| Posted on January 8, 2013 at 9:25 AM |
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Okay, so lately I have been watching more YT videos! I have been listening to a lot of people's methods and what their idea of what is BEST - what you SHOULD do and SHOULD NOT!
*Those that are new to the natural journey can easily be misled...this is what makes me upset and confused! I, myself, am new to being natural and have gathered information from several people, including professionals, to begin my own regimen...now I am reevaluating it to be certain that I have the best regimen for my hair to remain healthy and grow.
Not all methods will work on every person! Even those with the same 'hair type'! Also, if you have not noticed, you more likely have more than one texture in your natural hair!
*The back (nape) of my head is the coarsest; the middle (crown) and specifically along the right side is the easiest to detangle. Weird, right?
Well this means that you cannot judge your hair and compare to another. You can take methods and suggestions and make it your own, however.
Combing, Brushing, Products
So far, I have heard that combing is not good, to using wide tooth comb, to use a demnam brush, to use a paddle brush, etc... this can make one very stressful when getting mixed instructions! I know that excessive combing/brushing is not good..so I will just comb at a minimal! When it comes to 4c hair - I just was not sure which of those above are appropriate! I know that using the wide tooth comb, I have not been able to detangle as proficient..so I will need to use either a smaller comb or a demnam(paddle) brush to detangle! Make the best decision for you and your hair!
When it comes to products, I was also getting mixed information! It seems that one professional likes this and that while the other states that it is useless or not good for hair. You have to realize that some 'professionals' may not always know everything (some are learning just as much about natural hair and may need beauty schooling, while others are just stuck in their ways) and some even do not have best interests - as long as they are getting customers! So I will take each of their information and make the best decision about the products that I am using!
*I will pay close attention to the results I get from products and only use those that give me the best result. Also, research on these ingredients that I am uncertain about!
Overall, we need to understand that not everyone will know what is best for our hair. Not all products will work on everyone! Listen to your hair and use products that you notice work! Do not try every product that says NATURAL...100% PURE...contains this or that! You must realize that the information may not fully true! Just make sure you do your research - do not take everyone's word, even professionals!
| Posted on January 4, 2013 at 11:15 AM |
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Make your experience fun............BUT most importantly save money and make your OWN products!
The advantage of making your own gels, conditioners, or moisturizers - YOU CONTROL THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE BEING APPLIED TO YOUR HAIR! This means that you can ensure only the products that promote healthy, growing hair is used! Do your research (PH levels, porosity of your hair, balancing products, etc...) to be certain that you are doing this correctly! *Trial-n-error*

| Posted on December 10, 2012 at 2:45 PM |
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FINAL RESULTS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



| Posted on November 13, 2012 at 10:40 AM |
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RECAP:
October 28, 2011, I decided to embark on a new journey. I decided that I would no longer apply relaxers onto my hair. It was a hard decision, not because I would miss the relaxers - but because I was afraid of the result and even more other's opinions. I was not sure what my texture would be and if I could even manage it. I just knew that I was tired of the burns and breakage. Really, my relaxers never took right and it would end up looking like I barely got a relaxer.
I had been through so much damage over the years that I was fed up! I even had to wear scarves (India Arie style) a whole semester because my hair had broken off so badly and my eczema had returned. My confidence was at an all-time low but I had to press on anyway. After my hair returned to a healthier state and length began to grow, of course I applied another relaxer in my hair. It was not until I graduated college and had a close call with damaging my hair due to a bad 'DIYweave' incident (I was so inspired with YT vids that I thought I could do my own weave....FAIL!), that I decided it was time to try natural.
LESSONS:
Transitioning....hmm...it is not as easy as you would think. I knew that BIG chop was not an option for me at the time. I gained enough confidence to even consider natural, but the idea of chopping majority of my hair would take a lot more!! I struggled with the detangling process more than anything. I had to (and still now) work on being patient and gentle with my hair, especially focusing on my ends. I cannot just comb my hair any kind of way without the risk of breaking my hair. Natural hair is fragile, but being 4c (kinkiest of all, coily hair texture) is even more fragile. Trying to accommodate both the natural and relaxed hair is not an easy job! Thanks to YT I was able to find a lot of videos on people transitioning. I found out the right styles to accommodate the two and things began to get a little better.
Luckily, I have found a few people on YT that are 4c and now can experiment with some styles that I never knew I could do.
[To Be Honest] Big Chop may be a better solution for many reasons:
| Posted on September 28, 2012 at 8:30 AM |
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Define
dif•fer•ent [dif-er-uhnt, dif-ruhnt] Show IPA
adjective
1.
not alike in character or quality; differing; dissimilar: The two are different.
2.
not identical; separate or distinct: three different answers.
3.
various; several: Different people told me the same story.
4.
not ordinary; unusual.
________________________________
nor•mal
[nawr-muhl] Show IPA
adjective
1.
conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; notabnormal; regular; natural.
2.
serving to establish a standard.
-dictionary.com
Perception:
Look around..............Nowadays people are stepping out of their shell and expressing themselves in different ways. It's literally everywhere - it’s in the work place, restaurant, grocery store, church....EVERYWHERE! People that you would not necessarily think would do something drastic or something that society considers appropriate- are now following suit. Is it a trend? I don't think so. I think that people are finally tired of being consumed to one way - one way to style hair, to dress....?? We all are given the choice and the right to be ourselves and be unique!
