THE SECOND CUT IS THE DEEPEST.........My Involuntary Medium Chop.

My memories of my big chop three years ago are not unpleasant ones. It didn't take much coercing, prompting or prodding and as a matter of fact it was not prematurely thought out but was done spontaneously on day after a routine wash. I knew I would eventually have to do it but hadn't planned on doing it until the distant future. I had started by just doing interim trims in between my protective styles and on the day of my big chop I had planned to do just that, when I had a "what the heck" moment and just cut it all off. I fell instantly in love with my very short, easy to manage natural hair and was very enthusiastic about the journey ahead.

I have learnt a great deal along the way and have had many experiences as I progressed along. One not so pleasant experience is my recent involuntary medium chop which I was forced to do because of my overexposure to protein. I discovered that my hair is protein sensitive after using a line of four products which all contained protein. After completing the process of applying all the products, my hair instantly felt nothing short of a brillo pad, it was dry and crusty to say the least. This happened more than six months ago and ever since it happened I have been deep conditioning and using moisturizing products which seemed to correct the problem while the products remained on my hair, but once the moisture left my hair it would revert to feeling very dry and coarse again. I started doing some research as to possible causes and realized that protein
overdose was a probable cause.
Like I said, once I applied moisture my hair felt fine and certainly looked great to the naked eye so although I was bothered by it I still continued to do what I had to do. I also started trimming gradually to get rid of the portions of hair that felt damaged on a gradual basis. Last week I decided to just "cut" my losses and just do a massive chop after I was challenged by my very own article written for Newd Magazine titled "Activate Your Trimming Radar" http://www.newdmagazine.com/apps/articles/web/articleid/78761/columnid//default.asp
The article speaks about identifying signs that you needed a trim, and I knew I needed a little more than just a trim so I took my own advice and decided to do the dreaded act of cutting my hair.
It was not very easy to do. In total I had cut off over 8 months worth of hair growth totaling about four inches....I am sad about it but I know it is hair and it will grow back. Now that I am aware of my hair's protein sensitivity I am able to better chose the products that work best for my hair and I am Looking forward to growing a healthy head of hair....woohoooo!!!!!

The ABCs of Natural Hair

Natural Hair care can become overwhelming if there is lack of or misuse of knowledge. Simple tips can be very helpful and can make a world of difference in the life of a natural. Consider the following alphabetical tips to be be shared daily in increments of three, which will serve as a point of information or in some cases a reminder.



A - Accelerate hair growth by adopting a diet high in fruits and vegetables and drinking lots and lots of water. Vitamin E for example improves circulation to the scalp. When your scalp does not have enough blood circulation, the roots of your hair don't receive enough nutrients  to support the strength and life of your hair follicle. Vitamin deficiencies resulting from an unhealthy diet can cause dry brittle hair, which makes your hair more likely to break and as a result not retain length.




B - Brushing your hair too often is not a good idea. Excessive brushing of your hair can actually pull them out of their follicles. Brushing should be avoided or kept at a bare minimum.If you must brush your natural hair try to do so using a Denman wide bristled brush.



C - Cover your hair at nights or whenever you sleep, with a satin bonnet or scarf. This protects the hair from being exposed to breakage. Direct exposure to the fabric used to make bedding can have a drying effect on your hair and the friction between your hair and the bedding can also cause your hair to break. Covering your hair also helps to maintain moisture.

How I Hydrate my Thirsty Twists

One of my biggest challenge with being natural is moisture retention. I find that even with my hair in a protective style it gets very dry and thirsty, for lack of a better word. I decided to start hydrating my hair on a daily basis to keep it soft and silky and to prevent it from breaking.
My favorite way to add moisture is by adding the best moisturizer for natural hair which is the good ole' H2O. I place the water in a spritz bottle and lightly spray it all over my twists.

I then rub my favorite leave-in conditioner, Knot Today, all over the twits and then seal the moisture in with my trusted carrier oil which is Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The results after following this daily regimen guarantees that my hair remain well groomed and healthy.

I was intrigued by the hair of Namibian women...

