Cornrows and Twists

In this video, I decided to give the puff a rest for a week or so. I cornrowed my hair and twisted the front, middle, and ends of the cornrows. I LOVED this style on me and I will definitely continue doing this style especially to see how it looks as my hair continues to grow!!!

What do you think? 

Twists: Flat and Two Strand

Once Again I am twisting my hair as a protective style for the week. I cannot say much about this style because I really wasn't feeling it. I thought I looked like a boy with my hair braiding back like that. I won't do this exact style again, but I will try different variations- of course. I just love playing in my hair!!!!

My hair is growing so much and I am happy that I can do different styles with my hair other than the Puff- Don't get me wrong, I love being able to puff my hair, as you will see in more posts/videos, but I feel that my hair dries out faster and tangles a lot when it is in a puff.

Thanks

~Danie~

Flat Twist and a Puff

 

Hello All, Sorry for the late posts- To keep up with me, check out my Youtube page or my Instagram Page (both @dsmileybface) for more frequent uploads/posts.

I have been so excited since doing my first puff that I cannot seem to stop doing them. In this video, I decided to do a puff with the back half of my hair and I did flat twists in the front part of my hair....I wore this style for a week and enjoyed it. Due to my hair texture, my hair dried out really quickly and I did not like how my hair was feeling, which is why the style only lasted a week. I am still working on the right products for me and my hair.

Check out the video below to see my hair style....What do you think. Yay or Nay?

Two Strand Twist n Curl Puff

At Seven Month's post, I tried to twist my hair using perm rods....The results were not exactly what I expected and I ended up putting my hair in a puff so that I could go out to the movies! Check out the video below and let me know what you think about my results.

~Danie~

Six Months Natural- Photo Collage!

On October 7, 2012 I did the Big Chop (BC) and had my relaxed ends cut off to become 100% natural. I washed my hair and was surprised that my hair did not have a curl to it- lol.

After my BC

Next Morning- After the barber shaped me up. 

I loved rubbing my hands through my hair and would feel little coils in my head:

Twenty Day's after becoming natural, I revealed my new hair-do to my family- Not that I was avoiding them, but I did not see them until this event. Initially shocked by my new look, they liked the style on me. My mother said I remind her of my baby picture.

Me with my Brother

I would wash my hair either with shampoo or just conditioner (co-wash) every other day as an attempt to add moisture to my hair because my hair felt very dry. I would deep condition with my steamer for about 20 minutes with each wash.

Deep Conditioning with Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Mask Early November 2012

When deep conditioning, I would notice that my hair would be longer. I noticed that my hair was growing...however, no one else noticed, because once my hair was dry, it would shrink alot.

One Month Post BC

At six weeks post BC, I decided to see if I can twist my hair. I tried to flat twist it.

My flat twists were an EPIC FAIL. They started off nice, but as I started getting to the top of my head, my hair was not long enough to twist. I was a bit sad, because I wanted to wear a style for Thanksgiving which was approaching. Although these twists were a fail, in the middle of December, I was able to twist my whole head...it wasn't perfect, put it was a mini goal that I accomplished!

Although I was able to twist my hair, I was free forming them and was not comfortable going to work like this, so I tied my hair up with a head scarf and two days later, I took the twists out- another fail, but they come with successes right!

   
 While watching youtube videos of girls whose hair texture I felt best matched mine, I came across youtuber BlakIzBeautyful videos and came across her blog: KinkyCurlyCoilyMe. From the blog, I ended up joining the Winter Castor Oil Challenge which was from December 1, 2012 to March 1, 2013. I had read about and seen many reviews on Castor Oil and while relaxed, I purchased a bottle of Jamaican Black Castor Oil to stimulate my hair growth and to help my mother grow in her edges. So when I came across the Castor Oil Challenge, I jumped at the opportunity to use castor oil based on the benefits of it regenerating new hair growth, thickening the hair, and keeping the hair soft. For this challenge I was applying JBCO to my scalp three times a week.

By two month's post BC,  I was getting tired of wearing my hair in a TWA (teenie weenie afro). I was also tired of picking out my hair several times a day so that my hair would look decent and I noticed that my hair was breaking off...YIKES

So After Christmas, I had the grand idea of trying to braid my hair with synthetic Box Braids extensions. It took me a week to do, but I was able to do it- on my TWA!!

After about five weeks with my braids, I took them down. I was eager to see what my hair growth was like.

 I was also doing length checks on a monthly basis and my hair was growing at a steady rate of 1/2 an inch a month. In the middle of February, I did my next protective style of Cornrows and Kinky Twists (sorry no pictures only this video).

This style lasted for a month. I wished it would have lasted longer, but my cornrows were getting fuzzy. I joined the KinkyCurlyCoilyMe castor oil challenge for the Spring which began March 1st and ends June 1st. My hair was growing so well that I decided to twist it up one more time:

 This time it was NOT A FAIL and I was proud to where this style for a week to work! WHOO HOO...I cannot wait until my hair grows longer and I can twist up my hair.

