Daily Archives: September 5, 2011

Sep5

Twist N Curl

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Whenever I get a chance, I try to visit the sites of the GOC participants to see how they are doing. I really enjoy reading these blogs so much (and wish I had more time to do so!) and always find posts that I think the rest of you will enjoy too. I especially like to share entries from our GOCers who might not comment much here, but are vested in the challenge and are chronicling their journeys on their own blogs. I also especially love seeing posts which reflect the things that we are learning from each other!! That being said, I was so enthused when I saw this TnC post from Mershauna (First Wave) where she did the Pineapple TnC that we learned from Terysa (Third Wave) in this post!

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by Mershauna of The Curly Side of Things 

so this has to be my most fave hair style its so easy and the results are killer. all you do is flat twist your hair around your head, roll up the ends and let it set. you want to use something that has some hold to it in order for the style to come out right. it can be done on wet or dry hair also. below are two ways you can set and wear this style.

(this is how i wore it yesterday)

(for this style i pinned the back for a cropped look)

stay lovely- mershauna

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Drool-worthy results Mershauna!! Love the bobbed look!!

(Btw, you can also check out Mershauna at her own personal blog,  http://thedancingoptimist.blogspot.com/!)

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Sep5

GOC Update: Kendall

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From the GOC First Wave:
K e n d a l l

Talk about falling off the wagon! I think that I was so excited about starting the GOC … and that carried me pretty far into the first month. But then, that third week came around and I just got side-tracked!  The first thing to go out the door was my healthy eating habits. What can I say? I love pizza! But the pizza had a snowball effect. It was like a gateway drug into other gooey, yummy, not so nutritious foods!

Then, next thing to go was the exercise. But it’s always been hard for me to stick with a workout routine. Does that happen to anyone else? You’re going strong for 3 weeks and then you take one tiny day off, and it’s so hard to get going again. But I just bought the Insanity workout DVD program so this’ll provide more structure and guidelines.

I think my hair was the only thing I stuck to my guns about! I’ve fine-tuned my regimen and am learning to “listen” to my hair to give it what it needs. The basic gist of my regimen is towards the end of the week I shampoo with my Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle shampoo and then put on a deep conditioner. I started using Moroccan Oil Restorative Hair Mask. I massage it into my hair and put on a plastic cap and then a silk scarf. I let it sit for about an hour, sometimes overnight. Then I rinse it out with cool water and apply my Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle conditioner. I don’t rinse it out, I just run my head under the shower real quick once I soak my hair in it. Then I put it into a TnC. For the most part, I wear my hair up in a bun.  The weather in NYC has been bananas, so this way I don’t have to worry about it throughout the day.

Some things that I’m a little worried about, or at least want to focus on during the GOC are:

  1. Regaining my curl pattern. The back of my hair has regained its curl pattern but the front (my bangs) are just kind of wavy. I’m not sure if this is due to massive amounts of heat damage or if maybe that is just my curl pattern in that part of my hair. Any tips for regaining curl patterns??
  2. Length retention. This is what I want to work on the most. I can see from all the new growth that I average the 1/2″ each month, but I want to work on retaining that length so that I can eventually reach my goal of WL!! … and get rid of my bangs. I’ve been trying to protect my ends and keep them moisturized and tucked away. Hopefully I’m on the right track!

But now that I’ve got that all off my chest, I’ve got my second wind! I feel like even if I fall off on all the things I decided to work on over these 6 months, the important thing is that I start back up again!

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“Gateway drug.” LOL!!! Kendall, I can TOTALLY relate to taking one day off and finding it sooo hard to get back into the gym or exercise routine! That’s been the story of my life! Ughhh!!! But, that’s the spirit!! Although we may fall off, we can always make the choice to get back on the wagon. 

As to the loss of curl thing, it really may just be a difference in the curl patterns on your head and not heat damage. Many of us have several different textures and seem to struggle with that one section that just doesn’t want to curl! I’m constantly in search of “curl enhancing” potions, but haven’t had much luck in that department. However, I just ordered some Zizyphus from Mehandi.com after seeing the results that our fellow GOCer Michelle achieved and posted here. I think I’ll be experimenting with it next weekend, so I’ll definitely post my results as well!

Any suggestions for restoring and/or enhancing curl? Please share, I’ll be taking notes!!

Sep5

GOC Updates: Michelle aka Mickey

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Next up, a quick length check update from the GOC Seventh Wave:

Michelle aka Mickey of Happily Natural

August 18, 2011

Had to get my hair straightened for a special occasion. Here is a length check.

Here are pics of two previous length checks.

June 19, 2011

March 22, 2011

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That’s some good growing Mickey!!

Sep5

GOC Update: Jasmine

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So, I’m posting these in the order that they were received.  Up first, from the Fifth Wave:

Jasmine aka CurlsDivine

It is now August and I have been natural almost 8 months, but really perm-less for 17 months. The last time I straightened my hair was on May 5, 2011. I remember, because it was Mother’s Day weekend and I had a boss hat to wear with a fabulous outfit! I decided to only straighten every 3-4 months. So, here comes “Hairscapades GOC” and what a perfect time, because it was time to straighten and see how much progress I’ve had, what setbacks and what I still need to overcome. I was so excited to straighten and this time I decided to do it a little different from the last time. These were my steps:

  • Washed and conditioned with Trader Joes T.T Shampoo and Conditioner
  • Deep conditioned with Aubrey’s Organics
  • Sprayed hair down with some setting lotion
  • Rolled hair with large to medium-sized rollers
  • Sat under the heat cap
  • Unrolled and wrapped, sat back under the dryer
  • Sprayed with some heat protectant
  • Flat-ironed
  • Rubbed a little jojoba oil throughout for a touch of shine

Oh it was so beautiful…bouncy, shiny and, most importantly, healthy. I did not have a split end in sight….Hallelujah! My style lasted for almost two weeks. I pin-curled it at night to have that same bounce and shine in the morning.

Growth Improvements:

I measured my hair growth and these are the measurements:

  • Top Crown: 8.5-9.0 inches
  • Sides: 7.5 inches
  • Back neck area: 7.0 inches

I have layers, which I would like to grow out, but right now my back length is the shortest…UGH! Don’t really know why, but that is one area in which I would like to see more growth. I calculated and, by January, I should have at least gained 3 more inches of growth, which will get to me to my goal, APL. Right now, I am just hitting CBL. My goal in the next 6 months is to wear A LOT, and I mean A LOT, of protective styles. And if I do decided to wear it out, I will not have my hair in tight hairstyles (usually don’t) but just want to stress that point, which I needed to make clear to myself. Hoping someone will hold me accountable.

These pictures of me in the striped shirt were taken on May 5, 2011. I received a small trim the following week (sorry no pics). I lost 1.5 inches = my setback.

I also only flat-ironed and did not use any setting lotion; that is why my hair looks dry and frizzy at the ends.

The first set of pictures above were just taken August 5, 2011. My hair has grown a little and I won’t be getting another trim until May. I feel my hair ends are very healthy and I don’t really get split ends due to not using a lot of heat. So until we check in next time … as we salute:

H A P P Y   G R O W I N G !

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Look at that SHINE!!!  And, I spot a henna red in that first pic!  Gorgeous Jasmine!