Daily Archives: November 18, 2011

Nov18

October GOC Update: Etoile

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by Etoile (Third Wave) of The Curvealicious Chronicles

Ok, I know, I know … I am, shall we say, just a wee bit late with my update … *coughs, clears throat* … ok VERY LATE!

The hair … easy … the fitness … well let’s just say that is a horse of a different color entirely.

Hair

When I first decided to go natural, I made the decision to transition as I knew that I was not going to be comfortable with big chopping … and along with that decision came my addiction to products … yes I am a licensed, card-carrying, certified product junkie. But, as I embarked on my grow out challenge, I decided to curb my ‘hair’ PJ ways, enroll in a 12 Step Program and try to utilize the products that worked for my hair.

My Current Regimen & Products:

Weekly:

  • Pre-Poo overnight with olive oil, jojoba oil, or Treasured Locks Argan Oil
  • Shampoo with Doris New York Reconstructor Shampoo
  • Detangle in the shower with HEHH Conditioner or Pantene Nature Fusion Moisture Balance Conditioner
  • Step out of the shower and deep condition my hair with Doris New York Mud Minerals Pack or Doris New York Extreme Deep Conditioner
  • Apply leave-in conditioner, Doris New York Leave-In Conditioner or Kinky Kurly Knot Today
  • Apply Doris New York Olive Oil Cream to seal and add additional moisture and sheen
  • Lightly diffuse my hair with the blow dryer on medium warm

Daily:

I pineapple my hair while I shower and allow the mist from the shower to dampen my hair. Once out of the shower, I mix a quarter size of the Doris New York Leave in Conditioner with a nickel size of the Doris New York Olive Oil cream in my hands to emulsify and work through while scrunching/setting my hair. Alternatively I will do the same with my modified Kimmaytube, if my hair is feeling extra dry. I will wear my wash n go for 2-3 days and the remainder of the week I will either bun or wear my signature afro puff.

Now that the weather is getting cool, I am planning on switching to protective styling for the remainder of the winter, either flat twists or 2 strand twists, which I will wear with my very large collection of beautiful Chapeaux (including the one I saw on Threadmill today that I plan on ordering).

I recently saw my stylist Tameeka McNeil Johnson of Jaded Tresses for a trim and I had approx 2+ inches of growth before she cleaned up my ends. YEA!!!

For me, less has meant more. Less manipulation + Less products = more growth!

Health & Fitness

My diet has been pretty good. I have lost approx 12 pounds and 1 jean size (insert happy dance here).

My Weekday Meal Plan:

Breakfast: Oatmeal or yogurt with fruit or cold cereal with fat free milk

Lunch: Soup and salad or soup and half a sandwich on multi-grain bread

Dinner: Chicken or fish with vegetables and brown rice or a baked yam

Snacks (2-3 during the day): Hummus with sliced veggies; 1 piece of fresh fruit; small cup of Yogurt or baby food (I make my own)

Exercise:

Walk 2-3 miles 3-4 days a week

I have taken a few classes here & there (Pilates, kickboxing, belly dancing) but have not made it to the gym nearly enough … sooo I am going to work on that as we wind down the challenge.

Huge thanks to the divine Ms. Shelli of Hairscapades for starting this blog. I have met some amazing naturals and learned so much. #texturerocks!

Etoile

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Twelve pounds lost and down a size?!?! Get it gurl!! And those curls are looking absolutely lovely! Your hair has grown so much already!

And, awwww, thanks Etoile!! I feel the same! I have met so many wonderful, kind, supportive, enthusiastic and intelligent women since starting this thing and I thank you all!


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Nov18

Miss Jessie’s BOGO Sale at Target

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I’m not a fan of Miss Jessie’s products. I used them a few years ago and, though they seemed great at first, after a couple of months I realized that the health of my hair was deteriorating. It only ever felt soft and moisturized the day I applied the product (I started with the Baby ButterCreme and then moved to the Curly Meringue). So, I was re-wetting my WnG and applying additional product daily and it also made my hair feel kind of sticky/tacky. However, the worse of it was that when I washed my hair, it felt stripped, dry and brittle. My naked hair was feeling damaged. I was co-washing weekly and using DevaCare No Poo once a month probably. So, it definitely wasn’t related to using a sulfate shampoo. Anywho, all this to say that I’m not sharing this because I recommend or co-sign on these products. However, some people love Miss Jessie’s and I know others may want to experiment with them. As they are very pricey (excessively so, IMHO), wanted to let you all know about this BOGO sale so that those who need to re-up can do so for half the price and those who want to try them may be able to get some of the smaller sizes in order to experiment.