I was just watching Bizarre Foods a few moments ago and Andrew Zimmern was visiting a village in Namibia. I was quite interested in their culture and learnt a lot of interesting facts. I was especially intrigued by their natural beauty. I was amazed at how flawless their hair was and was even more surprised at their hair care technique. The women have hair of a reddish color and it looks very much like locks, only wayyyy neater than most. I had to dig a little deeper into this culture to find out exactly how and why their hair appeared the way it did.

The secret to the color and neatness of their hair lies in an indigenous mixture of butter fat and ochre called otjize. This mixture is incorporated with mud. The women braided each others hair with hair extension made of plastic. The hair is then covered (except the ends) with the ochre mixture. The hairstyle of the women indicates age and social status. Married women for example, wore headdresses with many streams of braids, colored and put in shape with the otjize mixture. Children have two plaits of braided hair but once girls get to the age of puberty their braids are moved to the face over their eyes and they are now allowed to have more than two braids.

These women live in a somewhat primitive society but from my observation they seemed to be very conscious of their appearance and placed much effort into grooming especially their hair. I couldn't help but notice and envy them for how flawless their skin and complexion was. Might I mention that the same butter fat and ochre mixture is what they use on their skin... and we are here paying big bucks on skin care and we cant seem to get it right...LOL!!!! I think consistency is also key, as they apply this magic potion every morning religiously. In addition to this little piece of their culture that I learnt, I also found out that they are a very loving and friendly group of people and just watching the feature about them made me feel like they are my friends.....there are some great and interesting people in the world and I just thought I would share a little about them with you.....

Love, Peace and Natural Hair.

The Hair Braiding Process (ROPE TWIST)

Braids are an excellent summertime style as it helps us avoid having to contend with the heat and humidity which can be devastating for our hair. It is also great to maintain during our favorite summertime activities such as swimming, sports etc. I thought I would share a brief descriptive and visual illustration of the process involved in doing the ROPE TWIST with extensions. ENJOY!!!!!!

THE HAIR BEFORE EXTENSIONS ARE INTRODUCED

THE HAIR HALFWAY INTO THE BRAIDING PROCESS

THE HAIR AFTER BRAIDS ARE FULLY INSTALLED

THE BRAIDS PLACED ON PERM RODS FOR A CURLY EFFECT

VOILA!!!!!!! THE FINISHED DO, CURLED, TRIMMED, AND SHINED

THE STYLING PRODUCTS

THE STYLING TOOLS

BRIDAL HAIRDOS FOR NATURALS!!!

June is a very popular wedding month and many persons will be tying the "knot" if not this month then some time during the summer months. Traditionally it has become commonplace to expect to see brides with cascading curls or updos or many other traditional Bridal hairstyles. We have embarked in an era of "stepping outside of the box" and as such Naturals need not feel pressured into trying to achieve one of those stereotypical dos. There are very many classy and fabulous ways that Naturals can rock their natural hair and do so with confidence. Below are just a few of the looks that can be achieved on various lengths, textures and volume of natural hair. Dare to make a statement and be a NATURAL BRIDE.

                                 Bridal Afro 
                                                        Photo Credit

     

                            Bridal Protective Style
                                                              Photo Credit 

                               Bridal TWA 
                                                       Photo Credit 
                                                     

                              Bridal Twist Out
                                                           Photo Credit 

                                 Bridal Locks
                                        Photo Credit

                          Bridal Curly Girl
                                                 Photo Credit
                                       

Aloe Vera Plant.....AwesomeNESS!!!!!

YUCK AND YAYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just drank some raw Aloe Vera Juice from the Aloe Vera Plant in my backyard and man was it bitter. I blended it a bit to eliminate the Snotty-Like consistency that it has naturally. I stopped my breath and went for the GULP!!! Sometimes you have to will yourself to do something healthy despite how unattractive it may be. I know my body will benefit from it as Aloe is packed with vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12 (the aloe vera plant is one of the few plants in the world to contain vitamin B12), C, E, Folic Acid and Niacin. It is known to Detox, Enhance the immune system, Aid with digestion, etc, etc, etc. As a BONUS I used the remaining gel from the blant to coat my face as a mask which will act as a natural moisturizer, protect against wrinkles due to aging because of its numerous vitamins and minerals, and it helps to remove blemishes and dark spots which I have been experiencing a lot. All in all, one plant, many uses. I will definitely use it in my hair soon. Bye!!!