Natural Hair Journey Restart

So in one of my early blog post "Finally Accepting My Hair Just The Way It Is and Loving It", I talked about how I came to wearing my hair naturally. We about a month or so ago, I foolishly let my hair get dry and it shed horribly. So I cut all of my hair off again and it is the shortest that it has ever been. Some areas of my hair have become a lot thinner so I was wearing wigs while it fills back in because it looks very splotchy. But I decided to go ahead and got to the barber shop and have them make it look nice and neat.



So I am nursing my hair back to health with a homemade oil blend (Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, and Avocado Seed Oil) and pure Shea Butter. I did some research on each before coming up with my current hair care regimen. You can tweak this however you see fit. I just do mix equal parts of each oil for the oil blend. I also use this oil blend on my skin and it is AWESOME!!!!!

COCONUT OIL
According to an article I found on Yahoo, "coconut oil is able to bind to the natural protein structure of the hair. This helps the hair retain its natural moisture content and reinforces the hair fiber, making it stronger". As with any other oil or non-water based moisturizer, it works best when hair is damp or wet. Coconut oil is also a natural sunscreen.
Coconut Oil http://voices.yahoo.com/the-benefits-coconut-oil-black-hair-care-5388731.html

OLIVE OIL
Olive oil penetrates the hair better than other oils. No matter what oil blend you make, be sure that olive oil is a part of it. The purer the better, so try to get extra virgin olive oil if you can. Olive oil is very nourishing and has wonderful moisturizing benefits. It also prevents dandruff.

SWEET ALMOND OIL
Almond oil is a great source of protein and hair is mostly protein. Almond oils has been noted for its ability to strengthen and grow hair. It also provide an awesome conditioning shine to hair with regular use.

AVOCADO OIL
The avocado has so many benefits. It is filling an nutritous if you are dieting. It also make a great facial/hair mask and a great dip! The oil that comes from an avocado is just as beneficial for your hair and skin. Like the oils mentioned above, avocado oil has wonderful moisturizing capabilities. It also has fatty acids which are great for keeping hair strong and shiny.

All of the oils absorb into hair and skin very well and do not leave an greasy or oily feeling. I have been doing this oil blend for quit some time and my hair and skin have never been softer.

SHEA BUTTER
Shea butter has at least twice the moisturizing capabilities of cocoa butter. Shea butter has been known to grow hair. Shea butter also absorbs quickly and does not clog pores. Like coconut oil and avocado oil, it is a natural sun screen.

Do you have any natural hair care remedies?? I would love to hear about them.

Until next time loves!

What's The Fuss With Natural Hair

I came upon the article below about people getting on Solange Knowles about her natural hair (the link to the article is below). Some say that her natural hair is always looks unkept. I have natural hair and I do not carry a pic or any type of comb in my hair. I can't speak for Solange, but I prefer a more wild unkept look to my hair. Honestly, that is the more natural state of my hair. It is not in a perfect afro and if I even think of trying to force it to do so, my hair is just like "whatever".

Someone said that Ms. Knowles rocks a natural wig or weave more than she rocks her own natural hair. NEWS FLASH: THERE ARE A LOT OF WOMEN THAT WEAR A WIG OR WEAVE INSTEAD OF THEIR OWN HAIR, REGARDLESS OF RACE OR HAIR TYPE!!!! If they didn't, then the business of hair weaves, extensions, or whatever else it may be called would not my a multi-billion dollar business industry!!!! Does it really matter that her hair is natural??? Is there some unwritten rule with those (more so Black women) that do not wear natural hair that those who are natural are not supposed to wear weaves ever??? I really do not understand.

People are so quick to criticize what they either don't understand or know nothing about. I really do wish that they would shut up.

I am done ranting about that now.

Until next time loves!!!!


Solange Knowles: Quit picking on my natural hair!

Twist Out Tip for Natural Hair

Greetings!!!!

I am a true 4C. There is absolutely no curl definition to my hair. It is just there!!! Some areas of my hair are more stubborn that others, which is typical on any head of hair. So when I would do my twist (no matter the size), some of them would come completely apart before I was done with my entire head or overnight. It was so frustrating.

So when I twisted my hair after washing it last Saturday, I double twisted my hair and the twists held over the weekend until I was ready for the twist out on Monday. What is a double twist? Basically, it is two twists twisted together. You do the normal two strand twists. Take two of those twist and twist them together like you would do for a normal twist. That is it!

The double twist held together great. It also gave a little bit more definition and texture to my hair, which I love.

Until next time loves!!!!!

Natural in Corporate America

Recently I was on YouTube having what my cousin Cris and I call "natural hair church" and I noticed a couple of videos that were about styles that are suitable for "conservative corporate America". I somewhat understand why there is a need but in watching the videos I became very conflicted. The reason being is because in 2012, those of us that chose to be natural feel the need to still "tame" our hair by tucking, pinning, and whatever else as to not offend anyone or make them uncomfortable.

This is very disheartening to me. More and more women are choosing to become natural, all for various reasons and I can just about guarantee that "what others may think or feel" had very little to do with that decision. I love my hair just the way that it is (which was a process that you can read about here), wild, carefree, healthy, and most importantly, me! Natural hair doesn't make a woman unprofessional. It doesn't make her any less efficient at doing her job. It doesn't mean that in the middle of a meeting she is going to jump on top of a table and start yelling, "Black Power" with her fist in the air (which I know a couple of people at my job is afraid I am going to do). It doesn't even make her "afro-centric", whatever the hell that is suppose to mean (I am going to scream if someone else says that to me). Most often, it simply means that she is comfortable in her own skin and hair.

There is one lady that I know who is uncomfortable with my natural hair and feels that it should be slicked back or straight. She has never said that to me personally but it is all over her face and fake smile when she says hi. The only time that she says more than hi to me and comes to my desk for a chat, is when I get a sew-in and the hair is either straight or wavy. If it is big and curly, she sticks with her hi and fake smile. I don't understand how natural hair can offend anyone, or even make them nervous and uncomfortable. To me, that person is simple minded and needs to get out in the world more. It is not like there is a large middle finger shaved or braided into the back of my head. I do nothing to make her or anyone else feel like their hair is wrong. Yet, society as a whole feels that natural hair is wrong.

This is a time when the work place is suppose to be embracing diversity. I guess some people think that doesn't cover how one wears their hair. It took to long for me to embrace my hair to apologize to someone else for my hair being the way that it is. I saw this one Facebook a few weeks ago (posted by Black Women with Real Hair) and it is exactly how I feel (p.s. I would love for my fro to get this big):

Until next time loves!!!!