Daily Archives: April 12, 2012

Apr12

GOC Contender #20: Randi

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Name: Randi Darden

I am a 20 year old junior attending college in the DC area. I came across the GOC challenge on FB and would like to participate.

In November 2008, my senior year of high school, I was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I started my chemotherapy and radiation treatment in December 2008 and finished my treatment May 2009. Before cancer, I always had a perm from age 7 to age 17. By the time I was 17, my hair was about 2 inches above my bra strap (with a perm). As soon as I started treatment, I had my mother BC my hair for me because I didnt want to have to deal with the trauma of waking up to a wad of hair on my pillow. She cried, but I felt very free *lol*.

Anyway, it’s been 3 years since I’ve been off of treatment and I last had a perm. I’ve embraced my natural hiar and I love it!!! Right now, my hair is at 13 inches when I straighten it (just reaching armpit length) and, when it’s in its curly state, its about chin length.

Goal: My goal is to get my hair to be bra strap length or 18 inches when I straighten it and below or at my shoulders in its curly state. I have been keeping a written journal since October 2011, when I actually learned how to take care of my hair with blogs like yours, CurlyNikki, and BlackgirlLongHair. I plan to keep doing so throughout the challenge (I am not a big blogger/vlogger).

Regimen:
My planned routine starts with my diet first.

  • I have eliminated all junk foods and fried foods.
  • Started cooking with olive oil.
  • No more sodas at all.
  • I’ve been taking vitamins as well.
  • Also, I exercise an hour 2-3 times a week, when I can.
  • As for the hair, I’ve eliminated sulfate shampoos except for when I have really bad build-up.
  • I DC once a week.
  • I do the Curly Girl method (a modified version) throughout the week (every 2-3 days, it just depends).
  • Then, I twist most of my hair up, pin it and rock a curly-looking half wig as a protective style.
  • I also do a 2 minute keratin treatment every 2-3 weeks just to strengthen my hair and
  • I do search and destroy trims.

That’s one thing that I would like to work on is the split ends as well as the building up of moisture in my hair. Also, I’ve become sort of a product junky, not too bad though. I’m just trying to see what really works for my hair.

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Apr12

GOC Contender #19: Kendall

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Name: Kendall

I love my hair and it loves me back! I’ve been natural for about 12 years now. One day I just woke up and got tired of chemicals and perms and decided from that day forth that I was not going to do it anymore and it’s been that way to date. Although I am an everyday wig-wearer, my real, natural hair is taken care of faithfully underneath my “accessory.” I always concentrate on my ends and keeping my tresses well moisturized. I make sure my scalp remains healthy as well. My hair literally adores water and warm steam from the shower. My hair currently is past-chin length (front), armpit length (sides); mid-back length – an inch and a half under my bra strap  (back).

Weight. Oh hum! Oh brother! I’ve always been a big-boned and tall girl. Is that a good start (excuse)?!? Being an overly-busy single mommy to four kids, a lot of times, I find it hard to control my eating habits. Let me keep it all the way real and just translate that into stress! I tend to be a big-time emotional eater too, so that does not help matters. On top of the other bi’gillion responsibilities and things that I have to get done in one day, some nights I find myself eating dinner at 11:30 p.m.! That is a no-no and has to stop. My body is also sending me messages that it cannot hold up all 280+ pounds (current weight – 287 lbs.) of me. So today, I am coming from behind the veil to face that fact that my weight is really unhealthy and I’m changing it, now!

Goals: Hair – Continue to concentrate on the health of my hair. I’m not pressed for length but instead with the health of my tresses. If it continues to get longer, great!; Health & Fitness – Lose between 40 – 50 lbs. Work on toning my arms and thighs, lose inches on both.

Regimen:

Hair

  • Continue my no-heat and finger detangling only, no combs or brushes policy.
  • Co-wash at least once a week.
  • Bi-weekly, Friday-Sunday deep conditioning sessions.
  • Henna twice per month.
  • Moisturize hair nightly with Vatika Oil, JBCO, EVOO, Mega-Tek and my absolute favorite Mahabhringaraj Herbal Hair Oil.
  • Monthly protein treatments (Aphrogee 2-min.).
  • Continue taking Biotin-5,000 mcg pd, and hair, skin, and nails vitamins.

Health & Fitness

  • Go to the YMCA gym 3 times per week (treadmill, elliptical and weights)
  • Walk around track (3x) 2 early mornings out of the week
  • Monthly weigh-ins only, as opposed to daily and stressing myself out more that way.
  • No ground beef, at all!
  • Moderate baked chicken.
  • Mainly eating fish, fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Cut back/out all sugar, processed and packaged foods. Sad face. Yes, I am even giving up my daily, and sometimes nightly, Dunkin Donut runs! Their coffee is like crack to me, so ‘dis righ’chere is something serious. *Cries, kicks rocks*
  • Minimal bread; if any at all, it must be low carb. What?! No bread and butter?? Wheat, multigrain and fiber bread only.
  • Portion control and track calories using My Fitness Pal.
  • Nothing to eat after 7 pm with the exception of fruit.
  • Keep a journal so that I can tie my emotions into why/when I feel like overeating.

Reward: When I lose the 50 lbs, I plan on going on a shoe shopping spree and of course a lot of new outfits to go with them.

Follow me online: www.girlvsgirdle.wordpress.com  (It’s still in the beginning stages, but my blog will be up and running soon. It’ll mainly deal with my weight loss, but I’ll throw in my other life’s thrills as well.)

