19 Months & Counting:Why I should try something different

Ok so honestly I'm actually at work right now bored out of mind, but I'm sure that will change soon. It usually gets busy in here around noon becuase that's when everyone comes in. However this Monday happens to be one of those days where you really don't want to do anything. Maybe I'll get lucky and everyone will want to stay home.

Blog Business

Lately I've been trying to figure out how I can keep up to date with posting on my blog. Atleast twice a week if at all possible, starting this week.

So whats been going on with my hair?

You know honestly I really don't know right after taking down that weave I let my scalp breathe for a week and then I put some lace braids in. I feel my hair needs a break and I'm in desperate need of a dusting and maybe even a trim. My ends get tangled beyond belief. During that week I had my hair out I had knots galore. Which meant that I had to take time out to slowly and gently get them out. That was fun! No, not really.

Reminiscing

I remember when I was younger and natural I used to do my own hair all the time wash, blow dry, flat iron (Inever liked the pressing comb, I always ended up getting burned or having hair burned off). I had a lot of patience then. I remember sometimes it would take me 4 hours to go through the whole process. My hair was as thick as it is now but a lot longer. As I got better I reduced the time to two hours. Then when I got my first perm it was down to a half hour (I had found a magical perm that only required a blow dry after washing to make my hair super stick straight).

Lately washing, detangling, and styling however has been a pain in a neck. I've been trying to figure out if its the condition of my hair, the products I've been using, or if this is just the way my hair is. I remember reading once that the products you used while permed and transitioned may not work on your natural hair. Honestly, I'm starting to feel like this statement is true.

New Products vs. Old Products

When I first did the BC I had products that I had never used before and using them on my hair was not exactly making my hair as manageable as it was while I transtioned. I was using Herbal Essence shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo I love and I know I shouldn't be using it, but I do only because I've been putting so much gel in my hair to get my everyday puff when my hair is out. But I also know the gel wasn't helping either those three things were only helping to make my hair dryer.

So, I used all the conditioner. Slowed down on the shampoo. But I was still using the gel which has been drying my hair out regardless of how much leave-in conditioner is in my hair. I decided to braid my hair to give it a break from all the drying chemicals.

Lately I've been cowashing with my VO5 and I did a deep condition with ORS before doing my braids. However I don't think this is working. It worked during the first week. I also kept my hair moisturized with a conditioner, oil, and water spritz during the first week. This kept my hair neat and without frizz. The second week went okay except I started getting some frizz. And now here it is the third week in my braids and I have a complete frizz ball no matter how much I moisturize, deep condition, tie it down or whatever else I can think to do.

This is why I think it may be the condition of my hair especially considering that whatever style I do I always have frizz even when I use gel, conditioner, shea butter, or a mixture. Please don't mention aloe vera gel my hair laughs at that stuff. I'm really at my witz end about this because I want to wear my hair down and out (which I haven't done since a day or two after my BC). However I don't because my hair turns to frizz even when I keep my hands out of it. Which is why I always wear a puff. Considering the layers I have in my hair the frizz doesn't help when I wear my hair out. I'm also starting to think this is just the way my hair is. This still occurs on really low to no humidity days as well.

All of these factors make me feel like I should have transtioned for a while longer. I miss my long hair. I really don't desire straight long hair, just curly long hair. Which is why my braids have been styled in curly and wavy hair styles lately. But, I am really starting to get sick of these braids.

So what's the point of this long rambling, ranting post?

I've always been a fan of polished hairstlyes. When the messy bed head look was in I chose a regular sleek ponytail or bun. When my hair doesn't look neat I do it in a neat style even if its plain at least its neat. I love my curly defined fro but only for the first hour before it starts to frizz then I put it in a puff. I love my twist outs and braid outs before they begin to frizz then I put it in a puff. I like my current braids, but they are horribly frizzing so in another week I will be taking them down. I will always love my puff, but my hairline is beginning to suffer from it and at the end of the day even my puff gets frizzy unless I put super globs of gel on it. I guess you get my point.

