Yes, it's been awhile since I last posted, but a new vlog is up on the channel! Check it out here.
A lot has happened this year and I'm trying to get back on track. So bear with me. The hubby and I have welcomed a beautiful, baby girl to our family, and that alone has taken a lot of adjusting. Now I'm trying to get my mojo back and I'm starting with my hair. I'm not sure what curl type I have, but I'm assuming it is a type 4. I really want to wear my hair in a twist out. This style is something I have never perfected since going natural September of 2011.
So here's my dilemma. I have way too many products and want to try them all to see which ones work in my hair. I am tired of seeing videos of people with perfectly slicked back hair and super defined curls using products that are said to work for my hair type, only to be disappointed when I give it a try. I have challenged myself to find the perfect product for my hair that will help me achieve the styles I desire.
This is where I need your help. Click the link above to watch my video and leave a comment afterwards with your product suggestions. Also, don't forget to subscribe and follow my journey. Share the link with your friends so they can join in with us. Seriously, it is no fun creating videos for just myself. I would really like for you to tag along.
2015 has quickly come and gone! That's a lot of protective styles crammed in the year for me. This past September marked four years since going natural and the struggle is still real. Those familiar with my transition understand when I say I'm still transitioning. There may not be visible signs of relaxed ends, but my uncut hair is still trying to find its happy median in its ability to curl uniformly or comply with my hair products of choice. I don't care what anyone says! Natural hair is stubborn hair!
With that said, I reminisce on the different styles I've done this year in an effort to protect my fragile ends and try to retain length. I always practice a no heat regimen throughout the year, except for the one time a year I straighten it. This year I leaned heavily on my curly wigs. Nothing beats throwing on a wig and running out the door! I prefer ease and no drama when styling my hair. I also tried a crochet style for the first time this year. I liked it, but I think I would do it differently next time. Different hair. Different braid pattern.
September and October I styled my hair with various ponytails. Curly ponytails, of course. My dilemma with these were the colors selected and those pesky combs. As far as colors, the 1Bs were too dark and the 2s were too light. Not to mention the 1 I mistakenly purchased. That was way too dark! But I made them work. For some reason the combs give me tender spots on my scalp and contribute to breakage. Yes, I can use bobby pins (which I do), but I want to make sure that hair is secure! I don't want to discover a video of me on YouTube "taking the limits off"!
So I ask myself, "What is my true goal?" Why do i wear protective styles? Am I trying to ensure the health of each strand or am I trying to retain length? What am i trying to accomplish by limiting my use of heat? These are honest questions we need to ask ourselves periodically. Honest questions deserve honest answers. I'm wearing protective styles because my hair just will not cooperate and I do not have time to force it to comply every morning. Yes, I want my hair to be the epitome of health, but let's face it ...I just want thick bra-strap length hair. I'll insert here that my hair is finally bra-strap length, but it's thin and heavily layered from the breakage. Moving on. There's no use applying heat to my hair because it never straightens completely. After a warm shower it will revert immediately! Even though I wrap it twice , turn on the bathroom vent, and leave the bathroom door open. So my honest answer shows my honest struggle. There are no amount of YouTube videos I can watch or styles I can try to imitate that will alleviate this reality.
What I have learned this year is an important lesson for me. I look like me, so don't get caught up trying to perfect someone else's look. I might as well enjoy the hair I have and style it to where I can enjoy it. When I'm bored with my hair, do another style. Send a selfie to a close friend who will help me refine the look I'm trying to go for. Wear a hat. Add a scarf. And when i take that second glance in the mirror, don't forget to smile!
Yay! I finally have a second video posted on YouTube for your viewing pleasure! I kid ... somewhat.
Anyway, this Fall I plan to keep my hair in twists and wear protective styles until early spring. Ever since going natural four years ago, I have not been too successful in maintaining length. It always grows to a certain length and breaks off. By keeping my hair in twists and refreshing them, as needed, I can better gauge my hair's health and length retention.
If you have read my earlier posts, you are aware that I do not cut or trim my hair. This makes it even more difficult to maintain even lengths, but its a challenge I willingly accept. By not cutting my hair, I know when a product really works for me and the hair issues I face, such as split ends, thinning, breakage and heat damage.
My review features two synthetic wigs that I have been wearing for the past three weeks or so. They are similar, but different! One is Model Model's Moon Walk in a 1B and the other is New Born Free's Spring in 1B. Check out the video and let me know what you think below.
If you haven't subscribed to the channel, go ahead and do so! I will do my best to post something fresh every now and then. Also, check out my Kinky Hair board on Pinterest! I'm sure you will find a hairstyle to inspire your next look.
This September will mark four years of natural hair craziness! I'm so glad I didn't give up during that first year. Every time I looked in the mirror all I could think was, "What have I done?!" I could no longer do my usual, relaxed hair styles. The texture was drier and the breakage was unreal. I bought products left and right trying to salvage the hair I had left. Yes, it was still think, but there were sections that showed damage more than others. One side of my head has long, stringy hair. The other side was short and full. The top, center section of hair was about three inches , while the other sections at least went to my shoulders. Something had to give!
My transition was a little different from most since I did not do a big chop. Not even a trim. I believed that if God's word said for a woman to not cut her hair, that He would help me through this since I was being obedient. I needed a Red Sea miracle and quick! I always had long hair, but it was so noticeable that my hair was a lot shorter. I started wearing wigs and experimenting with braids to protect my thinning hair. I knew all of my relaxed hair had to fall out before I could be completely natural. Watching my hair go through these changes and not knowing what to do was the hardest. I continued to implement tried and true methods: I prayed over my hair and kept it oiled with olive oil.
Pictures do a great good! The first time I noticed my hair was growing and that my curl pattern was finally showing was a game changer for me. I had to take more pictures and document my ups and downs. Now, almost four years later, I can honestly say the road was hard, but it was so worth it. My hair is finally at the length it was before I went natural ... slightly longer in some sections. I'm at the point where I want to conquer some of those cute styles I'm seeing others accomplish and create some of my own. Although I'm still searching for products that work for me, at least I know some that do not work. Same goes for styling methods.
I love how my hair looks when it is wet. It's perfect. Ringlets for days! Yaaaaassss!!! But time it dries ... baaabaay ... frizzy, good-for-nothing, dry poofy mess. Hot mess. Can't leave the house or be seen like this mess. But the above video was a game changer, for real. So easy. Simple. That's what I want in a hair routine. I cowashed with my TRESsemme conditioner, applied some Cantu curl activator cream, and then a light coating of Shea Moisture curling gel souffle. I gave my hair a good shake to set my curls. I let it air dry and even went outside to let the sun and wind help it dry a bit. Those curls were popping! No, my hair wasn't completely dry before I left the house, but it wasn't dripping water, just a little dampness near the scalp. Definitely trying this again.
