AFTER THE BC

So you've BC'ed...now what?? I'm sure all my natural newbies can attest to asking themselves this question. It's totally understandable. How on earth are you gonna rock your new relaxer free look and do it fantabulously? Oh you brave souls, help is here!!


You can use some small hair clips like these

Or headbands

Or you can go for the Billie Holiday effect and add a flower (or 2 or 3, lol)

Hair accessories are the new "IT" thing, so try them out for size and see what works. If nothing else you can ALWAYS jazz yourself up with some cute earrings :) So have FUN!!! THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!! Congrats on freeing yourself!!

WATER = HEALTHY HAIR

Once upon a time I hadn't been drinking enough water, I was drinking pop, apple juice, cran-apple juice, everything BUT... I went to get my hair pressed and.....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ that's the sound of my hair frying under the heat for lack of moisture. (and it was LOUD) My hair was BONE DRY!! I mean I was so embarrassed. My stylist jumped back and said "I see SOMEONE hasn't been drinking enough water." What could I say?? She was totally right. I made it a point right then and there to increase my water intake to avoid future embarrassment.

Ever since we were little it's been embedded in our juvie minds "Milk does a body good." Well, what about our hair? Isn't hair just an extension of our bodies? I think so (though some may beg to differ) so we gotta keep our hair, nails, and other extremeties together too, RIGHT? RIGHT!

Our bodies are mostly made up of water, so we MUST give the body what it needs to survive. Your hair gets dehydrated just like your body, so the solution = DRINK WATER! Even if you have to add those little Crystal Light sweeteners to add flavor, you have to drink it. Remember, 8 glasses of 8 ounces (or more) of water per day. SO DRINK UP!!!

I'm holding steady at 40+, how are you doing?

BANTU KNOT-OUT TWISTS

After some convincing I decided to try these Bantu Knot thingies. Now, my go to style is usually the twisted rod set b/c its easy and lasts a while. So figured I'd try the Knots because they're very similar and less time consuming...here goes it:

After my co-wash, I parted my hair into small sections and twisted

Next I wrapped the twist around in a circle and tucked it under the knot

Do this all around your head

Then my most HATED part of all...THE DRYER :( I know I know...I'm such a baby, but I can't stand the dryer...I'd rather let it air dry, I digress... I sat under the dryer for an hour and some change, then I grabbed my EVOO and untwisted each knot, separating as I went until it looked like this in the back

Moi all jazzed up

POST JOB BRIEF:

- I might need to use some more setting lotion because my hair got really frizzy fast, so be careful.

- I also think once I get more practice under my belt and really figure out how to keep my edges tight, I'll be brave enough to wear the Bantu Knots by themselves...hmmmmm wonder how that'll work with my hardhat...............Thoughts or suggestions????

AU NATURALE HAIR CARE SYMPOSIUM

UJIMA, Inc. and Euclid Foursquare Church presents the “A FABULOUS YOU” Workshop Series featuring an

Au Naturale Hair Care Symposium

~ WHAT to do and HOW to do it ~
An open discussion on ALL things Relaxer Free

April 11, 2010 at the Maple Heights Library

(5225 Library Lane, Maple Hts, OH 44137)

from 2pm to 4pm

This event is FREE and open to the public

There will be a mini hair show, consultations, and demonstrations provided by Stephano & Co. Salon with the Reverence Design Team and Azzia from A II Z Naturals Ltd.

For more information email us at naturally.cleveland@gmail.com

TRANSITIONAL STAPLE

This goes out to all my Transitioners out there.


When I was on my journey, I discovered my hair to be a lot thicker than I orginially thought. I mean any time there was humidity, there went my hair :( I was the pressed transitioner...meaning I opted for the press N curl because it was close to a wrap, manageable, plus I didn't have the courage (or head shape) to do the BC. I only crippled myself, because now (2.9 years later), I'm just figuring out how to tame this mane. I digress....


So anyway, like I said, I was the pressed transitioner, but if I ever wanted to get that Jill Scott 'fro I had to let the press N curl go right?? RIGHT. I asked around and found styles that would hold up in the heat when I started sweating and were easy enough to manage. THE ANSWER: STRAW SETS!!


Those tiny little curls hold up extremely well in heat and if they start to get frizzy, you can pin them up or comb them out into a cute little fro! HOW EXCITING?!?!!? This is my summer staple, I get one at least once a month. No heat, no fuss, satin cap, moisturizer, and you're done.



