Sorry I Kept You!

" It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you without a dope blog to read through.
Think of how many weak products you been through, times up sorry I kept you"

Yes I like to open up my blogs with my own verse of a song. 

It has been a while since I have posted a blog, and I have a lot to discuss.  I have been trying different products and different styles.  All of which I have not taken photos, but I won't leave you completely unfulfilled. 

So for the past month I have only used shampoo once, and that was because I was a bit concerned that my hair was not being cleansed properly.  However, I have now overcome the mindset that you have to use shampoo to properly cleanse.  Shampoo does contain harmful detergents that strip the natural oils from your hair.  So I have only been using cleansing conditioners.  I have tried the following products:

1. Loreal Evercreme Sulfate Free Cleansing Conditioner

2. Wen By Chaz Dean- Sweet Almond Mint

3. KeraCare Cleansing Creme-Sulfate Free Curl Cleanser

Each of the products have given me very positive results.  My hair feels clean and I do not feel any product build up.  I refresh my curls every day with water and Curls Unleashed Second Day (no Pic available at this time).  The cleansing conditioners can also be used as a leave in.  I only use leave in conditioners depending on what styling product I am using after.  Certain products don't blend well and you have white balls left in your hair.  (not attractive at all)!!! I recommend each of these to cleanse your hair without the sulfates.

Last night I washed with 1 1/4 tablespoons of baking soda with a cup of water and followed with KeraCare cleansing cream and conditioner.  My hair was detangled with the conditioner and remained that way during the drying process. 

I am still in search of the product that will elongate my curls since I do have  a lot of shrinkage.  The natural journey continues.  I have a few styling products to post about and that will come shortly.

This is My Story A True Curly Story

I remember those days when curls were my foe

When all of my friends used to laugh at my FRO!

LOL!!! Enough of that!

My true curly story!

I spent many years hiding my hair from showing its natural state.  The fear of having my hair thick was my normal thinking pattern.  So for many years I spent money, time and energy on relaxers so that I could have thin straight hair.  Now that I am older and wiser I have learned to appreciate myself and my curly hair as I have been naturally created.

My journey to find my natural self is one that I feared would make me less attractive.  What I leared on this journey is that "I am who I am" changing my outward appearance does not change who I am on the inside. Like India Arie said "I am not my hair"

My inner beauty always showed and goes with me where I go. 

People spend thousands of dollars and hours to re-create themsevles physically and change who they are outwardly, but they still are the same inwardly. There is no amount of money that can change who you are as a person. You can only change that inward part of you by growing to love and accept yourself as you have been designed.

My journey has taught me to love and appreciate what nature has given to me.  I was not chemically designed so I should not be chemically Re-Created!!!!

Peace and Blessings Curly World!

Thanks for reading!

Curl Affair

I have been wearing my curls for the last few weeks and have not used the blow dryer or the flat iron.  My plan was to straighten for next week but I have fallen in love again with my curls.  So I am attempting different styles that incorporate some braids.  For wash and go styling I am using L'Oreal Conditioning Cleanser for my daily wash. 

Last night I braided my hair and added curling rods to the ends.  I wasn't completely satisfied with the way it came out, but made the best of it nonetheless.  I still have a lot of frizz in many areas and some nice curly waves in others. 

So my regimen before going to bed was:

1. I parted my hair into different sections
2. Sprayed each section with water and applied Miss Jessies Stretching Cream
3. Combed the hair and then braided
4. I added rods to the ends

My morning Regimen:

 
1. Remove rollers and use Moroccan Oil to rub onto the braids
2. Unbraid hair and style
3. The RESULTS



Product Junkie

When I first went natural I wanted to buy every product that was out.  I actually went and bought a whole $200 worth of Miss Jessies products, a jar of Kinky Curly Custard (etc.).  I could have had my own hair product supply store.  Once I got through my supply of products I was able to determine what worked best for me, and what I did not want to purchase again. 

I still stuggle when I go into the hair supply store not to purchase a bunch of different products.  Yet I am still searching for the perfect products. 

Wash n go styles are easiest for me, but maintaining the moisture throughout the day is the challenge. 

Here are some of the products that I liked:

1. Pantene Curly Line Shampoo and Conditioner
2. Miss Jessies Rapid Recovery Deep Conditioner
3. Jane Carter Solutions Wrap and Roll and Curl Defining Cream
4. Eco Styler Gel with Olive Oil
5. Soft Sheen Carson Shea Butter Moisturizer
6. Creme of Nature Argan Oil Leave in Conditioner Spray

I like products with goodd smells.  A lot of natural curly girls use olive oil to keep hair moisturized, however I cannot stand my hair smelling like a slice of italian bread with basil.  So my search for constant moisture continues, but the Curl Defining Cream and Argan Oil Leave in Conditioner Spray have been helping. 

Photos of My Natural Hair Journey

Before the Big Chop

Big Chop December 24, 2010



Curlstrated

Yesterday morning I was completely "Curlstrated"! I thought I would wear my curls down for the day.  The front of my hair is completely deceptive.  It is longer in the front and in the back, but that middle section refuses to grow at the same speed.  So needless to say the curls in the middle appeared flat.  So I had to wear the head band again.  The head band has been my best friend.

I am currently using Jane Carter solutions to enhance my curls.  I start off by wetting it lightly in the shower.  I try not to saturate it because then I am a dripping mess and I might as well "Let My Soul Glo"! Then I apply the wrap and roll, it really helps to lengthen the curls and smooth out the frizzies.  I add the curl defining cream after and then finger style.

I use a panty hose leg as my head band of choice.  The panty hose leg allows you to pull the hair back without breaking off your hair and you can adjust the tightness. 

Here are the results!

Natural Journey 38 Years in the Making

I always remember having a head full of hair that was uncontrollable and unmanageable.  From the age of 9 I always wanted to do my own hair, and did not desire to wear 2 or more ponytails in my hair.  Slicking my hair back in one ponytail was a difficult task.  I remember a friend telling me "I always thought you had a cone head", and that was because my hair was so think it didn't lay flat. 

I always loved when girls had long luxurious curls.  So at the age of 10 I attempted the jheri curl!! Man o Man I do not wish to post pics of that hair style, but it is apart of where I have been and where I am now.  After 20+ years of relaxing and that 1 year of the jheri curl, I learned that my hair has a natural curl and I didn't need the jheri curl. One day I became acquainted with "Cream Crack" also known as the relaxer. I was literally addicted to the the hair crack, and experienced many ups and downs.  My hair grew to lengths that I thought I would never achieve, but I also lost a lot on my bathroom sink.  So in addition to learning I have curls, I also learned that when I want to wear my hair straight I don't need the creamy crack, aka relaxer.

October 2010 was my last relaxer, and Decemer 23, 2010 I chopped off all my hair also known as
the "BC" Big Chop.