Below is my last photo comparison from mid February to the end of March.

This was my first time blowing out my hair since my big chop. I blew it out so that I can get my hair braided at my local African Hair Braiding shop.

My hair continues to be in box braids which I will take out over memorial day weekend.

I am so excited for my hair to continue to grow. I have taken a whole lot of photos of styles I cannot wait to try. I already completed my mini goal of two strand twists, and my major goal of a two strand twist out puff (sorry no photo- only video)

So readers, continue to follow me on my Healthy Hair Journey as I continue to blog about my natural hair!

Thanks for reading

~Danie~

Protective Style Box Braids

I decided to get my hair braided on a protective style mainly because I was traveling to London to attend my cousins wedding in addition to vacationing. I did not want to have my hair out for fear that I would not have been able to style my natural hair for the wedding.

I plan on keeping my braids in for two months- so by the end of May I will be taking them down.

Check out my video below of the braids.

TWA Puff Attempt

After having my hair in two strand twists for a week, it was time to take them out. I wanted to try, or at least see what a twist out would look like. It came out fine, but not as I expected. I picked out my hair to stretch it and thought to my self: "I wonder if I can get my hair into a puff". And so went my journey....check out my video below:

My hair journey since going natural and my thoughts

On October 7, 2012, to my surprise, I let my boyfriend big chop my hair. I wanted to know what my natural hair looked and felt like. My hair had been chemically processed since I was 5 years old so I was excited to see my hair.

After the Big Chop (BC), my hair did not curl- it did not look like other ladies who had their BC videos up on Youtube. My boyfriend told me this would happen; That my hair would not look like the other ladies because I have thick hair, bla bla bla. But once I seen my natural hair, I knew I had to embrace what I had.

I do not want to get caught up in curl typing- my hair is very tightly coiled in some places, my hair does not clump together and curl, and it shrinks A LOT when wet. I thought it would take forever for my hair to grow and I was growing impatient with my afro from October to December.

I measured my hair length every month from October to present, and my hair has been growing at a steady rate of 1/2 an inch a month. From December to March, I joined the Winter Castor Oil Challenged started by blogger and Youtuber Blakizbeautyful at Kinky Coily Curly Me and I continued with the Spring Castor Oil Challenge which ends in June where I have been applying Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO) to my hair three times a week and most recently started using JBCO as my hot oil treatment.

In January, I found my hair to be long enough for me to braid so I did box braids for a month or so, followed by cornrows and kinky twists, and now I am in box braids again until about May.

In March- I was able to two strand twist my hair and I wore it that way for a week. After taking the twists outs, I was able to put my hair in a puff! My first short term goal for my natural hair. I was so excited. Then I blew out my hair and seen how big my afro was. By keeping my hair in protective styles, I was not focused on its growth- A watched pot doesn't boil right! My length checks were just to figure out my growth rate.

Since going natural, I have realized that since my hair is no longer straight/relaxed, I am more willing to try out different styles with my curl texture. I would never have wanted my hair to be so short and I would never have considered leaving my house with it that short either. But now, I live freely and am eager to try new styles!!

I still have not found the hair products that make my hair stand out- I do not even have a stand out hairstyle yet- so my journey continues.

~Danie~

Cornrows and Kinky Twists Style

It was time for me to take down my braids and I wanted to do another protective style, so I chose to do cornrows and Kinky Twists. Check out the video below:

Box Braids Update

Wash Day: Kinky Curly Products

In this video, I experimented with the Kinky Curly Products- I used the Come Clean Shampoo, the Knot Today Detangler, followed by the Curling Custard- EPIC FAIL- my hair hated the curling custard to the point where I had to wash it out....here is the video anyway

Huetiful Hair Steamer

As an early Christmas present, I received the Huetiful Hair Steamer from my boyfriend!!! YAY!!!!.
I recorded two videos, one of the installation and one of me actually using the steamer.

I have used it a total of three or four times (my sister used it once) and I love it.

Pro: After using the steamer, my hair felt so soft to the touch, I was amazed. I have used the steamer before washing my hair and as a deep conditioning treatment and my hair felt amazing after both uses. The product actually had my hair moisturized-well certain parts.

Cons: I used the steamer on the counter in the my bathroom. Because the steamer is not adjustable, when I sit under it, the nape and sides of my head do not benefit from the steam as much as the top of my head does. I have to find another place to steam my hair so that my whole head fits under the hood of the steamer.

Natural Hair Update- 3 weeks post Big Chop

Check out my latest YouTube video which is an update of my natural hair. This video was shot when I was 3 weeks post BC.

