Natural                                Expressions

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Weather + Natural Hair = DRY

Posted on April 24, 2012 at 2:15 PM Comments comments (0)

Its not a chemistry equation or algebra equation....it's simple; when the weather gets colder and colder--the dryer your hair becomes!! Just like with the skin..it is the same for your hair! I am a dry skin person--meaning no matter how much lotion, Vaseline, baby oil, anything..YOU NAME IT...as soon as I step one foot outside it turns into ashy, cracked, and white skin!! I dread the winter months because I have to deal with this very thing! So, now that I am on this natural journey, I now have to deal with the same thing with my hair.

 

 

 

 

WHAT DO YOU DO??

 

 

It is not that hard to maintain the moisture in your hair. As long as you continue to moisturize your hair as much as possible, keep protective styles (especially covering the ends of your hair) and not doing the "wet & go looks" there should be no problems or breakage. It is said that too much moisture is wayyyyy better than too little! Don't pour on the oil and creams though!!  Just really protect your hair from combing too much, having wet hair outside, and exposing your ends to the cold air! Just like you cover up your skin as much as possible, do the same for your hair!

 

 

HAIRSTYLES FOR THE WINTER

The same styles that you may use to protect your hair at night or on a daily basis, can be the same for the winter months. Such as, bantu knots, two strand twists, flat braids, twists out look, or braids out look. There are many other styles that are great as long as hair is covered and not a lot of stress is on the hair!!

 

 

Don't let the winter months "weather" your hair! You can still look fabulous in the winter!

 

With....With...Withdrawals

Posted on April 24, 2012 at 2:15 PM Comments comments (0)

Okay, so I woke up this morning and styled my hair and I began to feel like there was something not looking right. Either I wanted a different look, or style; it seemed that my hair was not molding into the style that I was trying to make it be, and I was beginning to feel like this was going to be a "bad hair day"!! I kinda began to think, maybe this is not going to work--if I am not ready for this natural look! I have so many styles in mind, but I am not able to do them myself...I do not know of anyone who can that is around me....& I really just don't want to spend money right now.  I am not going to give up on this journey!! I refuse to go back to the creamy crack!! I am just going to look at more ways to style to get the certain look I am aiming for, but I will not go back--never!! Hey, I need all the encouragement I can get!! When you are going the natural route-- people supporting you and giving advice, tips,and ideas is always helpful!! On that note, I am much better now!! I just have to get used to this newness!! I am my own worst critic at times!! There are going to be many bad days but a lot of good days as well. Sometimes you will feel like you can't continue on this journey, but YOU CAN"T GIVE UP!!

Big Chop (BC) Talk

Posted on April 24, 2012 at 2:15 PM Comments comments (0)

When deciding to transition from a relaxer to natural look, you have to decide if you are going to do the “BC” a.k.a the Big Chop. If you decided that you are not ready for that then you want to grow out the relaxed hair to maintain the length of your hair. This is not always the easiest nor the best choice, but there are ways to make this work! It is important to know where the natural hair and the relaxed hair meet is very fragile. To minimize breakage, treat your hair as if it is all natural, this means avoid pressing out the new growth (as if trying to blend in with the relaxed ends).

 

 

When transitioning, you will need to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!! Use products that will help with the transition of relaxed to natural.  Black hair curl pattern will be more noticeable once it reaches some length. Deep conditioners and hot oil treatments are a must for natural hair.

 

 

It is ok to experiment with different products. It is recommended so you will know which products work well with your hair. As I have stated in another blog, give each new product time to see if they will work before giving up on them or trying something else.

 

 

It is important to trim the ends of your hair as your new growth gets longer. If you rather not do this, then it will be a longer transition process.

