Let's Talk about Hair

I've gotten lots and lots of emails about my hair and a few people have asked that I share my hair update/routine with a blog post. I've held off for a while because to be honest, I don't really do anything special but since I've been asked I might as well be kind and do this anyway.

It was on January 1st 2011 that I decided that I was going to transition to my natural hair. I wrote a post about it that you can read here. I was so excited but it came with a lot of trial and error. Working with two different hair textures was rough and my hair looked awkward (read awful) ALL.THE.TIME! But I was determined to trim my relaxed ends until I had only my natural hair left. See this post, this post, and this post for some reference.

January 1st 2012, I got rid of any remaining relaxed hair and shared that in this post. And that's basically where it ends. I did not talk about my hair again. A little strange that I did that now that I think of it.

OK, where to begin. First, the decision to go natural was the best decision I've made for my hair to date. For those of you who do not know a hair relaxer is a chemical used to permanently straighten hair. Granted, relaxing my hair did not result in broken hair for me but I can tell that my hair is so much healthier now. I mean, I'm not placing a chemical on my hair and head every 6 weeks so that really shouldn't be a surprise to me. Yes, it shrinks like nobodies business but it's healthy. I haven't used heat on my hair since I decided to go natural so that's almost 3 years without heat. I would say I'm doing it for the health of my hair but really it's because I'm very lazy low maintenance when it comes to my hair. I hardly style it and often it looks that way. I just let it do whatever it wants for the most part which is why I am surprised regarding the questions and nice comments about my hair.

After a wash (co-wash) I twist my hair and leave it like that for a week or two. The only time I really have my hair out is on the weekends but sometimes I leave my hair in their twists over the weekend as well. It really depends on my mood or if I feel that having my hair out would complete my look or something.

{Here are two pictures of the way you'll see my hair during the week in their twists}

In a protective style that is no hassle at all. The only thing I do is spritz with water and extra virgin olive oil in the morning and at night and I'm set.

On the weekend, I take out my twists (with castor oil on my fingers) and will rock a twist out which you can see in the pictures below.

My hair has grown (and is thicker & fuller) in the last year but one couldn't really tell with my hair's shrinkage abilities. The pictures below are better examples of what my hair looks like now since the pictures above were taken several months ago.

I am not what one would call a product junkie either. If it works for me then I stick to it.

I don't use shampoo at all anymore. I know, I know. But like I said, it is what is working for my hair. Actually I take that back. If I can tell that my hair needs a good wash I'll use shampoo but I haven't used it in over 3 months and I think it is because I don't really use too much product on my hair which helps me avoid the massive product build up. Shampoo was definitely stripping my already dry hair's oil so in order to avoid that I made the decision to not use shampoo often at all. Instead I co-wash (conditioner wash) every week or every other week. I use Clear Total Care for my conditioner and deep conditioner. I love the way this works on my hair. It leaves it very soft, silky, moisturized and manageable. It was actually a fluke that I got this conditioner because it was a deal that I got a bottle free at CVS. I was so hesitant to use it but I ran out of conditioner one day and had no choice. Well, wouldn't you know it? My hair LOVES this stuff.

I use Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque for a deep conditioner. I use this about once every four weeks. I don't use it weekly because I don't feel my hair needs it as often when I'm using the Clear Total Care as a deep conditioner as well. But I use it just for something different and because it's a great product for my hair.

I use Cantu Shea Butter for my leave in conditioner and I've tried to use a few things but this one works the best for my hair so I'm sticking to it. Unless I can try a sample of something else and my mind be changed.

I use Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie for my moisturizer. Again, my hair loves this stuff. I've tried others but my hair responds the best with this one. After I co-wash I take out a section to twist, first I put some Cantu Shea Butter on the section and then I put the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I detangle the section (very carefully) if it needs it and then I proceed with twisting.

I use Castor Oil to take out my twists. It helps me take them out easier and ensures that I do not tangle or create knots when I rock a twist out.

I just use what works and refuse to try products after products. I guess it's money that I'll rather see in my closet.

Like I mentioned earlier, I spritz my hair with water and EVOO every morning and night to keep my hair moisturized.

And that's it. Let me know if you have any questions and I'll get back to you. Also know that if you are a no-reply commenter I'll answer your question but you'll never get my response so try to fix that or email me directly at midnyteblue13@hotmail.com. Alright, I hope this has helped those of you who have asked or wondered about my hair.

Peace, hair grease and Afro puffs! xoxo gossip girl ;)

My Weekend

Friday Night

I watched Water for Elephants again and snuggled with Izabella. I'm a little addicted to this movie, I tell ya. It has been added to one of my most favorite movies. Oh, and you're probably wondering what Sean did. He slept during it.

And the best surprise ever came in the mail! My shoes that were backordered until June arrived! I seriously jumped up and down when I saw the box!

Isn't she a beaut?

Saturday

We had date day/night. We went shopping at the mall to pick up some new outfits for Florida. I finally found the jean jacket I have been searching for, forever at Express! They were having an amazing deal, plus we had coupons, so we left spending so much less than we thought we would. After shopping, we saw Safe House and we both loved it. It is so, so good.

After, we went to one of our favorite local pubs called Appletinis for some food and drinks. They had an amazing cover band. They were so good.