Here's what mine looked like on a trip to ATL shawty :)

I THINK I'M IN LOVE!!!

So against the Doctor's orders I dragged myself out of the house to look for products. I got cabin fever, sue me...while walking around Great Lakes Mall, I wound up in Trade Secret. OMG I THINK I'M IN LOVE with this store. I originally wanted to see if they had the Philip Pelusi line that my hair stylist uses, but instead stumbled upon the super hard to find DevaCurl Line. I even saw the intriguing SEXYHAIR line and Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Line. OMG!! How did I ever brush past this little piece of product heaven??? WHO KNEW?!?

I got the DevaCurl NO POO conditioner, and 3 small trial-size trinkets of CURLYSEXYHAIR Curling creme, HEALTHYSEXYHAIR Soy Tri-Wheat Treatment, and Matrix's New Curl.Life Conditioner. I cannot WAIT to try these. Product review will surely follow...

So ladies not only do we have Whole Foods and Sally's, we also have TRADE SECRET!! I'm so excited...P.S. be sure to get the VIP card for $10, you'll get a free nail gift AND it'll save you 10% everytime you shop.

NATURAL + AFTER 5 = THE ULTIMATE DILEMMA

Ok Cleveland, so the boo is getting an award from his company and apparently it’s a BIG to-do-ha (all the bigwigs will be in attendance to present the award). So since I’m not as advanced with styling my own hair, I’ll be getting it professionally done. I’m going to stay true to my curls, but the heat will help me keep it together for the evening. These are some glamorous hair options for those facing THE ULTIMATE DILEMMA

Simply chic:

Curly Sue:

Up and Away:

Loc Tight:

I think I’ve come up with options that will compliment my attire. We’ll see come Saturday what the results will be :) WISH ME LUCK!!

PJ PICK OF THE WEEK

OK, so it's not NECESSARILY a product ie. a conditioner but it does work wonders!! After having a HORRENDOUS hair week, my girls at fiercebynature convinced me to try the Curlformers.

Now, I've seen them at Sally's and kept it moving b/c they just looked way too complicated, but after seeing the results they produced I decided to give them a try. Don't be intimidated, there's a hook rod that you use to pull your hair through.

**BE WARNED** If your hair is EXTRA EXTRA thick like mine :) that rod WILL, I repeat WILL get stuck a couple of times. You'll get the hang of it though.

Using the right mix of products you can have gorgeous, full of body spiral curls.

Are you a believer?? I AM! Bad hair days will be further apart with these on deck.

A WHOLE 'NOTHER LANGUAGE

Big ups to one of my favorite sites http://www.curlynikki.com/ for coming up with this dictionary for all those acronyms. As you travel through the world of natural, you'll come to speak a whole 'nother language, so use this as a condensed tutorial:


2nd day hair- Hair that looks good (at least decent) when you wake up the next morning

BAA - Big ass afro

BC - BIG Chop (usually the drastic cutting of all relaxed hair)

Co-Wash - Using conditioner to wash the hair in place of shampoo

DT or DC - A deep treatment or conditioner

EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil

PJ - Product Junky

PNC - Press and Curl

TWA - Teeny Weeny Afro

W&G - Wash and Go - Simply co-wash your hair, add a styler (gel, cream) and GO.

GSOA - Grandma's Seal of Approval

Hope this helps!!

HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CLEVELAND!!!

Hey Clevelanders, it's ya girl signing in to give you the dish on all things NATURAL in the 'Land.

I've been natural for almost 3 years (Natur-versary in May). I first decided to release myself because I wanted a HUGE Angela Davis 'fro. Sounds crazy right? Jill Scott's Essence cover inspired me. I was also growing frustrated with spending too much money on my hair for it to still be the same length it was when I was in high school. So I said why not go natural?? It seemed like the perfect answer. But the major question AND challenge was....HOW? The answer was particularly easy (so I thought) to just grow my hair out. WELL let's just say THANK GOD for my aunt, she talked me out of, what I'm sure was to be hell on wheels, doing it on my own.

So here I am 3 years later with bumps, bruises, tears, and joys. It's not a fad and it's DEFINITELY not easy. It's truly a process. So I invite you to buckle up and enjoy the wild, frustrating, yet rewarding ride!!!