Journey with Individual Braids

So, I'm well into week 2 sportin' my individual braids.  Sigh... the good thing about having the braids is that I don't have to worry about what to do with my hair.  But for me that's the only good thing.  I absolutely hate that the braids have tugged and pulled at scalp and hair for days! Yes, they've loosened up significantly now but there are still braids that feel tight here and there and then I'm still struggling with some of the braids around my ears, nape, and edges.  Any little pull makes them uncomfortable.
The other thing is that my scalp is itching pretty regularly and I see very short hairs sticking out from the braids all over the top of my head.  My prayer is that I will take these braids down in a couple of weeks and I will have hair that has grown out and is healthier.
I've been moisturizing daily and doing everything I'm supposed to do so hopefully my experiment with braids (to hide my transitioning hair) will be a positive one in the end.

WHY DO BLACK PEOPLE HATE BLACK HAIR?

I guess I should correct that statement by saying "some" black people.  Its amazing to me hear of so many negative comments coming from the very people who should not only support but love natural hair...black people.  A friend of mines told me that her friend went natural and the friend's husband hates it! He also has made very negative comments about how so many commercials on t.v are now showing only nappy headed black women! WOW! Really?  I've been so impressed with how there are tons of commercials with black women sporting their natural hair! It made feel good inside and happy! It never even crossed my mind that their would be other black people out there who criticized it and were even possibly embarrassed by it.
Its really hurtful to think of how all other races of men and women (and black men included) can all wear their natural hair without it being called unprofessional or ugly.  Black women are the only ones pressured to put a very strong chemical on their hair to alter it.  Its ridiculous to think that we shouldn't be able to enjoy the same freedoms as everyone else.  And that's the freedom to rock our natural hair....if we want to!
To be able to work out without worrying about sweating out our "edges, to be able to go swimming, and not be afraid of water messing up our 'do.
All I can say is I hope that the women who have decided to go natural stay the course...including myself.

I don't have the soft silky curls that a lot of natural sistas have so I know it will be a challenge to get to know my own natural hair and care for it properly...especially since I've had some sort of chemical on my hair since I was at least 10 years old.  I know how to handle that straightened processed hair...I've had years of practice.  But I will need to be very patient as I learn how to care for and style my God given hair because its a stranger to me.

Stay strong!

GOOD HAIR...the movie.

I know I'm late but I finally saw this movie.  

At first I was totally against seeing it because the trailers and the interviews (with Chris Rock) on shows like Oprah caused me to believe that the purpose of the movie was to embarrass and make fun of black women and OUR hair.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was wrong.

The movie actually shed light on things that we, as black people, need to open our eyes to:

1.  White people, Asian people, and even Indian people are making a ton of money off the black haircare industry while Blacks are not!  White people own the product manufacturing companies, asians own the beauty supply stores, and indians are receiving the shaved hair of indian women for free and charging money to the folks who wear weaves, extensions, and braids.

And...WHERE ARE THE BLACK PEOPLE IN ALL OF THIS?

We are spending thousands of dollars on products for OUR hair and the money isn't even coming into our communities!! Its really quite sad.

2. Relaxers are not healthy for our hair.  Not just in the sense that they are damaging and that they compromise the very core of our hair strands but the fact that the primary ingredient, sodium hydroxide, can totally dissolve an entire coke can in 4 hours.  This stuff should not be applied to our hair/scalps and according to scientists, should not even be inhaled by the people applying the product!

3. Speaking of relaxers....please please please stop putting this product on your children's hair!!  It destroys their hair follicles and permanently changes the texture of their hair....and not into something "good".

Okay, so I could go on about the movie but I think every black person (male and female) should see the movie and understand what it means for us to love ourselves completely....hair included.

Afterall, why should black women be the only ones who can't enjoy the freedom of wearing their natural hair?? Why should we have to worry about swimming, rain, or sweating out our hair when working out?  Why should our hair and natural hairstyles not be considered professional or "put together"?  There is freedom in being able to sport the hair that God gave us and there is no better time than the present!

There are wonderful products, hairstyles, and techniques out there that allow us to have softer, more manageable, more fashionable and plain ol' healthy hair!

The saddest thing I've heard is how other black people are the main ones who are being super critical and hard on black women wearing their natural hair.  ONCE AGAIN OUR OWN PEOPLE JUDGING EACH OTHER AND BEHAVING LIKE CRABS IN A BUCKET (pulling each other down).

For those who have embarked on this natural journey, myself included, I say press on.  We owe it to ourselves to give it a shot and be free....and HEALTHY.  There's nothing wrong with straightening kinky, curly, or coily hair but until there's a natural way of doing so, I'll still blowdrying and/or using a flat iron to achieve the straight look rather than applying those harmful relaxers again.