Awkward but funny moment: After eating, we decided to get up close and personal with the band. They began to sing, Michael Jackson's, "Black Or White." Well, wouldn't you know it that some drunk, fool proceeded to give Sean and I high fives. It was kinda funny but you should have seen Sean's face when he asked me, "Do you think he high-fived us because we're black and white?" I laughed out loud. So funny!

Sean did not want his picture taken so it's just me guys :) I bought those fabulous booties at Target when I went shopping with my sisters and I love them. So comfortable and cute!

Sunday

I made White Chicken Chili from the recipe Ashley @ Life After the Aisle shared, and it was so good. I can't wait to make it again!

Monday

I was off! Yay, President's Day. I did some major cleaning because we leave for vacation this week and the worst thing to do is come back home to a dirty home. That is on my list of the things I despise the most. I made cinnamon buns and watched some 80 movies.

Now I just need today to move to Saturday, asap :)

I also realize that I have not updated on my natural hair yet. Well, January 1st, I got rid of all my relaxed ends. I am all natural. It is so freeing to finally be rid of all the chemically relaxed hair. I will do a whole post on it soon but just wanted to let the few of you who have wondered know that I did it! :)

Hair Update

Its been a while since I've talked about my hair on my blog. Today before stepping outside, I decided to take a quick picture of my hair and my makeup free face.



I have been transitioning for almost a year now. I now have more natural hair than relaxed hair. To be honest, I could easily just snip off the remaining relaxed ends because it is the smart thing to do but because I told myself that I would do it on January 1st, I am going to wait.

I can't wait to rock a twist out. January 1st can't come quick enough.

Hope you're having fabulous weekends!

Natural Hair Update

I have been transitioning for 7 months now. It is going a lot better than the beginning stages. I have found a few products that my hair is working really well with. I also purchased some products that my hair hated. Waste of money. This is why I can't be a product junkie. If I find something that works it is difficult to try other products. I have to find out about sample products.

My hair is getting thicker and I love it! I'm still trimming the relaxed ends and I can't wait when none of it remains. I think one of these days I am just going to chop it all off but for some reason I can't do it yet. I have gotten rid of a lot of the relaxed ends though! :)

Anyway, last picture update was in June so I have one picture from July and two from this month.

July 2011 {excuse the picture, it is a bit bright}


August 2011

I Call It A Journey, Hubs Calls It A Comeback

I have gotten a few emails inquiring about my natural hair journey and what's going on with it. I really shouldn't have left my friends hanging but honestly ....

I have had my days. Days where I am a little frustrated about all the things I do not know. I was so frustrated one day that I told hubs that I was going to put that creamy crack in my hair and call it a day. Of course I was exaggerating but I don’t think hubs thought so because he asked me not to. He told me how much he likes it and to think of how awesome my hair will be once I figure it out.

It has only been 6 months so of course I still have a lot to learn. I was thrilled to hear that from him, because in the back of your mind you wonder if he likes it or if thinks that I kinda look a little crazy sometimes. I have to admit that sometimes I do look a little crazy. But I will never return to the creamy crack because I know he likes it and that makes me want to tolerate the journey just a little more.

Every week I am trimming a little bit of relaxed hair because I can’t do the full out chop. I am a little too vain to have no hair on my head. My natural hair is growing so even though I am trimming every week, it is pretty much staying the same length. I can't wait until I have no more relaxed ends though ... it's a bit annoying.

And since we are on the top of length! Let’s talk about shrinkage! Shrinkage is no joke … my goodness! That is all I will say about shrinkage!

Here are some pictures to kind of document my natural hair journey.

Jan 2011:


Feb 2011:


March 2011:


April 2011:


May 2011:


June 2011:



As you can see, some days are better than others but I'm glad I'm going through with this. I think I’ll try to do updates like this often … maybe monthly. We’ll see how that goes.

I'm Going Natural

This does NOT mean I won't shave my legs or armpits again. Or that I will walk outside without wearing deodorant. Or that I will shower without soap. Gross.
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It was 8 weeks after my last perm and I stared into the mirror at my new growth. It was time for a relaxer but instead of reaching right away for the creamy crack, this time around I became curious. Curious about the new growth that I have been hiding for so many years.


I first relaxed my hair at 12 years old. It was done regardless of my mom's objection. See. My mom has never relaxed her hair. We refer to her hair as Virgin Hair. I wish I had listened to my mom.


Not that relaxing my hair ruined my hair because it didn't or hasn't. I wish I had listened to my mom because I am 28 years young and I have NO idea how to take care of my natural hair texture.


How can that be? How can this feeling of absolute dread be taking over me? It's because I have no idea what to expect. I have no idea what works for my natural hair and I am petrified of making mistakes. I am scared of spending tons of money to try out products to find out what will work on my hair.


It would be so much easier to reach for the creamy crack and perm my hair because I know what works for me. With my natural hair, I am a stranger in a foreign land. I don't know the language and that freaks me out.


It has been 5+ months since my last perm and I would like to say it has been freeing. It hasn't. I am scared. I want to chop off all my relaxed ends but I think that would be drastic and the next day I know for certain I would freak out.


I will trim my relaxed ends little by little until none of it remains and all that remains is my natural hair. It's a big journey for me and I figured I would share pictures of me relaxed in the last few years, as an ode to the old me.











My natural hair might be like this:


like this:


like this:


or completely not like any of the pictures above.

I just hope I embrace whatever it may be and never change my mind, no matter how difficult it might become.

Lucky for me, the hubs is so excited for this change that it is rubbing into me just a little more each day.

{images via}