I think I may have found a solution to this issue, but it comes with a price both literally and figuratively. I'm still doing my research on it, but I think I'm going to try it and see if I can minimize this frizz issue I'm having. Stay tuned to find out what I'm going to do. One thing I can guarantee you is that I wont be perming my hair. That would be 19 months down the drain and that I simply can not do. Besides SO would have a heart attack. I could hear him now, "You cut your hair so you could perm it again!!!!?" A perm is not even an option in my book. Honestly, it really even shouldn't be in my vocab.

Later.

P.S. Sorry about the long post. This is one of the reasons why I should post more often. So I can minimize these super long posts. You should see these things before I edit and add pics.

Big Chop Results and B-day hair style

Okay so here it is finally the long over due big chop results. Let me share with you how it started. It started with a few snips. My hair seemed confusing because on the side I found my hair go from 4b to 4a to 3c on the side. It seemed at the time that my curl get bigger as you go towards the back of my head. And its very true. And VERY weird. Also for the record its not heat damage because its the exact same way on the other side.

So because I wanted to see what my hair really looks like when cut all over I snipped some more on the side to see if the curls were truly small there. Then I snipped some in the back. And then I called it a day and just added conditioner and water to my whole head and went to town with the scissors. I ended with this result.

I loved it, but my curls weren't popping so for the next few weeks I just wore puffs. (No pics, but maybe next time). O and then after that I experimented with a flat iron and my curlformers. Both attempts in vain because my hair just turned into a puffy mess and wasn't exactly long enough to put in a ponytail without using over a hundred bobby pins in the front. For some odd reason it was a really warm april and may.

Because I was starting to get used to my natural and I started wearing it out all the time. I figured it was time to give my hair a rest. I initially wanted to do micros, but I didn't have time to do them completely especially with midterms a few days after my birthday. What was I going to do. Picture as of June 15 my hair was really growing. I guess that could be expected when you cowash your hair practically every other day.

So I decided to do a weave style with micros in the front. The hair is freetress candy curl. Very pretty hair. I thought it came out very cute.

Well thats all for now I just wanted to update and finally post my big chop results.

Wow!?! Shocking words of a stylist?

Okay, this morning I did something that I haven't done in over a year. Okay honestly its something I hadn't done since early May 2008 when I became serious about my hair transtion to natural. That thing I did this morning was buy a hair magazine. Yes not my normal braid magazine which I still occasionally buy from time to time. But, yes the lovely Sophisticate's Black Hair Styles and Care Guide. It's the June/July Issue with Keri Hilson on the cover.

At first glance though it still looked like the normal book with dozens of ads for perms and the idea that all the guys will want you once you buy this particular perm. Aside from that there was a nice article on former American Idol contestant Melinda Doolittle. Then I found what I thought would be a God send article "Frizz Free: smooth move styling for you" on pages 100-101. I don't know about you all but my hair frizzes out of control. And whatever advice I can get on it I'm opened for giving it a shot. Another plus was that the article was targeted towards both relaxed and natural women. So, for that I will commend SBH for thinking about their natural readers as well.

Now there was some excellent advice given that article, well somewhat. The first few good advices were to:

• work with your texture
• get a great cut
• use the right products
• properly care for your mane

The advice given under these subtitles were great, but the last two really bothered me a bit. Well, honestly it was more so the last one rather than the first one of these two.

The first one was about working out and how if your natural to not shampoo every week but maybe every two weeks(makes sense), but then Hill Moses goes on to say to use dry scalp cleansing products to clean your scalp and take care of odor and using a lightweight non-alcohol oil to smooth out strands. Ok this is fine, but at the same time for two long weeks all the oil in the world will not be able to fight frizz if your hair is thristy for moisture and during our work outs we will sweat and we will take a shower so that is when our hair will suck up moisture the most when it is especially dry. Therefore creating frizz.