Solange's natural hair

I believe this is what my hair would look like if I were to cut all of the relaxed ends off today.  I'm at 3 months post relaxer and my hair new growth has tiny curl or tight coils (not sure which term suits it best yet).

Below I'm attaching pics of what I believe is Solange's current length and style.  I'm not sure if this is her hair or extensions....couldn't find that info.  I borrowed the pics from a website called This Is R&B.

I never thought much of Solange's look until she transitioned to natural.  It brings out her beauty.  

I guess this is what I have to look forward to once my hair grows out.  :)

Who's In The Hotseat? - Ro Scott

What made you decide to go natural?

I decided to go natural for two reasons: 
1. I’m lazy and love low maintenance hairstyles, so I got tired of spending money on relaxers and spending money on going to salons to maintain my hair. 2. I love change, so I’m always trying different things with my hair to see what I love best.

What differences have you noticed in your hair since you stopped relaxing? (i.e. is it easier to manage, is it healthier, is it thicker)

I’ve noticed that my hair is a lot thicker, easier to maintain and dry now. I have to keep it moisturized more than I had to do when it was relaxed.

What is your daily hair regimen?

My daily regimen consists of putting some kind of moisturizing spray or lotion on it to massage my scalp and just fingering through it to comb it out.

How often do you shampoo & condition your hair?

I shampoo and condition my hair on the norm about 2 to 3 times a week, but if I work out or sweat a lot, I shampoo it more often, but I try to avoid doing it every day.

It looks like your hair type is probably 3A or 3B. What are your favorite products to (1) define your curls, (2) make your hair shiney, (3) reduce frizz, and (4) keep your hair moisturized?

Right now, my favorite products are Ysidra’s Ysentials Nutty Buddy and Kinky Curly Curling Custard. Ysidra’s Ysentials Nutty Buddy keeps my hair moisturized while defining my curls and maintaining frizz. The Wake Me Up daily moisturizing spritz keeps my hair moisturized while adding a subtle shine to it that I love! Kinky Curly Curling Custard really defines my curls to another level, reduces frizz and doesn’t make my hair heavy or hard. I love both products, so it’s hard to say which one I love best right now.

Are there any products you are interested in trying?

I’m interested in trying Carol’s Daughter and Uncle Funky’s Daughters products and any other products someone else may recommend just to try and see what products work best for my hair type.


What are your hair goals?

As of now, one of my main hair goals is to maintain healthy hair and try to grow it out as long as I can possibly stand with it natural. My track record hasn’t been that great for growing my hair because I love low maintenance and change, therefore, I tend to cut it off as soon as it becomes cumbersome. I’m praying I can last longer than 6 months of growth this time.

Any words of encouragement for the ladies out there who may be considering going natural?

For anyone considering going natural, I say go for it because it can only define who you are naturally and get you back in touch with who God made you to be. If you’re afraid of giving it a try, I say don’t be afraid because it’s only hair and it will grow back. In the words of India.Arie “I am not my hair.”

TIP OF THE WEEK - SOFTEN NEW GROWTH

Okay....so not everyone has silky soft natural curls.  Some of us have tightly coiled hair and some of us are transitioning and have new growth and relaxed hair to work with.

For everyone who falls into those categories and more.....try Glycerin.  A glycerin & water mix sprayed on new growth will help to soften and moisturize new growth for days.

There are many ways to create your own special mixture.  Some people include small amounts of leave in conditioner, aloe vera gel,  and/or essential oils like olive oil.

One mixture that I like is 8oz distilled water, 2 oz glycerin, 1 tbs of aloe vera gel.

Give it a shot and please be sure to share your opinions, your questions, and your concoctions!

~ Felicia

Shedding, Breakage, & Tangles...OH MY!

Okay, I'm going to have to stop experimenting with so many different products.  I don't really know what I did wrong today but my freshly washed hair was NOT happy.  It seemed brittle and hard to manage and detangle.  I did a conditioning prepoo with a Suave Conditioner called Almond Honey something to that effect ( I'm too tired to go look for the bottle).  lol  Anyway, usually if I prepoo with a conditioner, my hair feels silky as soon as the water hits it.  IT DID NOT FEEL THAT WAY THIS TIME.  In fact, I ended up using a little moisturizing shampoo hoping that it would help.  Uhmmm..it didn't really help.  Then instead of applying my normal conditioner...AO Honeysuckle Rose with Honey & Olive Oil, I added too much peppermint oil and Elasta QP Protein Serum.  The end result was not happy transitioning hair.

LESSON LEARNED ->>>> K I S S (Keep It Simple Stupid)

I truly hope I can transition for at least another 3 months before big chopping!
Pray for me!

Felicia...trying to get over the 3 month hump.