I took my bun down to moisturize and seal my ends and thought it looked pretty decent. So, I started to take pics to post for you guys and then thought, “Why not make a quick video? I haven’t done one of those in forever.” So, here it is. Nothing much, but just figured I’d switch it up a little :).
Official length check next month. And, stay tuned for details about a Hairscapades Meet-Up to end this Grow Out Challenge and an announcement about the next GOC!!
Describe yourself in 100 words or less.
I am 25 years old. I am a very loving person and I have a very big heart. I’m very family oriented. I’m very silly, but quiet with people I don’t know. I love to watch movies and to just have fun overall.
What prompted your decision to go natural?
My mom passed away in Aug of 2007 of cancer at age 37. It was really rough for me because we were very, very close, literally best friends. So, not only did I lose a mother, but my BFF as well and, of course, I took it really hard. I didn’t realize the impact it was having on my hair. At the time, I was still getting relaxers, but not every 6 weeks like I normally would. I decided to bleach my hair blonde in March of 2008, kind of like in honor and memory of my mom. She used to like to dye her hair blonde when it got warmer outside and March 1st is her birthday. I’ve bleached my hair before with no problem, but never my whole head. Then I decided I “NEEDED” a relaxer 2 weeks later (or so I thought). Well, big mistake. I think with the stress of her passing, combined with the chemicals, it wasn’t a good idea. Sections of my hair fell out and it was shedding really badly.
In May, my husband and I were going to Florida on vacation, so I decided to go and just get it cut into a short style. By this time, the parts that fell out were at a decent length where I could. Of course, she had to relax it for the style. Long story short, I had been doing my research and going on You Tube and, in December of ’08, I decided to stop getting relaxers. It really made no sense, once I thought about it, for me to even get a relaxer. Because, when I got them, my hair would still be curly, but more of a relaxed curl. I was just so used to it and my mom used to do my hair, so I never thought much about it. I never realized how much the relaxer breaks down your hair. My curls now are much more fuller and my hair is a whole lot more healthier than it was then.
Did you transition or big chop? If you transitioned how long?
I transitioned, I would say. I don’t remember the exact amount of time, but I would say 1 year. I had to cut my hair short while I was still relaxing and decided to go natural about 7 months after that. My hair was already short, so I would just cut off some of the relaxed ends as it grew out.
How do you feel now?
I feel great. I really love my natural hair. I feel like we’ve grown together. It was definitely a learning experience and I don’t plan on ever going back to a relaxer. I’m excited to see where I’ll be in the next couple of years.
What is your current regimen? Go to products?
My current regimen is pre poo overnight with coconut oil and Africa’s Best mixture of oils. The next morning, I wash my hair with Shea Moisture shampoo and Kera Care Hydrating and Detangling shampoo. I then part my hair in 4 sections, apply my conditioner, which right now is Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner, and leave that on for most of the day or no less than 1 hour. After that’s washed out, I part my hair in 2 sections and do about 5 twists on each side with Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel and some oil. I put rods on the end of each twist. I usually co-wash once a week and wash with shampoo every 2 weeks depending on how my scalp is. I have a really dry scalp and it’s worse now since it’s winter. I do like to change up my color every so often, so I make sure to keep my hair moisturized.
What are your favorite styles?
My favorite styles right now are twist and curls, braid outs and messy buns. I pretty much like to keep my hair stretched, because it’s easier to maintain and easier to keep moisturized. I do straighten every couple of months just to switch it up. I like the versatility.
What are your hair plans/goals?
My number one goal for now is to reach MBL which I haven’t been since I was little. I also want to see if the front of my hair will even out with the back, which I doubt. The back and middle part of my head grows very fast and my front seems to grow slower.
I want to try Jamaican black castor oil as well as I’ve seen and heard so many great things about it and I’m also hoping it will aid me in growing my hair longer. Also to just be consistent with my regimen, because I have seen a tremendous amount of growth in this past year. I guess, whatever I’m doing, my hair likes it. LOL!
Do you have a hair crush? If so, who and why?
My hair crushes are Tracee Ellis Ross, Jurnee Smollett and Hair Crush on You Tube. They all have beautiful natural hair.
Who is your favorite natural blogger, YouTuber and/or Fotkier and why?
