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~

Afro- 5 Months Post

In preparation of my box braids, I washed, conditioned, deep conditioned, and blow dried my hair. I used Grapeseed oil as my heat protectant and my blow dryer on the low setting. I parted my hair into four sections and made those sections even smaller while drying. I used a wide tooth comb to detangle my hair followed by my denman brush and then the wide tooth comb again used by drying my hair.

After my hair was all dried if formed an Afro. Check out the video below to see my Afro at 5 months post big chop (BC).

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.

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!

I BC'd- Yes I Actually Did It!

October 7, 2012 is the day I went natural and did my BIG CHOP

After the mini chop that I did on the 4th, part of me wanted to cut the rest of my relaxed ends off and another part of me wanted to continue to transition. I woke up on the 7th and while waiting for the boyfriend to wake up to wash my hair, I explored youtube's 4C naturals and watched video's of their big chops and how their hair grew in six months to a year. I had already decided that in 2013 I would be natural and my debate with cutting my hair right now was that it is getting cold my head with freeze.

The boyfriend woke up and I expressed my thoughts to him and he told me to transition and cut hair off little by little. That was not the answer I was looking for, I wanted him to say "cut it all off". After I told him that, he said that is what he meant and encouraged me to cut it off..

I figured now would be a good time as I can rock some of the wigs I've made to work this month to give my hair time to grow and my curls time to form. This will also give me a change to play with my hair to see what it likes and what it doesn't like so in six months (April) when it gets warmer, I could rock a puff!

Right now all I have is a dry, coily (in some places), "nappy" as the boyfriend will say, TWA that is really TEENIE.

Mini Chop/ Pre Big Chop

My last relaxer was June 1, 2012 and due to split ends, the hair dresser cut my hair from APL to full SL.

I had synthetic box installed on August 18, 2012 for a summer protective style and vacation as I went to DR for my birthday week.

I started removing my braids on Thursday October 4 from the back of my head ear to ear and I decided to do a mini big chop and cut off my relaxed ends. I was excited to do it and shocked that I did it. I am not sure if I want to get into curl typing but my hair was very tightly coiled and shrunk about 75% (I'll say that I think I am a 4c). After the cut, I slicked down the back of my hair with water and olive oil eco styler and tied it down with a scarf for the night, but my hair would not stay flat.

I removed the rest of my braids between Friday and Saturday and DC'd overnight. I plan on rocking either my bobraz 3/4th wig from early this year, or my Yaya Virgin Hair. I wanted to get micro braids, but I fear that my hair is too short to be braided.

I do not know if I want to cut off the rest of my hair....I know for sure that I am not ready to rock my short hair so If I do cut it, I will leave some length to the front of my hair as a leave out for my wigs.....

I'll keep you all updated. Check out my pictures below:
I could not see the back so great so I had some straight pieces that the boyfriend will cut off after I wash my hair.
Hair from the back of my head. It measured about 7 inches in length.
I was suprisingly happy and I did not cry! Probably because I know I can hide the shortness with my own hair.