The second and last subtitle 'use the right tools' was actually quite funny toome only because I remebered the last time I had actually done what this stylist suggested and I walked around all day looking like I came out of the 50's with the poof hair do I should have been singing back up somewhere, but I tried to make it work. Ok so here goes I have to type verbatim because I don't want anything to be miscontrued ok? So here it goes from the Sophisticate's Black Hair Styles and Care Guide magazine article "Frizz Free: smooth move styling for you" on pages 100-101 edited by the magazine with responses from Anita Hill-Moses of B.A.D. Braids and Dreds in Richmond, VA and Stylist Gerard Pope of Snazee Hair Salon in Indianapolis, IN under the 'USE THE RIGHT TOOLS'' subheading:

"Selecting the best styling instruments can aid you in your fight against frizz! "Always use either a large tooth comb or a large vent brush ," instructs Hill-Moses. "The bristles and teeth are spread out so they won't break or catch the hair." [okay, makes sense] She also recommends a flat iron on Natural Tresses. "If you want to have your hair a little 'tamed,' [mmmmm] you can get a flat iron. Put it on a low setting and work the flat iron through the hair," explains the tress expert. "Because the heat is on low temperature, it's not going to cause a lot of damage.""

WOW!!! It wont cause a lot of damage? Damage is damage. But I guess stylist consider a strand or two of permanently straightened (burnt) hair okay. But, for the record this summer I have absolutely no intention on flat ironing my hair unless I'm definitely going to be in doors for however many days with the AC on the coldest temperature. Or maybe if I actually decide to color my hair this summer and even then I still probably wont flat iron I'll more than likely do a ponytail roller set.

Now back to my horror story. Last month after starting my new job I flat ironed my hair on a light setting I had just did my big chop only two weeks prior to doing this so I didn't want to jeopardize my curl pattern. So, it would be just my luck that day that it would decide to be the first very warm and humid day. Can you guess what my hair did that day it went from being semi sleek to a giant poof even when I went inside the nice central aired building it still continued to grow. I found my self trying to smooth it down every five minutes. In my opinion this is not a very 'tamed' style. At least I know that Lesson learned here: don't flat iron my hair in the summer and try to wear it out.

If you are going to flat iron in the summer make it an up do of some sort especially if it will be humid. Because the truth of the matter is, you can't keep hair that had moisture heated/baked/ or fried out of it from trying to suck the moisture out of the air. Why you ask? Because its thirsty. Thats like telling a man stuck out in the desert for several days not to drink the rain during a storm.

I really wanted to share this information because I wanted to show how all info is not neccessarily good info. However, I found this article on CurlyNikki's blog written by The Curl Whisperer that was awesome on the subject of humidity and frizz. Just remember that:

So Unless this is the look your going for try to stay away from the flat iron as much as possible. Rollersets may be a better option if you must straighten your hair this summer.

All Text, Maybe a few pics

I'd just like to apologize to you early because I know this is going to be a long post. Which is probably well deserved considering that I've been gone for over a month now. I'm gonna try to keep some order to this post so that I don't ramble. But considering how I have about an hour to wait for my so to get off work I may. But you'll live. I guess the topics for today's post will be about the BC vs my SO, whats going on with my hair now, and what I thought of my first henna treatment and first henna gloss.

BC vs. My SO
After my post about how my SO didn't want me to BC. I posted the same entry on my k-i-s-s.biz blog along with the same poll that I posted here. I got a lot of positive feed back and I did have a lot to think about. But I have to admit. I know I said that I would wait until the end of April to make my decision, but I felt I had to test the waters. I probably won't do that again in life, but I truly had to find out if my SO was a keeper. Because if he would really leave me because I cut my hair then he definitely would not be. If he'd leave over something so petty as hair that will grow back then what will happen if something more severe were to happen. I would like to give a special thanks to my sisters over at kiss.biz.

On April 15, 2009 around 6:30pm I Apiphani big chopped between 2 to 5 inches of relaxed hair. My next entry will be strictly pics. I would post them now, but because I don't have my phone's USB cord with me it will have to wait. Other wise I'd be here until 7 and the SO wouldn't like that. Oh wait. I guess you all are wondering how he responded to me cutting my hair. Well, he liked the first hairstyle I did with my hair which was the puff and he also liked my half up half down hairstyle where my hair texture was defined. He doesn't like the fro though, its too radical for him, but maybe I'll be able to make it grow on him. I know its growing on me. O and he's not going anywhere, more on that in another post.

