Hair Stretching Described

I'm just here to share my experiences with my hair. I'm in no way trying to encourage anyone to do what I do.

 That being said, I live in FL and we have a lot of humidity here and I've been struggling to combat this major issue. I've been lucky the past few weeks and its been chilly and that has zapped the humidity out of the air. With humidity comes the dreaded shrinkage. I said I would explain hair stretching and as I'm deep conditioning my hair tonight (remember once a week) I will try to take some pictures so that it makes sense.

Tonight I will be shampooing my hair with a clarifying shampoo, this I do once a month. Some of my friends like Kinky Curly Come Clean shampoo this is a little too tough on my hair but if you use it I've heard that diluting it will help. I prefer Eden Products Peppermint and Tea Tree shampoo. Depending on where you live you can get it from Walmart but its most Sally's Beauty Supply.

Since I deep condition every week I still pre poo but I cowash instead of shampooing the rest of the time. The keep is keeping moisture in your hair especially the ends. After all is said and done with pre pooing, shampooing (cowashing), deep conditioning, and leave in. Its time to stretch you hair.

I personally like to section my hair into 4 sections. This is done with the hair still wet. Each section you will do a large twist and you will pin them front to back and back to front. To break it down even more on the right side you will take the twist from the back and pull the hair as far as you can without hurting yourself or pulling hair out and pin it to the front of the head or as far as it will go. You will then take the front twist and pin it as far to the back as it will go on the same side. You will then do the same to the left side. Let you hair dry over night and you will have some of the length you want.

The next day is when I will then do two strand twists, or do a perm rod set. I will also do medium size plaits in my hair and wear for a week for a braid out. I will try to remember to take pictures and post them this evening or tomorrow. I'm very forgetful and tomorrow is national margarita day so that's a good reason to forget.

Newer hair photos

I'm going to start with the most recent photos of me. All of these photos were within the last year. I started this at the end of 2013 so this year will be 3 years and boy has it been interesting. If you have any questions please let me know.

sorry for the long break

Many things have happened with with my hair since my long break. My hair has gotten healthier, longer,  and shinier. I didn't realize I'd been away from here for so long until my cousin said I should youtube my hair success and failures. I don't like the idea of youtube there are millions if not billions of videos on there already so nothing I say or do will make a difference but at least this way I can express myself and be ok with out potentially negative comments.

I stopped using the term going natural a long time ago. I was born with this kind of hair so I'm not going natural, I'm returning to my form of natural. I didn't decide to do this as some tribute to my culture, I did this for me. I hated what the relaxers were doing to my hair and I decided only I could change what was happening to my head.

Right after this I'm going to be posting pictures of what my hair looks like now and some pictures of it along the way. Do I have this down pact? No, but I know what works for my hair  and what doesn't. Some of my friends love Shea Moisture products and I do think they are great but my scalp is so dry after using it. I liked beautiful textures as well but didn't want to deal with the sulfates. I know shampoo my hair once a month but I pre poo and condition once a week. Remember water is the best moisturizer, if you find a product that says moisturizer you need to make sure water is the first ingredient.

I make my own pre poo. I use 8 oz. coconut milk, 1 tbl spn each of the following oils, olive oil, jamaican black castor oil with peppermint infused, pumpkin seed oil (i found this at wholefoods). I leave it on for an hour, its very messy so be prepared.  I always put my hair in sections and then rinse in sections that way my hair stays detangled.

I make my own leaving in conditioner. I use 8 oz plain yogurt, 1 tbl spn honey, 1 tbl spn  molasses, 1 large egg, 2 tbl spn liquid aminos (or coconut oil), and 1 over ripe banana (or avocado). I leave it in for about 30 mins and rinse out. I then use a leave in conditioner, personally I prefer Kinky Kurly Knot Today but again what ever works best for you. I then use shea butter. I've been opting to stretch my hair over night and then style the next day. I don't use a lot of heat on my hair.

If you want pictures of the stuff I use from my kitchen let me know in a comment or message or whatever works on here and I will gladly post pictures of the products I use.

I was told only listen to people with the same hair goals as you and make sure some of those people have the hair you want. If you decide I'm not the one to listen to that's fine but don't listen to someone who's hair isn't growing because its damaged.

Pictures next

Hair photos

I know I'm completely past due for photos of my hair but hey I started a new job and needed to adjust. In the following photos I had a curly faux hawk or fro hawk which ever you prefer. In the next photos I'm doing coils which I only like on longer hair. I don't think it looks so hot on me. The Third photo was after wearing two strand twists for a week I took them down and shoved a head band around it to pin back the sides. The final picture is a faux hawk too. I went to an 80's party and it really worked.

I personally like the beautiful textures shampoo. You have to try a few things to see what works for you. I hope this helps someone else. If you have questions ask me. I don't have an easy time with my hair all of the time but I'm doing pretty well. I'm trying to get pictures of all my hairstyles so I can track growth and such.

