I received a request for pictures of my hair pre-henna. Until more recenlty, like the last couple of years, I didn’t own a camera. I also am not really a picture person … meaning, I don’t take a lot of pics as I constantly forget to bring my camera or forget to take pictures on the rare occasions that I remember to bring it with me. (Yeah, I know, but I’m serious! I didn’t start taking lots of pictures until last year when I started photo “chronicling” my hair. Some friends expressed interest in seeing my henna results and Nikki suggested taking pictures to document your hair journey). So, I only have that one little old photo of a photo that I posted in my HairStory. However, I did do a major cut in 2007 (I think that was the year). My hair was healthy and long, but I had layers and they weren’t working out for me. And, I just wanted a change. So, I cut it to about chin length. Straight. I LOVED it straight! Got so many compliments the first day I returned to work after chopping it. Don’t think I wore it straight again after that first couple of weeks. I wasn’t a fan of the length when it s like it was curly. So, I grew it out again. I was able to dig up a few photos on FB to post. Some are blurry because they were taken with my little Sprint Rumor phone=). Anyway, here they are.
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WnG: April 2006/Jamaica. If you squint, you can kind of make out my curl pattern. It was a lot curlier then. I was using Lotsa Curls Gel mixed with CD HHB back then. I’m wondering if the Lotsa Curls may have had something to with it too. I’ll have to revisit that gel for a WnG and see what happens.
Press and curl/Spring 2006: I usually get my hair pressed 2x a year (once every 6 months) for a trim. However, my last two trims/cuts have been on curly hair, though I had my hair straightened once in October 2010 in the last year.
Thanksgiving 2007 – After the cut
Winter 2008 (Jan/Feb?): In early 2008, I decided I wanted to experiment with tracks as my friend has some really natural looking ones in her hair. I researched and found a very good quality of hair that could be worn straight or curly. I had about 4 tracks layered between my hair. I had them reinstalled for about 3 rounds (6 months, re-installed approximately every 8 weeks).
July 2008 – Family Reunion with my mom-mom! My length looks about the same in 07 and 08. I took care of my hair while I had the tracks installed, washing and conditioning as instructed and braiding the hair at night to keep it from tangling. But, I mostly wore the hair straight because although it was curly, it wasn’t as curly as my hair. So the textures didn’t blend well. I think that the repeated use of heat as well as the cornrow and sewing process were too much for my fine hair. So, in Summer 2008, I believe I lost a couple of inches when I went to a new salon and got it cut.
October 2008: I believe I pressed it here myself in preparation for a Halloween party where I was going as a Greek goddess with a long ponytail.
November 2008
November/Decemeber 2008
December 2008/Press and Curl
December 2008 – With my natural younger sister.
Well, that’s it for Flashback Part I! Flashback Part II, 2009, The Year of Progress!! Coming soon to a blog near you!
hairscapades 
you must do a dictionary on your abbreviations lol.. HH HEHH Cb, its all foreign..
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LOL. There’s a Lexicon under the “Home” tab. I added those as they are products that a lot of naturals use and abbreviate. HE HH is Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. CD HHB is Carol’s Daughter Healthy Hair Butter.
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You’re beautiful and your hair has come a long way! How did you handle the stage after your cut? Were you constantly checking for growth? obsessing? I find I’m doing that and guess what? The left side is growing faster than the right! i mean by like an inch. What the heck? You know me. i don’t want to cut it but darn, I have to wear it curly for sure or you can see the obvious crookedness lol
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Awwww, thanks Michelle! You know, I didn’t obsess about length too much at all. I knew it would grow back, it was just a waiting game. I had the setback because of the tracks. I didn’t get them because I was missing my length so much as that I just like styling versatility and I really liked how they looked on my friend=). I think one side of my hair tends to grow faster too, though I haven’t noticed that much of a difference since my cut in February. It looks like it’s growing at the same speed for once. And yeah, wearing your hair curly can let you get away with a lot more as your hair doesn’t necessarily need to be even to look like it is.
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Your hair is prob shorter on the side you sleep on. I think that’s usually the case. Maybe it’s growing less, or maybe it breaks more. Try moisturizing it a little more.
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My fave is the Jamaica 2006 WnG! That’s the wash and go look I’m going for when my hair is all grown out.
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You know Rece, I never thought of that. I do sleep on my right side more! Thanks. I’m going to check that. I don’t think it’s breaking though. I haven’t had much breakage since I stopped heat styling.
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Love the pics…great of you to share. Your hair is beautiful. I’m in the between lengths; it looks great when its really wet because it hangs at a good length but shrinks up a bit when it starts to dry. Some days my wash n go looks great and other days it doesn’t work out so well. Still experimenting with different products.
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