So yeah, if Miss Jessie’s is your thing or you’re wondering if it might be, go for yours ;)!

Nov18

The Big Chop: Gina’s HairStory

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Describe yourself in 100 words or less.
Welp! Let’s see, I’m a twenty-seven year old Haitian woman of God. At least, that’s what I want my tombstone to read *lol*.

What prompted your decision to go natural?
I decided last December to just stop using relaxers since I was wearing wigs and weaves anyway. It wasn’t a goal of mine to be natural or anything, I just didn’t think it made sense to keep relaxing it. I rocked my half wigs on the regular, but didn’t know what to do with my actual hair (I’m NOT a girly girl when it comes to hair. I don’t even have pictures). But I was getting annoyed with having to deal with two different textures. So May 15, 2011, I had my sister put in a relaxer. What a hot mess!!! My hair broke so bad that clumps of hair came out while I was washing it out. One would think that I would freak out. But I really didn’t care, because I declared that it would be my last time ever getting a perm. So, back to my half wigs I went. I focused on keeping my hair clean and moisturized. I planned on transitioning for at least 6 months, then doing the big chop and getting braids.

How long did you transition before you big chopped?
I transitioned for approximately 4 months. Then I started getting the itch to snip!!!!

Transition: Pony Puff

When and how did you big chop?
I big chopped on September 24, 2011. One of my sorors referred me to Anointed Hands in South Plainfield, NJ. My hair and praise partner, Monet, came with me!

How did you feel immediately before and immediately after your big chop?Before I big chopped, I was a little nervous (I woke up at 4 that morning *lol*). It helped that the owner’s assistant who washed my hair big chopped a few weeks ago. Right after I big chopped, I felt too cool for words *lol*. I received a pep talk from the owner who did it. And she pretty much told me what I would endure as a natural, especially when I encountered negative people. I am forever grateful to her for that, it has really carried me through.

How do you feel now?
I’m happy and that’s a pretty big deal for me. This journey is not just physical, a majority of it is spiritual. I don’t know how else to describe it. I’m just happy and loving it!!!!!!

What is your current regimen? Go to products?
I keep saying that I don’t have a regimen and am trying to figure one out. But currently, I co-wash my hair almost daily, mainly with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration mixed with olive oil. I shampoo my hair once every two weeks with either a shampoo bar that I got as a sample from Pooka or the Shea Moisture Retention Shampoo. Same with the deep conditioner, but I use their Organic Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque. I use the LOC method (Leave-in, Oil, Cream) when it comes to moisturizing my hair. I use Kinky Curly Knot Today as my leave -in, Pooka Pure & Simple Nectar Oil and Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie. That’s pretty much it, when I’m not experimenting with samples that I pick up. Oh!!! And I LOVE Eco Styler (the Argan Oil one).  I did sample two products that I am in LOVE with: Roots of Nature Mango Oil & Cupuacu Butter (butter whip coil cream) and Taliah Waajid Curly Curl Cream :). I have to pick them up soon!

Do you have a hair crush? If so, who and why?
I would have to say Solange; she is just too fierce for me *lol*. She rocks her hair with such confidence that I expect her to say, “Say something!”

Who is your favorite natural blogger, YouTuber and/or Fotkier and why?
Okay, fave blogger is a tie between you (lol) for my technical questions and research and Rece from A Hair Story, because I absolutely LOVE her hair. Did I mention that I saw her at the Curly Nikki Meetup?!!! #str8geek! I couldn’t even hold a convo *smh*.

What are your challenges?
I don’t have many hair styles to do at this stage and my head is getting cold! *Eyes half wig.* Also, its hard to keep my hair from getting dry during the day, especially when I do where my wigs. My hair feels like it gets too matted.

What are you short-term goals? What about long-term?
Seriously, my short-term goal is to be able to rock a head band before the end of this year *lol*.  That and just to get to know my hair better, since it’s totally different that I imagined. My long-term goal is to become more involved in my hair in the future. I keep hearing about twist-outs and what not, BUT I’m so not the girl who likes to do hair. I’m a work in progress!!!! Eventually, in like 5 years or so, I would like to get locs.

Anything else that you would like to add?
I, Gina B., am a certified Lurker and will work on breaking out of that habit. Smooches & God Bless!!!

11/17/11