea Moisture and Hollywood Beauty Carrot)

6) Steam with my Huetiful Steamer whenever I deep condition

7) ACV rinse whenever I wash

8) Detangle using diluted infusium 23 every time I wash my hair or style my hair. Also use it to moisturize between washes.

9) Use my fingers, wide tooth comb and tangle teezer to remove shed hair and detangle once a month/ whenever I style.

10) moisturize with an adapted version of the kimmaytube leave in 

11) Seal with coconut Oil

I rock protective styles most of the time, mostly 2 strand twists and box braids. This keeps my hair stretched preventing single strand knots and excessive tangling. It also reduces manipulation. I refrain from using heat, getting my hair straightened maybe once or twice a year. When I do use heat, I make sure to prep my hair by doing a protein treatment and making sure my hair is well moisturized. I also make sure to use heat protectants so that I don't get heat damage. If you decide to do your transition using a protective style such as weaves or braid extensions, you have to remember to care for your hair as well. Make sure and keep your scalp and hair clean and moisturized!

Again to my natural sisters on here who were transitioners, feel free to pitch in and for the relaxed sistas if you have specific questions, please post them in the comments or send me an email! In the meantime here is a great inspiration album for people thinking about transitioning, especially longterm transitioners

Hope this helps somebody!