Pre-poo Prep

Apr12

GOC Contender #18: Cleopatra Jones

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Name: Cleopatra Jones (aka Daughter #7)

Goals: Hair – Currently, my stretched hair is shoulder length in the back and chin length in the front. I would like armpit length by the end of the challenge.; Health & Fitness – As far as fitness, I want to lose 15 pounds. I want to lose the weight for me and just to adopt a healthier lifestyle.


Regimen:

  • Currently, I shampoo once monthly with Elucence Moisture Benefits shampoo or shikakai powder.
  • I also use most of the Shea Moisture products.
  • I have recently begun using Henna and Indigo to dye my hair and I plan to continue using these products for the duration of the challenge.
  • I plan to exercise a minimum of 2 days a week, ideally 3.

Reward:
I plan to reward myself for losing weight with a banging new outfit. I also plan to reward myself for growing my hair. For that accomplishment, I plan to take oodles of pictures and drive my family nuts by adding more products to my already burgeoning supply of hair products.

Apr12

GOC Contender #17: Marcia

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Name: Marcia … and I’m a Product Junkie.

I am so glad you are doing another GOC. Your blog has helped tremendously during my transition.

Goals:

Hair
Currently, my stretched hair is a little past shoulder length. I would like to be armpit length by the end of the challenge. I also have a patch of hair on my right side that is growing out from breakage during transition (another story). I would like to see that grow as well. I would also like to figure out how to “handle” it, because it “behaves” differently than the rest of my hair.

Fitness
As far as fitness, I want to lose 20 pounds. I want to lose the weight to eliminate some health challenges I am facing. I also want to exercise to gain strength, stamina and overall tone in my body. I would like to run at least two 5K’s during the challenge.

Regimen:

Hair

  • Currently, I shampoo with Terressentials Left Coast Lemon (trying to decide if I like it). I plan to wash with the mud wash every other week.
  • On the other weeks, I will use a mix of amla, brahmi and shikakai powders and just rinse with cool water.
  • I deep condition every week (currently using B.A.S.K. Beauty).
  • I plan to steam. However, after one use, my steamer broke and I’m waiting for a replacement.
  • I dry with a cotton t-shirt and apply a leave in (still trying to narrow down to which one works the best. I am evaluating Karen’s Body Beautiful, B.A.S.K and Belle Butters).
  • Add my blend of oils (Jamaican black castor oil, emu oil, Vatika coconut oil and jojoba oil).
  • I finger detangle.
  • I then proceed to do two strand twists and roll the ends.
  • My typical style is a Twist-n-Curl.

Fitness

  • I plan to exercise a minimum of 3 days a week, ideally 4.

Reward: My reward for losing 10 pounds will be to buy a pair of jeans.

Apr12

GOC Contender #16: Mimi

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Name: Mimi

I am so excited about joining the GOC! I was waiting for this since I regularly started visiting your blog during the last GOC.

Goals: Oh so many goals. Where do I begin?! Okay, okay, maybe a mini hair story to start and then on to the goals. Basically, for several years (college and 2 years after), I pretty much weaved and wigged it up. I would get relaxers every 6 months or so in the front to blend my hair with the weave hair. I toyed with the idea of going natural, but I was afraid of my natural texture. So, I continued to torture my hair (I flat ironed and/or used a curling iron at least 4 days a week on dirty dirty filthy hair with no heat protectant). I finally decided enough is enough. May 2011, given that 6/8 of my hair was completely natural, I decided to let it all out. So at this time, the back is natural, but the front edges are transitioning, which makes for some interesting textures.

Additionally, because I took such terrible care of my hair while in weaves, I’ve had to cut off a lot of length in the past year (at least 4 or 5 inches), which is fine because I didn’t need the torn up ends. However, lately, despite taking really good care of my hair for the past year, I am finding broken hair in my crown and other places in the back of my head. I do not understand it and it’s causing the back of my head to be less thick than the front.

Hair
So, what I really want to work on is figuring out what is causing the breakage and trying to get growth and healthiness in the crown area. The hair on the upper right side of my head is 3b/3c and super, super, super fine as opposed to the thicker 4b strands on the rest. The fine hair has a tendency to break if I am looking at it wrong. Shelli, I know that you have had amazing results in growing back broken hair in your crown and if anyone has ANY advice, please throw it my way!! Hahaha! At my nape, my hair is APL. So, I am hoping for 2 to 3 inches of growth.

Health & Fitness
I also have a weight goal. I really need to lose 31 pounds to get to my goal weight of 136 and I do not think 6 months is too little time to lose it.

Regimen: 

Hair
I just started hennaing (two applications thus far) and I will def continue in the future. I am hoping to:

  • Henna once a month
  • Wash and deep condition every two weeks
  • Potective style 70% of the time. When I started, I hated to protective style, but as I have learned how delicate my hair is, it just makes sense.
  • I am currently using Knot Today as my leave in or Curls Crème Brulee.
  • I seal with my creamy shea moisture mixture. I need to up my moisture game exponentially.
  • I just started using castor oil on my edges and on the broken hair to help with growth.
  • I also finger detangle pretty much exclusively.

Health & Fitness

  • I go to the gym 3-4 days a week.
  • I go to dance class at least once a week.
  • I count my calories on CalorieCount.com. I lost 30 pounds in 2010 (and kept 25 of it off) and used that website to do it. So, I am hoping I can get back on the wagon and get the rest off.

Reward: New clothes time!!

(And yes, all my pics are taken in the same chair! Hahaha!)

Twist out after trimming my hair for the GOC