Whats going on with my hair now?
Well After a month of leaving my hair out and doing twist outs, wash and go puffs, and twists. I decided it was time for me to go into super protective style mode. So right now I have it in tyzillions which I haven't been able to do for a good two years now because my hair was so long. I think ultimately it was my braids that help me to retain length in the beginning while I was transitioning. So I'm going to continue to braid my hair for the rest of this year and do a two week break in between sets. Of course I will continue my regimen of Once a week Deep Conditioning Treatments. I may start back using MT, but I'm still a little undecided for various reasons including its ingredients. I just hate to waste products. Besides, I think from here on out I just want to enjoy the different phases of my hair as I continue this journey to grow it out to my ultimate goal of MBL stretched. Technically to get there I think I have about 1 1/2 to 2 years to go.



First Henna Treatment and Gloss Review
My first Henna Treatment was not bad. It was okay. I didn't really enjoyit and I didn't see any results, but then again I only let it sit on my hair for four hours. I did the treatment a few days after I did the big chop. I was hoping that the henna would help to define my curls a little more. That wasn't the case however, but I think it was because it was my first treatment and I had a fresh cut with virgin natural hair that really didn't know how to curl because it had been stretched for so long. I rinsed by soaking my hair in the tub and then cowashing. I deep conditioned for about a half hour under the dryer and called it a day. My hair seemed to be a shade darker but I could only see a little red color in the tips of my hair in the front from the color that I had previously done with the box which really wasn't noticeable unless you were looking for it.

However two weeks later I tried a henna gloss with the left over henna from the treatment. I let the gloss sit over night. This time I just rinsed in the shower because the substance wasn't as thick as the henna treatment. My hair felt really strong and thick. The color results were beautiful. A very dark shiny shade with a hint red that really favored like a Mahogany. I will say that its the gloss that makes me want to try the henna treatment again but maybe let it sit overnight instead of for just a few hours. I could just imagine the results. Next time I will take pics of my henna treatment provided that they aren't as messy. That's the only reason I didn't take pics. I really didn't want to mess up my new phone.

For the henna treatment I used curly nikki's recipe with only the addition of a splash of lemon juice. For the gloss I used the thawed left overs and added LustraSilk Mango and Shea Butter Cholesterol Conditioner.

Well, what do you know look at that its almost time for the SO to get off work. Well I'll catch you all later with the pics from the BC and pre BC pics.

Beyond the Zone: Straight Shot Shampoo, Conditioner, Smoothing Serum, and Turn Up the Heat Flat Iron Protection REVIEW

Wow that title is a mouthfull so I spare you in actually repeating it down here. Occasionally I enjoy changing up my look, but I honestly am starting to dislike the way my hair looks when its straight. Except maybe this last time a little bit. This time around that I did it my hair has a lot of body, but I think that's because of the one inch trim I did all the way around not to long ago actually that was last weekend. Without further ado I give these Reviews after the second or third go at them. Also I have a special bonus review at the end of the ones listed so stay tuned.

1. Beyond the Zone: Straight Shot (BTZ:SS) ShampooAs you may or may not know I dislike all shampoos. I have never been a friend of shampoos. Why, you ask. Because they always made my hair dry and brittle, before my first perm, during my permed days, and even through the first few months of transitioning. I hated shampoo, but I always thought it was necessary until I found out about the beautiful world of cowashing.

Anyways this shampoo was not drying to my hair or scalp and gave my hair a nice smooth feel to it but it felt coated by whatever was in the shampoo. I have tried this shampoo twice with the same results and only applying the shampoo to my scalp. Will I use it again? Maybe, but thats a maybe like maybe in another six months and its already been three since I last used it. That's how infrequent I use it because I feel that baking soda and water get the job of clarifying my hair done just right without a coated feeling on my hair nor a dry scalp or brittle hair.

2. BTZ:SS Conditioner
I am absolutely in love with this conditioner if it did not cost as much as it did for the little amount thats in it I would cowash with this everyday. But one thing I can say is that a little goes a long way. I've probably used this product about a good four times. Three times for actually straightening my hair and the one other time for a braidout. I believe this product cost me $5 but it was on sale at sallys at the time. I think it's originally $7 or somewhere around there. I have entirely way too much hair to apply this as a leave in. I highly recommend that if you use this conditioner use it on sopping wet hair do not towel dry after using if you have thick hair like mine that loves to soak up products.