Hair Recipe: Whipped Shea Butter

I am not one to experiment with mixing products nor do I enjoy being in the kitchen cooking, but yesterday, for some strange reason I felt the urge to make some Whipped Shea Butter. Why? Well, I have had an 8oz tube of 100% African Shea Butter since I started by hair journey in 2009, and I only used the thing about once or twice. I did not like the smell of it, and I was use to using other products. I said to myself that I have to start using up products to see whether I like them or not; if I like them, they can be repurchased, if I do not like them, then I can say that I tried it and x, y, and z are the reasons I didn't like it and move on. I also noticed that my shea butter, which was once yellow in color was changing to a white color and I was not sure why (has this happened to you before?).

I stumbled across two videos of natural haired youtubers: Fusionofcultures and Naptural85 who have created homemade receipe's using their Shea Butters, (here are their links: Fusionofcultures Shea Butter and Naptural85 Shea Butter) and I decided that mixing my shea butter will help me to rid of it faster. Both recipe's were similar in nature, however, I was guided by Naptural85's version.

Products Use:
100% African Shea Butter, purchased from a natural food place
Coconut Oil
Jojoba Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Hand Blender
Measuring Spoons
Icing knife
Empty Plastic Jar
Glass Bowl for mixing

I used about a half of the Shea Butter, 1 tablespoon of Coconut Oil, and 1 teaspoon each of Jojoba Oil and Sweet Almond Oil. I mixed the ingredients with my hand blender in the bowl until there were no visible lumps and the mix appeared fluffy. I then used the icing knife to place the whipped shea butter into my plastic container and that was it- Very Simple.

The whole process took about ten minutes with me getting my products and everything together. Since my hair is long enough for me to do small two strand twists, this is what I will used the Whipped Shea Butter for and see how my hair likes it. At least I'll know that my hair is being moisturized when I use the Whipped Shea Butter.

HHJ

~Danie~

One Month Post BC

I have been natural for one whole month and I am so excited to watch my hair grow. So far, I have ran into a few minor challenges regarding my TWA...

1. Dryness- After my BC, I noticed that my natural hair was pretty dry. After researching and watching youtube videos, I learned that my hair may be dry as it is still in shock of the loss of the relaxed ends. I also learned that my hair is in the healing process from all of the chemical processing my hair has gone through over the years.

2. Styles- Due to me only transitioning for four months, I only had about two inches of new growth. My hair is very tightly coiled and the shrinkage is no joke. The way the barber cut my hair, I have more hair at the front top part of my hair then in the back or the sides. While I am able to brush back the front for a tiny puff, the sides, which are so short, do not compliment this look. As a result, I have just been wearing my hair in a TWA or teenie weenie afro, without the use of any accessories.

3. Growth- Believe it or not my 1/4 of an inch of growth is a challenge. This is because all of my hair is not growing at the same rate. When I pick out my hair in the morning, my TWA likes to lean to the right. I do not pay too much attention to it as I want my hair to continue to grow out. As long as I don't start looking like Gumby, then I'm fine (LOL).

4. Products- This has been a challenge for me only because I am a product junkie and feel that I have to use every natural product in my house on my hair for every wash day. I wash my hair three times a week which has meant three different shampoos/conditioners/leave ins/gels, and whatever else I decide to put into my hair. Because my hair is still short, I have not founds the right product that has made me say "WOW, I DEFINITELY HAVE TO USE THIS AGAIN", nor have I found something to make my curls "pop" as I hear other youtuber's say. I know that this is terrible, my PJism that is, and must be corrected!

Since I gave four challenges, let me talk about the good things I like with my hair:
1. Low Maintenance- I love the fact that some water, a little oil, maybe a leave in, and my pick is all I have to do to style my hair in the morning. It takes me about 5 minutes to do my hair, which means more time to sleep!!!

2. Shower/Wash Day- I love not having to  run away from the water while I am in the shower. I have temporarily retired my shower cap and have no problem letting the water run over my hair. It is a great feeling. Washing my hair is a breeze as well!

3. My Coils/Naps- I no longer feel that the term "nappy" is negative. My hair has curl definition in some places and not others but I cannot seems to get my hands out of my hair. This gives me an opportunity to feel my texture, do scalp massages, and practice two strand twists!!!( As I am doing this blog, I just rubbed the tips of my fingers (not my nails) on my scalp and it felt so good!!!- now my hands are greasy).

4. Simplicity- My nighttime routine is just as smooth as my morning routine. At night, I'll either apply some JBCO and a shower cap for a GHE overnight, or I'll apply some leave in conditioner and don my bonet for bed.

5. Growth- Its a good feeling to see that my hair is growing. This gives me hope that I will not be in the TWA stage forever!

All in all, I am happy that I made the decision to go natural and cannot wait to see what is in stall for my hair over the next few months!!! My goal is to be able to do an afro puff by the time I am six months post BC!

My Big Chop Video

Here it is, I was finally able to upload the video of my big chop. Enjoy!