Work and the natural hair

I've been looking every where for professional hairstyles that match my hair length but I just can't seem to find any that I can do myself. If I haven't mentioned it I got a job I was going for and its in a doctors office. I've been wearing weaves lately as a protective style and its a style that I love. I'm going to try an add a picture so anyone reading can see. 

I'm excited for this new position, its something completely new to me and I can't wait to see if its something I could love. While I'm growing out my hair I feel less attractive not because people say short hair isn't sexy which I believe it can be, I don't feel as attractive with short hair. My best friend is like a sister to me and she hates doing her hair and had her husband shave it off one day and she looked amazing. I wish I could carry that look and feel beautiful but I know that I would be depressed and feel so very unattractive. 

Like I've said before I'm loving my decision to go natural and I wouldn't change it for the world but I do wish I had more length. The shrinkage is what's kicking my ass. This journey has made me realize a few things about myself. I'm beautiful no matter what my hair looks like. I grew up being teased because of my hair and wanting to be like everyone else I damaged it repeatedly because I didn't know how to take care of it. I'm glad that my hair has been so forgiving and I'm going to do right by it this time. Relaxed or natural just be happy with you. Others will try to beat you down but don't let them. 

Some (not all) naturals and non naturals are being ignorant against each other. I've heard arguments for both sides and I don't knock anyone for their decision. I saw a special on tv the other day with women saying weaves are evil, and I'm thinking that's right the devil created weaves just to trap people (note sarcasm). Ignorance is a powerful thing. Yes I'm pro natural but that's for me not for the world. I want everyone to see beauty in themselves. My next post will probably only be a few pictures of hairstyles.

Possible Direction? Curly or Straight?

I know I haven't posted much of anything lately and I'm sure the two people who are actually reading this aren't mad at me but I figured I would add a few things because I just want to say stuff without people knowing me. I don't really care if any one judges. I find it funny that people say they don't judge but they really do.

Anyways, life hasn't been dreadful but it hasn't been wonderful either. I have a small sense of direction now when it comes to my hair. I find that I like blogging about it.. There are times when I really do hate it. I started by transitioning in May 2013 and continued on until around January or February 2014 when I got tired of the transition and cut off the rest of my relaxed hair. I was so happy to finally be rid of it but waited for the oh my God what I have I done moment. It didn't happen right away but eventually it did. My hair was crazy short in the front maybe about 2 inches long and I couldn't do much with it. I started to question myself but eventually just stopped. 

My hair has very tight curls, I thought coils and not curls but my hair stylist said my hair was curly so I said ok. I started to notice that the curls on the very top of my head weren't as tight as the rest of the curls on the sides and back and again this caused me distress because what was wrong with my hair that it wasn't all the same. That's when I realized I shaved the part that has the tight curls but not the part with the loose curls. I was confused at what to do. Do I shave my whole head and start again loosing a year or do I just work with what I have and hope for the best? I've decided to work with it and hope for the best. 

The hair in the front just reached to the middle of my fore head. I would have to really gel and spritz it to keep it laying down but now it reaches just below my eyes. Like everyone I'm dealing with shrinkage but I know that I have length and I'm now looking for hairstyles that will help show case it. My hair is long enough to bantu knot it again and I'm excited about that. I think I might start posting pictures of my hair.

My confusion about natural hair

I've decided to focus on one of the few things I can control in my life at the moment which is my hair. I have been natural for a year now and my hair reaches my shoulders when its stretched to because I have natural curly hair. 

I just read Better Than Good Hair by Nikki Walton who is the founder of the website curlynikki.com. I have to say it was a good read and made me feel more comfortable with my hair. There was a section in there about how our hair can effect our moods and outlook on life. I never thought the state of my hair could cause me and issue until I stopped and looked at the situation. 

I've talked to some of my natural friends too and my best friend who feels like a sister to me and she said she has been so depressed lately because of her hair. I was extremely shocked, I knew she always hated hair but now to be depressed over it is a lot. Some might ask why wont she shave it off and I know she wants to but she wont because her husband asked her not to. She is bringing her ass to my house tomorrow and we are going to two strand twist the hell out of her hair. 

I've read so many different things people want us to do for natural hair saying that it works for them but I sit here and think my mom didn't do half of what some of these people are trying to do and my hair was braided past my shoulders.  She braided my hair every Sunday night and I would go to school all week she would take it down Friday night and wash it on Saturday and then braided again on Sunday night. She did that every week until the summer I went to 7th grade which was back in 1997.

I was so ashamed of my natural hair back then because everyone would pick on me. My cousins would say hurtful things and other kids at school would hurt my feelings because my hair wasn't "permed". I felt so wrong then and I sit here thinking I wish I knew then what I knew now. I wasn't looking how thin and damaged their hair was, I was only thinking how straight and easy to comb it was.  I started over from scratch a year ago and so far I'm very happy with my decision