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~

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~

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:

Crochet Kinky Twists

I did it again! My mother's crochet kinky twists!

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 Favorite Protective Style

My last relaxer was November 8, 2011; I was about 23 weeks post. Since my hair length goal is Bra Strap Length (BSL) I have to keep reminding myself to keep my ends pinned up and protected. So the hair style that I have been wearing at least once a week has been working in my favor!

The style is just two flat twists which goes into a ponytail. The ponytail is then wrapped around itself or placed into a bun. This is an easy to do, quick, heat free protective style and I love it!. Check out the video for more details.