This conditioner is really thick and smells great. Easy slip for detangling. When you rinse after the designated time of leaving it in your hair is silky smooth. It feels smoother, doesn't really have a coated feel to it, and it makes your hair feel less thick. I like this when I'm preparing to straighten my hair because it makes me feel like I don't really have this big fro to blow dry and flat iron. This conditioner is what makes me want to try their Noodle Head conditioner. Look forward to that review after my big chop.

3. BTZ:SS Smoothing Serum
I actually like this product. I use it sometimes with my braidouts on a second day to try to smooth out my frizz, but it only last for like ten seconds so now I just used unrefined shea butter to help with my frizz it works wonders. Honestly though this product was not made for taming frizzies with regular curly hair atleast I dont think so. I will tell you how this product has worked well for me though. I use this product after I have applied my leave in conditioner (afro detangler leave-in conditioner: love it by the way) and right before I blow dry it. This helps with a smooth shiny blow out, no frizz. O and it doubles as a protectant against heat. So I will say definitely a great buy for straightening not for everyday regular curly hair use though nor is it good for everyday use on your straight hair either. Only good for blow drying, because the majority of the work is done for you by then.

4. BTZ Turn Up the Heat Flat Iron Protection
I like this product as well it works I can honestly say that because I believe I didn't use it my natural curls would be gone right now, because the last time I flat ironed my hair I had the flat iron on super high and there was smoke galore but it was from the product and not my hair. YAY!!! Gives your hair an excellent shine and hair feels like silk when your done. Beautiful product I hate that its almost gone I may have about two more uses with all of this thick long hair I have currently but hey I maybe be able to get a few more uses out of it after my BC.

5. SURPRISE REVIEW: WHAT IS IT?I would like to introduce you all to the one, the only MAXIGLIDE. This Beautiful wonder works miracles. I would not trade it in for nothing in the world. For all my ladies that do the chasing the comb method I assure you that with this maxiglide you will find yourself saving a hell of a lot of time. Using the chase the comb method it would take me two hours. With the maxiglide it only took me fourty-five minutes or less and the results were remarkable. I'll put comparison shots up tomorrow comparing my maxiglide flat iron results to my old flat iron results. Then you can be the judge for yourself.

Enough on straightening hair. Although I like these products I honestly only have them for one reason which is emergency interviews if I feel as though the wig isn't working for me. I've found that each time I flat iron my hair I increasingly dislike the style on me. Yeah its cute, but it doesn't really have any life it just lays there with no personality. Its just looks blah on me and honestly I don't like being blah. I still have one more review, but I have to go so I'll try to post that tomorrow along with the comparison pics so until then.

Peace, Love, and HHG!!!!

SO VS. Me Cutting My Hair

Okay so you remember when I said I thought my SO was coming around to the idea of me cutting my hair. Well guess it again. It wasn't really so. I thought it did just because he explained to me when I told him that I cut an inch of my hair off that I always do what I want to do with my hair anyway so he declared to me that he didn't care. This was so not true. He does care, but he loves me so much that instead of leaving now he's going to get an outrageous hair cut if I cut my hair. I don't blame him he's used to my long hair and that's all he really knows. I told him that it would be acceptable and that what ever he decides to do I support it. (lol) He says he's gonna get a mohawk. I'm sorry, but its hilarious because he's not the type to get a mohawk he's more simplistic and doesn't like to stand out a lot. But hey I wouldn't be surprised if he actually did it. But hey I'll take the radical hair cut anyday over losing him. :D The countdown is still up and ticking and the BC is still on schedule with no delay. YAY!!!!!

COMING THIS WEEKEND

OK! So, I have a ton of things I've been meaning to get out. But
hey, here goes three posts that will be up before the end of this week (before Sunday).

1. I think my so is coming around to the idea of me cutting my hair. I will discuss reasons why I think this. This makes me really happy.

2. Bentonite clay review with pics from the first time. Sorry I didn't take pics the second time I was getting over the flu and really didn't feel in the mood to try. Please forgive me.

3. Beyond the Zone: Straight Shot product line review a few pics maybe a lot. I don't know it depends on how I feel that day. (I hadn't planned on straightening my hair, but due to a severly uneven cut I will be doing it over with my hair completely straight instead of a super cold blow out, plus I didn't check my work so hey thats what I get for doing a rushed job.)

So, I will update later til then I hope you all are having a wonderful monday and a beautiful week!