I am blown away at how many people have transitioned and or transitioning to natural! I spot a natural almost every day.....WOW! I smile because years ago people did not accept it as much (especially in this area). I often wonder their stories...why did they make the decision to become natural. Now, it’s not unusual to see things that are classified as different. I think some things are just bizarre, of course, but I am happy that people feel comfortable expressing themselves! Is there a certain line that people should not cross- Piercings in weird places, crazy hair colors, or clothing? Hmm.....
Do you want | Or how do you feel when people try to put you in a particular category. Do you want to be defined by a dictionary definition? I am me. That is it, nothing more and nothing less ![]()
What is your natural expression?
| Posted on August 29, 2012 at 2:55 PM |
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Sometimes in our natural journey –we become too comfortable. This can be a good thing, but can be bad just as easily. This comfort can make us lazy. How, you ask? Well, do you find yourself finding workarounds to styling your hair that makes it easier/faster?
Good workaround: Scenario 1
~Not messing with the curls from the twist-out- but instead make them last another night. First I will apply some leave in or type of oil before wrapping my hair in a silk scarf.
Lazy workaround: Scenario 2
~ I am going to make my curls last longer and will not separate or mess with the curls. I may apply some oil or leave in and may use a silk scarf to wrap at night; then the next night comes along….then the next night…and even another night (some nights you did not apply any type of moisture). Rocked that style to the point there is no curl left to maintain and your hair may just be dry or matted. Possibly some detangled hairs. (Now, this is not referencing protective style (braids,twists, etc…
but however, exposed hair.)
~I will admit that I was guilty of this for a while. I just got tired (aka lazy) with doing my hair each night. When I realized that if I tied the scarf a certain way and pushed curls up higher for sleeping- that I could maintain my curls; I began going a day without styling. Then more and more, I began to make it last more nights. By the time my hair lost every curl– making my hair feel dry and looking a hot mess.
Have you ever wanted to just hurry up and twist, Bantu knot, coil your hair that you begin to make bigger sections?
Good workaround: Scenario 3
~ I am going to wet my hair and do bigger sections – so that I will not have to do so many twists or knots. Well I will do this earlier than usual to make sure that hair dries overnight or sit under dryer for complete dryness.
Bad workaround: Scenario 4
~ I will do bigger sections. I will wet my hair and hope that my hair dries in time for the next morning. Hair ends up still damp and then you have to do a backup plan without being late for work. Or you do your hair in a dry state, possibly resulting in tangling if not combed (even worst, comb dry hair!) so it would not be properly detangled, or leaving hair dry and no curl (possibly damaged).
~There have been many times that I did not give my hair enough time to dry and caused my style to not come out right. It is important to give your hair the proper care. If you rather do a wash-n-go – this could be a better choice –and could be done the morning of work and dries as you drive to work…and a wash-n-go can also last more than one day if properly cared for.
*****************************************************************************
My point is to make sure that you do not become too comfortable with your hair and journey that you lose the drive to properly care for your hair. It can be a bit much to style and detangle. It is definitely a longer process than relaxed hair. You can make your hair last more than one or even a few days. The point is to make sure that you are still caring for the hair. Each night you should apply some type of moisture and please have a silk scarf in hand. When doing workarounds, I lost the joy of styling my hair and realized how dull it was compared to the beginning stages when my curls would come out so pretty! I could not believe I allowed myself to get LAZY! I will never do that again!
**Rollers at night and having to prep your hair at night is not the‘prettiest’ state we want to be in – but calmly remind your significant other,friends, or family…how beautiful it will look in the morning!! HAHA ![]()
Peace~Love~Nappiness
| Posted on August 13, 2012 at 9:10 AM |
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1. Hats, Scarfs, Wigs
2. Gels & Jams
3. Stockings
4. DIY
| Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:35 AM |
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This post will consist mostly of links to videos or other blog posts that I have found interesting and helpful! I like to research and I do not like to take ownership of others work - so I have inserted other Natural Divas that have very good information just for YOU!
Carols Daughter has been my main source of information!
HOW TO MANAGE HAIR AFTER A BIG CHOP: http://www.transitioningmovement.com/Default.aspx?CN=B4293DB58ABD
TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP HAIR MOISTURIZED: http://www.transitioningmovement.com/Default.aspx?CN=C149265AB395
TEN COMMANDMENTS OF TRANSITIONING: (But this can be for fully naturals as well!) http://www.transitioningmovement.com/Default.aspx?CN=D0669B8F3904
NEWBIES: QUICK TIPS FOR GROWING OUT HEALTHY HAIR: http://www.transitioningmovement.com/Default.aspx?CN=046A091496DE
Products! Now that it seems that Natural Hair is "IN", it seems the Natural Hair isle has grown! There are many to choose and often we do not know which are best for our hair, which ingredients are harmful, and if cheap is better?! Well, if you are in to saving a few pennies and also certain that you are putting the best and healthiest ingredients in your hair - Check out Naptural85 on Youtube! She has the best DIY vids!
http://www.youtube.com/user/Naptural85
Also, Sparkwisdom has DIY videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/SPARKWISDOM
| Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:35 PM |
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Transitioning:
~It can be hard to blend the two strands (relaxed and natural), but there are many great styles for those transitioning.
2-strand twists (twist out)
Flat twists (twist out)
Braids (braid out)
~You must remember that doing accessories or pinning the hair in different ways can give all these styles different looks!
~Now, the styles above can be just as great for those fully natural! Depending on how much hair after a ‘BC’, you can apply these styles as well!
Other great styles:
Curls & coils
Rollers, Rods, & Flexi-rods
Straw sets
*You can also see these pics under the Photos Tab!
***NEED VIDEOS FOR ANY OF THE STYLES??? LET ME KNOW BY COMMENTING BELOW!