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~

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.

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).

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 Two Strand Twist Out

I recently took out my protective style of cornrows and kinky twists and I wanted my scalp to breathe.

After taking down my style, I did a hot oil treatment with JBCO, washed my hair with Shea Moisture's Coconut and Hibiscus Shampoo and Tresemme Naturals Conditioner. I deep conditioned my hair with As I Am Hydration Elation and then proceeded to twist my hair while wet using As I Am Twist Defining Cream and As I Am Dougble Butter Cream.

My hair was kept in that style for a week and then I took my twists out because it was time for me to wash my hair and prepare for my next protective style.

The video below shows my hair as a two strand twist out. Enjoy

~Danie~

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

Box Braids- Self Installed

I wanted to box braid my hair to give my afro a break from daily styling. I decided that I would try to braid my own hair with extensions. I braid my mother and sister's hair all of the time and I have even braided my cousins hair, but never my own.

I was off from work for two weeks, so I decided this would be the best time for me to try my hand at braiding my hair. I started my hair on Sunday, December 30th and finished Sunday, January 6th- no lie! It took me a whole week to braid my hair- SMH.... But I love the outcome. Could it have been better, of course. Will I continue to practice to braid my own hair- no doubt!!!

Challenges: Parting the back of my hair- I needed to standing mirrors as opposed to hand held ones. I had to use my family members to hold the hand mirror while I stood in front of the bathroom mirror parting my hair.

Although it took me a week to braid my hair, I was involved in other things and even did Crochet Kinky Twists on my mother's hair (check separate post for video).

These braids are staying in forever!!!

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~

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.

Transitioning to Natural

As you can tell from the title of this post, I have made the decision to transitioning to natural hair for several reasons.

1. I have never seen what my real hair looks like: I have had a chemicals in my hair since the age of 5 years old when I had Jheri Curls. As a young child, I remember dressing up in my Sunday Dress for church and having to sit in the kitchen while my mother combed my hair with this metal comb she took off the hot stove. I was burned so many times, I ended up afraid of curling and flat irons if they were not being used by myself. I have looked through several pictures of me as a child and only one picture has my hair in its natural state, and that is in my professional baby picture where I had a small afro. So I am curious to see what my hair was meant to look like.

2. I have been dealing with under processed hair for two years: I transitioned for a whole year from March 2009 to March 2010 but did not have the confidence to cut off the relaxed ends. So I relaxed at home and misjudged how much my hair grew, so there was some under processed parts to my hair. I went twice to get it corrected, most recently in June 2012 and it did not work. I have come to realize that the only way my hair will no longer be process is if I cut off all the relaxed pieces. Then my hair would not be processed at all if I stick with being natural!

3. I am at a point in my life where I need a change: and the easiest change I can make is with my hair. So why not! Right now I have the support of my boyfriend who has been encouraging me to cut my hair off now- at two months post! Not going to happen Buddy. LOL. I've decided to even color or highlight my hair now which I have never done, only so I could actually see growth!

Since my last relaxer was on June 1, 2012, I am thinking that I will be fully natural as of June 1, 2013. This will be a few weeks after graduating from Graduate School- which signifies another change in my life. I have been thinking about keep my hair at shoulder length,which would require that I get my hair washed, blown, and flat ironed at the salon so that they can cut my hair.

If I feel that I have s good enough amount of new growth by January 2013, I may do my big chop then and keep my hair in braids and kinky twists until the summer. There are so many options out there for me and I haven't quite decided on what I want to do. However I am about 80% sure that I will be 100% natural in the year 2013 and I will stick to it for a whole year!

Stay tuned to my future post to see what I have decided.