 

 

Regardless if you are doing the big chop or not; you need to know what products will work, You need to read labels and ingredients before buying products. This is a whole new world; just as you invested time and money in relaxed hair, you should do the same for natural hair. To name a few of the oils that work best to retain moisture are shea butter, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and carrot oil. There are many ways of mixing oils and shea butter and other products to make your own homemade product. First, try to get the right PH balance in your hair! You can do this by using aloe vera gel, coconut oil, and cream based leave in conditioner on the hair. (Sparkwisdom on YouTube has a tutorial showing how to check PH and adding aloe vera gel to reduce the PH—check it out!)

 

 

Protective styles are styles that do not put a lot of stress on the hair; it is best to do a protective style at night so that your hair will not be exposed…risking more breakage. Protective styles can be just as fashionable that you will be able to wear them out. This just helps your hair rest some days while it is growing out. Some styles are 2 strand twists, flat braids, bantu knots, straw set, and curl rods. With the 2 strand twist—you can wear the twists some days and then take the twists out for a crinkly/curly look. So there are many ways and more variety!

 

 

 

Love Your Natural Tresses

Posted on April 24, 2012 at 2:10 PM Comments comments (0)

This is a new journey, new adventure, and new look! This is something to celebrate! I am loving my new hair! Last night as I was doing my nightly protective hairstyle; I realized that I not only fell in love with my hair, but I finally fell in love with me! I never could say I felt beautiful, or my hair was beautiful, or that I had confidence, not even that I liked what I saw in the mirror! There were many times I let my hair struggle take over my representation of who I was--your hair should not make or break you! Also, I have learned that I am not the only one that deal with this! I am in love with who God intended me to be! I love my natural tresses!! More importantly, I love me!

 

 

 

 

 CHECK THIS OUT:

Survey Shows That Only 7 Percent Of Women Love Their Hair (POLL, PHOTOS)

www.huffingtonpost.com

 

 

 Disclaimer: I did not collect these results; I am not advertising; simply informing :)

 

 

 

 

Transitioning from Relaxed to Natural!!!!

Posted on April 24, 2012 at 2:10 PM Comments comments (0)

 

 

 I am embarking on a journey that I never would have imagined I would do! On October 28, 2011, I decided that I would take the natural route! This is something that I have thought about, dreamed about, talked about but never had the guts or confidence to actually go through with the idea of being natural. I am tired of the relaxers--that never seemed to work or last long enough; breakage and damage was always the end result; and the lack of growth was consistent. Too much heat, relaxers, and stress put on my hair was too much on my already brittle hair. I battle with eczema, so I am used to my hair breaking off and having an itchy scalp---which means the relaxers BURN and the relaxer could never fully work. Being natural takes away all those problems. My scalp can BREATH!! It feels sooo much better and healthier already!

 

 

It took me 5 years to do something that I have always wanted to do! I have looked at others and their natural hair and said--if they can do it, why can't I??--but I am ready, confident, and HAPPY with my decision! This is not just a natural HAIR experience....its about changing my whole lifestyle. I don't want just change my outer appearance but the inner as well! I have made so many lifestyle changes for the better; I am working on me physically, mentally, and spiritually!

 

 

 

 

If you have been thinking about going natural--LET'S do this TOGETHER!!!

 

Up-Do - Braided Brun

Posted on November 29, 2011 at 10:15 AM Comments comments (0)

Get Creative While Transitioning....

Ok, just because you are natural...does not mean that there is no way to add extensions! Oh, yes...Diana makes a way out of no way! I found a nice way of protecting my hair during the winter months, or for lazy weeks, or just for added length!

 

This style could be fixed many different ways and the hair I used could be done for other techniques and styles.

 

 

 

 

All I did was braid my hair in the front and back and put into a ball. This is optional!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close up of my hair-Side View


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then before placing on your head, it's a good idea to either braid or twist the braiding hair and tie a rubber band on the ends to keep intact. Then take the loop that you made in the above pic and tie around your (hair)ball. 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Yea, I was feeling fancy...Hey, if you fix this up a bit...You can rock this style!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking the hair in above pic, begin to twist around in circular motions making a bun. Pin- Pin- Pin- to make sure its secure.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TA-DAH...quick, classy, business-look, but casual as well!


 


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