My favorite natural bloggers would be CurlyNikki, AllThatsGold/Cristigold, Taren916 and shortysgs03 and recently added kairox146 and HairCrush. All of them are on YouTube … I love them all!!!
Anything else that you would like to add?
I hope that more people will become more open-minded to natural hair. A lot of people say, “Oh, I couldn’t do that because my hair is nappy and wouldn’t come out like your hair; You have good hair.” I don’t understand that. I think “GOOD HAIR” is healthy hair and I always encourage people to try it and, if anything, you can always go back to getting a relaxer if you don’t like it. So, if you’re thinking about going natural, go on YouTube and the internet and research. You won’t know until you try. It can get frustrating and you must have patience, but the outcome is very worth it.
Gonna try to make this fast as I’m writing it at 11 p.m. and I want to be in bed in 15 minutes!! So, as promised, I bunned my hair yesterday (used a satin scrunchie, a mini jaw clip, one bobby pin and one hair pin) and I accessorized with my “new” hair fork! If you remember, back in November, I did this post about these really cute hair accessories by the eBay shop QueCraft. Well, I ordered a few pretties shortly thereafter. However, I also got my Afro puffy twists about a week after the items arrived. And, unfortunately, this particular hair fork had a broken petal. However, the international seller was so responsive! I sent a message to advise of the damage and the replacement arrived more quickly than the original! But, I didn’t get a chance to wear it as it still arrived after the twists were installed and they were too thick to wear with it.
Anywho, I got to wear it now! It’s very lightweight and pretty. It’s made of organic horn, but it kind of looks and feels like a good quality, lightweight plastic. Maybe I just don’t know organic horn. But, it was, like $8 or $9, so totally worth it either way. Here are a few more pics.
In other news, as some seemed to like the outfit post with the hair post yesterday morning, figured I’d share my Thursday look. With my “hippy bootiliciousness,” genie pants can be tricky! I always fear looking like an ice cream cone! However, when I saw these pants at Marshall’s (again, on the clearance rack … yo, always hit clearance first … you can clean up!!), I figured I’d give them a try. They were so loose, I thought that they would be okay as they’d skim over my problem areas.
Yesterday, I worked my way from the bottom up. So, I decided I wanted to wear my leopard peep-toe booties. I got these from MJM. They were a bit of a splurge for me, maybe $80? But, I don’t find many boots that I like anymore. So, I’ll splurge if I find ones that I love, because I don’t buy a lot of shoes … anymore.
Anywho, then, I thought about what top to pair with the outfit. Red always works well with animal prints, so I dug up a red long-sleeve sweater (a bargain from Forever Twenty-One) out of a a laundry basket of half unfolded sweaters that’s been moving back and forth between the living room and bed room for a month *smh*. The, I grabbed a black, wide belt (has an adjustable slide in the back) and one of my favorite black, drapey cardis (another Marshall’s find … can you tell I live there?). And this is what I got.
Oh, and fishnets. I love me some fishnets!! The weather has been super mild in NJ for the last week, so I could let the little piggies peak out!!
That’s it! And dang it, it’s 11:30!! Frick!
1/31/12 UPDATED TO ADD: So, I decided to do a little research to help those interested in recreating this style track down similar items.
Harem pants: Now, the key to these remaining professional for me is that they are genie/harem-inspired slacks with trouser details such as the structured, though drapey, fabric, relaxed but not knee-length inseam, the pockets, pleats, belted waist and tab button ankle closures. So, I looked for pants with similar features and found these:
Maymaylu Dreams ($22.40)
Marlene Birger ($78)
Bardot ($79.95)
Alexander Wang ($147)
Carven ($242.50)
East (£ 49.00 – UK)
Leopard print peep-toe booties:
Luichiny ($62.99) – This is an ankle strap wedge, but gives a similar effect.
Kelsie Dagger ($64.75)
Kelsie Dagger ($89.99) – This is a round-toe rather than peep-toe, but I think it could work.
Luichinny ($99.95)
On another note, how fly is this L.A.M.B. bootie I came across in my search for leopard peep-toe booties?
Too bad they're almost $255 :(; that's out of my price range!
************************************************************************************************************************
So, what are your plans for this weekend? Anybody got anything good going on? Think it’ll be a quiet weekend with the SO for me.
Happy Friday ladies!!
hairscapades 